As they were about to leave,

'You seem to be lost in thought,' Pavo enquired Sela as he sat still 

on his horse.

'Concerned for the prince,' he replied quietly.

'You need not burden yourself Sela. I am sure Dena and prince 

Theoden are capable enough, and generals of Deladra follow them. 

They will be fine,' Pavo reassured.

The armies rode away from the castle into the city. It was just 

dawn and the streets were empty but the people who peeped through 

their windows knew where they were headed as they had gotten 

accustomed to it for some time now. They were many who had lost 

their kin to the fyredari, Deladra had lost half of its armies in a very 

short span of time. 

The men split in two as they all rode out of the gates. Delarians 

led by Arden with Theo and Dena routing to Gini, and Anmarians 

led by Sela and Pavo riding to Beiva.

'I wish for your pleasant ride sire!' Sela turned his horse around.

 

'Our best wishes to you too brother!' Dena winked playfully.

'Take care brother!' Sela bowed to Theo, and Theo raised his arm 

in response.

'I will look after your prince Sela,' Arden assured as Sela bowed 

to him.

Sela watched in silence as they rode away. He blew out air and 

set off in a different direction with Pavo and the others.

 

The troops led by both the princes reached Gini before the sun went 

down.

 

'It is always fun to ride without a break,' Theo scoffed, panting as 

he climbed down his jet-black stallion and caressed it for a moment.

 

'I am glad you enjoyed it…. let's set up camp men.' Arden 

ordered walking away.

'What did I ever do to him?' Theo walked towards Dena, 'Now 

let us find a quiet spot for my pavilion before he offers me one with a 

fire ant hill under it.'

'This is a two-way bridge, he is as nice to you as you are to him,' 

Dena raised his brow.

'Now that Sela is not here, are you planning on impersonating 

him till we get back?'

'Just saying…,' Dena smiled

Everything was set up as the sun went down, meat was on the 

fire, Theo didn't enjoy outdoor suppers, but it was for a night, so he

endured it. He sat around the fire with Dena and Arden for a while 

after.

'Should we retire for the night now, I am drained after the long 

ride.' he yawned.

'Not yet Theo, we are not here to rest, we have to secure the port.'

 

'In the dark?' Theo stood up

'The fyredari have always attacked in the dark, no one's seen one 

in the day. Did Sela not mention that?' Arden enquired as he stood up

'Sela might have mentioned it, but I do not care for the details. I 

do remember what Pavo said. He said the fyredari will head to Beiva 

like they always have'

 

'That is true prince Theoden, but we are here to defend this harbour just in case they 

head this way. If they do and we are not there, they might target the 

nearby villages. What were you expecting we do once we got here? 

You can go ahead with Dena and rest while we do our job if it is too 

intimidating for you,' Arden turned away.

'I was merely curious, we will join you' Theo replied and Arden 

turned back with a smile seeing that his words worked.

 

'Spare me, I was mistaken. If you are curious to know more let 

me elaborate. Their grey scaly skin is thick as an armour, remember 

to strike them on the neck if you encounter one. That is where they 

are soft, but be wary as you do that, they are ten feet tall and strength?

Do you see the mounds of rubble on the side down there? They were 

inns for the sailors before the fyredari visited, and you cannot fathom 

what they did to the people that night.' Arden paused for a moment, 

'Should I go on?'

 

'No!' Theo replied instantly, 'I mean I am tired and…'

 

'I understand, you could rest in your tent, you seem pale from 

the ride already. We will keep an eye out.'

 

Theo did not like the way Arden said that, he could sense the 

condescension. He looked around,

 

'I am very tired, but I cannot step back. It is quiet tonight, and I am sure Pavo was right, 

I have planned to leave tomorrow anyway. No harm in waiting with them for some time'

'We will stay' he replied firm

Arden scoffed and turned around.

 

'Suppers done! Let us put off the fires now, keep your shields 

close and stay alert.' he ordered

'Get your shields men!'

 

Theo heard the generals going around and prepping the men as 

they put out the fires. Dena started pushing sand with his foot over 

the fire to put it off,

 

'Why put off the fire Dena?' Theo enquired

'The enemy can spot our camp with light. I know you have never 

encountered a situation such as this, so let me and Dena handle this.'

Arden quickly swooped in, 'We have the moon light to guide us 

though. Dena, get your swords and shields while I go check on the 

men.'

 

Arden approached one of the generals,

 

'I want the strongest of the men to be the first line of defence, 

they shall form a wall of shields about ten feet away from the waters. I 

want the archers to form a line behind those men ready to fire. The 

swordsmen will hide in plain sight on the sand, the rest stay with us 

closer to the camp. Remind them all to aim at the neck.'

The generals joined the men and got busy. Theo was uneasy 

with everything that was going on and felt breathless for a moment.

 

'It is just a precaution, and I am right here. We do not know if the 

fyredari will be here, remember what Pavo said,' Dena assured to 

calm him down.

 

'I am not bothered, I am aware that it is just to air on the side of

caution, this will end soon, and we can retire for the night. We will be 

back in Menore soon,' Theo replied boldly. 

But something was getting to him, especially now that Arden had reminded how savage 

the fyredari were, his imagination ran wild. 

Arden came back and sat down.

'Now we wait. Have a seat, both of you.'

 

The wall of shields was formed, and some of the swordsmen 

went hiding themselves in the trees.

 

'Are you sure of the fyredari showing up tonight?' Theo asked 

eagerly.

 

'Yes……! I mean no, we aren't sure, as you are aware this is just a 

measure,' Arden almost slipped.

 

'But….'

 

'Sshhh…spare me prince Theoden, but we are to remain calm as 

we wait.'

It seemed like ages passed by as they watched the waves come 

and go on to the beach, shining under the full moon's light, the wind 

howling mildly, waving the branches of the trees as their shadows 

danced.

'It has been long and no sight of anything, seems like we can rest 

now after all,' Theo whispered. He had to say something as the 

silence was killing him.

 

Arden was about to reply when he heard loud splashes and 

monstrous shadows emerging from the waters. It was not clear in the 

dim. 

Theo and Sela got up unintentionally.

 

'The fyredari…. Sela did warn us, but we were not ready to 

believe him.' Dena gasped in awe.