Helder had lost his glow. Instead of his usual ethereal shine, he was looking dull and grey. Pendulum noticed his friend was out of sorts.

"Helder, are you okay? You look dimmer than usual."

Helder replaced the turf over their exit from the underneath. He turned to his friends.

I am very much in need of rest. I have been unable to sleep in the underneath. I must find a roost.

"We shall find you a suitable place. And ourselves a safe place to rest. We could all use some sleep before we get into Pride. It looks no more than a half days walk to the east. The Digmen have provided some supper." Pendulum hoisted his new cloak as he descended an incline of rocks. It may have been a tad too long for him and he kept tripping on its hem.

The evening was drawing in and the ever facing moons had begun their slow-motion dance through the late sky.

Away from the main thoroughfare, they encountered a rambling brook that seemed to flow out of a small glade. Past the glade, they could see the land becoming rockier and more mountainous. The small range of mountains continued to the east finishing at Pride itself with Dragons Mount being its full stop before the sea.

Pendulum promised them all that he would take very close watch through their slumber as he did not want a repeat of his madness in the forest.

Klem had never visited anywhere quite like Pride.

He had been to White Post with his dad and been ekwid riding across the Fenland border into Upton forest. Pride was a Town! The buildings here towered above him. Nearer the central square, some of the houses had two stories. They were made of rocks, well, shaped rocks that fitted together perfectly. He felt small and insignificant here. He could see Todd beside him felt the same. His mouth hung agape with wonder.

Helder had rested and was glowing again. His new cape was fastened tightly with its rainbow clip, hiding his glow from the stares of the townspeople. Their fascination at the four newcomers was difficult to hide. They gawped out of windows and the children ran up and down the street pretending to chase hoops but really catching a peek at the travellers. Dorky had not entered the town with them he had gone on his own travels; he disliked cities and preferred muddy streams where eels were easier to catch.

The wizard Pendulum had been here before. It was long ago and the town had grown vastly since. He led the party through the main square and towards dragons mount. His madness had been abated recently but he knew something was wrong. With the mangorian army bearing down on the town his health had become secondary to the invasion. He needed to warn the Guild of the impending doom and knew the power of Pride was held in the guild.

He needn't have hastened. It looked as if the guild were coming to meet them. Down the tree-lined avenue came at least thirty green-robed guildsmen. They met where the avenue met the square.

"Greetings. How may we help?" The tall, curly-haired man calmly inquired. All thirty of the guild stopped as one, to welcome the four.

Pendulum was struck by the calmness and authority of the guild. They seemed to have such an aura of power around them.

Klem, Todd and Pendulum all bowed automatically; even Helder bowed and he was keeping his face covered and intended to keep out of view at the back.

"We are honoured to meet you. We have come at a time of great peril. We were recently captives of the mangorian army and managed to escape. We were on our way here initially for matters of health. My health as it was. This is, however, a less pressing matter than the thousand or so warriors that follow us intent on war and slavery. Where is your army? Please say you have a large garrison or some soldier's en-route?"

Solomon gave a slow smile and turned briefly to the rest of the guild.

"No. We are The Guild of Architects. We have no army. We have twenty archers; some of whom are very good archers, on their way to some high points around the square. We ourselves are going to the square to await the arrival of the warriors of Mangor. We will speak to them."

"Speak to them?" Pendulum looked aghast. "I fear that they may not be in a chatty mood. They have left a trail of devastation throughout Fenland and have killed many and enslaved the rest. I don't think they have stopped to chat along the way. Running or hiding may be a better option?"

Klem and Todd looked at the ground and nervously shuffled their feet. They did not want to be enslaved again.

"We have come from a meeting of the guild. We have decided on our plan of action. Thank you for your concerns. We will be happy to house you all and see to your well-being.. after we have spoken to the mangorians. You will not find anyone at home at the moment as they have all gone to the mountain so I suggest in the meantime you come with us. We are preparing a feast for after the negotiations."

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And with that, the guildsmen continued on towards the newly built square.

Pendulum turned to the others.

"Well. I just don't know what to make of this. They seem very confident that they will not be splattered all over that beautiful square of theirs. They do have a strong aura about them but what shall we do? I am sure we don't want to be killed or become slaves again?"

Todd looked up from his shuffling feet.

"I think we should stand with them. I like them. We ran from Nocton and look where it got us. Maybe you have a few tricks you can use in that new wizard's cloak of yours and we know your staff can crack the ground open?" He looked questioningly at Pendulum.

"I kind of agree with Todd," Klem added. "Do you have some 'tricks' Pendulum?"

Pendulum looked thoughtful.

"My 'tricks' as you call them are highly sophisticated magic. My staff can focus the elements. My incantations can direct that focus. Fire, soil and air are at my disposal. I have been known to kill a mole at ten paces! I can create a crack in the ground of up to a thumbs width and make very loud bangs by 'shaking the air'."

The other three looked at each other reasonably impressed.

I am very scared, thought Helder. But I agreed to get you safely to the guild and I will not let you down. Please don't kill any moles though friend, I like them.

They all smiled grimly at each other and anxiously followed the group of swaying green robes.

A pretty girl wearing a loose-fitting purple dress ran silently past. She slowed on overtaking and turned her head to look straight into Klems' eyes. Then shyly as if she had done something wrong regarded Todd, Pendulum and Helder, before running off towards the architects. Her dark, black ponytail bobbing in an orange twine. Klem somehow missed his footing and fell onto his knees, catching himself before any serious damage was done. Todd noticed that Klem's cheeks looked flushed from the fall. Being a good friend he didn't comment. He did, however, make a mental note to bring the incident up at a future point when he could embarrass his friend in private.

The day was drawing to a close when the warriors of Mangor reached the town.

The new square had been built for theatre. A raised platform had been placed in front of the Guildhall. The architects had arranged themselves on the front of the platform ready to greet the invasion. They wore no weapons. They all wore their flowing green robes of office. The people of the town, somewhat nervously but in large numbers surrounded the square leaving a good space for the soldiers to approach.

The army was at least a thousand strong. Led by Roper. He was a large man with big muscles. His bushy black beard pushed through his shiny metal chinstrap. His armour had been polished and his weapons honed and deadly. All the army had prepared similarly for this invasion. They had expected some resistance. They were thrown off guard by the welcome.

The stone of the square beneath their feet was intricately patterned with a floral circle within a larger square and the pillars of the guild before them were of the best craftsmanship. The stone shone like burnished metal. The sound of their march drove fear into the townsfolk. Klem and the others were at the side of the platform with others of the town they could feel a sense of trust and confidence that emanated from the guild. Surely though this was madness. They would all be enslaved or slaughtered.

The square was big enough to accommodate nearly all of the soldiers. Roper stood beneath Soloman and drew his sword. Soloman waited for the army to stop before he raised his hands.

Without fear, he greeted the invaders.

"Welcome to Pride. We wish you no harm. We are in need of labourers to help build our growing town. Will you put down your weapons and help us?"

A gasp went up from the soldiers followed by some tittering and laughter. Roper looked round at his men, at first embarrassed then pulling himself up even taller than before he smiled at Soloman and the guild.

"I salute your courage in the face of death. We are here to enslave you. We will take what we want from this town and take all those that are able back to Mangor to build tributes for our King. I have orders to remove the head of any that stand in our way and present it to our king. Do you stand in our way?"

Soloman turned to his guild and smiled resolutely.

"You will harm no-one and you will not take any of us prisoner. If you don't wish to help us then please leave our town. I will not be responsible for your safety if you refuse."

Enraged, many of the soldiers unsheathed their swords some just stood there bewildered. Roper became visibly angry and made his way to the steps that led onto the platform, his personal guards following close behind. As Roper approached him, Soloman raised his left hand in a signal. A loud grinding was heard high above the noise of the crowd. Slowed for a second, Roper raised his sword to strike. Soloman looked pitifully into his furious eyes. The blow when it came would have struck normal persons head clean off his shoulders. Soloman was no ordinary man. The blow did not even draw blood. It bounced like a stick against a tree. All the guild rushed forward and pushed Roper and his guards off the platform.

The square was lowering! The circle of stylised flowers gradually sunk into the ground taking all but a few of the infuriated mangorians with it. Down it went. Down to twice the height of a normal man. There was no escape, no way to scramble out. Those that were not lowered into the subterranean prison were pushed over the edge by the townsfolk. Those that put up a fight were regrettably struck down by archers.

The guild came down from the platform. They stood around the captured soldiers.

"You now have a choice. You can come up one at a time on the ladders we send down and you can either help us to build in peace and stay for a while or forever. We would like to increase the size of our town. Or you can come up with the ladder, surrender your weapons and go home. Or you can stay down there until you starve. We will free the slaves you brought with you. They will be free to stay or go as they wish."

Soloman walked away nursing his badly bruised neck. Tia ran from the crowd and hugged him with relief and pride.

"We didn't need Cascaria." She said.

"No. But we may do one day soon. We can only use that plan of action once...Hopefully, the invaders will leave us in peace for now."

Klem and Todd both breathed a large sigh of relief. All the townsfolk were full of joy and happiness.

Pendulum hugged Helder!

"Now did somebody mention that there was to be a feast? And any ideas where I can get the hem of my cloak raised."