We had been traveling no stop for over a day and we finally reached a town in the distance, where we could get some food supplies for our travels and maybe buy a new weapon or two for Percival to defend himself when I finally left him back with Nimue

I had come across this small town before on my hunt for the Wolf Blood Witch, very much loyal to the fey and should have no problem passing through. With my hood down the town folk wouldn't recognise me that easily

A lookout from one of the towers called for the paladins to be on standby for the incoming threat. Red paladins scammed the opening of the entrance and archers laid ahead at the top of the towers

'Just let me do all the talking and keep your mouth shut' I told the young boy

'We should be able to pass straight through right? They know you're the Weeping Monk'

'Are you forgetting I killed half a dozen Trinity Guards back in the Paladin camp'

'Word might not have spread that fast to them yet'

'You must be forgetting my dear boy, we have kept to the forest roads to stay out of their way'

'Your wounds must have healed by now Lancelot, Surely you can handle them unskilled buffoons'

'Let's just pray to the Hidden that they don't recognize us' I whispered. 'Not a word out of you even if they ask you a question'

Percival nodded his head and kept still, the closer we got to the gates the more Red Paladins surrounded the entrance. Pulling on the reins and making Goliath come to a halt we stopped in front of the first guard

'State your names and business here'

'We're just passing through trying to get to Dewhurst, I'm David and this is my son Toby'

'And where have you travelled from?'

'We've come from Gramiere'

'You haven't seen the Wolf Blood Witch on your travels have you? Only because she had to pass that location to get to here since she fled our camp'

'I've not seen her come this way and neither has my son have you'

'Nope' he shook his head vigorously

'Well you both best be on your way then'

'Thank you my brother'

I pulled on the reins to make Goliath go forward but we didn't get very far when another paladin stepped alongside his brother in red, he wasn't as unassuming and wanted to know more about where we had come from

'What's up with your face? It that a birthmark or something' He asked curiously

'It's a burn mark from my childhood, I survived a house fire but was left with the scar as a reminder

'Was it?' Percival interjected

Nudging the boy quiet with my knee he seemed to get the message to stay quiet still. The unassuming guard check Goliath over and stroked his long nose

'This is a beautiful mare, looks a lot like the Weeping Monk's horse'

'Who's horse'

'Another traitor to the church, bastard killed six Trinity Guards all to save a fey boy' He spatted out. 'There's a bounty on his head for his capture'

'Well I've never met the man and we are really just trying to pass through'

'You look awfully a lot like our fallen brother, even those marks around your eyes look similar'

'Just let him go William it's clear he's not the Weeping Monk' The younger guard protested

The young guard pulled William to one side and ushered us through with his hand, fellow paladins on the ground moved to one side also to let us pass. A least a dozen of them gazed upon us both and a few faces twitched thinking where they had seen my face before

'We're nearly through Percival and we won't see them again for a long while' I whispered into the boy's ear

Goliath had barely passed by the men in red robes when a few others recognised me, they started shouting monk after us. I pulled the reins a little harder to get past and into the clear, the sounds of footsteps followed behind as the paladins gave chase

'Stay low I'll cover you if they start firing'

A few arrows flew past and hit straight into the buildings narrowly missing us, there was no way neither of us would escape unharmed by the Paladins. Pulling on the reins again I made Goliath come to a grinding stop as I dismounted him and withdrew my sword

Arrows came flying through the air again as another round was fired, keeping my grip tight on the pommel I sliced down at the arrows to stop them getting to Percival. The Paladins shot several more arounds and I was beginning to get weary from blocking shots at irregular angles.

Catching my breath an arrow flew from the treeline and would hit me in the chest, there was no dodging it or using my sword to stop it in time, I was gonna be hit in a few seconds

That stray arrow froze mid air before snapping in half and falling at my feet, turning behind me I saw Percival with a green plant marked across the side of his little face. He had his telekinesis abilities associated with the sky folk to save me yet again, I was in awe of his new found abilities whilst I rushed back to him

'That was incredible Percival, where did that come from'

'I don't know I felt helpless not doing anything and a arrow shot out from the trees, next thing I know I could control it with my mind so I snapped it'

'You're fey abilities are now starting to show through now, embrace them and you'll discover more what sky folk can really do'

'You know don't you Lancelot. You have to tell me right now what other powers sky folk can do'

'I'll let you learn them when the time comes' I smiled widely. 'Come on let's go before the paladins catch up to us'

The sooner I spoke those words we were surrounded by paladins in all angles of the small town, some brothers had their bows drawn and some had their swords withdrawn ready to fight if we put up a resistance. Brother William made his way to the front of the crowd and looked disgusted with my presence

'Keep them both alive and throw them with the rest of them'

'The rest of them?' Percival questioned

'Just let the boy go it's me that your after'

'Orders of the church, capture the Weeping Monk and any companion that follows him' Brother William exclaimed. 'Father Carden would be turning in his grave if he saw what you've become'

'Father Carden is dead?'

'Take them away now' he ordered

One brother stepped forward and stripped both of us of our weapons we carried, they handed them over to the guards as Percival and I were escorted back into the small village. The villagers looked freighted in their own homes with the Red Paladins occupying their land and making it their home now

The metal gates to a holding cell were opened and we were pushed inside with a mighty shove, the both of us falling to our knees with the gate slamming shut behind us. Percival quickly placed my arm over his shoulders to lift me up right

'Are you ok Lancelot'

'I'm ok, just a couple of bruises' I smiled weakly. 'Are you hurt?'

'Barely a scratch on me'

Inside the small holding cell we heard short and large gasps of breath, not being able to see who was in here with us I kept Percival shielded behind me as I stepped forward

'Who's there?'

'It's the monk' a voice remarked coldly

Whoever was in here seemed to recognise me even without my hood on; Well I guess the ash markings on my face was a dead give away.

Sniffling the air I smelled the district smell of tusks, fauns and a moonwig with us in this cell, a lot of feelings of anger and hate radiated off them in this small space. Two large tusk men came forward to confront me no doubt about my slaying of their fey brother and sisters in the past

'Brothers please' I began to plead, holding my hands out wide

'We ain't your brothers you weeping scum'

Before I had the chance to explain myself I was punched across the face with a strong clenched fist, the force from the blow sent me over to the floor with a worried Percival rushing to my aid

'Get up Lancelot'

'Do you even know who that is child? You can protect him with all your might but he won't protect you' One of the tusks proclaimed

'Of course I do he saved me in the Paladin camp'

'Do yourself a favour my sky folk child and ditch him before he uses you as leverage for his own means'

'I will never do that my fey brother because he has changed. Might have taken him a while to see the true light but Lancelot is different now'

'That fey killer will never change boy' the other tusk replied

'His name is Percival' I interjected

The tusk lowered his voice and brought his ragging testosterone levels under control, even without my weapons the fey knew I was more than capable of killing them with my bare hands

'Saving this boy won't make you accepted by the fey gods and neither your god with the church will accept you now'

'We'll let the fey gods decide my fate'

The tusk walked away with his brother back to the other side of the small cell, looking deeper into who else was trapped in the hold I saw a couple of small children with the tusks and fauns

'Go and play with the other children if you want too' I encouraged Percival

Percival went off to mix with the other children and keep themselves amused, the moonwig approached next and sat down besides on the floor. The feathered woman was intrigued by my ash markings on my face

'They say that the ash folk make great leaders, such a shame you used your powers for the church'

'I was manipulated from a young age in what to believe'

'You don't have to tell me that ash man, I believe you it's the tusks that you have to convince' she smiled weakly. 'I'm Xeanhawk and you are?'

'Lancelot'

The moonwig stretched out a wing to reveal a hand underneath the feathers, wanting to be on better terms with my fellow inmates I shook her hand graciously

'Well I don't really care what they think of me I only have one mission left' I proclaimed, looking over at the little sky folk boy playing with the other children

'Why do you even care for the boy? He's not your offspring is he'

'No he's not but I have a duty of care towards him'

'Because you feel guilty to what you have done to the fey'

'That boy is all alone in this world and far away from people he might call family, I need to get him back to them before they leave Britannia' I admitted. 'How did you and the tusks end up in here if you don't mind me asking'

'We got detoured from the rest of our group travelling to the shores to get on the ships the Fey Queen had promised, Paladins found us in the woods near the town a few days later'

'Has word gotten back to you of the fate of the fey travelling to the shoreline'

'I've managed to connect telepathically with other moonwigs who managed to get to the shore, they were ambushed and many were killed'

'The fey never made it to the shoreline and on them boats promised from Uther'

'Some made it out alive from the battle on the beach between the Fey and viking troops, lots of tusks and snake clan were lost in the fight'

'And where have they sailed off to then because I need to know if this journey is worth the hassle to get that boy home'

'Whoever has remained on the beach are with the Fey Queen, she plans to leave shore in a couple of days to collect who hasn't made it yet to the beach from what I have been told'

'Forget about it monk, you won't be getting out of here anytime soon' The largest tusk mockingly laughed

'They'll most likely want your head first to give to the pope. Anyone who betrays that will be their punishment' His tusk brother interjected

'Shut up' Percival pipped up, coming back over to my side. 'You'll get us all out of here won't you Lancelot'

'I need a little bit of time to think of something'

'He hasn't got a clue to break us out of here child. We are all going to die by paladin hands' The moonwig sighed deeply

I looked out from our cell to the lookout tower in the small village, they were changing the guards from duty so the new guards were more alert and the ones who were off could have a well deserved rest. Our cell was closed together by a single lock and there weren't many paladins on patrol near our holding cell…..

At nightfall the last changeover happened for the paladins and from what I could gather from the tusks Naassaur, Klasood and Xeanhawk the village fell silent around midnight. This was our only opportunity to break out of the cell and flee in the dark of night

I gripped the padlock with both of my hands and cleared my mind, making an intention with the fey gods to grant me my powers I kept hidden. A strong pulse of energy radiated through my hands and a warm glow enveloped them, I was able to control the fire in my hands and turn the lock into a pile of molten metal

Dropping the liquid onto the floor and extinguishing the flames in my hands I checked if the surrounding building was clear. Percival encouraged the others to follow us out of the cell and into the small village, the group split up into two teams with the tusks task of getting a carriage and some weapons together whilst I lead a team to get some horses together

Percival and Xeanhawk calmly lured the horses away from their stable whilst some fauns grabbed some food for everyone and the horses. Ten minutes later the tusks returned and found a carriage behind an old barn and connect the box up with the horses

'Quickly everyone before someone sees what were doing'

The tusks wasted no time in getting into the carriage with the children next to follow them, Naassaur entered lastly and closed the door behind him whilst a couple of fauns dressed in the red robes I had given them for a disguise

'If you come across anyone on your travels then you have to act like paladins, going on a patrol of the area'

'What if the other scums in red ask to see what's in the carriage' One of the fauns asked

'Make something up like you've got the pope or Abbot Wicklow in there and they don't want to be distributed'

A curtain twitched from the door and a small faun boy popped his head through, he smiled wickedly at his father who had a disapproved look

'Can I pretend to be the pope'

'I don't see why not but you have to stay hidden inside. Even if paladins ask to speak with you, you can't let them see you'

On a washing line I found a couple of woolly hats that were left out to dry, giving one each to the male fauns I advised them to keep it on through the night so it would conceal their antlers. I did one last check on the carriage before looking in the surrounding towers for anyone on patrol, Percival stood by the door of the carriage waiting for me to get in

'Come on Lance we need to go' he spoke softly

'Go with Xeanhawk and she'll look after you on your journey to the shore'

'And where will you be? I thought we'd stick together'

'I'll be riding on my own to give the carriage cover if you get into trouble with paladins on the way'

'Then I'll ride with you on your horse' he argued

'It's too dangerous to be riding with me right now, Xeanhawk will look after you in the meantime. I'm not going anywhere far'

'You promise'

'I promise Percival'

A paladin was walking across the bridge of the tower for a night patrol, he rushed across to the sound the horns that we were escaping. The sound echoed through the silent village and altered other brothers from their deep sleep

The men in red rushed out of building with swords in their hands, some had pitchforks and axes at the ready to throw if we escaped far enough

I lifted Percival quickly into the carriage and banged on the door shut to get moving out of the village. Withdrawing my sword from its sheath I was ready to take them on, they all crowded around me in a circle so I couldn't escape

'Who wants to be first' I proclaimed whilst twirling the blade in my hand

Two brothers stepped forward out of the circle with swords at the ready, Stopping the twirl of my sword I made light work of the two men as their bodies hit the floor. Another three braved their might and came forward into the ring

'Drop the sword and we might let you live another day' A Paladin suggested

'Never. If you live by the sword then you die by it'

They were unnerved by my relent to give in so easily, after all most of the men knew what I was capable of. The first brother stepped forward to strike which I blocked, moving out of the way the second Paladin came next then the third

Fighting three at the same time was difficult enough but once more paladins joined in it became damn near impossible. Deflecting the strike I went down and it wouldn't be long before I had to give in due to their numbers

'Leave him alone, if you want the monk then you have to go through me' echoed a loud voice behind us

Looking up from the ground Percival had left the carriage and held a sword he had found. A few of the paladins turned their heads towards him, I needed to get the boy behind me as they would kill him also

With every ounce of energy I had left in me I pushed past the circle of men, I got in front of Percival and saw in the distance the carriage had come to a stop outside out the gate. I waved at Xeanhawk to carry on with their journey out of here

Lifting my sword up again I was ready for the next onslaught, Brother William came forward next unarmed and ushered his men to fall back behind him. Before I killed him where he stood I would hear what his final words would be

'Surrender Monk and we will let you see tomorrow at least'

'Or?' I questioned, knowing he had another reason for not killing me yet

'We have bigger plans for you and the boy'

Another brother stepped out of the crowd quickly and punched me in the face. Completely dazed by the hit I felt the arms of more brothers jumping in and attaching a restraint against my wrists

The paladins lifted me up from the floor and guided myself and Percival to a new holding cell. Brother William ordered guards to standby the cell so we couldn't try anything, being thrown into our new room Percival moved to my side as I did my best to comfort him

The leader of the paladins spoke furiously to the guards on night watch duties, his tongue a ferocious whip that sent shivers down their spines

'Make sure they don't escape again tonight, we have some important guests arriving tomorrow'

The guard checked the lock on the cell door was secure before retiring for the night to his bed. Two Paladins stand on watch in the quiet village as most souls retired back to their beds

'Who's coming tomorrow Lancelot? What do they mean by a special guest'

'It's a code word they use to the fey, Someone higher up in the ranks are coming to watch an execution and take the head back of a traitor to the pope'

'Our execution?' he gulped loudly

'Unfortunately yes my boy'