They buried Lavitz in the trees near the feet of the mountains. King Albert said a few words, stately as ever in his reclaimed dark leather armor and forest green cloak. Shana had healed his leg and the worst of his bruises, but he still seemed weak, his eyes sunken, his skin pale and chafed from the wind. Even so, Dart couldn't deny the strength that had obviously sunk into him upon receiving the dragoon spirit.

As the ceremony proceeded, Dart tried desperately to distract himself. He wanted to be anywhere other than here, and he forced his mind away. And yet, everywhere he fled to just brought up memories of Lavitz.

He recalled the time that they had fled Hellena Prison together, rushing past these very trees as they charged north. The time they had rested in that ridiculous shack, swapping stories of their past. Their endless conversations as they traipsed across the prairie.

There it was again, the grief that took his breath and stilled his heart. Turning his eyes up, he eyed the outline of the leaves dangling above him, the morning sun highlighting them with tiny little halos. He felt like that scared little boy again, crying on the ground amid the ashes of his home. Only this time, he didn't have a memento to dig out of the rubble.

Shana, crying quietly next to him, reached out and took his hand. He couldn't decide if he wanted to bat it away or grip it so tightly that he kept the blood from flowing. So he neither resisted nor encouraged. Her fingers twined through his, and he did nothing.

Albert continued to drone on, speaking of honor and justice and duty, dropping in mentions of his friendship with the fallen knight, and Dart glanced around him. Haschel stood solemnly to the side, somewhat removed from the group, and Rose was to Dart's left, staring stone-faced at the ground. He could have imagined it, but he thought he caught the glint of tears in her eyes.

Several minutes later, the king finally stopped talking, and Dart immediately wrenched his hand from Shana's and turned away to head back toward the horses, not daring to cast his eyes one more time to the lumpy grave. He heard someone call out after him, but he ignored it and kept walking. As he reached his horse, he swung onto him with one swift movement, urging the beast to the edge of the woods. Lavitz's horse followed after him, but Dart could not bring himself to look at her.

What was her name? He struggled to remember, combing over the memories, and sighed in frustration as nothing resurfaced. He stopped at the edge of the trees.

"Dart!" someone called. He didn't turn.

"Dart, you have to wait for us," said Haschel, jogging up beside him.

"Do I look like I'm moving?"

"It's hard to know that you've stopped when you just run off like that!"

"Then get everyone ready. We need to leave." Dart's eyes remained focused on the glint of the ocean far to the east, and the bright reflection of the sun off the water.

"And go where? We need to talk about this."

"Fine!" shouted Dart before hurriedly dismounting. Then rounding on Haschel, he said, "What are you waiting for? Call a meeting, O wise one." He gave a mocking bow, then sat on the edge of the road, legs crossed, staring off into the distance.

"Dart-" began Haschel.

"Save it," he retorted, cutting him off. He heard Haschel shifting uncomfortably behind him before turning and walking back into the woods.

Deep within, Dart knew that he was being cruel. He wasn't upset with Haschel, but he didn't care. Rage felt better than grief.

Several minutes later, everyone emerged from the trees and gathered near him. Shana and Haschel sat down on the hard earth, but Rose and King Albert stood. Dart felt a twinge of pleasure to see the king limp slightly as he walked. Shana cast many a worried glance toward Dart, but he didn't meet her gaze. She sniffed several times, and the sound grated on his nerves.

"As I am sure you are all aware," began Albert with excessive pomp. Dart held back a snort. "We cannot linger here much longer. Hellena has fallen, but we have no way of knowing if a messenger escaped to request military support from Kazas. Our next step is to determine just where we will go."

He let the serious statement hang over them for a moment. Rose sat down.

Then continuing, he said, "This has been a costly day, and I give my condolences to each of you. I understand that Lavitz was one of your close friends. I... I, too, feel the pain of his passing. He was my most loyal knight, but more than this, he was my friend as well. I must express the deep gratitude I have toward each of you for giving of yourself, both to this country and to him. Never has a man been more deserving of loyal friends like you."

Feeling the king's eyes boring into him, Dart dropped his gaze and picked blades of grass, ripping them into pieces to calm the swell of emotions.

"It's my fault," said Rose quietly, and all eyes turned to her. "I should have stopped him. I almost did. But after his display at the barricade-" she gestured into the distance, where the remains of the wooden structure were just barely visible "-I decided that he would be fine on his own. It was too late when I recognized that Lloyd had the Dragon Buster."

"The what?" asked Haschel.

"The Dragon Buster," she repeated. "Creative name, I know, but the ancient Winglies poured their efforts into other, more important things than naming their powerful artifacts, and the name didn't translate well anyway. It's a weapon, apparently lingering from the Dragon Campaign, that was created to kill both dragons and dragoons. Its magic is unparalleled. Even dragoon armor is a mere shroud in front of the Dragon Buster. If I had known..." She stopped and turned to Dart, her eyes piercing him like knives. "I'm sorry."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. When had he ever seen Rose apologetic or regretful?

"We cannot sit around and blame ourselves for Lavitz's death," said Albert. "To ensure that it was not in vain we must instead move forward and do something about it."

With a meaningful glance at Dart, Shana said, "He wouldn't want us to sit and do nothing."

Abruptly, Dart stood and said, "Then let's do something. He wanted to end the war, so let's do it. We make for the Black Castle."

A stir rustled over the group. Dark tales of the Black Castle had been spun throughout Basil, and no one was too eager to jump at the opportunity to go there.

"And do what?" asked Albert.

"Kill Doel." Obviously, Dart thought. "That would end the war, wouldn't it?"

"Well, yes," fumbled Albert. "There would be no one scheming for the throne, but-"

"But what? The good king is too noble to sneak into somewhere he doesn't belong?"

"Dart!" scolded Shana, but he ignored her, keeping his eyes trained on the king.

"Dart, it's not that," interrupted Haschel, standing and easing forward. "You're talking about assassination. Killing a reigning monarch."

"Doel is just a man," Dart retorted. "And he sent his lackey to kill Albert here, so I don't see the difference. He got Lavitz instead, so I say we repay the favor."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? Doel heard rumors about a group of travelers entering Lohan from the east, right after the dragon was killed. So he sent in Lloyd to scope us out. That's why he entered the tournament, and that's why he was so interested in me. Then after we left, he was sent to Hellena to kill the king, and Lavitz just got in the way."

"That does seem to be the most plausible explanation," said King Albert.

"See?" said Dart.

"But," continued the king, "He was not just there to kill me."

"The gem," said Shana.

Albert nodded. "The Moon Gem is its name. It holds a strange magic power, and it marks the true king of Serdio. It is said that it was a relic from the Dragon Campaign, an artifact of the ancient Winglies. For generations, it has been sealed inside the body of each monarch, until it was taken just this morning."

"Makes sense," said Rose. "Doel wants the Moon Gem to stake a real claim to the throne."

"Yes."

"But Lavitz got in the way of killing you," said Haschel. "Even if a messenger didn't get away, Lloyd did. Doel will send an army to get his hands on you. You're the only thing stopping him from being king."

"Exactly, which is why we must leave soon," said Albert. "Our enemy is, as of yet, unaware of our movements. Because of this, we have a fighting chance to get to Kazas, and possibly into the Black Castle, if that is what you truly wish to do."

Stepping forward, Dart said forcefully, "I do. No need to wait around here." Desperately, he wanted to get away from this accursed place.

"Is everyone in agreement?" Rose, Haschel, and Shana nodded. "Then it is decided. Our target is Emperor Doel, in the Black Castle. We should leave soon, and take a roundabout path. Otherwise, we will be sure to encounter enemy troops."

Turning away from the open road, they hurried back to their steeds, and in just a few minutes, they were heading out. As much as Dart hated being here, he couldn't deny that leaving the grave felt like leaving a part of himself behind. Despite all his efforts, he could not expel every memory of Lavitz from his mind, and they constantly plagued him as he jostled with the trot of the horse beneath him.

What would you do without me? he'd said. That white smile and blonde hair flashed before Dart's eyes, and he sniffed, trying to smother the emotions. He wasn't sure what to do without Lavitz. Somehow, the world seemed darker, colder even. It was as if the fire inside him had been extinguished completely, and a cold frost crept through his soul.

As they passed through the wreckage of the barricade, Dart held his breath, staring ahead blankly. He couldn't bring himself to look at it. Closing his eyes, he tried to block it out, but instead the image of Lavitz's wrath filled his mind. As they entered the rocky passage, Dart glanced to his left and spied Shana's arrow that had shattered against the hard stone. It was completely beyond repair, shaft splintered and head fragmented.

"Dart," said a voice, making him jump. He turned to see King Albert riding up close to him on Lavitz's horse. His heart twisted into a knot when he saw the lance at Albert's back, the very same lance that Lavitz had wielded. Rose had been the one to remove it from Fruegel's body, and then insisted that the king use it until he could find another. It made a sort of sense, but it felt horribly wrong, insensitive, deceptive. Just like the horse. Just like the dragoon spirit. It was as if Albert thought that he could replace Lavitz with no trouble at all, no loss or remorse. Was this king the man who had fought with his people in Hoax? Was this king the one who'd slain Greham? Assisted in the battle with the dragon? What was this king, but someone who holed himself up in his castle, keeping safe and warm while his people, his good knights, were slaughtered throughout his kingdom?

But Dart said none of this. Instead, he simply stated, "Your Majesty."

"I have been meaning to speak with you. I owe you both an apology and my gratitude."

Dart quirked an eyebrow.

"First, I understand that Lavitz meant a great deal to you, and I know that his death must come at a terrible price. I also understand my role in his death, however limited one may argue it to be, and for this, I am deeply regretful and sorry."

Glaring ahead of him, Dart felt an almost overwhelming desire to reach over and land his fist forcefully on the king's perfect jawline, but he remained still.

Albert continued, "But I also would like to express my thanks. Lavitz made your friendship very clear to me, even all that time ago in Bale. He has been a friend to many, but being yours appeared to have been the highlight of his life. You gave him a great joy, even in the dark times of the Serdian War. For this, I will always be grateful to you."

He paused, waiting for some kind of response. Mulling over the words in his mind, Dart once again felt the cold chill creep over his heart, and he feared that answering would only make him weep before a monarch. His fists tightened around the reins until his knuckles were white, his fingernails digging into his palms.

The highlight of his life. And what was the point of it all? Lavitz was dead.

Seeing that he was getting no response, King Albert reached into his pocket and drew out the dragoon spirit. Dart rolled his eyes and looked ahead. They were nearing the end of the passage; maybe he could get away from Albert once they were back in the open terrain.

"I was also hoping that you would tell me a little more about this," said Albert thoughtfully. Dart couldn't tell if the king was trying to force him into conversation, or if he was simply oblivious to his desire for solitude.

Lavitz would have left me alone by now, he thought.

"I am aware of its great importance, and its great power," said Albert. "But I know little more than that. According to Lavitz's letter, this grants the power of a dragon. Does this mean that I am now a dragoon?"

"Yep," replied Dart through clenched teeth.

"How do I use this power?"

"You know what?" Dart's voice grew cynical, and he struggled to keep his calm. "Why don't you ask Rose? She's the dragoon master here." He flashed an exaggerated smile and urged his horse forward. Much to his relief, the king did not try to follow.

They emerged from the mountain passage into the grasslands and picked up the pace. Begrudgingly, Dart let Albert lead because of his familiarity with this area of Serdio, and he followed him north toward the woods. This was the same path they had traveled just last night. With Lavitz.

Albert slowed as they came upon the scattered Sandora bodies that had tried to capture them the night before.

"What happened here?" he asked wildly.

"Guards were tracking us," replied Dart flatly. "So we killed them. Let's go."

And with that, he charged into the forest. They had only traveled a short distance when Haschel called out from near the back of line.

"Hey, I know you guys are all super-powered and everything, but we barely slept last night. I would love a rest before we charge into enemy territory again. Even if it is horrendously sunny."

"He has a point," said Rose, casting a meaningful glance to Dart.

Rolling his eyes, Dart stopped and dismounted before saying, "We'll stop for four hours. You guys get some sleep, and I'll take watch."

As they got ready to make camp, Shana approached him cautiously, but he did not turn to look at her. Placing a hand lightly on his arm, she spoke softly.

"Dart... I'm sorry."

"Thanks, but I'm fine." He studiously watched as the camp was set up, avoiding her gaze.

"Do you want to talk about it? I know... I know it hurts, but-"

"I said I'm fine," he snapped.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she quickly turned to leave. Regret sprang into his heart, and he called after her, but she did not turn back. Sighing heavily, he turned to sit next to a tree, but just then Rose appeared beside him.

"Come with me," she said before plunging into the forest.

"What? Why?"

"Just do it," she called back threateningly.

He glanced back at the camp; all eyes were trained on him. Awkwardly, he turned and followed Rose. They traveled for several minutes until they were well out of earshot of the others. Stepping over brush and bending under branches, Dart got the unnerving feeling that Rose was taking him away to kill him, but promptly laughed at himself. She was one of them now, one of their companions. She wouldn't kill any of them.

Or would she? he considered. She was clearly more ruthless than any of the rest. He wasn't even sure where her loyalties lay, or what her purpose was for traveling with them. But his thoughts were interrupted when she stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her hair whipping about and her eyes wild with anger.

"You need to pull yourself together," she said menacingly.

"What are you talking about?"

"People die, Dart. They die, and they don't come back. I know it was sudden, and I know it was recent, but there are bigger things at stake."

"Recent?" he said, voice climbing in anger. "You make it sound like it was a couple weeks ago! It was hours, Rose. Lavitz died this morning, and you expect me to be all happy and bouncy as if nothing happened? He was my best friend." His voice caught in his throat, and he stopped.

Her eyes pierced him. "You're not the only one here that's hurting. You're not the only one mourning Lavitz's death. With him gone, they need a leader, and I don't think anyone wants the king telling us what to do right now, even the king himself. That burden falls to you, and you're doing a terrible job of it."

"I'm not a leader of anything."

"That's where you're wrong. Even Lavitz looked to you for guidance."

"Don't be silly," he scoffed.

"You're a selfish fool," she snapped at him, shaking her head. "Open your eyes. Everyone lost a friend today. Shana needs you, Dart. How can you not see that? And yet, she's doing all she can to help you through this, because she loves you."

"You don't think I care about her?" he demanded, voice rising once again.

"If I hadn't been around you for longer than four hours, I never would have known."

The words slapped him almost breathless. His rage flared in response, and he yelled, "You have no idea what I've been going through today!"

Instead of snapping back at him, she narrowed her eyes, shook her head slightly, and said, "I know exactly what you're going through." The truth behind her eyes diffused his anger abruptly.

"I don't know how to be a leader," he said quietly.

"You're a natural leader. I saw how you led the men in the Battle of Hoax, and how you helped Lavitz in the Seventh Fort. When you're not being stupid, you're leading. Except for our charge through the prison, you've been leading this group since it came together."

"Why are you trying to help me?" he asked suddenly. It did seem wildly out of character.

"You're unbearably annoying when you're unstable," she said simply.

He rolled his eyes and turned to pace around the trees. "I'm the one who's unstable?"

She shrugged. "You always have been. Anytime something goes wrong, you collapse under the pressure."

"You call me a leader, and then you say that?"

"Even leaders have bad days."

"Why don't you make any sense, ever? It's like you go out of your way to confuse us all the time."

"I've done no such thing. I've always been straightforward with you."

"Oh, yeah?" he said, rounding on her. "Straightforward? Okay..." He began counting on his fingers. "Where are you from? Where did you get your dragoon spirit? Why were you tracking a dragon? Why are you traveling with us? Why do you simultaneously seem to care about us and hate us? Why is your past such a dark, hidden, mysterious thing? Why-"

Cutting him off, she said, "What are you so angry at?"

"Me?" he laughed. "Look at you, Miss Upset-all-the-time. You look like you're about to saw me in half." It was true; the rage in her eyes would have frightened him in any other situation.

"Stop deflecting. Why are you angry?"

"I'm not-"

"Why are you angry?" she said forcefully.

He stopped. Turning away to study the leaves on the forest floor, he said, "You know why."

"Because Lavitz died? No, that's why you're grieving."

He said nothing, and Rose waited. A moment later, she repeated slowly, "Why are you angry?"

"Because he shouldn't have died!" The words escaped him in a frenzy of emotion, tears beading up in his eyes before cascading down to meet the moss beneath his feet. "We shouldn't have gone to this prison, and that stupid king shouldn't have gotten himself captured. If he had just been doing what he was supposed to, none of this would have happened, and Lavitz would still be alive!"

"Oh, the king?" she mocked, arms folded over her chest. "You're upset with a king who was doing his duty to protect his people? You're mad that he did the right thing, and that Lavitz, who was also doing the right thing, was killed because of random circumstance and his own decisions?"

Turning away once more, he sighed dramatically. His heart beat loudly in his chest, and he wanted to break something. The king's neck crossed his mind. A trickle of fire ran across his hand.

"You're misdirecting your anger, Dart. You're not angry with King Albert. You're angry with yourself."

"And why would I be mad at myself?"

"Because you didn't stop it. Because you let Lavitz go charging into Hellena. Because on that roof, you stood by while Lavitz transformed to attack Lloyd. You're only angry at the king because you feel that he's trying to replace Lavitz. And of course, he isn't. He's merely trying to make the most of a bleak situation, just like all of us."

Dart wiped his face and blinked back more tears as they pressed into his eyes. Why did she have to be right?

After a deep breath, he muttered, "I can't lead this group."

"Fine," Rose stated flatly. "Then let the king lead this mission. But after Doel is dead, you're going to have to decide just how much responsibility you want to throw away."

"At least Lavitz isn't here to talk me out of it," he said sourly.

"Why do you think I'm doing this?"

He turned to look at her. There it was again, that hint of sadness behind her eyes, buried beneath layers of stiff armor. Sniffing again, he turned to head back to camp. "Thanks," he muttered.

"It's okay to be sad, Dart," she called behind him. "And it's okay to be angry. Just don't take it out on them."

After a pause, he nodded slightly and pressed forward, Rose lingering behind. He enjoyed his solitary trek through the trees, listening to the birds chirping and the light breeze rustling the leaves. He savored the sound of his feet pushing into the soft earth and the feeling of his fingers running over the rough tree bark. For just a few minutes, he was able to pretend that he was back on his journey to hunt the Black Monster, living on his own without care. Before Lavitz.

As he twisted through the trees, he came suddenly on the camp. Haschel's head snapped up, alert to any danger, and Dart held up his hands innocently.

"Just me," he said.

Glancing around, he saw that Shana and King Albert were already asleep, although the wetness lingering on Shana's face did not escape his attention. She had been crying. Feeling a wave of guilt, he sat down near Haschel quietly.

"Everything alright?" asked Haschel, eyeing him for a reaction.

"Not really, but... yeah. I'll survive."

"Is Rose coming back?"

"Probably, but I wouldn't be surprised if it took her a while."

"That bad, huh?"

Dart looked down at his feet, hugging his knees. "It was my fault."

"Rose has always been a hard woman, so I doubt that's entirely true."

Laughing drily, Dart said, "No, it really is. I was being pretty awful."

"Given the circumstances, nobody can blame you."

But you should, he thought. Rose was right; he had been acting rudely to everyone, especially King Albert. He glanced over and saw him sleeping, his body rising and falling with his slow breaths. Dart wasn't sure he would ever come to like the man, but at least he could try to be a little kinder. After all, Lavitz had given his life for King Albert. There must have been a reason. Then he saw the lance lying next to him - Lavitz's lance - and his chest tightened again. He looked away.

"Hey," said Haschel, nudging him slightly. "If you need anything... you have friends around you."

"Yeah." But not all of them. "You go get some sleep. I'll keep watch."

Obviously exhausted, Haschel quickly agreed and sidled over to his bedroll to sleep. Just a few minutes later, Dart was listening to his soft snores. Leaning his head back against the tree, Dart tried not to think about everything Rose had said, but his mind kept going back.

Lavitz's death hung over him like a stubborn headache. No matter how much he willed it to go away, it stayed, butting up against his mind relentlessly. Even when he managed to focus on other things for a few seconds, he couldn't help but feel like something was missing.

He gasped in sudden fright as something touched the side of his head, and he turned to see Lavitz's horse nudging him gently with her nose. Willing his heart to calm, he stood and patted her face. Her great eyes stared at him wistfully, asking the great question: When is he coming back?

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "He's not coming back." His lip quivered as he spoke, and he bent down and placed his forehead on hers. She did not draw back, but actually seemed to press into him, accepting his grief. He couldn't escape it now; he felt tears slide out of his closed eyes, dropping onto the horse's tawny hair. He cried quietly as several minutes passed, but the horse did not move. He felt that she was mourning with him, as if she understood the relationship that Dart had had with their fallen companion. Then wiping his eyes once more, he smiled weakly at her before reaching into the pack attached to her saddle and retrieving an apple.

"Here, girl," he said as she snatched it out of his hand, crunching loudly into the fruit. "Now go on," he said, pushing her away. "Go back to your friends." She obeyed and trotted over to where the other horses grazed, snorting and tossing her mane as she did so. And yet, when she arrived, she turned her head back to watch him wistfully.

He sat down once again, holding his head in his hands as a pulsing headache crept into place, either from stifling tears or his lack of sleep. Either way, he was grateful for the three hours ahead of him to stay the redness of his eyes before the others woke. Then he wished that he could be the one to sleep, so that maybe he could wake and the pain would be gone. Because maybe this was all just a horrid nightmare, and the next time he woke, he would see Lavitz smiling brightly as he fidgeted with the wind.

But who was he kidding? It was as Rose had said. Lavitz was dead, and he was not coming back.