The four teens continued on their path toward the coast. Saphira was probably the only one sad to see them go. She knew of one thing for certain, though. She would never forget them. They had made such a change in her life, there was no way to ever forget about this other Kingdom across the ocean.

   As Saphira and Mike whispered back and forth to one another, Saphira didn't notice Snyder stop in his track ahead of her. She was too busy and rammed into his back.

   Snyder was pushed slightly forward while Saphira fell backward into the dirt. "Sorry, Snyder," Saphira apologized from the ground, pain rippling through her back once more from her wound.

   "Watch where you're going. Would you, Princess?" Snyder snarled at her but he remained staring straight ahead.

   Mike gritted his teeth resisting the urge to yank out his sword. He gently grasped Saphira around the arm and pulled her to her feet. "You okay, Saphira?" he asked her making sure she wasn't hurt.

   Saphira cocked her head at Snyder. "I'm fine," she informed her helping Squire. "He could've warned me he was stopping. That was honestly kind of rude."

   Mike rolled his eyes. "He's the Dark Prince, Saphira," Mike reasoned. "You're lucky he didn't draw his dagger on you like he did on me."

   Saphira rubbed her hands together to get the leaves and dirt off that stuck to her palms before she wiped the bottom of her split-skirt and her rear. "I know," she agreed. "Guess I shouldn't expect any kindness." Her gaze shifted to the back of Priella's blonde head. "From the Prince anyway."

   Mike sighed as he gently pulled on Saphira's tunic in the back. The dark red splotch on her teal tunic had began to stick to her back and looked damp. "You're bleeding again," he informed. "Snyder caused this."

   Saphira twisted herself around making Mike lose grip on the hem of her tunic. "We can worry about me later. Right now, let's focus on getting them home." She finally realized that Priella and Snyder were both standing still ahead of them. What were the looking at? She stepped up in between them to get a closer look. "Everything okay?" she asked.

   Priella pointed ahead. "That wasn't there when I arrived." Saphira turned her head forward to see what she was talking about.

   Not too far off the coast in the distance, a large, wooden vessel with massive sails and lanterns plastered everywhere to make the deck light up as Arie's rays began to sink behind the clouds, floated upon the waters.

   "Who's ship is that?" Saphira whispered to Mike. "I've never seen it before in our Kingdom." Mike simple shrugged in response.

   "So it's not yours?" Priella asked. Saphira shook her head. "Then who is it?"

   Snyder skeptically narrowed his eyes as he took one step forward. "I've seen that ship before," he said to himself, not caring if the others heard. "But where from?"

   Priella shook her Princes arm to get his attention. "There's my boat." She pointed off to the left slightly to reveal a dark oak row boat. But something was off. Now, two row boats sat side by side. Priella cocked her head.

   "Why do I have the feeling that we're not the only ones here?" Mike asked beginning to back away.

   "You know. I think the young lad is right," came a deep voice from behind.

   The teens teens flung themselves around to meet the gaze of three, muscular men wearing belts around their waists with empty scabbards. The swords that should be resting inside were pointed directly at the teens faces.

   "Hello," Saphira began, swallowing a lump in her throat. "Can we help you?"

   "Where are you four off to?" one man with shoulder length, blonde hair asked.

   Saphira was disgusted at how long his hair was. Long hair on a man never looked good in her opinion. "We were just..." she tried to think of an excuse but lying was never her thing. "Playing? Being us kids, you know?"

   Snyder slapped himself in the face as Saphira's words made him cringe.

   The man with long hair swept his blonde locks over his shoulder. "Load them into the boat," he commanded. "I'm sure our boss would love to see these four."

   Mike gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Saphira could tell he was about to do something that he was going to regret. She kindly laid a hand on his warning him not to advance which caused him to relax his grip.

   The three men kept their swords digging slightly into the teens backs as they pushed them forward toward the two row boats that sat on the edge of the bank, the tides sweeping in and out.

   The three men nearly shoved each of the teens into the boats. Taking one boat wasn't going to be enough. The two Light Beings were pushed into one boat, and the two Dark Beings in the other.

   Priella leaned in close to Snyder so only he could hear her whisper. "Looks like it's going to be awhile before we get to go home." Snyder never spoke, never moved his gaze from off the ship they were traveling to. It looked familiar. He knew he had seen it somewhere. Why couldn't he place where he had seen it before?

   It didn't take long for the two row boats to arrive at the main ship. Long pieces of thick rope were dropped down to the row boats, Saphira had to move to the side to avoid being hit. The three men tied the ropes to the front and back of the two boats where a small hoop of metal was. After making sure they were securely fastened, the boats began to rise from the water and closer to the boats deck.

   As the four teens peeked over the rim of the boat to gaze on to the deck, they saw numerous men running around doing many different things. Lowering the sails, tying off the ropes to the boats, a few men stood over a map, and a couple other used buckets of water and brushes to scrub the deck.

   The man with long hair shoved Snyder out of the boat before it had fully come to a stop causing him to slam into the wooden deck on his side.

   "I'll kill you for that," Snyder threatened as he lifted himself up on to his elbow. Another man came and gripped Snyder's arm tightly dragging him to his feet and pushing him forward.

   "Where are you taking us?" Saphira asked the blonde hair man, her voice showing confidence.

   The man smirked. "To see someone no one ever wishes to see." He bent down low to be inches from her face. "Even the crew are afraid of him," he said softly. Saphira backed away slowly. "Come on, men!" he ordered the others.

   The long haired man and the other two who had helped kidnap the four teens, lead them to a door that had a gold plaque embedded in its light wood reading, COMMANDERS COURTERS. As the door was flung open, a long flight of stairs awaited them.

   "Hold up," the blonde haired man said, raising a hand. He held up a smaller set of metal chains with a lock at the hand. He pointed toward Saphira and Snyder. "Place these around their hands so they can't escape."

   "How come not us?" Mike asked, acting bold.

   The man smirked. "Because you and the blonde are not nearly as important as these two here. So be my guest. Try to run. It gives me a good reason to kill you."

   Once the bonds were placed good and tight around the Prince and Princesses wrists, they descended down the flight.

   Saphira was shaking in her boots as she was led through the dark stairwell, but Snyder couldn't help but grow more suspicious. It was nagging at him! Knowing what ship this was, but not being able to place where he'd seen it was destroying him.

   As they entered the chamber at the bottom of the stairs, even their three escorts froze in fear. The chamber was a good size, maybe half of what Saphira's chamber looked like. There was a cot to the right, a stand-up mirror to the left, a wardrobe right beside it, dark green curtains blocking the ocean view that was at the front of the ship, and a desk sat in front of the window with a chair turned to face the closed window.

   "I hope you have disturbed me for a good reason, Kowle," an annoyingly high voice said from hiding behind the chair. The chair suddenly swirled around revealing a man with short, dark brown hair and facial hair on a chiseled chin. The Vomika symbol on his suit of armor made it easy to recognize the man.

   Snyder gritted his teeth when he finally recognized the man who owned this ship. "Malak," he spat with his gritted teeth. The blonde haired man— Kowle?— pushed the four teens down on to their knees.

   "Oh, Snyder, how good to see you!" Malak exclaimed with that high and annoying tone. "How are you these days?"

   "What do you want, Malak?" Snyder asked scooting on his knees in front of Saphira knowing that this pig probably wanted her. He didn't know why he felt the need to defend her. A Dark Prince would never defend a Light Being... but he felt like it went much deeper then that.

   "Aww, now can't I say a friendly hello to the person who tried to have me murdered?" Malak asked with a pouty lip.

   "You deserved everything that came your way," Snyder argued.

   "What does he mean?" Priella whispered to Snyder in his ear.

   Her whispering was no good because Malak heard every word. "Oh, hushy hushy. That was a secret, wasn't it?" Malak clapped his hands together joyfully. "Why don't I just go ahead and tell you?"

   The other three teens stared at this man as if he was completely crazy. Malak noticed their gaze. "Get these two useless beings out of my sight!" he ordered. "Kowle, tie them up! You other two men, stay here with me. The Prince can be quite a hand full."

   Mike tried to protest against leaving. He kicked and began punching the men trying to take him away. There was no way he was going to leave his Princess behind in this man's hands.

   "I'd stop if I was you, boy," Kowle suggested, blood trickling from a cut on his lips. Mike turned toward him to see the blonde haired man holding Saphira by her hair with a sword across her throat.

   Mike narrowed his eyes at the man and held up his hands in a surrender before another man tackled him from behind.

   Kowle then slammed his foot into Saphira's back causing her to land roughly on the floor on her chest. "Do that again," he directed toward the Squire, "and I'll do worse to her next time."

   Saphira watched as her friend left her presence looking defeated, knowing he could do nothing to protect her. She couldn't even move. All she could do was lay on the floor in pain trying to catch the air that had been knocked from her lungs.

   Once the other two teens were gone, the argument continued. "Malak, please don't," Snyder begged, silently. He hadn't known Saphira long, but he also didn't want her to know about the mistakes he had made in his passed life. If he ever had one chance to make a Light Being like him, Malak was going to blow it.

   "Aww, why not? You only massacred a whole village and blamed me for it!" His pouty face became full of rage.

   "What?" Saphira's voice shook as she questioned him. She looked at Snyder. "A whole village?"

   "Oh, yes, my dear." Malak shook his head and looked sad— though he really wasn't. "Each and every man, woman... and child."

   "No, he couldn't," Saphira interrupted defensively. "Surely even a Dark Being wouldn't kill children." Saphira bent forward to where she was able to look Snyder in the eyes. "Right? You couldn't do that?"

   All Snyder could do was turn his head away. He was too embarrassed to even look at her. "You don't know me!" he shouted. He flung his head toward her, fire in his eyes. "I am the Dark Prince! Do you honestly think I care about anyones life other than my own?"

   Saphira gasped and shook her head. "But... how could you?" she asked as a tear ran down her left cheek.

   Snyder couldn't answer her. He just couldn't! He was too ashamed of what he had done. It was the worst decision he had ever made. "I'm not proud of it," he whispered, water filling his own eyes.

   "Oh, for crying out loud..." Malak sighed. "If he's not going to tell you, then I most certainly will!"

   Snyder's face shot toward Malak's. "No, don't! You mustn't tell her."

   "Well that only makes me want to tell her even more now." Malak hopped out of his chair and began circling around Snyder. "Picture this. A perfectly, beautiful evening with Nara shining brightly and crickets singing, then all of a sudden, out of no where... I stumble along the Princes campsite with my men. The Prince was out that day riding with—"

   "Malak, you better shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!" Snyder shouted with hatred as he stood to his feet only to be kicked in the back of his legs by one of the men who had stayed to help Malak, his knees buckling as he fell back down to the floor.

   Malak stopped circling Snyder and stood in front of him. "Why how rude. You interrupted my story." He began circling the young Prince again as he shifted back to his knees. "The Prince was out riding with his older sister." He stopped and bent down beside Saphira's ear. "A powerful sorceress," he whispered, softly.

   "Wait!" Saphira interrupted in shock. "I thought you were an only child until recently. Isn't that why you came here? Because of the baby?"

   "She was my half-sister," Snyder corrected, still not to thrilled about confessing his family history. "Adopted."

   "And yet, she was a sorceress?" Saphira continued to ask.

   "Yes, but that's not the point," Malak said, ready to move on with his story. He began circling again. "My men and I came across the campsite where the Prince and Princess were staying. That is when I saw this lovely lady preforming sorcery. I was in the King's army at the time, and according to him, all sorcerers must be put to death."

   "You murdered my sister!" Snyder yelled in anger. "You sliced her throat wide open. How could you murder your own kind? If you were really loyal to my Father you would've turned yourself in as well!"

   Malak stopped behind Snyder and stomped his foot. "That's not fair! I wanted to tell her that part." He sighed. "Anyway, our young Prince, filled with so much hatred, marched into his sister's village and slew every one of them. And he did it all on his own. As helpless as the people were, unarmed... he still killed them. No matter how much kindness they had shown you since you were one of their owns brother, you still slaughtered them all." Malak walked in front of Snyder. "You thought you could hide the incident, didn't you? Thought your Father would have seen it as they had been slaughtered by another Kingdom." Malak smiled. "If only there wasn't someone in your way. Someone who wouldn't have harmed you, right?" Snyder looked up into Malak's eyes a little uneasy. "That's right, Prince," he whispered. "I know of your scar." Malak rolled up Snyder's left sleeve revealing a scar that wrapped around his upper arm in a spiral. "Ah, there it is." Malak rolled his sleeve back down.

   "How do you know about that?" Snyder asked more with rage than shock. "I've never told anyone! I bandaged it up myself."

   Malak laughed. "Oh, my dear boy, of course I know about it." He leaned in closer to Snyder. "I am the one who gave it to you after all."

   Snyder's eyes widened. "But how?"

   "Think back, Snyder," Malak commanded. "What did the man look like who gave you that scar?"

   Snyder shrugged. "I don't know," he replied plainly. "He was wearing—" Snyder gasped. "A black mask."

   Malak smiled. "Indeed I was, boy." Snyder's eyes stayed widened as he looked at the floor. "That's why you went missing for a week, isn't it? The whole Kingdom was a wreck. Wondering what had happened to their Prince— not knowing that somewhere in the forest their beloved Prince lay dying from so much blood loss."

   "Someone came to help me," Snyder whispered, lifting his head.

   Malak snorted. "Oh, believe me, I know. My idiotic, little brother found you. He just had to help you! He had to use his magic for good. After what you did to that village, you deserved to die."

   "What are you talking about?" Snyder questioned, raising his voice. "If anyone deserves to die it's you. You killed my sister! Right in front of my eyes! And now I learn that you tried to kill me too!"

   Malak shrugged. "Hmm, guilty as charged. But at least I didn't massacre an entire village." Snyder lowered his head again. "You remember her scream right? Your sisters?" Snyder's head shot upward and he clinched his teeth. "Ah, so you do. The sound of her begging for mercy as I sliced open her throat with my dagger.

   "I've seen the daggers you use," he continued. "One of them is the weapon I used to kill your sister. Why would you carry around the same weapon I used to kill your beloved sister?"

   "Because I promised her that some day I would kill you with the same weapon you used on her!" Snyder couldn't contain his anger.

   "Oh, well that doesn't matter either." Malak turned toward Saphira. "When he finally returned to his Kingdom, he told his Father that it was I who had destroyed that village and murdered his daughter. Of course the King believed him, tortured me, and tried to have me executed for it not even caring about whatever story you had made up to save your own skin. The King wouldn't even believe me when I told him his daughter was a sorceress." Malak glanced between the two teens. "I wonder what your little 'friend' over here thinks of you know, Snyder."

   Snyder turned around to see Saphira staring at him with her eyes wide and mouth agape. He sighed. "I can't ask for you to forgive me. No body who knows the truth has. I was suppose to protect her people, Saphira. I promised her that I would protect them until my dying breath." He paused. "But I failed her."

   Saphira closed her mouth and looked to the ground. "Look, Snyder, I know what it's like to lose someone you love. When my brother died, I ran away from home for a long time. I was so upset with myself and the Knights for letting him die that I didn't even care about what I was doing to my parents. I was gone for nine months." She recognized Snyder's and Malak's eyes both pop open. "That's almost a year. I had destroyed my family. My Mother was unresponsive and basically dying. The lose of both her children was too much for her to bear."

   Snyder was silent for a moment, and shockingly, so was Malak.

   "I hate to say this, Snyder," Saphira suddenly said. "But this maniac does have a point."

   "What?" Snyder asked with a shocked tone.

   "I resent that comment," Malak replied with a laugh.

   Saphira rolled her eyes. "Your half-sister was a sorceress. She did deserve to die. There can be no place for her kind in this realm, and whether or not you promised her to protect her people they, too, deserved death."

   "What are you talking about?" Snyder questioned narrowing his brow. "Those people were innocent, and she was still my sister like it or not. She may have been a sorceress, but that does not mean she was evil. She was loving and caring and kind. Why would you say such a thing?"

   "Because it was a sorcerer that killed my brother!" she exploded. "Their kind is a disease that needs to be eradicated!"

   "How dare you talk about my sister as if you knew who she was!" Snyder was up close to Saphira's face practically spitting on her. "I don't expect you to understand. What if your brother was a sorcerer?"

   Saphira gritted her teeth. "And I don't expect you to know my pain. Losing a sorcerer is one thing, but losing your blood is another."

   "She was my blood!" Snyder argued.

   "How?" Saphira defended. "If she was adopted then how does that make her your blood?" She backed away out of spit rang.

   Snyder gritted his teeth and clenched his fists until the knuckles turned white. It took everything in his power right now to not punch a girl— well, his will and the bonds.

   "Aww, how touching," Malak interrupted. "The Prince and Princess are bonding." Malak burst out in a laughing fit as if he was watching a comedy show. "This is truly better then I could have dreamed. Who knew it would be so easy to make you both hate each other?" Once he had stopped laughing, he stepped up close to Saphira and lifted her chin to get a good look a her. "You really are as pretty as they say."

   "Don't touch her!" Snyder barked. He should've known this was all part of Malak's scheme to make Saphira and Snyder hate one another. Malak really didn't care what Saphira thought about the Prince. Just as long as it was enough to get her to hate him forever.

   Thanks to years of picking locks, Snyder slipped out of his bonds with ease and lifted his fist to punch Malak in the face. Unfortunately, one of the two men that stood silent at the back grabbed ahold of him again and held his arms back.

   Malak growled loudly and looked over at Snyder. "So, you really can escape your bonds. Luckily, a few evenings ago, that little, blonde girl didn't know who she was talking to when we had that conversation about you in the market."

   Snyder narrowed his eyes at Malak, and the maniac could read his expression. "How dare you step foot back in our Kingdom!"

   "Somehow I had to figure out if you could escape." Malak looked at the men he was traveling with. "Use the special chains I brought for this purpose," he demanded them.

   The men grabbed a set of chains that laid off to the side on top of the wardrobe, lifted Snyder off his knees, and wrapped them around Snyder's whole body with his hands behind his back... but the chains were not as tight as he thought they would have been.

   "What gives?" Snyder asked as the men helped him sit on the ground. "Is this really necessary?"

   "Go ahead. Try escaping," Malak taunted. "I dare you."

   Snyder couldn't back down. He grabbed the lock that hung directly behind him in front of his hands and began to fumble with it. The chains immediately turned a bright pink and squeezed Snyder a little tighter. Snyder let out a quick shout of pain.

   "Magical chains," Malak stated. "Inescapable." He pointed to himself. "My own enchantment." He smiled widely as if proud of himself.

   Snyder lowered his head and frowned. That was a stupid idea, he thought. Don't ever listen to a psycho.

   Malak chortled as he backed away. "So, the little Princess actually managed to kidnapped you." He chuckled again. "And I thought you were unbeatable."

   "She didn't capture me," Snyder stated with his eyes still narrowed. "Who gave you that crazy idea?"

   "Your whole Kingdom is talking about how their 'great Prince' was captured by the putrid Light Princess." He turned a raging eye toward Saphira. "But then again... I'm the one who passed the rumor around." His face became soft once more. "There was a boat from our kingdom here. Did you runaway from home?"

   Snyder didn't answer. He was more focused on the fact that Malak had just said the whole kingdom was talking about him. Him! He thought to many people that he was a nobody. "Did you hear my parents asking what had happened to me?"

   Malak rubbed his chin. "Hmm, well, I believe I did, but I shouldn't go on about what Neptune and Sieda said about you."

   "Quit calling them that!" Snyder shouted sternly. "You show my parents the respect they deserve, filth!"

   "Your parents will get what they deserve in time!" He paused. "Anyways, it wasn't anything good. They were just happy to finally be rid of you."

   Snyder's skin boiled. He screamed in anger as he lunged for Malak. The chains instantly turned a bright pink again and once more tightened around the Prince's body. Malak stepped out of the way as Snyder came crashing to the ground beside the Princess.

   "There is no possible way you could have gotten here," Malak continued. "Why, the water is too dangerous to be out on all alone, the water..." Saphira and Snyder noticed Malak's eyes widen. He began bellowing uncontrollably before suddenly stopping. "Of course. Oh, you naughty boy. Always was an adventurer. You went near the water, didn't you?"

   "What's it to you?" Snyder asked angrily trying to sit up.

   "You'll never learn will you." Malak sighed. "You are like an opened book, my child." He stared at him skeptically. "Afraid Mother and Father won't love you anymore once the new baby's here. Afraid that taking your life might be the only way to escape this torment."

   Saphira gasped. "You tried to commit suicide?" she shouted.

   "I did," Snyder admitted, flinging his head toward the Princess. "And I wouldn't change a thing."

   Malak began giggling again and jumped up and down. "This is so much fun! Learning secrets about each other is the best."

   Saphira shook her head as if she was going to go insane. "Please, let my friend and I go," she begged. "You can keep the Dark Beings, just let us go. I'll do anything you want."

   Snyder's expression saddened at what the Princess said. This whole time she had been so kind and willing to help them but now she was just going to abandon them? Leave them to Malak and his crew? Maybe Snyder was wrong. Maybe there really was nothing special about Light Beings.

   Malak stopped and turned Saphira's way at her words. "Anything, you say?"

   "I shouldn't have said that," Saphira whispered to herself, regretting her words.

   "No, you really shouldn't have," Snyder agreed, rolling his eyes.

   "Well, you know I always have wanted to see a good fight. Snyder was so pathetic when he was younger." He was cut short when he spied Snyder's chains glowing a faint pink, and Snyder let out a moan of pain. "Seriously, Snyder, you're not going to get free. Might as well not even try." He glanced between his two prisoners. "Men, unlock his chains and guard the door. Give each of them a sword. I want to see if they can fight better than my..." he looked down at his 'armor'. "Knights— if you want to call them."

   Snyder looked to his side at his enemy. "She said she would do what you said. I didn't. Leave me out of this."

   "Sorry, you came to the Light Kingdom by your own will— or whatever you want to call it— so you're a part of it. If you survive, Princess, I will let you and your boyfriend go. If you lose... well, then I'll make sure you have a proper burial."

   "And if I win?" Snyder asked throwing the unlocked chains off of him.

   Malak waved his hand in the air. "Well then you can be on your merry way. Now fight!" He slammed his fists down on the table.

   The 'Knights' threw them swords at their commanders words. Snyder caught his with his left hand, but Saphira's fell in front of her. She gazed at the sword on the ground.

   "What? Fight him?" she questioned with unbelief. "He's a better fighter than me. I've never fought before save maybe a few times to save my life. That's what my Knights are for."

   Malak rolled his eyes. "I don't care, just fight! I want to see some action."

   Saphira bent down, picked the sword up, and stared at Snyder frightened.

   Snyder smiled as he did some fancy moves with his sword getting ready to charge after her. Saphira was really in for it. He lifted his sword and dashed toward her. She flung the sword in front of her as the swords clashed together.

   "You may want to abandon me and Priella," Snyder whispered to Saphira as she coward beneath his sword. "But I wouldn't wish you to suffer by Malak's hands." He pushed Saphira away with his boot and ran past her. Instead of fighting Saphira as Malak wanted, he began fighting the Malak's men.

   Saphira looked at Malak staring in awe. He couldn't believe it. That totally back fired on him. But instead of being angry, he was cackling and smiling.

   "Yes! Finally a real fight! Lets see who's better. The Prince versus two of my finest men."

   One of the Knights swung his sword toward Snyder's head and another at his feet. Snyder jumped and ducked at the same time. He thrust his sword toward the first knight, but his swing was blocked.

   The second Knight caught Snyder off guard and kicked him in the stomach, sending the Prince flying backward and landing on his back. Snyder quickly jumped to his feet and charged the second Knight. He flung his sword down on the second Knights leg making a deep gash. The knight cried out in pain and stumbled backward.

   The first Knight took his partner's place. He thrust his sword down on to Snyder. The Prince swiftly jumped out of the way, but not before he got a slight cut on his brow. Snyder reached up and wiped the blood away. It was bad enough having a head injury, now this too? That was it. He'd had enough of this game. It was time to end it.

   Snyder stabbed the first Knight in the side and stole his sword. He flung himself around and pierced the second guy in the stomach while he was still babying his leg. Both men laid on the floor dead.

   Malak looked at Snyder with awe as he watched him defeat his men. The Prince was good, he'd give him that, but Malak was not about to let him win. He glanced over at Saphira, who was watching Snyder fight off two more men as they stepped inside the chamber from all the commotion, and began to stroll over to her slowly.

   Snyder kept on fighting. He was out numbered five to one as more men flooded the giant chamber, but that didn't stop him. He got scraped up in a few placed, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what he was doing to Malak's men.

   "Very good, Prince Snyder," Malak shouted from behind Snyder.

   Snyder flung himself around toward Malak and his eyes widened. Malak was holding Saphira in his arms with his sword to her neck. Saphira was slumped over his arm. Her head and left arm drooped over his right arm, and her sword laid on the ground to the left of them. Saphira laid so silent she looked like she could possibly be dead.

   Snyder's heart started hammering in his chest. Again, he had just met this girl— and she was going to leave him and Priella to die— but he knew that if she really died, he would never forgive himself. It would have been all his fault for letting her try to help him. He was not ready for that burden. He held up the edge of his sword with his left hand and yelled, "Release her at once!"

   Malak shrugged. "Whatever you say." He opened his arms, and Saphira fell like a lifeless corpse to the cold, hard, wooden ground— her hair falling over her face. Saphira laid on her side, silent and motionless.

   Snyder looked down at her. "You... you killed her," he said with shock and disbelief. He looked at Malak with fire in his eyes and raised his sword higher. "You killed my sister, and you killed Saphira." He narrowed his eyes as he pointed his sword toward the Commander. "And now, I'm going to kill you."

   Snyder charged toward Malak and knocked him down on to the ground. "You have long deserved this!" He threw his sword to the ground and raised a fist.

   Snyder landed a few punches on Malak's face before the Commander finally called out, "Grab him, you fools!"

   Strong hands wrapped around the Prince making him accidentally kick his sword away from him. "Let me go!" he shouted.

   Malak jumped to his feet and brushed off his breastplate. He used his hand to wipe off some blood that trickled from his split lip. He watched as Snyder struggled in one of the Knights grasp— who he recognized as Kowle. "Just take care of him, would you?" their Commander shouted.

   Kowle pulled out his sword from its scabbard and slammed the hilt into the Princes head. Snyder, then, fell to the ground unconscious.

   "Phew!" Malak wiped his bloodied brow. "That boy is a handful that's for sure." He kicked Snyder gently in the ribs to make sure he was really out cold. "No wonder his parents don't want him."

   "What should we do with him, Sir?" Kowle asked. He pointed toward the young girl who laid lifeless on the ground. "Him and the girl."

   Malak gestured Saphira's way. "Eh, she's not dead. Just unconscious, like him. Tie her to the mass with the others so she can't escape." Kowle glanced between Saphira and Malak. "What is it now?"

   "Oh, nothing!" Kowle replied. He rubbed the back of his head. "It's just, we had a hard time getting that boy upstairs to cooperate. When he sees what we've done to his girlfriend here..." He shook his head. "He's not going to like it."

   Malak thrust his hands on his hips. "Well, don't let that boy stop you. He's nothing compared to you." He dropped his hands back to his side and stared at the Prince. "The Prince we shall take to King Edwin." He rubbed his hands together greedily. "I'm sure we'll fetch us a fine price for the lad."