"A judge?" Alistair's explanation did little to answer the questions on everyone's minds, and Clara's own question was her way of asking Alistair to explain himself a little better. "Don't judges preside over a courtroom and nothing else?"

"Not a judge, but one of the Judges," Alistair corrected her. "Thule is divided into three provinces - the West, the East, and the Center - and one person governs each province. And these people are appointed by the King himself and exercise his authority whenever he's unable to do so himself. The title is a courtesy, given their role."

Terror slid across the entire group, most notably Lenoria. "But you said the King was sick."

"Exactly. Count Demetrio rules the Eastern Province. And as long as the King is sick, all of the King's authority over the Eastern Province falls on him. And out of the three Judges...he's the cruelest of them all."

***

"Are you going to make me repeat myself?" Demetrio's voice was worn down from old age, but the calm yet firm tone of it had everyone's attention. "Or are you going to force my hand?"

One of the villagers stepped forward. "Please, sire, don't be angry with us."

"You misunderstand." Demetrio chuckled malevolently. "I don't get angry. I have people to do that for me. And they don't have to get angry if you simply turn in the remaining rebel."

***

"Rebels?" Lenoria asked.

Alistair didn't hesitate to answer. "A rebellion started not long after King Edgar got sick. A vigilante who dubbed himself 'The Arrow' leads it and has incited many people to attack the crown and anyone who works directly for the King. Since Thule is in the middle of a war, this was perhaps the best time for them to attack."

"So, the claims of Thule being a tyranny have their fruit," Clara said.

"I won't deny that. But we in the Church believe there are better ways to change the government, and needless violence isn't one of them." He turned his back on the ongoing scene. "This is our chance. If he sees us, we'll likely be questioned since we're outsiders. We have to leave while we still have the chance."

"Smartest thing you've said all day." Caesar was already on his way out of the tree patch. "Let's go, ladies."

"Wait!" Aquamarine refused to stand from her hiding spot. "Don't you think we should do something? There's kids involved."

"We have to let the proper authorities handle this. The Count's word is law around here."

"Aren't you the leader of this little band?" Aquamarine placed both hands on Lenoria's shoulders. "Doesn't this upset you in the slightest?"

"It does," Lenoria answered. "But do you see the guys next to that old man? Pearl detected Soulstones on them. We can't just jump in to save the day. We could get slaughtered."

Alistair nodded. "And now we have our reasons not to get involved just yet. We may have to deal with them eventually, as is part of Lenoria's mission. But we must reach Goodsprings first and plan everything there."

"It's probably for the best." Clara eyed the rebel corpses in the distance. "The Count looks like the patient sort. He may have ordered the execution of the rebels, but the villagers have not been harmed. Maybe the stories about him being a big bad boogieman have been exaggerated."

***

"This woman here has committed the crime of housing rebels, and you have the gall to tell me not to be angry?"

The Count's chilling statement left a few of the villagers murmuring in fear. The one who stepped up earlier, as scared as he was, did not back down.

"My Count, Eleanor may have acted foolishly, but it's possible the rebels have coerced her into helping them." The villager, built like a lumberjack, gestured at the woman with a meaty hand. "Look at her. She runs the local orphanage. The children will be lost without her if you decide to execute her."

"There are no exceptions to the law I implemented. Willingly or not, this woman has aided the rebels. Six of them have paid for their transgressions with their lives, but we're still missing one. Would any of you like to take their place? Or would you like to speak up now and give away their location? At this point, my patience is wearing thin and I'm willing to swing both ways."

"I...don't know, my Count," Eleanor nervously said. "He jumped out the window and went somewhere to the s-south."

Demetrio scoffed. He raised his hand to his chest level and effortlessly summoned a black and red glyph. He pointed at the woman with his index finger, which soon took a skeletal shape and started gathering energy with a baleful green light. "Eleanor, Eleanor. You should know better than to lie to a Judge."

Eleanor gasped and took a step back. She looked over at the red-haired man, who bowed his head before addressing his liege.

"Lord Demetrio," said the red-haired man, "I can confirm that she's lying. Up until now, her heartbeat was calm and stable. But it changed during her statement. She knows where the remaining rebel is."

"How can you hear my heart from that distance?!"

"Do not question my subordinate's accuracy, wench." Demetrio kept his smile, but it was shallow enough for anyone to note his whittling patience. "Asterion's senses are the sharpest in the land. If you won't give me what I want..." Demetrio pointed at the girl seated at the woman's feet. "...then perhaps I'll take something dear to you instead."

***

Our heroes had successfully circled around Demetrio without getting detected and had placed themselves about a hundred feet behind him. But Lenoria paused once Demetrio aimed his spell at the little girl. "No..."

"I see leaving them to talk things out didn't work out for the best." There was a bit of smugness in Aquamarine's expression, but she was angrier than anything else. "Now he's going to kill an innocent little girl."

"Damn it," Alistair cursed under his breath. He could no longer bring himself to ignore the situation. He felt a hand gently wrap around his wrist.

"Al, we have to do something," Lenoria pleaded.

"There has to be something we can do," Clara said.

Alistair shook his head. "This may be my homeland, but if the Count sees any of you, he'll definitely do his best to interrogate you. And if we dare to raise a hand against him, we'll be branded as renegades and be sent straight to the gallows!"

"I don't believe you." Aquamarine placed her hands on her hips. "Alistair, slayer of giants, afraid of an old man? I understand he's a big deal around here, but won't you at least try to do something?"

"There's a difference between any elderly man and Count Demetrio!" A choice had to be made now. Alistair could still hear bickering between Demetrio and the villagers. With a loud gulp, Alistair closed his eyes firmly. "Caesar."

"Huh?" Caesar had been busy looking for an escape route amidst the trees.

"Chestnut knows the road to Goodsprings. Follow him and keep Lenoria safe. Keep everyone safe. I'm afraid this is my stop."

"Are you crazy?" Lenoria grabbed Alistair by the shoulders and shook him back and forth. "You've been building this guy up as some sort of boogieman, and you're going out there by yourself?!"

"Please understand, Lenoria. Aquamarine has the right idea; I have to do something, or innocent people are going to die. But if you stay here with me, I can't guarantee your safety."

"Screw that! After everything we've been through?" Lenoria pulled Alistair close enough for their noses to touch. "If you're staying, I'm staying!"

Clara sighed. "I-if she's staying, then I'm staying, too."

Caesar was ready to leave with Chestnut in tow, but a firm grip from Aquamarine held him back. "It's our job to keep you safe, so we're going wherever Lenoria goes."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Lenoria nodded. "I know we haven't known each other for long, but this trip with you has been the best time of my life. I'm not going to lose you to some creep on a power trip."

"I won't fight him. As I am now, I don't think I have the strength to take him down, even if I wanted to. But I will engage in dialogue with him." Alistair turned his back on everyone else. "Just give me five minutes with him. If anything happens to me, then please move on to Goodsprings. Lady Gabrielle may work for Lord Demetrio, but she'll understand the situation if you explain it to her."

"Al..."

"Do as I say, please! If anything happens to me, run away!" Alistair shook his fists. "Our trip together...was also the best time of my life. We have a lot of work ahead, but I look forward to the day our schedules open up so we can travel together again." Alistair turned around and curled his fingers in between Lenoria's right hand and wrapped his free arm around her waist to bring her closer to him. Lenoria blushed when she was firmly pressed against him, but didn't protest. Their lips were just a couple of inches from touching, and Alistair could feel the heat from Lenoria's faint yet rapid breathing.

After a moment of hesitation, Alistair pushed himself forward and kissed her. It was brief and he quickly pulled away from her, but Lenoria remained unresponsive even as Alistair let her go. "Remember," Alistair said, "if anything happens to me, make your way to Goodsprings. It's imperative for Lady Gabrielle to know what happened here. I'm sure she'll know what to do in the worst-case scenario."

"S-sure." Her face flushed, Lenoria's mind was elsewhere. "That one was a lot better than the one we shared in the Plains..." She watched as Alistair emerged from the trees and made his way to Demetrio's group. All she could do now was to have faith in Alistair. They couldn't convince the crowd back in Hammer's Reach of their innocence, but perhaps this Demetrio was a more reasonable fellow if he was given what he wanted.

***

"Lord Demetrio!"

The crowds immediately turned their direction to the northern road to see a young man in armor making his way to them. This didn't stop him, but it did slow him down as the realization dawned on him. He had everyone's attention now, including the men in red as well as Demetrio's other henchmen.

"You bear the colors of House Leone." Demetrio lowered his skeletal hand, which immediately regained its skin. "Identify yourself, then state your business. You have wandered too far from your pride, cub."

Alistair knelt with a single knee and bowed his head respectfully to the count. "Alistair Adams, sire. Squire to Lady Victoria Orwell and cook for House Leone. I recently finished my pilgrimage to the Cathedral of the Hammer and have returned home."

The crowd whispered amongst themselves while Demetrio's men stood astounded. Even the Count himself appeared to have been caught off-guard, his attention completely averted from Eleanor.

"The Lioness?" The crowd repeated this the most amongst themselves.

"What's he doing all the way out here in the country?"

"Scrawny little thing like him? How can he move with all that armor?"

"'Ey, wasn't he the kid who got engaged some time ago?"

"Could be a different one."

***

"Psst, hey Clara. You know who this Orwell chick is?"

"No," Clara answered Lenoria. "Aquamarine?"

The magical girl thought about it for a moment. "Ugh, I remember Mesmerizing Emerald gushing about her before I left Helix City, but I have no idea who that is."

Something else that caught Lenoria's ear concerned her greatly. "Engaged?"

***

"I was never a believer of chance encounters, but this is an unexpected surprise." Demetrio's men readied themselves for a fight as the Count remained calm and aloof. "Have the lions once again sent a cub to preach about the rights and wrongs of my position?"

"W-with all due respect, I have not come to bring honor or dishonor to my family name. Rather, I've decided to speak to you as a fellow man." Alistair locked eyes with Demetrio. "Have the children there committed a crime? Is there a need to treat them like this?"

Demetrio's men wasted no time in laughing but quickly went quiet when their lord raised his hand. "Has your pilgrimage rotted your brain, boy? We are at war with another country. Do you know what this means? We have to be ready for anything within just as we have to be out of our home, including subterfuge and sabotage."

"With all due respect, L-Lord Demetrio, there are other ways to go about this. Look at the villagers." Alistair and Demetrio looked at the villagers watching them. "They're not angry or rebelling against you. They're scared! Scared that you will slaughter them just like the tall tales about you say if they make as much as a false movement! We must strive to resolve each conflict peacefully."

"Is that why you're shaking in your sabatons, too, boy?" Demetrio's smile, Alistair thought, did not seem threatening at all. In fact, it appeared that the Count was amused. "You're scared I would harm these people needlessly, is that it? Then let me tell you something, paladin. You know as well as I do what happens when we let even one person sow a seed of chaos. A single rebel is enough to threaten the existence of any kingdom. You and I can agree on everything but the methods we must use to dispose of them."

"But orphans, sire? Must they go through another tragedy in their lives for the sake of war?"

"If it comes to that!" Demetrio pointed at the girl sitting timidly by Eleanor's feet. "That one in particular hasn't been taught any manners. Does she not know it's rude to be seated when you have company over?"

"T-that's because little Lisa is crippled from the waist down!" Eleanor firmly gripped the hand of the young girl. "Your men destroyed her mobility chair when they barged into the orphanage building!"

Rage rose inside Alistair like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Barely able to keep his temper in check, he spoke as softly, yet audible, as he could. "I-is this true, my lord?"

Ignoring the woman's remark, Demetrio gestured for Alistair to stand. When the boy did so, he continued. "There's something you need to understand, young Alistair. Treason is one of the worst things you can commit not just in Thule, but any land you claim as your home."

***

"Nothing's changing," Aquamarine impatiently noted. "The old man's just trying to justify what he's done."

"We have to be patient, Aquamarine. Sometimes dialogue takes a little longer than we'd like, but Alistair's doing his best. What do you think, Len-?" Clara looked to her left - Lenoria's last known location - only to find it empty with no sign of her friend. "W-where did she go?"

"Caesar's gone, too," Aquamarine grumbled. "Great. Now what do we do?"

"Miss Aquamarine," said the spirit of Mr. Horsey, "this might be a good time to come up with an escape plan. We have no choice but to follow Lenoria's lead, and if we are unable to coordinate with whatever plan she has, our chance of failing our mission goes up by at least 40%."

"Then we better find her." Aquamarine scanned the surrounding area. "Where did you go?"

***

"Now's my chance..." All eyes were on Alistair, allowing Eleanor to pick up the little girl at her feet before looking at the rest of the children. "We can't go back to the orphanage or else the Count's men will look for you there. Stay close and don't look back, okay?"

"Where are we going?" The children whispered quietly as to not be heard.

"Far away from here. If we get a head start, they won't catch up to us." The woman held on tight to the girl in her arms. She pointed at the tall grass and waited for the children to sneak towards it before inching closer to it herself. "Whatever you do, don't let go, okay?"

"Okay," Lisa answered meekly.

"...and furthermore..." Demetrio closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Without taking his eyes away from Alistair, he said, "Ser Loin, take care of it."

There was a sadistic smile on the face of the bull man. Upon hearing Demetrio's order, the woman darted off into the opposite direction, squeezing the girl in her arms as tightly as she could so she wouldn't drop her. But the bull, knighted as Ser Loin, only chuckled as the distance between his target and himself grew by the second. "You're only making it harder on yourself, sweetheart. But I do love a moving target."

"No, wait," Alistair vainly shouted. But to his horror, there was no sign of Ser Loin. He had been standing close to his lord, but he had vanished in the blink of an eye.

Then, a scream.

The crowd gasped and screamed as Ser Loin had already accomplished his task. He victoriously raised his prey - Eleanor's limp body - after having impaled her through the spine with one of his horns. The child she had been carrying had already plopped down on the dirt below, unable to escape.

***

"That does it!" Aquamarine stood up from her hiding spot. "We tried it Alistair's way. Now we do things my way!"

***

"Ruby Knights!" The men in red, idle until know, stood firmly at attention at their lord's command. "Scatter and search for any remaining rebels. Asterion, find the rest of the children. And Ser Loin, kill the cripple; unlike the children, there's no place for her in the slave pits. And someone restrain the boy before he does anything stupid."

At once, Demetrio's men scattered and went about their business. The red-haired man, named Asterion, darted off to search for the children while the men in red immediately spread out to search the people's homes. A firm hand gripped Alistair's wrist just as he was about to run up to the young girl's defense. Caught off-guard, this momentary lapse lasted long enough for a single Ruby Knight to slap a pair of manacles on Alistair. "You bastard!"

Demetrio's smile finally vanished. "This is what happens when we spare traitors, young Alistair. They would more than willingly bite the hand that feeds them, even when they're shown mercy. Go home and meditate on this, and for your own sake, do not interfere."

"N-no. Knights are supposed to be chivalrous! I can't allow this!"

"Why don't you sit down and watch the show, cub?" The bull man tossed Eleanor's corpse aside and looked down on the crippled girl. "I've seen what your kind does to baby cows. How about I treat this little one the same way?"

Alistair could not shake off the feeling of dread as Ser Loin raised his fist on the young girl in front of him. She did not put up any resistance; or rather, she could not do it even if she wanted to. All she could do was raise her arms to block the incoming blow from striking her tear-stained face.

"Lenoria, please move on without me..." Struggling to break free, Alistair decided to act now. "Ser Loin, I challenge you to-"

KER-POW

The bull man's laugh was suddenly drowned out by the sound of a loud bang coming from the trees to the east, interrupting his strike. It happened quickly; by the time the assailant showed herself, smoke was coming off of Ser Loin's face as he tended to his injury with both hands. Something hot had struck him; hot enough to burn the hairs on his chin and powerful enough to knock some teeth out of him. His screams of pain were muffled due to him covering his mouth, but still loud enough for everyone to hear.

Aquamarine stopped herself from jumping in and remained hidden with Clara. "Oh, good. About time someone did something."

Alistair's anxiety went up a level. "Lenoria!"

POW

Another shot could be heard, this time in the distance to the south. A red light appeared in the sky, and it appeared to have been ascending.

"That's a flare! Caesar?"