

Chapter Eight

The Voice Of Olizma

The rain fell heavily onto the cold, hard ground. The sound of the leaves and trees being hit with each drop, rang through the forest like thunder. They had finally arrived at their destination. The forest trail ended at the site of a large stone wall, that ran deep into the forest at each end. In the middle of it, was a tall, steel gate.

'We stop here,' said Geraldo.

'What do you mean?' asked the queen. It was hard to hear anyone's voice over the heavy rainfall. 'We must pass through.'

'We will,' said Geraldo. 'In time.'

Daloa was confused.

'Wait here,' said the ranger, to the queen. 'My men and I must speak to the guards.'

He led his horse towards the front gates, with his men following closely behind him.

'What's going on?' asked Galla. She had her arms wrapped around Daloa's wet body. The two girls stayed behind on their horse and watched the riders approach the gates in the distance.

'They are going to get us through,' answered Daloa, reassuringly. 'We will be in the city soon enough.'

'I'm freezing,' said Galla, shaking. 'I can no longer feel my hands.'

They had been riding in the rain all through the night. Their clothes and hair were soaked and they had not slept for a very long time. Daloa could feel her forehead getting warm and she tried to put the thoughts of fever to the back of her strained mind.

'Just a little longer,' said Daloa. 'Soon we will be in a warm place, drying by a fire.'

'I hope so,' said Galla, digging her face into Daloa's back.

After a long while, Geraldo came riding over to the girls. He had a look of concern upon his face.

'What is it?' The queen asked him. 'Can we go through?'

'Well,' said Geraldo, slowly. 'There is no one there to let us in.'

'What?' asked the queen.

'It seems that the gates are unguarded,' said Geraldo. 'And of course they are locked. The best we can do is wait for someone to let us through.'

'We are freezing,' said Daloa, desperately. 'I don't know how much longer we can take this.'

'Just be happy you've made it this far,' said Geraldo. 'I recommend you find a tree that you can rest under and get out of this rain. It shouldn't be much longer. I'll come wake you when the gates have been opened.'

Daloa sighed and turned her horse around. She led it off the trail and stopped when she found a large tree with thick leaves. Climbing off, she grabbed Galla's hand and helped her down. The two girls sat with their wet backs against the trunk of the tree and huddled close to each-other to keep warm. Galla fell asleep in a matter of seconds. Daloa sat and watched the men gathered around the gate. She wondered how long it would be until they were let in.

As the queen sat there, with her back against the tree, her tired mind went around in circles. After a long while, she finally fell asleep with her hand clutched around the hilt of her sword.

'Daloa!' came a voice, suddenly. 'Wake up.'

The queen's eyes opened to find Geraldo standing in front of her. It felt as though no time had passed.

'What is it?' she asked, slowly.

'The gates have been opened,' he said. 'It is time.'

Daloa awoke Galla from her sleep. The two girls got onto their horse and followed Geraldo over to the gates.

'So we are being let through?' asked Daloa, curiously.

'Yes,' said Geraldo. His voice sounded unsure. 'The gates were attacked last night. Twelve of our guards had been murdered in the battle and I'm sure it had to do with the same men who attacked us on the road. It seems there are many who are trying to stop you from entering the city.'

'I don't understand,' said Daloa. 'How do they even know I am here?'

'There are ways of knowing,' said Geraldo, darkly. 'But better keep silent for now. We are getting close.'

Geraldo led the girls over to his men who were sitting on their horses by the closed gates.

'Have they opened them yet?' asked Daloa.

'Does it bloody well look like it?' asked a rider named Steevr.

Daloa turned her horse to face the man who had spoken.

'Don't speak to the queen like that!' said Galla.

'She's not my queen,' spat the rider. 'Just some whore from the land across the sea.'

'Steevr!' said Geraldo, aggressively. 'Follow your orders and remain silent.'

'My orders were to get this foreign bitch safely to the gates of the city,' said the rider. 'And we've lost good men doing so.'

'Quiet,' warned Geraldo.

'We were told to keep this young queen safe,' said a rider named Jork. 'But what about her little friend here? We weren't told anything about her.'

'That's true,' said another rider named Illn. 'We were told to keep the queen safe, but I say we have ourselves a little fun with the other one. She's pretty too.'

Daloa drew her sword.

'Touch her and die,' she threatened.

The men laughed.

'That's enough,' said Geraldo. 'Prince Fasmir made me in charge here. I order you all to keep quiet and leave the girls alone. They are for the king, not for you.'

'Come on, Geraldo' said Steevr. 'Where's your sense of fun? She's a pretty girl, we can each have a turn with her.'

'That's enough,' said Geraldo.

'I bet she wants it,' Steevr went on, looking at Galla. 'Don't you?'

The men continued laughing.

Geraldo now drew his sword.

'One more word,' he said to the man.

'What are you going to do?' laughed Steevr. 'Kill me over these two whores?'

'No,' said Geraldo. 'I'll kill you if you continue to disobey my orders.'

'I'm not doing anything,' said Steevr, turning his gaze from Galla to the queen. 'Not yet, anyway.'

Just then, the massive iron gates began to creak open.

Everyone turned to face them.

'About damn time,' said Steevr.

As the large iron gates opened, about fifty or so armed men upon horseback began to file out from behind the wall and form a circle around Geraldo, his men and the two girls.

Daloa didn't like being surrounded.

After a long while, the circle of surrounding men broke and one single rider approached them.

'Prince Fasmir,' said Geraldo, climbing down from his horse and kneeling on the ground.

Daloa studied the man who had approached them. He had long blonde hair that hung passed his shoulders. His face was very pale and his eyes were very sharp. The armor he wore looked very well kept. This man indeed looked like someone of high class, rank and wealth. Daloa knew, that this prince, would be important to her mission.

'Rise,' said Fasmir, to Geraldo.

The eyes of the prince, scanned Geraldo's men.

'There's fewer of you then when you left,' said Fasmir.

'Yes,' said Geraldo. 'We ran into some problems. There were men on the shores waiting for the queen before we got there. I'm not sure how these men could have possibly been informed about her arrival, but whoever they were, they knew and did everything they could to stop her from coming ashore. After we killed them, there were more of them waiting for us further up the road.'

'Quite the ordeal,' said Fasmir. His eyes met with Daloa's.

'This is Queen Daloa,' said Geraldo. 'And her chambermaid, Galla.'

'Chambermaid?' asked Prince Fasmir.

'Yes,' said Geraldo, staring down.

The prince eyed the two the girls.

'Very well,' said Fasmir. 'I'm sure the king will be interested in both of them.'

'There's something else as well, my prince,' said Geraldo. 'The queen came with her own men. They were all killed before they reached the shore.'

'I see,' said Fasmir. 'Lucky for the queen she survived such an attack.'

The prince then turned his horse.

'Sir Tarquil!' he yelled out.

A knight emerged from behind the wall of surrounding men and approached them.

'Yes, my lord?' the knight asked.

'Sir Tarquil,' said Fasmir. 'Lead these girls towards the gates and wait there until I come.'

'Yes, my prince,' said Sir Tarquil. The knight grabbed Daloa's horse by the reins and began leading her away. The queen looked over her shoulder as she passed through the barrier of Fasmir's men. She then saw the prince say something to Geraldo. When the two men had finished talking, Geraldo walked over to his men and the prince rode over to where she and Galla were.

'Let's move,' called Prince Fasmir to his knights.

They got into formation and began moving out. The iron gates then creaked back shut, leaving Geraldo and his men behind them.

'What is happening?' Daloa asked the prince. 'Why aren't they coming with us?'

Just then the sound of Geraldo's men shouting in anger and frustration was heard from behind the closed gates.

'It's the king's orders for them to remain there,' said Prince Fasmir. 'We were attacked last night and lost many guards. We need Geraldo and his men to protect the gates until we can have more guards stationed here.'

'But those men have been there for most of this day,' said Daloa. 'They need food and dry clothes.'

'Don't let it concern you,' said Fasmir.

'They saved my life!' Daloa said. 'They should be treated better.'

Prince Fasmir smiled and then rode further up, leaving Daloa and Galla behind him.

The two girls were silent as they rode towards the city. They were now in the clutches of many men that they did not know or trust. They rode on for a long while. The forest began to grow thinner until it was completely gone. No longer were they surrounded by dying trees and plants. All around them now was a flat, barren desolate landscape that went on for miles in each direction. The forest trail turned to sharp jagged stone and made it difficult for the horses. There were mountains that sat very far along the edge of the horizon and surrounded this dead world. Both the queen and her chambermaid felt as if they were chocking from the polluted air that plagued this bare waste. Thick clouds blanketed the sky above, preventing any sunlight from soaking through. The rain had stopped, and the queen was at least thankful for that.

Auran was indeed a very hostile land and it made Daloa wonder how any civilization could strive in such an evil, dying gray waste as this. Each hair on her pale skin stood up as the world around her was like something only nightmare's could produce.

After a long while of pondering this hellish environment, Daloa called to the knight who had the reins of her horse.

'You know,' she said to him. 'You can let go. I have no where else to go.'

The man said nothing and continued riding.

'Go ahead, Sir Tarquil,' said Fasmir. 'Do as the girl says. It's safe now.'

The knight sighed and let go of the reins.

Daloa then rode her horse so that she was beside Fasmir.

'Who are you?' the queen asked him.

'Call me Prince Fasmir,' the prince said. 'I am also commander of the army of Aurank.'

'You're father is the king?' asked Daloa.

Fasmir turned so he was staring into Daloa's eyes.

'I thought you would know,' he said to her. 'Of course. The same king you came all this way to see.'

'What do you know of my mission?' asked Daloa. 'How was it even known of my arrival?'

'You may find that this land is much different than your own,' said Fasmir. 'The people here are much different then your own.'

The queen thought on that.

'Everything will be explained once we reach my father's castle,' said Fasmir. 'Until then, I suggest keeping quiet and moving along. It wont be much longer until we reach the city.'

Daloa and Galla continued riding in silence, staying close behind the prince. The many knight's behind followed in formation. Daloa had many questions about this strange land, but she thought it best to save them for the king himself.

The landscape hardly changed as they continued riding. The desolate gray waste seemed to go on for miles in every direction. If it weren't for the giant mountains that rested at the edge of the horizon, it would have seemed that this horrid world went on forever. The thin road they were on began to edge downward at a steep decline. The horses were finding it hard to keep their balance as they made themselves go down this steep path. They spiraled down on the edge of a large cliff. One slip from any horse would find them and their rider falling hundreds of feet to a rocky grave.

Galla dug her head into Daloa's back, as the heights made her feel uneasy. The queen tightened her grip on the reins of her horse. She tried to force her attention on Fasmir's back so she wouldn't look down over the steep cliff side. Each rider looked skilled at navigating their horses, as they edged further downward.

In the distance of this narrow winding road, Daloa could see the formation of a city resting at the bottom. Finally, she knew she was staring at Aurank. As her eyes fixed on the numerous buildings and structures of this ancient city, she suddenly felt a surge of curiosity that weakened her fears and anxieties. Daloa realized she was the first person from her land, in over two thousand years, to gaze upon this mysterious place. For centuries it had been said that this city did not exist, but now the queen of Vivus knew this to be wrong. When she was a small child she always heard stories about this evil, wicked world and now she was here. After everything she had been through, Daloa was relieved that she had made it here alive. She was now an explorer of a land unseen by her people for a long while, but only time could tell if she would be welcome in such a place.

'Look, Galla,' said Daloa, in awe 'Look at it.'

'No, I can't' said Galla. 'It's too dangerous.'

'Stop being a child,' said Daloa. 'Look, we're here.'

Galla slowly raised her head up and looked at the giant city resting beneath the edge of the cliff.

Galla was speechless.

The two girls gazed at the city for a long while. They were so transfixed that they hadn't noticed Fasmir had turned in his saddle to look at them.

'Must be strange,' he said. 'To know that you are the first from your land in over two thousand years, to gaze upon Aurank.'

The girls said nothing and continued staring in wonder.

'She's a good city,' said Fasmir. 'The only city in all the land. Beyond, is nothing but a desolate waste. There have been many explorer's and knight's who have dared test its outer reaches, but very few ever came back. Those who did, lost the function of speech. Until the end of their days they sat in one place with an empty mind and no expression upon their faces. Whatever is out there, is meant for the eyes of no man. Aurank, the lonely city, remains our only home.'

'What lies beyond the mountains?' asked Daloa.

'No man can say,' said Fasmir. 'Shall I repeat myself?'

'Sorry,' said Daloa. 'How is it that you've been able to go on as a civilization for so long without depending on foreign trade? How can you maintain yourselves when you are so cut off from the rest of the world?'

'That's where you come in, my little queen,' said Fasmir, with a sly smile. 'Hush now, too much noise and we could shift some of these rock's above to come crashing down on us.'

They continued riding and before long, the narrow road descended gradually and came to soft flat ground. From there, was a straight road they followed until it brought them before another stone wall. This wall had two massive wooden doors in the center. Daloa looked up and saw the tops of men's heads from above the large wall. Fasmir signaled to these men and soon, the massive wooden doors opened for them.

As Fasmir began to ride forward, Daloa's heart stopped. Once she entered the city, she knew there would be no way of getting out. The thought of turning her horse around and riding back, crept into her mind. But it was too late for that now. She had to be brave.

The queen kicked the sides of her horse and began riding towards the large doors and quickly found herself in a long stone tunnel beyond them. Near the end of it, she found Fasmir standing beside a wooden barrel.

'We weren't expecting you to be with someone else,' said Fasmir, looking at the queen. 'So I am afraid that your handmaiden is going to have to wait here.'

'What do you mean?' asked Daloa.

'Well, we have to keep you hidden,' said Fasmir. 'We can't risk having you ride through the city in plain sight. You must be taken through the city in this barrel until you reach the castle. I hope you understand.'

'You're going to smuggle me through the city?' asked Daloa. 'I think not.'

'I don't care what you think,' said Prince Fasmir. 'I don't want to have hundreds of city folk rushing us. I don't know if you're aware, but the people of Aurank do not want you here. Your coming is an omen and a threat to them. We must keep you out of sight.'

Daloa thought hard on the princes words.

'Go on, my queen,' said Galla. 'Ill wait here.'

The queen took a deep breath, dismounted from her horse, walked over to the empty barrel and looked inside it.

'What are you going to do?' Daloa asked. 'Roll me through the city?'

Fasmir nodded to an older man who was standing near a horse with a trolley attached to it. The old man put the barrel onto the trolley.

'This is Gyro,' said Fasmir. 'A trusted man of my father's. He will take you through the city safely.'

Daloa looked at the old man, suspiciously.

'How will my handmaiden be brought through?' she asked.

'We'll get another barrel,' said Fasmir, impatiently.

'No,' said the queen. 'There is enough room in here for both of us. Come here, Galla.'

Galla looked at Fasmir, nervously.

'Come here, Galla,' Daloa repeated, in a serious tone.

Galla slowly dismounted, walked over to her queen, got up onto the trolley and peered into the barrel.

'Get in,' said Daloa.

'I give the orders here,' said the prince, enraged. 'Let her wait for her own barrel!'

'We can fit into one together,' said the queen.

Fasmir looked to the man Gyro.

'Fine then,' he said, annoyed. 'If you can both fit then let it be done. It's going to be quite uncomfortable for both of you.'

'We're getting used to being uncomfortable,' said Daloa.

Fasmir got onto his horse.

'Go on Galla,' said Daloa. 'Get in.'

Galla carefully climbed into the barrel. When she was in, the queen drew her sword, laid it beside the barrel and got in herself.

'Put the lid on when they're both securely in,' said Fasmir, to Gyro. 'Make sure they're quiet in there. If anyone asks where you are going, say you're delivering wine to the castle on the kings orders. Do not stop for any reason. I shall be following you from far behind and the my men will wait here until nightfall. Under no circumstances are you to let anyone else onto the trolley, do you hear me?'

'Yes, my prince,' said Gyro.

'Good,' said Fasmir. He then rode to his men who were patiently waiting by the front of the wall. The man Gyro walked over to the barrel, looked into it and stared at the two girls packed closely together inside.

'I am putting the lid on now,' he said to them.

The girls looked up to see the man peering down at them.

'Fine,' said Daloa. 'But make sure we can still breathe in here.'

Gyro smiled and placed the large lid over the top. The two girls were then thrown into a world of blackness.

'It stinks in here,' said Galla.

'Well,' said Daloa. 'I'm sure its a mixture of us and this barrel. Its been quite a long time since we've had a bath. Are you comfortable?'

'Yes, my queen,' said Galla. 'Are you?'

'Shift your knee a bit,' said Daloa. 'It's digging into my spine.'

'I can't move,' said Galla.

'It's fine,' said Daloa, finally. 'Hopefully we'll be there soon. It's a shame we don't get to see what the city looks like.'

'I'm sure we'll get a chance to explore,' said Galla.

Daloa thought on those words. She wondered if the king of Aurank would treat them as his guests or his captives.

As the trolley began to move, Daloa thought on everything Fasmir had said to her. The ride was long and both the girls were extremely sore from being cramped up in such a small space. Over the clip-clopping of the horses trotting along and the squeal of the trolley wheels, the girls tried to listen to the sounds of the city. Daloa envisioned what Aurank looked like from everything she could hear. The city sounds reminded her of home. She felt homesick and wondered how her people were doing without her. She felt guilty about abandoning them. After everything Daloa had seen, she wondered if she would ever get the chance to return to Vanak.

After a long, bumpy ride, the horses finally stopped. Both Daloa and Galla listened for voices but heard nothing but the faint howling of the wind. They could hear footsteps and wondered if the man Gyro was coming to let them free. The footsteps soon faded and both girls were getting restless. The queen tried to free her arms, but they were too cramped inside the barrel.

Nothing happened for a long while.

'What's happening?' whispered Galla, stupidly.

'I am not sure,' said Daloa.

The queen was beginning to worry and suspect trouble. She had left her sword and knife behind. The dead silence was making her worry. Eventually, there came the sound of horse hooves approaching followed by the voice of Prince Fasmir.

'No problems?' he asked.

'No,' said Gyro. 'Everything went smoothly. No one suspected a thing.'

'Good,' said Fasmir. 'Are they still in there?'

'Yes,' said Gyro. 'As you commanded.'

'Excellent,' said Fasmir.

The girls' could hear Fasmir getting off his horse and approaching them.

'Still alive in there?' he asked them.

'Let us out!' demanded Daloa.

'Feisty, isn't she?' Fasmir asked, in a light tone. Gyro laughed.

The top of the barrel was then lifted and the two girls had to squint from the piercing light of day.

After they climbed out, they stretched their sore arms and legs.

'I apologize,' said Fasmir. 'But it was for your safety.'

The girls didn't say anything. When they were finished stretching and examining their bruised bodies, their eyes examined their surroundings.

They found themselves standing in the middle of a massive courtyard. The courtyard was enclosed by a tall iron gate and in front of them was a large, black stone fortress. All around the gigantic fortress was dead ivory. Each brick that made up this eerie structure looked weathered and ancient. A chill crept up both of the girls' spines as they looked at this eerie place. The air seemed thicker and the clouds suddenly got blacker. The thought of entering such a haunted structure made Daloa and Galla feel sick with fear.

'I welcome you both,' said Fasmir. 'To Castle Whyten.'

The two girls turned to face Fasmir. His face had changed. He looked much older than he had before. His skin was much paler and resembled more a corpse than a living man. The man Gyro as well looked old and diseased.

Daloa felt as if she were in a place worse than hell itself. A dead silence overcame the two girls as they felt trapped within their minds. They wanted nothing more than to be far from this place.

'What's the matter?' asked Fasmir. 'You girls look very troubled.'

Daloa looked at Fasmir with disgust and fear.

'Nothing,' said the queen, finally. 'Everything...everything is fine.'

'Good,' said Fasmir. 'If you will follow me, I'll take you inside.'

The girls slowly began to follow Fasmir towards the black fortress. Daloa was so taken aback that she nearly forgot about her sword. She rushed back to the trolley and couldn't find it.

'Oh, you wont be needing that any longer,' said Fasmir. His eyes seemed to burn a hole into Daloa's soul as he looked at her. 'Come along now.'

Daloa continued to follow the strange prince as if she were hypnotized.

When they reached the stone steps of the black castle, Daloa looked back to the courtyard and found that Gyro, his horses and the trolley had suddenly vanished. Instead, the courtyard was now infested with hundreds of black crows. The queen stared at these crows with amazement, as they were the first living creatures she had seen in this strange land. When the queen turned around, she noticed that Galla was on the verge of tears and her face was ghost white. Fasmir pushed open the doors to the large palace and what the girls' saw behind the large iron doors was much stranger than what they saw outside of them.

Daloa and Galla were blinded by a fierce shining light coming from within. When their eyes had adjusted, they found themselves looking into the most beautiful palace they had ever seen. The walls were made of white emeralds and the ceiling hung magnificent golden chandeliers, holding hundreds of candles. The floors were carpeted with rich furs and the place felt warm and inviting. Suddenly, the hearts of the two girls were filled with enchantment, delight and wonder of this place.

They were standing in a large hall that had many entrances, doors and staircases, all leading off into different directions. Besides the three of them, there was not a soul to be seen, however. Fasmir then clapped his hands together and three figures slowly emerged from the shadows above and moved their ways down a staircase. As Daloa watched the three strangers move towards them, she noticed that all the warmth had suddenly left her heart and she was once again thrown into a world of suspicion and anxiety. The light in this great palace seemed to dim as if what they had just experienced, was nothing more than a magnificent illusion. The queen looked back to face Fasmir and she noticed he had returned to his state in which she had first met him. He no longer looked old and cursed as when she saw him outside in the courtyard. She actually found him to be quite handsome and felt guilty because of that. He looked back at her with a faint smile.

When the three figures approached, the queen saw that they were none other than three women all dressed in gray rags. All of these women had dark skin and their heads were bowed low and their eyes looked to the floor. Two of them looked to be just a little older than Daloa and Galla themselves, but the one who stood between the two was a very old woman. She raised her head and stared at Daloa with a strange, expressionless look upon her wrinkled face.

'These servants will show you to your room,' said Fasmir. 'Inside, you will find garments appropriate for you to wear to dinner tonight. You will be feasting with the king, Daloa. The servants have also prepared a bath for you, as I'm sure you are in desperate need of.'

Daloa turned sharply to face Fasmir.

'Run along, little queen,' the prince said to her. 'My time with you awaits another day.'

Daloa turned back to face the servant girls.

'What are your names?' she asked them.

The servants said nothing.

'Please,' said Daloa. 'Where I am from, all people are free to speak. Tell me your names so that I can call you by them and thank you for your services.'

'There is no need to thank them,' said Fasmir. 'Or call them by their names. These girls cannot speak, for they lost that privilege once they became servants of this castle.'

'That's despicable,' said Daloa. 'I command you women to speak your names to me.'

'They cannot speak,' said Fasmir, impatiently. 'And you give no commands here, little queen.'

'Speak,' insisted Daloa.

The older one in the middle opened her mouth and for a moment Daloa was delighted, but soon she was horrified to find that the woman had no tongue.

Daloa stepped back in fright and Galla closed her eyes and shuddered.

'You've removed their tongues?' asked Daloa, in shock. 'Why?'

'Servant's do not need to speak,' said the prince. 'They may hear things and repeat them to those who shouldn't know. It is an old custom here in Aurank.'

'That's horrible!' exclaimed Daloa, turning to Fasmir in disgust.

'Don't tell my father that,' said Fasmir. 'Enjoy your feast, little queen.'

The prince then walked across the large hall and disappeared from sight.

The servants motioned to Daloa and Galla to follow them.

'It's alright, Galla,' said Daloa. 'Hopefully we will be out of this horrid place soon.'

The two girls followed the servants up a winding staircase in silence.

After a lengthy climb, the staircase ended and brought them to a long hall that was illuminated in candlelight. They passed by many doors and eventually came to one where they stopped. One of the younger servant girls' fit a key into its lock and opened it. When it was opened, the servant gestured to Daloa and Galla to walk inside. As they did, the two girls were hit with a pungent smell. This room looked to be very old and it was apparent it hadn't been occupied in years. There was a large bed in the far corner and a couple of wooden chairs and tables. Dozens of candles hung from the walls in sconces that were covered in spiderwebs. The room was very small and had a single window that was hidden behind a black curtain. Daloa and Galla inspected the room and found there was a smaller room attached to it. In this room was a large tub full of steaming water with some towels folded on a chair beside it.

When the queen was finished her inspection she noticed a pile of silk garments, fur robes and well kept dresses on the large bed. Galla inspected each of these and for the first time in a while, the queen saw a smile upon her young, troubled face.

'Aren't these wonderful?' asked Galla, putting the dresses up against her body to see how they looked.

'Very nice,' said Daloa, somewhat impressed by the quality of them.

The queen turned to face the three serving women.

'Thank you,' she said to them.

The two younger women had kept their gaze on the floor and didn't so much as flinch at Daloa's words, while the older woman was watching the queen closely.

Daloa looked at the old woman and found that there was something very strange about her. Her hair was a brown, oily matted mess and her skin was wrinkled and so thin that her veins and bones stuck out. The old servant made Daloa feel uncomfortable. Something told her that she was as ancient as the castle itself. There was a certain eerie quality to her that the queen could not explain.

'We'll be fine for now,' said Daloa, slowly looking away from her. 'You can come back in a little while and tend to us after we have washed up.'

The old woman bowed and began walking towards the door. The two other servant girls followed closely behind her. When they were gone, Daloa locked the door. The queen then turned to find Galla folding the robes and garments back up into a neat pile. After she was finished, Galla collapsed onto the bed and said, 'I feel like I could sleep for weeks.'

'Yes,' agreed Daloa. 'But we better wash ourselves, we're quite filthy.'

Galla rose up quickly and said, 'that's an excellent idea, my queen.'

The two girls then walked into the small room with the bath and felt the hot water that was inside. The warmth felt good on their bruised fingers. They began by removing their heavy damp riding boots. It felt like ages since they had taken them off. They wiggled and stretched their bare toes. The girls then removed their wet shirts, pants and undergarments. In their nakedness, both the queen and her handmaiden, stood in front of one another and examined each others cut and bruised bodies. They had injuries in places they were not even aware of. Very slowly, each of the girls slid into the hot bath. The water stung their aching wounds.

'Ouch,' said Galla, sitting down.

'Are you OK?' asked the queen.

'Yes,' said Galla. 'Just sore. So very very sore.'

'We've had quite the adventure,' said Daloa, taking a seat.

They had their backs resting on opposite sides of the tub, so that they were facing each-other.

'Well,'said Daloa. 'At least we are here now.'

'Yes,' said Galla, looking down into the water. It seemed as if she were on the verge of tears again.

The queen noticed Galla's sadness and thought about everything they had been through. She missed her knights and Lord Etin and most of all, she missed her land.

'Is there any soap?' asked Galla, suddenly.

The queen inspected the floor and found a small plate that had a bar of soap and a cloth on it.

'Yes,' said Daloa, leaning over the tub to grab the soap and cloth. 'Come here, Galla, and rest your back against my chest and I will wash you.'

Galla did as her queen commanded and leaned her back against Daloa's soft chest. The queen began rubbing the soap all over Galla's injured body. She was gentle as Galla's flesh had many wounds. After that, she washed and brushed her matted hair. When Daloa was finished, the girls switched positions, and Galla began to gently wash her queen. Galla then grabbed the brush and began running it through Daloa's wet hair. The girls sat in a long, peaceful silence.

'That Fasmir isn't all that bad,' spoke Galla, suddenly.

'What do you mean? Asked the queen, hesitantly.

Galla continued to brush Daloa's hair.

'He's sort of handsome, don't you think?'

Daloa thought about the strange man she had met.

'I'm not really concerned about his face,' said the queen.

'Still,' said Galla. 'He is handsome.'

'I regret coming to this place,' said Daloa. 'I wish we never left Vivus. I'm so worried that this plan will not work.'

'Well, its too late now,' admitted Galla. 'Perhaps if you warmed up to this prince, he could help us. It seemed like he was quite interested in you.'

'Interested?,' asked Daloa, curiously. 'What do you mean?'

'The way he looked at you,' said Galla. 'I could see that he wanted you.'

'All men give that look, Galla,' said Daloa. 'Men only want one thing.'

'And what do you want, my queen?' asked Galla.

'An army,' said Daloa.

'Well,' said Galla. 'Perhaps if you give the prince what he wants, he will give you what you want.'

'I am not a whore,' said Daloa, annoyed. 'I am a queen.'

'Just trying to help, my queen,' said Galla.

'Well don't,' she snapped.

Galla continued to brush Daloa's hair. Her hand was shaking tremendously.

'I am sorry,' said Daloa. 'I didn't mean it. I am just so tired.'

'Me too,' agreed Galla. 'Its quite alright, we've had a long journey.'

'Yes,' agreed Daloa. 'I just hope everything works out. I am such a fool for leaving my people.'

'No,' said Galla. 'You're not a fool. You did what you thought was right.'

The two girls' sat in the tub for a long while.

Suddenly, they heard a door open and shut.

'Did you hear that?' asked Galla.

Daloa became alert.

'Yes,' the queen said. 'Someone just came in.'

'Perhaps the servants are back,' said Galla.

Daloa lifted herself slowly out of the tub.

Footsteps drew nearer to the room in which they were in. Slowly, the two girls saw the old serving woman approach them.

Daloa and Galla were somewhat relieved.

'We're not finished yet,' said Daloa, covering her bare chest with her hands. 'Could you come back a little later?'

The old woman stood in the doorway and stared at the two girls without

moving.

'Please come back later,' repeated the queen, getting annoyed.

The old woman continued to stand there and watch them.

'She scares me,' whispered Galla.

Daloa scanned the old woman. A necklace of what looked like small animal bones, hung tightly around her neck. She wore nothing on her feet and had a foul smell to her. Her eyes were black and her face expressionless.

'Please leave,' said Daloa, in a serious tone.

The servant didn't move.

Daloa was growing suspicious. Galla began to softly weep. Suddenly, the woman's left arm reached for something in her waist. To both Daloa and Galla's horror, the old servant retrieved a long knife. Daloa sprang out of the tub. Before she could reach her, however, the old woman placed the knife gently on a chair and raised her hands to show she meant no harm. The queen stood there in her nakedness, staring at the old woman in disbelief. The old woman stared back with a friendly look upon her face.

The queen's eyes turned to the knife that was on the chair. 'Why are you giving me this?' she asked.

'She can't speak,' said Galla, softly.

'Can you write?' Daloa asked the woman.

The servant stared at the queen without moving or blinking.

Daloa walked over to the knife and wrapped her fingers around the hilt.

'That's it,' came a voice, suddenly.

The queen looked up in surprise. 'Who said that?' she asked, looking nervously around the room.

'It is me,' the voice came again.

Daloa smacked her own ear with her hand. It sounded as if the voice was coming from deep within her own head. It was a clear voice, but not the same as if someone were speaking to her.

'What is happening?' Galla asked.

'I heard it as well,' said Daloa, covering her ears with her hands.

The queen then looked to the old servant woman. She was staring right back at her with a grin upon her face.

'What sorcery is this?' asked Daloa. 'What are you doing?'

'Sorcery?' the voice asked.

The queen raised the knife. 'Get out of our heads,' she demanded.

'I mean you no harm,' came the old woman's voice. 'My name is Olizma.'

'How are you doing this?' the queen asked, lowering the knife. 'How is it you speak without moving your lips or making a sound?'

'There are ways,' said Olizma.

'Can you read my thoughts?'

The old woman laughed. 'I am not completely inside your head,' she said.

'Is this magic?' Daloa asked.

'Magic?' asked the old woman. 'No, Queen Daloa, you have not seen magic. Not yet.'

'I have seen more than you could ever know,' said Daloa.

'Is that so?' Olizma asked, with a queer look in her eyes. 'Listen, sweet child, you are in danger.'

Daloa stared down at her own nakedness. She then walked out of the room and grabbed herself and Galla, two of the silk robes that were on the the bed. After covering herself, the queen looked to the old woman and said, 'I have been in danger for as long as I have lived.'

'Do not trust the king,' came the voice of Olizma.

'Why would I?' asked Daloa.

'He will try and gain your trust.'

Galla stood up, got out of the tub and put the silk robe on. She then walked over to Daloa and said, 'this woman is scaring me. She speaks inside my head.'

'It's just a trick, Galla,' said the queen.

'Your friend is also in great danger,' said the voice. 'Be sure to keep a close eye on her.'

'No one will touch her,' said Daloa. 'Tell me everything you know.'

'Everything?' asked Olizma, staring at the queen with her lips shut tight. 'I know many things. If I were to tell you everything I know, then we would be here for a very long time and time is one thing you lack Queen Daloa.'

'I also lack patience,' said the queen. 'What is it you wish to tell me?'

'All else will be revealed to you,' said the old woman. 'But not this day. For now, all I have is the warning I have already given you. The king is not to be trusted.'

'Why is it that you are trying to help me?' asked Daloa.

'I'll do my part,' said the voice of Olizma. 'So that you can do yours.'

'And what is my part?' asked the queen.

'I return to silence,' said Olizma. 'He is ready for you now.'

Before the queen could say anything else, there was a loud knock coming from the door in the main room. Daloa gave the servant a suspicious look and walked over to the door with the knife raised in her hand. 'Who is it?' she asked.

'I am here to escort you to His Grace, the king,' came an unfamiliar voice.

Daloa lowed the knife and looked down at herself.

'One moment,' she said. 'I am not dressed.'

'It would not be wise to keep His Grace, waiting,' came the voice.

Galla walked into the room.

'Galla,' said the queen. 'Quick, help me dress.'

Daloa threw her robe off and walked over to the bed. She found some undergarments and threw them on to cover up her lady parts. Galla then picked out a black dress and helped the queen put it on. When the queen was garbed in it, she tied her wet hair up into a bun.

'How do I look?' she asked Galla.

'Well,' said Galla, politely. 'It will do.'

'Good,' said Daloa, sticking the knife into the waistband of her underwear.

Olizma walked slowly into the room.

'Will you stay here with my chambermaid?' asked Daloa.

Olizma stared at the queen and bowed her head slowly.

Galla did not look happy about being left alone with the strange woman.

'You have to stay here,' said Daloa, to her. 'I'll bring you back some dinner.'

Galla nodded softly

'Lock the door when I leave,' said the queen. 'Goodbye.'

Daloa slowly opened the door and found a young man standing in the hall. He looked to be no older than fourteen years of age.

The man looked up to face the queen with a scowl upon his face.

'Hello,' he said, his voice cracking. He coughed into his hand and said again, in a deeper tone. 'Hello, my name is Polfrey and I have been commanded by His Grace, King Whyten to escort the lady Daloa.'

'I am she,' said Daloa. 'But I am no lady. I am a queen.'

'Indeed,' said the boy, looking away.

Daloa stepped into the hallway and shut the door behind her.

'You may escort me, Polfrey,' said Daloa, after checking the door had been locked behind her.

The two of them walked along the hall and down the winding staircase that brought them to the main floor of the castle. From there they walked to a narrow passageway that led to another staircase and when they got to the top, they walked down a narrow corridor that had many rooms on either side.

'I am surprised the king sent such a small boy to escort me,' said the queen, after a long silence.

'What do you mean by small?' asked Polfrey, suspiciously.

'Well,' said Daloa. 'You are quite young. I am surprised that you were the one chosen to escort the mysterious girl from the other land to the king. Strikes me as odd.'

'It's not odd,' argued Polfrey. 'I am squire to Prince Fasmir. He is the one that sent me to get you. My lord was supposed to be the one to take you to the king, but he has left the castle on business.'

'I see,' said Daloa.

'And I am not small,' said Polfrey. 'Not everywhere.'

Daloa looked to the boy and found that his eyes were scanning her body rather closely.

'Just lead me to the king, squire,' said the queen.

'I never would have guessed that people from your side would look as beautiful as you do,' said Polfrey.

'There are many beautiful things in my land,' said Daloa.

'I think you are an enchantress,' said Polfrey. 'I've heard many stories about the land on the other side of the forbidden sea. It is an evil place. You have charmed yourself to look the way you do now. I know that your real form is ugly and monstrous. You have brought plague and death to our land and I would like to see you burned.'

'You're quite the charmer,' said Daloa. 'If you weren't so young, perhaps I'd put a spell on you.'

'I'd have your head before you'd get the chance!' spat Polfrey.

Daloa nearly laughed at the boy when she saw he had no weapon.

'I admire your courage,' said Daloa, as they continued walking. 'I could use some courage myself, to be honest.'

'Your pleasant words will not trick me,' said Polfrey. 'You will not succeed in your plan in destroying my city.'

Daloa looked at the young squire with pity in her heart. The young boy was speaking with a mind that had been shaped by falsehood and superstition. The two of them walked for a long while in silence.

'We are here,' said the squire, finally. 'This was as far as I was instructed to go with you.'

They were standing at the very end of a corridor. There was nothing now but a small opening in the wall that had a narrow winding staircase that led up.

'Thank you,' said the queen. 'It was nice to have met you, Polfrey.'

'Witch,' spat Polfrey.

Daloa stood there, thinking about how everywhere she went now, she was thought of as a witch. She began her ascent up the long winding staircase. Finally, it came to an end and she was left standing in front of a large iron door. At first she knocked and there was no answer. Then, after a long, silent while, she pushed the door open.

Inside, she was standing in a dimly lit chamber. The smell was the first thing she noticed. It was damp and musky. The air itself felt ancient. At the far end, was a large window that overlooked the gray world sitting beneath it. In the middle of this dismal room, there was a long black table.

'Shut the door,' came a voice.

Daloa nearly jumped by the sudden sound. She shut the door and began to walk in. As she got closer to the table she found an older man, sitting and looking up at her with no expression upon his face.

King Whyten was a bald, square faced man who looked to be roughly in his late sixties. He wore a black robe with a black, leather jerkin over it. His eyes were clear blue razors that dug into your skin. His thin lips were tightly pursed and his face was clean shaven, but still rough. His gaze was hard as stone and the skin around his eyes and nose was so tight that he looked almost like a corpse in the dim candlelight.

'Queen Daloa,' he said.

The queen continued to stare at this cold king. He stared back at the queen with eyes that made her feel as if they had seen her before.

'Please take a seat,' the king said.

She pulled up a chair and sat at the far end of the table. As she sat there, she picked up the scent of death and quickly looked over her shoulder to stare at the left corner of the room.

'And here you are,' said the king.

'And here I am,' said the queen.

'Wine?'

'No, thank you,' said Daloa. She was so taken aback by this strange king, that she had not noticed all the food in front of her on the table.

'Please help yourself,' said the king. 'I am sure you are quite hungry after your long journey.'

'How did you know of my coming?' asked Daloa. 'Do you have spies in my land?'

'Eat first, child,' said the king. 'We have many matters to discuss, but I can only imagine how hungry you must be. You've had quite the journey, after all. Please, I do not mind sitting here and letting you eat before we begin.'

'You are kind,' said Daloa. 'Which is surprising, seeing how you treat your servants.'

'My servants?' asked King Whyten. 'I do not know what you mean. Please, Queen Daloa, not another word until you have eaten.'

The queen looked at the food. There was a large cooked bird and many small plates packed with various fruits and vegetables on them. She picked through each plate until her own was full. She poured herself some water out of a pitcher and began her feast. After everything that had happened so far, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. It felt like days since she had last eaten anything. Geraldo had kept them fed on the road, but only enough to get by. King Whyten sat there, sipped from his goblet and watched the queen eat. When Daloa was finished she leaned back in her chair and tried to keep herself from throwing it all up.

'You can have more, once you're ready,' said the king.

'I will bring some to my handmaiden,' said Daloa.

'Oh, yes, Galla? Is that her name?' asked the king.

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'I trust your son has told you all about her by now. She is to stay with me in my room until we are ready to head back home.'

The king looked at Daloa as if she were an amusing child.

'Oh, you think so?' asked King Whyten. 'Well I don't see any problem with that, I suppose.'

'Good,' said the queen.

'Anything else?' asked the king.

Daloa could sense that the king was not taking her seriously. Instead of listening to her, she felt as if he were playing with her.

'How did you know I was coming?' the queen asked.

'I promise you,' said the king, taking another sip from his goblet. 'I do not have spies in your land. I do not care about what happens in Vivus. There hasn't been a single ship that has crossed the forbidden sea in thousands of years.'

'For good reason,' said Daloa.

'Oh?' asked the king. 'You have seen the powers of the great sea then?'

'I have seen more things than any man,' said Daloa.

The king smiled at that.

'So,' he said, after a moment of silence. 'What brings you here to Aurank?'

'You still haven't answered my question,' said the queen. 'If you do not have spies in my land, then how did you know of my arrival? How do you even know of my existence?'

'There are ways,' said the king. 'Ancient ways. I trust by now you believe in many different things.'

Daloa thought back to the haunted sea and the rising dead.

'So?' asked the queen. 'You saw me coming in a crystal ball or something?'

'Why does it matter, Daloa?' asked the king. 'You came to Aurank for my help, is this right?'

Daloa didn't say anything.

'Don't tell me you came all this way just to eat my food,' said King Whyten. 'I know why you are here, Daloa.'

'Oh?' said the queen. 'Tell me then.'

'You are here because your people have turned on you,' said the king.

Daloa stared into the kings eyes.

'Yes,' said the king. 'They call you a queen of sorcery. They believe you won back your fathers throne by using magic.'

'How do you know this?' she asked. 'I demand you tell me.'

'You are in my land,' said the king. 'Here, your demands mean nothing. You are nothing but a foolish little girl who calls herself a queen. If you want my help, then keep your demands to yourself. I have the power to throw you into a cell to the end of your days. But it just so happens, that you're useful to me.'

Daloa straightened her back and puffed out her chest.

'Useful?' she asked, softly.

'Perhaps,' the king said, taking another sip. '

'How so?' the queen asked.

'You want my army,' said the king. 'How were you planning on persuading me to give it to you? Why would I care about your cause? It's been two thousand years since our great lands have interacted with one another. Why would I give a damn what happens to you and your people?'

'I was willing to pay in gold.' said the queen.

'Gold?' asked the king. 'We don't need your gold. What else, if that failed you?'

'A truce,' said the queen.

'A truce?' asked the king. 'Why would I want a truce with you?'

'What is it you want?' asked Daloa, annoyed. 'Tell me.'

The king rose from his seat and walked over to the window with his goblet clutched tightly in his bony hands. He filled it with red wine that sat in a pitcher on a large desk in the corner.

'My people are starving,' said King Whyten. 'We are running out of food and water.'

'With this climate, that doesn't surprise me,' said the queen.

'When my ancestors cut ourselves off from your land, they never thought about the future,' said the king, taking a long sip. 'For generations we

have planted the same plants and harvested the same crops, but we are no longer able to sustain ourselves with what we've got. We need to expand, but there is nothing beyond the mountains but rock, ash and death. If we do not find new places to dwell, then I am afraid it spells the end of Aurank.'

Daloa thought on this. When she had first come to this land she looked at it as a place of evil, not of desperation.

'You wish to expand to Vivus?' asked the queen, after a long pause.

'I fear it's our only hope,' said the king.

'Well,' said Daloa. 'It seems we need each other then. If I do not get your army, then I will fall. If I fall, then there will be no hope for you getting your people over to my land without war. The power of Vivus will surely overcome your lonely city.'

'You would allow my people to settle in your land?' asked the king.

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'But if I allow your people to come, you must swear yourself to me and help keep the peace. Surely, once my people find out that I have joined with the forgotten ancient city of Aurank, my status as sorceress will expand. But over time, I feel we can learn to live with each other. I am a good queen and I do not wish to let any kind of people go hungry, even if they live a world away.'

'I am glad of that,' said King Whyten. 'If you will let my people come to Vivus, than I will give you your army. But I ask for something else in return.'

'And what is that?' asked the queen.

'To give trust to my people,' said the king. 'Give them this trust I ask, by binding our two lands with your hand in marriage.'

Daloa stared at the king in disbelief. Her eyes scanned the face of the old king in disgust.

'Please forgive me, but I am not marrying you,' she said.

The king smiled and sipped from his goblet.

'Dear child,' said King Whyten. 'I did not mean for you to marry me. I do not wish to give up my place here as king. It will take long for my people to travel to your land and I do not wish to abandon this city. I mean for you to marry one of my sons, so that together you can rule a handful of my people from your land and get enough of them to begin a colony there. My people will be too afraid to leave if they are not going to be ruled by one of their own.'

'You want me to marry one of your sons?' asked Daloa, in disbelief.

'It will give trust to my people, as I said before,' said the king. 'And it will bind our agreement and make everything more secure. You've already met my son Fasmir. As well as a prince, he is the main commander of our army. The very army you need.'

Daloa felt ill. The thought of marrying that strange man made her stomach turn.

'I cannot agree on such a thing at this time,' she said finally. 'Is there any other way?'

'If you want your army,' said the king. 'You must marry one of my sons.'

'And if I refuse?' she said.

The king drained the last of his wine and placed the goblet on his desk. He then walked over to the queen and sat on the table close to her.

'If you do not agree,' said the king, calmly. 'Then I will tell you and your handmaid to get out of my city and return to your land.'

Daloa thought about the dangerous road home.

'If you survive the way back,' said the king. 'Then you will have another war on your hands, little queen. For I will have no choice but to invade.'

The queen knew she was stuck now.

The two of them sat together in silence for a long while

'Give me time to think things over,' Daloa finally said.

'Of course,' said the king, rising from his chair. He walked over to the desk once again and grabbed an empty goblet and the pitcher of wine. Returning to the queen, he filled his goblet up once more and poured the rest into Daloa's.

'A toast,' said the king. 'To the lands of Vivus and Auran being at peace with one another, once again.'

Daloa sat motionless, staring at the floor in disbelief. She did not want it to happen like this.

'Oh come,' said the king. 'Its only marriage.'

'I suppose so,' said Daloa. She was being selfish now, she thought.

The queen wondered what her people were going to think of her when they learned she had married a prince from the mysterious land. Forever, it seemed, that the people of Aurank were the oldest and greatest of foes, and now she was going to become betrothed to their very rulers. This would surely be a tale that would be sung for generations.

'I knew you would comply,' said the king. 'After all, it is the right thing for you to do. Tomorrow evening, I shall hold a great feast in the great hall, to celebrate the joining of our two lands. There, you will meet the very masters, lords, ladies and great folk of our city. Tomorrow evening, the people of Aurank will set their eyes upon the very queen of Vivus and know that they are in good hands.'

Daloa felt nauseous.

'Tomorrow evening,' said the king. 'You shall meet my two sons and choose which one is to be your husband.'

'I will only marry after I get my army,' said Daloa.

'Daloa,' said the king. 'Precious child, by now you should know that you no longer make any decisions. You will marry here first, in the temple of Carran, in front of all the eyes of this great city and then I will give you your army.'

The queen's face became very pale and she began to shake.

The king raised his goblet and bellowed to the queen, 'here, is to the fellowship between old worlds,'

Daloa had no choice but to raise her goblet, tap it against the kings and take a long sip of the red wine. It tasted sour on her sweet tongue.

Before she knew it, the queen was shutting the heavy black door to the kings chambers and walking down the narrow, spiral staircase, holding a plate of food in her hand for Galla. When she got to the bottom, she found Fasmir's squire, Polfrey standing at the bottom, waiting for her.

'About time,' he spat.

The queen didn't say anything. Her mind was too heavy with thoughts.

The two of them walked back together in silence. When they were drawing closer to her room, Polfrey asked the queen, 'are you going home and leaving our city alone then?'

'Not quite,' said Daloa.

'You seem sad,' said Polfrey. 'Why? Is this a trick?'

The queen looked down at the young squire.

'I wish it were, boy,' she said.

'You have tears in your eyes,' he said to her. 'A sorceress shouldn't be crying.'

'I am no sorceress,' said Daloa, defeated.

'Are you sure about that?' he asked.

'I am,' said Daloa, bluntly.

'Are you here to kill us all?' asked the boy. 'And destroy our city?'

'No,' said Daloa. 'I am here to save mine.'

Polfrey took a moment to think on her words.

'Well,' he said, finally. 'If you are no wicked sorceress, then I am sorry.'

'It's alright,' said Daloa, giving the boy a warm smile. 'I am full of my own suspicions.'

'I knew you were too beautiful to be a witch,' said Polfrey.

'Perhaps I put a spell on myself to look pretty,' said Daloa, laughing.

'Perhaps,' said the boy. 'But you're also sad. A true witch wouldn't know sadness.'

'You seem to know a lot about witches,' said Daloa.

'My mother sometimes turns into one,' said Polfrey, smiling.

Daloa softly laughed.

'That's not good to say about your own mother,' said the queen.

'I am only joking,' said Polfrey. 'My mother and father were both eaten alive by wolves. Well here we are.'

Daloa found they were standing outside her door.

'It was nice to have met you, Daloa,' said Polfrey, bowing. 'And I apologize once more for all the things I said to you earlier.'

'Its quite alright,' said Daloa. 'I am glad to have met you as well, Polfrey, thank you and goodnight,'

The young squire took off with a jump in his step and left Daloa standing alone in the hallway. The queen softly tapped on the door and waited. There was no answer. She then banged her fist against it until it slowly opened. Galla was standing in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket.

'Oh, Daloa,' said Galla, letting her in. 'I've been worrying about you,'

The queen looked at the messy bed.

'It looks like you've been sleeping,' she said, smiling. 'Here's some food.'

'Oh, thank you,' said Galla, taking the plate. 'But I am much too tired to eat right now.'

'I am quite tired myself,' Daloa admitted. 'Let's go to bed, its very late,'

The queen undressed herself and slipped underneath the blankets, with Galla laying beside her.

'What was the king like?' asked Galla, softly.

'He was a hard man,' said Daloa, truthfully. 'Very unwelcoming.'

'Is he going to help you?' she asked the queen.

Daloa thought long and hard about everything she and the king had discussed.

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'He is going to help us.'

Galla sighed in relief.

'Good,' she said. 'I want to go home soon,'

'Me too, Galla,' said Daloa. 'Get some rest now.'

The queen turned on her side, putting her back to Galla. As she lay there, her mind suddenly went back to the old servant woman and the warning she had given earlier. With her eyes, Daloa scanned the room to find that Olizma had gone, yet she could almost hear her now.

'Do not trust the king,' her words echoed still. 'Do not trust the king.'

Chapter Nine

The Road Forward

He remembered back to when he used to explore these cells as a young boy. Though they were never allowed down here, Jonpai and Chale used to pretend that they were prisoners. Often times they would call out for help and someone would hear them and come running down to see what was going on. As Jonpai sat on the cold stone ground, locked behind bars, he reflected on those days and couldn't help but smile. In those days long ago, the two boys would pretend to keep guard as the other was locked within the cell. Jonpai looked out between the iron bars at the man who kept guard on him now. If only it were Chale, perhaps he would be released and the two of them could resume their life-long friendship.

But now all of that was over. For so many years, Chale had been like a brother to Jonpai and now he and his father had betrayed him. It had been three days since Jonpai had been put into this cell. The back of his head still ached from where he had been knocked to the ground unconscious. The last he could remember, Jonpai was in Lord Karnip's council room. No matter how many times Jonpai thought about it, he couldn't understand why the five men who had murdered his old master, Sir Daven, were in the Karnip castle, sharing food and drink with the man who had raised him since he was a child. Why had Lord Karnip taken these five false knights as his guests? Jonpai had the image of their golden masks still burned into his mind. Perhaps the old lord had heard rumors of their ruthless killing and decided to take them in as allies rather than have them as his enemies. But even so, these men were outlaws. Surely, Lord Karnip would not befriend such monsters. Didn't he know that they were not to be trusted? If anything, these five men deserved to be executed for their hideous crimes.

Jonpai sat there in the darkness and silence, contemplating this strange situation he was in. The only thing he could hear were the small breaths of the man who stood guard. Jonpai knew this man as Bryr Fredin, another man Jonpai had known since he was a young boy growing up in this castle. On the first night of his imprisonment, Jonpai tried talking to Bryr to get an answer for everything that had happened to him. Bryr was friendly, but he was not about to betray Lord Karnip's orders. Jonpai had seen the way that prisoners were treated down here and was happy to at least be given food and drink.

Suddenly, Jonpai heard a voice from within the shadows. He turned his head towards the cell bars and saw a glimmer of candlelight. As the light got closer, Jonpai heard a familiar voice call out.

'Good evening, Bryr.'

The man named Bryr rose suddenly from his chair. Jonpai had not noticed his snores.

'Evening, Lord Chale,' said Bryr, with a small bow. 'What brings you here at this hour?'

Chale looked towards Jonpai's cell. There, Jonpai had risen to his feet and stared back into Chale's clear blue eyes. The two of them stood in a tense silence, gazing at one another. Chale's face was a mixture of sympathy and anxiousness. He examined Jonpai's rough state. His clothes were ragged and on his bare feet was nothing but sores and bruises. It had only been three days since Jonpai had been locked away, but still, the black cells did strange things to men.

'I need to talk with him in private,' said Chale, softly to Bryr.

'I have nothing to say to you,' Jonpai spat. Both of his hands were now firmly gripped around the iron bars that enclosed him. His face poked between the narrow space.

'Go now,' said Chale and with that, Bryr nodded and was off, disappearing into the shadows.

Chale moved closer towards Jonpai's cell.

'Remember when we were boys?' asked Chale, forcing a grin. 'And used to come down here, pretending that we were prisoners.'

'I suppose playtime is over,' said Jonpai, darkly.

Chale softly laughed and said, 'I am truly sorry for this.'

'I bet you are,' said Jonpai. 'After all those years of serving your family, this is how I get repaid?'

'This wasn't suppose to happen,' said Chale. 'My father...'

'Your father!' yelled Jonpai. 'It's always your father.'

'You weren't suppose to find out,' said Chale.

'About what?' asked Jonpai. 'About them? I wasn't suppose to find out about you becoming allies with the men I have been hunting for most of my life? They murdered my master, Chale, or have you forgotten?'

'Dammit, Jonpai,' said Chale, impatiently. 'That was years ago. Can't you let it go?'

'Never,' said Jonpai. 'I'll never forgive you or your father for this. After all these years Chale, after everything I've done. How could you let this happen? Why am I being held prisoner?'

'To keep you safe,' said Chale. 'This wasn't my decision, but my father was not happy that you found out about the masked men. It was my fault. I shouldn't had let you seen them. When my father saw you enter he signaled to his man standing at the door to knock you down. I protested against it but my father decided that it would be best if you were put down here. He doesn't trust you now that you know about him taking these men into his service. Hell, Jonpai you should have stayed in Vanak, like you were supposed to.'

'What does he need those men for?' asked Jonpai. 'They are no true knights, only outlaws.'

'You don't know anything about them,' said Chale.

'No one does,' said Jonpai.

'They are criminals, yes this is true,' said Chale. 'But their reputation has given them quite a status. The five of them can take on an entire village of men. They have wiped out numerous towns just by themselves.'

'And you want to side with these men?' Jonpai asked, angrily. 'The knights of darkness mercilessly invade our towns and villages, butcher innocents and yet, you make them your allies?'

'My father needs them,' said Chale.

'Your father has lost his mind,' said Jonpai, stepping away from the iron bars and turning his back to Chale.

'I know of the terrible things these men have done,' said Chale. 'But my father has hired them to perform a task. A task that no other man would be willing to take on.'

'And what is this task?' asked Jonpai.

'He has sent the knights of darkness to Auran,' said Chale, softly.

'To Auran? Why?' ' Jonpai asked, even though he knew the answer.

'To slay the queen, of course,' said Chale. 'My father is paying them a great sum to do this. These men are no true assassins, but their reputation as fierce killers was enough to persuade my father to take them in. After a lengthy negotiation, the five knights agreed to my fathers terms. He is paying them a very large sum for doing this.'

Jonpai couldn't find the words.

'I know you don't like this,' said Chale. 'But it is a good plan.'

'Those men are going to need a ship,' said Jonpai.

'My father has found them one, although no man would dare join the knights,' said Chale. 'So the ship given to these knights is very small. Nothing but a small fishing vessel they can manage themselves.'

'They'll never make it across,' Jonpai said.

'Well,' said Chale. 'You should be grateful of my father then for sending these men to their doom.'

'I have lost all respect for your father,' said Jonpai. 'He has betrayed me. I have become his prisoner after all these years of doing nothing but serving him and your family.'

'Yes, I know,' said Chale. 'I told you I do not agree with what my father has done to you. That is why I am choosing to set you free.'

Just then, Chale took out a set of keys.

'How did you get those?' asked Jonpai.

'Do you forget this is my families castle?' asked Chale. He then picked one of the many keys that hung from a large steel ring. When he had found the right one he slipped it into the cell lock and turned. The iron bars creaked as they swung open. Jonpai slowly stepped forward and out of his cell so that he came face to face with Chale.

'Are you sure?' asked Jonpai. 'Why are you doing this?'

'Because, Jonpai,' said Chale. 'You have always been like a brother to me and I hate to see you our prisoner.'

'Your father is not going to like this,' said Jonpai.

'My father doesn't like anything I do,' said Chale. 'For giving you your freedom, Jonpai, can you do one final task for my family? Or if not for my family, for me at least?'

'What is it?' asked Jonpai.

'These knight's of darkness,' said Chale. 'Do you want your revenge against them?'

'More than anything,' said Jonpai. 'They murdered Sir Daven and I will never rest until I have justice.'

'Then follow them,' said Chale. 'Follow them to Auran and have your revenge. But do one thing. The queen. Bring the queen here and you shall be the most noble knight the realm has ever seen.'

'The queen?' asked Jonpai, confused. 'Why do you want the queen?'

'I feel that my father is being a bit rash on his decision to have her killed,' said Chale. 'I feel like she could be more useful to us if she were kept alive. I'm sure my father would understand once he has her in his clutches. Bring me the queen, Jonpai and you shall have your revenge and something much greater. We shall give you the Karnip name and you will be given land here to start your own family.'

'I don't want a family,' said Jonpai. 'And I don't need any land. Besides, you can keep your name. I am no true Karnip. That was something your father let me know my entire life.'

'Then what is it you want?' asked Chale.

'Justice,' said Jonpai. 'And that is all. Goodbye, Chale.

With that, Jonpai began to walk down the dark corridor that led through the black cells. Chale followed closely behind holding his lantern.

'Where's my stuff?' asked Jonpai, as he ascended up the spiraling staircase.

'Go to the stables,' said Chale. 'It's all there, including your horse who is bridled and ready to go.'

'Thank you, Chale,' said Jonpai, sharply. 'I shall not be returning this time.'

When the two of them reached the top of the stairs, Chale stared into Jonpai's face and said, 'I hope you will. Please Jonpai, if you stop those knights from killing the queen, then you must go to Auran yourself and stop her. If you do not promise me this this instant, then I will have no other choice but to tell my father that I have set you free. In a matter of hours, his men shall catch up to you and bring you back dead or alive.'

'Then why the hell did you let me go?' asked Jonpai.

'Please,' said Chale. 'Get your revenge and then go to Auran and capture the queen. It will be easier if you do it. One man is harder to catch than five.'

Jonpai began to walk through a corridor leading through the castle.

'Please,' said Chale, following him. 'You must promise me that you will bring the queen back if you kill those men.'

'She's probably already dead,' said Jonpai. 'Where are the knight's of darkness? Have they left yet?'

'I will tell you if you swear that you shall do this deed yourself and bring back the queen,' said Chale.

Jonpai said nothing and walked quickly through the castle corridors. To his relief, it was very late in the evening and the castle was unoccupied. He did not want to be noticed. Chale continued following from a distance. When Jonpai reached a set of doors, he exited the castle and walked along a narrow path leading along the castle grounds. The moon was full this evening and it was the first time in awhile that rain wasn't falling. Jonpai headed towards the stables. When he reached them, a few squires were tending to the horses. They paid no attention to Jonpai. When he had found his horse, he saw that Chale had been true to his word. His horse was ready for riding and beside her was his long sword, his knives and his jacket and boots. When Jonpai was finished gearing up, he found that Chale had caught up to him.

'The queen must be stopped,' said Chale. 'Please bring her to me, Jonpai. I gave you your freedom. You owe me.'

'I owe you nothing, Chale,' said Jonpai, putting his sword into its sheath and tying it around his waist. He then got onto his horse. 'It is because of you that I was imprisoned. Now I shall go. I don't trust that I shall ever see you again.'

'Please, Jonpai,' Chale pleaded.

Jonpai kicked his horse and it began to slowly move out of the stables. Chale followed behind him.

'Don't send any men after me,' said Jonpai, looking back at Chale. 'If you do, I shall kill them all.'

'I trust that you will come to your senses,' said Chale. 'I know that in time you shall do what is right. The knights of darkness left only a day ago. They will be waiting on the east shore for their ship to arrive. You will come back here with the queen, I know you will.'

Jonpai stared into Chale's eyes for a moment and realized that he still had compassion for the man.

'Goodbye, Chale,' said Jonpai. And with that, Jonpai kicked his horse and took off, leaving Chale standing in the middle of the road, watching as Jonpai disappeared in the distance.

The cold night air felt good against Jonpai's body as he rode hard and fast through the many roads and paths of the city of Storrack. The streets were mainly deserted at this time. As Jonpai neared the city gates, he found two armed men blocking the way.

'Halt!' one of the men said.

Jonpai stopped his horse and stared at the two guards. He had his hood up over his head, concealing most of his face.

'I am in a hurry,' said Jonpai. 'Let me leave.'

'Where are you going this late at night?' asked the guard.

'Never you mind,' said Jonpai, he then tossed a coin towards the man. 'My business is my own. I am leaving this city.'

The guard grabbed the coin and looked it over.

'Yea, alright then,' said the guard. 'You're clear to pass.'

The two guards then stepped out of the way and opened the gates.

Jonpai kicked his horse once again and took off, passing the guards and the city gates and onto the long road ahead. As Jonpai rode, he thought about everything that had happened to him since he had been back. He realized that he would never be returning to Storrack. Once lord Karnip found out that he had been released, Jonpai would be considered an outlaw. His life had taken a great turn, but now he knew what he had to do. Jonpai followed the road for a long while. Soon enough it split off into different directions. If he kept taking the same road towards the west he would end up in Gracock. Jonpai knew that he would be welcomed back and have a place to stay at the Cherrypopper until at least he knew where he could go. But it was too late for that now. Jonpai turned east and knew he had to follow his destiny. That was his only destination now. Nothing mattered anymore but getting his revenge. He had one purpose and if he died trying, then so be it. Jonpai would face all five of the knights of darkness at once if he had to. He rode hard and fast through the blackness. In all his life, Jonpai never felt like he had truly belonged anywhere. The road had always seemed to be his only home and as he rode through the night, he felt it now more than ever. Lord Karnip, the man who had raised Jonpai like his own son, had now betrayed him. He knew he could never return. If he had to cross the haunted sea to kill the knights, then so be it.

After hours of riding, the sun began to rise. The mist blanketed the world all around. Jonpai rode hard into it and felt as though his future was a lot like the road into the fog ahead. He couldn't see where he was going but he knew there was something waiting for him further along.

Jonpai continuously looked behind him to see if there were riders following him. No doubt Lord Karnip would send men after him when he learned his prisoner had escaped. Jonpai was sure that the old lord would know he was heading towards the haunted sea to get his revenge. But perhaps Lord Karnip wouldn't send his men after him. Perhaps he would let the ruthless knights take care of Jonpai themselves. The rider thought on this as he turned back to see if men were following him. Instead of riders, all he saw was a thick wall of fog. Jonpai turned to face the road ahead and continued on his way. He knew he wouldn't reach the sea for several hours or so and was hoping that the five knights of darkness had not boarded the ship that Chale had spoken of earlier.

After a couple more hours, the fog lifted to reveal a gray world. The sky was blanketed in clouds. Jonpai felt a few drops of rain fall and cursed under his breath. By now Jonpai thought that he should be used to the rain. As the rider continued on, the rain began to fall more heavily. Jonpai looked behind him and saw nothing but a grim, bare landscape. He couldn't believe how empty the road was. By now, Jonpai had been riding for more than nine hours and he had not come across a single soul. It was true this road was not known to be very busy, seeing how it only led to a couple of merchant villages along the way and at its end, the haunted sea, but nevertheless, Jonpai was sure he was going to meet at least a couple of riders. In the back of his mind, he wished he would come across a group of outlaws looking for a fight so that he could warm up before facing the five knights of darkness. After all, it had been quite some time since Jonpai had last used his sword. The more he thought about it, Jonpai realized that this was most likely going to be his final fight. The knights of darkness were after all notorious for being incredible warriors. But Jonpai had nothing to live for anymore. He had hunted these five men for most of his life.

The rider continued on. The rain came down hard and turned the road into a sloppy mess. Jonpai's horse was beginning to slow down. They still had a ways to go before they reached the shores of the haunted sea. The road was too bare at this point for Jonpai to stop, so he decided to continue on.

'Sorry, ol' girl,' said Jonpai, as he patted his horses head. 'But we must go on just a little further.' He then reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a carrot, and let his horse snatch it out of his hands with her giant tongue. They rode for a long while.

The sky was now beginning to get darker and Jonpai realized that he must be getting closer to the sea. The air became filled with a smell of rotten flesh and decay. Jonpai's horse seemed to be troubled by where they were for she kept shaking her head and neighing loudly.

'Calm down, girl,' said Jonpai. 'We are almost there.'

As they went, the road eventually led to a forest. Jonpai pulled on his horses reins and put her into a slow trot as they entered. The riders' eyes scanned the thick bushes, leaves and trees that surrounded him. He knew that from here on out he would have to be as quiet as possible. Anything could be around him now and Jonpai's only hope for survival was to stay out of sight. As he continued riding, the smell got worse. His horse neighed and Jonpai tried his best to keep her quiet. His heart began to race as he realized that if anyone was near, they would have heard his horse by now.

Suddenly, there came a snap of twigs and Jonpai reached for his sword. He scanned the dark forest but his eyes saw nothing but deep bush. Jonpai then jumped from his horse, grabbed her by the reins and led her by foot along the path.

Another hour passed and Jonpai felt he was too exhausted to continue on. He found a small clearing off to the side of the road and decided to rest there. He led his horse off the road and tied her to a log in case she got frightened and took off. When she was secure, Jonpai returned to the road and examined it. He looked for fresh tracks in the mud to see if there had been riders along this way recently, but the rain made it too difficult to tell. The road was nothing more than a muddy mess. The path was covered in small puddles that could have been horse tracks, but again, it was too hard for Jonpai to know for sure. After another quick look, Jonpai headed over to his horse and took a seat with his back resting against a tree. He had been riding for a day straight. It was near impossible for him to keep his eyes open any longer. Nightfall was only a couple of hours away and the rider decided that it would be a good idea to rest through the night and continue on in the morning. He was desperately hungry, but was too exhausted to look for food. His eyes shut and for a moment he drifted off into sleep.

Before Jonpai noticed that he had nodded off, he was suddenly on his feet with his sword raised. He had either dreamed the sound of footsteps in the woods around him, or there was really something there. Jonpai was not about to leave it to chance. His horse suddenly neighed loudly. The smell of rotting corpses pierced his nose and was much stronger now.

'Whose there?' Jonpai called. 'Show yourself.'

There was only silence. The night was beginning to creep in, making it hard to see anything but the road and the forest that surrounded it. Suddenly there was another loud crack. Jonpai rushed up to the road with his sword raised and ready to strike. But he quickly stopped dead in his tracks when he saw what had been making the sounds. On the road ahead, was a large figure dressed in a black cloak.

'Not a step closer,' called Jonpai.

The figure had long, gray hair and carried no weapon that Jonpai could see.

'Show me your hands,' said Jonpai. 'Or else I shall attack.'

The cloaked figure looked up. When Jonpai saw its face, his stomach dropped. The figure was none other than a large, older woman.

'Who are you?' asked Jonpai.

The woman said nothing. She studied Jonpai closely with an expressionless face.

'Speak, woman,' said Jonpai. 'Or else I shall...'

'Attack me?' came the woman's voice. 'You wouldn't strike a defenseless old woman, would you? Some knight you are.'

'I am no knight,' said Jonpai, his sword still raised. 'What brings you to such a place as this?'

'Not a knight, eh?' asked the woman. 'What happened? You never got your chance to be knighted?'

A strange look crept across the woman's face as she said this. Jonpai lowered his sword.

'Answer my question, wench,' said Jonpai. 'What brings you here?'

'My business is my own,' said the woman. 'What brings you here?'

'My business is also my own,' said Jonpai.

'Well then,' said the woman. 'Seems like we are at an awkward point in the conversation.'

'Are there any more of you?' asked Jonpai.

'Will you stop with all these questions?' asked the woman. 'It sounds like your horse is not well. I heard it in the distance and decided to come see what I can do for it.'

'My horse is fine,' said Jonpai. 'She's just tired. We've had a long journey.'

Just then Jonpai's horse neighed loudly and began to kick fiercely.

'Let me see her,' said the woman. 'I can help.'

Jonpai watched his horse go mad and realized that the woman was right.

'Fine,' said Jonpai.

The woman walked closer to Jonpai and passed by him to get to his horse. As she walked closer, Jonpai studied the woman's face. She looked to be quite old and was very ugly. Her face was filled with scars and her nose looked broken. For a woman, her body was very large and masculine. As she got closer to his horse, she reached out and patted its face.

'Whats her name?' asked the woman.

'Valcia,' said Jonpai, watching his horse calm down as the woman brushed her.

The woman then whispered something into the horses ear. A few moments later, his horse was completely calm.

'Thank you,' said Jonpai. 'Now, who are you?'

The woman turned to face Jonpai.

'I am called Ranca,' said the woman. 'And you are?'

'My name is Lidd,' said Jonpai.

'Lidd?' the woman asked. 'That is an odd name. I would almost wager that you are lying to me.'

'What are you doing here?' asked Jonpai. 'There are no settlements close by. What is your business?'

'The same as yours,' said the woman. 'I am going to visit the sea.'

'Why?' asked Jonpai.

'To see if the stories are true,' said Ranca. 'I wish to see the dead who swim within its waters.'

'This is a dangerous place,' said Jonpai. 'Are you here alone?'

'No,' said Ranca, after a long pause. 'I have journeyed here with my sisters. Our camp is set up only a little ways further up the road. Do you wish to have some food and rest? You're welcome to come.'

'I suppose,' said Jonpai. 'You and your sisters are in great danger. It was foolish of you to come to such a place as this.'

'We can take care of ourselves,' said Ranca. 'Come. Your horse seems ready.'

Jonpai studied his horse and was astonished at how calm she had become. He had no choice but to trust this woman, after all, he was famished and in need of rest. Jonpai untied his horse and led her to the road, with Ranca leading. As they walked, Jonpai studied the woman.

'Have you seen anyone else?' asked Jonpai. 'While you have been on this road?'

'No,' said Ranca. 'Only you.'

'There are dangerous men lurking about,' said Jonpai. 'A group of ruthless killers in fact.'

Ranca laughed. 'Is that so?'

'Yes,' said Jonpai. 'I am here to kill them.'

'Are you?' asked Ranca. 'All by yourself?'

'Yes,' said Jonpai. 'Or else I shall die trying.'

'I was going to ask you why you were heading this way,' said Ranca. 'It's not everyday you see someone journeying to the haunted sea.'

'You came all this way with your sisters,' said Jonpai. 'Just to see if the haunted sea lived up to the stories. You risked your lives coming here out of curiosity. You women are foolish. Where do you come from?'

'We have all night to talk,' said Ranca.

'Lady, I feel it is my duty to tell you that you and your sisters should turn back immediately,' said Jonpai. 'This is not a place you should be. You're not even armed. If you came across these outlaws I speak of, well, there's no telling of all the horrible things they would do to you.'

Ranca said nothing. The two of them walked on in silence. As they continued, the smell got stronger.

'What do you think it is?' asked Ranca, after a long silence.

'What?' asked Jonpai.

'The smell of death,' said Ranca. 'Do you believe it is coming from the sea?'

'I am not sure,' said Jonpai, hesitantly.

'Do you believe the stories about the haunted sea?' asked Ranca.

'I believe what I see,' said Jonpai.

'Then we shall see,' said Ranca. The two of them continued on. The sun had now gone completely down and the two of them walked on in darkness. In the distance Jonpai could see a fire.

'We are almost at my camp,' said Ranca. 'Be silent and let me talk. My sisters are not as kind as I.'

'As you wish,' said Jonpai.

As they neared the camp, Jonpai could hear the soft voices of the women. When they approached, Ranca called to her sisters.

'It is I,' said Ranca. 'I have brought a visitor.'

'A visitor?' came another woman's voice.

Jonpai studied the women's camp. There were four older women, all dressed in black cloaks sitting around a fire. When they saw Jonpai, each of the women got to their feet. Jonpai noticed that the women had brought with them five war horses. His heart began to race, as he was struck with sudden confusion. Who were these women?

'Is this the one?' asked one of the women. 'The one that that Lord was talking about?'

'Yes,' said Ranca. 'Seems the old man was right.'

'What is going on here?' asked Jonpai. 'Who are you women?'

'Be done with it already, then,' said another woman. 'Kill his horse too so we have some more meat for the voyage.'

Before Jonpai could reach for his sword, he felt a hard kick to the back of his legs that made him fall to his knees. He then felt a blade press against his throat. It was Ranca who held it there.

'Easy now,' she said to him. 'No funny business or I'll slice you open.'

'Who are you?' asked Jonpai, astonished.

'Drop your sword,' said Ranca, pressing the blade more firmly. 'Now.'

Jonpai dropped his sword. One of the women came over and grabbed it.

'Nice, blade,' she said. 'This is a keeper.'

Jonpai heard a loud sound come from behind him. In the corner of his eyes, he saw another one of the women approach his horse and swing her sword so that it cut through its head. The horse fell headless to the ground where it jerked on the ground violently. Jonpai screamed in rage.

'He told us you would come,' said one of the women. 'Said that you would come after us once his weak son set you free. Well, here you are, as expected. You wished to kill us, did you?'

'This doesn't make any sense,' said Jonpai. 'I don't know what you are talking about.'

'Just kill him already,' said one of the other women. 'I am tired.'

Jonpai looked to the fire and saw, resting on a log, a pile of golden masks.

'No,' said Jonpai, under his breath. 'It can't be. This doesn't make any sense.'

Just then, the woman holding his sword, raised her foot to Jonpai's face and he saw and heard no more.

Chapter Ten

An Unpleasant Feast

As Daloa lay there half asleep, she wasn't sure if she heard the knock in a dream or if there was really someone at the door. Then another came and the young queen realized she had a visitor. She sprung from beneath the fur covers and rushed to the door. As she did so, Daloa looked at her naked body and quickly searched for something to drape over herself.

'Just a moment,' she called, after another knock came. After a quick scan around the small room she found a thin gown on the floor and slipped it on. Daloa then smoothed her hair with her hand and opened the door.

Standing in the doorway was Prince Fasmir. He was wearing a golden tunic with black breeches. His long blonde hair was well groomed and ran well past his broad shoulders. His clear piercing blue eyes stared into the queens as the two of them looked at each other in an awkward silence. Daloa suddenly felt vulnerable in front of this man, as she saw his eyes leave hers for a moment to scan her body. The gown she was wearing was small and left much of her chest and upper legs exposed. She did her best to hide herself from the eyes of the prince. Snapping out of it, she addressed him with a good morning.

His eyes looked into hers once more.

'Hello, Daloa,' the prince said, clearing his throat. 'Did you sleep well?'

'Well enough,' said Daloa. 'What brings you here?'

'I am to escort you to the main hall and make sure that you and your chambermaid are given some breakfast.'

'Oh,' said Daloa, looking back into her room.

'Something the matter?' asked Prince Fasmir.

'No, nothing,' said Daloa. 'Will you give me a moment to get ready? We only just awoke.'

'Yes,' said Fasmir. 'Of course.'

Daloa slammed the door shut and walked over to the bed to wake Galla.

'Wake up,' she said, shaking her chambermaid. 'Galla, get up.'

Galla turned onto her back and opened her eyes.

'What is it my queen?' she asked, softly.

'The prince is at the door,' Daloa said. 'He wants us to join him for breakfast.'

'Breakfast?' asked Galla. 'You go on without me. I am not hungry. Just sleepy.'

'You can't stay in this bloody room the entire time we're here,' argued the queen. 'You haven't eaten anything in days. Now, I order you to get up.'

Galla moaned and eventually rose from the bed. The two girls' then dressed themselves in fine clothing that they were given and opened the door to find Fasmir leaning against the wall.

'I'll never understand why it takes so long for women to get dressed,' he said.

Daloa locked the door behind her, as she and Galla stood in front of the tall prince.

'Why don't you have a woman yourself?' asked Daloa.

'Good morning, Prince Fasmir,' said Galla, with a small bow.

Fasmir looked at the chambermaid and then to Daloa and said, 'it's hard for a busy man such as myself to find the time to settle down. I am the commander of an army, if you didn't know that already.'

'How can you be so busy with an army that has no enemies?' asked Daloa.

The three of them began walking down the hall and towards a stairwell.

'Just because your land is not a threat, doesn't mean we don't have other enemies,' said Fasmir, looking at the queen with a look of discomfort. 'But let us talk of more pleasant matters for now. How was dinner with my father?'

'I thought you wanted to talk of pleasant matters,' said the queen.

Fasmir laughed.

'I know my father may seem cold-hearted,' he said. 'But he is a good man. He cares for his people, the same as you do.'

'I abandoned my people,' said Daloa. 'For a hopeless mission.'

'Hopeless?' asked Fasmir. 'You are here, aren't you? My father has told me that you have both agreed on terms.'

'What exactly has your father told you?' asked Daloa.

'I can see that I have upset you,' said Fasmir. 'He hasn't told me much, but I would just like to inform you that as the commander of the army that you need, you should be kinder to me.'

'Sorry,' said Daloa. 'Just know that I have not yet agreed on any of your fathers terms. So don't get any ideas.'

'Very well,' said Fasmir. 'Just know that I am perfectly happy with the life I already lead.'

The three of them reached the main floor of the castle and walked across and over to the main hall. It was a gigantic room, filled with many long wooden tables and benches. At the far end of the massive hall was a very large table. Daloa thought that this must be where the king and his sons and whoever else was royalty sit. In here now, were many servants setting up ornaments, tablecloths and other festive things.

'What is going on here?' asked Daloa.

'Preparations for the great feast tonight,' said Fasmir. 'My father wants to announce you to the realm.'

'I thought everyone here wanted me dead?' asked Daloa.

'You're arrival cannot be kept a secret any longer,' said Fasmir. 'My father doesn't want a civil war to break out, so he thinks it will be better if he welcomes you to his people in a fashionable manner. Don't worry, you will be well protected. No one is allowed a weapon within this hall. Our guests will be very curious to see what a person from the other side of the forbidden sea looks like.'

'Well then, I hope I don't disappoint them,' said Daloa.

'Oh, you won't,' said Fasmir. 'Anyways, I'll now leave you women to it. If you go to that table over there you will find dozens of dishes full of food for you to choose from.'

'You won't be joining us?' asked Daloa.

'I have other matters to attend to,' said Fasmir. 'Ill see you tonight at the feast, good day.'

With that, the prince walked out of the main hall and disappeared from sight. Daloa and Galla were left standing among the empty tables that filled this massive room. They watched as the servants prepared the hall for the great feast.

'Well,' said Daloa. 'We better get something to eat.'

The two girls' then slowly walked over to the table full of prepared food. There were eggs, sausages, salads and many other things that reminded Daloa and Galla of the breakfast's they had in their own land. It had been quite awhile since the two girls had seen such food as this. After they scanned each dish, they took what they wanted and walked over to a large bench.

As they sat there and ate, they noticed how they were the only ones in the great hall at this time, besides the servants.

'Obviously there are many others who occupy this castle besides servants,' said Daloa, after a bite of sausage. 'I think Fasmir and the king are keeping everyone away from us.'

'Well, just wait until tonight,' said Galla. 'Soon, everyone in this land will know who you are. And they shall see what a beautiful queen you are and they will grow to love you.'

'I hope so,' said Daloa. 'The sooner we are back in Vivus though, the better.'

'Are you nervous?' asked Galla.

'Nervous?' asked the queen.

'About the feast tonight,' said Galla. 'There are going to many curious eyes watching you closely.'

'Let them stare,' said Daloa. 'They will find that I mean them no harm. I shall tell them all about our land and they will come to find that they are welcome there, so long as they help me defend my position as queen.'

The two girls' continued to eat their breakfast in silence until Galla said, 'I don't mind that prince,'

Daloa looked up quickly and stared at her chambermaid suspiciously and said, 'well, then you marry him.'

'Marry?' asked Galla.

'Oh, never mind,' said Daloa.

'Is there something you want to tell me, my queen?' asked Galla, observing Daloa's anxious face.

'No, Galla,'said Daloa. 'Just eat your food.'

Just then the two girls heard a loud creak and saw that the large doors to the main hall had opened. A small man emerged from behind them and shut them again once he entered. Daloa recognized the small man.

'I wonder who that is,' said Galla, looking at him curiously.

'That's Polfrey,' said Daloa. 'He's Prince Fasmir's squire.'

The young man scanned the main hall shortly before spotting the queen and her chambermaid sitting. He then walked over to them. As he approached he bowed and said, 'good morning.'

'Good morning, Polfrey,' said Daloa. 'This is my chambermaid, Galla.'

Polfrey looked at Galla and his cheeks immediately turned red.

'My,' he said. 'Are all the women from your side of the sea this beautiful?'

The two girls' laughed.

'You're quite charming yourself,' said Daloa. 'What brings you here? Do sit down and join us for breakfast.'

'I wish I could,' said Polfrey. 'But I was sent to escort you women back to your chamber after you had finished eating.'

'Are we not allowed to go anywhere without being escorted?' asked Daloa, annoyed.

'I am sorry,' said Polfrey. 'But you are still a stranger to these parts.'

'I am only teasing,' said Daloa. 'I think we are finished here anyway. Let us go. I am in need of some more rest and another bath before tonight's feast.'

The three of them then exited the main hall and began their walk across the main floor and up the long staircase.

'Is this castle always this deserted?' asked Daloa.

'What do you mean?' asked Polfrey.

'Who lives here besides you, the prince and the king?' she asked.

'There are others,' said Polfrey, looking concerned. 'But since you have come, the king has ordered them all out.'

'Why is that?' asked Daloa, even though she knew the answer.

'To keep you and them safe,' said Polfrey.

'I see,' said the queen. 'Well after tonight your people shall know that I mean them no harm.'

'Yes,' said Polfrey. 'All shall be made clear after tonight.'

There was then a long silence between them before Polfrey turned to Galla and said, 'so, my lady, are you married in your land?'

Galla turned red, chuckled and said, 'goodness no. My duty is to my queen.'

'And mine is to my prince,' said Polfrey. 'You and I may have a lot more in common. Perhaps you can sit with me tonight at the feast and you can tell me all about your land and I shall tell you all about mine.'

'My chambermaid will sit with me this evening,' said Daloa.

'I don't think she will be allowed, Daloa' said Polfrey. 'You will be invited to sit at the royal table with the king and his sons. All the squires sit at a special table in the far corner, doubtless to say we don't have many chambermaids here, but Galla will be made to sit with us.'

'We shall see,' said Daloa. 'If this is so then I shall allow Galla to sit with you Polfrey, but do keep her safe. I am trusting you.'

'I will keep her close with me,' said Polfrey, trying to hold back his anticipation.

'Galla, how do you feel about this?' asked Daloa.

'I shall do what my queen asks,' said Galla, looking at Polfrey.

The three of them reached the top of the staircase and then walked down the hall until they reached the door to their chamber.

'Well,' said Daloa, opening the door. 'We shall see you later this evening, Polfrey.'

'Yes,' said the squire. 'Good day ladies.' He then bowed and left the two girls.

Daloa and Galla entered their chamber and closed the door behind them.

'I like him,' said Galla. 'He seems sweet.'

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'But he is Fasmir's squire. We cannot trust him just yet.'

'Oh, they seem nice enough,' said Galla.

Daloa looked at her chambermaid and was reminded of her innocence and lack of knowledge.

'Sorry, Galla,' said Daloa. 'I just want you to be aware that we are still in danger. This land is very far from home and our mission is far from being over.'

'Yes, my queen,' said Galla, looking at the floor.

'Come,' said Daloa, grabbing Galla's hands. 'Let us have another bath and plan our outfits for this evening.'

With that, Galla brightened up and the two girls undressed and got into the bath. The water was far from being warm, since it had been prepared the night before, but nonetheless it still felt good on their bruised, aching bodies.

Hours had passed by and both Daloa and Galla were now well rested, washed and ready for the evenings festivities. It was midday and they knew that the feast was still hours away. The two girls grew bored as they knew they could not leave the room.

At some point later on, a knock came at their door.

'Who is it?' asked Daloa.

There was no answer.

Just then the door opened slowly, revealing the three servant girls who had helped them last night.

'Oh, hello' said Daloa. 'Please, come in.'

The servants walked into the room and began tidying. The queen looked at Olizma and said to her, 'I would like to talk to you again.'

The old servant woman barely looked at Daloa and continued cleaning the room.

'Please,' said Daloa. 'It's about the king. I want you to tell me more about him. I've been thinking about your warning.'

The old servant woman continued her cleaning and didn't so much as glance at Daloa. The queen stood there and observed the old woman ignore her. As Olizma and the other servants made the bed and grabbed the towels that the girls had used, Daloa went over to Galla and said, 'strange, she seems to not want the others to know her power.'

'Please,' said Galla, desperately. 'Don't make her do it again. It was very creepy. I don't like having someone else's voice in my head.'

'We need her,' said Daloa. 'She knows things that we do not. But we better forget about it until another time. We must prepare now for this evening.'

With that, both Daloa and Galla undressed from their robes and began putting on the nice dresses that they had been provided with. When the servants were finished cleaning, they left. The girls spent the next couple of hours doing their hair and trying out different outfits. The queen had finally chosen a red dress, but was frustrated when she realized she had no shoes to match it. Galla put on a small black dress and also had no shoes.

'Well, what should we do?' asked Daloa. 'We can't wear our boots. They are hideous.'

'Perhaps we should go barefoot,' said Galla. 'Then when we see someone we can ask them if they can get us some shoes. Maybe Polfrey will help us.'

'Yes,' agreed the queen.

When the girls were finished, they sat on the bed and talked. Daloa admitted she was nervous to be presented to the people of Aurank. She did not know how they were going to take her. Finally, another knock came at the door.

'Who is it?' asked Daloa.

'It is Polfrey,' came the squires voice.

The queen got up and opened the door. There standing in the doorway was Polfrey. He was dressed very finely and looked very handsome. His eyes scanned the two girls closely, observing their outfits.

'You both look beautiful,' said the squire.

'And you look very dashing yourself,' said Daloa, smiling.

Polfrey's eyes then dropped to the floor and suddenly he looked puzzled.

'Where are your shoes?' he asked.

'We don't have any,' said the queen. 'We were wondering if you could help us find some?'

'Well, I don't know where I could find ladies shoes,' said Polfrey, troubled. 'Besides, we are already late. The great hall is filled and everyone is anxious to eat. But before the feast can be served, you must make your appearance.'

'Well, I can tell you now,' said Daloa, sharply. 'I am not showing up without any shoes on. People will think I am crazy. I am the queen of Vivus. What sort of a queen has no shoes?'

Polfrey scratched his head. 'Alright,' he said. 'Wait here.'

He then ran down the hallway and disappeared. A few moments later he arrived holding two different pairs of shoes. 'These are the best I could find.'

Daloa took them and looked at them closely. 'They will do, I suppose.'

Both Galla and the queen then put the ladies shoes on and observed how large they were compared to their own feet. The three of them then walked down the hall and down the staircase that brought them to the main floor. Soon enough they came to the large doors that led into the great hall. Behind them, Daloa and Galla could hear the great chatter of hundreds of different people. The queens heart began to race very quickly.

'OK,' said Polfrey. 'I am going to open the doors and announce you to everyone.'

Daloa looked into Polfrey's eyes. She was extremely nervous. The queen then took a deep breath and knew she had to be brave.

'Alright,' she said.

Polfrey smiled and then turned his back to the girls. Galla grabbed Daloa's hand and squeezed it as Polfrey opened the two large doors. Just then, the hall became dead silent. The queen observed the hundreds of faces that suddenly turned towards her. At the back of the hall, Daloa saw Prince Fasmir and the king look up and stare at her as well. It became so silent that the queen could hear her own heart beat.

'Ladies and gentlemen,' said Polfrey, very loudly. 'Let me introduce, Queen Daloa, the queen beyond the forbidden sea and the ruler of Vivus.'

Daloa didn't know what to do at this point. The hundreds of eyes pierced through her like hot pincers. Her legs brought her forward and into the great hall. It was all she could do from falling. The king stood from his throne and said, 'welcome Queen Daloa. Come forward.'

The queen then began to quickly walk down the aisle, passed the hundreds of people who sat at their tables observing her with awe and suspicion. When she finally reached the king and all the others who sat at the royal table, she bowed to them slowly.

'For the past two thousand years,' called the king. 'Our two lands have been split apart from one another. Tonight we shall be celebrating the joining of our lands and an alliance that has been long over due.'

The hall remained dead silent. The queen turned around and stared at the hundreds of eyes staring back at her. In the very back of the hall she saw Polfrey sit Galla down at one of the benches. The young squire then took his seat beside the chambermaid.

Daloa cleared her throat.

'Yes,' she said, loudly. 'I am honored to feast here toni...'

'Don't listen to her!' came a voice.

She then saw a large man near the back of the hall rise from his seat. 'Her voice shall curse us all,' he continued. 'Don't you all forget? The people from the other side are evil. I say we kill her.'

There was then a slight chatter among the guests in the hall. Daloa felt the warmth rise in her cheeks.

'And my people think the same of you,' she said, suddenly. The chatter died down. 'Each of our lands have been cut off from one another and given ancient stories to rely on for a very long time. But now that I am here, I see that those stories were nothing but lies. We aren't sure what happened between our two lands thousands of years ago, but now we have the chance to overcome these myths and learn about each others societies and help one another.'

'Lies!' yelled the man in the back. 'People of Aurank, do not be fooled by this enchantress. She may look beautiful but it is nothing but a spell. Inside she is a demonic whore sent here to wipe us out. Kill her! Kill her!'

Daloa turned to the king and watched him as he gestured to one of his men. The man that spoke was soon carried out of the hall by two fully armed knights.

'Whether you like it or not,' said the king, to his people. 'This alliance will happen and our two lands will join together. If we continue to keep ourselves divided, then we shall starve in a couple of years. Our crops are dying and our water has become almost undrinkable. I, the king of Aurank will not see my people be wiped out because of their ridiculous superstitions. Queen Daloa will help us. If anyone here objects, then you can come talk to me about it and I promise you that I shall make you understand. Either that or I will make sure that you no longer poison the ears of our people. Do you understand?'

The hall remained dead silent. Daloa looked at the hundreds of scared, shocked, angered and disappointed people she was now facing.

'Good,' said King Whyten. 'Let us all eat and continue on with the festivities.'

A few moments later the hall became quite loud with the chatter of the guests once again. Hundreds of servants began to emerge from doors with their arms filled with plates of food and drinks.

'There is room for you over here, Daloa,' came the voice of Fasmir.

Daloa looked over to the prince and walked towards him. He gestured towards the empty chair beside him and without hesitation the queen sat down.

'Not the greatest introduction,' said Fasmir. 'But it was a start.'

'They hate me,' said Daloa. 'They all wish for me to be dead.'

'Give them time,' said the prince. 'Soon enough they will realize that you are here to help them.'

'I am here for an army,' said the queen.

'Yes,' said Fasmir. 'My army.'

The queen said nothing.

'We must help one another,' said Fasmir. 'But let us not talk of such things now. Let's just enjoy the festivities. After all, tonight is all about you, Queen Daloa.'

The queen looked away from Fasmir's gaze and turned her eyes to the king who took a seat in his throne.

'Where is your queen?' asked Daloa. 'Do you not have a mother?'

'Mother died years ago,' said Fasmir.

'Oh,' said Daloa, looking past the prince. 'I am sorry. May I ask how?'

Fasmir grabbed at a goblet and took a drink from it. He then said, 'she died giving birth to a child. Both her and the child died together.'

'I am sorry to hear that,' said Daloa. 'I heard you have a brother. Where is he tonight?'

Fasmir gazed towards the very back of the hall and said, 'my brother should be here any moment.'

'Is he younger or older than you?' asked Daloa.

'Prince Larr is older than I,' said Fasmir. 'But he is younger in spirit, you could say. He's very childish.'

Just then, the two large doors at the back of the hall burst open. All the heads in the room looked up from their plates of food and towards the large man who had entered the main hall. The large man looked to be seven feet tall. His hair was very long and kept in a bun. His face was covered in a bushy black beard and his skin was covered in scars. He wore a black tunic and black leather breeches that barely fit around his extremely large waste.

'Who is that?' whispered Daloa.

Behind the large man, a younger and much smaller man emerged and tried to catch his breath as he faced the large crowd of people that sat staring with mixed expressions.

'My apologies,' said the young man. 'May I present, Prince Larr.'

'They know who I am,' said the larger man, pushing the young squire aside quite forcefully. 'This is my damn castle.'

'No, this is my castle,' roared the king, as he rose from his throne. 'Get over here and be quiet, you're disturbing everyone.'

'Sorry, father,' said the large man, smiling quite devishly. He then began walking down the aisle towards the royal table. On his way, he grabbed at someones plate and removed a large piece of meat that hung from the bone. When he reached the table where his brother sat, he gazed into Daloa's eyes.

'My,' said the large man. 'You're a pretty one.'

'Sit down and be quiet, you imbecile,' said King Whyten. The king then looked towards the hundreds of guests sitting and watching and said to them, 'my apologies. Please resume with the feast.'

With that, the hall was once again filled with the clattering of plates and chatter of the people.

'I take it you're the queen,' said the large man, taking a large bite of meat.

Daloa looked at him and realized how ugly he was now she was face to face with him. She then swallowed and said to him, 'yes. I am queen Daloa. I am pleased to meet you.'

'Trust me, the pleasure is all mine,' he said, with the same devilish smirk on his face. 'I am Prince Larr.'

'You smell like wine,' said Prince Fasmir, to his brother. 'Already drunk I presume?'

Larr turned his gaze from the queen and directed it towards Fasmir. 'It's not everyday we have a young, pretty queen here.' He then turned his eyes back towards Daloa and winked at her.

Daloa gave the prince a fierce look. She did not appreciate his tone and the way he looked at her.

'Sit down you fool,' said King Whyten, to his son. 'It's bad enough you arrived late, don't upset our guest as well.'

'I am not upsetting her,' said Larr.

'Just sit down, brother,' said Fasmir. 'Have another glass of wine.'

'I don't know why you two are making such a fuss,' said Larr. The large prince than sat on the table in front of the queen. Many of the guests in the hall were now watching the prince's antics.

'So,' said Larr, leaning towards Daloa. 'How did such a pretty girl like yourself cross the forbidden sea?'

'I had help,' said Daloa, slowly.

'I bet you did,' said Larr. His eyes left the queens and traveled down her body. He then licked his lips and asked, 'how do you not have a king in your little land? You traveled all this way just to have my brother and I?'

'That's enough, Larr,' said Fasmir.

Larr then reached his hand towards the queen and said, 'your skin looks so soft. I want to touch you and see if you're real.'

The queen had had enough. She rose from her chair and grabbed at a knife on the table. She pointed the blade towards Larr. All eyes in the hall were now on Daloa. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and confusion. Larr didn't so much as flinch. He slowly raised himself from the table and stood on his two feet, staring at the queen with childish amusement.

'Did I upset you?' he asked her.

Fasmir stood and grabbed Daloa's arms and lowered them. 'You are such a fool,' he said to his brother. 'Daloa, please sit down and give me the knife.'

The queen looked at all the guests and became suddenly very anxious. Her face became bright red. She was suddenly overcome with grief. She dropped the knife and turned to Fasmir and said, 'sorry, I need to get some fresh air.'

'I'll come with you,' Fasmir said to her. He then turned to his father and told him that he and the queen were to be excused for a little while. King Whyten nodded and then looked to Larr with fury in his eyes. As Fasmir escorted the queen from behind the row of tables and towards a near door, Prince Larr's voice cut across the chattering crowd.

'Don't you see!' his voice rang. 'She is a curse upon this land.'

Daloa turned towards the sight of Prince Larr. He was now standing on the table and looking out towards the hundreds of spectators.

'How can you all sit here and eat with the woman who brings death to our doorstep?' Prince Larr called. 'She has come here to make Auran her own. Her people will come for her and when they do, we shall be at war. This queen has brought doom to us all and you sit here and let it all happen.'

'That's enough,' the king roared. 'You will sit down and be quiet. Larr, don't make me tell you again.'

'No need to fret, father,' said the large prince. 'That is all I wanted to say to these good people. As for the queen, I hope she can warm my bed as she spends her last days here in Aurank.'

The queen then broke from Fasmir's grasp and walked towards Larr. She then jumped onto the table and stood beside the large prince and pressed her finger into his chest. She then said to him loudly so all could hear, 'I am Queen Daloa. Ruler of Vanak. I will not be insulted by such scum as you. I and my people are not interested in taking your land. Our land is already much better than yours. I wouldn't have any need of this dark, sullen, lonely place.'

'Than why are you here?' asked Larr.

'To see if Aurank had any true warriors,' said Daloa. 'So far, I have seen none.'

Larr puffed out his chest and began to laugh. He then smacked Daloa's arm away and said, 'you're made of tough stuff, but we shall see how tough you really are soon enough.'

Fasmir walked over and raised his hand for Daloa to take. She looked at all the faces in the crowd and realized she didn't care what they thought of her. She was tired of being insulted. All Daloa wanted was to go home and forget this awful place. She then grabbed Fasmir's hand and jumped off the table. She and the prince then walked across the hall and exited out of a door.

They walked through a hall that led to a flight of stairs that took them to a narrow corridor. The narrow corridor ended and Fasmir and Daloa were now under the moonlight on a high balcony. They leaned against the stone rail and looked down to the land that was barely visible beneath them. The cool night air felt good on Daloa's warm skin. She was beginning to feel as though she could not breath being in that large hall with all those people.

The two of them stood in silence, each looking off into different directions. They could hear the distant croaking of frogs from down below. The sky above was filled with clouds and there were very few stars that could be seen. Fasmir soon cleared his throat and said, 'I apologize for my brother. We do not think much of him, my father and I.'

'That is good,' mumbled Daloa.

Fasmir looked at the queen and then away towards the night sky. He then said, 'I know what my father wants of you.'

Daloa turned to look at the prince and said nothing at first. Then after a silent moment she asked, 'oh, and what is that?'

'First, let me ask you, Daloa,' said Fasmir, looking into the queens eyes. 'What is it that you want?'

The queen held her eyes on Fasmir's and thought to herself for a brief moment how the prince had a somewhat handsome face in the moonlight. She then answered his question and said, 'what I really want is to leave this place and get back to my homeland. But I can only go back with an army. Your army, Fasmir.'

'And my father wants...'

'I know what your father wants,' said Daloa, quickly. She then turned away from Fasmir and stared off into the black land below.

'He gave you a choice,' said Fasmir. 'My father told you that it can either be my brother Larr or I. After tonight, I am certain that Larr is not the one you would likely choose to be your husband.'

The queen said nothing.

'If it must be me, Daloa. I want you to know, that I do not want you.'

Daloa turned to face Fasmir and said, 'how dare you speak to me like this.'

'I can speak to you any way I want!' Fasmir suddenly snapped.

There was a tense silence.

'Listen to me,' said Fasmir, grabbing a hold of Daloa's shoulders and staring into her eyes. 'You're not in your precious land anymore. You are not a queen here and you are of little worth to me and everyone else. Quit speaking as if you are in charge.'

'Let go of me,' Daloa demanded.

'Get it through your thick skull, girl,' said Fasmir. 'You think I want to marry you? You think you're so special as to make me beg you for your hand in marriage? I can have any damn woman I want. You want my army at my expense. I was enjoying my life before you came along.'

'Unhand me,' Daloa said, trying to forcefully get out of Fasmir's grasp. After a little while longer, the prince let go of the queen. The two of them stood in a dead silence.

Fasmir then said, 'go home, Daloa. Leave this place.'

The queen said nothing. She tried to be brave but she couldn't hold back the tears that dripped from her eyes.

The prince then said, 'I didn't want to be so forceful. But I just want you gone. You are in danger here.'

'Is it someone else?' asked Daloa. 'Are you in love with another? Is this why you don't want to marry me?'

'I don't give a damn about love,' said Fasmir. 'I want to keep my army and my life. I don't see why my father doesn't just marry you himself. I don't see why he chooses to get me involved.'

'Well, believe me,' said Daloa. 'I would never want to marry such a terrible man like you anyway.'

'Then go,' said Fasmir. 'Leave this place. Go back to your people.'

'Your father is not going to be pleased,' said Daloa. 'What kind of prince are you? You wish to doom your own people all because you do not wish to marry me?'

'And what kind of queen are you?' asked Fasmir. 'You wish to give up your mission all because you do not wish to marry me?'

'I never said anything like that,' said Daloa.

'Oh no?' asked Fasmir.

Daloa said nothing. She turned away from the prince and the two of them stood once more in silence.

'Look,' said Fasmir. 'I am giving you the opportunity to leave this land and go back to your people. The sooner you are gone from here, the better.'

'What will your father do once I am gone?' asked Daloa. 'No doubt he will send after me once he learns I have left.'

'I can delay him,' said the prince.

'I cannot return empty handed,' said Daloa. 'Not after everything I have been through.'

'Then you wish to stay here and marry me?' asked Fasmir.

Daloa turned to face the prince and said, 'no. But I will do what I must to have my army.'

'You mean my army?' asked the prince, furiously. 'Very well. But I must warn you, Daloa. If the king should not live much longer to see this plan carried out, well there is no telling what may happen to you.'

'You're going to kill your father?' asked Daloa.

The prince said nothing.

'Perhaps I'll go and tell him everything you have said here,' said Daloa.

Fasmir laughed and said, 'don't bother. He'll find out one way or another. My father has a way of finding out everything.'

'Then why are you saying all of this to me?' asked Daloa.

'Because, Daloa,' said Fasmir. 'I want you to leave.'

'Everything I want is for the good of my people,' said Daloa.

'You will regret not taking my advice then,' said Fasmir. 'So be it, but you have been warned.' The prince then turned away from Daloa and began walking back into the shadows of the corridor.

Before he was gone, Daloa said one last thing to him, 'Fasmir, I love my people so much that if it means marrying you to save them, then so be it.'

Fasmir stopped for a moment to hear the queens words then grunted and continued to walk from her. The queen soon found herself standing alone on the dark terrace. She wanted to cry but she knew she couldn't. Her head was full of thoughts that were drenched in worries and anxiety. Perhaps she could just take Fasmir's advice and leave this place. But in her heart, Daloa knew that she had come too far to give up now. After a long time of standing and pondering on her thoughts, she left the balcony and entered the long dark corridor. As she walked, she heard footsteps approaching her. It was very dark and difficult to make out who was there.

'Hello?' Daloa called out.

'My queen?' came a soft voice.

The queen recognized the voice.

'Galla?' the queen asked.

Just then Galla came running towards Daloa. The two girls embraced one another.

'Oh, Galla,' said the queen. 'I am so happy to see you.'

Another figure then emerged from the darkness. As it got closer, Daloa saw that it was Fasmir's squire, Polfrey.

'Hello, Queen Daloa,' he said, bowing slightly.

'Hello Polfrey,' said Daloa. 'What are you two doing here?'

'We have come to check on you,' said Polfrey. 'Fasmir left the feast quite in a rage. The king is ordering everyone to leave at once. It seems tonight's festivities have turned into a bit of a mess.'

'I am sorry to hear that,' said Daloa.

'Galla and I approached King Whyten and asked him if it would be alright for the two of us to come check on you, seeing how you've been up here for a long while.'

'Is the king upset with me?' asked Daloa. 'For leaving the feast?'

'No,' said Polfrey. 'He is more angry with his two sons. It seems they have insulted him. I understand why Larr has, but I'm not quite sure about Fasmir. Did you upset him in some way? He seemed real put off when he appeared in the hall without you.'

'I don't want to talk about it right now,' said Daloa. 'As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to never see that man again. I want to go home more than anything right now.'

'The king wouldn't be happy to hear this,' said Polfrey.

'I need to speak with the king,' Daloa decided. 'Is he still in the hall?'

'He was there when we left to come find you,' said Polfrey.

'Good,' said Daloa. 'Let us head back.'

The three of them then walked down the corridor until they reached the stairs. When they had descended down the lengthy steps they opened the door that led into the main hall. When they got there, they found the hundreds of guests filing out of the two main doors. The tables still had many plates of half eaten food and glasses full of wine. Servants were going around cleaning up the place. As Daloa, Polfrey and Galla walked into the hall, they saw that the king was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, Larr was absent as well.

The queen stood there in confusion for a little while, when suddenly, two fully armed men approached her.

'You are to come with us,' one of them said.

The two men had helmets that covered their entire face. At their wastes hung long swords in sheaths and Daloa knew she had no choice but to follow these men. But before she did, she asked them, 'where are you taking me?'

'Back to your chamber,' one of the guards answered. 'Kings orders.'

'Very well,' said Daloa. 'Come Galla.'

Both Daloa and Galla followed the two large guards between the empty rows of tables and benches. When the queen saw that Polfrey was no longer following them she called to him, 'are you not coming with us?'

'No,' said Polfrey. 'I think I am going to hang around here for a little while longer. There's still plenty of wine and food to be consumed.'

'Well,' said Daloa. 'Goodnight.'

'Goodnight, queen Daloa,' said Polfrey. 'And goodnight, Galla.'

Galla smiled and said goodnight to Polfrey. The girls then followed the two guards out of the great hall. As they reached the mob of people that were filing out of the main doors and the castle itself, the two guards began pushing and shoving them all out of the way. Many eyes watched Daloa as she passed through them. The emotions on all the faces were a mix of hate and fear. She knew these people wanted to rip her apart, but they feared their king and the guards, so they restrained themselves. Daloa felt as though she could not breath in the company of all these hateful people. She was glad when she had gotten away from them all. They reached the stairwell that led to their chamber. When they reached the door, they found that the door was open.

'Well,' said Daloa to the two guards that had safely escorted her and Galla back. 'Thank you.'

The guards said nothing and posted themselves at each side of the door to her chamber. Daloa knew that these men were ordered to stay here and keep anyone from entering. She was thankful for this. The queen and Galla then entered their chamber and locked the door behind them. The two girls were glad to be back in the privacy of their chamber.

'What happened with you and Fasmir?' asked Galla, jumping onto the bed and laying down.

'Nothing,' said Daloa. 'I don't want to talk about it.'

'His brother is a monster,' said Galla. 'I couldn't believe how rude he was to you.'

'I can,' said Daloa. 'He's just like Fasmir and everyone else in this vile city. We need to leave Galla. Our time here is up.'

'But what about your mission?' asked Galla, sitting up.

'We have failed,' said Daloa. 'We will get no help here.'

'Oh, my queen,' said Galla, softly. She then began to cry.

'Stop it, Galla,' said Daloa. 'That's enough. We were wrong to have come to such as place as this. My best men died for nothing. I curse myself for ever thinking this plan would work.'

Before she could stop herself, Queen Daloa found herself bursting into tears as well. The two girls embraced one another and cried in each others arms. They did this for a few minutes until Daloa broke free from Galla and said, 'we are in grave danger, Galla. Fasmir does not want us to stay. I fear he is going to murder the king and if he does, he is going to do something horrible to us. We have to leave as soon as possible.'

'How do you know this?' asked Galla.

'He told me this evening,' said Daloa.

'You should go to the king and tell him,' said Galla.

'The king would never believe me,' said Daloa. 'He would just think I was up to something. No one here trusts me.'

'How are we going to leave?' asked Galla. 'There's no way the two of us could ever get back.'

'Perhaps I could find and ask Geraldo to help us,' said the queen.

'Geraldo is Fasmir's man,' said Galla. 'Oh, what a mess we are in.'

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'This is a mess. Well, let's go to bed and think in the morning. Our heads may be clearer then. But Galla, just know that we must leave soon.'

'All this for nothing,' said Galla. She then crawled to the far side of the bed, went underneath the covers and continued weeping.

Daloa took a seat on the edge of the bed and put her head into her hands. She did not want to give up the mission but she did not want to wait and find her and Galla in even more danger than they were now. The queen knew she had to act quickly.

After a long while of being wrapped in her thoughts, Daloa cuddled up next to Galla and tried to fall asleep. It was of no use, however. Her mind was too anxious. After hours of restlessness, she soon saw the light of day come through the window. Daloa lay there having had no sleep at all. She got out of bed and opened the door to her chamber. Outside, she saw that the two guards that had escorted her last night, were still standing at each side of the door. The queen now understood that she and Galla, were trapped.

Chapter Eleven

The Cattle Farmers

He was surprised to find he was still alive. The night had been cold and filled with the sounds of howling wolves in the distance. Martyn thought for sure he would wake to find himself surrounded by a pack of them; ready to become their next feast. But instead, Martyn's eyes opened to the light of day and found that not a single animal had attacked him in the night. His arms and legs were still intact, even though they were still bounded to the tree. With sunlight piercing through the canopy of trees above him, Martyn saw the mess that had taken place in front of him the night before.

The fire was out, as Romerick's charred body still lay in it. The bodies of all the other men who had been killed in the fight, lay still like fallen trees. The forest was dead quiet as Martyn looked at the corpses. There were numerous amounts of crows feeding on the remains and Martyn knew that it was only a matter of time before larger animals came for them. In the process, Martyn was sure that he would add splendidly to their dinner.

His limbs had become numb a long while ago, for they were fastened to the tree at uncomfortable angles. Martyn was extremely sore and he tried his hardest to worm his way out from the ropes, but it was no use. They were too tight. As he stood, tied to the three, there in the silence of the forest, he thought back on the night before. It all seemed to him now as a nightmare. He was thinking about his sister. Would they harm her? What would they do to her once they found out she was worth nothing and had no family? The more he thought about this the more Martyn knew he had to get free and go after Julias.

Martyn began to yell for help as the sun began to rise. He knew this was a foolish thing to do, for it was likely that it would bring him company that he did not want. His voice would either attract larger animals or even worse, more outlaws. But at this point, Martyn knew that he would surely not survive another night tied to this tree, so he began to panic. For hours, though, all he got was the answer of birds singing in the trees.

Martyn's voice became hoarse by mid-day. He knew that if he lost his voice, there would be no hope for him. As the day went on, the sun began to go down and he knew that death was coming for him in the night. Martyn screamed out in a furious rage. Finally, he heard a horse neigh in the distance.

'Hello!' screamed Martyn in shock. 'Anyone?'

At first there was only silence. Martyn knew that there had to be someone around him if a horse was near. He continued to shout. Sure enough, Martyn heard the sound of cracking leaves and twigs. Before long, a figure burst out from the bushes. It was an old man. He had a small dagger in one hand and a long walking stick in the other. His eyes scanned the violent scene around him.

'What in gods name?' the old man mumbled to himself.

'Please,' said Martyn. 'Help me.'

The old man looked up to see Martyn tied to the tree.

'Who are you?' asked the old man, staying where he was.

'My name is Martyn. I have been put here by a band of outlaws.'

'What happened here?' the old man asked, looking towards Romerick's burned body.

'Outlaws,' said Martyn. 'They met us on the road and tied me to this tree. They left with my sister and killed everyone else.'

The old man took off his hat and continued to survey the scene.

'Nasty business,' said the old man.

'Please,' said Martyn. 'I am so sore.'

'Of course,' said the old man. He then rushed over to Martyn and cut the ropes that held him. When he was free, Martyn immediately fell to the ground. He still could not feel his legs or arms. The old man knelt down to try and help the young man. After quite some time, the feeling in Martyn's tired limbs came back to him. The old man grabbed him and sat him up so that his back rested against the same tree he had been tied to.

'Thank you,' said Martyn.

'Of course,' said the old man. 'My name is Maggo. You're lucky we heard your screams.'

'I didn't think anyone was going to hear me,' Martyn said, with a faint smile.

'How long have you been here like this?' asked Maggo.

'Since last night,' said Martyn. 'Do you have any water?'

'Not on me,' said Maggo. 'But on my wagon I sure do. You think you can walk yet?'

Martyn tried to move himself but found he couldn't.

'Not yet,' he said. 'Give me a little while longer.'

'Sure,' said Maggo. 'I trust you're quite sore from being tied like that for so long. You're lucky the wolves didn't get you.'

'Yes,' said Martyn. 'How did you hear me? I mean, why were you on this road?'

'My home is a couple of yards from here,' said Maggo. 'I was out with my granddaughter, heading back from Vanak. We were there selling milk . I own a cattle farm. My granddaughter was actually the one that heard you calling. My old ears wouldn't have picked that up. She's up on the road now, guarding the wagon.'

'You should get back to her,' said Martyn. 'These roads aren't safe, as you can see.'

'Ah,' said Maggo. 'My granddaughter can handle herself. She may look thin and delicate, but she's made of tough stuff. Since her parents passed away she's been living with me. Every morning at the crack of dawn she's up practicing her sword play. Bless her. Thinks she's going to get her revenge one day. I told her she's better off living with me until I pass away. Then she can have my farm and make well for herself. But she doesn't seem quite too keen on all that.'

'Who does she wish to take her revenge upon?' asked Martyn, interested.

'I shouldn't be blabbering on,' said Maggo. 'But what the hell, you could use some conversation. Lana, my granddaughter, her parents were murdered by a group of thugs in the city. She used to live there with them until that happened. Now she lives with me, far from that wretched place. Vanak has gone to the dogs if you ask me. Since that damn Karnip died and that new young queen came into place, there has been no order in the city. It's streets run red with blood and in every nook and corner there seems to be groups of rapists and thieves. Vanak is no longer the great city that I once knew growing up as a boy. That's why I do my business there as quick as I can and leave. Even the roads aren't safe no more. Look at all this here.'

Maggo turned to face the dozens of bodies that surrounded he and Martyn. As the two sat there in silence, Martyn reflected on how much he shared with this man's granddaughter.

'You know what,' said Martyn, shifting his body. 'I think I can walk now.'

After a long struggle to get to his feet, Martyn finally regained his strength and balance and followed the old farmer, Maggo, through the forest and back onto the road. Before leaving, however, Martyn had gone over to Romerick's ashen body and armed himself with the dead mans sword. As he looked down at him, Martyn had pity and respect for the man who tried to save he and his sisters life. For this, Martyn felt guilty for leaving the man unburied.

When they got to the road, Martyn found that evening was approaching. The sun's light radiated off the clouds and made a pretty scene. As Martyn looked out towards the distant sunset and the green pastures that lay before him, he realized how happy and grateful he was to still be alive. He then looked before him and found a large brown horse attached to a wagon. Maggo walked towards this wagon and Martyn followed him. On the wagon, Martyn saw a young woman sitting and holding the reins. The woman's eyes scanned Martyn as he got closer. Suddenly, she spoke. Her voice was fierce, loud and confident.

'You the voice I heard?'

Martyn suddenly became conscious of his appearance in front of the girl and somewhat felt ashamed of how dirty and rugged he looked.

'Yes,' said Martyn, slowly. 'I owe you my life, for I must admit, if you had not heard me, then I would surely be a dead man.'

The woman kept her intimidating glare upon him. It were as if she were trying to look inside Martyn's head. Doubtless this girl was not one to trust strangers.

'Where do you come from?' she asked.

'The city,' said Martyn. 'I was trying to flee with my sister, Julias, but we were soon ambushed by a group of outlaws. They killed my horse, tied me to a tree and took her. I must now go after them and save her.'

The girl kept her gaze upon Martyn. Her expression was cold and untrusting. Martyn could see that she was weary of him.

'Why should I believe you?' the girl asked.

'Now come, Lana,' said Maggo, walking towards her and the wagon. 'I saw the poor lad tied to the tree he speaks of. I let him loose.'

'He could have been tied to that tree for a good reason,' said Lana.

'You think I'm lying?' asked Martyn, getting frustrated. He then took a deep breath and said, 'it doesn't matter anyhow. I must be on my way.'

'You're going to walk to the city from here?' asked Lana. 'It's going to take you awhile.'

'What choice do I have?' asked Martyn, desperately.

'Please,' said Maggo, turning to Martyn. 'You're still very weak and I can't imagine how long it's been since you've last eaten. Please, come back with us and stay at my house until you've rested yourself and are replenished.'

'Grandpa!' said Lana, upset. 'You can't just invite strangers over. He could be dangerous.'

'Oh, quiet yourself, Lana,' said Maggo. 'The boy has gone through a lot, can't you see?'

'It's alright,' said Martyn. 'I cannot delay any longer while my sister is in the clutches of those wicked men, anyway. Thank you and I bid you both farewell.'

Martyn then turned to leave them and begin his long walk back to Vanak, when he heard Lana call to him.

'Getting there on horseback would be a lot quicker you know.'

Martyn drew a deep breath and said, 'of course it would be. But my horse is dead.'

'If you come back with us, we have a horse we can provide you with,' she said.

Martyn turned around to face the girl.

'You wish to help me now?' he asked. 'Just a moment ago you were telling your grandfather here that I was a stranger that cannot be trusted.'

'I see now that you are no threat to us,' said Lana. 'And I know how it feels to have someone taken from you. Come back with us, get rested and we'll send you off with one of our mares.'

'Lana?' asked Maggo. 'You can't just give the boy one of our horses.'

'I'll give him mine,' said Lana. 'Once he gets his sister back I trust that he'll return her. Isn't that right, um..?'

'Martyn,' said Martyn. 'And, of course. I shall come back with the horse in good health, once I get my sister back.'

Maggo looked uncomfortable at the proposition but realized that he was too tired to negotiate.

'Alright then,' he said. 'It's getting late anyhow and we better get back to the house. Let's go then.'

The farmer then climbed onto the wagon and helped Martyn up. Lana pulled the reins to the horses and the three of them were off. As they traveled neither of them said much. Martyn had his back against a large crate and looked out at the darkness that was now consuming them. The sun was completely set and the moon now began its turn to be the master of the sky.

They had traveled for a long while before turning from the road onto a thin path that took them to a very small house that rested on a good chunk of land. The home was surrounded by a wired fence. As they passed through it, Martyn saw a large stable. In there he knew contained his ticket to getting back to Vanak and rescuing his sister.

This wooden home was very small relative to the amount of land it rested on. As the wagon approached it, Martyn suddenly realized how tired he was. There was nothing more he wanted to do then to go on inside, find a bed and rest. But he had to get to his sister as soon as possible. Part of him wanted to jump from the wagon and run to the stable to find a horse and take off with it. However, these people had been kind to him and he at least owed them his company for a small while. As the wagon came to a halt, the girl turned to Martyn and asked, 'you still awake back there?'

'Aye,' Martyn answered, getting to his feet.

The old man grabbed the reins from Lana's hands and said, 'why don't you and the boy go on inside and I'll unload the wagon and put the horses to the stables. Get some food going so that we can all eat when I'm finished.'

'Are you sure Grandpa?' the girl asked.

'Quite,' he answered. 'Go on.'

Lana stared long at her grandpa and after jumped from the wagon and called to Martyn, 'come on, then. Follow me.'

Martyn then got off the wagon himself and followed Lana into the house. The moonlight made it just visible enough to see where they were going. As they entered the house, Lana rushed into the darkness and soon came to Martyn holding a candle.

'Hold this,' she said, passing the candle to Martyn. 'I'll go on and light some more.'

Martyn walked through the doorway, holding the candle and waited as the girl lit dozens of candles around the house. Soon enough the whole place was filled with candlelight. Martyn reflected on how long it had been since he had been inside a proper home. He walked around and admired the tables and stools, desks and beds. There were no stairs, so he knew that there was no upper level. There were a couple doors that led into other rooms that he did not explore yet. Instead, he followed Lana and she took him into the back of the house where a small round table was with four chairs around it.

'This here is our dining room and kitchen.'

Martyn didn't say anything.

'What's wrong?' she asked.

Martyn looked at Lana. In the candlelight he noticed how beautiful she was. Her dark red hair and soft pale skin made him feel something he hadn't felt in a very long time. She looked fragile but at the same time, her bright, wild eyes made him see that she was tough and could take care of herself. He looked to the small sword that hung from her waist. He wondered if she had ever killed a man.

'Nothing,' said Martyn.

'You want to leave, don't you?' said Lana, folding her arms.

'I need to get to my sister,' Martyn said.

'Be patient,' said Lana. 'You look exhausted and starved half to death. You need food and rest and then you can go find your sister.'

'You don't know what I need,' Martyn snapped. 'You don't know what I've been through. The things I've seen and had to suffer. I can handle myself.'

'Can you?' asked Lana. 'Perhaps we should have kept you tied to that tree.'

Martyn wanted to strike her, but he knew he hand to constrain himself.

'There's a bath in the other room,' said Lana. 'You look like you could use one.'

'I'm fine thanks,' said Martyn.

'You're a stubborn little shit,' said Lana. 'But you seem harmless enough. It's going to take me awhile to prepare us some dinner and you don't seem like you want to have a decent conversation so why don't you just go sit in that bath and wash up before we try to kill one another.'

Martyn smiled.

'Ah, good,' she said. 'A smile. Wasn't sure if anyone was home.'

'Alright,' said Martyn. 'I'll go. Where is it?'

'Behind that door right over there,' said Lana, pointing. 'Take a candle. Oh and the water ain't going to be too warm but I think you can handle it.'

Martyn grabbed a candle and said, 'thanks.' He then walked towards the door Lana had pointed to and opened it. Inside he found an empty room with a bath and some towels. Closing the door behind him, Martyn set the candle down and slowly took off his clothes. When he was naked, he looked down at himself and was shocked to see all the cuts and bruises on his body. He had barely felt any of them until he noticed how bad some of them looked. Seeing that he was not in any true danger, he walked towards the bath and dipped a toe in. The water was ice cold but he knew that he had to get in and wash out some of his injuries. After a couple of painful moments, Martyn found himself completely submerged in the cold water. He sat there a moment and took in the pain that ran all along his body. Soon enough, Martyn found a block of soap and a washcloth on the stool next to him. He took it and began to scrub his aching skin. As he did so he thought about his poor sister and tried to imagine what she was going through. At the first light of morning, Martyn knew he would be on the road again and heading back to the very city he was trying desperately to escape.

After he was finished washing himself, he leaned back, closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. He could hear Lana in the kitchen preparing food. Martyn tried to imagine what the girl was making. He found himself thinking of her and imagining what she looked like underneath all those clothes. Martyn quickly put those thoughts out of his mind and realized that it was not the time to be thinking of such things. Yet, he couldn't help but feel attracted to her. Suddenly he found himself imagining her opening the door, undressing and crawling into the bath with him. Martyn could feel a sensation around his loins. His member began to stiffen and was struck with the desire to grab a hold of it and pleasure himself.

'What are you doing?' Martyn whispered to himself in frustration. 'Stay focused. They have Julias.'

After a couple more moments, Martyn heard a door open and close. He then heard the faint voice of the old man Maggo, speaking to his granddaughter. At this point, Martyn knew that it was time to get out, but his body felt so relaxed that he decided to stay just a little while longer. Soon, there came footsteps and then a knock on the door.

'Boy?' came Lana's voice. 'You haven't drowned in there, have you?'

'No,' said Martyn. 'Sorry to disappoint.'

'Well, food is ready,' she said. 'Come on out, will you?'

Martyn yawned and said, 'be out in a second.'

He then rose from the cold water and stepped onto the floor. Grabbing a towel, he dried himself and got dressed. After fixing his hair, he opened the door and walked towards the dining room where he found Lana and Maggo sitting and preparing some plates of food.

'I hope you're hungry,' said Lana. 'I made a lot.'

Martyn stood and looked at all the food on the table. It was an assortment of potatoes, bread, rice and eggs. Lana handed him a plate and Martyn dished up. After he was finished he took a seat and looked at his food.

'What's the matter?' asked Lana. 'Eat.'

'You're going to need your strength,' said Maggo, taking a seat beside Martyn.

Martyn knew the old man was right and tried to force himself to eat, but for some strange reason, he found he had no appetite. After a couple of bites, he put his fork down and pushed his food away. Lana took a seat across from him.

'I keep thinking about my sister,' said Martyn. 'I can't eat knowing how hungry she must be.'

'What's her name?' asked Lana.

'Julias,' said Martyn.

'Where is your family, boy?' asked Maggo. 'Do they live in Vanak as well?'

'They once did,' said Martyn.

'Once?' asked Lana. 'What happened to them?'

Martyn hesitated.

'Come on,' said Maggo. 'It's good to talk of such things with others.'

'My father and mother were killed many years ago,' said Martyn. 'My sister and I came home to find we had been robbed of everything and saw our parents lying dead on the floor.'

'Savages,' said Maggo. 'That city has gone to the dogs, I tell you.'

'Since then,' said Martyn. 'My sister and I have been living on the streets and sleeping in abandoned buildings. No one in the city cares about us. To them we are nothing but beggars.'

'Tough deal, kid,' said Maggo.

'Yes,' said Martyn. 'Julias is the only thing I have left in the world and I must get her back.'

Martyn then stood from his chair and said, 'I must get back to her. I cannot wait any longer.'

Maggo and Lana looked up in surprise. Martyn now had fury in his eyes and both his hands were clenched.

'Please,' he said to them. 'I must go now. I can wait no longer.'

'You can't go now,' said Lana, looking up at him. 'It's too dark to ride. You must wait till morning.'

'I'll be fine,' said Martyn.

'Don't be a fool,' snapped Lana. 'You're rash decisions are probably what got you caught in the first place.'

'You don't know what happened,' Martyn snapped back at her. 'You don't know what I am capable of. All these years on the street I've kept my sister and I alive. I've had to kill men. What have you done?'

'Both of you stop it,' said Maggo. 'Martyn, will you please sit? And Lana don't get him going. Let's just eat in peace now.'

'Sorry Grandpa,' said Lana.

Martyn sat back down and forced a couple of more bites down his throat. The three of them sat in silence. Lana and Maggo finished their plates and then cleared the table. Martyn sat there and watched them without muttering a word. His head ached and he wanted nothing more than to lay down. After the table was clear, Lana walked away and disappeared behind a door. Maggo went over to Martyn, put a hand on his shoulder and said, 'she don't mean no harm.'

Martyn didn't say anything.

'Anyhow,' said Maggo. 'It's late and you probably want to get some rest. There's a bed in the room over there you are welcome to use. In the morning I'll be up at the crack of dawn and I'll show you to the stables so you can be off.'

'Thank you,' said Martyn, looking up into the old man's eyes. 'I am sorry for being so rude. I've been through a lot in the past couple of days.'

'I know,' said Maggo. 'It's alright. Go on now and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning.'

Martyn then got to his feet and walked over to the room Maggo had shown him to. When he opened the door he found a small bed in the far corner and a nightstand next to it. Martyn closed the door behind him and jumped onto the bed. He lay there for hours, desperately trying to get some rest, but it was no use. His mind formed horrible images of the possibilities of what was happening to his sister being with those outlaws. Each minute Martyn spent not going after her was one more minute Julias had to suffer. Finally, Martyn sprung from his bed, got dressed and quietly opened the door to his room. He knew what he had to do.

The door creaked and Martyn waited a moment to hear if anyone had heard. When it was clear, Martyn sneaked across the small house towards the front door. He navigated his way using the little amount of moonlight that peered in from the windows. Apart from his faint breathing, the house was dead silent. Reaching the front door, Martyn opened it and to his relief, it did not make a sound. After taking a step onto the porch, Martyn closed the door behind him and took off across the lawn towards the stables. The cold night air felt good. After reaching the stables, he looked in and felt a chill go up his spine. Inside, it was pitch black. He wondered for a moment how he was going to untie and saddle a horse while not being able to see a thing. Martyn regretted not grabbing a candle and some flint while he was inside the house. After realizing he needed light in order to be successful here, he almost turned back when he heard a voice from behind him.

'Well, well.'

This startled Martyn and before he knew it, he was reaching for the sword at his hip, but his hands stopped when he suddenly felt cold steel pressed against the back of his neck.

'I wouldn't,' came the voice again.

Martyn slowly turned and found Lana standing there with her sword raised.

'Couldn't wait till morning could you?' she asked.

'You don't understand,' said Martyn.

'Oh, I understand,' said Lana. 'I understand that you're an ungrateful little prick that was about to steal one of our horses.'

'You said I could have one,' Martyn protested.

'We we're going to give you the small one,' said Lana. 'But now I understand you were going to take any one you wanted. Probably one of our best, eh? You think you could just do that? After my grandfather hears of what you were about to do, I'm sure he won't give you anything now. Maybe he'll even take a hand for being a rotten little thief.'

'Let me explain,' said Martyn.

'Save it,' said Lana. 'I don't want to hear anything you have to say.'

'You are just like me,' said Martyn. 'You understand what it's like to have your family taken from you.'

Lana didn't say anything.

'That's right,' said Martyn. 'You're grandpa told me what happened to you. How your family was murdered when you were just a little girl. Everything you loved was ripped from your hands, well mine as well, Lana. I don't have a place to call home. Ever since my family had been taken from me, I have been left to die on the streets. My sister is the only thing I have left in the world and I am not wasting another minute without trying to get her back.'

Lana looked hard into Martyn's eyes.

'But you know what it's like to have everything taken from you,' Martyn continued. 'I know you want your revenge. I can feel it in you. But you've been made to live here and pretend nothing happened and just go about living a simple life instead. Well I can't pretend it's not happening. That is why I can't waste another minute doing nothing. I may look like an ungrateful little fugitive to you, Lana, but we are the same, only I'm doing everything I can to seek justice to those who have done wrong to me.'

Lana lowered her sword. She then lit a candle and put it in a lantern she had put on the ground beside her. Picking up the lantern she gave it to Martyn.

'Go,' she said. 'Take a horse and just go. Don't come back.'

Martyn raised the lantern to Lana's face and saw she had tears welling in her eyes.

'What about your Grandfather?' Martyn asked.

'I'll deal with him,' said Lana. 'Just go.'

Martyn turned towards the stables when suddenly he turned back to face Lana.

'Come with me,' he said to her.

'What?' she asked him, slowly.

'Come to Vanak with me,' said Martyn. 'Help me get my sister back and I shall help you get your revenge against those who killed your mother and father.'

'That was years ago,' said Lana. 'I never saw who did it. Besides, I can't leave my grandfather. He needs me.'

'The city is in trouble,' said Martyn. 'The queen has left her people in the hands of fugitives. Everyday it's getting worse. It's up to people like you and I to make a change.'

'You're sounding ridiculous,' said Lana. 'Vanak has always been a dangerous place and there's nothing we can do about that. Leave it to those who fight for the realm to keep the peace.'

'There is no peace to keep,' Martyn said. 'I overheard the men who took my sister. They are a group of anarchists. They are planning to take over the city. We must try and stop them, Lana.'

'Go to the senate, then,' said Lana. 'Tell them, not me.'

Martyn lowered the lantern from Lana's face.

'Fine, then,' he said. 'So be it. Live out the rest of your days here milking cattle, while the city you were born in falls into the hands of those who are evil. Let the men who ruined your life go on ruining others. Take care of yourself, Lana. I hope you enjoy your quiet, subtle existence here and I pray that you do not find yourself one day regretting my offer.'

With that, Martyn turned from Lana and began walking towards the stables.

'This isn't my choice, you know,' Lana called to him. 'I cannot just leave my grandfather here. He needs me.'

'It is your choice,' said Martyn. 'Goodbye, Lana.'

Martyn continued walking. When he reached the stables he found it was occupied by three horses. Two of them were very large and built for driving the carriage that Lana and her Grandfather used to transport items to and from the city with. The other horse was much smaller and looked to be much older. Martyn wondered what it was used for. He also knew that this was the very horse that Lana's grandfather intended to lend to Martyn. Tempted to take one of the larger horses, Martyn was grateful to his hosts for saving his life and giving him food and shelter for the night and decided to take the smaller horse, even though he knew it would take longer to reach the city on. Grabbing a saddle hung on the wall and some horse shoes, Martyn approached the old horse and began preparing it for travel. When he had finished, Martyn was just about to open the gate to release the horse from its stable, when suddenly he heard a woman scream in the distance.

Quickly, grabbing the lantern, Martyn ran out from the stable and towards the house. He knew that it was Lana that he had heard scream. When he reached the door to the house he opened it and drew his sword. He heard shuffling in one of the rooms and Lana panicking. Martyn ran over to the room and found that the door was open. Inside he saw Lana bent over the body of her grandfather who was lying on the floor.

'What's happening?' asked Martyn.

'Help him,' said Lana, cradling her grandfathers head in her arms. Her face was drenched in tears. The old man was trying to gasp for air and was violently clutching at his chest.

Martyn dropped his sword and ran over to the old man. Kneeling down beside Lana, Martyn examined him but couldn't see what was wrong.

'Is he choking?' Martyn asked.

'I don't know,' said Lana. 'Grandpa talk to me, whats wrong?'

The old man continued moaning and pounding on his chest.

'There may be something wrong with his heart,' said Martyn. 'I've seen a man have this happen to him once.'

'Oh, grandpa!' said Lana. 'What should we do?'

'I am not sure,' said Martyn, feeling helpless. 'Get him some water or something. I really don't know.'

Just then the old man let out one desperate wail. He grabbed Lana's arm and squeezed. The next moment, the old man let out one last breath and became still.

'Grandpa!' Lana called, desperately. 'No, this can't be happening.'

The old man's hand let go of Lana's and it was at this moment that they knew he had passed away. Martyn reached for Lana and placed his hand on her back as she sobbed and cradled the only thing she had left in the world.

Chapter Twelve

A City In Flames

'What is it, Plotis?'

The young man turned to face his wife after her voice had disturbed his train of thought. She had awoken to find him looking out the window and gazing down at the quiet city below. The royal castle was perched on a high peak so that entirety of Vanak and the red waste stretching out for miles below was in view. The night sky was cloudless and thousands of stars shone brightly and lit up the world. Plotis was amazed at how calm the heavens seemed, while below, the land rested in a sea of troubles. A part of him wished that he could somehow take off into the sky and join the peaceful stars and forget all the worries that bound him here. He knew, however, that this was only but a dream and that his reality was to be here in Vanak, keeping the peace and making sure its people were safe.

'Oh, nothing,' said Plotis, turning away from the large window and walking towards his wife, who lay on the bed. He sat beside her and ran his fingers along her back. He starred at her pale, naked body and observed her beauty in the moonlight. She looked up at him and grabbed his arm with one of her hands and squeezed it lightly.

'You can't sleep?' she asked.

'Afraid not,' said Plotis.

'Something is troubling you,' she said.

'Yes,' he admitted.

Plotis than ran a hand across his head and was reminded of how much hair he was losing. Just the other day, he had caught his own reflection and was shocked to find how much his face had changed since the last time he saw himself.

When he was a young lad, Plotis was somewhat a rebel and always got into some kind of trouble. He hardly ever obeyed the laws and thought that conformity was something of a joke. But, as he got older and more educated, Plotis decided that he was never going to become a smith, or a knight or anything else that required him to use his hands. Instead, Plotis was destined to be one who would use his head. At one point in his adolescence, Plotis thought to become a poet and a writer, but he knew he would suffer financially.

As he got older and more mature, he became suddenly interested in politics and sure enough, he found himself one day being an adviser to a man who sat on the kings council. After the old King Dala had decreed that a council was too small and a senate would be a better choice for the city, Plotis proved himself through various ways and found himself a member of the senate. Now, ten years since then, Plotis was now one of the highest of senators. It was usual for Plotis to be up this late at night, for he had the weight of the city resting on his shoulders and sleep was hard to come by, especially now that the queen had abandoned her city.

'Well, what is it?' his wife softly asked him.

Plotis looked into her sweet eyes. He could almost remember the day he had met her. Lorette was a charming young thing. It was a cold, stormy morning when he found her out in the rain all those years back. She was looking for shelter, for she was no more than a poor fisherman's daughter who had gotten lost and caught in a nasty storm. Plotis brought her into his home and soon, they became lovers. He married her six months after that faithful day. On this night, as Lorette looked at him, she found herself troubled by the fact that her husband put too much stress on himself and wondered if he would ever give up the job that consumed most of his life. But she knew in her heart that his devotion was too strong a thing and would one day, perhaps, put him into an early grave.

'Tomorrow is our first meeting since she left,' Plotis said. 'It's going to be chaos. I assume that there is going to be great strife between all senators tomorrow. Some of us are going to keep loyal to our queen while others are going to be hostile towards her. It is going to be near impossible to get everyone to agree on terms for what should be done in her absence.'

'Well,' said Lorette. 'How do you feel about her decision?'

Plotis thought hard on it and looked towards the window.

'It's hard to say, really,' he said. 'She left for the ancient city of Auran on a hopeless mission at a time we need her most. We stand on the brink of another revolution and she thought it best to run off and find allies in a place that has not been seen by anyone in thousands of years. The foolish girl.'

'It was quite foolish of her,' said Lorette.

'The worst of it,' said Plotis. 'Is that our young queen broke the law her father had made. She made her decision without consoling us first. These sort of rash decisions are the very reason why a senate exists in the first place. So that a king or queen does not do something so bold without the guidance of its government. Because of this, I fear that most of us are going to decree to have her head, if she even returns, which is unlikely. So now what are we suppose to do? It's all so ridiculous.'

Plotis then put his head into his hands as Lorette sat up and rubbed her husbands back.

'It will be alright,' she said to him. 'You'll see, everything will work out fine. Perhaps the young queen will return with the army she had set out to retrieve. You saw what happened during the battle against King Karnip. The gods were on her side. Perhaps they still are.'

Plotis sat up and rested his head on his wife's shoulders.

'Maybe you're right,' he said. 'I mean, at least we still have the army of Vanak at our disposal in case we are attacked. What we need though are allies. We only have about six thousand soldiers. But never mind that now, lets try and get some rest. It is the middle of the night after all and I trust I'll be with the senate all throughout the day and perhaps into evening.'

'I would think so,' said Lorette. 'You all have much to discuss.'

'Yes,' said Plotis, while looking into his wife's eyes and running his fingers through her long, brown hair.

'I know what can take your mind off all this,' said Lorette, she then leaned in and kissed Plotis.

The two of them sat on the edge of the bed and kissed each other in the moonlight for a long while. Plotis then felt his member stiffen and soon enough his wife put her hand around it and he leaned back and let her do her business. After he had had enough, he grabbed her head and guided her mouth towards it and she pleasured him for a good while. Just before he was about to climax, Plotis pulled her head away and lay her down on the bed. Spreading his wife's legs apart, Plotis went down between her thighs and pleasured her with his tongue. She ran her fingers through his hair as he did so and grabbed the pillow with her other hand as the pleasure was almost too much for her to bear. Her soft moans filled the room. Soon enough, Plotis pulled away and mounted his young, beautiful wife, stuck his member inside her and climaxed within minutes. After Plotis was finished, he lay beside Lorette and put her arm around her. She lay her head on his chest and smiled as she knew that she was the best remedy for her husband to forget his troubles. Together, the two lovers drifted off to sleep.

Plotis awoke to the songs of many birds. As he lay up, he looked out and found that the sun had risen. Lifting his wife's head that lay on his chest, he gently got out from beneath her and pulled the covers off him. Grabbing a robe that hung from the wall beside him, he dressed himself in it and walked towards the window. There he looked down at the city of Vanak and hoped that in a couple of hours, he would know the fate of its people.

After washing his face in a basin of water and eating breakfast with his wife, Plotis went to his study and began writing on a scroll. He was trying to organize a proper speech for this afternoons meeting with the senate, but as he sat there, staring at the blank parchment, Plotis knew that once everyone was together, it was going to be hopeless. He imagined the senate chamber filled with fifty or so senators yelling at one another. Today, Plotis knew, the senate would divide itself between those who supported the queen and those who did not.

Instead of writing about what he would say, Plotis began writing about his anxieties. There were many problems that the senate now faced with the queen gone and the country possibly up in full rebellion.

He wrote all through the morning. Lorette came and visited him, bringing him tea and fruit. After hours, Plotis finished his last sentence and put his quill down. Stretching and rubbing his eyes, he undressed from his casual robe and put on his gray, ragged old toga. Each senator was never to wash the toga they were given. The ruggedness and worn look of it was meant to represent the average citizens that the senators worked to help. They were people working for the people and the senators were not allowed to wear anything of any expense or value. This was a custom that the old King Dala had formed when he had created the senate.

After Plotis was finished dressing, he approached his wife, who was brushing her hair on the edge of the bed. Plotis kissed her on the top of her head and then her lips.

'Goodbye, my love,' he said to her.

'You will do great,' she said to him. 'Make them see what is right and they shall listen and adore you.'

'Yes,' Plotis said, looking away. 'I shall do my best. It is going to be a mad house down there. I shall be gone for most of the day I'd expect. I shall see you in the evening.'

'Goodbye, Plotis,' Lorette said. 'And good luck. May the gods be with you. With all of you.'

With that, Plotis exited his apartments and headed down the flight of steps.

All senators were allowed to live in the castle of Vanak, another custom that King Dala had created, trusting that the senators were safer living here rather than in the city among the people. Rarely, did any of the senators see one another in the castle though. Most kept to their quarters where their families were allowed to live with them. As Plotis crept down the many steps leading to the castle's main hall, he felt his stomach flutter, for he was very nervous. Finally, he got to the main hall and found that there were many others who lived in the castle walking about. Each of their faces looked gloomy.

The castle of Vanak was occupied to many people, mostly knights, lords, commanders, and servants. King Dala had a very small family and felt that the castle needed to be filled with people, seeing how it was so large. During the days of King Karnip, the usurper had everyone who lived in the castle either thrown out or executed. When Queen Daloa regained the throne, she continued her father's way of having the castle occupied by those were helped run the city and protect it.

As Plotis made his way through the busy corridors, he tried his best to not make eye contact with anyone. Thankfully he saw no other senator while on his way out the door. When he stepped onto the road outside the castle, he quickly walked towards the senate chamber which was located behind a special door that was near the back of the castle. When he approached the hidden door, he took a deep breath, stuck a key into its lock and walked down the flight of steps that brought him to the massive chamber.

The ceiling was very high and the floor was made of marble. This chamber was never made for the senators, in fact it was made thousands of years ago when the castle of Vanak had first been made. It's purpose was never truly known. Over the decades, the castle had been rebuild in certain areas to keep it safe from weather and age. This chamber, however, was one of the most ancient parts of the castle. There were paintings etched on the walls, along with a giant painting of the gods sitting on the clouds looking down at the world they had created on the high ceiling. On the floor, was a painting of humans, living in the city and doing various things. It was meant to look as though the gods on the ceiling were looking down at the men on the floor. These ancient paintings always mesmerized Plotis.

Many benches ran along the walls, leaving the center empty. Whenever a senator was to speak, he would walk to the center of the chamber and talk to the many senators that sat circling around him. In here was a great echo and a mans voice would travel incredibly throughout this massive place.

As Plotis entered, he found three senators standing at the far end, talking to one another. As he walked towards them, they saw him approach.

'Ah, Plotis,' came one of their voices. 'Good of you to join us.'

'Am I early?' Plotis asked.

'No,' said the old senator. 'Right on time.'

This mans name was Caliso. He was regarded as the highest of senators, for he was appointed by Queen Daloa to run the senate and found its members. Caliso had brought Plotis into the senate and appointed him one of his closest members. Plotis was also looked at by most senators as being too young, for the senate was supposed to be an assembly of elders, but since King Dala's death, some of the rules had been changed. Caliso had been King Dala's closest friend in his time before King Karnip came and usurped the throne. Most of the older senators then either fled or were killed. When Queen Daloa killed King Karnip, she brought back most of the previous senators that were still alive and left them to replace the ones who had been killed or had fled the city. There were always to be fifty-five senators, another decree of King Dala when he had made the senate.

'I suspect it's going to be a madhouse once everyone starts arriving,' said Plotis.

Caliso laughed and said, 'yes, but it will be up to us to keep order. Remember, the most important thing for us to do is defend our queen. Before she left she told me that we are to keep the senate calm and tell them that what she is doing is right. We must listen to our queen, do you understand Plotis?'

'Yes,' said Plotis.

'Good,' said Caliso. 'Dymethus and Ptoly, here have told me that there was a great fire last evening. It seems a small bookshop on the east side of the city was burned to the ground.'

'Really?' asked Plotis.

'Yes,' said Ptoly. 'It caused quite a stir this morning.'

'I can imagine,' said Plotis. 'What caused the fire?'

'Thugs seem to be responsible,' said Dymethus. 'Perhaps some young hooligans.'

'Are the people of the city still unaware of the queen's absence?' asked Plotis, suddenly.

Caliso looked to the two elder men and then back to Plotis and said, 'yes, they are still unaware. The people were told that the queen is still deeply troubled by the man who tried assassinating her. We have let the people of Vanak believe that the queen is resting in her chambers, recovering from that incident and planning how to defend the rumors of revolution.'

'How long do you think until the people find out the truth?' asked Plotis.

Caliso looked troubled by that question. 'Plotis,' he said. 'My dear Plotis, that is one of the many topics for today's discussion. The queen, however, did not want them to know, so we shall do our best to keep it quiet from the citizens of Vanak. Who knows what will happen if they find out that...'

'The queen abandoned them?' Plotis finished.

'I know it was a foolish decision on her part,' said Caliso. 'But let us all discuss it together. Everyone should be arriving soon and I want to go through the topics for today's discussion.'

'Right,' said Plotis. 'I am sorry for interrupting you, Caliso. It won't happen again.'

'That's quite alright,' said the old senator. 'Now, to business.'

The four senators then went over some of the affairs that would have to be addressed in today's council. After a while, the door to the great senate chamber opened, and numerous amounts of senators began to file in.

The voices of the many senators filled the room with its great echo. Before long, as Plotis had expected, things got out of hand. There were senators yelling and protesting their opinions all at once. Almost no one could be heard in the great chatter that went on. Each senator talked over each other and barely anything could be interpreted. There were those that said nothing and tried to listen and then there were many who yelled and waved their hands to and fro. Apparently, everyone wanted to begin right away.

On the more usual days of senate meetings, it would take awhile for each senator to get engaged in the discussion, but today, from what had happened, no one held anything back and the senate chamber had turned into a frenzy of angered, anxious and troubled voices. Before long, Caliso put up his hands and yelled at the top of his lungs, 'my dear senators!'

His voice was like thunder. It quickly shut everyone up and soon enough the echo of the chamber died down to a deep silence.

'I know each of you have something to say about these disturbing matters,' continued Caliso. 'But we will be here all through the night if we do not get ourselves into order. Please, there is much to discuss, as you can all imagine. So, take a seat and I shall begin things.'

Many of the senators gave Caliso a dirty look, but in the end, each senator, dressed in their ragged togas, took a seat on the large benches that circled the chamber. Plotis sat on a row closest to the floor and nearest the man that stood in the middle of the hall. Caliso, stood there now, waiting for each senator to take his seat. After they were seated Caliso began.

'Now,' he said, his voice echoing off the wall and into everyone's ears. 'I know that many of us are upset with the decisions that our dear queen has made.'

'You got that right,' a voice bellowed from the stands, followed my many other voices agreeing.

'Please keep silent,' said Caliso. 'Each man will have their turn to speak. Now, as we all understand, the queen has left with a small assembly of men to travel across the haunted sea in search of the ancient city of Aurank. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but she has stated that she has gone in search of allies there.'

'Yes,' said a senator, sitting near Plotis. This mans name was Grievo, and he was a harsh, pessimistic man, usually causing trouble in the senate. Plotis was not fond of him. 'The queen has lost her damn mind. Surely, a stupid, silly girl for doing such a thing.'

'Mind your tongue,' said Plotis, rising from his seat and staring at the man near him who had spoken. 'That is your queen you are speaking of.'

Grievo looked at Plotis, gave him a sly smile and said, 'yes, she is my queen, and she has fled her city because of a damned rumor. How are we so sure that there is even a rebellion on our hands?'

'I'll get to that,' Caliso called. 'If I am not interrupted.'

Grievo said nothing.

'Plotis,' said Caliso. 'Please, take your seat.'

Plotis listened to his elder and took his seat.

'Now,' continued Caliso. 'As I was saying, the queen intends on finding this ancient city and bringing back allies. I know it sounds absurd, but we must stand behind our queen. While she is gone, it is up to us to maintain order here. Before she left, she appointed not just I, but all of us to take care of this city and take care of it we shall. We must not stand here and be divided among ourselves. I know that all of you harbor great concerns about Queen Daloa's rash decisions and more sympathetic I could not be for you, but we must respect her actions and continue on with maintaining peace in the city.'

Plotis scanned the benches and noted that each senator looked to their neighbor and nodded their approval to Caliso's statement. It was a relief to see them comply. Grievo did not look so moved.

'To address Grievo's concerns, may I ask senator Risby and senator Mullen to join me up here at this time,' said Caliso.

Two senators, sitting near Plotis, arose from their seats and walked towards the center of the chamber.

'Each of you here,' began the senator called Risby, who was middle-aged and had a great beard. 'Are wondering if we truly are sitting at the edge of a great rebellion. When we were visited by a foreign assassin who carried the copses of helpless villagers on horses, he bore a message to our dear Queen Daloa, that a great rebellion was on our hands. It hurts me to say, that such a rebellion is in fact the truth.'

At that, the many senators began speaking their concerns to one another. Soon enough, the massive chamber was filled once again with a bellowing echo of scattered voices.

'Silence!' Caliso yelled at them.

After some time, each senator became silent once more.

'You may be wondering how we may know this for sure,' continued senator Risby. 'We have men stationed in Storrack who tell us that the lord of Storrack, Lord Karnip, is assembling a host from all across the land to avenge the death of his son, the usurper, Karl Karnip.'

'How many are with them?' a senator stood and asked.

Risby hesitated a moment and then said, 'it is unclear at this time.'

Many senators began arguing among themselves. Once they had quieted, Caliso took to the center once more and said, 'I know, my dear men, that we do not have the exact number of alliances that Lord Karnip has assembled thus far, but we do know one thing, we are at war once more.'

'And our Queen has fled and left us all to die,' said senator Grievo, standing again.

'Yes,' said Plotis, rising. He stared at Grievo with fury in his eyes. 'Our queen has left. She is gone and there is nothing we can do about it. It is up to us now to act.'

All eyes had now rested on Plotis, who stood with his head held high.

'My dear senators,' he said with a clear, proud voice that echoed off the walls. 'Queen Daloa has gone to find us allies in a time when we need them the most. We are not sure who stands with us anymore. Who is to know if Anjord Trench is with us or with Lord Karnip. Same goes as the other great cities. Many of them betrayed our old King and fought with the usurper when he overcame Vanak and murdered dear King Dala. Perhaps they will fight for them once again. Daloa is young, this is true, but she is also the only one that lives with the old kings blood and for that she is our rightful queen and we must stand behind her. She has gone to do what she thinks is right. Even if her plan sounds hopeless to us, she is still doing something for her city. Let's try and do the same.'

The senators looked at Plotis with awe and respect.

'Then what do you propose we do, senator Plotis?' asked Grievo.

'That is for senator Caliso to explain,' said Plotis.

All eyes then turned to Caliso.

'Thank you, senator Plotis,' he said. 'And yes, he is right. We must stand behind Queen Daloa. Our first order of business, I propose, is to send men to all the great cities of Vivus to gain their allegiance. It will be a difficult and dangerous task. But it must be done.'

'But, can't we just write to them?' asked a senator.

'No.' said Caliso. 'This is far too important of a task to trust in writing. It must be done by speech. We will have to convince those to stand with us against our enemy.'

'Well, they have to!' called another senator. 'We are the royal city of Vanak. Queen Daloa is not just our queen, but the realms queen as well. They must stand with us.'

'It seems that the old ways are changing,' said Caliso. 'The realm is not what it once was. This kingdom is failing to have rule over all of Vivus. Cities are becoming independent, free from us, or at least they are trying to be. What we need to do is gain alliances once more so that we can have rule and order over the realm before it turns to chaos.'

'I think we're already at that point,' said Grievo.

'Now, I ask you, my dear senators,' said Caliso, ignoring Grievo's remark. 'Who is in favor of sending men to these cities to form much needed alliances?'

Nearly everyone's hand was raised, including Plotis's and even Grievo's.

'And those who oppose,' said Caliso.

Not one hand was raised.

'Good,' said Caliso. 'Now, who would like to volunteer to go?'

Each senator looked around in confusion.

'You're sending us to do it?' asked Grievo, frustrated.

'I can think of no other people to represent our city more than those who help run it,' said Caliso. 'We senators have a job to do. There is no one I trust more. Of course, those who are sent shall be escorted by knights of Vanak.'

'I'll go,' said Plotis. 'I would be glad to serve and do my part for this great city.'

'No,' said Caliso. 'I need you here with me, Plotis.'

The senators sat in silence for a long while, before hands were raised to show those who had volunteered for the task.

'Good,' said Caliso. 'That is eight of us willing to go, which is good. There are enough to send to each corner of the realm. I will talk to those who have volunteered after this meeting to tell you specifically where you shall go and what you can offer them. If that is out of the way then I think that settles business for now.'

'What?' asked Grievo, who had not been one to volunteer. 'We are at war. I think we are far from being settled on the matter. We still don't have our queen.'

'We have taken the first step,' said Caliso. 'There is not much more we can do until we know who stands with us. Until then, we wait and rule this city. As for the queen, we can do nothing but wait for her return and pray that she is safe and has found what she's looking for. Also, the people of Vanak must not find out that Daloa has left. It would put fear into their minds if they knew that their queen has left them. Now, if that is settled, let us discuss our food portions, as they have been decreasing dramatically over the past few months. Winter is not far from approaching and we are going to need a constant supply for our people to survive.'

'What if we are attacked again?' asked Grievo. 'What shall we do then?'

'The city guard is on high alert,' said Caliso. 'Anything that happens will be immediately reported back to me.'

'Oh, well then,' said Grievo, rolling his eyes.

The senate meeting went on for a long while. The next few hours were spent discussing food rations and making sure there were enough supplies being made. The fire that had happened last evening was brought up as well but concluded to be nothing of too much concern. As evening approached, the senators were becoming exhausted and hungry. Soon enough it was decided that they stopped for now and agreed to meet three days later. As the many senators got up from their seats, the large chamber was filled once more with the echoes of their voices. It seemed a long while before Plotis found himself alone with Caliso. They stood in the middle of the chamber and looked up at the empty stands.

'Well,' said Caliso, his old voice cracking from the strain of talking loudly for so many hours. 'How do you think that went?'

'Good,' said Plotis. 'Much better than what I was expecting, anyway'

'What were you expecting?' asked Caliso. 'Madness?'

Plotis laughed and said, 'honestly, yes. I thought many of us would have turned by now against our young queen. No doubt, many of them were insulted by her actions.'

'Indeed,' said Caliso. 'But it is up to us, as I have said, to put things in order. We must keep the peace within this city. For our sake, for our queens sake and for the realms. Vanak is, after all, the royal city. We mustn't have it put back into the hands of our enemy.'

'Storrack,' said Plotis. 'The Karnip's must be stopped. Why do you think they want the throne?'

'Lord Karnip is a monster,' said Caliso. 'He's extremely rich and powerful and wants his family to be considered royalty. Plus, Storrack is a dreadful land. I trust the Karnip's want to live in our beautiful city, rather than their marshy waste.'

'It concerns me that Lord Karnip is buying his alliances,' Plotis said. 'Perhaps we should do the same.'

Caliso looked longingly at Plotis and said softly, 'I'm afraid our dear city does not have enough to buy our allies with. Besides, we are Vanak. I have faith that the great cities of this land will know their duty to protect their queen and assist in keeping the peace.'

'I hope so,' said Plotis.

'The Karnip's are usurpers,' said Caliso. 'Whoever joins with them will be punished after the war is over.'

'What if we are defeated?' asked Plotis.

'Then we are defeated,' said Caliso.

Plotis looked away and Caliso put his hand on his shoulder. 'Have faith,' he said. 'The gods will throw their dice once more and what happens happens. But we must do everything we can to make sure that we come out on top. We have thousands of soldiers at our disposal and the city is very difficult to breach. For a long time, we should be safe. I trust Lord Karnip will take his time before attacking us anyway.'

'Not if he hears that the queen has left,' came a voice from across the chamber.

Grievo walked slowly towards them.

'What are you still doing here?' asked Plotis, watching the senator approach.

'Listening,' said Grievo, grinning.

'In the shadows like some spy?' Plotis asked.

'I have a right to hear anything that is said in this place,' said Grievo.

'Not to worry, senator Grievo,' said Caliso. 'You are welcome to listen to senator Plotis and I.'

'Good to hear,' Grievo said, sarcastically. 'Now, as I was saying, once Lord Karnip finds out that our queen had abandoned her city, do you really think he's going to hesitate to attack us?'

'I hate to say it, senator Caliso,' said Plotis. 'But I think senator Grievo may have a point here.'

'We must hope he does not find out then,' said Caliso.

'Hope?' asked Grievo. 'There's no doubt that he has spies stationed here. The news of our queen has either reached him by now or is on its way.'

'You could be right,' said Caliso. 'But there is nothing we can do about that. The best we can do is allow no one to enter or leave this city until she returns.'

'What if she never returns?' asked Grievo.

'Be patient and put your trust in me and the senate,' said Caliso.

'And not the city guard?' asked Grievo. 'Have it your way then.'

'And what is your way?' asked Plotis. 'You seem to be troubled by our decisions senator. Please share if you have any better ideas.'

'I say we march on Storrack before they get the chance to build their host,' said Grievo, aggressively. 'Why wait for them to buy every city around when we have enough warriors to attack Storrack now and destroy the Karnip's.'

'What if he may be expecting us to do that?' asked Plotis. 'We cannot do something so bold as to have our army march to the far corners of Vivus and leave Vanak unprotected. Besides, such a thing would take months of planning. Not to mention many supplies that we do not have. Think of all the food we'd have to supply our army with while they were gone, as well. We can hardly feed our people at the moment.'

Grievo was not convinced but he said no more on the matter.

'I understand your frustrations, Grievo,' said Caliso. 'You are concerned about our city and its people, as am I and every other senator. But we must be cautious. We cannot afford to take such drastic actions right now.'

'You would rather wait and hope for allies to come save us,' Grievo put in.

'We need allies more than anything,' said Caliso.

'Our queen thought the same,' said Grievo. 'And look at what she has done. She's most likely dead. No one has traveled the Haunted Sea and survived.'

'We cannot think of that right now, Grievo,' said Caliso. 'We must hope that the queen returns with what she was looking for.'

'Hope!' yelled Grievo. 'You rely on hope too much, old man.'

Just then a small group of senators came rushing into the large chamber.

'Come!' they each yelled.

'What is it?' asked Caliso, concerned.

'Something horrible is happening,' said one of the senators, catching his breath. 'Come, you must see for yourselves.'

Plotis and Caliso looked at one another with troubled looks and then followed the mob of senators out the door and up the trail leading beside the castle. Finally, as they reached the castle courtyard, a thick black smoke covered the sky. All fifty-five senators and almost everyone who lived in the castle were grouped together and looking down at the city below them. Women and children were crying while men gasped in horror and outrage. What they were seeing was devastating. Both Caliso and Plotis stood on the very edge of the grass field leading from the castle courtyard. Their eyes scanning what they could see of the city below them.

'Vanak burns!' yelled a senator, desperately. 'She's burning to the ground.'

Caliso and Plotis were silent as they watched the tremendous fire rage below them. The flames were enormous as they engulfed the many homes and marketplaces of Vanak. If you listened closely you could hear the thousands of screams coming from the residents of the great city as it burned.

Grievo then marched up to Caliso and Plotis and watched them as they watched this horrifying scene.

'Hope,' he said to them. 'Look at where our hope has brought us, my dear senators.'

Chapter Thirteen

Dead Men At The Gates

There was no life in these trees, nor in the men that now walked among them. Each gray branch hung motionless as there seemed to be no wind in this land. There was plenty of rain though, which helped keep this forest somewhat alive. The sun stay hidden behind thick clouds, which made it difficult to decipher between night and day.

They walked on for hours in the pitch black and eventually a small amount of light came from the sky which told them that it was now morning. There was little discussion between any of the men as they walked. Each of their minds were empty of thoughts and of any emotion. This, you could expect of men who were already dead.

'I can either no longer see the beauty in things,' came Sir Vyak's voice. 'Or this is truly an ugly place.'

'Why do you say that?' asked Walter, the vampire. Both his hands were bound with rope and earlier he had been talking too much and was threatened by Sir Jorcy that if he did not shut his mouth, then he would have rope stuffed between his lips. The prisoner was therefore afraid of answering the knight but figured that since he had been silent for so long, it wasn't going to get him into trouble now.

'If only you saw our land,' said Sir Vyak. 'Vivus is a beautiful place. With its luscious green pastures and its forests brimming with life. And not to mention its blue skies and crystal clear rivers and lakes. It is a paradise compared to this dark, decaying world.'

'Then why did you come here?' asked the vampire.

'What did I say before?' asked Sir Jorcy. 'Keep your mouth shut or I'll shut it for you.'

'I haven't seen one single animal here,' Sir Vyak, continued.

'These bastards probably ate them all,' said Sir Warr. 'That's why they had to start feeding on helpless children.'

'I've already explained to you that our kind cannot feed on the blood of animals,' said Walter. 'There are no animals in these parts because all the vegetation is closer to the city. Besides, the smell of the Sea has scared them away. There are no people from Aurank over here. I and the other vampires whom you killed are the only ones who dwell in these parts.'

'Is that so?' asked Sir Torrith.

'Well,' said Walter. 'For the most part. Any creature that cannot live in the city dwell here. But they do not stay close to the road.'

'What sort of creatures?' asked Lord Etin.

'Creatures that used to be men,' said Walter. 'Auran is a very ancient place. There are more than just mere mortals that lurk here.'

'I don't doubt it,' said Sir Ardo. 'I mean, look at us.'

'Quiet, Sir Ardo,' said Sir Jorcy.

'It's a shame we'll never get to see Vivus again,' said Sir Vyak.'

'Can you shut it already,' said Sir Warr, annoyed. 'I'm tired of hearing of all the things we never get to do again. It's bad enough knowing I won't get to lay with women anymore.'

'I know that you are hiding something from me,' said Walter. 'You men are no longer men. I can see by your wounds that you should have been dead a long time ago. You are just like me.'

'Except we don't capture little children and drink their blood,' said Sir Jorcy. 'And what did I tell you about speaking?'

'I've read about the Sea,' said Walter, ignoring Sir Jorcy's threats. 'I know that the dead linger there. What you cursed men are doing so far from it is beyond me, but I know what you are.'

'Good for you,' said Sir Ardo.

'See,' said Walter. 'There are many things we have in common. I myself cannot die as well.'

'Really?' asked Sir Vyak. 'Because I'm pretty sure we slaughtered all of your people right in front of you.'

'Only if my heart is pierced,' Walter said. 'But age cannot kill me, neither can disease.'

'What happens if I cut off your head?' asked Sir Warr.

Walter said nothing.

'That's what I thought,' said Sir Warr.

'If you cannot age,' asked Lord Etin. 'Then how old are you?'

Walter looked at the old lord and smiled. 'I am hundreds of years old. I've seen many kings come and go.'

'Do you fear the Sea?' asked Lord Etin.

'What?' asked Walter.

'If you cannot die then why have you never tried to cross the sea and come to our land?' asked Lord Etin.

'Because,' said Walter. 'It has been written in ancient texts that the land of Vivus does not have such enchantments. If my kind were to go there, we would die. See, the great Sea is a border between power and weakness.'

'You mean magic and non-magic?' asked Lord Etin. 'I have read such things as well.'

'That is why your people have never attacked us,' said Sir Jorcy.

'Yes,' said Walter. 'If you have noticed, there is also no sunlight here. Sunlight kills us vampires.'

'Is everyone from Aurank like this?' asked Sir Ardo.

'No,' said Walter. 'The city is packed with mortals. But there are many ancients creatures such as we vampires that roam the land. Many of them are far from the city, but some, like us, still dwell there.'

'Is your king a mortal?' asked Sir Jorcy.

Walter looked at the knight, studied his face and said nothing.

'We must get Daloa,' said Lord Etin. 'And soon.'

'Who is this girl that you speak of?' asked Walter, curiously.

'Never you mind,' said Sir Jorcy. 'And you've said enough for now anyway.'

'Fine,' said Walter. 'But you would be glad to hear that we are almost at the gate. It's just a little further now.'

The company walked on for a little while longer. Sir Jorcy still held the reins to Walter's horse as it walked beside them. Suddenly, they heard men's voices in the distance and stopped.

'Quiet,' said Sir Jorcy, signaling to his men to stop walking. They listened to the voices in the distance.

'What should we do?' asked Sir Ardo. 'Approach?'

'No,' said Sir Jorcy. 'They may have Daloa.'

'Has anyone else thought about how Daloa is going to react when she sees us?' asked Sir Vyak. 'I mean she saw us all die right in front of her.'

'Let's not worry about that now,' said Sir Torrith.

'I think we should get off the road,' said Lord Etin. 'Let's hide from these men in the bushes and see if they have her.'

'Good idea,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Men, into the bush.'

All of them walked off the road and hid among the dead bushes and trees, including Walter's horse which made a lot of noise. They walked further up so they could see the men that they heard.

'I should yell and get you all spotted,' whispered Walter. 'These men will protect me.'

'Will they?' asked Sir Warr, drawing his knife. 'Another peep out of you and I'll drive this into your lifeless heart.'

'Quiet,' said Sir Jorcy, once more.

They walked silently through the forest and followed the road up a little further. Soon enough, a massive stone wall appeared in front of them. The wall disappeared far into the forest on either side. In the middle was a large iron gate which the road led to. In front of that, stood many men. Each of the men wore mail and long swords at their sides. They looked to have just fought a battle, for there were many wounded among them. With them were many horses that were lying about. These men looked to not be guarding the gate, instead, they looked to be waiting outside of it. Sir Jorcy waved to his men to move closer so that he could hear their voices. Lord Etin and each of the dead knights' studied these men and were shocked to find how similar they looked to be knights and warriors you would expect to see in Vivus.

'I've had enough of this!' yelled one of the men. He was in a rage and stormed up to another man 'What the hell is Fasmir thinking? Why won't he let us in?'

'Calm yourself, Steevr,' came the voice of the man who had been approached. 'You heard Fasmir's orders. We are to remain here until the queen is safe within the castle.'

'You call her a queen,' said the man named Steevr. 'But she's not your queen. She's a foreign bitch that I think you have fallen for, Geraldo.'

'Mind your tongue,' spoke the man. 'Or I'll remove it.'

'We haven't eaten in days,' said Steevr. 'Look at our men. Even our wounded haven't been dealt with. We're going to die out here, Geraldo and the prince doesn't even seem to give a damn. We did our job, we got the foreign bitch safe. Now why can't we be let in?'

The man named Geraldo didn't say anything.

'Did you hear that!' whispered Sir Vyak from behind a tree. 'They must be talking about Daloa.'

'Quiet,' ordered Sir Jorcy. But even he was relieved for he knew Sir Vyak was right.

'You don't even know, do you?' asked Steevr, getting into Geraldo's face. 'You have no idea what we are still doing here. Your little prince didn't tell you. But you don't care, you just follow orders like a good boy.'

'One more word,' said Geraldo.

Steevr sneered and turned his back to the man. He then walked towards the gate and yelled to the other men, 'I'm not going to die out here like a dog. Who's with me? Let's go home, boys. Let's open this bloody gate!'

The man then began kicking and slamming his hands furiously against the steel.

'Let us in you pigs!'

Geraldo stood there and watched. The other men were amused and by the look of their tired, desperate faces, they wanted Steevr to get the gate opened.

'You silly bastard, Steevr,' Geraldo yelled. 'You're going to get us all killed. Keep your voice down, we are still being hunted, you know.'

'Let us in you bastards!' Steevr yelled.

'Should we approach?' asked Sir Vyak. 'They know where Daloa is.'

'So do we,' said Sir Ardo. 'You heard him. He said she's been taken to the city.'

'We need to get passed these men,' said Lord Etin.

'What do you think we should do then?' asked Sir Jorcy.

Lord Etin hesitated and then said, 'we should approach them.'

'What if they think we are the ones hunting them?' asked Sir Ardo.

'It's not like we'll be harmed,' said Sir Warr. 'Let's just do it already.'

'Fine,' said Sir Jorcy. 'But lets cover our wounds so that we seem somewhat normal to them. And let me do all the talking.'

The knights agreed.

'What about him?' asked Sir Torrith, pointing to Walter.

'If he speaks, we'll tell the men of his crimes,' said Sir Jorcy, looking at the vampire. 'We'll let them deal with him.'

'I'll be silent if you promise to let me come back to the city with you,' said Walter.

'I'm not promising anything with you,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Alright men, lets head out. Sir Pato, stay here with the horse.'

'I always have to stay behind,' Sir Pato complained.

The dead knights, Lord Etin and Walter emerged from the bushes and began walking towards the large group of men. It didn't take long before they were spotted.

'Weapons!' yelled the man who was called Geraldo, when he saw them coming. 'On your feet, quick.'

Sir Jorcy put up his hands to signal that he and his men meant no harm. When the dead knights were near, the men at the gate had drawn their weapons and got into formation.

'Come any closer and we'll attack,' came Geraldo's voice.

'We just want to talk,' said Sir Jorcy, still holding up his hands.

'Yea?' asked Geraldo. 'Then drop your weapons.'

Sir Jorcy looked to his knights and then back to Geraldo, 'we can't do that. How am I to trust you?'

'And how am I to trust you?' asked Geraldo.

'Oh, enough of this absurdity,' said Sir Warr, angrily. He then threw his sword to the ground and stepped towards Geraldo and his men. 'Tell us where Daloa is, or we'll spill your guts.'

'One more step and you're a dead man,' said Steevr, coming forward.

Geraldo looked hard at Sir Warr and said, 'Daloa?'

'You know damn well who I am talking about,' said Sir Warr.

'Sir Warr, please,' said Sir Jorcy.

'Who are you men?' asked Geraldo, scanning the dead knights armor and mail.

'I can ask you the same,' said Sir Jorcy.

'You better start answering,' said Geraldo. 'I outnumber you. All I have to do is give the call and my men will slaughter you like cattle.'

'You're in for a surprise if you think that,' said Sir Warr.

'Please,' said Lord Etin, stepping from behind Sir Jorcy. 'Daloa is our queen and we have come to take her home.'

'Your queen?' asked Geraldo, lowering his weapon. 'You mean to tell me that you men are from the other side of the sea?'

Lord Etin hesitated and looked back to Sir Jorcy. The knight lowered his weapon as well and said, 'yes. We are men of Vivus.'

'What?' asked Walter, astonished. 'This is absurd.'

'Who is that?' asked Geraldo.

'He's not important,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Do you know how we can get passed this gate?'

'No,' said Geraldo. 'It is locked and there is no other way of getting passed. Besides, I can not let you any further.'

'Oh?' asked Sir Warr. 'Is that right?'

Geraldo walked closer towards the dead knights and was astonished at their grotesque appearance.

'What in gods name happened to you men?'

'The sea,' said Sir Vyak.

Geraldo nodded slowly and looked back at his men, who were still in formation and listening closely to every word that was spoken. He then sheathed his sword and said, 'lets talk more privately.'

The dead knights were confused and relieved at the same time. Geraldo told his men to back down and return to the gate and for the knights to meet him further up the road. The dead knights listened and turned and walked away.

'Why don't we just tie them up and give them to the prince?' asked Steevr, annoyed. 'He'll be happy to have these men as our prisoners.'

'I do not doubt that, Steevr,' said Geraldo, when the dead knights were out of earshot. 'But I can perhaps learn something from them. For now just wait here and let me talk to them. Watch me, and if they try anything funny, attack.'

'Have it your way then,' said Steevr, turning his back to Geraldo.

Geraldo then looked to his men and walked towards the group of dead knights who were waiting by the tree line and far out of earshot of Steevr and the other warriors.

'Your queen and her chambermaid are both safe,' he said to them. 'They have been taken to the castle accompanied by Prince Fasmir.'

'Castle?' asked Sir Vyak. 'Prince? So there truly is a city.'

'Of course,' said Geraldo. 'What did you think was here?'

'How did you people know we were coming?' asked Sir Jorcy. 'We were ambushed as soon as we arrived.'

'Ambushed?' asked Geraldo. 'That is strange, for when the queen arrived she was ambushed as well.'

'What do you mean?' asked Sir Jorcy. 'I just told you that.'

'Excuse me?' asked Geraldo, confused. 'Did you not see the men who traveled with Daloa? All of them were slaughtered.'

The dead knights each exchanged looks with one another.

'Of course,' said Lord Etin, clearing his throat. 'We arrived just after that had happened. Daloa ordered two fleets to arrive on these shores. We were, uh, the second fleet.'

'Second fleet?' asked Geraldo. 'Your queen never mentioned a second fleet.'

'It doesn't matter,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Just answer the question. How did you know we were coming?'

'King Whyten knows many things,' said Geraldo.

'King who?' asked Sir Ardo.

'Our king,' said Geraldo. 'The king of Aurank and the very man that has your queen now. But I assure you, she is safe.'

'Safe?' sneered Sir Warr. 'That's doubtful with you people. What kind of cowards attack helpless men who are stranded in boats?'

'Excuse me?' asked Geraldo.

'Sir Warr, quiet,' said Sir Jorcy.

'No,' said Sir Warr, drawing his sword. 'These are the bastards that attacked us and took our lives.'

Geraldo took a step back and Sir Jorcy grabbed Sir Warr's hand and pushed him away.

'Restrain him,' Sir Jorcy, ordered.

'What is he talking about?' asked Geraldo. 'We never attacked you.'

'Daloa and her men were attacked you said,' Lord Etin interjected. 'Why were her men slaughtered and she taken?'

'The men who slaughtered your men were not us, I can assure you,' said Geraldo.

'Oh, likely story,' said Sir Warr. 'Who was it then?'

'They were assassin's,' said Geraldo. 'There were seven of them. They waited on the shore while Daloa approached. I know for a fact they were not our men, for I and my men were the ones who rescued Daloa.'

The knights stared hard at Geraldo, wondering if they could believe him.

'When your men were slaughtered, Daloa jumped into the sea with her chambermaid,' said Geraldo. 'We got there just in time, for if we arrived even a minuted later, Daloa would have either been taken by them or slain. Luckily, we arrived when we did and killed the seven men. We don't know who they were, but they knew she was coming. How, is a question I've been thinking about myself. When we rescued Daloa we were attacked again on this very road. These men clearly do not want her here, but thankfully she is now within the city and safe.'

'This doesn't make any sense,' admitted Sir Jorcy. 'There was no way you could have known we were coming.'

'You'll find that this land is much different than your own,' said Geraldo. 'The king has ways of knowing things.'

'Does he have a crystal ball or something?,' asked Sir Ardo.

'How do we know that you are telling the truth?' asked Sir Jorcy.

'When we see the queen,' said Geraldo. 'She can tell you all about how I had saved her life twice, but first we must get to her.'

'You're going to take us to her?' asked Sir Jorcy, surprised.

'I am going to take you to Prince Fasmir,' said Geraldo. 'He'll know what to do with you.'

'Alright, then let's go already,' said Sir Vyak.

Geraldo looked towards the knights.

'What is it?' asked Sir Jorcy.

'Well,' said Geraldo, uneasily. 'Unfortunately, my men and I have been ordered to wait here for the time being.'

'You've been locked out of your own city?' asked Sir Vyak.

'The purpose is not clear to us yet,' admitted Geraldo. 'But I trust Prince Fasmir.'

'What are you in terms of rank?' Sir Jorcy asked. 'Are there knights and noblemen in this strange land?'

'I am no knight,' admitted Geraldo. 'But yes, there are knights here and many of them. Fasmir is a prince but he is also the commander of the army of Aurank. I and my men here are rangers. We patrol the lands outside the city. The prince entrusted me with meeting the queen at the shores of the forbidden sea. Thankfully we got there before the assassin's got her first.'

'Why wouldn't this prince send many of his knights instead of you and your few warriors with such an important task?' Sir Vyak asked.

Geraldo hesitated to think on the question and said, 'I am a great friend of Prince Fasmir. Such a task was supposed to be kept secret. Doubtless that if he sent his men word would travel fast throughout the city. The arrival of the queen from the other side is not something King Whyten wants his people to know.'

'The prince escorted the queen himself to the city?' asked Sir Jorcy.

'No,' said Geraldo. 'He had many men with him as well.'

'Then isn't his men already aware of her arrival?' asked Sir Jorcy, confused.

Geraldo thought about it and had no answer.

'This is all confusing,' said Sir Ardo. 'When do you think the gates will be opened?'

'I am not sure,' Geraldo said. 'It is not clear why we were made to wait here. But I can assure you, we shall be let in soon enough.'

'Did you talk to Daloa?' Lord Etin asked.

'Oh yes,' said Geraldo. 'She told me much about herself and her mission. Also about Vivus, but as I said before, we were attacked on the road and some of my men were killed. Daloa is a very fierce warrior. I've never seen a woman fight so well, in fact, I've never seen a woman fight before at all.'

Just then a loud chorus of cheers erupted from behind them. When they turned to look, Geraldo saw his men all standing by the gate as it slowly creaked open.

'Finally!' Geraldo exclaimed. 'We are being let in.'

'What should we do?' asked Sir Jorcy, watching. 'Do you think the prince will be here?'

'It's hard to say,' said Geraldo. 'I think it would be best if you waited here. I'll go find out what is happening.'

'Geraldo,' said Sir Jorcy, before the man turned to leave. 'You can see that we mean no harm. Let us come to the city with you.'

'I'll see what I can do,' said Geraldo.

'If the prince means for us to be his prisoners, we will fight,' said Sir Jorcy.

'I understand,' said Geraldo. 'Just know that whatever my prince orders of me, I must do.'

Sir Jorcy understood and nodded.

'It was a pleasure to have met you,' said Geraldo. 'I'll return.'

And with that the ranger walked towards his men who were waiting for the gates to be fully opened. When they were, a large group of armed men stood with their shields raised to block the entrance.

'Who are they?' asked Sir Vyak, looking at them all.

'They look like knights,' said Lord Etin.

'They are knights, you fool,' said Walter. 'They are the prince's men.'

'You know this?,' asked Sir Jorcy.

'Of course, I know this,' said Walter. 'I live in Aurank, you think I don't know who they are?'

'Alright, back into the bushes, men,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Let's hide until Geraldo comes for us. Who knows what is about to happen.'

The dead knights, Lord Etin and Walter scurried back into the forest's deep brush, hiding themselves from view.

'Give me a weapon,' Walter whispered.

'Piss on yourself,' said Sir Warr.

Geraldo was seen stepping in front of his men, who were grouped together and anxiously waiting for the wall of armed men to let them through.

'What is happening here?' asked Geraldo. 'Where is Prince Fasmir? I demand to speak with him.'

The armed men said nothing and didn't move. Just then, Steevr stepped forward and said angrily, 'we've been waiting here all bloody night and day. We are tired and hungry and sick of this. Now let us through you dogs.'

The armed men again made no reaction. Steevr then forcibly walked closer to get through them.

'Steevr, no!' said Geraldo.

But it was too late. As Steevr got closer, one of the armed men lowered his shield and stabbed his sword into Steevr's stomach.

'Traitors,' Steevr groaned, before blood began pouring out of his mouth. In one last desperate move, he drew his sword and tried his best to attack but was soon slashed across the face and fell dead. After that an eruption of violence began. Geraldo and all his men drew their weapons and began attacking the men who blocked the entrance. It became more of a massacre than anything. For Geraldo and his men were physically and mentally exhausted from their long journey. The knights at the gate were also covered from head to foot in armor while Geraldo and his men were not. All the men's horses then, panicked from the fight, began frantically running off down the road.

'The horses!' yelled Sir Jorcy. 'Get those horses, quick!'

There were a number of horses running up the road and towards the dead knights. Springing out from the brush, Sir Jorcy and his knights blocked the road so that the horses came right for them. They put up a struggle but in the end, Sir Jorcy and the other dead knight's each had their own horse.

'Wait here,' said Sir Jorcy to Lord Etin.

'Wait!' said Walter. 'I can fight.'

'Lord Etin,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Do you have a blade on you?'

'Yes,' Lord Etin, replied.

'Kill the vampire if he tries to flee.'

Lord Etin nodded and Walter sighed.

'Let's go,' said Sir Jorcy to his dead knights.

'Finally,' said Sir Pato.

Each of them then drew their swords and set the spurs to their horses. Sir Warr screeched a battle cry as the dead knights headed towards the armed men. As they approached, many of Geraldo's men had died. Geraldo himself was putting up a fight against two men when the dead knights began slashing and cutting at the armed men on the ground. Some of the armed men saw the knights coming and got back into formation with their shields raised, but the dead knights flew into them from atop their horses with a force that drove them back beyond the gate. There, they found more armed men who were shocked by the sudden attack.

The knights of Aurank slashed at the horses and both Sir Torrith and Sir Ardo were brought to the ground as their horses died. As the two dead knights fought, a spear was suddenly thrown into Sir Torrith's back. The spear went right threw him. As the dead knight fell to the ground, he laughed and pulled the spear out from him. The knight who had thrown the spear looked at Sir Torrith in disbelief and watched as the dead knight charged him with the same spear and drove it into him.

'I could get used to this whole being dead thing,' said Sir Torrith to Sir Ardo.

Many of the other armed men saw what had happened and watched Sir Torrith as he came running towards them with his sword and began cutting them down. Sir Ardo ran for Geraldo who was being helped by Sir Jorcy, who was still atop his horse. The two men attacking were soon overcome and died quickly. Geraldo bowed his head to the two dead knights who had helped him. The three of them charged more of the knights and soon enough there were all but one who was still alive. Behind the gate there were many horses tied to trees, all belonging to the knights who had attacked. Just then an arrow flew from the right and pierced Sir Torrith's other eye. He screamed and fell to the ground.

'I can't see,' he screamed clutching his eye.

'Wow,' said Sir Vyak riding over to him. 'He's been hit in both eyes, what are the chances?'

Sir Jorcy looked to his right and found the man who had shot the arrow and rode over to him before he could load another. Seeing the dead knight approach, the man dropped his bow and put his hands up.

'I surrender,' he exclaimed. 'I surrender, please.'

'Who sent you?' Sir Jorcy asked him.

'This man was not sent,' said Geraldo. 'He is a guard of this gate.'

'Please,' the man begged.

'What happened here?' Geraldo asked. 'Why did these men attack us?'

'I know nothing,' the guard said. 'About an hour ago these men showed up, tied their horses and ordered me to open these gates.'

'Do you know why we were not allowed in?' asked Geraldo.

'No,' said the guard. 'Prince Fasmir ordered me to not open these gates until I was told. This is all I know.'

'I thought this prince was your friend?' asked Sir Jorcy to Geraldo.

'It seems my men and I were waiting here for our deaths,' said Geraldo, scanning the many bodies that lay scattered on the ground.

'Why?' asked Sir Jorcy.

'I suppose the king thought we knew too much about the queen,' Geraldo guessed. 'Perhaps he ordered Prince Fasmir to have us killed. I am not sure though. I need to know.'

Just then the sound of a galloping horse was heard and the men turned to find a wounded knight taking off.

'I'll get him,' said Sir Vyak springing to his horse.

'No,' said Geraldo. 'Let him go. Let him return to the city to tell of what happened here.'

'Is that wise?' asked Sir Jorcy. 'They'll be expecting us and we need to get into Aurank.'

'There are many ways into Aurank other than through the main gates. Trust me.'

'What should we do with him?' asked Sir Ardo, pointing to the guard who had shot Sir Torrith.

'He deserves to die for what he has done to your man,' said Geraldo. 'But there needs to be a man here to guard these gates, for there are many enemies lurking within these parts.'

Then came moans from behind them and Geraldo turned to find that all his men were either dead or lay dying.

'What a great mess,' he said, looking at the bodies. 'All of my men have been killed and if it weren't for you, I'd be dead as well. I am sorry, for the loss of your man.'

'Loss of my man?' asked Sir Jorcy, confused.

Geraldo than looked towards Sir Torrith who he had expected to have been lying dead, but was instead kneeling on the ground accompanied by Sir Ardo.

'Pull it out,' said Sir Torrith.

'Hold still,' said Sir Ardo, clutching the arrow that had gone threw Sir Torrith's other eye.

'What is this?' asked Geraldo, walking over to them. 'He lives? How could that be? The man has an arrow through his head!'

'As you told us before, Geraldo. This land is indeed much different than our own,' said Sir Jorcy. 'For there are many strange things that happen here. You said your own king saw the coming of our queen.'

Geraldo looked at him both shocked and confused and then asked, 'there was no second fleet was there? You were the men that came with Daloa and were slaughtered.'

Sir Jorcy nodded.

'I'm blind,' said Sir Torrith, after Sir Ardo pulled the arrow from his eye.

Just then Lord Etin and Walter came riding towards them.

'You men did well,' said Lord Etin, as he approached the company and stared at the many corpses .

'I could have helped,' said Walter. 'All you needed to do was give me a weapon.'

'Is he dead too?' asked Geraldo.

'Not yet,' said Sir Jorcy. 'We found him on our way here. He's a man of Aurank.'

'Is he your prisoner?' Geraldo asked, looking at the rope around the vampire's wrists.

'We'll explain everything on the road,' said Sir Jorcy. 'Now, there are enough horses here for each of us to ride. How far is the city from here?'

'A couple hours if we hurry,' Geraldo said.

'Couple hours!' exclaimed Sir Warr. 'What's this damn gate here for then?'

'This forest has certain beings that we try to keep far from the city,' said Geraldo.

'I can understand that,' said Sir Vyak, looking at Walter.

'Let's get moving,' said Sir Jorcy.

The dead knights, Lord Etin, Geraldo and Walter all got onto horses and began to leave. As they did so, Geraldo turned to the man at the gate and said, 'be sure to lock it up and remain here. I trust Prince Fasmir will know soon enough what happened. When he comes, tell him that Geraldo still lives and that our friendship is over.'

The guard nodded and went towards the gate to shut it.

'Oh and can you tell him one more thing?' asked Geraldo. 'Tell the prince that I now ride with the dead and that we are coming for him.'

Chapter Fourteen

The Third Brother

Galla awoke to find her queen pacing around the bed chamber. It was early in the morning and the sun had not yet fully risen. As the young chambermaid wiped sleep from her tired eyes, she stared at Daloa and asked her, 'my queen. Why are you up? Won't you come back to bed?'

Daloa suddenly looked up in surprise, for she had not expected Galla to have awoken so early.

'I am not well,' she said. 'Go back to bed, Galla.'

'Oh, my queen,' said Galla, sitting up. 'What is wrong? Please tell me.'

'We need to leave here immediately,' said the queen.

Just then a knock came on the door.

The two girls looked at each other in fear.

'Who do you think that is?' asked Galla.

'I'm not sure,' said the queen.

Another knock came.

Daloa turned and reached for the blade that was resting on the table beside the bed. She then walked towards the door with it raised. A woman's voice then came into her head.

'Open the door, girl.'

Galla raised her hand to her ears and said, 'that voice. I hear it again. It's in my head.'

Daloa then realized that it was the voice of Olizma and slowly unlocked and opened the door. Thankfully, she found the old slave standing in the doorway and let her in. When she was let in, Daloa peered her head out into the hallway and found the two guards still standing there. The queen then shut the heavy door and locked it.

'What are you doing here?' asked Daloa, to the old slave.

'You are thinking of leaving,' came her voice, within the queens head.

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'How did you know that?'

'I know many things,' came the old woman's voice. 'You cannot leave. Not yet, anyway.'

'I must,' said Daloa. 'Prince Fasmir wants me dead.'

'Yes,' came Olizma's voice. 'But you cannot leave this place. You are Aurank's only hope.'

'Damn this vile place,' said the queen, dropping the blade onto the bed. She was wearing a thin night gown and was beginning to shiver. Daloa then walked over to a nightstand and put on something heavier to shield her thin body. 'I don't care about this cursed city.'

'You need us,' said Olizma, her mouth staying shut. Her eyes were crystal clear and seemed to peer into Daloa's head as she looked at her.

'Yes,' said Daloa. 'But there is nothing I can do. The prince was my only way of getting my army and now he wants me gone.'

'The king wants you to marry one of his sons,' came Olizma's voice.

Daloa stared hard at Olizma in shock.

'What?' asked Galla, listening to them. 'You didn't tell me that, my queen.'

'How did you know that?' asked Daloa, to the old slave.

'I told you before,' said Olizma. 'I know many things.'

'Well, even so,' said Daloa. 'I cannot do such a thing anymore. Fasmir does not want to marry me and will even kill his own father to prevent it from happening.'

'There is another way,' said Olizma.

'Another way?' asked Daloa. 'And what is that?'

'What if I were to tell you that there is another brother?'

'Oh, I've met him,' said Daloa. 'He is even worse. I'd rather die than marry such a vile insect.'

'No, not Prince Larr,' came Olizma's voice. 'Another.'

'Another?' asked Daloa, curious. 'What do you mean? There is another brother?'

'Yes,' said Olizma. 'And he is much more powerful than both Fasmir and Larr. He has the power to not only give you Fasmir's army, but to make you queen of all lands as well.'

'Where is he?' the queen asked.

Olizma smiled and walked over to the open window. She looked out and her voice came, 'he lives in a small town a little ways from here. He went there as a boy for he wanted to hide from his family. No one knows where he is. No one, but I.'

'Why would he want to hide?' asked Daloa, stepping towards Olizma.

'The king wanted to use him as a weapon, for he is very powerful, as I have told you' said Olizma. 'And his brothers wanted him dead, for they knew that he was given powers that they do not posses. When he was only just a boy, he ran off and hid from them. Now he lives peacefully. But you, Queen Daloa. You must find him and bring him back. For it is his destiny to take the throne from his family and rule this land. And once you marry him, then you will be queen of all lands.'

Daloa took this all in with difficulty. She stared at the old woman in disbelief. But the more she thought about it, the more she came to trust this old slave, for after all, she did know many things and had the power to enter into her and Galla's head and speak.

'Who are you?' the queen asked after a long silence. 'How do you know all these things?'

'I have lived for many years,' said Olizma. 'I am here to guide you mortals. Auran used to be a peaceful paradise before it became cursed with man. I will do what I can to restore Auran's ancient beauty. I have been waiting for you Queen Daloa, for a very long time.'

'Me?' asked Daloa, slowly.

'Yes,' said Olizma. 'For now, I can tell you nothing more.'

Daloa tried to take this all in. She sat on the bed, and thought on Olizma's words. Galla came up behind her queen and rested her head on her shoulders.

'What are we going to do?' the chambermaid asked her, desperately.

'What else can we do, Galla?' asked Daloa. For a little while the two girls sat in silence. Then the queen rose, looked at Olizma and asked, 'how far is this village?'

'About half a day's walk,' said Olizma. 'It's a very old village and not many live there. It is a farmstead occupied by simple folk.'

'How do you know that this, third brother lives?' the queen asked.

'I know he does,' said Olizma 'I have been watching him for many years.'

'What if he does not want to help us?' the queen asked.

'He is your only hope,' said Olizma. 'You must believe in yourself, for you are very strong and very beautiful.'

'What does beauty have to do with it?' asked Daloa.

'He is a man, after all,' Olizma's voice came

Daloa thought on that and said, 'well that may be, but my beauty wasn't enough for Prince Fasmir. Never mind that. I have decided I will put my trust in you, Olizma, for I do no not have many other options. When can we leave?'

'You are not going, Daloa' said Olizma.

'What do you mean?' the queen asked, confused.

'You cannot leave the castle,' said Olizma. 'If the king finds out that you have left then everything will be compromised. No, you must stay here.'

'Then how are we to find this third brother?'

'We do not need to find him,' said Olizma. 'I told you before, I know where he is.'

'So you will go?' asked Daloa.

'I will go,' came Olizma's voice. 'But not alone.'

The queen walked up and stared into Olizma's eyes and asked, 'who will you go with?'

Olizma smiled and nodded her head towards Galla. The chambermaid wasn't looking at her, however.

'Galla,' asked Daloa, in shock. 'You want Galla to go with you?'

Olizma nodded.

'What?' asked Galla, softly.

'No,' said the queen. 'This will not be happening.'

'It must,' said Olizma.

'Why?' asked Daloa, now pacing the room once more.

'He will listen to her,' said Olizma. 'He will want to help the poor girl. If I go, then he won't do anything. Galla must be the one to tell him of you.'

'This doesn't make any sense,' said Daloa. 'Why would he listen to Galla?'

'Because he will know that she is not from this land,' said Olizma. 'Once Galla explains to him everything, then he will come. You must trust me.'

'Let me go,' said Daloa. 'Galla can not take care of herself.'

'I will be with her,' came the voice of Olizma. 'I will protect her.'

'You?' asked Daloa. 'How will you protect her? You are but an old woman.'

'An old woman with powers,' said Olizma.

Daloa stared at the old slave and thought on her words.

'No,' said Galla. 'I don't want to go. Please, Daloa, don't make me go.'

Daloa looked at her chambermaid and took a seat next to her on the edge of the bed. 'I don't know what to do,' she said.

'It is the only way,' said Olizma. 'I will get Galla safely there. I promise.'

The chambermaid threw her arms around the queen and began to cry. 'Don't make me go. I don't want to leave you.'

'You must,' said Daloa, to her, after some time. 'You must help me Galla.'

The chambermaid continued to cry.

'Stop acting like a child, Galla,' said Daloa, grabbing her by the shoulders. 'You must be strong. For me, dear Galla, you must be strong. Go with Olizma, she will protect you. You must help me.'

Galla, wiped her cheek and asked, 'what do you want me to do, my queen?'

'You must tell this third brother who I am and ask for his help, Galla,' said Daloa. 'Tell him that we need him.'

'What if he doesn't listen to me?' asked Galla. 'What if he tries to hurt me?'

'He is not like his older brothers,' said Olizma.

'Trust me, Galla,' said the queen. 'You are my only hope.'

The two girls stood there in silence for a long while until Galla said, 'OK, I will do it for you, Daloa.'

'Thank you, Galla,' said the queen. The two girls then embraced each other.

'We must leave immediately,' came Olizma's voice.

'What?' asked Daloa. 'Are you sure?'

'We must act quickly,' said Olizma. 'Before the king notices that your chambermaid has disappeared.'

'He doesn't even know of her,' said Daloa.

'Are you sure?' Olizma asked.

Daloa thought about it and realized that the king did know about Galla. 'Alright. But how are you two going to leave the castle without being spotted?'

The old slave then reached behind her and produced an old, tattered gray rag. When she unfolded it, the girls saw that it was the same rags that Olizma and all the other slaves wore.

'Put this on,' her voice came.

Galla looked at Daloa, nervously and the queen nodded to her. The chambermaid then reached for the rags and put it against her body.

'Gross,' she said.

'We will walk together out of this chamber,' said Olizma. 'The guards will not notice anything.'

'They only saw you come in,' said Daloa.

'Trust me,' said Olizma. 'Those guards won't notice anything. As long as you don't leave, they won't suspect a thing.'

'OK,' said the queen. 'But how will you two get out of the castle unnoticed?'

'I know a way,' said Olizma.

'Fine,' said Daloa. 'Just please be careful, Galla is my most trusted friend. She means very much to me.'

'Oh, Daloa,' said Galla, running to her queen and hugging her. 'I can't do this.'

'Yes you can,' said Daloa. 'Please, Galla. You must be strong.'

'Quickly,' said Olizma. 'We don't have much time before others start to wake.'

Galla then stripped off her nightgown and slid into the gray servant rags.

'Should she be wearing her shoes?' asked the queen. 'You and the other servants are all barefoot.'

'No one will notice,' said Olizma. 'OK, it is time.'

'Should she bring a weapon at least?' asked Daloa.

'Nothing,' said Olizma. 'Once we are on the road, I will give her more to wear so that she does not freeze.'

'When will you be back?'

'Tomorrow evening.'

'Do you really think this man is going to come?'

'I don't know for sure,' came the voice of Olizma. 'We must hope.'

'Do be careful,' said Daloa. 'Oh, Galla.'

The two girls than embraced one another once again.

'Goodbye, Daloa,' Galla said, through tears.

'I'll see you tomorrow evening,' said Daloa. 'Tell the man everything. Oh, this is crazy.'

'It's what must happen,' said Olizma. She then went to the door and opened it slowly. 'Let's go, quietly.'

As Olizma left, Galla, followed but looked at Daloa one last time, before the door shut. When Daloa was left alone she fell onto the bed face first and sobbed into a pillow. She was now completely and utterly alone in this strange, hostile place. As she sobbed, the queen began to regret having let Galla leave her. She had sent the only person she had left in the world into the darkness of Aurank on a foolish mission to a find a man she wasn't even sure existed. The more the queen thought about this plan the more absurd it sounded. Perhaps Fasmir had put Olizma up to this. It didn't matter now though. Galla was gone and all the queen had left was hope.

As the queen lay on the bed in her chamber mixed within a swirl of anxiety and regret, Olizma and Galla walked quietly passed the two guards that stood at the door. They made no movement as the two girls made their way down the hall leading to the staircase that brought them to the main floor of the castle. Luckily for Olizma and Galla, there was no one walking about. The servant then led Galla across the large hall towards a stairway leading below. When they reached the bottom of the staircase they walked down a dark hall that brought them to a large room containing many beds.

'Where are we?' asked Galla, looking at the many beds that were filled with sleeping bodies.

'This,' came Olizma's voice within Galla's head. 'Is the servant quarters.'

Galla then realized that all the beds were occupied with sleeping girls who were no older than Galla herself.

'Over here,' came Olizma's voice.

Galla then followed Olizma to another small room. In here, Olizma closed the door and the two of them were alone. The old woman then produced a large, furry jacket that she put on the chambermaid. She then gave her some pants that Galla put on beneath the gray rags she wore.

'Through here,' said Olizma, after Galla was dressed. The slave then pulled a dozen loose bricks from the wall that revealed a hidden tunnel. Olizma then crept down low and entered the black tunnel. Galla took a deep breath and followed. The tunnel went on for a long while. It was pitch black and Galla kept going forward, trusting the old slave to bring her somewhere out of here. The tunnel was narrow and Galla had to bend down very low to keep from her head hitting the top. They heard soft squeaks and Galla shuddered at the sound for she knew they belonged to rats.

'How much further?' the chambermaid asked. Her back and knees were getting very sore from crouching for so long.

'Little more,' came Olizma's voice.

Soon, Galla saw a light in the distance. When the two of them got towards the light they found themselves standing at a dead end.

'Up here,' Olizma's voice came.

Galla looked up and found a rope ladder leading high above this place.

'Climb,' said Olizma.

Galla took another large breath and grabbed hold of the ladder. She then pulled herself up and after a long climb, she found herself emerging out from the darkness below and onto the land above. Rain fell hard onto her head as Galla now stood on land. Before long she was drenched to the bone. As the chambermaid scanned the forest around her, she realized that the castle was far behind her. Olizma quickly emerged from the hole in the ground and stood and looked at the chambermaid.

'We should be safe now,' the slave's voice came.

'What was that passage?' asked Galla.

'There are many secret tunnels leading to and from the castle that have been forgotten over the years. But let us find the road now, girl.'

'Road?' asked Galla, bundling herself up in her furs to keep warm.

The sky above was dark gray and the rain fell hard. The world around them was extremely loud with the sound of the rain hitting the trees and leaves around them. Galla nearly had to yell over the noise to have the slave hear her.

'Follow me,' came Olizma's voice, clear as day as it rang within the young chambermaid's head.

The two of them walked for a long while until they came to a dirt road.

'We must follow this' Olizma's voice came. 'This road leads to Exangst.'

'Exangst?' asked Galla, shivering in her wet furs.

'This is the village where we will find him,' came the voice of Olizma. 'Come.'

The slave and the chambermaid then began their long walk towards the small village. They continued for hours without rest. The rain did not stop or fall lighter. Both of them were drenched and freezing, but they carried on.

'How much further?' asked Galla. 'My feet hurt and I can't feel my hands.'

'Much further,' said Olizma. 'Come.'

The chambermaid sighed and continued on. Tears began to fall from her tired eyes. Galla wanted nothing more than to be back with her queen in the warm chamber. She wondered how her queen was doing without her and whether or not she would be safe. As Galla walked, her eyes scanned the dark forest around her. As many hours passed by, the two of them stopped to find shelter underneath a very large tree. After their quick rest they began again, until it got dark.

'We've been walking all day,' said Galla. 'How much further?'

'We will not reach it before the moon rises,' said Olizma. 'Lets go a little further and then stop for the night.'

'Stop for the night?' asked Galla.

'Yes,' said Olizma. 'We cannot continue on in the dark and we are still far from Exangst.'

Galla sighed once more and continued walking. More hours passed by and soon the two of them found themselves walking in darkness. The moon began to show its face, its light penetrating through the thick bush around them.

'Let's stop here,' said Olizma.

The two of them then walked off the road and into the trees and bushes that surrounded them. They found some logs and decided to lay on top of them. Galla rested her head against her arms and tried to fall asleep. She was very tired from the long day of walking. The rain still fell but not as hard now. She was extremely cold and had been shivering nonstop. As she lay there, she listened to the deep breaths that Olizma made. Galla wasn't sure, after a long while if the slave was asleep or not. Suddenly, the chambermaid heard the sound of a horse. Her heart began to beat incredibly fast and she wasn't sure what to do. As the sound of the horse became louder, it was clear that it was close to them. Galla sat up and stared towards the road.

'Quiet,' came Olizma's voice from within her head, startling the poor chambermaid.

The horse appeared on the road, seen by Galla and Olizma in the pale moonlight. The horse was dragging behind it a large wagon. On the wagon, Galla saw a figure wearing a large hat. It was too dark to see any other feature. As the horse passed by, Galla lay back down on the log.

'Do not worry,' came Olizma's voice. 'This is a road used by farmers to transport food and supplies to the city. Let us get some more rest and then begin again.'

Galla said nothing and closed her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to be far from this place. Eventually, the forest became lit once again with the faint light of the sun beginning to rise. The chambermaid was not sure if she had slept or not. When Olizma told her to get up, Galla found that she was incredibly sore from the long night on the log. When she got to her feet, she stretched and yawned. She was still incredibly wet and the rain still fell, but very lightly.

'Come on,' came Olizma's voice.

Galla and the old slave found the road and continued on. They remained silent for most of the trip. The sun was now overhead, even though it was hard to see behind the thick clouds. Galla could tell that it was now midday.

'We are very close,' said Olizma.

Galla said nothing. She felt extremely anxious. The young chambermaid wasn't sure what she was going to say to the man they were looking for. She did not want to fail her queen and suddenly Galla felt the pressure that had been put on her. If things went wrong, then she would have to return to her queen empty handed. Galla knew that she had to be successful here, or else it could mean her and Daloa's lives.

'Not much longer,' said Olizma after a couple more minutes.

The road began to wind down a steep grassy hill. From here, Galla was now looking upon a small village. The village was near a massive black pool. The forest surrounded this large village. Galla could see that within it contained many small houses made of wood. There were many roads and alleys that led behind the buildings that occupied this place. As the road ended and Olizma and Galla were standing on the outskirts of the village, the servant turned to Galla.

'Before we go any further,' Olizma's voice rang in Galla's head. 'You must understand something.'

'What?' asked Galla.

'You must tell this man,' said Olizma. 'That you are the queen.'

Galla was confused and asked, 'why?'

'Because,' said Olizma. 'If he believes that you are the queen, then we have more of a chance of him coming back with us.'

'That doesn't make any sense,' said Galla, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. 'I am not going to lie to him.'

'You must,' Olizma, insisted.

'What difference does it make?'

'He will think that he is being led into a trap if you tell him that the queen awaits him in his families castle,' said Olizma. 'The poor boy does not wish to ever return there. We must tell him that you are the queen.'

'No' Galla said, astonished. 'This is wrong. I cannot tell him that I am the queen.'

'You are a very pretty girl,' said Olizma. 'I trust it has been a long time since he has seen a girl like you. If he falls for you then it will be easier to get him to come back with us.'

'Your plan relies on this man to fall for me?' asked Galla, shocked. 'This is ridiculous. We cannot just play with the boys heart. We shouldn't be doing this.'

'You want to turn back?' asked Olizma.

Galla thought on how upset the queen would be with her if she returned with nothing.

'Why didn't you tell Daloa about this?' asked Galla.

'It is better for her to have not known,' said Olizma.

'This is absurd,' said Galla, feeling the pressure. 'Why does he never wish to return anyway? Wouldn't he want to see his family?'

'No,' said Olizma. 'And they do not want to see him either. This man is very powerful and once he returns he shall overcome the king and help your queen. You must trust me.'

Galla sighed and nodded her head.

'Follow me,' Olizma said. She then led Galla through the small village.

As they walked, Galla found many of the residents to be clothed in old rags. Each looked to be very poor and dirty. They went about with shovels and baskets in their hands. The people were all devoted to growing food and transporting it. It seemed none of them did anything else besides work. All their faces looked distant and withdrawn. Barely any emotion passed through their sullen looks. Galla wondered what this third brother was going to be like. It was strange that such a nobleman would choose a life here rather than in his families castle. The chambermaid did not know exactly what had happened between this man and his family, but she knew it couldn't have been about anything good.

They left the main square of the village behind and entered a more quiet and remote part. There were small houses that lay scarce and far from one another. As they walked on, Olizma turned to face Galla.

'That is it,' her voice came, pointing to a small wooden house on top of a hill. The house was surrounded by a short fence. Behind the house was a pasture with numerous amounts of bags and tools scattered about. Whoever lived here used the land quite frequently. Galla drew a deep breath and walked towards the house. There was narrow path that led up the hill and to the fence that surrounded the place. As Galla began her walk, she looked behind her to find that Olizma had disappeared.

'Olizma?' she asked, shocked. 'Olizma?'

There was nowhere around that the old woman could have gone to and hidden. It seemed as though she had vanished into thin air. Tears welled in Galla's eyes. The chambermaid found herself frozen with fear. She called once more for the old woman but heard and saw nothing. After a couple more minutes, Galla knew that she had no other choice but to walk towards the house. Her legs seemed to take her closer and closer but her mind seemed to stay back. Galla wanted nothing more then to run away and hide. But still, she walked closer towards the wooden house. Hope was the only thing she had left, and even that was tangled in a frenzy of fear and anxiety. She had reached the wooden fence. A small gate was attached and she opened it and closed it behind her. A few more steps and she would be standing at the door of a man that could easily do her harm. Galla soon found herself walking up the creaky steps to the porch and now a door was the only thing that divided her between the uncertain outside world and the man that decided her and her queens fate. As she knocked, Galla could hardly decipher the sound of her knuckles rapping against the old wood then from her own heartbeat. The chambermaid heard movement behind the door and soon enough it creaked open and there, Galla stood looking up and into the eyes of the man that Olizma called, the third brother.

