Pyp stormed out of his brother's stateroom.

Absurd, outrageous thought Pyp as he marched out into the keep's courtyard. The keep was still thick with soldiers, left and right they were practising formations and sharpening weapons. Pyp had gone to a meeting of the Southlands Principality's highest-ranked officers. When he asked his brother why they were preparing for war and against whom. But Baldwyn told him nothing he just asked his generals questions about troop numbers and supplies. Pyp had gotten frustrated and demanded answers, and his brother said to him.

"It seems in your time away you've forgotten basic manners brother. Go and cool your head."

Pyp spotted Joth in the distance, he was busy wrapping a bandage around a man's arm.

"Sire," he nodded as Pyp sat on a barrel next to him.

"Joth," Pyp sighed.

He finished bandaging the arm and turned to face Pyp, "Is there something on your mind Sire," he said.

"Only that my brother acts just like my father did, I expected to return here a hero and be given responsibility befitting a hero. But I've been shunted to the side and treated like a child again," said Pyp.

"The High Prince will be under a lot of pressure, I'm sure he will find something for you to do soon," said Joth and he began cleaning his surgical instruments.

"I don't just want something to do, I want to do something important, meaningful. My brother wants me to sit on my hands and do nothing, after the things I've seen, the things I've done. I should be leading expeditions to hunt down the witch and bring her to justice. It seems my brother doesn't care about justice," said Pyp.

Joth nodded along to Pyp's rant, "The doom of Finepoint was a horrifying experience, I don't know why you want to live through it again sire," said Joth.

"I can't ignore the pain she inflicted on tens of thousands of people, it is unforgivable and I will avenge them all," said Pyp puffing his chest out.

"I remember my son saying something similar when he left me to fight, for weeks he argued with me to get my blessing. I never did give it to him but he left anyway and never returned. If you really want this sire, you won't let your brother stand in your way," said Joth.

Pyp thought about the old man's advice, he's right, in all the epics none of the heroes started by waiting for permission, I need to act, and soon before the witch slips further away.

He slipped off the barrel, "Thank you for the advice Joth." He stalked off back to his room, he needed to think of his next move.

Pyp thought long and hard about what he was going to do.

Is hunting that witch worth it thought Pyp, I don't know where she is or how to find her or if she can even be killed.

He looked at a map of the High Kingdom, So much land, so many cities and I want to track down a single woman thought Pyp.

He was starting to think it would be impossible. Pyp was splayed on his high back chair, he still hadn't cleared up his old music sheets. He went back to the cart to grab his flute, it was sat in its hard leather case on his table. He hadn't touched it since he played for Erit's band. He pulled the gold-decorated flute out and started to blow a gentle tune. His fingers flowed with familiar skill as he pushed down on the various keys to alter the tune.

"I see you haven't changed brother," said Baldwyn who appeared at Pyp's open door.

He put his flute down on the table. "Last time I played this it was to stop a room full of bandits from separating my head from my shoulders. When they decided not to kill me their leader made me watch as he forced two of his men to kill each other in some sort of mock trial," Pyp turned to face his brother. "I have changed," he said giving Baldwyn his best withering glare.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that Pyp, Father had his reason for sending you but I'm afraid he had taken them too his grave. We've had reports of another assassin in Heartford."

Pyp snapped his head around, "Am I in danger," he asked.

"No the assassin was found dead in the river," replied his brother. He shuffled forward his can supporting his every step. "But I've made a decision, it is too dangerous for you to remain in Heartford. You will be sent to serve alongside Edwyn on our northern border, you will be safe there," said Baldwyn.

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"How can you be sure," asked Pyp.

"Edwyn is at the head of an army, there's no chance any man could get into its heart undetected, you leave tonight we cannot have any further delay," he said.

"Will I have an escort?" asked Pyp.

"Of course, five of the Prince's guard will be sent with you" he came to lay a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Your safety is of paramount importance."

"Thank you, brother, what will I do with Edwyn and his army," said Pyp.

"I will leave that up to him," said Baldwyn.

His brother turned to leave, "There will be a horse waiting for you at the keeps rear entrance good luck brother we will all be praying for you."

Pyp was dressed in his most rugged travelling clothes, a thick black doublet with knee high boots above brown breeches. He wore the straight sabre given to him by Arthur on his left hip and the flintlock pistol on his right. He spotted his escort, guardsman Tager stood in full armour holding the reins to a jet black palfrey. He saw his mother stood alongside him in a large hooded shawl. She gave him a stiff embrace before pulling back.

"If it were up to me you wouldn't be going anywhere, but Baldwyn tells me it is for the best, I can only pray he is right," she kissed him gently on his forehead.

"Thank you, Mother, I will return I promise," he said taking the reins from Tager.

He hoisted himself up onto the horses back sliding his feet into the stirrups. He was surrounded by the Prince's guard as they thundered out into the dark night.

As they rode Pyp pictured his brother's army, Baldwyn would have called the state levy throughout the Principality and Pyp guessed around half of them would be with Edwyn. Pikemen made up the majority of their armies with one musketeer for every two pikemen. Cavalry were made up of rich landowners who could afford to provide their own horses. Pyp hoped his brother would be more impressed with his accomplishments and be agreeable to giving him some real authority. They galloped along the highway nonstop throughout the early hours of the day. Tager refused to allow them to slow down despite Pyp's pleas, the horses were beginning to show signs of exhaustion and Tager finally relented and let them take a short rest. Pyp could feel the skin on his legs being rubbed raw from sitting on his horse for hours on end. The rest of his guards didn't seem to be suffering from the same discomfort as Pyp. They fanned out with hands-on weapons and kept far from Pyp. He tended to his horse as Tager yelled at his men, he pulled a feedbag out of his saddle and strapped it around his mouth. Pyp held onto the horse's reins as he looked out into the distance.

Where are we, must be past Lowfell thought Pyp.

He wanted to ask Tager if they would be stopping at the small town but he was too busy scanning the horizon. Pyp had no one to talk to and that suited him fine, he was too busy planning what he was going to say to his brother. Edwyn was the only one of Godwyn's sons who fit his exacting standards, the only thing holding him back was his birth thought Pyp. Edwyn was headstrong and was quick to anger.

I'm not surprised Baldwyn sent him far away from the capital at a time like this thought Pyp, he assumed any threat from the north had been conjured by Baldwyn to keep Edwyn occupied.

If that's the case then it's good for me, I can convince him to help me thought Pyp.

Tager had come to stand next to Pyp, he said nothing as his head swivelled around like anxious bird.

"Tager will we rest in Lowfell," he asked.

"No sire, I have orders to pass around Lowfell, we will encamp by Lake Felling before taking a boat down river to Lord Edwyn's army," said Tager.

Pyp grumbled at the thought of spending another night laying on the ground.

"It's for the best sire, safer out in the woods than in the middle of a city," said Tager.

"Yes yes, I just thought that my days of sleeping on the ground were over," said Pyp shaking his head.

"When your on the road sire there's only the ground to sleep on," said Tager.

Pyp hoped there would be proper beds at Edwyn's camp.

Water splashed into Pyp's eyes as the boat raced down the river.

"Aren't we moving too fast Tager," shouted Pyp.

Tager was stood by the ferry master and shouted into his ear.

"It's all under control sire," Tager shouted back.

Pyp saw another wave crash over the side of the small ferry, the sail was stretched out fully with the heavy wind.

If this is under control I don't want to see what is out of control thought Pyp feeling his stomach slosh around with the motion of the river. One of his guards was being thoroughly sick over the side of the boat and the others were looking slightly pale. It didn't fill him with confidence seeing his highly trained guards brought low by moving water. Pyp sat down on a slippery seat on his boat, he watched the countryside fly by as they flew down the fast flowing river. Pyp doubted he had ever travelled so quickly. The ship was busy with activity, the small crew was racing over the boat, pulling ropes and brushing water off the deck. Pyp wanted to grab one of the rushing individuals and shout at them to stop rushing around, but he knew it wouldn't help their predicament. A sudden impact nearly threw him out of his seat.

"What the hell was that!" he exclaimed.

None of the sailors stopped to answer his question and they started to rush about with even more urgency. He saw Tager and the Ferry master get into a shouting match before his bodyguard stomped off the ship's rear castle.

"Sire it seems the ferry isn't under control," said Tager.

"I can see that, what do we do now?" said Pyp.

"There's not much we can do except hold on and pray," said Tager.

That's comforting thought Pyp as he watch the man cling to a rope. Pyp watched the ships crew struggle to push oars out into the fast flowing river. The moving water ripped the oars from the hands of the flailing sailors. Pyp dug his finger nails into the wooden hull, he could barely keep his eyes open with all the river water that was crashing over the side of the boat. It felt like he was drowning, he could feel his chest ache as he coughed up water onto the deck.

When did I fall onto the deck though Pyp as he slid along the wet wood.

Stars formed before his eyes as he cracked his skull on a loose bucket. Firm hands clawed at him when he struggled to his feet, Tager yanked him back across the boat and pushed him down onto his rear.

"Hold on," Tager shouted as another wave swept over the deck.

Pyp closed his eyes and held on.