Evening found Dustin and his companions seated around a campfire outside the tent that had been erected for his use. Other than drawing the siege's perimeter back a ways to render Innutuk's archers useless, the Monteraynians had accomplished little more over the course of the day. The party Altruz had sent to plunder the fallen troops in the field found ample food on their persons, which would assuage any concerns about food for the next few days. Presumably, the Alconteans and Antapeñans would bring provisions when they arrived, so Dustin had long since dismissed the matter as being of any concern.

Presently, he gazed into the dancing flames and grimaced as Cassie kneaded out the knotty muscles in his upper back. She'd recently popped the shoulder of his sword arm back into place, making her current massage only aggravate things. However, she insisted that it was necessary to avoid worse aches in the morning, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bear through it.

Brother and sister had the company of Jude and Kyle seated together on a length of log a few feet off, as well as Altruz, who paced circles in the snow. Though they now underwent a lull in conversation, they'd previously been comparing impressions on various cities across the continent. Of course, Cassie had traveled to so few compared with her brother that she expressed sore displeasure, while Altruz had seen far more of the southeast than anyone else.

"I still think the strangest city I've seen is D'nage." Jude said, "You remember, don't you, Dustin?"

"I found it lovely." Dustin replied, wincing when Cassie's thumb pressed a sore spot.

"Lovely, yes, but peculiar all the same."

Cassie paused her massaging for a second. "I've never been there. What's so strange about it?"

"It's all built along the banks of the Marna River, but it doesn't go very far inland at all. On a map, you can see it's an exceedingly long city, but not wide at any point."

Kyle laughed. "You're never more than a few paces from the water. It was strange."

"You'd best know how to swim, living there." Cassie said.

"That's what made me a bit uneasy there. I don't."

"You don't know how to swim?"

Kyle shrugged. "I come from a desert, love. To me, water's for drinking, not swimming."

"Around here, it seems it's for freezing." Dustin remarked, stamping a boot into the snow. "I still think the Viscungardi capital resembles something from a fairy tale. Such a vibrantly green island surrounded completely by water."

"It is pretty." Jude agreed. "Although imagine if we were besieging them instead of Innutuk."

"You would hardly need a hundred men. Simply watch the waters for any boats or rafts, sink them, and you've destroyed the city's only access to the rest of the world."

"That's why I could never live on an island." Cassie said, "I'd feel so very trapped."

"I'll take mountains and plains any day. Though as the Monteraynian heir, I may be biased."

Jude laughed. "For what it's worth—what is that horrid noise?"

Dustin strained his ears for a few seconds, and then he heard the commotion Jude spoke of. Somewhere in the distance, the icy winds carried a low rumble that drew steadily nearer as they listened. Here and there, the murmur would pause, only to resume. And as it came closer, the sound seemed less a product of nature and more like the voice of a man's groaning.

Finally, Dustin made out a few individual words, a series of grumbled curses that piqued his interest. He shot to his feet, causing Cassie to spring back, and he took a few stiff steps toward the source of the noise. Feeling the hilt of his sword on his belt, he exchanged a glance with Jude.

"I'll go see what that is. You all stay here."

Jude rose with a challenging look. "You don't have to go alone."

"All the same, I will. Stay here and stay warm. I'll call for you if I need you."

"If you insist. Don't waste any time, though. In these times, danger abounds."

Dustin smirked, patting his old friend on the shoulder. "Believe me, I'm aware."

That said, the prince waded through the snow and into the darkness on the east side of the camp. He clutched his sword's handle with one hand while using the other for balance. All the while, he craned his neck, squinted eyes peering into the shadowy beyond. For now, he saw nothing, only heard the moanings of misery grow louder.

Then he faintly made out a form in the darkness. A squat form marched toward the camp at an excruciatingly slow pace, emitting new curses with every step. It was a man, Dustin could deduce by the voice, but he'd never seen a man so short, nor so deformed.

A few steps more, and he distinguished more details. The approaching man wasn't deformed; he was hunched over. Limping forward with a slouched posture that made his true height difficult to guess. The figure appeared to lift its head, and then it stopped walking. Sucking in a suspenseful breath, Dustin also halted.

"Who goes there?" Dustin called into the darkness, "Friend or foe?"

"Accursed skies," the man muttered, "it's you."

"Indeed, I am myself. Can you say the same for yourself?"

"That's a good question."

"Between the two of us, we seem to have many questions, but few answers." Dustin said, "Do you intend on answering mine?"

"If you insist. I'm a man of honorable heritage, yet despised by all. Deprived of a mother's love and a father's guidance...I wander this world and seek a place for myself."

"This world is cruel. And so is your refusal to answer me rightly."

"My apologies, your highness."

The thick clouds above parted like curtains, allowing the moon to shine through and illuminate the man's face. In the pale glow, Dustin discerned the rugged features of Paulo Feliz. His right hand cupped a thick wad of wrappings over what appeared to be an injured thigh, and his left rested on his sheathed weapon. By his many grimaces and winces, it appeared to be a monumental task just to stay on his feet.

"Apology accepted, son of Feliz." Dustin said dryly, "What brings you here?"

"I've been betrayed. Just as my father was years ago."

"And who betrayed you?"

Paulo hung his head and released a labored breath. "The man who raised me all these years, who took me in during the aftermath of your father's treachery...he's now shown himself to be my enemy. The backstabbing of Lord Tanuk has brought me here, your highness."

"In that case, it seems we have a common foe."

"Not so! I merely have more enemies to vanquish. You asked what I seek?"

"Indeed I did."

"I seek vengeance. Lord Tanuk's evil must come down on his head, but I can't get to him until I destroy you. Your father was to mine what Tanuk has shown himself to be for me."

Dustin's gaze hardened at these words. "My father is nothing like that vile sorcerer. I am willing to show you mercy if you will relent from such falsehoods."

"I don't need your mercy; I need your blood."

Paulo lurched forward, his sword suddenly in his hand. Dustin wrenched his own weapon from its scabbard just in time to smack away the brutal blow. What Paulo's offense lacked in finesse, he made up for in brute strength. Simply deflecting the many attacks threatened to disrupt Dustin's balance. Clouds began to cover the moon again, adding still further to the challenge.

Dustin's sword screeched against Paulo's. The two knocked shoulders in the darkness before retreating a few steps each to regroup. Wriggling out of his thick coat to reclaim some mobility, Dustin puzzled over words to say to his opponent. His mind strained to find a way to persuade him to see reason.

He wrapped the coat several times around his free hand to form a sort of cloth gauntlet. And when Paulo reengaged with a mighty cry, he jutted out that arm to catch the incoming blade. The impact rattled Dustin's bones, but no penetration. He swung a counterattack into the darkness, which failed miserably.

Following instinct without sight, Dustin ducked his head. A blade whistled above him, so he thrusted with the pommel of his own sword, where he hoped Paulo's belly would be situated. Sure enough, his aggressor staggered back and wheezed weakly.

The moon shone through once more as the clouds thinned out. Dustin watched Paulo recover his footing and reorient himself. A quick flourish of the golden-hilted sword, and Paulo charged forward to renew his attack.

Their crossed swords glinted in the moon's light. Dustin retreated constantly, pushed farther and farther from the Monteraynian camp as he blocked Paulo's unrelenting onslaught. At times, he could even feel Paulo's hot breath wash over his face. Over and over, the scream of metal on metal pierced the quiet of night.

Dustin forced Paulo's blade aside with his own and pivoted to land a deep cut in his chest. Instead, Paulo leapt back, immediately following up with a thrust to the heart. Dustin caught the sword with his swathed hand and swept Paulo's feet out from under him.

His opponent fell flat on his back with a grunt. For a second, Dustin's warrior instincts urged him to finish the man off—plunge a blade through his heart or free his head from his body. But his better nature urged otherwise. This was a chance to reason with Paulo and get him to see sense.

"This can all end right here, my friend." Dustin said, backing off to avoid any sort of sneak attack from the ground.

"And it will!" Paulo grunted, "I'll end it all, your highness."

"By killing me, I presume."

Paulo finally pushed himself to his knees, and then he rose from there. "You're so perceptive. Almost makes me regret what I have to do to you."

"That's the problem here. Your regrets are misplaced."

"Don't tell me what my problems are, Rickland. I already know."

"Then how come for the past several years—"

"Enough!" Paulo shouted, "There's no use arguing your case with me. I've come to mete out justice."

Before Dustin could reply, Paulo was upon him again. A blinding flurry of blows ensued. Paulo's sword moved so fast Dustin could hardly glimpse it long enough to devise a defense. He blocked as many as he could, but much of his strategy to avoid being hit was simply to walk backwards.

Dustin deflected a strike coming from up high. Anticipating Paulo's counter, he moved his sword prematurely to block it, and having guessed correctly, he earned himself a second to throw a parry of his own. Paulo barely caught the blade in his crossguard in time to shove it away and engage again.

Dodging a little to the side to evade his foe's dedicated attack, Dustin spared a glance toward the camp they'd left so far behind. A group of shadowy figures jogged their way, which he couldn't make out, but he'd seen enough to be intrigued. Maybe even a little concerned.

Paulo renewed his offense with a powerful blow from up high. Dustin caught it with his own weapon, and the two blades pivoted against each other. Paulo miscalculated and struck open air, but Dustin's attack hit its mark. He sliced deeply into the wad of bandaging on Paulo's thigh, causing the whole bundle to float to the snow. A mighty roar sounded through the night as Dustin's opponent began to bleed profusely.

In his agony and rage, Paulo threatened Dustin once more with a thrust. He evaded by hopping backwards, and then he watched his wounded opponent collapse. Dustin's heart went out to Paulo, squirming and bleeding out in the cold. The utter avoidability of the whole matter made it all the more tragic.

"Come now, Paulo, we need not continue on like this!" Dustin cried out, "If I or my father truly sought your harm, would I not cut you down completely while I have the chance?"

Paulo glared from where he lay. "My slow, torturous death would be far more to your pleasure."

"On the contrary, if you'll only put aside this bloodlust you've indulged against myself and my house, I'll give you a place in my very tent. You'll be bandaged up and kept warm. I implore you to consider your own well-being and relent."

"And allow you to surround me in enemies? One word from you, and the whole camp looses arrows on me."

"You have my word that will not be so." Dustin scuffed a boot in the snow. "Do you realize how long my father sought you out? How for years, he tasked his best spies with assisting your mother in hunting you down after Tanuk stole you?"

"You...he always knew my mother still lives?"

"Of course. When was that ever in...doubt...? Did Tanuk claim otherwise?"

"All my life, I was told she was dead too." Paulo said, his voice suddenly soft, "Until a few weeks ago, I believed it."

"You were told a lie, then. Monterayne expended considerable resources to assist your mother in finding you, until so much time had passed that we could only assume you were no more. Tanuk's treachery is more extensive—"

Dustin stopped short upon hearing a strange creak under his feet. He glanced down, and his heart sank. A fissure spread across the ground encircling him, revealing the fact he hadn't been standing on solid ground the whole time. His weight bore down on the weak spot of a lake frozen over.

He attempted to take a step forward, but the shift caused the rest of the ice to give way. Gaze locked on Paulo, he dropped into the icy depths. Dustin's wail echoed through the night before the water stole his voice and he became lost to the world.