"This is where we were ambushed," Derrick said, showing Hella's party the small clearing filled with scuff marks and the rope used to string up Mokum. "From here they traveled that direction." He pointed to a small trail up the side of the mountain. Consiflore looked with dismay upon the precarious trail. He had little stomach for clambering up mountain slopes after the likes of Gar DeBain.

Turning to the Queen, he suggested they send them men on to assure safe travel for her royal self and he would remain as a safeguard until they reported back. Hella snarled a string of obscenities and thrashed him across the back with a handy branch.

"Get up there and lead your men, you swithering toad!" She flailed again, missing as he dodged forward up the trail, skidding on his knees and tearing the material in his fancy trousers.

*****

The path ended on a rocky clearing scrunched up against the exposed, dark, gnarly roots of the Drood forest. Gar glared at the landscape as if it were a personal affront. Beneath the grimy looking leaves, the forest resembled the atmosphere of Dyst—grey and dull. Above the trees at one side, the ruins of Balfour Castle hugged the craggy precipice overlooking the Sea of Sounds.

William and Mary took the break in the climb to rest and massage their abraded wrists. Dolly stood with her head hung low, her flanks heaving from the weight of Mokum, the awkward weight of the couple she had to tow and the stress of the climb. Jep and Gwendolise watched their captors muttering together, taking a modicum of solace from the fact that they were arguing. It was apparent that there was no love lost between the two.

"Where is the mine entrance?" Gar demanded, pushing Rodney aside and closing on Jep.

"It's not that easy," Jep protested. "The location can only be found from the castle site."

"He's stalling!" Rodney shrieked, drawing his sword and moving toward Gwendolise.

"No! I swear. There is a map in the case along with the key, but only I can read it. We must continue on to the castle first."

"I grow weary of this trek, Pennistyle," Gar warned. "If this is some trick, none of you will have to worry about climbing back down." He grabbed Gwendolise by the arm and pulled her behind him. "Show me this map."

Jep felt his chest constrict; there was no way they would survive if Gar had the map. He would happily kill the lot of them and try figuring out the code by himself. "Our agreement was when we reached the top, besides, I told you I'm the only one who can read the code." He struggled to keep the tremor from his voice as he stared at Gar. "If you hurt any of them, I will die before telling you anything."

"Don't be too sure," Rodney hissed, his sword hand fidgeting dangerously.

Gar shoved Gwendolise back against Jep and spat with disgust. "Save your anger, Dunbar, there will be time enough later." Silently, he pointed toward the castle, daring a protest from anyone.

*****

The soldier knelt before Hella, his breath coming in wheezing gasps from his scramble down the treacherous trail. "They are near the top, M'lady- I mean, Your Highness. There are some old ruins and that's where they seem to be headed."

Hella gave him a dirty look for his slip and waved him away. "So, is this the famed Balfour Castle?" She turned her attention to Prize.

"Indeed it is, and from there the path to the mine."

"I want them before they enter the mine," Hella declared. The four soldiers carrying her chair looked at one another with grave concern. "We will follow immediately and surprise them on the castle grounds."

"The climb is treacherous, Your Highness, fraught with peril for the men bearing your chair." The leader of the guards suggested cautiously.

"For the men, Captain? And what of your Queen?"

"I of course was referring to- to Your Majesty's safety."

"Really?" She prodded Consiflore with her piece of branch. "Explain to the dear Captain just what peril is, Count. And then get this ridiculous show on the road!"

Prize hung back with Derrick and his guard, whispering questions when the opportunity arose. She knew that when the two groups confronted one another, there would be some very interesting revelations and very likely a violent reaction. It was important to position herself as an ally to young Pennistyle and she would begin by ingratiating herself to Derrick Kriss.

Hella could barely restrain screaming at her bearers as they fumbled and stumbled up the narrow trail, bashing her chair into tree trunks, nearly tipping her out onto the ground more than once. Consiflore flitted alongside, chiding his men somewhat timidly and receiving continuous thwacks from Hella's branch.

*****

Little remained of Balfour Castle. The stone walls around the entrance had crumbled and collapsed, exposing the rotting structure of the once magnificent castle gates. Huge chains that in better days had hauled the massive doors open and closed, lay rusting on the wooden winches, themselves fractured and broken.

The cobbled courtyard was overgrown with weeds and dead grass; brackish green moss spread like blood from an old wound between the grimy stones. The steps that led to the castle rooms now hung twisted from the wall, precariously joined to a decayed wooden platform, a miserable reminder of the majesty that once was.

Gar did a slow turn looking skyward at the disintegrated tower that in the glory days gave to a fabulous view over the Sea of Sounds. For a moment, the imagined splendor of the fabled Balfour Castle held them all in subdued awe.

"I would like to have known this Balfour," Gar stated with open admiration. "This must have been a very impressive place."

"Are we done with the tour?" Rodney complained. "Let's get what we came for then you can wallow in the history of this place if you like."

Gar shot him a dirty look and bit his tongue, admitting to first things first. "Very well Pennistyle, where's the mine?"

"The code is in the box in my pack on the mule."

"The get it! Quit wasting my time!"

Jep went to Dolly and rummaged through the sacks. It wasn't there! He scrabbled through entire collection but couldn't find the box. "It's gone!" He felt sick and stupid at the same time, knowing how his surprise would sound to Gar and Rodney.

"Oh, most certainly!" Rodney snorted. "It's gone!" He mimed in a whiney voice, jerking his sword from its scabbard. "I say we start killing them until he tells us."

Gar stood quietly, glaring through his good eye at Jep. He began a slow walk toward him, the crimson eye patch flashing brightly in a shard of setting sunlight. As he drew nearer, Dolly suddenly jerked her head and let out a noisy bray. Everyone turned instinctively in time to see several soldiers jump into the courtyard, brandishing bows and arrows and followed by the group staggering awkwardly under the load of Hella's chair.

On Consiflore's command, they set her down with an unplanned crash, tilting her out of the chair and setting her running to a halt several feet away. Steadying herself, Hella let out a stream of invective, scalding the ears of the entire assembly. When she stopped, the echo of her outburst faded into the fragmented stone walls surrounding them, whispering ominously in its retreat.