The night sky was clear like the waters of Gleam Lake in spring. The moon hung low in the sky and seemed as bright as the sun. Pyp marvelled at this as he and Garth stopped to rest after hours of hard marching away from Erit's company.

"What a beautiful sight," said Pyp eyes firmly locked on the moon.

"You act as if you have never seen it before," said Garth who was knelt over fiddling with a map.

"Not like this I haven't," replied Pyp, he could make out small black spots on the moon.

As if it were a giant face marred with pox scars. He knew that the Peace preached the moon was a giant egg hibernating until the day it hatched into the Dove, but it seemed to Pyp that those old fools have never seen the moon for it looked nothing like an egg.

"Pyp, focus," said Garth. Pyp turned to look at him and realised he had moved on to the end of the street.

"Sorry," said Pyp as he scrambled down the road.

"Don't forget the plan we will scout out the bank and see if we can find a way inside. We can't do that if we stand here writing poetry about the moon," said Garth.

For a moment Pyp was worried he had been thinking aloud, he dismissed the notion quickly as his strange thoughts could hardly count as poetry. Garth continued setting a hard pace, it took all of Pyp concentration to remember the light footwork that Garth had shown him. Pyp felt as if he had improved immensely in the short time he had to practice, he no longer jumped at every shadow he caught at the corner of his eye and sometimes he could barely hear himself breathe despite the running. He still carried the dagger Erit had given him and he still prayed he would not have to use it. Garth dropped to his knees again to pull out the map, they were lucky he had managed to take it as neither of them were familiar with the area. Pyp considered this strange as Garth was clearly a native to Finepoint, he dressed in the local fashion and had the slight accent. When Pyp brought this up Garth had said.

"Aye I was born and raised in the city. But not up here. I was born in the low district and only when the city had fallen did I step into this," he gestured to the street around them. "Felt sick when I first saw it, don't know if it was disgust at the richness or awe," he said.

Pyp doubted it was awe, the streets around this district weren't particularly impressive, lots of grey stone buildings and grey streets. That made it hard for Pyp to remember where they had been, Garth seemed to know when they were going in circles but Pyp could never tell. He was glad Garth was the one leading them because they would have been lost a thousand times over if he was the navigator.

They came to an opening in the street which led to a bridge, Pyp recognised it, he'd crossed it when he had fled the bank. He felt his heartbeat quicken and a sick feeling return to his stomach when he stepped onto the bridge. Pyp hadn't forgotten the carnage he saw at that place and here he was willingly walking back into the fray. Garth noticed his reaction.

"What's wrong Pyp, you look like you've seen a ghoul" he said.

Pyp was staring off into the distance trying to get a glimpse of the bank, "When I told you I had scouted out the bank before I wasn't being honest. I was captured by the possessed and they took me to the bank, they are using it as one big prison," said Pyp.

Garth turned to look off into the distance as well, "You should have told me earlier Pyp, how did you escape?" He asked his voice gentle.

"There was a riot, the prisoners fought back and I just ran as fast as I could, past all of the prisoners, all of the possessed and didn't stop until I nearly collapsed."

"Was it bad, the riot."

"It was horrible," was all Pyp could manage to say.

"Well we have to go now, this and the possessed dealing with Erit, it has to be connected somehow. We need to find out what they are doing with these prisoners and find a way to stop it," said Garth, Pyp could feel the resolve in his voice and he found himself nodding in agreement.

"Pyp I understand this may be hard for you, but the best way to overcome your fear is by facing it head on. You told me you wanted to be better now show me you have what it takes," said Garth.

Pyp was scared, he could feel it in the back of his mind telling him to turn and run just like he had before.

"I will," said Pyp taking a step forward, he was no longer going to let that fearful voice rule him anymore. Pyp clenched his fists to stop his hands from shaking.

After crossing the bridge they found the bank quickly, it was not as far as Pyp remembered it being; he remembered running for hours before finding the bridge. There were no signs of any possessed around the bank but Garth took no chances, they slowly circled the entire bank under the cover of darkness. They took no chances and moved slowly from hiding spot to hiding spot. Pyp craned his neck to try and see into a large glass window, he spotted the top of a worn steel helmet and ducked back down.

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"What did you see?" asked Garth as he crept up beside him.

"A helmet, could be a possessed," said Pyp as he stood back up to take another look.

The helmet wasn't moving and Pyp couldn't see any other helmets. "I can only see one, and it's not moving."

Garth nodded and said "Lets find out."

He picked up a small stone and threw it at the window, Pyp stood up again and saw the helmet in the same position.

"Nothing," he said to Garth.

They moved again, this time going straight for the wall of the bank. Pyp peered inside and saw very the helmet belonged to a dead possessed who was propped up by the window. He didn't recognise the room but it looked like one of the banker's private office.

"There's a dead possessed in there, looks like a small study," he said to Garth who looked frustrated.

"So what someone came along and took out all the possessed guarding the bank, lets get in there and see what happened".

They crept along the wall to the front of the bank, the front door had been damaged noticed Pyp. Garth pushed the damaged door open carefully, the large central hall of the bank was a mess; damaged cages were strew around the large hall. Pyp saw heaps of dead possessed arranged in neat piles, there was no sign of the people who slaughtered the possessed.

"Where were they keeping the prisoners," asked Garth.

"Some in these cages, but most were kept in the vault," replied Pyp indicating to the large staircase at the centre of the room.

"Let's get down there," said Garth, he had his short sword drawn when he marched down the stairs, Pyp drew his dagger and followed him.

There were a number of well-armed figures standing around the large vault door, They were armed with a variety of weapons, one held a zweihander over his shoulder, a number held matchlock muskets, and a few strolled around with short swords at the hip. They all turned to look at the new arrivals, Pyp felt slightly embarrassed with his dagger when twelve matchlock barrels pointed at him.

"Hold men" shouted the man holding the zweihander, "They're not wraiths," said the man. He was well armoured with infantry half plate and tailed pot helm, Pyp could tell he was in charge as he wore a scarlet sash around his chest. Pyp knew that was a rank badge, he was a captain.

"What are you two doing here," he asked.

"Why don't you tell us why you're here," replied Garth.

The captain laughed, "This one's got some fire" he said, he made a gesture with his fingers and all twelve barrels were pointed at them again. "But you see boy I have real fire and I won't hesitate to unleash it on some thick-skulled children," his voice went low as he finished his sentence. "Now then I'll ask again why are you here," said the captain, before Garth could antagonise him again Pyp spoke.

"We were scouting out the bank, the possessed held a large number of prisoners here, we wanted to find out what they were doing with them captain," said Pyp.

The captain gestured again and the matchlocks were lowered, Pyp noticed for the first time they were all dressed the same way as the captain.

"That's better" he said, "Now how did you know I was a captain."

"The sash," said Pyp shying away from the captain's gaze.

"I find it hard to believe that two scruffy street boys like you would just so happen to be scouting out the place which holds the majority of the city's money just to find out what these-" he nudged a dead possessed with his foot, "- things were up to" said the captain.

Pyp could see where this was going, he would have to step up to protect himself and Garth. Pyp stepped forward and addressed the captain.

"Captain, I don't like what you're insinuating", Pyp tried to remember how his father used to speak to his men, "I can see from you're uniforms you are members of the 14th Lightfire regiment and I'm sure that Lieutenant General Scotwood would not approve of you accusing the High Prince's son" said Pyp, he kept iron control over his voice trying to sound confident and aloof at the same time.

The captain looked baffled for a moment, "High Prince's son," he laughed. "That's a good one boy but you should have come up with a better lie." the matchlocks were pointed once more and the captain's fingers were raised in the air.

"Lord Scotwood has three sons named Robert, Charles, and John. Charles serves as captain of the third troop in the Prince's own horse regiment" said Pyp remembering the lengthy lectures about the local lords and their families.

"What does High Prince look like?" asked the captain rattled by Pyp's knowledge of the Scotwoods family.

"My father is a tall man like myself with dark brown hair greying at the temple, he is usually seen wearing a purple cloak with a gold trim" said Pyp the image of his father clear in his mind.

"Well this is a surprise, my prince I'm Captain Murdoch" he knelt as he said this, all thirty of his men knelt as well.

"Rise men;" said Pyp he felt faint as he said the words, he had rarely had to command people even Arthur ignored his birth rank and ordered him around.

"Now tell me what you're doing here," said Pyp.

"Some disturbing reports came up to Lord Scotwood's castle and he sent out a small scouting force to assess the situation, that's us we're dragoons but these things got our horses when we entered the upper district," said Murdoch.

"Any idea what happened here" asked Pyp.

Murdoch looked around the room, "The vault was empty when we got here, you said they were holding people here."

"Yes in the vault," Pyp said.

"Our orders were to scout the city and return to Lord Scotwood but the possessed have garrisoned the exits trapping us in the city. We were about to go down to the Baron's port and commandeer a boat, we would be happy to take you and your friend here with us," said Murdoch.

"Sorry captain but I still have business in Finepoint," said Pyp, he walked past the line of armed men they parted when Pyp strode into the room.

Captain Murdoch turned and spoke to his men when Garth came up to him.

"What was that" he whispered, "how'd you know that stuff."

Pyp raised an eyebrow "Because I am the High Prince's son."

He watched Garth's mouth drop open like a surprised fish, "I knew you were from the nobility but I never expected the High Prince's son," Garth said.

"Just look around lets see what we can find," said Pyp.

"Yes my Prince," said Garth, he bowed extravagantly as he backed away.

Before Pyp could look around the captain moved back over, "Are you sure you won't reconsidered Prince" asked Murdoch.

"Yes I am, I won't go running back home," said Pyp.

"Then you leave me no choice," he gestured to his men "We can't leave you here so my Prince we are yours to command, do with us as you will" said Murdoch.

Pyp relaxed his tensed body, "Good, look around for a clue of what happened to the people they had locked up in here," said Pyp.

"Yes sire!" They all said in unison. Pyp suddenly felt very small.