Erhardt stood clasping at his sword watching Olberic's companions as they walked away leaving the two Knights alone, unable to bring himself to look at his old friend as he scouted out a place away from the Lizard Men's cave entrance to sit. Now that the enemy threat appeared to be over Erhardt found himself to be more nervous than he had been in a very long time. He risked a glance up at Olberic, who had now sat and was observing him warily. When their eyes met he motioned for Erhardt to join him.

Heavy hearted, the man made his way slowly over to where Olberic had indicated and reluctantly joined him, seating himself a slight distance away.

'Your companions...' Erhardt said quietly, looking away down the ravine through which they had departed. 'Certainly more capable than they appear at first glance.'

Olberic chuckled. 'A fair number have underestimated them only to fall foul to their skills.' He said. 'A unique and talented bunch.'

'A story to be told as to your association I am sure.' Erhardt glanced at Olberic who was smiling slightly to himself.

'Indeed.' Olberic glanced at his erstwhile friend. 'Oddly enough I have you to thank for bringing me to my new family.'

'Me?' Erhardt raised an eyebrow.

There was silence for a long time as Olberic studied the man dispassionately.

'Eight years.' Olberic said finally looking away - a frown creasing at his brow. 'I spent eight years feeling... nothing at all.'

Erhardt couldn't help but wince at the emotionless tone, so alien from the man he had known so well.

'What did you do... after?' he asked quietly.

'Wandered a while.' Olberic stared at his hands. 'Finally found a home of sorts in a small town with a bandit problem. Helped train the guard there, wasn't really a sense of purpose but it masqueraded as one I suppose.'

Erhardt found himself smiling sourly at that. 'I thought...in fact I found myself hoping that you would hunt me down. Seek your revenge.'

Olberic looked at him then with something akin to surprise. 'Is that why you left me alive?' he asked.

Erhardt shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. There was another long silence.

'It was your name,' Olberic eventually filled the silence once more. 'Spoken from the lips of a bandit, a random and unexpected moment that pushed me from my inertia. I don't know what changed inside of me, but suddenly I had an overpowering need to know why. I'd not felt that before, in all the time that had passed.'

'Why I did what I did?' Erhardt looked intensely at Olberic, who for the first time recognised the deep pools of pain in his eyes. He had seen the expression before, many times during their friendship but had never truly seen it for what it was.

'I was a callow youth Erhardt.' Olberic said softly. 'Simple even - in my emotions. I never recognised your hurt then but I recognise it now.' He looked down at the ground at his feet. 'I have seen such pain reflected in the eyes of others that I love, and I have learned to know it for what it is.'

'The stoic and noble Olberic admitting to feelings?' Erhardt couldn't prevent the smirk that rose to his lips. 'Talking of love even. Is the sky falling?' he looked up as if to check.

'Funny.' Olberic's lips quirked into a smile that fell away just as quickly. 'You took my world Erhardt, just as surely as yours was taken from you. My purpose and my overpowering ego were the casualties of that. You left a hollow man - but it seems that the emptiness has started to be filled. I think, no.. I hope I am a better man for it.'

'You were always the better man Olberic.' Erhardt shook his head. 'I sought revenge for my hurts. Trickery, deception and betrayal. King Alfred promised my people help and renegade on that promise and I wanted to destroy not only him, but everything that he stood for in retaliation.'

'Why was that Erhardt?' Olberic looked up at the man quizzically. 'What made your hatred burn so bright? The man I thought I knew was so very different.'

'Honestly?' Erhardt looked back at his old friend with open frankness. 'I was a child, I was angry, but if I had not been offered the opportunity for revenge by another, I would not have sought it independently. I realise that now. My hatred was blazing, and I was the perfect weapon to be used - that is not an excuse - merely a fact. When offered, I was eager to infiltrate the ranks and happy to provide intelligence to those that orchestrated the downfall.'

'So it was another behind it then.' Olberic said mostly to himself. 'I wonder why I never considered that.'

'You thought it was all me?' Erhardt suddenly looked amused. 'Exactly when was planning or even thinking ever my strong point?' No Olberic..' he chuckled wryly. 'I had neither the brain nor the leaf to orchestrate the downfall of a Kingdom. Ha, I'm actually a little flattered that you think I might!'

'I think you underestimate yourself Erhardt.' Olberic muttered shaking his head wryly. 'You certainly managed to mastermind enough schemes that got me into trouble...'

'My favourite scapegoat!' Erhardt amusement grew. 'God's you were so easy to wind up, so endearingly serious..' He looked up, his eyes shining for the first time. '..You took the knocks with such grace too.'

'I should have known better. You brought out the worst in me!' Olberic ran a hand through his hair and looked a little bewildered. 'I just can't understand how you kept your true purpose.. your bitterness.. a secret from me for all that time. I genuinely thought that we were ... close.'

The haunted look returned to Erhardt's face. 'I kept many secrets old friend. Each one I had to keep from you was a fresh hurt.' He moved himself closer to reach out a hand which he placed lightly on Olberic's arm. 'From the day that my home burned, the only time I ever felt remotely like the carefree lad that died along with it was when I was with you.'

Olberic's gaze was drawn to the hand on his arm. Although the touch was light - it felt like a lead weight. 'I liked that lad.' He murmured. 'He was the best friend I ever had.'

Erhardt's grip tightened. 'There were many times I dreamed of confession Olberic. Not because I no longer wanted to carry out the role assigned to me - but because I did not want to hurt you.'

Olberic scowled. 'But in the end your revenge was too important.'

'Not true!' Erhardt exclaimed. 'There was no stopping the plot. There was too much leaf, too much planning and simply too many people who were already in place to make it preventable. If I thought telling you would mean you would leave, get away safely.. then I would have told you. I knew though that despite the odds and the warnings you would have tried to prevent it - your honour would allow nothing else. You would have died for that honour.'

'As it should have been.' Olberic replied harshly - knocking away the crushing grasp on his arm and rubbing unconsciously at the spot.

'In the end I did the only thing I could do to save you.' Erhardt spoke passionately, almost angrily as he held his rejected hand to his chest. 'I took up the task, fought you. Bested you. Many of those that died at my hand that day - Knights you thought died trying to prevent me killing the King - were actually allies that I finished in order to prevent them from getting to you. Werner had more people loyal to his leaf than the King had loyal to his patronage. Many more.'

'Werner?' Olberic looked up sharply. 'This is the man who orchestrated the carnage?'

'Yes. Although I believe there may have been someone even above him who provided the leaf in the first place.' Erhardt's ire had died down and settled into a melancholy. 'What his interest in the destruction of Hornburg was I never knew, except that he was a nasty bastard who truly enjoyed witnessing the suffering of others and who had nothing less than a godlike opinion of his own worth.'

'You still work for him?' Olberic asked roughly.

Erhardt shook his head forcefully. 'The man was an animal. He offered me further employment where he settled in Riverford but I refused him.'

There was another long silence.

'Was it worth it?' Olberic asked eventually. 'Your revenge I mean.'

'No.' Erhardt's voice was barely audible. 'The dead was still just as dead and my home still ashes. I did not regret killing Alfred, but it did not ease the pain in the slightest. Indeed ... I lost you ... the only thing that had ever made the hurt less. Ironic no? I fulfilled my desire only for it to leave me emptier and more bereft than ever. I longed for you to come and find me. To end me, and end the suffering.'

'We are going to fight.' Olberic stood up and stretched. 'You realise that right.'

Erhardt smiled, a genuine heartfelt smile. 'Yes!' he said. 'I have no hope and no purpose, this is truly the ending that I long for. I cannot kill you Olberic. I couldn't then and I cannot now. Oh but to try..' his eyes were shining. 'I am so very ready to try!'

Olberic had his blade in his hand. Erhardt stood and took up his. They circled each other cautiously. Without warning Erhardt's sword flew out and cut a gash across Olberic's cheek.'

'That will scar I warrant.' Olberic observed wiping at the blood running freely down to his chin.

'You have a face that can hold a scar well. And that white to your temples old man... when did that happen?' Erhardt was grinning as he parried a thrust from his opponent.

'Pretty much the day you betrayed me you arse..' Olberic grinned back as his blade connected with Erhardt's shoulder and his first blood began to fall.

'Gotta admit you're in pretty good shape.' The blonde Knight was moving slower now, looking for openings and wary of the weight of the attacks that he was fielding, he took a hit on the leg. More blood ran.

'Had a pretty strict regime when I beat your man Gustav, at the championship in Victor's Hollow.' Olberic couldn't help but boast, pushing his advantage carefully, aware that the tide of attack could turn at any moment.

'Ah, Gustav.. that old rogue. I'm not surprised you beat him. Proper man-crush he had, always asking for stories of the noble and handsome Sir Olberic. Got quite tired of his simpering over you!' Erhardt span into a whirlwind of slashes, connecting to the ribs and the chest of his foe several times. Olberic just grinned harder.

The battle was brutal - at times a sensuous and skilled dance and at others just pure physical slaughter. As the opponents swept back and forth blood and sweat poured from the heat, the exertion and the many wounds they both inflicted. They both exalted in the physicality, the closeness of their skills and their desire to win - raising each other's fever to boiling point.

Eventually it was Olberic that knocked Erhardt's sword flying and sent it skittering across the sand.

'Ah.' Erhardt raised his hands as the point of Olberic's blade rested against his heart lightly. 'I guess you have me old friend.' He looked into Olberic's dark eyes, and scowling face.

'I don't believe I am done yet.' Olberic threw his own sword aside and piled his shoulder into his foe bringing him down and landing a wicked punch to the stomach.

'Ouch!' Erhardt complained grabbing at Olberic's neck, trying to get a grip.

'Wimp.' Olberic taunted as they wrestled and punched at each other.

Suddenly Erhardt froze and his face went white. 'Where the hell did you get that!' he said, his voice cold... emotionless. He was pointing at the brooch pinned to Olberic's tunic. With a rough shove he pushed Olberic off of him and moved faster than lightning to his sword, still resting abandoned on the sand.

'Erhardt, Peace.' Olberic had also moved to retrieve his own sword and the two fighters were once again circling each other.

'Speak Olberic.' The blonde Knight was angry, his lip curled in a snarl.

'It was a gift, a token from a lady before my fight in Victors Hollow.' Olberic answered honestly.

Erhardt stared at him hard, but his focus seemed far away. He dropped back to the floor as if his entire energy had been sucked from his body.

'It... it... I think... I'm sure it was my mother's...' Erhardts voice broke away as tears starting to fall. He tried to pull himself together. 'Have you noticed how it is slightly wonky to one side?' he asked, not able to look at Olberic. 'My father was a blacksmith, but he made little pieces for my Mother, certainly not an artisan... but always made with love. I..I helped him when he made that.'

Olberic removed the little pin and handed it wordlessly to Erhardt.

'I guess it must have been looted from her body.' Erhardt's voice was little more than a whisper. 'How odd that it should end up with you.' He added, wiping at his tears with his sleeve.

Olberic closed his eyes as clarity rushed over him. He sat next to Erhardt, and gently took the brooch back.

'I have to tell you something.' He said. 'I want you to listen and not interrupt.'

Erhardt had brought his knees up to his chest, his face hidden against them, struggling to contain his sorrow. Resolutely Olberic put a hand out to grasp his shoulder.

'I can't yet forgive you Erhardt.' Olberic said honestly. 'That may never happen, or at the least take some time - but I am satisfied that.. at heart, you are the man I always believed you to be.'

Erhardt raised his head. 'No Olberic,' he said sadly. 'I am a shadow of a man now. Anything that was ever important to me is gone. I am fading, my friend.'

'In truth of fact,' Olberic rumbled, his hand gripping tighter. 'You have not lost everything. You never had. Fate has been a cruel Mistress, Erhardt, but there is still time I believe and a soul that could save you as surely as it has saved others.'

Erhardt's brow creased in confusion. 'I have no idea what you...' he began.

'This won't be easy my old friend, but hear me out. please.' Olberic closed his eyes briefly to gather his thoughts. 'I am a simple man Erhardt so I can only speak plainly, but believe what I tell you. I have a report which will clarify what I cannot - back at the Tavern - which I will give you - but for now.. I should tell you that your Mother survived the destruction of your village...'

'Do not jest with me!' Erhardt's anger was swift. 'I will not tolerate...'

Olberic roughly shook the shoulder he was still grasping. 'I said hear me out!' He admonished. Erhardt fell silent, scowling.

'You were not in your village the day of the attack because you had shirked your chores to meet with a girl..' Olberic smirked a little at that. 'Unsurprisingly...' he added.

'How did you know...?'

'Will you please just listen!' Olberic shook his head. 'Your Mother was also out of town. She had gone to visit with the Apothecary a few villages over.'

'I don't remember her being ill...' Erhardt noted the flash of annoyance at the interruption and shut up.

'She was not ill.' Olberic clarified. 'She was pregnant.' There was a small silence as these words sunk in. 'She was gone when the raiders attacked and she, like you, believed that she had lost everything save the babe growing inside of her. Neither of you knew the other lived.'

'Is she still.. did she...' Erhardt started, but again fell silent when Olberic raised his finger to his lips and tightened his grip.

'She had a daughter, found a position and spent five years raising your sister in relative peace and safety.' Olberic's face turned grim. 'Then, I suppose not long after we had been raised to Knighthood she heard tell of you. Our exploits were rather widely reported...' Olberic swallowed hard, but gamely continued. 'Your Mother became anxious to see if the Sir Erhardt of the tales was in fact her son against all odds, so she joined a caravan heading back to Hornburg to seek you out.'

'But she never arrived...' Erhardt whispered. 'Does that mean...?'

'I'm sorry Erhardt. I truly am. The caravan was attacked and everyone.. was killed. Apart from the child. A tiny girl of five or so grievously injured who survived alone the week or more before the carnage was finally discovered.'

'My sister?' Erhardt's voice was barely audible.

Olberic nodded. 'She was adopted by a kind man with a daughter of his own close to her age. Her trauma, the deep fear that her experience left her with affected her for a long time. She did not speak, was long in recovery - but she did recover, and although her fear afflicts her still, she grew to be the most remarkable of women.'

'Where is she?' Erhardt asked urgently. 'Where can I find her?'

Olberic raised a hand to stop the questions. 'The man who adopted her was Archbishop Josef, of the Cathedral in Flamesgrace.' Olberic shrugged. 'Under his tutorage, your Sister became a Cleric of the Order of the Flame, and she took on a responsibility out of love for her adopted family, when her father fell ill. She took up the Ember that her Sister was supposed to carry in order to allow her to stay by her father's side during his final days.'

Comprehension flooded over Erhardt's features.. 'The Flamebearer.. the one you travel with...' he breathed.

'Indeed. Ophilia is your sister.' Olberic agreed.

Erhardt tried to rise, but was pushed back down firmly.

'The information was given to me at the will of the Archbishop by the Knight Ardante who compiled it. He never told Ophilia of your kinship, by the time it was uncovered Hornburg had fallen and your role in it... He did not feel that the news would be of any benefit to his adopted daughter. With his failing health however, and because of my sudden association with Ophilia and my history with you - the task of deciding what to do with the knowledge was given to me.' Olberic shrugged again. 'In truth, it was not a role I wished to be given. I was no longer confident that I knew the man that you ever were, let alone the one you had become, and my own love for Ophilia... the burdens that she already carries.. the sheer weight of opposition and threat that she lives with.. I had no wish to add to her troubles.'

Erhardt's eyes filled with tears. 'Yet you have chosen to tell me?' he questioned.

Olberic nodded. 'Ophilia, she is aware of your kinship. Her main concern was for me of course..' Olberic chuckled suddenly, 'You will find that is the most usual response from the child... to care for others at the detriment to herself. None the less - she insisted that this was my story, my wellbeing that needed to be sated and that she trusted in my heart and my care enough that whatever I decided needed to be done in relation to you - would be the correct choice.'

'It seems that she loves you too then.' Erhardt sounded wistful.

'She has locked away her sentiment for her true heritage.' Olberic mused. 'While you do have the ability to cause her pain by bringing it out into the light, I cannot help but believe that her desire to heal your soul will far outweigh her own hurts. I believe that in that respect you could help one another.'

Erhardt suddenly looked uncomfortable. 'Are you sure?' he mumbled. 'I hardly think I am good brother material, especially to a Cleric. By the God's what on earth must she think of me?'

Olberic laughed aloud this time. 'Um.. about that. If you are thinking in terms of Cleric alone, well.. heh.. let's just say that this particular one has a fairly unusual .. heh.' Olberic patted his shoulder. 'While she is most certainly not mad, Erhardt.. her humour is quite wicked and her attitude to many things are not really what you might expect. Indeed one of her closest friends is a thief and a complete rascal. I'm not sure that being Sister to you is going to faze her that much.'

'All the same..' Erhardt grimaced.

'Nervous?' Olberic was still laughing, then all of a sudden he too grimaced, looking down at himself and his battered and bloodied body as if noticing the wounds that had been inflicted for the first time.

'Oh. I am going to be in so much trouble.' He realised. 'C'mon, we better get back to them. I promised not to get too hurt and look at me!'

'Now who's nervous!' Erhardt raised an eyebrow. 'The child can't weigh more than a wet puppy, surely a big strong Knight like you aren't scared of her?' He accepted the hand that Olberic offered to him and rose to his feet.

'You never want to make Ophilia angry.' He advised balefully. 'Let's go!'

.

Ophilia had spent a good amount of time pacing the entrance to the ravine awaiting Olberic's return. Cyrus finally took her in hand, pulling her to his lap and imprisoning her gently with his arms, holding her close and distracting her with kisses. Alfyn had also stayed with them, grinding salves that he thought may be useful to treat the wounds they all knew were likely to have been inflicted in a confrontation between the two Knights. Everyone else had made their way back to town to check on how things had gone there and lend a hand with any clear-up required.

'You know you properly look like your Brother.' Alfyn said thoughtfully. 'Shucks, I found it hard to believe what Olberic told us, but seeing the both of you together... Zeph is never going to believe this one!' he grinned.

'You think?' Ophilia asked quietly.

'I concur.' Cyrus agreed with the Apothecary. 'A mightily handsome man, and if he has anything near the charm of his Sister, I can understand how he could be quite devastating to the ladies, as his reputation reports.'

Ophilia grew quite still. 'Olberic is returning,' she said, pushing herself up from Cyrus's embrace, running to the entrance of the ravine and raising her hand to her eyes to block the glare of the late afternoon sun. She soon spotted the two weary figures making their way towards her and she bolted forward, skidding to a stop a few feet in front of Olberic, her hands on her hips and a fierce glint in her eye.

'Oh crap.' Olberic murmured.

'What did I tell you?' the Cleric demanded, her look sweeping him from top to toe, taking in the many, many wounds that were still bleeding in some cases.

'Not to get too hurt?' he said meekly. 'Honestly it looks far worse than it is! I just bleed a lot..'

'Oh good comeback..' Erhardt retorted quietly.

Ophilia's eyes swung to the blonde Knight. 'And don't think your state has escaped my notice. I will deal with you in a minute!' she warned.

'Oh. Yes.. right.' Erhardt looked abashed.

Olberic was eyeing her warily but he held out his arms to her, a hopeful look on his face. She frowned at him for a moment then threw herself at him leaping so that she could wrap her arms around his neck while he crushed her in his embrace.

'All is well sweetheart.' He promised, feeling her tears against his neck. 'I'm sorry if we worried you. We had a lot to talk about.' He lent and whispered something in her ear. She looked a little surprised but nodded.

He started walking again, towards where Alfyn and Cyrus were waiting for them, almost identical grins on their faces.

'Get you both patched up before we head back to town.' Alfyn said as they all came together. 'Wow, that's.. a lot of blood. Did you boys have fun?' he raised an eyebrow at them grinning.

Olberic put Ophilia gently down on her feet, pausing to kiss her brow, before grinning back at the Apothecary. 'I feel it would be unwise to answer that in front of our Cleric.' He replied with a wink.

'I'm just happy you didn't actually kill each other.' She said slightly tartly, as Alfyn started to minister to Olberic. She turned to Erhardt.

'May I see to your wounds Sir Knight?' she asked running a competent eye over him.

'Ah.. I'm fine.. really.' He mumbled, staring at her.

'Forgive me,' she hit back at him 'But I have been travelling with Olberic for a number of months now, and I know when a Knight says he is fine, he is just as likely to have a limb hanging off as not. Please can you remove your tunic. From your breath I can tell you have some damage to your ribs.' Her tone brooked no messing.

'Right..um..okay.' He tried to lift his arm to remove his armour, but found he couldn't.

'Not hurt my arse.' Ophilia mumbled, moving to help him.

Olberic was chuckling. 'Ophilia doesn't agree with fighting as a sport.' He said. 'She was really quite inventive in her language and her lectures when we were in Victor's Hollow. Anyone would think she had been raised by pirates!'

'It's always useful to have a backup plan..' she murmured casting a sly glance at Cyrus who smiled broadly back at her.

Once they had managed to get his armour removed, Ophilia ran her hand over Erhardt's chest. 'Bruised,' she noted 'But not broken I think. Alfyn?' The Apothecary came to have a quick look.

'Yeah, agree. Shoulder looks wrenched though.. some of the cooling unguent for both, and some antiseptic on the cuts before you do your magic Li. I'm just setting Olberic's hand. Seems Sir Erhardt's chest probably broke a couple of his fingers.'

Ophilia snorted. 'Men!' She admonished shaking her head.

As she sorted his wounds, Ophilia noted Erhardt's gaze had become fixed on the locket that sat on her chest. Once she had finished and helped him back into his clothing, she took a step back with her hands on her hips. 'Are you ogling my bosom, Sir Erhardt?' she asked her voice outraged.

His eyes widened. 'What? No!... on my no!.. I'm so sorry - it's your locket.. I was looking at...'

'I'm aware of your reputation Sir Knight.. I would ask that you desist..' she continued mercilessly.

'Really!... Sister Ophilia! I meant no.. I was just..' Erhardt noticed Olberic, Alfyn and Cyrus's poorly hidden sniggers. He looked up, his face flaming red at Ophilia whose grin was as huge as her face.

'Oh! You are so easy to fluster, brother! My, that will be fun!' she smirked at him then removed the locket that he had been staring at and handed it to him.

'You were teasing me?' he asked, shocked. 'You were teasing me...' he said wryly, her grin infectious.

'I have twenty years of teasing to make up for. ' she said laughing. 'No time like the present!'

'I did try to warn you.' Olberic was shaking in his amusement. 'I'm going to so enjoy this. Finally payback for all the trouble you got me into! I can just set my little Cleric on you!'

Ophilia perched herself on Erhardt's knee as he opened the locket.

'I remember this,' he said quietly. He looked up at Ophilia again. You do look remarkably like my... our Mother.' He added. Her huge grey eyes widened as the pain flooded through him, unchecked and raw. She closed hers for a second and when she opened them again her own hurt showed, matching his.' Erhardt swallowed hard and couldn't prevent tears springing forth.

Her arms went impulsively round his neck and she hugged him close. 'It will be fine, Erhardt.' She murmured consolingly in his ear. 'Just fine.'

'Yes..' he whispered. 'I believe it might..' He patted her slightly awkwardly on the back, his expression one of stunned amazement.

'Oh yeah.' Alfyn drawled. 'You have just been totally Ophilia'd. Don't worry mate, it happened to us all, absolutely no point in resisting it. Mind you, quick work Li.. it normally takes a couple of days. Maybe it's the kinship.'

'Actually, it was almost instantaneous for me too.' Cyrus noted softly.

'Not wanting to break-up the love-fest.' Alfyn added, 'But do you think you can do your healy thing Li, so that we can make our way back to town and beer?'

'Ophilia disentangled herself from her brother with a smile and cast the heal.

'Super.' Alfyn grinned. 'Now...about that beer!'