Hello everybody! This is from your friendly neighborhood Bondsword to enjoy. Hope you guys like to read these as much as I love to write them! So without further ado except for of course our generic disclaimer, here is the next chapter.

Kyle again awoke very early in the morning. The sun had not yet risen so it was still quite dark but there was a strange lightness on the morning air as if the vale of evil from last night had been lifted from the entire world. But when the wind blew from the North he could suddenly sense it again. It hadn't gone…it had just been masked.

Kyle looked around. Even though Lyn had insisted that they share a tent she hadn't noticed when Kyle had snuck out.

"You know…you are quite sneaky," he heard Lyn say. "I was quite sure, however that you'd do something like this last night."

Kyle turned around. In the darkness of the morning he could just barely make out Lyn's bright green hair, and blue dress. He laughed at himself. Here he was, a former thief and assassin caught by a woman!

"Alright, alright!" Kyle said waving his hands in the air and laughing. "You caught me."

Lyn walked up and grabbed him by the shirt. "Listen," she said. "I know that it wasn't you who had been peeking on Florina and I. Tell me who it was please."

But Kyle wouldn't answer.

"You can tell me if it was Sain. Was it Sain? You can tell me!" When he refused to answer again there was suddenly anger in her voice. "I order you to tell me who it was!"

Finally he spoke. "I truly am sorry. But I cannot tell you simply for fear of the reprimand that you would inflict upon them."

Lyn raised an eyebrow at his statement. "Reprimand?" she almost laughed out. "Who said that I was giving out reprimands? I just wanted to know who it was."

Suddenly Sain walked up and saluted. "Milady Lyndis! I confess that I am the one that was peeking on you and Florina. Kyle was merely protecting me."

Lyn walked up and put her hand on Sain's shoulder. "Sain it is alright. But now you know why you shouldn't do that right? At least not on Florina and myself."

Sain nodded. "Yes… It was wrong of me. Oh! Kent said that he wishes to speak with you. He has decided upon our next destination."

Lyn thanked him and then turned back to Kyle who was still in an attention stance. It was almost as if Kyle had frozen in time and space. Lyn looked as hard as she could for any slight movement that she could use against him, but could see nothing. Not a muscle twitched, not a finger jerked, even Kyle's breathing seemed stifled.

"At ease," Lyn said. Kyle nodded, saluted, and walked away toward where the group was gathered. Lyn followed and quickly sat down across from a rough table made from a boulder.

"Milady," Kent said acknowledging Lyn. The knight quickly unfolded a map of the surrounding area, and pointed to a small territory only a few miles away.

"Araphen?" Kyle asked nervously. "Are you sure that we should go there with the Marquess's…temperament?"

Kent nodded. "I do. No matter the Marquess's position on people, he would do nothing to assail us in any way, especially not to the daughter of Madeline. The Marquess loved Haussen's daughter."

Kyle sighed and agreed. "If you think we must and Lady Lyndis says we must, then I shall follow."

"What's this?" Wil asked with a wry smile. "Following only the 'orders' of Lady Lyndis? Or is there something else guiding your actions?"

Kyle grew red, but quickly cleared his throat and said, "I owe her my life, nothing more."

Wil smiled, nodded, and walked off to prepare his horse. Kyle stalked off as well, and got his horse ready for both himself and Lyn. The black stallion that he was using neighed, whinnied, rose high into the air, and then quieted as Kyle approached. Kyle whispered softly to the horse, and calmed it down while Lyn watched.

"Sori estu… Stans esor…" Kyle whispered to the animal.

"What are you saying?" Lyn asked. She'd never heard this language before and if this was a type of speech that calmed animals then she would certainly love to learn this strange way of speaking.

Kyle shook his head. "Pay it no mind. Just get on the horse."

Lyn did as she was told. Something was wrong with Kyle however, that much she knew. She wouldn't press it, but if he managed to say something then…she wouldn't stop him.

As he climbed onto the saddle in front of her Lyn asked, "Kyle is there anything that you would like to talk about?"

Kyle seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head no. Then when he was sure that Lyn was safe from falling off he clicked the reigns to the horse. The creature jolted for a moment and suddenly shot off like an arrow. Kent and the others were not yet prepared and so would be farther behind.

Lyndis however was enjoying riding behind someone that cared for her, even if they were only friends it was still enjoyable…somewhat romantic. But Kyle's expression was fraught with worry and not the romantic kind at the moment. Lyn's smile quickly faded into a frown.

Finally, unable to contain the question she asked, "Kyle are you sure that there's nothing you wish to talk about?"

Kyle was silent for a few moments and then he began to speak: "Lyn, listen before I tell you this," he shouted. "I am quite old by human standards. I don't know why, but I can feel it in my body. My blood seems to be compressed, and compounded by ages and…its terrifying. Now I shall give you my story: A few years ago, I, awoke in a strange place. It was cold, and dark. I was told that I would be joining a group called the Black Fang. I was then put through the most rigorous training that I think anyone could ever be in. I bled, I sweat, and I cried. I wanted to kill myself at times…but I persevered and was turned into a cold ruthless killer. I was transformed into an assassin of unspeakable terror, matched by only one other. That is why, I am as I am. You are a good friend Lyn…but I don't want to see the Fang come for me, and then take you as well. I have done horrible things in this life… Death would be the best form of punishment."

Lyn grabbed him around the waist not only for balance but to give him a hug. Kyle felt himself comforted for some strange reason. It was not a strange and unwanted form of attempted comfort but a warm sensation that was growing from his stomach and spreading outwards.

Suddenly he pulled to a halt on the top of a hill overlooking an enormous city. The place reminded Kyle of Bulgar in Sacae, except for the fact that this one was even larger. People, horses, and carts seemed to run in and out of the main gate, like bees through a hive.

Kyle kicked the horse with the spurs and charged it down to the main gate. A few soldiers stood merrily by watching the townsfolk and travelers go to and fro, but when Kyle and Lyn passed the two guards glared at Lyn. Kyle didn't know what they saw or what they were angry about, but he assumed it better that he didn't stop and ask. The two got off and Kyle handed the reins of his horse to a stable boy who took the animal into a large barn.

Kent came riding up, and Kyle thought it strange that he hadn't seen his friend go past. But Lyn quickly assured her friend that she'd sent Kent ahead to speak with Marquess Araphen.

"The Marquess has agreed to meet with you. We've just got to get to the caslte."

Minutes later, when their companions finally caught up, Kyle and Lyn were only just within the city itself and were headed for the market district when Kyle heard something. How strange it was that Kyle could acutely hear the drawing of a knife, that in response he drew his sword, and got in between Lyn, and a sudden assassin. The two locked blades for a minute.

"Come on lad… Move damn you!"

Kyle seemed to hiss, and glared harder at the man pushing him back. The assassin, yelped in surprise as Kyle lifted him into the air. However the assailant raised his knife and cut at Kyle's right hand. Screaming in pain Kyle dropped the man and holding his sword with his left hand swung at the assassin catching the sinew of the man's shoulder. The assassin's shoulder suddenly seemed to open up and bleed openly and heavily.

"Your shoulder is useless now," Kyle said. "You are no longer a threat."

But the man leapt at Kyle holding the knife in his right hand, and met Kyle blade for blade. Kyle pushed the man back again, but this time, ducked under the knife and thrust his sword into the assassin's torso. Screaming the man finally dropped dead.

Suddenly behind him Kyle heard someone call to him in anger, "Drop your sword, or I drop the girl!"

Kyle pivoted swiftly, and noticed that a second man had grabbed Lyndis no doubt during his struggle with the first man. Kyle swore under his breath; he hadn't trained with his sword enough lately.

The man slid around Kyle making sure to keep his knife pointed on Lyn's throat. Suddenly however the man screamed loudly, let go of Lyn and fell to the ground. In his back was an arrow, with black hawk feathers on the end.

Lyn bent down examined the arrow and said, "This is Sacae craftsmanship!"

The others suddenly arrived and saw the dead body.

"EW! I hate violence!" Serra cried.

Lyn stared at a man seated upon a horse. The man had a cold hard gaze like Kyle's, yet seemed to be more caring at first glance.

"I apologize. I thought that a woman of Sacae was in trouble."

"No, no!" Lyn said. "You were right! I am a woman of Sacae!"

The man sat atop the horse, and stared past Lyn now at Kyle. "Why are you here?" the man asked. Kyle had no answer, or even memory of who this man was.

"Why did you bring a woman of Sacae into the city of Araphen?!" he asked angrily.

Kyle shrugged. "We had nowhere else to go. Can you blame us?"

The man nodded. "I've got half a mind to arrest you. Do you not know how the Marquess feels about nomads?"

Kent and Sain rode their horses forward. "The two of us do. But she is the daughter of Madelyn Haussen. She is the granddaughter and one of the only two living relatives of the noble house of Caelin."

Kyle then approached and spoke up. "She is also the last of the Lorca tribe."

The man nodded. "I see. At any rate introductions are in order. I am Rath." The man gestured to himself and spoke with such elegance that Kyle would have mistaken him for a noble if not for the bandana.

This joyous meeting was quickly curtailed as a woman screamed and pointed toward the roof of the castle. Kyle, Lyn, Rath, and the entire legion behind them looked in shock to the top of the castle and noticed that it was burning.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Kyle screamed. "The castle is on fire!"

Rath looked up, and then shot a frustrated glance from the castle to the group, then to the castle and to the group again. Finally the man sighed, and said in a stern, stoic voice, "I could use your help. There are three switches placed around this barracks that will open up a secret passage into the castle. If you can help me open them, then my soldiers and I will take care of the rest."

Kyle nodded, turned to Lyn and said, "Listen, Lyn I want you to go north to that house and make sure the people there are alright." Then he turned to Rath. "Do me a favor. Ride that way toward the soldier, and attack him. There will no doubt be a key on him. Take it and unlock the door." Then again Kyle turned, this time to Sain, and Kent. "Ride with him after he unlocks the door and make sure that he'll be safe. Then press the switch."

Rath charged his horse forward, and let fly two arrows one that struck the man's shoulder between the breastplate and left pauldron, the second of which struck the man's face. Rath got off the horse, took the key opened the door. Sain and Kent ran raced inside and slaughtered a second trooper that had been lying in wait for anyone foolish enough to open the door. Rath then charged in again and allowed his horse to rest on a blue glowing tile.

A large wall in front of the group opened up. Lyn stared for a moment and remembering what she had been instructed she ran north and into the house. A few minutes later Kyle watched her emerge and also watched as a tiny sliver of shadow advanced from behind the house.

"You don't need to hide from me," Kyle said much to the shock of the man behind him as well as the other's. "You see I'm the one you were sent to see."

Kyle turned around to see a young man with brown hair, wearing a light green shirt, and a tattered red cloak. He seemed quite aghast that Kyle knew how close the two were, and yet it was inevitable.

"Well, I am Matthew!" the young man said. "I'm a man with…nimble fingers."

"You're a thief," Kyle quickly cut in. "I do not question your choice of profession, but please do not ask me to cast a gaze over a shadow that I've seen one too many times." The man had no words for this and so Kyle explained. "It simply means that though I don't know why you walk this path, I don't question yours anymore than you question mine."

Matthew nodded. "However," Kyle went on, "if you would be so kind, keep moving into this barracks with the support of our archer Wil, and Kent and Sain who will be joining you shortly. There will no doubt be some type of treasure chest somewhere in there. You can help yourself to it; it's of no concern to me or my friends."

Kyle and Lyn ran forward following Matthew. There was a man that was standing upon a blue tile grumbling to himself about his job. Kyle ran up quickly behind him and with one swift stroke had cut off the man's head. The young swordsman grabbed onto the body and then threw it off to the side.

Lyn seemed slightly disgusted with this act. "Have you no respect for the dead?" she asked.

As Kyle stepped on the tile he answered without looking at her. "I was trained and raised to know that any enemy you see, is just an enemy to kill and toss aside. When one foe is dead…" he continued, "that is just one less person to take down and one less person in your way."

Kyle turned around and looked out of the room he was in and immediately saw Matthew pick a chest and pull out a strange, shimmering, and ethereal looking robe. Lyn walked out of the room and went to talk to him while Kyle ran at an archer that stood guarding a knight. It was another body to add to his nearly endless count, and another person's blood on his hands. But that hardly concerned him anymore. Kyle had stopped caring about the blood part of his job. Whenever there was blood…it just meant Kyle's job was done.

The knight that Kyle could see out of the corner of his eyes lifted a spear into the air, and pointing it at Kyle, threw the weapon. The javelin came Kyle noticed it just in time. He ducked as the weapon went flying over his head clipping off a few hairs.

"Ha!" the knight said. "That was only the first taste! Next time I throw I'm takin' yer head off!"

Kyle got to his feet and smirked at the man standing opposite him maybe a few steps away. The man was getting another spear ready when suddenly Kyle said, "You do of course realize that distance isn't an advantage with me… Nor, as a matter of fact, is weapon type."

The knight seemed slightly put off by this comment but started to shake with laughter.

"Hahaha! You really think that you can beat me?!" The armor rattled a little as the man took two steps forward and put himself just in front of Kyle. "I'll give you an honorable death at the end of my spear."

Kyle let a wry smile spread across his face as the man raised his weapon to attack. The lance came perilously close but as it neared his chest Kyle ducked to the left. The enemy's weapon went passed him, and as Kyle prepared to move again time seemed to slow down for him. His sword drawn and held rigidly in his right hand Kyle struck at the knight throwing his sword up into the air. The man stumbled and caught himself but Kyle leapt into the air grabbed his sword and performing a small 180 spin thrust his weapon down.

The knight stumbled back again, but this time didn't catch himself. Instead the man stood for a few seconds supporting himself on his lance and then suddenly fell backwards. The heavy armor rattled as the knight crashed onto the ground. Kyle stole a moment to stare at the body. The man's eyes were blank of course, but what surprised Kyle was the symbol upon the knight's armor. It was an eagle fighting a lion upon a field of grain. He'd seen it upon the armor of Kent and Sain.

Kyle drew his sword, with some effort, from the knight's body and sheathed it. The last of his foes were dead. No one was in his way now and so moving the enormously armored body Kyle stepped upon the final blue plate. The wall in front of him suddenly lurched and began moving into the rest of the wall until there was at last a secret passage in front of Kyle. It was a long tunnel easily fitting a horse and probably some three men at the same time.

Rath was quickly behind Kyle. "Thank you," he said looking down from his horse. Then he took off toward the inside.

It was about an hour or two later when the Marquess of Araphen agreed to meet with Lyn and her cadre. The moment Kyle walked into the room with the man he immediately felt an air of resentment.

"Kent," Kyle said to the knight in red as they all approached the Marquess. "I examined the armor of the knight that I defeated and noticed that he had the same coat of arms as you and Sain. Do you know what that means?"

Kent nodded his head. "I assumed, and admittedly was afraid of that. You see Lyn's granduncle wishes to take the throne but in order to do that he must get Lyn out of his way. So I think that we can assume the closer we get to Caelin's castle we'll be beleaguered by more troops much like those."

"Lyndis!" the marquess snapped as the group approached. "My castle has been damaged in your family's petty succession dispute!"

"Yes I understand your lordship, and I apologize as much as is possible," Lyn started. But the Marquess wasn't done lecturing her.

"I've decided to withdraw my offer of troops, and supplies," the man said.

Kent quickly stepped up. "But m'lord you gave me your word!"

"You told me that Madelyn's daughter had come. You didn't tell me that she would be so tainted by the blood of those damned nomads! Do you think Haussen would wish to see his granddaughter this way? Besides I hear that Marquess Caelin has been abed with an illness for a month at least."

Kyle stepped out of rank this time. "My lord," he began, "I don't see why just because Lyn is a child of both Lycia and Sacae you shouldn't give her your aid."

"Of course you don't!" the Marquess said snapping upon Kyle's words. "Because you are not nobility. You are simply a soldier of hers."

Kyle quickly retorted. "Sir the issue of nobility is no measure of intelligence. In fact I have met more intelligent common people than I have nobles. So sir, if this is true, then surely you should have no choice but to lend her your aid."

"Hmph. Your men need more training," the marquess said gazing at Lyn.

But Kyle was quick to correct him. "Sir I am no common soldier, nor mercenary. I am Lyn's personal soldier and I only listen to her. Otherwise I fight for myself and only myself."

"Kyle!" Lyn said turning to him. "Please. I know what you're trying to do. But this man's heart is made solely of ice and stone. He is not normal like you or I."

Kyle bowed and backed off into the ranks. The Marquess and even Rath seemed shocked that this free spirit obeyed the woman that was guiding the entire group.

"Be that as it may, this girl's blood is thick and polluted with the blood of the nomads. I doubt that even if Haussen survives that he would wish to see this…this mongrel from Sacae."

Kyle again spoke up. "Lyndis is not a mongrel. On the contrary she is more noble than you are!"

The Marquess's rage grew. "SILENCE!!" the man shouted. Kyle however didn't listen and proved that he only listened to Lyn.

"No! I shall not be silent. I am doing you no harm. I just feel that you should treat someone with more respect than that, for if you don't then no one else can give your respect!" Kyle said.

"Would you treat the Marquess Ositia this way?!" Marquess Araphen asked in anger.

"If he was treating someone the way you are? Yes," Kyle said.

But Lyn turned around and putting her hands upon Kyle's chest as if to push him back she urged him back into the ranks. Kyle bowed to her wishes and back up along with the rest of the legion. Kyle watched, however, with growing rage as Lyn took verbal assault, word by word.

Finally in great anger he turned around and pushed his way through the legion.

"Lyn!" he called to her as he prepared to leave. "When you are through with this please come get me." Then he was gone.

"That was quite rude," Marquess Araphen said.

"He was treating you the exact same way that you're treating Lady Lyndis!" Sain cried.

"Sain!" Kent cried in anger. His friend was silenced.

"Your man is poorly trained."

Finally Lyn said, "Sir I cannot accept aid from someone that disparages my heritage so. Come friends, we are leaving." Lyn turned around and began walking away. The rest of her group did the same.

The group then went on a search for Kyle and was to meet up at the main gate with or without him. Lyn ran through the city's market district, part of the residential area, and even the front gate of the castle. But she couldn't find him.

As she approached the front gate of the city she heard a harp being strummed on. Atop the wall of the city Kyle was seated playing on the harp that he'd bought. Lyn smiled, shook her head and walked up to him.

"Kyle!" she called.

Kyle looked down from his playing, and smiled. He jumped off the wall landing deftly on his feet like a cat.

"Ya know," he said, "so far you're the only one who's found me. I was trying to make this a little more of a contest. But I guess you're just too good."

The two were laughing heartily and it warmed Lyn's heart to see Kyle's smile instead of the sulking, sullen man she usually saw. As they laughed Kyle was suddenly aware of another presence and looked to the shadows of the trees. Rath emerged upon his horse.

"I wish to accompany you and assist the last of the Lorca tribe in recovering her home," Rath said.

Lyn stroked her chin for a few moments. "Why do you wish to come with us?" she asked. Kyle nodded his head wondering as well.

"I-I overheard the Marquess talking to himself. He took me in and raised me as his own… But I have to leave this place… I also wish to give you the money I was paid last." With that Rath threw a large bag of gold onto the dirt path only a few inches from Lyn's feet. She picked up the bag and noticed how heavy it was.

"There has to be at least 4000 gold in here!" she said.

Kyle glanced at the bag said, "Actually 5000" and then turned back to watch Rath. The man's horse pawed at the ground for a second and then stared back at Kyle. The horse's eyes were like giant mirrors. Kyle saw himself fully. But within the horse's eye he could also see a strange shadow behind him. It looked like that of a dragon. Kyle turned around to look at his shadow as it was reflected in the sun but saw nothing that resembled a dragon.

The rest of the group suddenly appeared at the gate. Kyle turned to face them and when he explained that he'd been right here the entire time their shocked faces made him laugh. Lyn waved her hand forward saying it was time to leave and everyone suddenly started moving. But Kyle stared into the sky. Dark clouds were hanging up ahead. The Black Fang was no doubt lying in his road a few miles away, and there was the mystery of his own life that hung about his neck like a rope. Kyle stared straight above his head. Above the sky wasn't marred by clouds and to the stars he could see he whispered the silent prayer that whatever happened no harm would befall his friends.