Green Paladin: Arrghhh! Bombarded with reviews! (hides under sofa) Wait… that's good! (does happy dance)

Green Blackguard: Thanks to all our readers and reviewers! Because of this, I'm in such high spirits that I don't need to kill anyone today!

Green Paladin: That makes me even happier! Yay!

Green Blackguard: Review, or I'll rip out your spleen and make you eat it!

Green Paladin: With a Mayonnaise dressing?

Green Blackguard: Obviously. Mayonnaise goes well with spleens!

It had been many days since that night on the cliff, and this night was still and serene. I watched over Lyn as she rested. I'd been sitting there beside her for twelve hours, after she'd suffered a chest wound in a skirmish. Sain periodically asked if he should take my place, which I refused with, "No chance, you drooling incompetent." I know I was harsh on him, but I was worried.

'She looks so peaceful like this. Hard to think that all this could be happening to her. She doesn't deserve such hardship.' I saw her stir, and murmur some inarticulate sounds.

She moaned softly and looked around from her horizontal position. "Where are the others?" she murmured groggily.

"Wil and Kent are patrolling, Sain's guarding the camp with Dorcas."

"Good."

She started to rise, but I eased her back down. "Hey, hey, slow down. You're not all right yet."

"I've something to give you."

"You're in no state to be going anywhere. I'll get it, where is it?"

"In a mahogany box with gold edges. It's hard to miss."

I searched the tent and brought out the only box fitting that description. I handed it to her, and she carefully opened it. She turned it round, and presented me with it. I breathed, "Wow." I removed the gift from the container and held it before me, admiring it's fine tailoring. A blue robe, with cream trim. It was for a plainsman, and a plainsman I was not. But this one was a little familiar. "Is this the same robe from when I met you?"

She looked thoughtfully at me and said, "Well, your clothes are still ruined. There are still all those arrow holes in them."

"Well, you're right. I do need new clothes. In fact, I'll change into them now. Wait here." I went into the tent, emerging several minutes later wearing her gift. "Well, it certainly is comfortable. Hold on… this fits better than it did before."

"I re-stitched it."

"How'd you get my measurements?"

"Well, sometimes you're asleep and I'm not."

"… I won't ask. Thanks anyway. I'm not getting rid of this, though." I threw on my billowing forest green cloak, which was still very worn out. "And I'm still staying right here until you're better. You did the same for me, remember?" She smiled, and sat down, and watched over her once again.

"What shall we do Andur?" asked Lyn. The castle was locked tight, and the fire still raged. The Marquess of Araphen still needed our help. "We don't have any keys with us. Perhaps some of the marauders are carrying keys…"

I shook my head. "I wouldn't count on it. I'm sure Kent and Sain can deal with the ones outside." I shouted to them in the distance, "Kent! Sain! Circle the castle and defeat any attackers you find! Take Erk and Wil with you for support!" I took a look around, and noticed a pair of eyes looking at us from a house north of Lyn and me. "Look, there may be someone in that house worth talking to. Come on." We ran to the house, and opened the oddly unlocked door.

Inside the house I saw a light brown haired man in an odd garb, and an impish smirk on his face. "Hey you!" he said, motioning to Lyn. "Can I talk to you?" 'His voice seems a little familiar,' I suddenly thought. 'But where from…?'

"Who are you?" questioned Lyn.

"I'm Matthew, a specialist in acquisitions of all kinds. Would you like to buy my services?"

"I've no need for a thief." Lyn answered rather forcefully, and turned to leave.

"Really?" asked Matthew confidently. "And how do you plan on opening the barrack doors?"

Lyn stopped, and turned back to Matthew. "What? How did you know about--"

"Bullseye!" Lyn was silent. "Don't be mad. Hire me." I know where I'd heard that voice… The woods, that night! "For you, I'll even lower the normal rate." He sneaked a look at me when he said that. 'I can't let him tell them…'

"I do need those doors opened… OK. You're hired. Why did you choose to ally yourself with me?"

I smiled inwardly. 'Good question. You've learned a lot from me, Lyn.'

"Hm? I was watching the battle from up above. Your group looked much more fun than the dead guy. Pretty simple, really."

I stared for a moment, stunned by his flawless logic. "You're so odd," stated Lyn.

We walked out, and Matthew followed whispering to himself, "It's time to get to work!"

I was creeping with Matthew inside the castle, while Rath was clearing up any other missed troops. However, two more switches needed to be pressed, and I had sent Kent, Sain and Wil onto that. Lyn was skulking along behind me, but not so far as to be unable to hear. I held my tongue about the woods for now. Matthew pulled me close and pointed to a chest in the distance, which for some unexplained reason was sitting in the middle of an empty room. He exclaimed joyfully, "Hey! Unless my eyes deceive me, that's a chest! Say, Andur! Since we came all this way, what say we help ourselves?"

"No," I commanded, hoping that that would be enough. But I was curious to see its contents as well. Maybe they would explain it's strange placing.

"Huh? What do you mean, 'No'? Don't be such a bore. If you want to win, you've got to use every means at your disposal. That's an ironclad rule! Yeah, I know stealing's bad. I'm well aware of that. We're saving the marquess, right? Let's just call this an advance on our reward, okay?"

"Oh, fine. Whatever." I added menacingly, "But if Marquess Araphen gets pissed off, you're the one on the chopping block, not me. Got it?"

"Hey! Changed your mind? Hurrah! Treasure time! Treasure time!" He made a beeline for the lock, and picked it as though it was the simplest thing in the world. He picked out a bluish robe. He then proceeded to tell me what it was for. 'As if I don't know what an Angelic Robe is. Pah!' I thought, while mindlessly nodding to everything he said. He grew confused after a time, and I realised he'd stopped speaking and I was still nodding. "You all right?"

"Oh yes," I replied casually, "I was just noticing how stupid you think I am."

"Heh. Okay then." He looked behind him and saw another chest, again very oddly positioned. He leapt to it before I could get a word in, and he returned with an Armorslayer.

"Hmm. That might prove useful." Suddenly I heard a crashing sound, and the wall a few feet to my left fell down, revealing a man literally covered in metal plate. "All right, that may prove necessary." Kent and Sain rode in from the entrance, and I threw the sword to Kent. "Take him out! This sword will get through his armour!" Nodding to me, he charged directly to the steel giant, and began parrying his spear attacks with relative ease. Blocking until he could see a weakness in his pattern, Kent rapidly struck, tearing holes in his armour and flesh. Blood seeped out over the metal, but the armoured foe didn't give up. He thrust, and glanced Kent's swordarm, causing him to drop the sword.

I ran up while shouting, "Kent! Dodge him! Hold him back!" He moved back and forth on his steed, and I managed to reach the sword. I jumped back to avoid a spearhead to the face, and threw the sword backward to Sain. "Kent! Get to Serra! Sain, charge this guy!" For once Sain listened to me and charged directly at the figure ahead of him, swinging the sword as he rode by. He ripped a deep rend in the man's jugular, causing blood to spew forth. With a great crash the titan fell, the crimson red fluid pooling around him. Sain triumphantly stepped on the now-unguarded last switch, and the wall behind him collapsed.

Lyn called to me, "Here it is, Andur! The hidden passageway! Good work! We'll let Rath take over from here."

"Sir... If you have praise, it should be given to this group."

"That's very modest, Rath. You held your own there as well," I added.

Completely ignoring me as usual, the marquess' sight fixed on Lyn. "Hm? Who are you?"

Lyn respectfully answered, "My name is Lyndis. I'm pleased you're well."

"Oh... It's you." His voice sounded… disapproving? "You're Marquess Caelin's--- Leave us, Rath. I would speak with this girl." Rath obeyed his lord, and left in a rather slow meander.

"Now... Lady Lyndis. Do you know the identity of those responsible for this uproar?" the marquess asked without a hint of courtesy.

"I believe it to be the work of my granduncle, Lundgren."

The marquess almost sneered as he said, "That's exactly right. Which means my castle has been damaged in your family's petty inheritance dispute."

"My- My apologies..." she replied, staggered at his anger.

"When I heard that Lady Madelyn's daughter was in trouble, I thought to lend my assistance... I find I've changed my mind. I withdraw my offer."

Kent's expression was of absolute bafflement. "Marquess Araphen! You gave me your word, my lord!"

"Your name is Kent, is it not? You failed to inform me of one most vital detail!"

"What... What do you mean?" he asked nervously, still not fully comprehending. I realised it at once.

"This girl does resemble Lady Madelyn, but... I didn't expect to see her so tainted with the blood of Sacae."

"What?" cried Lyn, who was utterly offended, as were we all.

"Don't you feel the marquess of Caelin would be troubled to meet this... nomadic mongrel?" asked the bastard.

"You--!" started Sain, moving to the marquess. Couldn't blame him.

"Sain! Hold! My apologies, my lord Marquess." I couldn't believe Kent still treated this joke of a man with respect!

"Hm... Your man is poorly disciplined." My fists tightened, but I restrained myself.

"Marquess Araphen! Please... If you would grace us with your aid..."

"... I hear Marquess Caelin is ill and abed. I question whether he will survive to meet this girl. In which case, his brother, Lundgren, will claim his title. And I certainly wish to avoid trouble with the coming marquess."

Sain was outraged. His face contorted into a side of him I'd never seen before- his seething rage. "You scheming..."

"Sain!" Lyn held her arm against the green knight and said with a hint of great, bottled-up fury, "I understand. Kent, Sain, we take our leave at once."

Kent protested, "Milady Lyndis! We--"

"I am proud of the Sacae blood that runs through my veins. I will not accept aid from one who disparages my heritage."

"Lyn, go. Wait outside." The others left, but Lyn stayed. I shot her a look that read, 'please.' She nodded, and left.

"Well? Why do you remain?" probed the marquess.

I stared intensely with a boiling hatred, and said, voice lined with disgust, "You sicken me."

"What!"

"How can you be so disrespectful of the plainsfolk? What do you hate so much about them?"

"They're savages! Vermin!"

"Why?"

"They're nothing but vagabonds, foraging for what they can scrape off the land! They've no culture-"

"-That you can see!" I interrupted angrily. "You've never even tried to see beyond the exteriors of these peoples! They are noble race!"

"Hah! There is no nobility there!"

"What is nobility?" I asked, simply.

"What? Why do you ask that?"

I pointed to his robes. "Is that nobility? Your power and riches?"

"Of course! What else could it be?" he proudly replied.

My heart sank, all faith in the so-called civilized upper class crushed by his terrible words. "I see. You have no idea. I can't bear to talk to such a ignorant man as you." I turned away, and didn't look back.

The sunset was near, as we began to travel again. Still angered at the marquess, I was silent the whole time. Lyn packed her satchel, and came to me. "The marquess of Araphen... He said my grandfather was ill. We must hurry to Caelin..."

"I agree. But the path will not be easy," I commented, hiding my rage.

Kent walked over and added his contribution to the conversation. "As we approach Caelin, Lundgren's obstacles will be more difficult to overcome. However, I've vowed to see you through to the end, milady!"

She smiled at his loyalty. "I'm counting on you, Kent."

"I'm with you, too!" Sain joined in.

"Thank you, Sain."

"Hey, what about me?" I interjected. "I said I'd stay if you wanted me to. But now, I'll stay because I want to. I won't leave you now."

"Andur... Thank you for always standing at my side. It's because of all of you that I... I will persevere! They will never break my spirit!" My heart felt lightened by her words, and I wondered why.

It was a while before I could get Matthew alone. He seemed to avoid Serra though. Not my place to pry. But she was distracted at the moment anyway, talking incessantly in her annoying manner to Rath, who was currently sitting under a tree, being quiet and whittling a stick into a point using some of his arrows. 'I hope he isn't planning on making her stop talking in a rather rash way,' I thought.

I guided Matthew away from the camp, and hissed, "You know, don't you?"

"Why, whatever do you mean?" smiled Matthew.

"I grabbed him by the shoulders and assibilated harshly, "You were there! In those woods yesterday! I heard you call me murderer. You know."

"Yes, I know. You still bear the mark, remember? But you seem to have changed, as I said."

"You know very well that doesn't excuse what I did."

"No. But you seem trustworthy… for the moment."

"Don't tell them."

"Who?" asked Matthew, knowing full well the answer was obvious.

"Them. Especially-"

"Fine by me," he interrupted, putting up his hands. In a very serious tone he added, "But if you resume your old activities after this is done..."

"No need to worry about that. I stepped from that path a long time ago."

"After the incident, I assume?"

I peered at him and said, "You seem to know an awful lot about me, for a common thief."

"I hear things."

"Really? Hear anything else?"

"Yes. Kent's behind you."

"What?" I turned to see the imposing form of Kent on horseback, staring directly at me.

"Why are you out here?" he probed.

"Nothing that need concern you, Kent. We were just talking. And we've finished, haven't we?" I said, facing Matthew.

"Of course we have."

"Then return to the camp. I'm sure Wil has brought back something for you to cook," commanded Kent. His horse moved sideways, leaving us a direct path to the camp.

As we walked back, Matthew asked curiously, "So you cook?"

"For someone who claims to know so much about me, you seem rather ignorant of anything besides my shady past. Hear only the bad things about people?"

"No. But you are a reclusive figure. Why are you here anyway?"

"I… don't know what you mean," I replied, evading the question.

"Yes you do. You disappeared after that day. Why are you again in the open?"

"I have my reasons."

"Those being?"

"I don't know you well enough yet to tell you." As I stepped into the glade where the camp was, I saw Serra thankfully not impaled on a stake (or is that unthankfully?), but she was still talking to Rath. He looked just as he did when he left. "What's wrong with him? Has he no ears?" I whispered to Matthew.

"Don't get me started about her…"

"There's something I need to ask you."

"Rath?" I asked in disbelief. 'Rath hasn't said anything to anyone since he joined! Why is he talking now?'

"I see you wear the patterns of the Lorca. I heard of the massacre from Lyn. I didn't believe there could be one survivor, let alone two."

'Survivors…?' "Oh no! No, no, no. I'm not a Lorca tribesman."

"Then why do you wear their robes?"

"Lyn gave them to me."

"Then why do you say you're not a Lorca plainsman?"

I stared in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"It is a tradition. If you are gifted the clothes of a plainsman, you become part of the tribe."

"What…?"

Rath sounded as deadpan as ever. "… Are you angry?"

"No! I'm… I'm flattered! I mean… I didn't ask for this, and she didn't say anything… but… I'm honoured!" Rath left without so much as a goodbye. Typical. I yawned, and decided to rest. But as I moved to my tent, I could feel Kent's cold gaze upon me. I had the suspicion that he overheard my conversation with Matthew. 'Nah, probably just my paranoia.' I went in through the tent flap, and Lyn was sitting there, waiting for me.

"I heard you talking to Rath."

"You made me a Lorca plainsman? How do I deserve that honour?"

"You've earned it through the strength of your soul. You're a good and noble man. You've helped me physically, and mentally. You've always been there, and because of this you've earned the respect of the chieftain's daughter. That is why I made you one of the Lorca."

"Since you heard me talk to Rath, I suppose you don't need me to tell you how I feel about this."

"No, and I'm glad you feel that way. Good night." She slid into her bedroll, and I got into mine. This night, my arm was around her.

Green Paladin: So? What is your excuse now?

Green Blackguard: Well, I was just greeting this person on the street, and then I just sort of slipped, and accidentally repeatedly stabbed them in the heart!

Green Paladin: How can you accidentally repeatedly stab someone in the heart? Not once, but TWELVE TIMES! TWELVE PEOPLE!

Green Blackguard: Well… erm… they're all just very unlucky?

Green Paladin: In the leech pit with you! (shoves)

Green Blackguard: Arrghhh! My precious blood! Don't take that! I need that to live!

Green Paladin: More soon, stay tuned!