Halkegenia Online - Chapter 13 - Part 2

It had not, Prince Wales thought, been the most successful operation in his career. Wading from the knee high waters onto the banks of the Tyne, the Prince Valliant took stock of his senses and his surroundings, stifling a grunt of pain as he probed at his tender side. Nothing broken, just bruises, some water magic and he would at least be able to move unhindered, for a while anyways. Beside him, Kino was struggling ashore still dressed in his sodden winter jacket along with a large, red haired fairy named Lukes.

"Kino, are you hurt?" Wales asked.

"I'll . . . live." Kino panted before glancing over to Lukes. "What about you?"

The larger Faerie gave a small nod. "I've been better, but I don't think I got hit or anything. Glad we all decided to ditch the heavy armor for this mission though, otherwise I'd probably be sitting at the bottom of the Tyne right now."

Wales agreed with the sentiment, glancing over his shoulder, the Tyne had deposited them some distance from where they had started. The castle was nowhere in sight . . . No, that wasn't quite right, the previous site of the castle could be seen in the distance, plumes of smoke and dust rising from the remains. Of the former strong point, nothing but broken masonry remained. A trio of dragon's were circling high above the ruins but there were no others in sight. The explosion had either forced them down, or else their riders were busy attempting to rescue their comrades from the rubble.

It truly was a miracle that they had made it out, in part thanks to Lukes delivering a fatal blow to their assailant's fire dragon. As the castle had begun to come apart with the detonation of the first of its powder stores, they had taken shelter once more in the river. Though Wales had been loath to return to the Tyne's chill embrace so quickly. He was starting to feel this was becoming a habit.

"If we can all move, we should get going, the others wont wait long for us at the rendezvous." Wales said. And the Dragon Knights would not wait long before they returned to the skies in search of the people who had destroyed the mill, time was of the essence.

"Wait, what's that?" Kino pointed out into the smooth waters of the Tyne where where a small shape was traveling quickly, producing a thin wake at its back. A head, two heads, were held just above the surface of the water. Both were known to Wales.

Careful to remain sheltered along the shoreline, Wales took aim with his wand and threw a whistle to the swimmers. They came to a stop, traveling with the flow of the river, one head looked about, and then spotting the source of the call, started to make its way towards shore. Stumbling onto the banks, looking slightly less dignified than a drowned rate, Caramella set a bloody and unconscious Sir Justin Lydel down gently on a soft patch of ground.

"Caramella!" Kino cried, racing up to embrace the swordswoman as she sank to her knees. The woman returned her partner's gentle embrace, looking tired, but relieved to see him well.

"Well, I've got a suggestion . . . Let's not do that again." Caramella said. "Any chance that'll become policy?"

The Prince shook his head as he looked over the unconscious Royal Engineer. "I'll take it under advisement. Did you see how Lydel was hurt?" Wales began to tenderly probe the man's forehead. He was breathing, that much at least was a good sign.

"Don't know. I think it was debris from the mill. We were still inside when the place started going off." Caramella suddenly grew sober, her arms constricting slowly around Kino. "Wales." She said quietly.

"Caramella." Kino whispered. "You're hurting me." The Faerie woman's embrace stopped growing tighter, but it didn't loosen either.

"What is it?" Wales asked, speaking as he worked on Lydel. His first aid expertise wasn't the best, but he had been trained as a soldier, that meant being able to deal with minor battlefield injuries. Concussion, fracture shoulder, some serious bruising along the chest, Caramella was right, the man had most likely taken a glancing blow from some piece of masonry.

"Reconquista . . . The Rebels . . . Those bastards . . ." It was a enough to make the Prince look up.

This low, dangerous growl wasn't something that Wales had ever expected to hear from the Faerie woman. Caramella was a girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, but it was a fiery heart as brave as that of any Knight. Her anger was always hot and bright, but this, this was cold hatred, vengeful hatred.

Wales stopped in his work on Lydel. He had already done what he could for the man, stabilizing him so that he could be carried to safety.

"What is it Caramella." Wales asked, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. "What happened?"

"What happened?" Caramella spat, "Those fuckers took a friend of mine, killed her, and then turned her corpse into a propaganda spewing killing machine! That's what happened!"

"Caramella?" Kino looked frightened at the outburst.

"Aki, Kino, it was Aki. One of the people we lost at Skiesedge." Caramella's voice trembled as if her outburst had blown out the flames of her anger and now she was in danger of collapsing into despair. "Those Reconquista bastards used some sort of Necromancy to make her body dance to their tune."

Both Lukes and Kino stiffened up, growing looks of horror spreading across their faces. "Caramella, are you sure." Wales asked tensely. "Are you sure that it was this girl? And are you sure that she was truly an undead and not under some spell?"

Caramella glared at him, anger glinting brightly in her eyes. "I saw Bart put a hole half the size of my fist through her chest before she tore out his heart with her bare hands and a bad one liner!"

Wales bit off a curse, shaking his head slowly. "Cromwell, to think he would stoop so low as to use the forbidden arts. And he dares to accuse us of heresy! I thought my disdain for that man could sink no lower."

"Wales." Caramella said slowly. "Promise me something. Aki . . . She wasn't just some shambling freak, she looked so alive, and she still remembered us . . . She could still think, but she wasn't Aki any more, she was just some thing with Aki's brain trapped inside." Caramella stopped and shuddered. "Wales. You know fire magic, right?"

The Prince nodded solemnly. "If I see any of these abominations I will give their departed souls peace."

"No." Caramella said quietly. "Not just that. If they can make one, they can make more."

Wales felt his mouth going dry as he suddenly understood.

"Promise me, that if Kino of I go down, or if it looks like one of us is going to be captured." The swordswoman starred into his eyes. "You promise me you don't stop until there's nothing left of us. Do you understand? I will not become something like that!"

"I . . . Understand." Wales offered softly. "But first, lets try to avoid ever being in that situation. We need to start moving, the patrols will be searching this area before too long. Lukes, can you carry Lydel on your back?" The Faery was a large man and with his strength he would have no trouble with the slender mage.

Caramella released her hold on Kino but it was several moments before the boy did the same. "Yeah . . . Lets get going . . . Did everyone else get out okay?"

"We don't know." Kino confessed with a look of worry.

"Most of the men were on the far side of the warehouses when the gunpowder on the docks was set off. They should have been clear of the blast, and if they had the sense to follow orders they'll have retreated immediately. Kino and I simply had the misfortune of being spotted by the first Dragon Knights to arrive." Wales explained as he helped Caramella to her feet and they began to hike away from the shore. "But Lady Asuna . . ."

Caramella's eyes narrowed, "That happened to Asuna?!"

"She got into a fight with a Dragon Knight." Kino said anxiously and then quietly added. "It was the same one who fought Arguile."

The swordswoman's face paled and she began to walk faster, taking the lead of their small group. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Caramella, we simply have to have faith in Lady Asuna's abilities, she is an able fighter." Wales attempted to reassure her.

Caramella spun on him. "And Arguile was too! The big guy was almost as strong as Asuna and it didn't do him any good! And you just left her there to fight alone?"

"We didn't have a choice." Wales whispered as they began to parallel the roadway, staying within the shadowy concealment of the treeline for safety. "Asuna insisted on fighting him to give us time and we had our own opponent to deal with. We lost sight of her, and not long after that the powder magazines started to go off. It was all we could do to get clear ourselves." The response did little to placate Caramella, not so much as sparring Wales a second glance. "Caramella, I have not known her long, but I have faith in Lady . . . in Asuna. If anyone could escape in that confusion, it is her."

"Not good enough." Caramella bit out. "Not nearly good enough, not with the Rebel's taking a play from the frickin Army of Darkness!"

Wales blinked in confusion, some powerful force from that dream world of Aincrad?

"I'm not heading back to Newcastle until I know for sure that Asuna got away." Caramella growled and then stopped in her tracks. "And I think I know how to find out." The swordswoman lifted a hand to one of her long ears, as if listening carefully to the near distance. Sinking down low, she started to make her way towards the road.

Wales heard it not long after, the gallop of horses hooves, but only a single set. The Prince looked to Caramella, or more accurately, he looked at her eyes. A feeble, unnatural glow had filled them, the telltale sign that the Fae sworsdwoman was using her preternatural senses, the observation ability.

"Rebel Army soldier on horseback, coming this way, fast." Caramella said.

"A patrol?" Wales asked.

Caramella snorted. "No, unless they think so lowly of us that they'd only send one guy."

"Then a messenger." Wales decided. "He's probably been sent to alert the nearby towns and the siege forces. The Dragon Knights will be reserved for pursuit and to alert the Siege commander."

"So he might know what's going on . . ." Caramella trailed off.

Wales frowned, "Perhaps, but . . . " Before Wales could finish, the swordswoman stood up and stepped casually out onto the road. The horseman saw her but could do nothing to slow down as Caramella unhooked her scabbard from her back, and without removing the sword from its sheath, batted firmly for the oncoming man's stomach.

The Faerie skidded back a handful of paces, the messenger's horse continuing on a bit further before coming to a halt. The horse's rider was sent tumbling to the ground with a loud -ooph- as he was winded, only saved from the chance of death by Wales reaching out a levitation spell to cushion his fall. Even as he lay groaning on the ground, Caramella advanced, coming to stand over him, she grabbed the man and dragged him back off the road and into the dark of the forest, Kino hurrying to retrieve the messenger's horse before anyone else came along and spotted it.

By the time the man had recovered his senses enough to struggle, Caramella had him pinned, a knee against his chest and a hand over his mouth. A deranged little smile gracing her lips.

"Howdy!" Caramella said cheerfully. "You must be a Rebel Soldier, usually when I meet you guys it's the other way around, boy does it suck to be you tonight!" She said with mock cheer. "But I'll tell you what, here's a limited time offer. Tell me everything I want to know and I promise you'll be alive when the sun comes up. Do we have a deal?" She took her hand away from his mouth to allow the man to answer.

"And what reason do I have to believe anything said by stinking allies of the Royalists!" The man spat. Without a moment's hesitation, Wales reached down and cuffed the man across the jaw.

"Well if the carrot doesn't work, we also have a really big stick." Caramella said, hooking a thumb over her shoulder. "Back where we're from, 'stumpy' over their is apprenticed to the Royal Interrogator."

The man glanced over to Kino who was, admittedly, not the most intimidating sight. "You expect me to believe that?"

"We're really good at torturing folks back home. It's an art form, so we have to start them young. What do ya think all those different Knives are for?" Caramella asked with a vicious little smile. "Hey, Kino, why don't you show him?"

"O-oh." Kino stumbled, and then catching on, gave a shy little smile. "We use these flat ones to slice off thin layers of skin." The boy explained as he drew one of his throwing daggers. "And, this one here is good for getting at the deep tissues. Did you know it takes a long time to die from a stomach wound? Lots of people beg to be put down." Kino pulled a couple of his throwing needles from his jacket, tiny darts, less lethal and more incapacitating. "And these I'm really proud of. I can tap these into your spine and make it feel like you're in pain anyplace in your body. Since all the nerves run to the spine, I can even make you feel like you're losing a limb all over again!"

Even knowing it was all a ludicrous lie thrown together on the spot, Wales felt nauseous, judging from Caramella's expression she seemed mildly shocked herself. Of course, if that was how they were feeling . . .

The man shivered softly, legs kicking feebly as if trying to run from the boy who was still talking lovingly about his 'implements'. "P-please! I'm just a messenger, I don't know anything but what I'm told! I just deliver reports to the garrisons!" The man stumbled quickly, keeping his voice low.

"Well what do you know, that's exactly what we wanted to hear!" Caramella said.

"You just departed from Wallsend correct? You're delivering news to the other garrisons of the attack?" Wales stepped in.

"Y-yes. To put them on high alert. The dragon knights are all being directed by Sir Dunwell to take up chase of the fugitives . . ." Wale's cuffed the man again.

"I mean the Royalists!" The messenger corrected.

Wales leaned closer. "You said Sir Dunwell . . . There was a girl at the powder mill fighting him . . . Do you know anything about that?"

"The winged girl?" The messenger asked, gasping as Caramella pressed down on his chest. "She fought with Sir Dunwell and was almost captured, but she escaped, fled in the confusion when the magazines went off! But she was wounded, possibly badly. I've orders to put the Garrisons on high alert, she has the highest priority to be killed on sight! Ahh!" The man struggled.

"Anything else we need to know?" Caramella hissed softly.

"I heard that at last sighting, she was fleeing south, a dragon was sent to pursue her from the sky, keep her from fleeing towards Newcastle. Sir Dunwell plans to take up the pursuit himself! Please! That's all I know!" The man begged pitifully.

"Yeah, I bet it is." Caramella sighed before pushing off from the man's chest and rolling him onto his side. The soldier struggled feebly as Caramella put him into a choke hold and began to apply pressure.

"What are you . . ." The man managed to gasp out before going still. Caramella waited a few seconds longer before releasing him and glancing to Wales, who after a brief search was able to find the man's pulse.

"Kino, tie him up and gag him." Wales instructed. "Then lead the horse a bit deeper into the forest. That should ensure they aren't found until morning." By then they would be long done with this place.

"Well." Caramella said. "What now?"

"I don't know." Wales confessed, mind racing.

Kino looked back and forth between the Prince and his partner. "It sounds like Asuna is in trouble. She's hurt, and the Knight that kill Arguile is after her."

"That guy. Every single time it's that guy! Who the hell is he?" Caramella stormed to and fro in a rage.

Wales placed his fingers together before him. "He is Sir Dunwell, Knight Captain of the 4th Dragon Knight Squadron and a traitor to the crown."

"Frickin figures." Caramella spat. "Damn it, he killed Arguile and now he's going after Asuna!"

"Caramella . . ."

"We have to do something! If they get their hands on her . . . " Caramella breathed heavily. " . . . If they do to her, what they did to Aki!"

"Caramella!" Wales said.

"What?!" The Faerie swordswoman turned on him.

"Going against Sir Dunwell hastily is a fools gambit. Believe me, I understand your hatred for him. I more than anyone would love nothing more than to see his traitorous head on a pike." Wales breathed.

"Oh? What'd he do, kill your dog?" Caramella snapped moodily.

"My Eldest Brother." Wales said flatly.

Caramella recoiled, blinking rapidly and then shook her head, never one to lose momentum. "Well I'm sorry!" She shouted angrily. "I'm still going. He said they're herding her south. If I can catch up, maybe I can lure them away, or help Asuna fight her way back. Look, I don't care if fighting this Dunwell guy is impossible." Caramella balled her fists. "Asuna has done everything to try and keep us all safe. She's been protecting three hundred of us! If I can't protect just one of her . . . How am I supposed to face the big guy in the next life?"

Behind her, Kino was looking up at the sky, and without further explanation had gone to examine one of the nearby tree's as if sizing it up.

Wales simply smiled softly, Caramella really was the sort of person who would fight even if her eyes were filled with tears. "I said it was a fools gambit. Luckily, we're three fine fools."

Caramella blinked in surprise and then gave Wales a wide eyed look. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm no fool." She grinned. "You in this with us?"

Wales stood and straightened out his clothes. "Of course, as you say, we must rescue Lady Asuna from a fate worse than death. I did after all promise you passage to the Continent, all of you. Though some have departed this world. A Prince of Air will keep his word to the last. "Lukes?" The prince turned to the large Faerie swordsman who had remained silent tending to Lydel throughout the discussion.

"Yes, Prince Wales?"

"It appears the Knights have been tasked mainly with hounding Lady Asuna and the others. Do you think you can get Lydel back to Newcastle on your own?"

The Faerie gave an uncertain nod and then answered more confidently. "Yes, Prince Wales, I think I remember how to make it to the passage we used to depart the city ruins."

"Good." Wales said simply. "Then that just leaves how we are to find Lady Asuna."

"That part's easy." The voice of Kino came from above them. Wales looked up to see that the knife user had climbed to the top of one of the tree's and was now silhouetted against a star filled sky, arm pointing to the south. "Like you said in York, we just have to follow the dragons."


Guiche de Gramont blinked groggily in the early morning light as he spurred his horse to follow alongside his two companions. They had departed the Port of York not but an hour ago, following a road that ran sloping down from the high cliffs heading North towards Newcastle. Midori rode beside him, displaying her characteristic charming lack of grace in the saddle while attempting to take a bite from the loaf of bread they had purchased when they had set off. The swordswoman seemed to think there was no time to waste, and at her insistence, they had departed just before dawn after staying the night at an Inn near the docks.

Since Midori had confronted him aboard the Lady Gallant, Guiche hadn't quite known how to act around her. Naturally, he had to act in accordance with her wishes, she was a taken woman after all, to continue to pursue would be to spit upon her honor. But her comments had stuck with him. She couldn't respect him? He sickened her? They had been delivered so calmly and with the same note of disappointment as . . . 'As father', Guiche thought. That similarity had bitten in a way that simple anger had not.

But afterwords, Midori had behaved as if the whole thing hadn't happened. She hadn't responded like the other girl's he had scorned, shunning him and peppering him with insults, instead, she continued to treat him cordially if somewhat distantly as a traveling companion. It was as if she expected their talk to have settled the whole matter. It left Guiche quite confused. In his experience, women didn't forgive such transgressions easily.

Was this some sort of second chance? He wondered. Midori had said his conduct would make her mission more difficult. The mission . . . Yes he had been quite a heel, the mission had to come first!

Casting Midori another sideways glance, he supposed Miss Midori was simply being a professional. It was conduct he should seek to emulate. Of course, that wasn't to say he couldn't continue to admire, he was a Gramont after all, but only from afar. As a conquest, he decided, Miss Midori was sadly as unattainable as the fair Princess.

"Its hard to believe this country is a war zone." Midori commented after swallowing her bite of bread. "It looks so peaceful."

Captain Wardes gave a small shrug. "This area is of vital importance to Albion's commerce. Even during war some places will continue to thrive."

Guiche gazed about the countryside. He had to agree. The port city had been as lively as any Guiche had ever visited. As they traveled, they were stopped for inspection by troops in Rebel Army uniforms. The men had been polite but quite thorough, even insisting that Miss Midori remove the hood of her cloak.

When questioned about the measures the infantry Captain who had stopped them at the checkpoint had delivered surprising news.

"Are you just arrived on the Isle?" The man had asked, casting his glance between Wardes, Guiche, and Midori as if sizing the three up. "Strange times to be arriving for business other than war."

"Our business has to do with the war." Wardes assured. "My half sister here is betrothed to an officer in the Good Lord Cromwell's army."

The infantry Captain looked over to Midori who simply lowered her head demurely, as if trying to hide beneath her cloak. "The arrangements were made some time ago of course, before this whole business started. In his last letter, we were informed that Wesley was serving at one of the Forts ringing Newcastle. We are here only to confirm the wedding arrangements, and to give the betrothed some time together, and will then be returning to Gallia."

The Captain seemed to be weighing the story before Midori spoke. "Please Sir." The swordswoman said in a small voice. "I just want to see that he's safe. Brother promised we could get there before nightfall."

The look on that innocent face softened the Rebel Officer's expression, he looked old enough to have a daughter Midori's age, he gave the girl a reassuring nod. "I understand. Fear not, the Royalists are well pinned in Newcastle and the field commanders have been ordered to postpone any further offensives for the time being. I'm sure you'll find him safe. But be warned, it is dangerous ahead, if you wish to approach the Forts you must remain on the roadways."

"Is there a problem?" Wardes asked.

The Rebel Captain turned to Wardes and nodded again. "By order of Sir Dunwell, commander of the 4th Dragon Knight squadron, anyone found off of the roads or open fields is to be treated as a Royalist soldier and killed on the spot."

"What!" Guiche spluttered in surprise. "Isn't that a little harsh?"

"Harsh, but necessary." The Officer said. "We received word only a short while ago that just last night, a team of Royalists managed to slip through the siege and sabotage a gunpowder mill outside of the town of Wallsend. And it was not just mages loyal to the Royalist's cause." The man's eyes narrowed, causing a scar beneath his left eye to pucker. "They had Faeries in their company."

'Faeries?' Guiche didn't miss the sharp intake of breath from Midori. In any other girl he would have taken it for a gasp of fright as did the Rebel soldiers who looked on solemnly.

"Faeries?" Wardes asked. "You mean like those spied in Tristain?"

So the rumors they'd heard around the docks were true? Guiche wondered. It did seem the Fae had a tendency to get themselves in trouble.

"Aye." The Officer said, letting out a heavy sigh. "I've not heard but rumors but people seem to think they're the same ken. Other stories have that they are Elven agents sent to aid the Royalists, but if that were true I'd have to think we'd all be dead by now. They're allied to the Royalists in any case. Not but a week ago they aided the Royalists in heinous sabotage at York. There have been spottings of them since, most recently at the powder mill last night."

"Then we will have to be on guard." Wardes said seriously.

"That you will." The officer agreed. "But worry not, the roads are safe from here to the Newcastle siege. Sir Dunwell is a fine officer, he'll have the Royalists and their Faerie allies bottled up soon enough. Just head along straight from here, you'll have to explain your business once you reach the siege."

"We understand, thank you." Wardes gave the infantry Captain a small tip of his hat and they departed quickly, continuing down the road at a distance eating gate.

Once they were out of sight of the soldiers, Midori spurred her horse faster, forcing Guiche and the Viscount to keep pace. Behind them, Verdandi let out an indignant squawk at having to keep up with the horses.

"Miss Midori?" Wardes asked.

"We have to hurry." The swordswoman said, eyes not meeting those of the Viscount.

"Does this have to do with the Faeries?" Guiche asked, receiving a suspicious look from Wardes. Midori's expression turned bitter.

"Would you care to explain, Miss Midori?" Wardes pressed. "Or would doing so risk your mission?"

The swordswoman was silent as they settled into a canter. The girl's normal awkwardness in the saddle had vanished, she seemed completely focused on simply riding. Silence was all the answer that was needed. Even Guiche could guess that Midori's mission had to do with the Faeries. Was she here to smuggle them from Albion? Perhaps it was at the request of the Faerie Lords.

"All you need to know is that I have to make it to Wallsend to investigate." Midori said.

"Then I'm afraid we will have part ways when we reach the next town." Wardes said. "Our own mission awaits us in Newcastle.

"Fine." Midori said without hesitation. "If need by I can make it the rest of the way on my own."

Guiche looked between his companions, alarmed, "But Captain Wardes, weren't we ordered to aid Miss Midori if possible?"

The Captain gave Guiche a small nod. "That we were. But this is her mission, we have our own. We mustn't endanger it." Looking back to Midori. "You heard that officer, a powder mill was destroyed, sabotaged during the night. The Rebels will be on high alert."

"I know." The swordswoman said, a grim look overtaking her.

They road hard in silence from then on. It filled Guiche with anticipation and a healthy feeling of dread. They would be parting ways at the next town and suddenly the future didn't seem so certain. How exactly were he and the Viscount to make it past the siege? And what of Miss Midori? Surely she was strong and amazingly skilled, but she was still just a lone girl. Would she be alright on her own? If not for his commitment to the mission, Guiche might have offered to accompany her without a second thought.

Running their horses and the Captain's Griffin at a full canter, they made the town of Gateshead in just under two hours, placing them a mere fifteen leagues from Newcastle and just beyond the perimeter of the siege. Gateshead turned out to be a less prosperous place than York, a small town of no more than a few hundred, watched over by a sullen looking fort set high on the nearby hill. They entered the town through its namesake gate, all that was left of a larger defensive fortification that judging by the grass grown foundations had once stretched past the town in both directions.

"If we are to part ways here, then I should at least wish you luck." Captain Wardes said as they entered the town square and he brought his mount to a halt. A few onlookers seemed curious to see such an exotic beast. Griffins were not particularly common outside the service of Tristain, but they were not unheard of either. Most would likely think that the Viscout was a mercenary here to pledge his services to Reconquista. "Mister Gramont, we will be staying her until nightfall, see to a room at the tavern."

"Y-yes Sir!" Guiche said, dropping down from his own horse. "And what will you be doing? If I might ask?" Guiche added quickly.

The Captain glanced swiftly from side to side. "I will be making arrangements for our infiltration this evening." He said softly. "We will need to know the lay of the besieging army if we are to slip past.

"Oh, yes, very good Sir." Guiche nodded quickly. Naturally they wouldn't be able to sneak by in broad daylight. "Then you can leave it to me!"

The Viscount gave Guiche a small nod and departed across the town square. Turning back to the matter he had been entrusted with. Guiche stopped as he noticed Midori had dismounted. The girl had produced a map from her her small traveling satchel and appeared to be in the midst of examining it. Curiously, she seemed to sound out whatever it was she was reading under her breath, like a child. It was again painfully endearing, testing the limits of his honor as a Gramont son.

"Is something wrong Miss Midori?" Guiche asked.

The girl frowned. "I need to find the way to Wallsend, its to the North, but its not on my map." She said as she returned the map to her satchel. Guiche caught a glimpse of strange markings scribbled all over the more delicate cartographer's script, as if the map had been marked up with notes.

"Ah, well, there's a signpost just over there." Guiche pointed to where a tall wooden poll was affixed with the names of towns and their directions. "It should be as easy as reading the name off of that."

Midori squinted at the signpost, and then her expression soured.

"What is it?" Guiche asked. He couldn't imagine that the swordswoman's eyesight was bad given how easily she had spotted the ambush two days ago. He started feeling a little worried, had he already done something else to upset her? Wait, he thought, she was moving her lips again as if trying to sound out . . . It couldn't be . . . "Miss Midori?" Guiche asked cautiously. "Are you, perchance not literate?"

Midori suddenly looked intensely flustered. "I can read just fine." She said with a hint of irritation. "Just not . . . this script."

'This script? The Romalian alphabet?' Guiche thought, how was that possible? Even in Germania, which used it's own bastardized writing system, a noble would be expected to be able to read in at very least one of the Birmiric tongues. He shook his head, that wasn't important right now, what was important was that Midori needed to know something so that she could see to her mission.

Scanning down the signpost, Guiche pointed. "There, that's it, the third one from the bottom." Midori followed his hand and then nodded. "Got it. Thank you, Guiche."

It wasn't much, but the words were so sincere that they made the young Gramont son's heart flutter. Midori was already spurring her horse when Guiche called quickly. "Wait!"

Midori cast a look over her shoulder. "What is it now?"

It had actually just occurred to Guiche, but if Midori didn't know the alphabet, it might be hard to memorize the written name of Wallsend. "You should probably copy the name down, in case there's a fork in the road along the way." He offered, hoping he didn't sound too foolish. Surprisingly, Midori gave a small nod of agreement.

"I'm afraid I didn't bring a pen." She said.

"Quite alright!" Guiche said quickly, fishing through his own satchel he found what he was looking for, a graphite pencil, useful to write or make note while traveling. "I have something to write with, if you happen to have anything I could . . ."

"Use the back of this." Midori said quickly, fishing out her map and offering it to him. Guiche nodded, taking the folded piece of paper. He took the opportunity to note the oddly angular text that marked one corner, written neatly beneath the name of a town. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't Romalian, nor Germanian either.

"There." Guiche said, handing the map back, 'Wallsend' written neatly in pencil at the corner. "You shouldn't have any problems now."

Suddenly, a cry of "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!" was heard across the square, accompanied by the tolling of a bell. Standing tall in his colorful robes, a town crier was beginning an announcement. "By order of the Holy Army of Reconquista, all good citizens of the town of Gateshead are asked to listen and obey! In connection to the matter of Sabotage announced just this morning at the powder mill at Wallsend which claimed the lives of many good soliders, the army requests the assistance of the citizenry in running to ground dangerous fugitives."

At Guiche's side, Midori was suddenly completely focused on the announcement, the map held tightly in her hand all but forgotten. "Miss Midori?" He asked, receiving no answer.

"The first among these fugitives is Prince Wales Tudor, Crown Prince of Albion, third son of King James of Albion, wanted on charges of heresy, piracy, reckless endangerment of the public, and resisting the lawful forces of Reconquista. The Prince was last spotted last night at the site of the powder mill explosion. Any information leading to the Capture of Prince Wales will be rewarded with a sum of up to five hundred silver marks!" The crowd of gathered towns people began to mutter among themselves and for good reason, five hundred marks, even with the questionable financial practices of the Rebels, represented enough silver for a commoner to live comfortably for the rest of his days.

This was terrible news! Guiche thought quickly, looking every way for any sign of Captain Wardes, but the Mage Knight had already vanished. They were here to retrieve a letter from the Prince. If he was captured . . .

The town crier continued. "In addition to the Prince and his Royalist forces, a number of the illusive Fae, first spotted in York, are believe to also be at large. First among them is a Faerie girl wanted on charges of aiding enemies of the Kingdom, inciting heresy, murder, and sabotage. She was last spotted before dawn traveling South from Wallsend towards the siege and Gateshead. This girl is estimated to stand two and two thirds mails in height with a weight of eight and half stone. Defining features are long hazel hair, a pair of gossamer wings, and elongated ears likened to those of an Elf. She is believed to answer to the name Asuna. Any information leading to the capture of this enemy of the Kingdom will be rewarded with a sum of up to four hundred marks!"

Guiche was dismayed by the number. Reconquista would offer almost as much for a Faerie who couldn't have been in Albion for more than a few weeks as they would for the head of the Crown Prince who had been fighting them for over half a year? It only reinforced his assessment from earlier, the Fae had a knack for getting themselves in trouble.

"Miss Midori, I apologize but I need to go find Captain Wardes, he'll want to hear of this! Miss Midori?" Guiche finally looked back and realized that his companion had vanished without a trace. Guiche looked down at his familiar who was busy sniffing the ground at her feet."Do you have any idea where Midori went my pet?"

Looking up at him, his lovely and remarkably intelligent familiar gave a small shake of her head. "Well that's quite odd." He hadn't heard her leave. And strangest off all, he looked down at the pair of reigns that had seemingly materialized in his hand in place of the map, she'd left her horse.