One day before the wedding:

Raynold walked out of the Keep after receiving word that a knight was riding up from the bridge. His smile quickly left his face as he saw her but he just as quickly forced it back on as she rode quickly through the portcullis. She stopped mere inches from riding over him and jumped off her charger. "My lady Gertrude, it is a pleasure as always," He told her with a slight bow as he wordlessly cursed her very existence.

"Why Lord Walter insists on keeping a worthless oaf like you around is beyond me. It's Bethany, learn it before I smite the stupid out of you," Lady Bethany told him.

Raynold stood up straight, "Of course my lady, was there something I can do for you?"

Lady Bethany sneered at him, "Die?"

Raynold laughed, "I'm not sure that would be agreeable with my Lord."

"Tell my Lord I wish an audience, oh never mind, you'll probably get lost. I'll do it myself," Lady Bethany pushed him away causing him to trip and fall down. She walked past him and into the Keep.

The guards at the entrance of the Keep both lowered their spears at Lady Bethany. Lady Bethany laughed, "Seriously? You think you could stop me?"

Raynold looked up at the guards and waved them off, Lady Bethany sneered and walked on in.

One of the servants ran over and helped him up, "Are you okay Raynold?"

Raynold nodded as he brushed himself off, "Thank you Elizabeth."

"You need to tell the Lord how she treats you. He'll fix her arrogant ass," Elizabeth told him.

Raynold smiled and shook his head, "I would never trouble his Lordship over this."

Raynold stayed outside with Elizabeth waiting and he smiled as he heard Lady Bethany scream in frustration before finally returning to the entrance.

She glared at Raynold, "Oaf, you couldn't tell me he wasn't here?"

Raynold bowed a little, "Did you want me to tell you before or after you shoved me into the mud?"

She ignored him, "Where is Lord Walter?"

Raynold smiled, "He left with his company to journey to San Deggo."

She scrunched her face, "Why in the underworld would he journey there?"

Raynold nodded, "It is a two fold trip. The Duke requested his aid in dealing with werewolves."

Lady Bethany grinned, "Seriously? Werewolves, oh wise Lady, I wish I could be there for that. Wait, what was the other reason?"

"Oh," Raynold acted like he forgot. "He went to ask the father of the Lady Daphne, whom he wants to marry, for his permission."

Lady Bethany stared at him with her mouth wide open. "That is not happening. Where is Selase? She can get me to him quickly."

Raynold shook his head, "Sorry, the Lord had called her for something and she hasn't returned as yet."

Raynold could see she was trying to figure out how to find and catch up to him. She asked, "How long ago did they leave?"

"About a week and a half ago now," Raynold told her honestly.

"Was he going to Oxinaer to sail down? That would be the fastest way," She asked.

Raynold nodded.

Lady Bethany climbed up on her charger and spurred the horse after she turned him around and charged out towards town.

Elizabeth looked at Raynold, "Did you just send her on a wild goose chase?"

Raynold grinned, "You mean I forgot they were going to Wheeler's Ridge?"

They both laughed. "You know Selase has been back for three days now, right?" Elizabeth asked him.

Raynold shook his head, "He just called for her a short bit ago. Besides I wouldn't let her contaminate that gentle soul."

As she drew near to town she saw the kids leaving the schoolhouse and she slowed and then stopped when she saw Florence. "You, as I recall you were interested at one time in Lord Walter."

Florence looked shocked but nodded her head.

Lady Bethany smiled, "What can you tell me about this woman Lord Walter wants to marry?"

Florence looked shocked, "Paige?"

Lady Bethany shook her head, "No, the Lady Daphne."

Florence shook her head, "I know of no one named Daphne."

"So either the oaf has forgotten her name or you are lying to me," Lady Bethany said.

Florence got mad, "Look, I might just be a school teacher, but I don't like and I don't appreciate being talked to like this."

Lady Bethany's eyes narrowed, "When did the Lord leave for San Deggo?"

"Where are you getting your information? He didn't go to San Deggo. They were going to Wheeler's Ridge," Florence told her.

Lady Bethany looked at her, "Wheeler's Ridge, are you sure?"

Florence nodded. She grinned inwardly, 'This could work to her favor. If Lady Bethany killed Paige, Lord Walter would probably kill her and then he would be available again.' "Most definitely, the night before they left the guys and I had a few ales together. They were going to Aaron Springs first. Lord Weir had passed so Lord Walter wanted to pay his respects."

"So the toad wanted to mislead me completely. Thank you," Lady Bethany told her as she spurred her charger and raced off through town towards the bridge.

Lord Beyon found himself caught in a pressure cooker. While he'd thought the size of his force was more than sufficient to safeguard him, clearly it was not. The men King Merrick had cut them off from possible help had hastened their doom. King Merrick's three sorcerers turned out to be more formidable than he ever thought possible. Over one hundred battle hardened soldiers had died protecting him and only twelve remained of the force that came out with him.

He gave his standard bearer and order and the man slowly attached a white cloth to the standard and raised it up and waved it about. The fighting slowly stopped as King Merrick's men stopped fighting and took several steps back. King Merrick's advisor stepped forward slowly.

Lord Beyon looked with disgust at the man, "What does King Merrick want?"

The man smiled, "King Merrick demands your complete subservience. You may remain on your throne, but you will pay tribute every month. You and your subjects will follow his orders without fail."

Lord Beyon looked about, he feared death. And the thought of being made irrelevant by being removed from his throne scared him almost as bad. Being forced to go out and right wrongs or clean up petty messes made by others. He'd been on his throne for more than twenty years and he had grown lazy. He couldn't even remember the last time he had worked out. "I agree to this," Lord Beyon finally told him.

Two days after the wedding:

After the second day in the blighted area Lord Walter and his company had not run into anything living. Every day they had to stop early so that Sir Cabe and Lord Walter could purify the land where they could camp. Thanks to Allie and the fresh vegetables and all the fruits Kaylee had picked they hadn't had to switch to eating the food Lord Walter had told Paige he would be able to create for them. He still had to create fresh water everyday for them. Thankfully it was of such a volume that there was enough that one person was able to clean up each day.

Every morning since Paige and Walter returned from their short honeymoon Allie handed her a glass of vegetable juice she made.

Present day:

Toby sat watching as Allie diced, squished and strained the juices out of a number of vegetables and then she chopped up different herbs and added them to it before she handed it to Paige as Paige was finishing cooking breakfast for everyone. "So, this is like the fourth morning you've made that for Paige, don't the rest of us rate any juice?"

Allie smiled, "Why? There isn't any meat in it."

Everyone laughed.

"How's that fair?" Toby asked.

Allie smiled, "From my study of this blight, Paige has a susceptibility to it. This will counter act any chance it could harm her. Don't you want our Lady to be healthy? Thankfully Ralph doesn't have the same susceptibility."

Toby looked at her like she was crazy, "How could you possibly know that?"

"I'm a white witch Toby, I told you before, I can feel things concerning life that you can't. Would you like me to tell you something about you?" Allie asked without looking at him.

"This should be good, go ahead," Toby told her a bit arrogantly.

"When you were twelve you broke your left middle toe. You refused to tell anyone and almost lost your life because you were afraid you'd be in trouble." Allie calmly told him as she picked a small twig out of Cabe's hair.

Toby's mouth dropped open, "How could you possible know that?"

"Your cells tell me what happened to you, I guessed as to the reason why." She looked at Cabe, "How's your sense of smell doing?"

Cabe laughed, "Better, but around Toby and Sylvester I'm not sure that's a good thing or not. What with the amount of gas they emit."

Allie laughed, "I'm just glad it was a small infection and not the cigars. But I would appreciate it if you quit smoking them anyway. That smoke is very bad for cellular life."

"Well I for one am very grateful for your concern over my Lady's health. When we return to the Keep if you wish we will move you into the Keep or build you a home in the town outside of the Keep. I will see to it that you have as large of a garden as you would like to grow the herbs you need. I will set up a clinic for you to work and teach out of if you wish. Cleric healing is a good thing but holistic care such as you offer seems like a good thing too." Lord Walter told Allie.

Allie smiled, "That is a most attractive offer my Lord. I will consider it. But there is something you could do for me."

Lord Walter nodded, "If it is within my authority."

"My sister lives in Harris and works for your governor there. She's tried to move to Aaron Springs several times to be close to me but he refuses to let her." Allie told him.

Lord Walter's face darkened, "I wish I had known this while at Aaron Springs. I could have had an order sent to Harris. But no matter, I'd planned to go straight to Lancaster after we leave Wheeler's Ridge but we'll go to Harris first, and see what is going on and fix it if need be."

Walter helped Paige onto her horse, "I'm sorry my Love, I didn't know you'd have a problem with this blight and your health."

Paige smiled and caressed his cheek, "It isn't your fault. And Allie is able to make a supplement to protect me."

Walter smiled, "Supplement?"

Paige laughed, "Would you prefer potion?"

Walter shook his head, "I'd prefer to still be alone and in our tent."

Paige bent over and kissed him, "We will be tonight my Love."

Walter nodded as he climbed up on his charger and they began riding on towards Wheeler's Ridge. "We will be at the mining camp tonight," Lord Walter called out.

A few hours later Lord Walter saw something he had hoped not to see and he called for a halt. He sighed as he slid out of his saddle and walked over to the body lying on the ground beside the road. He knelt down and turned the body over and looked down at the man's face. He sighed again as he called out, "We need a proper burial for this good man."

Sylvester moved forward, "I can use magic if that is acceptable my Lord."

Lord Walter nodded, "It would save us a lot of time."

Sylvester opened a cylindrical storage case and removed a number of rolled up pieces of parchment until he found the one he wanted. He returned the others to the case and closed it. He began to read the scroll work and slowly a section of Earth highlighted and the earth began coming out in gobs to rest beside it.

Sir Cabe walked up and saw it was one of their messengers. "It wasn't your fault my Lord. We had no idea what was going on. You were just trying to let them know we were on our way."

Lord Walter nodded, "Toby, if you would please. See if there are any valuables his wife might like returned."

Lord Walter slowly stood and turned to walk away. Paige watched for a moment and then slid out of her saddle and followed after him. Allie stepped up to Sir Cabe, "Is our Lord okay?"

Cabe smiled sadly at her and nodded, "He always takes things like this very personally. This is Jesse, one of our messengers. He'd been sent up to let the miners know we had to go to Aaron Springs first."

Paige took several quick steps to catch up with Walter and quickly linked her arm in his, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Walter smiled, "I'm just going to need a little time. I was never able to harden my heart for things like this. I'll do a small meditation with the wise Lady and I'll be okay."

Ralph heard a noise and he looked back and saw someone on a horse riding hard up the road. "Sir Cabe, someone is coming."

Sir Cabe looked south down the road and saw Lady Bethany and he took in a deep breathe. "Toby, go find our Lord and Lady and advise him that Lady Bethany is approaching. Keep our Lady with our Lord, do not let her come back here without him."

Toby looked at him, "How am I supposed to stop her?"

"Do it," Sir Cabe barked at him and Toby turned and ran off in the direction they had gone. "Sylvester, continue what you are doing."

Allie looked at Cabe, "Is this person a problem?"

Sir Cabe nodded, "She's been trying to convince Lord Walter to take her as his wife. Judging from how she is riding I'm going to guess she found out about Paige. She will do her best to kill Paige."

Allie gasped, "Over my dead body."

"It might be over all of our dead bodies if Lord Walter doesn't get back here quick." Sir Cabe began walking to the back of the horses, he drew his sword as he passed by Ralph, "Ralph I want you to go stand by Kaylee, now." Sir Cabe walked ten yards past the last horse and using his sword he drew a line in the road and then stepped back ten feet. He readied his shield and stood in the middle of the road.

Kaylee drew her bow and nocked two arrows.

Toby came upon Paige as she was returning to the horses, "My Lady, we must go get the Lord, quickly."

Paige looked at him, "What's wrong?"

"Lady Bethany is coming, Sir Cabe told me to come get you and Lord Walter and that you needed to stay with Lord Walter." Toby told her.

"Our Lord is about fifty yards back that way, go and get him." Paige told him.

Toby shook his head, "Sorry, I got my orders from Sir Cabe, you need to come with me."

Paige smiled, "I am the Lady of Scorpion Keep. I outrank Sir Cabe, and I am telling you to go get Lord Walter."

Paige turned and ran towards the horses. Toby threw his hands up and ran on back for Lord Walter.


To the Adventure! -Tim