He was dragged through the night, into the forest beyond the fields of Hollyheln, branches whipping his face and thorns cutting into his clothes. He was in too much a state of shock to protest, merely letting the mysterious stranger drag him through the night, and whether at the end of that travel was life or death, William did not care much at that time.

After what seemed an eternity in his own thoughts, the robed man slowed and relaxed his grip on his arm. They had stopped in a clearing, the bright stars of twilight gleaming overhead like twinkling jewels amongst a cave roof, as if the very sky itself would collapse over them at any moment.

"We can stop to catch our breath, none of the enemy have followed us." The robed man said, and the two stood panting, their breath steaming in the cool air.

"Who are you?" William asked.

"Not yet." The man said. "There will be a time for that when we're further along." William did not ask further, but noticed a strange gleam in the man's eyes. The man was watching him very intently, and even after all the death and destruction, there was a jovial look on his face. Was the man happy?

"What do you want with me?" William asked.

"More than you know." The man said. "Come on, we need to move again."

A twig snapped in the wood line beyond. The robed man drew a sword and grabbed William.

"Get behind me." He whispered. "If we get into trouble, run and don't stop."

And then a large, burly figure emerged from the woods. The massive, bulky silhouette stepped out from the brush, took a few steps forward, and then curled his arm back and lobbed a rock at the robed man.

"Unhand him, you brute!" The familiar voice called out before a rock hurled through the air and hit the robed man in the chest, a clear ring of metal sounding in the clearing.

"Luke!" William called out and rushed past the robed man to his friend. The two embraced each other with tears in their eyes.

"You made it out!" Luke said in disbelief.

"I did." Luke started. "I was a little late getting to the chapel, and just as I approached I saw these masked men storming from the street and cutting into the crowd. I was swept into the chaos but I saw you being dragged off by this robed brigand here, so I gave chase."

Luke hesitated for a moment, and then said quietly. "I-I'm sorry I was too late for Brother Barry."

William shook his head. "Nothing can be done about it now, Luke. What matters now is that we made it out." He looked up at the night sky above. At the constellations, the stars, the faint color of the planets far away. "We'll stay in the forest and find somewhere to sleep. Once everything has quieted in the village we will return with any others and collect the dead and give them a proper burial."

"You cannot do that." The robed man said. The two turned back and looked at him. He stood alone in front of them, his sword held low, pointed toward the grass.

"What was that?" Luke questioned.

"You cannot return to the village, the enemy will be watching for you." The robed man said. "Come, we need to keep moving."

"We're not going anywhere." Luke said and stepped between the man and William. "We don't know who you are, what your name is or who your allegiances are to. You kidnapped my friend from the village and are taking him to who knows where!"

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"It is because of my 'kidnapping,' young sir, that your friend is still alive." The man said. "All of your questions will be answered in due time, but the enemy is still close, and they are looking for you. Now, I know I ask a considerable amount of faith for you to trust me, but I do ask that you give me that for tonight so that I can escort you to safety."

The two watched him. William didn't know why, but he felt a certain easiness with the figure. After all, if he wanted to kill him he could have done so in the village, couldn't he? And if he was allied with those murderous men, he would have handed William over.

William used a hand to gently move Luke to the side.

"Okay." William said. "Lead the way."

They walked through much of the night. Out from the lower forest and high into the hills where the cliff faces rose above them and many holes in their sides provided refuge for predatory beasts. It was at these cliff faces that the robed man slowed.

"We will find a cave to sleep for the night, and then move further in the morning." He said, and they walked along the cliff face. Each hole the man would approach, and he would sniff like some feral animal at the entrance to each burrow hole. He could tell which still harbored an animal and which were empty.

"This one will service us for the night." He said and they entered the mouth of the cavern.

It was an old animal burrow. Dried bones and ragged fur lay in shreds across the sandy floor, and on the walls were old graffiti from ages past, scratched and painted onto the walls long ago. William and Luke sat down on the dusty floor but the robed man stood near the entrance, watching. The moonlight was bright, shining a pale blue gaze over him.

"You never answered my questions." William said after a time.

The man looked to him. "I suppose I should tell you something to put your mind at ease." He said.

He grabbed hold of the hem of his robes and slipped them over his head and threw them to the floor. It revealed a raiment of thick metal armor, shined in some areas and dented and scratched in others. There was a small dent where Luke's rock had hit over his breast. Draped from over his chest down past his hips was a tabard with the standard of a radiant sun, black hand and red flame.

"I am Isaac Knight." The man said. "A member of the Dawn's Watch. Perhaps the last."

"The Dawn's Watch?" William asked.

"I'm surprised you didn't learn of our order in the chapel of Adir." Isaac said.

"I didn't do a lot of studying, mostly working." William said, thinking back for a moment before turning his head away. Thinking back on what happened at the chapel was still too fresh in his mind.

"Wait, I know of them!" Luke said, pointing at Isaac. "You're a mercenary!"

"No, I am not." The man said. "Though some of my order have fallen to coin, I and my comrades were never one of them."

"I don't know about this." Luke said to William. "My father told me tales about them. They've razed villages, stolen from chapels. I say they can't be trusted."

"I do not deny what some in my order have done." Isaac said. "But there are still those of us faithful to our mission, and we have not swayed." And he looked down at William with a gleam of victory in his eyes. "And now we have you."