Clip-clop, clip-clop echoed the hooves of the magnificent black horse as it edged forward on the partially paved road towards the port city of White Harbour. Its smooth muscular body seemed at ease as it took each step forward casually edging at the pace deemed necessary by its rider, Ethelston.

Loldirr looked towards its jet black coat as it gleamed in the sunlight and then up towards its rider who seemed to be comfortably placed in the expensive leather saddle.

She huffed as she took one step in front of another on the rugged path. They had been walking for hours and she still hadn't fully recovered from the encounter with the Shadow, Sir Wendon Pykeston.

"When do I get to sit on the horse?" She asked with a hint of venom.

Ethelston didn't even look down but continued to sit up straight with his hand casually resting on his hip. "I offered, you refused."

"I will not sit on your lap!"

Ethelston smiled as he took a little pride in irritating the fiery redhead.

"So what is a Manticore?" Loldirr asked obviously intrigued by Ethelston's title Manticore Hunter.

"You truly don't know what a Manticore is? Where have you been all your life?" Ethelston mocked. He chuckled as he could see Loldirr's brow scrunch up in frustration. "Manticore's are magnificent beasts mostly found in the desserts deep in the realm of Alzerbaad. They have the body of a lion, tale of scorpion and have wings which allow them to fly quickly over great distances. Incredibly rare and extremely dangerous."

This time Loldirr was chuckling. "Seriously? Next you'll be telling me that Dragon's exist!"

Ethelston looked down at her from the top of his horse completely straight-faced. "They do. I've seen three in my lifetime. That is one creature I would never want to be on the wrong side of."

"Dragonslayer would be far easier to say than Manticore Hunter."

Now Ethelston was frowning. "You mock me woman!"

The guffaws from the seagulls were gradually getting louder and the smell of saltwater fish and body odour was becoming more pungent. It must now only be a couple more kilometres until they would set foot into White Harbour.

Ethelston looked down at the sword being carried by Loldirr. "You handled yourself reasonably well with the sword. Fighting the Shadow is no small feat. Few have walked away."

A sigh escaped Loldirr's lips and the frown returned. "I wouldn't have if you didn't arrive when you did." She found it difficult to admit. "I owe you my life." She said begrudgingly refusing to look Ethelston in the eye.

Despite knowing he could take advantage of the situation, Ethelston knew it was not right to do so. "The Shadow was one of the finest swordsman in not just the Isovine Empire but the twelve realms of men. To survive as long as you did shows promise, perhaps I can teach you more?"

That seemed to spark a burst of fury in the green-eyed maiden. "He was toying with me! He could have killed me quickly but wanted the fight to endure for his sport. I should be dead, like Edric, like Willis. But instead I somehow survived for a quest I do not fully comprehend. It should be my head floating down the river, my body twitching from a tree. I do not have promise, just blind luck."

Ethelston smiled once more and faced forwards focusing on the road ahead. "Some call it luck, some call it fate, others call it destiny. I do not speak for the gods, I haven't spoken to them in a long time, but do not disregard your fortune and your sacrifices as pure luck. The dead deserve better."

Loldirr did not respond. The last few days had been beyond ruthless. She had seen her friend, her guardian, her village brutally murdered. She had been on the run almost continuously and had a brush with death herself yet here she was, alive. The least she could do is see through the task Edric had set out for her and continue to survive for Willis' sake.

Walking through the town proved to be uneventful until the view drastically switched to crashing waves of the sea against the creaking wood of tall ships.

The side of Loldirr's mouth edged up to form a smile, mesmerised by the view in front of her. The bustling crowds, the loud calls from the fishmongers, the birds circling overhead waiting for their prey, the various sea vessels rocking in the docks, the endless horizon of blue seawater. This was something she could never imagine seeing in her life.

"Wow!" The voice to her side exclaimed. "So you can smile!" Ethelston commented as he disembarked his horse.

She looked at him chuckling "Have you seen anything like it? How can men build such large vessels and they don't sink?"

Ethelston started to lead his horse forward as they moved towards the docks. He was amused by the giddiness of his companion. "If you're impressed by this then you will be breathless for where we're going. Let's see if we can find us a ship to travel on."

"We're going on one of those?" Loldirr asked.

"It's the only way to get to Gryffinfall."

"What is it like to go on one of those ships?"

Ethelston sighed. "I have no idea, I've always kept to land where possible."

For the next couple of hours, Ethelston had been asking around the Captains of the ships to see if anyone was going to Gryffinfall. Some were going south to the Ragenguard Province, most were going to Ravenscourt and the surrounding region. Eventually one was heading to Maelbel, just south of Gryffinfall.

"I need passage to Gryffinfall tomorrow." Ethelston instructed the Captain.

"We go to Maelbel m'lord." The Captain replied with a certain disdain for the instruction he was given. He turned to issue orders to his crew.

Ethelston threw a bag of coins on the table in front of him.

Instantly the Captain stopped and proceeded to grab the bag. He grabbed thin air as Ethelston swiped the bag just as quickly as he had thrown it.

One thing was for certain though, Ethelston now had the Captain's full attention.

"Gryffinfall, tomorrow, and a cabin for the two of us." Ethelston instructed.

The Captain looked up at Ethelston and then towards the Loldirr who was holding the reins of the horse. "Very well, we leave at dawn."

With enough time to get a drink and sleep, Ethelston made the final arrangements before finding a tavern to stay the night.

Loldirr watched the various guests in the tavern and their behaviour. As one man grabbed hold of the barmaid and placed her on his lap the barmaid slapped him making Loldirr have a quiet chuckle.

"These people are very primitive." Loldirr exclaimed.

Ethelston placed a tankard in front of her. Loldirr picked it up and started drinking enthusiastically. Despite screwing her face initially it appeared she was adjusting to the taste of ale.

"White Harbour is quite a simple place. Mostly fishermen, sailors, merchants and travellers. We are so far removed from the war here that you would almost think there wasn't one." Ethelston explained.

"What war?" Loldirr asked in between swigs.

Ethelston just looked at her with a confused look on his face. "Of all the people I choose to protect! There are twelve realms of men, six are at war with another three close to joining in. The Isovine empire is the ones at the heart of the atrocities that are happening in the battlefield and some of the ones closer to home. Unfortunately there are to many ears around for what I would like to say about Emperor Arnaud III without someone calling it treason."

"Are you running from the war?" Loldirr asked.

Ethelston almost choked on his Ale. "Girl, you really need to be careful on the questions you ask. I'm a mercenary and I've recently just returned from six months in Littlewatch and Crystalcairn where the heaviest fighting has been taking place. It proved to be extremely lucrative."

Loldirr didn't like the term girl but she was too intrigued by the story to react in an immature fashion. "And the Shadow? How do you know him?"

There seemed to be a frown that briefly appeared on Ethelston's face as he took a swig of his ale. As he placed the tankard on the table the frown had gone. "I knew him before I was a mercenary. He was legendary in his betrayal to your guardian Lord Darke. I had the pleasure of killing him." He hesitated. "Twice now in fact!" He smiled.

"But he's not dead?" Loldirr asked.

Ethelston shook his head. "In the void until the sorcerer who summoned him has the strength to bring him back. He'll only be truly gone if you find a weapon that can vanquish his soul or you kill the root."

Loldirr screwed up her nose. "Sorcerers, Manticore's and Dragons! You truly are making this up."

Ethelston laughed. "If only! There is a big world out there, young Loldirr, one which I've only managed to see a glimpse of. When we reach Gryffinfall your eyes will be open. Now I must ask you a question."

"Ask."

He took a deep breath before speaking. "Lord Edric Darke, how did he die?"

There was a brief silence from Loldirr while she revisited the harrowing events a few days ago. "The Shadow, Sir Pykeston came with some wild men to Greenhaven. They slaughtered everyone including Edric." She corrected herself "Sir Edric."

"Sir Pykeston did the deed?" Ethelston asked.

Loldirr nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. "He was after me and everyone died because I wasn't there when they arrived. I saw the Shadow dig his sword deep."

Ethelston briefly looked away and took in a big deep breath before looking directly into Loldirr's emerald green eyes. "There are many beauties in this world and their are many evils. Sir Edric was a good man who gave his life for what he felt was right, do not feel responsible for what happened."

There was a sadness in his eyes which was quickly masked again by the tankard of ale. Loldirr wanted to apologise or to comfort him but she didn't know how and when he slammed his tankard on the table she realised that the opportunity was gone.

"Right!" He said, "I'm going to find myself a whore and get her to fuck the life out of me!"

Loldirr looked at him disgusted by his candour "Seriously!?"

He stood and smiled while straightening his hair and armour. "Of cause. Three days on the sea followed by spending time with Elves! I've never known and Elf to put themselves out, so this may be my last time for a while. I shall return to collect you before we set sail. I bid you a good evening Loldirr."

"And to you too Ethelston." She replied.

While his candour and demeanour were suspect, Loldirr couldn't help but appreciate her colleague. He was knowledgeable, a good fighter and somehow managed to give her hope despite all that had happened.

Neither of them believed in the Gods but with the way things had gone it did feel like their companionship had been one brought by destiny.