Arthur woke up first, light shining from the cracks in the door shined onto his face. He ran his fingers over the sutures in his left arm.

It's excellent work, he thought, healing nicely.

Getting out of bed was difficult, the soft mattress seemed to trap him; the better the sleep the harder it was to get up Arthur had always found. He changed into his clothes, Arthur had dried the clothes over night and even after being soaked through they still smelled of sweat. Stepping outside of his room Arthur couldn't hear any movement in the house, the lady must still be asleep. He wasn't surprised, the lady Els probably had maids to wake her up every morning and Arthur was no maid so he went downstairs to look for something to eat. The previous occupants of the house had been very thorough and had left little in the pantry, Arthur managed to find enough for a modest breakfast, he ate a loaf of stale black bread with an assortment of nuts and dried fruit while he finished the water left in his waterskin. After a few minutes of eating Els appeared in the kitchen, she yawned and asked Arthur.

"Were you planning on leaving me any?"

Arthur looked down and realised he'd nearly eaten all of the food he had found. "Sorry" he replied getting up out of his chair.

"Well you'll need it if you want to heal" she looked down at the table and she shook her head, "Is there anything else?"

"No, that's all that was left,"

Els reluctantly sat down and nibbled on a piece of cheese. Arthur pulled out his sword and set about cleaning it.

"Didn't you do that yesterday?" asked Els.

"A good swordsman spends more time cleaning his sword than swinging it. Or so they say, it just helps me think."

"And here I was thinking you were a professional."

"Would you even know what a professional looks like."

"My family's Master of Arms, he was a professional a great man. Sir Varick Flender, he was an example of a pure knight, a chivalrous man," said Els focused on a her breakfast.

"I'm sure he was," he said disbelievingly. Arthur had known many knights and they were rarely great. Mostly they were just men, men with an overly large sense of self worth, but still men who were just as able to be cruel and selfish.

"Scoff all you want I knew the man and he was impeccable," said Els glaring at Arthur, "And what would you know about being great, you're no Knight and you don't look like a State Troop. You're just some mercenary who happens to be escorting the heir to the Southlands." Arthur winced at the mention of mercenary, Els used it as an insult and after the founding of the State army, it was. However Arthur had been raised with mercenaries, he was brought up on their stories of adventures across the continent and lands beyond the reach of the High Castle. Arthur left Els to finish her food and went out the front door, he didn't want to stay in there with her when she was in a bad mood. Arthur hoped they would get to the dungeon soon he had spent too much time frolicking around with some noble born harlot.

Dammit he thought now she's got me in a bad mood, he was sure they would be walking in silence again.

Silently the pair stalked through the streets of Finepoint, Els led the way and kept a large distance between the two of them. The Finepoint dungeon came into view, it was an impressive building formerly a castle but had fallen into disrepair and was turned into a dungeon. The front gate still stood and the portcullis was lowered but a section of wall had partially collapsed Arthur noted, that would be how he got in. Els walked straight to the front gate and stood before the iron bars and she began shouting.

"Hello! is anyone there".

Arthur dashed forward and grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing!" He whispered furiously, "There may be possessed in there".

"Get off me" she shouted at Arthur pulling away from him.

The portcullis began to rise and Arthur drew his sword. What does that idiot think she is doing? Els strode past him and walk through the open gate causing Arthur to scramble after her; when inside they were greeted with a large group of armed men.

"Hold it!" Barked a portly man dressed in half plate, the soldiers began to form a circle around them halberd heads pointing at the two of them.

"State your business or begone we've no use for dandies here" he shouted.

If any of the man's bluster bothered Els she showed no sign, she only stared at him maintaining a stony face which gave away no emotion. Arthur stood back and said nothing his drawn sword held loosely down his side, he maintained a façade of calm but underneath he had a feeling of dread. If Els couldn't talk her way out of this Arthur may have to fight, and he didn't fancy his chances against nearly 30 armed men. The man who seemed to be in charge was tapping his foot impatiently as Els slowly reached into her bag and pulled out a small box, she opened the box and held out a small pendant shaped like a fox head. The guards took a step back and lowered their weapons.

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"I'm terrible sorry lady we didn't mean to threaten one of Finepoint's oldest families," the man stammered the fear clear in his eyes.

"It's quite alright sergeant, these are dangerous times and caution is the wisest course of action" said Els flashing the sergeant a smile, "Shall we go inside."

"Yes of course milady," he led them both inside the decaying castle.

Arthur was surprised at the reaction of the guards to seeing the pendant, he knew that Els must come form a high family but he did not know which family would instill such fear.

The inside of the dungeon was a scarcely better than the outside, many holes dotted the walls and torn banners hung across cracked windows. The sergeant droned on about the state of the city and how his men found the dungeons abandoned and took up defensive positions, his tone was proud but all Arthur saw was scared men hiding in a crippled fort that no force would think was a threat. Els listened attentively and nodded as he spoke of the danger the possessed posed on the city while Arthur rolled his eyes at the obviousness of the statement. They arrived in a large central chamber with tables lined by the walls.

"If you desire lady I can have some food prepared," said the sergeant.

"That would be most welcome sergeant, before you go what is your name," asked Els.

"Rodrim lady," he bowed deeply before quickly ducking through a side door.

"What is this Els!" demanded Arthur when the soldiers moved out of earshot, "There's no possessed here, no Pyp!"

"No there Isn't" she replied not looking back at him "I have other plans for the dungeons."

Arthur was furious, he couldn't decide who he was more angry with Els or himself for trusting in a noble-born with grand delusions of being some hero from the Epics.

Sergeant Rodrim threw open the side door and out came a number of serving girls carrying trays of food, "You were lucky lady we had just finished preparing food."

Arthur turned to look at the door, there were two guards stood directly in front of it and they didn't seem particularly friendly. The delicious smells coming form the tables drew Arthur over, he hadn't eaten a hot meal in days and was intoxicated by the sweet smell coming from the trays. He had a long search ahead of him so he would have to eat something to regain his strength. As they all ate Els stood up from her chair.

"Soldiers of the city watch I am Elsbeth Weimaer and I need your help. Finepoint has been overrun by a foul darkness it has driven out the city's finest now it lies mostly abandoned rife with looters and scum. I cannot abide by this. I have a duty to my city to stand and fight, to bring light back to Finepoint. The curse of Finepoint was brought here by that vixen from Splintren and propagated by the weak Baron Wenceslas who fell for her charms. I have a quest for you brave men, to end this curse we must end the Baron and his wicked concubine; with your help men we will storm the Barons Keep and save Finepoint!"

She finished her speech to thunderous applause from the city watchmen sat in the dining chamber. So that's why she came to the dungeons, to recruit an army to take the Keep for her and then she will keep all the glory. He would have no part in it and Els would know that.

They continued to feast as the sergeant and his men spoke about how they would go about taking the Baron's keep, Arthur heard them speak about sending the nimblest men to scale the walls and open the gate. A suicide mission for those nimble men if they have any bonemen guarding the keep, Els stayed quiet during the talk of battle but she looked attentive and nodded when appropriate. Arthur tried not to pay too much attention to them, he needed to focus on taking some of this food Arthur wasn't sure how long he would be searching for Pyp so he would need all the food he could get. Fortunately for Arthur, most of the room was busy adding their own suggestions to the battle plan so nobody noticed him slide a few extra rolls off the table. The sergeant's voice boomed over all the chatter of the room.

"SILENCE, the night is upon us we must sleep and we will continue this discussion in the morning".

The sergeant abruptly stood up and motioned to the serving women around him, he leaned over and had some words with Els that Arthur couldn't hear. Everyone on the room had gotten up and was mingling around the room in small groups, Arthur made to talk to Els about him leaving immediately; it had not gotten dark yet and Arthur didn't want to spend anymore time in this dungeon.

As he walked over he noticed a familiar face moving through the crowd. Arett! Arthur stopped in his tracks. That Bastard, he's the reason that Pyp was captured, the coward. He pounced on an unwary Arett and grabbed him by the collar, forgetting where he was in his anger.

"Arthur!" Arett exclaimed terror spreading across his thin features, "w-w-w-what are you doing."

"You owe me an explanation coward," Arthur snarled, "You left Pyp to die in that Inn and I might just kill you for that."

Arett's knees were buckling and Arthur was holding him up by his jerkin. Before Arthur could continue a cold steel blade pressed into his throat.

"Drop him," came a low and dangerous voice from over his shoulder.

"He's scum and deserves nothing better," Arthur spat back keeping his eyes on Arett determined not to let him wriggle free of his grip. "Don't care you can't do that here. we're the city watch we deal with crimes not you," replied the man the blade not wavering from Arthur's neck.

Arthur stood there for a moment before letting Arett go, once free he scrabbled back and began shouting. "Lock him up he's crazy I've done nothing and he attacked me," stammered Arett.

"SILENCE" bellowed Sergeant "What's going on here Derwin", the man with the sword to Arthur's throat responded.

"This man grabbed Arett claiming he had committed some crime". As the two men talked Els descended to meet with them.

"Is this true Arthur?" She asked.

"Yes, he's the man who abandoned me and Pyp at the Inn," said Arthur.

The commotion attracted many watchmen who formed a crowd around them.

"What do you think should be done Sergeant?" asked Els looking over to the Sergeant.

He puffed out his chest. "Well Milady for these cases of disobedience in the watch we would throw him in a cell for a night to regain his wits. Is this man an acquaintance of yours".

"Yes we travelled here together he agreed to help me get to the keep but he refuses to help me before I help him" said Els.

Arthur noticed a mischievous glint in her eye. He kept silent for a moment he knew whatever he said would not be received well by the armed men around him.

"However Sergeant if he were to swear obedience and service to me then would you consider overlooking his deeds," Els said sweetly once again asking for the Sergeant's permission as if he would not do anything she asked.

The Sergeant nodded and all eyes turned to Arthur, her ultimatum filled Arthur with impotent rage, she knew he couldn't accept and that he was already sworn to Pyp but she was pushing her luck anyway.

Arthur slowly shook his head "I'm already sworn to another."

Els's face curled up in disappointment. "Very well, take him to the dungeon Sergeant," she said turning and walking away as if embarrassed by her decision.

"Derwin to the cells with him and keep watch on him this night, he may try to escape and seek revenge on Lady Elsbeth" said the Sergeant then he scrambled away to follow Els.

"Get moving" said Derwin as he pulled Arthur sword from its sheathe and pushed him toward the door.