Kahiri cried out in horror as Bernard's lifeless body collapsed at Hadigama's feet. She darted across the room toward him as her eyes filled with tears. 

"Bernard!" Kahiri shouted as she cupped his head in her hands. "Don't leave us, please!" 

A few tears dropped from Kahiri's eyes to the old man's scarred face as she helplessly attempted to shake some life back into him. She vainly pleaded with him until her voice became lost in sobs. 

Meg appeared at Kahiri's side and observed the situation for a second. Then her countenance fell and she put an arm around the troubled archer. "He's ... gone, Kahiri. But everything's alright, I promise." 

Kahiri coughed. "Everything's not alright! He was my friend! Our friend! And now he's..." 

Meg pulled Kahiri closer. "I know, I know. That evil man will pay." 

Meanwhile, Erok's eyes moved from Bernard's dead body up to the Yugdab champion standing before him. "You're gonna pay for that so bad..." he muttered with a furrowed brow. 

Hadigama stared blankly at Erok. "Make me." 

With an angry shout, Erok leapt at Hadigama. His vigorous blow nearly sent the Yugdab swordsman tumbling over the edge of the platform, but he managed to catch firm footing again. Hadigama drove Erok back several feet with a kick and a few well-timed strikes. 

Erok blocked each attack with his shield as his frenzied eyes searched for an opening in his opponent. Rage flowed through his veins and powered his every move. His eyes widened as Hadigama sent his shield flying with a powerful kick. 

Erok flung his arms up and just barely blocked another strike from Hadigama. Without his shield, he resorted to dodges and narrowed his focus to defense with his sword. He searched for openings to strike back, but Hadigama drove him back with constant attacks. 

******************** 

Back outside, Jake and Chris exchanged a quick nod before each man rolled a boulder into their catapult's bucket. Chris counted to three and they launched the weapons into the Yugdab fortress. He nodded with satisfaction as the two boulders smashed out a section of the wall and bricks clattered inside. 

Chris and Jake each walked to the next catapult in the line, loaded them, and fired them. Jake smiled slightly when his projectile caused the lookout tower to collapse. Chris put his hand to his mouth when he saw his boulder directly hit a man who had been standing at a window. 

The two men hastily retied the ropes and continued firing at the Yugdab fortress with its own weapons. Chris often cheered at a particularly successful shot while Jake worked with almost no emotion on his face. 

******************** 

Hadigama and Erok's duel devolved into fencing as the Kaborian knight struggled to get one lucky strike in the few spots Hadigama's armor didn't cover. Meanwhile, Hadigama used his advantage and bullied Erok across the platform in any direction he wished. 

After a minute more of dancing across the platform, Hadigama finally drove Erok into a corner. They exchanged a few more blows before the Yugdab champion disarmed Erok with a quick twirl of his sword. Erok's light brown eyes morphed into worried saucers as he watched his weapon clatter to the floor several feet away. 

Erok closed his eyes tightly as he knelt to his knees before his victorious opponent. Hadigama chuckled and lightly touched the edge of his blade to Erok's neck. The Kaborian knight gasped and prepared for the worst. 

With horror in her eyes, Meg leapt onto the platform and lunged at Hadigama. He shoved her away with one swift kick. When she leapt at him again, he kicked her again, harder this time. 

Just as Hadigama prepared to slit Erok's throat, a brick flew off the wall and dented his helmet. He frowned and looked up just in time to see an entire section of the wall collapsing in on him. The multitude of bricks pinned the Yugdab champion to the floor and prevented him from reaching his weapon. 

After dodging another flying brick, Erok leapt over the pile of rubble encompassing Hadigama's body. He retrieved his own sword and shield before he helped Meg to her feet. 

Meg coughed as dust from the falling debris assaulted her nostrils. "Thanks, Erok." 

"It's no problem." Erok replied as he studied the room beneath the platform. "I see Kahiri, but where are Jake and Chris?" 

"They slipped out." 

Erok nodded and ducked as another segment of the wall gave way. "As we should. Let's get moving!" 

Kahiri frowned at Erok as he descended the stairs to the platform. "We are giving Bernard a proper burial, right?" 

"No time! We've gotta run before support pillars start giving way!" 

"How am I gonna collect my bounty if we run now?" Meg shouted while waving her arms passionately. 

Erok grimaced as a boulder smashed through the ceiling and demolished a pillar in the middle of the room. "Listen, Meg, if you wanna die, go ahead. Same goes for you, Kahiri. But I don't believe in suicide." 

With that, Erok headed for the window and slid down the rope Jake had tied earlier. Kahiri followed with a shrug and one last somber look at Bernard's lifeless figure. Meg took up the rear with a huff. 

When Erok finished his descent, he glared at Chris and Jake. They immediately abandoned their catapults to follow him. Chris gave the knight an innocent smile. 

"Whose idea was it to launch boulders into the fortress while we were still inside?" Erok demanded. 

Jake silently pointed at Chris, who tightened his lips in turn. 

Erok focused his glare at the teenager before him. "You could've killed us all! Now, let's get out of here." 

Chris sighed and fell in step beside Erok. "I'm sorry, Sir Fyervor. But where's Bernard?" 

The only response Chris received was a chorus of deep sighs from Erok, Kahiri, and Meg. 

******************** 

Inside the crumbling Yugdab fortress, Govlo charged through a door and found his master buried under a pile of rubble. He gasped and rushed up the steps of the platform. Govlo tugged vigorously at the bricks, but he recognized his futility when none of them budged even an inch. 

In desperation, the archer yanked Hadigama's helmet off of his head and shook him. "Sir, don't leave us! Master, please respond!" 

Hadigama's eyes fluttered open. "Govlo, there you are! Grab a crowbar and free my arms. I can help you from there." 

With shaky hands, Govlo grabbed the crowbar as his master had ordered and began prying bricks away from Hadigama's torso. After five minutes of toil, he had freed Hadigama's arms and they began to coordinate their efforts. 

Ten minutes later, Hadigama crawled out from the pile of rubble, just as the floor beneath them began to sag. "Govlo," he called between gasps for breath, "take the men to another safe place. I must seek healing." 

"And after that?" 

"I will come to you." 

"How will you find us?" 

"I'll find you. I have my ways, Govlo, now go!" 

With that, the two men hastily parted. The foundations below them gave way more and more every second. 

******************** 

Late the next afternoon, the Tereslars sluggishly trudged up to the hospital on the outskirts of Costera City. Just as Erok sighed and dismounted his horse, the bronze door swung open. With a pleased grin, he acknowledged Qwarten and Swedo's presence. 

"Greetings, Major." Erok said as he shook Qwarten's hand. "How's the shoulder?" 

Qwarten merely grunted in response. "Anyway, how'd the mission go?" 

"Pretty good. We destroyed their fortress, defeated their champion, and—" Erok stopped as he saw Qwarten's eyes had become fixed on something. "What is it?" 

Qwarten frowned and ran his hand through Bernard's horse's mane. "What ... happened here?" 

"Umm ... well ... you see ..." Erok stuttered. 

"Bernard died." Chris interjected pointedly. 

Qwarten's countenance immediately darkened. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the horse's head. "Rest in peace, Bernard. You will be missed, even by me." Qwarten took a deep breath, stepped up to Kahiri, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "How'd you hold up?" 

Kahiri wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. "I'm mostly fine." She rolled up her sleeve to show her wound. "I did get a little scratched, though..." 

"Oh my goodness!" Swedo cried, "Bring that over here right now, Kahiri! We cannot allow that to get infected!" 

With a small giggle, Kahiri stepped up to the passionate doctor and held up her arm. 

Meanwhile, Qwarten walked up to Meg and fist-bumped her. Then he squinted into the wagon and frowned. "Wait a minute, where's the Yugdab leader you were supposed to catch?" 

Meg rolled her eyes. "Erok here made us rush out of the fortress before I could even collect my bounty." 

Erok held up his hands as Qwarten's glare landed on him. "Hey, the structure was collapsing in on itself!" 

"And why was that?" Qwarten questioned the knight. 

"Well, Chris and Jake were ... launching boulders into the fortress." 

"By your order, I'm assuming?" 

"No, no, I would never order such a thing!" 

"Then what kind of a leader are you? You just let your men do whatever they wish, regardless of your orders?" Qwarten turned to Meg. "Remind me to appoint you as leader next time I'm unable to go somewhere." 

A big grin spread across Meg's face. "Will do, Qwarten." 

Qwarten and Meg walked away side by side, leaving Erok to hang his head in solitude. 

When Qwarten found himself in earshot of Jake, he gave him a perfunctory nod. "Dr. Sinvey, thank you for your services. You are dismissed." 

Jake gave Qwarten a slight bow before he spun on his heel and headed for the hospital door. 

******************** 

After Dr. Swedo finished dressing Kahiri's wound and Chris tended to the horses' needs, Qwarten mounted his horse at the head of the party. "Alright, Tereslars, let's head back to Camborne. It'll be a five-day journey, and we may encounter a few Yugdab stragglers along the way, but we'll soon be home." He held up a glass of his medicine as a toast. "To a safe journey home." 

The other Tereslars laughed and held up imaginary cups in response before they filed after their leader. 

******************** 

A/N: *steps up onto stage awkwardly*

Well, I don't have much to say. I feel like we should be celebrating this victory, but at the same time, it's a little soured by the fact that seven horses are returning home, but only six riders. ;(

But I prefer to dwell on the brighter side. The Yugdab fortress has been smashed to the ground and Baybeer has been avenged. And hopefully, Hadigama's ego has been cut in half as well. XD

Anyhow, I'll ask you a funny question my friend asked me: Would you rather listen to your favorite song for the rest of your life (and never listen to any other), or always hear a different song, and never repeat?

(I'm not sure what I'd choose. I love variety, but what if I hear something I like? I guess I'd have to enjoy it to the fullest...?)

Have a great day! I hope to see you in the comments and next week's update. :D