Day 54 of the 397th Year of the Second Age

The dawn rose and as our eyes watched the sun rise our spirits lifted as the sun slowly rose to take its place over Nah. Our enemies sent out skirmishers and a few arrow volleys to test our defences but we weren't going to be drawn in to a fight so easily. The warriors of Nah were patient, we knew the real test was ahead.


"We must brace the men for the sights they will see today," Jounas said as we gathered the captains and other leaders. "The High Summoner will summon something fantastic that will defy odds. It will be a beast the likes of which you have never seen nor could expect. But like every other participant in this battle, it bleeds."

"And bleed it will as no one attacks Nah unchallenged!" I raised my sword to the cheers of my men as I spoke, I had to rally them for the battle ahead. Their courage was not fading. No, it got stronger and it gave me strength. I was anxious for the day to begin and part of me dreaded getting back on my wyvern after my fall yesterday. My ribs were mostly healed by the expert hands of Faye but my mind, it would still be consumed by the fall if I let it. The captains all dispersed and Jounas, Dittroth, O'Har and myself formed up to talk things through one last time.

"Do you think it'll work?" I asked at last after a few tense moments. "We hold out one more day and I'm sure Granic or the High Elves will arrive with some form of reinforcements and then we can drive their forces away."

"They have a High Summoner Tritus. I have never seen a monster summoned by them but I do know this: many times they summon creatures that some, tribes or city dweller, would consider a god. If their strategy doesn't play into our hands we'll have to make a frontal assault against a being beyond our power or means to defeat it." Jounas was always a realist, he always knew what to tell me and it was always the truth.

"All the more reason to get to that summoner and break the link with the beast before in destroys us all." Dittroth was ready for war. He was hungry to bring the fight back to the invaders to avenge all those who had been killed in the fighting so far.

"I'll make sure I make it to that High Summoner one way or another," O'Har seemed agitated that it was taking the enemy this long to attack. His blood lust growing with each passing moment. He took a few swings with his ax to loosen his muscles and to fight off idleness. "The enemy for all their unpredictability in attacking has been very predictable since then. If they don't try to burrow under our defenses then we'll hit their summoner from the sky and I'll finish the job on my wolf."

"Agreed, we should get into position now and see how the day plays out." Dittroth said as he patted me on the back. He mirrored O'Har in his intent to get the battle started. He was bred for war, bred to protect and he wanted to protect his homeland. "Happy hunting everyone!"

"My liege, we need to get you to your wyvern." Jounas said as he escorted me towards where Rait and the rest of the wyverns were resting. Everyone was slowly making their way to their defensive positions as dawn began to break just above the Mountains of the Kings. Jounas led me to the courtyard where the wyverns were assembled. We had lost a few from the battle before but the force was pretty much intact and hungry for battle. I moved to Rait's side and patted him on his neck. He growled and turned his fierce gaze towards me and I met it with eyes hungry for battle, hungry to repay this attack on my homeland. Rait seemed to like this as he bellowed out a roar that was matched by the rest of the wyverns.

"Mount up!" I yelled as I mounted Rait. The new saddle felt good, more secure and it seemed to be reinforced to keep yesterday's attack from happening again. Part of me wanted to meet that rider again in combat, to fight him and regain my honor. However I had more important foes to fight and larger things were at stake other than my honor. Rait moved restlessly in a circle, waiting for me to give the command. He knew what was coming and he wanted to taste the battle. Wyverns are not idle creatures. "For Nah!"

Rait's powerful legs sprung to life and launched us into the air. The rest of the wyvern's followed suit and within minutes we were hundreds of feet above the palace. We circled to keep in formation as we waited for the enemy to attack. After a few moments we could see their flock of griffins rallying behind their lines. We were to face a swarm larger than what we faced yesterday and now they were desperate. I could see columns of troops marching down the streets of Nah towards the palace. What residents who hadn't fled to the mountains glanced fearfully from the windows of their homes. The invading army ignored them and their pleas as they made their way towards the palace. Engines of war were being pulled by beasts of burden who groaned under the weight. My eyes traced the columns back to their camps as I tried to find their hole that they would be digging and to see if I could see anything that would represent a High Summoner.

Rait's call tore my gaze forward and I saw that the griffins were advancing. I motioned to the other riders and Rait used his powerful wings to gain more altitude in anticipation of the coming battle. My one battle aside I was still a novice in aerial battle but Rait made up for it with his instincts. He pushed us ever higher and I saw the reason to his strategy, they had a fair amount of archers riding on their griffins and they were forming in a defensive position. They were protecting something and I knew we had little time left before the battle turned. The columns of troops continued their march towards the palace as we soared overhead. And I could hear something, chanting but how it could reach us so high up I could not say.

Rait pulled back as some invisible force slammed into him. He pulled back and gained a little more altitude as if he was expecting to run even though I wanted him to dive on the griffins who were still ahead of us but also considerably below us and at a great angle to dive and attack. The chanting grew louder and as I tried to find its source the wind grew strong and incredibly cold. The ground shook greatly causing some homes to collapse and knocking many troops from their defensive positions or their marching columns. The ground below broke open and all at once our worst fears were realized.

Legends spoke of his deeds but they all sounded as if dreamed from a nightmare. Two massive lizard like hands with sharp talons on the end pulled it's massive body from the whole in the ground. Buildings and homes were crushed as the beast clawed with it's hands to bring it's body into this plane of existence. It's skin was black and scaled like a dragons and its muscular body rested upon a tripod of three legs that ended in taloned feet. He stood taller than three buildings stacked upon one another and his tail was as long as the columns that flowed towards the palace. It's head permanently wreathed in fire was barely visible behind the flames. It was The Great Immolator, The Destroyer of Worlds. Sangruth, God of the Fire Elementals had come to Nah to bring about it's destruction.

"Shit! Concentrate all our attacks on those griffins but keep clear of Sangruth!" I yelled orders but if none dared follow my charge I would understand. "For Nah!"

Sangruth turned his head to face us as I willed Rait to dive. Inside his eyes I saw ageless flames that had consumed countless civilizations and I swore I would not let that happen to Nah. Sangruth roared and the heat from his breath singed the griffins who were slowly making their way from a defensive formation to an attack formation. They had reacted too slowly and we caught them out of position. They had anticipated Sangruth to have bought them more time in shock value. Fighting for our homeland we could not afford to be shocked and we dove straight at their griffins with zeal and weapons ready.

Rait tore through two griffins with the speed and ferocity of his dive and I impaled my spear in the throat of a third one. The rest of my wyvern's followed suit and with one pass we had evened the odds in the air. Rait headed straight for Sangruth as if to challenge him but veered off at the last moment. I thought I heard Sangruth chuckled as he sent a stream of fire towards us. Rait and I felt the flames but only barely as we maneuvered erratically and made us a difficult target. I heard a screech behind us as one of the other riders and their wyvern were not so lucky. Sangruth continued towards the palace after fending off our feeble attack and with each step he left an explosion of fire in his wake.

I forced Rait to concentrate on the griffins as they were our first priority. It was hard to control him, his rage and desperation was one of someone who saw his homeland being destroyed. He would not let anyone, even a god attack his home unchallenged. He did not know our strategy and my will implored him to trust in me and that Jounas and Sethral would be able to keep Sangruth at bay long enough for us to kill the High Summoner. He climbed to rejoin the battle as our wyverns fought their griffins.


Rait and I had slipped out of the aerial battle when we charged Sangruth and so when we circled about to rejoin the battle we went unnoticed. Rait gained altitude quickly, each beat of his wings a blow against the invaders. We climbed until we were high above the battle below and then I commanded Rait to dive. I let out a war cry once we were close to our enemies so I could see their eyes and the realization that they had failed in their attack. We charged through the heart of their force as Rait tore the wing off one griffin and I speared another. My other wyvern riders smelled blood in the air and pressed their own attacks as we turned the battle against them. As we swept through their ranks one of the riders gave chase. Rait smelled the familiar scent and let out a roar and it was answered by the screech of a griffin and rider who had won many battle honors and even almost killed a king.

I pushed Rait to dive at a steeper angle to pick up more speed. I knew we needed to make a little distance between us since he was now behind us. Rait felt my strategy and pushed it past what I felt comfortable with but I trusted my mount. I saw the ground and the large street that held the market approaching quickly. At the last moment Rait pulled up and caught a draft blowing through the wide street and empty shops. The plan worked, the great weight of Rait acted as a slingshot and we soared high into the air. As Rait turned around to face our enemy we were both caught off guard as he was directly behind us. He had anticipated our attack and had positioned himself to be where we would catch the updraft.

Rait must have caught their scent because as he turned he bit with his serpentine neck and scored a hit on the griffins front left talon. I was much less prepared and barely raised my shield in time to deflect a thrusting spear attack. I parried blow after blow as I dared not be baited into a weak thrust that would see my lance knocked from my hand. We circled each other on our steads with the griffin maintaining the height advantage to keep Rait's stinger tail from dealing a death blow. I knew if I bought enough time then I'd receive some help from my wyvern force that was slowly taking control. My opponent seemed to feel this too and tried to lunge unexpectedly at me, giving as much power and reach as he could to his spear. I had anticipated such an attack and blocked and immediately thrust my spear at the head of his griffin. It's instincts made it dodge the attack by moving it's head to one side where it found Rait's hungry jaws.

His bite missed the head but tore a sizeable chunk out of the griffin's neck. The rider who almost killed me found himself falling slowly at first as the griffin fought to land softly and then quickly. I watched their body land with a thud and I returned my gaze to the palace. Sangruth found himself fighting a very capable defense, Jounas and Senthral launched spell after spell lighting up the air and surrounding Sangruth in an air of magic. The walls were swarmed with attackers and defenders but no breach had been made that I could see. Later I would hear how heroic my warriors were in the face of a god holding off the attackers and their own fear and how they threw themselves into any hole that opened only to be killed moments later by Sangruth. A commotion below tore my gaze towards the edge of the city.

A large black wolf surged from a previously hidden hole, in his wake he left death and destruction. A few warriors of Nah who had been able to keep up surged forth and wrecked havoc of their own. I pushed Rait in that direction to join in the hunt. His powerful wings closed the distance and I started to be able to make out where the commanders tent was. To protect their leaders the attackers had simply used some homes of Nah as command stations and now we knew where they were. O'Har led his wolf on a muderous rampage but it was focused rage as they quickly made their way towards the command building. As we neared I could see something behind the building. It was a ring painted on the ground with odd totems at seven points on and in the ring. In the middle was a woman engulfed in blue flames with her hands stretched outwards. Rait sensed my intentions and surged forwards as we made our way towards the ring.

As we closed in I saw a shadow overhead and risked a glance skywards. It was Siobhan and she was flying as fast and as hard as she could. She pleaded for me to stop just as I was within a few hundred feet of the summoner. She urged her griffin ever faster finally blocking my path to the High Summoner.

"Siobhan! What is the meaning of this?! Sangruth is laying siege to Nah and you stop me?"

"If you kill the summoner now Sangruth will stay in our plane until called back to his own. Her magic must be undone and I will need your protection." I had never seen such intensity in her eyes, her joyful and sometimes childish demeanor replaced by an aura of awesome power and wisdom, one that demanded the respect of all within her gaze.

"Alright, but hurry! Nah burns more with each passing moment!"

She nodded and flew her griffin towards the edge of the ring. A few scattering of soldiers appeared and were quickly driven back by bolts of lightning that sprung from Siobhan's hands. I followed quickly, making Rait sweep down on a few groups of soldiers that had been left to help protect the High Summoner. They scattered as Rait dove and soon I heard O'Har's war cry and the rest fled before his terrible rage. I dismounted from Rait and drew my sword and shield. I faced the charging O'Har as I saw his confusion settle in. He drew up just before me and awaited my explanation.

"Siobhan needs time to defeat the magic or Sangruth will be here permanently. We have to keep her safe while she counteracts the magic!" O'Har nodded and sped off towards the ring after Siobahn. I followed on foot leaving Rait to protect our backs. I hoped that the sight of a large wyvern would keep most soldiers away until we were able to finish our act. O'Har began to prowl around the outer ring, his wolf growling at the summoner who was chanting while in some sort of a trance and consumed by blue flames. She was surrounded by the totems and now I could see an ackolyte at each totem chanting in sync with severely burned hands as they gripped the totems as if their hands were fused to them.

Siobhan paced around the ring, tracing the edge with her hand. She stopped at a point that lined up two of the totems with the High Summoner. She began chanting out of sync with the ackolytes and motioning her hands in a hypnotic rthythm. The speed of her hands increased and her eyes lit up in a blue flame, matching the flame of the summoner. A roar came from Sangruth in the distance and he turned and began charging back towards the ring. I turned to O'Har who nodded and readied himself to charge the summoner as soon as Sangruth disappeared. Sangruth stopped mid charge and glared in our direction. His eyes burned a hole through my soul and I knew that he swore revenge on us for ruining his fun. His body was consumed in fire and in an instant all that was left was a mountain of ash.

Siobhan stopped chanting and dropped to her knees as the blue flame surrounding the summoner disappeared and she dropped her hands to her side in exhaustion. O'Har charged, killing two ackolytes as he rushed to summoner. I sprang into action cutting down an ackolyte of my own as we both raced to kill the summoner before she could recover. O'Har's wolf stopped just short of the summoner, snarling and growling as if something terrible was forcing it from moving forward any more. I reached a similar distance and hit a wall of inivisible force that left me cold and dreading stepping any closer.

"As if I could be killed so easily," she said as she looked at me from behind a hood. Her hair was like fire and her eyes were a piercing blue that looked deep into my soul. She glared with an authority that complemented her obvious power. She turned towards Siobhan and the two powers stared each other down with neither flinching for many moments. "You have no idea what you are doing Siobhan, you have made a grave mistake today."

"I have chosen my side Alexa, I suggest you prepare your petty alliances for the onslaught that is coming," Siobhan spoke of a war that was coming and not already here. I still shudder to think of what she knew and I did not. "Now leave this place before that is no longer an option."

"As I said before, you've made a grave mistake, you just don't see it yet," Alexa returned before turning back towards me. "Know that doom comes to your realm, king, and you will never know why."

With that Alexa muttered a few words and with a flash of smoke Alexa and her remaining accolytes were gone. Siobhan stared for a few moments at where Alexa had been standing before shaking herself out of her daze. O'Har and his wolf were pacing and I saw the uneasiness in his eyes. What had just transpired was bigger than Nah and we all knew it now. I suddenly had a thought that scared me, what if it was the High Summoner who had hired three kingdoms as her mercenaries to claim Nah? For what purpose I still did not see but I knew where to find the answers. I awoke from my thoughts to find Siobhan staring at me, piercing me with her eyes. I returned her fierce gaze, letting her know that I trusted her and her judgement. That if she needed allies in the future Nah would be there.

"You are mistaken my liege, it will be your kingdom who needs allies in the future," her words had suddenly turned tender and her eyes soft with sorrow. "For now let us stop this army of traitors from doing any more damage to your kingdom."

Before I could react I hear horns nearby and I saw O'Har smile. It was a signal for retreat, the armies were broken without the advantage of their god or their tunnel strategy working. Siobhan put her hand on me and smiled as she looked to the sky, listening as she did so to something off in the distance. There was a second horn, one from the eastern side of Nah that seemed to especially catch her attention. I followed her gaze skywards and smiled as I saw a flock of griffins flying the High Elves banner slowly descending towards the palace as the attackers left all siege weapons and fled as fast as they could.

"Finally our allies arrive," I had never been so relieved to see the High Elve's banner of green and gold and the bow and arrow that is their crest. "O'Har, rally the troops that made it through with you and continue the route to the edges of the city, then round up any enemy survivors, I want some prisoners to question. Siobhan, come with me and let's join our allies in the sky."

Both nodded and Siobhan even joined O'Har in a smile, but beneath her smile there was a terrible sadness brooding. I needed to know what she knew because it had led to Nah being laid to waste. As I thought these thoughts she turned to face me as we walked, she took my hand and smiled and nodded as if she knew what I was thinking. I wondered if she could read thoughts or simply emotions. I shook off the feeling and headed for Rait who was impatient to race towards these new foes. As I mounted I heard Siobhan mutter a few words and her griffin had returned to her. Together we raced to join our allies who were hounding the invading hordes with arrows and war cries.

As Rait raced towards the sky I could see the devestation left by Sangruth and the invading armies. Large sections of the city were still on fire from Sangruth and parts of the palace wall were damaged from the seige engines. The battlefield to the west(?) of the palace was a bloody mess of horses and plains wolves. All around as the battle slowly dispersed the carnage subsided and patrols began moving out from the palace to sweep up the last of any resistance. We circled with the flock of griffins for a better part of an hour picking off troops and occasionally picking up a prisoner or helping a patrol with resistance.

I was also able to get some information from the captain of the High Elf assault group. She told me that the High Elves were no longer under siege from the south. The Vikings had finally broken off their siege after their Storm Mage had been killed and they were no longer able to sustain their attack. A smaller force had been sent to Granic from the Rangers and Elstat to keep their forces stalled for as long as possible but General Tahar had finally led Granic's armies through. Within a day there should be a small cavalry force led by Prince Heifel to supplement Nah's armies as Granic prepares for the siege of Elstat. They also reported armies from the Marshlands were in full retreat and some unknown battle had been fought just outside the Watcher's Village. She couldn't elaborate as to how a fishing town had fended off an entire army. I made a note to make sure I visit the Watcher's Village, an outlying city of my kingdom.

After we were satisfied that the city was ours again Siobhan and I made our way back towards the palace. The damage done was great, but it wasn't anything that couldn't be repaired. I found Jounas being tended to by Faye while Sethral was organizing the cleanup. As Rait landed I saw Dittroth jogging over to me with Slate in tow.


"Glad to see you're all still in one piece," I said as Dittroth shook my hand and everyone smiled. Everyone took turns telling of their own battles and glory. Jounas and Sethral talked about facing a god and using every trick they could to slow him down. Slate spoke of rallying the archers after the walls were breached in several places. Dittroth had many stories and a new scar from a plains wolf who had mualed him after he had decapitated the rider.


"And what of you, my liege? How did you dispose of the High Summoner? How great of a fight did he put up?" Sethral asked, eager to hear of an epic battle.


"It wasn't a 'he'," I said and Siobhan and I exchanged glances. Her face darkened and our companions grew uneasy.


"It was Alexa, and she was after the Demon King's Orb of the Abyss." Siobhan spoke and Sethral and Jounas eye's narrowed. "It would seem the legend's are true and it is somewhere near here."

"I've heard of the Demon King, but I don't understand what is this artifact?" My knowledge of the Demon King and the war he started is strong, but I had never heard of some artifcat.

"The legends omit one part of the story so that none would seek it out." Sethral spoke as we all listened intently. "When the Demon King was finally beaten back to his fortress and confronted in person by the most powerful socerers in Rybia a great battle ensued. This much you all know, but what has been kept secret is that the socerers were not able to truly defeat the Demon King. That had to capture him and encase him in a gem. It became known as the Orb of the Abyss, a gem of incredible power capable of eating souls to increase it's power. It is also a prison that holds the Demon King and keeps him from ever walking this world or any other again."

"And now Hell has discovered that this gem lies in Nah?" Dittroth's darkening expression matched the tone of his voice. Keeping Rybia from tearing itself apart in war and fending off Hell was not something he enjoyed thinking about.

"No, it is not Hell who seeks him." Leslie spoke, removing the hat that made her Siobhan. "The Demon King made many enemies, especially in Hell as he wanted to conquer the entire universe and all it's planes of existance. He also made many allies who rallied to his banner. They are powerful forces whose allegiances know only one leader no matter where they live."

"Then we need to research the records and figure out if this Orb really is somewhere nearby. I cannot have Rybia fending off powerful immortals as well as allied kingdoms." I turned to Leslie and looked her up and down. "I need to know everything if I'm going to be able to protect my kingdom and maybe the world."

Leslie nodded and exchanged a look with Sethral and Jounas. I knew there would be much to discuss later on the subject. At that moment O'Har came riding in on his black wolf with a prisoner slowly being led in chains. Rait snorted and hissed as O'Har brought the prisoner closer to us. He was a strong looking warrior with many scars and some fresh bruises and cuts. I recognized the armor and helmet and understood why Rait was suddenly agitated. It was the rider who almost killed me and who I thought I had killed not a few hours earlier.

"I'm impressed that you lived, I never figured you'd survive a fall from such a height." I said as I approached the rider.

"My friend saved me just as yours had the day before," he answered and I felt the sadness in his tone. He was a defeated warrior and he had lost a steed who had probably fought numerous battles with him. He raised his head to meet my gaze and I saw the strength of a warrior still in his soul. "You may as well kill me, I will never talk nor betray my people. Keeping me alive is simply an affront to my honor and I know the people of Nah are not given to demeaning their enemies."

"You are in no position to negotiate," I said closing the gap between us. "However you are right about the people of Nah, you are our prisoner and we will speak but I will not torture you nor parade you around as some sort of virtory trophy. Take him to a cell but treat him well, we will speak over the next few days."

O'Har nodded and led the prisoner away and for a moment we all watched a proud warrior in chains carry with him the honor of a nation. I knew through him we would get answers and maybe even a reason that makes sense. We sat around and talked for a little while longer, assigning duties and planning the next steps. Within a day Prince Heifel would return and then we could plan our siege of Elstat and the Rangers. I was still unsure if that was the route we needed to take but I knew at least one battle was to be fought lest I seem like a weak leader without the stomach for a war. As we all left to attend to our duties I felt my thoughts weighing heavily on the events that had transpired. My rule went from bad to worse in a matter of a few days and the news today was probably the worst thing I could have heard. It was times like this I wish I had my father's counsel, although this may have been beyond his wisdom. I had to trust those close to me, I had to find the Orb of the Abyss and find a way to destroy it, and I had to defeat those who attacked Nah to ensure my kingdom's safety. I feel lost in the woods with no clear way out and things were only going to get worse. A rulers heart is heavier than most realize. You see how you affect the universe and control the destinies of thousands. I had to make sure I led those destinies to a better place and not into their destruction. I don't think I will sleep well tonight, no matter the company.

Day 53 of the 397th Year of the Second Age - Night

They came for me as I knew they eventually would. As I slept before the upcoming battle I saw visions in my head. They were of my father as he traveled through a forest with a small amount of guards. He was hunting through our forests when the trees parted as a dart flew through the trees and headed straight for his eyes. He screamed as he used his sword to knock the dart out of the air.

He screamed my name.

My eyes shot open and I slashed with the dagger I kept hidden in the sheets of my bed. Blood sprayed my body and I leapt at my attacker as he dropped a blade of his own. For the slightest moment I was relieved that I hadn't killed a servant or Leslie or Siobhan. It was a Raja who came for me, just as they had come for my father years before. I screamed for the guards and kept my dagger in one hand and picked up the Raja assassin's blade in the other. All around me there were shadows and the pale light from the moon cast the room in a strange blue. The eye's played tricks and the shadows moved. Two guards burst through the front door and one immediately lost his head. Red eye's followed my movement from the shadows by the door as the other guards kept charging towards me.


I realized the threat just in time as I rolled forward and heard metal bounce off the marble floor. I didn't turn to see where the next thrust would come from as I charged the red eyes by the door. The Raja by the door crept forward with lethal intent as two more guards entered the room and sirens and shouts could be heard throughout the palace. I pressed my advantage and used an aggressive stance as I stalked my hunter who was now caught between three men. With a flick of the wrist the Raja sliced the throat of one of my guards, spilling his blood as his body fell limp to the ground. His sacrifice was not in vain as me and the other guard seized upon the opening and sliced the Raja to pieces. I turned to face the last Raja just in time to see him decapitate my other guard. The Raja threw a dagger aimed directly at my throat and if it weren't for my last guard jumping in front of the dagger I wouldn't be writing in my journal anymore.

The two of us stared for a moment before the last Raja approached like a tiger stalking a prey who could no longer outrun the hunter. I readied my guard that had improved so much over the last few days as I knew these could be my moments. A loud crash came from my bathroom and both hunter and prey glanced to look but by the time we turned O'Har's ax was already flying through the air and the last thing the Raja saw was a massive blade chopping into him. The Raja flew back several feet from the force of the blow. O'Har drew a blade as more guards came in the main door and Dittroth stormed in with them.

"King Tritus, are you ok?" Dittroth looked around at the carnage of my bedroom. He looked at O'Har who was also taking in the scene. "How did you get here before us?"

"I came through the bathroom wall, it was soft at the point where the brick meets the mortar" O'Har strode across the room as he spoke. He picked up his ax and shook off the body that was still stuck to it. "I hate assassins."

"As do I," I had to fight back a smile of my minotaur guardian crashing through a wall. "They always attack in three's."

"It's how they were created by the Demon King," Sethral said as he entered the room with Faye and Jounas in tow. "The Demon King needed assassins who could kill with weapons or their hands, and he knew they would have to work in teams to get into heavily guarded fortresses such as this. Three seemed the ideal number to slip in undetected and make a kill. Glad to see you're ok." He smiled and embraced me and it felt good to have so many around me that I could count on. Last to enter was Siobhan who couldn't look me in the eyes and was playing with her hat.

"I'm sorry I didn't stay the night with you, Leslie wanted to talk with someone so I said I'd make sure she didn't go too far on the first date," Siobhan played with the hat and glanced over at O'Har and things came together pretty quickly. "Now everyone out our king needs his rest and I intend on making sure he gets it."

As the guards carried the bodies out and the rest of my inner circle left O'Har and I looked at each other and shrugged. There was a time I was going to ask Siobhan if she knew of Leslie and vice versa but I think I'll leave that one alone for the time being. I stared at my room for a moment as a few servants made some makeshift cleaning arrangements before being ushered out by Siobhan and I wondered how long I would have to live under the sword. Siobhan came to my side and kissed me on my cheek, bringing me back to reality.

"Rest now. Come, I will help," Siobhan said as she led me to my bed and laid me down. She kissed me on my cheek and neck and looked me in the eyes with such a softness that I felt my body slipping deeper into a relaxed state. I almost didn't notice her disrobe.

Almost.