Erok strolled into his quarters on the other side of the Deflorian royal palace. After he shut the door, he slipped a small switchblade out of his coat pocket and ran his fingers along the handle's smooth finger-notches. He sighed deeply as he read, "With love, from Meg Lanton" engraved onto the side of the grip, in her handwriting, no less. Memories flooded his mind and tears filled his eyes as he placed the little blade on a nearby table. A moment later, he wiped his eyes and removed his jacket. 

Just as Erok hung his coat up on a hook, racing footsteps outside his door drew an intrigued frown to his face. The furrows in his brow deepened as he heard a sharp rapping on his door. He rushed over and swung it open, finding a panting Chris on the other side. 

"What's wrong, Chris?" Erok questioned. 

"They're here, Erok! They're here!" Chris shouted as he leapt into Erok's face. 

"Woah, slow down! Who's here?" 

"Who else, Erok? Those Yugdab bastards are here a day early!" 

"Those devil's children..." Erok muttered as he unsheathed his sword and snatched his shield out of the corner. "Your highness," he began as he made eye contact with Queen Dara, "do you have a safe bunker?" 

Dara nodded. "Yes, Sir Fyervor, I do." 

Erok turned to Chris. "Corvin, you make sure she gets to her bunker safely, and then come join me. I'll be out at the front entrance." 

"Yes sir!" Chris shouted. "Wait a minute, where's Swedo?" 

"I don't know, and don't really care. A doctor's useless in a battle." 

"Unless you get injured, that is!" Chris shouted after Erok as he dashed away. 

Erok turned his head and glared at the young man. "Shut up and do what I told you!" 

"Okay, fine!" Chris finally turned to Dara. "Alright, highness, where's this bunker?" 

"Follow me, and I will show you." 

At a brisk pace, Dara led Chris down the many corridors of the Deflorian palace, dodging frantic guards as they went. 

******************** 

Qwarten sighed as he and his party galloped through the gates of Botaca. The sun had just disappeared over the tops of the circle of hills surrounding the peaceful town, officially ushering nighttime in. 

"Just in time." Meg remarked pleasantly. "Now to find a place to spend the night." 

"That's easy." Jeng replied as he pointed his finger at a large, windowless brick building, "Sign in front of that building couldn't be easier to read." 

Qwarten eyed the building suspiciously. "It gives me weird vibes, though. I don't get the feeling we'd live until morning." 

"Well," Meg began, "by the amount of smoke rising from that building over there, I can only guess they're trying to keep really warm inside, or they're cooking up a big, tasty dinner. Either way, it could be an inn." 

Qwarten shrugged. "We can always try." 

The three travelers approached the homely building and tied their horses up inside the stable. Then they strolled through the door and met a kind-faced old man who leaned on a cane and wrote in a little book. 

The man smiled warmly at the newcomers as they stepped up to his desk. "Why, good evening! How may I help you?" 

Meg returned the grin before answering. "Well, this is an inn, right?" 

"That it is, my lady. By the looks of it, I'd guess you've come a long way." 

"Oh, yeah, we travelled from just outside Kristendale to this town, all in one day." 

The old man flinched. "Ooh, that's a rough ride. Well, it's lucky you showed up tonight. Bertha's doing pancakes and eggs tonight." 

Meg's grin widened. "That sounds so good right now. Well, before we go eat, how much do you charge per room?" 

"Depends. It'd be 240 shekels for each of you to have your own room, but if you wouldn't mind sharing one room with two beds between yourselves, you can save 20." 

Qwarten stepped up to the counter and nodded. "Yeah, that'll be fine. What do you charge for our horses' care?" 

"Nothing, sir. Well, unless they break somethin', that is." the man added with a chuckle. 

"Cool." Qwarten dropped a pile of coins onto the table. "That should be 220. If it's more, keep it."  

The man raised an eyebrow. "And if it's less?" 

"Bother me at your own leisure." 

The old man threw his head back in laughter. "Alright, well follow me, and I'll show you to your room." 

Qwarten, Meg, and Jeng followed the man up a flight of stairs and carried on a cheerful conversation with him as they went. 

******************** 

Erok stepped through the front entrance of the Deflorian royal palace with a company of ten armed guards. He squinted into the darkness and held up his shield defensively as he struggled to spot the individual archers who fired the onslaught of arrows coming his way. 

Erok raised an eyebrow as Chris rushed to his side with his own shield held up. "That was fast." he remarked. 

"Not really." Chris began as he blocked two arrows converging on his position, "I think your age is catching up to you." 

Erok scowled. "I'm only thirty-one! What're you talking about?" 

Chris smirked at his comrade. "Do you ever recognize a joke when you hear it?" 

One of the palace guards leaned over with downturned lips. "Both of you oughtta shut up and fight!" 

"Fine!" Erok and Chris exclaimed simultaneously. 

Without warning, the two swordsmen bolted into the darkness ahead and soon found themselves in the midst of the Yugdab archers stationed in the front lines. They slashed left and right at the men as they tried to back away and get a good shot back. 

Chris thrusted his sword at one Yugdab, but he jumped back and fired an arrow back in retaliation. With a flick of his wrist, the young man barely managed to block the projectile before it penetrated his shoulder. Just as he lunged forward to stab his attacker, another archer distracted him with a triad of arrows. As Chris blocked that attack, a swordsman rushed at him and thrusted. With a quick parry, the young swordsman warded the attack off and slit the man's throat. His eyes filled with worry as a horde of enemies surrounded him. 

Meanwhile, Erok broke an archer's jaw with his shield before he stabbed into his heart. He kicked the body off of his weapon just in time to slice an incoming arrow in two and block another. He flinched as yet another arrow collided with his leather armor and left a deep scratch before falling down. The Kaborian knight slowly turned in circles and focused on defense as attacks came from all directions, from all sorts of weapons. 

Chris' mouth dropped and his eyes widened as a throwing ax flew at him from a nearby tree. He held up his shield to block, taking an arrow in the leg instead. Tears forced themselves into the young man's eyes and threatened to impede his vision. He gritted his teeth, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and continued fighting. 

******************** 

The next morning, Kahiri sighed as the door to her cell creaked open again. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Govlo stroll into the room with a steaming bowl of oatmeal in one hand, and an open pocketknife in the other. The man bent down and locked eyes with her as he cut her wrists and ankles free before placing the bowl in her hands. 

Kahiri eagerly inhaled a bite of oatmeal before she spoke. "I thought I was supposed to be starved for three days." 

"That you were, Kahiri." Govlo replied as he stood to his full height. "But Hadigama just left, and now I'm in charge." 

"Assertive. I like it. But how come you aren't going with him? If this is such an important event, I would've thought—" 

Govlo held up his hand. "I would've thought so too. Unfortunately, Hadigama trusts nobody." When Kahiri raised an eyebrow, he sighed. "He won't admit it, but Hadigama secretly fears Anjaflic choosing to bless me with these powers he spoke of, instead of him." 

Kahiri nearly choked on her food as she laughed. "I'm sorry, but Anjaflic is a god, and this man wishes to prevent him from making his own decisions?" 

Govlo nodded. "I find it as ridiculous as you do. In fact, that brings me to the reason I'm here." 

"What's that?" 

"The things you were saying earlier ... about the Christian God, well, they made a lot of sense. Anjaflic is like a needy child, while your God seems to be a loving father." 

Kahiri nodded as a small grin crept onto her lips. "You're beginning to see the light." 

"I suppose so." Govlo straightened his posture and drew in a breath. "At any rate, perhaps you can explain your beliefs more fully to me as we travel, but we must get going." 

"Where are we headed?" 

"To go find your companions, of course." 

Kahiri shook her head. "They're probably long gone, by now. I think it'd be wiser to meet them at their final destination." 

"And where might that be?" 

Kahiri smirked. "Anjaflic's festival." 

Govlo nodded with realization. "Ah, I see. In that sense, please write down your measurements on one of the papers on the table." 

Kahiri tilted her head, confused. "Measurements?" 

Govlo's face reddened and he began stuttering. "You know, your ... your sizes. Body measurements." 

"Oh, I see. Why do you need that, though?" 

"I'll need to get you a uniform from the armory." 

Kahiri smirked as the realization hit her. She grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and began writing down a series of numbers. 

******************** 

Several minutes later, Govlo strolled down the corridors of the Yugdab hideout with a female archer wearing the uniform of a new recruit. A few men eyed the woman's swaying hips hungrily, but one stern glance from Govlo sent them back into obediently executing their tasks. 

Govlo and his companion trotted up a flight of stairs and entered a small room containing nothing other than a bed, a desk, and a few other miscellaneous items. Govlo locked the door behind them, and the archer removed her helmet and mask once he did. 

"Wow, these things get really hot." Kahiri remarked as she tied her hair into a ponytail. 

Govlo smirked as he sat down at the desk and opened a drawer. "You're telling me..." 

The Yugdab officer pulled a long, wooden box out of the drawer and flipped its bronze latches open. After he flung the top open, a well-polished rapier glistened in the light of the overhead oil lamp. Govlo carefully removed the weapon from its case and ran his finger along the shaft before he stood up and sheathed it. 

Kahiri coughed. "So, you're multi-talented, I see." 

Govlo nodded. "As second-in-command of the Yugdabs, I've had to learn many fighting styles. Fencing, archery, several forms of martial arts, jousting, you name it." 

Kahiri slowly nodded. "I see. And by the way, is that my bow in the corner?" 

"Oh, yes!" Govlo replied as he snatched the weapon up and placed it in Kahiri's hands. "A very nice one it is, I must admit." 

"And it holds fond memories. Both my grandfather and uncle used it before me. And I plan to pass it down to my children someday as well." 

A thoughtful expression crossed Govlo's eyes. "A weapon with a history. The idea appeals to me very much." After a few seconds of silence, the Yugdab officer snapped back into the present moment. "Anyway, we'd better get moving if we're to arrive in time." 

After Kahiri strapped a fresh quiver of arrows to her back and put her helmet on, the two shuffled out of the room. 

******************** 

A/N: Well, that was an interesting chapter, right? Erok's getting emotional right before a big fight, Qwarten and co. are settling down for the night, (good thing they get a break), and Govlo's freeing Kahiri! If you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to vote and leave a comment.

Also, I'm curious, so please answer honestly: Did you see Govlo's turn coming beforehand?

(I think I did drop a hint here and there that he's not entirely happy, but I guess he could've killed Hadigama or something as well.)

I don't really have any other questions, so I'll leave you with some good news: Next week, I'm gonna be giving you a double update! So have a great week, and I'll hopefully see you then. :D