Thanatos' story was followed by grave silence. Gregor's head spun worse than before and he thought it was a miracle he hadn't thrown up yet.

"It must be a trap", Luxa spoke first. "A ruse, some trick to –"

"With what goal?", the Death Rider raised his face out of Thanatos' fur. "Longclaw wants us to fight, he specifically separated us to prevent an escape. Why would he risk this?"

Nobody had a response. A few seconds of silence passed and Gregor squinted, then stared at Ares. Back at the outcast. "She... really did that?"

Thanatos nodded. "Do not ask why. She did not speak a word."

Gregor stared at the floor. It... made no sense, none of it did. Not Dalia's betrayal, nor her rescue of the bats now. He agitatedly shook his head, attempting to chase the wave of hope that now swelled in him. Maybe she had never meant to betray them, maybe she had been forced, or... Gregor barely prevented an unnerved groan, and the image of Dalia, barely visible against the darkness, standing by the wall... switching on his flashlight. His teeth gritted. For whatever her motive was, she had a hell lot of explaining to do. His gaze darted up and he barely prevented himself from adding "if we'll ever see her again."

It made no sense. Gregor pulled on his legs and stared at the Death Rider, Dalia had betrayed them, and yet he still found the thought of never seeing her again stung uncomfortably. Was it because he wanted her to explain herself... or because he still cared about her, despite everything?

"I mean, even if it is a trap, I can't see this not working out in our favor", the Death Rider disrupted his thoughts and Gregor found himself very grateful for it. "Death, you said she killed the guards?"

"One guard", the black bat with the white face nodded, "It was one, and he was pretty drunk. She slit his throat, I don't know where she got the dagger. She did not speak, not a single word. Only stared for a few seconds, then turned and ran off."

"Do you... think she had second thoughts?" It took Gregor a few moments to understand it was he who had spoken. He nearly winced at the array of hostile gazes from Howard, Stellovet, and Luxa. "Traitors will be traitors", she mumbled and he immediately regretted having said anything at all.

"Even if, why would that matter?", Stellovet continued, "It doesn't change the fact she landed us all here in the first place."

Howard nodded and even Luxa, after short hesitation, gave a determined nod. "In... any case", she released Aurora and stood up, "it does not matter. Our fliers are back, so we should escape."

"Yes...", the Death Rider stood as well, though more hesitant than her. "That is, you must." He exchanged a glance with Thanatos. "Take Stellovet, Hera, and her pups back to the Fount. Death and I will deal with Longclaw."

An array of chaotic protests instantly broke out in the pit and Gregor squinted, attempting to block it out. "That is unacceptable!", cried Luxa and suddenly he wanted to stand up and slap her. Why could she not, for once in her life, do the sensible thing and leave before things got even worse? A cold shiver ran down Gregor's spine as an image of the arena, filled to the brim with rats, flashed before his inner eye. This whole quest was nonsensical, they should not even be here. It had all been one huge scheme, conjured up by Dalia and her rat allies, to get them to come here and be killed. How could Luxa still insist on staying?

"Was it not you who complained we had dragged you and your family into our feud with Longclaw needlessly?", the outcast's voice cut the agitated murmur and for a moment it all silenced. Gregor dared raise his head to peek up and spotted Luxa at Aurora's side, gazing up at the more than a head taller outcast defiantly.

"He is right", the golden bat mumbled and Luxa's head twitched. "Our part here is done."

"Aurora speaks the truth", Howard stepped closer too, then threw a glance back at Hera who had only woken moments ago, from a deep yet restless sleep. "We must take the wounded back, and Stellovet." His arm wrapped around his sister's shoulders, "Don't you agree?"

"For all I care, we get out of here right now", she mumbled and shuddered. She looked like she'd had enough adventures to last a lifetime and suddenly Gregor felt a surge of envy. For her it was back home now, most likely never to embark on any trip of this sort again, whilst for him – well, who knew how many more prophecies, and obligatory quests, still awaited in his own future.

"Luxa, you must go back", the Death Rider gripped her by the shoulders. "You must protect your family, and leave our feud to us."

Luxa's mouth opened to protest but she had no words. The outcast shoved her at Aurora. "Go, before they notice the fliers are gone." Gregor's head darted around to Ares, they exchanged a glance but needed no words.

In mere minutes they had readied themselves to leave. Howard was concerned about Hera's condition and whether she could fly, but she insisted she could, if it was not for long. It took the Death Rider a couple hits with his oversized, black blade to destroy the shackle around her leg, and Gregor mounted Ares. Behind him, Howard and Stellovet took their places.

"And.. you want to take them on your own?" Luxa still hesitated, holding her gaze on the outcast and Thanatos. Gregor blinked and suddenly understood this was not just her pride speaking. She was worried about the outcasts. His own gaze met him and then and there he sensed the urge to stay to help them as well.

The Death Rider only grinned, apparently having also guessed her motive. "Death and I are more than able to take a few rats, you don't have to worry about us."

"You... you must share how you solved your issue from losing your eye soon", she mumbled without looking at him and his grin widened. "Alright, you know what, I will. Next time we meet. Deal?"

Luxa bit her lip. "If... you are indeed as strong as you say. If... there WILL be a next time..."

"Oh, you aren't getting rid of me that easily." He extended a hand to pat her head. "I have no plans to die."

Gregor listened up. I have no plans to die... The phrase strangely resonated with him, like he had heard it somewhere, though before he could dwell on it, Luxa dejectedly sighed. "Alright... then", she clenched her fist and took a step at Aurora, "your battle is yours. But do not ever forget our deal", she climbed onto her bond's back, "I will hold you to it."

Gregor watched Thanatos exchange a few words with the bats in their tongue to make sure they knew the way, then Ares spread his wings for lift-off.

"Fly you high!", the Death Rider cried, below in the pit, and raised his black sword for a salute.

"Fly you high, Death Rider!", Luxa called, "Fly you high!", Gregor and Stellovet cried in unison, then at last Howard joined in – "Fly you high."

He squinted backward yet the outcasts quickly disappeared out of sight. Ares led the way back to the cave where they had been caught, and the moment Gregor thought they had to be safe now, he heard the first angry screams. The claw of a leaping rat missed Ares only by inches before the bats gained altitude and left a flock of frustrated, furious rats behind.

Gregor shivered and forced himself to not even attempt to look down as Ares shot head-first into a high-up tunnel opening. Around him was pitch-darkness, and when Gregor fingered for his backpack to fetch the flashlight he remembered he did not have it anymore.

Fantastic – he thought, frowned, and searched for the small one he had from Mrs. Cormaci – his dad would be delighted. Only as he had already pulled it out he suddenly thought maybe switching it on was a bad idea. Who knew how far the rats could see? He firmly clasped it to his belt instead and sighed, trying to ignore the all-consuming darkness that seemed to press on his temples. The bats knew the way, yet he still barely suppressed the instinct to turn his light on. He would never get used to this.

Gregor had no idea how long they ended up flying, but it felt like an eternity. The whole way Howard and Stellovet remained silent, and Gregor wasn't particularly eager for a conversation either.

Only when he spotted a faint orange glow ahead and the bats shot out into the cave with the lake, he released a relieved sigh. Ares circled above the pleasantly glowing water once, then landed, on his tail followed Aurora and Hera, who instantly collapsed from exertion. Howard leaped off Ares' back and was at her side in seconds, close behind followed Stellovet.

Gregor cautiously slid off Ares' back last, unsure what to do. He glanced at Howard who soothingly talked to Hera now, and Stellovet who plucked her pups off their mother and calmingly stroked their fur.

"Should we... stay here?", Ares asked behind him and Gregor turned, hesitated, only then processed he had been talking to him. He swallowed and inspected the visible marks on his bat's formerly shiny black fur, from the heavy chains. Then he regarded Howard with the injured Hera, and Luxa curled in Aurora's wing. "I... I think it's for the best, yeah. At least until you all have rested a little."

He swallowed and glimpsed back to where they had come from. No one else was in any shape to make decisions. Gregor squinted, what did they need now? What... would the Death Rider say? "Could you... maybe try and catch some fish please?", he turned back to Ares, "We'll need food. I'll look into how we can serve it."

His bat nodded and leaped in the air, towards the lake. Alright, Gregor thought and took a deep breath, that was taken care of. Water they had enough, maybe he should refill all their containers.

He approached Luxa with Aurora, at the same time rummaging through his backpack for his empty bottle. "Hey, do you have any water bags?"

Luxa raised her head. "Yes." She did not look at him as she fetched a large water bag from her backpack. "Howard has one too, I believe."

"Want to help me refill them?"

She exchanged a glance with Aurora. "I will help Ares fish", the golden bat nodded and spread her wings, Luxa stood up. "Let us."

They strolled over to the lake side by side and Gregor knelt by the glowing water. "It... was not a trap", he looked up, "Dalia did not free the bats to lure us into a trap. You were wrong!" An only partially justified wave of happiness engulfed Gregor at the realization. I still can not shake it, he grimly thought, how much she reminds me of myself. Something in him refused to see her as a bad guy, still, he understood, and reprehended himself for his naivety.

Luxa remained quiet. Her hand around the waterbag tightened and she still did not look at him.

"What's the matter?" Gregor sensed anger swell up in him. "Do you WANT her to be evil or what? What if she actually had a change of heart, what if she had a... a reason? Wasn't it you who said it's not fair to only remember people for the bad –?"

"Gregor, I have understood."

His frown deepened and he angrily averted his gaze. She had clearly not understood, or was too proud to admit it. Yet again.

"I have said that." Her voice had grown quiet and he had to resist the temptation to look up. "I... it is harder than I thought."

Gregor raised his head and his heart sank at the dejected look in her eyes. "I know it's hard." He swallowed. For you it is harder than for anyone else, too, he thought and instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder. "I... I mean, I'm not defending her or anything." He had to forcefully suppress his anger from rising back up. "I'm just saying we shouldn't condemn her without knowing the "why"."

"What do you think it is?"

Gregor blinked, then averted his gaze. "I have no idea."

The following meal went by in more or less comfortable silence. Gregor and Luxa handed out the water, the bats dropped a whole load of fish before the humans. Nobody bothered attempting to cook it.

Gregor mindlessly chewed on the cold mush and watched Luxa, who had taken a seat on a nearby rock and shared her meal with Aurora. Howard and Stellovet had helped Hera hang in the far corner, she was fast asleep. Her pups clustered around the siblings who fed them pieces of fish.

Gregor had picked up the last untouched fish to ask Ares whether he wanted it when Luxa raised her head – "Do you think they will be okay?"

Gregor paused, with the fish raised, and frowned. It took him a few seconds to understand she was talking about the Death Rider and Thanatos. His mind flashed with an image of the outcast, knocking the sword out of the grip of a rat and slaying it within heartbeats, and suddenly he was entirely certain they would be alright.

He looked at Luxa and remembered asking Ripred that same question about Hamnet, in the Vineyard of Eyes. "Don't worry about them. They can look after themselves", Gregor repeated Ripred's reply and smiled, "they survived years out here without any help from the rest of you... us."

Luxa looked up, her eyes flashed with recollection. "You are right. Maybe I worry too much."

"I believe the Death Rider is the last person we should worry about", Howard spoke up for the first time, "after all", Gregor couldn't help but catch his somewhat mocking tone, "he has no plans to die." It was strange... Gregor fervently combed his mind for where he had heard that before, but even though it was right there, at the tip of his tongue, he could not place it.

When he stood up to toss the remains of the fish into the lake, he approached Luxa again. "I don't think you have to worry about him."

"It's not like I even have a reason... at all."

"I wouldn't say that." Gregor frowned. "I mean, he might be an outcast, but he's our friend now, isn't he?"

Luxa hesitated. "I... suppose. We owe him", she stood and niftily tossed her fishbones into the water. "It is easier for you, to accept him, for you have not grown up with our customs. An outcast is one who has committed a crime so severe we would sentence him to death."

"Or he ran away", Gregor shot back, his irritation at her overzealous suspicion rose again, "like Thanatos and Hamnet."

"Perhaps..."

"You know what I think?" She remained silent and Gregor determinately put his hands to his hips, "Like, you're right – it probably is easier for me. I didn't grow up here. But I also already told you, judging people without knowing their full story is wrong. I get you're mad at Dalia – I am mad at her myself – but what do you even know of the Death Rider?" Luxa stared at the floor. "Nothing! So maybe, you know, judge him by what you DO know. Which would be that he helped us multiple times, even risked his life for us. For you. Doesn't that earn him at least the benefit of a doubt?"

Luxa hesitated, then raised her gaze at him again. "You... are right." She bit her lip and Gregor internally shook his head at how hard it still was for her to admit she had been wrong. "I will... listen to my own advice."

"Good", he sighed, his eyes searched for the others and found Howard with Stellovet, carrying the sleeping babies over to their mother. Only as he watched the scene with intrigue, he realized they had a decision to make. "Hey Luxa", he turned back to her, "do you think we should stay here? For longer, I mean?"

She followed his glance at her cousins. "Hera is weakened", she mumbled, "and so are we all. Perhaps... we should."

"For how long?"

Luxa did not reply, her gaze only darted in the direction they had come from and Gregor understood. "It would... be good to wait for them, I think. Just in case. I mean, it can't take that long, can it?"

Luxa nodded and they watched Stellovet, Howard, and the baby bats for a while longer. "Maybe... she is not so bad", Gregor suddenly remarked, and to his surprise, Luxa nodded. "We have never gotten along, and it will take time to forgive how she treated Nerissa, but it wasn't like we... I was kind to her either. Honestly, I do not know her very well", she hesitated. "Neither do I know any of them, except Howard. So going by what I said earlier, I will not... judge them yet."

"Well", Gregor attempted his most encouraging smile, "maybe you can get to know them soon."

Luxa looked up and returned the smile. "Maybe I can."

ooo

Henry focused his senses on the arena, some hundred feet below where he and Thanatos had hidden away in a tunnel entry, overlooking the large cave. He saw the flickering of lit braziers, but his echolocation was much more precise than his eyes.

"You are certain about this?"

Henry threw his bond a smirk. "He's had it coming. Besides, if I'm Achilles, that would make him Hector, so what choice do we even have?"

"That is not proper – oh, fine", Thanatos released a strained yet amused groan, "you're not... wrong, I mean..."

"See?"

"What I SEE is about a hundred ways for this to go horribly wrong", his bond muttered yet Henry ignored him. "We have but one problem... or maybe two. There's still Tonguetwist. I want her as dead as Longclaw, but... maybe we should postpone that for now. The rats follow him, not her, and by herself, there is little she can do." He frowned, "Why actually? Do you know? Why they seem to dislike her. I mean, she said she had to flee when Gorger died... didn't she say she was, like, super important?"

Thanatos tilted his head. "I do not recall her name from before. Perhaps she lied... or she was not spoken about, I am uncertain. Did Gorger not send her in the role of a spy when she turned you?"

"That could explain it, if she was a spy. But honestly, there are more important things to worry about." For as much as it had occupied his thoughts before, Henry realized now that he knew her motive, he didn't care at all anymore.

They stared down together but neither Longclaw nor Tonguetwist was in sight. "What about... Dalia?", his flier asked and Henry twitched. "Should we... look for her, after we've dealt with Longclaw?"

"I bet Mys we'll find her in the prison pit."

"You mean Longclaw found out she freed us?"

"I mean, her scent must be all over that guard's corpse", he shrugged, "but even if he somehow missed it, do you really think Longclaw will keep to anything he promised her?"

"Then... would he even keep her alive?"

Henry shuddered. "I don't know", his hand tightened around the rim of the opening, "but we can't just... leave her here."

"I agree", his flier mumbled and they exchanged a glance. "So, is this how it'll be then? You and I go up against the demons of our past together?"

Henry grinned. "In the very place they had us battle each other to the death. Kind of poetic, isn't it?"

"You have a strange sense for what is poetic", Thanatos mumbled but Henry tensed as he spotted who he had waited for – Longclaw strolled into the center of the arena below, barking out commands at retreating rats. The exiled prince sensed his fury from all the way up here.

"Let us go", Thanatos nudged him, and Henry nodded. "Time for the reckoning."

Every rat in the now sparsely filled ranks froze in their tracks when the large, black flier dropped in the center of the sandy arena. Somewhere in the back of his head, Henry reckoned he should be at least concerned – as powerful as he was now, even he could not take the lot of two dozen gnawers – but somehow all he sensed was impenetrable ice. It will end, he gripped the freshly reclaimed handle of Charos on his back, here and now.

Longclaw calmly watched him slide off Thanatos' back and take a step closer, at the same time Henry registered the number of rats around them had increased. They were to all sides, yet none attacked. He swallowed and banned the uprising doubt – there was no going back now.

"I hear you were looking for me!"

Longclaw's ears twitched at Henry's cry, he regarded the exiled prince, then shook his head. "How polite of you to show up – even armed. Granted, it was to be expected you would know this place well, for how much time you have spent here. And it was not like we hid your weapons well."

"You could have done better in that department."

Longclaw released an unnerved hiss. "I will keep it in mind... now tell me, Achilles, why have you and the Skullface not flown off with your slippery friends?"

Henry dug his boots into the sand adamantly. "I am here...", he threw a short glance around, "to do exactly what you wanted, actually."

For a moment Longclaw's hateful stare flashed with confusion. Behind and beside them, a wave of bewildered murmur rose from the by now plentiful audience and Henry's grin widened.

He spread his arms the way Longclaw always did when he addressed them – "I know what you want! You have always wanted it! I know you remember me – you were all there, in the audience, you all cheered for me, did you not?" The murmur intensified. "See? So what do you need my friends for, if you have the greatest champion of all times to fight for your entertainment?"

The murmur turned to excited chatter, he even perceived occasional cheers. Longclaw hissed, then turned to Henry. "So, Achilles has returned to fight for us, has he now? He even has this new, fancy weapon!", his eyes narrowed, "And who does the great champion intend to fight?"

"How convenient you may ask...", Henry threw Thanatos a short glance, "WE will fight and celebrate not your coronation, but my final, fiftieth victory in this damned arena. The one you robbed me off –", he twitched, "do you even have ANY idea how much that odd number frustrates me, like, who in the world calls themselves the champion of FORTY-NINE battles? How does that even sound?"

Henry perceived suppressed giggling behind him, it was only silenced by Longclaw's death glare.

"In any case – he who you so fittingly call Achilles and he who has evaded you for eight years will fight for your entertainment, one last time. And there is only one Achilles wishes to fight –" He took a last step at Longclaw and with a firm tug removed the leather gauntlet from his right hand, to raise it above his head, for everyone to see.

"Dear audience, today, we – the Death Rider – in the name of Achilles, present to you, a one-of-a-kind spectacle. Witness the most phenomenal battle in the history of any establishment of this sort – the Great Achilles, he who fights at the side of Death – yours truly!", he performed a short bow, "hereby challenges –"

Henry raised his hand with the glove even higher, "He who takes the role of Hector... and he who thinks he deserves to BE YOUR KING!" His hand clutched, then theatrically tossed the gauntlet at Longclaw's feet.

His last word was followed by grave silence. Henry listened to the frantic hammering of his heart until it was drowned in deafening cheers. One glance around confirmed his little speech had done its job, it had re-invoked their desire for a good battle.

Longclaw himself eyed Henry like he knew exactly what he had done. Even a hint of acknowledgment flashed in his gaze, then he slowly picked up the gauntlet. "Well done", he took a step closer. His enormous paws whirled up sand when he came to a halt. "You do not blindly rush to battle, but challenge me in my own arena, where we both have to follow the same set of rules. No interventions, no excuses... only a duel... to the death."

Henry pulled the sheath of Charos forward, unclasped the bracket, and unsheathed the Greatsword. "Would you have it any other way?"

"Well...", Longclaw twisted Henry's gauntlet between his front paws, "if you say it like that..." Then he tore it to shreds.

Henry barely dodged the high leap of the enormous gnawer and scrambled up just in time to listen to his shrilling echolocation. Twirl around, slice, twist blade, and hold your ground.

Thanatos whizzed by above his head and disrupted Longclaw's leap as he dug his talons into the gnawer's shoulder. He let out a violent roar and clawed at the flier who barely escaped in time.

Henry gripped Charos' handle with both hands and lunged forward, twisting the broad blade to block Longclaw's outstretched claws. The black blade gave a melodious ring and in one swift motion, Henry flipped his hand, fingered the guard, and swung the large blade at his opponent with full force.

A blow like this would have cleanly beheaded the gnawer, had he not twisted to the side in the last moment. Henry's blade whizzed past and further than anticipated, the lack of impact threw off his balance and he stumbled forward, nearly releasing the grip on Charos altogether. The momentum of his swing sent him twisting in a circle, and had Thanatos not dived to dig his teeth into Longclaw's front paw, Henry knew not whether he would have survived.

He barely managed to get a better grip on the blade and direct the tip into the ground. It rammed into the sand with full force and he clung to it for a heartbeat, attempting to calm his spinning head.

Instead, the deafening cheers from the ranks filled him up. He forced the unnecessary sound out of his ears and wiped a loose strand of hair out of his face, then closed his eye.

Opponent a considerable distance away, currently taken up. Calculating path for a sneak attack, leap, twist, and lunge forward.

Henry's eye darted open and he spotted Thanatos initiating his signature coiler around their opponent. It is working – Henry leaped to his feet and forced Charos' massive blade out of the ground – to fight separately. His bond had had his concerns when he had first suggested to take on Longclaw this way, but Henry had argued he would have to split his focus between them, and if he was on the ground he could use Charos, which was a considerably more effective weapon than his toothpick.

The Greatsword clutched tightly with both hands, the exiled prince darted forward, impeccably following what his echolocation had calculated. Yet in that very second Thanatos ended his maneuver and Longclaw's front paws sporadically extended outward, to reach the flier – and clashed with Charos instead. The massive blade was flung out of Henry's hands and he reeled forward until he sensed a sharp sting across his left cheek. Longclaw's paw closed around his arm and the stumps of his claws dug into Henry's skin until a burning trail of blood found its way into the white sand.

The exiled prince cried when something else forcefully ripped him out of Longclaw's grasp and out of his reach. He clung to Thanatos' claw that held him by his fur collar and fought the imminent pain with all his will as he fingered for his other sword.

"Are you okay?"

Henry finally tore it out of the sheath and barely reached the lever of the ignifer-dispenser. "I'm fine... I'll use this until I can get Charos back", he searched for and found his Greatsword close to the border of the arena. Below them, the livid Longclaw circled, painting a furious path of blood on the nigh-blazing white of the sand. "Toss me."

Thanatos hesitated only for a heartbeat, then he picked up speed. Like a deadly arrow he shot down, directly at Longclaw, only to release his grip on Henry the moment they hovered over him. The exiled prince voiced a harrowing scream and Longclaw shrieked as the burning blade landed directly across his face. The large rat stumbled forward and Henry leaped to the side before he could run him over.

His eye searched for Charos, then he gripped his sword tighter and dug his soles into the sand. Opponent moving away at calculated speed. Must be this much faster to reach in time to receive desired result. Leap in three... two... one...

Henry darted forward, one, two, then jumped as high as he could. But Longclaw recovered quicker than anticipated and dodged, Henry shrieked in pain when the gnawer's talons tore his lower arm. He twisted back and swung his sword in the direction of his face. The flame singed Longclaw's whiskers and he stumbled back but instantly cowered down for another attack.

Thanatos darted over Henry's head and collided with the leaping gnawer in mid-air. They would have hit the ground together had the exiled prince not lashed at Longclaw's paw before he could dig it into his flier's leg. He fell into guard automatically and his gaze met the gnawer's singed paw – a different battle suddenly flashed before his inner eye, a battle he had also fought on foot, during which he had severed his opponent's limb.

Henry tightened his grip on the sword and forced his mind to focus. A faint memory of the fear he had experienced when fighting Goldfang flashed through him and for a second he allowed himself to come to terms with how frightened he had been of battling a gnawer on foot then – and how almost natural it seemed now.

Thanatos above him darted forward again and Henry took another step back. This was his chance to get to Charos. His echolocation calculated the distance and required speed, yet when the alarm in his head suddenly shrilled with something new he could not react in time. Henry cried as a swell of cold water swept over him, only in his periphery he registered the sizzling of his sword before it went out.

In the very last moment, he darted to the side when Longclaw leaped at him. His shoulder hit the floor and he groaned, barely pulling himself up. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a speck of silver fur, yet before he could investigate the source, he had to raise his blade to block the claws of Longclaw.

Yet the gnawer, instead of retreating or darting back, simply closed his enormous paw around the still-smoking yet awfully thin blade. His eyes glowed with spite as he leaned in, tightening his grip further until the tattered blade of Henry's sword shattered into pieces.

For a second, his eye fixated on the hilt he held clutched, with the short, jagged piece of steel still sticking out, and had Thanatos not rammed into Longclaw at full speed, tearing him away from Henry, his outstretched talons would have torn him to pieces.

It was the one thing, Henry blinked and stared down at the shattered remains of his blade, the only gadget he'd still had left from his time before becoming an outcast. A wave of searing rage swept over him and his eye found Charos, only a couple feet ahead. He prepared to charge at it to tear the gnawer's guts out like he should have long ago when he suddenly sensed cold steel press into his back. "Oh no, no, no... Silverchild, you leave that sword exactly where it is."

As soon as he registered the name, the pleasant, melodious voice, and recognized the golden shimmering dagger she held to his back he immediately discerned the battle was over. "Has Longclaw not even enough honor to follow the rules of his own arena?", he pressed out and squinted to block the deafening cheers of the audience.

"You and I both know this is not about honor", Tonguetwist snarled and Henry jumped when he perceived Thanatos land, as soon as he saw his bond was being threatened. She regarded the flier, then pressed Henry's old blade into his back harder. "If come any closer, he will die."

Thanatos instantly froze, only to be shoved aside by Longclaw who carelessly strolled past him towards Henry, his large paws left blood-red footprints in the now sullied sand, yet his grin was confident.

Henry panted heavily, and slowly but surely he sensed the pain of his injuries creep back into his consciousness. The cold steel of the blade in his back contrasted harshly with the hotness of the blood that seeped from his plentiful cuts and his teeth gritted.

This is not how I die. He blinked, first at Longclaw, then at Thanatos. This is not how this ends. Not here... he took in the arena and all the emotions, his countless attempts to die here, in this very place, flooded him, except now, they were accompanied by boiling rage. I did not die then, he gritted his teeth harder, I had one rule. One rule, to not die by a rat. His furious gaze locked on the spiteful Longclaw. Not by you either. I have no plans to die. His own words resonated in his mind and he gripped the hilt of his broken sword harder. Not now, not in a long time. Yet what was he to do?

In a heartbeat, his echolocation analyzed the scene and Henry's freshly risen determination sank again... until a different thought filled him up – what would Kismet do?

"Oh Silverchild, a fine mess you have gotten yourself into", Tonguetwist snarled. "Surrounded, defenseless, with a blade to your back. If I were you, I'd give up!"

If I were you, I'd give up! The words struck an unexpected chord within Henry and he squinted. Instead of Longclaw and Tonguetwist, he suddenly saw Luxa's face after she had managed to corner him in a pretend fight. He must have been... thirteen, maybe fourteen. Henry smiled, then his eye darted open.

Despite the blade in his back he turned to glance at Tonguetwist who hissed in protest, but he ignored her. It had had the desired effect on Luxa, so why should it not on her? Henry condescendingly raised an eyebrow and gazed at Tonguetwist with the sincerest expression he could muster – "If you were me, I'd be ugly!"

It worked. For a split second, her face turned to confusion and offense, the paw that held the blade to his back lowered by a margin. The moment he could no longer sense the steel Henry's hand darted up and, with all the force he could muster, he rammed the remains of his sword into her neck.

Her mouth opened for a piercing shriek yet moments later it turned into strained gurgling. Henry ducked to dodge the fountain of blood that followed when he pulled the shattered blade out again. It sullied her silken fur and for a moment, her strange blue eyes locked on him with utter disbelief... then the last bit of life faded from her expression and she sank forward until sand whirled up where her body hit the floor, before his feet.

He had stared at her lifeless shape for a few seconds, only then registered over the arena hung a deathly silence. It was violently disrupted by a sudden sharp cry and the exiled prince could barely turn and twist away when he perceived Longclaw leap at him, eyes misted with naked fury and hatred. "YOU WILL DIE!", Longclaw's talons whirled up sand when he slid forward after missing his target, his mouth tore open for a bestial roar.

In the blink of an eye, Henry registered the shape of Charos ahead and took a final, flying leap at the sword until his hands closed around the waisted hilt at last. Yet before he could lunge forward, Thanatos had ripped him up by the arms and Henry pulled on his legs in the last second to escape Longclaw's talons.

"You really just did that", his flier muttered and Henry managed a crooked grin. "Distractions are a powerful tool, so Kismet says. Much more powerful than most think."

He sensed Thanatos above him give a short laugh. "You don't say." Then he grew serious again – "I throw you?"

"Let's go." Henry clutched Charos' hilt harder and made out Longclaw's frantically spinning shape beneath. Once more Thanatos darted forward and released Henry directly above their maddened opponent, who was left with not a second to dodge. The black blade Henry gripped and swung with both hands tore his chest open to form a nigh-perfect "x" with the old scar.

Henry had to let go of Charos to roll off, but when he scrambled back up and got a hold of the blade it became clear Longclaw was a goner. He staggered forward yet the wound was so deep that when he stumbled, a good portion of his intestines spilled onto the white sand. Thanatos landed behind Henry who stepped back to dodge the faltering shape of the enormous rat. Longclaw released a sickening gurgle and attempted to clutch his stomach, yet moments later collapsed to the floor, claw still outstretched in their direction. The crown he had so firmly shoved over his ear at last hit the ground and rolled forward until it came to a halt before Henry's feet.

The look the exiled prince watched freeze on Longclaw's face was a mix of disbelief and livid hatred. He barely prevented himself from taking a step back and swallowed. The hatred had been extinguished with his life like it should have been a long time ago. It could not harm them anymore... nor anyone.

For a moment he stood still and gazed at his dead foe, red slowly colored the sand where he lied. When the trail of blood had nearly reached the tips of his boots, Henry looked up. In a heartbeat he registered the shocked, deafening silence hanging over the arena, in the next he processed it would not remain silent for much longer.

In a single twirl, he shouldered the blood-soaked blade of Charos and leaped at Thanatos who spread his wings. Yet the moment the audience processed what was happening the silence was disrupted by violent cries of protest.

Henry clung to Thanatos' fur and attempted to sheath Charos at the same time as they rapidly gained altitude, barely escaping the already leaping gnawers. One jumped right from the highest bleacher and missed the flier's leg only by an inch.

Thanatos soon soared right underneath the nigh-two-hundred-feet-tall ceiling and Henry at last managed to stick Charos back into the sheath with his sticky, soiled hands. "Where to?", the flier asked and Henry looked up. His echolocation scanned the cave for an exit.

"Don't you know the way?"

"The way out... or the way to the prison?"

Henry's head automatically darted in the direction. "Right... Dalia." He needn't say more. Thanatos put his wings on and darted down like a projectile, dodging all claws the seething kettle of enraged rats below flung at him and into the tunnel that led to the prison. Yet as soon as their pursuers registered they were in jumping-distance again they streamed in after them. Henry's hand darted up to the hilt of his sword instinctively, only then he remembered it was broken – and to wield Charos from the back of a flier effectively was nigh-impossible. This would be close.

As soon as the lone brazier they had put up in the cave with the prison pit came into view Henry leaned forward and squinted. In the next moment, they soared above the pit and instantly spotted the sunken shape of a new prisoner in their former place.

She looked up when she spotted them and Henry opened his mouth to ask how they were supposed to lift her out yet Thanatos twisted and dove, heartbeats before the first rats seeped into the cave. Two of them lost balance and plummeted into the pit, yet before they could get to their feet Henry sensed a tug followed by a surprised cry, then they gained altitude again.

He squinted and just about managed to discern Thanatos had yanked Dalia up by the arm when the flier put on his wings and shot directly through the rows of their pursuers towards the exit. Henry barely ripped Mys out of its sheath to slice at all paws, claws, and teeth that were flung at them before they soared out into open space again. Thanatos gained altitude and though Henry registered they had both taken a couple hits, nothing seemed severe. He twisted his neck yet could not check on Dalia with his eyes, his echolocation indicated she still twined in Thanatos' grip yet he had no idea how injured she might be.

When Henry finally glanced down at the rats he registered they had broken into utter panic. The dozen or so that had chased them clustered into a pile in the middle of the cave, their clueless shrieks echoed from the walls and merged into a continuous, sorrowful whimper. "Their leader is dead", Thanatos mumbled and Henry nodded. "For all that entails."

Thanatos did not fly far, with Dalia still dangling from his claw. When he reached the cave with the arena he dove into a high tunnel, one into which the rats could not follow. Yet the moment they came across the next larger cave he dropped Dalia on the floor, then landed.

Henry could not help but be taken back to his first encounter with Thanatos and sensed a faint memory of the hard collision with the floor when the flier had dropped him by the river. He slid off Thanatos' back and took a step towards where he sensed Dalia, yet she let out an alarmed shriek at his approach. "W... who is there?"

Henry blinked, only then remembered she could not see in the dark. He perceived her relentless trembling and made himself aware she must be frightened out of her mind. "It's the Death Rider", he muttered, "we aren't here to harm you." Dalia did not respond and only when Henry had agonizingly emptied the contents of his backpack in search of his torch, then finally lit it, he could make out her expression.

When he caught his first good look at her Henry nearly winced back, for he thought he stood before a walking corpse. Her sunken, glassy eyes stared at him with uncertainty and fear, yet a rest hint of defiance remained. Her skin was nigh-translucent and waxen, her clothes torn and dirty, and only on second glance, Henry discerned her braid had been cut off. Her hair was disheveled and clumped, but while it had formerly reached down to her waist, now it was barely longer than his.

Her bony figure twitched as he took a step closer, she pressed into the wall. She is scared of me, he understood, and the realization evoked a strange, unclassifiable emotion. "We... are not going to harm you", he repeated and knelt in front of her, keeping the torch out of her face as best he could.

After an eternal moment of silence, Dalia averted her gaze. "Why... did you come back for me?"

Henry thought he should not be surprised by the question yet it still caught him off-guard. His gaze trailed over to the tensed face of Thanatos, then back to Dalia. His mouth opened, yet out came no sound. Why did this question surprise him so? He blinked, then understood it was because he had no answer. Henry stared at Dalia, yet as much as he racked his brain trying to discern his own motive, he found nothing.

"You should have left me to die."

A shiver ran down his spine. "I can not."

Dalia's eyes narrowed. "Why? Because you care for me so?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and Henry twitched. "No, I..." He looked at Thanatos and suddenly understood. "Because first... I must know your reason."

Dalia snorted, then pulled her legs on. "Why would that interest you?"

"It interests me so much I deemed it worth to save you!"

"That is what I don't understand!", she cried. A few quiet moments passed before she averted her gaze. "So... if you will not answer, will you at least tell me what you plan to do with me now?"

Henry exchanged a glance with Thanatos and swallowed. "There are really only two options." He could not bring himself to look at her. "We take you back to the Fount to receive your just sentence – or we leave you here."

"So I die in any case", she spoke dryly, free of fear, as though she had already accepted her fate.

Henry's expression hardened. "So is the fate of traitors. Execution... or exile."

"But", she agitatedly exhaled, "Longclaw said –"

"Longclaw is dead." Her head darted up yet at that moment, the exiled prince had no sympathy for her. "And so is your new best friend, Tonguetwist."

Dalia's already large eyes widened. "What? How...?"

"We killed them. That's how." Henry finally sat down across her and sensed Thanatos settle a couple feet behind him.

"We could do so because you freed us", the flier at last spoke, "though none of us know why."

"Why did you do that?", Henry shot at her, "What was the plan?"

Dalia shuddered, then shook her head. "There was no plan. I..." Tears rose in her eyes and she adamantly clutched the torn fabric of her pants.

"You realized they had lied." It wasn't a question. "That whatever they had promised, whatever Tonguetwist had hammered into your head was a lie and that they would kill you anyway. That you had traded your loyalty for nothing. And you had nothing to lose."

Dalia remained silent.

"Why?", Henry barked out furiously. His mind flashed with images of himself and his own dire need to explain, to attempt and convey his point, his frustration with their lack of understanding. How much he had wished for anyone to ask, at the time. And here he was, asking Dalia the very question he had longed to hear. He could not think of a single reason as to why she hesitated to answer.

"I need to know...", he added quieter, "Everyone has a reason, a story. And, you know, I'm most likely the only one who will listen to it anyway. Or do you think any of them will care, back in civilization?"

She sobbed, then angrily wiped her tears. "Civilization? How would I ever get back there?" She hesitated, "Why would you take me back to civilization, you are not part of it anymore either." Suddenly her gaze tensed and her eyes narrowed. "Hold on, Tonguetwist said you –"

"Tonguetwist is a liar!", Henry barked and Dalia twitched, "You must not believe a single word she says!"

Her mouth opened, yet out came no sound. For a few heartbeats they stared at each other then her eyes narrowed. "You know her, do you not?"

"We were... old... acquaintances", his jaw clenched. "Let's say I... we both", he glanced at Thanatos, "know what she's capable of."

Dalia gazed at him defiantly, all of a sudden. "So, I must not believe a word she says, was it?" Her eyes narrowed, "Yet she spoke the truth about you. That you... were like me."

"I was what?" A sudden wave of panic hit Henry when he processed she had spoken to Tonguetwist about him, and everything she could have told Dalia, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than for her to shut up.

"What did she say?" Thanatos who had come up behind him was less hesitant.

Dalia twitched, then looked back and forth between them. "I had gone to see her during my watch when we camped at the lake", she mumbled, "to tell her everything was going as planned. I... I mean, I understood why they wanted the queen and the warrior, but... why they wanted you I never understood. So I asked... asked who you were, and why you were so important."

Henry had to summon his last remaining willpower to calm his spinning head. "Who... I..."

"And you know what she said?" Dalia gazed up, suddenly with something like angry defiance. "She said you were no other than former Prince Henry of Regalia, he who everyone presumed died with Gorger."

Henry then and there turned to unmoving stone.

"Yet they told us nothing but lies", she cried, "THEY told us Prince Henry died BATTLING the rats, killed by King Gorger, he supposedly was, but you know what Tonguetwist said?" Her eyes narrowed, "She said he was a good portion less honorable than the public was led to believe. She said he conspired with Gorger to hand over the warrior to the gnawers." Her spiteful demeanor crumbled and she lowered her gaze. "She said... we were not so different, in the end."

Henry stared at her, mouth agape, for what felt like an eternity. His mind overflowed with questions, objections, more or less intelligent replies, but it was like he had lost the ability to speak.

"And though she said this was not the reason they wanted you here... she told the truth, did she not?" The dry spite had returned to Dalia's voice and her gaze flickered to eye him up and down. "Is this yet another violation of simple decency the oh-so high and mighty nobility will get away with? It should not surprise me anymore, at this point."

Henry could still not speak. His mind reeled with panic and he had to fight to keep himself from collapsing. It is all over. Now it is.

"Wait... what do you mean, "what the general public believes"?" He jerked around when Thanatos behind him spoke up. "Did they keep it a secret?"

For the first time, Henry thought his head cleared some as he processed Thanatos' words, then glanced at Dalia. Before he could speak, she beat him to it – "Oh, they did, they even publicly proclaimed he died an honorable death. Most likely to not sully the spotless reputation of the infallible royal family."

Henry blinked. His mind flashed back to everyone he cared about, back in Regalia, and a sickening feeling rose in his gut. He had never given it a thought how they might, or might not, break the news about his betrayal.

They would keep it a secret to not sully their reputation... something about the sole thought appalled him, though, in a way, it also surprised him little. Then another horrible realization crept up from the depths of his mind... who even knew? Luxa and the rest of the questers, obviously. Vikus and Solovet? The council? Henry suddenly asked himself if Mareth knew.

None of them spoke for a long time. Dalia and Thanatos stared at the floor, Henry tugged at his remaining gauntlet, attempting to pull it so that it covered the scar on the back of his hand. Scraped at the stains of blood.

"So... will you at last tell me what will happen now?"

Henry's head darted up at Dalia when she spoke, and for some reason, his chest tightened at the question. He looked at Thanatos and pressed his lips together. "Well, considering you know my identity, this decision has now gotten a whole lot easier."