1

Frieda sat on the porch bench, a sketch book in her hands.

“What’s that?” Jean asked.

She showed him gladly.

“It’s a nairin! Or how I imagine them anyway.”

The summer knight always took his sunset princess’s work seriously, as he saw potential in the young girl’s hands, it wasn’t as if he could have done much better. The nairin in this depiction played a flute and floated on feathery wings.

“Do you think I got it right?” Frieda asked.

“I’m sure of it.”

D was in the yard, playing fetch with Godger. Trying to, anyway, as the dog seemed to struggle bringing the stick back to be thrown again. Instead, Godger either tagged the stick and ran back, or grabbed it with his teeth and tossed it himself to fetch and repeat.

Jean chuckled, hugged his sister, and went back inside.

Luna sat on the couch with a cup of tea.

“You seem excited today, Sir Greensleeves,” she said, “something on your mind?”

“Just a good day is all.” the summer knight said.

“Good to hear.”

“Well, I’m going to tidy up the room a bit.” Jean said.

“Okay, Jean. I almost have breakfast ready, so be sure to come down in a minute.”

“I will.”

He dashed upstairs, closing the door behind him. From under his bed, he produced a leather drawstring bag. He held it in his hands, and stepped toward D’s bed, grinning as he felt the parchment stashed in the thief’s pillow case. He knew his brother all too well. He put the parchment in his bag, and made D’s bed for him, since he had forgotten to do so, as always. The summer knight then gathered more things into his bag: a pouch of his earnings from chores, his wooden sword, a book, and a journal. He hid the bag and went downstairs when Luna called the kids to the dining room.

2

The summer knight waited until long after everyone fell asleep. He moved as quickly and quietly as he could, grabbing his bag and mandolin. The door clicked open, alerting a barking Godger.

Jean did what he could to ease the dog. He was surprised to see that the other kids hadn’t woken up. Frieda stirred a little but never rose. D of course seemed to sleep like a rock. Jean tiptoed downstairs. The world awaited him outside the door, seemingly much bigger than it ever had been. A deep breath, and the summer knight set off. He hadn't made it very far from the house when he heard a voice behind him.

"You're not gonna get very far without this."

D held the map between two fingers, a bag of his own slung over his shoulder.

"How did you-"

"You can't out-thief a thief, Sir Greensleeves. Not this one, anyhow. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

Jean wasn't prepared for this situation.

"So where in Brissland are you going?"

"North," Jean said, "along the river."

"To the Vault?"

"To the Vault."

"Why? Is it something to do with your mom?"

"Yeah. I don't know how I know, but I need to get her out of there before it's too late."

D paused.

"It would be nice to see the Lyon again, and it would suck if Frieda never got to meet her. But Danger's directions weren't exactly exact, you know. How do you plan on getting her out? Do you even know what you're doing?"

"Not at all. But I have to see this through."

"I know, sir Greensleeves. And I’m coming with. You’re my brother, if you have to than so do I."

"I don't wanna drag you down with me, you get yourself into enough trouble as it is! Besides, what about Frieda?"

"I'm right here."

The boys shrieked. How they managed to do all this without waking Luna they had no clue. She was very easy to wake, especially when she knew the boys were up late. It was like she had developed a sense over the years specifically for the boys. Somehow, it was like she always knew. Always.

"You two are a lot louder than you think you are."

"You're not gonna tell on us, are you?" Jean asked.

"Not if you take me with you."

"Frieda-"

"I figured this would happen." D produced another bag from behind his back.

"Looks like you don't have much of a choice, Sir Greensleeves." D grinned.

"But-"

"Hey, we're a band of merry travellers! We gotta stick together, it'll be better this way! Did you really think that you could go on this epic quest without us, good sir? We're with you till the ends of the earth!"

"You guys-"

The kids hugged, a tactical move on Jean. It had been decided.

Godger barked, surprising them all.

"We're going to be in so much trouble for this." Jean said.

"I'm just glad it's not because of me this time." D replied.

They shared a laugh.

"We better go before Aunty Luna wakes up." Frieda said.

They all agreed.

"Come on then," Jean said, "let's go see where this river leads."

3

They sang and laughed as they walked along the river. Home was far behind them now, Lucksworth and Northekeep further still. They walked and walked until night sky was nigh. Only a day went by, and they were at the edge of Brissland.

Spirits lifted with each step they took. Surely they would see Lyonesse again. Jean felt happier than he had in a long time, maybe ever. He reflected his joy with his songs, more and more enchanting as they neared the forest.

The sun hung low, painting the sky red on its path to the other side of the world, beyond the fields we know. The boys set up a campfire, cooking and eating fish they caught with makeshift spears.

“Could use some seasoning, I think.” D chewed aloud.

“Yeah.” Jean agreed.

Godger sat patiently by the fire. Jean remembered they were going to have to feed the little guy.

D took notice of Jean staring at the dog.

“Way ahead of you.” He said, and pulled a large pouch from his bag and scooped a handful of dog food for Godger. The dog’s muzzle sniffed at the hard wafers, then his head tilted, waiting to be fed fish.

“You think of everything, don’t you?” Jean asked.

“Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?” Frieda asked.

“Well, I didn’t initially think that Godger would be joining us. I just brought the dog food because thought I’d better bring something in the event that-”

“You were going to eat it?” Jean laughed.

“If I had to! What was your plan if disaster struck and we couldn’t get any food for the day?”

“Yuck!” Frieda joined Jean’s laughter. “Dog food!”

“Don’t be so quick to judge! I bet you’d love it!”

“I would not!”

“Yes you would! You love dog food!”

“No I don’t!” Frieda spat her tongue out at her adoptive brother. Not for the last time.

“You’re gross!” she declared, crossing her arms and looking away with closed eyes, showing the gross boy what for.

“Doesn’t she eat dog food? Jean, she does, right? She does it all the time!”

“Sure.” Jean said, “And I seem to recall, Sir Thief, that you’ve been known to chow down on worms every now and then. And you love it.”

“That was one time!”

That sent the three of them in an uproar of childish laughter. Then Godger barked at D. He was still waiting to be fed fish.

“You can’t have this, stupid mutt. You’ll choke on the bones!” Andre pointed at the fish. “Mine.” he declared, then pointed at the dry wafers. “Yours.”

Godger ate his food loudly, staring grumpily at D all the while. D returned the look before he was about to take a bite of his fish. Just then, a mosquito flew by and bit D in the neck.

“Ouch!” he yelled as he slapped himself. Unfortunately, the ever-clever Sir Thief did so with the same hand he held his meal, and he dropped it. By the time he’d realised what he’d done, it was too late. Godger devoured the trout with a single slurp. This was truly Andre’s darkest hour.

The sunset princess rested her head on a green sleeve of the summer knight’s shoulder. He was in his musical trance, the one that came more and more often. The distant music blended perfectly with the life of the woods. An unseen elfin choir hummed triplets together. Foxes and squirrels darted between the glowing pear trees; the crackle of the campfire and the chirping of crickets added rhythm as Jean played his lute. His lithe fingers plucked his lute, but he said nothing.

“Can you sing for me, Jean?”

His trance deepened and recited the verse;

“One summer night is all it takes

Before the morning rises over the hills and lakes

One summer knight, the fire he makes

Along an endless river,

To save, to serve, to bring the truth to light

Brothers and sister, singing in the night

A love for their mother should never shake

Or leave behind her breath’s last wake.”

The song continued, and his siblings sang along. Even Godger barked and howled.

That was when the naira came. They floated about, some like glowing lights and others like coloured leaves. Some were a close approximation between a tiny human and an almond, with the wings of a dragonfly. They sang in a language unfamiliar to the children, but they didn’t need to know the words, for they could hear it in their hearts. It was the Song Eternal, the one true-song which united all things.

It was a beautiful moment, and the kids would never forget it.

The song chilled Jean, one the fire couldn’t get rid of. He looked around the fire to see everyone else sleeping. He played a while longer, until he saw the silhouette of a horse. It was running towards the lad, and there was a blinding light behind it. But–no, no it wasn’t a horse. It was…

Jean fell asleep.

*****

They didn’t anticipate the next day’s rain, and wandered the woods for nearly an hour in search of a dry place with no luck. The rain persisted, drenching all three. The siblings were hunched over and huddled together as they walked. And Frieda held Godger, for he would not walk on his own. If she were to set him down, the dog would simply stand in the mud and wait to be lifted back up.

“Jean, look!” D cried, and he pointed a finger.

They came to a place where very large trees surrounded them. Circular doors sat in their trunks, and here and there they could make out a faint yellow glow from behind them. Short fences guarded the trees, and the areas behind them were full of many different coloured flowers.

D crept to the nearest door, its fence gate ajar.

“Do you think we can fit in there?” Jean asked.

“It looks big enough,” D said, “it might be worth a try.”

They had to crawl just to get in, and the ceiling was mere inches above the boys’ heads when they stood up.

“Who’s that?” a voice called, “Who’s breaking into the house of a sweet old lady like me?”

The voice came from behind a door in the left wall. A small creature stepped forth. It appeared to be a deer, or something quite like one. She was only about a foot tall, her fur was pale green and a pair of antlers added an extra half foot to her height. She squinted through a pair of round glasses that rested on her deer-like snout.

“Who are you?” she asked, “You’re not after my blackberries, are you? I have enough trouble with those pesky naira folk as it is. Say, you look mighty tall for naira folk.”

“Uh, that would be because we aren’t.” Jean said. “We’re humans, and we’re very sorry to intrude, miss. We just sought shelter from the rain is all.”

“Humans, right. I knew that. I know what a human looks like. I saw plenty back in…come to think of it I don’t think I ever saw any humans. What are your names?”

The kids introduced themselves.

“My name is Ynnarg.” the woodland creature said, “Say, what brings you to the woods anyhow? We don’t see many of your kind in this part of the forest these days. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever seen your kind.”

“We’re adventurers!” Frieda said.

“That’s right,” D added, “we’re looking for Martin’s Vault.”

Ynnarg gasped.

“The Vault? My, that’s a long way away. What do you kids wanna go to a scary place like that for?”

“We’re going to rescue my mom.” Jean said.

“Ynnarg! Who’s at the door?” another voice called.

“Just some kids, Apap. Adventurers! Why don’t you come on out and introduce yourself? They’re the most darling things I ever did see!”

“Adventurers, eh?” Another figure not dissimilar to Ynnarg stepped out.

“Y’know,” Apap said, “I used to be an adventurer like you kids, then I took a ring to my finger. I got married.”

Apap did not have any fingers on his cloven feet.

“Really?” Frieda asked.

“No. But I always wanted to be. I’m too old now, yet the dream still pokes around in my head sometimes.”

“But you won’t be going on adventures any time soon, Apap Raskovel.” Ynnarg said, “It’s too dangerous! Come now, kids! Have some pie and dry off.”

And so they crawled under the door leading into the kitchen of the Raskovel household. Roots grew and twisted around each other, building up the kitchen table and the counters. Windows were carved into the knots of the tree, looking over Ynnarg’s garden. Thick blackberry bushes spread from edge to edge along the fence lines, and small pathways were decorated on either side by rows of lilacs. The only things in the house that weren’t made out of the tree itself were the water pump, the cold case (kept cold with forest magic), the oven and the fireplace.

The kids sat cross legged at the table while Ynnarg and Apap brought them each a slice of blackberry pie. They were surprisingly capable, for creatures without hands.

“Bad business, that Vault.” Apap said, “Dangerous for kids like you.”

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“Do you know exactly how far away the Vault is from here?” Jean asked.

“A few days walk, I suppose. Quite a few. You’re pretty far from home, aren’t you? Isn’t someone worried about you by now?”

“Yeah,” D said, “but we’ve elected to ignore that because what we’re doing here is important. We’ll pay the price when the time comes.”

Jean took a bite of his pie while he thought. It was among the best he’d ever had, almost as good as Luna’s and Lyonesse’s cooking, if not equal.

A few days. Did they have that much time?

A crashing sound came from the garden.

“Oh no!” Ynnarg cried, “My blackberries! Apap, get the net! We’ve gotta catch these hoodlums before it’s too late!”

The kids followed Ynnarg to the backyard (fenced off by a surrounding hedge) while Apap grabbed the net with his mouth. He came back not half a minute later, while a dozen naira rode on large rats, pillaging Ynnarg’s blackberries and trampling her lilacs. Were it a sunny day, the naira simply would have flown and gotten away with the berries much sooner, but the rain put a stop to their flight, hence the rats.

“You nasty critters!” Ynnarg shouted, “Get out of my garden and back where you came from!”

Apap charged the sprites, his net held high. He brought it down on one of them and missed. He came upon three more and hoped to catch all of them at once, but they spread out in different directions; the middle one went straight ahead while the other two went either way, tightening a length of thin rope between them, tripping Apap in his tracks. He splashed in a great puddle of mud.

“Crafty little beasts!” he said, “Help me out here, boys, if you would!”

Jean and D ran into the garden, Godger barking at their heels while they did their best to catch the rat riders. The summer knight managed to get one, and keeping a firm grip on the nairin and his rat he stuffed them into his bag. It was all he could think to do to contain them for the moment. He then caught another.

D wasn’t so lucky. He managed to snatch one off its steed, but the nairin struggled in the thief’s grip and bit his finger. D winced, letting go of the sprite as he jumped out of his hand and ran back to his rat.

And so the struggle went on, until at last they caught all the naira that hadn’t escaped. They brought the sprites into the kitchen and sat them on the table. There were six in total.

“Now, why would such nice folk do something so mean to this sweet old lady?” Ynnarg demanded.

“Ynnarg’s blackberries are held in high regard throughout the forest!” one said.

“Her pies are the stuff of legend!” said another.

“We only wanted to taste the sweetness!” a third called out.

“If that’s all you wanted, why you could’ve just asked!” Ynnarg said.

“Really?” a naira asked, “That’s all?”

“Yes! I’ve got plenty to share, this year brought on a good harvest, after all. I’d be happy to make a pie for you and your friends! Didn’t the Forest Queen teach you it isn’t nice to steal from old ladies?”

“We’re sorry!” the naira cried, “It won't happen again!”

Satisfied, Ynnarg forgave the thieves, and offered to make another pie for all while the rain still drizzled outside. They kindly accepted.

“I see you’ve got a lute there, Jean.” Apap said. “Why don’t you sing a song for us?”

Jean smiled and pulled his mandolin, singing the first thing that came to his mind.

“Martin Northe was a mean old troll,

Who stole one’s joy and made them cold

But he’ll be shown one day, or so I’m told

And all the naira will come to bite him on the nose!”

Everyone laughed and cheered, especially the naira, who liked the idea of biting mean people on the nose.

It was a few hours before the rain finally stopped, and sun rays poked their way through the blue leaves.

“Well, we should probably get going.” Jean said. “Thank you for everything, Mister and Missus Raskovel.”

“Hey, before you go, why don’t you take some blackberries?” Ynnarg said, “We also have some sweetbread and jam if you want!”

“Yes please!” D said.

Soon after they were standing out the door, stretching from all the crouching and crawling.

“Another gift before you go,” Apap said, he turned away from the door and came back with three human sized cloaks on his back.

“This might keep you dry if it rains again.”

“Where did you find these?” Jean asked.

“While I was out hiking.” Apap answered, “You’d be surprised what you can find in the forest!”

With that, the kids said their final goodbyes. Off they went, the naira fluttering about their heads as they walked. More of the tree people had come out of their houses to enjoy the fresh air after the rain, and they waved to the kids as they passed by. If they were to come by this place after their journey was over, they agreed, they would be sure to visit once again.

4

It never rained for the remainder of their journey, but the kids were grateful for the Raskovels’ concern. They were good people.

The naira followed them all day, their leader introducing himself as Shermy. As a naira of the woods, his choice instrument was a flute, and he led his group of naira into tonight’s song with a starting note. Jean didn’t join this time around; he was tired from today’s journey. He simply sat by the fire and listened with Godger in his lap. He looked to his left to see Frieda drawing Ynnarg and Apap. To his right, D was munching on a small handful of blackberries, his fingertips stained purple.

When Shermy and his band finished their part of the song, they decided to make use of D’s bag as a tent. Other sprites played their songs in other parts of the forest, but here all was still.

Jean didn’t remember anything past that point; he drifted off to sleep and woke up with a start the next morning at the sound of Godger barking. He shushed the dog, letting the other kids sleep a few more minutes before they started for today. He splashed his face with water and stood there by the river, stretching.

“Ouch!”

“Hold still, D!”

Jean went back to investigate the commotion. One of the naira clenched his jaws on D’s ear and hung there. Frieda laughed and got out her drawing book, trying to put the scene on paper before the nairin flew away. Shermy did his best to get his subordinate off the thief’s ear.

“C’mon, Theb! This is embarrassing!”

But Theb would not let go.

“Ahm guh.” he said with a mouthful of D’s earlobe.

“Sorry about that, Sir Thief.” Shermy said. “It looks like you’re stuck with him till he decides to leave. It could be anytime.”

“Why do you guys like biting so much?” D asked.

Shermy shrugged.

“We’re good at it.”

Frieda set her book aside, she had the base of the drawing down, she would finish it later. She noticed a patch of flowers, picked a few, and showed them proudly to Jean. The summer knight offered to make a crown out of them for her. She was, after all, the sunset princess.

While Jean twisted and tied the flowers together, D examined the map with Shermy on his shoulder. There were x-marks here and there, one of them near the river.

“Jean! Come look at this!”

The thief showed the summer knight his discovery.

“What is all this?” Jean wondered, “Possible locations of the Vault?”

“Maybe.” D said. “What would Beaumains want there?”

“How did you not see this earlier?” Shermy asked.

The boys exchanged a glance and shrugged. They left in a rush, and didn’t think to look at the map in their excitement. Before that, they intended to return the map to Beamains and didn’t bother with it, respecting the swordsman’s privacy.

“Well, if Danger’s right and that’s the Vault,” Jean said, pointing at the X by the river, “where would you say we are, Shermy?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, Sir Greensleeves. The map is strange to me.”

Jean groaned.

“Hey!” Shermy said, “Why don’t you come with us to the forest queen’s castle? She might be of some help! She’s very wise, y’know. Very magical!”

“I don’t know. We’re pressed for time, and I’m not sure how much time we even have.”

“It won’t take much, I promise! It’s on the way to the Vault, we can make it to the queen tomorrow, if not tonight!”

“How about it, Jean?” D asked.

“Why not?” Frieda added, “Maybe she can help mom when we get her out!”

“Maybe.” Jean said. “Yeah, why not?”

“Alright!” Shermy exclaimed. “You’re not gonna regret this, Sir Greensleeves! Just wait till you see Lady Danu, she’s the most beautiful in all the land!”

They headed off after a quick breakfast. Danu’s guidance would make things a lot easier, and the prospect of her magics curing Lyonesse of whatever she was dying from excited them all. It might not be goodbye, after all.

Onward they went until noon, where they discovered a stone bridge crossing the river.

“This way!” Shermy led them across the bridge and into the woods on the other side of the river. The colour of the leaves and pine needles here varied among the usual blue: some purple, some red and some a normal green.

They stopped at the sound of a cry and horses whinnying. It came from up ahead. They didn’t like the sound one bit and decided to check it out.

“Stay here, Frieda.” Jean said, “and hide if you can. Godger, you stay too. Keep her safe.”

D gave the girl his letter opener. Shermy ordered three of his company to stay with her and followed the boys with another.

Theb dangled from D’s ear as he climbed the trees to get a better view of the situation. Jean crouched and stepped as quietly as he could, Shermy and his guard following close behind. The summer knight drew his wooden blade, ready for whatever lay ahead.

Five red jackets sat in a circle within a small clearing. Jean hid behind a tree, his eyes scanning the setting. Off the side of the red jackets, a girl with pale skin and blue hair sat in shackles. Her eyes met Jean’s, but she said nothing.

Shermy tugged on the summer knight’s shirt. He pointed to his guard and motioned to the left. Jean nodded and stood by. The naira left, and continued until they were out of sight.

“What are we going to do with the girl?” one of the guards said.

Their leader stood up. This was Eldred Blackwood. Jean remembered him from his childhood. He was a nasty man, and Martin’s most trusted goon.

Jean grit his teeth. It was not hard for him to imagine Eldred laying a hand against his mother.

“Take her to the Vault, I suppose.” Blackwood said. “Let Martin decide what to do with her.”

Noise came from beyond the left side of the clearing. The naira laughed and called out to the red jackets, mocking them and repeating Jean’s song about biting Martin on the nose.

“What’s that?” a guard asked.

“Tobey, Jarod, come with me and let’s check it out.” Eldred ordered. “Gerald, Port, stay put.” And so they disappeared into the trees.

There was a rustling sound in the branches above on the far side.

“What’s that?” Port asked.

“Probably just the wind.” Gerald replied. But Jean suspected otherwise.

His suspicions were confirmed when a rock came flying out the branches, striking Gerald on the back of the head. Jean then ran out into the clearing, knocking Gerald unconscious with a slap from his wooden sword.

D climbed down from the trees and tried to pick the lock binding the girl. Jean tore fabric from Gerald’s and Port’s red jackets and tied their hands together.

“Who are you?” The girl asked as Danger was jamming her lock with a pair of sticks far too big to fit.

“My name is Andre,” D said, “but I mostly go by the first letter of my middle name.”

“What’s that?”

“Danger.” the thief grinned. “So, call me D. And this is my brother, Jean.”

“Pleasure to meet you, though I wish it could have been under less dangerous circumstances. I’m Nora, the forest queen’s daughter.”

D decided sticks wouldn’t do the job for the lock. Instead, he grabbed and broke the chains. He was surprised it worked so easily.

Jean looked around. “Let’s get outta here.”

“Not so fast!” Eldred emerged from the trees, scratched and bruised and panting. The others were nowhere to be seen, not even the naira.

Eldred pointed his sword at the kids.

“You boys! You look familiar, surrender and tell me your names!”

“No!” the boys shouted, hurling rocks and pinecones at the red jacket. The projectiles overwhelmed him, and he started to turn back to the trees when the naira appeared and sneezed on Eldred’s face. He fainted.

“Come on!” Nora called, “My mother’s castle is hidden and not far from here, if we run we can make it!”

“Go ahead, D!” Jean shouted, “I’m going back for Frieda!” They parted ways, Shermy following Jean.

“Frieda!” the summer knight called, “Frieda where are you? We gotta get outta here!”

“I’m here, Jean!” Frieda replied, stepping out from behind a growth of bushes. Jean took the girl’s hand and bolted, Godger close behind.

Shermy led them through the trees as they began to take on their nightly glow. They passed the unconscious red jackets and continued running, eventually catching up with the others. Nora ran ahead of them as they made their way to the hidden castle.

“Who’s that?” Frieda asked.

“I’ll tell you later.” Jean said. “Right now we’ve gotta make sure we’re safe.”

Guided by the song of stars, they ran through the night.

5

“Eldred! Sir Eldred!”

His head was swimming, but slowly things were coming back together. He was lucky not to take a blow to the head, unlike his comrades. But if he hadn’t, then what-

Oh. Right. Those nasty flies sneezed on him. Eldred Blackwood was felled by a sneeze. He shuddered. To see that Gerald and Port rose before he did was a shock. They were by his side, shaking him.

“What became of Jarod and Tobey?” Eldred asked.

“They never returned from the woods.” Gerald said.

“What are we going to do now, Sir?” Port asked.

Eldred sat there for a moment and rubbed his head, pretending that it hurt. Gerald and Port didn’t need to know about his defeat as they were taken down before he was. They

“Go fetch us some water and food. After that, I must report our failure at Northekeep.”

Something about those children troubled Eldred’s mind. Particularly the one in green. Where had he seen that one before?

He groaned. What will Martin say when he finds out-

“That’s it!”

Gerald and Port looked back.

“Sir?”

“That boy! I know his face! It’s Jean Wes, Martin’s bastard!”

“What was he doing all the way out here?” Port asked.

“What, indeed?” Eldred said. “We must hurry.”

6

“You fool!” Martin roared.

“We were overwhelmed, milord.”

Eldred looked down to the floor, knelt before the count in his hall. Martin took a stand, and it took all of Eldred’s strength not to cower under his gaze. He had been embarrassed enough as of late.

“By children, Blackwood? By flies, Blackwood?! You’re supposed to be one of my best! You failure! You fool!”

“Milord…” Eldred reached for Martin’s ring to kiss it, but the count withdrew his hand and spat on the floor.

“Kiss that, if you must, you dog. And when you’re done, bring me Jean Wes!”

“Yes, milord.”

7

They rode swift toward Brissland. Eldred was determined not to let Martin down again, declining the men’s begging for rest. He was grateful to see Port and Gerald sticking with him, despite their injuries. Those were the men he trusted most on this journey, and it was they who finally convinced him to eventually stop by the road and let the search party catch their breath.

“Where do you expect to find those kids?” Gerald asked. “They could be anywhere in those woods by now.”

“We’ll find them. We have no choice.”

They passed through the Rose City and paused once more when Port called out on a hill.

“What is it?” Eldred asked, annoyed.

“A rider in the distance!”

Eldred pulled a telescope from his saddlebag and looked where Port had pointed. A rider indeed, a red scarf and a brown coat waving like a flag as he rode northward. He seemed to fit the description of the swordsman that defeated Teran not too recently. Hadn’t he been the one that freed the captured thieves? with the aid of–

Two boys?!

“After him!” Eldred ordered.

Down the hill they rode. The swordsman took notice of their chase, but by then it was too late. Martin’s men caught up and circled the stranger.

He drew his sword, ready to fight every last one of them.

“I think that unwise, good sir.” Eldred said, “You’d be dead if we wished it so, but I have other uses for you.”

“Do you?” the rider asked. His mare panicked but had nowhere to go.

Eldred grinned.

“Seize him.”

The circle tightened, Gerald and Port wrested the blade from the rider and shackled him.

“You know the whereabouts of my lord’s bastard, I think. He was last seen in Brissland.” The swordsman pulled his hat down, further covering his eyes.

“It’ll be easier if you cooperate.” Eldred said, “What is your name, good sir?”

“I am Beaumains, and I know nothing of Martin’s son.”

Eldred’s eyes narrowed.

“You lie. Remove his hat, Sir Gerald.”

Gerald reached, but Beaumains struck him with his shackled hands, breaking the other man’s nose. Port intervened and shoved Beaumains off his mare with a push. As a result, the swordsman’s hat flew off. Fingerless gloves slid across the dirt with anger and elegance. His red scarf loosened, and a lock of fire fell over the swordsman’s eye. He stood at stance and the circle of men tightened, all swords drawn.

“Oh. Martin’s son Thomus. Yes, I know him.” said Beaumains.

“Who?” asked Martin, forgetting that he had another son.

“Or did you mean Tristram? Eugene perhaps? His lordship does have so many bastards.”

“I’d like to consider myself one.” Eldred spoke up.

“You wish, Blackwood! But enough talk. Sir knight, have at you!” Martin cried.

*****

Beaumains was defeated with ease. They bound his wrists and stole him through their secret trail of Brissland. But Beaumains had meant for this, and he smiled behind his scarf. For now he knew the trail to follow.

Martin was long by then, for he had no want or need to waste his valuable time with his men, especially when he had a new pretty young woman to court.

Eldred was well pleased with himself for the capture of this stranger. He daydreamed of the rewards Martin would give him, and surely there would be a dinner held in Eldred’s honour, with much wine and bread and a good selection of cheeses, for Lord Martin was a gentleman with fine taste in all these things, and after all, Eldred really deserved it. He might even get a promotion, with a medal of brass or gold to go with it…

On and on they rode, and Beaumains considered his situation. Why was the young Sir Greensleeves in Brissland? Was this another one of Danger’s antics? That thief had a lesson long coming, and if he put the children near, well, the bigger thief, Beaumains would see that lesson taught.

Now that the North-men were after the Summer Knight, things were more complex than they should have been. There was a new note in the song. Though with Jean’s spirit, it was bound to happen one way or the other. Beaumains remembered his missing map, and Jean’s friend. Andre was a lot like his uncle; it was more than possible that the young lad also shared Danger’s knack for kleptocracy. And if both boys were in Brissland, it would be fair to assume the girl was too.

Beaumains shuddered. Luna would be furious. It was decided. He needed to find the children. But for now, Beaumains had to get the Northe-men off his back. That was a task unto itself. He’d have to be quick and careful. After all these years, he couldn’t let himself be captured now. Not when he was so close to his goal.

*****

The Northe-men slept around a campfire, and they did so with unease. It was clear that none of them had pleasant dreams. Port kept watch on the swordsman. Beaumains could see the goon’s eyes lower. The song of the forest played in the distance, and Port’s eyes grew heavier and heavier until he at last dozed off.

Suddenly, hundreds of naira drifted from the trees. Beaumains took his boot off with his shackled hands and shook it until a set of lock picks fell out. He fiddled with these for a minute until the chains popped off. He wasn’t counting on the help of the naira, but he was grateful for it nonetheless.

The swordsman put his boot back on and tiptoed to supplies by the horses. There he found his hat and his sword. He was about to free his mare when he felt a knife prod his back.

“Going somewhere, good sir?” Eldred whispered. The man was waiting for him to escape. But why? Why risk his escape just to cut him off here? Eldred folded his arms and smiled.

“You may have fooled everyone else with your disguise, but I know who you are.” Blackwood gloated. “I also know you should be dead. Because I killed you.”

“I was stabbed and buried alive, Blackwood. You did not see me die.”

“My mistake. One I’ll see remedied.”

Blackwood pressed the blade into the back of Beaumains. He twisted the knife. The man in the scarf growled in pain, but he did not stagger.

And then the naira struck!

They swarmed the Northe-men, and bit them from head to toe, causing them to shake and scream in fright and confusion as they jumped awake from their unpeaceful sleep. The horses scattered. Eldred was distracted for only an instant to watch this unfold, before Beaumains spun on his knees and knocked the villain down with a blow to the head. The swordsman jumped on his mare and fled into the woods.

Eldred swung his sword in the air with fury.

“After him!” he cried, but his men couldn’t hear him over their own din.

*****

Beaumains was flew far. A naira flew by him, wanting his attention.

“This way!” the sprite said. “Come now, there’s little time!”

The swordsman followed, Eldred roaring behind him.

“Curse you! Martin will have your head if I don’t have it first!”

*****

“What now, sir?” Gerald asked.

“We’ll keep after him.” Eldred said, looking at a spot of blood from the stranger’s wound. “But we must report our discovery to Lord Martin.”

He scrawled his message on a piece of paper and sent the message to Northekeep tied to the talons of their messenger hawk.

“Gather the horses.” Eldred ordered.

8

Another lash went across her back. She was numb to the pain. The punishment was just another part of her day.

After the whipping, she was dragged back to her cell in the tower. A pair of manacles were chained to the wall where her bed should have been. She couldn’t feel the cold iron or dusty stone, but when the naira came through her window to heal what they could, the cold felt good on her bruises.

Lyonesse was dying. After ten years of torment and maltreatment, her heart was caving. She could feel every beat now, like the slow drums of a funeral march. It didn’t upset her much. All she wanted was to see her loved ones. To let them know how much she loved them. Her only company now was a few dusty skeletons from older times. Times before her. For her Lord Martin had played his game for a very long time.

She hummed quietly, weakly to herself. It was the song she sang to her summer knight to send him off to sleep. With each note she felt a little more at ease. Blindly, she looked up at the stars through the barred window, mumbling tired words to herself;

When I consider how my light is spent,

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one Talent which is death to hide

Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide,

“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”

I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need

Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is Kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o’er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

And despite the dismal scene, the lady Lyonesse felt hope, comfort, and faith.