Pyp chest burned as he coughed himself awake. He was lying on a shingle beach with the calm river on his right.

It's morning thought Pyp as he rolled to his knees and vomited water onto the ground. He looked over at the gently flowing stream, that calmed quickly, too quickly. Pyp's thoughts went straight to the witch, he began to wonder if her fell powers extended this far. He panned his eyes around searching for any sign of his guards, in the distance he saw an armoured figure floating face down in the water. Pyp hoped not all his men shared the same fate. He pushed himself to his feet and set off down the beach.

His wet clothes chafed as he stomped on loose stones, all he found along the way was broken planks of wood and more corpses. He tried not to dwell on the dead bodies. In the distance he heard shouting, he sped up and started to run toward the source of the sound. He found the leader of his guard trapped under the ferry's mast.

"Who's there, help get this damn thing off me," he shouted.

"It's me Tager," said Pyp stepping into his field of view.

"Sire thank the dove I found you," said Tager.

"Well, it seems I've found you."

"Yes well help get this log off me," Tager winced in pain as he tried to move his body.

Pyp tucked his shoulder under the raised section of the mast, he pushed with all the strength his slim body would allow. After he heaved for a third time the mast rolled into the river and Tager yelped. A thin trail of blood ran down the stream.

"Are you hurt Tager," said Pyp looking down at his leg.

"Not so bad sire, just a scratch," Tager dragged himself out of the water and began to fuss over his wounded leg.

Pyp stood knee-deep in the river and stared out into the distance, he noticed more and more debris from their ill-fortunate voyage from Lake Felling.

"I've never seen water flow like that," said Tager.

"And it turned back so quickly," said Pyp.

Tager hoisted himself to his feet and tested his leg on the ground.

Pyp watched as the captain of his guard waddle around taking small steps with his left leg. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine sire, let us see if we can find anyone else," said Tager limping off into the forest.

They marched for what felt like hours and came across nothing, Tager had found a large stick to help himself walk and Pyp's' clothes dried. They had found a number of trails winding through the woods.

"Deer runs," said Tager leaning against a tree. "The tree bark has been chewed." Tager chose one of the clearings and followed it. "We need to find the horses."

Pyp nodded his heavy breathing preventing him from replying. After following the trail for some time Tager crouched down and motioned for Pyp to do the same. Pyp slumped down next to him and looked up, they were facing a clearing in the thick forest, tied to a tree were four horses and a pile of crates.

Tager's head was rotating like an owl, "Are those ours" asked Pyp.

"They will be," said Tager not looking back as he stood he winced in pain and limped toward the horses. He stroked the nearest one and looked it over. "Yes sire these are our horses, someone must have brought them ashore."

"Aye someone did," came a voice from behind Pyp.

He turned quickly to face his unknown assailant, he reached down for his sword before remembering it had been lost to the river.

"Wouldn't if I were you, lad," came a different voice.

Pyp turned to see a spear levelled at his face, the man behind it was short and bald with a large beard. Another man towered above him holding a large matchlock. A small wisp of smoke rising from the matchcord told him it was ready to fire. The musketeer was dressed in a variety of bright colours which contrasted his dark skin, a waxed moustache lay on his upper lip.

"Well then it seems we've some survivors Gregory" said the moustached man. The shorter man grunted.

"Well it seems we have some thieves," said Pyp.

He caught the eye of the musketeer who had so far been focused on Tager. He raised his eyebrows and rolled his head, "I'm sure it looks that way, but I assure you it isn't the case, we found all this washed up on shore from a wreak. This isn't loot it's salvage," he said with a crooked smile.

"Like there's a difference," said Pyp quietly.

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"There's a big difference lad, one means we're thieves and the other means we are just passers-by," said the short man.

"We only need two horses gentlemen, two horses that are rightfully ours and we will be on our way," said Tager hands raised.

The moustached man lowered his matchlock, "First answer me this who are you."

Pyp wanted to open his mouth and scream his title at the man, telling him he was threatening the brother of the High Prince. But he kept his mouth shut, remembering the many times Arthur lied about his identity. He claimed it would be safer that way and Pyp had no desire to test that theory.

Tager answered for him. "Simple travellers."

The short man snorted. "That isn't what that dying lad told us on the river."

The moustached man spoke over him, "We were told that there were five members of the prince's guard and the young brother of the High Prince," he said with a smile.

All eyes turned to Pyp who sat on the ground. The silence was tense as weapons were gripped and Tager leaned forward with a deadly glint in his eye.

"Well it seems you found one of my guards," said Pyp standing up. He puffed his chest out and held his head up high.

Both men lowered their weapons and bowed. "Then Highness let me be the first to apologise for threatening you, but you cannot be too careful when you are travelling. My name is Isil Al Duba and this is my companion Gregory Morgen." Pyp nodded and dusted himself down, "Now that our identities are clear my guard and I will be taking these horses."

Pyp watched Gregory nudged Isil, "Highness I must inquire, do you happen to know where you are." He asked as he pulled the match cord off his musket and slung it over his shoulder.

"I do not," said Pyp.

"Well, you are in the wildest part of the Noder forest, me and my companion have been guiding travellers through here for months. If you would allow then we would be happy to escort you out."

Out of the corner of his eye, Pyp saw Tager nodding his head over to him, "A moment sirs I must speak with my man." Tager was not having any of it. Pyp explained to him that he wanted to leave this forest quickly and find his brother but Tager kept repeating himself.

"We cannot trust them."

Pyp stared his man in the eye and said. "I am the Prince and you will do as I command Tager or will I need to have you removed from the guard as well."

Tager's face fell.

He's no Arthur Pyp thought slightly disappointed that his new bodyguard didn't have the same mettle as his last one.

They emerged from the forest later that day, Pyp was happy to be back on a horse, the few hours on foot had nearly ruined his boots and caused blisters on his feet. Tager was trailing at the rear behind Pyp and Isil was on the horse in front of him, at the head of their little column was Gregory with the smallest horse leading the way. The open countryside was a welcome sight to Pyp.

"Finally we are out, I must admit that I do not like the forest of your lands. They are too closed in, too suffocating," said Isil.

"Where is it you come from Isil."

The tall man turned to face him with his twinkling brown eyes, "Far away Highness, across the Pocket Sea."

As far as the Pocket Sea Pyp thought.

"Where I come from it is desert as far as the eye can see, the only trees surround the Grand Oasis," said Isil.

"I can't imagine living in a desert, I can barely stand the sand of our lakes," said Pyp.

Isil laughed, "Then I suggest you never visit my homeland, for the sand gets in every crack," he said as he readjusted his breeches.

Pyp laughed at the theatrics.

"I must say Highness, the river your boat was on was flowing very quickly, unnaturally quickly one might say," said Isil stroking his moustache.

"Indeed, I've never heard of a ship being smashed coming down from Felling, it's a calm river," said Pyp.

"One might wonder if it was a natural occurrence at all," said Isil flashing a strange look at Pyp.

"Perhaps," said Pyp his body tensing up.

"There's something about you highness, some strange aura lurking around you. You should be careful, people like that don't tend to live long," said Isil.

Gregory came to a halt ahead of them and waved his companion forward.

"What is it Gregory," said Isil.

"Trouble," he said pointing at columns of smoke rising in the distance.

A battle thought Pyp as they skirted around a large hill covered in small figures clutching matchlocks. At the foot of the hill was a large number of pikemen and halberdiers lining up to storm makeshift fortifications.

"What the blazes is going on," said Tager looking in the same direction as Pyp.

"Nothing we need concern ourselves with now get moving," said Gregory.

"Wait, I need to see the banners," said Pyp. He hadn't spotted any livery on any of the cavalry or footmen, he prayed that his family banner would fly above the attackers, not the defenders.

A large rectangle of infantry formed with thin lines of musketeers spread out ahead of them. With pikes levelled, they pushed forward. Pyp watched as dozens of men fell to the ground as musket balls found their mark, soon the entire battlefield was covered in a thin white mist which made it hard for him to follow the action. Soon the pike block had pressed into the few dugouts and cavalry spikes, they mercilessly cut down any man in front of them.

"We need to move, I don't want to get caught in any of that business," insisted Gregory as he gestured forward.

Pyp spotted the first banner move into view. A rosebush, I don't recognise it. More banners emerged that he didn't recognise before he spotted his own family banner.

"My brother's army, Tager we must get down there now," said Pyp pulling on his horse's reins. He didn't bother to check if their new guides would follow.

Tager was close behind when he raced through an empty field. It was clear that they were spotted by and Tager shouted for him to stop when he spotted a line of musket men readying to fire. Pyp pulled his horse to a halt and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I am Pyppin Mawson brother of Edwyn the man who commands your army!".

There was no response from the line of armoured musketeers.

"Did you hear me, I was sent by the High Prince himself!" Pyp shouted again. In the distance, the men hadn't shifted, their matchlocks held firm.

Tager pulled up alongside him and reached over to pull him back. Suddenly a man on a horse broke rank and trotted toward them. Pyp sat up straight and prepared to speak with the messenger but Tager pulled forward to meet him. Pyp watched as he pulled a parchment out of his doublet and handed it to the messenger. After inspecting the seal he nodded and waved him forward.

"Seems your man had a better plan than running into their guns," said Isil appearing behind Pyp.

"They wouldn't have shot me," said Pyp.

"I wouldn't be so sure Highness, men at war turn into beasts and a beast doesn't understand words," said Isil.

Pyp hear Gregory grumble as he came to stand beside Isil.

"I thought you would have ran for hills," said Pyp.

"Huh, not till we get paid," muttered Gregory.

Isil was stroking his moustache again. "Best get moving highness, those men don't look to patient."

Pyp turned to look at the stony faced soldiers he was trotting past, they all had a hollow look in their eyes and hands wrapped a little to tightly around their weapons.