Giles followed Elisa and Magnus, though they never asked him to. In fact, when Magnus brought the news of the two outlander knights arriving, they moved as though the prisoner no longer existed. Giles, unaware of what was happening with the refugees flooding through the pass, or the idea that any threat existed outside of Tovoran, moved with a noticeable lack of urgency as he followed the two out of the hall, struggling to make quick progress in his oversized tunic.

  They went through the large red doors, and out into the yard. Giles stayed on the top step leading up to the keep, while Elisa and the old man descended them. Soldiers moved about, and the gate slowly opened to reveal a horse running down the main road of the town. Two riders sat upon it, and even at their great distance, all could tell a distinct urgency about them as they sped along the cobbles.

  “That is Uriah alright.” Said Magnus. “Though, I don’t recognize the man riding behind him. What on this plane of existence is he doing back here?” As he spoke these last words, the horse crossed the bridge, not slowing its pace even a bit. Up until it was halfway through the yard, Uriah kept it moving at full pace, pulling it to a skidding halt right before the queen. She took a frightful step back, and Magnus moved to pull her away. The horse reared up and let out a cry. Once it came back down, all could see the foam around its mouth and the near dead state of the beast. The two men atop it were little better.

  Blood covered the bodies of both men, and they had both lost noticeable amounts of their armor, Uriah now only wearing his greaves and gauntlets, and the other man his helmet only. Uriah had a determined look on his face, fringed with a hint of fear that none present had ever seen on the outlander. Magnus looked him up and down then opened his mouth to speak, but Uriah did first.

  “My queen, has Captain Roland returned yet? If so, how many men did he bring?” Elisa took a step closer to Magnus before answering.

  “I have heard nothing of his return since you left.”

  “He should have been heading to the pass to meet you.” Said Magnus. “Suppose he would have left from MossStone yesterday.” Uriah looked to the north sky, over the castle wall.

  “Damn.” He whispered. “There might still be time to reach him first.” He turned the shaking horse back to Magnus. “I need a new horse, old man. Hurry. I must leave and stop the captain before he falls to the invaders.” All present stopped what they were doing, and looked to the two outlanders on the horse. Elisa’s face, that had been confused with fear, now showed a pale terror at the words. Magnus, catching this, took a step forward, as if to block the news from reaching her anymore than it had.

  “What do you mean, Uriah?” He asked. There was clear irritation at the question and how he knew it would only slow him down, but the outlander knew that, if he wished to leave as soon as possible, he would have to tell them. With exhaustion coursing through his body, he spoke.

  “Thousands of them, pouring through the Pass as we speak. Our army was destroyed.” The one sitting behind him let out a faint cry of pain, and pulled his grasp about the front man tighter. Uriah seemed to have just remembered that another person sat behind him on the horse. “Him!” he shouted. “He can tell you all. But for now, hurry and get me a horse and some food and water. I must stop Captain Roland before he marches right into a slaughter.” He moved to dismount, and this caused the other man to begin falling off. Two of the soldiers ran up and caught him. “Right now, his recruits are our only hope of countering and stopping this horde. Hurry, old man.” Magnus gave a look to the queen for his next direction. Her eyes were fixed on the bloodied man being lowered from the horse. After a moment, realizing she would not be giving directions, he turned back to Uriah and gave a nod. The two men hurried across the yard to the stables.

  “Eanna,” Magnus shouted to one of the men upon the wall. “Hurry to the kitchens and back three days of traveling rations. Hurry back here. You have ten minutes.” The soldier dashed off and rushed past Giles to disappear into the keep. When the prisoner turned back to the yard, the two men had gone and it was only the queen and the injured outlander being held up by the two soldiers.

  “What shall we do with him, my lady?” Said one of them. She gave no response. Giles looked to her. Though her back was to him, he could detect a clear tremble in her figure. A few moments passed without response.

  “Do you have an infirmary?” He asked. The two soldiers looked to him and nodded. “I suppose you should take him there then.” The soldiers then looked between themselves and then back to Giles.

  “And who are you?” Giles, rather than be put off by the question, as most would have been, found his mind come alive again at the response. They did not recognize him as the prisoner of the tower, was the only thing he thought. Perhaps because of the state he was brought in as, that night, or perhaps because nearly none of them had seen him since then, or maybe simply the panic of the moment. For whatever it was, the moment of their lapse made him fall into his old ways.

  “My name is Giles Namreo. I am an ambassador of the south. Now stop waiting around asking stupid questions. Your queen is in distress, and the only man that can give us answers is dying in your hands while you two act like there is time to spare and then some.” The two men looked down at the bleeding outlander between them and passed a look of awareness to each other.

  “Sorry sir. Sorry my lady. We’ll get him there right away.” The two lifted the man, one holding him under his armpits and the other taking both legs. Giles watched them move through the courtyard to a side door of one of the towers and vanish into its darkness. He looked to the young woman standing isolated in the middle of the open space, frozen.

  “Mrs. Elisa,” He said, “perhaps you should sit down.” The sound of her own name brought her out of the trance like state just enough so that she jumped a bit and looked about.

  “No,” She said, absentmindedly. “I should stay upright. I need to show strength in this time, for our people. My husband would expect no less. Neither would the north.” Giles walked down to her, and stood by her side, facing the gate.

  “Do you need anything?” He asked, in a soft voice.

  “I don’t suppose you have a way of giving us an army, or maybe stopping the war?” Giles pressed his lips together. Her eyes had gone glassy, her hands trembled like leaves as they fidgeted together. All together, she looked so young and afraid. The castle walls melted away from his view, and he felt he saw the little girl from the pottery tale, fearing some waiting punishment. For the first time in a long time, he felt his heart breaking for another person.

  “I don’t think one man can do that, ma’am.” he said. “But, don’t lose your hope. That Uriah fellow said that there was another army of your own out there ready to fight.” The queen sniffed, and nodded her head.

  “Right.” She said and straightened her shoulders. “That is right. And when my husband gets command of them, he will know what to do.” She looked up to the open gate. “When he arrives, he’ll-” Her words halted and Giles looked to where she did. A lone horse with a single rider came galloping down the road towards them. There seemed a silence following the figure as it grew closer. Moment by moment, the rider came towards them. Through the lifeless town, over the stone bridge, and through the open gates. Not a single soldier said a word or even moved to stop him. He rode right up to the queen and prisoner and halted. He then took a deep breath of great satisfaction, and let his head fall back as he looked to the sky with a smile. Then, slowly, he raised it again and looked to the two young figures before him.

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  “Hello, my young queen Elisa. “ All watching moved back at the sound of the man’s voice. It reverberated with a soothing pulse that almost shook the bone. Even Giles, felt himself draw a sudden intake of breath at the powerful tone. “I have heard much of you and your people. And have ridden many miles at a great speed to meet you in person. I will have you know, I have chosen to leave behind my soldiers and loyal followers, for this. While the other kingdoms of this place you call Tovoran are receiving messengers of little name, I wanted to meet with my enemy in person before any more blood should be spilled on your lands.” Giles looked about, for Magnus, but the old man was away on the other side of the castle tending to Uriah. The rider seemed to not notice him at all, only looked to Elisa, so he took the moment to size him up. Nearly naked, wearing a stone sword across his back, and looking down with piercing glowing eyes set deeply within his pale skull, the prisoner felt the man had stepped right out of an ancient barbaric cave painting. “My name is Enoch, and I have come here to discuss the terms of passage through your lands of Northguard and desire to make terms for your surrender.” He waited for her to respond, and after a moment of silence, he looked deeply at her, and pointed. “Speak.” The words felt even more charged with the strange energy. Elisa blinked, shook her head.

  “I am sorry, what did you say?” Enoch sat high on his horse.

  “I am here to ask for your surrender, my lady.” Elisa gave a distant nod of her head, and repeated the word surrender. Giles, looking at her and observing the shock of all that had transpired was taking a strong toll, found himself speaking up.

  “Bold requests from a single man.” Enoch did not look at the prisoner. “Might I ask why we should surrender to you, sir?”

  “The situation should be self evident, little man. We are here to cut a path to the south and the great sea. Already we have burned down whole cities, laid waste to kingdoms, and wiped away their people from known history.” He now looked at Giles. “Already we have thrown down your great walls and entered your lands, despite your attempts to stop us. So, tell me, is this enough reason for you?” Giles looked away from the eyes and around to the nearby soldiers. He put on a bold laugh.

  “Is that all? You threw down some little outlander kings and broke through a couple of walls with a small garrison defending them? Oh, bravo indeed. Should we just give you the crowns of all the royals of Northguard now, or would that come later?” The act was weak, Giles knew this, but it had taken its desired effect. The soldiers around stood a bit taller, understanding the absurdity of the strange man’s claims. Enoch remained unmoved, and only looked down at Giles with a knowing smile. The prisoner continued. “Suppose you would want the shirt off my back too. Looks like you need one.” He gave a final laugh. Then there was silence. Enoch did not look away for some time.

  “The little you people know of the world beyond your mountains.” He shook his head and then abruptly sat up tall again. “You will all listen. I am a man of mercy. I give Northguard this one chance. Take up the great walk with me, and no harm shall come to you. Refuse, attempt to stand against me, and you will die.” He looked down at the queen. “The choice is yours.”

  “Northguard is not yours yet, pale man.” Giles spoke again, and this time it was clear that the rider grew tired of him. “The Warren, Greyrock, Windgrad, Ironveil, the Bluehead. All this stands between you and the sea. You will need to collect many crowns before your little walking holiday ends.” Giles’ attempt at boldness felt hollow in his chest. He knew so little about the world which he spoke of, and hoped that his words inspired some boldness in the woman standing next to him. “But before any of that,” He continued, "you will need to contend with Northguard. I doubt king Malakai would be happy that you sent threats to their queen, such as this.” He wondered it himself, hoping beyond hope that the western king within Moss Stone was known as this type of man. Casting a sideways glance to Elisa, and felt a swell of hope, noticing her head standing tall once more, though she struggled to look at the rider. Giles crossed his arms and the soldiers of the castle held their spears with a ready grip.

  Enoch looked at him through narrowed brows. The words had taken their effect on more than those belonging to the castle. With a clenched jaw, he looked down on the young man.

  “My mercy only goes so far, young one. Your people have eight days to give me your answer. By then, answer or not, we march on Tovoran and all who still stand in our path.” He made a motion to steer his horse around, then stopped and looked back at Giles. “Oh, and as for my collection of crowns. I think I am off to a good start, don’t you?” He grabbed something at the back of the saddle, hidden from view, and threw it down at their feet. Then he turned his horse about and sped off before the soldiers could move to stop him. From his fleeing figure a laughter could be heard, even miles away it shuddered through the lands.

  Giles looked away from the rider in the distance, and over to Elisa. His heart froze when he saw the expression on her face. The look of fear that had been plaguing her since the two men’s arrival had now been replaced with a look of horror Giles had seen on no human’s face ever in his life. Her shaking hands went up as if to grasp at something, then she fell to her knees and let out a blood curdling shriek that rang through the whole of Mountcrane.

  Before her, where Enoch had cast it, lay the head of king Barak, crown still on his head, and eyes plucked from their sockets. No man made a move or knew what move to make. Giles stood looking at the face, its lifeless mouth open in a perpetual scream. Elisa grabbed at it, screaming out for her husband as tears sprang from her eyes.

  Magnus and Uriah came about the corner at that moment, leading a fresh horse between them, they hurried at the sound of the cry. Magnus let out a sound Giles could only describe as despair itself, and rushed over to his queen. Smacking the head from her hands, he took her into his arms and held her tight as she fought with all her might to grab up the face once more.

  “No, please!” She screamed through panicked sobs. “Let me go to him. He needs me.” Magnus looked up to a nearby soldier.

  “Get it out of here, now!” He commanded. The soldier threw down his spear and rushed over, scooping up the head and fled with it into the keep. Uriah made his way over and looked too with horror upon the scene. At the moment Eanna came from the red doors holding a pack. Uriah snatched it up from him and mounted the horse.

  “I will find Captain Roland, do not worry. This is not over yet.” With that, and not another glance at the fallen royal, he spurred his horse on and through the gate.

  “What can we do?” The queen sobbed, bowing her head to the ground. “In eight days, they will be here. In eight days Greyrock will still be readying their march on the warren and the south will still be silent as ever.” Magnus tried soothing her, but he too began to lose the battle of holding his tears within. Giles looked on with wide eyes. He felt his heart racing in his chest. For all his back and forth with the rider, no words of encouragement could counter such a final blow. And now, the sins of his past revealed their final cruel joke.

  For a moment, he was back in the forest with a young prince, surrounded by magnolias. A stream ran between them, reflecting moonlight. Winds bustled about, whipping his black hair across his face. The youth smiled at him, and gave a greeting. His face, a picture of kindness and generosity. Then he was back at Mountcrane and a single thought came to him. The road was not done with him yet.

  “Eanna.” He called. The soldier turned to him, confused as to what had happened while he was gone. “I need a horse. Hurry.” The soldier nodded and sped off to the stables. Giles walked to the queen and squatted before her. His face resolute, she looked at him through blurred tears. “Elisa, I need you to listen to me, I have to go now. Magnus will be here with you.” She choked on her breath.

  “You too? First I sent Abner away, and now you wish to abandon me?” She bowed her head to the stone courtyard again. “Am I to face this alone?”

  “Stop that.” He said. “Listen to me. Uriah is getting your other troops. That will buy us some time. And we still have eight days. But I have to reach Moss Stone. Do you hear me? I need to tell Malakai of what has happened.”