I'm sorry for the long delay. This past week has been very stressful. To make up for it I have written a slightly longer chapter. Enjoy.

"Father, please, let the poor horse rest. We've been wandering for hours!" William called from the trailer.

"Alright, alright! Fine" his father grunted. "I'm getting hungry anyway. What have you prepared us for lunch?"

"Just cold beef on bread." He heard his father sigh. "I'm sorry, but it's the only thing we have left. It's been days since we've seen a town!"

"What I wouldn't give for some hot soup" the older man whined as he sat next to his son. "Do you think your sister is worried for us?"

"I think" he said between bites, "that she is to excited about her riches to worry for us." They both laughed, the sat in silence. William couldn't help but wonder where they were and where the next town could be. They were running very low on food and water, and he couldn't help but notice that they were beginning to stink. "Father," he announced while jumping up, "I'm going to look around for a bit, see if I can't find a hint of a town, or even a house." He could see the look on his father's face. "Don't worry, I won't be long. If we don't find something soon we're going to run out of supplies."

"Alright, but please be careful. I don't want to lose my only son. I couldn't bear your sister without you." the older man chuckled.

With that he was off, and, as he walked, he was thinking about where they has been, and the direction they were going. 'Alright, we left Alais three days ago. Since we are heading south we should have reached Sommiereso...two days ago. Where did we go wrong?' After about ten minutes of wondering William was becoming wary. So much so, that he began to shout to the sky. "Send me a sign! We've been traveling for days! Please!" He looked around for his sign. The wind blowing or a lightning strike. Something? Nothing. William sighed, did an about face, and froze. "What in the world?"

About a mile away, William's father was whittling a piece of wood into a small girl. He had just got the basic shape when his son came bursting through the bushes. "Father, father! You must come see this!" he shouted as he pulled on the older man's arm.

"Now wait just one minute, boy. What has got you up in a fuss?"

"You will see, just come along!" He pulled the man through the woods into the exact spot that he was in ten minutes prior. But there was nothing.

"Well, what is it? What am I missing?" his father asked, highly confused.

"I don't understand. It was right here! Where did it go?"

"Where did what go?"

"The castle!" the boy shouted, pointing in a westerly direction.

"I see nothing! Come, let's take you back to the wagon. You need to lay down." His father took him by the arm and started to lead him back to the horse.

"Maybe I am getting sick." He turned to look one last time. "Father, turn around!"

The old man shook his head, but complied. "What the gods?"

"I told you father! I told you it was there! There must be magic about this place! Come, lets go see if anyone is there!"

"Now wait just a moment! We don't know who resides there. It could be anyone! I don't know if just walking up is a good idea. If we do they may kill us."

"If we don't we'll starve. We have no choice."

So, they began their short journey to the front gate. William was hesitant, but pushed anyway, and it flung open. The two walked up the pathway and stood at the main door. William urged his father to knock, but he refused. "I will have no part in our death." So, the young man knocked, and the door swung open.

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