I am back and I still live! Just tryin to make it through college and all that so...yea. Here is the next chapter and all that. I hope you guys enjoy. I own no characters in this except for Kyle, Erif, Leena, Jaron, Cristoph yada yada yada.

It was an early, fair-weather day in Caelin and the loudest sound heard echoing across an empty plain was hooves beating against the ground. Kyle watched only the path ahead of the horse while Lyn studied Kyle's face. His expression grew tense as time passed. She wondered how in the world he managed to keep riding. It had been hours since he'd ordered a break, and not only were the horses tired from the journey, but the people were tired of riding.

Suddenly the horse jolted to a stop and Kyle barked out a simple: "BREAK!!" Every horse that had been behind them came to a skidding halt.

Immediately Kyle dismounted without a word and waited for Lyn to get off before he led the horse to a small spot to tie it to. The others followed suit and soon the plain had a large group of horses grazing and laying in the sun along with people milling about.

Lyn watched Kyle's actions. He reached down to a small canteen attached to his belt took a quick gulp of water and then screwed the cap back on. Following this he reached into a small pouch, pulled out a loaf of bread, tore off a small chunk and ate it. Then he prepared to put the bread away, but noticed Lyn watching him. She watched him sigh, get to his feet walk over and offer the canteen and bread. Lyn nodded and took the bit of bread he offered and took a short drink like he'd done.

"Ya know," he said, "you can take a bigger drink. I've learned to survive without needing a great deal of water."

Lyn appeared to not want more water but finally her natural instincts of survival took over and she unscrewed the cap a second time taking in a bit more water. Kyle smiled as she did so but suddenly caught Kent's gaze. He realized that even with what he'd promised Kent still felt the need to keep a watchful eye. Kyle growled in his throat, and then picked up his canteen when she was done and walked away.

'It's only a matter of time now Kyle…' he thought to himself. 'She'll be back home and everything will be the same again. You'll be back to your old life.' But as he said this to himself he realized that he truly didn't have much of an "old" life to go back to. His days had always been spent running away from the Black Fang, or taking some sleazy job just to make ends meet…

"What a thing to look forward too…" Kyle mumbled to himself as he bent down and scooped up more water into his canteen. It was a fine day and a good time for a rest, but stopping like this always put him on edge. Kyle could swear he heard rustling in the bushes off to his right, and the stream seemed too open to ambush.

He sat down and was about to relax when suddenly he felt a presence on the wind. A sudden change, and as Kyle got to his feet he drew his blade. Someone else was nearby…he could feel it… Suddenly hearing something from above, he pivoted around and locked blades with one of Nergal's top assassins: Jaffar.

"I knew I smelled something odd about the scenery," Kyle said. "Why are you here Jaffar? To get rid of me? Did your precious master send you here to erase me from existence?"

Jaffar shook his head. "I have explicit orders to relieve you of your consciousness and return you to the island. Please just come with me and we can avoid the nasty business of fighting…"

Kyle broke the lock. "Never! I shall never return to that cursed place again! Follow him like a blind dog if that's what you wish, but I shall never return to him again!! I would rather die than go back!"

Jaffar straightened. "Why would you rather surrender your life than return to Lord Nergal's side? What has he done that is so horrible?"

"How about send us to kill innocents?!" Kyle shook his head in fury. "NO!! I'm not going back! I have freedom out here! That is something you don't understand!"

Jaffar nodded. "I understand the concept of freedom but what I never understood was its practice. The world…the people need a stable leader. One who would unite them, teach them right from wrong…shape the world itself. The world needs Lord Nergal! Most of the Fang see that. How can you be so blind to the truth?! You more than any of us in the Fang?!"

Kyle gave him a confused look. "Me? What do you mean me more than any of you?"

Jaffar returned the confused look and suddenly realized. "I see that Lord Nergal didn't reveal all of your past to you… It would not behoove me, then to tell you what he did not." With those last words the mysterious assassin leapt into the air vanishing into the green of the trees.

"Kyle!" he suddenly heard Lyn cry. He turned to the path he'd just come from and noticed her running toward him sword in hand. When she reached him she took a few steps around to make sure the area was clear and then judging it was she lowered her guard and turned to him.

"What in the world happened?" she asked. Kyle stared at her inquisitively. "Don't give me that look," she said rolling her eyes. "I heard two swords crash together. Now what happened?"

Kyle, who had been smiling, deepened his expression and nodded. "A few minutes ago," he whispered, "An assassin from the Black Fang came to me. He kept saying something about how could I not see that the world needed a ruler such as Lord Nergal… I think that there's something dark…and dangerous I don't know about my past… At the very least there's something they know that I don't."

Lyn smiled. "What are you saying?" she asked wryly. "Do you mean you don't know anything about your past? Come on."

Kyle shook his head. "No. Really, I don't know anything about my past. All I remember is waking up on Dread Island, training with the Black Fang going on dangerous missions. Then I escaped and all I remember after that…is you." Kyle stared into her green eyes, and felt a wave of content wash over him, but again Kent's glare caused Kyle to turn away. He couldn't have a single moment of calm happiness with Lyn without Kent butting in.

"What's wrong Kyle?" Lyn asked as he turned his back on her. "Is something troubling you?"

Kyle turned around, stared at her for a moment, and then looked to the bushes where Kent still stood glaring. Kyle shook his head, and walked away. Even though I gave him my word… Blast that Kent!

Lyn turned around to the bushes where Kyle had been looking and noticed a shiny bit of red against the leaves. She had a hunch who had been causing this trouble but she wanted to know for sure. Cautiously Lyn tiptoed toward the bushes making sure that she was as quiet as she could be, and with the flick of her wrist she pulled the bushes back. Kneeling with one knee on the ground was Kent.

"Kent?" she inquired. The young knight quickly rose to his feet, and bowed.

"Good day milady," he replied. "How can I be of service to you this day?"

She gave him a cross look. "Have you been keeping an eye on me Kent?" she asked slightly annoyed, "because every time that Kyle walks away quickly you're not too far behind."

"Milady…" Kent said, "Do you honestly believe that I would disrupt a meeting between you and Kyle?"

Lyn nodded. "Personally yes I think you would, and I also think you have been. I can't believe that I didn't see this sooner. The two of you never see from eye to eye. Whenever he gives an order, you're there trying to give a different one saying how much better it is." She slapped her forehead. "I feel so stupid!"

Kent shook his head. "Milady it isn't like that at all. Kyle and I are just different people."

"Truly?" Lyn asked putting her hands on her hips. "Very well." She grabbed Kent by the arm and began to lead him off after Kyle. She searched for her for near ten minutes before she finally located Kyle standing by the fire pit.

"Kyle!" she said. He looked over. "May we have a word with you?" Acquiescing to her request Kyle walked calmly over to where she was standing.

She thrust Kent forward. "From various incidents concerning conversations between you and I Kyle I have deduced that Kent is…spying on you and trying to keep you from having any type of interaction with me."

Kyle looked at Kent and then shook his head. "I've no idea what you're talking about. But if you are correct and he is, are you certain that you're wrong to stop him?"

A hurt look suddenly shadowed Lyn. "Wha-What do you mean?" she asked.

Kyle's solemn expression grew even sterner as he spoke. "Is it inconceivable that I, a former member of the Black Fang, would not betray you at the end? What if it was my very mission to kill you once Lundgren had been destroyed?"

Tears welled up in Lyn's eyes. It pained Kyle to do this but if he ever wanted to get Lyn home, then he had to do this. Kyle looked to Kent and noticed a flicker of realization. Kent knew that Kyle was trying to push Lyn away. For the good of the mission even Kyle was willing to make sacrifices.

Kyle watched as a grateful smile formed on Kent's mouth. "Furthermore what would happen if I told you that I was in fact a spy from Bern?! I am not either of these, an assassin or spy of course, but the point in this Lyn is that you trust me far too much. You are naïve, trusting everyone that you meet. Now granted you met me some time ago and even saved my life, however my past is too dark, and corrupted for me to be anything more to you than a bodyguard. I put my life in your hands, and told you that until I had seen you safely to Caelin that I was your slave. But keep in mind that when we reach the castle and defeat your granduncle that my service ends there." Then he turned away.

Saying those things had torn him apart inside. Seeing Lyn's face stained with tears made Kyle wish he could turn around and take all those words back…but he couldn't. Just by being with 'Lyndis's Legion' he was putting them all in danger. Kyle realized this of course, but he had sworn his service to her until he saw her home safely.

Kyle started through the camp and waved hello to everyone as he passed them. But as he passed the fire pit he heard someone calling him. He looked around and saw Kent kneeling behind a tent and waving him over. Kyle looked around shrugged and walked over to the young knight.

"I…I want to thank you for what you did," Kent said getting to his feet but keeping his eyes on the ground. "If…you hadn't…covered for me, then Lyndis would never have spoken to me again."

Kyle's hand rested calmly on the hilt of his sword. "It was nothing… But still it tore me up to push Lyn away like that." Kyle averted his gaze to the grass that billowed in a passing breeze. "I… I hope that in the end…all of this pain will be worth it. Personally I want to end the Black Fang myself." Kent heard Kyle's hand tighten around the grip of the sword, and then there was a sigh. "But…I'm not strong enough…yet."

Kent nodded a few times and then suddenly asked a strange question: "What exactly is your relationship with the Black Fang?"

Kyle looked up at Kent who looked straight back at him. Kyle sighed, and then replied, "There really isn't much to tell… I felt like I was traveling through a river, but…there was only this bright light…and then suddenly there was a man…with one gold eye, and a turban wrapped around his head with a gentle voice… He kept telling me to wake up…and finally I did."

Kent nodded. "When he talked to you…what was he like? How did his voice sound?"

Kyle rubbed at his chin and replied, "He sounded gentle, and kind…but his voice had an artificial sound to it…as if he was hiding something; than those things nothing too important to mention. I could recount the incident dozens of times in my mind… I'll tell you the truth: I lied to Lyn about how I was recruited into the Black Fang. I saw a light…heard a voice…and awoke on Dread Isle when no one was there."

Kent's gaze was fixated on Kyle. "So you mean that you'd been there before the Black Fang?" the cavalier asked.

Kyle nodded massaging his right temple with four of his fingers as if he was trying to relieve a great burden. The air turned suddenly cold, and a few plants began to droop down.

"I can tell you the truth. Before Nergal and his hell hounds, the Black Fang arrived, the place that is now called Dread Isle was beautiful. The forest that surrounds the temple called the Dragon Gate was…lush, and radiant. The sun would rise far off in the east and would cause the entire canopy to resonate and bloom with the same emerald gleam. Within the deepest part of the woods were a small patch of lilies that, when they bloomed, they were a dazzling mix of golden petals, emerald stems and leaves, and ruby seeds. It was…stunning. If I could describe it in any way it would be as the only true paradise on the planet.

"Then one day when I was sleeping the boats of the Black Fang washed ashore, and as the villain Nergal approached I could feel his hatred. It woke me up as a matter of fact. As he strode through the forest the place became dark. The melancholy emerald leaves became suddenly vile as if any and all love had vanished from them. When the sun rose vines rose up where the sun had once pierced the canopy and blocked it out. Soon the island became a cesspool for everything that nature had never intended. I approached them with the sole desire to transform the island into the paradise I'd come to know as home. Nergal, however, had other plans for me. He saw that I was not…normal, and when he found that I could read the ancient hieroglyphs and runes that covered the walls he forced me to translate them for him. Then he came up with a villainous plan: He would use the gate to summon a dragon, destroy the monster absorb its quintessence, and use the power to conquer the known world!"

Kent seemed to shiver as Kyle finished. "I have one question about all of this though: What exactly is quintessence?"

Kyle prepared to explain when suddenly Erif, the mage that they'd picked up in Kathelet broke in. "Quintessence is the life-force of a creature, person, or dragon. It is what gives people the ability to live and cast magic. It is what allows nature to continue to change and shift, and it is what dragons use to be vibrant and transform into humans. The last part I read of in a tome in Etruria. Half-dragons were said to be almost always in human form, though their species name was manakete. Though not all could become dragons many could by using something known as a dragonstone, which is a small gem usually in the color of a particular element."

Kyle looked up at the mage. Her fire-red robe's brilliance was lost in the setting sun, and it seemed as if the patterns of flame that licked across the robe turned black.

"Let me ask you something Erif," Kyle said addressing the girl. "Did you ever read of an occurrence where there was a dragon that was a combination of dragons or a mamkutes that turned into an amalgamation of two differing dragons?" Kyle was slightly hopeful but wasn't holding his breath.

The girl scratched her head. "No…" she said hesitantly. "I don't think that I've ever read of such an occurrence. This doesn't of course mean that it never happened, mind you. It simply means that I haven't read anything of it."

Kyle nodded and thanked her as the girl left. When he was sure that she was far out of earshot he turned to Kent. "What is our next destination?" Kyle asked curiously.

Kent unfurled a large map and laying it flat on the ground to use what sunlight remained he pointed to a small fortress rather close to Caelin's castle. Kyle looked at the distance between the two fortified positions. He looked up just in time to spot Lyn headed toward her tent.

"Pardon me," he said excusing himself from the map. Kent, of course, went back to studying it.

"Lyndis," Kyle said grabbing her by the arm. She turned around and gazed at him with her large green eyes. He shook his head. "I'm afraid I've lied to you this entire time about my experiences with the Black Fang. Come over here."

He directed her past the edge of the camp and set her down on a rock. "First," he began without hesitation, "I wasn't found by the Black Fang in Bern…I lived on what is now Dread Isle for over a year reveling in the beauty of the forest, enjoying the company of the wind, and listening to the waves gently caress the shore." Kyle paused for a moment remembering the days he'd spent on the island. He closed his eyes as he continued as if it pained him to speak. "One day however a man named Nergal pulled ashore with his minions called the Black Fang. The moment he set foot upon the island…the place became corrupted. Trees grew dark and knarled. Vines grew into areas where the sun had pierced and choked off its rays. My home…became unnatural and unholy."

Lyn gazed at him sadly. "I'm sorry Kyle…" she said. "I just wish that you could've known a home like I'd known it."

Kyle laughed a little and shook his head. "No. I've had many good memories while living on the island and even better ones as of late." Suddenly however he turned his head to the air, and began to sniff around.

Lyn waited a few moments before asking, "What is it?"

Kyle looked back at her. "I don't know… The wind… It's changed…" Suddenly however he waved his hand. "It's nothing that we need concern ourselves with at this moment. Go do whatever you need and I shall see you when we all have lunch later."

Kyle watched as Lyn got to her feet and began to walk away. 'She is rather lucky that she had such a good home.' There was a lapse in this thoughts for a few minutes as he stood watching the sun move overhead. 'She's luckier that she has so many good friends that would do anything for her.'

The next day they rode near a village. One of the men near a small farm was tilling the ground.

"Excuse me," Kyle said. One of the men looked up from his work. "What village are we near?"

The man looked to his friend, and then back to Kyle. "This is Marsier Village," he said, " near Chesterson Castle. At the moment Lord Eagler is stationed there overseeing the castle. We've heard tell that an imposter of Lady Lyndis is on her way here."

Kyle scoffed at the news. Imposter indeed! Who did these buffoons think they were looking at?! Aloof and indifferent he watched Lyn's actions with intrigue. She stepped forward, advancing upon the mayor of the village, and then stopping in front of him sighed. Kyle's patience was wearing thin, of this she was aware, but she also knew that if she was going to convince everyone that she was who she said she was then she'd have to speak with the people.

"I truly am Lyndis granddaughter of Marquee Haussen. Please, you must believe me." Her pleas were, however met with deaf ears and hearts of stone.

"You couldn't be the granddaughter to Haussen!" the mayor said without a hint of emotion. "You don't even resemble Lady Madelyn."

Kyle became angry at this remark. Turning swiftly to the mayor he said, "And how would you know this good sir?! Did you ever see the Lady Madelyn!? Besides she is of the Lorca people of Sacae! These people are known for their honesty! Answer truthfully: Would you doubt the honor of Sacae?"

The mayor glared at Kyle for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, I would doubt the honor of Sacae, and I have seen Lady Madelyn. This girl does not even resemble her."

Kent suddenly approached the man, while still upon his horse. "I do not wish to be rude sir but if you doubt this woman's likeness to Madelyn then you never laid eyes upon her once. I've seen her portrait many times and this young woman looks almost exactly like the late Lady Madelyn."

Kyle smiled. For once Kent had backed him up. Thought it was a topic that both of them cared about greatly it marked the first step toward a kindling friendship.

The man laughed. "You think that this Sacaen mongrel looks anything like Lady Madelyn?"

Kyle's anger reached its boiling point. He turned again to the mayor. "Sir, I would ask you to cease insulting Lady Lyndis. If you do not then I cannot be held responsible for what I shall do next."

Kyle drew his blade turned to a tree nearby and swung his weapon. There was a slight creaking and without a sound the tree slid smoothly away leaving a triangulated stump. Kyle heard a pleasing gulping sound from the mayor.

He turned back to the mayor. "All that we ask is safe passage. We shall not trouble you further than that."

The man smiled. "Well, pity that is. You see General Eagler is stationed at the castle just over the way there as I told you some time ago. The force that he commands in this area is nothing to be laughed at. So if I were you I'd start praying that the good General doesn't kill all of you."

Kyle's smile faded and his eyes narrowed as he replied, "I tell you this now, and mark my words: I fear no man made of flesh and blood. Be he a mage, a swordsman, or knight he shall not strike fear into my heart."

Suddenly the clanking of metal came from the mountaintop. Kyle turned and held his blade forward. Kent and Sain got in front of Lyn. From the fog emerged a man in heavy armor with an enormous lance.

"Sir Wallace!" Kent suddenly said.

Kyle turned to Kent. "You know this man?" he asked. Kent nodded.

"When Sain and I were just recruits he was our trainer and commander. I'd heard that he'd retired however."

Kyle turned around and held his blade out menacingly. "Hold Sir Wallace!" The knight stopped so that Kyle was just in range of his spear, but that Kyle wouldn't be able to reach him with a standing sword swing. 'I hope that he doesn't think that he'll be safe at that distance,' Kyle thought to himself.

"How is it that you, a man I've never seen nor met, know my name so well? Speak good sir!" the bull of a man said. Kyle could see why Kent admired the man so much. He spoke with much authority and seemed to know what he was doing.

"I have two here that know you well. Sir Kent and Sir Sain!" The two knights behind him rode forward getting in between Wallace and Kyle.

"So," Wallace said shaking his head, "it is true. Two knights formerly of great honor have turned against their own country to support a stranger from the plain-lands. Show me the girl. I will judge her. If I like what I see then I shall cast aside any former conviction and join in your struggle. If not, then I shall take her to Lundgren."

Kyle stepped forward, his head showing in a gap between the two horses. "And if we stand in your way?"

Wallace laughed hefting up his spear. "Then I shall have no choice but to cut all of you down."

Kyle grinned. "I do not believe you could defeat all of us. Many in this group we have are quite powerful."

Erk, and Erif stood slightly apart showing their intimidating glares. Leena stood a few feet away from Erif near her fellow archer Wil. The female archer was a much more imposing sight than her friend who was smiling like an idiot.

"Enough!" Lyn suddenly said stepping forward. "Here I am! I am Lyndis of Sacae!"

Wallace didn't say anything. He continued to study Lyn's countenance. It was a very unnerving few seconds for Kyle.

Suddenly Wallace's face changed into an expression of mirth. "Hahaha! I believe you! One with eyes such as your doesn't lie!" Turning in the direction of the castle he suddenly said, "Come now children! The adult will help you make it home!" The man laughed even harder. This was some type of joke to him, but Kyle had seen from the man's face that in battle he was a fierce warrior.

"What is that?" Kyle suddenly asked noticing a little badge that sat on Wallace's armor.

The man laughed again and turned. "You've eyes like an eagle my young friend! That is a knight's crest!" He picked it off his armor and clenched it in his hand. There was a blinding flash of light and suddenly Wallace had doubled in size and was clad in enormous armor as silver as the moon itself.

"Hahaha!! A giant walks among you!" Wallace shouted happily. Kyle did have to admit however that the transforming powers of the crest were impressive. Wallace had doubled in size and no doubt in strength as well. Awed by the new ally's advance he almost didn't notice the bandit that had come down from the mountains before the foe was nearly upon him.

He held up his blade and deflected the axe and in one stroke cleaved the bandit's head from his shoulders. Hefting up the axe he threw it to Wallace. "Here!" Kyle shouted as it approached. Wallace's gloved hand reached out and grabbed the weapon. "That might help a bit!" Wallace nodded and prepared for his own battle. Taking up a position on the bridge the walking fortress waited like a giant daring anyone to stand against him.

As Lyn prepared to advance behind Wallace Kyle grabbed her by the arm.

"Kyle, what's wrong?" she asked. "Do you still not trust Wallace?"

Kyle shook his head. "It's not that," he replied. "I just feel that you and I and perhaps Florina, and Sain would be better off going up and then around the large mountain. They might have soldiers lying in wait for us up that way in an attempt to trap us on this side of the mountain. If we sneak around that way, then we can catch them unawares and prevent this trap."

Lyn nodded and shouted to Florina and Sain. Kyle shouted to Erif, and Leena as he raced past them. Turning their heads they nodded and followed. Apparently they also sensed the trap and would assist in getting rid of it.

The intrepid second team made their way around and ran into a fair number of soldiers. Erif's magic, and Leena's bow provided excellent covering fire, Florina's lance made it harder for the enemy to strike without fear of retaliation, Sain continued to switch between sword and lance, while Kyle and Lyn used their swords to bring down bandits that continued to come from the mountains nearby. The job of fighting past and through was a tedious one but one that Kyle knew was necessary as he thought Lyndis also realized.

After they'd cleared the mountains they ran down to the bridge and attacked the last few knights that were still standing. Blood stained the bridge, and flowed off into the river below turning it to a bit of a dark color. Kyle looked far off, and was suddenly surprised. A thick fog was beginning to roll in.

"Damn," Kyle muttered under his breath. Fog always made fighting more difficult. With fog enemies concealed in the woods could use their advantage to strike without warning.

He felt a tap on his shoulder. Kyle turned his head and was staring at Kent.

"Where is Matthew?" Kent asked. Kyle grimaced. He'd hoped that no one would notice that their thief friend was gone.

Kyle sighed. "I gave him a bag of coins and asked him to infiltrate the town ahead of us, and get any information he could about the Marquee, Lundgren, and any additional information he could gather. Right now he should be ambling through the town."

Kent growled. "I wish you would have consulted myself or Lady Lyndis before you'd pulled such a crazy stunt but once something is done it cannot be undone. Very well, let us pray that his information is useful. If he gets any information from the town it might be gossip and hearsay just as it might be true. We should keep that in mind."

Kyle turned back to the castle, the spires of which he could still see even in the fog. The Earth around him began to shake. Kyle looked around and then seeing the heavily armored feet of Wallace looked up.

The man lifted up the face guard of his helmet. "You're with me," the man commanded gruffly. "You take care of mercenaries or myrmidons, understand?"

Kyle grinned and drew his blade walking keeping pace with the now rather sluggish Wallace. It would be daunting and annoying work but Wallace could well take care of bandits, and Kyle would deal with the swords. The occasional foe leapt from the woods as they passed and every now and then a cavalier would come charging forward, but nothing truly hindered them that couldn't be handled.

When they finally arrived at the castle gates there was a man on a horse, and a knight defending him. The knight noticed the arrival of Wallace and Kyle and rushed forward…to his death. Swinging his lance the knight attempted to strike Kyle. Kyle back-flipped out of the way of danger, and Wallace brought his axe down upon the knight's helmet. There was a nauseating crunch and the foe dropped to the ground.
Wallace walked forward and prepared to face the man mounted upon a horse. This one was different than the many cavaliers that Kyle had seen. He was more heavily armored, and held a large shield in his right hand which could easily be used to deflect attacks. His left hand held an impressive silver lance, made even more imposing by the way the knight held it into the air letting the sun catch the silver.

Wallace stopped a few feet short. Kyle stared up in awe as the man removed his helmet. Wallace did the same.

Underneath Wallace was about as Kyle had expected, well shaved, and bald with an expression like that of a fierce warrior. Eagler however was much different looking than Kyle had expected. This man had combed back hair, and a well-groomed moustache. However the one thing that impressed Kyle the most about this man was that his voice and indeed his very presence seemed to cause the air around him to gasp.

"Wallace," Eagler said.

"Eagler," Wallace replied. The two saying each other's name seemed to be pointless at first but at a second glance one knew that this was fight to the death. The clash of titans was about to be waged here at the Chesterson Castle gates. It was sure to be a titanic clash and the two giants were acknowledging the other's skill.

"I suppose we have no need for words then?" Eagler asked.

Wallace rubbed his chin for a few moments, and replied, "No I suppose don't. But I do wish to know why you're going along with this. You can't enjoy being a lapdog for Lundgren can you? He must have some hold over you… Eagler come with us and we shall slay Lundgren and you shall once again be a free man!"

Eagler seemed to consider the offer for a few seconds. But with clarity and intellect replied, "I'm sorry my old friend. But even if I did assist you in slaying that vile dog Lundgren he would surely get a message. He has people spying on me even as we speak. He has my family and if I do not obey then my wife and two children shall die." Eagler sighed, his face seeming to collapse into his armor. His expression suddenly turned serious, and he brought himself back to his former composure. "No Wallace! Now is no longer the time for words. You disobey Lord Lundgren! You are a traitor to Caelin, and the price for treason is death! I, as a humble servant of Caelin shall grant you a warrior's death. Come Wallace!"

Kyle simply stood back as Wallace stepped forward to the gate of the castle and hefted up his axe. Eagler drew one as well.

It was a true battle of giants. Eagler was faster than Wallace so he could evade blows more easily, but Wallace was far more armored than Eagler so he could take more blows. The two axes crashed into each other again and again and again. Eagler made a slight gash in Wallace's armor, but Wallace, in a surprise move, spun around and struck Eagler with his enormous gloved fist. Eagler managed to parry the strike with his shield, but the force of the impact was enough to knock him off his guard. Seizing the opportunity Wallace flung his axe forward. It sliced through Eagler's armor dealing the man a death blow. Wallace's axe retracted due to the chain and returned to Wallace's hand.

A short yelp of pain escaped Eagler as he fell off his horse and on the ground. His horse reared, bolted, and took off down the road.

Wallace walked slowly up to Eagler.

The foe laughed, blood spurting out of his mouth. "You…have bested me Wallace… I can't…believe it. Always our rivalries were one sided…I was the faster one…and the stronger one…but it seems that…your fighting on the field has made you…far more skillful than myself." Eagler let a small suppressed chuckle escape. But then seeming to remember something urgent Eagler sucked in a deep breath. "You…must hurry…to the castle…. Lundgren… He…has been poisoning...Haussen… But…the Marquee…has…no idea at all…of Lundgren's…deception…" Eagler paused and took another breath. "You should find a way to convince the other territories of Lycia…to not…take a side. If they…do…there is a chance…that you could…be defeated anyway… Lundgren knows now…the strength that you, and…Lady Lyndis…wield… Convince them…and save my family… Wallace…" Eagler reached his hand up. Wallace grabbed it. "Now…" Eagler gasped. "Promise me…that you will free my family…"

"I promise you Eagler… Your death shall not be in vain. Even should I die, I know that Lyndis shall reach her grandfather, and that Lundgren shall pay."

Eagler smiled, and his head fell back. Kyle reached down to the man's neck and placed two fingers upon it. There was no pulse. Eagler no longer lived.

Kyle rose, and prepared to go to check on all the others. The fog had lifted now, and he could see everyone making their way toward him. He was about to walk over and give Lyn the bad news when a large force held him back.

He looked down. Wallace's large gauntlet was wrapped around his arm. Wallace's eyes were stained with tears.

"Listen to me," he said. "I need you to promise me that if all goes wrong, that you will get Lyndis out of here. If we should make it to Caelin, fight our way to the castle and find ourselves surrounded, I need you to promise me to take Lyn and run. Flee back to Sacae. Get her home. Stay there with her, and make sure that she never tries to come back again."

Kyle thought for a moment. "I think that there might be a way to make sure that no one comes to Lundgren's aid. It is…slightly risky, and if my plan fails then I do promise that I will get Lyn out of here. I'll do my best to get her back to Sacae. I can't promise I'll succeed but I will try to get her out."

Wallace nodded. "Now what is this plan of yours?" he said rising from Eagler's body. "It's going to have to be very damn good in order to keep the other countries away."

Kyle nodded. "It is. You see while Lundgren may have a good deal of influence, we have better. We ran into a young man named Eliwood a few days back who said that if we ever needed anything from him to come and see him since he would be here for the next few days. I know that he is the son of Marquee Pharae, so he might be able to convince Caelin's neighbors to not interfere."

Wallace nodded slowly. "Add to that the fact that Eliwood is a close friend of Lord Hector brother to Uther King of the Lycian council and you have a good deal of influence. That is very good thinking! I shall return soon ready to depart for wherever we're going, I just need to get my horse. You explain the plan to Lyndis."

Kyle nodded, and watched as Wallace left. It was almost time soon this whole ordeal from hell would completely over. Lyndis would be home soon. Kyle might stick around for a day or two to sample fine cuisine but then he would have to get moving again. He sighed as the rest of the group approached. 'Such is the life of a loner…' he thought to himself.