Arthur sat sharpening his sword staring at the door; he knew something would come, he and Pyp were not exactly stealthy when they arrived. But what would come wondered Arthur: bandits, angry locals or wraiths. Arthur shook his head this haunting place was making him worry about ghosts. Soft feet padded along the stone road, low whispers floated through the air and Arthur strained to hear them. He heard them approach the door and then.

"THUD, THUD, THUD".

There was no light outside the door, whoever it was did not feel the need to use torches. Must be locals, they know that fire attracts unwanted attention thought Arthur. Suddenly the whispering became more intense and the banging at the door stopped. The footsteps rushed away as quickly as they came. Running from something thought Arthur, he stood up and held his sword out in front of him.

An oily sensation came over Arthur as a gleaming black smoke flowed through every tiny crack in the door. Like a whirlwind, it swept into a solid form. Curling strands were pulled together and the acrid smell of burning sulphur assaulted Arthur’s nostrils. He saw his reflection in the solid wall of smoke, and it spoke to him.

"I found you," it said in a feminine voice.

Arthur could not raise his sword "Release me," he growled, his reflection only stared at him and smiled.

He pushed his muscles harder and harder until he felt the grip on him break and he furiously drove his sword into the smoke. The reflection dissipated, the black smoke slowly receded, and the oily feeling with it.

What was that? Thought Arthur, his skin crawling and stomach-turning to ice water. "A witch" he muttered under his breath, that was the only explanation for the reflection and his paralysis. How did he fight a witch; his mind raced as he remembered all he had heard about witches. Salt, silver. Above all, he trusted the steel of his longsword; he would need to find this 'witch' and run her through. Not tonight, he thought, he needed some sleep.

The next morning, Pyp woke first, and his complaints about breakfast woke Arthur soon after.

"I hate bread and cheese, why can't we cook something ".

"We don't have any fresh food to cook Pyp, and I doubt there will be any fresh game I can hunt with my longsword".

Pyp mumbled some more complaints about the food as Arthur fitted his gauntlets and gorget, lamenting the loss of his helmet on the road. They left the guard house as soon as the horse was fitted back on the cart. Arthur kept a closer watch of their surroundings than he had the previous day. He tried to find any signs of the unknown visitors who had tried to break down their door or any clues which may lead him to the witch's lair. He pondered on the witch while setting off down the city's main highway. Perhaps she can only use her fell powers at night Arthur thought; but how did she know where they wer-

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"Arthur I'm bored, how much longer until we reach the Baron's castle" asked Pyp. Arthur shook himself out of his trance, "I don't know Pyp, I've never been to the Baron's castle or this city for that matter" replied Arthur.

"You've never visited the grand city of Finepoint Upon Maws!" exclaimed Pyp "My father said it was one of the greatest cities in the south, at the mouth of River Maws".

"Doesn't look very grand now Pyp,” said Arthur.

Pyp looked around as if noticing the dead scenery for the first time.

"I think we're just in a poor part of the city" said Pyp turning his head to squint into the distance. "Finepoint was one the richest cities in the kingdoms, so I'm sure there will be nicer parts of the city."

The road gently sloped down as the buildings around it gave way to a view of the river Maws. "Finepoint was named after the land it was built on, it's shaped like a needlepoint see," Pyp pointed to the expanding city.

"I see Pyp" said Arthur glancing around the city, even from this distance you can see the lack of life in the streets thought Arthur. The boy was wilfully ignorant about Finepoint’s fate Arthur glanced at him, Pyp was tall for his age with flat brown hair tucked behind his ears. He wore a small blue doublet with a short leather surcoat, Arthur didn't allow him to carry any weapons, he would only hurt himself was Arthur’s only reasoning. The boy was barely a novice with a sword, Arthur had gathered when they had trained during their journey. Boys his age usually studied swordsmanship since they were old enough to hold one, but Pyp preferred to practice his flute than to train with Arthur. His father was a great warrior surely his son would follow in his footsteps, but Pyp was not an only child, his brother Edwyn was the only competent swordsman of the three. Baldwyn needed a cane to walk but had a sharper mind than either of his siblings. But why would the High Prince leave Arthur with his weakest son to go to such a dangerous place?

The silence was unnerving as it made the little sounds of nature seem so out of place among the crisscrossing of stone houses. Arthur paid little attention to Pyp's excited rambling about the wealth of Finepoint. Instead, he watched the alleyways for any danger straining to see into the tight darkness.

"Look out Arthur!" shouted Pyp, without hesitating Arthur dived forward avoiding the large sign which crashed down right on the spot where he stood a moment before.

"That was close," said Arthur standing up and checking his armour for any dints.

"I thought you were going to die, Arthur," said a scared-looking Pyp, looking down at the sign.

Arthur said, "That probably would have crushed me".

What a coincidence it fell on him thought Arthur his mind racing. Could this be the witch's work, is she able to see him wherever he was? His head whipped round from house to house looking for the outline of a person, he saw nothing and all he heard was the flapping of wings.