Where was he thought Arthur, he was floating in an endless black ocean. The sky was inky black without a single star in the sky.

Hell? Thought Arthur, did he die in that Inn.

"No" he croaked aloud, sending ripples around the lapping water; a reflective black cloud began to form above him. His reflection appeared in the smoke; his dirty blond hair was stained with blood.

"This is wrong," said his reflection in the same sickly-sweet voice.

"I have you but it's not the right you," it said his face twisting as if in immense pain.

"It should not be this HARD!" the voice became shrill and piercing and the black smoke rushed toward him. Filling his mouth and nose with a familiar oily feel which coursed through his entire body. Then he fell. Shapes of mountains, burning trees and a flaming gryphon fell by his as he plummeted into nothingness.

"It's all wrong but I can make it right," the woman's voice said warm and wet like honey.

"All I need is time."

Arthur hit the ground screaming.

The rising sun blinded Arthur as he slowly opened his eyes. His whole body shook with the memory of his dreams.

"Bad dreams?" came a voice from behind him. He spun around and drew his sword in a flash, and he shrieked in pain dropping his sword and clutching his left arm.

"No need to be so aggressive" came a soft female voice "I'm not here to kill you, I only want to talk".

"Then talk witch, but know I'll have your head." Growled Arthur as he slumped to his knees.

"I don't think you'll be having anything for a while Knight." The woman stepped into the light. She was of average height with braided hazel hair, she had the look of nobility about her. She moved and spoke with the easy grace and confidence of a noble, but she was dressed in the garb of some rouge from an old epic. She wore tall riding pants with high leather boots, her torso was covered in a large billowy white silk shirt kept around her lean frame with a tight floral vest. Arthur thought it looked ridiculous, but Arthur was only ever comfortable in full plate so maybe he shouldn't be judging other people's fashion sense. She's the Witch! This is no time to be obsessing over clothes he thought as he struggled to his feet.

Breathing heavily, he tried to raise his sword. "Tell me where Pyp is," groaned Arthur.

"Who do you think I am?" she said, irritated, "I don't know any Pyp, I saw you fighting those bony possessed an-".

Arthur collapsed onto the floor, blood rushing from the deep wound in his shoulder. He'd lost too much blood, his time was up.

Pain lay on his shoulder like a boulder was crushing his arm, but the pain was good it meant he was alive. He gently prodded his left arm feeling that the wound had been stitched closed. Arthur was still lying on the floor of the inn's central room; all of his upper body armour had been removed and his chest and shoulders were a web of linen bandages.

"I've cleaned your wounds with boiling schnapps and stitched and bandaged them" the woman who Arthur thought to be the witch appeared at the door "I was surprised you didn't wake, the wound in your shoulder was very deep".

Arthur looked up at her "I suppose you're not the witch" he said.

"No, I've dabbled with herbs and oils like all good ladies should, but I've never ventured into the mythic; the Baron's men would have hung me." Her voice wasn't the same it was lower and didn't have the same sickly feeling to it. Arthur groaned, Pyp, he thought, how was he going to find him? The witch must have wanted him in her twisted world; why, what does a witch want with the son of a High Prince? Ransom? His head ached; Arthur had always hated asking why it never led to a clear answer.

"Knight?" said the woman pulling Arthur out of his thoughts.

"I'm not a Knight" he replied.

"Well, you're dressed like one. What’s your name, not a Knight?" she asked flippantly, staring into his eyes.

"Arthur."

"I'm Els and have some questions to ask you" she said sitting down in a chair, "There's some food over on the table if you're hungry". Arthur pulled himself off the floor and walked over to the food. On the table, there was a small selection of food, a plate of small bread loaves, a steaming bowl of stew, a plate with cheese and black sausages. Arthur sat down and began eating, after the first bite he realised how hungry he was and wolfed down the bowl of stew and all the bread before nibbling on some cheese. When he finished, he turned to Els.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"So, what do you want to know".

"Well, I've been following you for a while, with your armour you don't exactly blend in with the other residents left in Finepoint; I wondered where you were going then that small man began leading you to the Baron’s keep, and how you dealt with the bonemen was impressive".

"Wasn't that impressive," he said looking down at his bandaged arm.

"Those things cut through the Baron's guard like they were babes in a pantomime, and you managed to kill seven of them," she said. “I sought you out because our goals are the same, I want to get inside the Baron’s keep".

"Not interested," said Arthur in a flat voice "I have to find Pyp".

"That boy you were with?" she asked, Arthur nodded.

"He was taken by one of the bonemen, I saw them rushing across the rooftops."

"Which direction!" Arthur demanded jumping up to his feet. The sudden movement sent waves of nausea through his stomach.

"Don't push yourself too hard," said Els not moving from her seat.

"They went south toward the city bank."

"Then that's where I'm heading," said Arthur as he shakily made his way over to the pile of armour.

"I don't think you're going anywhere," she said not turning to look at Arthur.

"What you’re going to stop me?" Arthur said reaching for his longsword. Els laughed. A sweet laugh thought Arthur, one saved for a festival or a dance.

"No, Arthur that wound is going to stop you, move too much and you will tear the stitches and the bleeding will start again."

"Well, what other choice do I have!" Arthur asked the frustration clear in his voice.

"I suppose I could help you find him," said Els with a sly grin she added. "But I don't work for free."

"Seems nobody in this damned city does. What do you want. I've no money left, and my sword and armour aren't worth much."

"No Arthur I don't need money; I need you to help me fight my way into the Baron’s Keep."

"Fine."

A flash of surprise went across Els's face, she regained control in an instant and asked, "You agree that easily?"

"What choice do I have," asked Arthur.

"Well good, rest up for the day and early tomorrow we will hit the Barons keep at full force," she said with a triumphant grin on her face.

"No first we find Pyp then we take the keep," said Arthur, Els's grin melted away. "The Baron’s keep isn't going anywhere but Pyp could be killed at any moment" he continued quickly.

"Who is this Pyp to you, your brother, your son" asked Els.

"Neither. But he's mine to protect."

Els looked down at the table in thought, after a moment she looked up. "Alright Arthur, we'll get Pyp first; but I expect you to do most of the fighting in the Barons Keep."

"Agreed," he said and held out his hand.

"Do Knights not swear an oath when accepting a quest" said Els frowning at his hand.

"I'm not a Knight and this is hardly a quest." Els nodded and shook Arthur's hand.

"We start when the sun rises tomorrow; I'm exhausted after caring for you all night," said Els.

Arthur wanted to get away immediately, but his body protested. He'd not slept properly for the past few days, and it was hard to keep his eyes open. Arthur gathered his belongings and moved to a small room with a plush feather bed. He lay down on the bed and thought of Pyp, that boy was going to be the death of him. Why did the High Prince send him here? Did he know about the devastation of Finepoint? Did he know about the witch? The witch seemed to be searching for Pyp was his father involved? thought Arthur. His head hurt again. No, the High Prince loved his son, fiercely, and there was the issue of succession for the new High King. It made sense to send his son somewhere safe in case a new war broke out. The question of why was not his problem, they never had been, he was a soldier and he would follow his orders. If the Baron was dead, what would he do? Pyp has no family left in the Southland. He stopped those thoughts immediately. First, I find Pyp then think about what happens next, thought Arthur. He needed to focus on tomorrow if he was going to find Pyp in this cursed city.

The next morning Els woke Arthur up at dawn, they both filed into the central room and ate a large breakfast of dry bread, hard cheese and black sausages.

"How do we get to the bank," asked Arthur breaking the silence.

"We don't know that he's at the city bank" she replied between mouthfuls of cheese.

"But that's the direction you saw them heading so that would be a good place to start," said Arthur. Somehow, he knew this was going to be a difficult partnership.

"I know this city well Arthur I've lived here twenty-four years, if they kidnapped the boy, he will most likely be at the dungeons,” said Els. "We will start the search there".

Arthur wanted to argue but she was right, Els had more experience in the city, and he would have to trust her. After they both finished eating Arthur moved back to his room preparing to dress in his armour.

"No armour Arthur, we don't want to be caught,” said Els.

Arthur hated to go without his armour but with the state of his arm, he wouldn't be able to do much fighting. Later he emerged from his room dressed in his white quilted gambeson plain black hose and leather boots. "Much better," said Els "but you will still stand out with that sword" she indicated to the longsword that Arthur had strapped to his waist.

"I won't leave it."

"I wouldn't want you to" said Els, "come on we have a long day ahead of us."

She led Arthur outside into the inn's courtyard, "first we have to get through them" she said pointing to the gate. Arthur had forgotten about the crowd that had followed them to the Inn; it had increased in size, and they surrounded the entire Inn with a group of over 100 possessed. They stood in eerie silence, their eyes vacant and unmoving as they stood in a loose formation, soundless and quite impenetrable.

"That's going to be a problem," said Arthur.