II

“I, Dantera Brennovo, lady and knight of Aevalin, dub thee, Brunelio Arkovelona a knight of my house.”

She moved to the next kneeling Roaming Lions member and began the words that would result in him becoming a knight after touching his shoulder with her rapier, Ito Farralia.

Yoreno wanted to look behind him, to see his family standing amidst the hundreds of other people in the huge audience chamber as they watched their friends and family members become knights. But of course he did not.

At the front of the chamber king Branlin watched from his wooden throne and wearing his armor and raiment in the Aevalin themed colors. Behind him huge blue flags hung across the walls with the same framed symbol in white as he had on his tabard, the bottoms cut out in crenellations.

At the king’s side was Princess Neslyn his sister, tall and lanky with red hair and green eyes. She wore a golden circlet around her forehead. With the king were also his aides and bodyguards in their heavy armor painted in white, black and blue—their helms carrying short wings at the sides. The kings honor guard was arrayed in a V shape starting at the throne and going back.

Glancing just left, Yoreno saw the kneeling members of the Seahawk Adventurers. More of their members were being knighted than any other, with the Roaming Lions having the fewest being dubbed.

Other guilds that he noticed were House Desryn, the Runic Guild, Kohlwise and the Sable Adventurers. All in all, it looked to be about four to five hundred new knights to be dubbed by more than a dozen different adventurer guilds and various non-adventuring lords and ladies.

Waiting for his moment seemed interminable as Dantera made her way down the three lines. Dellwyn was at the front, Yoreno at the back.

Eventually Dantera came to him.

With his heart beating fast, he glanced up into her green eyes. She smiled and began the words as Yoreno lowered his head.

“I, Dantera Brennovo, knight and lady of Aevalin, dub thee, Yoreno Brendara, a knight of my house. And with this sword touch upon your shoulder, I bid ye rise a knight and serve Aevalin with honor and distinction for the rest of your days.”

After the knighting ceremony a preliminary ball for the night was to be hosted before the festival got underway in earnest the next day.

With flutes, tambourines and stringed lutes, bands of bards played in the main ballroom. Yoreno wasn’t aware the castle had such large halls with polished wood floors.

“We did it!” Dellwyn said with a big smile. “He put out his arm and Yoreno clasped his hand.

“Yes, we did.”

“Are you just going to stand about?” Mai asked. “We need to find dancing partners and take part in the ball.”

Dell glanced toward Sorika for just a split second. She looked away.

“Are you two…?”

“What?”

“They have love in their eyes,” Mai said.

“No we do not,” Dell protested.

“Go on and ask her to dance,” Yoreno said.

Dell started making an excuse when Yoreno took him by the shoulder and tuned him around toward the girl. “Go on!” He gave the other knight a friendly push.

As Dellwyn and Sorkia spoke in tones drowned out by the music and the dancing, Yoreno glanced toward Mai. “So where’s Lev?”

“Right,” she said. “We have a plan to smuggle him in tonight.”

“How do you want to go about it?”

“Well,” Dantera interrupted, “I know a way.”

Yoreno’s eyes widened and Mai put a hand over her mouth.

“Come now,” Dantera said. “A little mischievous frivolity never injured anyone.”

Yoreno was astonished to be hearing this from Dantera. “But didn’t you tell everyone to be on their best behavior?”

“I would think that sneaking in uninvited guest into the castle would hardly count as such,” Mai said with an embarrassed smile.

“Ha!” Dantera said. “You forget that when I was younger, I used to be quite the trouble maker. I’m speaking to Yoreno of course.”

Mai nodded.

“Look,” Dantera said, pointing to the crowd of dancers. “There are your parents. And over there I see… yes that is your sister. Oh, she’s dancing with the lord Tervinicus.” She made a surprised face. “What a wealthy match that would be.”

“You know him?” Yoreno asked.

“I know everyone,” Dantera said with a smile. “When you first came to Aevalin, it was originally my idea that we host a dinner party at your father’s estate—all paid for by house Brennovo, of course.”

“You paid for that?”

“Of course,” she said. “You do not invite a new lord into the city without hosting the gathering, yes?”

“I thought that was my father’s idea. It was hosted in our house.”

“Yes, well, there were interesting circumstances.”

“Oh,” Yoreno said. “I will ask my father about them.”

“Are you going to ask me to dance or not, Yoreno?”

“What?”

“Ask me to dance!” she commanded.

“Um—” he mumbled. “Would you care to dance, Lady Dantera?” he asked with a flourish and a bow.

Dantera smiled. “I would love to.”

He took her hand and together they stepped out onto the dance floor. As a young lord himself, Yoreno was well accustomed to balls and dancing, as that was the bigger form of entertainment before coming to Aevalin—before becoming an adventurer.

But he felt nervous putting his hand on her waste. Still, he did so as they held each other’s hands and twirled in circles about the floor.

“Oh, hello, son!” John said, passing by.

Yoreno nodded.

“Your mother looks wonderful,” Dantera said.

“Thank you.”

“And so do you.”

“Do I really?”

“Indeed.”

“Do you enjoy balls?” Yoreno asked.

“Of course! Why would I not?”

“I’m not certain.”

“Not certain…” she echoed. “I’ve heard those words before. Yoreno, I do believe that you may be mistaking who I am—just because I am the mistress of the Roaming Lions and you usually see me wearing trousers.”

“I…” he said, trailing off. Then he paused. When she looked at him expectantly, he was going to speak, but then they parted, she twirled under his craned arm and then their positions were mirrored. “I don’t know what to say,” he finally said.

“Mmm,” she noised. “Perhaps this ball will force you to see me in a new light, yes?”

“Your chiding of me has already done that.”

She smiled and they danced for a few moments more before she responded. “You are my protégé, are you not?”

He nodded.

“Yoreno!” Celine said, her face reddening when she saw him. “Congratulations on your knighthood!”

“Thank you.”

They twirled away and then the music died. Yoreno let go of Dantera and she sighed. “I would enjoy another dance,” she said, “but it will have to wait. I must say hello to His Majesty and the Princess as well as a score of other nobles.”

With a smile, Yoreno nodded. But he was surprised when she stepped closer, putting her mouth near his ear, her warm breath tickling him. “If you want to get your friend into the party, go to the kitchens. There are doors that are hardly watched.”

Then she stepped away and added over her shoulder, “That is if you can get him into the grounds.” She laughed.

His heart was racing as he followed Dantera off the dance floor toward the gatherings on the edges of the ball room, both from exerting himself somewhat on the dance floor, but also because of her close contact.

“Yor,” Dellwyn said, his eyes wide. “Were you just dancing with Lady Brennovo.”

“Yes,” he said, trying to cover his own embarrassment.

He wasn’t certain whether she had wanted to dance with him out of entertainment, perhaps like a mother may dance with her son, or if…

She had been acting strange around him lately. Hadn’t she?

“Wow,” Mai said. “Very interesting.”

“It’s nothing.”

“That little whisper didn’t look like nothing.”

Yoreno rolled his eyes. “If you must know, she was telling me how we can get Lev into the party.”

Dell laughed, and even Sorika shook her heard. “Are you lying?”

“I am a knight,” Yoreno said. “I do not lie.”

Everyone laughed, even Yoreno.

“Well what are we waiting for?” Dell said. “Let’s go get Lev!”

Together the small group made to leave the main ballroom chamber, but then Yoreno was interrupted when Yorinius called his name.

“I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” he said to May and Dell. “Just wait for me.”

They nodded and left him, their backs disappearing quickly into the crowd of very well-dressed bodies.

“Congratulations on your knighthood,” Yorinius said.

“Thank you,” Yoreno said, feeling incredibly hot and stifled. Under the padding and the tunic and armor, Yoreno thought he might faint. He felt like he was suffocating in here. “I haven’t seen you in ages,” he said.

“I’ve been away. Questing, of course. I have some stories to tell if you’re interested.”

The offer was like throwing a poor man some gold. “I would love to hear them,” he said. “You can come to the Suckling Fish.”

Yorinius smiled. “You really love that place.”

“It’s great.”

“Sure,” he said. “That sounds good. “So what did you think about the king’s speech after the knighting?”

Yoreno shrugged then stepped aside as a group of women walked passed. “I think—well honestly, I was a little confused.”

“Ah,” Yorinius smiled. “All that about knighthood and the need for something new. He did use a lot enormous words. Thankfully I’m privy to the information. You’ll learn about it later, to be sure.”

Yoreno nodded.

“Dantera tells me you are to begin your training with me in advanced sword fighting techniques.”

“She did?”

Yorinius nodded. He was distracted for a moment. “Oh yes. Hello. I’ll meet you later. Oh, on the balcony? That would be excellent.”

He turned back to Yoreno. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s no problem.”

“I am also to instruct you in heavy rune armor.”

Yoreno’s eyes widened. “Truly?”

“Indeed.”

“But you don’t use armor.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t know how to,” Yorinius corrected. “Besides, I’ve dawned it before. I used to sleep in the stuff.”

They laughed together.

“But we’ll talk more about that another time,” the broad-shouldered adventurer said. Usually Yoreno saw him without a shirt, but tonight he was dressed very dapperly in a long doublet with gold buttons and squared shoulders.

“All right,” Yoreno said with a nod. “I’m greatly looking forward to learning with you.”

Yorinius smiled and put out a hand. Yoreno took it.

“What took you so long?” Dell asked. They were standing in the bright light of the glow rocks at the very entrance of the castle where ten guards stood posted with pole arms in their hands.

Yoreno put some distance between them so they wouldn’t overhear anything. “I was speaking with Yorinius.”

“Really?” Mai asked. “What did he want?”

“Gods this fresh air is good,” Yoreno said.

Dell frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Sorry.” Yoreno said. He breathed in deeply. “Apparently I’m to train under him so he can teach me new techniques.”

“Not fair,” Dell said with a smile.

“Protégé,” Yoreno said with a smirk.

“That’s always it, isn’t it?”

Mai laughed.

“Are we going to do something about Lev,” Sorika asked. “Or do you all plan to stand here all night?”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Well,” Mai said, “he did say he would meet us outside. He’s probably freezing.”

“Lev can handle it,” Dell said. “He loves being out in nature—even in the winter.” With that he chuckled.

It was funny, Yoreno thought. But yes, they needed to get Lev in now. “I have the perfect way. Dantera told me what to do.”

“I still can’t believe that,” Mai said.

“Neither can I,” Dell said. “There’s something going on with her. That’s strange behavior indeed.”

Sorika shifted. “Maybe I should pop a primal mating potion and we can see what kind of fermions she’s emitting?”

“What the hells?” Yoreno said. “Do you have potions that do that?”

Sorika nodded. “Expensive, though. You’ll have to—“

“No, no, no,” Yoreno interrupted. “We’re not going to go drinking pheromone potions.”

“That seems like something more up Lev’s ally,” Mai said.

Dell smirked. “Yeah.”

“No,” Mai said, “Not for that reason, but because he’s a hunter.”

“We’re all hunters,” Dell said. “We’re adventurers.”

“Knights,” Yoreno said.

“Adventurer’s first.”

“Hmm,” Yoreno said. “Is that how you see it?”

“Isn’t that how you see it, Yor?”

He thought about that for a moment. Now that Dellwyn mentioned it, he really wasn’t sure. To be a knight was to swear service to the betterment of Aevalin. An adventurer could do that as well, but mostly they were out for loot.

And excitement, he thought.

Yoreno cared less about the loot and more about the fame they had acquired as the Emblazoned Party after they had killed off that goblin warlord Hok’gs Kurr.

“I don’t know,” he said. “But we are knights now. Our loyalty is to the kingdom of Aevalin.”

“Of course!”

“Um,” Mai interrupted. “Lev?”

“Oh, right!” Dell said, as if he had forgotten to take bread out of an oven. “Let’s go.”

“But how are we going to get him through the front gate?” Sorika asked.

“Leave that to me,” Dell said. “And then once we get him in, Yor has the next answer—delivered straight from the mouth of Dantera into his ear. Isn’t that right, Yoreno?”

“Oh shut up.”

Leaving the front gate was easy, though the guards did remind them that they would have to show their stamped invitations if they were to return. That was interesting. It implied that maybe they got in without them?

The streets were alight with the glow of the lamps. One of the lamp lighters was visible down aways, lifting his fire pole high above one lamp as he set fire to the wick there.

Glow rocks weren’t used out on the streets, since they were high value loot that could easily be stolen. Despite the lamps being lit, the streets would have been bright regardless, since every house was alive with activity as people within and without were active tonight.

Suddenly the sky lit up in a red flare that immediately turned green. Yoreno looked up, and so did his friends.

“Oh!” Mai exclaimed in her squeaky voice. ‘That’s amazing!”

“They’re called fireworks,” Dell said. “Some kind of foreign invention brought into Aevalin from across the see. I bet the king is watching right now from the balcony.”

Another one exploded, filling the sky with spherical shapes that bloomed outward then fell like a weeping willow tree. The loud noises almost startled Yoreno each time they went off.

“How do they get them to explode like that?” Dell asked.

“Why, magic of course,” Mai said, not turning to address him.

“Hey!” Lev called. “I’m freezing only to find you four gawking at fireworks?”

“Oh, hey, Lev,” Sorika said.

“We just paused for a moment,” Dell said, gesturing to the sky. “Even you have to be impressed by that.”

He nodded, his strands of black hair bobbing into his eyes. “Sure. Hey, Yor, congratulations on your knighthood. You have been knighted, right?”

“Yes,” Dell said, “the both of us have actually. “

“Yeah,” Lev said, “I know. But Yoreno’s been wanting this more than you, so I thought I would ask him.”

“Oh, what a good friend, you are.”

“So how are we going to get me into the castle?” Lev asked as he spread his lanky arms. He was wiry, but strong.

“I have that all figured out,” Dell said.

“I’m still wondering what your plan is,” Yoreno added.

And then another bright plume of fireworks exploded in the sky—this time so close their lights enveloping everything around them in the same colors of red, violet and green.

After they stopped, Dell said, “It’s easy. We just walk straight through the front gate.”

Sorika blinked. “That’s not a plan.”

“The guards aren’t going to harass an entire group of people, each with their own invitations,” Dell said.

“How do you know?” Lev asked.

“They just won’t.”

“So,” Yoreno said, “Lev hangs at the back and we walk through the front gate laughing and talking like the guards aren’t even there and hope they don’t ask him for his invitation?”

“Precisely.”

“I’ve heard better plans in the past,” Mai said dubiously.

“And besides,” Sorika said, “his clothes make him look like a commoner.”

“Well excuse me!” Lev exclaimed indignantly. “I’m sorry I’m the only one of common birth in the party.”

“She didn’t mean anything by it,” Dell said.

Lev shrugged.

“Here,” Dell said as he shrugged out of his coat. “Put this on.”

“No way.”

“They won’t see you as common if you’re wearing this coat.”

“That’s right,” Yoreno said with a nod.

“Ugh,” Lev complained. “Fine. I just don’t care to pretend about it is all.”

“You better,” Sorika said from the side of her mouth, “or you’re going to have a tough time in there.”

“She’s right,” Mai said. “If you can’t play the part, this isn’t going to work.”

Lev looked down at himself, his breath frosting in the air. “I can fake it.” He patted himself. “This coat is huge. Are you gaining weight, Dell?”

Looking at him with a roll of his eyes, Dell spread his thick arms. “Do I look like I’ve been gaining weight to you?”

Sorkia actually laughed.

Together the group walked back up the street along empty coaches. The drivers stood together, talking in hushed tones whenever they passed.

When they came to the front gate, Yoreno said quietly, “Hang behind, Lev.” Then, approaching the gate, he addressed the guards. There were six of them and even more up on the outer wall ramparts in in the towers.

“Good evening,” Yoreno said, “I’m Lord Yoreno Brendara.” He flipped open his invitation letter. “This is my party. We were already here. You saw us leave the castle walls just a little while ago.”

The guard looked at his invitation. Handing it back, he nodded, “Enjoy your evening, my lords and ladies.”

Leading the way, they made it into the courtyard.

Once they were away from any prying ears, Lev came forward. “It worked!”

“What did I say?” Dell asked.

“I’m surprised,” Yoreno added.

“Me too,” Mai said with a smile. “Now what next?”

The inner gate should be an even easier obstacle, since making it past the preliminary guards would surely give the inner entrance ones a false sense of security. But no, they were not going to do that a second time. The risks of getting caught would be that much higher if they thought they could slip Lev past the guards just because he was in a group of noble born.

“It’s the doors to the kitchens,” Yoreno said. “I believe they’re this way?”

He led the way as the rest of the group chattered quietly. Once they made it into the inner courtyards, Yoreno started noticing more guards on the ramparts. Apparently Dantera had used this way before.

She hadn’t explicitly said she had, but then how did she know about it? While they were on the Isle of Morr, she had told Yoreno a story about how she slipped into her cousin Adelaid’s window to put a jar of spiders in her bed.

Yoreno smiled at the memory of when Dantera had told him that story. They were laying mostly silently in the forest, waiting for dark to come so they could attack a ship that had transported cultists onto the island so they could siphon off dark energies.

“Hey, Yor,” Dell said. “What are you smiling like that for?”

“Oh,” he said, distracted. “It’s nothing.” Then he pointed. “Do you see that?” It was two kitchen scullions moving some food crates from the wagons and into the castle. The wagons were packed to the brim with foodstuffs. There were four of them, filled with vegetables, meats and barrels. Apparently the castle larder had to be reinforced for this party.

“Yeah,” Dell said. “So, Mistress Dantera was telling the truth, then.”

“I really want to know why she would help us,” Mai said with a shrug. “It seems odd.”

“For her pet,” Sorika with a jerk of her head toward Yoreno.

“Hey,” Mai said, whirling on the Emblazoned Party’s rogue member. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s probably true,” Yoreno said.

“Really?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

There was no use in trying to deflect anymore. If not his pet, Dantera certainly treated him differently than others. That was made clear when she had confided in him, telling Yoreno of her feelings about the cultists after the incident on the isle.

Slipping through the kitchens was easy. Each member of the Emblazoned Adventurers picked up a food crate and carried it into the kitchens. The cooks were somewhat surprised to see them there. Then they were told to set the food in the larder.

From there, coming out into the castle proper was easy. The guards did not challenge them as they made their way to the ball room.

“Well,” Lev said with a subtle wave of his arms. “That was easy. Wow, this is great. So this is how you nobles do it?”

“Don’t pretend you’ve never done something like this,” Sorika said.

Lev chuckled. Had Yoreno not known him, he’d have said that laugh had some disdain in it, but that’s just the way Lev was. He was disdainful, but only to a point. The young commoner—and successful adventurer—was fully willing to surround himself by his “betters” and even to befriend them.

“Let’s enjoy the party,” Yoreno said.

“Yeah, thanks for getting me in here!”

After a time Yoreno navigated through the press of bodies and made his way toward the back rooms where he might find some quiet for a few minutes.

Meeting so many people so quickly could get tiresome for him, especially when he had to repeat the same conversations. It’s not that he was ungrateful, but after being congratulated about his knighthood for the nineteenth time, he decided to step away for a bit and have a moment to himself.

Navigating several corridors inside the castle, he eventually came to some unoccupied rooms. There was so little noise in this area that his own footballs sounded dully on the blue carpet.

On the walls large paintings with intricately carved frames depicted the Age of Darkness and the evils brought forth.

There was King Balthazar with his hooked nose and evil eyes. His black hair made him look quite the villain. As he sipped his fruity drink mixed with a tinge of hard alcohol, Yoreno wondered if the prince really looked that way.

Or was he simply being depicted like that because of the role he had played in history?

There was prince Kandrion, a circlet of gold on his head. He looked as majestic and honorable as ever, his eyes a light blue and his hair blonde. He was gazing off into the distance, his arm outstretched as he rebuked his brother between two armies.

In the next painting he was clearly the king, accompanied by… was that lord Arlian Brennovo?

“Are you taking an interest in Aevalin’s history now?” Dantera asked.

Yoreno almost jumped at her sudden words. “That is my descendant, Arlian Brennovo.” She came closer so she was standing directly next to him.

Glancing at her, he asked, “Do you think they really looked like that—the way they are depicted in these paintings?”

“I do not know,” she said, not looking at him as she studied the art. “I think most art has embellishment of some form or another, yes?”

“I suppose so,” Yoreno said. “I wonder what it was like living in their time. Before the Age of Darkness.”

“Altogether different, I imagine.” She siged. “So many things were lost in the centuries following.”

Glancing at her, he realized she was wearing a circlet now that she hadn’t been when she had come to pick him up at the house. He asked, “Like what?”

“We believe that most of the world had been discovered in Arlian Brennovo’s time. Now it is believed that most of the world is yet to be rediscovered.”

Yoreno nodded.

“We have no idea what manner of fell magic and beasts we might find in the wilderness,” she added. “We have records of grand kingdoms and opulent palaces. All has been lost, covered under rubble or with the growth of nature.”

She walked on, looking at another swath of painting. Yoreno followed her, realizing that he wasn’t looking at the paintings as she walked, but her.

She was so beautiful, he thought. “It’s exciting,” he said.

She looked at him then and smiled. “You are right. It is exciting. I’ve always dreamed of taking an expedition far into fell lands and carving out new territory for the king.”

“Why don’t we?”

“Oh,” she said, “there is always something more pressing. Something always arises to get in the way.”

Nodding, he said, “Perhaps when nothing is pressing down on you, we can make that foray,” he said. “We will be remembered in history as great adventurers and explorers.”

She smiled.

“Then I look forward to that day, Yoreno.” She looked at him for a long moment, their eyes holding contact.

“You’re very beautiful,” he said, realizing that he had said that out loud. “This is new.” He nodded toward her circlet.

“When you frolic among the nobility, it is best to join their ranks.”

“You are the nobility.”

She smiled then looked into his eyes. She was very close. Yoreno’s face started to heat. Perhaps he should—

“So, are you enjoying the party?”

“Yes,” he said, all too willing to break that silence between them. “I just came back here for a quiet rest.”

“Me too.”

“And you found me.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll leave you,” he said. “I don’t want to disturb you.”

“No, no,” she said, putting up her hands. “You were here first. Besides”—she siged heavily—“I have other matters to attend to unfortunately.”

“Such as?”

“Well,” she said, “I am a lady of standing in the kingdom. It is my job to assist in this bloody Age of Readventure. I am famous after all. So many wish to meet me, Yoreno, and I don’t say that out of ego. The king himself wants to parade me about to his visitors.” She rolled her eyes.

Yoreno laughed. “My apologies,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me.”

“All I want you to do is to enjoy the festival,” she said. “Be with your friends and family. We have much training to do after this is all over. And perhaps more adventures await us. I want to find those bastards we met on the Isle of Morr—to root them out!”

“I can’t wait!” Yoreno said.

“You like being an adventurer, don’t you?”

“Yes,” he said. “More than anything. I was wasted going to balls and noble functions before coming here.”

She laughed.

They looked at the paintings for a moment more. Then Dantera finally said, “I must go now.”

Yoreno looked at her and nodded.

“See you soon.”

“And you.”

She left him there in the quiet room.

Yoreno spent a few more minutes staring at the paintings and wondering about the past, the past before the Age of Darkness and long before the Age of Readventure.

But he also wondered about Dantera. Was there something awkward between them? They kept having these silent moments where neither of them would talk. Yoreno felt embarrassed, always trying to figure out what to say, but his mind would go blank.

From the next room over he heard some muffled voices then something knock against the wall. Glass shattered. With a frown, he listened.

Yoreno half expected to hear a servant or whoever had made the mess to clean it up. He decided to investigate. There was a door from this room with the paintings leading into the other chamber.

Very slowly he walked to the door and put his hand over the cold doorknob. He turned it very slightly to see if it was locked.

It wasn’t.

Taking a deep breath, he turned his wrist and opened it. From the instant the room beyond came into his view, he knew something was wrong.

The heavy curtains were fluttering from the cold winter wind outside. Stepping into the room, he realized there was a man inside. He was crouched atop the carpet, his heavy robes cascading onto the floor.

And then Yoreno realized the armored knight lying on the floor was soaking the carpet with his own blood.

Something lurched inside him and then he shouted.

“STOP!”

As he withdrew his sword with a crisp metallic hiss, the figure turned to meet his gaze and Yoreno back-stepped at what he saw.

It was man, half his face and neck an utter ruin and his mouth and chin dripping with fresh flood. He snarled with a toothy maw of teeth so unnaturally sharp Yoreno thought the man some kind of monster.

His eyes were aglow with yellow brilliance and his face began to—

Yoreno got the impression of metamorphosis as the man’s face changed before his eyes, the skin slackening and then tightening into a new structure.

Whatever was happening, it hadn’t finished, as the grotesque process barely looked human!

With a lunge, Yoreno made to strike the wretched monster, but he was too quick. He jumped, hauling the knight’s corpse to the window.

Yoreno went after him, striking at his back, but his blade hit the window sill and made a heavy gash in the painted wood as the man-creature jumped out and landed ten paces below. The force of his landing made the blue roof riles cascade away as he scrambled out of sight.

Gods, he thought. What had that been?!

Breathing heavily, Yoreno leaned out of the window, glancing for any sign of the creature. For a moment he made to crawl out, but thought better of it.

He couldn’t go chasing that… thing across the roofs!

“Guards!” he yelled. “Guards!” Running out into the corridors he continued his bellowing. “GUARDS! ONE OF THER KING’S KNIGHTS HAS BEEN MURDERED!”