Warnings: Brief depiction of vomiting and mucus.

Chapter 3: The Fall of the House of Tildrum Part 3: Martha

Night was setting in fast as Roland caught up to Aranella and Evan. She had taken them on a route that lead straight towards the mountains running down the west-hand side of the land controlled by Ding Dong Dell and its forces, and along the bank of a large river that snaked through the Rolling Hills and even down to the sea. The stream running through the Well was one of its tributaries, emerging from a natural cave system over which the castle had been built, before joining with the main river.

In another time and place, Aranella or Evan could've educated Roland on the Well's history; That the Tildrum Royal Family had previously used the caves as an escape route before it was then expanded and reconstructed as the new sewage system when the Old Well dried up, but they had no such thoughts to spare for history now.

There was a bridge further upstream but there was no way to cross it without first heading back towards Ding Dong Dell, the very place they were running from. Probably for the best too; The path across the bridge would've taken them out into the open where Mausinger and company would've spotted them immediately and given chase. "We need to find somewhere out of the way to camp out for the night," he said between breaths. "Do you know of anyplace we can go? Preferably somewhere they won't know of?"

"I'm… not exactly familiar with the area…" She replied.

"Let me guess. You were born and raised in the castle and never stepped foot outside its walls?"

"Yes, yes and no. I've ventured from the castle, it's the walls of Ding Dong Dell that I've not stepped foot outside of."

"I see." He sighed. "Let's just keep running and keep our eyes peeled."

"We're loosing the light very quickly though. That's going to make it difficult."

"Yeah…" He spared a look back before asking, "Can mice see in the dark?"

"We're very similar in eyesight but we actually see better in the dark than they do."

He was surprised by that. "Huh." But decided not to question it, as it was ultimately something that was working in the favour. For right now that was good enough. "Small blessings."

They continued on in a silence broken only by the sound of their footfalls. Inevitably Evan began to tire. "Nella… Roland… I can't go on." From his voice he sounded like he was on the brink of collapsing.

"Just keep going," Roland urged.

"I can't, Roland," he nearly sobbed. "I need… I need to rest."

He came to a stop, and so did Aranella. "All right," he relented and dropped to one knee. "Get on my back."

"But-"

"We don't have time to argue. Get on." Evan swallowed and did as he was told. Roland grunted as he stood up and then they were moving again, albeit slower than before.

"Is this really all right, Roland?"

"It's fine, I can keep this up for a bit. But you can help out by keeping an eye out for somewhere to lay low for the night, okay?"

"O… okay…"

They kept moving forward and on into nightfall. Aranella ran on to scout out the way ahead and then waited for them to catch up. "I think I can see a way through the mountains that might lead somewhere."

"Let's check it out." When they reached the pass, he stopped and gently set Evan down. "All right, give me a second," he panted and shook out his arms. "My arms were starting to tire." Aranella looked back and he lowered his voice to ask. "How far do you think they'll follow us?"

"Considering their eyesight? They'll either have given up by now, or will have been forced to go back for torches."

"So if they brought torches we'll see them coming. But what about Mausinger? I noticed he can use magic."

Aranella shook her head. "No, he'll have gone back to Ding Dong Dell to form a kingsbond with Oakenhart."

"Right and…" He raised an eyebrow, as he continued, though in the dark Aranella could barely see, "that will give him control of Ding Dong Dell?"

She nodded. "That will make him king, yes."

"Ah, so that's why he said Oakenhart was your Kingmaker."

He couldn't see her face that well but her surprise was just as evident in her body language and tone. "Oh, I see. You must not have Kingmakers in your world."

He shook his head. "We don't. Where I'm from our kings are chosen by the people."

She nodded. "In some respects it's the same here. If the people become displeased with their King – or Queen – the Kingmaker will return to challenge their authority."

"Huh. Interesting." But he'd have to ask more about that later. He glanced back at Evan who had lapsed into silence since he'd started carrying him. Evan's gaze was firmly in the grass at his feet and his posture was slumped from a mixture of tiredness, now that the adrenaline had worn off, and disbelief that this was all happening. Roland would've paused to offer him some comfort but they didn't have time, so he glanced at the pass before turning to Aranella. "Aranella, we don't have any food. And I don't have anything on me that can start a fire… uh unless…" He raised his hand to consult his arms band.

"Evan can start a fire if necessary. He can use magic."

The hand fell back to his side. "That's good, but," he shook his head, "we still don't have anything to eat. Unless," he glanced down at his arms band, "that's what these leaves are for…"

"Those are soreaway leaves. They're for healing minor injuries."

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow. "How do you use them?"

"There's a variety of ways actually. You can crush them into a salve which works best on burns and soreaway flakes can be made into a healing tea, but for most other injuries they are ingested. And they can heal most minor burns and abrasions within a matter of hours."

He raised both eyebrows at that. "Huh. That's handy. Wish we had these back home."

She smiled. "Our world is quite different to yours it seems."

Roland nodded. "It sure is." Then scratched the back of his head, "I've been feeling a bit like a fish out of water the whole time."

"I can imagine." Then she frowned and glanced at Evan. "But as to the matter of food well… Unfortunately I didn't have time to collect any provisions from the kitchen."

He looked around. "And it's too dark to go looking for anything now…" He trailed off and turned as something on the horizon caught his attention. "Hey wait a second."

"What is it?"

"Over there," he pointed. "Does that look like…" he squinted, "some light?"

Aranella turned to where he was pointing to see for herself. There was a soft warm glow of some kind of light coming from that direction but whatever was producing it was being obscured by the foot of a mountain. "I think you're right. It might be a small settlement."

"Should we go check it out? After the day Evan's had, he could use a hot meal and a good night's sleep." Aranella hummed her agreement… and so did her stomach. "In fact we all could," he added with a smile as she clutched her stomach and blushed. "And someone so far removed from Ding Dong Dell will likely be as removed from the politics – it may even be why they're all the way out here – so they definitely won't have heard about the coup." He glanced at Evan as he added, "And I doubt they'll recognise Evan. We should be safe… unless of course he's the only cat-human hybrid in all of Ding Dong Dell…"

"He's not, but," she shook her head absently, "they're not exactly common either."

"But Roland," Evan objected, breaking his silence. "Won't the soldiers… won't they hurt them? If they catch us with them?"

He shrugged. "Not if they have plausible deniability. They won't know who you are or why we're here unless we tell them." He shook his head, "So we won't tell them. If we do get caught – and I'd sure like to avoid that – then the soldiers aren't gonna punish them for taking in a bunch of travellers… or so I would hope." He turned to Aranella. "What do you think?"

Her expression became pained. "After everything that's happened to today? I'm afraid I don't know what to think."

"All right, let me put it another way. It's either no food and hard ground, or hot food and a warm bed. If they decline to take us in for the night, that's another matter, otherwise," he spread his hands, "which would you prefer?"

Evan dropped his gaze and his ears drooped. Aranella closed her eyes. "I won't deny that the second option is most appealing," she said.

"Then it's decided?" She nodded so Roland turned to Evan. "You all right to walk by yourself now, or do you need me to carry you again?"

"I-I can walk."

"Let's go then." The lights eventually resolved themselves into the lights from a small cottage. "Let's hope they're friendly."

But Aranella stopped them. "Hold on. You stay here with Evan while I investigate."

"Sure," he nodded. "It can't hurt to be cautious after all."

A middle-aged humanfolk woman with fiery red hair answered the door. She clapped her hands together in delight and a brief conversation ensued. Though he was well out of earshot he could tell it was going well from the woman's body language alone. They both looked in his direction and Aranella nodded. "Come on, Evan. It looks like we've found someone to take us in for the night after all." Evan didn't answer, but he didn't resist when Roland took him by the hand and lead him over.

"Hello there!" The woman greeted them brightly. "I'm Martha."

"I'm Roland. And this is Evan. Thanks for taking us in so unexpectedly."

She clapped her hands together again. "Of course of course, it's not every day I get to entertain guests!" She declared cheerfully. Her smile diminished as she looked out into the night. "And it's not safe to be travelling at such a late hour these days. Especially with a young'un." Then her smile returned and enthusiastically gestured them inside. "Come in! Come in! Come in out of the dark." She stood aside to let them file in. "You've arrived in good time as well. I'd just finished making dinner."

Roland could not have prepared himself for the scene that greeted him once he'd stepped inside. "What… on… earth?" What could be best described as sprites of a variety of shapes and colours populated nearly every inch of Martha's cottage.

"Gosh, there's so many!" Evan declared, the weight of the day's events temporarily replaced by curiosity and wonder.

"What are they?" Aranella asked. "I've seen them around Dell before but no one else seemed to be able to."

"They're higgledies," Martha explained. "And not many people can. You're a lucky lot indeed you know."

"But what are they?" Roland asked.

"They're… well," she raised a hand to her chin, "they're more…" She gestured helplessly, "phenomena than anything, I suppose."

"Phenomena?" Evan repeated.

"That's right, dear," she nodded and raised her hands as she continued, "You have the wind, the fire and the rain and suchlike. They're all natural phenomena. And when those phenomena decide to grow heads and arms and legs, and start running around being all adorable," she clapped her hands together, "that's when they become higgledies!"

"Fascinating," said Roland in tone that said "I didn't understand any of that but I'm going to pretend I did." Phenomena that decided to become sentient? What was next?

"Sit down, sit down!" Martha urged. "My little lovelies will set the table."

"Let me help-" Aranella began, as she moved to assist.

But Martha raised a stern hand. "Nonsense! You're my guests. And guests do not serve the host." She pointed at the table and chairs. "Now sit."

"Y… yes ma'am."

She placed her one hand on her hip and waggled a disapproving finger as she said, "Don't you ma'am me, young lady. Call me Martha. Or Auntie Martha if you'd like."

"Y-yes, Auntie Martha." So they sat down and watched the higgledies lay out plates, and knives and spoons on the table. One higgledy set down a basket of bread while another set down a plate of cheese.

"So…" Roland ventured. "You live here with all these higgledies, but… do you have family?"

"I do," she replied brightly as she expertly balanced four bowls in one arm and poured out the soup she had cooked for dinner. "My husband passed away a few years ago – rest his soul – and our children have all moved out, but they come to visit me with their children from time to time. But with all my little lovelies to keep me company I don't feel the loneliness at all." She set the bowls down one after the other before sitting down herself. "Eat up now!" They helped themselves to bread and cheese and began to tuck in. "And what about yourselves?" Roland and Aranella both froze, and the piece of bread he'd been swallowing became a rock in his throat. "You're all travelling together, but…" She leant her chin on one hand, "you don't seem like a family…"

Roland managed to swallow. "It… it might be best if you didn't ask…"

Martha took the hint immediately. "Ah. I see. Then I won't ask anymore questions."

"… Sorry…" Evan mumbled.

But Martha smiled. "That's quite all right. I shall enjoy the pleasure of your company instead." She carried the rest of their conversation by talking about and answering questions about herself instead.

"What're you doing all the way out here?" Roland asked. "To get away from the city?"

"I'm farm folk," she replied simply. "My family have been raising llapaca for generations. And we still do, but it's a job for the younger generation, so I've retired." She turned an adoring gaze on the higgledies as she continued. "Now I tend to my little lovelies instead."

When the last bite of food had been eaten, they sat back in their chairs and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Martha, that was delicious," said Aranella.

"My complements," Roland added.

"Yes…" Evan mumbled. "Thank you…" Aranella squeezed his hand and he looked up. "So… Are we… are we safe now…? We don't… we don't have to run anymore?"

Roland looked out of the window. There was no sign of approaching torchlight and it seemed long enough so he decided. "Yeah, Evan. We're finally safe. We can all relax."

"O… okay…" There was a moment of silence. Then Evan started crying, Aranella buried her face in her hands – although from the way her shoulders were shaking it was clear she was crying too – and Roland tore out of Martha's cottage, dropped to his knees in the grass and vomited.

Martha sat up sharply. "Oh!" She looked from Evan and Aranella. "Oh dear!" To the front door. "Oh dearie me!" The higgledies flocked to the weeping pair, clung to them and made soothing noises. So Martha decided to see to Roland. She filled up a class of water and took it out to him. Tears were streaming down his face and mucus from his nose and he was panting from the exertion of emptying his stomach. "There you are now, dear," she said gently. "Wash your mouth out with this."

He wordlessly took the glass, rinsed, spat and drank the rest down. Then he tried to speak. "I… I…"

"Hush now, Roland. There's no need for words just yet. Just let it out." So he buried his face in his hands and just sobbed.

"I don't have much by way of night clothes, but you're welcome to borrow what I do have."

"Thanks," Roland replied weakly. He had since washed his face and eaten a second meal to replace the one he'd thrown up, but his energy was spent and he was looking forward to collapsing into bed. "But I think I'll just sleep in my clothes… if that's all right."

"I've got beds to sleep you all, but you'll have to share a room."

"That's more than we could ask for," said Aranella. She and Evan were both still red eyed from crying and looked about as exhausted as he felt.

"I'll let you sort out which bed you'll be sleeping in amongst yourselves. And they've not been made up since I wasn't expecting company, so you'll have to make them yourselves."

"Fair enough," said Roland.

She lead them to the room. "Here's where you'll be sleeping. I'm next door if you need me. And this here's the bathroom. I'll see you all in the morning. Good night."

"Good night," they chorused. The small bedroom they'd been given had somehow managed to fit one double bed, one bunk bed and a chest of drawers. Bed clothes had been laid out on each bed and Martha had also left them a couple of spare nightdresses. The double bed went to Aranella, the top bunk to Evan and the bottom to Roland. They each made their beds in silence, then Aranella took one of the nightdresses to the bathroom to get changed. "What about brushing our teeth, Nella?" Evan asked once she'd returned. "You said I always have brush my teeth."

"I think you'll have to go without for one night," said Roland. He aww'd in disappointment but didn't protest further, instead taking a nightdress and disappearing into the bathroom himself. Roland pulled off his greatcoat and hung it up on one of the bunk bed's bedposts. Then he sat down to pull off his boots, but he was so tired that he struggled and had to take a moment to resist the call of sleep before finally succeeding. The last thing he did before flopping onto the mattress was strip off his poloneck and carelessly toss it onto the end of the bed.

"Good night, Roland," came Aranella's sleepy voice from the double bed.

"Good night, Aranella," he replied.

They were both sound asleep by the time Evan returned, and though no sound would probably have woken them, he tiptoed to the bunk bed, climbed the ladder as quietly as he could, set his clothes at the foot of his bed and laid down to sleep. "Good night, Nella. Good night, Roland," he whispered. And then closed his eyes.

"Why hello, hello!"

Roland looked up. "What…?" It took him a moment to recognise where he was. He was sitting behind his desk in his office – the Presidential Office – as if this was just another day at work. "How did I…?"

"Ah do forgive me, I thought you'd appreciate a familiar setting for our introduction."

He finally turned his attention to the other person in the room with him. "Who…?"

A tall and lanky man dressed in a suit with a comically oversized bowtie and rabbit head was seated opposite. He raised a hand in greeting. "Hello again."

Roland frowned as he finished his sentence. "… Are you?"

The man placed a hand on his chest as he replied, brightly, "I'm the Conductor."

"The Conductor?" He repeated. "The conductor of what?"

"The conductor of dreams for the most part." He spread his hands, "But I have other abilities too."

The conductor of dreams? "So…" Roland's frown deepened, "this is just a strange dream then?"

"In some respects it is, in other respects it isn't," the Conductor replied, sitting back in his chair as he threw one leg over the other and laced his fingers together, resting them in his lap. "You and I are very real, as is our meeting and conversation. But the place of our a meeting is a dream, one based on your memories." He spread his hands. "I simply chose a place that I thought you'd be most comfortable in."

"But why? What do you want with me?"

"Perhaps we could start with your name?" He asked, tilting his head to one side. "An introduction works both ways after all," he shook his head, "not just one."

"Crane. Roland Crane."

"A pleasure to meet you, Roland. In answer to your question," he placed a hand on his chest, "I am here to explain."

"Explain? Explain… what?"

The Conductor held up his hands and shook his head. "What indeed?" He asked rhetorically. "What else?"

Roland's eyes widened in hopeful realisation. "You mean to tell me that… you know what happened? How I got here? To Evan's world?"

He nodded. "I do, I do!"

"Then how?" he demanded. "Tell me!"

"Before I begin, what's the last that you remember?"

He gripped his head with one hand and frowned at his desk. "I was… I was on my way to the peace conference. But the city was attacked and I…" He swallowed as he trailed off.

"You were caught up in the explosion, yes?" The Conductor supplied.

The hand fell away. "Yeah… The next thing I know I'm in Evan's world…" He frowned and shook his head. "I… I should have died…"

"You were plucked from your world at the moment of your death so you still live. But," he raised a finger, "in your world, you are dead."

Roland became alarmed. "Wait, what does that mean? I can't go back?"

He shrugged and tilted his head to one side. "There would be no point in sending you back, Roland. That explosion was just the beginning."

"The beginning?"

"Yes," he confirmed with a nod. "Needless to say things… escalated." He spread his hands. "And this is what your world looks like now."

The Presidential Office faded to devastation and Roland turned in place to take it all in.

"No… No!" He gripped his head. "It's all gone!" He dropped to his knees. "It's all gone…" Then he raised his head sharply. "Will!" He stood and faced the Conductor. "What happened to Will? Is he…?" He swallowed.

"I'm afraid he is," the Conductor replied in a solemn tone, his hands steepled. "As are many people in your world." Roland staggered back and doubled over, bracing his hands on his knees as he squeezed his eyes shut and tried not retch. Please be a bad dream, please be a bad dream, please be a bad dream. "But all is not lost, Roland," he continued. "You have already taken the first steps on a path that will heal both worlds."

Roland looked to him, half in disbelief, half in confusion. "What…?"

"Continue to walk this path and you will be able to return home in time."

"What do you… what do you mean?"

The Conductor looked off to his right at something Roland couldn't see. "Oh dear. Is that the time?" He shrugged apologetically. "I'm afraid that's all for now."

"Wait!" Roland threw out a hand, trying to reach for the Conductor, as if with this very action he could stop the strange man from leaving. "I don't understand!" But the dream was already losing focus.

"We will see each other again another sleepytime." Was the last thing he heard before it faded away to nothing.

Roland opened his eyes. The bottom of a bunk bed was the first thing to greet his vision instead of the ceiling of his bedroom. And his body ached from yesterday's exertion. So this was real then. Everything from being transported into a strange fantasy world, to getting caught in the middle of a coup d'état, to the mad-dash escape with a ten-year-old catboy king had all actually happened. So what implications did that have for the strange dream he'd had, if it could be called that? He remembered it as vividly as he did the events of yesterday. As if it had been a conversation that had actually happened… He shut his eyes and massaged his forehead. He needed to think; But not here. He sat up as quietly as he could, his movement drawing the attention of Aranella who he was surprised to discover was already awake.

"Good morning," she whispered from the double bed. She was awake but had yet to rise.

"Good morning," he whispered back. "You're up early."

"I'm used to an early start," she explained.

Ah that made sense. "But you're in no rush to get out of bed I see."

"No…" Her gaze became vacant as it shifted somewhere off to the right. "I was… thinking…"

"Yeah… I need to do some thinking too." He pulled on his poloneck, his boots and his greatcoat and checked on Evan. The young boy was sleeping peacefully but there were dried tear tracks running down his face indicating that he'd been crying at some point during the night. He somehow managed to look even younger in his sleep and Roland was once again forcefully reminded of Will. "I think we can let him sleep a little longer. But we should get moving before it gets too late in the day."

She nodded. "Yes… we should."

"I need some fresh air. Join me when you're ready." She nodded again, and he slipped out of the room and headed for the main living space.

"Why good morning, Roland!" Martha greeted him brightly as he stepped through the door into the front room.

"Good morning, Auntie Martha," he replied politely.

"You're up early, I haven't even started on breakfast yet."

"That's all right, I just needed some fresh air."

"I'll call you when it's ready then."

"Thanks." He stepped out of the front door and took a lungful of the morning air. The air quality was vastly better here than back home, but then this fantasy land didn't have nearly the same level of technology. He sat down in the grass a little way from Martha's Cottage and watched the sun climbing over the mountains in the distance for a moment before turning his thoughts to the mysterious man – or being – in his dream. What did he call himself again? The… Conductor? If this was real, if this was happening, that meant that he had somehow slipped out of his world and into Evan's. Was the force of the explosion the culprit? But the Conductor had said that he'd been plucked from his world, which suggested intent. But plucked by whom? The Conductor? Surely he would've said?

An ache began to settle in his chest as he recalled what the Conductor had shown him; His world in ruins. Part of him wondered if he should trust the mystery man but… what he'd seen was entirely too plausible. So if he was going to assume that the ultimate fate of his world was true. Then he was also going to assume that what the Conductor had said next was also true, that there was a hope that he could return home if he helped Evan heal both worlds – even if he didn't know how – because how could he not? If that was the case then, they were going to have to decide what their next course of action was. Which meant Roland had some thinking to do before Evan and Aranella appeared.

Evan opened his eyes, stretched and yawned, and sat up.

"Ah, Evan. You're awake."

"Good morning, Nella."

"Good morning. How are you feeling today?"

He heaved a sigh. "Better for being well rested, but…"

"Yes…" She agreed and her expression became pained as her gaze slipped into the past for a moment. "It's still so hard to take in…"

Evan suddenly realised something and he looked around. "Where's Roland?"

"He said he needed some fresh air, so he went on ahead. Get dressed and we'll go join him."

"All right." He collected his clothes from the foot of his bed and disappeared into the bathroom. He returned fully dressed with the added addition of his bright red travel cape, and his face washed. "I'm ready."

Martha greeted them cheerfully when they stepped into the front room. "Good morning, dears!"

"Good morning," they chorused.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly."

"Wonderful. Thank you," said Aranella.

"We're looking for Roland," said Evan. "Have you seen him?"

"He's just outside," Martha replied, gesturing to the front door. "I'll call you in when it's ready."

They found Roland sitting in the grass not far from Martha's cottage. "Evan," he said as they sat beside him. "Finally awake, huh?"

"Was I the last one?" He asked.

Roland shook his head. "It's all right; You're only ten. And I imagine yesterday was quite trying after all." Evan looked away. "But now we need to decide what to do next."

"Becoming king of Ding Dong Dell is all I've ever known," he said, his gaze still in the grass. "It wasn't supposed to be so soon but…"

"It was always in the cards," Roland supplied and Evan hummed his agreement. "Well… not anymore." He hummed his agreement again. "The way I see it you have… maybe three options. But I'd need to understand something first."

Evan pulled his gaze out of the grass to look at Roland. "What's that?"

Roland raised an eyebrow. "What's a Kingmaker?"

Evan and Aranella exchanged looks. "A Kingmaker is a being of great power," she explained. "By impressing one of these beings and convincing them to enter into a pact, a king proves he is worthy to lead his nation."

"And this is what Mausinger's test was about? Impressing your Kingmaker?"

"Yes," she nodded, "by successfully overthrowing the current Ruling Family, he will have proven himself worthy of the throne of Ding Dong Dell."

Roland frowned. "And… your Kingmaker will be okay with that?"

"I would imagine so," she sighed. "They are dutybound to form a pact with those who can prove themselves after all."

"I see…"

"A Kingmaker's role doesn't end there, however. They can also be a source of counsel. And a guardian; In times of need, they can be called upon to come to their king's aid, or their nation's. A single Kingmaker has the strength of an entire army."

Roland was surprised by that. "Huh. So… they must be pretty big then?"

"Oh yes," Evan confirmed with a nod. "Some are even the size of castle. Though not our Kingmaker, Oakenhart," he added, shaking his head. "He's probably about the size of Martha's cottage."

"I see…"

"Does this help you?" Aranella asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, it does."

"So what were my three options, Roland?" Evan asked.

"The way I see it, you can live out the rest of your life peacefully in the woods somewhere, or mountains if you're so inclined." Although he couldn't see how that was going to end up healing both worlds. "Seek revenge on Mausinger, since he did kill your father after all." But was that the right course of action? Putting Evan back on the throne of Ding Dong Dell? "Or… if there are any spare Kingmakers lying around, then… I guess you could always make your own kingdom." He looked away to Ding Dong Dell as he added, "I'm sure all the people who managed to escape from Dell would be happy to join up… providing we could find them." It seemed to Roland like this was most likely to be the path they'd already started down; Building anew. It couldn't be a coincidence that he, the President of Usonia, had now found himself helping a future king. So perhaps this was what the Conductor wanted him to do? Steer Evan onto a course that would see the rising of a brand new kingdom. That did sound more healing than anything else he'd considered. Then providing he was right, he would be able to go home. And maybe… just maybe… he'd be able to see Will again too. "The third option would be the one I'd recommend, especially in terms of keeping you safe – if Kingmakers are as powerful as you say they are. Mausinger may have given up the chase for now but…" He looked to Evan. "Well you still have the Mark of Kings. He'll probably be wanting that." Evan hummed in agreement. "So what do you think?"

Evan raised a hand to his chin as he pondered the suggestion. "I think… That I'd like that. To start a new kingdom."

"It won't be easy."

"I know. But living out the rest of my life in the wilderness doesn't seem right. It feels like… like giving up." He clenched a fist. "I want to do something."

"And what about Mausinger?" Aranella asked.

Evan hung his head. "I… I don't know yet…"

"So that leaves a new kingdom. But are you…?" Roland almost hesitated to ask. "Are you sure about this? This is what you really want?"

But Evan nodded. "Yes. I do. I want to build a place where everyone can live happily ever after."

Roland nodded. "All right. Then we'll be with you every step of the way."

"Roland." Aranella objected. "Do you truly believe this is feasible? We're just three people. Two adults and a child that is."

"Every nation started out as a dream didn't it? Or what would you prefer he do instead?"

Aranella looked away at that, to Ding Dong Dell he realised. Perhaps she wasn't going to let it go as readily as Evan. But she didn't offer any alternatives so he declared, "Then we're decided." There was a victorious pause. Then. "So… assuming Oakenhart is out of the question now… Where the heck are we gonna find a Kingmaker?"

The Kingsbond Ceremony, the previous day

Mausinger braced himself against the gusts of wind as Oakenhart, Kingmaker of Ding Dong Dell descended into the throne room. Oakenhart folded his wings after landing and drew himself to his full height. "I am here as agreed and ready to swear a pact." He looked around in confusion. "But where is Evan? I cannot form a kingsbond with him if he is not here."

"There has been a change of plan, Oakenhart. I," Masuinger placed a hand on his chest, "will be the one to join with you in a kingsbond." He spread his hands, "To prove my worthiness to sit upon the throne of Ding Dong Dell, I lead a coup d'etat against the House of Tildrum and I stand before now you as testimony to my success."

The Kingmaker's tone and expression were indecipherable. "… I see."

"I trust you have no objections to my methods? After all, you have taken no interest in the internal affairs of our kingdom-"

"I am forbidden from interfering with the internal affairs of our kingdom," Oakenhart corrected, his expression hardening. "It is my sworn duty to protect Ding Dong Dell from outside forces. But I cannot," he shook his head, "protect Ding Dong Dell from itself. Nor can my power be used to enforce a king's desire to subjugate or persecute any of the people in this nation. And for that you should consider yourself fortunate," he leant his head forward, fixing Mausinger in a pointed gaze as he continued, "because there were those who would."

Mausinger lowered his head. "… I understand."

He drew back. "There is much hate in you, Otto."

"There was much hatred in previous kings of Ding Dong Dell," he countered easily, "it did not seem to bother you then."

"No…" He conceded. "Very well, rule the kingdom as you please, but should your people find you wanting," he fixed Mausinger in another pointed gaze, "I shall return."

"Then you will do it? You will form a kingsbond with me?"

"I will," he nodded. "Do you have the Mark of Kings?"

Mausinger hung his head in contrition. "Apologies, Oakenhart. But," he shook his head, "I do not. Tildrum absconded with it when I drove him out of Ding Dong Dell, but I hope to have it recovered soon."

"Then what will you use to form our bond with? I will not accept just any substitute."

"If… If you would delay-?"

"There will no more delays, Otto. I have been apart from my beloved kingdom for long enough."

"Of-of course." He called forth his sword and held it up in both hands for the Kingmaker to inspect. "In that case, I submit my sword for consideration. It was forged to commemorate my becoming Lord Chancellor and is yet to see battle. I hope it pleases you."

"It is a fine sword," he commented. "Very well. I will accept this substitution. Now let us make our bond." Oakenhart bowed his head and Mausinger raised the sword. Two glowing threads of gold and green spiralled around Oakenhart's horn and Mausinger's sword. They reached out for each other and in a flash they were joined. The Kingmaker raised his head. "It is done. But heed my words, Otto. With the nation in such unrest, my power is greatly weakened and my capacity as guardian is thusly reduced. So you would do well to quell the unrest in short order."

"It will be done Oakenhart." Oakenhart nodded and spread his wings. The throne room was buffeted once more as the Kingmaker took off, and then he was away, phasing effortlessly through the skylight just as easily as he had entered. Mausinger turned to the mousekind soldiers crowding the throne room with a victorious smirk. He threw out his hands. "My fellow mice! By Right of the Kingmaker, and with you all as my witness, I stand before you now," he raised his sword, now transformed into the new Mark of Kings and thrust it skywards, "your new king!"

As the sword glowed with the light of Mausinger's kingsbond, the soldiers cheered and raised their voices in a chant. "Long live the King! Long live the King!"

A/N: I streamlined Hideaway Hollow and the meeting with Martha into the same scene because I really didn't see the point of doing it separately like in the game. I also added the small detail of mousekind not seeing well in the dark as a way to justify them escaping.

As for the Conductor, he's here to do two things: 1) remove any ambiguity over what's happened to Roland's world in order to 2) give Roland a purpose that isn't just "lol why not?". With Nella now alive in this version, Evan's desire to build a new kingdom had to come from somewhere else, that somewhere else being Roland, who now has a vested interest in seeing Evan succeed.

And the final scene with Mausinger was originally written in the next chapter but was pushed forward to this one for pacing. This means that every chapter in The Fall of the House of Tildrum ends with Mausinger. This was purely by coincidence and not intended at all. :p