Maven, she wants to go to bloody Maven thought Arthur annoyed at the prospect of a long march.

He had stripped the bulky armour from his body and was left wearing his padded doublet. Els was busy piling baskets of supplies on the single cart that had survived the attack.

"How do you expect us to carry all this," said Arthur.

"You said some horses escaped, once we find them they will pull the cart," she said.

"We don't need all of this for only the two of us," he waved his hand at the growing pile she was stacking.

We should have left an hour ago when the two riders fled.

Els shrugged. "It's a few days to Maven if we want to make it alive we might need this."

"Have you ever travelled without taking everything you need for the trip with you," asked Arthur.

"Don't be absurd, with these provisions we would starve," replied Els looking indignant.

"We take what's most valuable and trade for food and water along the way," said Arthur pulling a leather bag out of the cart and handed it to Els. "The horses will be long gone, too far for us to reach, so we will have to walk. Fill this bag with valuables and enough food for a day or two then we leave."

She glared at him, no doubt wondering if she should order him to obey her, but she bent down and began pulling items from the cart. Arthur filled his own with items he knew would be coveted by the locals. Fine doublets, weapons, jewellery. Soon his bag was heavy and he slung it over his back. He slung a smaller bag down to his waist, it was filled with powder charges and lead balls. After killing the man-beast with the pistol he had grown to appreciate its power. He felt the handle of his sabre and missed the length of his longsword.

"Make sure you bring a spare pair of boots," said Arthur as he picked through the selection he had gathered.

"I only have the one pair," said Els.

"Well pick another," he indicated to the cart.

"Those came from the dead?"

"Yes, I rinsed them in the water so they are clean."

"I won't wear them," said Els.

"Then a few days into the walk when your boots are falling apart you will be forced to walk barefoot," said Arthur as he slung a pair over his back. She gingerly fingered the boots complaining about the size and stiffness before following Arthur's advice and adding a pair to her load.

Finally, they marched toward the crossroad where a signpost pointed in the direction of Maven.

"So why Maven?" asked Arthur stopping at the top of a small hill.

Els hadn't spoken much in the past few hours and when she did so only complained. Arthur didn't get his reply immediately as Els collapsed onto the ground, flinging the bag off her back. They had abandoned the road when more riders passed them. It was hard to tell if they belonged to her father or so other lord but Arthur wanted to take no chances.

Monsters and Dove knows what else on the one hand and Lord Weimaer and his men on the other, this cannot end well.

"Well, if you had paid attention to the book I gave you, you would have seen the man who wrote it attended the esteemed Farset University in Maven." Her breathing was under control and she took a sip from her water skin. "The other scholars who spoke about magic all attended the same university."

"Have you ever been to Maven," asked Arthur.

"No but I've heard good things," said Els.

"They were probably lies, Maven is a hole. The docks attract traders and mercenaries from far around, the locals don't bother to hold them to any laws because they keep them all rich. But that is good for us," said Arthur.

"How so?" Asked Els looking concerned at the true state of Maven.

"It will be easier for us to stay, with so many people coming in and out no pays faces much attention, and we can break the law. For a price."

"You went through Maven often?"

"Whenever I fought across the channel."

"Was that often?"

Arthur looked down at her inquisitive eyes. "Why the sudden interest."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Well we are going to be spending a lot more time together, so I thought I would try to get to know you better," said Els.

Arthur scoffed, "We did enough of that in Finepoint, I know everything I need to know about you Els," he tried to keep his voice level but he could see from her face he had scorned her.

"You know nothing about me," she said angrily.

"Maybe not, but we escaped Finepoint alive without those platitudes, why do we need them now?" said Arthur.

"It's different now, we aren't just fighting to survive anymore. We have a shared goal and if we are to work together more effectively then knowing more about one another cannot hurt."

"You are hardly the first person I would have wanted to work with," said Arthur.

"Will you carry that grudge for the rest of your life, how many times have I apologised," sighed Els.

"You broke faith on the battlefield, that is not a thing to be so easily forgotten."

"Fine Arthur have it your way, we will hunt down and kill the witch defending the High Kingdom from ruin and becoming legendary heroes all in complete silence," she huffed rolling to her side.

"Sounds good to me," he muttered turning to look out off into the distance.

That's a lot more hills.

Els broke her vow of silence almost immediately when she saw the path they were taking. Arthur was surprised a sheltered noble knew such colourful language. He endured a whole day of moaning and stopping for rests and breaks every hour.

At this rate, we are never going to make it to Maven.

He turned to Els when she started complaining again. "Give me your bag."

"What? Why?"

"You might complain less if I carry it and that will make this walk more bearable," said Arthur

"Well you can't have it, I may not be used to marching like you are but I have my pride and I won't have it wounded by admitting I'm too weak to carry a simple bag."

Arthur could feel his headache as his eyes rolled.

"If you were a better conversationalist then I would have something to focus on rather than my aching feet," groaned Els stopping to peer down at her boots.

"Fine I'll talk more will that stop the incessant whinging."

"Yes," Els replied with a smile on her face.

The tricksy harlot, she set me up.

Arthur sighed and recalled the stories he had forced upon him on the march. "I knew this girl from Everland, she had a brother who worked as a ferryman down the Spital River". He launched into an outrageous story of foolish knights, shy ladies and a battle involving: thirty pigs, a cannon and the siege of a monk's illicit brewery.

Els' laughter was a welcome change.

On their second day of traveling they came across a farmstead with a healthy looking stable. "We might be able to buy a horse from them" said Els.

"Maybe," said Arthur eying up the barns.

They found the path which led to the main cottage. Arthur and Els approached with their hands open to show their good intentions. They haggled with a wiry middle aged man as the rest of his family watched from corners of the farm.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing you could have that will convince me to give up my horses, if the local Bailiff gets wind of this he might have me barred from the market, so you need to pay at least double."

Arthur shook his head he didn't have anything valuable enough to give the man. "Will this do?" asked Els.

He turned to see what she pulled from her bag. It was a small golden chair with a flat pendant decorated with shining gems. The farmer took it in his dirty hands and Arthur could almost see the saliva dripping from his mouth.

"It will, but only for one" he said tucking the necklace into his shirt. "This way."

He led them into his large stable and hissed something to one of his stable hands.

"Here she is, young, strong with plenty of stamina. She'll get you where you're going."

The mare was small compared to the horses Arthur had ridden recently but he saw that as a victory.

"And a saddle." said Arthur.

The farmer frowned but motioned for one of his boys to go and get one. After bartering for some food and water they set off, back on their journey. Els was mounted on the horse with the bags and Arthur led the way on foot.

"You could come up here as well Arthur, there's plenty of space," she tapped the saddle in front of her. There was a large grin on her face.

"We do that and the horse dies of exhaustion before we make it to Maven," said Arthur.

"I was kidding Arthur don't be so serious, things are looking up" she declared kicking the horse into a slow trot.

The short gates of Maven were on the horizon and Arthur sighed in relief. He had insisted Els stay on the horse for the trip, he could stomach the marching but not her complaints. They maintained a brisk pace, they only slept a few hours a night and set off before the sun rose in the sky. Els looked worn out, dark bags stretched out under her eyes, her face twitched in excitement as Maven got larger.

"We'll have to sell the horse to afford anywhere to sleep," said Arthur.

"Where will we sleep, an inn," asked Els.

"Of sorts."

They got a fair price for the horse and some of their other valuables. Dressed plainly the two of them strolled into the busy streets of Maven. It was as filthy as Arthur remembered: women emptied chamber pots from windows around the clock, children played games around open sewers, beggars grabbed at the legs of wealthy merchants only for bodyguards to throw them back into the streets. Els' nose turned at the stink.

"I didn't believe a place could smell so foul."

"We did enter at the old quarter, it is the poorest section of Maven," Arthur pushed his way through a knot of people haggling over some threadbare clothing.

Els stuck close to his back. "Please tell me that we won't be staying here."

"No, the place I have in mind is close to the docks."

"As long as it smells better than here," said Els nipping her nostrils closed.

"No promises," Arthur muttered quietly.

They crossed a wobbling pontoon bridge and stepped into a slightly less run-down city quarter. Here the merchants and craftsmen dominated the streets. Arthur didn't look at any of the well-dressed merchants trying to flog him cheap goods. No one taught Els this skill and soon she was swamped with charlatans.

"No no, yes it looks very pretty but I'm not, no," Els tried to speak to all of them at once.

Arthur let her flail with her words before he stepped in grabbed her arm and rushed her forward. "Never make eye contact with them, that when they swarm you, like rats."

"I'll keep that in mind".

Arthur stopped in front of a large iron bar gate.

"Is this the place," said Els looking through the bars. Children were running through a wide garden being chased by robe-wearing women. "Is this an orphanage?"

"Yes," said Arthur pushing open the gate.

He followed the cobbled path to the front door and rapped his knuckles against the door.

"Are you sure we can stay here," asked Els.

The door flew open and a sharp face poked out from underneath a hood. "Hello Arthur" she said.

"Hello Marianne."

They glared at each other.

"Who's that," whispered Els.

"My sister," said Arthur.