Yurin knew someone was following him, and he surely hoped it wasn't Romulus. He flew forward, then doubled back and hid behind a section of a stone wall. His follower was none other than the very boy he had stolen not two days ago. Talcar crept forward, then jumped when a voice asked him, "What is it you want, my King?" Talcar turned around to face Yurn. "Only you, Yurin. I heard that you wanted freedom from Romulus. Is it true?" Yurin could hardly contain his eagerness.

"Yes, it is true! I do not willingly do as Romulus wants. He himself enters my body to make me do things. If only this medallion were cut from me, so that I and my birds may be free again." Talcar remembered that Aron had told him that only a warrior or Eashoa could cut the medallion with their sword, yet he could not just stand there without trying. Yurin knew this also, and he was surprised when Talcar raised his sword saying, "I must try. Keep still now!" and with that, he slid his sword through one of the chains, using all the power he had to try and cut it. Talcar nearly fell when he used his power when it wasn't needed. The chain fell apart like he was slicing through cloth, and the chain fell to the ground. Yurin felt tears in his eyes, and he felt like a new bird. Without the chain, he didn't feel normal. Now that it was gone, he felt so light! He spread out his wings, and flew in the courtyard, enjoying the lightness and joy he felt. He alighted next to Talcar, not knowing what to say. "I of course want to be a follower of Eashoa now. I want to thank you, Talcar. You are my King, and your father doesn't have the courage, the strength, and the wisdom that you have." Talcar smiled his thanks at the kind words, then said, "We had better go find the others. Aron and Val have gone to get Elena back. Ahm and the rest will be happy to hear about you!"

Romulus set Elena down in the cave, then folded his wings, and walked to the opening. Elena watched him walk away, surprised again at how muscular he was. If he were a human without the red skin, he would have been very handsome, but as he was not, his face looked almost deformed, and his red skin was sickening. He scanned the sky, found what he was looking for, and muttered, "I will enjoy the challenge of fighting with Aron. He was like a brother to me…" Elena wondered what Romulus was talking about. Like a brother? She asked him. "What do you mean, like a brother?" Romulus looked at her, arrogance written all over his face. "I used to be a warrior. Aron and I were great friends, he was closer to me than almost everyone else, except for Eashoa. Then I got tired of Eashoa's rules, and the way he treated us. Basically like slaves! I decided that I was too wise, and too strong to be treated in such a way, so I challenged Eashoa, telling Him that I was better. Of course Eashoa threw me out, being completely unfair. He knew I was better suited being God, and he hated me for it!"

Elena could not believe what she was hearing, and was between either laughing at the stupidity of it, or getting angry because of the way he treated Eashoa. "You deserved exactly what you got, Romulus. You really should have been killed, but then Eashoa's plan wouldn't have worked."

"You dare speak to me in this manner? Let me say that you would not be alive right now if I didn't need you."

Aron and Val stepped into the cave opening, swords at the ready. "Let her go, Romulus. She need not be included in this fight. It will be between just you and I." Aron stepped forward, then stopped when Romulus came out from the cave. He held Elena in his arms, holding her prisoner. He needed not a sword to hold her there, for his arms were so strong that he could have crushed her, but he still held his mighty sword pointed at her heart. "I chose what we do, Aron. You and Eashoa cannot control me! If I want her included in this, then she will be included!"

Elena tried to still her beating heart, but it was no use. Romulus could easily kill her. She looked at Aron's eyes, and found him looking steadily back at her. He gave her a slow smile that reached his eyes, and Elena felt an immediate peace come over her as she smiled back. She needed to trust.

Romulus felt a momentary feeling of pain suddenly. It took him a moment to realize why, and when he did, he yelled at the top of his lungs. "AHHHHHHH!" Aron, Val and Elena were all startled, and wondered what had happened. Romulus breathed heavily, fuming.

"Yurin has been released from his medallion." He spit out, grabbing Elena in a tighter hold. Aron felt an enormous relief that Yurin was free, and he sent out a silent prayer that Eashoa would send the Vwalls to come help.

Aron's prayer was heard, and Yurin soon called all of the Vwalls in the country (or the world, for that matter!) together. Talcar was carried by Yurin, and the two others were carried by Warriors as they streamed towards the cave. The number of Vwalls were thousands, and Talcar could only grin as he saw all the power and strength Eashoa had. It was amazing.

Aron knew that Romulus could kill Elena without caring less. But he also knew that there was a weapon that Romulus could not overpower. Aron nodded at Val, then slowly reached into his cloak. Romulus's eyes widened, and he let out a yell as he saw what Aron held in his hands. A sapphire pendant. Aron threw the pendant to Elena, who reached out with a hand and caught it. As soon as she had, it was like someone had shocked Romulus. He instantly dropped Elena on the ground, and reared back. He knew now that the woman was protected, and no harm could be done to her as long as she held the pendant. In a way, it was like his own medallion, but much more powerful, and unlike his medallion, no harm could be done to the person who held it. Romulus then drew his sword, panting heavily and glaring at Aron. Aron stepped to Romulus, ready to do battle. The two got closer and closer, while Val quickly helped Elena to her feet, and moved her to the side.

The two swords clashed, and Romulus made a quick side blow as the swords came back down. Aron quickly blocked it, and landed a fierce blow on Romulus's sword. As the two fought back and forth, Elena looked down at the pendant she held in her hand. She could feel warmth radiating from it, and she thanked Eashoa for protecting her.

Lord Eagan stumbled down the corridor to the ceremonial room. He hadn't watched the ceremony, but he knew things were going badly when he saw Romulus fly off with Elena out of the window. Lord Eagan now felt fear that Romulus would soon come after him and kill him for not being present during the ceremony. He went to his room, and scrambled to find a bag to put some belongings in.

Talcar felt firm ground on his feet as Yurin set him down, and with a long shiiing he unsheathed his sword. He heard two more swords being unsheathed, and felt joy and strength in his heart for his best friends.

As Arthur gripped his sword in his hands, he thought to himself, though I would rather read a book than fight with a sword, I would never trade this moment with anything. If I die beside or for my friends, then let it be as Eashoa commands! Gideon's thoughts were much the same, and there was determination on their faces as they took up either side of Talcar. Yurin and the rest of the Vwalls flew right above them, ready at Talcar's command to attack. Talcar had never been in command of any battle situation before, but he had enough battle experience to know what needed to be done, and the positions to be placed.

Eagan placed a flask of wine in his bag, along with a pouch of mean and bread. "You coward! Do you dare run from Romulus right after he has noticed your absence in the ceremonial room? You have already angered him, will you still yet go further by running?"

The Lord Eagan faced Quinn, and sighed.

"Romulus has taken Elena for his own, and therefore I think I have every right to leave this place. Romulus never ordered me to be present in the ceremony, so he should not be angry by me. It is enough that we must sacrifice things to him daily, and obey his every command. But now, you say he wants me present at doings when he has not even commanded it!"

Quinn fumed silently, biding his words.

"If you leave this castle, I fear Romulus will kill you, Eagan. At least go see if you can help him fight the Warriors!"

"What! Go fight the Warriors? Are you mad, magician? They could easily kill me with one blow!"

"That is beside the point. Perhaps Romulus would forgive you, and do you a favor by entering your body and using you to fight."

"Quinn, here is what I have been meaning to say plainly." Said Eagan, wiping his glistening brow. "Being a follower of Romulus has not only been tiring, it has also been frightening, and seemingly foolish. I know that Romulus is powerful, and can easily kill me, but I am done."

Quinn stared at Eagan, not comprehending what the man was saying.

"Do you mean to say that you are no longer a follower of Romulus? This cannot be done! By order of Romulus himself, any coward or person who decides to strip themselves of his power and decision will be killed!"

Lord Eagan had already known this to be true, yet he pleaded with Quinn.

"You yourself say that Romulus will come after me. So let me by, Quinn. You are the closest friend that I have ever had, and you must not let me die!"

Quinn studied the man before him, scowling. He was by no means a friend of Eagan's, and he despised the man. He also knew that if cornered, Eagan would gladly kill himself rather than be turned over to Romulus to be killed. Quinn did not want this to happen, for he wanted to see for himself Eagan being torn apart by Romulus. Cowards deserved to be killed.

"Go your way, Eagan. Get out of here." With that, he walked out of the room. Eagan stifled his surprise at Quinn's reaction as he gathered the rest of his things. He walked out of the room, and was about to walk to the courtyard, when he felt his muscles stiffening up, and felt pain shooting through his body. As his muscles locked up, he fell to the ground, moaning. Quinn stood behind him, his hands still stretched out before him towards Eagan. A blue smoke drifted from them, and Quinn smiled faintly as he ordered guards to lock up the Lord Eagan.