Arthur was annoyed. The flooding caused by the dam collapse had blocked some main roads, so it took them longer to get to the dungeons. Els was still not talking to Arthur, she marched slightly ahead of him not looking back.

"How long until we get to the dungeons," he asked.

"Another half hour maybe if you hurry up," she replied sharply.

Arthur nodded, he felt like he should apologise but he'd never been good with women. They always seemed to have something else up their sleeve and he would never be able to settle anything with them. Perhaps noble-born women are different, just like the epics say they are all virtuous and forgiving.

Arthur wasn't that naïve. "Women are people too Artie," he remembered his mother telling him. "They can be horrendous bastards just as well as any man."

His mother always knew what to say to make Arthur's life seem a little more miserable. Arthur knew that Els would not forget how he spoke to her, the nobility rarely allowed the low-born to embarrass them without punishment.

"Arthur, I'm sorry that I've been ignoring you for the past hour. You annoyed me with your hypocrisy," Els said suddenly breaking her silence.

"Hypocrisy?" asked Arthur confused, he knew how to read but education was not one of Arthur's priorities.

"You scolded me for destroying the dam while you start a fire which turns into some mythic balefire that chases us across the city, burning countless homes including my own. Then you tell me I'm mad and that a witch is trying to kill us," Els paused to breathe.

"You're right, I shouldn't have said those things, and I shouldn't expect you to believe what I say about the witch." He realised he hadn't thought much about how unbelievable the whole situation with the witch was, Arthur had to take it in its stride if he wanted to get his job done.

"It feels surreal, and adventure through a ghost city fraught with dangerous monsters controlled by a magical witch. It's everything I ever wanted" Els said looking around the city with a satisfied smile on her face. Somehow Arthur wasn't surprised, by the clothing, the Baron's palace and the fact she stayed in this dying city. Arthur had met plenty of rich would-be adventurers during his time, they paid for flashy armour and surrounded themselves with admirers. They never saw any real danger; the commanders would not risk the ire of the noble-born fathers if their precious children got even the smallest wound. He'd never seen a woman try it though, most of the time they were kept close at home to be married. Arthur wouldn't ask Els why she was still here. He assumed the rest of her family had either died or left her behind; neither was something Els would want to remember. Els snapped out of her trance and looked away as her face went red.

"I must seem childish to you," she said quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you must be a seasoned warrior who has seen many battles, this mustn't be that strange for you" she replied in a flattering tone. It was strange for Arthur, but an essential part of being a soldier was to keep calm no matter what was happening around you, Arthur thought Els didn't need to know that, so he only nodded.

"My brother was a lot like you, stoic and strong he always knew what to do."

They continued to walk through the city, talking rarely but the atmosphere was less awkward than before. A cold wind blew through the streets, the sun had fallen behind a large black cloud. It's going to start raining thought Arthur before the first rain drop fell onto the quiet streets of Finepoint’s upper district.

Els started to move faster. “Hurry now Arthur, we haven't got much further to go to the dungeons", they passed through a small arch carved into a large rocky outcrop which dominated this area of the district. Els stopped inside the arch. "The rain’s getting heavier," she said with a frown, Arthur found that amusing, it looked like she was trying to intimidate the rain into stopping.

"And? You said it's not far so let's brave the rain."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I'd rather not get soaked through," said Els.

"It's not that heavy," he peered out into the street ahead, the rain had turned into a torrential downpour.

"It's not," said Els her voice jeering at Arthur as she slumped down onto the ground.

"We are waiting." she said glaring at Arthur as if challenging him to disagree. He was cold and wet and in no mood to argue with a stubborn noble, so he nodded.

"We wait" Arthur agreed as he sat further down from Els on the opposite wall.

The pattering of rain was all that filled the silence for a long while, Arthur spent this time sharpening his sword, he spent much of his restful time attending to his sword and armour; with his armour back at the Inn he didn't have anything to fiddle with when his sword was adequately sharp. Arthur just stared out into the rain mind blank until Els said.

"So, who is the boy you're looking for."

"Just a boy who can't protect himself," Arthur kept looking at the rain.

"Pyp, you said his name was?"

"I did?" said Arthur swinging his head around to look at Els, she looked deep in thought.

"I am sure I've heard that name before," she said, Arthur wasn't too worried about her knowing who Pyp was he was not the most famous of the High Prince's sons. Only a few of the most powerful families in the southern princedom had any idea who Pyp was.

"It couldn't be Pyppin, son of High Prince Godwyn," Arthur's face gave him away.

"It is Godwyn's son, why was he sent to Finepoint why is he not with the High Prince at the capital."

Arthur did not respond immediately, how could she know about Pyp his father took many precautions to keep his identity secret, she may be a member of a powerful house but why would she still be here, for a powerful family getting out of the city would be easy.

"Who are you?" asked Arthur not quite managing to keep the surprise from his voice, suddenly Els looked away from Arthur.

"Just the daughter of a minor noble," she said staring hard at the cobbles.

"No minor noble would know who Pyp was. You must be from one of the more famous families, Mervard? Illius? Draven?", Els just sat there shaking her head unwilling to answer. The jig was up thought Arthur, but it wasn't that bad, if she was from one of the higher families she would be obliged to help one of the heirs to the realm.

"I am part of one of the higher houses, but I'm not on good terms with them" said Els, she was fidgeting in her corner tugging on her short braid viciously. Arthur decided not to press for the name of the family, everyone had trouble with their family and Arthur was sympathetic; he did not like thinking about his own family.

The rain continued for a long while and only became more furious, lightning lit the dark sky and thunder shook Arthur's teeth as he tried in vain to get some sleep. Els sat close to the opening of the arch, rainwater occasionally pouring in and hitting her. She was soaked and shivering noticed Arthur, just before she halted their journey just to avoid some rain and now, she sits there almost revelling in the wetness.

Arthur stood up and walked over to Els. "Get up, we are going to find somewhere dry to sleep."

Els slowly looked over at him. "It's dry here."

"You don't look very dry, and I'd rather sleep indoors than out on the street," Els made to protest more but Arthur stepped out into the rain and strode off down the street.

He heard Els follow him out and shout, "Well what now!"

"You take those houses and I'll take these" Arthur indicated to the houses on each side of the street and set off. He pushed at doors along the street, and none opened, Arthur reasoned that most folk in the upper district locked their houses when they fled the city.

"ARTHUR HERE!" Shouted Els over the thundering downpour. She was standing by a small side door down a gap between two houses, Arthur ran over as Els entered their shelter for the night. When he entered the house Arthur noticed the thin musty smell with a hint of decay, Els had wandered off to look through the different rooms. Arthur wasn't interested in the house he just wanted a dry bed to sleep in, he still felt tired from his early wounds. He went upstairs and found a small bedroom with a single feather bed; it was a poor room compared to the rest of the house most likely used by servants. He began to take off his boots when he heard Els come up the stairs.

"Arthur?"

"In here,"

"You're taking this room, there are much nicer ones with larger beds," she said as she peered into Arthur's modest lodgings.

"Wouldn't feel right sleeping in some lavish burgher's room," said Arthur laying down on the feather bed.

"Goodnight then," Els said as she went to find her room for the night. Arthur quickly fell into a deep sleep.