"Nay. We stick to the plan. We need superstitions to stir fear in their hearts. I can only pray that the men were able to stir up the people. A campaign such as they undertook, whispering in every ear such as they are...such a campaign is better served with greater numbers and they are but three."

"Aye, but they are but three... And really that is the same as twelveordinary men. They may not be able to whisper in every ear as you say, but they will know into which ears they must whisper so that the words will be repeated again and again. Have no doubt, my friend. By the time they reach Brecken, your name will be on every tongue."

"It shall be as Gwyn hoped. That is good. We can only hope that the effect we are creating will be vivid enough to make our enemies tremble when they hear that I am returned."

"They trembled at your presence long before the ambush" Drew reminded Erec. "It follows that upon your appearance after the rumors of your death and your desecrated and empty grave that their fear will be so great that they piss themselves and run screaming from the field of battle."

Erec chuckled and shook his head. "You paint a pretty picture, my friend. It would be blessing to win with such overwhelming odds against us but if we could win without suffering great losses..."

"From your lips to God's ears, my friend." Drew gave a nod and shivered.

"Let us sleep back-to-back." Erec said moving next to his friend. "It will be a cold wet night. Aside, I have no desire to freeze to death the night before I am to make my grand resurrection appearance."

Drew shook his head but turned so he leaned against Erec.

Erec knew that it was doubtful that either of them would sleep much. It was always like this before a battle. In the morning as they made ready their horse and armor and rode out, fatigue would melt away leaving them energized with their mounting anticipation.

"It is obvious it is cold." Drew shrugged trying to bring his shoulders closer together so that he might close the blanket over his chest. "But how did you figure it was to be a wet night?"

Just as he finished, a drop of rain hit his cheek and he heard the rumble of distant thunder.

Drew cursed.

Erec laughed.

"Look up at the sky."

Tipping his head back, Drew's breath caught. The clouds were beginning to gather and the moon glowed brightly. But what stopped his heart was the large reddish ring around the moon.

"A bloodied halo means rain?"

"No, the clouds told me that." Erec laughed. But the bloodied halo as you called it should worry the superstitious lot. They will consider it an omen and will be looking high and low to see if it portends good or evil."

"Our luck is holding." Drew chuckled, suddenly forgetting how difficult it was to speak when his teeth were nearly chattering. "Your appearance is good and evil. Good for Brecken but Evil for the enemy."

"Let us pray that they see it that way as well. Our undertaking is a risky one at best. There is a very good chance that we will fall on that battlefield and I shudder to think what will become of my family should that happen. But...If this spectacle we create does what it is meant to do, then mayhap our chance of survival will improve."

"Have a little faith, my friend." Drew sighed and gave up on trying to get any more warmth from the too-small blanket. "You survived that ambush against all odds. And we have been in every sort of battle on every sort of terrain from one end of this kingdom to the other. All will be well."

"Were this a year ago, I would agree. But since Gwyn...Especially since our time in the Abbey...Things are different for me now. I cannot explain it to you, for I do not understand it myself."

"I understand it perfectly well." Drew chuckled.

"Then tell me so that I can understand it also."

"Before Gwyn you were reckless. You had not a care for your life, as there was nothing for you to lose. You had no home or family. Your titles and fortunes meant little to you. But Gwyn has opened your heart. You love her and the children, as you should, for they make your life meaningful. You have a reason to fight and a reason to live now.

"You are pensive over our upcoming battle, not just because the fate of our kingdom hangs in the balance. But it is more because there is so much more for you to lose. You have a wife and children. You have a home, friends, and happiness. That is a lot to lose on a toss of the dice such as this battle before us."

"When did you get to be so wise?" Erec teased.

"I have lived longer than you, my friend." Drew laughed.

"Not by two months together!" Erec joined Drew and their laughter mingled with the sound of the wind and the rain in the forest.

---

The following morning Erec and Drew retreated deep into the forest. They had to make ready for their ride on the morrow. Digging a pit, they built a small fire in the center. The trees overhead would diffuse the smoke and the pit would keep their fire from being seen if anyone were foolish enough to be in the forest in such weather.

Erec chuckled as he waited for the water to heat.

"What humors you so?"

"I was just thinking that we are taking all of these precautions so that our fire will not be seen. But we are the only men that are fool enough to be in the forest during such weather as this. It is a wonder that we were not struck or set ablaze last night. That was a powerful storm."

"Aye. Puts me in mind of the night Hugh the Great died."

"I did not recall until you spoke. But I was up on the east tower for the end of the storm and I can tell you that our storm last night measured up, as you say. Mayhap fortune will smile on us and the people will remember also. One more omen for their superstitious souls."

"I am not proud to be making a mockery of the people this way. But I tell myself that it is for the good of the kingdom. They must be deceived in order that they may be saved. Otherwise, we shall be cut down like wheat before the harvest scythe."

"It is just so." Erec frowned thoughtfully. "But, as to their saving, we have much work to do. We need to get the animals cleaned up, and armored. We need to get the armor shining and make sure that our banner is ready. Do you wish to clean the animals and the armor, or do you wish to mend the surcoats and stitch our banner?"

"I am no hand with a needle," Drew began, "BUT I would rather my blood be drawn by the needle in my own hand than by the teeth of that horse of yours. YOU handle the armor and I shall tend to the colors."

They set to work with the diligence of desperate men, knowing that they had to make a grand appearance. They must be knights shining in their armor as they crossed the moor with banner aloft. They had to ride out from the darkness of forest and loch and bring light and hope in their wake. It was a daunting task and impossible for any other than the People's Champion.

---

The night was another cold one, but not so wet as the last. The wind blew, though not as wildly and in the morning the sun rose over the moor.

Erec sat atop Zeus at the edge of the wood looking out over loch and moor and sighed in contentment. The rain brightened the green and the heather. The mist, the sky and the land were all bathed in purple. The molten orb of the sun melted pink and gold into the grays and purples. The moor glistened as the early morning sun reflected on the dew sprinkled over everything.

The mist was thin this morn, winding over the moor in wispy clouds. The effect was enchanting, making Brecken Moor look other-worldly. As they rode out side by side, the only sound was the creaking of leather, the clanking of metal and the soft plod of the hooves as they plod along. Zeus seemed reserved, as if he too thought they might see fairy-folk at any moment.

They made quite the scent. Zeus was a mighty black warhorse. He was from Spain, a gift from Hugh the Great upon his appointment to Captain. They brought what armor they could, but without cart or pack horse they were limited.

Zeus had only face plate as the rest was too cumbersome. Gwyn said they should look as they did when last they were seen, when they rode out from Brecken before the ambush. That way they would be easily recognized. Unfortunately, Erec was wearing his best armor and cloak...and those were buried with him. The irony was not lost on him as he donned his battle armor.

It was older and bore the dents and scratches of many battles, but thanks to several hours of hard scrubbing, the worst of the discoloration was removed and the armor was at least presentable. He wore half armor when he left, so it was what he wore now, along with his battle cloak, slightly tattered edges and all.

With Drew's careful attention and needlework, the cloak no longer bore the many rips from arrow, dirk, and blade that came a little too close over the years. Erec did not look as he did when he left, but with the armor, the surcoats and the banner they now held aloft on a sapling Drew stripped for the purpose, they would be recognized.

He rode Zeus and Drew rode Hades. Apollo was Drew's mount of choice but he was killed in their last battle and Drew was forced to replace him. Hades lived up to his name, and could not be near any other warhorse without bloodshed. For that reason, Drew rode behind Erec until they reached the open moor where they could ride side by side but with space enough between.

Close to the loch, the mist was so thick they could not see the ground at all and had to trust to the horses to pick their way. As they rode further away from the loch, the mist thinned and became wispy until it disappeared completely. Erec was hopeful they were sighted before they left the mist. It would make an impressive first sighting...to be seen riding out of the mist that way...

---

"Saints preserve us!" the soldier paled and crossed himself.

"Mother of God!" another cried, crossing himself and reaching for the wall to steady his knees.

"It is..." the first swallowed hard. "It is Lord Erec!"

"It cannot be, but I swear by all that is holy, thine eyes do not deceive. It is Lord Erec as I live and breathe. See the black horse he rides, and the surcoat bearing the herald of the Royal Guard."

"And the other man with him, he also bears the herald and carries the banner. We cannot be mistaken. Go quickly to his lordship. Tell him what we have seen that he may come and see for himself."

---

"Whatever is going on?" Alexandi stood, setting aside her stitchery.

"I know not." Gwyn frowned. "But it sounds like we are under attack!"

Alarmed, the two exchanged a look and went quickly to the door, leaving the children to their sleep.

"John!" Gwyn called to him in a loud whisper.

Leaving his place near the children's door, he jogged over with a concerned look.

"Milady. You look unwell. What has happened?"

Servants ran past and they could hear the soldiers shouting outside.

"Are we under attack?" Gwyn reached out for his hand.

"Nay. We have...visitors."

Gwyn's knees nearly gave way. She had hoped Erec's arrival would cause a stir but she could never have imagined such a stir. Every person in the castle from the highest to the lowest soon knew that Lord Erec had been seen riding across the moor to Brecken. Too many people had seen him to be a drunken vision as was first suspected. Lord Erec was real, and he was returned.

Gwyn had no difficulty doing what was expected of her. She missed him terribly and found it easy to lift her skirts and run to the wall. She climbed the stairs, nearly knocking down a guard in her haste to reach the wall where she might see for herself.

She was prepared for the sight, yet her heart skipped a beat. Erec rode Zeus, tall and proud. Drew rode aside on Hades and the two men made a most impressive sight in their shining armor riding across the moors through the mists as if they rose from the netherworld and had yet to cross to this world.

They looked strong. Powerful. And very alive. They were a most welcome sight, indeed. The castle stirred and the servants were put to work to prepare a feast to welcome the Lord Erec. If it was as she heard whispers, that Erec was called back by magic, then it could be said that Matilde was a sorceress. Nothing short of magic could have transformed the sleeping castle.

Yet, before Erec reached the gate, all was made ready to welcome him in the great hall and the people were waiting in the courtyard to get a glimpse of their returned hero.

Gwyn was waiting with Lord Brecken and Alexandi. The children were standing before her, dancing nervously from foot to foot. John stood behind, keeping a watchful eye lest no one get too close or cause them any harm. Sofi suddenly pulled away from Gwyn but instead of running, she spun around and beamed up at Gwyn.

"See Mama!" she shouted, nearly hopping in her excitement. "I told you Papa would come back. Now everything will be alright again. You will see."

Zeus carried Erec through the gate and she could see him looking around to see where his family waited. Sofi would wait no longer. She tore loose and ran toward Erec.

"Papa! Papa!" she called.

Her voice reached him and his head swiveled. Locked on Sofi, he dismounted, tossing the rein to a nearby soldier and ran toward Sofi. He caught her and held her aloft, twirling around before he brought her to his chest and held her tightly.