After bidding farewell to King Alfonso, I make my way towards Pupillus. But instead of going the direct path from the castle through the garden. I chose to head for the gate. There is someone I want to check up on.

The guards at the port greet me as I approach. "Where might I find Harbin?" I ask. Harbin was the last child I was a ward for, he only just finished training and has been appointed as a royal guard. As he finished, I had plans to retire and leave to be one of the village protectors. But then Hellvian died, and I was appointed Captain. 

"Checking up on your kid, Captain. Unfortunately, he was sent to the watch tower with a message not long ago. I doubt they are back before dawn." A guard named Rune says.

"Good thing I did not come for anything important," I reply.

Through the gate, I notice someone in uniform running. It's a girl with light tan skin and light brown hair. She stops at the gate, stammering out words between gasps for air. But before I can understand what she is saying, Rune interrupts. "Dame Alonnie, what matter makes you run like this, and where is your companion? "

"We found them... the deserters, he is keeping a close eye on them." She gasped for air while relaying the information. "Are you sure it's them?" I ask. My heart is pounding. We need to go now if it is them.

"Yes, Harbin recognised them, through the window of the Way inn," Harbin! Of course, he would recognise them. Against my common sense, I tell her to lead the way. We should have brought more guards, I should not even have gone with them. But the risk of them getting away was too great. We had to leave immediately.

We moved quickly through the streets. A group of 4 guards and I, with Harbin waiting on us. We were gonna be six against three. I was sure we could manage, after all, we are trained and carry weapons. I do not know what weapons Lorelei and the twins have. But with a life on the run, they couldn't have held up their training.

Outside the Way Inn Harbin is slacking against the wall. When he sees us approaching, he stands upright. "Captain Basin. The deserters are at the far corner of the inn, conversing with some people." Harbin informs us.

"We need to lay a plan. Does anyone know the layout of this place?" I ask. Expecting a no, since they should never have been near an inn. But before anyone can reply, the sound of the inn's door being opened makes us all look in that direction.

In the open door, they are standing. Neary, Narin and Lorelei all had a shocked expression on their face. Our surprise element was gone. When they saw us, an audible gasp came from Lorelei, while Narin exclaimed a profanity. "Lorelei, Neary, Narin. You are all under arrest for treason. It would be in your best interest to surrender." The guard named Rune said. Lorelei, she sends me a glare, her shoulders are tense, her hands are tight in a fist, she is not going to come willingly

"Shawty, there is no way out. I ask of you to come willingly so no more will have to be hurt." I noticed her eyes twitch for a moment. It felt wrong using her nickname in this way, but I hoped the reminder of how close we were could discourage her from attacking us. Unfortunately, it didn't persuade her mind.

"It seems you leave us no choice then," Lorelei says in a low whisper. She takes one step, two steps, her hand is by her belt, her head held high. Lorelei stops in front of the guard, Rune. "Like you, I would much rather not have to do this." With a quick hand motion, she plunges a knife into Rune's neck. A loud cry comes from him, as the knife makes an impact with his skin. She then yanks the knife out, and he falls to the ground.

My heart is beating so fast that it pains my chest. I need to draw a weapon and take control of the situation. Reaching for my sword, a knife gets flung by my face. The direction was from one of the twins. The sound of a female scream is heard over the street, it came from Alonnie as Lorelei threw her bloodied knife into her leg.

Harbin runs to her side, but the leg is already red from the blood. My own blood feels like a cold fire rushing through my body. I was about to launch an attack with my sword in hand when Lorelei and the twins bolted in the opposite direction. Pursuit would be the right thing to do, but in my old age, there was no way I would be able to keep up with them. I had to let them go.

Harbin is comforting the crying Alonnie, they are both sitting on the gravel, the grey stone smeared in her blood. Rune's blood too is darkening the grey gravel. His body is lying all still, no sound coming from him. Is he already dead?

 "What are your orders, Captain?" One of the guards asks, wanting guidance as to whether we are to follow or let them disappear. Looking at Harbin holding his hands over the open wound, attempting to stop the blood, I know what we need to do. 

"We need to get her to a healer." I barely finish the sentence when a familiar voice is heard behind me. "Valor stop!" 

Of all the people in this city, the one who most definitely should not be here had just walked out the door from the Way Inn. Prince Valor and Princess Zora are dressed in old clothes, their face in shock from the scene 

"What happened out here?" The Prince exclaims. 

"What in the lord's name are you doing here?" I just about yell. Their presence here is unexpected and inconvenient. "

"Don't tell our father." Zora started to plead.

 "Oh, he will most certainly hear about this."

Another art by me, this one of Captain Basin.