Katherine waved up at Elizabeth as she soared away. One of the council members put his hand on her shoulder for reassurance. “She’ll be back,” he said. “Now let’s get you to your quarter.” He led her to the servants quarter where beds upon beds laid strewn threw out the room all leaning against the wall. A small table at the end held a large soup bowl, empty, and full of grit. He directed her to the bed farthest to the back.

“This is yours,” he said.

Katherine looked at it dryly as she climbed in. She missed Lorton Stronghold and her friends, Elizabeth, Gage, and Dixon. The man turned and vacated back to his business he had to care for. She turned back the blankets and slipped inside. Abruptly a storm of servants came through the door. She just wanted to be back home in the little tiny wattle and daub house with the green flowers were. Where the smell of bread from the bakery seeped into the cracks of the house.

She felt tears stinging in the back of her eyes but refused to let them out, she closed them tight and thought of the sun and the wispy clouds that her house sat under. You are brave, she told herself. The moon is upon the horizon, Katherine heard one say. She fluffed her pillow and closed her eyes. Someone must’ve blown out the candles because everything went sable after that.

*

Katherine opened her eyes to everyone dressing themselves and getting up to do their dreary deeds. She noticed some with gold chains around their necks and diamond bracelets. They had golden pins and platinum rings and rhodium earrings. The Capital was so rich even their servants had precious jewelry. Katherine sat up, found an extra attire at the foot of her bed and a pair of worn leather boots. Shortly all the servants left and Katherine changed her soiled clothes and put on the new attire. It smelled like roses and jasmine. She slid into her boots and finally advanced out the door.

Katherine walked into the hall and out to the main court. One of the men was standing in front of the throne just scarcely touching the stairs. Katherine entered the court and bowed towards the throne. She walked down the side stairs and past the pillars.

“What are you doing?” The man questioned intensely.

Katherine froze in her step. “What do you mean?” The fellow turned around. He had long brown hair down to his shoulders and a narrow nose. His hair greasy from days not washed and a brown ducktail beard. Katherine steadily, gradually walked towards him. Then looked into his green eyes.

“I’ve just got here,” Katherine answered. “What are you doing?”

He paused with a puzzled look on his face. “I’ve always been here,” he answered after a long pause. “My name's Darion, fellow warrior of the king’s army, now girl, from what clime did ya’ come?”

“I came from Lorton Stronghold, the frost region, with Elizabeth Wyntherhall,” Katherine said. Darion made an astonished face as he approached her.

“I heard what happened,” he said. “You’re the only ones to make tis' out.”

Katherine nodded. Darion scratched his chin and pinched the point on his beard. They stood there for a couple of moments before someone said something.

“I have a brother… had,” Darion said. “He was one of the knights at Lorton.” Katherine thought then realized who he was talking about. “Darius.” She said. “A brave knight.”

“If what you and all the other folks are saying is true,” Darion paused. “He’s dead.”

Katherine shook her head. “We’re not sure,” she reassured him. “I don’t think so, he’s a strong man.”

“I know he’s not among the spirits yet,” Darion said confidently. “I would’ve felt it.” He gripped her arm with his big, calloused hands as he stared down at her. Darion was a towering, muscular man, and gallant knight. He had a slight warmness in his gaze as he looked down at her.

“We’ll just have to pray to the gods then… to show us the answer.”

*

Katherine joined the assemblage of people for dinner. She joined the servants and took a couple spoonfuls of soup. Darion was sitting across the room from her at the knight’s table. He turned to look at her, his green eyes shined in the light, she quickly turned away and sat down. She could feel his gaze on her and a grin forming on his lips. Katherine ate a few bowls of food, she was more ravenous than she thought as she gulped down the beans and beef. She thought of Darion, he was brave and amiable, he had bright green eyes that engulfed her. Katherine set her bowl down and left to the servants quarters.

But just a second before she could reach the door, the king raised his glass, and stood up. Katherine settled back down in her seat once more to give respect and attention to the king. She turned in her seat to look at the king at the head of the room.

“To the gods, for a long life and good health,” he raised his cup and watched as everyone else followed. “Hail to the god of death and life, now drink your ale and stout in the honor of the gods.” Everyone raised their glasses and took a giant swig of ale. Katherine took a sip of stout, observing the other servants as they guzzled down their drink and hearing their large burps. She set her cup down politely. Through the thin windows high above them, lining the roof, a bird dove down towards the front of the room, directly at the king.

Abruptly, the king waved the knights away and had them remove the people quickly. The knights exited the people and called the council in. Darion approached Katherine.

“I better go,” she whispered.

“No,” he said. “Stay.” He put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the side of the room behind a pillar. “Stand next to me here.” They stood next to a pillar as they watched the council members taking a seat at the table in front of the king. The king waved for the knights to stand aside.

*

The council joined together in front of the king. Katherine stood next to Darion. The king sat on his throne as a servant set his crown upon his head.

“What does the letter have to say?” The king asked.

One of the members stood up with a small roll of paper. He cleared his throat and began. “The armor of the knights are marked with the Ryrie family indication, two swords crossing creating an X, there were few survivors, Gage, Dixon, and Darius. I have made it dear father and hope to return in the coming days before the full moon.” Darion sighed and put his hands over his mouth. “With love, Elizabeth.”

The king stood up and walked down the stairs; wrapping his velvety robe around himself. His servant gave him a cool cloth to put on his head, soaking up the sweat from him perspiring, it became damp after a few minutes. “We must do something at once,” he demanded. “We must plan for war.” He was filled with concern and rage and confusion at the same time. Katherine stood close to Darion’s side.

“They may send troops to raid the Capital,” one council member said. But that would be deranged, Katherine thought. How could they prepare such a thing, sacrifice so many lives… for land, war?

“No,” another one disagreed. “That means full on war, so much bloodshed.” Katherine could see the perturb, upsetness on Darion’s face. She took his arm in her hand and held on tightly for comfort. He looked down at her, a hint of a smile on his face and a little hope that gave her solace.

“I say we need to send… we must plan an espionage,” another said. “We must send them this instant.”

“The Ryrie has wanted war for years, they’ve been waiting, that twisted family.” One of the chimed in. Darion scrunched his nose up in annoyed, those words seemed to irk him and soon his face became as red hot as the sky. Tis' is true, Katherine thought. The Ryrie family ruled the South, they were cruel and psychotic.

The king put his hand up to silence them. “We need to take precaution, get some men to prepare for travel.”

Darius looked down at Katherine as she rubbed his back. He carefully and gently pushed her hand aside and fixed his clothing. Then stepped out.

“I’ll go,” he volunteered himself.

The king turned to him. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“I assure thee, I shall travel to the edges of the kingdom to avenge us.”

“You’re too high of a priority, we can’t imperil you, we can’t risk you getting kidnapped to the hands of the Ryries.” He turned back to the council.

“I think he should go,” one council member said. Then another agreed, until the whole group stood in agreement, and waited for the king to reply. “Darion is a strong warrior, he can be a great asset.” The king looked at the council with an undeviating stare. His mind working like an apparatus, his gears and axles working, as his heart treaded back and let the brain do the toil. Katherine looked from Darion to the council with an alarmed, puzzled look. She stood gaping, arms limp, and stared at them for a moment before coming to her senses. But before she could interfere the king brought forth his response.

“You are like a son to me... But, alright,” he said. “If you don’t come back…” He paused. “You will come back, that’s a decree.”

Darion dipped his head in respect and turned away. Katherine came to him.

“What are you doing?” She asked harshly, she kept persistent and followed him. She couldn't loose him. “You know what will happen if they catch you. We need you here.”

Darion walked to the barracks and Katherine followed on his heels. He went into the back room and took a leather chest armor.

Katherine watched him take weapons off the shelves. He put a tiny knife onto his belt then grabbed a sword by the hilt and stuck it into his scabbard. Every sword was the same, Darion took a tiny knife with a ring on the end used to put on your finger and stealthily spear someone.

“I’ll go with you,” Katherine finally said. “I could easily blend in.”

Darion turned around to face her. His face inches from hers. “It’s too dangerous for a young girl like you.”

“I’m almost fourteen,” Katherine pleaded. “Please.”

Darion looked at her carefully and then went back to what he was doing. He strapped his arm armour on and then his knee guards.

“If you really want to go you have to be prepared.”

He handed her a tiny knife. Katherine tucked it into her belt and put on leather gloves. She took a steel gauntlet and slid it onto her arm. It went up to elbow and weighed less than a feather. She put another on her other forearm. Katherine slid on knee guards and elbow guards. The armor fit nicely for a small girl like her. “Those are dwarf gauntlets,” Darion said, half laughing. “They fit you perfectly.” They went to the stables to find half a dozen men setting up their saddle on their horses.

“What you doin’ with that little girl Darion?” One said mockingly. But before he could speak another word another knight slapped him in the back of the head.

“Knock it off!” He yelled. “Are we all ready?”

The man led a grey horse to Darion and nodded at him. He nodded back. Darion lifted Katherine up by the waist and put her on the horse. Then climbed up himself. He sat behind her, towering over her, and grabbed the reins. Katherine inspected her armor.

“You’re safe with me,” Darion whispered to her. Ser Tiagon, the head of the intelligencer quest, stood in front of all of them. Everyone circled around him on their horses. I'll be back for Elizabeth, she thought.

“Are you all ready?” He yelled and everyone yelled back. “Remember if you get caught, you know what to do.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Darion said to Katherine. “They won’t catch you.” Katherine nodded and felt warm inside, burning away the fear and nervousness.

The leader raised his arm and everyone followed. “We are Wyntherhall knights till’ we die.” Everyone repeated. The man paused then continued. “Remember death doesn’t separate us it just brings us all together. We will all see each other even though death departs us.”

“When death comes to our door what do we say?” Darion shouted and shot his hand into the air.

“Never,” they all shouted and thrust their arms into the air. The knights whooped and yelled.

One after another they went out the stable doors and into the sun to their indescribable fate.

*

They had to pass the mountains into the jungle and past the Deep Forest. Then to the castle walls. Katherine ate a dry piece of pig’s meat and drank warm water from a leather buffalo stomach pouch. She handed the rest back to Darion. The jungle was to their right and the mountains towered to their left. The jungle clasped creatures as deadly as poison, namely colossus spiders and twenty meters long serpents. They headed right, into the jungle. The trip through the jungle would be about two moons until they came upon the border, the blue mountains disappeared behind the thick trees, and soon the tips were blocked by thick leaves. It was quite a hot, dark afternoon that day in the jungle.

Katherine leaned her head down and fell into a deep siesta.

*