Cyrus and Ophilia's eventual arrival at the breakfast table the next morning raised a few leery eyebrows and a number of sniggers.

'What do you want to eat?' Therion asked them. 'My treat.. I happen to be quite flush for leaf at the moment!' He smirked.

Ophilia was grinning at her friends. 'You are all so mean.' She said good naturedly as she took the seat that Cyrus held out for her. 'Did Therion tell you all that we had a visit from Mattias?' She asked quickly before anyone could get in any actual teasing comments.

Primrose frowned. 'That man is completely contemptible.' She said. 'I know he is to become your Brother-in-law, darling - but I am simply itching to take my dagger to him.'

'Oh Primrose you're so sweet!' Ophilia giggled reaching over the table to pat her friend.

Therion beamed. 'Cyrus totally had it in hand! Literally... That's some wicked punch you got on you Prof!'

'Why, thank you Therion! - but I must admit I was lucky to have Ophilia there to provide a heal.' Cyrus said wryly. 'Otherwise I'm sure I'd have suffered quite a bit of swelling.'

'Totally my pleasure, my love.' Ophilia smiled at him.

'I probably need some work on my technique!' Cyrus added thoughtfully.

'I'd be happy to help with that.' Olberic offered with a grin.

Cyrus suddenly looked perplexed. 'You know,' he said slowly, his hand going up to rub at his chin thoughtfully. '..There were a couple of things that struck me as very odd about Mattias yesterday. I haven't really had a chance to think it through...'

'You only find a couple of things about him odd?' Therion snorted. 'Pretty much everything about him is odd . What the hell was he doing wearing a thick coat in the Sunlands for a start!'

'Well quite..' Cyrus mused. 'But more relevantly, he called Aelfric's lantern 'the Lanthorn'. That's not a term that's been in use for ... just about forever.'

'I've heard it named that.' Ophilia admitted. '.. but it was only from Father Bartolo when he was talking about when the Kindling was performed by the Sacrifice.'

'The second point is his so-called immunity to magic.' Cyrus looked troubled. 'There really is no such thing. A person may have a resistance to a particular form or use an item that gives protection.. some spells can work in a similar way temporarily. Nothing I have ever heard of would cover all types of magic though.'

'Well perhaps he was using something that just happened to be geared towards what you threw at him.' Alfyn spoke up.

'Indeed. I think that's what I assumed at the time. Giving it thought though..' Cyrus shook his head. 'It was a complete surprise when he started to cast magic himself. I had no feeling of magic about him in any of our encounters and I am sure I would have identified a protective spell or item. A resistance would not have destroyed my ice as completely as it did either, it just disappeared and I was angry enough for it to have been rather powerful.'

'So what do you think Cyrus?' Primrose asked, her interest piqued.

'I really have no idea.' He admitted. 'It may have just been a lucky chance that he had something that combated ice, as Alfyn suggested... but surely if he was targeted on Ophilia, he would have focused on protection from Light magic. That's what I would have done. I know your spells aren't offensive per 'say my love.. but if he was seeking to kidnap you - you would certainly have been able to defend yourself.'

Ophilia nodded uneasily

'It would be prudent to keep a close eye out for the man.' Olberic said frowning. 'He certainly has some kind of unhealthy interest in you and the Kindling, lass. Whatever his reason and despite his relationship to your sister - I don't think it is a good idea to allow him any kind of discourse with you going forward.'

'I'm afraid I have to agree.' Ophilia said heavy heartedly. 'I pray that it is just his worry over his own reputation that is causing his pig-headedness.'

'You said that he is a businessman Ophilia?' Primrose asked.

Ophilia nodded. 'He provides most of the Churches in the land - their agent if you like. He is incredibly well respected. I suppose one of the most noted Laymen in the hierarchy of the Order of the Flame.' She looked worried. 'The council members certainly would listen and take note of his concerns if he were to put in a complaint or seek to enforce the terms of my adoption.'

'Maybe it would be an idea to ask your father what he knows of the man Tressa.' Primrose went on. 'In trading terms there are few as well connected as he.'

'Great idea!' Tressa agreed enthusiastically. 'I've got a message ready to send him today - I will add a few lines to it now!'

The companions fell quiet as breakfast arrived.

'Four days to Wellspring then.' Tressa said as they finished eating.

'We ready to leave in an hour?' Olberic asked.

Everyone agreed and got up to start gathering themselves together.

'One other thing!' Alfyn suddenly spoke up with a huge grin. He came over to Ophilia and placed a satchel over her shoulder. 'About time you carried your own stock.'

'Oh!' Ophilia jumped, throwing herself at him enthusiastically.

'Hey!' Alfyn smiled. 'I'll get you a new bag every day if means I get kisses!'

~0~

As they travelled closer and closer to Wellspring, Olberic's anxiety grew.

The potential confrontation with Erhardt, in fact the inevitability of facing him at some stage in the future and maybe getting some kind of resolution warred in his heart with his knowledge of Ophilia's kinship to the man.

His love for the tiny Cleric was beyond doubt. Adding to her burden of problems, unthinkable. Olberic however was a simple man. It weighed on him that he may someday have to admit he had kept knowledge from her and that his subterfuge would hurt her. He was not easy with that idea at all.

Two nights away from their expected arrival in the town, Olberic decided he would speak his mind.

As usual, Ophilia had made them drinks as they took the second watch slot of the night. She had then sat down into the glow of Aelfric's lantern with an odd assortment of items gathered around herself.

First she picked up an apple. Using her paring knife she cut a ball of the flesh, took up a thick needle and threaded a leather thong directly through its middle. Next she used her knife to roughly cut a length of her hair.

'What in the name of the Gods are you doing lass?' Olberic asked, completely confused.

She smiled up at him. 'Just watch.' She said softly. She delicately plaited a tiny braid from the hair which she wound round the apple in a cross pattern. Finally she sliced a small cut on her finger and rubbed it to the hair. Ophilia took the whole thing into her hands, cupping them closed around it and then closed her eyes serenely. Olberic felt the surge of power run through her and when she opened her hands again..

'Oh, that's quite beautiful!' he breathed, stunned.

The raw ball of apple was now iridescent, golden and glimmering, perfectly shaped in apple form and where the braided hair had been statically tied, it seemed to undulate with energy.

Ophilia beamed a huge happy smile. 'Oh..' she said. 'I really had no idea if that would work or not!' She handed it to Olberic who inspected it closely.

'I can feel... something... like when you heal.' He said, his head to one side in considered contemplation.

'I've stored some of the power of the flame inside of it.' Ophilia grinned. 'I'm going to use these to start Therion and Alfyn's training. I can charge them myself so they can't pull too much energy and end up unconscious. I wish we had something like this when I was training!' she added.

Olberic raised an eyebrow. 'It's very calming,' he said running a giant thumb over the warm apple charm.

'I can make you one too.' Ophilia smiled. '..Regardless of whether you want to learn or not!'

Olberic chuckled. 'I would like that.' He admitted. 'But leave it a while or you will end up with bald spots!'

Ophilia picked up the blue flower she intended to use as Alfyn's charm and started a like process as she had done with the apple. Olberic watched her quietly and soon she had produced the second one.

'Cyrus's will be slightly different.' She told the Knight. He winced as she cut a larger lock of hair from her head. 'He doesn't really need help with drawing power, his skill is quite awe inspiring. Instead ..' She had started to weave her hair in a delicate design around what looked like a piece of white ribbon, the kind that normally bound back Cyrus's locks. '..This will be a devotion.' She looked up briefly at the Knight. 'Sometimes, when Cleric's enter into a relationship with each other they bind a little piece of themselves, the flame and their love into a token. It also acts as a store of energy - a gift for their loved one should they ever need to draw it in a time of need. A protection I guess.'

'Ah Lass. Cyrus is a very lucky man.' Olberic smiled gently.

'Oh my dear Olberic..' Ophilia looked up at him and comically fluttered her eyelashes. 'Just say the word my darling and you can quite steal me away!'

'And also a very brave man...' Olberic added with a chuckle.

'That too.' Ophilia smiled as she closed her eyes to instil power into her new creation. Once she was done, she handed the small thick ring to Olberic to inspect.

Olberic sat staring at the treasure for a long while, captivated by the lights as they rippled around the band. When he handed it back to the Cleric, his face was serious. Conflicted.

'I need to talk to you about something Ophilia. I just don't know how to start.' He said a bit helplessly.

Ophilia had packed away her tools and scooted forward to rest her head on his knee. 'Just speak, Sir knight. I will hear you out.' She said gently, disturbed at his expression.

'Well..' Olberic grimaced. 'I came into some ... information, and I think it should be shared with you. I was asked... to decide. No. It was given to me... um. Well... it's about Erhardt...'

'You know!' Ophilia's eyes went wide.

'Er, know what?' Olberic asked, confused.

'That he's my brother?' Ophilia asked rather than stated.

'Well.. yes. You knew? Did Therion tell you?' Olberic said with a sigh.

'Therion? He knows too? Oh my.' Ophilia started to smile. 'I have been trying for ages to get the courage to speak to you about what I suspected Olberic, but I was so worried that... Wait. Let's get some order here. Will you tell me what you know?'

Olberic nodded dumbly. 'Your father set Eliza the task of trying to track down where you were from.' He explained. 'Her report, her findings.. it didn't come together until after the fall of Hornburg, after Erhardt had already betrayed the King. The Archbishop made the decision not to tell you, but left Eliza with the ultimate decision in the event of his death. When I emerged, and it was discovered I was travelling with you - she passed that decision to me.' Olberic looked fraught. 'I never read the report. It was Therion, when we were in Victor's Hollow who found it in my bag and read it. He brought it to my attention since he realised I was planning to... confront Erhardt.'

'I see!' Ophilia said breathlessly.

'I really didn't know what to do.' Olberic's look was troubled again. 'I have no idea who the man really is, if the knowledge could hurt you. I wanted to protect you if I could. Oh, Ophilia! I couldn't stand the thought that you may find out what I knew and would think ill of me for not trusting in you to tell you - because I do. Of course I do. It has only taken so long...'

'Because you care.' Ophilia finished for him gently.

'Yes.' He agreed. They were silent for a few minutes as his words sank in. 'So, if Therion didn't tell you - how did you know?' Olberic asked eventually.

Ophilia looked up at him and smiled. 'I didn't, not really. I suspected that it may be the case but..' She paused and thought for a second. 'Whenever you talked of Erhardt, it tugged a memory in me.' She explained finally. 'I had no idea what it was but the name was so familiar. I just assumed to begin with that I had heard the story or that my father had mentioned it.. but it was a very persuasive prod, a really overpowering feeling.'

Olberic reached down to smooth her hair as she fell silent again.

'It was the night we spoke, after Victor's Hollow that it suddenly became clear. We talked of my mother, and then Erhardt. That was it. It was my mother who spoke of him, all the time when I was small.. my brother, Erhardt.' Ophilia sighed. 'I remember so little of the time.. before.. and in order to survive, even that which I do remember I have pushed deep into my heart.'

'So what is your wish Ophilia?' Olberic looked at her, his expression blank.

She gazed back at him, troubled. 'I wish for this revelation to have no effect whatsoever on what you chose to do when you meet with him Olberic.' She replied seriously. 'I don't know this man at all. I do however know you and I love you. What I want is for you to free yourself from the burden that you carry, get the answers you deserve and move on.'

Olberic opened his mouth to protest but Ophilia held up a hand.

'There has never been a time that I have seen you fight with anything less than respect and compassion for your opponent Olberic, whether it has been monster, beast or person. I know that you will make the right choice, whatever that may be in this matter. It's who you are. You have openly talked about your old friend and his betrayal both.'

'But what about you?' Olberic asked. 'Do you not want the chance to learn about yourself, your past... your brother?'

'I am curious.' Ophilia smiled suddenly. 'That's my nature. I have never before had this option however, and if it ceases to be an option, I am no better or worse off. I know that however this ends it will be in my best interest for If you cannot see anything worthwhile in the man, then there is nothing further that I would wish to know. This is your story now Olberic, I buried my part in it a long time ago.'

Olberic shook his head with a wry smile. 'I hope you do not misplace your trust in me sweetheart.' He said. 'Do you want to tell the others?'

Ophilia grinned. 'Well,' she said with a chuckle. 'You and I know of course, Therion sneaked and I talked over my suspicions with Cyrus... so it's already a badly kept secret! I would hate for the others to feel left out!'

'Right you are!' Olberic agreed.

.

Cyrus woke to gather Ophilia to him when she went to lay beside him.

'We were right.' Ophilia murmured quietly. 'Erhardt is my brother.' Cyrus looked about to speak but she brushed his lips with hers. 'We will talk in the morning.' She said. 'About this also..' she slipped the ring that she had made onto his finger.

Cyrus's eyes widened at the gentle caress of harmony that rolled over him from the devotion. He took a surprised glance down at his hand, the gentle warmth from it spreading over him like a blanket.

'Amazing.' He whispered, kissing her again.

.

When morning dawned with bright sun and already intense heat, H'aanit started to get breakfast ready while the others pottered about helping or getting themselves sorted.

Ophilia quietly explained to Cyrus what she and Olberic had discussed the night before, and Olberic brought over the report he had from Eliza and handed it to them to read. After they had gone through it Cyrus asked about the ring, and Ophilia shyly explained its significance.

'This is absolutely incredible.. ' he admitted in awe. 'A fascinating piece of casting... how?...'

'No... not telling.' Ophilia smiled at him. 'You have to work it out!'

'A puzzle?' Cyrus beamed. 'Intoxicating...'

After breakfast, Olberic told the others about the kinship between Ophilia and Erhardt. There was a stunned silence.

'Oh!... ' Alfyn started to chuckle suddenly... 'Oh, by the God's...' it turned into a full laugh. Everyone stared at him. 'Better start running now Prof!' tears had started running down his face as he clutched his belly and slumped to the floor.

Tressa had started to titter too. Therion was staring at Alfyn, then all of a sudden he beamed.

'What in the hell?' Olberic looked confused, mirroring everyone else's perplexed expressions.

'It's just...' Therion giggled. 'I think what our Apothecary is getting at is... well.. if you don't make a quick getaway Cyrus, it's not just Mad Mattius you will have to contend with as a potential brother-in-law, but one of the bloody Twin-Blades of Hornburg too!' Therion wiped tears from his eyes as Alfyn howled again. 'Not only that...' Therion continued. 'The Regicidal Blade! I truly wonder how happy he will be about you dallying with his sister! Interesting family you got there Ophilia!' Therion collapsed.

'Oh!' Cyrus said as Olberic began to grin too. 'Oh, dear!'

.

Two days later and the companions were finally in sight of Wellspring.

'About time too.' Tressa moaned. 'This sand gets everywhere!'

'Proper bath.. real bed..' Ophilia made it sound like a prayer.

'Beer.' Alfyn added with a hearty sigh.

Once they got into town, booked rooms at the Inn and had bathed at the bathhouse, it was time for lunch.

Both Olberic and Therion were absent.

'They went to start asking around town about their respective interests.' Cyrus told the others as their food arrived.

'Shucks,' Alfyn added. 'I spoke to the bloke running the baths. Sounds like Sir Erhardt is a proper hero in this town. Call him Lord and everything. Brings the fight to these 'lizard men' that have been plaguing the town for ages.'

'We heard pretty much the same in our baths.' Primrose added. 'Couple of the young girls in the waters with us sighing over the handsome and fearless Hero of Wellspring.

They had barely finished their meal when Therion came running into the Tavern just as a sonorous bell began to chime somewhere outside.

'Lizard Men are attacking the town.' He told the others, trying to catch his breath. 'Olberic is in the town square with a Captain Bale. Looks like it's a bad one.' He added.

The companions rose and gathered their stuff.

'Don't go out there!' The Tavern keeper was at the door peering out, ushering some inside. 'We will be locking down. The guards and Lord Erhardt will be taking control of the situation.'

'Gonna be volunteering our services.' Alfyn grinned at the man, pushing past him.

Olberic was in the town square, deep in conversation with a tall, older soldier. They both looked up as the friends rushed towards them.

'This is my team.' Olberic told the man.

'I see. Captain Bale.' The man introduced himself.

The captain turned back to Olberic. 'So they will be swarming from yonder canyon - they have bases up in the hills. Tis a cavernous place, and we have yet to be able to get a reasonable count of their numbers.'

'You say that's where Erhardt will be?' Olberic said flatly.

'Sure to be.' Bale looked anxious. 'Can't spare the men from town to back him up.' He said regretfully. 'Too many damned entrances to cover here. We got to protect the townsfolk first.'

'Of course.' Olberic agreed. 'We can head out there and see if we can find him. Offer aid at the source. If we can tap them off, stop them getting through, it will ease the risk here.'

'You sure man?' Bale looked over the companions with a sceptical eye.

'I am.' Olberic replied simply.

'Well and good then. I cannot thank you enough for your aid, and your timely arrival.' Bale saluted them all and turned to start marshalling his troops.

'You all up for this?' Olberic asked his friends quietly. They nodded.

The companions trekked carefully out of town. They encountered a few small bands of the Lizard Men but it seemed as if the main bulk were directing themselves unthinkingly at the main gate.

'They do not appear to have much in the way of a plan.' Cyrus observed after they had seen off their fourth group of the sand fighters. 'Or skill for that matter.'

'I can see that they would present a problem to a travelling caravan, or in greater numbers. I cannot see any rhyme to their method either though.' Olberic said thoughtfully.

They headed towards the rising cliffs and the canyon that Bale had indicated, and they soon spotted the lone man stood at the narrow entrance to the opening, surrounded by the Lizard Men who were trailing out of the canyon in dribs and drabs.

'Tressa, a little help?' Cyrus asked the merchant, who nodded enthusiastically at him. 'Just like we practiced then.' The Scholar added.

Standing side by side Tressa brought up a stirring wind focused just in front of them, beating at the sand. Cyrus raised his hand and added focused lightning into the current of swirling air.

'Let's go!' he said merrily.

Between them, they forced the air and lightning forward slowly. It moved past the man and into the canyon where it suddenly intensified and, becoming a gale of pure energy that ripped through the approaching enemies and decimated their ranks.

The man ahead finished off the last of those that had been attacking him and he looked at the devastation being wrought ahead of him. He turned to face the approaching companions in confusion, leaning heavily on his bloodied sword.

'Ho Erhardt.' Olberic called when they were close enough to the man to be heard. 'Looks like you could use some back-up.'

'Olberic?' The man pushed back the long blond hair from his face, and visored his hand to his forehead against the sun - staring out at the Knight striding towards him in disbelief. 'Am I dead?' he asked incredulously.

Olberic snorted. 'Not yet.' He grunted. 'So what's the deal. We just turn up in town and it gets attacked.. Captain Bale says you're out here alone trying to single handedly take on an army.. You got some sort of hero complex these days or what?'

'Pfft.. what are you doing bringing women and children along to fight for you?' Erhardt countered glancing down the line of faces who were all staring at him in complete fascination.

'I can't help but wonder what that makes me..' Cyrus mumbled thoughtfully.

'A Woman.' Tressa said with a grin, quick as a flash.

'An old woman..' Alfyn added smirking.

'Oh your so mean!' Cyrus laughed.

'Looks like those Lizard's are regaining some momentum.' Primrose spoke up quietly - nodding back into the canyon.

'Right.' Erhardt pulled himself together. 'I'm going in there. Check out what's stirring them up. Come along if you want.' He added with a raised eyebrow at Olberic.

'Oh, good plan.' Olberic parried. 'Well thought out.'

'Well.. What would you do?' Erhardt asked as he started to move forward past him.

'Guess I'd suggest going in and checking out what's stirring them up.' Olberic replied with a wry grin.

'Figured.' Erhardt snorted a laugh.

As they all started to move a small healing wave washed over them and with it the multitude of small nicks and cuts that Erhardt had already received eased and closed up. With an exclamation of surprise at both at the heal itself and the incredible warmth of it, the Knight turned to look for the source. The most likely candidate, the slight blonde girl with the staff seemed to be concentrating on her feet.

'Thank you.' He said quietly.

The girl looked up briefly, her smile and her soft beauty both rendering him speechless. She nodded slightly at him and then her eyes fell to her feet again.

Erhardt noticed that Olberic had also stopped and was looking at him with an unreadable expression. 'Not quite the same as our battle-healers of old eh.' Olberic noted.

'No.' Erhardt agreed softly. 'That was something else entirely.'

'You have had the privilege of having been healed by the Flamebearer.' Olberic added.

'The Crazy Cleric?' Erhardt took a quick look back in surprise. 'The one they tried to assassinate in Saintsbridge? Were you there?'

Olberic scowled heavily. 'I was. And she isn't mad.' He barked.

'Oh? She's travelling with you and currently walking into a Lizard Man lair in the middle of nowhere...' Erhardt pointed out.

'She's loyal.' Olberic muttered.

There was a silence as they moved forward. The ravine ended in a large open space, with a wide entrance to the west that looked like a cave system. There were at least a hundred Lizard Men milling around. None seemed that interested in taking to the ravine - in fact as the companions came through they seemed to shy further away.

'Sir Olberic.' Ophilia had come forward, Cyrus by her side, an arm around her shoulder. 'I don't think these 'men' are really men at all.' She said quietly.

'What are you thinking Lass?' Olberic asked.

'I feel more of a soul than in the monster's we have faced.' Ophilia said thoughtfully. 'But I, we..' she looked up at Cyrus with a smile. '...think that they may be more animalistic than actual men.'

'We all noted their lack of planning and rather random attack.' Cyrus added. 'So we were thinking, if we were faced with this number of say wolves.. what would we do?'

'Thou wouldst attempt to scatter them.' H'aanit chipped in. 'They couldst be feared, mayhaps driven off completely.'

'Quite right my dear!' Cyrus beamed at the Huntress.

'Shucks, it gotta be worth a shot right?' Alfyn said. 'Gotta admit I'm not that keen on just ploughing into that many of em. Be worse than that Dragon episode in the pants department!'

Olberic chuckled at that. 'You have a plan?' he asked.

'Try a bit of fire and a bit of light and see where that goes?' Cyrus suggested.

'I can give you a big bang!' Alfyn added beaming brightly and reaching into his satchel.

'Okay, the rest of us can tackle any stragglers then.' Olberic grinned drawing his sword.

'Er. Fine. Okay!' Erhardt looked a bit overwhelmed.

'Say when you're ready Alf.' Ophilia told the Apothecary, moving towards him with interest to see what he was concocting.

'Used to make these to scare the crows from the fields back home!' Alfyn told her, showing her the items he was grinding. He took out a bandage and ripped it into six pieces then spooned a little mixture into each, tying it into a pouch. 'When they hit the ground... BOOOM.' His smile was just a little bit overenthusiastic.

'After you then my darling.' Cyrus offered his hand to the Cleric as she made her way forward. She looked to the biggest clump of the Lizard Men and raised her staff.

'Let the Holy Light shine forth..' she intoned bringing her staff down to the ground in a fluid movement. The resulting luminescent was vast, a shocking flash of brightness that poured over the Lizards as they cowered in fear.

'Your power seems to have grown since the Kindling, Your Holiness.' Therion noted in awe. 'That was proper impressive!'

Cyrus had started raising columns of fire scattered amongst the crowds in front of them, turning fear into pure panic. Alfyn threw his concoctions into the mix, adding noise to the confusion and mayhem.

Most of the Lizards were heading away from the companions, but a few ran towards them. They were met initially by a rain of arrows, turning a couple back, and then gusts of heavy wind that again distracted a few. The rest fell to Olberic and Erhardt's blades that whirled and danced almost as impressively as Primrose as she bolstered her friends attacks and Therion's daggers that peppered their enemies.

Many of the Lizard Men had run for the entrance to the cave. Ophilia pushed them back further in with a flash of Holy light at the entrance and Cyrus built a wall of fire further penning them back.

'That went well!' Tressa cheered when the area was totally clear of the enemy and they started moving as a group towards the cave.

'Famous last words...' Primrose grimaced as a huge bestial roar went up, and then a second.

'What the hell was that?' Therion was looking around, trying to locate where the sound was coming from.

'Um... Them I think.' Ophilia pointed with her staff.

Two much larger Lizard Men were pushing through the ranks in the cave to come to the front. They were grunting and gesturing to their companions, seeming to encourage them to go back deeper into the system.

'I think those are their leaders.' Erhardt said grimly. 'Only seen them once before, when they last made an attack on the actual town. If we can finish them off this time...'

'One each by my count.' Olberic was grinning at his fellow Knight. 'I wager mine will go down first.' He added.

'Only if you cheat!' Erhardt grinned back.

The Knights moved in to their respective foe. A few of their minions accompanied their leaders but the most of the Lizards had either retreated totally into the caves or were staying back, cowed by the fires that still burned.

Olberic's blade got in the first major score against his leader, a massive thrust that hit the Lizard Man hard to the shoulder, almost running the entire way through. His foe incensed, it leaped at the Knight slashing tooth and claw at him in a ferocious attack, but failed to get purchase past the Knight's armour. The Lizard was rather effectively thrown to the floor and the beast scurried backwards away.

Erhardt was faring just as well. His faster blade slashing a whirlwind and then suddenly switching to a spear in a move that completely blindsided his enemy who took a debilitating thrust to the stomach. It was this leaders companions that swarmed Erhardt while their Chief recovered his wits, cutting and slashing wildly with their short swords and overwhelming the Knight for a second. A flash of Holy light saw them cowed and a harsh guttural word from their leader had them moving back safely behind him.

The battles raged on, although even these leaders were hardly a match for the twin blades of Hornburg. They had stamina and a seemingly swift recovery from the worst of their wounds but they were almost helpless against the cool efficiency of the Knights. The crowd of Lizard men behind them grew as the fighting progressed, although it became clear that the Chief's were communicating in their strange language, keeping them back and safe. Protecting their herd.

The end was inevitable. Olberic took the final blow of his foe just seconds before Erhardt brought down his. The on-looking Lizards keened a heart wrenching wail of loss.

As the Knights moved back from the fallen leaders, Ophilia made her way forward. She went to each in turn, straightening their limbs, settling their cloaks about them and retrieving their weapons while reciting a prayer very quietly. They all moved backwards slowly and two of the watching Lizards moved forwards to retrieve their dead. Taking the bodies, all of their foes went silently back into the caves and disappeared from sight.

Alfyn was attending the two Knights minor wounds.

'Just a quick blast and we're done I reckon Li.' He told the Cleric as she came up to help, wiping the tears from her cheek. He finished wrapping a bandage on Olberic's hand and engulfed his Ophilia in a bone-crushing hug as she cast her heal.

Ophilia went to Olberic and crouched down beside him and took his hand.

'This is your story now Sir Knight.' She told him firmly. 'We won't be far away. Please don't get yourself hurt.' She looked up briefly at Erhardt who was staring back at her. '..Too much.' She added with a wry smile. Olberic kissed her brow.

The companions left the two Knights and slowly walked down the canyon to the other end to sit and wait.

Olberic looked over at his former friend. 'I guess it's time we talk.' He said.