
# Sentinels

#### Dragon Rider

#  .jpg)

### ~World Map~

#

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue
TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS © 2015, B.H. SAVAGE

COVER BY BRYCE SMITH

COVER DESIGN © 2015, B.H. SAVAGE

COPYRIGHT 2015 B.H. SAVAGE

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.

SAVAGE, B.H.

SENTINELS: DRAGON KNIGHT / B.H. SAVAGE - 1ST ED.

ISBN: 978-0-9896754-1-3

I. SAVAGE, B.H.

FIRST EDITION

PUBLISHED BY B.H. SAVAGE AT SMASHWORDS

# Prologue

"Are they finally asleep?"

"Yes, so be quiet."

A fire cracked in the darkness of a small home, giving a soft orange glow that illuminated the bearded face of a middle aged man. Dressed in a vest and shirt that had been dirtied by a day's work in the fields, he sat in his simple wooden chair. His beard had been grayed with age, and his skin was dark and hardened by years of work in the sun.

"How long has it been since we had some time to ourselves?" the bearded man's wife asked as she approached, visibly exhausted from caring for her two young children during the day. She was tall and slender, dressed in a simple gown, and her long golden hair rested on her shoulders.

"Too long," her husband replied. "At least this year's harvest seems promising. It appears we'll have more than enough to last the winter."

The farmer's wife smiled and breathed a deep sigh of relief. "That's good..." she said as she sat in her own simple chair in front of the fire.

The farmer looked to his wife, puzzled by her reaction. "Is something wrong?" he asked. "You're usually more excited by a good harvest."

She smiled, and lazily looked towards her husband. "I'm fine...just tired is all," she answered through a deep sigh.

He looked to his wife for a moment more before getting to his feet and taking her hand. "Come on, let's go for a walk. It's a beautiful evening tonight."

She looked at him confusedly. "You want to go walking with me after a long day's work? Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?" she joked.

A smile peeked through his beard as he pulled her to her feet and led her to the front door of their simple home. "Come on. The boys should be fine without us for a little while."

The stars in the sky above decorated the night through the clouds, surrounding a brightly lit full moon. There was a slight breeze that felt soothing on the skin, and blew their hair about as they strolled around the village. Most of their neighbors had retired for the night after similarly working the fields. The only people awake and still alert were the guards.

"This feels nice," she commented as they walked, holding her husband's arm and resting her head on his shoulder. "Keeping watch over two young boys every day is hard work. Maybe we should trade jobs for a few days. I could use the break."

He laughed at his wife's joke. "Are you sure you want to trust me alone with them?" he asked. "Every time you leave us alone you fear we're going to hurt each other playing too rough."

"A sound argument if I'd ever head one," she replied with a smile.

The silent wind waved the crops of wheat and corn around in an almost soothing dance. War with a neighboring kingdom had taken the lives of many of their friends who had gone to join the royal army. It wasn't uncommon though, as the war had been going on for generations. He had fought in it, as had his father before him. She had even served at one point as a healer, using her talents in magic to care for the wounded. Their time on the battlefield had come and gone, but they knew soon enough that it would be their children's turn to fight. It was a thought that went through every parent's mind. He had accepted it early on, when she was carrying their first child, but she still dreaded the day no matter how far off it still was.

The walks at night with her husband helped calm her nerves when she would fret over the thought, but he was commonly too exhausted from working to do so. When they did happen he couldn't deny that they were relaxing though, and very much needed.

The pair walked around for a bit, going on about work, their children, and local gossip mostly. They even talked about foolhardy dreams of going on adventure and finding lost treasures like they were children themselves again. He would make her laugh and pretend he was a knight saving his princess from a beast in some faraway land. The behavior wasn't fitting of an adult at all, but sometimes behaving like a child with a wild imagination was the best remedy for mental anguish.

And time passed quickly as their age caught up with them. They started towards their home, now ready for the sweet release of sleep. She laughed, happy that she had spent the time actually playing with her husband instead of dealing with responsibilities. He acted the same, although he was so tired that he had to lean on his wife for support as they trudged home.  They continued that way for a few minutes until they noticed something strange in the sky above them.

She stopped walking, fixing her gaze at something in the night sky. "Do you see that?"

He looked up through the distant clouds to see she was asking about. "What is that?"

Far above their heads, streaming through the air, were several objects that left glowing red trails in their wake. The sky around the objects reflected their light, making the clouds look like they had been set ablaze. They moved quickly through the air, approaching the village and growing larger with each second. They stared in amazement, having never seen anything quite like it before.

The first of the objects struck. An explosion resulted, knocked the couple to the ground, jerking them out of their stupor. More of the objects landed, colliding with buildings and farmland, setting everything on fire. It wasn't long before the screams of those caught in the blasts rang through the air.

"What's happening!?" she screamed.

"I don't know!" he shouted back.

Everything was happening so quickly that neither of them had any time to think. More of the objects crashed down around them. The once serene landscape was now something out of a nightmare. The flames had taken hold all around them, destroying months of hard work in mere seconds. But the thought of lost crops was nothing compared what more could be lost.

"The boys!" he shouted as he got back to his feet, pulling his wife with him. "We have to get back to the house!"

The pair ran through the panicking town, pushing through the crowd of people stricken with fear towards their home. The couple's fears were realized when they saw their roof had caught fire. By some miracle though, none of the objects from the sky had struck the building itself.

She screamed in anguish, immediately thinking the worst of the situation and that her children were dead. Her husband shook her back to her senses, telling her to listen. Through the sound of the fire they could hear their eldest son calling for help.

"I'm going to get them!" he yelled at her. "I need you to wait here, understand?"

Her eyes were red from the tears she was shedding, but she understood and nodded.

"Wait here!"

He ran in to the house, jumping through the fire that blocked the door. She lost sight of him, waiting patiently for his return with their children. Her heart pounded in her chest. Each second felt like an eternity. People around her were screaming in terror and anguish. Questions raced through her mind: What was happening to their home? Why was it happening? She thought they could be under attack, but she couldn't focus on any singular thought except the fear that her family would be lost.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her husband leaped back through the fire. His clothes were singed, and he was bleeding, but in his arms was their youngest child. He was only five, and shaking with fear.

"Jon!" she cried out, and ran towards them. She grabbed her child and held him close, relieved that he was alive. "Where's Adam!?"

"He's still inside," he told her through a coughing fit. "I'm going back in to get him."

"Ok," she whispered as she kissed her son's head. "Be careful!"

Jon nodded and turned back to the fire. It had grown larger, but the sounds of their older son shouting continued to reach them.

She stood still, staring at her burning home with her terrified child, but she didn't say a word. She couldn't speak due to the fear. A section of the roof collapsed making her gasp. She heard her husband yell, presumably in pain, and her heart sunk. She knelt in front of her son and looked at him. His face was dirtied from the fire, and his eyes were filled with tears. "Sweetheart, I need you to listen to me, ok?" she asked.

The boy nodded his head to his mother.

She picked him up and carried him over to a door leading to an underground storage cellar used to hold crops. It hadn't been affected by the fire yet, and was probably the safest place to be.  She opened the door and placed him down on the steps. "Remember how you like to play in here with your brother?" she asked.

The boy nodded his head again.

"Good. I need you to wait here," Caroline told him. "Your father needs my help, so be a good boy and wait here, ok?"

Again, the boy nodded his head, but he continued to stare up at his mother. He had stopped shaking, thinking he was safe with her.

"I need you to be a good boy," she persisted as she grabbed the door. "Mommy loves you!" she told him through a choked voice, and she shut the door.

### ______

The storage room doors opened, and sunlight poured in along with dust and ash. The sounds of people moving rubble around could be heard, along with whispered conversation.

"Hello?" the voice of a man called in to the room. "Is there anyone down here? Any survivors?"

Metallic footsteps echoed in the room as a soldier entered to check for survivors of the blaze. It didn't take him long to spot the boy sitting on the floor drawing in the dust. He looked down as the boy looked up at him. The boy didn't run.

"Are you alone down here, boy?" the soldier asked.

The boy nodded his head as he got to his feet and stood at a makeshift attention.

The way the child remained still was odd, especially considering the circumstances. The soldier surmised that he had been taught to respect members of the military, considering how he was standing. "Do you recognize my armor?" he asked.

The boy nodded his head again.

The soldier approached him and knelt down to be eye level, examining him for any outstanding injuries. Aside from some small cuts and burns, he appeared to be in relatively good health. "What's your name?" he asked softly.

"Glenn Sturmwind, sir," he replied.

* * *

# Chapter 1

## Duty and Honor

The sun shined brightly from its place above the clouds. It was at its apex, midday above the military training ground of the Kingdom of Delrich. Men clad in dented old armor carrying swords, shields, spears, and various other weapons lined the field awaiting their orders. Among these men were two boys, no older than seven years. Normally such a location would be unsuitable for children, and their parents would forbid them from even stepping near it, but these boys were different.

An older man with long white hair tied in the back, a white beard and matching mustache, sat on top of a horse as he shouted at the new recruits. The boys were sent there, with permission, to observe and assist the aged man and his staff however possible.

"Glenn, do you think he'll let us use a sword?" the scrawny, freckle-faced orange haired boy next to him asked in a hushed tone.

"We're not here to play," Glenn replied, equally hushed but somewhat annoyed. He was standing at attention, like the adults being lectured, trying to listen intently to what the man on the horse was saying. He was commonly told that he was surprisingly well matured for his age and he took such comments as complimentary. "Now be quiet and pay attention."

"Bah, why are you always a bore? We're not here to train, you know," the freckled boy commented.

"His majesty granted us permission so that we can learn," Glenn told him, though kept his voice at a whisper. "I will not embarrass him by acting like a fool, now be quiet!"

The other boy huffed in annoyance. "I didn't even want to be here. I just want to go home..."

"Is there something you'd like to share with us, young master?" the old soldier on the horse bellowed. He'd finished speaking to the group of recruits without the boy noticing.

The irritated child's eyes widened in shock and he stiffened his back immediately to stand like Glenn. "No, sir!" he said up to him.

"Then I suggest you act like your friend here," he said to him angrily. "This is not a place for children, and as such you shall not be treated like children." He paused for a moment and examined both carefully before focusing on the Glenn and speaking again. "You there; I am to understand that his majesty sent you here at your request?"

Glenn raised his chin and replied, "Yes, sir."

"You're the Sturmwind boy then, if I'm not mistaken. Glenn, as I recall."

He nodded his head in reply. "Yes, sir."

"Then I have no doubt you are aware that I am Louis Stark, Captain in his majesty's army and primary instructor of new recruits. I knew your mother and father well," he told him. "They were some of the finest I served with. Although the tragedy that befell them occurred some years past, I offer my condolences."

"Thank you, sir. Your kindness is appreciated," Glenn replied, trying to hide the pain in his voice.

"I take it you wish to take up the lance then?"

"Pardon, sir?" Glenn asked.

"The lance and shield, boy," the captain repeated. "Your bloodline has produced adept lancers for generations. Is that not why you are here?"

"His majesty didn't grant permission for training, sir," Glenn explained. "Only to observe and learn."

"And what better way to learn than to practice?" The captain asked with a wry smile. "Worry not about His Majesty. Go see the armorer in the far tent. He'll provide you with some armor, a training weapon, and shield." He turned back to face the freckled boy who annoyed him earlier and his amused look faded back to dark seriousness. "And you...Count Marshall's boy, Leonard?"

Leonard had let himself slouch a bit in astonishment while Glenn and the captain conversed, but quickly straightened out when he was addressed again. He was clearly nervous though, and was shaking and stuttering while he spoke. "Yes, sir."

"I've heard of your shenanigans, boy, and I'll have none of it here," The captain stated coldly. "Go with Sturmwind to the armory tent and make your choice of weapon. You're both here to learn, and so I will teach you. Now go!"

### ______

Sweat, blood, tears, pain, pride; all are part of what any who volunteer for the royal military feel during their training, both adult and child alike it seemed.

The day had been hard on the boys. Captain Stark had treated them both as adults who had never held a weapon in their hands before. Leonard wasn't fond of the experience, having proven his ineptitude for combat. Glenn however found the ordeal exhilarating, and while he was no professional lancer, he showed enough natural talent with the weapon to impress his elder counterparts.

Dirt and sweat covered the boys' faces throughout the day, and they desperately needed a bath to remove the stench that found a home with them. Their clothes, just as filthy, were at least intact.

As they walked with a platoon of recruits to the castle's barracks, Leonard stretched his arms and yawned, showing his exhaustion from the training. "I hope father doesn't send me back to this again..." he groaned. "I'm no good with a weapon, especially a spear..."

"You just need practice," Glenn replied. He sounded physically tired but his mood was positive. He reveled in the training, enjoying every second of it and envisioning himself as a great warrior one day. "Keep at it, you'll see."

"Ha, easy for you to say," Leonard said sarcastically. "You looked like you'd been using it your whole life!"

Glenn chuckled at the comment. "Well, my father did show me some things..." His tone shifted from joyous to mournful when he thought about his family. "Before he died, he would take my brother and I to the fields and show us...I still remember the smell of the crops..."

"What happened to them?" Leonard asked, noticing the shift in Glenn's mood. "Your family, that is."

"They died three years ago, on the day the clouds burned," he explained.

"Oh..." Leonard didn't know what to say. He had heard of the event when the adults would talk about it, but having not seen it himself he never really thought about it, nor had he ever met anyone that had been affected by it.

"You don't need to say anything," Glenn commented. He noticed Leonard's confusion over what to say, having grown used to it throughout the years in the castle. "The royal family has been very kind to me. I may be young, but I've accepted it and moved on."

Leonard was again taken aback. "And how do you know his majesty?" he asked. "I've met the king and his family many times while my father came to the castle for business."

"King Justin visited my home the morning after it was destroyed," Glenn explained. "A soldier found me in one of our storage cellars. I was one of the few survivors, and...orphaned. When he asked the soldier who I was he told him my name."

"And?"

"And I suppose he knew my family. I don't really know why, but he took me with him to the castle and has raised me like one of his own, as a brother to Prince Robert," Glenn continued. "I owe his majesty my life for taking me in."

"Wow..." Leonard was shocked. "Life in the castle..."

Before the conversation could continue the group reached the castle's outer gate. Leonard heard the call of his father from the road and turned to go towards him while Glenn remained attentive to the group entering the barracks. His home was in the castle, after all. And for as much as he'd gotten to know Leonard over the years, he didn't much like the idea of being too close of friends with a diplomat's son, of whom he thought was a little pretentious.

"Well then," Leonard began to speak as he straightened out his clothes. "While I'd rather not, I wouldn't be surprised if father forces me to do this again. Good night, Glenn. Perhaps I'll see you the next time father has business here."

Glenn turned before entering the castle's gates and nodded. "Good night, Leonard. If your father does want to send you back here, you should at home. It wouldn't do for the captain to make note of your performance to him, I imagine."

"I'll keep that in mind," Leonard replied, and then he broke from the group towards the carriage where his father waited for him.

### ______

"You can't be serious! There's absolutely no way that happened!"

The torches attached to the wall of a pub danced in a bright orange glow that filled it with light, showcasing a full room of soldiers and civilians relaxing after a long hard day. Mugs clanging together and cheers being yelled amongst friends made the noise loud enough that small conversations had to practically be yelled across the tables from one person to another.

Ten years passed since Glenn's first day of training. As expected, Leonard was sent back to accompany him while he continued under Commander Stark. Contrary to Glenn's intention of not getting close with him, the two became the best of friends over the years, particularly after Leonard actually started practicing his swordsmanship. He may have been horrible with a blade when he was younger, and he didn't want anything to do with his kingdom's military at the time either, but something about Glenn and the way he carried himself at so young an age, after what he'd been through, left an impression that gave him a reason to try. Ten years after the fact, they were exceptionally close with impressive service records.

Glenn, as was expected of him, took up the lance and shield like his father and grandfather before him. As a boy he excelled at his training, attending military recruit training as often as the king would allow. He quickly became recognized as one of the foremost skilled lancers in the kingdom when he became of age, something that was bit of a shock to many due to his youth. The recognition earned him praise from many in his kingdom's government, but there were those who detested him for it. Among the naysayers was Amador Astley, a spoiled brat of a child and son of a prominent nobleman who commonly used his family name and wealth to get his way, which included early attempts at rank and priority treatment. Astley was a skilled lancer in his own right, but the recognition Glenn received made him jealous, and commonly drove him to taunts on various occasions.

Leonard focused his training on sword and shield manipulation. At first he attempted to mimic Glenn in taking up the spear, but was so clumsy with the weapon that Glenn had recommended he take up the sword instead. It was a piece of advice that worked out beautifully, as Leonard quickly learned how to handle the weapon. The change also reinforced the boy's confidence, which helped improve his relationship with his father who was a skilled swordsman as well in his younger days. When he was of age he joined the royal army, just like Glenn, and wound up serving in the same unit as he and Amador.

Now the pair enjoyed their evenings at a pub in Delrich's capital city, which had been built up just outside of the front gate of the castle proper and surrounded by high walls. The establishment was popular with the military due to its proximity to the barracks. Each night they went out to relax and unwind, and in some cases find something to joke and argue about. In this case it was about a rumor of a young female healer with a short temper. Rumor had it she punched a guard so hard in the gut he fell to the ground and passed out, and then stole his sword.

"It's true!" Leonard argued back with a smile as he swung his mug of ale around. Leonard had let his short hair grow out, which he tied into a long tail down the middle of his back.

"And I'm telling you that you're either a liar or gullible," Glenn coolly replied as he sipped his drink. "There's no way a healer would or could hit a man in armor hard enough in the gut to knock them out cold. And then take their sword? For what purpose does a healer need a blade? Honestly..." Glenn shook his head, waving his short dark hair slightly to the sides. "You're being made a fool."

Leonard raised his arms in the air in dismissal. "Bah, I think you should trust me more!"

"Fine, then," Glenn said as he placed his mug on the wooden table. "You believe this wild tale so adamantly, so you must know the girl's name. Who is she?"

"As if I would know," Leonard scoffed. "I heard it from Windham, who heard it from someone else who saw it. I never asked what her name was."

"Don't you think something like that would have been brought up?" Glenn inquired. "I'm telling you..."

"Don't," Leonard interrupted as he pointed a finger at his friend. "I do remember hearing she had dark red hair though..."

"Oh, because that's a sure sign of validity," Glenn said sarcastically.

"And what would you know of validity, Sturmwind?" an annoying voice said from behind the pair.

Glenn didn't even turn around to see who as addressing him, recognizing the annoying sound instantly. "What do you want, Amador?" he said dejectedly. "Come to gloat about daddy's money and how you would never socialize in a filthy establishment like this, or do you actually need me for something?"

Leonard looked up at their comrade in arms, and a wry smile appeared, partially because of the ale but mostly because of the expression of anger on Amador's face at Glenn's response and refusal to look at him. "Evening, Astley," he said through a chuckle as he raised his mug. "Care for a drink?"

Amador was the same age as both Leonard and Glenn and wore armor matching armor to them. His hair was light brown, long down to his shoulders, and well groomed; a common visage for one of status. His skin was pale peach, just like Glenn and Leonard's. By all accounts he was quite attractive and held the eye of many of the kingdom's younger and older women alike.

"Hardly," he replied coldly. "I came to inform you and Sturmwind that I've been ordered to the Castle Guard, where I'll be responsible for protecting His Majesty and the royal family, an honor much higher than what you two have." His face changed from anger to gloating pride as he raised his nose towards the pair, but Glenn seemed unaffected by the news.

"That's wonderful news, Amador," Glenn replied. "I'm sure your father had absolutely nothing to do with getting his prissy brat a cushy assignment away from the battlefield. You must have proven yourself considerably to earn such a privilege."

Leonard laughed heartily at the blatantly obvious sarcasm and fell back in to his seat. He continued to drink his ale until the cup was empty and then continued to laugh even more at it.

Amador's face tightened angrily. He hated being ignored and ridiculed, and Glenn never took him seriously. For years he tried to upstage him in lancing, but had never quite succeeded. Even those not of their unit recognized the rivalry. Everyone knew he was nearly a match in skill, but that wasn't good enough. "At least I have a father, you peasant orphan."

The conversations in the pub went silent almost instantly. Amador had said his comment louder than he intended, and everyone was staring at him in shock and disgust. Leonard looked stunned; amazed that Amador had stooped to that level of insult just to get a reaction. It did, however, work.

Glenn had slammed his mug on the table after what Amador said. He slowly rose from his chair and turned to face him. His face was full of rage and contempt. Whatever influence the ale had on him had vanished, replaced entirely by anger. "Nobody speaks of my family like that, and I'll be damned if I let you of all people say such things, you pompous bastard."

Amador stared back into Glenn's eyes, watching as he grabbed his lance from its resting place leaning on the table. It wasn't the first time he'd goaded Glenn into a fight, and it likely wouldn't be the last. Each time was an attempt to prove superiority, but they always ended in failure.

"Say something, you bastard," Leonard jabbed as he stood up. "Well?"

"Fine," Amador replied with a mocking tone. "It's about time I put you in your place."

Everyone in the pub cleared out to the road and formed a circle where Glenn and Amador would fight. Cheers started echoing for the fight as the crowd was eager to see some blood. Whoever won was irrelevant to them, they just wanted to see a good fight.

Glenn, as enraged as he was, remained calm and collected when facing his rival. He held his lance and shield ready for the fight while Amador taunted and teased with a slew of insults and body gestures. While they circled around the perimeter of the makeshift arena, he watched as Amador grew impatient and started getting sloppy with his foot movements. That was what Glenn was waiting for.

He sprinted forward as the crowd cheered wildly, and went for a wide swing with the lance. Amador blocked it with his shield, but the force pushed him off balance, so he wasn't prepared when Glenn followed up the attack with a left hook. With the shield adding extra weight to the swing, Amador fell to the ground and rolled away. Dust kicked up around him as he stood and wiped the blood from his busted lip.

The people started cheering Glenn's name for the hit, enraging Amador further. He ran towards Glenn and jabbed the tip of his weapon forward in an attempt to land a stab, but Glenn pushed the weapon to the ground with his shield. Amador lifted and spun, performing a backhand slash. Glenn lifted his shield to meet the attack, but his delay in reacting caused his grip to loosen on the handle, and it was flung from his hand in to the crowd.

"Ha, now what are you going to do?" Amador taunted. "Give up, Sturmwind. You've lost!"

"Spare me, Astley. I don't need a shield to beat you again," Glenn answered, but the truth was that he was completely unsure of what to do. He gripped the lance in both hands and held it in front of him. He hadn't been properly trained to fight without a shield, so he had to rely on instinct and maneuverability instead of head to head direct attacks. It wasn't a completely foreign concept, but he was far from a master of such methods.

Amador attacked before Glenn could think of a viable strategy, possibly detecting his hesitation. He came at him with a downward slash that Glenn met with the handle of his weapon. His one arm wasn't enough to overpower Glenn's defense that way, but his shield arm was still open, and he decided to try and land a punch to Glenn's stomach.

Glenn's new maneuvers let him move quicker than Amador could react, and the punch was blocked with the flat side of the lance's tip as Glenn pushed Amador's attack back. Continuing with his momentum, he kicked as he came around and hit Amador in the side of his ribs with the base of his foot. The force caused him to stumble, but it wasn't enough to knock him over.

The cheers of the crowd continued while the two fought. Glenn managed to find ways to block and avoid Amador's attacks that neither of them had particularly expected, but the fact that Amador was just as trained as Glenn, and fighting the way they were taught gave him a slight edge. Still, Glenn's anger towards him for the jab at his family was enough fuel to keep him going until his opponent eventually started to tire.

Amador yelled at him and charged once more, though his body was significantly more sluggish from the beating it had taken. Glenn, on the other hand, was still going strong. He easily sidestepped the attack and swept his weapon under Amador's legs. He fell to the ground with a thud in a cloud of dust, and before he could recover, Glenn jumped and landed with his knee on Amador's chest, knocking the air out of his lungs and forcing his hands to open and release his weapons.

Glenn held the point of his lance at Amador's throat. He was breathing hard, with blood dripping from cuts on his lip and face. His hair and become disheveled, and was filled with dirt and dust, but his eyes held an icy cold stare filled with fury and contempt. He looked down at Amador with such contempt that he felt ready to end his life.

The cheering of the crowd stopped. Nobody was sure of whether or not Glenn would kill Amador. Doing so would be murder, and of a noble's son no less. There were those among them who, regardless of status, believed Amador would deserve it though.

Glenn swallowed his saliva and stood, pulling the weapon's tip away from Amador's throat. He held it at his side in one arm and walked over to the man at the edge of the circle holding his shield. He turned to speak to Amador who was struggling to stand after his defeat. "Never insult my family again," he said to him while his voice still trembled.

Amador coughed, unable to respond to Glenn's comment. He instead chose to glare at the victor of their tussle for a second before pushing his way through the crowd and out in to the town's streets.

The group dispersed as Leonard approached Glenn to check on him. He was still holding his mug in his hand, topped with Ale. Apparently he went to get it filled just after the fight was over.

"Good job!" he said to him after he took another swig of his drink. "I knew you'd be able to put that load of crap back in his place."

"Thanks..." Glenn replied through his bated breathing. "To be honest, I thought he'd had me when I lost my shield."

"Yeah, that was something impressive!" Leonard exclaimed.

"Indeed it was," a soft female voice said towards them.

The pair turned their heads to see a young woman, maybe a couple years younger than them, with auburn hair tied in a bun, wearing a white gown standing before them. The gown was decorated with embroidering indicating she belonged to the church, or was a new member of the royal army's healers who trained with the church's clerics. Oddly enough though, the girl had a leather belt on over her gown with a sword attached to her waist, something not seen amongst clerics.

"And who might you be, miss?" Glenn asked as he looked her over. "Someone come to preach peace and wellbeing for our fellow countrymen?"

"Oh no, Amador quite deserved that I'm sure," the girl replied. She glanced over to Leonard and smiled. "It's nice to see you, Leonard."

"Likewise," he said as he held his mug towards her. "I trust your family is well?"

"As well as always," the girl commented with a roll to her eyes.

"You know each other?" Glenn asked as he stepped away from his friend to look between them. "I've never seen her before."

"Oh yes, where are my manners?" Leonard joked as he extended a hand out to his supposed friend. "Private Glenn Sturmwind, I present to you Lady Anye Everdyne, eldest daughter of Sir Romulus Everdyne. Anye, meet my good friend Glenn Sturmwind."

Glenn bowed his head low, as was custom when greeting someone of noble birth. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Anye."

"Likewise," she told him. "Here, let me help you with your injuries," she said to him as she approached with her palm facing him.

Glenn stood still, recognizing the practices of the army's healers. Field medicine was more common, as various herbs could be harvested in the many locations soldiers would find themselves deployed to, but the use of magic wasn't foreign. Anye's hand started to glow in a pale green light as the energy of the spell was summoned and transferred to his body. In mere seconds, the soreness of his bruises and cuts subsided as his wounds were healed.

"That should do it," she said as she lowered her hand.

"Thank you," Glenn said. "I normally don't lose my temper like that. I apologize for you having witnessed me in such a state."

"Like I said, Amador likely deserved the thrashing you gave him," Anye explained as she shook her head. "He's always been a nuisance. I'm glad you're not afraid of him, unlike many."

"I'm sorry to interrupt this heartwarming moment, but why do you have a sword?" Leonard asked. "You're a healer. Your father would be furious if he saw you with it."

Anye looked down and gripped the handle of the sword on her hip. "I took it from some bigot who told me I'll never have a place in the military as a soldier and should stick to healing or become someone's housewife."

"That was you I heard the rumors about?" Leonard stared shocked at his friend before starting to burst into laughter and looked back at Glenn. "I told you it was true!"

Glenn chuckled as he crossed his arms and looked his new friend with a slight air of disbelief. "So you did..."

### ______

To a trained soldier experienced in combat, the sounds of the battlefield become as common as those of a marketplace. The war between Delrich and the Empire of Mitus continued to rage year after year. Many men whom Glenn considered friends had lost their lives at the hands of the imperials, whose talents in dark magic made them particularly dangerous foes. The healers trained by the church to assist the soldiers simply weren't enough at times, even with the protective charms they would cast on their allies.

Five years passed since Glenn met Anye, and she proved to be a valuable friend to have. On numerous occasions she had saved both his and Leonard's lives by using her magic to shield them from otherwise fatal attacks. Leonard and the girl had some history growing up together, and the trying times of war made their bond stronger than any metal or magical binding could.

Over time, Glenn and Leonard had been granted promotions within their unit, being given command over small squads of ten men each. Anye had also done something nobody expected; she shed the cloth and donned armor, taking up sword and shield to fight on the battlefield herself. According to Leonard, her father was furious over her doing so, but as Glenn had gotten to know her over the years it really didn't come as a surprise. If anything it was expected, what with her incredible talent wielding a blade. Combined with her knowledge of protective magic, she was a force to be reckoned with. There was even talk of forming a new unit that would make use of the easier spells to master in addition to their armaments because of Anye's success and prowess.

Duty called the friends away from each other, sadly, when Glenn and Leonard's division was ordered to defend their neighboring ally to the north, the icy land of Toran, from a reported invasion force while Anye was sent to fight in battles being waged along Delrich's borders in the plains to the east.

Just as was reported, Mitus had indeed sent an invasion force to seize and occupy Toran. Strategists surmised that Mitus hoped it would give them a strategic position over Delrich. The two armies met head on in the cold white fields and chaos ensued.

Glenn and Leonard returned to their encampment while the fighting continued as rested reinforcements arrived. The sounds of the battlefield echoed around them, bouncing off of the mountains of the region. The two had grown used to the song of war over the years so they didn't have much trouble relaxing and regaining their strength.

The two friends, exhausted from the past few days fighting, finally caught up with one another and gripped their arms in a formal greeting, then pulled close for a brotherly hug, patting each other on the back.

"Glad to see you still with all of your limbs," Glenn greeted as they backed away from one another. "You look horrible though."

"You're one to talk. Who knew you could get so much mud on you from underneath all this snow and ice?" Leonard replied.

The old friends laughed and walked to sit by a fire that had been built. Glenn adjusted the lance slung across his back as each sat and let out a sigh of relief, happy to get off of their feet.

"Oh that feels nice..." Leonard sighed. "We don't get enough time off of the battlefield, you know."

"We are at war...but yes a holiday would be welcome," Glenn agreed.

"So, have you any news from home?" Leonard asked.

"I sent a letter to his majesty asking if there was any word from Robert or Anye," Glenn began to explain. "He wrote that our prince secured victory for us in Esterfield, and that Anye was instrumental to Mitus' defeat there, so they're doing well. They should have returned to the capital by now."

"That's good," Leonard commented as he rubbed his face. "My parents are well. I received a letter from father the other day letting me know that mother is still sick with worry though."

Glenn chuckled, remembering the woman from the many visits he'd made to their home. They'd played together on his family's land once Glenn opened up to him, pretending to go on adventures, saving distant kingdoms, summoning gigantic mythic knights to aid them in battle, and winning the hearts of many a princess. "She wouldn't be your mother if she didn't worry about you."

"True enough," Leonard replied.

Both men stretched in front of the fire, taking a break from the conversation to wipe some of the dirt from their hair and faces. Constant time in the field didn't leave much room for luxuries such as hygiene and shaving. They actually appeared quite barbaric.

"So, I've heard some of the men in your squad have taken to your no-shield lancing. Planning on being a combat revolutionary, teaching a new fighting style?" Leonard asked.

"It's hardly new," Glenn answered. "Shield adaptation to lance combat is actually a comparatively recent development, only dating back to just after the start of the war with Mitus. Originally, combat with the lance was..."

"Yes, yes I know, you've repeated it to me a hundred times," Leonard interrupted. "Trying to live up to your namesake?"

"My namesake? Doluka Sturmwind? Please, spare me," Glenn commented. "The fairy tales are what originally planted the desire for me to take up the lance, yes, but that's all. Fighting without the shield for the added mobility was a choice I made on my own."

"After Amador almost handed you your rear," Leonard teased with a smile.

"Don't remind me," Glenn gloomily said. He looked up at his friend after a second with a bit of annoyance in his face. "You know that bastard heard about me fighting like this full on and decided to copy it for himself in the Castle Guard some time ago?  I swear it's like he wants to be me since he can't beat me. It's pathetic!"

"You're joking," Leonard asked. "Really? What a sorry excuse for a soldier..."

"Yes, well that 'sorry excuse' is about to have his world turned upside down," Glenn said as a smile returned to his face.

"And how is that?"

"He's coming here."

Leonard's smile faded and his face turned to complete shock. "You're lying."

Glenn shook his head and leaned back. His grin grew larger as he started to laugh at the thought of it. "I'm not. His majesty told me in the letter to inform Commander Stark and Captain Henricks that he and fifty men are on their way to bolster our defenses."

"What'd he do to get kicked out of the Castle Guard?"

"Damned if I know," Glenn said. "Maybe he volunteered after hearing about our victories over the years and is jealous we're getting more attention than him again."

Leonard laughed and looked around the encampment while enjoying the heat of the fire. Keeping watch even if you weren't on watch was second nature, so it came as no surprise when he noticed a group of men bearing Delrich's insignia approaching the camp. "It looks like we'll get to find out sooner than we thought!"

Glenn turned around to face the approaching group of soldiers and recognized several of the men immediately, including Amador leading one of the squads of the formation. His moan of dissatisfaction and annoyance indicated that he hoped he'd have a few more days before having to deal with him.

"Well, break's over," Leonard commented as he stood. "Time to greet the new bloods. You want to tell Commander Stark or should I get him?"

"I'll go report the news. Maybe I'll get lucky and Amador will trip and break his leg or something," Glenn replied. He stood, groaning as he stretched his muscles out again while they got used to the weight of his armor once more. "Take them to the command tent to report in."

"Right," Leonard laughed, and he walked off to greet their comrades while he brushed the dirt and snow off of the cloak that was keeping him warm.

Glenn walked off through the camp to the tent where Commander Stark was resting. The old man's attitude hadn't changed a bit since the day Glenn met him fifteen years ago, although the same couldn't be said for his hair. For an old man he was surprisingly fit for combat, and he relished every minute he had in the field, unlike most of his similarly aged colleagues. There wasn't a name more feared in Mitus than his, and for good reason. The man was a master of all forms of weapons and had killed more enemies with them than he could remember. Glenn was very fortunate and grateful to have served under him for his entire career thus far. While the royal family had taken him in, Louis Stark came to be something akin to an uncle, but he never let that show and always addressed the man by his rank.

Glenn pulled aside the cloth covering the opening to the commander's tent and stepped inside. The elderly soldier was sitting on his cot looking over maps of the region, probably deciding what his regiment's next strategic move should be when he noticed the young soldier enter. Glenn wasn't in a state of distress, so he remained seated while he bade him come closer.

"Yes, Glenn, what is it?" the commander asked. "News from the front?"

"No, sir," Glenn replied while he saluted his superior officer. "Reinforcements from Delrich have arrived."

"The men from the Castle Guard then?" Stark asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Have they been briefed?"

"No, sir. Sergeant Marshall is escorting them to the command tent for a full briefing," Glenn explained. "They should be there now."

Commander Stark removed his thin framed glasses and placed them down on the small table text to his cot. He stood, stretched out his neck, and grabbed his cloak and sword before walking over to Glenn. "Then I suppose I should welcome our guests, shouldn't I?"

The pair exited the tent and walked, conversing about the recent battles they had fought. Unlike most commanding officers, Commander Stark actually rode out with the troops during rotations. His presence on the battlefield helped bolster his soldiers' morale, which increased their performance, the kills he would score notwithstanding.

"Sir, have you considered my recommendation?" Glenn asked his superior.

"You mean about the dragons?" Stark inquired. "It's a unique idea; I'll give it that. Toran's locals have been doing so for as long as their culture has existed. But integrating such a tactic would require time and training, and undoubtedly an exchange for Toran to teach us the binding magic they use."

"I understand that, sir, but aerial superiority could end the war in our favor," Glenn argued.

"Indeed it could, which is why I've sent word to the king describing the proposal and my suggestion that we move forward with the idea," Stark explained. "If he agrees then you will be at the forefront of it."

Glenn beamed with as much excitement as etiquette would allow. "Thank you, sir."

"I just hope you're right...I'm telling you, Glenn, this war is about to take its final toll on us all," Stark commented. "Too many years have passed, with far too much blood being spilled on both sides."

"You believe we'll secure victory soon, sir?" Glenn asked in reply.

"That's not what I mean. Neither side will back down at this point," Stark began to explain. "If this was shortly after Mitus began expanding, then yes, with our present strategy and military I would believe we could push them back beyond the Devil's Spine and lock the door...but not now."

"I don't understand, sir," Glenn said.

"Both countries have lost too much," Stark said. "If we pushed them back beyond the mountains, we wouldn't stop there. Our officers, the council, the king...we're all out for blood, and the same is true for Mitus. This won't stop until one of us is completely gone now."

"I disagree, sir," Glenn commented. "With so many lives having been lost I see Mitus being open to the idea of peace if it means ending the hardships this war places on the empire's people."

Commander Stark chuckled at the notion. "You're optimistic, Glenn. Maybe you're right, and I'm just too old and tainted by battle to see any other outcome. Your mother and father would be proud of you."

"Thank you, Commander," Glenn replied. Over the years Glenn had better accepted the loss of his parents, and learned to control his temper more with Commander Stark's help. He was taught about their exploits in the war, the lives they had saved together, and taken from the enemy. The stories were nothing short of awe inspiring.

The reminiscing was cut short. The sounds of the watchman's horn began to blow over the camp, stopping any soldiers who were roaming around in their tracks. Glenn and the commander exchanged glances, both full knowing what the sound of the horn meant. The camp was under attack, and it wasn't long before the enemy appeared and the sounds of battle were no longer echoes from a distant field.

Commander Stark drew his sword from the sheath on his hip and looked to Glenn. "The bastards have infiltrated our perimeter. We need to get to the command tent and secure the camp!"

Glenn drew his lance from over his shoulders and ran with the commander. Mitus' troops were fighting in the encampment and many soldiers on both sides had already fallen. Fires from the combat mages assault burned the cloth tents, engulfing the area and cutting off various avenues of travel. What few enemy fighters that aimed to cut down the pair were easily dealt with while they pressed on through the chaos. When they reached the center of the camp, where the command tent was located, Glenn was shocked to see it had already collapsed. Leonard and the replacement troops were nowhere to be found, but in their place rested a handful of dead enemy bodies.

"Leonard!?" Glenn shouted as he looked around. "Leonard, where are you!?"

"Sturmwind, look out!" Stark yelled.

Glenn turned around quickly to see an imperial fighter running at him with his sword in hand. With the superior range of his lance, he knocked the blade from his attacker before impaling him with the tip. When he pulled the weapon free of the body, he continued his search.

Whenever an approaching enemy was cut down, another would charge at them from somewhere behind the burning flames. Both the commander and Glenn were skilled fighters, and so the corpses of the slain continued to pile up around them, staining the snow a deep shade of crimson.

"We need to keep moving!" Stark shouted as he cut down another attacker.

"Sir, what about the Castle Guardsmen?" Glenn asked in between a couple more attackers. "Leonard was supposed to bring them here."

"Astley and Marshall are talented fighters," Stark replied when the assault finally seemed to stop. The shouting from the attack started to diminish while the old commander looked around. Judging by the sound of the quieting battle, Mitus had been pushed out of the camp and was retreating. "Stay on your guard. We'll search for them."

"Yes, sir," Glenn acknowledged. He held his lance at the ready and moved with his commanding officer slowly through the wrecked camp.

 The fires continued to burn the cloth tents surrounding them. The bodies of the slain lay scattered all around, covered in blood and soot. Glenn recognized the enemy's armor as one of Mitus' covert operations units; very stealthy and dangerous. During the fighting he wondered how it was that the camp had come under attack so suddenly, but it now made sense realizing just who it was they were combating. Though the battle was over quickly, the damage that had been wrought was severe.

Commander Stark appeared visibly disturbed at the revelation, having fought against the crafty enemy before. He tried not to let it show to the survivors scattered about, but Glenn had known the man for most of his life, so he could easily tell. To make matters worse, there was still no sign on Leonard, Amador, or the rest of the replacement troops that had been sent from the capital.

An hour passed as the fires were put out and the camp was rebuilt. Glenn became frustrated, and requested to lead a search party beyond the camp's perimeter to search for the missing troops. The request was promptly denied.

"Sir, they could be out there waiting for word to return," Glenn protested to the commander.

"Yes, they could," Stark replied. "There could also be an ambush lying in wait. I know you wish to find them, Glenn, but we can't risk it with the camp in such a vulnerable state. You will remain here and take charge of our remaining defenses. That is an order."

Glenn hated waiting around, but insubordination wouldn't help and he knew it. He reluctantly nodded his head and acknowledged the order before turning to attend to his duties. The camp was in shambles, and without proper coordination they would be massacred should Mitus launched a full offensive against them. The protection of the survivors and reorganization took priority over searching for a small number of missing troops, no matter who they were. Fortunately, a search party wouldn't be needed. Through what used to be the main entrance walked the missing soldiers.

"Leonard!" Glenn shouted as he rushed towards them. As he got closer he noticed the extent of the injuries his comrades had sustained.

Amador was bleeding from his torso, keeping a hand over his wound while being propped up on Leonard's shoulder. His cloak had been ripped and segments of his armor had been torn loose from their bindings.

Leonard appeared to be nearly the same. He didn't have a wound in the chest or stomach area, but he was bleeding from a large gash running up his face over his right eye. His cloak was torn in places like Amador's, and his armor was in a similar state. One of Leonard's arms also hung limp, with blood seeping through a gash in it.

"Leonard, what the hell happened to you?" Glenn asked as he ran over to the returning group.

Leonard winced as he lowered Amador to rest on an overturned barrel. "We were all waiting for you and the commander when we heard the horn. I started to instruct Amador what we should do when some of the men in the Castle Guard drew their weapons and attacked."

"Traitors?" Glenn commented as he turned to Amador.

"Possibly," Amador answered as he winced in pain. "That or spies from Mitus sent word that we were coming to reinforce your defenses. I bet they tracked our movements, and when we were near, replaced some of the men under my charge with their own so they could infiltrate the camp."

"And you didn't notice?" Glenn sneered, and drew his lance to point at the injured man. "These men were under your command, Astley! It is your duty to know them through and through. How do we know you haven't turned traitor and let this happen!?"

Leonard stepped in between the two with a look of shock at his friend. "Glenn, have you gone mad? We were both almost killed, and unless we get to a healer he still might!"

Glenn huffed angrily as he looked at Leonard, but eventually slung the lance back over his shoulder. His frustrations were getting the better of him. "The surviving healers are in the western section. I'll inform Commander Stark of your return."

### ______

The grassy plains of Delrich were as wide and open as the eye could see. Tall grass waved in the wind around the walls of a town that inhabited the land. It was a major travel and trade location in Delrich, which made it a primary target for Mitus and had evolved over the years into a military garrison as a result. Travelers knew the town by the name of Hammerdrop, dubbed as such due to the talented blacksmiths that made the bustling location their home. Glenn, Leonard, and Anye found themselves stationed there together to aid in the town's defenses along with their respective units.

Three years passed since the assault on Toran. After the men who infiltrated Delrich's defenses failed in their mission, and continued to face more defeat than victory in open combat, Mitus withdrew from the region and had yet to return. Unbeknownst to the enemy at the time, their retreat helped to secure Toran's confidence in Delrich's military. Such confidence led to their leaders approving the teaching of their taming magics to the foreign allies. That in turn led to King Justin approving Glenn's proposal of the creation of a new subsidiary unit which would employ the use of dragons herded from the mountains.

As per Commander Stark's recommendation, Glenn was knighted and granted the rank of Captain over the new unit, which the king dubbed the Dragon Knights. The unit's creation took him out of the field for a time to train and bond with a dragon under the direction of one of Toran's skilled herders. The practice allowed him to fully realize dangers of the wild creatures, which helped him learn to respect them as more than mere animals. The dangers did however dictate that only those who had been knighted and given an officer's rank would be allowed to undergo the training and learn the magic that would summon the creature to the battlefield. Such rarity made the riders widely known throughout the warring nations as a force to be feared.

In addition, knighting in general granted the recipient with a new set of armor that was custom tailored. Glenn had chosen to don a set of blue light armor. It had been crafted out of a mix of leather and polished thin steel, both stained to give the desired color. His shoulders would be protected by rounded spaulders that could defend against overhead assaults, deflecting enemy blows away and leaving them exposed. He also chose an open-face helmet, colored to match his armor. The helmet was adorned with two slanted attachments that reached behind his head from his temple like two outstretched dragon wings. They didn't serve any functional purpose outside of helping to identify him in the field.

Leonard had been promoted over the years as well, being given command over a company of soldiers of his own, making use of heavier plate armor. His skill with a sword continued to grow after the battle in Toran. The gash over his right eye left a permanent scar, and blinded it entirely. Even with the healing magic of the clerics at their disposal, the damage was too great and his vision never recovered. The soldiers and civilians in Delrich commonly referred to him as One Eyed Marshal because of it.

Anye returned to the capital city before Glenn and Leonard did, just as predicted. Her exploits in the field allowed the king to finalize the creation of another new military sub-unit, which he dubbed the Holy Knights and granted Anye command over due to her nature of using protective spells while in battle. Unlike the Dragon Knights, members of the Holy Knights would make use of basic white magic to aid with injuries and defenses against Mitus' combat mages, fighting in the name of the church.

She was similarly awarded with her choice of armor, opting to wear a heavier set of plate like Leonard. As if wishing to pay homage to her roots in the church, she ordered the armor to be pearl-white and edged with bronze. It was blessed by the priests of the kingdom to enhance her magical capabilities as well.

Anye's close ties with Leonard led to a romance to form between the two. Both of their families, and Glenn, were extremely happy for the couple. Anye's family wanted her to leave the military and bear children, to get away from the battlefield. But the auburn haired rebel wasn't ready to do so and continued to serve with her lover at her side. They vowed to marry after their current deployment to Hammerdrop was completed.

The front had been quiet for weeks following the arrival of the new defenses. There were a few enemy scouts encountered during patrols but nothing major had occurred. The calm worried Glenn and Leonard visibly, but Anye continued to try to find ways to pass the time. The distractions helped Leonard in their off time, but Glenn assumed that was due to their relationship. He was the only Dragon Knight in the town, so his thoughts were constantly on whether or not he would be enough to help push back an offensive.

"You seriously need to relax a bit," Leonard told him as he lifted a pint of ale. "Anye's right. It's been three weeks since we've arrived and there hasn't been any word of Mitus launching an assault."

"There never is," Glenn replied coldly. "Large attacks are much like the tide of the ocean, pulling away before returning as a monstrous wave...and you know I'm under pressure. I've yet to actually cast the summoning spell in combat."

"He has a point. Using magic while fighting off an opponent is an acquired skill that takes practice," Anye chimed in. "I could teach you some concentration techniques to help you become more acclimated to it."

"I appreciate the offer, but summoning magic isn't like your average protective charm or restoration spell," Glenn countered. "It's a much more...how do I put it? The magic is much more straining opening a portal and commanding a living creature with your thoughts. Magic isn't perfect even under non-strenuous conditions, doubly so for this."

Leonard laughed as he took another swig of his drink. "True enough; otherwise I wouldn't be called 'One Eyed' now would I?"

Anye leaned in next to her fiancé and held his arm. "Even still, it can't hurt to know something of more advanced casting techniques. Without a shield you're relying on your agility alone save for the extremely simple etheric manipulations you can perform. Leonard is starting to practice, though he's not very good at it..."

"I'm trying, and that's what counts!" Leonard blurted out.

The trio shared a laugh before continuing the conversation. What Anye and Glenn both claimed had merit, so neither outright dismissed the other. Magic was a fickle and dangerous art that required years of training and devout dedication to master. It could be a powerful ally, which Anye had proven multiple times as well as Mitus. But the use of magic placed a strain on the caster's mind, one that could drive them mad if it wasn't kept in check. The thought bothered him, but he tried not to let it be too obvious.

"So, how is Kiya?" Leonard asked Glenn. "We haven't seen much of her since your wedding."

Glenn sighed when he thought about his wife, Kiya Stark, Commander Stark's daughter. They were married shortly after Glenn's knighting at the request of the old officer. He had met the girl several times in his youth, mostly when she would visit her father at the castle. She took a liking to him during their teenage years, a fact of which Glenn was completely oblivious to for many years. The prospect of marriage to her came from the king, stating that Glenn should have a woman in his life to welcome him home after being away at war. He initially declined the offer, but his foster family was insistent, and so he eventually agreed and the two were wed shortly after.

"Kiya is well," Glenn answered. "We write each other often. She's been depressed since her father's passing. She spends most of her time within the castle's library reading, though on what subject I don't know."

"My heart goes out to her. Commander Stark was a great man," Anye commented. "So, you have no idea what she could be studying?" Anye asked. "I don't really know her interests that well, but one would think her husband would have an idea."

"If I find out, I'll tell you," Glenn joked. "I have no idea...probably fictitious tales written by traveling bards to help her cope."

"Well, so long as she's ready for you when we get back, what does it matter, eh?" Leonard lewdly added in. Glenn smirked and shook his head, and Anye lightly punched him in the chest and gave him a disapproving glare. "What?"

Glenn stood from his chair and cracked his neck as he stretched his arms. "I'm going to go check on the perimeter guard on the wall," he said. "Care to join me?"

"We're going to finish our drinks and then head back to the barracks," Leonard replied. "Mother sent another letter pestering me for grandchildren..."

"I swear that woman has no patience...we're not even married yet!" Anye sighed.

Glenn laughed while he pushed his chair in. "Like we always say; she wouldn't be your mother..." he commented. "I'll leave you to your devices then."

The couple nodded as Glenn left the pub and walked through the dusty roads. The walls surrounding it did a good job keeping debris from riding the wind into the town proper, so it was particularly clean. Elders who had parents that lived there before the war claimed that it was once a wonderful place to live, being very peaceful and secure against bandits that would raid other smaller villages dotting the landscape. Glenn wished that he would live to see the day that people could say the same once more.

The guard posts that had been established because of the war were all heavily manned and maintained a vigilant watch over the dark night-covered landscape. The flames of the torches mounted on the outer walls kept the immediate surroundings lit enough to maintain the perimeter, but beyond that the men keeping watch had to rely on keen vision and moonlight. Glenn wasn't the only one who had reservations about the location's security. Hammerdrop was a highly sought prize to Mitus, and the empire had proved it would not willingly abandon their pursuit without heavy casualties.

"Good evening," Glenn greeted one of the men patrolling the upper wall of the town. "How goes the watch?"

The soldier, one of the swordsmen under Anye's command, came to attention and saluted the knight before him. "Good evening, Captain Sturmwind," he greeted. "All appears to be quiet."

"Is that all?" Glenn asked.

"No, Sir. The group on patrol has yet to return," the soldier added.

"Were they due back by now? Patrols are sent out constantly," Glenn commented.

"Yes, Sir, they were," the soldier replied nervously. "May I speak openly, Sir?"

"Of course. What troubles you?"

"Sir, it's likely nothing, but a friend of mine was in that patrol group. I can't help but worry, especially with the rumors being whispered about lately..." he explained.

"What rumors?" Glenn inquired. "I haven't been told of anything suspicious."

"The townsfolk believe that Mitus is going to launch an offensive soon, and that things have been quiet to throw us off guard," the soldier said. "If that's true, then maybe the patrol stumbled upon something and they were captured, or killed."

"I see..." Glenn said quietly as he crossed his arms. He looked out into the darkness, contemplating on what the guard had told him. If Mitus was planning something, like he had feared since his arrival, it would make sense that a patrol would have gone missing. "Have the patrol coordinator send word to me if the men return. I would like a word with them."

"Yes, Captain," the guard responded.

"That will be all. Return to your duties," Glenn ordered.

The guard saluted again and went about his way along the wall. Glenn continued to walk with his gaze fixed on the darkened plains in the distance, trying to think of where Mitus would attack from. What little trees there were around the town weren't enough to mask a camp housing a regiment of soldiers, and there were no fires being burned that he could see. If they were out there, they were hiding expertly.

The rest of Glenn's walk was uneventful. The other guards he had spoken to all reported the same thing; no movement, everything clear. He had grown used to being in the thick of battle over the years, from Toran to the southern forest bordering the Kingdom of Belrun. His time spent training with the dragon, and now being in the defense garrison of Hammerdrop, was the longest he'd spent not on an actual battlefield since his enlistment, and the calm and quiet was unnerving. He also had a new regimental commander to report to since the death of Commander Stark, and Glenn wasn't particularly fond of the new superior. He was arrogant, like Amador, and opted to ignore the advice of others on more than one occasion.

As he made his way down from the wall he saw the new commander approaching along with his escort. Glenn dreaded the confrontation, but there was no way to get by without being noticed. He sighed and lifted his head, hoping that he would simply accept an evening greeting and be on his way. He stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked up at Glenn as he approached.

"Good Evening, Commander," Glenn stated as he saluted.

Lord Commander Tyden Escobar was a decorated veteran of the war and talented fighter with a range of weapons, similar to Commander Stark. His successes on the battlefield fostered the growth of his ego, though not without some validity. His short and wavy blonde hair was well kept, and he had a handsome face that made him a target for women whenever he was around. Oddly enough, he had an infatuation with the color orange, ordering his armor and cloak to be stained various shades of it. The strange obsession led to referring to him as the Pumpkin Escobar, something Glenn enjoyed partaking in on a regular basis.

"Captain Sturmwind, what brings you about at this time of night?" Escobar retorted. "Making rounds on the wall, I take it?"

"Yes, sir," Glenn answered. "Word of a missing patrol has reached my ears, as well as some rumors I was going to explore come the morning."

"A missing patrol is probably nothing," Escobar stated. "Deserters I assume. We'll send a small search party to track them at dawn. And what of these rumors; anything I should know about?"

Glenn was annoyed at the comment about the missing patrol, but he kept the opinion private and answered the question. "The townsfolk and, I assume the guards who have been here for some time, fear that the weeks of quiet we've had signify an approaching assault. They believe that Mitus is attempting throw us off guard. The diminishing scout parties we've captured could indicate as such, sir."

Escobar laughed heartily at Glenn's report, as did the four armored men carrying torches surrounding him. "Surely you're joking, Sturmwind. The people here have no reason to fear with me in command. Besides, we have you and your dragon to fight off any besiegement."

"Yes, sir," Glenn commented coldly. It was getting hard to hide his annoyance in face of his commander's blatant disregard, arrogance, and sarcasm, but he kept his composure as was expected of him. "Will that be all, Commander?"

Escobar calmed his laughing and straightened his posture. "I suppose..."

"Very well, sir. I'll see you in..." Glenn was about to bid the commander good evening when he saw a commotion happening near wall above the main gate.

"Is something wrong, Captain?" Escobar asked. The look on Glenn's face prompted him to turn and see what it was he was staring at; a gathering of guards looking into the distance. "What do you suppose is going on up there?"

"I'm not sure, sir," Glenn answered. "Perhaps we should investigate?"

"I'll let you handle it," Escobar told him dismissively. "It's probably nothing. If those men are shirking their duties for something not related to maintaining their posts, I want them reprimanded immediately. There will be no laziness under my command."

"As you wish, Commander," Glenn acknowledged. He gave a salute and marched back up the stairs to the walkway along the wall quickly while Commander Escobar continued his walk with his escort through the town. Glenn had a sickening feeling in his stomach about the commotion, and he prayed that whatever it was that had gained the guards' attention was nothing.

The hurried crowding and rushed whispering was enough of a cause for concern for Glenn to disregard the reprimand order. When he reached the group, he grabbed the nearest man's shoulder and turned him around to speak with him. The guard immediately gave a salute, but the look of confusion on his face suggested anything but a quiet evening.

"What's this commotion about?" Glenn asked.

"Captain, there's something in the distance...something big," the guard explained.

Glenn nodded and the guard and moved forward to the edge of the wall to observe what was there. The darkness continued to mask anything beyond the reach of the torchlight, but the guard was correct that something was out there. Glenn couldn't tell for sure what it was, and he thought he heard the faint sound of footsteps echoing over the hills for a moment.

"Captain, what's out there?" one of the guards standing near him asked.

Glenn remained silent, trying to focus his vision through the night. The light of the torches made it difficult though, since his eyes were accustomed to light as opposed to the darkness.

The mass Glenn could see in the distance remained far enough away to avoid being identified. A group of small balls of light appeared near it, possibly indicating fires being set by a traveling caravan of some sort. Glenn dismissed the possibility when the orbs came together to form a larger one in the center of them. It was then that he knew what was happening.

"Sound the alarm!" Glenn yelled. One of the soldiers standing near the post reached up for the alarm bell and rang it loud as the large orb of light lifted in to the air quickly. "Everyone to your posts now!"

The ball of light in the distance raced through the air quickly, gaining size as it approached the large gates of Hammerdrop's main entrance. Glenn ordered the men around to scatter, and leapt over the wall and away from the gate as the fireball impacted, buffering his landing with one of the few defensive spells he knew. The explosion shattered the doors and sent several people hurling through the air. Within seconds Glenn was able to hear the yells of Mitus' army rushing to attack the town, and the rumbling of their footfalls shook the area.

Glenn drew his lance and began to summon the magic needed to call his dragon. During training he had understood the need to keep the creature in a stone stable for protection, but now that he was about to actually fight with it, he wished that it was already there. The magic took some time to gather, and his practices didn't provide the sense of urgency that he felt now.

The first wave of Mitus' attack arrived before Glenn was able to finish the summoning spell, and the shift in attention broke his concentration. He had to help fight off the invaders without the dragon, as he had done in many battles before.

The bell on the wall began to ring again and the soldiers assigned to protect the town started pouring through the gate to meet the enemy along with Glenn. The approaching force brought torches and conjured flames, but the light also gave away their number. From what he could see, the enemy had amassed the largest standing force he'd ever faced, and at that moment he knew that he had to make use of the dragon or he, and everyone else, would be killed.

Glenn fought his way through the onslaught back through the shattered gate to the town. Civilians were fleeing to their homes if they weren't already inside them to take shelter, but some of the fighting had already found its way to the streets. Every time he thought he could summon the dragon he was interrupted by another combat mage or dark knight.

"Glenn!" the voice of Anye yelled out over the sounds of the fighting.

Glenn looked around to locate the source of his friend's voice, but the constant struggling made it difficult. It felt like there was no end to Mitus' army. He hadn't seen nor heard Commander Escobar either, which led him to fear that the man had been slain already.

"Glenn, get over here!" Leonard's voice called out to him.

Glenn looked up, able to determine that his friends were above him. He saw Leonard and Anye fighting back-to-back against a constantly advancing stream of black-armored attackers. The shock nearly cost him as another foe charged at him from the side, but he managed to trip the enemy and kill him quickly.

"Hold on!" Glenn shouted up.

A trick Glenn had developed during his time training with the dragon was a technique that allowed him to jump incredibly high, even with his armor on. The concept was similar to what Anye would do in the field, using magic while in combat to aid her. Instead of most magic, which was focused into the caster's hands, Glenn would channel the energy directly in to his legs to boost his strength. Those who specialized in casting enhancement charms would utilize a similar effect to boost the recipient's speed, but Glenn had developed a way to use the magic to propel him upward by expunging the charge all at once as opposed to over time.

He used the technique to leap up to the walkway along the wall where Leonard and Anye were fighting. He landed with the lance pointed downward, skewering one of the attackers before turning to fight alongside his friends.

"Where have you two been!?" Glenn yelled at them.

"In the barracks, remember!?" Leonard shouted back. "We came out as soon as we heard the alarm, but you were out front already!"

The trio fought off attacker after attacker on the upper level. The chaos ensuing down below was catastrophic; Mitus had unleashed its might and was assaulting the town with everything it had. It looked like the very seasons themselves were laying siege in various locations, with fire burning some buildings while ice covered others. Had Anye not been so talented at protective spells, they would have fallen victim to one of the many ethereal attacks that had been thrown their way.

"Glenn, why haven't you summoned the dragon?" Anye asked in a brief moment of calm. "There's too many of them down there! We need it!"

"Every time I try to I get interrupted!" Glenn yelled as he cut down another attacker.

"Get between us," Leonard stated. "We'll hold them off while you perform the spell."

"Right!" Anye agreed. "Now get to it!"

Glenn was reluctant to step between them and place his life in their hands, not due to lack of faith, but rather because he didn't want to bear the burden of guilt should something happen to them while he wasn't helping. They yelled at him once more to do so, and begrudgingly he did.

Most of the mages and soldiers that had fought against the three friends had fallen, so there weren't many more that threatened to interrupt the procedure. Glenn stood in between his friends while they fought and gathered the energy required. The mental strain that casting the spell placed on him was great, and coupled with the stress of actual combat made it almost too much to bear.

A minute of stern concentration was all it really took though. With the magic gathered, Glenn moved his arms and lance in the ritualistic movements needed to create the portal that would bring the dragon to them. A circular seal appeared in the air above that slowly became brighter with each passing second. Wind swirled around Glenn as the magic was channeled through his body into the seal, kicking up dust and debris. Anye and Leonard continued to fight through the whirlwind, using the sudden change to their advantage.

The magic being transferred into the seal reached its climax and the whirlwind stopped, but the concentration of energy in the area kept what had been picked up floating stationary for a moment before the seal shattered. A gray scaled dragon roared as it flew through the glass-like concentration, circling the immediate area around Glenn before landing on the ground below him.

"Get down there and show us what you've been training for!" Leonard yelled while fighting off another enemy soldier. "We'll be fine. Get going!"

Glenn nodded towards his friend and jumped down to the ground next to the dragon, which had begun fighting off the terrified enemy its own. He patted the creature's scales as he took a seat on its saddle and pulled back on the reins with one hand, lifting his lance above his head with the other. "To the sky, Blutkralle!" he shouted, and the dragon responded by spreading its wings and lifting upward with a sprint.

They flew around the perimeter of the town, observing just how dire the situation was. The walls had been surrounded by Mitus' troops, siege towers approached the smoking town, and the black armor reflecting the light of the torches made the enemy appear like a swarm of insects. There wasn't much time for him to idle.

The connection between the dragon and the rider allowed the creature to be commanded by the rider's will, but Glenn felt more comfortable giving his commands audibly. Whether it helped the dragon understand or not, he wasn't sure, but it helped him focus his thoughts.

"Down low, Blutkralle!" Glenn shouted.

The dragon entered a dive, bellowing its hellish cry to strike fear into Delrich's foes. It exhaled a stream of fire from its gaping jaws, setting a line of the enemy ablaze as it soared overhead, scattering those that escaped.

Glenn flew back around, ordering the dragon to continue the fiery assault. The surprise counterattack appeared to be effectively splitting Mitus' lines and wreaking havoc with their command structure. After causing enough of a panic in the ground forces, Glenn and the dragon flew back around towards Hammerdrop and the siege towers.

The towers had been wheeled around from the far side of the plains, where they had somehow been kept out of sight until the attack began. The damage they caused to the walls was extensive, though a full breach had yet to be done. Glenn knew that if he could destroy the towers and keep them from breaking through the wall it would help the keep town's defenses.

The dragon's fire was extremely effective against the assault crafts. The flames caught the cloth and wood quickly, forcing any who manned them to jump for their lives as the structures collapsed. Witnessing such a display of power caused panic to grip a large number of the imperial forces and, although slowly, they began to flee.

Those that weren't afraid, or were brave enough to face the danger, continued to fight. From above, Glenn could see Leonard and Anye holding out against another stream of imperial soldiers. Commander Escobar was also alive and had joined the fray, and had an impressive amount of slain enemies around him. As irritating as he could be, the man's arrogance existed for a reason, though he was sure to regret assuming nothing was going to happen.

"Blutkralle, down to the gate!" Glenn yelled.

The dragon entered into another nosedive, accompanied by another chilling shriek. The dragon's fire cleared an opening in front of the shattered doors which Glenn used as a landing area before leaping off of the saddle and reentering the fray. They fought off countless enemies as the night went on. Hours passed as their numbers slowly thinned. Dawn nearly broke, and there was still fighting going on within the town itself, so Glenn turned to go back and help, ordering the dragon to maintain guard at the gate.

He looked for his comrades while giving orders to subordinates that had panicked. Anye was spotted fighting off a group of sword-mages, those who would imbue their physical weapons with etheric properties, near a fountain, but Leonard was nowhere to be seen. He ran to assist her and assess the situation.

Anye defeated the group of assailants with a masterful display of skill as Glenn approached. "Glenn, what are you doing here?" she asked frantically. "You should be stopping the invasion!"

"Mitus is nearly in retreat," Glenn explained. "What's the situation here? Where's Leonard?"

"The Holy Knights have routed the enemy from the gates and are moving to secure the town," Anye told him. "Commander Escobar and Leonard set off to eliminate the imperials that remained near the barracks, but I haven't seen them in some time."

"Blutkralle is defending the gate," Glenn explained. "The siege towers have been destroyed and the wall is secure. Let's assist Leonard and the commander."

Anye nodded in agreement and the pair ran off. The town had suffered extensive damage from the attack, but it looked like civilian casualties were at a minimum. But the losses suffered by the military appeared to be great. It wasn't long before they heard the sounds of fighting in the distance near the barracks.

What remained of Mitus' forces had somehow managed to surround Leonard and Commander Escobar were fighting them each three to one. They were both holding their own but they were showing signs of fatigue. If Glenn and Anye didn't intervene they would likely fall.

Anye rushed in first, shouting madly at the men attacking her beloved. Glenn followed closely behind, helping her get the attention of two of the six remaining attackers. Leonard and the commander still had to deal with two each, but any help was sure to be welcome at that point.

The men they were fighting appeared to be some of the elite. They were fast and strong, but the fact that the six of them couldn't eliminate two men from Delrich suggested they were either injured or exhausted.

The pair continuing to attack Leonard drove him up some nearby stairs to the upper level walkway along the wall. Glenn and Anye fought hard against their foes, cutting them down as the commander managed to finally defeat his opponents. They each looked at one another for a brief moment of reprieve before following where Leonard had moved to.

Glenn was the first to reach the top of the stairs. One of the two enemy soldiers was lying in a pool of blood that dripped through the wooden walkway. The other continued to fight fiercely, appearing to gain the upper hand. Both of them were covered in splattered blood and cuts, but Leonard looked to be in pain and his movements were slowing.

The fighters' swords continued to clash, but Leonard was unable to keep his defenses up. The dark knight moved quickly, punching him in the face to knock him off balance while his sword bounced off of Leonard's shield. Leonard lost his strength and his arm went limp at his side as he staggered against the wall. He looked back at the remaining attacker. His face grew furious and he lifted his arms to fight again, but the imperial was too fast for him.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and watched in horror as the last remaining man from Mitus slashed across Leonard's chest and pushed him back into the wall before plunging his weapon through his gut. The attacker yanked the blade violently out of Leonard's body, and he fell to the ground.

Glenn shouted furiously, and ran as fast as he could. He jumped into the air using his technique without thinking, throwing his lance down into his enemy and forcing him down. He landed on top of his enemy's body and pushed the lance further through, cracking the wooden floor and threatening to break through.

Glenn left his weapon in the corpse and turned to go back to Leonard, who was holding his side and shivering. Blood coughed up through his lips and seeped through his fingers.

"Leonard! Leonard, you need to stay with me," Glenn told him as he held pressure against his friend's wound. "Come on, look at me. You're going to be fine!"

Leonard looked up at his old friend, still shaking. "Yeah, sure," he managed to whisper. "Where's Anye?"

Glenn looked to Anye, who was still standing still and in shock some distance away. "She's right there," he told Leonard. "So is Commander Escobar. Everything is going to be fine now."

Leonard coughed again, spattering some blood. "Can...can you tell her, to come here?"

Glenn nodded and looked back to Anye, waving a hand for her to get closer. She didn't respond, simply staring with a blank look on her face. "Anye!" he shouted.

Anye blinked as she returned to her senses and dropped her sword and shield to the ground while she ran to Leonard's side, taking his free hand into her own. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt to his side. "I'm here...I'm here."

Leonard, still shaking, managed to form a smile while he looked at her. He tried to speak, coughing a bit more before managing to say the words. "Anye...I'm sorry. I'm sorry this happened..." he told her.

"Don't talk like that!" Anye yelled at him. "I can help you, I can treat this," she said as she tried using a healing spell on his wound.

Leonard shook his head and grabbed Anye's hands. He held a pleading look in his eyes while he looked at her. "It's too late," he told her. "I've already...lost too much blood. Closing the wound won't do anything..."

"No, no you're..." Anye tried to say something else but Leonard interrupted her.

"Yes, it is," Leonard stated. "You...were the best thing to ever happen...to me," he said to her. Tears formed in his eyes as he gazed at the woman. "Thank you, for being there." He turned his head to look at Glenn, who had remained silent during the exchange. "Glenn...Thank you for being my friend," he told him.

Glenn nodded to his friend, barely managing to hold back the tears of his own. "I should be thanking you," he told him through choked breathing. "Before you, I didn't have anyone."

"Promise me..." Leonard began. He reached up quickly with his good arm and grabbed Glenn's cloak with as much force as he could, pulling him closer as he stared into his friends eyes. "Promise me that you'll...that you'll take care of her for me."

"I promise," Glenn replied.

"Good," Leonard sighed, and relaxed his grip. "Then this...is goodbye..."

Leonard's eyes closed and his body went limp. Anye shook him, repeating his name over and over again in a vain attempt to wake him up. She tried to heal him, but it was no use. Glenn remained silent, knowing that it was futile. His best friend, a person who had been by his side since childhood, who knew him through and through, was gone.

* * *

# Chapter 2

## Conspiracy and Betrayal

Glenn and Anye returned to the capital to grieve over their loss. But the war wouldn't wait. It continued on as it tends to without regard for human emotion. Blutkralle's presence continued to prove that the addition of dragons to the military was a wise decision. The creature's visibly struck fear into the hearts Mitus' rank and file, turning the tide of the war in Delrich's favor. Anye continued to lead her unit, but something within her changed. She was no longer the stout, yet lighthearted woman of her youth.

But the pair grew closer in the three years that followed the battle in Hammerdrop, much to Kiya's annoyance. She wasn't very fond of Anye, though Glenn could never determine exactly why. He did what he could to calm her during her jealous outbursts, to make her happy and be the husband he thought he should be, but no matter what he tried the woman seemed unappeasable. Eventually his patience thinned, and he started pouring less energy into his marriage, instead focusing his efforts on his military career.

It came as no surprise to Glenn that Anye had done something similar in her own relationship with her father. She'd distanced herself from nobleman considerably, spending most of her free time off duty training alone in the fields near the castle's armory. Her father often sent new suitors to meet her, which she found infuriating and insulting. She confided in Glenn about the situation often, and he found himself becoming attracted. She had been a part of his life for many years, and understood him on a level Kiya never could nor seemingly ever wanted to. But he was an honorable and married man. And Anye was supposed to wed his best friend besides. He could never submit himself to having an affair with her, and pushed the thought of any romances out of his mind as best as he could.

The Dragon Knights grew substantially in number. Glenn remained the Knight Captain over the unit, but King Justin had bestowed the honor of knighthood to several more able soldiers who had proven themselves worthy of the title, among them of which was Amador. The new lieutenants took to their training quickly, grasping the basics of the summoning magic with relative ease. To Glenn's surprise, Amador proved himself to be exceptionally talented at it; a fact he would brag about on occasion.

With the now fully capable unit acting as a deterrent against heavy assaults, the king began to actively seek a peaceful end to the centuries-long conflict with Mitus. He was adamant about stopping the violence. Glenn had pulled away from openly preaching the idea after Hammerdrop, but he still knew it was the right thing to do. His relationship with the royal family and battlefield expertise granted him a seat in the meetings that discussed how they should move forward.

"Your Majesty, do you really believe Mitus will not harm our envoy?" one of the noblemen sitting at the king's table asked. "This war has been long, and old wounds run deep, Sire."

"Too much blood has already been spilled in the name of their savage conquest!" another chimed in.

King Justin Delrich, Glenn's foster father and ruler of the kingdom, leaned forward on the table as he placed his hands together. He wore a robe woven of fine red and gold silk and velvet, embroidered with shimmering gold threads and jewels. The crown that rested on his head shined in the light of the morning sun, and the gemstones placed about it sparkled. His grey beard bunched up in his hands as his chin rested upon them while he contemplated the arguments of his court.

"Yes, we have lost much," Prince Robert, the king's only child, replied in his father's place. "And Mitus is to blame, but this war was started long before any of us were born. Any violence begot from this conflict today is simply because we've been in conflict for so long. We know of no other relationship with the empire. My father and I are positive the emperor will see this as well if he hasn't already, and will welcome the idea of peace."

Glenn sat beside the man he considered his brother while he spoke while wearing a cloth officer's dress uniform, contrary to his usually present armor. He remained silent during the debate, keeping his thoughts to himself. Robert had been kind to Glenn ever since he had been brought to the castle after the day of the Sky Fire, the name given to the event by people who remembered that dreadful day.

The prince looked strikingly like his father from his youth, as he'd been told, from his flowing blonde hair to the way his face was shaped. The resemblance was so strong in fact, that he could be mistaken for his father's twin if not for the obvious difference in age. While his dress was not as intricate as the king's, his unique military uniform still gave away his lineage.

"But how can you be so sure, Your Highness?" Another, Lord Everdyne, Anye's father, asked. "While it is true that the messenger returned safely with the emperor's reply, we cannot be certain that this is not some ruse to lower our guard."

"Mitus has never been kind to us," King Justin stated. "Our people in the villages that once rested along the border were butchered if they weren't taken prisoner. The messenger's safe return speaks volumes, but I would not doubt that the emperor and his council are thinking the same as you; that this is a ruse on our part. Remember, although we were not the aggressors, we have not shown them much in the way of compassion either."

"What do you propose we do, Sire?" another nobleman asked. "You cannot go in person, the risk is simply too great."

The room remained silent while the royals and nobles contemplated how they should go about the situation. While the king had hoped Mitus would be open to creating peace, he had never actually expected them to reply in favor of it. He looked around the room, eventually stopping to look at Glenn, who had continued to remain silent during the discussion. Glenn saw him looking, prompting a response.

"Sire?" Glenn asked. "Do you need something of me?"

"Captain Sturmwind, what is your take on our situation?" King Justin asked. "Much of your life has been spent on the battlefield, and you've dealt with Mitus' army more than you care to admit. Surely you have an opinion."

Glenn bowed his head in respect for his elder. "Yes, Sire, but I hardly think it my place to dictate how a political matter of such import should be handled."

"Nonsense," Lord Everdyne chimed in. "Captain Sturmwind, please speak. I would hear what you suggest."

"As you wish..." Glenn cleared his throat as he gathered his thoughts, thinking hard on what it would take to let Mitus know that Delrich genuinely meant peace. "The proposal to end the war is ours," he began to say. "Mitus is careful and methodical, so I think it unlikely that they will accept an invitation here to negotiate. They would believe it to be a lure of some sort and, as a result, use it as an opportunity to infiltrate the capital and counterattack. There is also no neutral territory available as Belrun would not risk open conflict occurring within their lands."

"So what do you suggest? That we send a diplomat to the black city?" one of the nobles asked skeptically.

"Yes," Glenn answered, sounding more reassured in his idea. "Willingly placing ourselves in the imperial capital leaves us at their mercy and under constant watch. They would know that even if we wanted to use it as an opportunity we would hardly be unable. We would have absolutely no tactical advantage at all that would lead them to think we are there for any reason other than negotiations."

The nobles muttered amongst themselves about Glenn's plan. He could tell there were those who thought that Mitus would massacre anyone who entered the black city, aptly named due to the black ore they used in their construction. Lord Everdyne kept his gaze on Glenn though, thinking to himself about what was said.

"And who would we send, Captain?" King Justin asked after a few minutes of the nobles' quiet discussion. "A member of this court?"

"Yes," Prince Robert interrupted. "I volunteer."

Everyone in the room, save for Glenn and King Justin, was stunned. It seemed that the royals saw where Glenn was going with his plan and agreed. It was a bold move, and incredibly dangerous, but it was also the best chance at convincing the empire of Delrich's sincerity. Anyone less than a member of the royal family would be viewed as expendable and wouldn't garner nearly as much trust, if any.

"Sire, are you sure about this?" Lord Everdyne asked with a genuine look of surprise on is face. "Should something happen to you, the kingdom would be left without an heir."

"And if we do not end this war soon there may not be a kingdom to inherit," King Justin countered. "Anyone of lesser stature will not be trusted."

"As you wish, Your Grace," Anye's father replied. He turned his had to address the prince who sat next to the king. "Do you require anything of the court, Your Majesty?"

"I will need documents pertaining to the peace proposition, as well as a written form of the treaty itself to present to the emperor and his scribes," Prince Robert instructed. "The details of my escort can be handled through Commander Escobar and Captain Sturmwind, pending the approval of my father."

"As you wish, Your Grace," Lord Everdyne acknowledged.

King Justin rose from his chair at the end of the table to stand and address the court. "This matter is settled then. You are all dismissed...I wish to spend some time with my son alone."

Everyone present, save for the King and Prince, rose from their chairs and saluted the royalty. They shuffled out of the room one by one through an ornate door at the end of the chamber until only Glenn was left. He was about to exit and close the doors behind him when the king called his name.

"Wait, Glenn" King Justin said to him. "I wish for you to stay as well. Close the doors."

Yes, Sire," Glenn replied. He did as he was asked and quickly strode back to the king's side, kneeling next to Prince Robert. "What would you have of me, Your Grace?"

"Glenn, please..." King Justin said to him. "You don't need to be so formal all the time."

Glenn nodded his head and relaxed as he stood. So much time had been spent learning how to act properly around royalty and nobility that he sometimes forgot that the king had raised him as a son. "Yes, I know."

"That was a bold plan you proposed," the king started to say. "Truth told, I was thinking the same thing, as was Robert."

"Thank you, but I merely followed your example," Glenn replied.

"You're too modest, Glenn," Robert commented. "If effective tactics were easy to think of we'd have more capable commanders and the war with Mitus would have been over long ago."

"Indeed," the king agreed. "I wish it hadn't taken so long for us to try a diplomatic solution with the empire. I know you've harbored the idea of peace for some time, Glenn, and you're an extremely capable soldier. I want you to take command of Robert's escort party. Your brother's life is in your hands."

"Are you sure, Sire?" Glenn asked in shock. "Should you not have a more experienced officer lead them?"

"Glenn, to everyone else, whether they are of nobility or common stock, Robert is the prince of their kingdom. They would spend more time being proper and following etiquette than commanding," King Justin explained. "To you, he is your brother. You are family, and I know that you will do anything in your power to protect him, even if it means breaking perceived rules."

Glenn was a little shaken. He had never really felt worthy of the king's praise or hospitality, even as a small child when he was first taken to the castle. Having the prince's life in his hands was an enormous responsibility, one that he wasn't sure if he was ready to accept, but also one that he wouldn't want anyone else to handle.

"It's not as if I can't fight," Robert joked while he patted Glenn on the back. "I may not be a talented as you, but I can hold my own."

"I know that," Glenn replied with a smile. "Thank you for this honor. I won't let you down."

King Justin smiled at his foster son and nodded. "I know you won't."

### ______

A week passed as the preparations for Prince Robert's journey to Mitus were carried out. Glenn personally oversaw the training and inspection of twenty of his best who would travel in the escort. He would lead them, but he was the only officer of his unit permitted to take the journey. When asked why, the king explained that he and the court feared that the possible presence of multiple dragons would be viewed as too aggressive. A single rider could be explained under defensive pretenses, but considering their effectiveness in combat even that was risky.

Anye was less enthused about the war's potential end. She didn't outright admit it, but Glenn suspected she wasn't pleased at the prospect of him traveling in a small party to the heart of Mitus to discuss matters of peace with her fiancé's killers. Still, she understood her duty and acknowledged the king's order to ready twenty of her own for the deployment.

Glenn and Anye readied their troops as best they could and allowed them to return to their families for rest and closure on the eve before their departure, as was common practice. Anye wouldn't be joining him on the trip for her own protection, though Glenn wouldn't admit it. King Justin personally desired both of the revered knights serving in his son's escort, but Glenn managed to convince him that it wouldn't be necessary, and that one of her lieutenants would suffice. He'd made a promise that he would protect her, and keeping her out of Mitus was doing just that.

The sun set, painting the sky above a brilliant mix of pink and orange as the sun lowered beneath the ocean's horizon. Delrich's castle had been built on a coastal cliff overlooking the emerald and azure waters, giving a fantastic view for any within its walls. The beach below was a common playground for Glenn and the prince in their youth, with many caverns to explore inside the rocky cliff.

Although his training with the troops had ceased earlier in the day, Glenn continued to practice alone. He'd honed his jumping technique considerably over the years, teaching it to all of the soldiers brought under his command, knight or otherwise. Some took to it quickly while others struggled to control the magic needed to propel oneself upward and then cushion their landing. He was about to retire for the evening when one of the castle's guards approached him in the training area.

"Captain Sturmwind," the guard greeted.

"Yes, what is it?" Glenn greeted as he removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his forehead. A large amount of the liquid had gathered over his brow and felt particularly disgusting.

"Sir, His Royal Highness, King Justin, has requested your presence," the guard answered.

The king wishing to speak with him at such a late hour came as a surprise, though not entirely unexpected. It was probably a reassurance talk with him and Robert before the mission, or perhaps a reminder of how important their task was. He couldn't be sure, and speculating was a waste of time.

"On what matter of business does His Highness summon me?" Glenn asked the guard as he walked.

"I was only informed by the chancellor that the king wished to speak with you immediately," the guard answered.

"Very well," Glenn sighed. "I'll make my way there now. You may return to your duties."

"Sir," the guard said with a salute. He turned and left back through the halls whence he came.

Glenn walked through Delrich's castle corridors quickly, not wishing to keep the king waiting. He brushed off the dirt that had accumulated on his armor but it was far from clean. The setting sun shined through the windows of the corridors, lighting the grey stone with a bright orange light as if it were on fire.

When he entered the throne room where King Justin waited, he was surprised to see that Amador was standing at the foot of the steps in front of it. His armor reflected the orange light of the sun brilliantly. It was similar in composition to Glenn's, but much more menacing in appearance. It was shaded jet black, and in place of the smooth, rounded edges Glenn had chosen for defensive and non-lethal purposes, Amador had placed spikes and jagged edges for a much more aggressive look and approach to close combat.

As Glenn drew closer to the throne he knelt before the king he served. "You called for me, Sire?" he asked.

"Yes, Captain," the King answered, though his tone was less than pleasing. "I've been deliberating over the soldiers serving in the escort and come to a realization." He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"A realization, Your Grace?" Glenn repeated. He glared over at Amador who was grinning slightly at Glenn. He knew Amador had said something to the king and that whatever it was he wouldn't like it.

"Yes," King Justin said. "I have been reminded how valuable an asset you are to this kingdom and its military, which is why I've decided that you will not be leading the escort guarding my son."

Glenn quickly rose to his feet with an expression of confusion on his face. "Pardon, Your Grace, but you wish me to leave the protection of Prince Robert to someone else?"

King Justin leaned forward and stared angrily at Glenn. "Yes, Captain, I do."

"Sire, if I may ask, what does Lieutenant Astley have to do with this? Surely he didn't overstep his authority to suggest this to you," Glenn stated while he glared at his subordinate.

"Lest you forget, Captain Sturmwind, Sir Astley is of noble birth and may request an audience with me as he sees fit. Regardless, I sent for him to garner his opinion on the mission; something you surely did not take into account," the king answered. "He made a compelling argument regarding the defense of the capital which I have decided to act upon."

"And pray tell what this argument was, Your Grace," Glenn stated towards the monarch.

"You will remain here to assist Lord Commander Escobar and continue to train the lancers under your charge," King Justin began to explain. "Captain Everdyne will take the place of command for the escort of Prince Robert in your stead."

"Sire, do you not wish to have the presence of a Dragon Knight to aid in the defense of His Majesty, the prince?" Glenn inquired.

"I do, which is why Sir Astley will be joining him for this journey," King Justin stated. "He is an extremely adept lancer, as you know; equal to you in skill, if I remember correctly."

"You do me honor, Your Majesty," Amador commented with a slight bow and a grin.

"Not quite equal, Your Grace," Glenn corrected. He saw Amador's grin turn to a slight sneer at the comment, but he kept in his place without another word. "Are you certain this is wise, Sire?"

"You question my judgment?" King Justin asked angrily as he rose from his seat. "Have you forgotten your status?"

"No, Your Majesty, I simply care for Prince Robert's well-being and wish to ensure that his defenses are prepared for what they may face," Glenn said with a bow. "If this is your decision, then it shall be honored."

"It is my decision," King Justin replied. His voice sounded heavy, filled with worry and woe. "Go inform Captain Everdyne of her post. Now both of you; be gone from my sight. There are other matters that require my attention..."

Both Amador and Glenn bowed before the king and headed for the grand doors that led to and from the throne room. The setting sun had just completed its descent, prompting the castle's guards to light the torches and begin the change-over to the night watch. The moon sat high above amongst stars that slowly became visible as the light faded.

Amador had already begun his stride down the corridor when Glenn stopped him with a call of his name.

"Amador, a word," Glenn stated.

Amador paused mid-stride, seemingly annoyed that he had been interrupted, but turned. He bowed his head in respect but his facial expression was anything but. "Yes, Captain?"

"Would you care to explain how His Majesty came to summon you to discuss such an important manner instead of one of his appointed advisors?" Glenn asked while he crossed his arms. "This wouldn't have anything to do with your father's presence in the court would it?"

"I have no idea," Amador answered with a tone of annoyance. "I have no control over my father or the king, as you should well know."

"Do you take me for a fool?" Glenn continued. Amador's facial expression answered even though his lips remained sealed. "Do you have any idea the level of importance and danger this mission is? This is not the time for your pettiness!"

"Captain, King Justin asked me for my opinion on the matter," Amador stated slyly. "I highly doubt he views me as petty."

Glenn stared into Amador's eyes with such disdain that he lost all will to speak. His only thoughts were of striking him in the jaw with a tightened fist. But as a superior ranked officer, his honor compelled him to control his temper. The argument was leading nowhere, and Glenn had to make sure that Anye would be prepared for the unexpected journey.

"You're dismissed," Glenn quietly ordered. "I suggest you make sure your equipment is pristine. And do remember that you aren't taking my place in command. You will follow Captain Everdyne's orders and will happily give your life for the safety of the prince."

Amador glared with disdain. It was known that he hated the fact that Glenn had been knighted first, and had been caught running his mouth about it before which nearly resulted in severe punishment. Had it not been for his father's influence he would likely have been dismissed from the service. The senior Astley was widely respected and a revered veteran of the war. Amador's family ties hadn't been enough to get him promoted to the same rank as however, and thus he remained serving as lieutenant.

After a good moment of angry staring at one another, Amador turned to proceed down one of the castle's corridors to prepare for his assignment. Glenn, still angry and confused at the king's attitude, decided to try and walk off the aggression and check on the men patrolling the castle before meeting with Anye.

In all of his years living in the castle, being raised by the king and educated alongside the prince, Glenn had rarely seen the benevolent monarch appear and sound so agitated, let alone at him. It was possible that the stress of sending his only child, the heir to the throne, to the heart of enemy territory was pushing the ruler to heightened levels of stress the likes of which Glenn scarcely bore witness to. He thought to himself that were he in the same position, he would probably be acting out of character as well. Regardless, the fact that Amador had a hand in the change of personnel still angered him and was a persistent thought no matter how much he tried to push it from his mind.

A good hour was spent touring the halls of the massive structure. The early spring's cool evening wind blew lightly, nibbling at his cheeks and reminding him of the late hour. He still had yet to tell Anye that she was to be replacing him, but at least Kiya would be happy he was remaining in the capital instead of leaving...maybe.

Anye's personal quarters were in the northern wing of the castle, as were the barracks that housed her unit of the military. Glenn's evening stroll to cool his head had coincidentally placed him near the area, so it didn't take him long to reach her door. Unfortunately, to his surprise, she wasn't there. A note had been attached to her door indicating that she had been summoned to her family's estate by her father on a matter of importance, though the details of which weren't described.

"I wonder who her father is trying marry her to this time..." Glenn muttered. The note didn't indicate how long Anye would be, so waiting idly by her chamber would be foolhardy and unproductive.

As if on cue, Glenn's stomach let out a rumble loud enough to be mistaken for a wild beast's growl. He hadn't eaten since midday. A stop at the pub to eat seemed like a wise choice. The staff in the castle's kitchens had all returned home by that hour. As he left the gates, he informed one of the watchmen that he needed to see Anye upon her return and that she shouldn't return to her quarters immediately; Elias Cole. He was an eager young man who had taken on a pseudo-apprenticeship under the veteran and was happy to carry out the order.

The pub was the selfsame establishment frequented with Leonard and Anye when they were younger, so the proprietor of the establishment was almost like family. But the best part about the small pub, in Glenn's opinion, was that it had its own brewery. Wines and other fine spirits were imported regularly from distant lands, but the ale he had taken a liking to was made right there on-site and stored in barrels older than he was.

When he arrived the pub still had a healthy crowd of off-duty guards and soldiers. The air smelled of grilled meat and soups, and the laughter amongst friends evoked pleasant memories from his youth.

Barmaids and servers walked about the crowd taking orders and delivering food and drink orders. He passed a few of them to take a seat at an empty table along the wall. Many left the table alone, honestly, and for good reason. It was the same table Glenn sat at for years, and the respect the citizenry held for him essentially made the table his and his alone. None took offense to the practice thankfully. The barmaid that approached him was an old friend whom he recognized immediately.

"I'm surprised to see you out here at this hour. Aren't you supposed to be escorting the prince to Mitus tomorrow?" the pretty young girl with blonde locks of hair asked him. She saw the look on his face and realized that something was wrong, but while Glenn had made it clear that he would rather not discuss his problems in public the girl never let him go without explanations. "What's wrong, and where's Anye? You two almost never come here without one another."

"Nice to see you too, Rose," Glenn greeted, albeit sarcastically. "Anye had some business to attend to at her family's estate. I'm merely awaiting her return. Can I get a pint?"

"Not until you tell me what's bothering you," Rose perkily replied. "I'm not stupid, now out with it."

Glenn sighed, knowing all too well how futile it was arguing with the girl. "I've been taken off of the assignment. Anye is to take command in my place with Amador being the active dragon knight."

"What? I thought he was just talking nonsense like usual," Rose commented. "Why would the king order you remain here? Prince Robert is like a brother to you."

"Wait," Glenn interrupted while he raised a hand to her. "What do you mean 'he was talking nonsense?' Who?"

"Amador," Rose answered as she pointed to a table in the opposite corner of the pub. "He's been conversing with the usual dimwits about it since he got here."

Glenn stood up from his seat to look over at the group of men Rose had pointed to. Upon focusing his vision Glen recognized the group as Amador's long-time patsies who'd followed him around since childhood. Amador's back was to him.

"Thank you," Glenn commented. "You can cancel that pint, I think."

"Don't start anything," Rose told him. "I mean it! Master Solidor doesn't like it when people don't follow his rules, remember?"

Glenn smiled at the scrunched face of the barmaid and nodded his head before quietly working his way through the crowd over to Amador's table. It wasn't long before he could hear him gloating.

"I'm telling you, it was glorious seeing Sturmwind's face when he found out he was remaining here!" Amador howled. "My day is finally coming, boys, just like I said it would. The king will recognize my abilities and grant me command over the Dragon Knights, and that filthy orphan will get what's been coming to him."

"I don't know..." one of Amador's cohorts commented. "Captain Sturmwind is really skilled, and his service record is something else."

"Bah, he only looks good on paper because he saw more combat while I was in the Castle Guard," Amador rebuked. "I can run circles around that no-talent hack any day of the week. He's just lucky, is all."

"We've seen you two fight more than a handful of times," another of his friends commented after taking a sip from his mug. "The last time you actually got close to winning was eleven years ago; trust me, we've been keeping track. After that bout he's gotten the better of you without trying by the looks of things."

"That's only because we kept being broken up before I can really lay into him," Amador spat angrily. "If the superiors wouldn't interfere then his face would be in the dirt where he belongs."

"Is that so?" Glenn said, having heard enough of the mud-slinging.

The small group of men, still in the armor from their time on duty, looked up to see Glenn staring down at them angrily. All of them, except Amador, snapped upright and stood at attention and gave a salute to the knight captain standing before them. Amador slowly turned and got to his feet, brushing himself off, but he didn't stand at attention nor did he salute.

"Well, hello there, Sturmwind," Amador greeted. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Have you forgotten your rank?" Glenn asked. "Or has your drink elevated your stupidity to the point that you actually forgot who I am to you?"

Amador's face grew tight with annoyance. Whatever affects the alcohol was having on him faded within seconds and he stood at attention and gave his salute. "My apologies,"

"That was quite the conversation you were having," Glenn commented as he crossed his arms. "And the title you gave me...what was it? I can't remember..." He looked at Amador, waiting for him to answer the question but he remained silent. He may have been a spoiled bastard, but he wasn't completely stupid and knew that he was in trouble. "Ah yes, I remember. You called me a filthy orphan and a no-talent hack. And there was something else, too, about being in the dirt where I belong? Answer me, Astley."

"That's...correct," Amador replied.

"Yes, well, it appears that I have some steam to blow off. What say you to a duel in the training square of the castle?" Glenn asked. "Just you and I, Amador, as you've always wanted it. Think you can really do as you say? It has been a while since we've come to blows after all. Perhaps I've lost my touch."

Amador looked somewhat shocked. His face made it look like he expected to be reprimanded and reported to Commander Escobar, but what Glenn was proposing was completely off the books and record. Glenn knew that it was a chance Amador was looking for ever since his promotion and, as he expected, Amador nodded his head in agreement.

"As you wish, sir," Amador replied. "Will this be upon my return from Mitus?"

"Oh no, I couldn't dream of making you wait so long. You're practically salivating at this opportunity." Glenn ordered. "No, we'll handle this now. Let's consider it a final exam, if you will, to see if you're really capable of defending Prince Robert. The rest of you can enjoy your evening."

Amador's mindless group of followers slowly sunk back in their seats while he and Glenn left the premises. Glenn patted his friend, Rose, on the shoulder with a nod as he left, hoping it would reassure her that he wouldn't be doing anything stupid, at least not within the confines of the pub.

Amador remained silent during their trek back to the castle and all the way to the training area near their barracks. The moon was bright overhead and the torches mounted on the walls kept the area well lit. The area was open and plain, with the weapon racks and cloth targets all along the walls.

"Ok, let's see if you're really as good as you keep claiming to be," Glenn commented as he walked. When the pair reached the center of the dusty training ground, Glenn turned to face Amador. "Right now, there is no rank. I'm not your captain, and you're not my subordinate. We're just two men who happen to not like one another."

"Now there's an understatement if I ever heard one," Amador replied as he fastened his helmet and removed his lance from his shoulder. "You're going to regret this."

"Oh my, how threatening. It's almost as if I've never heard you say that before," Glenn sarcastically stated as he did the same.

The two men hated one another, but they respected old customs and traditions, especially when it came to combat. The beginning of a lancer's duel entailed the pair tapping the ends of their weapons together at an upward angle as a sign of respect for those who had passed on. Following the salute, the fighters stepped back five paces from one another, which was more than enough space to keep them out of each other's immediate reach. After the pacing, they would each show their readiness by entering the fighting stance of their choice.

Glenn already knew that Amador was a very aggressive fighter. It made him dangerous and, to an untrained and unprepared opponent, particularly effective; Glenn was neither. Through lessons on controlling magic while engaged with the enemy, coupled with the short time he had spent learning unarmed combat techniques in the foreign island nation across the sea to the west, he learned to remain calm during battle and to read his opponents moves. The fighting style was dangerous to those not very confident in their abilities because it was primarily counter based, but he was more than confident and the techniques had proven to be worthwhile on numerous occasions.

Amador, as Glenn expected, charged at him to begin the duel with a shout. The clanging of their lances echoed through the castle's halls, carried by the chilly night wind. Glenn would parry and dodge Amador's attacks and follow up with his own, but they were nearly equal in skill at basic combat. While the two of them generally fought very differently, with Glenn treating his weapon more akin to a staff than a spear, the basics of their techniques were the same.

Amador attacked quickly, but the lack of an actual strategy was becoming apparent. When an overhead strike came down, Glenn easily staved it off and held Amador at bay. "What's the matter, Astley? I thought you would be able to easily take me down," Glenn taunted.

"I'm just getting warmed up, you filthy commoner!" Amador blurted out.

Glenn's taunt worked. The reaction amused him but there wasn't time to laugh. Amador increased the speed of his strikes, swinging harder and faster in an attempt to win in a way that would make him feel superior in every sense of the word, but Glenn wasn't having it. To his surprise, Amador backed off of the assault and stepped towards one of the surrounding walls.

"Are you getting tired already? I thought you just said you were only warming up," Glenn teased. He was getting winded himself, but the tiredness was nothing more than what he had dealt with countless times before in much more dire situations.

"Hardly," Amador replied. He jumped in the air, using the technique Glenn had developed years before.

Glenn was genuinely surprised at the change in tactics. Amador hadn't been known to favor using Glenn's jump. Doing so suggested that was starting to get desperate and frustrated, and was using anything he could think of to gain an edge.

When Amador reached the apex of his ascension, he angled his body towards Glenn and, using the same magic that enabled the jump, kicked himself off of a wall downward. Glenn jumped in the air to avoid the assault and came down with his lance at the ready. Amador managed to roll away from the counterattack and continued with his aggravated assault on the ground.

Glenn kept deflecting the jabs from Amador's lance when he noticed that Anye, dressed in her formal uniform, was leaning against a nearby wall watching the fight. He had entertained Amador's notion that he would be victorious without the interruption of a superior for long enough, and decided it was time to end the game. There was a more pressing matter to attend to, after all.

Amador continued with his attacks, stabbing at Glenn with an obvious disregard for his life. His continuing anger and frustration was making him sloppy and slow, and Glenn saw an opportunity to make Amador submit. Using his momentum from evading another jab, Glenn leapt into the air and, like Amador had done before, kicked himself off of the wall down towards his opponent.

Amador was too exhausted to get out of the way of the incoming attack, and took the force of an armored kick full on. He fell to the ground as Glenn pushed against him, releasing the grip on his weapon. Glenn's knee lowered onto his chest and pinned him down while the lance in his hand pointed at Amador's neck.

Glenn breathed heavily over his opponent, but felt satisfied that he had proven his point. "Not bad..." he began to say while he caught his breath, "but still not good enough, either. I thought you would have learned to make sure you can actually live up to what you boast before running your mouth. You're lucky I don't have you reprimanded."

Anye slowly clapped her hands as she approached them with a slight grin on her face. "Impressive, Glenn," she commented when she was close.

A smiled crept upon his face at the praise of his friend. "Why thank you, Anye."

"Well, if it isn't the lovely Anye Everdyne," Amador sneered as he picked up his lance from where it landed on the ground.

"That's Captain Everdyne to you, Lieutenant," Anye corrected with a slight attitude. "I suggest you go clean yourself off. There's mud on your armor."

Amador's face started to go back to the rage filled look Glenn had grown accustomed to seeing whenever he and Amador fought, but after being embarrassed in front of his friends and then defeated with a witness present, it seemed he'd had enough punishment for the evening and stormed off into the adjacent barracks.

Anye turned her attention back to Glenn when he was gone and let out a sigh before looking at him. "I was told you wanted to see me?" she asked.

"Ah yes," Glenn answered as he cleared his throat. "I went to your quarters earlier but I saw you had to leave for your family's estate. Is everything alright?"

"It's nothing. What did you want to see me for, Glenn?" Anye persisted. Glenn recognized her tone of voice from the many other times she had come to him about issues at home. He knew better than to persist.

"Sorry," he apologized with a slight smile. He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, knowing full well that he shouldn't have even asked. "His Highness, Prince Robert, will be leaving for Mitus' capital city in the morning to negotiate terms of peace with the emperor."

"I know that already," Anye replied. "We were tasked with selecting twenty soldiers from each of our units to act as an escort a week ago."

"Yes, well plans have changed," he said back to her. The king's way of speaking still bothered him, but he decided against bringing it up. "King Justin wants you to go with them personally. As you know, I was supposed to go, but His Majesty insisted that I remain here to protect the castle and send Amador with you instead."

"You're serious, Glenn?" Anye asked with an unexpected sound of elation.

"Quite...Why are you so happy about this?" he asked, suspicious about her reaction. He assumed she would be furious by the sudden change in assignment, not happy about it. She didn't respond to the question though, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts. "Hello?" he persisted with a wave of the hand across her face.

Anye blinked in response, coming back to her senses and looked back at Glenn, still keeping a sideways smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Glenn. The news couldn't have come at a more perfect time."

He raised an eyebrow towards his friend, realizing his assumption about Anye's business at home was correct. "Your father again, I take it?" he asked.

Anye nodded her head. "This time he's threatening to end my career. At least now I have some time to think of something," she commented as she crossed her arms.

Glenn rested his free hand on Anye's shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry about it," he told her. "I'll see what I can do about your father while you're away." It wouldn't have been the first time Glenn had come to Anye's aid regarding her father and his seeming obsession with trying to see her married. When Leonard was killed, the old man had practically wasted no time at all in trying to find her a new suitor. All of them had been denied, but it didn't stop her father from trying.

"Thank you, Glenn," she told him.

He remained silent, looking down at his friend in the moonlight. The orange glow of the torches made her skin appear to give off a soft light. It was times like those that would make him wish he had never met Kiya, wishing to stay by Anye's side instead. The moments would soon pass as memories of her happiness with Leonard resurfaced, providing a sense of guilt at his attraction.

They broke away from each other, looking around the empty training area trying to pass the moment of awkwardness. The hour was late, Glenn had been through an exceptionally long day, and Anye needed her rest for the journey ahead.

"Well, I think I should head to bed," Anye told him while turning away. "Thank you for your help, Glenn. I appreciate it."

Glenn nodded his head and smiled. "Of course, Anye. Sleep well. I'll see you at the gate before you depart to help with the inspection of the troops," he told her.

"See you in the morning then," Anye replied, and then walked into the darkness of the corridor.

Glenn remained stationary as he gazed up at the stars by himself. The message had been passed on and he knew he should get some rest, but the thoughts of being with Anye still lingered even through the guilt. He still missed Leonard greatly, and wished that he was still alive. If he was, then Glenn wouldn't be dealing with feelings like that at all.

Eventually he yawned, fully realizing the extent of his exhaustion and hunger, and how truly late it was. Even if he wasn't traveling with Robert, he was still the Knight Captain responsible for the men joining him. He needed to be present for the inspection. Being exhausted wouldn't help, and so he left the open ground for his chambers to get some sleep.

### ______

Glenn awoke, cleaned his armor, and assembled his chosen lancers for the prince's escort party at the castle's main gate where the stable hand waited with the royal steed; a white horse donning ceremonial armor and banners. The people he had chosen from his unit were his elite, exceptionally skilled and all surviving veterans who had seen more than their fair share of combat. They all bore grudges against the empire, but were well disciplined and Glenn would rather have people who were out for blood defending the prince if something went awry than fresh recruits who had never seen the battlefield.

Amador had cleaned his armor to near perfection after his defeat the previous night and stood at the head of the small platoon ready to take his post. His facial expression betrayed his words, indicating that he was still bitter about his loss and the humiliation at the bar.

Anye arrived shortly after Glenn had completed his inspection, dressed in pristine white plate armor and a blue cloak, with her sword at her side. Her twenty best followed in formation until they were ordered to reform on their side of the escort, opposite the lancers. She had fastened her hair behind her but let it remain down.

"Good morning, Glenn," Anye greeted as she approached him. "I conducted my inspection in the barracks. We're ready to depart when His Highness arrives."

"Good morning to you as well," Glenn greeted. "The lancers accompanying your troops are also ready. Prince Robert should be here shortly."

"And Amador?" she asked.

"Still his usual unpleasant self," Glenn explained. "I'm not sure if the beating I gave him last night humbled him or not but he's watched his tone if not his face."

Anye laughed lightly, knowing full well what he was talking about. "He'll never change, no matter how many times you put him in his place."

"Yes well, he still believes that place is higher than mine by birthright," Glenn countered. "There's no cure for where your blood is from, I'm afraid. Anyway, how are you holding up? The news of this was sudden."

"I'm fine, Glenn, really," Anye told him. "If anything, the news eased my mind, knowing I could get away for a little while to think."

"I'll still do what I can. You're father respects me. He'll listen...he always has before," Glenn reminded. "You need to focus on protecting Prince Robert."

"I know, and knowing you're on my side means the world. Thank you," Anye commented. "Don't worry about the prince. He'll be fine under my watch, and while we may not like Amador..." she paused for a second, "at all, he's still incredibly skilled and won't let anything happen. If anything, he'll probably try and use this to gain favor."

"I'm sure he's already thinking about it," Glenn replied gloomily.

The conversation would have continued had Prince Robert not arrived at the castle's gate, which prompted the company of troops to stand at attention. Anye smiled at Glenn as she turned to take her place at the front of the escort near the white armored steed. Amador did the same along with Glenn. The three of them remained kneeling as the royal figure approached and climbed aboard his mount before addressing them.

Prince Robert wore a ceremonial set of gold-plated armor and a flowing red cape with Delrich's flag stitched into it; a pair of lions, facing to the left and right, placed in front of a long shield. He had tied his hair back and looked well rested. Even though he and Glenn had grown up together, being treated as siblings, they each knew that Glenn was not royalty and etiquette dictated that the prince be properly addressed in public.

"Good morning to you, Captain Sturmwind, Captain Everdyne," the prince greeted as he situated himself on his saddle. "Quite the monumental day, isn't it?"

"Yes, Sire," Anye answered.

"My Prince, the soldiers of your escort have been inspected and are ready to depart at your leisure," Glenn interjected.

"Thank you, Captain Sturmwind," Prince Robert replied. "You may all rise."

Glenn noticed that his tone of voice suggested a slight hint of annoyance, but the royal figure didn't act on it. The prince had a habit of rambling on in conversation, losing track of time and such, and was commonly being reminded of his duties until he was focusing on said duties.

Robert examined the three knights standing before him, looking over their armor and presentation before speaking again. His gaze stopped when it reached his foster brother. "I understand you will not be accompanying us on our journey to Mitus, Captain, but that your lieutenant will be in your stead?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Glenn answered. "Your father, King Justin, wished my presence here to help defend the kingdom, and that I send Sir Astley in my stead."

Prince Robert lifted his eyebrows in response, showing his surprise at the answer. Both he and Glenn had never known the king to be one of such quick decisions without discussion. But the place to talk about family matters was not in front of a company of soldiers. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the silent Amador.

"Lieutenant, I hope you understand the expectations I hold for the Dragon Knights, especially those given the rank of an officer," Prince Robert stated to him calmly, but with an air of cold criticism. Glenn had set the bar high for anyone granted the title of Dragon Knight, and the prince was especially critical of them, comparing them to Glenn whenever a knighting occurred.

Amador bowed his head to the prince before him. "Of course, your majesty," he said. "I promise you will not be disappointed in my presence here."

Glenn rolled his eyes but, due to his position, Amador didn't see. The prince did however and grinned slightly, still finding humor in the life-long rivalry.

"Captain Everdyne," Prince Robert said as he shifted his attention to Anye. "It is always a pleasure to have someone as beautiful as yourself at my side. It is also reassuring, knowing your skill with the blade."

Anye bowed her head and smiled. "Your Highness, you flatter me," she lightheartedly answered.

"Not at all," the prince commented back to her. After taking a deep breath and looking over the troops that would be accompanying him, he looked back at the three knights in front, focusing on Glenn again, and smiled. "If everything is in order I think we should depart."

"Yes, Sire," they replied.

Glenn turned to Amador and nodded at him, giving him command over the lancers. Amador simply nodded in return. When he turned and walked to the front of the group, Glenn turned back around to face Anye once more.

He looked at her warmly as she looked back at him. "Be safe, Anye," he said to her softly. He noticed his voice sounded somewhat pleading, but it seemed that she didn't pick up on it.

"And you, Glenn," Anye replied as she smiled at him. The brief moment was all they could spare before she turned to lead her troops, and he had to step aside to let them pass.

Prince Robert looked to Glenn and nodded, knowing full well that he wanted to be there with him but couldn't. Glenn nodded back, silently wishing him luck and safe travels. The prince threw his hand forward, indicating that he was ready to move out. Anye and Amador both gave the vocal order to begin marching, and the company moved forward.

Glenn remained at the gate and watched the party move until they were nearly out of sight. There was nothing more he could do for Anye or Robert except keep the peace at home and wait.

### ______

Glenn sat in a large armchair made of leather. It sat near a bookshelf along a wall. The room in which he sat was one of many in the large house he called home, along with his wife, Kiya. The building was well cared for, maintained by workers employed by the castle due to his relationship with the royal family. Portraits of various individuals hung on the walls all throughout, depicting former kings and queens, renowned scholars, heroes of the war, and simple pleasant scenery. There was one piece Glenn possessed that he treasured above all else though, and it hung above the mantle in the room he liked to do his reading. The painting was that of a lancer and a healer standing together in uniform with a young child.

The painting had been commissioned by the Queen, Alyria, King Justin's wife and Robert's mother, after she had been rescued by the pair during the war. When questioned about the incident, she explained that the couple depicted was Glenn's parents, and that the child was his elder brother. The painting was done for them as thanks for their service, but she hadn't seen them since and was unable to present the gift. It had been given to him as a housewarming gift when he married, and he was forever grateful for it.

Kiya sat on a long sofa sipping on wine as she gazed into the fire that was burning. The two of them hadn't spoken much in recent years, and Glenn's removal from the escort detail appeared to have made her angry, opposite of the predicted emotion. The time he was able to enjoy at home was pleasant and relaxing, a far cry from deployment and combat, and he was also able to be with her, which made the apparent frustration even more confusing.

Lady Kiya Stark Sturmwind, as she was called, was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Being the daughter of Commander Stark, the renowned war hero and knight, she had been under pressure to watch what she said and did, and with whom, for her entire life. She had the hair of her mother, a gorgeous display of long golden-blonde that ran down to the small of her back. Bards that had met her sung tales of her beauty in taverns across the known kingdoms, and perhaps beyond.

She took a liking to Glenn when they met during his preliminary training in the military, when she and her mother had gone to the castle to visit her father for some manner of business. As the two grew older they wound up spending more time together when Glenn was squiring under her father. He had been oblivious to her advances for years until the elder knight said something about it to him. He continued to turn her away for several years until Leonard and Anye convinced him to give the girl a chance. Eventually they married and began living together in their own home.

The love didn't last however, no matter how hard Glenn tried. Following her father's death, Kiya grew distant and cold, showing a lack of empathy for anything or anyone. Glenn thought it was depression, but as the years went on she showed no signs of recovery and Glenn began to lose any hope of getting the woman he married back. He still tried to make things better of course, striking up conversation about various things, but nothing would take.

Quiet evenings at home had become commonplace. There were few Glenn considered friends whom he could visit, the king was acting strangely, and Anye and the prince were away. Remaining at home with Kiya was about all he could do to pass the time while not on duty.

"So, how did your day fare?" Glenn awkwardly asked, breaking the ambient sound of the fire crackling.

Kiya looked up suspiciously at her husband, who was looking at her over the top of the book in his hands. Her black gown hung down over the edge of the cushions loosely. "My day was pleasant," she replied with a smile. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't get to spend much time with you as of late," Glenn answered. "Am I not allowed to inquire?"

Kiya smiled and sat up, taking a sip of the wine in her glass before answering. "Of course you are, and I'm very pleased that you're still here instead of venturing to Mitus."

Glenn didn't feel like the woman was being sincere, and her tone suggested a hint of sarcasm. Confronting her about the way she spoke never ended well though, so he chose to ignore it.

"Well, I'm glad to be here with you," Glenn told her.

Kiya laughed and got to her feet, walking lightly towards him with a devilish smile on her lips. "Don't lie to me, Glenn," she told him.

Glenn looked shocked towards her. "What do you mean?"

She sat down on the ottoman that rested near the chair Glenn was sitting in and swirled the wine in her glass, still smiling up at her husband. "You're like my father. You want to be out there on the battlefield, not holed up here in your manor. Always gone..."

Glenn closed his book and smiled back at his wife. "And why would I rather be out there instead of here, with you?"

"You tell me," she replied coyly.

"How about we change the subject?" Glenn asked. "Some of the castle's staff has asked me about your habits lately; reading old tomes and a codex or two, and getting angry when asked if you required assistance. There are even whispers of you vanishing without a trace, only to return hours later without any explanation as to your whereabouts."

"Are you accusing me of something?" Kiya asked as her pleasant tone changed to the short-tempered one Glenn had grown accustomed to. "Because if you are I'd rather you come right out and say it than dance around with words."

"Kiya, I'm not accusing you of anything," Glenn explained. "I'm merely curious, and you must admit that your temper has started to arouse suspicions."

"Suspicion of what, pray tell? I'm allowed to do as I please," Kiya angrily stated as she stood on her feet. "I'm not the one spending my evenings with your crimson haired damsel, or did you assume I haven't noticed?"

"Kiya, what are you on about?" Glenn inquired. "Anye is a knight captain, same as I. My time spent with her is strictly professional, you know that. And besides, she was my best friend's beloved; I could never be with her..."

"You sound so sad when you say that," Kiya teased, but her expression was far from humorous. "If you must know, I was simply doing some reading and wished to be alone, so I made use of one of the castle's hidden chambers. I spent much of my childhood there, if you'll recall, so it's not as if I don't know where they are."

Glenn looked his wife over once more to gauge the sincerity of the answer. Her usual telltale signs of avoiding the truth weren't present, so he took the answer at face value. "I'm sorry," he answered. "I just want to be able to have a conversation with you..." he took her hand into his own and looked into her eyes. "You've been so angry and distant since your father passed on."

Kiya pulled her hand back from Glenn, spurning his affection. "I don't want to talk about that," she said. "I'm tired...I think I'll retire for the evening. Good night, dear."

Kiya left the room in a hurry, leaving Glenn alone in his chair with his book. Every time he thought he was making progress with her, when he thought she was going to let him back in, it ended the same way; with her angry and gone. Her friends told him she no longer spoke with them, the house's staff claimed she was quiet and rarely spoke to them, and those in the castle that saw her would repeat the same.

There was only so much he could do, though. Pushing her to open up again would only end the same way. It was late and he was tired. He promised Anye he'd speak with her father on her behalf, so perhaps that would ease his mind on the matter.

### ______

Glenn visited the Everdyne estate many times during his youth as well as during his career for official purposes, usually involving a protective escort for Anye's father or family members. Social visits paid to the manor became increasingly rare as Anye grew older and away from her parents, so it wasn't unexpected that Arnold, the senior staff member of Anye's family, was surprised to see him at their doorstep when there had been no official word sent. The fact that Glenn was also wearing his armor made it seem to be more of a professional matter than a personal one.

"Good day, Arnold, it's been too long. How are you?" Glenn greeted when the elderly man opened the front door to the home.

"Captain Sturmwind, it is always an honor," the old servant answered. "There was no word of your visit. Is there some urgent matter that requires My Lord's attention?"

Arnold was the oldest man in service to Anye's father and had been her primary caretaker in her youth. In many ways he was more of a father to her than her own flesh and blood, and their bond held strong while her relationship with the family withered. His balding head gave away his ever increasing age, as well as the deep wrinkles in his skin, but the clothes he wore indicated that he was well taken care of by the Everdyne family.

"There is, Arnold, but it is more of a personal matter than official," Glenn explained. "Is Lord Romulus in?"

"He is," Arnold answered. "Please do come in and wait in the parlor. I'll let His Lordship know of your arrival."

Glenn entered the domicile, remembering the familiar halls instantly. Her father had made it a point to educate Glenn and Leonard, in their youth, on the rich history of their family often, giving lectures about the various deeds of the men and women who were featured in the portraits hanging on the walls. She had come from a long line of great warriors, healers, and politicians alike. Of particular note was Anye's grandmother, a healer of great renown that the nobleman wished his daughter to emulate, but Anye was stubborn and tomboyish, and took more after her father than either of them had realized at first. It was actually the constant bickering between the two of them that led to her joining the army proper, leaving behind the life dedicated to the church Glenn first met her in.

The parlor room was similar to Glenn's reading room, but the Everdynes had acquired many more books, tripling Glenn's collection at the least. There was a fireplace in the back of the room filled with fresh soot. The dark wooden carvings around the room gave it ambiance, feeling relaxing yet refined at the same time.

"Captain Sturmwind, to what do I owe the pleasure?" the voice of Anye's father called out as he entered the room. "Arnold informs me that there is some personal matter you wish to discuss with me."

Glenn turned to see Anye's father, dressed in his daily business attire, enter through a side door across from him. "Lord Romulus, thank you for seeing me," he replied with a bow.

"Of course, Glenn," Anye's father replied as he sat in one of his chairs, gesturing to him to do the same. "I'm sure we can do without the formalities. You are, after all, an old friend of this family."

"Thank you," Glenn answered, and paused slightly before continuing. "I've come to speak with you regarding Anye."

Lord Everdyne's happy expression slightly changed to one of annoyance when he heard Glenn speak. The subtle movement was enough for him to realize that he needed to tread lightly. Whatever had transpired the other night was not something the man wanted to discuss.

"She asked me to speak with you on her behalf while escorting His Majesty, Prince Robert, to Mitus on his peace mission," Glenn continued. He hoped the mention of Anye fulfilling her duty and serving on a mission of extreme importance would soften the old man's attitude a bit.

The tactic worked, it would seem. The gray-haired nobleman sighed and rubbed his face to ease some of his tension before speaking. "Yes, I suppose I should have expected as much. But my daughter was not to be serving on this mission. Rather, you were. How did this change come to be, if I may ask?"

"Of course you may ask. She is your daughter after all," Glenn replied. "King Justin summoned me to his chambers on the night prior to departure. He informed me that, after much deliberation, he desired that I remain here in defense of the capital while Anye and Lieutenant Astley go in my stead."

"Astley...I see..." Lord Everdyne stated while he rubbed his chin. His gaze was unfocused as he sat in deliberation.

"Is something wrong, sir?" Glenn inquired.

"No, it's nothing. Amador's placement on such short notice merely reeks of Zaramen's antics involving his son," Anye's father said. His focus fixed back on Glenn, ready to continue the conversation the knight had visited the estate for. "Now, what is it Anye asked you to speak to me of on her behalf?"

Glenn cleared his throat through a cough before he began. "I understand it is not my position to weigh in on these sorts of familial matters, but she confided in me about your plans to see her married and her desire not to do so. She also mentioned that you made mention of removing her from her station in the military."

"I did, as is my right," the nobleman answered coldly. "Her childish rebellion has gone on for far too long and I wish to see it end. Her mother and I desire grandchildren you know."

"But she was to be married, if you'll recall," Glenn countered. "Leonard's death affected her deeply, much more so than I originally believed. I...do not believe she is ready to move on."

"Yes, I know..." Anye's father saddened his expression upon remembering Glenn and Anye's return from Hammerdrop. "He was a good man, and a good friend to you both, but it has been three years. I won't stand to see her isolate herself because of her grief."

"But is forcing marriage upon her really the answer?" Glenn asked. "Would that not force you further apart and drive her into further isolation? She loves what she does; serving on the battlefield and defending those who cannot defend themselves. The life of a housewife is not for her."

"And you would know this? You know what would be best for my daughter?" Lord Everdyne questioned. His attitude was beginning to show itself again.

"I don't mean to overstep my bounds. Perhaps you're right, and the man you have chosen for Anye is someone who will care for her and that she will love. Who is he, if I may ask?" Glenn stated. He knew blatant arguing wouldn't work and didn't even want to try.

"I believe you have met him on occasion," Lord Everdyne explained, calming his mood. "Jean Melvus, the eldest Count Melvus's sons."

"Forgive my apparent lack of comprehension, Lord Romulus, but Jean?" Glenn asked as he raised a single hand. "He is a known womanizer and, if memory serves, a dolt. You believe someone like him would be good for Anye, and that he would devote himself to her?"

"The pool of eligible bachelors is growing smaller by the day, Captain. Word of her dismissals has spread around the kingdom. There aren't many left who are willing to give her a chance," Anye's father countered.

"Sir, I'm sure Jean Melvus is as willing to settle down and marry as much as he is willing to donate even a miniscule portion of his wealth to the poor," Glenn stated, emphasizing the sarcasm in his voice.

Lord Everdyne looked around blankly as he sorted his thoughts once more. He let out a sigh and slouched slightly in his chair. "I suppose you have a point, Glenn. Count Melvus approached me and suggested I contact his son with the proposition. I hadn't taken into account the boy's reputation, however unsavory it is, or his father's motivations." He sighed once more, dropping the anger and replacing the emotion with a sense of melancholy. "She was so happy before..."

"You mean with Leonard?" Glenn asked, though he already knew the answer. He remembered the generally cheerful but still hard-headed girl Leonard had fallen in love with. They had made each other incredibly happy.

"Yes," Lord Everdyne answered. "I haven't seen her like that since his passing. All of you were so close...how did you manage to move on, yet she could not?"

But the death of his friend still loomed over. In truth, he had never truly moved on from, and he assumed Anye felt the same. Glenn did his best to put it behind him, but not a day went by where he thought about what he could have done differently that may have saved his life.

"I am a man of my word, Lord Everdyne," Glenn quietly stated as he looked at the floor. "Just before Leonard passed on I made him a promise. I vowed to keep Anye safe for him, and I continue to do so."

"And you think arguing on her behalf to stop me from forcing her to marry will keep her safe?" Anye's father asked. "Keeping her in harm's way will keep her from harm?"

"I support her because Anye is a courageous and noble knight of the kingdom. Allowing her the freedom of choice and control over her life is what keeps her safe. Doing anything else will only cause her to revolt and do something reckless to prove a point," Glenn argued angrily. "And it is not so much that Anye has not moved on. She does not like to speak of it, even with me, but I feel that she shuts people out and remains in service to honor his memory in her own way."

Glenn and the aging nobleman continued to look at one another in silence. He had never been so outspoken with anyone of a higher status than he, and he felt somewhat ashamed at having lost his temper even slightly, but it also felt good to freely speak. He judged by the look on Lord Everdyne's face that the message had finally gotten through to him.

"I see," Anye's father finally said. "I haven't had very many friendly moments with my daughter in some time, you know. I hadn't even entertained the thought that what she was doing was more than trying to anger me."

"Will you no longer pressure her and let her live her life?" Glenn asked.

"I will under one condition," Lord Everdyne answered.

"And what should I inform Anye that this condition is?"

"The condition is for you, Glenn," Lord Everdyne continued.

He was taken aback. He hadn't expected Anye's future to rely on him so heavily, but if it meant keeping her safe and happy he would gladly do it. "Name it."

"Continue to keep her safe, no matter what," Anye's father stated. "And if I might make a comment?"

"Of course."

"You speak to me about her as one who is in love with her. I can hear it in your voice."

Glenn looked back at the nobleman with a look of shock. He hadn't meant to come across as having feelings for her, nor did he intend to make it sound like that. "I did not intend to do so. I speak on her behalf as an old friend, nothing more."

"Is that so?" Lord Everdyne replied. "Well, I suggest you watch that unless you want undue rumor and speculation to meet you at your doorstep."

Glenn stood up in front of the chair and brushed off his armor. He gave the nobleman a salute and a bow before speaking. "Thank you for the advice, My Lord. And thank you for listening to me. I'm sure that Anye will be quiet pleased."

"Thank you for coming," Lord Everdyne stated as he rose from his chair. "Anye is fortunate to have you in her life."

### ______

The tentative peace during the negotiations eased the minds of the citizenry, if only temporarily. Because of the truce between Mitus and Delrich, the patrols hadn't reported any suspicious activity around the capital. Messengers from the front lines all came bearing word that Mitus was honoring the truce and had ceased all hostilities.

Three weeks passed, and although Glenn remained within the castle at the king's behest, he found himself being treated harshly. During council meetings, where he would have a seat, he had been relegated to a door guard. The nobility of the council of course took notice of the change, but kept their opinions to themselves.

The council was in session, as it had been nearly every day since Robert and Anye's departure, discussing politics and whatnot when a tapping on the chamber door echoed, silencing the group.

They all stared at Glenn as he opened the door to speak with whoever was interrupting them.

"Pardon the intrusion, Knight Captain," an exhausted courier greeted, dressed in dirty clothing and breathing heavily from his trek. "I come bearing news from the black city." He held out his hand which had a sealed envelope clutched within. A wax seal bearing Mitus' imperial emblem, a two-headed dragon holding sword above a book in its claws, held it shut.

"Word from the emperor?" Glenn asked as he took the envelope.

"Yes, sir."

"How odd," Glenn commented. "His majesty expected Prince Robert to send word of the negotiations himself. Is there nothing else?"

"No, sir," the courier replied. "The relay only carried this for King Justin."

"Very well. Here is your payment." Glenn handed the man a small collection of coins for the delivery. "I'll see this to the king."

The courier bowed his head and left down the corridor whence he came. Glenn returned to the conference chamber and closed the door behind him. The council remained silent, staring intently at him as he approached the king.

"Your Majesty, word from the emperor," he explained as he handed him the letter.

As Glenn turned to return to his post at the entrance, King Justin gripped his arm suddenly. He hadn't been remotely affectionate or even kind towards Glenn since the night before departure, so his wishing him to remain by his side was a surprise.

"Wait, Glenn..." the king said, barely above a whisper. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, and he was breathing heavily. "Stay here while I read this, will you?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

The royal pulled open the seal and opened the envelope, taking in hand the single sheet of paper with the emperor's writing on it. Glenn couldn't read it from where he stood, but he watched the king's face intently. He became as pale as the moon, and his eyes widened and filled with tears. The letter fell from his hands to the floor, and he began to wail as if struck by a deep sorrow.

"Your Highness, what's happened?" one of the nobles asked as looked on.

"My son..." the king began to speak through his sobs. "Robert is murdered..."

"What!?" Glenn asked, shocked at the revelation.

"Dead by the hand of a traitor..." King Justin continued through his tears.

Glenn immediately felt angry, instead of upset. Feelings of the loss of his family began to resurface, reminding him of the flames that robbed him of his brother. He felt guilty and responsible, remembering how Amador had convinced the king to remove him from the escort. If he'd fought harder to remain on the assignment then maybe the prince would still live.

"Who is the traitor?" Romulus Everdyne asked through angry, gritted teeth. "Does the coward yet live?"

The king's weeping ended and he stared at the noblemen with complete and utter hate and rage. He slammed his hands against the table and stood quickly, pointing a finger at him. "My son's murderer was your daughter, Romulus!"

"That cannot be true, Sire!" Glenn blurted out, ignoring his station.

"Silence!" the king lashed out. "I'll not hear your pleading. She is a traitor and has spilled royal blood. She will pay with her life!"

Romulus sunk into his seat, just as pale as the king had been moments ago. He obviously couldn't believe what he'd been told, but also had no choice but to believe.

"Sire, this must be some trick! Mitus is surely to blame!"

"Enough!" the king continued to lash out. He remained breathing heavily for a moment as he calmed himself and sat down once more. "You're all dismissed. Send word to the informants throughout the kingdom of the prince's death. The people have a right to mourn, as do I."

The noblemen all quietly stood and left the room, including Anye's father. Glenn remained by the king's side, awaiting his word. He was in shock and, even though he'd been through loss before, didn't know what to do.

"Glenn, summon the Alyria to my side," the king ordered quietly. It seemed his sudden burst of energy had faded. "She does not deserve to discover this dreadful news through another."

He saluted the king. Performing his duties was the best he could do, for Robert and for himself. "At once..."

### ______

The announcement of Prince Robert's death, and of who had done so, circulated quickly. The Everdyne family was immediately placed under investigation for involvement in the prince's murder. Public hostility required that they be placed under constant guard, and that Anye's father temporarily cease attending meetings of the court.

Glenn was devastated by the news, a fact that King Justin seemingly understood completely. Anye wasn't supposed to have even gone with the escort, yet Glenn had been ordered to remain in the capital while she went in his stead. Anye was his closest friend and a person he trusted more than anyone, and he couldn't let himself believe that she was guilty of such a crime even if there had been witnesses attesting to it.

When the escort party, or rather the guards from Mitus that had detained and transported Anye, arrived at Delrich's capital after the news had reached the kingdom, Glenn awaited them along with a group of his own men. It was when they saw who had survived Anye's alleged assault did people truly grasp just what had happened.

Amador walked with the guards from Mitus near the front of the group, dirty and exhausted. Behind him was a cage mounted on wheels being pulled by horses that housed Anye. Her armor and weapons had been stripped from her, replaced with prison rags. Her hair and face was dirty and she looked like she'd been crying. Behind her cage was another carriage, larger, where the bodies of the escort soldiers from Delrich lay. Only Amador remained.

The group halted when they neared to the city's gate. Amador continued onward towards Glenn with a look of fury about him. He carried Anye's sword in his hand. When he was within an arm's reach of Glenn, he shoved the weapon into his chest.

"Here, the bitch used this to kill him," Amador said furiously. He looked at Glenn right in the eyes as he spoke. "She's your responsibility now, Captain. I have a report to make to Commander Escobar."

Glenn couldn't say anything before he stormed off towards the castle. Even more, he couldn't even find it in him to give the order to take Anye to the dungeon. Looking down at Anye's blade, the sword she was given when knighted, and knowing that it had been used to end the life of his adoptive brother, was nearly too much to bear.

On the verge of tears, he turned to another of his subordinates. "Take charge here, Lieutenant. I must return to my home for an important matter."

The knight below Glenn saluted and accepted the responsibility, immediately giving the order to take charge of the prisoner and take her to the dungeon. Glenn walked away towards his home. The grief in his heart became more than he could handle and, dipping into an alleyway out of sight, he collapsed and wept.

### ______

"You can't be serious, Sire!" Glenn blurted out before King Justin and Queen Alyria in their private chambers. "Sentencing her to death without a proper hearing is not justice! We do not even know if she's truly guilty!"

"Our son is dead, Glenn," the queen answered softly. The days of mourning that followed Anye and Amador's return had been hard on the benevolent woman and the stress showed. "He was as a brother to you, and you defend his murderer? Sir Amador was lucky to have survived to tell us of her treason."

"My Queen, Amador cannot be trusted!" Glenn countered. His sadness had turned to anger upon word that Anye would be executed. "He his self-centered and conniving, and I would not doubt that he had something to do with this if not being outright behind it!"

"Why do you cast such suspicion on one of your own men?" King Justin asked. "Do you have any shred of evidence linking him to my son's murder?"

"Your Grace, it was he who suggested that Anye and himself escort Prince Robert in my place," Glenn stated.

"It was, and she would have escaped were it not for his presence," the king replied sternly. "Had you been there with her, she very well may have."

"Anye was not to take part in that mission to begin with, Sire. How could she have plotted his murder on this mission if she was ordered to depart merely hours beforehand? Why can you not see this?" Glenn pleaded. "Anye is innocent! There is more to this than we realize!"

"Enough, Glenn!" King Justin yelled. He was on the verge of tears again and his face was beat red. "My son is dead, by the hand of your friend. I do not care who she is or who her family is. She is a traitor and will be given a traitors death.  Your constant advocating on her behalf is making me question your loyalty as well."

The statement shocked even Queen Alyria. Although the time had been short since news of the prince's death arrived, the king had changed drastically from his once patient demeanor. His temper was shorter with Glenn, dismissing his opinions and making rash decisions without thinking. Even worse, Amador had been praised like a hero regardless of the tragedy and was being granted private audiences with him. Glenn didn't like any of it, but he was powerless to do anything.

"Very well," Glenn finally answered. "When will the execution take place?"

King Justin calmed himself as he sat back down on his bed. His gaze never left Glenn's though, appearing angry and frustrated. "The traitor will be publicly executed tomorrow morning by beheading, and her head will be mounted on a pike for all to see."

"Sire!"

"The people must be reminded of the punishment treason carries. Those who do so will receive no quarter. Do I make myself clear?" King Justin menacingly explained.

"Yes, Sire," Glenn answered. He wanted to add more to the statement but he knew it would do no good.

"Good, now leave our chambers," the king ordered. "I wish to grieve my son with the queen."

Glenn saluted and bowed his head. Queen Alyria still looked visibly shocked at her husband's remarks, but the decision of how to handle treason was his own and she respected that. After bidding them good night, Glenn left the room and proceeded down the stairs of the tower of the royal bedchamber.

The sun had already begun to set and dark storm clouds began to approach from across the sea, blotting out the orange rays of the sun with darkness. Glenn wasn't superstitious, but he felt like the storm was a bad omen, keeping his thoughts on Anye's fate. He felt like he should do something, like he had to do something, but without the foggiest idea of what.

As he paced through the halls of Delrich's castle, the sound of keys bouncing off of a guard's armor met Glenn's ears and an idea came to him...a foolish one, but an idea nonetheless; he would help Anye escape from the dungeon and get out of the country. He increased his pace and made his way through the corridors to his private chamber in the lancer barracks to think the plan through. If he was caught, he doubted King Justin would have any reservations putting his head on a pike next to Anye's.

Thunder rolled in, indicating that the storm was getting closer. The heavy black clouds and rain were to be used to his advantage, obscuring the guard's visibility and allowing him to carry out his plan. Anye wouldn't be able to return to her estate for anything after being released though, so he did the next best thing. There was an old sack he had used many times during his various tours during the war that he still kept with him. Glenn removed it from its place in his private chamber and opened it, stuffing it with supplies.

It took some time to get it all together, but eventually he found enough extra clothing and supplies to provide Anye with that wouldn't arouse any suspicion if someone noticed it was missing. He also realized that she would need some money to make do and filled a small pouch with gold coins he had on him. When everything was inside, he closed the sack and made himself ready to leave. He would have walked through the door if it weren't for the sound of metal falling to the ground.

Glenn turned around to see Anye's sword lying at the foot of his bed. He hadn't turned it in to the armory when Amador handed it to him. His refusal to believe in Anye's guilt prevented it. Anye would need a weapon to defend herself with, and a sword missing from the armory would eventually be traced back to him. The symbol of the holy knights etched into the blade was risky, but it was a chance Glenn would have to take.

By the time he started making his way down through the castle halls to the stables the rain had already begun to fall. Lightning flashed through the sky as loud cracks of thunder shook the walls. The hour was late so the number of people wandering the corridors was minimal. Glenn was careful to avoid being seen with the objects while he moved. The stables at the foot of the castle were nearly empty. There were only two guards posted near the small gate leading out into the open plains and they were both under Glenn's command.

The sword had been fastened to the bag, which Glenn had slung over his shoulder while he mounted a horse. He rode to the gate with rain coming down hard. His cloak darkened as it became soaked with the falling water. As expected, the two guards stopped him at the gate.

"Hold, Captain, this storm is pretty bad," one of the guards commented. "Are you sure you wish to ride?"

"I have a matter I must see to," Glenn answered. "I will return shortly. Open the gate."

"As you wish, sir," the guard replied.

The gate opened, and Glenn rode through the torrential downpour. He could barely see anything in front of him as the cold water dripped down his face, but he didn't care. He was doing what he had to do to save Anye's life, no matter what the risk or cost was.

Because the castle had been built on a somewhat elevated position near the shore, it sat above a series of small natural caves. Most of them didn't venture deep enough into the ground to pose a threat to the castle's security, but there was one that had been sealed off many years ago, long before Glenn's time. Located under the eastern wall of the castle, leading beneath the structure's foundation and into the dungeon, was the cave the Anye would make her escape through.

He tied the horse to an outcropping at the mouth of the cave and laid the sack to dry next to it. His cloak was dripped with water from the storm and he shivered from the cold. Were it possible, he would use the secret connection to the castle's dungeon at the rear of the cave to reenter and dry himself off, but the route was a one-way trip leading from the inside. He had no choice but to walk through the storm and to another gate to avoid being questioned about the horse's whereabouts.

Before setting off, Glenn took a seat against the rocky wall to rest. The constant racing of his thoughts didn't allow much respite, and he wasn't sure if he was even thinking clearly. He knew what he was planning would be considered treason, but to him the promise he made trumped his loyalty to the king's orders, especially if he believed that the royal figure was not in his right mind.

The only thing left for him to do was acquire a key to the prison cells. There weren't many of them, and they were only carried by designated wardens. Even though Glenn outranked them his authority didn't include the carrying of keys or authorizing prisoner transfers. He would have to steal one and not get caught in the act.

"Leonard, what the hell am I doing?" he asked. "I'm risking everything for her...but she's worth it, isn't she?"

Glenn knew that if his friend were still alive he'd tell him she was. There was no stopping him, but he also feared that even if he was successful he would never see her again after she fled. She may have been a person of honor, but that didn't mean she wouldn't remain in hiding to stay alive.

### ______

Glenn couldn't risk continuing with his plan drenched in water and shivering from the cold. He returned to the castle through the main gate he went straight to his quarters to dry off and warm up. He would be lucky if he didn't fall ill.

Dry and warm, he worked his way through the castle to the entrance of the dungeons. Because of Anye's presence, and the high profile nature of her accused treason, almost nobody was being allowed passage including upper ranking members of Delrich's military. Luckily, most of the men and women that served in the Castle Guard were new recruits and could probably be confused and persuaded to allow him through. There was still the matter of acquiring a cell key, though.

As expected, two guards holding halberds barred his path down into the dungeons of the castle. It didn't stop him from approaching them and attempting to walk through, feigning that he had forgotten the restriction order. He also carried his helmet under his arm to identify himself even further should the need arise.

"No admittance, Captain," the woman to Glenn's left stated. "Orders from the king."

"Oh, I seem to have forgotten," Glenn replied. "Is the warden present? I wish to speak with them about these orders you've all received."

"I'm the acting warden, Captain Sturmwind," the man on the right stated. "What is it you'd like to discuss?"

"What is your rank?" Glenn asked. "You seem a bit young to be a warden."

"Corporal, sir. Lieutenant Astley ordered me to this post," the soldier answered.

"I see, so King Justin never addressed these orders to you personally?" Glenn inquired.

"No, sir, he did not."

"I see, well then I don't believe the extreme security measures are necessary," Glenn continued. "Now step aside, I wish to speak with the traitor before her execution."

"Captain, I'm sorry, but we're under strict orders to-"

Glenn cut the young man off and interrupted his speech. "I am both your and his superior officer, soldier. If I give you an order then that order takes precedence over his. Do you understand?" he asked angrily.

The young man was scared at the sudden change in Glenn's attitude and flinched. "Yes, sir, I understand. But Lieutenant Astley was under orders he received directly from the king. I don't think-"

"I don't care if he's under direct orders from His Majesty. Lieutenant Astley takes his orders from me and by extension that means you do as well," Glenn persisted. "You would do well to remember the chain of command if you wish to have a career in this army, Corporal."

The guards both had looks of fear in their eyes. Glenn doubted either of them had been extensively reprimanded by anything and weren't sure about what to do in a situation like the one they found themselves in. He was right in assuming that they were unaware that the king's order, no matter who had passed the message down, took precedence over everyone, and in their nervousness Glenn spotted the acting warden's prison cell key.

"I'll ask again before this becomes unnecessarily problematic," Glenn stated slowly and quietly, keeping his teeth closed while he spoke and getting very close to the young guard. The female next to them stared in awe, but she remained silent. "I wish to speak to the traitor, so let me pass."

The guard looked like he was about to wet himself, if he didn't already, as he stared into Glenn's eyes. "Yes, very well, sir," he finally said after working up the courage to talk. "But I can only allow you a few minutes before I must insist that you vacate the dungeon."

Glenn smiled, but kept the angered look in his face. He stepped forward and bumped into the guard, shoving him off to the side and, using a little slight-of-hand Leonard had taught him when they were boys, nabbed the key hanging from the warden's belt without him noticing. "My thanks, Corporal."

Glenn walked down the dimly lit, damp stairs into the dungeon where Anye had been held since her return from Mitus. The smell was rancid and the air was musty. Many had died in those depths, and many more had lost their sanity when the hope of freedom abandoned them. The sound of the rain and thunder echoed off of the stone walls, reminding Glenn of the cave.

"Guards, who's there?" Anye's voice said as it bounced off the walls.

Glenn heard the clang of a weapon bounce off of the bars to a cell. "Shut up. You'll only speak when spoken to," the voice of a gruff, annoyed individual said.

"And as such she shall speak to me now," Glenn commented as he came into view. "Guardsmen, you may leave your post," he ordered.

"Sir, we're under direct orders from-"

"Lieutenant Astley, yes I know," Glenn replied quickly. The constant mention of Amador's name was starting to genuinely annoy Glenn. "Have you forgotten my rank, guardsman?"

"Captain, sir."

"And does the rank of Captain not hold more weight in its orders than that of Lieutenant?" he asked.

"Yes...no, sir!"

The guard in front of Anye's cell appeared to be just as easily confused as the ones at the corridor entrance. "Then I fail to see the issue. Leave, that is an order," Glenn told them coldly. "If Sir Astley has a problem with it he can see me in my private chambers."

Both guards gestured with a salute and quickly exited the dungeon the way Glenn had arrived.

When the echoes of the armor bouncing had silenced Glenn let out a sigh and looked towards Anye with a small smile. He was relieved to see her, but his relaxation vanished when he realized just how sorry a state she was in. "Anye, are you alright?"

"Nice to see you," Anye greeted with an attitude. "Finally taken the time out of your busy schedule to visit me?"

"Anye, you must listen to me," Glenn told her as he gripped her bars. His heart was racing when the urgency of their situation came back to him.

It looked like Anye realized that something was bothering Glenn greatly. He rarely carried himself in such a way, after all. "What? Has Amador done something? You believe me?" she asked.

"Of course I believe you," Glenn told her. "But there's nothing I can do. Amador is in the king's ear now. He won't listen to a word I say. He's already threatened to strip me of my rank and throw me in here with you for sympathizing with you on more than one occasion." The memories of his many conversations with King Justin only drove his ambition further.

"That's why you haven't been here," she said. "Glenn, are the rumors true? Am I to be executed, even without a trial?"

Glenn took a deep breath and slowly nodded his head before answering. "I'm afraid His Majesty has been...different, since your return from Mitus. I don't know what it is but he wouldn't be like this if he, and Her Grace, were simply in mourning. Amador has done something to affect him, but without proof I can't do anything about it, rank or not."

"Is that why you've come, then? To say goodbye?" she asked sadly.

"No," he told her. "I'm here to get you out."

Anye stepped back in shock as Glenn lifted the key he had swiped out of the pocket beneath his armor and opened the door to her cell. She immediately broke down into tears and ran out to hug him. The impact was hard enough to knock some of the air out of his lungs.

"Come on, we don't have much time," Glenn explained as he moved her off of him, though he enjoyed the embrace. "The guards are sure to have reported my actions to Amador by now. We need to get you out of here."

Anye backed away further as she brushed the dirt off of her rags. "But how? All of the corridors are patrolled, and if the king is going as mad as you say he'll have doubled the patrols."

"He already has, but there's another way. Come on," Glenn beckoned. He took her hand and a torch off the wall. "There are other passages throughout this castle that aren't patrolled. You just need to know where they are to use them."

The pair ran through the halls of the dungeon, trying to ignore the foul smell and moaning life-long prisoners that resided behind the iron bars. The darkness would have engulfed them had Glenn not taken the torch from the wall to light their way. Eventually they reached a dead end. Against a wall at the far end of the room was a statue of a dragon resting on top of a stone altar. Glenn recognized the sculpture immediately and exhaled, relieved that he had remembered the path.

"Glenn, this is a dead end," Anye said to him as she frantically looked for a door.

Glenn ignored her as he approached the dragon and knelt before it, closing his hands and offering a prayer of respect, and asked for Anye's protection. The statue had once been a strong symbol for the lancers of Delrich, and honestly the imagery was one of Glenn's inspirations for suggesting the use of dragons in combat. The odd location of its placement in the dungeon however caused it to fall from use, and although it had been asked many times over, there were none who claimed to know exactly why the statue was there to begin with. There were those who knew of the sculpture's hidden purpose, though.

"Glenn, what are you doing?" Anye asked when she realized that he wasn't looking for an opening.

"Paying my respects," he explained as he got back to his feet. "The door is here, known only to very, very few people. Watch..."

Glenn gripped his lance and unslung it, resting the tip at a circular point on the dragon's chest. With a heave, he pushed the lance forward and the circle gave way, acting like a keyhole for the weapon. He turned it clockwise until the sound of a click echoed from behind the walls.

The sound of hidden weights sliding against stone rumbled while a panel on the floor in front of the pedestal slid away, revealing a staircase covered in dust and cobwebs. Glenn had known about the passage for some time but it hadn't been used in centuries. It was one of the few secrets about the castle he had learned from growing up there, and he was glad he remembered it.

"Glenn, where does this lead?" Anye asked skeptically.

"To the cave beneath the eastern wall," Glenn explained. "There is a horse, clothing, and...a weapon waiting for you there. You must take them and go."

Anye looked at him questioningly. "You're not coming with me?"

"I can't," Glenn replied. "I need to stay and find out what Amador is up to."

"I need to help!" she told him. "Amador framed me, I need to-"

"You'll be killed on sight, Anye. You need to leave!"

Glenn stared into Anye's eyes, knowing that she wasn't happy with what he was telling her to do, but it was the right thing to do. Keeping her in Delrich was far too dangerous and would result in them both being killed. She had to leave and he had to stay, there was no other choice unless he wanted to willingly allow Amador to destroy his home.

"I'll come find you when I learn something, Anye. Trust me, and don't worry about the guards. I'll tell them you jimmied the lock and overpowered me before running into the darkness. By the time I thought I'd caught up with you, you had somehow disappeared," he said.

From the look of things Anye's reaction had gone from defiant to painful understanding. She had a look in her eyes that begged Glenn to go with her so they could both escape, but also that she knew he couldn't do that. What happened shortly after was something he thought to be an effect of the stresses she had endured or gratitude for what he had done; Anye walked up to Glenn and gripped his face in her hands, pulling him close and kissed him.

He wasn't sure how he should react. The moment made his heart race in ways he hadn't felt in years, if ever, with Kiya. He was married, had taken a vow to be with another woman for better or worse until death, but he didn't want her. He wanted Anye, but he had to let her go, to make her go.

The woman backed away and walked to the passage before smiling at him. "If I never see you again, I at least wanted to do that," she said.

Glenn blinked his eyes for a second while his mind came back to the situation at hand. Time wasn't a luxury he could afford at the moment, and if he took too long returning to the dungeon entrance he would arouse even more suspicion than he already had.

"Right...be safe, Anye," he told her with a heavy heart. A counter-clockwise twist of the lance reactivated the mechanism hidden in the wall, closing the opening in the floor. Anye would find the horse and sack waiting for her and, hopefully, she would flee to one of the neighboring countries.

When Glenn pulled the lance from the keyhole and slung it over his back he sighed. A single tear flowed down his cheek knowing. "Goodbye, Anye."

* * *

# Chapter 3

## The dragon

"What do you mean she's escaped!?" Commander Escobar shouted. "How is that even possible? There's only one passage in or out of the dungeon, and she didn't go through it!"

Glenn stood with his back straight in the presence of his long running commanding officer, still fond of his orange armor, and King Justin, who looked infuriated. Amador also stood present but off to the side, having been the reporter of Anye's inexplicable disappearance. Glenn could see him out of the corner of his eye, knowing full well that he was gloating about Glenn being the subject of disciplinary actions even if he wasn't showing it.

"I don't know, sir," Glenn answered. He had repeated the story multiple times over the course of the morning. The storm had passed after several hours and there was no word of Anye's discovery, so he was relieved that she apparently got away safely. "As I explained, when I arrived at her cell and dismissed the guards she kicked the door open and ran into the darkness. When I thought I'd caught up to her she'd seemingly vanished."

"I trust you understand why I find that hard to believe, Captain," Commander Escobar replied. "The guards were under strict orders from the king himself to not allow anyone to see her. You knew this, yet you used your position and authority to confuse them and allow passage. And now, because of this, the prince's murderer is gone!"

"Why would you do this to me, Glenn?" the king asked despairingly. "Have we not been good to you, taking you into our home and raising you when no one else would? After all these years, why is it that you defend the person who killed your brother and someone the likes of Sir Astley brings this to light?"

"Sire, Anye is innocent. You must believe she would never betray you or his majesty Prince Robert," Glenn pleaded.

"Enough!" King Justin blurted out, silencing Glenn on the spot.

"My King, Sturmwind is as much a traitor as Everdyne was," Amador added. "He is not worthy of his title or rank and should be treated like the filth he is."

"And grant you his position, Sir Astley?" the king inquired, though his tone suggested sarcasm. "Do you take me for a fool? Your petty squabbles with him childhood cloud your judgment. I know what you're trying to do and I'll not have it."

"Apologies, Your Majesty," Amador answered.

"But...your accusations are not entirely without merit," King Justin continued. His face, while enraged, also held a deep sadness in his eyes as he spoke. "It pains me to have to do this to you, Glenn, but I must insist that you prove your loyalty to this kingdom...to me."

"Your Majesty, can he really be trusted?" Amador persisted.

"Watch your tongue, boy, or you'll be joining him," the king sneered as he shifted his gaze. "Lest you forget that it was by your council that Captain Everdyne's presence was alongside my son. By all accounts I should be accusing you of treason. Do not try my patience further."

"Of course, Your Grace," Amador replied.

King Justin turned his gaze back towards Glenn to give him his task. "Captain, you will travel to Toran and assist the herders in the mountains. We have received word that a feral dragon of considerable age and size is terrorizing them and preventing the gathering the young dragons used for you and your ilk. Because of the emperor's dismissal of the peace treaty our time is short. Without those dragons the war will certainly shift back into Mitus' favor."

Glenn saluted the king and bowed his head before speaking. "Who is my contact in Toran, Your Grace?" he asked.

"A former knight of the kingdom who retired shortly after your promotion to Captain and the founding of the Dragon Knights," Commander Escobar explained. "I'm sure you remember Aldrin Fawkes."

"Yes, sir, I remember Captain Fawkes well," Glenn answered. "The situation with the dragon must be dire if he is unable to handle it on his own. How many men should I prepare for the journey?"

"None. You travel alone," the king answered. "And the link you share with your dragon shall be severed. If you were any other man I would order you to depart immediately, but you are as much a son to me as Robert was. I will grant you the day to make your preparations, and you will leave at first light tomorrow."

"Yes, Sire," Glenn replied, though he felt completely shocked at the mission he had been given. He had expected demotion and reprimand, which would have placed him at the same level as Amador if not below. Keeping his rank gave him more leeway, with the only thing stopping him from his investigation being the deployment to Toran. Overall it was a much better situation than he expected. "I will not fail you."

"For your sake I should hope not," the king commented coldly. "Now all of you leave. I have matters of state to attend to with the council."

Glenn lifted his head and turned to walk out of the castle's grand hall silently. Amador and the commander each gestured towards the king and followed behind him, though neither said a word. Glenn wasn't sure how the commander felt about him at the moment, but he knew exactly what was going through Amador's mind. As soon as Commander Escobar headed down another corridor, Glenn turned and pushed Amador against a wall.

"Watch it, Sturmwind, you're already losing the king's favor," Amador taunted.

Glenn pushed harder, positioning his forearm near his throat. "That may be, but I'm still your captain, Astley," he said through gritted teeth. "I don't know what you're planning, but whatever it is I will stop it."

Amador laughed in Glenn's face. "Now you're getting delusional, Captain, though I can't say I blame you, having been betrayed by lovely little Anye."

Glenn punched the wall next to his head and broke away a piece of the stone. Chalky dust floated around their faces, making Amador cough slightly. He stared angrily at him for a moment before letting him loose and walking away. His old temper was coming back, and if he didn't keep it under control he'd find himself where Anye was the previous evening.

### ______

The remaining daylight was spent planning the route to Toran's capital city, Frostmarch, and gathering the supplies that would be needed for the road. Rumors about the solitary mission circulated within the guards stationed at the castle quickly, likely due to Amador, and Glenn was often asked if they were true. The men and women who served in the royal military all respected him deeply, so he understood their shock at the news when he confirmed the rumor's validity. Coincidentally the commotion had distracted everyone from the fact that a horse was missing from the stables, which saved Glenn the trouble of having to come up with a cover story.

While it didn't come as much of a surprise, Kiya had written a letter that Glenn found waiting for him at home, explaining that she'd had enough of him and was leaving because of his 'obvious infatuations' with Anye. She claimed he'd dishonored her more than she'd cared for. He didn't particularly mind. But there was a revelation of an affair with Amador that had been going on for some time, and that she was finally leaving Glenn for him which he didn't foresee. If it was an attempt to fester his anger it wasn't working; she was perfect for the self-righteous conniver.

Over the years, Glenn had developed a bit of a tradition before leaving the city on assignment; he would pay a visit to the Marshal estate, as they had become as a third family to him. Leonard's parents always treated him without discrimination and welcomed him into their home whenever he arrived. Glenn assumed it was because of the influence he'd had on their once lazy son. They didn't believe the accusations against him at all, so the visit was calming to his stress-laden heart. Before the day came to an end though, he felt that he had one more visit to make. He wasn't sure if he should go or how they would even react given the circumstances.

The Everdyne estate had been placed under constant guard, both for the family's protection and to keep them under observation. Unlike the prison though, Glenn had no need to dismiss the guards that had been posted nor did he need to trick them to let him through. His rank and ties to the family were enough and the order of protection didn't come from the king nor restrict visitations.

All of Anye's immediate family was home when Glenn arrived at their doorstep, and they welcomed him inside instantly. There wasn't much time to talk though. He needed rest for the trek north into Toran, so Anye's mother gathered everyone in the same room Glenn had spoken to her father in nearly a week prior. The discussion was still fresh in his mind, but it felt like it had taken place ages ago. The topic actually seemed humorous given the irrelevance of it now.

Anye's younger siblings, a boy and a girl just entering their teen years, sat on a long cushioned seat alongside Anye's mother. Her father sat in his armchair, just like before, while Glenn remained standing in front of them. The children and their mother all appeared to be visibly strained from the negative attention they'd received due to Anye's accusations. Lord Romulus kept his chin up, but Glenn had known the man long enough to see when he was hiding his emotions and now was as good a time as any to do so, especially for a public figure.

"Thank you for welcoming me into your home," Glenn greeted. "Maia, Dom, it's good to see you two again. How have your studies fared?"

"They've been well, Captain Sturmwind. Thank you for asking," Maia, Anye's younger sister, answered. The sound of her voice while she spoke matched the expression on her face; sad and scared. "Are you here about Anye?"

"In a sense," Glenn replied. "I'm actually here to say farewell. I've been ordered to venture to Toran in the morning and, as you all know, I've always bid farewell before my departures."

"Toran?" Anye's father questioned. "We've had no reports of any significant aggression from Mitus in the mountains. Why would his majesty send your men there?"

"Not the knights, just me," Glenn corrected. "My loyalty to the crown has come into question due to Anye's escape."

"Did you help her, Glenn?" Anye's brother asked.

"Dominic, mind your tongue," Lord Romulus chimed in. "Captain Sturmwind is an honorable man and knight. He would never stoop to such levels, no matter how close he and your...sister...are."

The word's stung as Glenn heard them. Even though he did help Anye get out of the country he couldn't openly admit it, especially with the number of guards that were posted at the estate. But he could still remind them of his point of view.

"Regardless of Anye's disappearance, my belief in her innocence is unchanged," Glenn stated, careful to avoid saying too much. "I don't know what scheme is responsible for all this, but upon my return I will find out. Prince Robert was a brother to me and exceptionally kind to Anye. She was no warmonger and would most certainly not have committed the crime she is accused of."

Anye's father looked down at the floor of his home. "I know it is hard to accept, Glenn, but all evidence points to her."

"Evidence supplied by our enemy backed by the sole word of Amador Astley," Glenn sharply replied. "What does your heart tell you? Do you honestly believe her to be guilty of something so heinous?"

"I don't," Maia answered. "Do you think she's safe, Glenn?"

"I hope so...wherever she is," he answered quietly.

The rest of Anye's family remained silent. Even Glenn kept quiet, contemplating where Anye may have fled to. Mitus was an unlikely location given what had happened, which left Toran and Belrun as the possible locations. Mirrayae and Eldan would require travel by ship, as would the Western Isles. Sea travel, when not stowing away, required either credentials or money, and Glenn hadn't provided nearly enough coin for that. If she went to Toran then Glenn may find her there, but the constant cold and alliance with Delrich meant she would have to be on constant guard. All things considered, Anye had probably ridden south to the neutral kingdom of Belrun for the time being.

"Captain, if you find her..." Anye's father started to say. "If you find her, please tell her that I'm sorry."

Glenn looked at the aging noble and nodded his head, though he wasn't sure to what he was referring. "I will. You have my word. Now if you'll all excuse me, I must see to my preparations."

"Good luck, Glenn!" Maia chimed. She jumped off of her seat on the couch and ran up to him and hugged him. "I'll miss you."

Glenn smiled and patted her on the head. "Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

### ______

The city of Frostmarch, located near the base of the mountains that primarily made up Toran's landscape, lived up to its namesake. The road that ran through the snowy country from Delrich was commonly covered in snow and ice, making it as hazardous as it was beautiful. Glenn's armor and cloak had become caked in the white grip of the cold, and he couldn't wait to get them off and warm up in front of a fire somewhere once he reached the city.

Frostmarch was at least a four-day ride from Delrich's capital even with traveling charms. Glenn didn't have anyone else to care for, save for his horse, so traveling quickly and without stopping often helped speed the journey along. The trade houses along the road also provided beds and warmth each night, so all-in-all the trip wasn't miserable. The only downside to traveling alone was that he was trapped in his own thoughts, dwelling on things he had no control over and knew he shouldn't be thinking too much about.

The white snow-covered walls of Toran's capital city loomed overhead. Unlike in the warmer climate down south, nobody wandered around or worked in fields surrounding the city. If Glenn didn't know any better he'd think the place was an abandoned ruin of some sort. The blizzard obstructing his view didn't help matters.

"Hold traveler!" a loud voice yelled as Glenn drew closer to the city's gate. "State your business in Frostmarch."

Glenn recognized the guard as one of the mountain natives. Full shaggy beards and pelts were commonplace, as well as the thick furs they wore to keep them warm in the cold. Northerner's also commonly enjoyed the use of axes in battle, and the guard at the gate seemed no different.

"My name is Glenn Sturmwind, Knight of Delrich," Glenn shouted through the wind to identify himself. "I am here on orders from his majesty King Justin to assist a man called Aldrin Fawkes with your dragon problem."

"Aye, Captain Sturmwind," the guard bellowed. "I thought I recognized you, but I don't know of any Aldrin Fawkes in the city. You'll want to speak with Jonhard Ashman. He's the head herder and tamer."

"You're sure?" Glenn repeated. "I was under direct orders to find Aldrin Fawkes."

"Sorry, Captain, but there's nobody here by that name that I know of, and if he were involved at all with our herders I'd know," the guard explained.

Glenn found it peculiar that Captain Fawkes wasn't in the city like he'd been led to believe, but if the guard didn't know him there was no point in pressing the matter further. Maybe the other man that was mentioned, Jonhard Ashman, would know of the captain's whereabouts.

"Thank you, guardsman," Glenn answered. "Where can I find this Ashman?"

The guard turned and pointed his thick index finger through the gate. "Follow the road along the wall. You'll find the pens and the herders there. If he's not in his office, search the pub nearby."

"Thank you," Glenn replied.

The snow that flew through the air created a white fog that engulfed the entire city, keeping Glenn's visibility limited. The people of the city were taking shelter from the storm in their homes and businesses, the lights of which coming through the windows acting as a bit of a guide. He rode through the city's streets following the direction the guard had pointed him in, remembering the time he'd spent as a youth in the ever cold city. The storm prevented him from seeing the sunlight reflect beautifully off of the frost that gathered on the stone buildings. When seen in such a light, they looked like they were crafted out of diamonds.

Glenn recognized the stone pens Toran's herders used to keep dragons in while they tamed them for use; they were unexpectedly empty. His mission to assist the herder's deal with the feral dragon was expected to be simple, but he now realized that the situation was genuinely dreary.

Not a soul was in or around the pens, and there was no light in the small structure that served as their main office. Glenn's horse was starting to shiver from the cold, even though it was built to deal with the extreme weather. He needed to find a stable to get it out of the storm and dry off for a while.

Noise not related to the storm managed to reach Glenn's ears through the wind from behind him. He turned his mount around and saw a faint glow from another window in the distance. If the noise was coming from there then he assumed it was the pub the guard had told him about, and pulled on the horse's reins to move forward towards the light.

Glenn's assumption proved to be correct. Outside of the pub was a small stable that had already been made the home of several other steeds. He rode the horse under the awning and tied it to a frozen piece of wood before brushing off the snow that had gathered on the animal's fur. The trip had been long and tiring, and the animal deserved to rest for a while, even if Glenn's contact wasn't there. Besides, the thought of local Toran ale was tempting.

The pub was comparatively empty to what Glenn had grown used to in Delrich. All of the patrons present, he assumed, were the herders and tamers from the dragon stables across the road. Sticking out among the typically brawny and large-bearded men was an older thin man that had caught Glenn's eye. He looked to be in his fifties with graying hair on his head and in his thin beard, and he had rough slightly-wrinkled skin. His clothes were dark cloth, same as the other civilians who lived in Toran, but Glenn recognized his face immediately.

"Care for a drinking partner?" Glenn asked as he approached the conspicuous patron.

"Be my guest," the old man answered after looking Glenn over for a moment. "It's not often we get travelers this far in the north. What brings you to the frosted fortress?"

Glenn ordered a drink from the barmaid who came to the table after he sat down before answering with a grin. "You do, actually. It's good to see you again, Captain Fawkes."

The older man's reaction wasn't what Glenn expected. His gaze grew dim and suspicious, and he looked away. "Fawkes? I think you've got the wrong man, boy. My name's Jonhard Ashman. Ask any of these lads, they'll tell you."

Glenn was surprised. He'd recognized the old retired captain immediately, and he was sure that he was being lied to due to the odd reaction he'd been given. "You're Jonhard Ashman?"

"Aye, I just said that. Are you deaf or stupid?" The old man was visibly annoyed while he spoke, more so than someone should have been at a case of mistaken identity. "What do you want with this man named Fawkes anyway?"

"You know Aldrin Fawkes?" Glenn inquired, playing along for the time being.

"I didn't say that, I just asked what you wanted with him."

Glenn hushed his voice and leaned in over the table towards his new drinking companion. "If you're not Captain Fawkes then why do you care?"

The gray haired old man leaned in towards Glenn and stared coldly into his eyes for a moment before answering, keeping an angry aggressive look on his face. "Who said I cared, Sturmwind?"

Again, Glenn looked perplexed, but instead of being met with an angry glare the old man smiled and laughed at Glenn as he continued to drink. He realized, as he remembered the captain's personality, that he was an extremely careful individual.

"So you remember me?" Glenn asked as he kept his voice low.

"I told you, my name is Jonhard Ashman, you idiot. Come on, let's talk in the herder office," the old drinker answered as he rose from the table.

Glenn left a single gold coin on the pub's table to pay for his drink, and as he rose he noticed the large claymore that had been leaning on the table in its scabbard. The handle, pommel, and guard all looked to be expertly crafted out of gold or a gold-like metal, with the handle itself wrapped in fine red leather. The guard was etched in a way that made it look like metallic wings with a small green gem placed in the center of either side. The long blade itself, visible through an opening running down the middle of the scabbard, was fashioned out of some sort of shimmering blue metal, with the gold from the handle running down the center of the blade's flat sides in thin strips. Glenn had never seen a weapon of such masterful craftsmanship anywhere in his life.

"Are you going to keep eyeing my sword or are you going to get a move on?"

Glenn snapped back to reality and followed the older man out of the pub into the blizzard outside, leaving his horse tied in the stable. He was about to ask about the animal, but the question was answered as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, being told not to worry about it and that the barkeep was a friend of his.

The office of the Toran herders was dusty, unkempt, and downright nasty looking. The inside hadn't looked like it'd been cleaned in months, if not years. There were cobwebs and dust piles everywhere. If the location really served as an office it hopefully never saw many guests.

The old gray-bearded man closed the door behind Glenn and locked the door, huffing some air while he brushed the snow off of his clothes. "Alright, Sturmwind, what do you want?" he asked.

"Nice to see you too, Captain," Glenn answered sarcastically.

"Argh, don't call me that. People here know me as Jonhard Ashman and I'd prefer it to stay that way."

"Alright, Jonhard then," Glenn answered. "But why the secrecy?"

"You know what, just call me Ashman, it's what everyone else does," Captain Fawkes answered. "And you know of my life in Delrich, as a knight and my service. There're a lot of people who'd like to see me dead. Now I'll ask again, what-do-you-want? I'm retired, and I'm not going back without a damn good reason."

"Alright then, Ashman it is," Glenn repeated. "And I'm not here to bring you back to Delrich. I'm here by order of His Majesty and Commander Escobar to help you deal with a dragon problem you and your herders have been experiencing."

"What?" Captain Fawkes asked. "You're it? I know you're good, Sturmwind, but I doubt you're good enough for the kind of terror that sleeps in those mountains. I requested at least twenty men for this!"

"Yes, well this is all they sent," Glenn answered, sounding somewhat defeated at his former comrade's lack of belief in him. "And before you ask, they told me to ask for you by your real name, not this Ashman moniker."

"Yes, well that was probably because you knew me. Still, they could have ordered you to address me by my new name...stupid pumpkin..." the old veteran commented. "I guess you'll have to make do. Maybe those new techniques you've developed will come in handy. This thing is big, Glenn...really big."

"Well, it's been a long trip. I should get some rest," Glenn replied. "Does the pub serve as an inn? It's been a while since I was here last."

Fawkes grinned and opened the door back out into the blizzard. "Aye, it does. I'll make sure the owner gives you a decent rate," he answered. Glenn approached and nodded towards him before they exited into the white mess around them again. "So tell me, how is the Pumpkin Escobar? When I left he was still a bit of a bastard, and by the sound of things he hasn't changed!"

### ______

The storm subsided by the next day, but the high winds of the mountains surrounding Frostmarch kicked the snow around like the blizzard never stopped, at least in Glenn's opinion. The Conclave, the group of elders that ruled over the northern lands with each member representing one of their eleven patron deities, wasted no time meeting him to discuss their plan.

The keep of Toran, also known as the Frosted Fortress much like the city itself, was situated directly against a mountain that doubled as part of the city's border. The remains of a fortress built long ago, it served as a gathering point for the people of the region until the city proper was built. The ruling members of The Conclave opted to utilize the keep as it served as a symbol of Toran's endurance.

Compared to Delrich's castle the keep of Toran was quite different. Because the members of the conclave were each representations of the holy pantheon it seemed much more like a temple than a castle. Monks and priests mingled amongst guards and sections were individually dedicated to each of the gods. Only the area leading to, and encompassing, the high hall where Conclave members deliberated had murals and tapestries dedicated to each of the eleven gods. It is because of Conclave's presence and their piety that Toran is also regarded as the continent's religious center even though the other nations practice their faith in differing ways.

Glenn stood in the middle of the circular room alongside Fawkes. His armor was as cleaned as he could make it and he was ready to follow the orders of Toran's ruling body as was his duty.

Each member of The Conclave was especially elderly. They were all men with beards of varying lengths wearing robes of varying color each dedicated to their respective deity. Above their elevated position was a large tapestry with the symbol of their god woven into it within a circle with shimmering purple thread over a light blue sheet.

"Elders of Toran," Glenn began. "I have come at the behest of his royal majesty, King Delrich, to aid you with your request."

"It is good to see you in fine health, Captain Sturmwind," one of the elders replied, sitting at the center of the group. The tapestry above him comprised of a horizontal line passing through an upward triangle with a circle above it. "It has been many years since you last stepped foot within our lands. Morgus' flames keep you well."

"Thank you, Lord Malland."

"The loss of Prince Robert must tear at your soul," another of the elders spoke. He sat to the left near the center of the circle beneath a tapestry with a symbol made of a circle with several jagged lines passing through it and two crescents on either side facing outward. "I pray Zedramell has taken him to his realm and grants you peace of mind, Captain. We are aware of your kinship."

"You have my thanks as well, Lord Corrinth," Glenn answered, though not without a ping of sorrow in his voice.

"But this leads us to wonder why the king of Delrich saw fit to send us not only a single warrior where we requested many, but you of all at his disposal," a third commented. This one sat below a tapestry depicting a pair of crossed lines, one vertical and the other horizontal. The four open corners of the bordering circle each contained a circle or square, diagonally matched on either side. "What is his majesty's reasoning behind this?"

"Delrich remains at war with Mitus, My Lord," Glenn explained. "We simply do not have the resources you requested at our disposal."

"I see..." the elder replied, though not without sounding unconvinced.

"King Justin's reasons are of little matter to us, Trobalt," Corrinth replied. He turned his attention back to Glenn before speaking to him. "As Mr. Ashman has no doubt informed you, the dragon which ails us is no mere beast, Captain."

"I have, Your Excellency," Fawkes commented.

"Then your orders, Captain Sturmwind, are as follows," Lord Malland said. "First and foremost, you are to assist Toran's herders and tamers with the hunting and slaying of the feral dragon that wreaks havoc on our operations in the mountains. It has been seen near the city on several occasions and all attempts to stop it ourselves were met with vain.

"Secondly, you are to find the beast's nest and raze it to the ground. If it has offspring, it is likely they will grow to be just as unruly as the parent. Kill them and destroy any eggs you may find. Do you understand these orders?"

Glenn bowed his head in acknowledgement of the request. "I do, Your Grace."

"Then you are to set out at once. We pray to the gods for your successful mission and safe return."

### _____

The snow-capped mountains of the north hadn't changed a bit. Though there was a lot less red from the blood of fallen soldiers, the rocks looked exactly the same; big, cold, and miserable.

The herders and tamers under Captain Fawkes' employ all referred to the man simply as Ashman, just as he'd told Glenn they would, and so he did the same to keep the retired soldier's cover intact. There were seven of them in total, all tall men with large muscles and thick beards. They all, Fawkes included, wore thick black colored clothing and long coats to protect them from the cold. Some of them held spears in hand while others carried battle axes. The mix was about even in the group, with Captain Fawkes being the only one to carry a blade.

Glenn walked with his comrade in the front of the group, keeping conversation with him out of earshot of the others.

"So, Ashman, I remember you being more fond of lances than swords," Glenn commented.

"I've come to master a wide variety of arms, Captain Sturmwind," Captain Fawkes answered. "I've simply favored the use of a claymore in recent years."

"The design is masterful. Where was it made?" Glenn asked.

"This blade was forged in the hands of a master craftsman, long since departed from this world," the retired captain said. "I don't rightly know where the forge was. The weapon was...a gift."

"A gift?"

"I find the need to repeat myself with you quite often, Sturmwind," Fawkes commented annoyingly. "Yes, it was a gift. Now wouldn't you like to know more about this dragon you've come to help us slay, or would you prefer we go on yapping like a pair of little girls?"

Glenn laughed but conceded to the aging warrior's request. "Very well, what do you know of it?"

"The beast is massive, larger than any other of its kind I've laid eyes on," Captain Fawkes explained. "We've tracked it back to some of the old ruins up the mountain...lost a lot of good men trying to bring the infernal thing down, too."

"Why hasn't Toran sent a company of it's riders to track the creature down and slay it?" Glenn asked.

"The Conclave's already tried that, twice I might add," Fawkes told him. "No survivors either time, dragons included. That's why they requested help from Delrich."

A monstrous, deep roar bellowed from up the mountain. The sound echoed off of the rocks, forcing some loose snow to the ground and shaking the men walking. All of them stopped in their tracks and gripped the handles of their weapons, scanning the area for any sign of the beast.

"Well, at least we know that it's close," Captain Fawkes commented.

"I've never heard a dragon's cry sound like that before," Glenn said. "It almost sounds angry."

"Yes, well I'd be right pissed off too if people kept trying to kill me. Wouldn't you?" one of the bearded axe-carriers asked as he approached the two leading men. "That thing is close, Ashman. Really close..."

"Aye, we're near the ruins," Fawkes answered. "Keep your wits about you."

The group continued silently up the mountain trail until what little remained of an old town became visible. Most of the buildings were either collapsed or buried in the snow, leaving only a few of the rooftops and a couple walls visible. The dragon hadn't let out another roar and the wind had stopped. The situation was unnerving, and sent chills down Glenn's spine in addition to the cold.

They pressed on further into the snow covered ruins of the mountain in silence. The white snow, crunching underfoot, was the only sound. Glenn turned around a few times while scanning the area, lance in hand, but all he saw was the panic-ridden faces of his would-be compatriots and the rocky slopes of the mountain.

Everyone stopped when the loud roar of the dragon bellowed again, but this time they could tell where the source was; above them, diving quickly and spewing a stream of orange fire. It was a monstrous dragon larger than any other, just as it had been described.

"Everyone move!" Fawkes yelled.

The group scattered away from the dragon's attack. The fire bounced like a liquid off of the cold snow, melting it down to the rocks underneath, until the dragon closed its gaping jaws and landed. The impact of the creature's immense weight shook the mountains again. Any men who were still standing stumbled to the ground while it bellowed its angry roar again.

The beast was massive. When its wings spread, they easily covered the distance of ten horses, maybe more. Its face was the same shape as any other Glenn had encountered before, but its scales were of a different color. The dragons he had always seen were varying shades of grey, with the exception of Amador's which was jet black, The one standing before them now was a brilliant shade of light purple.

The beast swiped at the closest man, knocking him effortlessly flying into the rock wall nearby. The remaining people shouted at the beast and charged at it with their weapons while Glenn and Fawkes circled around the other side to try and catch the creature off guard.

"You weren't kidding!" Glenn shouted. "That thing is massive!"

"I told you!" Fawkes replied as he drew his sword. "Think your little jumping move will be enough?"

"It better be, or I doubt we'll be going home."

The giant dragon clawed away at a few more men before blowing its fire at another, igniting him. His screams echoed off of the walls before he finally fell into the snow and extinguished himself. Glenn wasn't sure if he was alive or dead, but he didn't have the time to find out.

Fawkes split off while Glenn remained behind the beast, waiting for an opportunity to leap on to its back and finish it off. He watched while his friend drew his sword and waved the weapon around. Through some unseen form of magic he gained the creature's attention and held off a stream of fire from its maw.

"Come on, you sorry excuse for a beast!" Fawkes yelled while he swung the blade at the dragon's feet.

It roared but didn't attack. It seemed afraid of him for some reason, a reaction Glenn hadn't seen before in the animals. They were ferocious and wild, and had only instinctively fled from danger when it seemed their lives were at risk. This dragon didn't seem to be in danger at all, except for being outnumbered, which didn't mean much considering its size.

Fawkes swung his blade again, this time cutting the beast's leg. It roared in pain and reared, pulling the weapon and its wielder with it in the air before they became dislodged and flew into the snow out of Glenn's view, but the moment was what Glenn was waiting for. With the dragon distracted from the pain he could leap on top of it and finish it off once and for all.

Glenn used his magic and jumped into the air, high above any surviving men's heads, moving towards the purple-colored beast. With the point of his lance aimed downward towards the dragon's neck, Glenn was certain he'd finish it off. Somehow, though, it had sensed him and turned its neck to look up at him. It roared and opened its wings, swatting Glenn away towards one of the rising walls of stone while it repositioned itself towards him.

The force of the wing hitting him sent Glenn spiraling, but it hadn't been enough to break his concentration. He straightened himself out and planted his feet against the mountain wall when he reached it, but instead of allowing himself to fall into the snow he summoned the magic for the jump again and pushed as hard as he could, rocketing back towards the dragon. Glenn knew the move was a gamble, knowing full well that he was defenseless against a forward counterattack by the beast, but if it didn't work he would probably be killed anyway.

The dragon looked back towards Glenn as he approached, but he was already too close. The tip of his lance plunged into the dragon's chest, and Glenn held on for dear life. The beast reared back on to its hind legs again but Glenn wouldn't let go, at least until it came back down. The impact shook him loose to the ground and into the snow, knocking his helmet off. The lance remained embedded in the creature. He'd injured it and had a chance of finishing it off, or at least he would have had it not taken to the sky and fled to the safety of the mountain.

"Fawkes?" Glenn called out as he brought himself to his feet. The snow was cold on his exposed skin, but the endeavor had warmed him considerably so it felt relieving. He was about to call the name again when he remembered what the retired captain had told him. "Ashman, where are you?" he yelled. "Are you hurt?"

"Ashman? I'm afraid there's nobody left but you, Sturmwind," a voice said from behind Glenn. "A shame, really. I hoped the beast would finish you off."

Glenn turned around to see Amador standing in the snow next to Kiya, dressed thick black winter robes. "Amador? Kiya? Where the hell did you two come from?"

"Doesn't really matter, does it, sweetheart?" Kiya asked. "We're here, and so are you. Thus there is a problem what needs remedying."

Glenn didn't like the sound of her tone of voice and steeled himself. Amador's presence all but confirmed Glenn's suspicions, but he was at a significant disadvantage with his lance gone. All of the men that he had traveled up the mountain with had either fled or been killed, and their weapons weren't anywhere near him. Glenn's only choice, if it came to battle, would be to try and remember what little unarmed techniques he'd learned in the islands to the west.

"Oh please, spare me, Sturmwind," Amador taunted.

"What are you up to, Amador?" Glenn shouted. "What have you done?"

"Was I that obvious?" Amador replied. "Oh well, too bad. I'm not telling you and you'll die before you find out," he said as he removed the lance from its slung position. "I'd always hoped I'd be able to kill you properly, to prove I was superior, but this will have to do."

Amador leapt towards Glenn and stabbed, beginning their duel suddenly. Glenn was tired, but fighting without a weapon had advantages. Whenever Amador tried to land a blow, Glenn was able to grab hold of the lance and maneuver himself around it, striking quickly. The attacks were naturally weak but the impacts gained force through the weight of his armor. Unfortunately, Amador's own armor mitigated most of the blunt force.

"Do you really think you can win?" Amador gloated as he stepped away. "Pathetic."

As much as Glenn kept his attacker at bay there wasn't anything he could do without a weapon. Even a sword or dagger would help at that point. Still, Amador hated being shown up, and the fact that Glenn was staying alive was annoying him. It was possible, though unlikely, that he might be able to survive long enough to make Amador lose his focus and steal his weapon for himself.

"I'm getting bored of this..." Kiya yawned from beside the pair.

Glenn felt a small surge of magic come from the blonde woman as Amador backed away. He didn't know what was happening before it was too late, and found himself pushed against the stone wall and immobile.

"Kiya, what is this!?" Glenn shouted.

"Please be silent," the woman sighed as she waved her hand. A single shard of ice rose from the ground and flew towards Glenn, impaling his leg. Glenn yelled in pain as his blood seeped through the wound onto the white snow. "Oh, did that hurt?" she asked.

"Kiya, what have you done?" Glenn huffed. "You've betrayed Delrich, and your father, for him!?"

"She asked for you to be silent, you worthless peasant!" Amador spat as he approached. "You're lucky you even survived this long."

"Amador, you treacherous bastard!" Glenn yelled. "I knew you couldn't be trusted!"

"By the gods, be quiet!" Amador replied as he drove his lance through the small separation in Glenn's armor at his shoulder, pushing it through his flesh. He sighed, as if the act had given him some feeling of euphoria. "Oh that feels good..."

The pain of the two injuries surged through Glenn's body. He groaned through it, trying to keep his focus and think of a way out of his predicament, but the realization that his end was near was forefront. He watched as Kiya pulled out a curved knife from underneath her robes and handed it to Amador.

"Go ahead, my sweet. Do what you've always wanted," she whispered, but kept loud enough for Glenn to hear. Her eyes never left his, but the look they held was something far from affectionate.

Amador pulled the lance from Glenn's shoulder, opening the wound and letting the blood flow through easily onto his armor and the snow. He smiled maniacally, as if possessed by some primal instinct and rage, as he took the small blade into his hand and lightly pressed it to Glenn's throat.

"What are you waiting for, coward?" Glenn coughed through the pain. "How does it feel, knowing you needed the help of my wife to kill me?"

Amador's face went from insane glee to rage for a moment before shifting back to the demented smile. "It feels...uplifting," he answered. "Goodbye, Sturmwind."

Before Amador could slit Glenn's throat, the familiar roar of the giant dragon returned. The sound surprised Kiya and Amador, who instinctively whipped his hand up and around to defend himself. The surprise broke Kiya's concentration, and Amador's hand motion sliced Glenn's face from his left cheek up to his forehead, catching his eye along the way. He yelled in agony as he fell to the snow.

With his remaining eye, Glenn looked up through the agony to see Amador and Kiya stepping backward, away from Glenn and the purple dragon that approached. It roared again, hurting his ears, but it drove away the would-be murderers until they were pressed into a corner.

"Leave him!" he heard Kiya say. "The beast will either kill him or he'll bleed out in the cold!"

"Fine, get us out of here!" Amador replied.

Glenn watched, though barely, as Kiya raised a hand into the air. A bright light surged around them and, in a flash, they were gone. The dragon still loomed over his head, but in his state there was nothing he could do to defend himself any longer.

Glenn's thoughts went to Anye, Leonard, and Robert. He had tried so hard to be there for them, to protect them, but now they were all gone in one way or another, and it appeared he would soon follow. He resigned himself to his fate and closed his eye. The pain he was feeling swelled over him, numbing the cold, and pushed him into unconsciousness.

* * *

# Chapter 4

## The Tower

The smell of smoke and cooked meat filled the air. Glenn groaned as he opened his eyes. His vision was blurry and he had trouble focusing. From what he could tell he was inside a large cave formed from the rocks and ice of the mountain. A fire burned next to him, keeping him warm. The sun's light shone in from the cave's mouth, prompting a raised hand.

"Fawkes?" Glenn called out with a scratchy voice. "Fawkes, where are you?" His vision was still blurred but it started recovering. He couldn't see the shape of anyone around him, but he knew he couldn't be alone. Someone had to have built the fire and brought him there.

"So you've finally awakened..." an incredibly deep voice boomed from nearby.

The voice echoed off of the cave's walls, preventing Glenn from pinpointing its origin. "Who's there?" he asked. "Where am I?" He tried to stand and look around, but the pain of his injuries prevented him from doing so and he fell on the hard ground below him with an agonizing thud. The shock of the pain surged through his body and sharpened his focus, allowing him to look around his surroundings. The focus caused a realization as well; Glenn was only looking through one eye.

"I wouldn't act to hastily," the deep voice said. "Your wounds were extensive, and my magic can only speed the healing process so much. Your leg and shoulder should be mended, if not sore, but there was nothing I could do for your eye. The damage was too great."

Glenn raised a hand to his eye and felt the scar that had formed from the cut Amador had made. The memory of what transpired before he blacked out returned, and he looked around quickly. His lance was nowhere to be seen, nor were any other weapons. Just like the voice told him, his shoulder and leg weren't bleeding nor were they bandaged, but completely healed.

"Who are you? Where are the men I came here with? What happened to that dragon?" Glenn asked frantically as panic started to take hold.

"There are no other men here but you," the voice answered. "The pair that attacked you disappeared after I returned. Of the others who traveled with you, most are dead. Some fled into the mountains or disappeared in the snow."

"Then who are you!?" Glenn shouted. "I am a knight of Delrich, I demand you show yourself!"

"You are in no position to make demands," the deep voice replied angrily. "Your kind is barbaric and weak. You refuse to acknowledge the ways of your ancestors, and my kind pays the price for your folly!"

Glenn's heart raced as he tried to locate the source of the voice, but there was nobody in sight. He was unarmed and felt like he was being held prisoner in some way. His captor's words were confusing, but there wasn't much time to think. The entrance to the cave was close, and if he was quick it was possible he could escape. He worried about the pain of his sore muscles, but there was little choice. He took to his feet and ran as fast as he could, ignoring the burning in his thigh and shoulder.

As Glenn approached the cave's mouth, a large shadow swooped over him. Before he reached freedom, the enormous purple scaled dragon landed in front of him. The impact shook the ground and knocked Glenn off balance. "I warned you not to act in haste, human," the dragon said coldly.

Glenn sprawled back, eyes widened with fear and confusion. He'd never heard a dragon speak, let alone knew it was possible. "You're the one who saved me?" he asked, though was skeptical of his own sanity at the moment.

"Yes, and you were fortunate I returned when I did," the dragon replied. "The human female and her companion were ready to end you. Judging from your state at the time of my arrival, they nearly succeeded."

Glenn stumbled backwards more, coming to rest against the cold stone wall of the cave. The dragon stepped closer towards him, bringing its massive head close to Glenn's. The creature's skull was more than half the size of Glenn's body, much larger than the dragon's he'd grown accustomed to.

"I've died, haven't I?" Glenn asked deliriously. In his mind there was no other logical explanation for what was happening. "That must be it. I was killed by the dragon, and this is my spirit trying to make sense of the afterlife..."

"Don't be stupid, human," the dragon commented. "You're not dead."

"But dragons don't speak. I've been around them for years," Glenn answered.

"Oh yes, you humans know much about my kind," the creature commented sarcastically. "Never mind the centuries of brotherhood we shared, or the fact that it was we who brought the knowledge of magic to your pathetic race."

"No, this isn't reality. I've died, and this is some sort of test from the gods," Glenn argued.

The dragon turned its head to the side and opened its mouth, roaring while exhaling a stream of fire so hot that Glenn had to turn his face away and use his arm to shield it from the heat. When the fire stopped flowing, the creature turned its head back to Glenn. Smoke slowly rose from its nose and mouth. "Stop thinking you've died before I grow tired of hearing it, human, and make it so."

Glenn stared in amazement for a minute before coming to his senses. He remained silent, still in shock at what was happening. The pain in his shoulder and leg were distant thoughts to him now, being face to face with a dragon that could speak.

"Now, will you remain calm, or will I find need to subdue you again?" the dragon asked.

"Why did you spare me?" Glenn asked, ignoring the question. "I tried to kill you. The men I came here with want to kill you."

The dragon huffed and turned away. It walked inside the cave towards the fire Glenn had woken up next to. Apparently Glenn's question was answer enough for the creature. "The people who live in these mountains have been imprisoning my subjects for hundreds of years, ignoring the old pacts and laws that once governed them. I fight to stop the blasphemy and free my brethren from their enslavement, and I would have killed you as well, like many others who have come for my head."

"But you didn't," Glenn replied. He limped back towards the dragon and the comfort of the fire before continuing the conversation. "You could have killed me, but you didn't. Why?"

"Your scent...it is familiar," the dragon answered. "I am curious about you. I haven't come across a scent such as yours in a very, very long time."

"My scent?" Glenn asked, lifting his arms to take a smell.

"Yes," the dragon answered. "And no, that's not the same thing."

Glenn sat down in front of the fire but kept his vision fixed on the dragon. A pile of cooked meat lay beside the orange flame, and now that he had started to calm down he realized that it smelled delicious, giving his stomach a voice of its own.

"You must be hungry," the dragon commented, possibly noticing the saliva forming at the corner's of Glenn's mouth. "You were unconscious for several days."

"Days?" Glenn commented. "Did anyone come searching for me?" he asked as he reached for the pile of meat.

"There have been no other humans to come up this far since your party," the dragon explained. "Those in the city below likely think you dead. The two who attacked you seemed to believe I would kill you myself."

"I see..." Glenn answered. "Thank you, I suppose. Forgive me, but I'm not sure how I should be reacting. Do you have a name?"

"I do," the dragon said as it lifted its head up high. "You may have heard of me. My name is Eisenzahn, ruler of the Dragon Empire."

Glenn looked up at the dragon skeptically as he chewed on his food. "I'm sorry, I've not heard of your empire."

Eisenzahn narrowed his gaze and lowered his head. "Of course you haven't," he said coldly. "Why would humans bother to take note of important aspects of their own history?"

"I'm sorry?" Glenn asked through a mouth full of food.

"The Dragon Empire was once one of the greatest nations in the world!" Eisenzahn explained angrily. "Throughout millennia we discovered magic, the life force of our world, and built upon it a nation so great that the gods themselves would have acknowledged our power! It was my kind that brought the knowledge of magic to your race in its infancy. We recognized your potential even then, yet you refuse to acknowledge the influence we had on you."

"I apologize, Eisenzahn," Glenn answered as he swallowed his food. "We're not taught such things."

"No, and why would you be?" Eisenzahn asked. "Ever since the Great War, all you humans have sought is nothing but more power and servitude from the other races. Acknowledging that you did not become as you are without outside help would be to admit weakness in your eyes. It is why you do not even know my name, one that should be paramount in importance to you!"

Glenn was taken aback by the dragon's sudden burst in anger, especially after having been saved by the creature and subsequent prevention of leaving the cave. Whatever issues it had probably weren't recent developments, especially if he was the leader of an empire as he claimed.

Eisenzahn let out a deep sigh and turned his head away from Glenn. "But that is not why I tended to your wounds. You reek of the foul magic that enslaves my kind...but there is something different about it. It is faded, as if the binding has been removed. Have you come to realize the error of your ways and sought to repent?"

Glenn wiped his mouth clean of some small fragments of the cooked meat, having devoured another whole piece quickly. "I'm sorry, but no. As I told you before, I don't know anything about what you're talking about, but the link with my dragon was-"

"Your dragon!?" Eisenzahn bellowed.

Glenn raised his hands in surrender. "Forgive me. I chose the wrong words," Glenn apologized. "The link that bound me to a dragon, that we use to summon them to our side, was severed by my kingdom's court mages. I came here alone to aid the local people rid themselves of, well, you. But I had no idea about enslavement or some empire, or your name."

"Hmph, and what would you call forcibly capturing someone and binding them to a master if not slavery?" Eisenzahn asked disdainfully. "You think us as animals, savage beasts to be caged and used for whatever purpose you deem fit. Your and your kind brings shame to your ancestors."

"Truly I had no idea. You must believe me," Glenn pleaded. "My kingdom only recently learned of such practices."

Eisenzahn glared down at Glenn for a moment, as if reading him to see if he was telling the truth. A chill ran down his spine while the creature stared, but his nervousness started to subside as the realization that he wasn't about to be killed, at least not yet, started to set in.

"And what did you mean about my scent being familiar, and that I should know your name?" Glenn asked. "You brought me here on my deathbed, I'd appreciate knowing why."

Eisenzahn continued to glare for a moment longer before answering Glenn's question. "Very well, I shall explain. Your scent is very similar to that of my last rider. I hadn't noticed it during our battle until you started fighting like him. That...maneuver you managed is much like something he used to do, long ago. The only reason you were able to strike me is because I was surprised by it."

"Really?" Glenn asked. "What makes you having a rider different than what you call enslavement?"

"Do not mistake the two, human," Eisenzahn growled. "The riders of old earned their place among the dragons after proving their strength, courage, and loyalty. What you do now is a far cry from the old ways."

Glenn realized that if he continued with that course of conversation he may wind up in the pile of meat he had just indulged himself on, and decided to move on to the other topic the dragon had mentioned. "What of your name? Why should I have heard of it?"

"Do you know of the Great War that occurred centuries past?" Eisenzahn asked. "The one that set the world's progress back hundreds of years, and locked away the holy city of Del'Mond?"

"Of course I do," Glenn responded. Everyone as far as he knew was told some version of the tale of the ancient war. It was filled to the brim with heroic characters, full of chivalry and charm, and exotic places long since forgotten by modern man. "It's a common fairy tale to lull children to sleep or give them inspiration..." Glenn trailed off as he recalled the tale and remembered one of the name's mentioned in the story. "Wait, your name is Eisenzahn..."

"So you have heard of me," the dragon said, this time with a bit of arrogance.

"No, that's just a story spun by bards," Glenn argued. "You can't possibly be the same dragon that fought alongside Doluka Sturmwind. He doesn't exist! He's purely fictional!"

"I am one and the same," Eisenzahn answered proudly. "And his story is no fabrication, though I would expect some accounts to have been skewed towards falsehood over time."

"Wait, he was your last rider? The one of whom you spoke?" Glenn asked.

"He was, and there wasn't a finer rider than he for a thousand years, according to the legends of my kind," Eisenzahn explained. "As I said before, you share a similar scent to him. I would like to know why."

"I don't know," Glenn answered, though the fact that Doluka Sturmwind actually existed was still racing through his mind. He was a legendary character in the epic tale of the war that Glenn idolized as a child. "I was orphaned when I was very young and learned the ways of the lance as I grew up in the castle."

"What is your name, human?" Eisenzahn asked.

"What?"

"Your name, or has your race degraded so far that you no longer use them?" Eisenzahn said.

"It's Glenn..." he answered. "Glenn Sturmwind."

"I see...well, that confirms my suspicions," the dragon commented. "But your belief that your ancestor did not exist is troubling. Why did no one explain your lineage, or your kingdom not honor those who sacrificed themselves so that you all may be here today?"

"Because it's a legend, nothing more," Glenn answered. "It has to be, and besides, the stories never told of any of the heroes having left families or children behind. Even if they are true, I can't possibly be related to him."

"Here I stand before you, a testament to the validity of those tales, and yet you remain skeptical," Eisenzahn commented dejectedly. "Perhaps you're correct and that your scent and name are similar to Doluka's by sheer coincidence. Or perhaps you're wrong. I lived through that hellish war. I know the events that took place are true."

Glenn sat quietly, taking in the dragon's words. The supposed proof that the legends about the old war more than stories was overwhelming, and being pressured into thinking that he was related to one of his childhood idols was something else entirely. It wasn't so much that he wouldn't believe it, but that he couldn't. And even if it were true, there was the fact that history had transformed such an important event into little more than myth, which begged the question of why.

"I can sense your hesitation starting to fade," Eisenzahn stated. "But I suppose I understand your position. I too once felt the same way regarding the tales told to me by my predecessor."

"Do tell," Glenn answered, hoping to get the subject to shift again.

"Perhaps another time," the dragon answered quietly.

Glenn sighed but made his way back onto his feet again. The soreness in his shoulder and leg was still there, but now that he'd gotten used to the pain it wasn't any worse than what he'd dealt with before. The most pressing change was his half-blindness. A warrior relied on two things; their instincts and their vision. Now it seemed he would have to rely more on the former than the latter and even looking around his current surroundings seemed to be somewhat of a challenge.

"I suspect there is more to you than you realize, Glenn," Eisenzahn commented after letting him stir in his thoughts for a moment. He walked over towards the opening of the cave where he resided, motioning with his head that he wished Glenn to follow. When they reached the opening it allowed Glenn a magnificent view of the snow covered landscape. "There is something I wish to show you. Climb on my back and I will take you there."

"What?" Glenn asked surprisingly.

"As much as I despise the practice you took to so well, I want you to get on my back," Eisenzahn explained. "While your wounds may be healed your muscles still ache, and thus more time is required for you to fully recover. You are in no condition to travel on foot."

Glenn was appropriately skeptical. The beast had tried to kill him without abandon mere days ago, and Glenn was unarmed. But it also had shown a heretofore unprecedented level of intelligence, and he had little choice if he wanted to see what it was the dragon wished to show him. Reluctantly he climbed on, holding tightly to its scales running up its neck.

Eisenzahn spread his massive wings and flapped, blowing the white powdery snow around them like a small blizzard as ran forward and took to the sky. Glenn held on fearfully while they gained speed soaring through the mountains. Flying was something he had always done on a saddle, with a harness to hold on to should he lose his balance. He had never done it bareback, but after a few minutes of it the feeling was exhilarating.

The view of the mountaintops was breathtaking. In the distance, to the south of where they were, Glenn could barely see the outline of Frostmarch at the base of the mountain. They passed through some clouds, chilling his skin, but it felt refreshing along with the icy wind. It all felt right to him.

"Look below," Eisenzahn called out. "Do you see them?"

Glenn turned his gaze directly below them. They were easily a few hundred feet up, and Glenn could see the remains of an old city or town, mostly buried in the snow. "I see ruins," he answered.

"That was your ancestor's place of birth and home," Eisenzahn explained.

"Why was it allowed to fall to such ruin?"

"After the war there were still those who wished to bring the world to ruin," the dragon started to say. "Though they were ultimately defeated, they sought to end the lives of those associated with the heroes. White Rock was one of the villages they sacked."

"And the people never rebuilt it?"

"No, much to my dismay," Eisenzahn answered sadly. "I pleaded with the new leaders of your race but it was to no avail. Eventually the town was forgotten and, as you've explained to me, the truth of their exploits eventually became myth."

The dragon lowered himself towards the ruined town, or at least what was left of it. He landed with a thud but remained silent, prompting Glenn to get down and look at the ruins personally.

There was little architecture remaining from what was visible. Most of the town's buildings had eroded away, crumbled from the years of neglect or buried in the snow. There were the makings of a town square and perhaps the location of what had been a market, but the rest of the area was barren save for the white stone which, Glenn assumed, gave the town its name.

"Why have you brought me here?" Glenn asked.

"To further prove the validity of my tale," the dragon answered. "I know how obsessed with proof you humans are."

"Should I be looking for something specific?"

"If it hasn't been looted by bandits and thieves over the centuries, there should be something in that building there," Eisenzahn explained as he pointed to one of the few remaining structures with his snout. "It was where the town's leader resided. If any record of that time period remains, it would be there."

Glenn turned around and looked at the eroded structure. It looked unsafe and was probably completely devoid of anything save for the stone it was made out of. He trotted through the snow to the structure and walked through where a door had once been. The design was similar to other buildings of official business he'd been in before, which surprised him given its supposed age.

Where furniture had once been was now nothing but snow and dust. Steps leading to the upper floors had long since eroded away and sections of the ceiling had collapsed. All that remained of any kind of possible importance was a metal box, partially hidden in the rubble.

"Well, what's this?" Glenn asked aloud as he stepped over towards the mysterious container. He lifted the pieces of stone and ice that were covering it away and pulled it towards him. If a lock had been placed on it originally, it was gone, probably due to corrosion or a lucky strike of falling ceiling material. The latch on the cover was rusted and worn but it still kept the box closed.

He knelt lifted the latch, and then opened the container. Dust and snow fell behind it, piling neatly on the floor. There wasn't much of anything left inside the box; a couple of papers that had been disheveled and a rotted quill. Glenn picked up one of the papers, hoping that something would be written on it that he could use to properly identify the location. What he found was something written in a language he'd never seen before. The paper felt incredibly old and barely held together, and on the corner was an engraving of a symbol he'd only seen a few times in his life; a sphere with a massive tree growing out of it, with the tree's roots extending all the way around.

"Well this is peculiar..." he commented to himself, but his moment of contemplation was cut short by Eisenzahn's roar from outside. Glenn dropped the paper in the box and turned his head quickly, feeling that something was wrong. When he ran out of the building's opening he found the dragon in combat with a group of men. None of them were dressed the same as the herders he'd met in Frostmarch, instead wearing pelts that were more indicative of outlaws or poachers.

The thought that he could use the distraction to escape from his predicament and return to civilization crossed his mind, but he dismissed the idea quickly. Eisenzahn had returned for him, not out of anger, but of curiosity, and had saved his life. Glenn was a man of honor, and knew that he owed the creature the same, but without a weapon his bare hands could only do so much damage, especially if they had any kind of armor on.

Eisenzahn roared again as fire streamed from his gaping jaw, nearly incinerating one of the poachers. The sounds of their laughs echoed to Glenn's ears, prompting him to act even through the soreness of his body. He ran as quickly as he could through the snow towards the aggressors, kicking the snow as he went. None of the men paid him any attention though, focusing on their big catch.

He struck the closest poacher on the back of the head with his fist as hard as he could when he reached them. The burly man fell to the ground in a thud and dropped his weapon; a crudely made spear. Glenn picked the weapon up and took it in his hands when the other poachers realized what was happening.

"Who the hell are you!?" one of them shouted at Glenn.

"Glenn Sturmwind, Captain of Delrich's Dragon Knights," Glenn answered. "Leave this creature alone."

"Fat chance, boy," the man, whom Glenn assumed was their leader, replied. "There's a huge bounty on this thing's head, and its scales will fetch a good price too. I don't care who you are, but you'd best be leaving."

Eisenzahn bellowed again, streaming more fire from his mouth and engulfing one of the poachers in flames. The poacher leader turned around in shock, and Glenn moved to attack. His one arm still ached, but the other was just as strong as ever. He plunged the crude spear in the back of another poacher before moving on to the next.

Eisenzahn swiped his massive feet and wings at the aggressors, kicking up the snow that lay around him but it did little good. While Glenn moved against the foes nearest to him the others that remained attacked the dragon with full force. Several pikes flew in the air towards Eisenzahn with ropes tied to them. The poachers pulled down on the ropes once they struck the ground, pulling Eisenzahn to the ground in a loud thud like a makeshift net. The strategy was surprising, and Glenn was impressed with the poachers' ingenuity. Had he thought of it he may have succeeded with his original mission, but then he may have also met his end shortly after. The thought reaffirmed his drive to aid the creature.

"Eisenzahn!" Glenn shouted, and jumped from one poacher to the next, eventually making his way closer to Eisenzahn. By the time he reached the inner group though the ropes binding the dragon had all been fastened to the ground and reinforced by some enchantment.

"I've had enough of you, boy!" the poacher leader yelled when Glenn neared the remaining few. "Nobody does this to my men. I don't care who you are!"

The brutish poacher swung a large battle axe towards Glenn as he drew nearer, but even with his recovering injuries he was still faster. Years of training had prepared him for moments where he'd have to fight through pain, and this was simply another one of them. He dodged the poacher's swings almost effortlessly, managing to get behind him before running him through with the spear he'd acquired. His large body fell into the snow hard, staining it red with his blood. The other remaining poachers, however few there were, stared in awe.

"I said it once to him and I'll say it once more," Glenn shouted at the now scared men. "Leave this dragon alone. Do so and I'll spare your worthless lives."

The poachers dropped their weapons and ran without a second thought. When they disappeared into the white hills Glenn finally dropped his guard and the spear, and knelt down. The pain running through his body was severe, but Eisenzahn was safe and, to him, that was what mattered.

"Thank you," the dragon said, though still pinned to the ground.

"Well that was easier than I thought it would be..." Glenn joked while gripping his shoulder and gritting his teeth. "Why didn't you take to the air? You were much harder to kill when fighting me the other day."

"If I had done so, some of them would have seen your tracks and followed," he explained. "I couldn't risk that."

"Why? What significance would my fate have had on you?"

"You remind me of him," the dragon said. "You are very much like Doluka, and I feel that you have a greater destiny than you realize."

"I think you're insane," Glenn replied as he brought himself back on his feet, and picked up the spear that lay beside him. He cut one of the ropes binding Eisenzahn down, which gave him enough slack to break the rest of the bindings on his own. "I did find something."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it was a piece of paper...possibly a letter," Glenn explained while he sat back down on the snow. "But I couldn't read it. It was written in a language I didn't recognize."

"Was there a seal of some sort, or a crest?" Eisenzahn inquired with a degree of enthusiasm.

"Yes, it was a circle and a tree. Why?" Glenn responded. The dragon's piqued interest surprised him, believing that while the letter was old it held no real significance or value.

Eisenzahn laughed, or at least made a sound that resembled a laugh. Glenn wasn't exactly sure, but when the sound ceased he spoke again. "That symbol is the mark of the Holy City, Del'Mond. That letter was likely a correspondence to the council that once ruled there, long ago."

"Oh really?" Glenn answered sarcastically. "I'm still not sure any of this is real. I woke up after resigning myself to die in a cave with a talking dragon, and my wounds were miraculously healed. If I were anyone hearing such a tale I'd think them either a clever bard, a trickster, or out of their mind."

"I do not know what else you wish for me to do, human," Eisenzahn stated after an aggravated sigh. "It is as if your kind doesn't want to acknowledge the past. I warn you that this ignorance will lead to your downfall. I have already felt the hands of darkness move about this world again."

"What do you mean?"

"I did not tell you the whole truth of why I returned to you. The two that attacked you did not act on their own accord," Eisenzahn answered. "They were being guided by a force the likes of which I have not felt for centuries. When I felt their presence I was compelled to investigate. Finding them targeting you was no act of personal vengeance, I fear, but something much more methodical in purpose."

"Wait, stop for a moment," Glenn interrupted. "What is it you're trying to tell me? That it was our destiny to meet as we did? Amador is plotting against the throne I swore to serve. Everyone in my country is in danger with him moving about freely and I'm the only one left who has a chance of stopping him, which is why he came here; to kill me! I can't be wasting my time deliberating on destiny and fate."

The dragon remained silent as it stared down at Glenn. Glenn remained seated on the ground, calming himself down from the small spurt.

"And what would you do, should you return to your home?" the dragon inquired. "Surely, if this man is conspiring as you say, he's already informed your king that you have been killed, devoured by the wretched beast of the mountain."

Glenn closed his eyes as he exhaled. He knew he needed to think clearly about what he wanted to do and rushing back to Delrich, injured and unarmed, would not be wise. He wondered what Anye had done after her escape with the idea that a similar plan of action would be wise, but then realized that he really had no idea where she'd gone or if she was even still alive.

"Glenn, this...Amador...I do not believe he aspires to take control of your country alone," Eisenzahn continued. "If he is being guided by whom I believe he is, then there is much more at stake here."

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked.

"I will explain back at the cave," the dragon replied. "The sun will set soon, and you humans cannot endure the evening cold of the mountain without shelter." He lowered himself to the ground and flattened his massive wings, giving Glenn an easy ramp with which to climb on to his back. "Besides, your wounds have not fully healed. You should be resting. I should not have brought you here as you are."

Glenn brushed himself off as he got back to his feet. The cold of the snow was starting to numb his skin and make other parts somewhat itchy. The thought of resting by a warm fire sounded quite pleasant. Before climbing on to the creature's back though, he walked over to the corpse of the poacher leader and tore off a slender piece of cloth, wrapping it around his head and over his blind eye.

"I can't use it anymore, so I may as well cover it up and keep it protected," Glenn commented as he walked back to the purple colored dragon. He climbed onto its back and held on tightly. "Alright, Eisenzahn, I'll hear what you have to say."

### ______

Glenn spent the following days resting quietly within Eisenzahn's cave. The dragon told him about the Great War and the men and women who fought in it, as well as his own role during the battles that took place. Glenn remained still skeptical at first, but as time went on he started to believe what it was the dragon told him. His thoughts also went to Anye from time to time, praying for her safety wherever she was, but his focus remained on Amador and his schemes, especially now suspecting that an unseen hand was guiding him. It made sense, really, when he thought about it; Amador had always been careless, letting his emotions guide him more than reason. Conspiracy was out of his league.

It took four full days of rest for the aching of Glenn's muscle pains to completely subside. His eye was still blind and he was beginning to accept that it would stay that way permanently. Being away from civilization for that long caused a beard to form on his face as well, but without anyone to try and impress he had no need to shave it and rather liked the rugged look. According to Eisenzahn he was starting to look like one of the locals from the towns that dotted the frozen landscape, albeit smaller and less hairy.

On the fifth day, Eisenzahn woke Glenn along with the sunrise. The air was as cold as ever, but the dragon seemed nervous, maybe even anxious, about something.

"What is it, Eisenzahn?" Glenn asked as he stretched. His armor felt heavy on his arms after having been wearing it for almost a week straight. He never found his helmet though, having been lost in the snow during his battle with the dragon. "Is something going on outside?"

The dragon shook its head but kept a continuous watch on the horizon. "Not here, no, but something is happening."

"What do you mean?"

"I do not know what exactly is occurring, but I felt...a pulse, I suppose you could say, coming from the north."

"Do you think it could be Amador or Kiya?" Glenn asked as he walked over to the cave's mouth.

"Possibly, but it is impossible to tell for certain. It was incredibly minor, but I felt it nonetheless," Eisenzahn answered. "There is someplace I should take you. Climb on my back and we'll head there at once."

"Now? I haven't even eaten breakfast," Glenn argued.

"There is precious little time to worry about luxuries such as food," Eisenzahn replied as he lowered himself. "Your appetite however is quite the mirror to Doluka's. I'd be amazed if you weren't related to him."

Glenn groaned as he climbed aboard the creature, but his sleepiness and hunger quickly faded when Eisenzahn took to the sky. The cold mountain air stung his face, turning his nose and cheeks red. The sky was cloudless as well, granting an amazing view of the landscape for miles all around. He could see various settlements dotting the surface, as well as the outlined Frostmarch, even clearer than the last time.

Eisenzahn flew around, changing his course to head north. There were no settlements that far out and Glenn soon lost sight of the ones he spotted before. There were nothing but rocks and mountain peaks, at least for a little while, until a structure jutting from the ground started to appear. It was surrounded by a white mist, obstructing it from view until they got closer.

"Eisenzahn, what is that?" Glenn shouted over the wind.

"That is our destination," the dragon answered. "A place I have sworn to keep safe since the end of the Great War, and have done so diligently."

"Why are you bringing me there?"

"There is an object within the tower, one of great importance." Eisenzahn explained as he lowered his altitude. "I cannot claim it myself, but I believe it will aid you in your mission to stop your adversary."

"Why would you give something such as that to me? Should you not keep it safe and hidden?"

"If Amador is serving the darkness then the tower will no longer protect it," the dragon answered. "I need you to claim it and bring it back to me."

Glenn remained quiet while they neared the ground. The air was frigid and the mist was thick. Frost clung to his hair and refused to let go. He wished he was back in the cave, near the fire, or back home, or with Anye.

When Eisenzahn finally landed on the ground he allowed Glenn to slide off of his back and look around the environs. The area was unlike anywhere else he had seen in the mountains, appearing to have been built long before his time. Statues of grotesque creatures lined the area surrounding the tower, and remains of columns and other such decorative architecture could be seen. The whole of the place was also shaped like a garden of some sort, and had probably been kept as such for a very long time.

"Eisenzahn, what is this place?" Glenn asked. "Where are we?"

"This is the North Tower," the dragon said. "A simple name, really. It was constructed during the war as a safe haven for the most brilliant minds of the time, as were the other two."

"Other two?"

"Yes, there are two others exactly like this one. One lies far to the west, across the sea in a desert mountain. The other to the east, hidden within the dead lands of Qul'Rah, the region you know as The Frontier," Eisenzahn explained. "My charge was to protect this location at all costs from those who wished to free Stragus from his prison."

"Stragus?" Glenn asked. "The arch mage who you fought in the Great War?"

"The same."

Glenn paused for a moment, still taking in the dreary scenery. "You think Amador is serving him, don't you."

"If I did not, you would not be here," the dragon stated coldly. "Come. I will remove the seal barring entry to this place and allow you to venture forth."

Glenn and the dragon walked through the mist towards the stone tower's massive doors. He kept looking at the grotesqueries, feeling a sense of dread. All of them were grey stone sculptures of winged disfigured creatures, each wielding weapons that matched their horrific appearance. The detail on them was exceptional, and Glenn wondered why a place that was supposedly built as a safe haven would be decorated with such fearful looking sculptures.

Glenn stopped short as he felt a surge of magic build up within the dragon. He saw the creature's eyes start to faintly glow, and it began speaking in words he didn't understand. What he did understand was that Eisenzahn was chanting a spell of some sort, as a massive magical seal appeared in front of the frozen wooden doors of the tower. It remained there for a moment before fading away as Eisenzahn released the magic he had summoned.

"The seal is broken," the dragon said. "You will find the object I told you of at the top of the structure."

"If it's at the top, why didn't we just fly up there?" Glenn asked feeling a little annoyed that he had to climb.

"If it were that simple then the object would have been lost ages ago," Eisenzahn replied annoyingly. "The tower is protected by more than just this one seal. Dispelling the magic that protects this place would require a tremendous amount of energy, more so than I or any one human could control, save for Stragus himself."

"My apologies," Glenn replied defensively. "Is there anything I should expect inside?"

"The interior is saturated with magical energy. It may be somewhat overwhelming at first," Eisenzahn answered. "Otherwise, no, there is nothing."

Glenn took in a breath and nodded, showing his readiness to enter the tower. "Alright, I'll be back soon I suppose," he said, and stepped forth into the tower.

The interior was surprisingly warm, which shocked Glenn. He'd mostly forgotten about the cold outside as he looked at the sculptures and the tower itself, so when the heat hit him he didn't expect it. The concentration of magic Eisenzahn had mentioned was also quite prevalent, and having grown used to using the energy himself he was quite sensitive to it. It took a minute before his head cleared and he was able to move without dizziness.

The interior decorations and furniture were amazingly well preserved for something as old as Eisenzahn claimed. There wasn't an enormous amount of room, and whoever had once lived in the tower didn't have a lot of privacy. Numerous beds had been organized in a single area around a central pillar where a staircase spiraled upward in its own private corridor. Murals had been painted on the walls alongside portraits that hung in elegant wooden frames, many of which showing beautiful landscapes or people dressed in fancy robes or armor. Glenn didn't recognize any of them, but that didn't come as a surprise. He moved on, towards the stairs in the center.

The narrow walkway leading up the stairs was lined with torches that seemed to light on their own as Glenn moved towards them. There were no murals or paintings of anything specifically unique, but the symbol he'd seen on the paper in White Rock was prominent, having been painted on the wall between every torch up the hall. The magic concentration grew stronger as he ascended the tower as well.

Glenn eventually reached what he'd hoped was the uppermost chamber of the tower. A simple wooden door barred his path. The same symbol of the sphere and tree had been burned into it. He opened the door and revealed a small room with a stained-glass ceiling that had been patterned into the shape of a man wearing light purple armor and holding what looked like a lance. The sun's light filled the room through the colored glass, giving it a kaleidoscopic look. There wasn't much else in the room. The floor had a lush red carpet that filled the entirety of the chamber, and on the far side opposite of the door were two tall vases that stood on either side of a statue.

He approached the statue slowly but was unable to take his gaze from it. The sculpture was of a man, tall and muscular, wearing a set of armor that looked to have been modeled after the scales and bones of a dragon. In the center of the armor, in the middle of the chest, was the same emblem he had seen repeated throughout the tower's interior, and in the statue's hands was a spear of masterful design and craftsmanship.

The weapon looked more ceremonial than practical at a distance, but as Glenn drew nearer he could see just how far off the mark he was. Lined up with the main body of the lance was a single blade of shimmering blue metal, not unlike Captain Fawkes' sword, that had been fastened into a solid gold engraved fixture. The gold fixture was made with small extensions on the left and right that housed curved blades of the same mysterious looking blue metal, effectively making the lance a custom version of a trident. On either side of the gold fixture's central section were round green gems that reflected the sun's light. The main body of the lance appeared to have been fashioned of the same blue metal as the blades, and had been wrapped around the center with a thick amount of grey leather, stretching about a foot in length, which was held in its place by a pair of small clasps, one on either end. The bottom of the lance also had an engraved gold fixture, though it was much smaller, which held a pair of pincer-like blades.

"So, you are the child I have been waiting for?" a deep disembodied voice echoed within the small room.

Glenn stumbled backwards, looking around quickly for the source of the sudden greeting even though he knew he was alone. "Who's there!?" he shouted, and instinctively reached for where his lance would have been slung had it not been lost in his battle with Eisenzahn.

"Calm yourself, boy. I am no enemy of yours," the voice answered. "If you have been granted passage into this place, then it can only mean that the dragon allowed it."

"The dragon? You mean Eisenzahn?" Glenn inquired. He kept his guard up and constantly scanned his surroundings regardless of what the voice said to him. "I ask again, who are you?"

"I have known the dragon for centuries," the voice explained. The tone of its voice was harsh but also calm. "You have been allowed to enter this place by him for a reason. Judging by your present actions, I doubt you fully comprehend why."

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked. "Tell me who you are and where you are hiding if you are not my enemy!"

"Take the lance in hand and you will have your answer," the voice said.

"The lance?" Glenn repeated, but the voice remained silent. "What do you mean? Explain yourself!" Glenn persisted, but the disembodied voice did not answer, and nothing within the room had changed since his arrival. The whole situation smelled foul, but his only other option was to turn back and return down the tower's stairs. If he wanted answers he had to do what the voice told him, even if he didn't like it.

He walked up to the statue and weapon carefully, being weary of anything unexpected, but nothing happened. The only ones in the room were him and the stone sculpture holding the weapon.

Glenn took a deep breath while he looked up at the object one more time. "Alright, whoever you are. I'll do as you ask," he said, and gripped the weapon's body tightly.

The magic concentration of the room intensified. The air within the chamber swirled around him. He tried to let go, but an unseen force prevented it. It felt like all of the energy he had felt throughout the tower was funneling itself through his body into the weapon. Glenn yelled both fearful and excited by what was happening to him. Quickly, the statue's hands opened and relinquished the lance to him.

The armor sculpted into the stone that held the lance faded away, revealing the frame of a man that had only simple clothing. It reappeared on Glenn's body, taking on color and the shape of his physique perfectly. The scale and bone looking armor lost its brown, musty look of stone, replaced with a filling color of light purple and silver edging. The center of the armor, in front of his chest, was darker and had the emblem of the tree growing out of a sphere, fashioned out of the same silver looking material. The rest of the armor seemingly replaced his old set and felt like it fit perfectly, including a helmet that was coincidentally a similar shape to his original.

The last bit of energy surged through into the weapon Glenn now held in his hands. The air finally settled, and he breathed heavily, staring directly in front of him at the head of the lance he now held. What exactly had happened, he wasn't sure.

"Very good, you've proven yourself to at least be of the proper lineage," the disembodied voice commented, though now it sounded much closer than before. "All that remains is the trial of skill to prove your worth."

Glenn spun again, searching behind him for any sign of the voice's origin, but still there was nobody there. "I've done as you asked, now cease these riddles and show yourself!" he shouted.

"Did the dragon tell you nothing of what it was you sought in this tower?" the voice asked.

Glenn turned again, realizing just how close the voice sounded. "Why don't you show yourself and tell me who you are before I find you and gut you?"

"I very much doubt you'll be able to perform the latter, Master," the voice answered. "Nor would you want to, I'm sure."

"Master?" Glenn inquired, but as he asked it he slowly started to realize where the voice was coming from. He held the lance upright and looked at the head's golden fixture. "You can't mean...?"

"Ah, I see you've figured it out. You're a sharp one, you are," the voice taunted. "I imagine many would flee in terror at the thought of such things. They have before, after all."

Glenn stared, confused by yet another confrontation with something he believed should not exist; first a talking dragon, now a talking lance. He couldn't say anything, believing once more to be in a dream of some sort.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon..." the voice continued.

"No, no. Recent developments simply been...interesting," Glenn answered. "And talking weapons aren't exactly common."

"No, we're not," the lance added. "Still, I do exist and you have claimed me and your forefather's armor as was foreseen long ago."

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked. "Forefather's armor? Foreseen? Just who exactly are you?"

"My name is Darius," the lance explained. "I was placed here many centuries ago to ensure that the sacrifices made to protect this world would not be in vain, waiting for the heir of my previous wielder to come."

"I don't understand," Glenn said. "For what purpose were you kept here?"

"It would be easier to show you. Brace yourself, Master," Darius answered.

Glenn tried to ask what the voice of the lance meant, but a sharp pain stung his mind before he could. He collapsed to a knee, gripping his head tightly in his hands. The pain was intense, making him feel as though his skull was about to burst open. Visions accompanied the pain. He saw things and places he'd never been before; people wearing foreign clothes, cities of strange architecture, battles and war, and death. When the visions ceased the pain dispersed, but Glenn remained on his knee, breathing hard as he recovered.

"What...what was that?" Glenn asked while he grasped for air.

"I apologize for the unpleasantness, Master, but it is necessary for you to understand the charge you now carry," Darius explained. "I'm afraid putting it into words would have both taken too long and have been much more confusing. With the memories made as your own you understand them as if you were there."

"Yes, I see," Glenn said. His breathing was slowing as his heart started to return to a normal pace. "The war, the fighting...but so much of it seems...missing."

"That would be because I only gave you what was relevant for you to understand your importance," Darius said. "Had I given you the full extent of my memories from that era, you would have perished."

"Of course...That was intense..." His expression felt like an understatement as his stomach started to bubble with nausea. The feeling intensified quickly, pushing to the point that Glenn had to rest both of his hands on the ground as the contents of his stomach, what little there was from not eating breakfast, was purged.

"Oh yes, I forgot about that," Darius commented.

The feeling passed as Glenn removed his bile. He stood again, straightening his back and stretched. He picked up the lance from where it had fallen on the floor and held it in front.

"This is all somewhat unbelievable, you know," Glenn commented.

"Yes, well, Master Doluka said the same thing, as did Master..." Darius started to ramble off, but he was cut off by Glenn before he could continue very far.

"Wait, did you say Doluka before?" Glenn inquired.

"I did," Darius replied. "Master Doluka was the Sentinel who wielded me in battle before you."

"But you said my ancestor was the one that wielded you before me," Glenn said. "You don't mean to tell me that I really am a blood descendant of Doluka Sturmwind."

"That much should have been known to you, Master," Darius stated. "I am surprised you were unaware. While the circumstances of this succession are unique, all of those who came before you were told of our existence when they agreed to take up the mantle."

"Our? You mean there are more of you?" Glenn asked, surprised by the revelation. "And what did you mean by Sentinel?"

"Oh yes. Of significant importance are Legeia and Alistair," Darius explained. "They served the same purpose as I for the past several hundred years, and I suspect the heirs of their previous wielders will be retrieving them soon if they have not done so already."

"I see...but what of this Sentinel you mentioned Doluka being?"

"The Sentinels are the order sworn to protect this world and the Holy City of Del'Mond, an order that you now belong to having claimed me from my resting place," Darius answered. "It is a charge of the highest importance. How are you unaware of this?"

Glenn wasn't sure how he should be reacting at the moment. What started as a simple deploy and assist mission had unexpectedly turned into something so much more, and he wasn't sure if he could trust his own eyes and ears any longer. Nothing else seemed out of the ordinary, but he couldn't be sure if that was because his mind wanted it to seem that way or if it was all actually true.

"I do not feel Alistair's presence, Master Glenn, but Legeia was awakened some time ago," Darius commented, breaking Glenn from his moment of contemplation. "Her present location is due south and east of here, beyond the black mountains."

"That must be the Devil's Spine, which means Mitus or The Frontier," Glenn commented. "We should inform Eisenzahn of this." Glenn started to walk for the door he used to enter the room when a slab of stone came down in front of the opening, sealing him within the room. "What is this!?"

"Part of your trial of worth, Master," Darius began to explain. "All who have wielded me in battle utilized attacks from the air masterfully. Judging from your own memories, you excel at the same. Part of the protection that was placed upon me was ensuring that the one who claimed me could do so even from a height as great as this."

As Darius concluded his explanation a section of the wall near the statue slid away to the side, revealing a narrow walkway that extended outside. The cold air from the mountains blew in, chilling the room. Glenn had gotten used to the warmth of the tower and so he wasn't expecting the quick change in temperature.

He walked to the opening and looked around. The fog below had cleared, giving him an unimpeded view of the ground below where Eisenzahn sat in wait. Strangely though, it looked like some of the grotesque statues lining the snow had come to life and were wandering around, though Eisenzahn seemed oblivious to their movements.

"Darius, what are those things?" Glenn yelled. "How are they moving? Those were merely statues when we passed through before."

"Those were no statues, Master," Darius countered drearily. "They are those whose minds have been warped by magic. Their bodies transformed, becoming misshapen and disfigured to match their twisted minds, and they served in the dark army during the Great War. They were sealed in time until I was claimed by a new master. Your trial lies in defeating them."

"From up here!?"

"Trust in your abilities and you will prevail. If you do not, you will fall to your death or starve here, in this room," Darius said.

Glenn looked down swallowed. He'd preformed jumps from intense heights before, but never at as drastic as where he found himself. The lance told him to trust in his abilities, in which he had every confidence. But if he miscalculated just how much of a buffer he needed he'd wind up a red spot in the snow.

He was reluctant, but he calmed his breathing and summoned the magic he'd need for a jump of that height. Instead of splitting it between propelling himself upward and buffering his landing, he'd need to focus everything he could on landing safely. He gave himself a small countdown and, when he reached zero, ran towards the edge of the walkway and jumped.

The cold air rushed past, blowing his hair about his face beneath the helmet. He positioned the lance in his hands downward like he usually did during that kind of attack. The fear he felt at the top of the tower had completely gone, being replaced with strong determination and focus. He wasn't sure if it was because he was going crazy or if his new armor and weapon gave him a new sense of confidence.

The ground grew closer, filling with detail as he fell through the sky like a shooting star. The magic he concentrated focused around him to protect him from the impact, but something else took place that surprised Glenn. An ethereal cone of energy formed around the tip of the spear, leaving behind a trail of light as he fell. He wasn't sure what it was, whether it was a side effect of the amount of energy he'd gathered for the intense height or something else. Either way, what happened upon impact was astounding.

Glenn landed in the middle of a group of the wandering monstrosities, no longer the grey stone color he remembered, but a disgusting fleshy red. He'd impaled one of the creatures with his landing, but the energy that had gathered into a cone exploded outward, absorbing the buffer he'd used to remain safe for his landing. The resulting shockwave created a small crater with Glenn at the center, and the force had obliterated a large portion of the group.

The snow and rocks that Glenn sent flying settled, revealing only a few of the twisted creatures remained alive. They were hideously ugly, and held weapons that looked like they'd been made out of the bones of slain enemies. They screamed at him angrily before rushing towards him.

Glenn acted on instinct, pulling the central blade of the lance out of the ground and spun around swiftly. He beheaded the nearest creature before reverse-stabbing a second with the pincer-blades at the bottom of the weapon. Both monstrosities faded into dust instead of spreading their foul blood everywhere, which was surprising.

"Darius, what's going on?" Glenn asked. "Why are they turning to dust?"

"These abominations have forfeit all that once made them human, Master," Darius answered. "Free from the limitations of human life, their bodies became as corpses. When you strike a killing blow, you set free its tormented soul and the body decays rapidly."

"Then why do they look as flesh and blood?" Glenn asked while looking around at the few remaining enemies. "Shouldn't they keep their look of stone?"

"The form of stone you saw was their bodies having been locked in time," Darius said. "What you see now is simply the result of the magic that twisted their bodies to their new forms. It is not indicative of true life."

"Very well," Glenn commented as he jumped from his place into the air. He struck down at another of the creatures. They were fast moving but he was faster. Their efforts at defending themselves from his attacks were futile as they were quickly overpowered and destroyed, one by one, until none were left. What remained of them were simply piles of dust that dotted the otherwise pristine white landscape. Glenn calmed his nerves and looked around, making sure there were no more enemies left. That was when he realized that Eisenzahn, a giant dragon, had seemingly vanished.

"Darius, where's Eisenzahn?" Glenn asked as he looked towards the entrance of the tower, but before he could get an answer he was surrounded by another whirlwind. The air kicked up the snow, much like it did the dust at the top of the tower, and obstructed his view before it dispersed, revealing the dragon sitting where it had been when he left earlier.

"What in the world was that?" Glenn asked.

"Your trial has been concluded, Master, and the rite of succession is complete," Darius answered. "Only you were allowed to take part in it. All others would be expelled when you drew near the creatures, including the dragon. Unfortunately, I feel that your tests are not quite over."

Glenn would have asked what the lance's latest riddle meant had the dragon not come walking over towards him and overheard the conversation. He was relieved to see his new friend unharmed, but he was also confused as to how and why the dragon was expelled from the trial.

"I see you've recovered the artifact," Eisenzahn greeted with some enthusiasm. "That is good, but the spirit of the weapon is correct. Your final test is upon you."

"What final test?" Glenn asked. "You never mentioned any of this before!"

"When our plan was set into motion, I made a promise to Doluka," Eisenzahn started to say. "I swore to him that I would ensure the one who claimed Darius was also worthy of fighting alongside my kind, as he was. Now brace yourself, heir of Sturmwind!"

"Eisenzahn, wait!" Glenn shouted, but the beast was already charging at him with his jaws opened wide. He jumped out of the way, rolling in the snow as the dragon skidded on its feet while it turned around to attack again. "I'm not going to kill you!"

"You should fight as though you must!" the dragon yelled, and charged again. This time though, it roared and spewed fire from its jaw.

Glenn jumped again, trying to get some distance between himself and the beast, but the dragon was incredibly swift for its size and kept up with every evasive maneuver. He didn't know what to do, if not for practicality, but for the bond he'd started to form with him. Eisenzahn had saved his life, and he'd done the same for him. There was no way he wanted to hurt him or fight him, but if he didn't do something quickly he'd likely be killed, a fact that Darius was constantly reminding him of.

"Eisenzahn, stop this!" Glenn shouted as he fought off the dragon's swings of its feet. "Don't make me hurt you!"

"Do it, human!" the dragon roared as it raised itself onto his hind legs. "Prove your worth to my race!"

Glenn was cornered. His only way out was up. If he didn't take the chance and go at that moment he'd be crushed under the sheer weight of the dragon alone. He gathered the magic into his legs again and pushed, leaping out of the snow up towards the Eisenzahn's head. Instead of pointing his spear outward for the kill though, Glenn turned and used his shoulder for the impact. The move was dangerous, but he was not willing to hurt the creature no matter what.

The gamble paid off. Glenn's shoulder struck Eisenzahn's snout hard and knocked the dragon off balance. Glenn gripped onto the dragon's neck as it fell, releasing it only when it looked like he'd be caught on the underside of the fall. After he landed next to his companion he quickly got on his feet and jumped back into Eisenzahn's neck, pointing the end of the lance downward and breathed heavily. Eisenzahn looked back at him, with his eyes staring directly into him.

"Do not persist in this, Eisenzahn," Glenn ordered, though his voice was barely over a whisper after all of the heavy breathing he'd been doing. "Please, I do not wish to kill you..."

"There will be no need for that," Eisenzahn said quietly. "You have proven that you deserve to stand among us."

Glenn relaxed and slid down off of the dragon's neck, and stepped aside to give him the room needed to roll over and get back on his feet. Glenn motioned to sling the lance over his shoulder like he usually would until he realized the weapon didn't have one. Embarrassingly, he lowered the arm holding the weapon, deciding to get one attached the moment he reached a blacksmith.

"Now what the hell was that all about?" Glenn asked, regaining some of his voice.

The dragon didn't answer immediately, instead turning to face Glenn front on and kneel down on one of its legs. "For many years, there have been none who honored the old ways or proved that they deserve to fight alongside the dragon race. You, Glenn Sturmwind, are the first in centuries to do so, and I would be honored to fight at your side."

"What, but..."

"Glenn, you honor your lineage and your people. The virtues and standards you hold yourself to...they are rare amongst your kind," the dragon continued. "I thought them lost to the ages, but you have given me hope. Perhaps, at your side, we can prevail against the gathering darkness and restore that which was lost."

"Eisenzahn, I don't know what to say," Glenn answered. "It would be my honor to have you at my side."

"Then touch your forehead to mine, and the bond shall be formed," Eisenzahn explained. He closed his eyes and lowered his face to match Glenn's height, waiting for him to do as he was told.

Glenn had run out of shock and surprise, and accepted what was happening for what it was even if it was something he'd never heard of, dreamed of, or thought possible. Too much was occurring in a short amount of time for him to think anything was out of the ordinary anymore, and so he did was he was asked and touched his forehead to Eisenzahn's.

* * *

# Chapter 5

## Revelation

Two weeks passed as Glenn got used to the idea of having a spear with sentience and a dragon that would willingly fight at his side, but he had to admit he liked the ideas. The beard on his face grew thick after having been unable to shave. His hair, already in need of a trim when he left Delrich, became longer and shaggy, reaching down just passed his ears.

The pair of new companions had much to teach, and Glenn needed time getting used to having a mutual link with a dragon as opposed to the forced one he'd been accustomed to. During the daytime hours, Glenn and Eisenzahn would physically train and get more acclimated to how the other would react in various situations. The bond they'd formed allowed Glenn access to an advanced and powerful form of magic control simply called Dragon Magic. The foreign powers allowed a rider and dragon to experience each other's senses whenever they needed to, providing a distinct advantage when separated. There was also a more direct impact ability which Eisenzahn called a 'Spirit Link'. The link, when used, formed a temporary fusion of souls that drastically increased Glenn's strength, dexterity, and reflexes for a short time. Its use was extremely strenuous though, and would leave both the human and dragon exhausted and weakened for a short time after its effects faded, so Glenn only trained in its use when he was absolutely sure there was no danger present.

At night, Darius would lecture, going into detail about his role in sealing away one of the greatest threats the world had ever faced; Stragus Markal, the arch mage of legend. As opposed to the direct infusion of memories, the lecture avoided the physical repercussions and allowed for Glenn to interpret the information in his own way. Darius explained that Doluka Sturmwind, Glenn's ancestor, had been a powerful member of the order known as The Sentinels and was instrumental in coming up with the plan that would lock the dark wizard away literally in time. Many attempts were made during the war to kill him, but all ended in failure which led to discussions of sealing him instead. Early attempts at casting the spell that was still holding him to present day weren't enough, though. The only way the ancient heroes, whom Darius still remembered fondly, was to channel the spell through the center of the holy city of Del'Mond and encompass the location it its entirety by amplifying it with an artifact of great power stored there.

At times both Eisenzahn and Darius would describe the city, oft referred to as the Holy City or Holy Land, in detail. Del'Mond had been built in an area rich in magic energy, far on the eastern edge of The Shroud. It was because of this concentration that the people of that time believed it to be the place where the gods granted life to the world and fell to rest with their work completed. Given what had transpired and Glenn's faith to his own belief, he began to regard the area as a holy place himself.

When asked about The Sentinels as a whole, Darius became somewhat quiet, as if lost in deep thought. He explained that the order was ancient, dating back further than any written history to date, and that there were originally twelve members each with a weapon like him. He claimed that normally he had the ability to detect where the other weapons like him were located at any given time, but because of his role in keeping Del'Mond locked away that the ability had been changed, limited to only the other two weapons that were also used. It sounded almost saddened by the fact that it wasn't sure if the order still existed or if it was wiped out over the centuries.

"So what were they like?" Glenn asked as he chewed on the cooked meat of a fresh kill. "I mean, you both fought alongside them. Were they any different than how people are today?"

"Doluka was quite like you, actually," Eisenzahn answered enthusiastically. "He was so full of pride, exceptionally talented, and more loyal to his friends than any. His wife, Delilah, was also quite sweet...but if I recall she had a bit of a temper, and she was deadly with a dagger."

Glenn laughed at the thought of his ancestors bickering over small things. Though he was granted some memories involving them he wished he had a way of really understanding them. He'd always been a fan of history, and his longing for family amplified his thirst for knowledge of his heritage. They helped, but it wasn't the same.

"Some of the others in your ancestor's entourage, Master Armonde and Lady Bethany specifically, were exceptionally talented in their own right as well," Darius chimed in. "They were rivaled only by those who fought alongside them."

"They must have been quite the team," Glenn sighed. "Do you truly think I'm ready to face such a villain as you've described? I mean, if they were unable to defeat Stragus outright, what leads you to believe I will fare better?"

"You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, Master Glenn," Darius answered. "The seal holding Stragus and the holy city are weakening, as was foretold. Your arrival here and receiving me was also prophesized. Have faith. If you were not up to the task, you would not be here now."

Glenn looked into the fire before him silently, contemplating everything that had happened. He was doubtful of his abilities regardless of his conquering the trial and forging a pact with Eisenzahn. After learning about Stragus and what was needed to simply stop him he wasn't sure if he had what it took to finish what his ancestors could not. He worried about his home as well, remembering Amador and Kiya, and then thoughts on Anye took hold.

"What is troubling you, Glenn?" Eisenzahn asked.

"I'm worried about Anye," Glenn answered after a brief pause. "It's been a month since I helped her flee, but I haven't been able to learn anything about what Amador is planning nor go and find her. I fear she is either dead or thinks I've abandoned her..."

"I am sorry, but given the circumstances we cannot search for her," the dragon said quietly. "If Legeia has already been awakened, as Darius claims, then we must make for the western tower. We have spent enough time training and teaching."

"Yes, Eisenzahn, I know," Glenn replied dismissively. "Still, I should at least return to Frostmarch and send word to Delrich of my whereabouts. If Amador has reported me dead that will at least cast suspicion upon him and hinder whatever it is he's doing. And if he is being manipulated as you suspect then such hindrance can only aid us."

Eisenzahn nodded his head in agreement. "Very well, if he is indeed serving Stragus, then impeding his efforts cannot be a futile gesture. I will fly you down the mountain at sunrise."

### ______

Frostmarch remained, expectedly, completely unchanged. The snow that had been brought in from the storm nearly a month prior had all been cleaned away, making the city's roads clear enough to walk on. Glenn could actually see most of the city from the ground, which sparkled in the sun's light reflecting off of the frost on the buildings.

Eisenzahn was still wanted by The Conclave, so to avoid detection he flew down the mountain using its long shadows as cover, getting as close as he could to the city walls undetected. Glenn walked the rest of the way, covering his new armor with a cloak he'd taken off of a bandit, of whom also had a spear with a leather sling which he attached to Darius. His thick beard and long hair made him look more like one of the locals than he'd anticipated, and he was given no trouble at all passing through the city gates regardless of the clearly foreign weapon slung over his shoulder.

Glenn walked through the city streets mostly unnoticed, working his way towards the closest bird post to send a message, but became sidetracked when he noticed his close proximity to the pub near the herder office. His mouth immediately felt like cotton and he desired a drink badly.

"Master Glenn, are you sure we should be dawdling in such an establishment?" Darius stated quietly, sounding annoyed at Glenn's easy dismissal of his duties. "There isn't much time for us to waste."

"Darius, I've been stuck living up in those mountains for almost a month without anything to drink but melting snow and ice," Glenn answered under his breath. "We can take a moment to let me have a drink before we set out to save the world."

The lance remained silent as Glenn walked through the open door. He walked up to the bar where the woman in charge greeted him with a smile and poured him a mug of ale. It was the most wonderful greeting he'd had in a long time, and he drank the liquid down like water, asking for another before the barmaid was able to walk away from him.

"So, did you hear about the tournament down in Belrun?" one of the patrons sitting next to Glenn commented to another sitting at the edge of the bar.

"Aye, I heard it was quite the show this year," the familiar voice of Aldrin Fawkes answered. "Word is that a woman named Amy Karst tied for first place with a boy from The Frontier, and that she's none too hard on the eyes."

"That's what I heard, too," the first man replied. "Either the warriors down south are getting soft or she's really something. And that's not the only thing going on either."

"You mean Delrich?" Fawkes asked.

Glenn listened intently at the conversation, keeping his identity hidden for the time being.

"Aye...I've heard that the king has been drafting younger men and women these days for the war, and is even sending an expedition up here to look through the mountains for something. Heh, maybe we'll get lucky and they'll kill that dragon for us!"

"Wouldn't that be a boon...There's also the new Dragon Knight Commander preparing to take a group across the ocean to the west," Fawkes added. "I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it. I fear the war may return to Toran to stain our fields once more..."

"Westward, eh?" Glenn asked as he leaned over the counter and looked towards the pair.

The one man closer to Glenn turned around while Captain Fawkes leaned over and looked at Glenn's face. "Do I know you, stranger?" he asked suspiciously. "I don't know where you're from, but eavesdropping's not considered very polite here."

"I should hope so. I thought you were dead, though," Glenn answered. He kept his composure and looked back at his frosty mug, taking another swig of the delicious drink.

"Dead? What are you...wait..." Captain Fawkes started to say, but stopped as he looked at Glenn's features more closely. "Sturmwind, is that you?"

"The one and only," Glenn answered as he raised his freshly filled mug up to his lips again.

"By the gods, boy, what happened to you?" Fawkes asked as he stared at Glenn's scar peeking out from beneath the ripped cloth. "I thought for certain you'd become that beast's dinner. Hell, Delrich thinks you're dead. They've already replaced you. Amador Astley is now in command if rumor is to be believed."

"Yes, well I wasn't far from it," Glenn answered. "But I survived, and managed to get back down here safely finally."

"You hardly look it," Fawkes commented. "You need to go get yourself a patch for that eye, and get back home."

"Hold on a second, Ashman," Fawkes' friend interrupted. "You mean to tell me that this is the boy you said you'd lost in the mountain? The one that monstrosity devoured a few weeks back?"

"Aye, that's him."

"Gods boy, how did you survive?"

"Hard determination and willpower, but what was it you said about Delrich sending an expedition to the mountains, and the Dragon Knight Commander heading west?"

"Master Sturmwind..." Darius' voice echoed in Glenn's head. "There is something about that man..."

Glenn ignored the lance's voice and looked at his old companion as he finished his drink.

"We don't really know the details, Glenn," Fawkes explained. "Only rumors and such, but people are saying Delrich is looking for something, and that the military has been granted passage into the mountains to look for it while a squad of Dragon Knights head to the Western Isles to look for something else, led by Amador himself."

Glenn stood, placing the mug down on the counter and leaving a few of his remaining coins on the counter to pay for the drinks. "I see...I think I need to be going then," he said quickly. He wanted to not make a scene, reacting to the news, and needed to get out of there quickly.  "Thank you, Ashman. I hope you manage to take care of that little problem in the mountains."

"Safe travels, Sturmwind," Fawkes replied as he raised his mug.

Glenn turned and quickly walked out of the pub, forgetting about the message he wanted to send and focused on returning to Eisenzahn. A squad of Dragon Knights heading west could mean that Amador knew about the tower and the weapon sealed there. Even if he didn't know who the heir was that could claim it, he needed to get there to protect it.

"Now, what is it you were saying, Darius?" Glenn asked as he walked.

"Nothing, I believe I may have been seeking something that wasn't there," the lance replied dejectedly.

Glenn shrugged and continued back through the gate and up the mountain trail to the small cave where Eisenzahn was hiding. "Eisenzahn, we need to move. There's a problem," Glenn stated as he got close to the dragon. "The Dragon Knights from Delrich are on their way to the Western Isles, and Amador is among their number. He must know where the tower is located."

"We don't have any time to lose then," Eisenzahn agreed. He crawled out of the cave and stretched his wings as Glenn jumped onto his back and held on tightly. "The journey across the sea is long. We'll need to stop and rest along the way on one of the islands that dot the waters."

"Do you know where they are?" Glenn asked.

"Don't worry, I've done this before."

### ______

The shift in temperature was relieving. The frigid temperatures of the northern mountains could be acclimated to, but that didn't mean spending every waking moment in it was enjoyable. Glenn knew he didn't have time to sightsee and relax though, and kept his focus on the task at hand.

The news of Delrich's movement west troubled him. Eisenzahn soared through the air as fast as he could, but the dragon was only so strong and they'd had to stop and rest on various islands already, hoping that they would find food and clean water to replenish his strength. Many of the islands hadn't been colonized over the centuries thankfully, so Eisenzahn's resting places remained intact.

The pair remained alone over the course of the journey. Not a ship ever came in sight even with the elevated position helping their view. The skies were clear and the wind was at their backs, but their destination was far. A rough estimate using Eisenzahn's memory of the distance placed them less than an hour's flight away from their destination. The archipelago that bordered the eastern shore of a giant desert called the Sun's Bed was the island chain Glenn knew as the Western Isles. The desert was where the West Tower was located. The sun had set, and they would have usually stopped to make camp by then, but because they were so close Eisenzahn pressed on.

"What should I expect when we arrive at the tower?" Glenn asked as they flew. "Does another dragon guard the artifact kept there as you guarded over Darius?"

"No, I was the only one of my kind chosen to act as guardian," he answered. "The desert tower has been, and still is, protected by the people who once called the surrounding lands their home. It used to be a fertile land, with lush jungles and grasslands, filled with creatures both magical and otherwise, but it was obliterated by Stragus near the start of the Great War. The tribe that watches over the tower is all that remains of their civilization."

"An entire continent was destroyed by a single man?" Glenn inquired. He imagined what the destruction looked like, but he doubted his mind could comprehend carnage on such a level.

"Indeed. That is why we must do what we can to stop him from returning to his full strength," the dragon answered. "Breaking the seal and striking him down quickly is our only chance. If we fail, the horrors he brought about will return anew."

Glenn remained silent. He'd heard it all before, recounted over and over again as Darius and Eisenzahn both lectured, but they'd never gone into any specific detail. Regardless, there were other issues that continued to press on his mind, specifically about Anye and Amador. News of her capture or death would have spread quickly and been common gossip due to her fame and reputation. There was none of and it put his mind at ease, but no sighting of Amador or the Dragon Knights that had been sent westward made him nervous. If they were too late, and Amador was in possession of one of the artifacts, the prophecy wouldn't be fulfilled and Stragus would be freed.

Eisenzahn jerked his head around, looking surprised by something. He veered to the right suddenly, almost throwing Glenn off of his back as he rolled. Balls of fire flew passed them, barely missing the pair as they flew.

"What's going on!?" Glenn shouted as he turned his head to look behind him. The darkness of the night was masking whatever was shooting at them, but he was sure he'd seen something, or a group, now tailing them.

"We've been ambushed!" Eisenzahn yelled back. "They must have been hidden, waiting for us. We must escape!"

Glenn gripped Darius from his back and held him off to the side in his right hand. "It has to be Amador! Those are dragons following us. Bring me in close and I'll take care of the riders!"

"No, it's too dangerous," Eisenzahn argued. "Their deception is broken. I can smell their number. There are far too many of them for us to fight off in this darkness. We must evade and make for the tower!"

"He is correct, Master Glenn," Darius commented. "Even with your newfound abilities the chances of your survival in these conditions are but naught. Making for the Sun's Bed is our only option."

Glenn turned his head around and gritted his teeth. He didn't like fleeing, but he knew they were right.

Eisenzahn entered a dive, lowering himself beneath the clouds towards the ocean's surface. The waters were calm, and the makings of a city were in the distance. That also meant the Sun's Bed wasn't far.

The dragons pursuing them followed suit, roaring as they threw more fiery attacks their way. Eisenzahn dodged the assault as each volley came. When the dragon-fire hit the water it exploded, creating pillars of boiling hot. The tactic was unsuccessful though as Eisenzahn managed to maneuver between the sprouts.

"We won't be able to get away from them like this. We need to surprise them and counterattack!" Glenn shouted. "Turn around and charge into the group. That should confuse them and give us a moment to gain some distance!"

Eisenzahn agreed and spread his wings wide. The water underneath sprayed upward and the creature rose into the air, spinning and changing its direction to face the aggressors. Glenn shouted as Eisenzahn roared, throwing a stream of fire into the group to make them scatter. They flew through the swarm and, just as Glenn expected, the entirety of the group tried to change course to follow. Eisenzahn dove and spun again, using the speed of his descent to accelerate towards the western shore.

Glenn hadn't realized just how close to the islands they were. The dragon pulled up and flew over the foreign buildings quickly, barely high enough to avoid colliding with them. A fireball from behind streamed past them, close enough to graze the dragon's scales. He roared again from the unexpected attack, sending his shriek echoing throughout the city, but flapped his wings harder to try and increase their speed.

"Eisenzahn, are you alright!?" Glenn yelled.

"I'll be fine, it merely grazed me," the dragon answered. "But that was too close. The desert is nearby. We can lose them in the mountains near the tower."

"Master!" Darius said loudly.

"What is it?"

"Legeia, she is near!"

"What!?" Glenn hadn't expected the presence of the second artifact. "Are you sure?"

"Indeed, there can be no mistaking it," Darius replied. "Legeia is on that island."

"Why didn't you mention this sooner?" Glenn yelled angrily.

"Something is hindering my ability to locate her. It may be a side effect of the seal, but I cannot say for certain," Darius explained. "I would expect Legeia to have felt my presence as we passed over the town however. If she did, then there is no doubt she would urge her wielder to seek us out."

"Should we turn back?"

"No, we must continue over the desert," Eisenzahn interjected. "We must prevent Stragus from getting a hold over the third artifact. Legeia and whoever wields her will find us at the tower."

"What makes you so sure?" Glenn asked. "What if one of Stragus' followers is holding Legeia instead of Bethany's descendant like you assume?"

"If that were the case she would have ceased to exist," Darius answered. "Stragus fears us. He cannot corrupt our purpose, and he would not want to risk someone using us against him again if he could help it. No, Bethany's heir holds Legeia and will come to us."

"But how can you be sure?" Glenn yelled as Eisenzahn dipped beneath another fiery volley.

"You must have faith, Glenn, as we had faith that you would arrive," Eisenzahn answered.

The visage of the foreign coast grew smaller behind them as Eisenzahn flew closer to the desert continent. The group that had been following them apparently broke away, giving up the chase. Glenn breathed a sigh of relief as the night air whizzed by his face, but worry still held strong. He knew Amador had to be with the group that attacked him, there was no doubt he wasn't.

They flew in silence as they came near, and eventually reached, the desert continent. The sand reflected the moon and starlight majestically, giving off the illusion that it was a frozen blue wasteland. There were no landmarks or remains of civilization that he could see except for a small grouping of mountains in front of him.

"Is that the mountain range where the West Tower is located?" Glenn asked while he pointed to the location.

"Indeed," the dragon answered. "The descendants of Albana have protected it since before the end of the Great War. They will aid us."

"Albana? Was that what the civilization called itself?" Glenn inquired, remembering the history lessons he'd been given. "It's hard to believe anything lived out here..."

"That was long ago, Glenn..." Eisenzahn commented solemnly. "Albana was a beautiful land with a prosperous people...and my home."

"Your home? I thought that dragons all came from Toran." Glenn inquired.

"My race originates from a land north of The Frontier actually, uninhabited by humans," Eisenzahn explained. "It was there that we learned to harness the ethereal powers of the world, and we spread from there. Albana and the region now called Toran are merely two locales which we settled before..."

Glenn waited patiently for Eisenzahn to finish his statement, but it quickly became evident that would not be continuing the story. "Before what?" he asked.

"It is not important," the dragon said. "What is important is that you meet with the leader of the Albana. It has been many years since I journeyed here, so they will not know me. But they will know Darius."

"Understood," Glenn replied, choosing not to press the matter of Eisenzahn's story any further. He knew that if the dragon wanted to explain it would in due time. Besides, there were more important matters at hand.

Eisenzahn flew close to the mountains, assisting Glenn in searching for the settlement where the forgotten people lived. There were no sightings of their earlier pursuers, but just because they hadn't seen them didn't mean they weren't there, hiding somewhere.

"There, nestled between the rocks in the flat," Eisenzahn said as he circled around the mountainous outcroppings. "The village is there, do you see it?"

Glenn focused his vision through the darkness but was unable to make out any detail beyond the presence of torches without furthering his focus through his bond with Eisenzahn. When he did so, the outlines of the tents that made up the village became clear. There weren't many people about but there were enough keeping watch that there was no way they'd be able to approach without being spotted.

"I see it. We'll have to land in the village itself, there isn't any other flat land around," Glenn commented.

"Agreed," Eisenzahn replied, and he began his descent.

Just as Glenn predicted they would, the villagers spotted the approaching dragon and raised their alarm, ringing bells and rousing all those who were asleep. Hundreds of people poured outside, each holding curved swords in their hands that reflected the firelight. None of them drew near the area where Eisenzahn was slowly lowering himself to the ground, but they also didn't look particularly pleased to see him.

One of the people, a large man in light clothing and wraps, started shouting at Eisenzahn and Glenn angrily as he waved his sword above his head. Glenn couldn't understand him but apparently Eisenzahn did, and started speaking back to the man in his own language. The two conversed briefly before a woman, older than all the rest and wearing similar but much more intricately woven robes, walked towards them through a small opening the people had made.

"It is an honor to finally meet you, Ancient One," the woman greeted, speaking in Glenn's language. "My predecessor told me you would come, though I did not expect you to bring another."

"Greetings, Shaman, but we come bearing dire news," Eisenzahn replied.

"The dark one's power grows. Yes, I am aware," the woman added. "I have felt his presence in recent days, and I've expected your arrival as a result."

"Is the tower safe?" Glenn asked, bringing himself into the conversation. "We believe a man who serves Stragus is on his way here to take the artifact stored there and destroy it."

The woman paused and stared at Glenn suspiciously. "Who is this, Ancient One? We do not trust outsiders."

"The human is my rider. His name is Glenn Sturmwind; a knight, skilled in the ways of the lance, hailing from the kingdom of Delrich," Eisenzahn explained. "He is a descendant of Doluka Sturmwind and the current bearer of the divine lance, Darius."

Glenn slid off of Eisenzahn's back and bowed before the elderly woman courteously. The people surrounding him still remained on guard, and the woman kept her stare of suspicion regardless of the dragon's explanation. "Eisenzahn speaks true, Madam."

"I mean no disrespect, Ancient One, but I must ask for proof that your rider is who you claim," the woman replied coldly. "The armor he wears bears the mark of the lost kingdom, but that alone is not enough. If the weapon he carries is truly one of the twelve then there will be no issue, however."

"You accuse me of lying, human?" Eisenzahn asked angrily, slightly bearing his teeth. His tone lowered and his chest inflated. "I have safeguarded the North Tower for centuries. It was I who assisted in sealing the warlock away, and yet you believe I would be misled into letting a pretender access one of the artifacts?"

"Eisenzahn, please..." Glenn interrupted with a raised hand. He turned his gaze back to the woman and looked at her sternly, himself annoyed at her lack of faith. "What proof do you require?"

"Draw the weapon forth and point it towards the stars," the woman ordered. "If that is truly the lance, Darius, then it will know what to do."

Glenn did as he asked but looked confused as he did so. He'd expected the proof the woman required to be somewhat more strenuous, such as battling her strongest warrior or answering questions she thought he wouldn't know. Pointing Darius up was almost too simple.

A flash of light emanated from the green gem facing the crowd. The illumination was bright enough to prompt him to shield his good eye with his free hand until it faded. Murmuring from the crowd started immediately when the flash faded, and when he was able to see again, Glenn realized what had happened. On the ground in front of him was a freshly burned mark in the rocks that matched the design of the emblem featured on his armor.

The woman knelt down and lowered her head in respect as Glenn lowered the spear back down to the ground. "Forgive us, but we had to make sure you were who the dragon claims."

"What is your name, Shaman?" Eisenzahn responded sounding still irritated at the earlier discussion.

"My name is Myria Fo'Krahl, Ancient One," the woman answered. "What would you have of us?" As the woman spoke, the rest of her people knelt down and bowed their heads, similarly to her.

"Myria, we've come to protect the artifact that is kept in the tower here," Glenn started to explain. "Stragus has sent a servant, and he is not alone. He's come with dragons and riders of his own. We'll need the help of your people to hold them off. "

Myria stood and nodded. "Of course. The people of Albana have protected the sacred site for generations. We will not let them through."

"The tower's location is well hidden, nestled in the crags," Eisenzahn added. "A protective spell prevents it from being seen from the skies. Amador and his men will have to fly low or walk the mountain paths to find it."

"We know the mountains well. We will set up ambushes to slow them down," Myria answered. A clap of her hands prompted a group of young, well-built men to approach her. She spoke to them in their native language for a moment before they bowed their heads and ran off into the darkness. "They will prepare everything. You should rest here for the night. I assume your journey from the east has been trying."

"We don't have-"

"We will do so, Myria," Eisenzahn interrupted. "You honor your people."

Glenn turned sharply towards the dragon but kept his mouth shut. The sudden reliance on people he didn't know didn't sit well with him, but the dragon had been alive much longer and obviously understood more about their situation. If he said they should rest it was wise.

Myria bowed once more and walked off into the crowd, shouting orders at her people. Everyone moved quickly and precisely, like they'd been preparing for what was coming for years if not longer. Glenn slung Darius across his shoulders and, with Eisenzahn a short distance behind him, walked to a clearing some of the people had prepared for them. While simple, it was complete with a cot and some blankets, which was more comfort than he'd grown used to.

"I know what you're thinking, Glenn, but you must trust my judgment," Eisenzahn commented as he laid his head on the cool rocky surface. "The night is our ally. You humans cannot see clearly through it, so they will not search for the tower until daybreak. We should recuperate our strength if we are to meet them head on."

Glenn had to admit he enjoyed the feeling of the cot, however stiff it was. Sleeping in caves and the wide outdoors wasn't anything he hadn't had to deal with for most of his life, but that didn't mean he couldn't appreciate an actual bed.

"Darius, are you positive that what you felt earlier was the presence of another artifact?" Glenn asked.

"Legeia, and yes, I am quite sure."

"And the one who carries Legeia would have been told the same things about the seal, and Del'Mond, and whatnot?" Glenn continued.

"Yes, Master."

"Then why have they not sought us out already? Why are they here, and why is it that you were able to sense them in Mitus and then not again until we arrived here?" Glenn had many questions and feared the answers he would be given, if there were any to provide.

"I do not know why they have not sought us out, Master," Darius replied. "Nor can I answer why the ability to track them has unexpectedly proven inaccurate. I suspect Stragus' ever growing power and influence has something to do with it, though. If he is responsible for interfering with our abilities then I fear he is more powerful than we anticipated he would become in his given state."

"What do you mean? I thought you said the seal would limit his power."

"And so it has, but if he is able to interfere with my abilities then we overestimated how restrained seal would actually be," Darius answered. "Eisenzahn warned your people that this could happen."

"And they ignored you?" Glenn asked as he turned to the dragon, surprised. "Why?"

"The people of that age were not much different than you are now," Eisenzahn replied. "Many creatures desire little more than power, especially humans, and will do anything to obtain it. But your race is different; you also fear it. We dragons are a powerful race, Glenn. Our mere presence strikes fear into the hearts of others. You know this to be true. It is a fact that has endured for millennia."

"But you were Doluka's companion," Glenn countered. "He trusted you with his life. He was a Sentinel. Why wouldn't they listen to him?"

"But they did, Glenn," Eisenzahn stated. "I did not believe that the seal would hold, and argued that we should attack Stragus and his foul army with all of our might, and end his existence once and for all. It was Doluka who convinced me that sealing Stragus was our best chance for survival. Remember, it was his plan to cast the spell that locked Stragus and Del'Mond frozen in time."

"Yes, I remember," Glenn sighed. His fatigue from traveling was starting to catch up to him, now that he had time to rest, and he let out a big yawn. "If Stragus is getting stronger, faster than you thought he would, then we have less time to stop Amador and find the third heir than we anticipated."

"Even if Stragus is recovering his lost power, he still remains trapped," Darius commented. "At his prime he was unable to resist its effects. He would need to become even more powerful than that in order to break free on his own. We have time, Master. The only difference is that he will be more formidable when you face him than we hoped."

"For now we should rest. The details of events yet to come may wait." Eisenzahn interjected as he closed his massive eyes.

Glenn still didn't like the idea of going to sleep in an unknown environment with someone as dangerous as Amador nearby, but he had little choice in the matter and reluctantly nodded his head in agreement before closing his eyes. He removed his helmet and placed it beside the cot. His exhaustion culminated as soon as his head touched the rough pillow on his cot, and he fell fast asleep.

### ______

The night passed without issue. The Dragon Knights who attacked during the flight across the ocean didn't make themselves visible until shortly after dawn, when Myria's scouts reported the group approaching from the eastern shore. Unexpectedly, Amador had ordered the men to remain some distance away from the mountains and had approached the small tent village seemingly alone.

Eisenzahn hid amidst the rocky cliffs while Glenn kept his head low in the gathered crowd to avoid being seen, using his cloak to cover his armor and blend in. If Amador was going to reveal anything he wouldn't do it if he knew that Glenn was watching. Myria stood alone in front of her people to address the newcomer, though it was obvious she wasn't pleased about his presence.

"We do not welcome outsiders to this place, no matter the reason," Myria opened as the dark armored knight approached. "State your business quickly if you do not wish to make the desert your grave."

"How friendly..." Amador commented sarcastically as he approached. The closer he became, the more ready the sword-holding populace seemed. He noticed, halting his advance far enough away to be able to react should he need to. "I've come under the order of King Justin Delrich, of the Kingdom of Delrich. His Majesty seeks a location and item of great importance to our people. You will take me to a tower that is located in these mountains."

"Your king holds no authority over us or this land," Myria replied. "The location you seek is sacred. Only the chosen may enter, and I can clearly see that you are not them."

Amador sneered and let out an exasperated laugh. "If you refuse, you will be destroyed, and I will take a great amount of pleasure in that...I assure you," Amador stated coldly. "I'm offering you a chance to take me to the tower out of the kindness in my heart. I do not need you nor do I care for you pitiful lot."

Myria smirked and laughed at Amador's threat. "You can try, boy."

As Glenn expected, Myria's taunt struck a nerve in Amador and he dropped his gloating, confident façade, replacing it with the same look of annoyance and anger he had grown accustomed to seeing.

Amador un-slung his lance, but the weapon wasn't the same one Glenn remembered. The new weapon was pitch black metal, and had been given a slightly warped shape. The bottom of the weapon's main body was given two short blades forming a fork, not unlike Darius. The largest difference from the usual design of lances was the blade at the top. Instead of a cone shaped tip, which the user would use to skewer their foes, this weapon had a blade shaped like a dancing flame with a sharp edge.

"This isn't good..." Glenn commented under his breath.

"Patience, Master. It would be unwise to alert him to your presence," Darius replied in his mind. "We should let the woman and her people deal with this as best as they can without our interference."

"Amador is an exceptionally skilled lancer, not some random bandit or untrained weasel, Darius," Glenn countered. "If they're not careful he will slaughter them. Of that, I have no doubt."

"I will tell you again, outsider. Leave," Myria repeated, breaking Glenn's train of thought.

"And so you seal your fate...I'm going to enjoy this!" Amador answered. He lifted his lance high and leapt into the air.  A large group that had been hidden behind nearby rocks followed. They came down upon the native people like a rain of sharp steel and iron, immediately killing some of the men that surrounded the female shaman.

Glenn was held back by the group surrounding him for his own protection. All he could do was watch as the people fought off his rival without him. They appeared to be more skilled fighters than he expected though, and Myria herself was proving to be a very skilled mage herself.

Amador fought toe-to-toe with Myria, positioning himself for deadly precision strikes, but Myria's age masked her youthful agility and skill. She held her attacker off all while keeping a calm look about her, using her talents to manipulate the ground beneath her whenever it was opportune to out maneuver and push Amador back.

Glenn was so engrossed in observing Myria and Amador do battle that he'd failed to notice the other attacking knights were pushing further into the group and had all but made their way to him. The shouts and sounds of weapons clashing were deafening. When an opening formed in his protective circle he almost failed to spot a stray lance flying towards his body. Had it not been for Darius somehow keeping watch, it would have struck him.

"Captain Sturmwind!?" a familiar voice shouted after Glenn avoided the deadly weapon.

Glenn turned his head to see the face of one of the men that had been under his command before his departure to Toran. "Cole!?"

"Captain, what are you doing here!?" the knight yelled as he approached. "Lord Commander Astley reported that you'd been killed in Toran when he went to assist you!"

"Lord Commander!? Amador is a traitor to the crown and conspires to kill us all!" Glenn replied.

The conversation was cut short when Glenn heard the sound of Myria's voice crying out in anguish. He turned his attention to see the older woman lying on the ground in a cloud of dust with Amador standing over her, grinning madly with his lance aimed at her throat. There wasn't time to think, only to react. He gripped Darius from his back and jumped into the air, coming down above Amador with the weapon held ready to strike like an axe with one of the side-blades.

Amador looked up and held his own weapon above him horizontally to block the overhead strike. When he realized just who it was that was attacking him his expression went from anger to complete shock, but he never broke from staring back at his rival.

"You're alive!?" Amador yelled as he and Glenn pushed against one another. "How!? I was certain the beast would devour you!"

"You never were good at finishing what you start!" Glenn answered, breaking away from Amador and stepping back to protect Myria. "Why are you here, Amador? What are you seeking?"

"It's no concern of yours, farmer boy!" Amador lashed out as he charged towards Glenn again.

Glenn fought his adversary off, deflecting Amador's attacks with Darius easily, but something about him felt different. He was fighting more confidently, more aggressively. The look in his eyes suggested that there was something more...that something had changed within him.

"Are you serving Stragus Markal, Amador!?" Glenn yelled when the two pushed against each other once more. "Have you betrayed the crown and our home!?"

"I see you're more knowledgeable than is healthy," Amador answered. His body shook with power as he pushed against Glenn, and the grin on his face appeared even more menacing for a moment before his appearance shifted back to surprise. He rolled away and jumped backwards, giving himself some distance away from his opponent. "No, that's not possible..."

"What are you going on about, Amador!?" Glenn yelled.

"How could you have claimed the lance? Only the heir of..." Amador trailed off, growing quiet as if he'd come to a realization. "I see...so you are his heir. Well, this complicates things."

"What are you talking about?" Glenn shouted, repeating his intent.

"We'll finish this later, Sturmwind!" Amador taunted before turning around and jumping into the air. "Dragon Knights, retreat!"

The other men clad in armor leapt from the crowd, and Glenn looked just in time to see Cole staring at him before leaping away with the rest of his unit. He'd seen that look on soldiers' faces before, one that showed they'd felt betrayed by someone they'd trusted.

Amador and the men under his charge landed behind some tall rocks a small distance from the village and took off aboard a small group of dragons a moment later. Amador had prepared to retreat, which was surprising, but it also showed that he'd grown smarter.

"Thank you, Glenn," Myria said as she walked up beside him. "I fear what would have become of us had you not been here."

"Don't thank me yet. He'll be back, and with the dragons of his unit supporting," Glenn replied.

### ______

The entirety of the day was filled with either reports of skirmishes throughout the mountain range or direct hit-and-run assaults on the village itself. Glenn and Eisenzahn did their best to repel the attacks. He was apprehensive about killing his own countrymen knowing they were being betrayed, but their humanity became something of a mystery. No matter how many they killed more seemed to be waiting to take their places. They hadn't forgotten that Kiya was with Amador in Toran, and that she'd taken to practicing magic, so the possibility of her creating constructs in human form wasn't impossible.

Even still, with all of the bodies at his command, Amador was constantly repelled by the Albana warriors. Myria's abilities also proved to be a vital asset to the relatively small community, providing enhancements to her warriors' abilities and using her shamanistic powers to defend against any who attacked her directly.

When the day came to a close there were reports of a traveling pair walking through the desert's eastern sand dunes. They had apparently traveled across the water from the islands off of the coast overnight, and they weren't dressed the same as Amador or those under his command. Eisenzahn suspected that one of them was Legeia's wielder, but whatever was interrupting Darius' abilities was holding strong and the lance's spirit was unable to confirm if the artifact was among the travelers.

"It's almost sundown," Glenn commented to the dragon that sat beside him. Both of them rested in the clearing that had been made for them along with Myria to discuss tactics and planning for the next wave of attacks. Because Glenn had gone through the same training as Amador, it gave him some insight Myria wouldn't have otherwise had. "He won't risk further attacks in unknown terrain at night. He's going to rest for the evening and send scouts to try and discover our positions within the mountains and any weaknesses in the village's perimeter. In the morning he'll try and hit us with everything he's got. I doubt it will be safe here unless we lead him away somehow."

"What do you suggest?" Myria asked.

"Diversions," Eisenzahn answered. "If you have the people to spare, sending a sizeable group that would be easy to spot, even in darkness, to a false location would lead him away from the village and the tower's true location, delaying his advance."

"I doubt that would be enough," Glenn commented. "Eisenzahn and I will go to the tower."

"For what purpose? Its location remains hidden to him," Myria argued. "Your help has been instrumental in repelling the assault. You should stay here to coordinate our defenses."

"I'm not entirely sure the tower is safe," Glenn replied. "If my suspicions are correct, then there is a powerful mage with them...one whom I am quite acquainted with. She'll be able to feel the magic protecting it if she concentrates hard enough."

"We have seen no person of that description. What makes you so sure they are with Amador?" Myria continued.

"He may be a brute and act rashly, but with tactics he's no fool. If he's being guided, as we suspect, then they've likely already discerned the tower's general location," Glenn answered. "We should leave now and keep watch over the area."

As Glenn stood, one of the men that had been sent to observe on the desert travelers returned, out of breath and covered in sweat. He spoke quickly in his native language to Myria, who conversed back as such. The tan-skinned man nodded after conversation and turned to run off again.

"Is something amiss, Myria?" Glenn inquired.

"The two who recently arrived from the islands succumbed to the sun's cruel heat," she explained. "One of them carries an item with them, a staff, which looks to have been made of the same materials as the divine lance."

"Legeia?" Glenn asked.

"The desert is not a kind place, especially for those who are ill prepared for it," Myria said gravely. "We will help them to recover as best as we can as soon as our scouts return with them."

"Alright, we'll await them at the tower," Glenn replied. "Eisenzahn, you know the way."

"Yes, though the winding paths of the mountains are treacherous, even in the air," the dragon answered. "Make sure to keep your head down and hold on tightly."

Glenn nodded and climbed onto his companions back, seating comfortably where the dragon's neck met its body as he had grown used to doing. He looked down to Myria and nodded once more, confirming that there were no further objections to the plan and nothing else to discuss.

"Before you go, Glenn, take these," Myria said as she walked up to him and Eisenzahn. She reached her hand into a pouch sewn into her robes and pulled out a small patch of leather with a string attached to it, as well as a large round container with a cork. "I had one of our craftsmen make this for you. It will protect your eye better than that rag. You will also need food and water if you are going to wait outside of the village," she explained.

Glenn took the small patch in hand and wrapped it around his head, keeping the sight of his blind eye hidden with it. It was rather comfortable. "Thank you, Myria."

Eisenzahn flew up into the cooling night air and skimmed around the rocky cliffs with masterful agility. Glenn did as he was warned and held on to the dragon's scales tightly, keeping his head down while they passed through narrow passages of the mountains. The setting sun cast long shadows across the ground that stretched beyond the edge of the mountain where it met the sand below.

Everything around was the same image of dust and rock, with vegetation that was able to flourish in the harsh conditions making small appearances in shady corners. The lack of conversation provided a brief moment for Glenn to think about Anye; where she may be, what she was doing, if she was safe, and if she thought about him. He remembered the kiss she'd given him the night of her escape, and how warm he'd felt because of it.

The tranquil thoughts vanished as Eisenzahn folded his wings and dove downward towards the rocky surface without warning. Glenn held on tightly until Eisenzahn's wings reopened to slow their descent. He looked around to see that they'd arrived in an open area surrounded by high, steep cliffs. The landscape had been decorated with grotesque figures identical to their snow-covered counterparts in Toran. Nestled against the steep mountain's interior was the tower.

"We've arrived," Eisenzahn told him as he lowered to the ground. "There appears to be no sign of Amador or his men."

"I doubt it will last," Glenn commented. "There isn't a place we can use to keep watch here..."

"True...the roof of the tower may provide an ample vantage point, though," the dragon countered.

Glenn remembered his leap of faith after acquiring Darius and his new armor when Eisenzahn made the suggestion. He could see everything for miles from up there, but the tower in Toran wasn't completely surrounded by mountain. Still, there was no other place for them to easily keep watch.

Eisenzahn kept silent as he spread his wings and rose into the air again, spiraling upward until he reached the flat surface of the roof. Glenn could feel the intense magical power of the artifact kept within, as well as the seal that repelled access from the outside.

Glenn slid off of the dragon's back, landing on the smooth stone surface, and looked around. The sun had completely set and stars littered the night sky. The mountains obstructed his view of the village down below, and there was no sign of torches or movement that he could tell, even while enhancing his senses. They were completely alone.

"Well, I suppose now we wait..." Glenn commented with a sigh.

### ______

The night passed without incident. There were the echoes of dragon roars that bounced off of the rocks periodically, which had increased in volume as morning came, but visibly approached the tower. When the sun reached its peak in the sky the heat grew too intense for Glenn to manage and he had to use Eisenzahn's sizeable wings to provide shade. The dragon didn't mind the heat, claiming that his scales reflected the light to keep him cool enough.

Darius remained silent as they guarded the area unless spoken to. Glenn assumed the lance would have made some sort of statement about being near another artifact, another one if its kind, but there was nothing. Eventually he did inquire as to whether or not it could detect Legeia's presence or not, to which it claimed it had felt something but it was too weak to be certain.

The sun set again, bringing the intense heat of the day along with it, as well as the distant sounds of dragon cries. The quiet nothingness unnerved Glenn and put him on edge. Amador was nearby, but he hadn't made for the tower. Either he still didn't know its location or he had been deliberately waiting, stalling. If he was waiting for something, Glenn dreaded what it may be.

### ______

Morning brought with it the sun's bright light from the east and a desire for breakfast. Glenn had rationed the supplies Myria had given him but there wasn't much and he was running out. If Amador didn't arrive soon he'd have to return to the village to replenish.

The second night of sleeping ended with Eisenzahn nudging Glenn awake, claiming to have spotted something near the entrance to the clearing in front of them. Glenn rose and rubbed his eye clean, focusing on the ground below.

"What was it?" Glenn asked as he searched the area.

"Three humans approach," Eisenzahn explained. "One of them appeared to be of Myria's men. The other two I have not seen before."

Glenn continued to look, stopping when he saw the three people Eisenzahn spoke of. From their height it was difficult for him to make out their details, but he knew they weren't Amador or any of the people that served him. From what he could discern, one of them had dark brown skin and was wearing robes only found in the Frontier and carried a staff. The other had lighter skin, similar to Glenn's, and had long auburn hair tied into a ponytail. It was a woman, and from what he could see she was dressed like a mercenary and armed to match, carrying two swords slung on her hips. They approached the tower alone as the guide remained at the entrance and seemingly disappeared into the surroundings.

"I see them. Darius, do you sense anything?" Glenn asked.

"I do, Master," the lance answered. "The staff is Legeia, and I would be surprised if she did not feel my presence here."

"We should head down there and-"

"Wait, Glenn!" Eisenzahn whispered suddenly. "More are approaching, and I do not believe they are friendly..."

Glenn turned his gaze upward, away from the man and woman below, to see a large group of dragons flying in low through the mountain passages. He recognized the dragon at the formation's point immediately by its unique black scales, which set it apart from the rest of the group. Amador had finally arrived.

Instead of flying upward to meet Glenn though, the black dragon Amador rode on opened its mouth and released a stream of fire down towards the unsuspecting pair. Glenn stood and prepared to leap down and defend them but he was stopped again.

"What are you doing!?" Glenn asked angrily. "Amador will kill them!"

"Acting rashly aids no one. Look below," the dragon calmly replied.

Glenn looked back down to the base of the tower to see what was happening. To his surprise the one with the dark skin managed to stave off the stream of dragon-fire that assaulted them, and Amador and his legion had landed in front of the pair. He was too far away from them to hear what they were saying, but he could still focus his vision on them and it was obvious that the pair was most certainly not there to help his foe.

Heeding the dragon's advice, Glenn remained on the roof to observe the battle that took place. The woman had rushed towards Amador with her swords drawn while the brown-skinned male used an impressive display of magic to ward off and kill several of the dragon knights that had taken back to the air and were circling the group.

"We should be down there helping them," Glenn commented as he continued to watch. "This is our fight; my fight, not...wait."

"What is it?" Eisenzahn asked.

Glenn focused using on the woman below. She had managed to dismount Amador from his black dragon and was fighting him in close quarters on the ground with her two swords. She was fast, extremely skilled, and seemed to be emanating a form of powerful magic. After another moment of observation he realized who she was.

"Anye!" he shouted in surprise. "That woman down there is Anye!"

"Anye?" the dragon inquired. "I see..."

"Gods no," Glenn stated as he watched. Another individual on the ground caught his attention, and he knew what was about to happen.

They appeared as if out of nowhere, clad in black robes, some distance away from where Anye was dueling Amador. Glenn couldn't see their face or features, but they emanated an aura he recognized instantly, especially after having faced them personally; his wife, Kiya. She waved her arms and expelled a pulse of magic that flew towards Anye, striking her hard and knocking her sliding into the ground. Glenn gripped Darius tightly and stood up straight. "We don't have time to sit here and wait anymore. We need to act!"

"Our presence will only add more confusion," the dragon countered. "The boy has felled most of the riders that accompanied our enemy, and those that survived have already fled."

"I will not stand idly by while she is in danger!" Glenn blurted out as he prepared to leap from the tower. "I am going down there to help them whether you come with me or not."

Glenn ran towards the round edge of the tower and jumped, ignoring the objections of his companion. He fell through the air quickly with his spear in hand towards his enemies. His heart raced and his mind focused on one thing; saving Anye. He refused to wait and watch, his feelings for her wouldn't allow him to. If she was killed by Amador's hand he would never be able to forgive himself. Whether the assault would have been effective or not Glenn would never know; Eisenzahn followed him down and caught him on his back, circling around the tower once more.

"What are you doing!?" Glenn shouted.

"We must wait to strike when their guard is down, Glenn!" the dragon said. "Rushing into battle results only in tragedy!"

Glenn looked down to see that Anye was lying in the dirt again next to her travelling companion, and that Amador and Kiya loomed over them. "We're out of time, Esienzahn! Dive, now!"

The dragon turned its head towards the ground and did as it was asked, seeing that Glenn was correct. With its wings folded, the pair dropped through the air intensely fast. Glenn held on strong and positioned Darius above his shoulder like a Javelin.

"Master, what are you intending?" the lance asked.

"Don't worry, Darius, I'll be right behind you," Glenn answered. Before the spirit had a chance to inquire any further, Glenn loosed the weapon with a mighty throw, increased in power and speed by Eisenzahn's fast descent.

The dragon's shadow grew in size over the group below and caught Amador's attention. He spun and swung his lance hard and fast, swatting away Darius into the nearby rocks just as Eisenzahn spread his wings them, slowing the descent.

Glenn let go of his handhold on Eisenzahn's back and used the momentum to kick towards Amador. His foot connected with the chest of his target's armor and Glenn ricocheted back while Amador fell to the ground in a hard thud. Kiya stood near, stunned by the sudden attack. Glenn positioned himself before she could react and channeled a small amount of magic into his hands, expunging it as he pushed into her chest, another mostly unused technique from his past, and she fell backwards.

Glenn had to think quickly if he were to survive and defend Anye and her cohort. He reached his arm in the direction where Darius had landed and opened his hand. He'd acquired a particularly useful trick while he trained in the mountains; the ability to pull the weapon back to him. When it reached him, he gripped it tightly and held it ready to do battle.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Sturmwind," Amador coughed as he stood, though the sound of his voice betrayed the pain he was obviously feeling.

Glenn squared up against him. The fact that he managed to stand afterwards was a testament to how strong he really was, or had become, and the thought was frightening. "You must have a death wish, Amador," Glenn responded darkly, masking his trepidation while allowing his anger to show through.

Amador eventually stood opposite of Glenn but kept his weapon down at his side, and grinned. "Not today...I think Kiya and I will take our leave of you pests."

Kiya smiled as she slowly stood up. "Glenn dear, it's so nice of you to visit me," she said in an elevated tone.

Glenn pointed the tip of Darius at the woman angrily, bearing his teeth. He could barely manage to contain his fury. "Silence, witch!" he yelled. He wanted to attack, to cut her down for her betrayal and put an end to Amador's schemes once and for all, but he knew that doing so left Anye exposed and vulnerable. He couldn't risk putting her life in danger, and refused to take the opportunity to strike no matter how much Darius protested within his mind. "You're lucky I don't cut you down here and now."

Kiya laughed tauntingly as she finally stood upright. "Now is that any way to speak to your wife?" she asked.

"You're no wife of mine...not anymore," Glenn answered venomously. He hated what he was about to say, but he had no choice if he wanted to safely protect Anye. "Leave, both of you. I won't say it again unless you want Eisenzahn to dine on your corpses tonight."

The dragon landed beside them, shaking the ground and kicking up the dirt around him, growling angrily. Glenn could feel that the dragon knew what was happening as well as his disagreement with letting them go, but he could also feel that he knew why he was doing it.

Amador backed away slowly from the fearsome looking pair, using his arm to shield his face from the dirt kicked up by the dragon. "Have it your way, Sturmwind," he answered. "I may have lost here today, but you'll see that it matters little compared to what's coming!"

Amador's black dragon appeared from around the mountain's cliffs, landing lightly beside him. He climbed aboard its back, taking a seat in the saddle while Kiya levitated herself towards him. She sat beside him and wrapped an arm seductively around his waist.

"Goodbye, dear. We'll be seeing you soon," Kiya taunted as the black dragon took to the sky and flew off.

Glenn kept Darius' tip pointed towards them until they were no longer in sight and the malevolence of Kiya's presence dissipated, though he wasn't sure if he should trust that they were gone. They appeared to have fled, which meant that he was successful in defending the tower and Anye.

He turned and rushed over to her side where she lay on the ground, still visibly in pain from her fight. "Anye!" he called out to her. His heart raced again as worry for her life flooded his emotions. He dropped Darius to the ground as he knelt beside her, cradling her in his arms. "Anye, speak to me!" he pleaded. Tears began to well in his eyes as he looked down at her.

"Glenn?" she whispered, though her voice sounded strained. She smiled slightly, exhaling a very small sigh of relief when her eyes managed to open through the pain. "It really is you."

"Hold on!" Glenn said as he lowered her to the ground. His voice started to choke and his breathing became more intense. Turning his head, he shouted to the dragon above him. "Eisenzahn...!"

"Yes, I know," the dragon answered.

A little known fact about the dragon race was that they had more to their nature than simply being able to 'breathe' fire. In addition to the commonly seen element, dragons could use their breath to focus magic into many different forms, which also included rejuvenation and healing before their subjugation to humans. Eisenzahn taught Glenn about his abilities and had used them to save his life when Amador had left him for dead. Eisenzahn knew that was what Glenn wanted him to do, and he did so without argument; the process wasn't difficult by any means.

Anye remained on the ground for a few seconds after Eisenzahn's healing breath had faded, but she eventually sat upright and cleaned her eyes, as did her companion. She looked at Glenn with a face full of elation and pushed herself towards him, hugging him tightly.

"I can't believe you're here!" she claimed excitedly.

The intense feeling of dread that had briefly taken hold dissipated, and Glenn held tightly for a moment before easing her off of him slightly. He looked at her face and into her beautiful green eyes. He hadn't seen her for almost two months and had missed her immensely. Her hair was slightly longer and miraculously still tied back like he'd seen when she arrived at the tower. Her bright eyes sparkled from the sunlight like emeralds. "It's good to see you, Anye," he nervously replied after regaining his composure, but thoughts of their circumstances interrupted the tender moment, reminding him of his purpose there. "But what are you doing here? I was sure you'd fled to Belrun to hide."

Anye sighed as she brushed aside a loose tuft of hair from her face. "I did," she answered, but before she could explain any further the sounds of her supposed friend groaning interrupted them, grabbing her attention.

"Friend of yours, I assume," Glenn inquired while looked over at the foreign boy. He was shocked at just how young he really was now that he could really see him. He couldn't have been any older than fifteen or sixteen years, and from the look of his clothing he most certainly hailed from The Frontier, the wild untamed land that comprised the land east of Mitus.

Anye released Glenn from her grip and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, examining his wounds. The cuts and burns he'd sustained while fighting off the dragons and Kiya were nearly completely healed and removed.

"Amadi, are you alright?" Anye asked the boy.

"Master, that boy holds Legeia," Darius communicated silently, speaking directly into Glenn's mind. "He is one of the foretold descendants who will aid you in destroying Stragus."

The revelation wasn't surprising. They'd known the one holding Legeia was present since before they left Albana, and Anye didn't use a staff.  He continued to watch Anye and her friend as they got to their feet, feeling somewhat jealous of him, or even skeptical of his trustworthiness. The boy's attention focused on Eisenzahn once he realized the dragon was above him.

He kneeled and bowed his head, holding his staff, an intricate weapon seemingly made of the same materials as Darius, upright. "I meant no disrespect, Ancient One," he claimed.

The acknowledgement Eisenzahn's name was unexpected. The title of Ancient One, which Myria used as well, suggested more intimate knowledge of the past as well. Glenn kept the surprise to himself though, hoping to glean some information as to who the boy was and how he knew of Eisenzahn. The boy's kneeling also gave Glenn some time to really examine the staff in his hand.

The main body of the weapon was made of the same blue material as Darius. It had been explained during the flight that it was a mineral called Fularium, which contained strong magical properties and was what allowed the weapons of the Sentinels to exist as they did. It had only ever been found in large quantities at one location; the site where Del'Mond had been built, which explained why nobody had never seen anything created with the material in recent times.

The head of the staff was fixed with an intricate winged gold fixture and a large, floating, crystalline stone that glowed with energy. The stone was surrounded by a large ring attached to the fixture in which two interior rings slowly rotated, never touching the stone or each other and seemingly keeping everything together. The wings of the head fixture seemed to be modeled after bird wings, appearing as feathers that outstretched to either side. A small ornamentation on the bottom of the staff's body finished the décor.

Eisenzahn snorted while he looked at the child, the sound of which snapped Glenn's attention back to them. "Rise, child of the mother lands," he told him.

"Thank you, Ancient One," the boy replied as he stood.

Glenn continued to eye the boy suspiciously, regardless of the fact that he held one of the sentient weapons. He wasn't happy that Anye had been dragged into what was happening, especially by anyone other than himself, at all. The thought that this child had put someone he cared about into such a degree of danger made him regret sending her away alone in the first place instead of going with her.

"Glenn, this isn't your dragon from the castle...and it can talk..." Anye commented softly, sounding shocked as to Eisenzahn's ability to communicate with them.

Eisenzahn glared at Anye angrily, growling slightly before commenting on her statement. "I have a name, human," he stated. "You would do well to show some respect like your friend here."

Glenn sighed as he calmed his nerves and raised a hand towards the dragon. They had spent more time on top of the tower waiting in the heat and just fought off their foes. Dealing with the dragon's need for acknowledgement wasn't something he wanted to deal with. "Eisenzahn, please don't get started...Even I didn't know who you were at first."

Eisenzahn turned his gaze temporarily, showing his annoyance. But he turned back to Anye after seemingly acknowledging Glenn's request. "My name is Eisenzahn; guardian of the North Tower and current monarch of dragon kind."

Glenn looked at Anye as she gave him a stunned and confused stare. "Eisenzahn?" she asked. "Monarch of dragon kind?" she continued. The look on her face made it seem that she thought she was dreaming, a belief in which Glenn could relate as he had acted the same way upon meeting him for the first time. "I was unaware dragons could speak, let alone had a king."

Eisenzahn lifted his head up and puffed his chest with air. "That is because your kind has been enslaving my kin for hundreds of years without regard for the old pacts," he replied harshly.

"My apologies," Anye quickly answered before Glenn could intervene. She turned her gaze back to him, still confused, but her focus stuck. "Glenn, what happened to you?" she asked while slowly raising a hand towards his face.

Glenn was unsure what she was referring to at first, having grown accustomed to only seeing with one eye, and having a beard. It had been long enough that he'd forgotten that she hadn't seen him since before he left for Toran, and that he was still cleanly shaven and unscarred at the time. He walked towards her and pointed to the scar with his free hand's thumb.

"You mean this? That was Amador," he answered angrily, remembering the feeling of helplessness before passing out from the pain. He realized a lot had happened in the very short time that had passed since her escape. Her status as a wanted criminal probably prevented her from finding out much of anything that had transpired. It would be best to try and bring her up to speed if she was already involved. "He's all but taken over the throne since you left. What's worse, I believe his goals are beyond just Delrich."

"I've recently started to suspect the same," Anye replied as she brushed some of the dirt off of her new clothing.

It was then that Glenn truly noticed just how different she looked compared to when she wore her armor. The tight clothing showed off the curvature of her body and tone of her muscles as opposed to plate. But her face and hair, still dirtied from the previous battle, looked beautiful. The overall look excited him, but she continued to speak and he didn't have an opportunity to comment.

"I've received word of the changes that have happened back home. None of it seemed to make sense," Anye continued.

"Oh, it makes sense," Glenn countered, focusing his attention back on information. "He needed us out of the way to be able to manipulate His Majesty. After you fled, King Justin lost nearly all trust in me faster than I expected him to, and the situation rapidly degraded from there. You're right; Amador's after something bigger than the throne."

"Do you have any idea what it could be? What his plan is?" Anye asked.

"If Amador was simply after the throne he would have taken it by now," Glenn started to explain. "He wouldn't have come here without a reason. He wanted what's in that tower for that end...for whom he's working for."

"For whom he's working for...You think it could be the emperor of Mitus?" Anye asked. "If he was, that would actually make a lot of sense..."

The memory of Prince Robert's murder resurfaced upon Anye's comment. Robert had been like a brother to him, but the thought of his death had all but been forgotten. He wished that Amador's plan was so simple. "Unfortunately no, I do not believe that to be the case." He stopped for a second, contemplating whether or not to let Anye in on what was really going on.

"Master, are you certain you can trust this individual?" Darius asked within Glenn's mind. "She could be serving Stragus without knowing it."

Glenn shook his head against the lance's objection, deciding to continue with the explanation. He trusted her and cared for her, and Leonard had loved her just as he did. He didn't need any other reason to believe she wouldn't betray him.

"If my suspicions are correct, the person your adversary serves is a being a great evil who has been sealed away for centuries," Eisenzahn explained, keeping Glenn from having to divulge the information himself. "A man I nearly lost my life fighting against with your companions' ancestors. A dark wizard named Stragus Markal."

"The dark one of legend," the boy commented, having walked over to join the group. "So, the stories are true then."

"Stragus? You mean the evil wizard from the stories of the ancient war?" Anye inquired. She sounded surprised, but also like someone who was putting the pieces of a puzzle together and starting to see the final image. "And Glenn's ancestor..." She paused again, staring at Glenn while closely looking at the armor he'd acquired from the tower. "That armor...and Eisenzahn, you're the same from the stories as well. You fought alongside Doluka Sturmwind."

Eisenzahn smiled as much as a dragon could when he heard the name of his old partner "I did."

"Glenn, your name wasn't a coincidence...?"

Glenn was surprised that Anye remembered the stories to such detail, but he laughed a little. He had, after all, thought the same thing when he learned the truth. "No, it turns out it wasn't. I'm a direct descendent of the Sturmwind bloodline. This was the armor he wore and this..." Glenn stopped as he held Darius in front of him. "This was his weapon."

"Starting to believe in myths and legends now, Anye?" her friend asked.

"I'm surprised she didn't already after traveling with someone like you," Eisenzahn interjected. "Or have you not told her the origin of the weapon you wield?"

Anye turned to look at Amadi swiftly and suspiciously. "No, he hasn't," she answered.

While Glenn drew comfort from the fact that the pair didn't appear particularly close, he knew that time was running short. "If I may, we don't have a lot of time for idle chat," Glenn said, interrupting the potential fight. He had an obligation to live up to and they needed to move forward. "Every second we waste gives Stragus more time to rebuild his strength." He turned to look to Anye, who was looking at him a little shocked. "Anye, I need to know why you are here."

"I took a job," she answered quickly and ambiguously. Glenn wanted to know more though, and stared at her intently. She sighed when she noticed his annoyance and continued. "I tried to live the life of a mercenary in Belrun and was sent here to recover an artifact for my employer, this boy's uncle. Amadi believes the artifact holds some sort of power that will stop an evil presence he felt."

"I know of the horrors of the past returning," Amadi said, cutting in to Anye's explanation. "I witnessed firsthand what they were like in The Shroud."

"I imagine you did, boy," Eisenzahn commented. "You were much too young to undergo that trial. It is surprising that you survived."

"Glenn, what are they talking about?" Anye asked.

"Anye, these weapons, the lance and the boy's staff...they're keys that acted as seals over segments of Stragus' ancient army," Glenn explained. "These statues aren't replicas of monsters; they are monsters, the ones that served in that dark legion. The trial Eisenzahn speaks of is for the would-be owner of the weapons. Removing them from their resting places breaks the seal locking the horrible creatures in time, and the new owner must defeat them. Otherwise, they are killed and the weapon returns to its place to lock them away once more."

"Then we should leave this place alone and tell Lord Taggart about this," Anye exclaimed towards the boy.

"No,'" Eisenzahn interjected. "Your foe was here to claim the weapon himself. With Stragus' magic helping him he would have likely been able to, and he would have taken command of this portion of the vile army instead of destroying them. If we leave it here unguarded we risk giving the dark one a significant portion of his army back without resistance."

"Then what do you propose we do?" Anye asked the dragon.

Eisenzahn snorted as he chuckled. "You are more important to all of this than you realize, child," he told her.

Glenn looked at the dragon suspiciously. He hadn't suspected Anye of being involved in what was going on in the slightest, nor had Eisenzahn mentioned anything about knowing about her. He started to use the link binding him to the dragon to try and find the answers but Eisenzahn stopped him.

The dragon walked towards the massive door of the tower, causing a small tremor with each footstep. "You three should head inside," he stated.

 "But the door is sealed," Amadi countered. "I can feel the magic. It is old, very old..."

"Patience, young one," Eisenzahn ordered. He turned his gaze towards the tower while summoning a great deal of magic. He recited the words Glenn heard him use to dispel the seal on the North Tower's door. The wind picked up, just as it had done then, and the barrier revealed itself. Before long the barrier faded, and the doors slowly swung open as the incantation was concluded.

"Amadi," Eisenzahn said as he backed away from the now opened structure. "When you return from within, you must tell me how you got inside the tower of The Shroud. A human, let alone a child, should never have been able to break the seal on its doors."

"I will, Ancient One," Amadi replied as he bowed his head.

The trio entered the old tower, though Glenn suspected Anye was scarcely accepting of what she had been told. She looked around the tower interior as they walked, taking in the display of the ancient murals lit by the familiar torches. The tower in the north had been much better preserved, meticulously kept even, whereas the tower they found themselves standing in was a dusty abandoned shell. There were no furnishings, no carpet or beds, or any sign that people had been living there at all. If the survivors of Albana had taken refuge there then they'd also taken anything and everything with them when they left except for the paintings on the walls.

Even amidst his observations Glenn still kept a close eye on Amadi. People of The Frontier were commonly regarded as untrustworthy and savage. Although it was true that over the years he'd met men and women who came from that untamed place which were quite educated and civilized, they didn't openly wear the robes of their homeland like Amadi did. Still, the boy didn't do anything particularly threatening or suspicious while leading them through the tower's passages along a similar route Glenn had traveled himself. If he was hiding something he was doing so expertly.

The concentration of magic within the tower grew ever more potent as they rose upward, just as it had when in Toran. The experience reminded him of when he claimed Darius, and of what he had been told. Only heirs of the heroes could claim the weapons, all others would be repelled. Unless Amadi or he was a descendant of two of them, then he doubted they would be able to claim the weapon. And the chance of Anye being the third was remote at best. It was unclear what exactly Eisenzahn wanted him to do, but he suspected it involved bringing the statue that held whatever weapon was stored there down to the ground to be flown away if possible.

The group reached the top floor of the tower where the magic concentration was at its strongest. The door that had once led to the room was rotted away, leaving only its rusted hinges behind. The room itself was a disaster; shattered glass and dust covered the floor where the remains of an eroded carpet remained scattered throughout. Sunlight shone in from an opening in the ceiling, confusing Glenn. He'd spent two days on top of the tower with Eisenzahn and there was no hole present, but then he remembered what the dragon told him about the protective spells cast on the towers to prevent unwanted entry. He kept silent, but was amazed at how potent the protection was to have kept both he and Eisenzahn out.

His attention eventually fell to that of a statue, similarly sculpted to the one in Toran except that it was holding a sword and shield and was wearing different looking armor. While the armor Glenn had gained appeared to be made of the bone and scale of dragons, the armor on the statue resembled cloth, plate, and chainmail. Even with its stony color he could see the shape of the tree and sphere from his chest armor imprinted on the statue's own, as well as grafted to the center of the kite-shaped shield in its hand.

As the trio approached the statue, Glenn's attention then focused on the item he sought to protect; the sword. Just like Legeia and Darius, the sword before him had been masterfully crafted out of fularium and gold. It was the length of a long sword with a handle wrapped in still-perfect leather straps. The guard was molded out of gold with two small talon-like points on each end, and engraved from the center outward with the same wing pattern as on Legeia. The center held a round red gem, similar in size and shape to the green ones emplaced in Darius' head mount.

"So, you've finally arrived..." a disembodied voice echoed within the room. The question brought a sense of déjà vu, mirroring Glenn's initial meeting of Darius to a degree.

He remained calm, as did Amadi. It was evident that they both fully understood what was happening at the moment. Anye, however, gripped the handle of one of her two swords and froze in place, looking around for the source of the voice. When she realized that neither of her friends had reacted the same way, she glared at them.

"Didn't you two hear that?" she asked the pair, awe-stricken at their lack of reaction.

"We did," Glenn plainly answered, but he suspected she wouldn't appreciate the lack of further detail, and prepared to explain when Amadi interrupted.

"Observe," the boy stated. He stepped forward, moving past Anye calmly towards the statue with a palm up and fingers open.

"While I could do with the entertainment, you are not my heir, child of the old lands..." the voice said as Amadi's hand went to touch the weapon. "Only the heir of my wielder's bloodline may remove me from this place to undergo the trial. I would have thought you'd known this."

Amadi smiled. He turned, looking towards Anye with his grin proudly, and cockily, showing. "It is as I have foreseen," he stated as he lowered his hand. "What I told you was no falsehood, Anye. When we met, I said that I felt you were important. This is why."

Anye stared at the boy in disbelief. "What? What are you saying?"

"Anye, you're the chosen heir," he explained calmly, though a sound of irritation could be heard. It was evident he'd attempted explaining things to her previously without success. "It was something preordained long before our time. Just as I was destined to wield this staff, it was your friend's destiny to wield that spear. And it is your destiny to claim the arms before you."

"What do you mean 'chosen heir,' Amadi?" Anye asked. "This is ridiculous!"

Glenn didn't want to believe it, even refused to believe it at first. He couldn't accept that she was the one. He knew she was more than capable of defending herself, but he still didn't want her in any more danger. He wanted to argue it, to make it not true, but the more he thought about it the more it made sense. He had been prophesized to claim Darius in Toran much like Amadi was likely foreseen in The Frontier. Who was to say that Anye's presence with them now was also not a part of their destiny? That had to be what Eisenzahn was referring to. "Anye, he speaks the truth."

She turned and raised an eyebrow, facing Glenn. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Glenn sighed and looked into her eyes. "Touch the handle of the blade...Trust me, you'll see."

Anye continued to stare for a moment before stepping away. The look on her face showed that she was trying to make sense of what was happening. Eventually she turned to face the statue once more and walked towards it. She extended her arm towards the weapon's handle and gripped it tightly in her hand. Just like what had happened with Glenn, the concentration of magic energy spiraled around her and the statue's hands opened, relinquishing the sword and shield.

The spiraling wind kicked up the dirt and dust that had settled in the near-empty room, prompting Glenn to cover his eye with his arm while he watched Anye undergo her transformation. From what little he could see of the event everything appeared to be happening just as it had done for him. When the wind stopped and the magic faded, Glenn lowered his guard to see Anye still standing before him, only her clothing had changed.

In place of her mercenary garb was the armor combined of cloth, plate, and chain-mail that was on the statue. The cloth that lay in front of her chest plate was a deep shade of red with a silver outline, with the sphere and tree emblem stitched in the center above an intricate pattern below. The sword and shield rested in her hands, but her face was filled with confusion and fear.

"Finally, centuries spent waiting for his heir...finally over!" the voice that had echoed within the room exclaimed.

Anye looked down at the sword of her hand in shock, with the fear of the sudden event still written plainly on her face. "You...you can talk!?" she asked, though her tone suggested she thought she was hallucinating. She brought the sword up to her face and looked at it closely. "What...this...this is impossible!" She quickly lowered the sword and turned her gaze to Glenn and Amadi, both of whom looked only slightly surprised, and not at the fact that the weapon could speak.

"We can all talk," the voice of a woman said, emanating from the staff in Amadi's hand.

 "Indeed, we each have been bound to serve our masters from within these objects," Darius added, revealing himself to the others.

Anye stared, looking terrified at her friends before looking back at her newfound weapon. "You mean..." she started to say. "You, and..."

"Yes. We are no ordinary arms, Master," the blade answered before Anye could finish her question.

Glenn looked at Amadi with his eyebrows raised. "Well, I can't say I expected this," he commented. "I thought we were going to have to carry the whole statue out of here."

"As did I, master," the Darius added. "But this does bode well, provided she can control Alistair's power and conquer her trial."

"Alistair? Glenn, what the hell is going on!?" Anye shouted, still trying to figure out what had transpired.

Glenn went to answer, but she gripped her head suddenly, cringing in pain as she collapsed to her knees. She moaned in agony as Glenn knelt beside her, supporting her with his arm. He remembered the pain when Darius infused his memories and assumed Anye was going through the same thing. He sat there until she slowly relaxed her grip, but her hands quickly moved to her stomach to try and ease the nausea that followed the pain. She looked up at him and breathed heavily. Beads of sweat covered her brow, and her eyes were tearing after having been clenched shut.

"What...what's happening to me?" Anye asked in between coughs.

"It'll pass," Glenn comforted. "The spirit of the blade is showing you the history you need to know, so you understand what is at stake."

She turned her head and looked towards Amadi, who was standing patiently above her. The fear was still present, but there was something else that Glenn couldn't place. "I saw them...what they once were, what they became, and what they will do...," she started to tell her friend. "I believe you..."

"Saw what?" Glenn asked, but his gaze moved from Anye to Amadi. His temper started to rise again, angry at the thought of her being dragged into their situation as she had. "What does she believe? What did you tell her?"

"There will be time for that later," Amadi answered. "We should let her recover from the spirit's effects on her. I'm sure you would not wish her to undergo the trial in such a state."

"Glenn, please, you can trust him," Anye said softly. "Just let me rest for a bit."

"What did you tell her?" Glenn persisted, ignoring Anye's plea. "Tell me what you know, boy."

"Master, I advise you to calm yourself," Darius interrupted.

"You should heed Darius' advice," Legeia added. "We are not your enemies. Your friend will recover as you yourself did."

"I know that. I want to know what exactly you told her," Glenn persisted as he got to his feet. "What do you know that you are not telling me?"

Amadi stared for a moment before answering the inquiry. "Your friend here was having a hard time believing the tale I told her...about my encounter with the freakish beings like the ones below. She only knew, at the time, what was necessary for the job which she was hired to do, though I now suspect she has a better understanding of the situation...and our destinies."

Anye struggled to her feet and held Glenn's arm with her hand. "Glenn, I'm fine..." she struggled to say, but her physical demeanor spun a different story.

"Anye, I promised I would protect you..."

"And you have, more than you should have," Anye replied. "Now stop fighting with him and sit with me...I want to know...how you've been..."

Glenn slid down the stone wall to take a seat with her on the ground. He let his frustrations go as much as he could. He wanted to take in the moment. She looked so tired, exhausted from the ordeals she'd gone through, and before he could utter a word to her she was asleep.

"She cares deeply for you, lancer," Amadi commented as he took a seat of his own opposite of the pair. "She did not openly admit it to me, but I know."

Glenn nodded his head, not wishing to move or disturb Anye. He still had his doubts about the boy, but he understood that Amadi had helped to keep her safe during Amador's attack and was grateful for it. "Thank you, Amadi," he said.

"We should let her rest," Amadi added. "She has been through a great deal these past few nights. The strain of the ancient memories must have been more than she could handle."

"What of her trial?"

"The trial will not start until she leaves the tower," the voice of the sword, Alistair, explained. "She is safe for now."

Glenn didn't like the tone in which the sword made its statement, but letting Anye rest would be wise, so he let her sleep on his shoulder. His thoughts went to Leonard, and how he would be reacting to everything that was happening. The memory of his lost friend commonly guided him, but he couldn't help but wonder if he would he be angry for breaking his promise.

* * *

# Chapter 6

## Hidden Truths

Anye awoke, still resting against Glenn, a couple of hours after passing out. He had remained awake, as did Amadi, to keep watch in the event that Amador decided to try another attack. Luckily nothing happened and the trio was allowed some respite without interruption.

When Glenn realized Anye had awakened he smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Feeling better, Anye?"

"My head is still dizzy, but the nausea has passed," she replied. She looked around, seemingly shocked and confused for a moment until her recent memories returned. "Glenn, what happened?"

"You passed out," he answered. "It seems the strain associated with acquiring Alistair was a bit much for you in your current state."

"Alistair?" she asked, looking down at the sword which rested on the floor beside her. "Yes, I remember...the ancient sword, Alistair. Wait..." Anye pushed herself away from Glenn and looked at him angrily. "You both knew about this! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Anye, if I recall correctly, you thought I was making up my story and that ancient myths and legends were simply fiction," Amadi answered. "And even when faced with proof of such things, your focus on this Amador blinded you to what was truly happening."

"I couldn't risk dragging you into this, Anye," Glenn added, cutting Amadi's explanation off. "I swore to Leonard I would protect you, no matter the cost. This was too dangerous to risk exposing you to it."

Anye's face went from anger to a brief flicker of sadness at the mention of her former fiancé's name, but the expression quickly faded and the anger returned. "Don't blame this on him. I am fully capable of defending myself, Glenn. You of all people should know that!"

"I could not risk it!" Glenn argued. His face turned red with raw emotion; guilt for allowing her to face her hardships and the shame of not being there for her took hold. "I couldn't risk your life for the burden I must bear..."

"Well it's our burden now isn't it?" Anye countered. "And the roof of this place is completely shattered. Why couldn't Eisenzahn just fly up here instead of making us climb those infernal stairs?"

Glenn coughed, attempting to move past his feelings of shame at not having trusted Anye previously. "The magic that has protected this place over the centuries is quite potent. The ceiling may appear to be glass and shattered from within, but from the outside the entire place is closed in with stone and mortar. Eisenzahn and I were keeping watch from up there for the past couple of days, waiting for Amador."

"The seal is only completely broken when the item and the accompanying spirit are claimed," Amadi interjected. "It is technically possible for the Ancient One to retrieve your friend and myself from here, but you must still undergo the trial and thus would be prevented from leaving this room by any means other than the way we entered it."

"I see..." Anye sighed. She pushed herself up away from Glenn and stood, holding herself up with the support of the tower wall. "Alright, I think I'm ok," she commented, effectively changing the subject. "That was...intense."

"I do apologize, Master," the sword said. "I wish there was a way to prevent such discomfort, but that seems to happen with each succession, unfortunately."

"What do you mean?" Anye inquired as she looked down at the object.

"This is not the first time I have been inherited, Master. On the contrary, my brethren and I have existed since long before any of your histories, or those of your ancestor, Master Armonde," Alistair explained.

"Armonde?" Anye asked. "You mean Armonde Schultz?"

Glenn recognized the name immediately; Armonde Schultz was, according to Darius' stories, a skilled swordsman and close friend to Doluka Sturmwind who fought alongside him and the other sentinels during the war against Stragus, and was one of the three that assisted in casting the spell that locked him away.

"Indeed, Master," the sword answered. "He was quite the skilled warrior, utilizing his physical ability alongside his talented magical skill. I look forward to comparing you to him."

"But I..."

"You sell yourself short too often, Anye," Amadi interrupted. "You are quite skilled at using magic along with your martial prowess. You simply favor defensive spells over offensive ones. Do not lose your confidence. We're going to need it."

"Anye is humble? Who would have thought?" Glenn joked, but the humor seemed to escape his target audience. The awkwardness nearly caused him to walk into Anye and Amadi as they moved down the stairs when they stopped without him noticing.

"Wait, if Glenn and I are both related to heroes of the legendary war, and their weapons can only be wielded by their descendants, then Amadi must one of them too," Anye stated as she turned and looked at her friend.

Glenn had assumed the same, but he'd not thought to inquire about it while they were resting.

"Indeed I am, Anye," the boy replied, though his eyes shifted to Glenn as well. "Legeia was wielded by Bethany Lightstone, and I am her descendant, though I was not fortunate enough to inherit her name like you two inherited yours."

"This can't be a coincidence," Anye commented.

"It is not," Darius chimed in. "The three of you coming together was foreseen long before your births."

"What?" Glenn asked. "I had my suspicions, but why didn't you tell me?" He understood Anye's feelings now, being left out of the loop. He remembered Darius' mention of the prophecy of Stragus breaking free, and that members of the bloodlines would claim the weapons, but that was it. There was never any mention of them coming together as part of some plan. "Why did you agree with my assumption of moving the statue by hand if you knew she was a descendent?" he thought.

"The dragon has the answers," the spear replied. "Speak with him. He shall tell you everything."

"Eisenzahn?" Glenn inquired, but the weapons remained silent. "Darius, tell me." The silence was infuriating, but with Eisenzahn so near it wasn't worth getting heated over. "Bah, stubborn old man...spirit."

The group continued their descent in silence. Glenn wasn't sure what was going through their heads, and he couldn't help but wonder what was in store for him. There was a sense of longing in his heart for the days that preceded recent events, even just dealing with Amador being pompous and spoiled.

The sound of Eisenzahn's heavy breathing grew louder as the group made it to the ground floor. Glenn could feel his attention perk when they arrived. The dragon had been using their connection to keep tabs on their progress. His looming face looked towards the group as they approached, staring intently at Anye in her forefather's armor.

"Child, I see you have recovered the arms of your bloodline," the dragon said to her elatedly, but the elevated tone quickly shifted downward. "Well done, but now you must prove your worth."

"And what must I do, dragon?" Anye asked exasperatedly.

"Step outside," Eisenzahn commanded. "You shall see..."

The trio exited through the dusty tower's massive doors and Eisenzahn took to the sky without warning. All three of the humans had to cover their faces to keep the sand from getting inside of their mouths and eyes, and even though Glenn shouted at the dragon to stop, his plea fell on deaf ears. When the dragon landed and the dust finally settled around them, only Amadi remained by Glenn's side.

"Anye!?" Glenn shouted, looking around frantically for her. "Anye, where are you!?"

"She is undertaking her trial," Amadi answered calmly. "How could you have claimed one of the weapons and not have known this would happen?"

Glenn glared at the boy and grabbed Darius from his back. "Where is she?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Hold, Glenn," Eisenzahn interrupted. "The boy is correct. Your companion is undergoing the trial of succession, as you and he did. Do you not recall what you were told on that day?"

"I don't recall vanishing to do it!" Glenn yelled. "Where is she!? What did you do!?"

"I did nothing but add dramatic effect," Eisenzahn sighed. "Had I not, she would have simply disappeared before your eyes. I know how you humans react to the unexpected and thought masking the disappearance would be beneficial."

Glenn continued to look back at the dragon and Amadi angrily, but he finally remembered what he had been told during his own trial; that any not taking part in the trial would be masked. "She must fight alone, without our aid, yes?"

"The trial is to prove the worth of the inheritor, Master," Darius reiterated. "Leaving the keys to Stragus' freedom without protection would have been foolhardy. Proof is required that those who claim us would be of able ability, and they must do this alone as you and Amadi have done."

Glenn calmed himself, but his stare on Amadi remained. The child seemed to have little regard for Anye's safety, a fact which irked him the more he thought about it. "You're a bit young for this, I would think. How have you come to be involved?"

Amadi chuckled, but kept staring right back at Glenn. "Do not underestimate me, Captain Sturmwind," the boy replied. "I am much more powerful than you think."

Glenn pointed Darius at the boy defensively. "I never told you my name."

"Calm yourself, warrior," Legeia interrupted.

"I would listen to her," Amadi added.

"Then explain yourself."

Amadi sighed and walked over to the shade supplied by the tower to remain cool. "Anye was equally suspicious during our first meeting, so I will explain it to you as well. I am a powerful mage hailing from Qul'Rah."

"The Frontier, yes I figured as much," Glenn interrupted.

Amadi looked surprised at Glenn's answer. "You know the name my people give to our lands. That is not common among those beyond the black mountains."

"I'm not an uneducated fool, boy," Glenn replied coldly. "Keep explaining."

"Very well. My tribe, the Azubuike people, is...was among the most powerful in Qul'Rah," Amadi continued. "Through many years of training and meditation we found a way to tap into the life force of our world, a force which connects us all."

Glenn lowered his weapon but kept up his gaze. "Life force?"

"Think of it as a web, with all living things as a point where the strands connect," Amadi elaborated. "If one knows how to navigate through this web, one can peek into the minds of others and discover things that would be otherwise more difficult, if not impossible, to find."

"You read my mind?" Glenn asked, sounding offended. "What do you take me for, boy? I've never heard of such magic before."

"That is because your people believe magic only exists in two forms; light and dark, good and evil, and that there is no neutrality," Amadi countered. "Magic itself does not have a will of its own, and there are no such things as light or dark magic, or even your dragon magic. The energies we manipulate act out as we will them to."

"Are you mad? Have you seen what unrestricted use of black magic can do to a man's mind or body? They become abominations that must be destroyed! They become the monsters we had to face in our trials!" Glenn argued.

"Use of the energy can do that to anyone or anything if they are not disciplined enough to control it," Amadi stated calmly. "Even healing spells can corrupt someone if done without restraint. I'm sure you've heard of such events, even if you don't realize it."

Glenn paused. The boy's words made sense, even if it went against what he'd been taught. "And what did you see when you delved into my mind then?"

"Many things," Amadi quietly answered. "Anguish, despair, pride...you hold on to your memories but still you search for yourself. You vowed to protect Anye for another after their passing, an individual who meant a great deal to you. You care for her, very deeply, but you are afraid to show her, even if it brings you joy."

Glenn lowered Darius fully, stunned at the confirmation of the boy's abilities. Amadi had to have been telling the truth to know such intimate details about his life and feelings. He'd never told a soul how he felt, and yet he had been read like an open book. He realized that if he were working for the enemy then Anye would already be dead.

"My apologies," Glenn finally said after a moment of contemplation. He turned to Eisenzahn, who was looking at him intently. "Eisenzahn, do you have any idea where the remaining weapons might be?" he asked.

"I do not. My time spent guarding the North Tower kept me away from the order," the dragon replied.

"There were twelve of them in total. Surely they must be somewhere," Glenn commented.

"Our kind have withstood lifetimes of hardship. We cannot be erased from history so easily." Legeia said sadly. "I fear both Alistair and Darius have befallen the same effects of the curse that I have, however."

"You mean preventing you from locating one another," Glenn stated. "Yes, he was able to briefly detect you once in Mitus, and again as we passed over the Western Isles."

"Indeed," Legeia confirmed. "Our lack of communication has lasted for so long that I wasn't sure if it was indeed Darius I felt before we came here."

"How did you come to be here, anyway?" Glenn asked.

"I'm sure Anye would enjoy telling you of our journey together," Amadi answered, nodding his head towards the open space in the middle of the statues.

Glenn turned around and looked just as each grotesquerie cracked and shattered simultaneously, falling into piles of dust and rock where they once stood. A small spinning mass of sand formed in the open area. Anye faded into view, breathing heavily but standing tall, with Alistair in her hand.

"Anye!" Glenn shouted, relieved that she was alive. He ran towards her without thinking. "You disappeared. What happened to you?" he asked, looking for details of the trial she'd just undergone.

"The trial happened..." she answered tiredly.

Glenn was somewhat put off by the answer, knowing full well she had undergone, but he let it go. His elation to seeing her more than made up for it.

Anye slid Alistair into the sheath on her hip and looked up at Glenn with a smile. "But I'm fine...hungry, and very thirsty, but fine."

Glenn sighed and smiled back at her. "Good...we should go back to the islands and rest." There was a pause in their conversation while he came to terms with what Anye's role was in everything that was happening, and his tone grew serious. "There's much we should talk about."

Anye nodded her head but never broke her gaze on Glenn. "Yes, there is."

### ______

The trio rode on Eisenzahn's back as he flew down from the mountain and across the desert eastbound, using the mountains' tall shadows and the sun's glare to help mask his movement. Anye and Amadi had commissioned a ship to take them to the Sun's Bed from Belrun, which meant that Eisenzahn had a much easier means of returning across the ocean, not having to carry three humans on his back.

"Where is your boat?" Glenn asked over the sound of the wind.

"It's off the shoreline, just ahead!" Anye yelled. She was holding on to Glenn extremely tightly while they flew. She'd never ridden on any of the dragons back in Delrich, let alone bareback on one more than double the usual size. "We should be arriving there shortly~!"

Anye trailed off and yelled loudly as Eisenzahn entered a dive. She sounded terrified but Glenn laughed. He was used to flying and thought it was cute of her to be acting like a little girl instead of a knight who'd seen battle and taken lives. When the dragon leveled himself just above the sand she stopped the shrieking and loosened her grip, seemingly embarrassed by how she acted.

The ship they were looking for, The Empress, sat anchored off shore, barely visible due to the long shadows being cast by the sunset. Eisenzahn landed in the sand with a thud, skidding forward and kicking up a miniature sandstorm from his momentum. Anye tightened her grip again until they finally came to a stop and the dragon informed them that he was going to remain ashore.

"Don't want to frighten the crew I take it?" Glenn asked jokingly as the trio slid off of his back.

"Indeed," the dragon answered. "I will keep watch over you, however. We cannot be careless."

Glenn nodded, ignoring the questioning gazes of Anye and Amadi, and led them down the sand dune to the desert shore where a rowboat waited. Amadi climbed into the boat first and used his powers to pull some of the water closer to the small vessel.

"Coming aboard?" the boy asked.

Glenn placed his hands on his hips and laughed, having expected to need to push the boat into the water and climb in from there. He eventually followed Anye and, after all three of them were in the boat and Amadi's spell pulled the water in enough to lift it, rowed them towards the ship in the distance.

"You don't think the crew saw him, do you?" Anye asked. "Eisenzahn, I mean."

"Captain Bikke has a very observant crew. It would not surprise me if they did and he thinks we narrowly escaped," Amadi answered.

"He's not a pirate, is he?" Glenn asked half joking.

"No, but he made a joke about that himself when we first met..." Anye answered. "Funny coincidence you would ask that."

Glenn continued to row as the sun finally fell behind the mountains completely. When they reached the large vessel a rope ladder waited for them, hanging down the side of the hull. He climbed aboard just behind Anye, with Amadi in front of her, and was met immediately with suspicious stares.

A short stout man, almost symmetrically rotund, came up to the group. He wore a tri-corn hat and a long coat suitable for a ship's captain. His thick full beard gave away his age, but the look in his eyes suggested a lifetime of seafaring experience.

"Captain Bikke, I presume?" Glenn asked.

"Aye, and who might you be?" Bikke replied. "I was paid to ferry two people, not three, and especially not if they're being followed by a dragon!"

"Glenn Sturmwind, Captain of the Dragon Knights of Delrich," Glenn introduced as he removed his helmet. "Don't worry about the dragon. He won't be bothering you or your crew, I can assure you."

"Is that so?" Bikke answered sarcastically. "I'm afraid The Empress doesn't take on stowaways, Master Sturmwind. If you desire passage you'll have to pay my fee."

"Captain..." Anye started to say, and probably complain on Glenn's behalf, but she was stopped by his hand.

"That won't be a problem," Glenn stated. "I take it you receive your payments upon return to Belrun?"

"Aye, that's correct," Bikke said. "My fee is five hundred gold pieces for one way trips, plus an extra two hundred if we have to fight off any pirates or privateers."

"Not a problem."

"Well then, welcome aboard!" Bikke exclaimed, changing his attitude. "Do you have any luggage?"

"No, it's just me," Glenn explained.

"Has Miss Karst or Master Amadi told you of our accommodations?"

Glenn looked at Anye questioningly, wondering why the ship's captain referred to her as Karst, but didn't say anything about it. It was probably the name she used in lieu of her real one to keep from being discovered, but he couldn't help the feeling that he'd heard it before. "No, she hasn't."

"We have one room for passengers and extra cots below deck in the crew quarters," Bikke started to say as he led the three to Anye and Amadi's cabin. "We don't usually take groups larger than two unless they plan to share beds. Where you sleep is your choice."

"Captain~!" one of the crew members yelled from the crow's nest above them. "The islander fleet has returned to position!"

"Trouble?" Glenn inquired.

"Technically we're in forbidden waters, Master Sturmwind," Bikke answered lightheartedly. "Hopefully it won't mean anything upon our departure."

"I'm sure it won't," Glenn stated. He concentrated hard as they walked, linking his consciousness with Eisenzahn's, sharing the recent conversation's memory with him. He could never get over how odd it felt, being so close to another living thing so as to tell what they're thinking or remembered.

"Well, here we are," the captain commented as he opened the door to the cabin. "If you fancy yourself a mug of ale or some grub we have plenty to go around in the ship's mess," Bikke explained. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to with Mister Evans."

"Thank you, Captain," Amadi answered as he walked away, and shut the door to the cabin behind him. A snap of his fingers lit the candles hanging on the walls so they could see.

"Cozy..." Glenn commented as he took note of the small pair of beds in the back of the room. Beside them sat the bags Anye and Amadi had apparently taken with them for the trip, and there was a small round table with a pair of wooden chairs. Otherwise the room was empty.

Glenn and Anye both placed their weapons next to the beds when Amadi dictated that he'd like to partake in the captain's offer of food and ale, citing the level of hardship he'd had to endure in his thus-far short life as more than enough reason. They also actually had a moment to relax. Legeia argued the point, however, which Amadi ignored as he left, leaving Glenn and Anye alone. Glenn followed him briefly though to get some ale for himself and Anye to enjoy in the privacy of the cabin while they talked.

He explained everything that had transpired since her departure from Delrich; about Amador, King Justin, and Toran specifically. Even he had to admit that it was all somewhat unbelievable, but it also had all turned out to be extremely fortunate for him. The comment of which actually seemed to put Anye off.

"What do you mean?" she asked, sounding shocked. Her eyes were fixed on his scar and long hair. "You look like you've been through hell and back, Glenn."

"Well I'm not proud of it, but I was almost sent there," he answered softly, yet aggressively. The memory of Amador's knife nearly taking his life and being sliced up the side of his face, causing his blindness, were painful and infuriating. He had to change the subject if he wanted to keep his temper under control. "I visited your family before I departed. Have you heard from you father?" The question sounded ridiculous as he asked it, and wondered what possessed him to think that she was in contact with anyone.

Surprisingly, Anye nodded her head in response. "He wrote a letter," she answered. "Lord Taggart, in Bridge Port, delivered it to me."

The mentioning of one of Belrun's governing noblemen, who was responsible for most of the bordering region between Belrun and Delrich, brought some ease to Glenn's mind. It actually wasn't surprising that he had delivered a letter to her. A man of his resources had ways of acquiring information, and if Anye had decided to stay in the border town it was a small wonder he discovered who she was. "Lord Taggart is a good man. I've met him before...even escorted Prince Robert, rest his soul, to attend his yearly tournament. Quite a show he puts on for his people."

Anye's face glowed with pride, and a large smile appeared on her face. "Yes, I know," she answered quite giddily. "I won this year."

Glenn stared in disbelief and annoyance at the woman. She was supposed to be trying to stay incognito and prevent discovery by bounty hunters. If she were caught, she'd have been dragged back to Delrich for execution. Entering tournaments and gaining fame and fortune was reckless. Trying life as a mercenary he could understand, warfare was what they were best at, but she should have known better.

"Before you say anything, I was trying to keep a low profile but the only thing I'm good at is combat," Anye continued before Glenn could say anything. "And nobody wanted to hire a female mercenary, especially one without any sort of reputation. The tournament was supposed to get my name out there as a woman with a good sword arm. Besides, I needed the money. What you left me was all but gone."

There was nothing he could do to change the past, and her actions turned out to work in their favor. He laughed as he took a gulp from the ale he'd brought up. Anye's story about the tournament and what the ship's captain had called her sparked a memory. He thought her name was familiar. "I'd heard of a woman winning the tournament," he commented after swallowing. "News travels, but I didn't think you were the infamous Amy Karst!"

Anye blushed while she drank from her own cup and the two continued their conversation as the night went on. Anye talked about the hardships of living in an inn run by a former 'adventurer' by the name of Byron. She'd struggled to find any meaningful or decent paying work, but following the tournament she began researching Del'Mond's history with Amadi through the use of Lord Taggart's vast library. It was surprising how well versed in the ancient history she had become. She wasn't particularly fond of lectures when they were younger.

She knew about the three towers and even had some amount of information on the artifacts kept within them stored in her luggage, which Glenn gleaned over to see if there was anything that could help him. Apparently the nobleman had acquired a diary that had belonged to Doluka Sturmwind's wife, Delilah, from which most of their information had come from.

Eventually Glenn went into detail about Darius and his trial. Anye looked enamored as he explained, and the look only grew into childlike bewilderment when he discussed his training with Eisenzahn and learning how to control his new type of magic. He suspected she was proud of him for embracing something he'd put off for so long. After a while a look of longing appeared on Anye's face, to which she explained that she wished to return to Bridge Port.

"Well this ship is headed back Belrun, is it not?" he asked. Warning the nation of the situation was in their best interests, and it was fortunate that the ship they were on would be making port there. "We'll need to warn the kingdoms of Stragus' return. If Lord Taggart has been studying Del'Mond's history and believes in the legends, then having him on our side could help us convince the reigning monarch of the validity of our warning."

Anye nodded her head in agreement. "True," she stated. Her eyes lit up a second later, as if she'd come to a pleasant realization. "So you'll be coming with me then?"

The question explained the look in her eyes. Glenn shook his head, though his heart wished for him to remain by her side. The silent response was obviously not what she wanted, and her face went from elation to disappointment in an instant.

"Glenn, why not?" she asked pleadingly.

With the knowledge that Anye was safe and now had a powerful ally and weapon at her disposal, Glenn's priorities returned to Delrich and his duty to serve and protect the crown and the kingdom's people. He was a knight, sworn to his charge no matter how much he wished to do otherwise.

"I must return to Delrich," he finally answered. "It is likely Amador has either reported me dead or traitor. If he is serving Stragus, then I need to warn King Justin of what's coming. Amador's been keeping Delrich at war with Mitus for the sole reason of weakening both of their defenses...I know it."

Anye looked away from him angrily; a sight which stung him hard, but he also had expected it. The conversation had gone from pleasant to bitter rather quickly, and the answers he gave for her questions obviously differed from what she hoped to hear.

"Glenn, what was that with Kiya?" Anye asked to change the subject slightly. "I've never known her to be adept at using magic, let alone black magic, and to be in bed with Amador."

The thought of his wife quickly elevated Glenn's temper, regardless of how hard he tried to control it. He realized he hadn't mentioned her once during his entire explanation and that he had done so unintentionally, but for good reason. Anye asking about her forced him to think about her, which was something he very much did not want to do.

"Kiya...that woman did nothing but use me, all these years..." he commented as his voice trembled.

"What do you mean?"

Glenn stood up, leaving his mug on the table, and started to pace around the room. "If you'll remember, she was married to me. I want to make that clear," he started, going back to the time in his memories when the daughter of a highly respected knight and commander had taken a fancy to him. Her recent actions prompted Glenn to wonder if there was ever a time where she truly cared for him or if her infatuation and eventual courting was all just a part of her ruse, even back then.

"I tried to love her, to be the husband she apparently wanted me to be, but in actuality she used her position as my wife to move about without restriction." The explanation was getting him even more worked up, and he struggled to keep himself calm as he went into further detail. "She had been having an affair with Amador for some time, perhaps as long as our entire sham of a marriage, I don't know. The day King Justin ordered me to Toran she left me a letter," he continued. "She told me she was leaving me because I was a disgrace, and had dishonored her by my infatuations with you and suspected involvement in your escape."

He paused to look at Anye's reaction to his story thus far and saw that her face was turning red once more, and that she was trying, and failing, to hide it. The reaction was calming but not enough to make him stop seething with anger at the memory of his traitorous wife. "The next time I saw her was when I was in Toran. I didn't know how she got there at the time, but she and Amador were working together. She's the one really responsible for...well, this," he explained while pointing to his bad eye and scar. "I nearly died in that frozen waste, and would have if Eisenzahn didn't drive them away."

"Conveniently left that part out of the story before," Anye commented sarcastically.

"I prefer not to think about it," Glenn replied. "I suspect you enjoy the memory of Prince Robert's murder about as much."

Anye flinched at the mention of the prince and the events that had occurred during her mission in Mitus. "I'm sorry," she answered.

"Don't be. We've both been stabbed in the back," Glenn sighed as he sat back down in his chair again. He felt guilty for bringing up something so sensitive to them in such a context, but she didn't seem to take offense to it. "I'm just happy I was able to see you again."

The pair grew silent again as they looked at one another. The evening, being in her presence again, was incredibly easing for his heart after having been worried about her for so long. The ship's slight bobbing back and forth, along with the sound of the water splashing against the hull, was almost romantic. Had Amadi not barged through the door drunk and loud the moment would have been considered romantic.

"Now what's going on in here!?" Amadi yelled. "Did I interrupt something?" His speech slurred, indicating just how much he'd had to drink with the crew.

Anye smirked at her friend, barely containing the surprised laughter. "Amadi...are you drunk?"

The boy stumbled over towards the table with Legeia still firmly in his hand somehow. Glenn hadn't been that inebriated in ages and he couldn't help but feel a little envious of the boy.

"Those men...now they know how to have a good time...I should do this more often!" Amadi exclaimed just before tripping over himself. Luckily Glenn's reflexes were quick, so he caught him before his head hit the table.

"Okay~" Glenn stated while supporting the youth's weight. "I think you've had enough, Amadi. Let's get you to bed."

The boy was already passing out while still in Glenn's arms, but he was still conscious enough to try and muster a reply. "Bed...yes...bed seems smart..."

Anye remained in her seat as Glenn lowered Amadi to the rough cushioning, and his breathing turned to snoring immediately. While Glenn's first experience with alcohol wasn't nearly as humorous, the boy still reminded him of his younger days and the time he'd spent in the pubs with Anye and Leonard. Remembering the good times they'd shared was what had finally calmed him, coupled with the added effect of renewing his commitment to protecting who and what he cared for.

Darius was still sitting nearby against the bed, silently observing the entire situation as Glenn picked him up and slung him over his shoulders. The hour was late and he was greatly enjoying the break from hardship in Anye's company. But he knew that people needed their rest, and a good night's sleep on anything but hard cots and cold ground was something he hadn't been able to experience in quite a while.

"We should get some rest," Glenn started to say as he let out a big yawn and stretched his arms. There were only two beds in the cabin, but the captain had mentioned extra space in the crew's quarters. That was probably the best place for him to sleep for the night. "I'm going to find a hammock below deck."

"You won't stay with us...?" Anye asked slowly and inviting.

Glenn's face turned red from the question. He'd thought about expressing his feelings towards her since they met again but the opportunity, he felt, never came up. The situation felt awkward to him; he'd known the woman since she was Amadi's age, and had been there to support her when she was to be married. No matter how much he wanted to, and no matter how much time had gone by since Leonard's passing, moving on her felt like he was disgracing Leonard's memory. He couldn't help the way he cared for her, though. He wanted to be with her more than anyone, or anything.

"I wasn't sure if you...um," Glenn tried to speak but the situation made him feel uneasy and he couldn't help but swallow nervously. Something in his reaction sparked Anye to move close to him, staring deeply into his eyes. His heart raced and he felt himself get warmer. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he even started to shake slightly. "Anye...I..."

"Glenn, what are we?" she asked softly, never taking her eyes away from him. "Is there..."

He acted on impulse. Logic and reasoning became far flung. He didn't care about anything that lay in either of their pasts, only about his future...their future. He placed his hands on Anye's cheeks and pulled her in close, pressing his lips firmly against hers in a long and passionate kiss...and she kissed him back.

The moment was exhilarating and euphoric. His temperature rose while his heart continued to beat faster. A moment he'd dreamt of seizing for years had finally become reality. Anye stepped in closer, pressing herself against him while they embraced, exciting him further.

When the pair finally pulled away from one another, Anye's face was beat red and he could feel her heart beating quickly through her hands.

"Glenn..." she whispered, though partially out of having to catch her breath again.

While keeping his hands on her cheeks, Glenn slowly stepped back. A confident smile masked the knots that had formed in his stomach during the intense exchange. It was relieving to finally act on his feelings for her, and her apparent return of affection made it worthwhile. "Good night, Anye," he said softly. "I'll see you in the morning."

Just as he was about to let go of her, Anye placed one of her hands on his to hold it in place. Her stare was mesmerizing and hypnotic. He didn't want to leave, and he didn't want the moment to end.

"Good night," she whispered as she let him go.

The pair kept their gazes locked onto one another until Glenn finally stepped through the door and closed it behind him. He let out a large sigh as he trotted down the stairs of the ship, feeling like he was walking on air. The coolness of the ocean breeze felt refreshing, but passing a hand through his hair reminded him of how long it'd been since he had a proper bath. The hot springs in the mountains of Toran felt nice, but he desperately needed a proper wash. It was amazing Anye wasn't put off by his smell after wearing his armor almost non-stop for weeks.

"Master, that was quite the show," Darius said quietly to avoid being overheard by the crew. "You continue to remind me of your ancestor with each passing day."

"Is that so?" Glenn asked still feeling elated from before.

"Indeed. Master Doluka and Lady Delilah were quite affectionate towards one another," Darius explained.

"I suppose the charm runs in the family then," Glenn stated boastfully as he descended below deck. A good night's sleep on a hammock was going to fill his head with wonderful dreams, he was sure.

### ______

The voyage heading east went about without interruption, which was relieving and worrying at the same time. The lack of any sort of aggression from Amador or Delrich's naval fleet brought cause for concern of what was happening back home. Amador had to have seen The Empress during his retreat from the desert tower unless Kiya had whisked them and the dragon away with her magic when they were out of sight.

Regardless, the time spent with Anye was enjoyable. The weeks she'd resided in Belrun weren't nearly as boring and uneventful as she had originally claimed. The smallest details about how she'd managed to survive held Glenn's attention like that of a child listening to tales of adventure, and her story about the tournament she'd competed in was amazing.

Every night, the spirits that resided in the weapons would regale their own tales about what had occurred during the war of legend that had removed Del'Mond. They detailed to great extent how powerful Stragus was, and that not even the combined might of the united races could stop him in open combat. Amadi seemed to have heard it all before, and Glenn had been taught a similar story with less detail. Anye listened to the story wholeheartedly.

Eisenzahn had taken to following the ship from above in the clouds. Captain Bikke and his crew had prepared to fight him off when they spotted him, but Glenn quickly convinced them again that he was not a threat, calling the great beast down to the water beside them. They were nervous at first, but when The Empress had been left alone by the foreign fleet of the Western Isles they attributed it to the fact that they had a "giant fire-breathing monster" protecting them.

During daylight, while the ship moved over the open water, Anye showed signs of boredom. Glenn had the idea to spar with the woman, to keep their wits sharp. She agreed, claiming to have learned new forms of magic that would help her in their fight. Amadi wished to join them in their training but had been stopped by the captain, citing that he'd rather not have his ship burned to a crisp by the boy's magic. The boy was insulted at the time, but he let it go and opted to meditate instead.

Anye had been good on her word. The magic she'd learned, a charge of magic that enhanced her abilities she called enlightenment, was impressive and powerful. She moved extremely fast and struck hard. Alistair, the ancient sword, seemed to be augmenting the ability as well according to Darius. Even with his reflexes and senses honed and supplemented by Eisenzahn, Glenn was no match for her in that state. The only thing in his arsenal that could stand up to such ability would be the Spirit Link, but he refused to do so.

Amadi had detected Glenn's hesitation during the training and inquired what held him back, a fact which annoyed Anye when she realized it was happening. Glenn explained what went into using the technique, convincing them that leaving him in a weakened state would be ill advised. The boy's detection of his emotive state was a testament to his ability to manipulate etheric power.

Glenn and Anye's relationship developed further, and quickly, during their journey across the sea as well. Amadi was no fool to what was happening between the pair and elected to sleep in the crew quarters to allow Glenn to remain in the cabin with Anye. Glenn objected at first, but the boy was overly insistent. When they weren't training they couldn't keep their eyes off of one another, spending every second they could by each other's side and apparently keeping some of Captain Bikke's crew awake at night in the process. For the first time in a very long time, even amidst the crisis they were going to be facing, he felt truly happy.

The ship finally docked in the coastal town of Mark's Landing without issue. Glenn helped carry the Anye and Amadi's luggage to the horses they'd ridden to the town from Bridge Port on. Captain Bikke stopped them briefly though, inquiring about when he should expect to receive the promised additional payments for the journey. Some quick talking by Amadi convinced the man that Lord Taggart would be sending the money by way of courier and would cover all expenses.

The horses of Belrun were sleeker than the stocky breeds kept in the stables of Delrich's castle. Glenn remembered riding them a few times in his youth when he'd visited the country. He and Amadi tied the bags they carried to the harnesses on their respective horses and prepared to leave.

Anye climbed aboard her horse next to Amadi while Glenn looked up at the woman. The constant exposure to the sun had given her a tan, a look he enjoyed on her. "It's been a while since I rode a horse," he commented. "I've actually become rather accustomed to riding bareback dragon."

Anye smiled and patted the open space behind her lightly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't fall off."

"You could always ride with me, Sir Glenn," Amadi offered with a grunt while he climbed.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Amadi, but I think I'll ride with Anye," Glenn answered with a grin. It hadn't been that long since he rode on a horse, so climbing on to the animal's back was far from difficult. He wrapped his arm around Anye for support to keep his balance.

"So, how far out did Eisenzahn land?" Anye asked as they rode out of the town's main gate. "He said you would know how to find him."

"And I do know," Glenn answered. "Remember? Our minds are connected with one another. He can see what I see, feel my emotions, even communicate. I can do the same with him."

When The Empress had drawn near the coastline of Belrun it had been decided that, to avoid causing a mass panic, Eisenzahn would fly above the cloud layer to beyond the town's border. He would then land and wait for them in the hills that covered the landscape.

"Your link with the dragon in Delrich wasn't so potent," Anye commented. "You and the creature were linked, yes, but not to such a degree."

"I'm ashamed to even say I was a part of such an abominable practice," Glenn replied coldly, remembering the tales Eisenzahn had told to him. He had been a major proponent to the forming of the current order after all. "The way the order of Dragon Knights was formed was based on the methods I learned in Toran. It is a bastardization of what the bond originally was, of what it truly meant and symbolized."

Anye turned her head with her brow furrowed in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"In ancient times, long before Delrich became a kingdom, before and during the time of the legendary war, those who fought with dragons were part of an honorable order," Glenn explained. "The dragons were not hunted down, herded, and bound to a soldier against their will. The way Eisenzahn told me how he and Doluka came to fight together was that he had to prove his worth to the dragons; to show that he was worthy of fighting alongside such a proud race of creatures." Explaining briefly what he knew about the old order filled him with a sense of pride, having been accepted by Eisenzahn using the old ways.

"So what changed? Why did those practices stop?" Anye asked.

"Mankind is a fickle, power hungry race. Eventually, people thought they deserved to control the dragons instead of prove their worth. Now they're hunted, taken away from their roosts and kept in cages. They are forced to obey their masters," Glenn explained disdainfully. "The magic that binds the dragon to their master is cast by man. It enslaves them, preventing them from fleeing until the day they die. It shackles their minds, tearing away their free will. My link with Eisenzahn is mutual; it is a bond between us like we are brothers. I would give my life to protect him and he would do the same. That bond is what gives us our link to one another."

Anye nodded her head in acknowledgement, showing an interest in the order that wasn't previously there. Glenn wasn't sure if she was simply making conversation or if their relationship with one another sparked the inquisition. Either way it was refreshing that someone close to him had taken an interest in it.

"I see," Anye plainly replied simply after a brief moment.

"Tales of the order are known to my people, Sir Glenn," Amadi commented, joining the conversation. "The dragons and their riders were highly revered in my home."

"Thank you, Amadi." Glenn answered. He was surprised that the boy knew of what he spoke and their ways, having believed that it was a lost art. He would have dwelled on the matter and conversed with the boy more about what it was he knew, but Eisenzahn's presence was nearby. The source of the sensation was in a thick wooded area to the left of the road they were traveling on. "There, in the trees," he said.

Anye looked, appearing confused at where Glenn had just said to go. "You're sure? He said he'd be hiding in the hills somewhere."

"I'm sure," Glenn told her confidently. He could feel Eisenzahn's hunger when he concentrated to locate him.  "He needed to hide, but he also needed to eat. He's waiting for us in there."

The trio veered off of the path towards the wooded area. Faint tremors could be felt as the trees rustled slightly without the aid of wind, betraying the presence of a creature hiding within the brush.

Glenn yelled the name of the dragon as he dismounted the rear of the horse and looked around the trees for any visual sign of him. "Eisenzahn, come out!"

The dragon's grumbling could be heard as birds flew away from the perches in the tree tops. A strong gust blew around them as he took to the air with his massive wings to exit the woods, circling around them low and landing nearby with a heavy thud. Glenn was relieved to see him safe and full from a fresh meal.

"Good, you've arrived," Eisenzahn greeted as he lowered his body to the ground. "We don't have much time to waste. I can feel Stragus' power growing stronger."

Amadi appeared to be amazed at the dragon's acute sense of all things related to magic, and gawked at him like a little boy. "You can sense him?" he asked, sounding just as astonished as he looked.

"I can. We dragons are much more attuned to concentrations of magic than humans are," Eisenzahn answered. "As we grow older our senses become more acute. I was able to sense your power grow even as a child, young one."

"You humble me," Amadi replied with a bow.

The dragon turned his attention towards Glenn before speaking again. "He has yet to return to his full strength, but we must warn your kingdoms before we break the seal," he informed them. "He has been summoning fractions of his power from within the seal for centuries, but he should still be weakened. Regardless, if we fail in our task they must be prepared for war."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Anye shockingly replied. "You have a plan? Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Nor I," Amadi added. "Sir Glenn, what haven't you told us?"

Glenn climbed aboard Eisenzahn's back, lamenting that he truly had no choice but to involve Anye in what must be done. When he looked down at her he could see the anger and frustration she must have been feeling on her face.

"Stragus Markal was sealed, frozen in time in the hidden kingdom of Del'Mond," he explained. "Our weapons are the keys to breaking the seal binding him and the holy ground. We need to bring them to Del'Mond to do so and kill him before he is able to break free himself and wreak havoc on the world."

Anye raised her hand and closed her eyes. "Wait, if he was trapped there and is sealed within, in time, then how is he able to do anything at all?" she asked. "That doesn't make sense."

"The seal binding Stragus is not the first that was used to try and stop him," Eisenzahn explained. "Even with all of our might, those who fought alongside your ancestors could not defeat the dark wizard. After many attempts we eventually came to accept that it was ultimately futile, but it was also the only way to stop him from destroying everything, so we locked him away knowing that the time would eventually come for him to be stopped once and for all. The seal that still holds him has done its job well, limiting how much power his consciousness could control, but it has been a very long time. If we allow him to finish gathering his strength unchecked he will break free, and the horrors Amadi fled from in the mother lands will spread like wildfire to every place on this world."

Glenn continued to look down on the pair, seemingly stunned at the revelation that Stragus was actually still alive and not being resurrected or reincarnated, or something along those lines. He felt somewhat guilty for having not explained everything more fully earlier, but he had also assumed Amadi had already known and informed Anye that the 'horrors' he spoke of were related to Stragus himself.

"Now, climb on my back," the dragon ordered. "I shall carry you to the town you call Bridge Port, where you will convince your allies to help prepare for his return."

Anye and Amadi exchanged glances before removing the sacks from the horses and climbing onto the dragon's back, holding tightly behind Glenn to the creature's scales. She didn't say anything, nor did Amadi, but Glenn could tell that she was angry he hadn't shared those specific details with her.

When Eisenzahn's wings spread Glenn could feel Anye tense up and hold him tightly. The feeling intensified when the dragon ran forward and took to the air, rising high above the ground and into the clouds.

They soared through the sky with the mid-day sun shining down above them, casting their large shadow onto the ground below when the clouds would allow it. The air up high felt cool and refreshing, and reminded Glenn of the first time he'd flown. Even if the means were less than honorable it was still a pleasant memory.

The distance the group was covering through flight was impressive, even to Glenn. Eisenzahn could fly fast but he seemed to be pushing himself to reach Bridge Port as quickly as possible.

"Glenn, why didn't we do this to get back home in the first place?" Anye shouted over the sound of the rushing wind.

Glenn turned his head back to answer her, relieved that she was apparently no longer angry with him. "Anye, Eisenzahn is a living creature, not some flying ship!" he answered. The journey west was proof enough that the dragon wasn't invincible and full of a never-depleting supply of energy. Taking Glenn alone was the entire weight of a person plus their armor, and now he was carrying two extra people and their belongings. "He's carrying at least an extra five hundred pounds of weight before our armor right now! It gets tiring!"

Anye laughed at the answer. Glenn was happy to see her smiling, and the way her hair moved in the wind behind her was beautiful. He couldn't help but stare for a moment before turning back to help guide Eisenzahn towards the town. Though he hadn't been there in several years, his basic navigational abilities allowed him to gauge what direction they should be moving.

A town resting near the gorge that acted as the border between Belrun and Delrich's forest appeared over the horizon. Eisenzahn folded his wings and moved downward, increasing his speed. The architecture was simple and similar in design to Delrich's villages and towns. There were so many buildings though that he wasn't sure which one was their destination.

When Glenn turned his head around he could see Anye looking down at the town she'd made into a home of sorts with relief. He didn't want to interrupt her, but he needed to know where to go. "Remind me again where Lord Taggart's manor is located!" he shouted towards her and gaining her attention. "It's been many years since I last saw him!"

Anye pointed straight ahead to an open expanse of land that looked to have recently seen some construction and subsequent deconstruction. "Beyond the town, in the building surrounded by farmland," she answered.

Glenn nodded and turned his head back towards Eisenzahn, patting him on his thick neck and leaning down. Shouting the location was an option, but he found that it was far easier and more direct to communicate through their minds. The dragon acknowledged and dove towards the town proper, increasing their speed drastically before opening his wings to stabilize himself and glide above the town's rooftops.

The people below ran in fear at the sight of the creature, but their reactions were of no concern to Glenn save for being humorous. They were in no actual danger unless they posed a threat, but the chances of that happening were remote. The guards that were undoubtedly guarding the nobleman's manor would be another story, though.

The large manor of the Taggart estate came into view quickly, and as Eisenzahn approached he used his wings to slow their momentum, eventually coming to a stop just outside the building's front door. The gusts and impact scattered any objects that laid around the area, abandoned by the workers who had fled in terror.

As expected, those who guarded the estate swarmed around Eisenzahn and the trio as they lowered themselves from his back, all pointing their weapons at them aggressively. Before Glenn could say anything to address who they were and why they were there, Amadi stepped forward.

"Guards, I am Amadi of the Azubuike tribe of the Frontier! You know who I am, I must speak with my uncle!" he shouted.

"You expect us to believe that!?" one of the men close to them yelled back angrily.

Amadi argued back with the guard while Glenn prepared himself for a fight. He didn't want to hurt the people there as it would only hamper his intentions, but if left with no other choice he would do so. Luckily it didn't come to that as the region's governor, a large man with a similar skin color to Amadi dressed in a regal robe, stepped out of his manor to defuse the situation.

"Guards, stand down!" the familiar, deep voice of Governor Lord Micah Taggart yelled. "That is my nephew and his company. You will treat them as guests."

The surrounding defensemen lifted their weapons but Glenn kept his guard up. He listened to the hushed conversation between who he assumed was the Guard Captain and the nobleman.

"Sir, they have a dragon with them!" the guard said excitedly.

"I can see that," Taggart replied, sounding annoyed that his guard was acting as if he was unaware of what was going on. "You will do it no harm. Return to your posts!"

The guardsman reluctantly bowed his head in acknowledgement and joined the rest of his troops in returning to their stations around the estate. Lord Taggart walked towards Amadi with open arms and a wide smile. "Amadi, you've returned!" he exclaimed. "And Anye, you've returned as well, and with friends," he continued as he shifted his gaze towards Glenn and the purple-hued dragon behind him.

Anye bowed respectfully to the nobleman. "Yes, Your Lordship," she answered.

Glenn remained silent while he wondered if the governor recognized him. He doubted it, being in an entirely different set of armor than he used to wear, having longer hair, a beard, and an eye-patch. Whether he was recognized or not was inconsequential, and his identity appeared to be a secondary priority as the nobleman's attention quickly shifted back to Anye and Alistair.

"Your attire has changed...as has your weapon," Taggart continued. "I take it that sword is the artifact I sought?"

"It is..." she quietly and hesitantly answered.

"So you really are the heir of Armonde's bloodline," the nobleman replied. "I thought as much." His attention shifted once more to Glenn, only instead of quiet speculation his gaze spoke loudly of urgency. "Come, I assume you wish to speak with me. I want to know everything."

"I'll be right in," Glenn answered. When the others ventured inside the manor, only a pleasant looking, and quite overweight man, remained in the doorway waiting for him. He turned around to face Eisenzahn and speak with him before joining them. "I suspect he knows more than he let on when he hired Anye for his little job," he commented.

"As do I," Eisenzahn replied. "His magic is powerful, and he masks it well. Be wary of what he learns of our mission. I cannot tell if he has been touched by Stragus as Amador has."

Glenn nodded and turned back towards the main doorway of the mansion and walked towards it, leaving Eisenzahn to wait for them outside.

### ______

Glenn kept mostly quiet during the group's explanation of recent events, speaking only when necessary. It wasn't that he didn't trust the man, but if Stragus was able to control, or at least influence other people like Amador, then the same could be said for anyone; they could be getting used without even knowing it. The chances of such a thing were remote, but taking chances wasn't wise. The man was knowledgeable, more so than Glenn anticipated. That resulted in most of his input being mere clarifications of things the noble already knew.

"I see...so the tales are true. All of them, and now we are on the cusp of history repeating," the nobleman sighed. His voice betrayed his excitement of learning, which he tried to hide behind his fear of things yet to come.

"Yes," Glenn confirmed. "We would have traveled to the capital directly, but we understand how unbelievable our story is. We were hoping you could help Anye convey to your king how important it is that he readies your kingdom's army for war, should we fail in our task."

He looked over towards Anye who kept her composure and stern look. He could tell she was still annoyed at him though, and he doubted his next statement would help. "I will take Amadi to speak with the emperor of Mitus, and then try to convince King Justin of Amador's treachery and the impending situation in Delrich."

"Of course I will," Lord Taggart enthusiastically replied. "I have been a student of history my whole life. King Edward will listen to me. I hope the emperor and your king will be as wise."

Glenn was doubtful that King Justin would be eager to see his adoptive son, if he even still considered Glenn to be such. "We should leave immediately," he suggested, keeping his doubts to himself. "Every second we take is another he uses to build his power. We can't afford to waste time."

"I agree. Come, we shall leave at once."

The group left the room and walked through the halls of the governor's manor. The sunset had painted the sky a slew of bright colors, ranging from orange and pinks to deep red, where the darkness of night crept closer to them. The air grew colder and the evening breeze tossed Glenn's hair about his face as he held his helmet in his hand. Eisenzahn stood waiting for him near the manor's front door.

"Sir Glenn, may I speak with the dragon?" Lord Taggart asked, interrupting Glenn's train of thought. "I suspect something he may be able to clarify for me."

Glenn looked at the noble and then to the dragon. They didn't need to read each other to know what each was thinking, but without any specific reason to doubt his intentions there was no reason to deny the request. Eisenzahn nodded his head towards the nobleman.

"What knowledge do you seek, human?" the dragon asked.

The noble walked past Glenn towards Eisenzahn, keeping his eyes locked with the dragon's gaze. "Forty years ago, I was part of a group of men that traveled to the mountains of Toran to explore some ruins there. While we searched, we were set upon by a dragon that seemed to be outraged at our presence. Do you remember this day?"

Eisenzahn was silent for a moment as he searched his memories. "Yes, I remember, human. I felt the intrusion in the home of my last rider and investigated. I feasted well that day," he said in a low and menacing tone.

In an act that surprised everyone present, Lord Taggart took to a knee, turned his palms upward, and bowed his head. While Amadi may have been surprised for his own reasons, Glenn and Anye had never seen any man of nobility or status kneel and bow before anyone or anything, except for royalty, and before them stood a regional governor kneeling before a dragon.

"I apologize for the intrusion, ancient one. Please forgive this transgression against you." The words sounded humble and true, not full of fear as one might have expected upon witnessing the scene.

"It is good to know there are those who still honor the ancient ways, human," Eisenzahn told him, seemingly impressed at the man's humility before a being such as himself. "I would know your name."

"Of course, ancient one. I am Micah, of the Azubuike people."

"Your brethren are of a bloodline with close ties to the dragon race," Eisenzahn explained. "We knew your ancestors, they who were the first to make the pacts. You honor your forefathers, Micah."

Glenn remembered the stories Eisenzahn had told him about the ancient people of the world, the first pact makers who fought alongside the dragons. Knowing that there were indeed people who remembered such a time actually gave him hope for the future of Delrich's Dragon Knights.

By now the nobleman had stood back up again and resumed his previous posture. "Your words do me honor," he replied.

"My Lord, the carriage you sent for is ready," a servant explained as he approached the group, followed closely by an intricate carriage being drawn by a pair of horses. "You may depart at your leisure."

"Thank you," Taggart replied. He bowed before Eisenzahn once more and walked quickly towards the wooden construct. With a foot placed on the single step leading inside, he turned towards the group. "Lady Everdyne, I suggest you say your goodbyes and join me quickly. As Captain Sturmwind has been keen to remind us, time is of the essence."

Anye nodded towards the noble before focusing her gaze on Glenn. Her eyes were filled with sadness and worry, fearful that his return to Delrich would be fatal. She didn't need to say it out loud for it to be obvious.

Glenn took her hands into his own and peered into her majestic green eyes. "I'll come for you after I've convinced his majesty of the dangers that approach. Don't worry, I'll be fine," he told her softly. His heart rate increased with each passing second as he looked at her. He didn't want to leave her side, but he knew he had to.

Anye sighed sadly. Small tears formed beneath her eyelids that she struggled to keep at bay. "Do we really need to separate ourselves again?" she asked once more. "If the king doesn't listen..."

"I will be fine," Glenn repeated slowly, though he wasn't entirely sure he was telling truth. Regardless, he couldn't let her go without reassuring her of his safety. And there was one thing he was sure of. "I won't let anything stop me from getting back to you."

The words seemed to help but she still looked saddened and overly worried. Glenn lowered his face to hers and closed his eye. A tender embrace was all he could offer. The held each other as lovers embrace until he pulled away. Anye's nerves appeared to have been calmed but the worry was obviously still present. It pained him to see it but there was nothing more he could do for her. He had to go.

He stepped away, putting his helmet on, and turned towards Eisenzahn. Amadi stood beside the dragon, ready to take flight. Anye moved next to the carriage that would take her to Belrun's capital, watching them quietly.

"Ready to fly?" Glenn asked the boy.

"Yes, let's go."

The pair climbed aboard Eisenzahn's back and, without so much as an audible warning for Amadi, they took to the sky. Glenn looked down towards Anye and the carriage, never taking his sight away from her until they faded into obscurity. They became engulfed in the cold night clouds in the sky, and at that moment he couldn't help but feel a same sense of longing and sadness. A feeling he was sure Anye shared.

"How long do you think it will take for us to reach the black city?" Amadi asked after they were no longer in sight of Bridge Port.

"Some hours, probably," Glenn answered. "Eisenzahn only had a little while to rest." He turned his attention to the dragon and patted him on the neck, knowing full well how tired he was after doing so much traveling. "Eisenzahn, are you alright?"

"I will be fine," the dragon replied loudly. "We'll have time to rest when this is over. For now, the warning of your kingdoms is of the utmost importance. If only it were that we had time to spread word of these events to the other lands...I fear your three nations will not be enough."

They flew on in silence through the darkness. Amadi held on tightly as the cold air blew past them, but Glenn paid little attention to it. His mind was on Anye, wishing that she would remain unharmed without him there to protect her. She was strong, capable, and had survived without his direct aid for months, but he worried nonetheless. If what was coming was as terrible as predicted, he had to do everything in his power to try and stop it, no matter what.

### ______

It wasn't long before Eisenzahn had to land and rest, having used more of his strength than expected flying across the ocean almost non-stop, and then carrying the three humans on his back to Bridge Port. While speedy movement was imperative, they all realized that being overly fatigued would prove fatal if they needed to defend themselves. Stragus had already proven to be more powerful than predicted, and influencing people like Amador showed that there could be others like him lying in wait.

The dragon's breathing was loud and slow as it slept. Glenn sat leaning against him while tending a fire as Amadi tried to get some sleep. He may have been a powerful mage and was able to handle himself in a fight, but he was still a child.

"Darius, how long have you been doing this?" Glenn asked quietly as he stirred the fire.

"I'm afraid I do not understand your question," the lance replied.

"The Sentinels...guiding those who would take up the mantle, so to speak," Glenn specified. "Your constant struggle to protect the world and those who inhabit it..."

"Since long before your kingdoms have existed," Darius answered drearily. "Days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia...these words have lost their meaning for us. When a threat arises that requires our intervention, the order will be there to quell it. You are no different, though the circumstances that lead you to this are."

"You mean the prophecy," Glenn stated. "What of the other descendants? How far back do the bloodlines go? And you never answered me at the tower."

"Only the three of us required blood descendants of our wielders to be claimed, Master Glenn, and only for this succession. Hiding the fact of your companion being the third heir was not my intention. The prophecy merely stated that three descendants would claim us, not who they would be. She was present at the tower, however, which was proof that she was who we sought. And we are fortunate she is someone of whom you are familiar with. The others, however, are of no importance to your task," Darius answered. "Do not dwell on where they may be, if they be at all. You must prepare yourself for what is to come."

"And what is to come, Darius?" Glenn asked. "This is a life I did not ask for."

"But it is your life, and you must do your part," the lance commented. "If you fail, everything and everyone you care for will be destroyed."

Glenn remained silent as he stared into the dancing flames before him. Doubt crept into his mind with each passing hour that he would be able to do what was expected of him. Amador was a crafty, ruthless, and dangerous foe. He'd grown more powerful than ever, and being supported by Kiya and Stragus increased the threat of his presence tenfold. Amadi and Anye had been nearly killed by his hand, as had he. The only reason they were all still alive was because those that had saved them had caught their aggressors off guard, and each time he managed to escape.

Maybe Amador was right. Even after all the years of proving his superior, maybe Glenn had become unworthy, regardless of his apparent heritage. Perhaps he did not deserve to wield a weapon such as Darius and to have been given such an important responsibility. But if not him, then who? It had been proven time and again that no others were a match for Amador, but that was before, without any exterior influences. Glenn had finally beaten. He'd been put on the precipice of death, and the fear that he would lose again was constantly on his mind.

### ______

The black city, as Mitus' capital was referred, rested opposite of the mountain range that acted as a border between the empire and Delrich. The buildings of the city had all been built out of stone and ore mined from the black mountain, the Devil's Spine, giving it its moniker. The magic energy concentrated there was intense. Everyone was skilled to some degree at using the talents, from carpenters and stonemasons to the guards that patrolled the city's streets. Glenn had never laid eyes upon the capital before, but Amadi had, and it would be him who would convince the emperor of the impending threat.

"Something here is off...I don't like this. I should go with you," Glenn objected, now disliking their plan. "It's too risky."

"We do not have time to debate this," Amadi countered. "Anye is already traveling to Belrun's king with my uncle, and you must return to your home to meet with yours. I spent much time here, you have not. And you are a citizen of their enemy. Your presence here would be a hindrance."

"A hindrance? And what would you call your death?" Glenn countered.

"The empire will not harm me, I assure you. But I cannot say the same for you," Amadi explained dejectedly.

"The boy has a point," Eisenzahn interrupted. "If he is able to move about unhindered it would behoove of us to proceed to Delrich while he handles things here."

"And what of regrouping after our tasks are complete?" Glenn inquired.

"The three of us being near each other has refreshed our ability to detect one another's presence," Legeia stated. "The effect preventing us from doing so is gone, at least in regard to Darius and Alistair. Locating each other should take little effort."

Glenn looked at Amadi like a child who had been lied to for his entire life, and had only just discovered the truth. "Were you planning on telling us of this development?"

"It was inconsequential at the time," Darius answered. "We are telling you now, Master, and the boy's plan is sound. You must trust him to do his part."

The sourness in his stomach persisted, but he found he had little choice or support in his objection. "Very well, but be on your guard," Glenn finally said. "I do not trust these people. They provoked a war with my home, and their unrestricted magic makes them ripened fruit for Stragus."

"I will. Now go," Amadi ordered.

Glenn reluctantly nodded his head and climbed aboard Eisenzahn's back. Shortly afterward they took to the skies and began their journey west, passing over the black peaks of the Devil's Spine and into Delrich. The cool spring air blew around them, but it didn't help the feeling of dread that something would be terribly wrong when he returned home.

### ______

The landscape and city that comprised Delrich's was unchanged. The day-to-day activities of the townsfolk were going on as they always had. There were no more guards that patrolled the streets than usual, and children played their games and whatnot while their parents worked their jobs. The only significant difference was a lack of young men and women, confirming the rumor of extra recruitment happening for the war effort Glenn had overheard in Toran.

His time away and physical changes, as well as his foreign looking attire, kept him from being recognized as he walked. The cloak he'd taken with him to Toran was tattered and dirty, but it was sufficient enough to serve as traveler's garb and sufficiently covered his armor, so he was mostly left alone. He carried his helmet beneath the cloak instead of wearing it as well to blend in. Darius remained slung over his shoulders as usual simply due to his size. There was little that could be done to conceal him.

Eisenzahn had flown in low and landed near the shoreline south of the city, taking shelter in a beachside cavern. If he'd been spotted there was no indication of it, but a massive dragon unrecognized to the castle's stable hands would likely have been viewed as hostile, so Glenn had to make the rest of the journey on foot by himself.

It wasn't as if he'd expected to see him upon first entering the city, but there was no sign of Amador anywhere. No mention of him in the gossip he could overhear, no posters detailing orders from the king involving him or his command, nothing. It was as if literally everything remained changed.

"I don't like this," Glenn commented softly to Darius. "I expected something to be here. The normalcy is...unsettling."

"You have been away from your home in near constant turmoil for some time," Darius answered through his mind. "Perhaps you've grown so accustomed to conflict that peace has become a foreign concept to you."

"Perhaps..."

"Or it is because your instincts have rarely failed you," another familiar voice said loudly from behind.

Glenn stopped in his tracks and turned his head, peeking out under his hood at the individual that had called out. Before him, standing in a similarly tattered cloak and rough northern clothing, was Aldrin Fawkes.

"Fawkes?" Glenn asked suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, Captain," the retired officer answered. "His Majesty has been expecting you for some time."

Glenn quietly gripped Darius' handle. If Fawkes was in league with Amador, and by extension Stragus, then he was in a dire situation. Such a circumstance would prove that his assumption was correct. "Is that so? I thought you'd taken a liking to your life in the north."

"I had, but circumstances have arisen that necessitated my return," the grizzled old veteran replied. "And you can let go of your weapon. I'm not here to fight you. His Majesty has longed to see you safely returned."

"His Majesty more likely wants me dead, Fawkes," Glenn rebuked. "Forgive me that I don't believe you."

"He knows about Astley's treachery, Glenn," Fawkes explained. "He knows about all of it; the prince, Anye, your disappearance..."

Glenn tightened his grip instead of loosening it. The only ways the king would know the truth would be if Amador confessed or if someone else exposed him, and the only people who knew the truth were Anye, Amadi, and himself.

"I know what you're thinking. You have to trust me," Fawkes persisted. "You don't want to fight me. I'm not the enemy here."

A small crowd started to form around the two men. Fighting Fawkes, if he was lying and trying to throw Glenn off guard, would place the onlookers in jeopardy, but if he went with him and it was a trap his life could be forfeit. His options were limited and he didn't like being backed into corners.

"And why should I trust you?" Glenn asked, hoping to delay whatever outcome was approaching.

"Master..."

"Because if I wanted you dead you'd already be on the other end of my sword, and you know it," Fawkes answered cockily. "Don't make me force you, Glenn. You won't win."

Glenn slowly lowered the hood of his cloak and slid his helmet back on. "We'll see about that," he calmly stated before leaping into the air.

The crowd gasped in shock, but Aldrin Fawkes remained stationary, glaring up at Glenn. As he descended from the sky, with Darius now unslung and pointed downward, Fawkes continued to remain motionless until the last possible second. In a flash of an instant he drew his sword, the same gold hilted shimmering blue claymore that he had used in Toran, and spun. The impact of the two weapons was intense, but not even Glenn's momentum gave him the advantage. Fawkes' swing pushed him aside, and his body slid against the stone road.

Glenn coughed through the dust as the screams of the terrified citizens echoed amidst the ringing in his ears. He looked through the dirt at his opponent, who still remained where he was before. The sword sat in a single hand, with its tip resting lightly on the ground. He wasn't attacking.

"I told you that was a bad idea," Fawkes said loudly.

Glenn was astounded. He'd never known him, or any other, to be quite so strong. He got to his feet and held Darius downward in a similar fashion to how Fawkes was holding his own weapon.

"How did you do that?" Glenn asked through a cough. The impact had hit him harder than he'd thought while lying on the ground.

"Don't worry about that," Fawkes replied. "Do you believe me now?"

Glenn calmed his cough and slowed his breathing. Being seemingly outmatched so quickly was frightening, but it also meant that if his intention was to end Glenn's life he would have done so by then. He nodded his head and slung Darius over his cloaked back once more.

Fawkes did the same with his sword and walked up to Glenn. A hand placed on his shoulder accompanied a slight smile. "It's good to see you're still alive, boy. Unfortunately we don't have time to reminisce. King Justin and Queen Alyria have been quite worry-stricken over you."

The pair walked quickly through the capital's streets up to the castle gates, where a wave of Fawkes' hand moved the guards aside and they were granted passage without issue. The guards that recognized Glenn looked at him in amazement, apparently having believed him to be dead. It felt good to be home, but knowing that he couldn't stay stemmed any potential excitement.

When Glenn and his escort reached the castle's throne room they were met with the elated faces of both the king and queen, who had been sitting and waiting anxiously for their arrival.

Glenn took a knee and bowed before his king, as did Captain Fawkes. "My King, I have returned," Glenn greeted.

The king and queen stood and walked quickly towards their adoptive son with tears filling their eyes. In an act of pure emotion they hugged him tightly, bringing him up to his feet.

"My boy, you're safe..." the king said through his choked breath. "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry I refused to listen to you..."

Glenn lightly moved the royals to arms-length so he could look at them. He couldn't help but smile briefly at them. "My Liege, I have come bearing dreadful news. Amador has turned traitor and conspires against you."

"I know, Glenn." King Justin replied. "He's already fled the country, as has Kiya. She was found to be in league with him. We suspect they've been working for Mitus."

"Unfortunately that is not the case, Sire," Glenn stated. "But how did you know? I was sure he had bewitched you."

"He had, to some extent," the king explained sadly. "I wasn't even aware of it until word of your survival reached my ears."

"Sir Astley volunteered to support your efforts in Toran after you departed," the queen said. "When he returned, he'd reported that you had been killed by the dragon you'd gone to slay."

"But how did you learn of my being alive?" Glenn persisted. He turned to Captain Fawkes who had backed away from the emotional family. "Did you tell them?"

"No, I only returned to Delrich after His Majesty sent for me," the captain answered. "The report of your survival was made by a man I'm sure you know. He was a Castle Guardsman under your command for some time, knighted after your departure and apparent death; Elias Cole."

"Cole?" Glenn asked. He had completely forgotten that he'd seen him during Amador's attack on Albana. "He was under Amador's charge. I fought against him briefly."

"He's in the care of the church clerics at the moment. Your wife did a number on him when they'd found out he saw you," Fawkes explained. "Lucky for him the Dragon Knights had already returned to Delrich. If he had been discovered prior he would not have survived."

"And what of Lord Commander Escobar?" Glenn inquired.

"It saddens me to say that Commander Escobar was killed in battle against Mitus," King Justin said. "Had I not listened to Amador's poisonous words we would not have continued our hostilities..."

"Your Grace, you cannot blame yourself," Glenn stated.

"Glenn, after Robert's death we were beside ourselves," Queen Alyria commented. "We were willing to hear anything anyone said so long as we thought it brought justice to his demise. We were foolish and you nearly paid for our folly. Lady Everdyne has already..."

"Anye is alive and safe," Glenn interrupted. The statement appeared to perk the two royals' interest a bit and he continued. "She is on her way to speak with King Edward of Belrun with Lord Taggart of Bridge Port."

"She is?" King Justin asked. "On what matter?"

"Amador is in league with a villain that conspires to destroy everything we know," Glenn explained. "The perpetuation of the war with Mitus was to weaken both countries' militaries. Lord Commander Escobar's death falls in line with that."

"And who is this fiend?" the queen asked.

"His name is Stragus Markal," Glenn answered.

The king and queen looked at Glenn as if he were insane. The reaction wasn't what Glenn had unexpected, but now that he was faced with it he felt somewhat uncomfortable, realizing how insane he sounded.

"Stragus Markal, of the legends of the holy city and the great war?" King Justin inquired skeptically. "Are you sure you're alright, Glenn?"

"Sire, I assure you that I speak the truth," Glenn pleaded. "You must recall any of our forces not in the capital to ready its defenses."

"They've already been, Glenn, but I don't understand," the king replied. "What is happening? If Mitus-"

"Sire, I believe Captain Sturmwind," Fawkes interrupted. "I've seen many things over the years, and I can tell when a man is being sincere. Glenn believes Delrich is in danger. You should heed his advice."

King Justin and Queen Alryia exchanged glances briefly before looking back to Glenn, nodding, though not fully understanding what it was they would be preparing for.

Glenn felt extremely relieved after not having to prove his innocence and Amador's betrayal. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Glenn, you must explain everything," King Justin ordered. "We thought we lost you once. We're not letting you out of our sight until you tell us what happened to you...to your face..."

Glenn looked at the saddened, worried old man. He was relieved that the one who raised him was back to his old self, albeit confused. "I'm sorry but there isn't time. Eisenzahn and I must hurry if we're to stop Stragus from returning."

"Eisenzahn? Who is Eisenzahn?" the queen inquired.

"The ancient dragon..." Captain Fawkes commented quietly.

"Glenn, wait," King Justin said. He paused for a moment before continuing, as if contemplating whether he should continue with the conversation. "How much of your heritage do you know?"

The question was confusing at the least. Considering everything that was going on the topic of his parents didn't particularly seem relevant. He had been taught about his family history to some degree as he grew up, but he'd never really been asked how much he remembered ever.

"Sire, this isn't the time-" he started to say.

"Answer me, Glenn. How much do you know?" the king persisted. His voice was stern and cold, but out of fear instead of anger.

Glenn paused, still unsure of how to react. The others in the chamber remained silent and kept their eyes on him waiting for his answer. Resisting engaging in the conversation could only hurt by slightly delaying him. And as much as he loved his adoptive parents, revealing his connection to a hero of old could be unwise.

"I don't remember my parents very well, Sire, you know this," Glenn began to answer. "I remember what you and the scholars taught me of them. My father served in the royal military, taking up positions within the Escort Guard, the Castle Guard, and other divisions that met with Mitus on the battlefield regularly. Mother was a healer who helped tend to the wounded when they returned home, which was how she met father."

"And your grandparents, or further heritage?"

"I never knew my grandparents," Glenn answered. "I was told my father's father served in the military as a lancer, as he did and as I do, but that was all. Why are you asking me this?"

King Justin placed a hand on Glenn's shoulder and looked at his face with a deep sense of despair clearly written in his gaze. "It's time you learned the truth, Glenn, about who you really are."

"Sire?"

"Come. If we are in as dire a situation as you claim then we should hurry," the king answered, waving an arm as he led the group down a side corridor through the castle. "In the library there is a book we have kept secret for as long as Delrich has been a kingdom. The words written in it are an ancient language very few people now can translate."

"A book, Sire?" Glenn asked.

"Yes, a tome on which the cover bears a seal that matches the emblem on your armor," the king answered.  "And within its pages is a prophecy that tells of impending darkness, and of a child who will save us."

The group continued in silence until they reached the castle's library. The mountains of books that lined the walls reminded Glenn of his days of study when he was a young boy. They moved beyond most of the books and scrolls that were stored there to a large guarded door, wrought with thick iron to prevent unauthorized entry. A single wave of the king's hand moved the guards aside and they entered the restricted section Glenn had never been privy to entering before.

There were many less books and scrolls in the small room, but they were each important looking. The bindings of the books looked old, but very well maintained. Some of them, Glenn actually recognized, were biographies that detailed the royal lineage of Delrich's monarchy. Others were related to warfare and secret operations that the public was to never learn about, and even fewer were spell books that had been forbidden in Delrich due to the perceived dangers of black magic.

But in the center on the far wall, sitting on a simple wooden desk, was a red colored leather bound book with no words on the front. Instead, burned into the leather face, was the symbol of a tree growing out of a sphere; the selfsame symbol that appeared on Glenn and Anye's armor.

King Justin slowly walked up to the book and picked it up. He turned and held it in front. "Open it."

Glenn looked down at the object, suddenly feeling afraid of what its pages would tell him, if he could read it at all. He felt compelled though, to do as he was asked, and with a single hand he slowly opened it. Inside were words and drawings, none of which looked to have been made by anyone in recent times. The letters on the page were foreign to him, but he somehow could understand them.

"This is the prophecy that spoke of your arrival," Darius' voice said to him.

"This is the prophecy?"

"Indeed, Master, written by your ancestor."

"Doluka wrote this?"

"No, his wife, Delilah," the lance answered. "She was a particularly talented individual, and it was she who ensured that the words detailing the prophecy could stand the test of time."

Glenn continued to flip through the pages. The words written on them seemed to speak to him, as if he wasn't really reading them at all. Everything that had happened recently was described almost perfectly. Though names were not made specifically, there were mentions of three youths who would claim the keys to Del'Mond, all of whom would be touched by hands of darkness engulfed in flame.

  "Engulfed in flame?" Glenn repeated, but out loud. He looked at King Justin, who looked like he was ashamed from having to have kept something from Glenn. "Hands of darkness engulfed in flame...Sire, you knew about this?"

"I had my suspicions, yes," King Justin answered. "You were the sole survivor of the burning of your village, a disaster which struck without warning from the sky. Mitus was not responsible for the attack, and because of that there was no explanation."

"Stragus caused the Sky Fire?" Glenn asked, with his tone showing signs of aggression as his temper began to boil. "You knew that this was to happen, that Stragus Markal is responsible for the deaths of my family and countless others, and you did nothing!?"

"There was nothing we could do, Glenn," the king stated. "Our only option after finding you, unharmed amidst that chaos and disaster, was to try and keep you safe."

Glenn's mind had become a mosaic of memory and anger. He hadn't thought about the deaths of his family, or his home's destruction, since childhood. He'd let it all go, convinced that the tragedy was caused by an unexplainable natural disaster. Thinking there was nothing anyone could have done, that it was their time to go, was what helped him move on from that. Knowing that the people whom he swore to serve, the people who raised him, had known that it would happen all along, betrayed everything he knew about them.

He stepped away from the aging king, looking at him like a witness would stare at a criminal. "How am I to trust you, knowing what I know now?" he asked. "You lied to me my entire life! For all I know, you're in league with Stragus!"

"Glenn, be reasonable!" the queen pleaded. "We couldn't have possibly known where or when the disaster would occur."

"And yet you still knew it would and did nothing!" Glenn countered.

"Listen to them, Glenn," Eisenzahn said in his mind. "Bring them to the balcony overlooking the western sea. We have precious little time."

Glenn hadn't expected the dragon's voice, his opposition, or the suggestion to bring the royals and the retired captain to see him. Even still, the interruption was enough to break his train of thought and calm him down a bit. He was still angry, furious even, but calmer and more focused and willing to listen.

"Come. There's someone who wishes to speak with you," he finally stated after taking a moment.

The momentary pause was all that he gave them. As soon as the order was given, Glenn marched through the door of the restricted section back through the library and up the halls into the castle proper. King Justin inquired as to whom Glenn was referring but he kept silent. He didn't feel much like talking to his adoptive father, royalty or not.

The sun had only just begun its downward descent in the west to allow night to come, so the sky still remained mostly bright blue with very few clouds overhead providing shade. The balcony Eisenzahn had referred to was one Glenn had spent many days in his youth playing on with Prince Robert. It was a magnificent piece of white stone architecture beautified with large potted plants. The ocean below crashed upon the cliff on which the castle had been built, sending a cool salty mist into the air above.

When Glenn and his followers arrived Eisenzahn was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, above and below, in an attempt to find the ancient dragon, but it was to no avail.

"Glenn, what is going on?" King Justin asked. "Who wishes to speak with us?"

Glenn felt the presence of the dragon from below just then, hidden in the water. He was rising quickly, getting closer to them. Whatever purpose the water was going to serve, Glenn had no idea.

He turned to face the king and queen and sighed. "Your Majesties, I present to you the ancient Dragon King, Eisenzahn."

The dragon splashed out of the water in a brilliant white display that reflected the sun's light in a myriad of colors, softly landing on the white stone balcony. The king and queen both raised their arms to protect themselves from the falling water, but Captain Fawkes held his composure and looked squarely at the ancient creature without an ounce of fear or surprise in his eyes.

"Glenn, what is the meaning of this!?" the king yelled.

"Calm yourself, Justin, King of Delrich," Eisenzahn greeted. "I am called Eisenzahn, King of the dragons."

"King of the dragons?" King Justin repeated. His face was full of confusion as he looked between the creature and Glenn. "What is going on?"

"I would very much like to know the same, Eisenzahn," Glenn said as he turned to face the dragon. "You knew of the prophecy that told of my coming. That means you also knew of the tragedy that would befall me."

"And your companions," the dragon added. "Yes, I knew that the time of the prophecy's fulfillment would come shortly after the event you call the Sky Fire occurred. None who knew of the prophecy knew when, where, or what exactly would happen. But we did know that when it occurred, we would know that the time of his return was drawing near."

"Truly, nothing could have been done to prevent it?" Glenn pleaded, losing some of his anger in favor of sadness. "Nothing could have been done to save my family?"

"I'm sorry Glenn, but there was nothing," Eisenzahn repeated. "It pains me to say this, but we do not have time to debate what could or could not have been done. Stragus' return is imminent. Are your forces prepared to defend themselves and your people, King of Delrich?"

The King nodded his head, though not without reserve. The shock of being addressed by a dragon that could speak, one so large that also claimed to be a king itself, seemed to have gotten the better of him, as well as Queen Alyria.

As much as he wanted to lash out, Glenn knew he had a job to do. There would be time for arguing about it later. What was important at that moment was completing what he had set out to do and regrouping with Anye and Amadi, but when he thought of them he realized just exactly what Eisenzahn had said.

"Wait, Eisenzahn," Glenn interrupted. "You said the same tragedy befell my companions? You don't mean Anye?"

"And Amadi, yes," the dragon replied. "They were both met with sorrow similar to yours on that night, though not entirely the same."

"What do you mean? How is that possible? Amadi is just a boy."

"The prophecy's fulfillment did not require the destruction of an entire village or numerous deaths, Glenn. The phrase used to foretell what amounted to your village's destruction could mean many things depending on interpretation, but this is neither the time nor place to discuss it," Eisenzahn explained. "We must make for Del'Mond quickly."

"Del'Mond? But what of regrouping and preparing?" Glenn asked.

"We must make for the holy city. I feel that they will meet us there." The dragon turned its head, this time not to Glenn or the royal figures present, but to Captain Fawkes who had remained stern and silent during the entire conversation. His arms remained crossed as his gaze had been fixed on the dragon. He looked calm, calmer than anyone present including Glenn. "You...you are the one who called himself Jonhard Ashman in the north, yes? The man who relentlessly hunted me?" Eisenzahn inquired.

Captain Fawkes looked befuddled, visibly surprised that the dragon had addressed him and even knew of the alias he had been living under. "I am," he answered, though his voice sounded nervous.

Eisenzahn chuckled. "Fitting..." He turned his head towards Glenn once more, leaving the small conversation behind. "Our business here is concluded Glenn. We must go."

Glenn didn't want to leave. He had so many questions, so many things he wanted to say. Some were still out of anger, others merely out of longing to now know more about his family than he ever did as a child. He felt as if he had been specifically targeted, and that may have been true, but at the same time the revelation gave him a renewed sense of purpose. He had to go.

"Your Majesty," Glenn started to say as he took a knee. "My apologies for the way I acted."

"Glenn, get on your feet," King Justin replied, sounding offended that he had been knelt before. He hugged him tightly, as a father would his son before he left for war. "You are as much my son as a true heir would be. Never forget that..." he whispered through a trembling, saddened voice. "And be safe."

"I will try," Glenn answered. "If I do not return, you must prepare the kingdom for war against a foe more deadly and cunning than anything you have known. If all goes according to plan, they will be preparing for the same."

"I understand, Glenn, now go," the king ordered.

Glenn nodded as a tear formed in his eye. He climbed aboard Eisenzahn's back and looked down on the family that had raised him one more time. If he never was to see them again he wanted to remember their faces and feel proud that he did his duty to protect them.

Eisenzahn spread his wings wide and jumped off of the balcony, using his falling momentum to build up his speed and rocket high into the sky. Delrich was behind them now, and would prepare for the worst as Glenn had hoped, but not expected. All that was left was regrouping with his comrades and eliminating the threat Stragus posed once and for all.

* * *

# Chapter 7

## Come what may

Eisenzahn flew through the sky northward from dusk till dawn, pushing himself even harder than before. The air grew colder and the clouds thickened, hampering what they could see. Though there wasn't much to look at once they passed over the icy shores of Toran, the situation gave Glenn a grim feeling. Endless ocean and ice was all that could be found for miles.

"Eisenzahn, where are we?" he shouted. The cold air nipping at him made it hard to concentrate, so communicating through their bond proved to be difficult.

"We are passing over the frozen sea of Kell'Doma," the dragon replied. "Forsaken and forgotten by man, beast, and history alike in all but name. Can you see the storm ahead?"

Glenn peered forward through his nearly shut eye. A cloud formation in the distance towered before them; a spiraling hulk of a storm that looked deadly and menacing. Cracks of lighting bounced off of the perimeter, with deep booming thunder reaching his ears shortly after. "I see it," he replied.

"The eye of the storm is our destination," Eisenzahn said.

"Are you insane!?" Glenn yelled. "We'll never survive that!"

"We will survive," the dragon stated calmly. "Within that storm lies the Holy City, Del'Mond."

"Del'Mond is in that?"

"Indeed. The storm that surrounds it is a result of the world attempting to bring natural order back to it."

"What do you mean?"

"Halting time is unnatural," Eisenzahn explained. "The amount of magic required to cast such a spell, and ensure it would endure through the ages, was extraordinary. The natural forces of our world...no, the will of the gods themselves, wish to return the city to the natural way of things, and the storm is the result. It acts as a protective barrier of sorts, warding away any who would dare approach."

"And how are we to get inside if the very will of the gods cannot?" Glenn inquired.

"I helped cast the seal, and I can grant us passage. We must hurry though. I fear we are not the first to arrive."

Glenn paused, wondering who could have possibly arrived at such a destination before them until he remembered the dragon's words in Delrich. "You mean Anye and Amadi?"

"Yes, I recently felt a strong surge of magic from the south," Eisenzahn replied. "Very old magic used for instant travel across long distances...a kind I have not felt used regularly since shortly after the war."

 "And you think they somehow found a way to use this to reach Del'Mond?"

"I do, as I suspected they would. Now hold on, this may be rough!"

Glenn gripped the dragon's scales as tight as he could while they rode the increasing speed of the wind into the storm. His beaten cloak whipped around violently behind him. The concentration of magic was incredible, equating to thousands of mages combining their power into a single spell. He had never felt anything like it; not even the magic of the towers was so intense. He struggled to keep his head straight and fight off the dizzying feeling that came with the sensation while Eisenzahn flew through the dark, lightning-spewing clouds.

The hurricane-force winds were nearly enough to tear Glenn off of the dragon's back, threatening to do so with near success several times. The shrieking of the wind and cracking of lightning were loud and constant. He could barely hear himself think, and communication with Eisenzahn in any fashion was impossible. If the intensity continued for much longer, he feared he would lose consciousness.

A break in the thick black clouds formed and Eisenzahn flew straight through into the opening. The wind calmed and the sound of the thunder and lightning faded behind them. Below them, covered in a dome that looked like pristine glass, was a massive city of white stone. In the center was a massive rectangular structure that rose high into the air.

"We're not done yet, Glenn," Eisenzahn said as he entered a sharp dive towards the dome.

Glenn continued to hold tightly and watched as they rushed towards the clear barrier. He expected the dragon to hit the layer and shatter it, breaking the seal temporarily, but instead they passed through it seamlessly, like a diver entering a pool of water. As soon as they were through though, all semblance of sound and color was gone, removed to the world outside of the seal.

Eisenzahn landed hard on the grey lifeless expanse of the Holy City, throwing Glenn off of his back hard and grunting in pain from the impact. Glenn slid along the ground for a bit until finally coming to rest in a cloud of dust. The strain of having to cope with such high levels of magic made it harder for him to recover from the landing. His vision spun and became blurred, and his hearing was doused by a loud echo in his ears.

"Eisenzahn?" he fumbled to say as he tried to shake the ringing out. "Eisenzahn, are you ok?"

The dragon groaned, but from what Glenn could see appeared to be unharmed. "My apologies...It appears I may have pushed myself too hard in my ever growing age..."

Glenn managed to stand upright as the dizziness and ringing in his head subsided. Darius thankfully remained slung over his shoulders. He looked around and realized that there truly was no color around him. He had thought the grey scale to everything was a result of the stresses of traveling through the storm and not being given time to recover, but it was now clear that was not the case.

The sky above in the eye of the massive storm, clear and blue only moments before, now looked grey and cloudless. The sun was fixated in a single place, but gave no warmth. Oddly, there was no cold either. There was no wind, no sound of birds or flowing water, or of people anywhere. Fragments of stone floated motionless in the air, suspended from the moment the seal was cast all those years ago.

"Eisenzahn...this is Del'Mond?" Glenn managed to say after taking in his surroundings. "It feels so...dead."

"Indeed it does," the dragon answered dejectedly.

Awe stricken and still recovering, Glenn felt an overwhelming sense of solitude and sadness. Being in a place cursed as it was felt akin to being somewhere between life and death; a limbo of sorts with no visible means of escape or hope.

"What happened here? Why does it look like this?"

"These are the effects of the seal placed upon the city, and everyone that was present during our final battle with Stragus and his army," Eisenzahn explained. "It appears that you did not truly understand the seal when I described it to you. Stopping time was literal; everything, from where the sun looked to be to the combatants fighting, the swaying of the trees and the fragments of stone dislodged during the battle...all of it remains as it did on that day, forever unchanging."

"Until we break the seal," Glenn added. "Once that is done everything here will return to normal."

"Yes, which is also why we must move quickly when the seal is undone," Eisenzahn stated. "Not only will we be at risk as Stragus regains his power, but should his army catch wind of our plan they will move against us swiftly, and without mercy."

Glenn finished taking in the dreary sight of the old city and turned to walk towards the weakened dragon that had carried him there, but stopped in his tracks when he felt something. He couldn't quite describe it, but it felt familiar.

"I see you've caught wind of their presence, Glenn," the dragon commented. "It is as I suspected. Anye and Amadi have found their own ways here."

The act of detecting someone through magic was an ability Glenn had never practiced, so the thought of having done so was striking. There wasn't much time to discuss it, though. "Do you think it was that magic you felt earlier that brought them here?"

"Perhaps, but I cannot be certain. All portals leading here were supposed to have been destroyed to prevent any who wished to revive Stragus from doing so," Eisenzahn answered. "It appears there were some that were not. But there will be time to dwell on this later...I fear for their safety."

"Could Stragus be on to them? Is it possible he's freed himself?"

"No, if he were able to move freely and openly command the strength he once did, then we would not be here," the dragon explained grimly. "I suspect there are those whose minds have become twisted by his dark influence, among them being your nemesis."

"Amador...I wondered where he was hiding," Glenn commented through gritted teeth.

"Indeed. Though how he, and those with him, came to be here is unknown to me. If Anye and Amadi used a portal to come here, then it is possible others still exist elsewhere."

"If Amador is here, then Kiya is probably with him..." Glenn trailed off, nearly losing himself in angry thoughts of revenge. "Like you said, there will be time to dwell on how they came to be here later. We should move quickly."

### ______

The drab streets and buildings of Del'Mond accentuated the eeriness of the lifeless figures of men and creatures that filled the city. Forever locked in combat, they looked like garden statues, telling a sad tale of war and loss. As Glenn and the dragon walked through the streets looking for their targets, the quiet did nothing to ease their nerves. If Amador and Kiya were near, they were keeping completely silent.

A slight wind picked up around them without warning, and Glenn stopped in his tracks. The wind held the essence of malice and hatred, filling him with fear. "What is this?"

"Who are you?" an elderly sounding voice asked, carried on the malicious wind. "How have you come to be here?"

Glenn drew Darius forth and held him forward as he looked around for the source of the voice. "Show yourself!" he commanded.

The voice on the wind let out a gasp and replied. "Ah, I see...the third key has arrived...."

"Master, be on your guard!" Darius exclaimed.

"Darius, what is happening?"

The evil wind picked up around Glenn, kicking up the grey dust of the ground as the elderly voice moaned before slowly laughing. "At long last...the time has finally come for this infernal seal to be broken, and you, child of the Sturmwind bloodline, shall assist me in this," the voice calmly said.

"Darius..."

"Master, you must find the others quickly! Stragus has blocked my ability to locate Alistair and Legeia in this place," the lance explained.

"Eisenzahn? Where is that voice coming from?"

"Everywhere and nowhere," the dragon answered. "You are speaking with the consciousness of Stragus Markal."

"What!?"

"Master!"

Glenn felt it without a moment to spare. He turned and held the lance before him to block a jumping assault by Amador, who bounced back and landed away from him and Eisenzahn. A mad grin was on his face and his skin was slightly discolored, an effect Glenn recognized that struck him with terror; ethereal corruption.

"Greetings, Captain. Welcome to the Holy City," Amador greeted calmly with a slightly disturbing bow. "We've been expecting you for some time."

"Amador, you've gone completely mad," Glenn replied coldly. "And your skin...you've allowed yourself to become twisted by magic."

"You may view it as something to be feared, Sturmwind, but I welcome it!" Amador yelled. "You have no idea the power that now courses through my veins."

"A power that will destroy you," Glenn added. He paused while he stared at his adversary, realizing that he was alone. "Where is Kiya?"

Amador grinned wider and laughed lightly. "Kiya is entertaining Lady Everdyne."

Glenn gripped Darius' handle tighter in reaction. "What!?"

"Oh don't worry. I'm sure she's keeping her quite entertained."

"Glenn, do not let him goad you," Eisenzahn interrupted. "He wants us to be off our guard and lose focus."

"Ah, yes, the great dragon king, Eisenzahn..." Stragus' voice said through the quiet wind. "It has been too long...old friend..."

"Don't worry, I've brought Oscar along to keep your little pet occupied," Amador taunted. He turned his head upward towards the grey sky and raised a single arm. "Time to come out and play!"

Glenn watched as a portal, same as the one he himself had used many times before, formed above their heads. A seal formed in front of it that shattered as Amador's black scaled dragon flew through and landed next to him with a loud thud.

"I think it's time to put you down once and for all like a pathetic, sickly dog," Glenn stated angrily.

Amador's menacing smile and laughter slowly faded as he calmed himself down and pointed his weapon the same way Glenn was holding Darius.

"Amador...finish off the boy and the pest...and bring the weapon to me..." Stragus commanded.

"Yes, Master Stragus," Amador answered.

Eisenzahn growled as he prepared to fight. Glenn worried for him, being as exhausted as he was, but the dragon had proven himself to be resilient. He needed to focus on Amador. His doubts crept back into his mind, but he couldn't let them be his focus.

"Die, Sturmwind!"

In a blink of an instant the battle began. Both Glenn and Amador jumped towards each other to meet in the air while the dragons spread their wings to begin their own duel. Glenn struck first, knocking Amador hard to the ground below him.

Amador recovered quickly as the pair landed and began a fast-swung assault on the ground. The clanging of their weapons caused sparks to form in the air and fall to the ground like small fireworks. Eisenzahn and Oscar battled overhead, roaring at each other while streams of fire spewed from their gaping jaws.

"What's the matter, Sturmwind? I thought you were going to put me down," Amador taunted while they dueled.

Glenn ignored the comment and continued to fight. They had both grown faster, stronger, and remained relatively even in skill it seemed. Every swing one made was met by the other, deflecting attacks and driving the aggressor back.

"You're a fool, Amador!" Glenn finally spat out when their weapons met, and held their positions. They pushed hard against one another, attempting to force them to the ground. "Stragus is using you! He's going to kill us all and destroy everything!"

"You're wrong!" Amador yelled back. "Master Stragus is going to make me a king, and grant me dominion over the land. I'll have power, riches, slaves, and women! I'll protect Delrich, and I'll have everything I could ever want!" He laughed, sounding as if his sanity was being lost. "Maybe, if she survives, I'll even take your precious Anye for myself!"

Glenn was fueled with rage and pushed as hard as he could. Amador fell back and rolled to his feet before Glenn could follow and rushed back up to him. The battle continued, but no matter how hard he tried Amador kept standing.

"You bastard, I'm going to kill you!" Glenn shouted in his rage, but his anger clouded his focus, leaving an opportunity for Amador to strike.

A kick to the center of Glenn's chest, fueled by the unnatural powers granted to Amador, pushed him hard into the side of a building. The impact was great enough to move him through the stone frame itself. The surrounding rocks gave way, being pulled by his momentum and slightly burying him, but they held little power over him. Glenn's temper boiled over and he lost himself to complete rage, and he pushed with both of his arms. His back began to ache and his muscled started to burn, but he needed to keep fighting.

Amador pushed forward, halting the advance towards his prey. His face gave away the shock at his opponent's ability to withstand the force of his attack. The momentary pause allowed Glenn to move in close and catch him off guard and resume his battle. Amador fought back, but the unexpected nature of the counter kept him off balance, and Glenn gained the upper hand.

"You are going to die, Amador! I don't need to hold back against you anymore! I don't need to keep my anger under control! You're going to pay for every single insult you've ever made against me or my friends! You're going to pay for the lives that have been lost because of your negligence! You're going to die for the murder of my brother!" Glenn blurted out.

The assault stopped when Glenn had to jump away from Amador to avoid being caught in a ball of dragon fire from above. Oscar came down and landed beside Amador, growling angrily at Glenn. Eisenzahn was nowhere to be seen.

"It appears your fortune has waned. Your pet has met its end, Sturmwind," Amador commented through hard breathing. "And now it's your turn!"

Amador and Oscar rushed towards Glenn simultaneously. Glenn jumped away in an attempt to retreat but Amador followed. The pair ricocheted off of the buildings going down a long road, clashing their weapons at the apex of each jump while Oscar followed from above in an attempt to strike Glenn down with its fire. Eventually having to defend himself on two fronts got the better of him, and Glenn was knocked to the ground, landing with a loud thump and a long skid.

Amador landed beside him and looked over at his fallen prey, preparing to deal the killing blow. His smile was maddening, as was the look in his pale green eyes. His focus fixated, which kept him from seeing the purple dragon approach before striking him with his clawed feet.

Eisenzahn landed beside Glenn as he climbed back to his feet and roared loudly. Amador slowly stood up as well, but kept a hand over the side of his gut and winced in pain. Oscar landed beside him, but crumbled to the ground as well, apparently having been beaten by Eisenzahn when neither of the men had taken notice.

Glenn didn't say another word, he merely yelled, mimicking Eisenzahn's roar. He rushed towards Amador and jumped to the air using all of the magic he could muster. He flew, coming down upon him hard, ready to finish him off and end their life-long rivalry once and for all.

But Amador wasn't ready for it to end. A sudden surge of magic burst forth from within his body and he caught Darius' blade with a single hand. His eyes darkened in color and his body pulsed with energy. Glenn stared, filled with shock and terror at his adversary's newfound power. The surprise prevented him from reacting in time as Amador released the lance from his grip, and he punched Glenn hard in the face, forcing him sliding back beside Eisenzahn.

"What...what just happened?" Glenn said as he coughed through the dust in the air.

Eisenzahn was breathing heavily and bleeding from various cuts he'd suffered during his own battle, but still managed to give Glenn an answer. "Stragus...has twisted his mind and body, granting him unforeseen strength..."

Glenn stood, though burning in his muscles intensified from the strain of the long battle. His anger still fueled him, but was slowly being replaced with the fear that he was going to fail again. Amador had gained the upper hand. Glenn was running out of options and had become severely outmatched.

"What about the Spirit Link?" Glenn asked.

"Your body is too broken from the battle to withstand the power of the union," Eisenzahn answered dejectedly. "I fear victory in doing so would cost your life."

"But what choice do we have?" Glenn asked. He kept his gaze fixed on Amador who continued to simply stand and stare at the beaten and bloodied foes before him.

"We must fight him as we are," the dragon answered. "Prepare yourself!"

Amador grew tired of waiting for Glenn to make the next move and attacked swiftly. He moved against his adversaries faster than before, as if the constant fighting hadn't drained him at all. Eisenzahn took to the sky to circle around and try to provide Glenn with assistance.

"How do you like me now?" Amador asked as he continued to attack. "Now you get to see how powerful I really am!"

Glenn held off the attacks as Eisenzahn swooped in from behind, jumping into the air just as the dragon was about to make contact. From the air he witnessed, in horror, as Amador kicked the dragon's head hard, forcing him into the ground. When he began his descent and lowered his lance, he was met with a fierce swipe and pushed aside.

He managed to land on his feet but Amador was on them again quickly, swinging madly until he broke through Glenn's defenses. Eisenzahn attempted to aid Glenn once more, but was met with an earth shattering strike with the blunt side of Amador's blade. His focus returned to Glenn, beating him repeatedly with the body of the lance until he backed away and slightly leapt into the air as he approached rapidly. His body shifted horizontally and stiffened, with the bottoms of his boots impacting Glenn's chest. The force of the kick knocked the air out of his lungs and into the side of another building. Pain shot through Glenn's body as he gasped, and fell to the ground.

The sounds of the battlefield faded. The bellowing roar of Eisenzahn standing above him became a mere echo as complete silence washed over him. Glenn pushed himself too hard. He couldn't muster the strength to fight, let alone stand, any longer. He had failed in his mission, in his duty, in his promise to Anye. Tears formed in his eye, clouding his vision with grief. Eisenzahn was wounded and weak while Amador was powerful. He closed his eye, knowing that this was the end and that his fears had come true.

"Giving up? That doesn't sound like the Glenn I know," an echoing voice said to him. "You've never given up, especially when fighting him."

Glenn opened his eye to find himself standing in a small meadow filled with flowers. There was nothing else surrounding him except a colorless white abyss. He panicked, not knowing where he was or what had just happened. Eisenzahn was nowhere to be seen and Darius was no longer in his hands.

"Relax, Glenn," the voice said. "You've nothing to fear here."

He turned quickly, tracing the origin of the voice. Standing before him were four people; two fully grown men, a woman with long blonde hair, and a young boy. He recognized them immediately as his family and friend.

"Leonard?" Glenn asked skeptically. "What is this!? Where are you, Amador!?"

"Don't be stupid," Leonard answered. He looked as young as he did the day he was killed in Hammerdrop, no worse for wear. "Amador isn't in here, only those you want to see are."

"Then where am I?" Glenn asked, still skeptical of what he was experiencing. A thought bounced in his mind that he had perished, considering what was occurring a mere moment before. "What is this place? Mother...Father...how are you all here?"

"We live on in your heart, Son," Glenn's father replied. "Even Anye is here with you."

"Anye?"

The group separated slowly to reveal Anye, standing in the middle of the group. She wasn't wearing the armor she'd acquired from the tower though, but rather a gown Glenn hadn't seen her wear in years. A simple one, embroidered with a flowery design that hugged her body. The lack of color accentuated her hair and eyes. She looked stunning.

"I'm unconscious..." Glenn said with realization. "This is a dream."

"Strictly speaking, yes," Leonard said. "But that doesn't make us any less real to you."

Glenn retorted. "You can't help me any more than this...dream is helping me. Amador has become too strong. I underestimated him, and now I'm going to pay the price."

"Are you?" Leonard replied. "Why do you think you're here, instead of out there?"

"I don't know," Glenn answered. "What is this place?"

"A culmination of your life's experiences; a melting pot of your memories," Leonard explained as he walked through Glenn, as if he were merely an apparition. "You've doubted yourself too often as of late."

"And with good reason," Glenn said quickly. "Never before has he been able to pose such a threat, and I've not been able to put a stop to it."

"You had a chance, but you let it slip away."

"And what would the cost of seizing that opportunity have been? Anye's life?" Glenn inquired angrily. "I could not do that. I had to let him get away for her sake!"

"And yet here you are," Leonard stated. "Glenn, you've not been confident in your ability to defeat him since he took your eye."

Glenn remained still, looking at the backside of his friend but not really focusing on it. He was right of course, in his assessment. Glenn had doubted himself for some time, and it hadn't helped his ability. Fear gripped his heart with each encounter while Amador exuded nothing but the greatest of confidences. It was what gave him his newfound ability above anything Stragus could provide.

"Stop moping already," Leonard commented as he turned around to face Glenn again. "I'm not here to pour salt on your wounds."

"Then why are you here?"

"To remind you of whom you are and what you're capable of."

The white abyss filled rapidly with color. The sky above became an intricate mix of night and day, and the areas surrounding him became visages of locations Glenn had been before; the tavern in Delrich, Toran during the war, and the North Tower. They appeared as if on a stage behind glass, with actors on stage. Glenn could see himself on all of them, as Leonard, Anye, and Amador in their appropriate locations.

"What is this?" he asked.

"A reminder. Do you remember the tavern?"

"Of course I do. Anye and I would still frequent it," Glenn answered as he stared at the scene. "Rose always knows what to bring us without even asking, just like when we were young."

As he finished his statement the doors of the establishment swung open and a crowd poured out, forming a ring. Two young men armed with lances and shields stepped into the center, angrily staring at one another.

Glenn looked towards Leonard questioningly. "Why are you showing me this? What relevance does this have?"

The two youths began to duel. Their skills were admirable given their age, but still amateurish. Their uniforms denoted that they were members of Delrich's military, and their skill suggested low rank. They each fought with heart and determination, something Glenn admired.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize them," Leonard joked. "Pay attention, this is important."

Glenn continued to watch the fight. There was no sound coming from the scene, but he could hear the cheers of the crowd and the clanging of steel nonetheless. One of the battlers had his shield dislodged, giving the other a distinct advantage. But the youth, strong willed as he appeared, didn't give up. He fought with everything he had against his opponent, surprising him with his resourcefulness and crude implementation of Glenn's techniques. The shield-less young man proved to be the victor of the bout shortly after that, kneeling over his fallen foe with the point of his spear aimed at his throat.

Glenn stared, mouth agape with realization. He looked to Leonard, who simply stood with his arms crossed and a grin on his face. "That was me..." he quietly stated. "That was the night I first fought without a shield."

"Indeed it was."

"I should have killed him then and there," Glenn stated coldly.

"That would have accomplished nothing and you know it," Leonard answered. "Why do you think you saw that memory?"

"I haven't the foggiest," Glenn answered. "To remind myself of all the times I could have put an end to his life but didn't?"

"To remind you of your resourcefulness," Leonard answered. "You were faced with such a disadvantage that Amador's victory was all but assured. Yet against the odds you were victorious, and with witnesses to prove it."

"That was many years ago, Leonard," Glenn commented. "No matter what happened in the past, my failure today is what will cost those who remain at home their lives, or worse."

"Then let us look to our next scene."

Glenn shifted his pose to look at the icy landscape of Toran. The field was significantly dirtier than when he traveled through last, with broken remains weapons and armor lying about. The camp he and Leonard reported to under Commander Stark was still secure, indicating it was before the surprise attack.

"Why is this memory relevant?" Glenn asked. "It was during the war, and I remember all of it well."

"As I would expect you to," Leonard said. "Let's move forward then."

The scene warped and shifted, changing the viewpoint to within the camp itself. The tents were on fire and men clad in jet black cloth and armor were laying waste to Delrich's forces. Glenn saw himself, armed with only his lance, fighting off attacker after attacker with Commander Stark. There was blood and carnage all around, but the two heroes of Delrich fought valiantly, managing to stave off the attack.

"Do you see how you fight?" Leonard asked. "Do you see that in your eyes?"

"I see a frightened boy," Glenn answered coldly.

"Fear is it?" Leonard asked. "True, fear was there, but if that were all you wouldn't be standing there. No, there's something else."

"And what else is there which keeps you alive in war?" Glenn asked.

"Look at your face, Glenn," Leonard persisted. "Though fear may be present, there was something else which you drew upon to keep you. It was the same thing that kept me alive all those years and what has helped you until now."

"And what would that be?"

"Determination."

"What?"

"You refused to admit defeat, even when faced with an enemy as cunning as that," Leonard explained. "I can scarce believe that you require explanation...You were always determined to see your task through to the very end, no matter what. If that meant cutting down a hundred enemy soldiers, that's what you did. If it meant petitioning with the king then that was what you did."

Glenn looked towards the third scene; the tower. Specifically, the scene had warped from showing the outside of the tower to the moment before Glenn took Darius from the statue. He watched silently as his image gripped the weapon. Just as he remembered, the magic funneled through him into the weapon, creating a whirlwind until the transformation was complete, and he was standing in the armor presently adorning his body. There was still no sound, but there didn't need to be. He could hear everything clearly with his memory alone.

"And what of this final lesson, Ghost?" Glenn asked in a snide tone. "I remember this clearly, it was but a moon ago."

"Your trial, yes," Leonard stated. "This trial, given to you by the spirit of the lance, required only one thing. Do you remember what that was?"

"Of course," Glenn replied. "I was to leap from the tower onto my enemies and crush them with its might."

"And what would you refer to that as?"

Glenn remained silent as he contemplated the question. The scene playing out froze before him as Glenn's image stood on the frozen ledge, looking down at the snow below. It was a suicidal drop. He had never attempted a fall of such distance before, but the spirit was persisted. His only other way out of the tower was sealed, and Eisenzahn would have either refused or been unable to aid him. He had to leap, it was the only way. And he had to have faith in his ability to survive the feat.

"Exactly," Leonard added before Glenn could utter a word.

The scene played out, and Glenn's past image leapt from the tower, landing on the snow below in a brilliant display of power and skill.

"You've lost faith in yourself, Glenn," Leonard continued. "You know you can win. You know you are able to defeat him, but doubt has clouded your judgment."

"And that doubt has led to my death," Glenn stated with a heavy heart as the scenes around him faded away, returning to the white abyss.

"You still don't get it, do you?" Leonard commented with a laugh. "You're not dead yet. There are those in your life that will do anything to protect you. I would have done the same, Anye fights to do the same, and Eisenzahn especially still fights on even though he is wounded and weak."

"But what more can I do?" Glenn asked pleadingly, sounding defeated. "No matter how resourceful, determined, or faithful I am, he's too powerful..."

"And what does power do to us?" Glenn's mother asked sternly. "Power, when granted to those who do not deserve it, corrupts. Amador cannot control the power he wields forever."

"Glenn, listen to me," Anye's image said. She walked up to him slowly, the gaze of her green eyes piercing into his very soul. "You made me a promise. I love you more than anything, and couldn't bear to go on without you. I already lost Leonard. I can't lose you too. You need to stop doubting yourself," she continued. "You have the strength to fight on. You simply need to use it."

The Spirit Link; It had to be what she was referring to, but the risk of such a thing in his current state was great. "But...if it destroys me it will have been for nothing," Glenn replied as he took Anye's hands into his own.

"But if you do not you guarantee our destruction. You need to believe in yourself, Glenn."

He looked into her eyes and then back to Leonard, and the images of his family. They were all staring at him intently, including his older brother. They had stayed with him in his heart since their passing, giving him reason. That reason was what fueled the traits Leonard was trying to show him, and it continued to do so, even at the moment of his defeat. He had to fight on for their sake. Giving up would have meant their deaths were in vain, and would ensure the death of the one he loved. He couldn't let that happen.

His confidence was renewed. "Thank you," he said quietly as he closed his eye. The dreamscape faded and the sounds of the roaring dragon above him returned.

The pain of the battle returned to his body, but Glenn had his conviction once more. He would defeat Amador because he had to. There was no other choice. He remained on the ground, broken as he was, but he found the strength to summon the magic needed to perform the Spirit Link.

"Glenn, what are you doing!?" the dragon exclaimed. "The power will destroy you!"

"We...have no choice," Glenn grunted. "Have faith, my friend. We must do this...or everything will be forfeit."

The energy continued to gather between the two bodies quickly. The rush of power soon swelled within Glenn as Eisenzahn's body began to fade from the effects of the link, literally becoming the strength he would wield as the two entities became one. The dragon eventually conceded regardless of his protest, knowing that Glenn spoke the truth. Amador stopped his incessant laughing and looked on in surprise and fear as the transformation completed.

Magic exploded in a brilliant display of bright energy from Glenn's body. His eye gave off a slight blue aura, as did the rest of his body. Two wings, formed of pure ethereal energy, sprouted from his back, pulsing with the beat of his heart. He stood amidst the crumbled stone that had fallen around him and stared angrily at his opponent.

"What is this!?" Amador shouted in his new menacing voice. "What did you do!? Where is that dragon!?"

"You will die here, Amador Astley, and pay for the crimes you've committed against our people!" Glenn shouted as he ran towards Amador. The magic wings on his back pushed him faster than a normal man could run, and he was on his opponent in an instant.

Amador struggled to defend himself even with his malevolent power, fumbling backwards and losing his footing. A look of pain engulfed his face as Glenn managed to strike his body, using Darius like a staff to beat the man before being thrown.

He used his wings to jump high into the air. Amador looked up and raised his lance across his body to fend off the downward slice of Glenn's attack. He struck with the force of a dragon. Darius smashed through the body of Amador's lance, cleaving it in two and cutting down the side of his face and front of his armor. The vile man shouted in pain, but Glenn wasn't finished with him.

Turning on his heel, Glenn used the bottom end of Darius to smack Amador across the head before kicking him away with a single foot. Without hesitation, he turned more to face Amador again and jumped forward, propelling himself with his wings again. Darius was held forward as Glenn positioned his body to land. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

Darius' tip broke through the plate on Amador's chest, plunging through his heart and out of his back. The side blades pierced through the weakened armor. Glenn's momentum forced Amador to the ground, skidding backwards leaving a trail of blood to contrast the drab grey landscape. Glenn kneeled on top of him, keeping the lance firmly in Amador's chest.

The dark power that resonated within the twisted man faded away. His eyes returned to normal as he coughed violently. Blood spattered from his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His eyes, panic filled as they were, focused on Glenn. Even in death they were filled with malice towards the man who had been there to beat him since they'd met.

"Go to the Abyss, traitor," Glenn said to him sternly. "Find peace. There is none for you here."

Amador continued to stare angrily at Glenn, lifting his arms in a vain attempt to fight him off again, but his strength failed as Glenn pushed the lance harder into his chest. His arm fell and his body ceased to tremble. But he was not dead. He grinned, laughing as he looked at Glenn's face.

"You think you've won...but this is just the beginning, Sturmwind," Amador stated through a wispy voice. "You've doomed them all."

The wind picked up around the pair as Glenn continued to stare down at his adversary. Black mist circled around them. The mist engulfed them, blocking Glenn's vision. As the mist faded and Glenn was able to see again, Amador's body was gone.

The power of the Spirit Link faded as Glenn released it, returning Eisenzahn to physical form beside him. He lifted Darius with a single arm as he planted his free fist into the ground to support his weight. He felt beyond exhausted, and Amador's survival against all odds infuriated him. But at least he wouldn't be fighting anytime soon.

"We failed..." Glenn panted. "He still lives...the bastard still lives, Eisenzahn,"

"That may be, but he requires time to heal," Eisenzahn sighed as he looked towards the massive tower in the center of the city. "There is still something that must be done, and now Amador will not be able to get in our way."

Glenn looked over towards the ominous tower as well, knowing full well what Eisenzahn was referring to. He feared for Anye and Amadi, worrying over what they had to face within the dead city. Kiya was powerful, and Stragus had undoubtedly granted her more strength as he did for Amador. He had to believe his companions were safe though, and that he would meet them in the structure.

### ______

Glenn walked through the grim city's streets after he and Eisenzahn rested for a time. They'd needed to regain their spent energy before facing the real threat presented to them. His muscles ached after having gone through such extreme strains, but his body still held together with the aid of Eisenzahn's healing breath.

The dragon walked with him, reserving his stamina for when he would need it. Amador's black dragon, Oscar, had proven to be a more formidable opponent than anticipated. It was possible, and likely, that the dragon had been granted increased power by Stragus as well. Eisenzahn admitted the possibility of another reason, something regarding draconic legend, but refused to go into detail. The likelihood of such of thing was extremely remote, so Glenn didn't press the matter.

Those that remained frozen in time littered the streets of the old city, growing in number as they made their way closer to the tower. It was where Stragus had apparently made his stand.

"What was this place? The building, I mean," Glenn asked as they approached the ivory stairs. "It doesn't look like anything I've ever seen."

"The grand temple of Del'Mond...home of the high priests and the council of elders. At the time it was the focal point of the world's magic," Darius answered. "The tower was built to represent the great tree of Del'Mond's sigil."

"What is this tree, anyway? I've been meaning to ask," Glenn replied.

"Long before Del'Mond became the thriving metropolis you see before you, it was but a simple religious sanctuary. The tree represents one that was found here and enshrined when the sanctuary was built."

"What was so important about it to make a symbol of it?"

"The tree was resilient to all forms of aggression, according to legend," Eisenzahn said. "No amount of magic, steel, or natural chance could damage it or make it whither and wilt. It was said to be the physical location the gods chose to begin life in our world, with the tree acting as the source."

"As the tree grew so too did the temple, but...eventually the tree was lost," Darius sad sadly.

"Lost? How?" Glenn inquired.

"Stragus was not the first malevolent force which sought destruction, nor will he be the last," Darius answered coldly. "One such entity was responsible for many atrocities long since forgotten."

Glenn remained silent. The conversation had apparently angered the spirit, dredging up old memories of a time in the distant past. He would have thought more about it had he not felt a pulse of sorts emanating from within the temple. Both he and Eisenzahn stopped in their tracks and turned their gazes upward.

"That pulse...I have a bad feeling about this," Glenn stated.

"I cannot accompany you within the temple, Glenn. You must be on your guard," Eisenzahn commented. "I will keep watch for any others that serve Stragus from here."

Glenn nodded in agreement and moved up the wide stairs leading into the temple. The gigantic, cube-shaped structure was devoid of any kind of markings on the outside, but had visible signs of age. The interior of the building was another story.

The room Glenn entered appeared to be set up like a chapel or gathering room of some sort. Pews were lined up along a long carpeted walkway embroidered with Del'Mond's seal, which led up to a statue of two people, limbs intertwined, and in robes. The visage was an early representation of the gods, something Glenn had learned about as a child. He hadn't ever actually seen a temple that used such imagery though, as the modern pantheon of deities had replaced the original two. The room was empty, and so Glenn pressed on into the back of the room, entering a chamber that looked to have been used by priests to prepare for sermons. A stairway led up from the small room, and so Glenn climbed.

The silence was eerie. Only the sounds of Glenn's breathing and his walking echoed in the empty halls of the temple. Unlike the worship chamber, the second floor of the temple seemed to have been organized for living purposes, furnished with beds and windows. People cowering in fear in the corners of the bedchamber remained, sending chills down Glenn's spine. He moved on, finding another staircase leading upward.

Each successive floor seemed to serve a different purpose. He'd found an apothecary, kitchen, and libraries as he climbed all filled with the terrified citizens of the ancient city. The pulse came again, stopping Glenn in his tracks. He listened closely, hearing the faint sound of feet shuffling from nearby. There was a door at the end of the spiraling stairs. Glenn could hear the noises getting nearer. He proceeded cautiously, slowing his breathing and stepping lightly.

The magic within the tower became more concentrated the higher he climbed. After having gone through using the Spirit Link he was drained, but also numb to the dizzying effects of the energy. The stairs continued on. Glenn wasn't sure how far he'd gone. The tower was tall and he had moved more towards the center of the structure. There was no way he hadn't reached the spire he'd spotted from above.

There was another door. The sounds of movement were close. Glenn gripped Darius tightly and slowly moved towards the door, preparing for anything. He opened it without a sound. The room was decorated like the bedchamber of a king. Murals and paintings lined the walls in between majestic drapes and tapestries, and small tables held masterfully painted vases filled with exotic flowers of assumed beauty. In the center of the room stood an altar housing an enormous gemstone that gave off a faint light, even in its timeless state. The altar was surrounded by three people, frozen by the seal. But instead of fleeing or cowering like the others he had found within the temple, the three there appeared to be focused on the stone, as if performing a ritual.

The one closest to Glenn was a woman with thick braided hair, wearing robes matching the common design used by mages the world over. She stood facing the gemstone with a single arm extended forward. Her hand was positioned in a way that implied she was supposed to be holding something.

The second person, standing opposite of the woman, was a man. He was tall and slender with long silvery-looking hair. His armor matched what Anye had been given when she claimed Alistair in every detail Glenn could make out. He stood facing the stone combatively, and looked as if he was also supposed to be holding objects in his hands, though whatever they were had been removed.

The third was also a man, muscular but slightly shorter than the tall slender one. His hair was short and dark, and his armor was a complete match to the set Glenn had been given in the northern tower. His face was towards Glenn, and it showed a deep sadness. He stood similarly to the slender individual, though his arms' positioning suggested that the object he was supposed to be holding was significantly larger than that of the other's.

Amidst the frozen group walked a shadowy figure roughly the size of a human. It moved slowly towards the large gemstone. Its hand appeared to hold a weapon conjured out of foul magic, and each footstep it made matched the shuffling sounds Glenn had been hearing. He gripped Darius tightly and prepared to rush the creature.

The shadow's back turned and Glenn took his opportunity.

"Master, stop!" Darius yelled, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Glenn yelled, hoping to stun the creature with the sudden noise. He swung his lance at the monster but the attack was futile. Its black shield fended him away and pushed, forcing him back towards the door he entered from. The shadow followed but stopped before attacking when another pulse washed over them. A second shadow had appeared and thrown a dark ball of magic towards him, but its aim was off and it flew towards the first shadow.

Glenn used the distraction to move forward and kick the first away. The second attempted to attack Glenn again, but its aim remained poor and the volley flew towards the first once more. To his surprise, Darius acted on his own will and released a sizeable amount of energy which flew towards the ranged assailant. Unfortunately, while the monster's aim was poor it was fast and deflected the lance's unexpected attack.

"Darius, what in the world was that!?" Glenn shouted.

"Master, these are not-"

The second shadow began to run towards its ally, and Glenn followed before Darius could finish speaking. He knew he wouldn't be able to fend off both attackers if one of them was assaulting him from a distance, so fighting close-quarters was his best bet. The lance continued to try and gain his attention but he didn't have any to spare. His focus had to remain on the battle.

The pair of shadows fought strangely though. They moved as if they were fighting each other as well as Glenn, which caused a few missteps in his combat movements. The missteps provided an opening in his defenses, one which the first, with the black sword, tried to take advantage of. The creature swung down. Glenn dodged and the blackness struck the gemstone on the pedestal next to them.

The impact of the weapon caused a reaction in the stone. The soft pale glow grew radiated from the center, covering Glenn and the two shades in bright, colorful light. The darkness surrounding the shadows shattered, revealing Anye and Amadi in their place. The looks on their faces suggested they were in just as much shock as Glenn was at seeing them.

"Glenn!? Amadi!?" Anye shouted angrily and confusedly.

Amadi shifted his gaze. "Anye? What's going on? Why did you both appear as shadows?" he asked.

"If you would have listened to me you wouldn't have been at each other's throats! I don't know why I even bother. Humans never change," Alistair commented snidely.

"Indeed..." Darius added.

Glenn felt as if disapproving eyes were glaring down at him. The only thing missing from the moment was the waving finger from an angry instructor. "What do you mean?" he asked, hoping to bypass the eventual nagging.

"The shadow forms you all saw were an illusion generated by Stragus' influence. The same trick was used against us when we attempted to defeat him before," Darius explained.

Glenn felt ashamed for having ignored the council of the spirit. He should have known better, especially after having gone through such extremes just to be alive at the moment. He didn't have a lot of energy to spare and badly needed rest. Ignoring Darius could have been fatal, and he had done just that.

"Regardless, we are at the place where the seal can be broken," Legeia interrupted.

"Yes, just as it was cast centuries before," Darius said. "How poetic..."

Amadi faced Glenn and Anye, and held Legeia upright. "What do we need to do?"

"The color that radiated from the Fularium Crystal was time being allowed to return to Del'Mond," Alistair explained. "We are the keys to unlocking this place from its prison. Touch us to the stone as they, your ancestors, did to reverse the effect."

Glenn looked at the frozen individuals with shock in his eyes. When he looked upon them before, he'd assumed they were merely guardians of the temple, custodians to the stone in the altar. The fact that the stone itself was pure fularium was surprise enough as Glenn had only ever seen the substance on the three weapons.

Anye looked to be just as shocked, and looked at the statues with an equal amount of reverence. "You mean..." she started to say as she lost her breath.

Glenn could tell that Darius knew what he was thinking and answered his question before he could repeat Anye.

"Yes," the lance's spirit answered. "The three people you see here are indeed Doluka Sturmwind, Armonde Schultz, and Bethany Lightstone. Preserved as they have been since the day they helped cast the spell that saved our world."

"While we appreciate your acknowledgement of your forefathers and foremother, we must hurry," Legeia insisted, breaking the moment of admiration. "Every moment we waste allows Stragus to gather more power. You must break the spell and stop him before he is strong enough to defeat you!"

Glenn knew all too well what Legeia was referring to, having spoken with Stragus in some manner earlier. He looked to Anye and Amadi, nodding his head in agreement that they should hurry. There would be time later to relax and learn more about the three legendary figures.

The trio separated themselves, placing their bodies in between their ancestors in a similar formation. Amadi took his position between Bethany and Doluka. Anye stood between Bethany and Armonde. And Glenn took the space between Armonde and Doluka. He felt anxious, wondering what exactly would happen next.

Each of them raised the ancient weapons high with a single arm simultaneously. While above them, the three spirits recited a chant.

"In accordance with the ancient pact..."

"The laws of both men and gods...

"And the vows we swore to keep...

"We return to that which has been locked away; the flow of time, and the freedom of life and death! Lehtierra tierromeh offloucca yeehrreh omoore!"

Darius silently ordered Glenn to lower him to the gemstone. Anye and Amadi did the same. When the weapons touched, a high pitched hum echoed from within. A bright light washed out over them, blinding them to the effects of the spell. Soon after, the light faded and revealed that color, sound, and life had returned to the ancient city.

The three heroes, no longer grey lifeless effigies, looked back at the trio that had traveled to the ancient land. Their faces were filled with shock, as if Glenn and his companions had appeared from nowhere before them and without warning. Their shock and wonderment soon shifted to anger when the echoes of the battle outside reached their ears. They backed themselves to the Fularium Stone and reached out their hands, each calling out the names of their respective weapons, but nothing happened.

The fear quickly returned to their faces, and they appeared to brace themselves for battle. "What is this!?" Doluka yelled, but not in Glenn's native language. He was speaking in one never heard before, yet was understood clearly. "Who are you!? What have you done with the Sentinel arms!?"

"Master Doluka, you must remain calm!" Darius yelled back in the same strange language. "This is not your enemy. He is one of the three from the prophecy. He is your heir, here to stop Stragus now that the seal has been broken. You must tell us where he fled to during the incantation!"

"My heir...?" Doluka repeated, staring at Glenn. The fear faded as he seemed to take in what it was Darius had asked of him, and he pointed upward towards the ceiling.

Anye yelped in pain from where she stood and gripped her head. Glenn looked over, assuming she had been struck out of fear from either Armonde or Bethany, but they both remained where they were, staring at her in confusion.

"Alistair, what was that all about!?" she yelled.

"You know the sword's name?" Armonde asked. "Who are you? Is what he claims true? You're the Sentinels of this era?"

Anye looked stunned. Her mouth moved as if to say something, but she was too quiet for Glenn to hear over the sound of maniacal laughter and stone rubbing as the ceiling rotated and recessed into the walls.

The floor shook and rose upward through the tower, throwing those standing off balance and down to the floor. Frigid air from outside rushed in. It came to rest at the top of the tower, revealing that the black clouds of the magic powered maelstrom had completely dissipated. Looking below, Glenn could faintly see the war raging on, but there was no sign of Eisenzahn. What's worse, a dark malevolent presence made itself known above their heads.

Floating high and looking down on the group was an old man, bald with age, with a wild grin on his face. He was dressed in robes of red and black trimmed in gold. "I must thank you, descendants of the three heroes, for breaking the spell that bound me for so long," he greeted. "Although, I must give credit to where it is due my dear friends, for your seal actually managed to hold me...mostly."

"Glenn, that is Stragus!" Darius exclaimed. "You must stop him before he becomes any more powerful!"

"We won't let you destroy everything!" Glenn shouted at him without hesitation. He gripped Darius tightly and leapt towards him without reserve. If he had any chance of stopping the ancient mage it was now.

But he was stopped mid-air, caught in an invisible snare being held by a single, loosely hanging arm of Stragus. His hand was clenched in a fist as if holding something tightly.

"Destroy everything?" Stragus inquired as he pulled Glenn closer to him. The magic bindings holding him tightened, squeezing the air out of his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe. "Is that what they told you? I suppose that would have been the end result of my actions..." Glenn was pulled closer to him, mere inches away from Stragus' face, allowing the man to examine his prey. You're Doluka's boy...aren't you?"

Glenn's fear of dying returned. Stragus was more powerful than he'd expected, than Darius or the others had expected. He was effortlessly holding Glenn mid air while keeping himself levitated, and could probably crush him if he wanted to, or worse.

Stragus' face turned away from Glenn and looked down at the remaining people below. He rotated Glenn's body around to look at his friends as well, as if taunting them with bait to try and rescue him. Anye called out his name, but he didn't have the breath to answer her.

"Yes...now I remember," Stragus said. "Glenn Sturmwind...Amador had much to say about you, boy, but even with all the power I gave him he was still no match for you." His gaze shifted downward and his face tensed as he shouted "Your plan was foolhardy, Sentinels!"

"You must stop this!" Doluka yelled back pleadingly. "All those who have wronged you are dead! Your goal has been fulfilled!"

"Fulfilled?" Stragus inquired as he threw Glenn back down to the temple's rooftop.

The impact sent pain through the shoulder he landed on through the rest of his body. He was able to breathe easily again, which was a relief, but against the immense power the old mage controlled he doubted it would help. Glenn and the others were hopelessly outmatched.

"You seem to have misunderstood my intentions, old friend. I did not want to simply kill those who wronged me. I wished to make them suffer, and make their children suffer! I wish to take from the world what the world took from me! And THAT is far from fulfilled,"

Amadi stepped forward and held Legeia upward. "You can't do this!" he shouted, and summoned a ball of fire from the stone in the staff's head, launching it upward towards the floating sorcerer.

Glenn's fear grew as he watched Amadi's attempt end in vain, as Stragus easily absorbed the boy's attack with a single open palm.

"Boy, you have no idea what I am capable of. Your pathetic attempt at magic is laughable, and you thought you could defeat me!?" Stragus commented darkly. His tone got louder again as his arms opened wide and began to yell down at the group again. "Your plan, instruments of a corrupted council, has failed you! While my body may have been frozen in your prison, my mind was free! I could see everything through the Fularium Crystal. You think my body being trapped made me weak...well, far from it. Control over magic comes from the mind, and my time spent here without interruption has only made me stronger!"

"No!" Bethany cried out. "Stragus you must stop this!"

"Be gone from my sight! Consider yourselves fortunate that you will not live to witness the horrors I shall unleash!" Stragus yelled back, with his voice full of rage. He swiped a single hand quickly across his body, summoning an icy wind that was strong enough to throw the six people from the roof of the temple.

Each of them fell, some yelling in fear of their own demise. Glenn remained calm though, knowing that he had a means to keep them from dying. He hadn't used the magic in quite a while, but doing so was still second nature to him. He summoned the power needed for the spell quickly regardless of his exhaustion. Anye yelled out his name, but he blocked out most of the noise surrounding him and closed his eye to concentrate.

The magic needed gathered and was ready. Glenn opened his eye wide as he expelled the energy, casting the incantation, and shouted out the dragon's name, "EI-SEN-ZAHN!"

The seal indicating that the summoning had succeeded appeared, and Eisenzahn burst through, flying up towards the group. Glenn didn't know where he'd gone before but he was there now and ready to catch the falling people.

But Eisenzahn didn't catch them. His eyes were glowing brightly, just as they were when he was removing the seals on the towers. He was chanting a spell in his native language as he flew. Glenn could feel his body warming as light started to glow around him. Anye and Amadi looked to the same, and when he felt his body being pulled away he knew what was happening; Eisenzahn was casting a spell on them to get them away from Del'Mond.

Amadi vanished first while Eisenzahn caught the three ancient figures. Anye opened her mouth to shout, probably to try and stop Eisenzahn from sending her away. Glenn's heart ached at seeing her in such despair and reached a hand out for her, hoping to catch her and go with her, but it was for naught. She disappeared soon after and, before disappearing himself, he watched as Eisenzahn flew away from the tower carrying his ancestor on his back.

The rush of the powerful magic was intense, more than Glenn's mind could handle in his current state. The world rushed away from him in a kaleidoscope of color and pictures, and without any further reason to keep fighting it, he let himself fall into unconsciousness.

* * *

# Epilogue

Glenn opened his eye and awoke to the frigidness of snow piling up near him. His body shivered from the cold and the shock prompted him to stand up almost immediately. The old cloak, still somehow tied to him, apparently did little to keep him warm as he slept. It didn't take long for him to recognize the uppermost room of the tower where he had claimed Darius, except the unmanned torches that once lit the room and kept it warm had long since gone cold, and the door leading to the exposed platform he had leapt down from remained open.

"Ah, you've awakened," Darius commented dejectedly while Glenn was looking around frantically.

The lance rested in a far side of the room flat against the floor. Glenn walked over to pick it up, assuming he had dropped it when he appeared. He remembered what had transpired instantly, and realized that their mission had failed. The dragon's presence was nowhere to be felt, which meant he couldn't be summoned like before. There were only two reasons why that could be; something was preventing Eisenzahn from using his magic, or he was dead.

"Darius, we failed," Glenn said quietly. "Stragus has returned, more powerful than during the war. I cannot feel Eisenzahn, and Anye and Amadi have been whisked away to gods know where..." His voice trembled, and his longing for Anye to be by his side grew tremendous. After everything he'd been through, and after finally having the courage to take her hand, she was ripped away from him.

"That may be, Master, but you mustn't give up hope," Darius answered.

"What hope is there to have?" Glenn asked as he slumped down against the cold stone wall.

"There is always hope," the lance answered sternly. "We trapped Stragus when there was naught but doom on the horizon. Many times before him, the people of this world nearly lost hope, but we have endured. This is no different."

Glenn stared blankly at the statue that once housed the armor he wore, taking in the lance's words. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Nearly a day, Master," Darius replied. "Your body and mind required much rest after having endured what you faced in Del'Mond."

"An entire day?" Glenn asked. "How do I not have frostbite then?"

"I may be housed in the body of this weapon, but that does not mean I am powerless outside of the hands of my wielder, Master," Darius stated. "I protected you from the elements while you rested. It was the least I could do, considering the circumstances."

"What of the others? Can you feel them?"

"Unfortunately no, I cannot, though I have tried," Darius said. "I can however tell you for certain that it is Stragus who is responsible for that.

"How can you know that for certain?"

"This tower is the closest to the location the holy city was moved to during the war. As such, over the centuries, I became quite used to feeling his presence even while trapped within the seal."

The lance's answer was surprising. He hadn't expected Darius to be so powerful given his inability to locate the other weapons prior. Still, he was alive and that had to account for something.

"Do you know what happened to Eisenzahn?" Glenn asked after taking a moment to contemplate. "I managed to see him fly off, carrying the others."

"I suspect he attempted to flee the city, Master, though I cannot be certain of his success. Stragus is quite powerful as I'm sure you're aware of now. But your bond with him would allow you to know for certain if he had truly passed from this world."

The words comforted Glenn slightly. Darius was correct; a void where the connection should be was different than if the dragon had been killed. He stood and moved through the wooden door of the room, walking down the stairs of the dark tower in silence all the way to the bottom. The massive doors of the entrance remained open, and snow had piled in high during the time after Glenn had left. He pulled his cloak around him to try and stay warm as he walked.

"So what do we do now?" he asked.

"Now?" Darius inquired, sounding shocked to have been asked such a question. "Now, Master, we go to war."

