(Auther's note: if you missed the conversation between Xandrien and the fake god, go back to the previous chapter and read the lost block of text. It was added later so some of you miht have missed it.)

"What do you mean the new Maxwell has taken over!" An older man yells. "The Virgos have stood in line waiting for the Maxwell that is now deceased to finally keel over. We should be the ones to be head of the council, not some nobody from nowhere."

"There is nothing I can do, Mitch." An older man with grey hair says. "I am merely a messenger now. You should keep doing your part for Virgo and the people you rule. It has to be said though; in the chaos caused by the collapse of the council building, the new Maxwell was the one who showed us charisma equal to that of Maxwell himself. If not for him, there would not be a city to rule."

"That still gives him no right to be where he is now!" Mitch Virgo yells. "I knew that deal we struck with Maxwell was just going to burn our hands. I mean look at this. Jardine, dead! Maxwell, dead! The council building, burned! We should watch our backs, Johnson. I am sure dead will follow the last involved in the destruction of the Layton's. It is up to us now to cheat that death the best we can."

"Truth be told, I merely ran the numbers to ensure their bankruptcy." Johnson says, full of hope.

"And all Jardine did was attempting to keep that kid of his out!" Virgo says. "And look what became of him. I am not sure which report frightens me more. Cooked alive and then skinned, or stabbed in the street and eaten by corpsefeeders. Master Jardine was a good man. To lose him like that, well, anyway, what does the new Maxwell want."

"You might want to refrain from calling him that when you are in a discussion." Johnson warns. "He wants the Allard and the Virgo representatives to present themselves at the council building, in order to revote the worker policies. With both Layton and Jadine gone, their people need work. Work Virgo and Allard will be able to provide."

"At this rate we will no longer need a vote." Virgo mumbles. "I fear that soon the council itself owns more land than just the council building. When that time comes, death will have found me too. Good luck, my friend. May Arthfael look over us."

"At this point I fear that is what we should not want." Johnson says nervously.

"Nonsense!" Virgo says. "Arthfael is humanity's god. He protects us all."

"I think we might be god's humanity." Johnson says as he leaves the Virgo mansion.

"Erilate, sir!" Virgo yells. "I have been summoned before the council. I will return when my meeting with them comes to a close."

"Good luck with the negotiation, my son." An old man says from upstairs.

"Goodbye, father." Mitch mumbles as he leaves to a meeting that could bring death straight to him. "May Arthfael protect me."

Ten minutes later Mitch Virgo arrives at the ruined remains of the once great Oliron spire.

"You have arrived, Virgo!" Maxwell says. "Please take your seat."

To Virgo's amazement, they have reinstalled the seats in their original places. Even the altar is stood in the middle. Mitch happily walks over to his familiar chair to the right of Maxwell's throne. Seeing the empty Jardine seat across saddens him slightly. Three seats are left empty today. Present are Allard, Virgo, the military, the council building representative, Maxwell and the Allard trainee. Mitch soon realises that the new Maxwell has the audacity to take his seat in the great throne.

"Why are you the head of the council now, Maxwell?" He asks. "I, as representative of Virgo and as the most experienced politician, have the strongest claim to that chair."

"Can you not see that this city needs more than just a politician at its head in the current state." Maxwell says. "Soon the villages supporting Oliron will turn themselves against the city. If nothing is done, thousands will die as the peasants destroy their oppressors."

"We have oppressed no one." The Allard representative objects. "I agree that Virgo should be given that seat. You may join us, but your place is at the end of the line. Not the front."

"Oh, but you have oppressed someone." Maxwell laughs. "The farmers that are being terrorised by hordes of hungry Goblins are a nice example of it. All that the capital does to them is demand the food that is already in short supply. For what do we ask this do you think? We promise to protect them from enemies from beyond the straight. Enemies that have never even considered crossing over to our island. We must prepare for war gentlemen, for it is upon us. Marl my words!"

"I do truly wonder..." Virgo says. "I heard you were present when that Jardine boy, Archil, escaped. Would you perhaps know what became of him after he burned down this very building."

"We send a squad of my best men after them." Allard says. "They reported having found the, in Kelna and they chased them north. The officer who originally captured Archil was with them. I have also received reports that Archil appears to have already passed and faded."

"How are you so actively involved in this, Allard?" Virgo asks.

"Well, unlike you, Maxwell approached me after the escape, since the Allards fund the military." Allard says. "We have been tracking the group since they left Oliron. This is probably the strongest argument for Maxwell to be the next head above you. He showed the quick response necessary in a leader."

The truth is, Virgo has been hiding in his mansion after the murder on Maxwell was announced. Fearing death, he didn't leave the mansion.

"My father is worsening!" Virgo says. "How must I lead a council if my father has fallen ill."

Allard's eyes narrow.

"Your father..." He says slowly. "The man that would rather charge out of his home to visit these meetings himself and you present him as some weakling. It should be him as the head of the council!"

Just Mitch's luck. He just had to bring up his father in front of Allard. Allards would always stand for a fellow warrior. It is what causes Mitch to dislike them as much. Always loyal and always brave. The Allards should be fighting the Goblins rather than sit here and talk.

"My father has had his time before the last Maxwell." He says.

"It is truly sad that Master Jardine can't take that place." Allard says. "He would have been a great leader. I wonder now. Who would want the Jardines gone, since the Jardines would be the next head?"

"Don't use the people I consider friends against me, Allard." Virgo warns. "If you are truly implying I did that to Master Jardine, you are a fool!"

"What do you think, commander?" Allard asks.

"It is more than likely." The commander says. "Not to mention the fact that a truly professional assassin was used to get to Master Jardine. Something the Virgos would have access to."

"Head of the council." Allard says, turning to Maxwell. "I hereby charge Mitch Virgo for treason and the murder of council member, Master Jardine."

"I have seen the evidence you showed me before the meeting, Allard." Maxwell says. "The assassin was definitely from Virgo ground and his professionalism comes at a price only affordable to the Virgos. Mitch Virgo, you are hereby sentenced to death on the altar."

So this is how death finds me today... That is the thought echoing through mitch's head as he is dragged onto the altar. Nothing can save him now. The sentence has been spoken. His arms and legs are tied down to the altar. He tugs at the chains, with all his might, but all it gives him are some nasty bruises on his wrists.

"I will tell you all once!" He says, closing his eyes. "An innocent man dies here today. One that you could have saved. May my death haunt your coming dreams and may the weight of this decision forever drag you down."

"The last words have been spoken." Maxwell says, somehow knowing the proper lines to say. "Lay your hands on the gaps across from your chair, council members. Justice shall be dealt."

As soon as the nervous Allard trainee joins the other at the alter and lays his hands on it, a faint glow radiates from the altar. The glow becomes brighter and brighter as more energy build. A huge ray of light impacts the centre of Mitch's body, causing his limbs to fly through the air followed by an arch of blood. His torso simply scatters, spraying the council members in gore.

A light shines in the distance, attracting the attention of Gilbert and Xandrien.

"What is that!" Gilbert says slowly, in awe.

"Magic..." Xandrien says, barely looking up. "A hugely powerful wave of energy. I wonder..."

"What?" Gilbert says. "That is in the direction of the city of Oliron, right?"

"Yes, it is." Xandrien says. "I don't think it involves us at this point though. We are entering the town now, Gilbert."

"The town?" Gilbert asks, turning around. Before him loom high buildings, made to support a larger population, while still preserving farming space. "Right!"

"How peculiar..." Xandrien says from the front of the cart.

"Is something wrong, Xandrien?" Gilbert asks.

"Yes..." Xandrien says, pointing at the side of the road. Starved corpses litter the streets. Corpsefeeders are having a feast further down the street. "Famine... How do these people die to starvation?"

"Hello?" Gilbert yells. "Is somebody alive out there?"

The smell is getting worse now. Rot fills every part of the air. The streets feel completly dead.

"Travellers?" A man says, as he opens a door. "Are you here for more food? The fields are not ready yet! We can't give more food to the capital at this time. Please leave!"

"Hold on, sir." Xandrien interrupts. "We are travellers from Kelna. We are not in need of your supplies."

"Do you have food to spare!" The man suddenly says hopefully. "A few months ago, people from the capital came to us. They demanded we give them food to help sustain Oliron through some kind of Goblin infestation. They completely empty our stores. The fields aren't ready to be reaped yet and we are dying. Please travellers!"

"We hardly have food to spare, friend." Xandrien says. "Is there anything we might do for this town to ensure its survival?"

"Yesterday you might have helped support the medical centres, but now I am not so sure we can still be saved..." The man says in despair. "A group decided to rob them of their last rations and now the only ones who can eat are those who saved their food. We live everyday knowing we need to spare food for the day after..."

"How many of you are still alive?" Gilbert asks, full of regret.

"I am sure that at least half of us still live." The man says. "The poorest of us all were the first to fall..."

"Where can we find your leaders?" Xandrien says.

"I honestly don't know who leads us anymore..." The old man says. "Head to the centre of town. Maybe someone had the guts to try and restore order to this doomed town."

"Why don't you just leave, if it is doomed anyway?" Gilbert asks.

"Go where?" The old man says. "I hardly have the food to sustain myself. How do you expect me to travel anywhere like that. All we can do is sit here and watch as the menu demands us as the new course... I do not plan on dying in that way."

"The new course?" Gilbert asks.

"You are dense, aren't you." The man says. "I mean cannibalism. A few days from now we will all be fighting for each others meat..."

"Oh..." Gilbert says, surprised. "That's not good."

"Not good?" The old man says angrily. "It is more than not good! Now don't you two have something better to do than depriving an old man from his hard needed energy!"

With that he slams the door shut.

"He is right though, Gilbert." Xandrien says. "If nothing is done, people will start to find 'alternative' source of food."

The centre of town is a lot cleaner than the streets Xandrien and Gilbert just passed through. The smell of rotting corpses still remains, but at least someone removed the bodies. At the centre of the city square stands a tent. A group of people is actually moving around boxes and occasionally someone will enter or exit the tent.

"Let's see who is in charge here." Xandrien says, ignoring one of the building along the square. It was clearly attacked and some slashed corpses still remain.

As Xandrien and Gilbert approach the tent two armed men take notice and move towards them.

"Halt!" One of the guards yells. As ordered, both Gilbert and Xandrien stop. "What business do the two of you have in Taere?"

"We are simple travelers, who are willing to assist the people of Taere." Xandrien says.

"We don't need your help, stranger!" The other guard yells. "Leave before you cause any trouble!"

"Trouble?" Gilbert says. "You are in such a situation and you are afraid two travellers will increase your troubles? Let us help!"

"I told you, we don't need your help!" The guard says.

"What is the meaning of this commotion?" Someone from inside the tent yells. A huge man with bulging muscles leaves the tent.

"Captain!" The guard says, surprised. "I was just telling these travellers to leave our town be."

"And why would you do that?" The captain says. "Have you seen the state of this city? We could use all the help we can lay our hands on."

"Yes, sir..." The guard says slowly, backing off.

"So travellers!" The captains says loudly. "Where did the two of you come from?"

"We were in Kelna last." Gilbert says.

"You do realise you are speaking to this city's captain of the guard, right?" The captain says, annoyed.

"Forgive him, sir." Xandrien says. "He used to serve a man who died recently..."

"Let's leave it at that then..." The captain says, still annoyed at Gilbert. "What brings you here from Kelna?"

"The people of Taere do." Gilbert says. "We are here to free us all from the forces that control Oliron."

"Do you now?" The captain says. "Let's continue this talk inside the tent, gentlemen."

"Who are those two, Tevron?" An older man sitting at a table inside the tent asks.

"I am Xandrien Dragonheart and this is Gilbert Dragonheart." Xandrien says.

"Dragonheart?" The old man says. "Where is your house located?"

"We got our last name for killing a Dragon south of the city of Oliron." Xandrien explains.

"What?" The old man says, surprised. "The two of you killed a Dragon?"

"Captain Fenwick of Kelna gave this name to us." Xandrien continues.

"And they know Fenwick!" Tevron says. "You two are interesting indeed. My name is Tevron Ralingar, captain of the watch in Taere."

"I am Gallas Meckrin, mayor of this town." The old man says.

"Surprising, to see that both of the governing people of Taere still live." Xandrien says.

"That would be thanks to Tevron." Meckrin says. "He was the one who predicted the food shortage and took measures to avoid mass panic."

"It wasn't enough, though." Ralingar says. "Meckrin, if we don't take the castle soon, there won't be any city left to save."

"I have already said no and I will say no again." Meckrin says. "We can't afford to send our people into the death trap that is Northpoint Castle."

"They have the food we need, Meckrin." Tevron says. "If we don't capture that we are all doomed!"

"Keep your pessimism down, Tevron." Meckrin says. "If they hear you outside, who knows what will happen."

"We can get the supplies for you." Gilbert says. This completely stops the discussion.

"You two would go the Northpoint Castle alone and get us the food we need?" Meckrin asks. "Are you insane."

"Yes..." Xandrien mumbles, to soft for anyone to hear.

"We can get the food you need, mayor." Gilbert says. "We will need help, when we take the city of Oliron and you won't be able to if you all starve. Do we have a deal?"

"Alright then." Tevron says. "If you two get us the food we need, we will help you in your little revolution."

"But..." Meckrin starts.

"Meckrin, do you want to starve?" Tevron says. "Let them save us."

Meckrin stares down at the ground.

"I don't want to send these two gentlemen into an early grave..." He says.

"Don't worry about us, mayor." Xandrien says as he leaves the tent and heads towards their cart. "We will be just fine!"

"Wait!" Tevron yells. "Two of my guards will accompany you."

The two men from earlier soon join them on the cart and they set out for Northpoint Castle.

The road isn't long and before long the group has arrived at a hill near the castle. The castle has a round wall with four towers equally separated from each other. Between the two southern most towers lies a small gate. Few guards can be seen atop the high walls. Within the walls lies a big building.

"Let's wait here until nightfall." Xandrien says. "That way we can use the dark to cover our entry and escape."

Xandrien walks over to a comfortable looking tuft of grass and starts turning it into a seat.

"So what is our plan, Xandrien." Gilbert asks.

"We sneak up to the wall with the four carts I brought, break through the wall, sneak into the storeroom and escape before anyone sees us." Xandrien explains.

"Break through the wall?" Gilbert asks. "How will you possibly do that quietly?"

"Leave that part to me." Xandrien says. "I have a plan."

"And how do we plan on finding the storeroom?" Gilbert asks.

Xandrien stops preparing his seat.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"The storeroom is probably located in the building within the castle walls." Gilbert states. "I don't know about you, but if I were in there I would have no clue which rooms to avoid and which rooms to enter."

"And that is exactly why I am also entering that place." Xandrien says, radiating confidence. "Will be able to guide us through, Gilbert. Don't worry about it."

"If you say so..." Gilbert says, sceptically.

"You best get some rest, Gilbert." Xandrien says. "Tonight is going to be a long night indeed..."