Danticus eyes fluttered open. He sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes. He walked to his basin and washed his face with the cool water, dried himself off, and crossed over to his dresser. He pulled out the outfit Cristomir had brought him the night of the feast. The grey and blue were intertwined on the sleeves, and a blue neckerchief wrapped around the color. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!"

Cristomir popped his head through the crack and smiled. "Hey Danny!"

Danticus smiled. "What're you doing?"

"We want to introduce you to the newest resident of Jorden." He opened the door and there stood Jenna with a small little baby in her arms.

"This is Ulric," said Cristomir, smiling.

Danticus smiled. "He has his father's eyes."

"Would you like to hold him?" Jenna asked, her golden locks bouncing off her shoulder

"Would I?" Danticus took Ulric from her arms. He cradled the boy in his, rocking him slowly. Ulric looked up at him, his eyes sleepy and gleaming in the sunlight coming through the window. They were like warm little hazlenuts, like a sea of amber. Danticus looked back up to smile at his sister in law, only to be greeted with a dead Cristomir, standing with blood flowing down his neck. A weeping Jenna stood beside him.

"No," he whispered

"Danticus," said Cristomir. "Danticus...Danticus."

"No," he said louder

"Danticus, wake up!" Cristomir yelled. "Wake up!"

"No!" Danticus looked down, and Ulric was gone. "No! I promised you!" The room spun around, and he grabbed his head, pain traveling from temple to temple. He looked back, and Cristomir was gone.

"Cristomir! Come back! Please!"

"Come back!"

*****

Danticus' eyes shot open, seeing Gallador and Tytus above him.

"Lad...thank the gods. Come on get up. We need to hurry," said Gallador.

"Gallador...what's...what happened?" He sat up, and the back of his ached with waves of pain.

"We found a safe room. We blocked the door with some old bookshelves and furniture. It won't hold for long."

Danticus eyes ached, and he rubbed them between his fingers. His dream came back to him, his awful dream. He still saw him standing there, blood streaking his neck, like a phantom of pain. "Where's Cristomir?"

Sadness crossed Gallador's face, a deep and sorrowful sadness. The kind that only came with losing a brother in arms. "I'm so sorry, Danticus."

Danticus closed his eyes and clenched his fists. He felt rage run through him, sadness, despair flowing in his veins. Red shrouded his vision, and everything he could see was blood. He bolted up to his feet and pounded his fists against the wall, tears squeezing through his tightly shut green eyes.

"Lad, that won't bring him back!" said Gallador.

Danticus rested his arms against the wall, and buried his head into them. He wished he could was a child again, a young boy without a care in the world, running through the hills of Jorden with his cousin by his side. "I could've saved him, if I just, if-"

"If you just what?!" yelled Seigfreid

"Seigfreid, now is not-" Gallador started

"No, Gallador. There's a million things he could've done! He could've helped me save Darius and Gregor, and we could've all saved Cristomir, but he went against orders, and instead, let all three of them die! Because of him, we lost-" he was interrupted as Danticus fist connected with is jaw. Siegfried fell backwards, and Danticus knelt in front of him, bruising his face punch after punch.

"Danticus, get off him!" Gallador yelled. He grabbed Danticus by his shoulders, only for Danticus to elbow him in his nose. He resumed beating Seigfreid, blood streaming from his nose, until the brute of the King's Squadron, Balamar Steelbone kicked him off of Siegfried. He swung his fist into Danticus' cheek, and held him down by his arms.

Siegfried rolled to his side, coughing up blood. He stood up slowly, and spit towards Danticus' direction. "You damn lunatic! I ought to kill you right now!" He unsheathed his dagger, and his scowl was near as sharp as the blade.

"Seigfreid, drop it!" shouted Tytus, as he drew his longsword.

"Damn it all, end this now, both of you!" boomed Gallador. The room fell silent. Seigfreid words instead became a glare. "Now, listen to me, all of you! We just lost three remarkable men to those...those things! And you two turn on each other, putting blame on a single person! If we want to get out of here, we need to be united! Not at ends! Am I understood!"

"Yes," said Seigfreid with the rest of the group.

"And you Danticus?" Gallador asked.

Danticus remained silent.

"Danticus?" Gallador asked again, his voice more stern.

Danticus slowly nodded, his eyes still glued to the floor.

"Alright then. We'll stay here for the rest of the night. We'll head back when we're rested and our emotions are at ease." He turned to Edwin. "How much food do we have?"

"Enough to last us for a few days, but I don't think we'll be here for that long. We should leave this place by tomorrow."

"Okay​. Tomorrow morning, we'll come up with something and we'll return to Jorden. But right now, let's all get some sleep."

Danticus nodded, and fell back asleep almost immediately. He tossed and turned throughout the night, dreaming of his cousin, and was up before anyone else. His back ached from laying on the cold, stone floor. Never in his life had he been so grateful for beds.

He slowly rose to his feet and scanned the room. The party members were sprawled out amongst each other, resting uneasily in a cautious sleep. Danticus grabbed his sheathed sword leaning against a worn bookcase and strapped it onto his belt. He positioned his shoulder under the bookcase that blocked the door and started to push up.

"Wouldn't do that if I were you," said Gallador. He sat on a chair in the corner of the room.

Danticus sighed. How had he not seen him? "And why is that?"

"It's quite obvious why. I don't need to have the Magus to explain it to you now, do I?" Gallador said.

Danticus rolled his eyes. "So what are we going to do then? Have you come up with something?"

"That's not the matter at hand, Danticus."

"Oh? Then what is?"

"What were you going to do just now?" Gallador inquired.

Danticus felt his demons come loose, feeding on his guilt, thriving on his remorse. "I was going to search for him...he can't be dead, Gallador, he, he can't."

Gallador shook his head, and sighed. "I'm sorry lad...I'm sorry, I truly am, but he's gone. If he wasn't then, he is now. All going out there will do is get you killed. Do you wish yourself the same fate as Cristomir?"

"Tread lightly, Gallador," said Danticus, through gritted teeth.

"Danticus, believe me, I'm hurt as much as you are, I-"

Danticus snickered. "Is that so, Arch Ranger? How could that be? You are not his family."

Gallador squinted his eyes. "He was to be. He was betrothed to my daughter, Danticus. I cared deeply for him, every-"

"If that were so, why didn't you save him!"

Gallador stood from his chair, and met Danticus with strong eyes and a straight back. "What happened yesterday, nobody anticipated, Danticus! I have a duty not just to you, or your cousin, but to everyone here! Your cousin's death weighs heavy in my heart, but you going out there will only lead you to the same fate, and I can't let that happen!"

They stared into each others eyes, waiting for the other to back down, to say something, anything. They hadn't realized their shouting woke most still sleeping, some more stubborn to wake up than others. Jazmyn stood, and softly cleared her throat.

"Sir Thornshield?" she asked, like a docile deer feeding from the hand of a hunter.

Gallador broke away from Danticus' gaze. "Yes, Scribe Kallarya?"

She timidly approached him, the words she might use running through her mind. "I was curious if, um, if you had come up with a plan for our escape, or needed help with one?"

Gallador sighed, and returned to his chair. "I have an idea...but it's too risky. Someone could get hurt. Danticus," he faced the ranger, "could you wake the rest of the group?"

Danticus said nothing and performed his task, nudging their feet, telling the sleepy band to wake.

Tytus sat up and wiped away the sleep from his eyes. He looked towards Gallador. "Have we a plan?"

"I do...but it's risky."

"Well, what is it?"

Gallador shifted in his seat. "We send out two rangers to clear a path. The rest of us follow, the remaining rangers and King's Squadron will guard the rest of the men and wounded."

"Who will clear the path?" Tytus asked.

Gallador pondered the question "Tytus, I want you to take-" Gallador searched the room, his eyebrows raised with suspicion. Where was he?

"Where is Siegfried!?" He stood from his chair, worried. He set about the room, looking high and low. He growled under his breath "He's not here...Tytus, take Danticus and search for him. Go and check the rowboats."

"Yes sir," said Tytus, "Danticus, ready yourself, we leave now." The two rangers approached the bookcase and lifted with their shoulders, revealing the entrance.

"Be careful rangers," Gallador said after them.

Tytus nodded and they made their way through the hallway, taking each step carefully.

"Keep your sword drawn...we best be ready to fight," Tytus said in a hushed voice.

"You don't really think Siegfried abandoned us, do you?" Danticus asked.

Tytus snickered. "Of course that piece of shit would. I hated that bastard the day he took his oath." He raised his hand up and signaled a downward motion. "Get down."

Danticus heard footsteps from ahead. He peaked out from the wall and into the grand hallway.

"Dim the torch a bit," said Tytus, "we don't want the light giving us away to these things."

Danticus did as he was asked and continued to survey the hall.

"There," Tytus said, pointing to the ajar grand doors, leading to the outside world.

"Should we just run for it? We'd have a better advantage out in the sunlight," said Danticus.

"Hmm...too risky. Here, let's hug the wall and make our way to the doors." He and Danticus stood, and walked along the wall, hiding in the shadows, sword in hand. Slowly, they made it to the entrance. The sky was grey and clouded. The blue and white water of the ocean lapped up against the cragged and stony edge of the broken castle.

Danticus surveyed the landing. "There's a rowboat missing." He turned to Tytus, who knelt by a dimming fire. He looked up and stared into the ocean, searching the horizon. He stood up slowly and walked to the outside wall. The Pride of Rorden was nowhere to be seen.

Danticus felt heavy in his stomach, the reality of their situation crashing around him. "You don't think he-"

He was interrupted by Tytus' fist pounding against the wall.

"If I ever find the rat bastard, I swear on my honor as a ranger, I'll gut him where he stands!" He kicked the firewood in a fit of rage. He sat and collected his thoughts. After several moments, he arose.

"Well...we still have one rowboat...but that isn't enough for all of us...we need to get back to Gallador. I swear, he'll have Siegfried executed for this. What was Hardeth thinking when he took him aboard!"

A screech was heard from inside. Danticus and Tytus quickly readied their swords, prepared for any conflict.

"Gods, just smite me now," said Tytus "Let's get this over with."

They slowly moved between the grand doors, the moans pulling them in like a chain. Danticus made sure he was in a wide stance, capable of dodging to his side should the situation demand it. The sound of nails pattering against the walls came from all directions, only it was too dark to see.

"No, no, no, nooooo!" The sayer was unknown, lost in the shadows. Each no sounded more painful each time it was cried. They slowly made their way to the edge of the wall and peered out from the corner.

"That didn't sound human," Danticus whispered. He could make out a figure in the dark, slowly walking around, it's hands on it's head. Danticus notched an arrow in Stormbolt and aimed for the head. The creature must've heard it, however, as he looked to their direction.

"No, don't shoot! I want...I need him...you can help...and I can help you!"

"What in damnation...who are you?" Tytus yelled to the creature.

"Shhh, shhhh....not so loud..."It said, lowering itself closer to the ground. "Will you help me find him?"

"Find who?" asked Tytus

"Here, come closer." He waved for them to come near. Danticus and Tytus did so, cautiously, and knelt down five paces from the unusual creature. It's face was hidden in the shadows, but it's frame was skinny and bony. It looked like it hadn't eaten for decades.

"I'm...I'm looking for...I don't remember...who...I am...what's my name?"

"Your name?" repeated Danticus.

"I'm...my name is...three things died here, not long ago...with weapons...weapons that...that belonged to the terrible ones!" His voiced raised in pitch with every word he said, until it was shrill and near on the edge of hearing.

"You mean...men?" said Tytus

The creature winced at the word. "Men...with their sharp weapons...and their...small ears." He looked up at them. "Do you know Jorik Freemane?"

Tytus was taken back by the question. "Yes. He's the father of men."

"He's...he's the father of death! And blood!" the creature yelled. "With a...sharp weapon," he slowly dropped his glance to Tytus' side, his eyes fixating on his sword. "That looks....just...like...yours!" He lunged at them, his claws pointed out.

The two tumbled back, and the creature dug his claws into Tytus' shoulders, attempting to bite him in the neck. Danticus scrambled up and shot the creature in it's calf and it howled in pain. Tytus kicked it off and drew his own sword. He lunged at it, only for the creature to jump back onto Danticus.

"Get off me!" He slammed himself backwards, hoping to injure the creature, only for it to jump off prior to the impact. Danticus felt the air sprint out of his lungs as he collided with the wall, and he tried to inhale desperately. The rapid sound of running footsteps filled the echoing halls as more creatures started to appear.

"More are coming!" yelled Tytus. He turned and looked past his shoulder, and then once more to his left. "Where's the...the...the thing?"

Danticus felt something unsheathe his dagger from his belt. He turned and saw the creature hanging from the wall.

"Sharp weapons!" it screamed, plunging the dagger into Danticus' heart. Danticus fell backwards, and the scraggly beast continued stabbing his torso repeatedly. Each time, it felt a little less painful.

"Danticus!" Screamed Tytus. He rushed over, sword in hand, hacking his way through the other creatures, desperate to reach his dying friend. In an upward stroke, he severed the creatures left hand, the one holding the dagger.

"Arghhhooooo!!" the creature hollered. More of the monsters came, separating Tytus from Danticus' dying body.

"Danticus..hold on!" he shouted.

Danticus tried to move his fingers, but found it to be a monumental task. He felt a tingle spread from his toes and out to his arms. His heart hurt, as bad as it did when he saw his cousin die before him. He slowly faded in and out of conscience. All that was left were the screams of his surrounded comrade.

"Danticus! I'm...I'm sorry!" he yelled, hacking through the monsters like a whirlwind. "I....I have to..."

Danticus heard him run away, the monsters after him. He saw the creature's, the one who spoke, milky white eye and his oddly colored light brown one stare into his own.

It grunted. "Men....and their...their point...their sharp weapons! It took...my hand!" It moved away from Danticus' gaze, and he felt himself being dragged across the floor, over the stone and the lifeless corpses.

"My...poor hand...gone," the creature cried.

Danticus heard a voice, not the creature's or Tytus', but a voice belonging to someone else. The room got colder, and the pattering of the cursed one ceased, only sturdy footsteps remaining. The creature ran off quickly, still hollering from the pain in his arm. The room grew quiet, and Danticus' vision darkened. He suddenly felt an icy chill overcome him.

But it wasn't the chill of death.

*****

(Thanks for reading, and I'd love to know what you think! Sound off in the comments! Your feedback is always appreciated!)