Plenty of stars adorned the sky, and the moon would come up soon. Stormy brought his and Neal’s horse to the highline and tied them with the others. It’d been a long and hard ride from Fairmistle, and exhaustion had the best of him. He’d love to sit down, have a bite to eat and sleep. He hadn’t fully recovered from his trek off Casda de Moor, nor had he time to quiet himself from the trauma of being starved, frozen, and in the enemy’s clutches. Nor of seeing his homeland destroyed. Nor of chasing a prince to prevent him from attacking his own castle. Confusing days, these were. Ever since his youth, he dreamed of visiting Prasa Potama, but not like this. Not as an enemy. He loved his king and his prince. But from what he knew of the circumstances, he’d be fighting one or the other. He wondered if Neal’s men were as nervous about the morrow as he.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Stormy’s friend Leo asked in a whisper as they pulled blankets off the horses and brushed their sweaty coats. Leo and Stormy were the same age. Leo’s folks offered to take Stormy in when his mother died during the mountain giant attack, and Stormy was still giving it some thought. They’d grown up together and now joined the king’s forces together. Neal had reservations enlisting the two because they were so young. Sixteen, but with Rory pleading for his brother, Leo came with the package. Friends needed to be together.

“Could be a lot of killing, Leo. Could be we kill the prince if there are no Casdamians, and the prince storms the castle, anyway. He’s under a curse, you know. The devil makes madmen out of the best of us. Part of me is scared out of my trousers and the other part so curious what’s going to happen, you couldn’t drag me away.”

“Same here,” Leo said. They left their horses and walked up the trail. Stormy still had a wrap of sweet cake left from the gathering at the inn. He pulled it from his belt and handed a piece to Leo. Leo traded him some smoked beef.

“Neal has cheese and pickled fish in his saddlebags he got from the innkeeper. He said he’ll hand it out later tonight after he talks to the prince,” Leo said.

“My stomach shrank at the caves, Leo. Don’t feel much like eatin’.” Stormy eyed Neal farther up the hill, standing alone by his campfire, and nodded toward him as he chewed off a bite of beef. “Wonder what he’s thinkin’.”

“I wouldn’t want to be him right now, that’s for sure. Whatever’s in his mind, we won’t know til sunrise when we get our orders.”

Stormy jumped when he heard something in the bushes behind him. He pivoted. Leo had his dagger out. They stood hunched, holding their breath.

“Psst,” the sound came again. This time it sounded like a person. A child, actually.

“You’re about you get yourself killed,” Stormy said to the bushes.

“Don’t tell!” the voice ordered, and two young people emerged from the brush. One wore peasants’ clothes, his shirt dusty with a hole in his sleeve. Sitting crooked on his head balanced a sailor’s cap. The other boy wore proper attire as if he worked in a castle.

“Who are you?” Stormy asked.

“My name’s Donald and this is Cephas. We’ve come by order of Princess Erika to deliver a message to your commanding officer,” the taller of the two answered.

“Princess Erika?” Stormy asked and exchanged a long look with Leo. That meant she was alive, and Barin was wrong. That meant things could go nasty come sunup.

“Which Commander are you lookin’ for?” Leo asked.

“Don’t know his name,” Cephas said.

“Commander Neal,” Donald interrupted.

“I don’t think I should take you to him. Could be dangerous,” Stormy said.

“I’m not afraid!” Cephas said.

“Dangerous for the commander!” Stormy squinted at the two.

“Please sir, it’s urgent. Lady Erika says this message has to get to him before morning. It’s a life or death message,” Donald pleaded.

“Let’s see it,” Stormy held out his hand, still suspicious of two young rascals.

“Could be horse thieves,” Leo mumbled quietly.

“We’re not thieves. We had to sneak to get here so the other men didn’t see us.”

That made sense. Stormy wiggled his fingers, prodding the boy to give him the message.

“It’s sealed. I can’t give it to you. Lady Erika says no one opens it but Commander Neal.”

If they were going to get the message to the commander before the sun comes up, and before he takes off to see the prince, they’d better go now. Leo stashed his dagger in his belt.

“Follow me,” Stormy said.

Neal finished his stew, brooding over the task before him. In a quiet nook in the woods, away from the soldiers and away from Barin, he stood by his campfire warming his hands, contemplating on confronting the prince before sunrise. A difficult task, Barin was royalty, he only a servant. Friends all their lives, Neal had been Barin’s confidant. Whether he could get Barin to listen to him would depend on how he delivered his advice.

Perhaps the answer to the situation would come from the castle. He hoped Rory delivered the warning. So far, no sign.

He heard a disturbance further down the hill at Barin’s camp. Someone shouted, men scuffled, and then all went quiet. Neal didn’t think too much about it. Soldiers sometimes fought amongst themselves before a battle, and this would be an edgy situation for anyone.

From where Neal stood, he could see both his own horse-bowmen and a little further down the hill Barin’s crossbowmen, soldiers that Neal once led, but who now rode with Barin. They were dangerous men, each one skilled with their weapons. As a unit, these seasoned fighters could do a lot of damage. Would they believe Barin and attack King Tobias and the castle guards? Or would they be willing to follow Neal should he put a stop to this insanity?

Neal kicked a half-burnt log into the fire pit. He didn’t want to fight Barin. They’d been friends for many years. Good friends. This whole situation turned his stomach. Every one of these men were faithful Potamians—everyone! Loyal to the Crown. Good, faithful soldiers. And the men from Fairmistle were devoted subjects.

In his right mind, Barin would never kill his own men. He loved his father. His intentions were honorable, even if what he’s doing is appalling.

Neal was allowed to discuss battle plans, but he should not argue with the Prince. By the grace of King Tobias, he swore to push his boundaries tonight. He might be court-martialed. Contesting a decision by a royal during a time of warfare could bring a charge of high treason. Even arguing with an heir to the throne could be an offense worthy of the guardhouse. But he’d risk it. Tonight!

His only other option, if the prince murders Potamians, would be to kill him.

Neal spat and threw the rest of his soup into the fire.

“Commander Neal, sir!” Stormy and his friend appeared from out of the woods, catching him off guard. His heart skipped a beat! He should be more alert and not so engulfed in his own thoughts that the enemy could ambush him. He sighed when he saw who they were. They had with them two boys who were much too young to be in a war camp.

Neal regarded each of them quietly before he responded. A note from Erika?

“Very well,” he said and took the letter. He reached in his pocket for a coin or two and offered them to Cephas first, who grabbed the shillings out of his hand. Neal handed Donald a coin as well.

“Thank you, sir, you can give my portion to Cephas. He lives on the streets. Princess Erika, she takes fine care of me in the castle. I do not need coin.”

Neal nodded and gave Cephas the other two schillings. Sure, proof who is occupying the castle, he thought. “What are your plans? Are you going back to the castle now?”

They looked at each other.

“It’s not safe. There are men up here who will shoot if they see anyone move toward the palace.” Neal explained.

“We know, sir. We watched a man get shot yesterday,” Donald said.

Neal frowned. “Who? Do you know?”

“I don’t know him personal. Fiery hair, he had. Kind of like yours,” he pointed at Stormy. “He came from Fairmistle with a message to Erika. Rode one of the king’s horses. I know the horse. Sometimes I work in the stables.”

Stormy gasped. “Rory?”

“I don’t know his name. Got shot bad though. Lady Erika pulled the arrow out and he’s recovering, but lady Sylvia says if he gets an infection he’ll die. Hope no one else gets shot. It’s not pretty.”

It had to be Rory, but for Stormy’s sake, Neal said nothing. Still, he moaned to himself for another young ally sacrificed. This has to end! At least Erika got their message.

“Why are you folks here? Isn’t that Prince Barin? Why is he…?” Donald brushed his hair out of his eyes and looked around. “What’s he doing? What are you doing?”

“War maneuvers, son. Classified information.” Neal glanced at Barin’s camp again as the prince’s fire seemed to have grown.

“You two stay here until this conflict is over. Going back to the castle now is dangerous.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll pay you a soldier’s wage,” Neal told Cephas.

The boy stood straight and saluted. “Yes, sir!”

“Your job will be to watch my campfire. Stay here and get warm. Make yourselves comfortable. There’s soup in the pot. Help yourselves.”

“Thank you, sir, but aren’t you going to read your letter?” Donald asked. “Princess Erika wanted me to promise I’d have you read it before dawn.”

“I’ll read it in private, thank you.” Neal excused himself from the boys after offering them a stick of smoked beef and showed them where the cups were. He walked a way toward Barin’s camp and then broke King Tobias’ seal on the letter.

Dear Neal

The only thing I can think to do is capture Barin and bring him here. I sent two men to do so, but I don’t think they succeeded. It’s up to you! Kairos has a potion to put him to sleep until a more appropriate time.

Please don’t hurt him.

Erika.

“So! Kairos got away! Good for him. But capturing Barin might be a little harder than it sounds,” Neal whispered to himself. The scheme made sense. With the prince indisposed, Neal would then be in command of the troops. But how do we do such a thing? Neal had only an hour before sunrise.

He tucked the letter in his coat and ambled to Barin’s camp, passing his troops. The men following Barin had come from Tellwater with Neal, but the few others who had walked off the mountain with Barin had been half-starved and traveling for days. Their clothes were ragged, they were thin, and they had a wild and confused look about them. Their minds half gone and in the hands of Skotádi, Neal would have to watch them closely.

Prince Barin stood by his campfire, hands behind his back, head held proudly. He faced two soldiers tied with rope, their mouths gagged. Men stoked an already raging fire, adding large chunks of cedar wood. No one spoke, but the anger fuming from Barin could have burned more logs than the flames in his campfire.

“What’s happening? Why the massive fire?” Neal asked.

Barin glanced at him, a brief, angry glare. “We’re about to teach our soldiers a lesson,” he said, nodding to the two captives. Neal recognized the men that were tied. They were sentries from King Tobias’ guardhouse. “Soon as everyone gets here.”

“What happened?” Neal asked cautiously, noticing how Barin’s wild eyes glowered.

“I caught these men in the act of treason. An attempted assassination.”

Neal raised his brow and made eye contact with the men. They were sweating, their eyes unusually wide and fearful.

“And what kind of lesson are you going to teach them?” Neal asked.

“One that all our soldiers should learn, Commander Neal. These men came from the castle, sent by Moshere. Traitors! They have committed high treason, punishable by death.” He nodded to the fire. “Which will be carried out immediately.”

“You’re going to burn them alive? Without a trial?”

Barin glared at him and lifted his chin.

“And send their bones back to the emperor with a message. We will not surrender the Tobian kingdom to him.”

“Have they defended themselves?”

“Lies, Neal. I have no time to listen to lies.”

Neal’s heart stopped. “These men are Potamian. You can’t do this without a trial!”

“And you’re going to stop me? This is war, Neal.”

The crowd congregated around them, men who were being forced to witness this horrendous act. Apparently, Barin had summoned everyone in camp to watch. Some of them wore terror on their faces, some confused, some merely following orders. A few looked at Neal with pleading eyes. They knew their prince had stumbled into the hornet’s nest and feared he would do them more harm than any battle would. Neal must rescue them.

And he must rescue Barin, as well.

He set his jaw. Prince or not. Duty or not, he refused to allow Barin this savagery. Neal turned his back to the prince. He clenched his fist and allowed the rage inside of him to swell.

With no warning, he whirled around and with the full force of his angst, hit Barin in the face so hard that the prince fell in the fire. Neal quickly drew his sword and pointed it at the soldiers, some ready to pounce, but most of them simply gawked. Barin scooted out of the flames and bounced back, drawing his sword yet disoriented. Neal quickly sheathed his weapon and grabbed Barin’s cloak collar, pulled him close and hit him again. This time Barin fell unconscious.

Neal’s entire body shook, his fist throbbing from the impact. He pointed at two men who stood next to the prisoners

“You two, cut those men lose.”

They obeyed hesitantly. Several soldiers drew their swords. Neal glared at them, daring them.

“I am your commanding officer,” he said. “You,” he spoke to the two Potamian sentries who had moments ago faced execution but were now rubbing the rope burns on their wrists.

“Yes sir,” they said.

“These men did not commit treason,” he told the assembly, pointing at the sentries. His body shook from having hit the prince, but he contained himself.

“Princess Erika sent here them to take Barin to safety. The prince has been under the influence of a demon.” The men gasped. “That’s right. The princess lives, and so does King Tobias. Your prince might have gotten himself killed tonight. Would you have wanted that?”

He searched the crowd for the men he’d seen earlier, the thin ones that Barin had come down from the mountain with.

“You! You were up on Casda de Moor with the prince, were you not?”

“Yes, sir,” someone in the group answered.

“You all are also affected by a demon. Hear me. Emperor Barte son of Moshere has not invaded our land, nor has he overthrown your King. Princess Erika has been holding the keep. There are no foreign invaders. There will be no attack. No siege. We’re home.”

He waited for the two guards carrying Barin to get farther down the hill.

“Before we go on to the castle, I want every man who has been on Casda de Moor to stand before me.” He looked at the men who had swords in their hands. “Starting with you two.”

“What are you going to do to us, sir?” one of them asked meekly.

“I’m going to keep you under careful watch.”