Arthur woke Pyp up, he was surprised the boy slept through all the commotion.

"Is it morning already."

"Yes, Pyp and we are going to the Baron's keep".

"Finally, has the Baron sent men to collect us? I need to put on my best clothes an-".

"He hasn't sent anyone Pyp I've found a guide to take us. We are leaving soon so gather your things".

Arthur walked outside of the house to attend the horse and cart but was interrupted by Arett. "There won't be enough space for the horse or cart".

"I'll ask Joth if I can leave them here" said Arthur making for the door.

"Are you bringing that boy along with you?"

"Yes."

"That's not a good idea, he'll slow us down and likely get us killed".

Before Arthur could reply Joth and Pyp came out of the house together chatting idly. "- and that's the tale of the demi-gryphon riders of the Winged Tower".

"Will the Gryphons ever return to the Tower?" asked Pyp eyes wide in wonder. "Sorry lad, all the true Gryphons are dead; they were killed off long before the first High King ruled in these lands".

"Joth, I need to leave my horse and cart here".

"What!" squeaked Pyp, "we can't leave the cart, it's got all my belongings!"

"It stays behind Pyp and that's final."

"Then I'll stay as well, to guard it."

"Pyppin," Arthur sighed. "We have to take you to the Baron".

"But Art-"

"No Pyppin," Arthur said in a stern voice, Pyp flinched and looked down at his shoes. Arthur rummaged around in the cart, pulled out a leather haversack and gave it to Pyp. "Fill it up with some food and waterskins".

As Pyp filled up his bag Arett asked Arthur. "So who's the boy, why's it so important for him to see the Baron."

"I'm helping you get your boat unscathed, so all you need to know is I need to get that boy to the Barons keep in one piece."

Arett nodded "Alright then, let's be off, I want out of this city as soon as possible".

They arrived at a large domed building south of the ring wall which separates the central district from the upper district. The dome had a skeleton of shaped stone and concrete with interior glass panes which filled the gaps.

"Is that the city's Cage of the Dove?" Asked Arthur looking up.

"Yes, it finished construction 8 years ago, beautiful building, I worked on its construction myself" he looked up at the dome with pride. "When the black smoke came and madness gripped the city, thousands gathered in there then they just" Arett said with a slight quiver in his voice. "They started killing each other, Dove above! it was horrible" Arett shivered, "We have to go in there to get to the Upper district". They approached the building and Arthur noticed the large wooden door to the Cage had been forcefully ripped open. This was impressive as the door stood 3 meters tall and half as wide.

"Where are the bodies?" asked Arthur as they entered the Cage.

"What?" replied Arett,

"You said people were killing each other in here, so where are the bodies?"

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Arett looked queasy as he thought about the question. "I'm not sure, I'm just glad that they're gone; I knew some of those people, they were my friends."

"Thousands of bodies don't just disappear," said Arthur, Arett only shrugged. Arett led them across the wide auditorium which took up most of the space in the building, Arthur glanced at the central podium.

Arett noticed and said, "This Cage had not yet been graced by a Diamond Feather".

"Strange," said Arthur.

"Arthur look!" shouted Pyp as he pointed over at the right-hand side of the room. Arthur saw a thin column of black smoke rising through the dome.

Arett went white with terror, his lower lip trembling he whispered. "Run." As he slowly retreated to the entrance.

Arthur grabbed his arm and whispered, "Stay here".

Arthur slowly crossed the room; the silence lay over him like an anvil. His armour sliding across his body was deafening. Arthur walked along a wide-open corridor longsword held out in front of him. He rounded the corner and was immersed in the black smoke. A shadow lunged forward, swinging a cruel-looking axe in a short arc down onto Arthurs's head. Arthurs's longsword snapped up over his head deflecting the axe. Arthur jerked back as the shadow kicked him in the chest, he rolled on the ground and landed back on his feet frantically searching for his assailant. The black smoke receded into the shadow, and it revealed a large heavy-set man with pale milky eyes, clenching a long axe in two meaty fists. He wore no armour, but the black smoke whirled around him like an angry snake. Arthur stood up pointed the tip of his sword at the man and waited. They circled each other for a moment, Arthur considered his opponent. The axe was held loosely by his waist. The thing was confident thought Arthur.

Arthur's patience prevailed as the axeman charged forward swinging his axe directly at Arthur's head. Ducking the axe, Arthur thrust his sword forward into the axeman’s neck and wrenched it to the side ripping out his throat. The wound did not bleed, only leaked black smoke as the axeman silently fell to the floor. Arthur had no time to enjoy his victory as four small men moved quickly toward the fallen brute and pounced on Arthur.

Minutes later silence once again descended onto the Cage after Arthur cut his way through the minions. Arett and Pyp cautiously approached the corridor as Arthur leaned against a wall breathing heavily.

"Looks like I picked the right man for the job" laughed Arett nervously, Pyp only stared at the bodies.

"Let's get going before more of these things show up." Pyp stood still staring at the bodies a mixture of wonder and disgust on his face.

"Pyp, come on" he said grabbing Pyp by the arm. They moved back to the centre of the auditorium; Arett leaned behind the central podium and pulled a lever. A low rumble sounded from the stairs leading up to the dais, Arthur glanced at Pyp this seemed the kind of thing he would love, but he only stood there with a solemn expression on his face. Has the boy ever seen a corpse? wondered Arthur, has he seen a man killed in front of him? The prince had never been what he expected, the son of High Prince Gerron protector of all the Southlands and all he seemed to do was complain.

"Arthur the roads are too bumpy"," Arthur the food is awful." Most of Arthur's memories of the boy left a poor impression.

"Down there" said Arett indicating the doorway that formed, "that is the path to the upper district".

"I believe this tunnel was used to move the important members and artefacts of the Peace" chattered Arett as they swiftly moved down a narrow corridor. Whoever built this did it in a hurry, the bricks which lined the sloping walls were bare and cracked. Suppose members of the Peace don't deserve a nice tunnel, thought Arthur. Though Baron Wenceslas famously feuded with the Peace; it was a surprise he allowed the tunnel to be built at all.

As Arthur looked around Arett came up beside him and said, "That was some good swordsmanship back there, and that's a fine sword". Arthur's sword was sturdy and razor-sharp, but the blade and hilt were plain and unadorned.

"I see you have a knife there Arett, have you ever used it?"

"Well, I've never had to it’s mostly to scare off any muggers."

"Not even when the that possessed guardsman attacked your wife?" said Arthur in a flat voice betraying no emotion, or accusation.

"Well, she's not my wife and my tiny knife couldn't have done anything against that armoured giant."

"So how did you escape."

"We ran of course, the guardsman was slow, and I managed to pull Mern out from that beast and carry her to safety" said Arett puffing up his chest. Arthur remembered the woman who was treated on Joth’s table, she was young and pretty with long auburn hair; a stark contrast to Arett’s balding grey head.

A mistress then thought Arthur, but why would he go through so much effort to help her escape? He would have been better off coming here alone, Arthur's mind drifted to other memories of simpler times as Arett droned on about his encounter with the possessed guard.

Around a half hour later they arrived at a long flight of stairs.

"Here we are," said Arett.

"Is this the entrance to the Baron's keep?" asked Arthur.

"No, this is the entrance to a storage cellar two leagues east of the Baron Keep" said Arett.

"Two leagues," whined Pyp. "Do we have to walk the whole way".

Pyp was sitting on a step, his small round face was red and puffy from the fast walk down the corridor.

"Yes, we will Pyp, and it may be further if we have to avoid any of those… Possessed,” said Arthur.

"Fine" said Pyp with a petulant huff.

"We should get moving, it has just turned midday," said Arett as he peered out of the door.