-29-

The faces of a hun

Darkness initially felt good. It had overtaken all her senses and numbed down the pain just enough for her to unleash her wrath at those men. Methodically she went at first. Strategically she cornered them. Helpless, they were dismembered and neutralized. Then just as brutal as a tide, anger deserted her. She felt an odd sense of loss at its sudden departure. She remembered not recalling how she got there… She remembered tiny little droplets of blood splattering grimly on her face and neck. At last she recalled closing her eyes as her heart struggle to beat evenly in her chest.

"Tanjin, please come back to your senses?"

Blue eyes shimmered in the firelight. It was blurry. It was dim. Then like minuscule tiny sparks it was sufficient to lit the fire back, she soon was back to striking, slicing, hacking her way through those columns of men, of flesh, of unimportant lives. She could not stop until they were all down and crushed. She never failed. When she heard one breath his last, she picked up a spear and hurried Death to take over.

"You're my princess, you know that?"

The tremor in her left ankle seemed endless so she balanced it out. She gripped the sword harder. With dexterity, she flipped it over in a circular motion.

"As If I was waiting for you all my life…"

Breathless, she faced with that familiar face again. Blue eyes. Why was he not running? Why did he stand like this in front of her? Did he not know who she was? Was he not afraid of death?

Useless…Like the little girl…

"What are you doing Tanjin? I mean Tangwen… That's not you! Well it's you ! But that's not who you are! Let's free the others…The other prisoners…They're just women and children… They're innocent. Let's free them and go. Stop this carnage. We must go."

At that time, she thought his face was familiar for a total stranger. Galahad was that his name. Things got confusing in the fight. She fought for the little girl. She fought for them. She thought for herself. She thought for his Khan. He was interfering. Was he the enemy? She glanced down at her sword. She did not recognize it. Who did it belong to?

He must have seen the confusion on her face. He must have sensed a weakness spreading inside her because he moved closer. She gripped the sword harder.

"Tan… Please…Come back to me… This is not how we do things. Melan would not want this. And let's not say anything about Arthur… We need to find him."

She groaned to warn him. Arthur? Him? Find him? Who?

"You think you know who we are? "

"Please, do you even remember who you are right now? Snap out of it!"

She tilted her head on her side, narrowing her eyes in distrust.

"Oh we are a bit insolent and not truly aware of our current strength, are we? You will only answer my questions, Köle. The useless girl requested that your life be spared. I can be merciful. I can show her. When I rule… I can be what he wants me to be. Just like Tanjin… Better than him even."

"What? What are you saying? I don't understand. Let's just go…Please…"

He grabbed her wrist. Fool! She evaded easily his attempt to make contact and crushed his jugular under the palm of her small hand, sending him reeling on the ground, heaving hard. He fell backward hard. She frowned. She felt a head aching suddenly. Things got even more confusing. She was suddenly so angry. Why?

"Let me guess… You lied to the girl saying things like you would protect her with your life. Â Haszontalan lány…because she is what she is… she believed you… she always does… She does not think. So you said you would never leave her… You will never hurt her…That was a lie, right? You wanted her to submit. To be nothing. To be small. To not exist…To be dead inside. That's what you wanted for her, right?"

"No…What are you saying?"

" Or were you really willing to die for her? Like him?"

He could no longer answer. He could barely swallow the induced nausea caused by the mad girl. Her accent was so thick. The boy understood some of it but the meanings of many sentences were lost to him. At time, she would revert completely to hunnish. Though Samartian was somewhat close in phonology, complete pieces of what she said found no equivalent in his language. He did not even recognize the voice that spoke like that. She kept rambling.

"Silence speaks better than words I am afraid. We know silence and disappointments… deceits and lies…well…well enough... Every breathing soul on earth is living its own little lie. Reality is not what you see. I am probably not here. You are probably not here. But I exist. I am. Reality to a Hun… is whatever we make of it. Whatever we create inside is the truth…Perception… Spirit is everything. That is what he taught us…The kingdom I will rule when my father will die will have no bound. He said so. Attila said so. Because I said so. It was perfect. I was. Then Tanjin went and destroyed everything. I was then flawed. But I am Khanum. You are nothing. Small. Harmless. You will know your place if you want to come to the good part with me."

He was crouched on the ground entirely submissive.

"Please…Listen… I beg you… Please… She is a friend… The little girl…I mean you… You're my friend, Tanjin. I can't hurt you. I will not hurt you. Please, if you're afraid, you don't have to."

"Afraid? I should be afraid is what you're saying. Ridiculous….Nevetséges…Do not speak, Slave, when I do not address you. We've not come to the good part yet. Are you useful? Are you not? Khanum cannot decide."

"What part would that be?! What does it mean? I don't get it!"

"The part where you tell me where I can find them. My blood? My clan? Where is the horde? Where is Mother? Father? A Sweet lie that is all it is… But where is it? Where are they hiding? Where am I ? What am I ? No, don't answer that. You can't know for sure. "

"I don't know, Tanjin. Stop it. You are going mad. You're confused. Because Melan is dead."

"Tanjin, you speak of him? Where can I find him?" They were unshed tears in her eyes.

"I don't know. You are Tanjin. "

She shook her head as if she heard more than enough. They were all wrong answers.

" We've come to the good part! Finally ! The part where Khanum decide if she lets the samartian slave breathe…or not? Are you not impatient to know your mistress's wish?"

Galahad grabbed a broken spear behind him before scrambling to his feet. She smiled that cold deadly smile. Then she moved so fast, he barely had time to blink.

She remembered nothing then. Nothing but his blue eyes seemingly tainted with surprised and fear… Their eyes locked for what seemed an eternity. She admitted being the first to flinch. His eyes were blue like the waterfall of Tuldamunk. It reminded her of… She stood lost in thoughts. What happened then?

Never mind.

Khanum did not know how long she rode in the dark or how long she walked in a companionable silence with Scourge by her side. She barely recognized the determination that made her leave the camp behind. She felt as if she was missing half of herself. She felt incomplete. She felt like the most essential part of her was missing. More importantly she felt as if it had not been born yet.

She led the stallion by its reins with one hand and in the other she carried a broadsword. She was the one who did not make mistakes. She was supposed to be the perfect one.

Bare foot, battered and bloody she stepped clumsily on the rocks and stones on her path. However Scourge was the one who stumbled first, his steps less assured, he was starting to trail behind her exhausted. They walked side by side until she let go of his reins completely. She did not remember "Scourge". Its presence felt familiar by her sides. But she could not explain what made him stand out in the first place. It was probably because he reminded her of "Karahakimiyet" or "Black Dominion", the stallion she rode into battle once. Or was it her? Or Tanjin? Galahad. Was he Galahad? No. Galahad was dead. Who was Galahad anyway?

She did not forget things. She did not make mistake. What just happened? She was the perfect one. She was everything he had ever wanted. She was the one he loved like the moon loves the sun. With quivering fingers she reached for her face. She did not remember being born at all. But…here she was….She was real. She was the only thing real. And what happened?

K-H-A-N-U-M

That was her name. She was born. She was real. She sighed. But then as soon as she did another realization came to her. She stood on the hill with Scourge nudging affectionately her neck. The wind roughly blew her hair on her face. She did not recognize this place. Where was this?

She turned to the east. She could always find the mountains this way. But there was no mountains in plain view just green hills as far as her eyes could see. It took her a few minutes for reality to settle in. She was not home. Where was home?

The sky was a blood red inferno. The deep crimson bled in the crumpled clouds giving them every shade from pink to deep cherry red. Dawn broke over the horizon lazily. Tears streamed down her cheeks as rays of sunlight uncover the foreign land before her eyes. She was startled out her reverie when Scourge went down on his knees.

He had come to anticipate Scourge's move with time. He kicked a warrior on his left. The man had been attempting to drive a spear in Scourge's flanks. It was absolutely not because he hated that horse that he will let another take his life. It was his personal monster after all.

Assaulted by a new memory the girl flinched uneasily.

The gore dripped on the ground, feeding the green grass. He stepped up to meet the next challenger. His sword glowed under the sun, and his competitor was vanquished under its razor-sharp edge. He moved forward a step, twirling to challenge the man who tried to sneak behind Melan.

Scourge. It was Scourge. Melan… Melan is loved. Melan is Family. Where is Melan? A sudden wave of nausea made her dizzy.

He let out an anguished scream as he watched it helplessly carve a hole in Melan's throat. Tanjin did not know if he dismounted or simply fell from Scourge's back. He scrambled on his feet to run as fast as he could. He grabbed Melan before his body fell completely backwards and hugged him with all the strength he had in his small body.

She groaned, blinded by the sudden pain. Not hers. It was not her life. Who is Melan?

Brieg jumped in front of her, she spun around again, sword spinning in her hands. He tentatively reached for her but before he could make contact she took off his left arm in one swift motion. Brieg fell on the ground, holding his limb, screaming in agony. She broke into another scary laugh.

She gasped.

"So we were intrigued. Amery is our friend. She is our funniest friend. She knows all kinds of game. She is a very good kisser too. Tanjin call her a whore but I honestly don't know what it means. But her lips are so soft, we melt inside. She is a very good kisser. Tanjin can be so weird."

She grabbed her stomach and could not keep it inside any longer. She started to throw up any content that was left inside. That said it was not much. She crawled on her stomach, her face on the ground. She could feel the pulse of the earth but not her own. She felt excruciatingly tired. Blood was still soaking from the sword she held weakly. It seeped through the cracks of the muddy ground.

"I love you like the moon loves the sun. I love you like the sky which cannot part from the sea. I love you like the wind which moved the trees on the Mountain. I love you like the rain which quenched the thirst of the earth. More importantly, I love you as if I was waiting for you all my life..."

Father. Love. Family. Heart. Pain. Her chest burned with every agonizing breath she took. Her skin was ablaze with hot searing pain. Her wounded ankle left a bloody trail in the green grass. She heard a voice sing in the distance, haunting. She closed her eyes in a vain attempt to block the memory from coming.

"Don't you act like a baby, prince Tan! You know you can't escape your duty! Not this time anyway! And I won't turn the place upside down ever again…"

Not her life.

Who was Khanum? She gasped again and again in a desperate attempt to get back her breathing.

"It's not for my forgiveness you should ask! It's for theirs! Don't you see Tan? You took their lives! You killed the girl and help killing her mother by doing so! They are dead because of you! She was an innocent! You killed a girl just like you! She was so young and you killed her with no other excuse than to make yourself appear worthy. Is that what you call value? Is that what I teach you? You have until sunrise to reflect upon your act."

She reeled inside. He teached her nothing. She was taught nothing but to fight. She was the perfect one. She did not make mistake.

"You? Have you lost your mind? You put yourself directly in danger. You promised you'd never do such a stupid thing."

"It was nothing. You need not worry. I do not fail. I was going to win."

" Six men against one… and half a man at that. You tell me about those odds."

"I had everything under control."

'I'm glad you can see it that way. These men were about to kill you or worse. That could have been the end for both of us."

"That's not fair."

"Tangwen, stop it."

"I'm not her! That girl is useless! You don't even know who I am, do you? I am sick of being her shadow."

Her eyes shifted dangerously.

" I am sorry, Khanum. Of course, I know who you are. It was a simple mistake. You are my warrior princess…"

"…"

"But you have to go back to Talika now. You cannot stay this way. So please, let Tanjin come back."

" No. I will go with Talika."

"No… that's not how it works."

" It's always about Tanjin and her. I won't stand for it."

"I am only asking once again. You will obey, little princess."

She shook her head stubbornly.

"Why should I obey you? You do nothing but deny me. Now you're saying I cannot play…with these dogs…They're beneath me."

"You think I am not looking at you, Khanum. You're wrong. I can always see you. I also know when this is all a bluff and when you feel fear. I can recognize my own brat anywhere. Believe me. I see when you want to be the best and you put Tanjin's down trying to reach your goals. I see that you are your worst enemy. But we don't have time to address all of this because this is war. Talika needs Tanjin. It is not a game. At the end, it is them or us? Do you understand? So now you go back. I want to talk to Tanjin."

"It's not fair. I want to fight. I can fight better. Let me be better than Tanjin. I will win this for you. He is the past. I am here now. I am better. Faster. Stronger. You do not need him. Everything you taught me… I learned. I don't fail. I can be a wolf. I can be your perfect soldier and everyone will acknowledge me."

"I am looking at you. I acknowledged that you're mine. I acknowledged that I did that to you. I am unfair to you, Khanum. But this is life…This is the truth. Let Tanjin come back because he is the only one who can protect you right now. This is his battlefield."

Letting out a scream, she looked at the sky anxiously. This was a nightmare. She was not awake. She remembered having many of those. She did not remember having those. She remembered being born. She remembered she was not real. She failed. She needed to fix things. Put them back the way they were. When she never fail him… She remembered dying.

She breathed in the blindingly radiant colors of the sun, all the colors blended perfectly into each other. Protect them. She remembered that singing voice. Kudjila?

Who was it Melan? Who was Melan?

Her head was about to explode. She held her head in pain, leaving bloody prints on her forehead in the process. What was that? Tanjin. Tanjin is not here. Tanjin is gone. Tanjin is not here. She was here. She was the only one left. She was…not Tanjin, was she? Was she?

She looked up the sky and felt the sun warmed her wet cheeks. She started to cry. Why was she here? Why was she alone? Why did she feel like this? She probably failed him again. She did. She failed him just like...Galahad. Who was Galahad? Oh no Galahad is dead! She did it! Oh Mother! She needed Mother…

Her cries turned into gasps then into moans then into screams. The cries of her child or the groans of an animal…

"Where are you?! You said you will never leave us! Where are you? Where am I? Who am I? Am I Tanjin? Am I the little girl? I can't be? No. That can't be. You said if I protect them you will love me. You were a liar," She said in hunnish. "They all lied. What does it mean? The little girl does not understand. I cannot explain to her why you left us. I don't know what to do. Please I think I need help. "

Then she opened her eyes and the world came crashing down with a thud and a torrent of noises. She never realized it but she had been followed all along. Dozens of women and children gathered around her like a frightened flock of sheep. They were screaming incoherently at her, words she had trouble understanding. Where was she again? What was this place?

" My lady, thank you. You saved us. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."

A woman whose age was a mystery tentatively tried to reach for her hand but she recoiled with a groan. She struggled to stand again.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"I don't know. Leave me alone. I will not surrender to your kind."

"I can help. I am Birkita. I can help. I am a healer of sorts."

A healer? The headache took her again by surprise. It was such a sudden burst of pain one that induce blindness and shortness of breath.

I honestly don't like to fight, Tan. I don't know when I will ever be good at it…Lancelot was really disappointed today. Don't mind that idiot! It's because you're better at taking care of things than him. You're more a healer. You take care of me when I am sick. I trust only you. It'd be much better if you did not fight at all. I would not worry then. I hate worrying. You should ask Arthur to make it so you could become the best healer that ever lives. You're sure? You think he would accept? He would be lost without you. They all would…. Dagonet is good but he is clumsy with a needle. You're not saying that to please me, Tanjin? You really think I could do it? Please you? Why would I do that? Like I care enough to give you false hope? No, this is the only reasonable path. I am not being reasonable often as you know. If you become the best, it means I will have the best healer at my disposal doing my bidding…It's genius. Worthy of a Khan. Father always said you must choose the talent that surrounds you well on them may depend your life one day. Talika would have thought of that too. Who's Talika? A master at manipulating destinies…and the best pig rider in my country followed closely by me of course. Nevermind, Tanjin, that really makes me happy. Your support is…It really means a lot to me. Stop crying! Did you not hear what I say. I trust you, Melan. You're like…family. Men don't cry in my family. "

Men don't cry in my family. Was she family to them? The women grabbed a piece of clothes and covered the girl's shoulder with it. She gasped again. She hated him. Them. All of them. No… She did not hate them. She protected them because he said so. She was alone.

"Lakóhely ? Apa... beni affet…Apa…»

The women kneeled in front of her, hands outstretched.

"What did you say? You're not from here, are you? How can I help you? Tell me. You saved us. I owe you my life. I will help you in any way I can. "

"Apa not here… means I failed. He promised… if I go back… Szeretnék hazamenni. Lakóhely? Apa…is disappointed. He does not love little Khanum anymore."

" What is your name?"

"Tanjin. You know Tanjin, right?"

"Tanjin is your name?"

She shook her head.

" Is Tanjin your brother maybe?"

She shook her head, sobbing heavily.

"He kills people… Melan is dead. Galahad is dead. Mother and Father are dead too. I can't feel the little girl anymore. Oh Tanjin! He is horrible. He makes mistakes but he is the favorite. That is not fair. It is not fair. I want people to see me. I want them to know I work hard. I am a girl but I work hard. I can do better. Take me to Tanjin. I need to go back to Tanjin. Is what he said. I made a mistake… No I did not… That was his mistake. Right? Where am I again? "

"You are… I don't know. We are probably three days walk from…"

" I disobeyed orders. Was not good soldier. Khanum bad. He won't forgive me then."

"Who?"

"Apa said only Tanjin can protect us. Why did he say that? Does he not know we are stronger? Does he not know I love him more? Does he not know Khanum is hurting?! This is khanum's life? Is it not? Does it not matter at all?! "

Birkita jumped slightly at the girl's outburst.

"What does it all mean? I don't understand. You speak too fast milady and with words so foreign their meaning remained a mistery. "

"Right. Tanjin is the way. Tanjin…Little girl won't help. She is too scared maybe. Always so useless…Tanjin…Probably hiding… Knowing he can't possibly fight me… I will find him because this is not home. We need to go home. He needs to tell me…He need to tell us where is home. "

She grabbed Scourge's reins forcefully. With a heavy grown, the stallion stood and she mounted him easily.

"Wait? There is a village! I come from there. A few of us we were taken from there many moons ago. And there's a man… He is foreign like you. He acts like he is the chief but he is just a common thief. He murdered people and threatens the villagers. He robbed our riches. He is the one who sold us to Aud in exchange for his favor. He is… I don't know his name. Maybe it is the man you're searching for?"

The girl hesitated. She eyed Birkita suspiciously.

"Alright, lead me to Tanjin. But if it's a trap you will pay with your life. "

They had a plan. At least they thought they had a plan before they left the meadow. It took them a while to approach the perimeter of the camp. Darkness surrounded them. So they walked with caution all too aware that taking the wrong steps could cause their downfall.

We could say that it was first the three iron cages on wheels sitting next to each other that alerted Tristan that something was wrong. Earlier, they had been filled to the brim with humanity, women and children, their faces which he had been unable to distinguish in the obscurity, now there were just empty. Though the situation was already so tense, Tristan decided it was better to keep that information to himself. He took the lead and continued on his left, his eyes surveying anxiously his surroundings. He stopped behind a tent post and unsheathed his sword.

- What is it? Gawain whispered behind him.

Nothing…

Nothing but a sense of dread...

Nothing was wrong.

Again, Tristan had been surprised to find no one. He crawled on the floor to get another good look. This part of the camp was empty and that was highly unusual. Earlier, during his scouting, he noted at least two guards, one on each side of the fire. His memory never failed him. So the only conclusion he could come up with was that something had happened for them to change position. Maybe they discovered their presence... Maybe it was an ambush…

- I don't see anyone. He finally whispered.

- Maybe it is our chance. We should go!

Duncan grabbed Gawain before he could move. He may have all this problems with Tristan but one thing was for sure with the scout he always knew how to read between the lines.

- Are you sure?

Tristan shook his head. He was sure of nothing. Duncan exchanged places with Gawain and tried to take a look. He saw nothing but a bunch of makeshifts huts and some kind of clutter around a big fire left unattended.

- I cannot see anyone. He muttered.

- My point exactly.

- Where did they all go?

As if in answer, there was a far-off banging noise that none of them could identify. The metallic ruckus changed into the sound of distant yelling, a familiar thunder of hooves, whistling of swords and weapons clashing.

They heard it all at once. It was a unanimous scream similar to the sound a beast would make before a pagan sacrifice. They all froze. It all happened so fast. Hurried footsteps. There was no time to hide as they faced with seven authentic blue demons coming out of nowhere. Duncan was the first to act and it was pretty much on an impulse. He grabbed a spear lying there and cut their retreat abruptly with a hard knock. Three fell down immediately. One was lucky to dodge out of the way. As for the remaining three, Tristan grabbed a mace lying next to the fire, knocked out one of them with it, efficiently gutted the other with his sword, and pushed the last one in the fire. Gawain was left chasing after the one who got away. After a few meters, he charged into the runaway like a bull. They went rolling down into the fragile foundations of a hut. Gawain had the quickest recovery though and grabbing his knife with both hands he stabbed his opponent three times in the chest, blood spilling everywhere.

They stood then as they tried to catch their breath, trying to make sense of what had just happened, when they heard many shrieks coming from the center of the camp. They approached furtively. It was a familiar scene of chaos. Aud's men were running in every direction… There were so many bodies littering the ground. They could not help being reminded of the first time they met a certain Hun. Duncan could not help but smile at what he saw. His stunned expression turned into a grin. There was a saying that says that if heads are rolling on a clear weather, look no further for a Hun. Well, maybe there was not such a saying but it definitely looks encouraging to him.

Tristan did not share their odd cheerfulness because something was not right. He knew Tanjin. He may no longer pretend to know him better than anyone. Duncan might fight him over this. He did not wish to fight. But he knew Tanjin. He knew his penchant for messy disorganized massacre. But somehow this was quite different…None of the woads were paying them any attention and they went unnoticed as the men gathered again in circle. Many of them were still busy picking their limbs on the ground, helping each other up when they could, and counting the dead. It was entirely too familiar. However, it became impossible for them to explain the growing anxiety they felt as time passes and the body parade seemed to know no end. It was all too familiar and at the same time it was like nothing they'd seen before. They exchanged a worried glance.

Tristan kneeled above a corpse and studied it with morbid fascination. He counted one fatal wound. No hesitation. The cut was clean and precise. It cut precisely through the inner thigh and the smell of blood was overpowering. The man bled out.

- What is it?

He quickly leaned above another lifeless body. One Cut. Neck wound. A pool of blood. Tristan turned again. Left arm severed, the man was still breathing but barely. A little further, he found another clear cut through the groins. The assailant may have been quite short. He was ambidextrous. His steps were close between each other. His footprints engraved in the mud showed also traces of the slightest limp.

- Tristan, what are you doing? We're going to get caught.

- That is not Tanjin.

- What? What are you saying?

- It looks like him. But… This is not messy…

- There is blood everywhere. I will not call these kills clean. Gawain muttered.

- Remember the forest just after we discovered Melan was dead…

- Tristan is right… It's quite odd.

- It is not like him. It is organized and meticulous. They were just killed in one hit. It is precise. No hesitation. No momentum. They're strike only once and they're defeated. One after the other. That is how I like my kill… but not Tanjin. Here, she sidestepped…them… Evasive. Quick. Precise. Practical. Tanjin would have soared in the air… and make a spectacle out of this…

- He is wounded… She is wounded. Duncan added.

- Or it is not Tanjin…

- Where is Galahad? Gawain asked. It means… something bad happened. We must find Galahad and Tanjin.

More footsteps were heard. A group of men approached the circle.

- What is happening here?

Duncan and Gawain were also curious to know the answer to this question. However Tristan was more preoccupied with their precarious position. He set his eyes on a glorious shack of pinewood, standing proudly in the center of the camp. Taking off a few wood pillars, he managed to make a hole on the side and crawled inside. Duncan and Gawain followed his lead. They silently watched the crowd gathering from the inside.

- Where are the prisoners?

A large man with grey hair asked while another could only find the strength to shake his head. They spoke in the common tongue.

- They're gone, Cinoth.

- Gone? How?

- She did this. We think she opened their cages.

- You think or you know?! Cinoth asked again.

- It all happened so fast.

Cinoth snorted.

- You want me to tell that to Master Aud. He sent me to make preparations for the arrival of his respected guests. But I will simply tell him that it all happened so fast and you poor thing did not see anything.

- No, of course not. I am only…telling you…

- Where is Brieg?

- Well, he is dead! He was the first one to challenge the Beast!

- A Beast?

- This thing…The spirit from the East. She was not human.

- Darcy…

- He is still breathing but not for long.

- Is that all you can tell me?

- What else can I tell you?

- What happened here?

- We are in the goddess valley and…we probably made a mistake.

- Stop this nonsense.

- She was not human. She couldn't be stopped. I tried. She was strong…

He showed the cut still bleeding on his neck as a proof.

- She did that.

- The samartian said the truth. It's not a girl. It's a monster.

- I understand. Just tell me where she is now.

- I told you I do not know. She went this way. She moved very fast. She took the horse.

- So you want to tell me that you let the monster ran away. It was our master's new weapon.

- Are you insane? You do not get it ?! She did not run away. She walked past us like she owned...us… Her eyes were empty. She felt no pain. I … She took the horse.

- You're alive. How will you explain this to your master?

- She was someone then she changed into someone else. She was all playful and then became cold like ice and… she just cut us down one after the other… It was all we could do to stop her. There was this glint in her eyes. There were dead… She was another person.

- That does not make any sense. You take some men and you go after her now!

He shook his head.

- I am not going. She made sense! Back then I promise you she made every bit of sense. The sarmatian did not lie. That is the darkest magic I have ever seen. That thing is unholy.

- You fool! Get out of my way!

- We still have the boy.

- What boy?

- The samartian. We have him.

- Why are you telling me only now?

- You did not ask.

- Idiot ! Go get him!

Two men disappeared from their view. Duncan let himself slipped to the floor. This was a nightmare.

- What just happened?

- She is gone. She is gone. She is gone.

- What just happened? Duncan repeated dully.

Gawain kneeled in turn.

- It's a good thing, right? You were wrong Tristan. Tanjin is a girl so it must have been her doing this carnage. They're talking about her.

Tristan said nothing.

- And they have Galahad ! He is still alive! We made it in time! They're alive!

- Tristan is right. Something is wrong. We're too late…

- You guys! Your pessimism is what is going to ruin this mission. I can see the future and it involves me having a drink with all of you back home...

- Tanjin would not leave Galahad behind, Gawain.

- Who said he did? We cannot trust those people. Anyway are you sure he wouldn't do that in certain circumstances? The guy lied in front of prosecutors… and was prepared to die… Nevermind. I have learned with time that this little guy can come to pretty extreme conclusions sometimes. Reckless Tanjin, I don't know for you but I can deal with that idea. Maybe he went fetching for help? Maybe he's seeking us? Maybe they argued again? There is plenty reasons why he could have left. Why she left. Don't give up on our brothers-in-arms. We're too close.

- Gawain is right. Let's get back to the mission, we need to find Galahad and we need to escape. Any ideas?

- Let's add that we must do all that very quickly because we have to do it before that man… Aud Askin comes back with his honored guests and more men than we can handle.

Tristan observed his surroundings briefly. Duncan and Gawain followed his gaze with as much curiosity. His eyes settled on a pile of clothes in a corner. Duncan smiled then.

- No. I will not run around half naked.

Gawain cut him off before the idea could settle once and for all. Duncan smiled even harder.

- Tristan will do it too. Imagine the happy memory, Gawain.

Tristan frowned at that.

- I will certainly go around half-naked then. Gawain said chirpily.

Duncan absentmindedly nodded at that. Something else had caught his attention. Tristan followed his gaze. He did not notice before. How unusual! Leaning against the wall was Galahad's sword, easily recognizable since it has his family crest engraved on the grip and the samartian symbols for Family and Honor. Next there was Tanjin's ivory scimitar, his most precious possession. Duncan immediately grabbed each weapons while Gawain fetch for clothes to wrap them for transport. Tristan found the bows in another corner but someone had cut their strings and they were unusable. He hesitated but finally decided against taking them. Braden could easily make them new ones. They could only travel light. It would be useless to take more than they can carry in case… In case they need to carry dead weight. He never voiced his direct concerns aloud though and continued to inspect the room. It probably belonged to someone important maybe it was Aud himself. At the mere thought, Tristan felt uneasy. They needed to leave. Duncan had finished wrapping the sword in a makeshift sack. Tristan grabbed his burden before Duncan could threw it over his shoulder. Duncan raised a surprised eyebrow at that. Tristan shrugged in answer. He did not care. It was not that he cared at all but Duncan's back was still not properly heal from the flogging. It would slow them down if he find himself unable to walk for any reason. Tristan argued in his head that it would be most inconvenient. He undressed and grabbed a few clothes. Duncan sniffed suspiciously the woad paint before he applied some on his face and half-naked torso since he conveniently threw a shawl over the scars of his back. It felt surprisingly warm to the touch. His undershirt he wrapped with the weapons.

- Wait a minute? His gloves? Gawain said suddenly. He will never forgive us if we leave them behind.

- I did not find them anywhere. Tristan said.

- It must be here somewhere. Gawain said.

- We need to go.

- Just a moment.

- No Gawain we go now! For Galahad !

Gawain sighed with disappointment but finally nodded. Outside, the chaos had died out somewhat. But the atmosphere was still agitated. Tristan led the way careful to avoid any fateful encounter. Then all of a sudden, the chaos returned full force. Footsteps.

- He escaped! Watch out! This way I think he went this way.

Tristan froze and they all did the same. Five men ran in their direction. His eyes wide with stupor, Gawain became as pale as a ghost. But Tristan made no hurried move to get out of their way. So Duncan and Gawain pretty much did the same. The men ran passed them as if they were invisible. Tristan watched them go, his face expressionless. Then he smirked wickedly as he saw the shadow of a young knight hide behind a bush. Galahad' s survival skills had improved in a matter of weeks.

- This way. He motioned.

- I can't believe they did not see us. Gawain whispered relieved.

- You over there!

Gawain stumbled and fell on the floor. Duncan helped him up trying hard to keep a straight face. It had been too good to be true. Gawain lamented. The trio turned to face a bearded brunet, his round face covered with woad drawings. The man said something in pictish and for the love of all redhaired, Gawain had no idea what he meant. Duncan on his part simply shook his head and turned to the scout. Tristan groaned in annoyed. The man spoke again. Tristan scowled in answer and gestured in the other direction. The man seemed to get angrier at his answer. But there was another scream in the background and the man soon abandoned them to their own devices. Without a word, Tristan started running and turn left at the next alley. Before they could even catch up to him, there was a rough tumble. A few spears rolled on the ground with a metallic thud. When they arrived they found Tristan sitting on an unconscious Galahad.

- Is he okay? Gawain asked.

Tristan nodded.

- Now what?

- Quick, Gawain! Help me with him! Now is the time to make a run for it.

And run they did. Using the mantle of darkness provided by the night, they rode in the countryside until the sun started rising from the ground. The sky and the clouds were painted in bright shades of pink.

- Galahad, we were so worried! Gawain exclaimed as he got down from his horse. Are you alright?

He grabbed the young knight into a tight embrace as he tried to get down from Duncan's mare.

- Gawain? Tristan? Duncan… I can't believe you're all here. What are you doing?

- We're heroes. That's what we do. Gawain retorted.

- Where's the others?

- Galahad…Well, here's the thing…

- You're alone…

- Yes but we found you. Everything is fine. Oh we missed Tanjin but not by much. He seemed he did not need that much help to begin with and he escaped on his own.

- He did not.

- What? Don't look this pale?! They were perfectly clear they did not have him. He's probably fine somewhere.

- No… He's not fine at all. I lost her… The little girl. She's gone with the other one. I need to go after them. It's complicated, Gawain.

Gawain nodded.

- Tanjin. We know. We know everything. Tristan told us everything. It's okay.

- Not Tanjin. That was not him. He is not here. He left. He left the little girl alone and I was to protect her. But I had no more solutions. He needed a monster. I could not give it to him. So…

- Who?

- Aud.

- Aud Askins?

- Then I got knocked unconscious… and next thing I know the little girl is gone. Tanjin is gone. There's another one.

- Another what?

- Another soul. Tristan finished for him.

Galahad nodded vigorously. Gawain shook his head lost.

- Slow down. You lost me at Aud. Galahad, you're wounded. Your head is bleeding! You should probably rest. You need to rest.

Galahad shook his head groggily. He wiped the gash on his head with the back of a hand and a frown. He burst in anger.

- I can't rest. She did that to me. That crazy little lunatic son of a bitch! Or to be more precise! That bitch! You are not listening Gawain. Something happened. Melan died. Tanjin was mad and we got sidetracked. They captured us but he was not himself anymore. Tanjin is gone. The little girl is gone. Another did this. It's like something I have never seen. I could not stop her. She does not obey. She is different. She blacked out like nothing matters…She was so confused. She is not reasonable. You cannot negotiate. She makes the rules. She is worse than Tanjin. That's Khanum.

Then Galahad proceeded to tell them the whole story with a few shortcuts. There was no way he was going to tell them about kissing Tanjin. That was a mistake. Such a huge mistake… but at least, it taught him just how to get under the hun's skin. He'd been tempted back then to try again. But that monster Khanum. She was a different beast altogether. There was no way she'd let him get away with this.

- Khanum?

- As in Hun Princess?

- Yes.

- Another Tanjin. It makes sense.

- What are you saying, Tristan? It does not make a bit of sense. I just don't get it!

- Gawain, I told you he is not aware of being a girl. That is because he really is not. The little girl when he let her out. She's nice, sweet, naïve… She's childlike. She likes red flowers and getting her hair braided. She's inconsequential…beautiful and harmless.

- Yes, yes…That's it! You met her, Tristan?

- I met her.

- You see I'm not crazy!

- Both of you got knocked too hard on your head. Gawain said, hands on his hips. Gal, you're probably out of it. It's a lot to take in.

- I am perfectly fine, Gawain. I know what I saw. The Tanjin you know is gone. The monster inside him is free. The monster is not the little girl. The little girl… is nice and frail… a bit annoying and stubborn…but that's it. This one… She is confused and arrogant… She is violent and brutal. God knows what she will do?! I know it sounds insane. It is insanity like they probably described it on scrolls. But I need you to trust me.

- Okay.

Duncan grabbed his mare.

- Duncan?

- Can you ride with Gawain?

Galahad nodded.

- You believe me?

- Of course… I believe anything about him. That does not change anything though. He is… She is one of us. Family. Even if she is sick…

- She probably ran away with Scourge, Duncan. Tristan said. They must be far.

Duncan agreed.

- But then again, Scourge was in a bad shape. I doubt he could run like he used to. Right, Duncan?

- Then we can catch up to them. Tristan said as he turned to Gawain.

- Yes, but I can't see no traces of him, Tristan. I did not find any hints when we left the camp.

- She probably went south. It's in the opposite direction. It means we will be unable to catch up to Arthur who'd probably be on his way to Hadrian's wall with the others by now. We have to move fast. I'm sure they noticed your escape back in the camp, Galahad. They will be on our tails soon.

- What if? What if she went East?

- East, Gawain? Why?

- We are easterners… if we acted on instinct purely…which it looks like that's what she did. Sure, we'd try to go home. Obviously we would not find home like this… but well that's where we're from.

- Do you know what is there this way, Tristan?

- Death, probably? Gawain cut in.

- It's hard to say with everything happening in Epithelium. There's a few villages there with natives. They're not directly under Roman control. They only pay taxes to them under the supervision of a native chieftain.

- Could they be allying themselves to Aud Askin? Or worse to Merlin?

Tristan nodded. It was not impossible.

- So if I sum things up, Tanjin who is a girl who believes she is a boy, was captured with Gal, who is a boy who knows he is a boy, by an evil man named Aud who believes in nothing. Gal, being all brave and all, you said something to Aud so that he does not take both of your heads. Despite having its merits, your plan does not work all the way though. But Tanjin is unconscious and he had been magically replaced by a sweet polite little girl…who can't fight. So you bid yourself some time.

- Tangwen…

- Tangwen… She has… She has a name? For real?! Nevermind. A girl, both Tristan and you Galahad attest to have seen using Tanjin's body before. So the situation become even more bleak and dire and the girl she can't fight, so she gets replaced by a warrior princess… very cold, crazy angry and dangerous… Do you see a pattern here? I think I can. I see layers after layers of Tanjin's strangely complex range of qualities and flaws spread out so that the world can see how messed up his people the huns are. Anyway, I'm starting to like that story. Back in the enemy's camp, the warrior Princess she kicks everyone's ass. She does incredible damage on the remnants of their infantry but she loses her mind during the process. We suppose she does not know why she is here or where she is. She kicked Gal's butt for no reasons when he try to stop her. Then she escaped with Scourge in a very bad shape and she freed all the other prisoners on her way.

- No, I did that before she kicked my butt. Galahad said sourly.

- Sorry, my bad. So you freed all those prisoners and then you got kicked to the curb. She escaped. Then, probably mad with grief, she fled to the eastern villages toward her doom. Sounds good to you? We should find names for us in this. I will be the heroic green knight, the Mysterious Sir Gawain.

They all exchanged a look. Galahad frowned.

- What?

- You don't wear Green, Gawain.

Tristan noted.

- Not yet. But I will make a green banner for me and my brothers one day. It will be spectacular and my enemies will recognize it from afar. I also planned to become a rich landowner, you see. You can choose to wear my banner if you want.

- Your non-existing imaginary banner? Galahad asked.

- I don't care for the color, Tristan. I am more stuck on the name. Sir Gawain, really?

They all burst out laughing at once.

- Why would Tanjin would be the only one with crazy mysterious names and ominous titles? I mean that's not fair. We're the rescue team. She is led by insanity and whims alone. She does not care to die, our fiery warrior princess. We do. I said in this story, we're the self-sacrificing heroes. She is the clueless damsel in need of assistance. Since the moment we've met, she's never acted so much like a woman.

- Gawain, we're going.

- Let him be, Duncan. You can call me, Sir Tristan the Magnificent in your story, Gawain. My banner will be blue.

Galahad almost fell from his horse. He leaned heavily on Gawain.

- I don't want to laugh. It hurts. Don't make me laugh! It's too gloom a situation. But…Sir Tristan… Are you all insane? You did not spend weeks with Mad Tanjin. I did. I should have the bigger part...

- Sir Galahad the wise?! Gawain tried.

- Sir Galahad the weasel?! Duncan shouted almost at the same time.

- I like the last one. It beats Sir Galahad, the Brat. Tristan added.

- Hey!

They could not stop laughing. During all his time of captivity, Galahad had not realized until now how much he missed them.