Bud soared forward, propelled by Frostfire Surge. The owlbear reared back but it was too slow. He was already upon it. He plunged his longsword deep into its chest, blazing frostfire exploding from the wound. It shrieked as flesh, fur, and feathers turned to crystal. Its body shuddered, and the beast let out a wheezing breath before sagging backward. Bud whipped his blade free with a spray of ice shards, returning it to a guard position. The holy fire of Kelisia radiated blue light throughout the cave and he surveyed the battleground.

They were in a goblin den. Stonebridge Village had suffered attacks over the recent weeks, and while the wagons stopped for the knight, Bud and the others had taken it upon themselves to eliminate the threat. They found the den a few hours deep into Brookwood Forest, the very same place where Hump’s master had been killed.

Nearby, Emilia stood over the corpse of two hobgoblins, while Dylan had taken down a half-dozen of their smaller goblin brethren. With them was Bud’s sister knight, Henrietta, leading the two squires, Rufus and Kat in a fight against what remained of the den. The three fought as a coordinated unit. Rufus and Henrietta—both shield and sword users—formed a barrier while Kat launched beams of frostfire from her wand at the back. Watching them fight, it seemed wrong to refer to the two as simple squires. Both had ascended to the second circle in the Battle of Sheercliff. It was a forgone conclusion that they would be promoted to the rank of knight upon return to Blackthorne.

Bud moved to help them, but it was unnecessary. The group made short work of the remaining goblins. It had been a while since he’d seen Henrietta in combat, and rarely outside of training spars. She was a fast, brutish fighter, hacking through the shoulder of a goblin with one move, carving deep through the bone, then smashing aside a second with her shield. Kat finished the battered creature with a beam of frostfire, and with that, the cave was cleared.

Bud let out a sigh, and wiped blood from his face—it wasn’t his own.

“Disgusting creatures, aren’t they?” Emilia said, poking at one of the hobgoblins with her rapier. She’d strapped her buckler back to her belt.

They were bigger than your typical goblin, and more skilled with their weapons. Bud wasn’t surprised the village had struggled so much, but for two half-parties of adventurers, it was a relatively easy job.

“Disgusting doesn’t cover it,” Bud said.

The room stank of blood, rot, and filth. Goblins were hardly the most hygienic monsters at the best of times, but these cave dwellers had quickly taken the spot of the worst in Bud’s head. The butchered corpses of what looked like cows were half-rotted along one side. All sorts of junk filled the floor, from scraps of clothing to copper coins.

“When I was little, you’d hardly hear of a goblin in all of Brookwood,” Bud continued. “It’s hard to believe there’s a den so close to the village.”

“We don’t really need to pick through it for the lost items from the village folk, do we?” Emilia asked.

Dylan stepped forward, already starting the search. “They’ve lost so much. We can do this for them at the very least.”

“What about we pay them off?” Emilia said. “A couple of gold coins should cover whatever they lost, and if it saves me being covered in… whatever’s in here, I’m all for it.”

“Dylan’s right,” Bud said. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“You enjoy yourselves,” Henrietta said, walking past them. Rufus and Kat in toe. “We’ll be outside.”

Bud smiled tightly. “No problem. I appreciate you coming to help.”

She looked at him coldly. “I didn’t do it for you.”

Rufus and Kat gave what could amount to a somewhat respectful nod as they passed, the three of them leaving the cave.

“She’ll come around,” Dylan said. “Give her time.”

“I’m not so sure,” Emilia said.

“She’s my sister knight,” Bud said. “We’ve trained together since we were seven.”

“Sure, but you left your responsibilities. To her, searching for you was part of the reason they were in Sheercliff City. I’m not sure time will ever make her okay with what you did. I get why you did what you did, considering your mother passing. But I also understand her anger.”

Guilt filled Bud. He couldn’t deny her words.

“You’re doing the right thing,” Dylan said. “Continue to own up to what you did. The rest is on her.”

Bud nodded. “Thanks.”

“Great. Now with that out of the way, lets get the shit-searching over with.”

It was coming up to lunch time when they finished, and a thick mist clung to Blackwood Forest. They’d recovered some family trinkets, an old sword, a fine coat. None of it was particularly valuable to Bud, but to the people of Stonebridge, he hoped it was important.

***

Bud stared out across green country—the sky was clouded, and a damp wind blew in from the east. It was a fitting day to return home.

Blackthorne lay nestled amongst a series of rolling hills. The steep, slate roofs of stone houses poked out amongst lush green trees spread throughout the town—remnants of what had once been forested land. The church belltower towered twice as high as the rest of the town, its clockface just visible from the distance, though he could not make out the time. The King’s Road ran through the centre of town, and atop a hill to the left was Blackthorne Manor, contained within walls of grey stone. Once, this had been a key defensive location guarding the route to Elenvine. Now, it was a quaint farming town.

“It looks lovely,” Dylan said.

“It is,” Bud said, taking the town in. Seeing it here filled him with a sense of warmth he hadn’t expected. “That’s the manor, up there,” he said, pointing. “You can just make out the market square over by the church—you’ll like it there. We get a lot of foods from Elenvine, and all sorts of imported goods. I’ll need to show you around.”

He told them of the various pubs and shops throughout the town fondly. Travelling with the wagons had been a slow, monotonous task, and he’d become more and more impatient as the days rolled over. Now though, with home finally in sight, he was surprised to find he wished there was more time.

He’d been so ready to return and confront his father about his actions after Bud’s mother’s death. To discuss the break of trust and find a way to work together and move forward for a better future.

Now… he was nervous. It felt pathetic to even admit, but he knew it to be true. His father was not a bad man, but at times, he was a bad father. He was strict, obsessive with the rules, and valued duty and honour above all else. Despite that, for most of his life, Bud had idolised him.

That changed when his mother died and his father attempted to marry him off to Emilia without discussion. Trust was broken, and in response, Bud had run.

He still didn’t understand why his father had done it. There was no missing how poorly Bud had taken the loss of his mother. He was certain his father had not missed that. The only thing he could think of was that with his mother gone, Bud was left the sole heir. With no siblings, it was down to him to continue the family line. It still didn’t justify the suddenness of it all, though that would not matter. He knew his father, and he knew how angry he would be. Bud had embarrassed him publicly and had broken an arrangement with the Rike family Emilia belonged to. It was a scar on his father’s honour—at least, that’s how he would see it.

And now Bud was returning with Arthur dead.

“You look nervous,” Emilia said, quietly enough so there was no risk of anyone in the wagon convoy overhearing.

“We were not on good terms when I left, and I feel I’m returning with them even worse.”

“You are a third circle Knight of Kelisia and a hero of Sheercliff City. However this goes, do not forget that. And do not let your father get to you.”

Bud nodded. “Of course.”

She spoke the truth. Bud was not the same boy that had run away from home a year ago. He needed to remain resolute and fixed on his path. There was a reason he was returning. King Henry’s orders were clear—the Blackthorne Knights of Kelisia had to be ready for deployment, and Bud would do his part. The Blackthornes would return to the Fallen Lands with blazing frostfire.

“Also, you’re my fiancé,” Emilia said, grinning. “Make sure you act the part.”

Bud played off his embarrassment with a laugh, but his heart raced at her words. He and Emilia hadn’t really discussed their engagement since she had agreed to join their party. Outside of using it to convince her brother to allow it, it was a topic they’d largely avoided.

“What are you both planning to do?” Dylan asked.

Bud and Emilia shared a look.

“I… don’t know,” Bud said.

“I hadn’t really considered it,” Emilia said.

“Why don’t you just accept it then?” Dylan asked. “You both get along. Your families want you to marry anyway.”

Bud looked away, focusing on the road ahead and adjusting Asoltef’s reins in his grip. “As if it’s that simple.”

“We are still young,” Emilia added.

“Exactly! And why should our families decide who we marry? It should be our decision. It’s a stupid tradition.”

“Fair enough,” Dylan said, laughing. “You’ll need to tell your father something though, and he may be more difficult to convince about the pretence than Emilia’s brother.”

“I stopped caring what my father thinks when he forced the matter a year ago. I’ll speak to him. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find out what the bloody hells he was thinking.”

“Oh, that’s just charming,” Emilia said. “Just what every girl wants to hear.”

“You know what I mean!” Bud said. “It’s the principle of it all.”

Emilia laughed. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. To me, the answer seems simple. So long as we’re engaged, we can continue to adventure like we are. That’s what I want. Whatever the future holds… well, that’s not our concern right now.”

Bud nodded. “Right. The Fallen Lands is where our attention should be. If Countess Daston’s information was correct, King Henry’s orders may have already arrived.”

A large gathering awaited them in town, a mixture of excitement and sadness at their return. Word of both Arthur’s and Carla’s deaths had long since reached the people. Two Knights of Kelisia gone. It was a sorrowful entry. The crowd bowed their heads as Arthur’s wagon passed by. Bud followed behind it from atop Asoltef doing his best to keep his chin up and eyes forward. They took the path up to the Blackthorne Estate, slowly meandering their way through crowded streets.

Within the walls, Aunt Nissa waited. She let out a gasped cry at the sight of the wagon, tears streaming down her face. Now she had lost her son as well as her husband. Bud’s heart sank at the thought.

Knights saluted at their approach, the guards and staff gathered around, greeting them fondly. At the manor doors, Bud’d father watched on with an expressionless face. It was strange to see him after so long. He appeared older and more tired. His gaze met Bud’s and he tilted his head in the direction of the manor, indicating for Bud to follow.

Bud spotted the house manager amongst the staff and called to him.

“Alfred!”

The man approached eagerly. “It is good to see you back safely, Young Lord.”

Bud grinned at the sight of him. The old man had been there for him since he was a boy. “It’s good to see you too. If you wouldn’t mind, Dylan and Emilia are my party members. Would you find accommodation for them and our horses while I go to speak with my father?”

“Of course, dear boy. Go on ahead, I’ll see they’re set up comfortably.

“My thanks.”

Emilia gave Bud’s arm a squeeze and a comforting smile. “Good luck.”

Bud nodded. “I’ll see you both shortly.”

Stepping into the manor, Bud was overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia. The entry hall was large and dimly lit, the walls lined with suits of armour and swords—the equipment of his ancestors. Candles of blue fire filled the room with an icy light. The nostalgia passed quickly, replaced by an emptiness. His mother was gone from these halls now. It would never be the same again.

He found his father in the sitting room. The fire smouldered, above it, a painting of himself as a young boy, his father, and his mother. It hurt to see her face, but Bud would not show it. He would not let it falter his resolve.

“Father,” Bud greeted.

“You have some nerve called me that after you disgraced me, boy.” He did not turn to look at Bud. “Disgraced me and got your cousin killed.”

Bud clenched his jaw. His heart hammered. Fury, outrage, fear—it rushed through him.

Don’t let him get to you.

Anger was what his father wanted. Bud took a breath. He was a different man to the one that left.

“I can forgive your insult to me, but do not demean Arthur’s death. He died fighting for the people of Alveron. For Sheercliff City. I will not have you lessen his sacrifice.”

“Forgive me?” Father chuckled, turning his head to look at Bud, the laughter not reaching his eyes. “Did you return here intent on dictating my words? A year may have passed, but you are still just a boy, and I am still your father. You will show me respect.”

“I may be your son, but you were not much of a father. Mother’s body was hardly in the ground before you were ready to ship me off.” An edge of bitterness crept into his words despite his effort to remain calm.

“Watch your tongue, boy. Your mother would be ashamed of you and what you’ve done to our reputation.”

The conversation was going exactly as Bud imagined it. His father was a prideful man, and he had never taken kindly to being disobeyed. That was not to say that he was unfair or cruel, but he was stubborn. Bud was prepared for it, and he forced himself to remain calm—to use the logical part of his head, as Hump would so aptly put it.

“No, I don’t think she would. You may only see the grieving boy you drove off, but I have changed in my time away. I’m ready for the duties that come with being a Knight of Kelisia, and a protector of our people. Of Blackthorne. That starts with us.”

“What would you know? It is my duty to protect our people, it is yours to learn. To marry. To produce children and continue our line.”

“During my time away, I have risen to the third circle,” Bud said. “I have cleared a dungeon, faced beings of another realm, fought warlocks, and defended a city from a riftwalker. I have learned. The world is far more terrible than I ever imagined it, and the danger will only grow worse from here.”

“Third circle…” Father muttered. “How? It has only been a year.”

“Much has happened,” Bud said. “The path Kelisia has for me is clearer to me now than ever. I’d be more than happy to explain the details to you, but first the more pressing matters. What of the king’s orders?”

“What of them?”

“Countess Daston informed me that there would be a call-to-arms. Has it come?”

“Indeed it has.” A stern look came over his father. “But I will not send my only son to the Fallen Lands, no matter what path you believe Kelisia has for you. You will remain here and marry that girl. We have other knights that can go in your place.”

Bud shook his head. “It is for that reason I have returned. If the Blackthorne’s are to return to the Fallen Lands, I will be amongst them. If you do not approve, well… Count Daston offered me a place in his service.”

“You would dishonour me further,” Father snarled. “You would continue to disobey me!”

“I would have you listen to me,” Bud said softly. “Let me do this. Let me be the knight you raised me to be.”

His father’s face contorted, nose scrunching, eyebrows furrowing. Bud thought he would argue further, but he did not. “Then you shall have your wish. Go! Perhaps this is for the best. The announcement is not yet made, but I am to take a new wife in the coming months.”

Bud’s eyes widened as realisation dawned on him. “Is that why you were so keen to have me married off? So you could start over with a new wife.”

“You will always be my first born, but as you said, it is a terrible world. I will not have our bloodline end for your foolhardiness.”

Bud bit back his anger. He had his answer, the reason his father had been in such a hurry to find him a wife.

“Have you nothing to say?” Father asked.

“Every time I think you couldn’t sink lower, you continue to disappoint,” Bud said. “I was a fool to think we could mend what you broke. I will serve my people, and my faith, but you have lost my loyalty. Lord Blackthorne, I hope it was worth it.”

With that, Bud turned and left. Perhaps it had been a mistake to return to Blackthorne after all.