Hallvard knelt on the thick crimson mat laying on the flagstone floor, in front of the simple stone altar, in his private sanctum deep within the temple complex. It was a small and simple room, one which spoke to his roots as a simple warrior priest rather than the grand ornate altar in the main temple.

Atop the simple stone altar were the armour and arms he had worn when he had first heard Aggard’s voice, before he took his first two squires. He had been in this sanctum for so long the charcoal in the bowl of incense placed in front of the altar had long since grown cold. Faint remnants of the thick cloying incense still hung around the air, but it no longer was as thick as when he prepared it at the start of this prayer session to Aggard.

He was deeply troubled. It had been over half a year since Klarric and Alis, his two squires, had departed for the dungeon on Netherfane. Wulf, one of his trusted protegees, had taken them to the island, but they had never returned from the dungeon. It was a simple dungeon, one which the two of them should have no issues going through, as long as they left the Dungeon Guardian alone.

As Wulf couldn’t go to the same dungeon that the two of them had entered, he had departed, leaving their camp set up in case they ever exited the dungeon. Wulf had spent more and more time visiting the island. Yet each time he turned up, the kit he had left behind remained untouched, unused, unneeded.

Further more his confidant and mentor, The First Watcher, had disappeared around the same time too. As she lived within the now destroyed City of Rynstowe he had given up hope he would ever see them again.

Things were bad within the Isles of Dunkeltal. It had started with the destruction of the City of Rynstowe within a single night, and without any warnings. Since then more and more troubles had been coming Hallvard’s way, being the single most senior leader of the most powerful organisation remaining.

Aggard’s Well, the town surrounding the Temple he was in, was chronically overcrowded as people fled what had once been safe islands. Monster sightings were on the rise. And just when they were needed the most, the precious bands of Seeker and Hunters being were being destroyed.

Of course, there would always bands would always be destroyed. But some reports reported that even expert, well established ones were being destroyed or damaged so severely they could no longer exist as they once did.

No matter how well he prayed, or attempted to still his mind and heart, the troubles inside didn’t calm. He had hoped that during this prayer session, Aggard would impart a moment of peace. But she had been absent once more. He feared it was because he had let her down after she had entrusted those two squires to him.

With them missing, and presumably dead, Hallvard felt as if he betrayed Aggard’s trust in him. All because he had been caught up in work which anyone of his trusted subordinates could have done. Now he was so busy it was hard for him to find time to pray and exercise, yet alone go on a fruitless search for his two squires.

Hallvard knew that just outside the door to his sanctuary would be Olvald, to protect this time of his, and to catch Hallvard up on what was currently happening. Olvald was doing his best to be strong for the others in the temple, and he relied upon Hallvard to act as a source of strength for himself. Hallvard found that once simple decisions Olvald used to do were put forth for Hallvard to decide.

Maybe he should lay down his title of bishop. Hoping that Olvald would pick up the heavy black ring of the War Bishop. Then Hallvard could do what he did best and roam the isles protecting those who needed his strength.

He wished he could do that but was afraid of what would happen to Aggard’s Well and the Temple if he lay down the title. Which meant he himself needed to stand strong and firm as he departed his sanctuary. All the doubts and insecurities he had inside had to remain hidden from everyone, including Olvald. He would have to act the part of the strong stoic Knight Champion that Aggard’s Well, Olvald, and everyone else in the Isles needed in these troubling times.

But for the moment Hallvard wanted to kneel and allow himself to being open to all the feelings of distress, dreams of an easier future, and the heavy burdens that threatened to overwhelm him. Wishing that someone would act as a source of strength for him.

†

As I stepped out of our divine realm into the cold, gritty, dry air of the dungeon, I was reminded of just how much I hated this dungeon.

Even though I was wearing my padded armour with mail over the top, and layers of clothes beneath, I was still cold.

If the cold was not bad enough, the thick layer of grit which covered the floor and everything in this dungeon and would soon coat me. Coat me and find its way beneath my clothes and start to irritate my skin.

And as for exciting discoveries around every corner, they would not be found here. The monotonous monotone world was filled with pale yellowish sandstone dome rooms and the large dark tunnels leading between each room. They were no more exciting now than yesterday.

Alis seemed more subdued than she had yesterday. On one slender hand was a pretty ring of gold and inset gems. She often touched the ring, playing with it, and occasionally stroking it. I must admit that we had learnt a lot from Aggard. And through actions of our own, she was no longer with us, but I thought Alis would be eager to continue exploring this dungeon. But she stood next to me, her pretty freckled face looking blankly into the darkness of one of the tunnels as she clutched her ring close to her chest.

Without hesitation, and without saying anything, Alis walked towards one of the tunnels we had yet to explore. She did not have that scrap of parchment and writing implement she had yesterday. Still, she seemed to know what was happening, so I followed after her as she entered the over sized large tunnel.

From behind I noticed the slight feminine grace in the way she walked, and the painful resigned slump of her shoulders.

Neither had been there yesterday.

‘Alis,’ I said, ‘what’s wrong? I know Aggard is no longer with us, and she told us much troublesome news yesterday. But there seems there is something else troubling you. Please talk to me.’

She continued walking through the dark tunnel, with only the sounds of our feet crunching through the grit marking our progress towards the distant light of the next domed room.

‘Alis, please.’ I hated the way my voice came out a bit like a whine.

‘It might’ve been yesterday for you, Klarric.’ She said coldly, her footsteps never faltering. ‘But for me it has been five months.’

I stumbled to a halt in the darkness. She continued walking, her footsteps crunching the grit under them in even strides.

Five months?

‘Five months of being alone,’ Alis continued steadily, ‘within that realm and this dungeon. Five months of not seeing the sun. Five months of not breathing fresh air. Five months waiting and hoping that you would be well. Five months of not being able to do anything but wait. Five months of dreaded isolation.’

As I watched her silhouette walk further away from me, I could see that she had not been lying to me. What I saw was just too different from what I had seen yesterday—or at least it had been yesterday to me.

Five months trapped within this monotonous monotone world and that cabin, even if the cabin was an almost perfect place to live. Could I have lived five months without Alis? Even as I asked the question of myself, I knew I wouldn’t be able to.

Her back was growing distant, moving further from me. Would I ever be able to catch up with her? Or would I always be chasing after her as I had chased after Aggard until that one precious night. The night I had seen her completely at ease, the night I had spent with her.

That one precious night of mine had cost Alis five months of torturous isolation.

I chased after Alis’ small and fragile form, hoping I could catch up with her, hoping to be able to be with her.

To bring comfort to her as I had brought comfort to Aggard.

Though, I wasn’t sure I could ever truly hope to reach the fragile figure of Alis who had been distanced, and had deliberately distanced herself away from me.