Shout out to two Guests and the GuestfromFrance

Thank you for reading, for your comments and for checking for updates every day!

So... here I am again with another adventure. I will once again, be uploading a new chapter every day. At least I am going to try to.

For this adventure, instead of quotes from a single author, I'm going to use quotes in Latin.


Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur

"We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving"

Tony muttered angrily under his breath.

"Those darned horsemen... somehow they are back. This time in Patait. The one place I never thought they would reach. I wonder how Duke Rosharch allowed this."

Using a telescope, he watched the Chonsario march smartly through the kingdom, in formation, armed to the teeth.

He swore again, surprised and horrified to see the dangerous cavalry army, seemingly in the pink of health.

A few days after he had returned to Stark Keep, King John had sent word of strange events taking place in Patait. He wanted to know what was going on but could not directly interfere in another kingdom's affairs. He knew of Tony's ... association with Patait and asked if Tony could sneakily find out what was going on.

Which is why Tony was watching the kingdom from the overlooking hill. A Carinthian scout was already at the location.

Tony turned to him and asked "So, Le Loup... What can you tell me?"

The grizzled scout scratched his chin. "Well my lord... these horsemen came three weeks ago. They just entered and took charge. There was no struggle, no conflict whatsoever. The Duke said they were Patait's new protectors. And that was that. The kingdom's soldiers answer to them now."

Tony nodded grimly. "What of the kingdom's people? "

"They are scared and nervous. The horsemen are aggressive and follow no law. They are violent and abusive. The Duke has imposed martial law. No one can leave the kingdom because of the strict curfew. There's also rumors of people mysteriously disappearing on nights with a crescent or full moon in the sky."

"What of King Rheiner?"

The scout snorted. "He's just a child. He listens to the Duke and the Duke listens to the horsemen."

"Who leads them? Is it a tall, lean man with a thick mustache and dressed impressively in a cavalry uniform?"

Again the scout snorted. "They are all dressed smartly, my lord. But... I've not seen any horseman clearly stand out as the leader from the lot. They seem to know what to do almost naturally."

Tony smiled wryly at the scout's insistence on using his title. My refusal of King John's generous offer has clearly made no difference.

Then he became serious.

What do you feel, Dragon? The horsemen are here again. I'm curious to see if their damned captain is present especially since I put a sword through him, yet somehow his body disappeared from the village's battlefield.

The dragon whispered, The horsemen are here for an evil purpose. First we need to understand what is going on in the palace. Why is the Duke behaving like this?

Tony asked, "Le Loup, how can we can enter the Kingdom undetected?"

The scout grinned. "I disguise myself as a garbage man and enter. You can hide in my garbage wagon." And he gestured at a large horse-drawn wagon filled with garbage.

Tony wrinkled his nose at the stench. "Lovely, I was just looking forward to a ride."


Pepper silently folded napkins and linen as the village women chattered incessantly around her, about everything and anything around the sun.

Since she left Stark Keep four weeks ago, she had been staying in the village with the milliner, Janice, renting out the first floor bedroom of the clothing store. The village women had been curious as to her sudden departure from the Keep, so she told them it was because she was travelling soon.

It is partially true. I'm going to leave... once I hear something from Beatrice.

She sighed inwardly and smiled absently when the apothecary's wife mentioned her name. Her attention drifted from the conversation going on around her.

Since Tony had so brutally let her know of his true feelings, she was experiencing a myriad of emotions which she had never felt before.

At the Keep, while she had packed, she was cool and collected. Magdalena and Jarvis had been very concerned but Pepper had given them vague answers and affected an air of nonchalance. Magdalena somehow had seemed to realize Tony had done something and had been particularly vocal about her displeasure.

There hadn't been much to pack. She had not taken any of the clothes she had used during her stay because they weren't hers to take. She had said goodbye to Balthazar and Buttercup, feeding them apples for the last time.

Parting from Tigliath had been very difficult as the big cat had not been happy to see her leave after just returning. She had stroked his soft black fur and murmured to him brokenly. She missed his feline presence horribly.

Another hard thing to do was leaving the moonstone in her former room. She had kept repeating to herself sternly as her will wavered. It is not yours anymore.

During her first week in the village, Pepper was angry, damn angry at Tony, at herself, at everybody. She had been in such a foul mood that even Janice had given her a wide berth.

The second week, she had wanted to cry. But she had held the tears in. Every little thing had seemed to somehow remind her of Lord Stark. She had seen Heloise playing with some kids and remembered the archery tournament. Some kids had been jousting with wooden swords and Pepper remembered Tony teaching her how to fight with a sword.

She had gone for a walk and had picked up some dandelions in a field the other day. When she had touched their soft yet prickly, tufty petals, she remembered stroking Tony's soft hair and semi-soft beard. When Janice had shown her some fresh honey which she had bought from a farmer's wife, Pepper had gulped hard as its deep rich brown color reminded her of Tony's eyes.

Happy had came over to see her when he returned from Carinthia and she had smiled, even though her heart ached to ask about Tony. And she did not cry at her own heart's yearnings because she had not wanted to upset Happy.

In the third week and fourth week, her mood had seemed to fluctuate between melancholy and defiance. But she had been pleased with the progress, she and Beatrice had made on their secret project. Pepper had told herself she had cured her heartache. She still had not cried, so it was clear that she was over Tony.

She came back to the current moment with a start as she realized that the women were done with their chattering and were going to leave. After they left, she and Janice had a quiet dinner and retired.

But for some reason, Pepper just couldn't sleep. She lay there in bed and then got up. She walked to the window and sat on its sill. There was a full moon in the sky. Its light streamed into the room.

Suddenly the memory of another moonlit night came to her: the broken down salon, the dance, the feel of Tony's hard body pressed to hers, his warm hand holding hers, the way he looked at her.

As she watched the moon's light dance on the bedroom floor, her thoughts turned angry.

Anthony Stark is a damn liar for saying he feels nothing for me. That night, there was something between us. We both wanted that dance and that kiss. Either he is just a charlatan or ... or... I do not know.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She watched the village, quiet in gentle repose. Not a soul stirred. A song came to her, a tune she must have heard as a child. She started to sing softly to the night, the somber tune suiting her mood.

I have forgotten you

I never think of you

The way you smile,

The way you would hold my hand

I have forgotten you

I couldn't say today

If your eyes were brown or gray

I have forgotten all what you said

And swore

I would never think of you

Not anymore

And when something of you

Passes me by

I ignore it, I turn back

I close my eyes

I have forgotten you

I never think of you

Now that is a lie

I will remember you till the day I die

The song unleashed something within her, a tide of despair and sadness that she had controlled and kept within.

She could fight it no more and lowered her head into her hands and wept, finally crying her heart out.


Tony was staring into the fireplace, a cup of wine in his hands. He had just finished bathing, anxious to remove the smell of trash from his body, after his scouting expedition.

He was staying in a small inn that lay between the port of Loros and Patait. He had been staying here for two weeks now. It made more sense than travelling back and forth between Lorinthia and Patait.

He was tired but could not sleep. He was not drunk enough yet. Ever since he had rudely sent Pepper away from his life, he could not sleep without getting completely drunk. Every night since that night, he would drink himself into a stupor and fall into bed unconscious.

He couldn't sleep in his own Keep either. Pepper may have left it physically but her presence somehow remained strong over there. His retainers seemed to have guessed that he had something to do with her sudden departure. And so they were giving him the cold shoulder. Magdalene, in particular, was being extremely rude and Tony was scared she would put a laxative in his food. He knew she had knowledge of how to use dangerous herbs. Tigliath was also missing Pepper. He would wander into her former room, sit on the bed and moan to himself.

As for himself... Damn it, I miss Pepper. Horribly. Terribly. I miss her wit, her charm, her brains, her resourcefulness...

Love? The dragon helpfully supplied. Her tenderness, the way the room would light up when she entered, her smile...

"Cut it out, Dragon! I'm feeling bad enough as it is. I miss Pepper. I cannot imagine..." He whispered slowly to himself. "I cannot imagine how my life was before she entered it. I feel... like all the light in my life has left and I am so ... so empty."

He recalled one cool night when he had gone for a midnight ride, just him, Balthazar and Tigliath.

1 Week ago, Lorinthia

Tony rode to the lake and was staring at it absently, its waters so black in the night. He must have stood there for ten minutes when he saw someone across the lake, at its edge, just like him. He or she was looking at him, he could tell.

He was tipsy, so he leaned in his saddle to try and make out who it was in the darkness. But he nearly fell off Balthazar. So he dismounted and walked right to the edge of the lake, determined to see who it was. Tigliath followed him, chirping slightly.

The half moon moved out of the clouds and suddenly Tony realized who he was staring at. I know no one else with that color of hair.

"Pepper?" he said out loud, dazedly.

She seemed like a celestial vision, standing right there in the moonlight. The scene was so surreal. The dark lake, the gentle breeze, the quietness of the night. He could not see the expression on her face. But he could feel her staring at him.

Why do I feel as if I have done this before? Across this very lake... but wait, wait, I have...It is just like the day we met. The day I pulled her from the lake and took her home. The day I met Pepper.

He completely forgot that he and Pepper had a fight and raised his hand to wave at her enthusiastically. She just stared at him, then turned and walked back into the village.

Tony felt oddly hurt but then he remembered how they had last parted. He suddenly felt stupid. So he lowered his hand and walked back to his horse.

That was it. A chance encounter with Pepper. It had saddened him immensely. He was also embarrassed by his own reaction. I waved and expected her to wave back. I had forgotten everything. How could I be so stupid?

He peered blearily into his glass and it seemed somehow he had finished his drink. He stood up and poured himself another.

The dragon sarcastically said, Just because you are emotionally empty that does not mean you should fill yourself with alcohol. What is your next step?

Tony grimaced at that. He had to go back to the very thing that was torturing him. He had to face Pepper and implore her to come with him on this quest. Because unfortunately he could not do it without her.

"She will refuse..."

She will and she has every right to. But you need to reason with her and if she does not listen to reason, you need to beg with her. But come what may, you need Pepper.

"Surely, there is some other way? Surely... I mean... I do not want to expose her to danger again. I do not want to ...

You need a woman who is brave enough to go head first to face unknown peril. She must be capable of disguise and physical combat.

She must also be captivating enough to attract the attention of the Paitaitan priests. Hmmmm... how many women do you know, Anthony, who fit this profile? Unless you want to pretend to be a woman? The dragon startled guffawing with mirth and Tony shook his head.

"What about the maid from Boron? The one who fought alongside Happy in the Chamber of Bone? She's smart and she can fight."

The dragon abruptly stopped laughing. Hmmmm, she does have promise. But ... let me ask you this? Who do you trust to have your back? Who has saved you twice from certain death? Who has shown advanced skill in combat after being taught for just 5 months? Who has successfully managed to pass off as a boy on at least three occasions? Do you know if the Maid from Boron can match Pepper in these matters?

"All right, all right, you have made your point, Dragon. I shall try to get Pepper to join us this time. But if she refuses, then we go to the maid from Boron. And I do not want any arguments at that time."

Tony yawned. "Tomorrow I go back to Lorinthia, rest for a day and then..." He sighed. "Then I go face Pepper. I wonder..."

What, what is it, you are wondering about now?

"I wonder if she will flush deeply before she slaps me hard across the face, for coming to her for help." Tony mused. "I wonder. I do enjoy seeing her flush."