Ser Arthur


Using the silver coins that he earned from Lord Karl Devlin, Arthur bought himself a set of plain steel plate and a belt of leather made from the hide of a Silver Fang to hold his sword now properly forged and cleaned of rust. The edges were painstakingly sharpened and he had enough gold to buy himself a shield made of ironborne wood, possibly the strongest trees in Termnnia and he had it painted blue and with the emblem of his former master, a white sword surrounded by five stars. He then bought himself a sausage freshly cooked over a warm fire by a cooking merchant traveling on a covered wagon pulled by brown pony. He had just enough copper pennies to buy himself a horn of ale to wash down the sausage before traveling to the shadows of the Wailing Mountain where Lady Avi had traveled with her companions at dawn.

He was determined to join the Summoner of Dragons on her journey, he promised Ser Baron that he would find a lord to serve under and be a full-fledged knight, and since Lord Karl wasn't so willing to let him serve in his House he was certain Avi would allow him to join her. That warm smiled she blessed him with was enough for him to feel that she liked him enough but that Leogai knight of hers, Ser Gerhalos, was not going to make joining her easy. But if he had to fight that monstrous knight of the lion folk then so be it. He looked to the sky and could see Ser Damien's Luster Dragon flying in circles above the Wailing Mountain, so-called for the monstrous winds that flew down from its top and made an eerie wailing noise when banging against the windows of the houses in the town below. If there really was a mountain giant up there than this would not prove an easy fight, but he was determined to show Lady Avi what he was capable of, maybe even impress Ser Gerhalos enough to let him join her fellowship.

He trekked away from the hill of Devlinshire and came upon a rocky plateau with lots of pine trees here and there and surrounded by the blue majesty of the mountains. As he sat atop Mandaril he bit into another sausage he recently bought. It was seasoned with herbs and burned to a delightful crisp. He had a white paper towel to shield his fingers from the grease that the sausage excreted from its surface. Mandaril shook his head, his wild unkempt mane swooshed left and right. Once done with his treat, Arthur crumpled up the paper towel and tossed it into one of the bandoliers hanging on Madaril's saddle. He would later dump the contents into a trash bin in the next town he would travel too.

Goddesses-willing he would be alongside Avi when he did. There was something about the smile she gave him that felt divine. A tongue shriller than all the music called him to her and he could not ignore it. He passed by the majestic Olden Falls and got off his horse to fill his nearly empty canteen into the pool. He needed to wash the bitter taste of a herb that the sausage left behind. He filled his canteen to the brim and drank the cool water so refreshing it was sweet. Olden falls fell from a cave filled with Anya's Chair, a glowing mushroom that bakers would pay handfuls of silver and gold for. It was loaded with sugar and that was what caused the water of the falls to have their delightful taste.

He drank some more of the sweet water and filled his canteen again before going back to Mandaril and riding off into the wilderness. He saw a pair of watchmen of Devlinshire patrolling the Red Road. "Hail!" one of them called out to Arthur. The young hedge-knight raised a friendly arm and greeted them. The watchmen were wearing turquoise surcoats bearing the dice emblem of the Devlins over iron chainmail suits and iron vambraces and round spaulders and kettle-hat helmets. They came from the stone watchtower up the road where they were posted to keep an eye on the realm of the Devlins.

"I'd keep my eye out on these roads, Ser Knight," one of the watchmen said, biting into a sandwich of bacon, cheese, and lettuce. "There have been packs of goblins setting up settlements around these parts. A lot of merchants got hurt and most of the cattle in our farmlands have been taken in the night by the little devils. If you're feeling brave, the master-at-arms of the castle has offered a hefty reward of one gold chip to all brave adventurers for every goblin ear they bring him."

That sounded very appealing to Arthur. He and Ser Baron had gone goblin hunting in the fields of Katina many years ago and it proved a delightful sport. They made enough gold to spend nights in the finest taverns and eat the best food. Goblins usually traveled in packs of ten and that was an easy ten star chips. Ten chips was enough to decorate his armor with fine ornamentation and perhaps even some armor for his horse and an extra pony to carry his belongings.

Perhaps he would even pick up a squire along the way to keep his sword and gear clean and polished. Avi would surely be impressed by that, learning he slew a goblin horde. Perhaps he would title himself for this deed.

He heard stories around many campfires of knights with powerful names such as Ser Lyonel Dalton the Gray Lion, Ser Peter Baelor the Northern Storm, or Tybalt the Dragonknight. Perhaps he would be Ser Arthur Goblin Slayer or Goblin Bane. It had a nice ring to it. Goblins had proven horrid pests since they were disbanded from the armies of Anubis after the Siege of Rasaay. He asked the watchman if they knew of any goblin nests in the area.

They both pointed him to the Horns of Kartosh, two massive hills in the great plains were Lord Landon Alfrey the King of the Blue Mountains was defeated by Tiberius the Uniter. Arthur thanked them and they went their separate ways. He was growing excited. Slaying goblins would prove to be an excellent adventure. Unfortunately, as he reached the hills he could see someone had beaten him to them.

He heard the sound of a battle horn, a squeaky one, from below the hill he was perched on. To his surprise, the gnomes from the castle were down there riding atop platinum-armored war pigs. Yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh! They shirked their war cries as they hunted a pack of goblins that made their stead in a cave at the entrance of the forest. Two members of the hunting party, the bannermen, jabbed at the goblins with their spears while another shot them with his gold musket. Another was shooting at the miserable creatures with a bow.

The leader of the group was wearing armor of heavy layered steel plate with elegant engravings and green holographic ornamentation that shined with the emblem of his group which was a naked woman bathing in a giant cup of wine while holding a sword. The gnome leader bashed at the goblin war chief with his hammer enchanted with fire. He struck the war chief in the chest, breaking his breastplate and then crushed his skull with a powerful blow.

When the goblins were all dead, the gnomes took burlap sacks off their person and drew gold daggers and started running towards the corpses to cut off their ears and sell to the master-at-arms of the castle for gold chips.

"Well done, little friends," said Ser Arthur, riding down the hill to greet them.

"Oy, lookie here lads," said the lead gnome with a squeaky voice, shouldering his flaming hammer. "If it isn't the wanderin' knight who thought he cood join the ranks of the Dragun Ladae."

"You saw that?" Ser Arthur asked bashfully.

"That we did horse master," said the leader. "But I commend yeh for standin' up to that lion she has at 'er side. O aye, that beastly knight gives me and the lads the hibbe-de-bejeebies. Ya got a lot a balls laddie drawin' sword 'gainst him."

"I thank you. I am Ser Arthur."

"Well met, Ser Arthur. I am Leif of the Elder Hills and this here is me huntin' party."

"What does your emblem mean by the way?" Arthur asked.

"O' that? Well it represents our three loves in this world, laddie. Wine, battle and women!" His party cheered raising their weapons in the air. "Aye nothin' beats a day of adventure with battle and a tankard of good drink and a tavern wench at the inn. And a game of Dool Munsters to top it off."

"Are you a Summoner then, Leif?"

"O aye, that I am. But I've got one munster in me arsenal and that's me ol' pal Great Angus. But I fear that one munster won't be enough to travel wit her. Not that I mind, goblin huntin' has been a pretty good sport for me and the lads. Still it would have been fun to get into Avi's fellowship."

"Where has she gone, Master Leif?" Arthur asked with great urgency. With every moment that he spent here talking with this gnome hunting party Avi and her companions were getting closer and closer the mountain temple. If they trekked into the temple then it would be impossible to find her, for the temple was located inside the ancient dwarven city of Dwarfodel which spanned hundreds of miles into the mountain and under the earth.

"She just trekked into the forest at the foot of the mountain just a wee hour ago, lad. Do ye still mean t'join her group then?"

"I do, Master Leif."

"Then best O'luck t'ya laddie. May the Stars O' Entuli shine yer path."


Avi


"How much farther," panted little Tordo. Doing as best as he could to keep up with the rest of the party as they traversed up the steep slope of the Wailing Mountain. "Why couldn't we have traveled on our horses?" He whined again.

Ser Gerhalos looked down at the little creature and spat. "Horses cannot trek through these treacherous mountain paths, little Tordo."

"Then why can't we just fly on Ser Damien's dragon? Or Tartarus or Blair's Mystic Dragon?"

"My Luster Dragon can't carry all of us, little one," Ser Damien said trying to keep his footing on the steep path up the mountain.

"Tartarus doesn't like to be ridden by anyone other than me," said Constantine. "So, uh, it's best not to piss him off. I'm in no mood to be tackling his attitude right now."

"Same with me," said Ser Gerhalos.

Tordo whined again. "What about your dragon, Blair?"

She shook her head. "He's a powerful dragon, but he's smaller than Luster Dragon or Infernal Dragon. He can't carry us."

Tordo couldn't take it anymore. He kicked some rocks off the trail. Robin laughed at him as he soared on ahead on his hoverboard to show off and maybe impress Avi. Tordo grumbled as he trailed behind Avi to catch her, for she slid more than a dozen times. Her gleaming high heels replaced by thick drake-hide hiking boots which could be seen from time to time underneath her elegant gown. Ser Damien smirked, admiring her strength climbing up the mountain in that tight white gown. Her white shoulder cape was enchanted with the gem at the center of her brooch which filled her body with great warmth to shield her from the biting cold.

She was so comfortable she didn't even shiver. Tordo then begged Avi to summon one of her dragons so they could all fly to the top, but summoning these great beasts took a heavy toll on her. It was very exhausting summoning something so big and her dragons were full-grown beasts of tremendous size, having gained power throughout her journey through Termnnia.

Even with all the magical items on her person including the Mana-boosting ring on her finger from Yugi and Yuri, they proved very problematic for her to summon. Just recently she and her party battled a ferocious mountain troll that proved too potent for them to fight, and she summoned her White-Horned Dragon to fight it off. She felt as though she had run a mile and was still feeling its effects. But she was strong in spirit and continued climbing up the mountain despite her exhaustion.

There was a fire in her eyes as hot as the flames of her dragons. She was still licking the sting of defeat at the hands of Arietta. The obnoxious cheering of her little companion fueled the fires in her heart.

Fight! Fight! She was determined to take her down once and for all and prove she was not weak. That she was worthy of being at Yuri's side when he became High King. Master Yu-Gi-Oh was counting on her. The Dragon Goddess, Saafani, as well. She hoped the dragon inside the temple would prove to be a powerful one. But it seemed that Aldara's little companion Baby Tiragon was sensing something more.

The little creature flew overhead and pointed farther and farther up the mountain. "Why does he act like that?" Ser Gerhalos asked. His golden mane was dripping wet from the mist that enveloped them. They were surrounded by mist and could feel tiny drops of moisture wet their flesh and dot their armor and gear.

Santiago shook his fur and shivered. "I don't like this place. Maybe he's trying to tell us to go back."

"No, I think he feels two presences at the top of the mountain," said Aldara.

"Two dragons?" asked Avi. "Goddesses give me strength. How will I maintain something like that?"

"Perhaps it's a two-headed dragon," said Fira. She slipped on a wet rock and used her rifle's large sword to keep her from hitting the ground. "I imagine that would be a wondrous sight to see."

Tordo whined again. This time he bellyached about his hunger and his thirst despite them leaving the castle with a heavy breakfast. Ser Gerhalos was getting fed up with his constant whining. "If you cannot handle this quest you have no place in this party."

Aldara was offended by that remark. "Oh, lay off, Ser Gerhalos. He's only a hundred years old; still a little child in Telkori years." She too got that burning glare from the lion-folk warrior. "Come on, Tordo, I will carry you."

"Phew, thanks Aldara."

"Don't you say another word, Ser Gerhalos," Avi said leading the group. "We're already on low spirits as it is. We don't need your stubbornness fueling the fires."

"I think Ser Gerhalos has a point," said Fira. "The little creature's cantankerous behavior is rather getting on my nerves."

"You have a problem with my friend, Fira?" snapped Aldara. "If you do then take it up with me."

"I'll have no problem taking you on, thief! This group was just fine until Dove decided to think with her heart and not her head."

"Thief?"

"Oh, don't play coy half-elf, you were stealing from the temple of one of the goddesses, a crime punishable by death. Had I been in charge of this operation you and your little imp would be at the morgue getting cremated right now."

"Are you implying something, Fira? Are you saying you want us dead?"

"It would have been for the best."

"ENOUGH!" Avi shouted. Her voice trailed across the mountain with a loud echo that caused the birds to flee from the tiny pine trees that lined the road. "This constant bickering is getting us nowhere. If I hear any more squabbles between any of you I'll boot your asses out of my party."

"Dove," Fira smiled. "Such language. Very well, if it pleases my lady, I will keep my mouth shut."

"Good," said Trish. "Both of you put your tampons on and let's get moving. We don't have that much left to cover before we reach the entrance."

Fira shrugged. She put on her headphones and began blasting music to drown out any more of Tordo's complaints. By nightfall, they had finally made it to the top. There was a towering dwarven aqueduct of stone coming from the mountainside and it poured into a lake with water so reflective it looked like the stars and the moons were beneath their feet. They walked around the lake which gave them a feeling of uneasiness. As though its inky black waters were hiding something foul down below. Tordo quivered at the thought and ran close to Aldara's legs.

Baby Tiragon grew frightened of the water as well and hid himself in Aldara's hood. Avi's face shined as bright as the moon when she found the entrance of the ancient dwarven city. But they were tired to trek inside and face whatever dangers lurked in the dungeons in the belly of the mountain. Ser Gehalos was quick to raise the tent. Avi, Aldara, and Fira went inside while Ser Gerhalos, Ser Damien, and Tordo slept under the stars on their sleeping bags.

The Wailing Mountain was true to its name. The wind sounded like the mournful wail of a woman as it blustered over their campsite. Tordo could hear the girls laughing from inside their tent. He heard them listening to music and on Avi's phone and watching funny videos on Fira's. Tordo shivered and asked if he could sleep in the tent. Ser Gerhalos grunted and said: "They don't sleep with clothes. It would not be wise to go in there and invade their privacy."

"But it's so scary out here," Tordo whispered while Ser Damien put a pan over the fire to cook some eggs and a few slabs of bacon.

"Perhaps some food to calm your nerves Master Tordo," he said, dressed in a white linen laced shirt and leather breeches tucked into his boots. "What would you like?"

"Do you have those corn cakes we bought while in town?" Tordo asked, shivering with fear and from the biting cold.

"Aye, I do, but I will cook them after I'm done with the sausages and bacon, lest you want grease all over your cakes."

"And some tea?" Tordo asked.

"Very well," said Ser Damien. "I shall make us some tea."

Ser Gerhalos reached into his cape and tossed Tordo a burlap sack. "They're called Termnnian Delights," he said, explaining the treats which were chocolates shaped into cubes and filled with caramel.

"Oh boy!" Tordo said wasting no time in scarfing down the treats inside the bag. It had been forever since he had candy. "How many can I have?" he asked before biting into another morsel.

"Take them," Ser Gerhalos said resting his back against a boulder and placing his arms behind his head. "I am not fond of sweets. Lady Avi bought them for me to lift my spirits."

"Thank you, Ser," Tordo scarfed down more of the cubes until he had none left. Ser Damien cleaned the pan with the water in the lake and dried it with a washcloth from his pack before warming up Tordo's corn cakes. He filled a tea kettle with more lake water and raised two y-shaped poles on both sides of the fire circled with stones Damien had picked up around their campsite. He stuck a wooden pole through the kettle's handle and put it over the fire to warm it. Tordo was beginning to feel better, but he felt a chill up his spine when he realized how close he was to the water's edge. He quickly scampered from his seat and laid next to Ser Gerhalos. He was a giant from Tordo's perspective. Ser Damien sat down on a stool he kept in his pack and took out a whetstone to sharpen his blade.

"Where are your dragons, boys?" Ser Gerhalos asked. "Why must they always leave us?"

"Because it's their duty," said Constantine.

Ser Damien nodded. "Yes. Do not fret, my friend. Our dragons are patrolling the skies overhead." He started sliding the whetstone down the length of the sword. "I told you it was wise to keep me company."

Ser Gerhalos cracked his neck. "Forgive me if I was brusque, with you before, Ser Damien. I was just looking out for Avi's best interest."

"You really care for Avi, huh?" Tordo asked.

"As though she were my own daughter," Ser Gerhalos replied. "I love her. And I did not appreciate this brash boy taking her from her room and swooping off into the night. I had no idea of his intent and watched with sorrow as my most precious possession vanished into the sky."

"I apologize for that, Ser Gerhalos. I did not mean to make you worry."

"Well, what's done is done, and I welcome you into our group."

Constantine got up and wandered towards the bushes to pee. He heard Robin sniggering on a boulder playing an all-female fighting game on his portable gaming device. "You got competition, Romeo," he said before stuffing his face with jelly beans.

"He's nothing but flash," said Constantine. "Him and his Luster Dragon. We can take them. Besides, I've known Avi longer than he has. Me and her have a bond."

"But it's being loosened thanks to pretty boy over there."

"I have my ways. Just keep your mouth shut and let me handle this."

Meanwhile back in the camp, Ser Damien looked up at Ser Gerhalos and said: "I've been meaning to ask you, Ser. Would you allow me to love her?"

"Explain."

"I have...grown awfully fond of her. You are the closest thing she has to call father so I ask for your blessing."

"I said I welcomed you into the group," snarled Ser Gerhalos. "And that is the only blessing you will receive from me. Lady Avi has not the time for love."

"But isn't that up to her to decide?" Tordo asked. "She's old enough to make decisions for herself."

"I will say no more," Ser Gerhalos bellowed.

"So be it," said Ser Damien.

"Say, when can I be a knight like you?" Tordo asked.

Ser Gerhalos scoffed. "You have a long way to go before you are a knight. Knight's don't wine and complain during travel. And they are not afraid. When you grow up I'll knight you."

"Hmph!" Tordo pouted, crossing his arms and hunching his shoulders in fury.

The flaps of the tent were pushed open. Avi came out dressed in a white silk nightgown. "Don't any of you sleep?" she asked. One of the straps of her gown dropped down her right shoulder.

"Why do you come out dressing like that," Ser Gerhalos asked. "There are men in our party." He bonked Ser Damien on the head for staring at her. "Why aren't you resting, Avi? We have a long way to go in the morning. Dwarfodel is a ruin but it is still massive. We could be down there for days."

"I have to pee," she said timidly.

"So why not tinkle over there?" Ser Damien asked.

Avi shook her head. "It's dark. And rather spooky."

"In another few hours, the sun will rise," Ser Damien jested. "You can hold it."

"That's not funny, Ser Damien. Look I'm going to be quick, okay. Just turn around all of you."

They all shrugged and did as they were told.

"No peeking," Avi said in sing-song.

Ser Gerhalos held them both, tightly in his arms while Avi got ready to do her business. But just as she was about to pull her underwear down she saw the water bubbling in the middle of the lake. She froze like a statue. Was she seeing things? Perhaps it was an old tree stump releasing gasses from its rotten core. No. Whatever was making the water bubble was moving.

"Are you going to go or what?" Ser Gerhalos asked.

"There's something in the water!" Avi cried.

"Oh, don't say that!" whined Tordo.

Ser Gerhalos let them go. He turned to see what Avi was looking at. He saw the water bubbling too. "Avi!" he shouted. "Get away from there!"

Avi whimpered and ran for her knight champion.

"What's all the yelling about?" Blair asked, coming out of the tent with Fira.

"Pack it up, ladies," said Ser Damien. "Avi spotted something in the water. We're going into the city now."

They all dressed back into their gear quickly. Ser Gerhalos had his sword out as he watched the water. The creature was now splashing at them. Whatever it was, it was telling them to leave post-haste. Avi held a firm grip on her staff as Ser Gerhalos kicked open the stone door. Aldara and Fira stormed inside first with torches shining brightly on their rifles. Their lights dancing all over the walls as the two companions did a sweep of the entrance. "Clear!" shouted Aldara. "Clear!" Fira confirmed. "It's safe for her to come in."

But just as Avi was ready to step inside the doorway, something wrapped around her ankle. Something cold and wet. Avi did not have even a moment to scream as whatever it was yanked back with amazing force that caused her to fall forward. Avi fell on her belly and was dragged to the water's edge. Ser Gerhalos roared and drew his greatsword, dashing for the slimy gray appendage that bound itself to Avi. He chopped violently at the slimy appendage and could see rows of powerful suckers on them.

It was some sort of squid creature that was pulling Avi into the darkness of the mountain lake. Risking being pulled in himself Ser Gerhalos waded into the water and hacked again at the creature's arm. He heard a bubbling growl bellow from beneath the inky blackness. Ser Damien rushed for Avi and hacked away at the tentacle wrapped around her arm with his jeweled rapier. The creature then raised her into the air. She dropped her staff as she towered over her companions upside down. Another tentacle jetted out of the water and grabbed her staff dragging it under the water.

"You find the staff!" ordered Ser Gerhalos. "I will save Avi!"

Tordo babbled in terror behind a boulder. He fired nearly five led pellets at the creature with his slingshot and it did not even phase it. Aldara and Fira ran out of the city entrance and meticulously shot the tentacle that held Avi high up in the air. Avi sobbed in horror as she was swung back and forth from her leg. She saw burning red eyes peering at her from beneath the black glassy surface of the lake. Her heart stopped beating when she saw the creature shaking its way to the surface. A Fiend Kraken (ATK/1200 DEF/1400). But he was no ordinary Fiend Kraken. This beast had a dark gray tone compared to the cream-colored picture in the card. Its eyes were flaming red and the black patterns on its forehead were instead glowing red. The kraken's flesh seemed to be reinforced with a rock-hard exoskeleton which made it difficult to hack off its tentacles. Ser Gerhalos was losing his patience, grabbing one of the tentacles and savagely biting into it.

Fira equipped her M4 Dragonfire with a waffle-patterned magazine that had a red glow to it. A red fiery arcane circle then twirled over her weapon. She enchanted her gun with flame damage. The rounds were also armor-piercing so it could easily punch through the creature's exoskeleton. It stung the beast enough to let go of Avi but she fell into the water with a heavy splash. She flew out of the water sixty seconds later. She clutched the staff in her hands, but the Fiend Kraken shook her violently causing her to lose her grip and it fell back into the water.

"Seniorita!" shouted Santiago. He jumped from tentacle to tentacle, poking them with his little sword to ease their grip on Avi. The kraken swatted him had and he flew towards a rock. He grunted and fell unconscious from the impact.

Blair braved the waters, going waist deep to slash at the tentacles keeping Avi imprisoned in its grip. One was about to grab her, but her Mystic Dragon flew down from the sky and bathed the creature in flames.

The monster screeched, then dunked Avi into the water trying to drown her. Avi pleaded for help when she was dragged out of the water again then she was violently dunked back under the black. Aldara shot the creature in the face concealed by shadow. The beast groaned in agony and lurched back. Avi flew out of the water, still hanging upside down in the beast's slimy clutches. She was coughing for air. Ser Gerhalos could feel the life draining out of her with each passing second. He spotted a twinkle in the water.

The staff. He shouted at Fira to give him cover fire as he swam for it but the Fiend Kraken knew of his intent and whipped him out of the water sending him flying to the wall of the mountain with a loud thud. The water monster was then bathed in pale green flames. Ser Damien cheered when he saw his Luster Dragon swooping in from the night to the rescue. The Fiend Kraken swatted at the dragon but the flying monster was too quick for him. The Fiend Kraken raised all of its tentacles up. Aldara spotted the staff. She dashed for the water and gracefully hopped from tentacle to tentacle until she reached it. She fired at the appendage holding the staff until it came clean off. She grabbed the staff but the Kraken grabbed her too. Aldara knew she didn't have much time and threw the precious weapon at Avi, still hanging upside down in the light of the moon. Using all that was left of her strength, Avi grabbed it. She held it up high and summoned Arvas to save her.

The Ancient Dragon flew down from the moon and dove onto the Fiend Kraken. Avi fell into the water and sunk into the dark unable to swim from her exhaustion. Arvas and Luster Dragon both tore and burned Fiend Kraken until the beast bellowed in death and sunk back into the depths of the lake. Avi was nowhere in sight. Her companions tied in vain to look for her, but the Kraken's tentacles had minds of their own and whipped the water with enough force to shatter bones.

"AVI!" roared Ser Gerhalos.

"Look!" cried Fira.

Ser Gerhalos saw a warrior dashing into the water. It was Ser Arthur the knight he scorned at breakfast the other day. He used a crystal torch to light the water fogged with peat. His torch caused something to shimmer. It was Avi, her milky white skin turning florescent blue from the cold. Her beautiful golden hair stretched over her like a blanket and waved in the water like snakes. She still clung to the staff with lifeless fingers. Wasting no time, Ser Arthur drew his enchanted dragon-shaped dagger and swam down after her.

Meanwhile, Avi's companions sat at the water's edge mournfully. Tordo spotted the water bubbling and hopped up and down pointing at it. Ser Gerhalos, Fira, Ser Damnie and Baby Tiragon held their breath as Ser Arthur shot out of the water gasping for air. Avi was lifeless in his arms. "NO!" shouted Ser Gerhalos, running towards them into the water. Ser Arthur dragged her onto land and pressed her ear to her mouth.

"She's not breathing," he announced.

"No!" gasped Blair. "Avi...no."

"Oh, Dove!" Fira sobbed pulling her hair. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "No!"

Ser Damien wasted no time and performed the act of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He pressed against Avi's chest and breathed into her mouth. Nothing. He repeated it countless times. Avi remained as still as a stone.

"I'm so sorry," said Ser Arthur, looking at the heart-broken group. "There's nothing more I can do. She's gone."

"Avi!" whimpered Ser Gerhalos, kneeling next to her lifeless corpse. "No, Avi!" he took her hand and pressed it to his cheek, rocking back and forth.

"Avi come on!" begged Aldara. Baby Tiragon hiccuped in her arms. "You can't die!"

Tordo sniffed and bowed his head in respect while holding onto his tail. A big tear rolled down his puffy cheeks. Ser Damien walked to a tree without saying a word and began to weep. He pounded against it cursing the goddesses for such an ill-fated adventure. Luster Dragon and Arvas hung their heads in respect for their fallen friend. The Wailing Mountain echoed with their wails. Ser Gerhalos roared into the night, holding out his arms.

Again, Ser Arthur tried his best to revive her. They suddenly heard a gurgle coming from within her chest cavity. Avi threw up water from her mouth. Her eyes widened with shock as she returned to the world of men with a loud gasp.

"AVI!" shouted Ser Gerhalos. "She's alive! She's alive!"

"Hold it!" commanded Ser Arthur. "Step back, give her some air."

Avi turned to her side and coughed vomiting into the pebbles. "What took you so long?" she giggled weakly. "I was beginning to enjoy the Gardens."


Aldara and Fira raised the tent again and stripped Avi of her wet clothes and left her inside to rest.

Ser Arthur sat by the fire naked, draped only with Ser Damien's cloak. Ser Gerhalos walked to the boy with a plate of mashed potatoes, corn and chicken leg. "Here," he said to him.

Ser Arthur took the plate from him and began to eat. "Why?" he asked. "Is it because I saved her?"

Ser Gerhalos grinned and shook his head and sat down in front of the fire. "No, for being as you humans say...what's the word? A jerk. I was wrong about you Ser Arthur. What you did was very brave indeed. You have proven yourself a true knight. When we escape this cursed place and reach the next city, I will knight you myself."

"Hey, what about me?" asked Tordo.

"Ho, I saw you running," laughed Ser Gerhalos. "You need to brave like Arthur to be a knight."

"Thank you, Ser Gerhalos." Arthur scooped up some mashed potatoes with his spoon. He noticed Ser Gerhalos looking at the lake again as if anticipating the creature's return. "What is wrong?"

"That was unlike any Fiend Kraken I had ever seen," the leogai answered, shaking his whiskers.

"I agree," said Ser Damien joining the group. "That beast looked like it was here on some fell purpose."

"Because it was," said Ser Gerhalos. "The beast looked like it had evolved over time. And I know only one kind of magic that allows monsters to change form like that."

"You don' mean?" gasped Ser Arthur.

"Aye, someone summoned it."