The Four Fallen decided to show their homeland to their friends and started touring around Erdas to their homes.

Their next stop was Eura where Conor was a bit too reluctant to go. But what happens when he encounters the Earl of Trunswick once more?

Here's a Conbeke one for you Conbeke shippers. (The picture above is the new book cover for, "A Thief's Quest, A Warrior's Mission.")

- - -

"Do we have to go to Trunswick?" Conor asked anxiously, "I mean, we've already went there before."

They were currently on Tellun's Pride II as they sailed towards Eura. Their next tour was Trunswick, Conor's hometown.

"Don't you want to see your family?" Abeke asked.

"And how about your sheep?" Rollan added jokingly, "You talk about them in your dreams all the time."

"Well, of course I do," Conor replied.

"We're already going there anyways so it's too late to back out now," Meilin said, shrugging.

Of course Conor wanted to see his family. He wanted to see how they've been doing for himself, even though they sent him letters (written by someone else). But what he was really anxious about was meeting the Trunswicks.

He didn't mind meeting Dawson since he sees him in Greenhaven with his Spirit Animal, Rumfuss the Boar. But he was reluctant to see the Earl of Trunswick and most of all, Devin.

Conor knew that Devin had joined the Redcloaks, taking on the name Worthy and helped Shane, Abeke, and Rollan. He had even heard from Rollan himself that Devin had asked how he was. They hadn't met in person yet which made Conor slightly anxious, wondering if the young lord still had hard feelings for him by summoning Briggan.

- - -

They had finally landed in Eura and were already on their way to Trunswick.

Rollan sighed angrily, "We could've just travelled on foot you know."

"Then we'll never get to Trunswick," Meilin mumbled, "We're running a tight schedule here so deal with it."

Rollan grumbled as he tried to get his horse to run faster. Even till now, he still didn't like horses and it's pretty clear that the horses didn't like him as well.

Meanwhile, Conor rode in silence as anxious thoughts clouded his mind.

"Conor?" Abeke's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Are you okay?"

Conor gave her a swift glance, "I'll be fine."

"Don't worry about Devin," Abeke reassured him, "He won't do anything but if he does, i'll make sure he doesn't. He's changed...somewhat."

"I'm just mostly worried about the Earl," Conor said, slightly lying. He's mostly worried about Devin.

"The Earl won't do anything," Abeke insisted, "And if something does happen, you won't be alone, Conor. We've always been by your side and we'll always will be."

- - -

They finally made it to Trunswick as the four approached the city, cautiously. Conor tensed as they neared the guards but they only gave them a curt nod. That was until they saw Griffin and made them stopped.

"State your business," one of the guards ordered.

"He's our business," Conor quickly spoke up as the four moved into a defensive position. Conor looked at the guard challengingly who only looked back coldly.

"Enter," the guard said curtly and they quickly entered the city.

As soon as they were out of ear-shot, Griffin spoke up amusingly, "Thanks for defending me but i'm not dumb enough to travel here as a complete foreigner, thinking i'll be fine."

"We defended you, be thankful, end of story," Rollan told him.

Griffin only shrugged as Conor heard a familiar voice, "Conor, you're here!"

He turned and was relieved when he saw Dawson jogging towards them with a grin, "Hey Dawson."

"Come on," Dawson said, nodding to all of them, "Your whole family are here and are waiting for you."

They all followed Dawson until they reached a cottage, familiar faces right outside the doors. Conor had managed to earn enough money to provide his family a new home, some food, and some new sheep.

Conor grinned as he quickened his pace and hugged them tightly, "Mom, dad!"

"Conor," his mother greeted warmly, "We're so glad that you came here safely. I hope there wasn't any trouble."

"No worries, ma'am," Abeke quickly spoke up, politely.

Before anyone else could speak, another voice stopped them which made Conor flinched, "Ah, the Four Heroes of Erdas have came."

Conor turned to see that the Earl of Trunswick, along with a couple more soldiers, were walking towards them, his eyes cold and unreadable, "I was informed by Dawson that you would be visiting. To honor our heroes, I have prepared a feast tonight, all just for you four."

Conor gave a reluctant glance at his family, "We're...grateful for your offer but we already have plans for tonight..."

The Earl's gaze darkened though his tone remained calm, "I understand you want to spend time with your family but I may have to remind you who is the authority here."

Conor's mouth tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. He could feel trouble coming. He knew that it wasn't polite to decline an invitation of honor from the lord of the city but he came here to visit his family, not to go back to the place where he was a servant.

Before he could speak, his father spoke first, "Don't worry, Conor. You mustn't decline such an invitation just for us. We could always tour tomorrow before you leave."

Conor was just about to protest but his father only gave him a warning glance that he closed his mouth. His friends were all looking uneasy and unsure of what to do until Meilin spoke up hesitantly, "Alright, we'll go."

The Earl gave a cold smile, "Let's move along, shall we?"

- - -

"My servants are currently preparing your rooms to stay for the night," the Earl was saying as they walked through his huge house, "And they are also preparing a huge feast in your honor for all you've done for Erdas..."

Conor was getting angrier with every word that came out from his mouth that he was having a hard time not to burst. Just then, he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and he turned to meet Abeke's reassuring smile. Conor calmed down slowly and gave a small smile before moving on.

"Ah, here we are," the Earl clapped loudly and some of the anger returned, "The dining room. I'm sure you remember this, Conor?"

Conor's gaze hardened as he met the Earl's cold gaze.

"The dining room," Rollan mimicked to Conor, too quietly for the Earl to hear, "Such a magnificent room that we've never heard of before."

They all took a seat as servants started to enter the room with food that made their mouths water. One servant entered with a jar filled with a drink and she approached the Earl first. She quietly poured a drink into the Earl's cup before backing away as the Earl took a drink.

He then spat out and glared at the girl in anger, "What is this?"

"It's grape juice, sir," the servant squeaked in fear.

"Grape juice? Cause I definitely tasted red wine," the Earl growled before standing up and throwing down his cup, "You think these children are old enough to drink that?"

"Um, we're right here," Rollan muttered but the Earl didn't notice.

The servant started to cry, "I'm sorry sir, there must've been a mistake-"

"Yes there is," the Earl snarled, "And you're that mistake. You'll be working for a whole month straight and don't even try to escape to your family."

The servant fell on her knees as she pleaded, "No sir, please! My family is starving and if I don't-"

"Guards, take her away," the Earl ordered and the soldiers started to move.

Conor have had enough of this as he stood up, "Don't you put your hands on that girl!"

The Earl glared at him, "I am the one in charge here so why don't you Greencloaks stick with being in charge of your Nectar."

Conor ignored him as he and the others walked to the servant and stood near her, defensively.

"I hosted you a feast in your honor," the Earl growled darkly, "And this is what I get in return. Guards, I do not want to see them. Throw them into the Howling House."

"Uh, hey sir," Griffin then spoke up, walking to the earl with the 'camera.'

The Earl glared at him but before he could speak, Griffin raised the camera, aimed at the Earl and said, "Say cheese."

Suddenly, there was a bright light that sent the Earl stumbling back. Griffin did the same to the others, the camera flashing brightly as the soldiers stumbled backwards, startled and slightly frightened.

"Come on," Griffin told them and had started running for the exit.

The others reacted quickly as they all followed him, the servant girl running back to her fellow servants. The camera flashed brightly as they approached others soldiers, who stumbled back.

"For once I love that camera," Conor exclaimed.

Just then, there was a beeping sound that came from the camera, making Griffin say, "Uh oh."

"What? Why?" Rollan asked anxiously.

"I might've taken too many pictures," Griffin mumbled as he started doing things in the camera.

"Is that a bad thing?" Abeke asked.

Before he could answer, three guards turned the corner. Griffin had suddenly snatched a vase from a nearby table and had hit the first soldier. He hit a second soldier with the vase, completely breaking it. The third guard was about to hit him until Griffin turned around, aimed the camera and it flashed, making the guard stumble back.

"Oh, so you can defend yourself," Meilin mumbled.

They kept on running until they burst out the entrance doors with soldiers waiting for them. They all took out their weapons as they braced themselves to fight them.

That was until they heard a voice, "Bring your weapons down."

Conor turned and was surprised to see Devin, a red cloak flowing down his back as he started walking towards them with Dawson beside him.

The soldiers hesitated until Devin repeated firmly, "Did you hear what I said? Lower your weapons."

"Soldiers follow my orders, not you," they turned to find the Earl walking out the entrance.

Devin met his glare, "Maybe your soldiers but I believe your reputation isn't quite built up among the people. Not to mention with how much trouble-"

"We do not have to get into detail with that," the Earl muttered but Conor caught a flash of uncertainty as he glanced at his soldiers.

"I apologize but in order for me to do that, i'll have to ask that you leave them alone," at the last words, Devin let them out in almost like a growl.

Father and son glared at each other for a while until the Earl broke the gaze first, grumbling in defeat, "Leave them."

The soldiers dispersed as the Earl cast him one last glare before heading inside. Conor wondered why he had backed out so quickly but those thoughts vanished when Devin approached.

Conor eyed him warily but Devin only nodded to him, "Uh, greetings Heroes of Erdas. Forgive my father's cruel act."

Conor glanced at Abeke who nodded before speaking, "Thank you...Devin."

- - -

"It's sad for you to go," Conor's mother was saying, "but we hope you enjoy throughout the rest of your trip and come back safely."

"We will, mom," Conor replied, smiling at them, "Just be careful for the Earl. If something happens, send me a letter and i'll be here as fast as I could."

"Don't worry about the Earl," this time, Devin spoke, "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything."

"Thank you again for lending us your home," Abeke spoke politely.

Devin glanced at her before speaking quietly so that only Conor would hear, "So, did you ask her yet?"

"Ask her what?" Conor asked nervously.

Devin just raised an eyebrow, "You know what i'm talking about. She's clearly been worried about you when I had been with her and Rollan."

Before Conor could reply, Meilin had already announced that they were going.

Devin gave him a quick grin, "Better do it soon."

- - -

They were all on the deck of Tellun's Pride II as they sailed across the sea once more.

"So, where's are next stop?" Rollan asked, glancing up at Essix who was flying above.

That's when Abeke grinned, "My home."

And that's when Conor remembered what happened the last time he had been there.

- - -

As you guys can tell, it's a bit rushed and I apologize or that. Well, that's because i'm a bit busy doing something. I'll be posting a random update once it's finished so stay tuned! Also stay tuned for part three!