An Alliance

I could hardly believe what I had seen. Despite our best efforts, Blackstone was moving forward towards our fortress. Just how many were there in this clearing? Peering out from the edges of the forest, I observed each moving mass as I tried to estimate their number. One hundred, at the least? Even a number that grand seemed too little to account for their ranks. Worse yet, this incursion was no resting place, not for a single moment did I believe that.

The soldiers were hard at work, taking axes and makeshift straps to cut down the wood around them, one already felled, one looking mere inches away from following with its light brown exterior exposed to the world around it. They weren't just aware of our fortress, they were building something to break down its walls. How had they learned of it so quickly, I wondered? Was a spy implanted within their ranks? Had one of their Peacekeepers followed us in our recklessness?

At the center of it all was an absolute monster of a man, standing heads and shoulders above his comrades as he barked and bellowed his commands. He almost sounded more beast than man, and even had the size to make such an assessment. I remembered hearing tales of a walking behemoth clad in full plate, the monster of the Blackstone Legion. Watching this man stride what must have been several feet in single bounds only confirmed those tales to me. Worse, he was at the forefront of the assault on our home.

Turning just right, I peered several trees down, just making out the silhouette of Adelaide. She had hidden herself well, only the whites of her eyes revealing her position some several feet away from me. Those same eyes told a story all their own, alarm and distress plainly written in every twitch of the iris, and every darting move they made to take in more of the scene before us. This foe had been fearsome before, but now, it seemed they were beyond us. My young companion turned her gaze to me, her hood and mask ensuring only those eyes remained visible.

"Are you seeing this?" Her look seemed to ask, her voice perfectly clear in my mind. I nodded in response, and watched as she stifled a breath, doing everything in her power to remain as still as possible. I could not bear to see her like this, we had seen what we needed. With a gentle twist I jerked my head to the path behind us, Adelaide understood immediately. With a nod of her own, she silently vanished into another set of branches behind her, not a trace visible. I took one final moment to look back at the camp, then turned to follow her.

This information needed to return to the fortress.

—-

Despite my many years of discipline, I could scarcely contain my frustration with Kharion. Our report had been as clear as day, and yet he still refused to inform us of our next action. Blackstone was marching towards the fortress, our numbers were depleted, and as far as we knew, the Warden was still unable to fight. Yet even with all of this, my young friend refused to listen to reason. Instead he twiddled his thumbs at that desk and remained silent, lost in some fantasy he refused to divulge. Despite my efforts to remain calm, I could feel an anger rise within me.

Due to the dire nature of our standing, only Adelaide had joined us for discussion on our next action. Despite her youth, I could tell even she seemed unsettled by our Elder's uncaring and apathetic behavior. Her stance was straight, disciplined, hands folded and held at her stomach. Still, I could see the light twitches and shaking within them. Her concern was well hidden, but still evident to one as well trained as a Ranger. For her sake, I forced myself to take a deep breath as I straightened myself, presenting as confident an air as I could manage. Though reason had yet to win the day, I was not ready to leave it at the door.

"Elder, do you understand what I have told you?" I asked, keeping my voice as steady as I could. The young man held a hand up, but otherwise gave no indication he'd considered what I'd said. After a time, he lowered his hand and looked towards me.

"How far along are their rams?" He finally asked.

"From what we could see, it appears their construction has only just begun. They were still in the process of cutting down one of them, in fact." I replied. Kharion took this information in as he nodded slowly, glancing briefly at Adelaide as he did. Though my view of her was limited to the side of my vision, I could still see her quickly hold her hands steady, fighting against them, no doubt. For a time, the elder was silent, musing about our report as we awaited his response. Eventually he'd had enough of his thoughts and rose, pushing the chair back as he stood.

"The rams cannot be allowed to be completed. Ready the other Rangers, we will strike before the sun rises." He finally declared. Another ambush? Had he simply forgotten the disastrous outcome of the first? One glance at Adelaide was enough to see that she too held worries, based on the sudden clenching of her hands, and the tensing of the rest of her body. The young Ranger was quick to steady herself, and cleared her throat.

"With all due respect, elder…" She said, drawing an impatient glare from Kharion. The glare was enough to rattle the poor girl as she took a step back, her composure fleeting in but a moment. Was he now silencing his opposers into silence? Had he truly fallen that far? I could feel my fists clenching before I realized that I'd done so, and quickly took a breath to calm myself. Patience, I told myself. I would need to be patient to break through to my friend.

But what to say? Logic had already failed, and appealing to the safety of the people would likely have little effect. Like a strike of lightning a new idea bolted into my mind, recalling my revelations in the hideaway. I had likened him to a grieving child, a sentiment I still held true to even now. However, I knew grief was perhaps the greatest of all unifiers, especially freshly borne grief of similar magnitude.

"Kharion, the rangers are not yet recovered. They still grieve from the loss of their companions. As someone who has so recently lost their beloved father, you could perhaps allow them to mourn, and find another way?" I recommended, keeping my voice low and soothing. Immediately I realized I had made a mistake, as Kharion's disposition shifted almost immediately. His brow furrowed and a rage began to boil over, turning slowly as he stared through me.

"You would weaponize my grief against me, Captain? Do you think I'm a blind fool who cannot recognize such things?" He hissed. I could hardly hold back my anger now. Was he so convinced that everything was an attack against him?

"I am merely trying to say-"

"I know what you're trying to say, Berrat." Kharion barked, preventing me from speaking. "And I will not tolerate doubts about my ability to lead." He said, venom dripping from every word. Vile and spoiled brat, I thought. His father had raised him better than this, did he now intend to spit on his grave? Before I could respond, Kharion turned away from me, leaving me to stew in my thoughts.

"Ready the other rangers. That is an order." He said again, a newly found ferocity in his voice. The last word was punctuated with yet another death glare, this time aimed precisely in my direction. His eyes were akin to a burning pit, raging ever on with fuel to spare. Unfortunately for him, I was not one to be easily swayed. I held firm in my expression, glaring back at him as I refused to move.

"No." Said Adelaide. The word was so sudden, I hardly realized it had been spoken. Neither Kharion nor myself had expected it, and both of us found ourselves suddenly looking towards our companion. She was still anxious, that much was plain to see between her fidgeting hands and trembling eyes. Even so, I could see a fire buried deep within.

"Excuse me?" Kharion said slowly and deliberately. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that he was attempting to frighten her again, and for a moment it seemed to work. Adelaide moved to take a step back again, before she clenched her fist and furrowed her brow. With a renewed confidence, she replaced her step, keeping in line with me and staring onward into the inferno.

"You are not the leader of this company. We take orders only from Captain Berrat, no others." She said firmly, her voice never one trembling. I allowed myself to smile at that, taking pride in her loyalty and good sense. Kharion, however, did not appreciate these virtues. Without a sound he placed his hands squarely on the table in front of him, leaning in as he glared down my companion.

"Are you refusing to obey my order?" He said coldly. I'm not sure how best to describe my old friend's tone as he said this. The best I can compare it to is a rumbling piece of the earth. There was nothing imminently violent or even dangerous in his words, but the low rumble and shaking within could threaten to throw anyone off of their balance. At the least, it was enough to briefly break Adelaide's bravado, as her eyes widened and she took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm herself.

For a moment, only silence permeated that cabin, the walls doing nothing to protect from the cold malice that bit into the room with a ferocity unmatched by any storm I had weathered. Adelaide seemed unable to muster a response, though whether it was from a sinking fear or a raging defiance, I did not know. What I could tell for certain, however, was how uncomfortable she appeared. Every breath seemed labored, audible plainly to one not even paying attention to his surroundings. I'd had enough of this. To disregard my advice was one thing, but to demonize and threaten my rangers? No, I would not have that.

"She is not the only one, boy." I said, taking special care to emphasize the word 'boy'. My efforts provided exactly what I had hoped for as Kharion's focus seemed to falter, blinking and shaking his head as he glanced at me. I could just see the telltale signs of surprise and shock as he shifted his attention away from the young ranger. Now focused on me, I gave him a look that said exactly how I felt, like a disappointed and scolding parent. To his credit, he noticed that right away.

"Berrat…" He began, his voice growing softer now. "I am the elder of this hamlet." He tried to say.

"And yet you see it more fit to act as a petulant child, throwing fits and throwing away our people's lives!" I yelled, no longer bothering to hide my anger. My words startled Kharion deeply, as his eyes widened as he lifted his hands from the desk, and took a step back. Even so, I did not stop my fury.

"I will not see more of my rangers callously tossed aside for your petty vengeance. Find another target for your tantrums." I growled. If I were less livid, I might have been concerned when I noticed how hurt Kharion appeared. I might have been apologetic when he became speechless, unsure what to say. But that hardly mattered when he refused to see our people as individuals. We were not his livestock to be slaughtered as he saw fit. Taking a deep breath, Kharion collected himself and spoke once more.

"Berrat, you have been a knowledgeable mentor, a steadfast supporter, and a true friend to me." He began. Even as he spoke well of me, I could feel the leading in his tone. He was trying to ease me into something. He looked away for a moment, raising a hand as if to point at me, but seemed to think better of it and lowered it.

"I am going to give you one last chance to-"

"And you can take it back. My mind is set." I interrupted, sending that look of surprise right back onto his face. Clearly, he had not been expecting to be rejected twice. His face contorted between despair, frustration, wrath, and a number of other emotions before he clenched his eyes and raised a fist, his fist shut so tightly I wondered how he did not puncture his own skin. Beside me, Adelaide gave me a glance before nodding, and I nodded at her. No words were needed, we were rangers. And we were united.

For a time, none of us said a word. Kharion stewed in his anger while I merely watched him, awaiting whatever punishment he would try to enact. Adelaide did much the same, standing straight as she matched my stance. Eventually, Kharion slowly lowered himself back into his seat, hanging his head in either shame or indignation. It was difficult to tell which. When another few moments had passed, he spoke again, quietly, defeated.

"We are done here, you may both take your leave." For a moment, I felt the blaze of anger dim. Once again, I saw not a Ranger or leader of men before me, but a grieving and distraught son, one who had just lost his greatest supporters. I could not help the paternal worry that rose in my chest, nor the genuine concern over the young man. Still, I knew I could not rescind my words. They had needed to be said, painful as they may have been to him. The best thing for him now was time, time to process his emotions and come to terms with them, without the destructive outlet of our lives.

Even with these thoughts, or perhaps because of them, it was with a somber mood that I walked towards the exit of that cabin. Behind me, Adelaide seemed similarly subdued, neither proud of what had occurred here, nor ashamed. Kharion said nothing to us as I opened the door, nothing as I held it open for Adelaide, and nothing as she took her leave. When she had left, I paused for a moment at the door to take one last look at the young Elder. He had not moved even a finger, still sat alone and withdrawn. Call it weakness, but it felt wrong of me to leave him there to his own machinations. So I held and gave him an invitation.

"When you are ready, come and find me. We can talk then." It was a meager offer, but one I hoped he would come to accept sooner rather than later. He did not reply to me as I pulled the door closed, and found myself shivering slightly against the sudden but expected chill in the air. Turning away, I saw that Adelaide had held near the exit, but faced away from me, slightly to the right of the door. Looking to see what had captured her attention, I saw something most peculiar.

Leaning along the side of the wall, resting somewhat comfortably, was the Conqueror Stone. He wore his full armor, and held his shield casually at his side. I saw not the head of his flail, for he had cast the chain over his shoulder, and held the handle of the weapon with such ease I feared he might drop it. This however, did not happen, even as he gently shifted his straight, seemingly unfocused gaze towards Adelaide, and then to me.

"Evening." Was all he said. No comment on what had just transpired, no quip at the elder's expense, just a casual greeting. This, despite the mundane nature of it, drew my interest. He appeared completely and totally at ease, lounging without a care in the world. Yet, why would he choose the Elder's cabin to do so? Had he been waiting for us out here? If he had, just how long had he done so?

"Evening, Conqueror." I said back, turning to more directly face him. "Is there something you need?" I then questioned. The Conqueror grunted as he pushed off the wall, flinging the chain of his weapon forward before catching it, just before the head would have struck his side. I wondered just how skilled he was to be able to wield such a clumsy weapon.

"Nothing I need, no. But my master would like a word with you, if you're willing." He explained. I was surprised by this somewhat, the Warden was asking for me? From what I understood, the man had only just woken from his injuries, was he really already getting back into things? If nothing else, I had to admire the man for his sheer spirit. Lord knows I would have wanted a day or two's rest before hopping back into the fray.

"I see." I said, more subconsciously than anything else. "Did he mention what for?" I asked. The Conqueror shifted his gaze back towards the front of the fortress, though I doubted he was looking at the multitude of people walking about. I realized he was looking in the same direction as the Warden's resting place, as though he was contemplating something.

"He's worried about what Blackstone is planning next. You're the only one around here with authority who still seems to respect him at all, so he wants to discuss our next move with you." He explained. I suppose that answered just about every question I had. A part of me wanted to decline, give the Warden a chance to properly recover. I quickly thought better of that notion, however. Much like I'd told Kharion, my rangers were depleted, and in low spirits from their lost brothers and sisters. If we were to have any chance at victory, we would need the Warden and his Iron Legion.

"Very well then. Might Ranger Adelaide accompany me as my second?" I asked. Beside me, I could just see Adelaide's eyes widen, before quickly composing herself. The Conqueror shrugged as he began making his way forward.

"Never said for you to come alone, so yeah, why not." He said as I stepped in line behind him. I looked behind me only long enough to motion Adelaide follow. I just saw her nod before turning back to keep an eye on the Conqueror, though I did hear the soft crunching of snow as she followed behind. As we walked, I wondered just what plan we could enact that would give us a fighting chance. The fortress would be a highly defensible position, but aside from the Legion, none of us were familiar with siege warfare. Blackstone would have a distinct edge against us. Hit and run tactics were out of the question, we were far too few for that. One bad strike and we were far more likely to lose more than we'd take down.

I was still contemplating possible strategies as we arrived at our destination. I watched as the Conqueror quickly made his way down the steps, his pace sounding more akin to a horse than a man. As I made a move to follow, I saw the Conqueror freeze for a moment, followed by his shoulders slumping. I nearly asked if he was alright as I reached the bottom of the stairwell, only to receive an answer in the form of the Warden.

"What the heck are you doing?" Stone asked the Warden, who sat at the bed mostly armored, save for his bare head. He briefly turned towards us as if to speak, only for the Bard, Deborah, I believe, to gently grab his face and pull it back towards her. In her hands was the Warden's helmet, which she carefully placed atop his head as she sported a smug grin on her face.

"What was that you said about Stone agreeing with you, Liam?" Said the Bard. Her question almost sounded like the melody of a hymn, pleasant in even normal speech. Was this how she always sounded? It was no wonder she'd chosen her profession if so. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as the Warden sighed and reached for the sword at his side as Deborah tightened the straps under his chin. The whole encounter was enough to make me smile, and I only received even more reason when the Warden shakily attempted to stand. The Bard, seeing his difficulty, took hold of his free hand and his upper arm, gently helping him to stand. When the Warden was fully upright, he used the sword as a makeshift walking stick as the Bard placed a hand on his back, helping him move as he faced us.

"My thanks for your swift arrival, Captain. I had hoped to speak with you, if you've the time." He said. Despite his efforts, the pain in his voice was plain to hear. I was not the only one to notice, as his companions each responded to him in different manners. The Conqueror was quick to shake his head and cross his arms, while the bard smiled sadly and raised her hand onto his shoulder. Was his armor painful for him to wear? Perhaps it pressed against his wound, or perhaps his body was still sore, and the armor weighed against it? And yet he still wore it, why? Was he so beholden to his oaths that he would not part from it even now?

"Lord Warden, perhaps it would be best if you remove your armor? It clearly distresses you to a degree, and we are among allies, are we not?" I offered. I had scarcely finished my proposition before the Warden politely waved it aside.

"I will manage, I speak before a respected leader of Herongale's people, I will honor him as such." He explained between tired wheezes. Well, there was something I had not expected. A Warden offering honor and respect to a lowly Ranger Captain? I'd seen my share of Wardens in my time, but even the noblest among them did not lower themselves to my level.

"Very well then." I said with a smile, adjusting ever so slightly to allow Adelaide her place at my side. "Then what is it you wish to discuss, Lord Warden?" I continued. Of course, Stone had already informed me of the nature of this meeting, but allowing the Warden to fully explain himself was the proper thing to do here. The Warden groaned a bit as he took a step forward, the Bard carefully stepping with him as he did.

"I know the Blackstone Legion well, they will not stand aside or retreat now that aggression has been decided. We must decide on a course of action, and I feel it would be beneficial for us to stand together." He explained. Even as hurt as he was, pausing for breath between his sentences, there was a conviction and a confidence in his voice that seemed infectious.

"I agree wholeheartedly. I can offer you knowledge on what my Rangers have discovered, and a personal promise to stand by your side. As for the others…" Slowly, I turned to Adelaide. Normally, as her captain, I could order her and the others into whatever plan of action I deemed most applicable, or call it to a vote in times of less intense need. In this case, however, I knew what I was saying could very well come across as treason, should Kharion's mind remain swayed by hatred. It was only fair for her to decide her own fate at this moment. Every eye turned to face her, and hers turned to me. Asking for permission to speak, I realized. I nodded, and she nodded back before turning to the Warden.

"The Elder has made his personal vendetta clear, and it has claimed the lives of my brothers and sisters. I will stand by the guidance of he who has always put Herongale first, Captain Berrat." She began, her voice loud and clear. "If he deems you an asset to Herongale and her people, we will honor it. We stand with you, Lord Warden." She concluded, bowing slightly to the Warden as she did. I could scarcely hold back my proud smile, frankly, I doubt I could have said it better myself. The Warden seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his companion beside him gently rubbing his shoulder as she smiled and mouthed something to me.

"Thank you." She seemed to say. I smiled back and nodded slowly before turning my attention back to the Warden. He seemed to stand up straighter now, pausing his weight against the sword in an effort to appear commanding.

"I thank you both, what can you tell me about Blackstone's location?" He asked.

"Their primary camp is about an hour's march from Herongale proper, it seems their progress is slowed by the construction of what appear to be rams." I explained. The smile on the Bard's lips seemed to vanish in an instant, and the Warden's grip on his sword visibly tightened. The air in the room seemed to grow chilly in a single moment, though I doubt the weather was the cause.

"They're preparing for a siege?" He asked, a growl in his voice as he spoke.

"Lord knows they've got plenty of resources for it." Said the Conqueror. "With this many trees around and over a hundred hands, they can have a set of rams ready by tomorrow morning if they're dedicated enough." He said plainly. I wasn't sure if I agreed with him, Blackstone getting it done that quickly seemed outlandish to me. Still, I suspected they knew more of Blackstone's capabilities than I did. Better to take his word for it, I thought.

"Even so, their pace will be slowed by the equipment. That gives us time to prepare, perhaps a full day's worth, if we are lucky." Said the Warden. "Is there any way to escort the non combatants out of here at this time?" He asked. Beside me, Adelaide shook her head.

"The only thing north or south of us is mountain ranges. East only leads to open grassland before a river blocks Viking lands, and west is too dangerous with so many people." She rebutted. I could hear the Warden groan in frustration as he clasped at his sword. I could understand his irritation. This seemed an awful conundrum.

"Then we must fortify. Prepare traps, dig pits, anything that can slow down the Legion upon their arrival." Said the Warden. I frowned at that idea.

"The ground is still far too frozen for pits, and our resources are running thin as is. I'm not sure what more we could make after we spent so much effort on the hamlet." I countered. The Warden thought for a moment, then turned back to face me.

"Then we use the land around us, cut down trees, block off any direct path to the fortress." He proposed. A good idea, I thought. Still, would it be enough?

"That can work." I said, slowly raising a finger as I thought aloud. "But that alone will only stall them for a short while. We will need more than roadblocks to ensure our survival."

"Freeze the ground below them." Said Stone suddenly. All attention diverted towards him as I raised an eyebrow. Freeze the ground? Had he forgotten what time of year we were in? He seemed to understand our confusion, as he shrugged and began to clarify.

"There's enough snow here to last years. If we melted it, we could dump the water in a circle around the fortress. By the time Blackstone showed up, it'd be frozen over again. Pretty difficult to carry siege equipment when all of your soldiers are falling over." He explained. An interesting idea, I thought, but how long would that take? And with only so many hands?

"Even with every Ranger and Iron Legion member working from dusk to dawn, can we accomplish such a feat? The militia will only answer to Kharion, and the common folk may hesitate to aid us." I pondered. For a moment, I feared I may have sunk our morale, as each member of our makeshift council either turned away or seemed to stew in frustration. At least until one person spoke up.

"I'll help." Said the Bard, her voice almost seeming to echo amongst the chamber. Immediately the Warden turned to her.

"Deborah, stop. You don't-" He tried to say, only to be cut off by Deborah speaking once more.

"No, I've seen this sort of thing before. If these people can see even one other person that's like them doing this stuff, it can inspire them to do the same. And even if not, isn't one more set of hands worth something?" She argued. On that point she was quite correct. A single set of additional hands could make a difference, and her first point could hold merit as well. The people of Herongale were a united people, seeing one much like them take on a task of such importance could very well inspire them to do the same. Not to mention if I could convince Nala to assist her…

"It is certainly an option, Lord Warden. Every pair of hands can make an impact." I said.

"Hey, anything is worth a shot at this point." Said the Conqueror. Adelaide was content only to nod in agreement, leaving only the Warden to weigh in. For a time, he seemed unsure, pondering the idea over in his mind. I wondered what held him back from fully supporting the idea. It could hardly be vengeance, he'd already proven that he held little interest in such things. Worry, perhaps then? Worry over his companions, that they would be injured? Whatever the case, he seemed to shake off his misgivings. Or at the very least, he was able to suppress them long enough to make his final decision. With one last sigh, he nodded his head and looked up, an air of determination radiating from him like he were the sun itself.

"We have our plan then. Let us begin in the morning. Until then, I recommend we all get some sleep. We will all need our strength in the coming days." He declared, finally allowing himself to ease. With a grunt of effort and clear strain, he slowly sat down onto the bed, the Bard carefully resting a hand on his back and upper arm as he did. Perhaps it was because I could see the strain and exhaustion within him, or perhaps it was because of my own experience with sleepless nights, but I couldn't agree more with his sentiment.

"Alright then, everyone clear out then. We will all get started at first light." I called, turning back towards the steps as Adelaide and the Conqueror both followed my lead.

"You all go on ahead, I'll stay here and keep an eye on our friend here." Said the Bard again, prompting myself and the Conqueror to turn back towards them. Only Adelaide seemed to keep moving, taking no interest in her words. The Warden turned to his companion as he loosened the straps on his helmet, gently pulling it away as he spoke.

"Deborah, I am okay, you don't have to stay here for my sake." He tried to say. I couldn't help but smile as I noticed the Bard cross her arms and give a passive aggressive smile, something I was quite familiar with seeing.

"Warden, you were there for me when I was in bad shape, so I'm gonna be here while you're in bad shape, you got it?" She said, her voice again seeming imbued with a musical tune. The Warden appeared as though he wanted to argue with her, a mistake, as far as I saw. I knew all too well the dangers of arguing with a woman bearing such fire. If he were smart, he'd let the matter go. Fortunately, it seemed sense won out.

"Fine then. I will let you have the bed then." He muttered as he set aside his helmet and tried once again to stand. Before he could, Deborah placed a hand on his chest and gently pushed down, her smile turning smug as the Warden stared up at her.

"Yeah, that's not happening. You're the one with a fresh stab wound, you get the bed." She said as she crossed her arms, a strange air of authority seeming to emanate from her. Beside me, I could see the Conqueror leaning against the wall, arms crossed and relaxing as he watched. He was enjoying this, even more so as the Warden gave a frustrated glare, and the Bard gave a satisfied huff as she pivoted her chin to look down on the Warden.

"If I may interject, you two?" I said aloud, raising a hand to get their attention. The Conqueror may well have been enjoying this, but I could smell the beginnings of an argument from quite the distance these days. The last thing we needed now was division, even over small matters like this one. The two of them each looked towards me, the Warden with resigned irritation and the Bard with coy satisfaction. For a moment, I wondered if my advice would be welcome, but I decided to push through anyway.

"It is not uncommon in the winter months for companions, especially close ones, to share beds or cots to keep one another warm. Perhaps that can be your solution?" I offered. I speak honestly when I say I meant the suggestion as innocently as possible, but I fear that became lost somewhere in understanding. Both the Warden and the Bard's face quickly became flush as their respective looks vanished in an instant, replaced quickly by embarrassment as they each glanced at the other, then away just as quickly. Realizing my mistake, I tried to amend my statement.

"Hold on, I didn't-"

"Well what a wonderful idea!" The Conqueror suddenly yelled as he threw his arms out extravagantly, as though presenting a prized boar at a fair. Well, this fight was certainly lost, I thought. My fears were only confirmed by the Bard's sudden, and hateful glare at the Conqueror. The Warden, poor man, could scarcely look at either of his companions as he buried his face in his hands.

"Now you two have a wonderful night, shall I find you some chastity belts for reassurance?" The Conqueror teased. And with that, I turned, hastily made my way up the steps, and took extra care to pay no mind to the screaming I heard from the Bard.

Lest I wished to witness a bloodbath…