Hooves pounded the path below him as Jack sped through grass and tree. The horse leaped over logs and stumps until there were none left. His shovel clanked against his back, his bow slung on his shoulder, and his knife concealed.

The towns streets were eerily quiet. Usually bustling with people and carts moving. The air was clear for once, due to the inactive factories, allowing a majestic view of the castle that laid in the heart of the city. Perhaps some sort of lock-down or curfew?

Jack surveyed left and right, searching for any sign of danger. He found none. Not a single soldier or guard in sight. All had apparently been called to scope the area near the forest.

Bel was right, he really did send his entire army.

Bel. He needed to find her. At some point at least. Some part of him feared that she might have already been executed. But he comforted himself with the idea that the king would have been occupied with dealing with him rather than killing her.

He felt comfortable enough to slow the horse to a trot. Now he was right at the gates of the castle.

He dismounted the horse and inspected the giant gate, which was closed. There was no way of getting over, around, or under it, as the wall around the gate was smooth and too tall to climb, and the ground was cobblestone.

He looked back at the gate again.

I wonder…

He gave it a push. To his surprise, it wasn’t locked and glided open with no resistance.

Something is wrong here…

He felt unsettled by the fact that the door was, while not exactly “wide open,” was not locked at all, on top of being completely defenseless.

He entered the cool interior of the castle. Cool because it was noticeably colder inside, somehow, than it was outside, despite the fact it was almost freezing outside, with icicles forming on the roofs of houses, and the Keywark lake the bridge went over having chunks of ice in some areas.

He kept walking. His knife heated itself, surprisingly without burning him.

Perhaps this is what Hoover meant by connecting with my knife…

If Jack felt unsettled outside, he felt more afraid indoors.

Everything about his environment screamed trap. The halls were completely empty, not a single servant, soldier, scout, cook, or any person in the halls. None of the torches were lit either. His logical side refused to believe that the king had really sent his entire army to just the forest to capture him, despite Bel’s reassurance. But the more he walked the empty corridors, the more he began to doubt this.

Also, he realized he did not know where he was even going. But nevertheless, he pressed on, as it would do him no good to backtrack and try to remap the castle from the outside view.

He opened another door that seemed to lead outside. When Jack passed through it, he experienced another drop in temperature. There was some snow starting to form on the terrace he walked upon.

Since there was a lot of ice forming, Jack could deduce that it was below freezing. A normal person would have to wear several layers of clothing, as wool could be quite expensive, or they would freeze to death. But for Jack, it was little more than cool temperature. The cloak he wore seemed to be shielding him from becoming an ice cube.

The terrace looked down upon a courtyard. But not your average courtyard. What seemed like a small pond, which had no water, sat in the middle. The inside seemed to be filled with dirt, but the bricks were still there, suggesting that only recently, was the pond decommissioned.

But in another corner, Jack saw something that made him stop.

Gallows.

They sat right next to a dropblade, which sat next to a chopblock. Lined up neatly.

Jack took a moment to overcome his disgust. People died here. Many many people, probably innocent. The cleanliness of the dropblade suggested that it had been used recently.

Jack clutched his stomach. The sight of the contraptions brought back painful memories. Specifically, one where had watched a lynching when he was much younger. He gagged.

It’ll be over soon. I just need to find the king.

Jack took a deep breath and got to his feet. If everything went well, according to Bel, King Boneh’s tyrannical rule would systematically collapse.

That is, if Bel was still alive, or he would be able to find the king.

He marched on. He could now see that he was headed to the center of the castle from here. A large door stood in front of him. It took some strength to open.

The big wooden doors creaked open, revealing a large round room.

Jack was surprised yet again by the temperature. It was hotter this time. Much warmer than the other rooms and outdoors. It surprised him because it seemed as he got closer to the center of the castle, it would get colder. Now, he was in a room, that was, well, room temperature.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The torches were lit in the room. And a red, round carpet covered the floor. He wiped his boots casually.

“Ahem.”

Jack whirled around, caught off guard by the voice, a gravely one that he recognized immediately.

Oberion waved his hand weakly, then let it slump to his side. “You’re tracking mud.”

Jack opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off.

“I took a shortcut, if that's what you were wondering. I know this land better than any useless, weak, disobedient, piece of shit.” He said it as if he were actually talking about feces.

Still, Jack could sense that the insult wasn’t directed at him. Perhaps there were other people who got on the general's nerves.

“Anyways, if you were also wondering why there is no one here, it is because I evacuated everyone in the castle.”

Jack couldn’t help but feel slightly dissapointed in the fact that he had been beaten to the castle by a long shot. At least he knew it was a trap. Jack drew his Shovel-blade.

Oberion responded by hefting a spear that had been leaning on the wall next to him, one that Jack had failed to notice.

Well, I figured that out too late.

Oberion tossed his spear from one hand to the other. “I suppose we are going to fight now. Unless, of course, you surrend unconditionally.”

Jack leveled his blade at Oberion.

“That’s a no then.”

With a burst of power, Oberion threw his spear directly at Jack. It was halfway to him when he realized what Oberion did. He leaned backwards, letting the spear fly over this head and bury itself in a drawer stand.

When Jack regained his balance, he was met with a sword. He parried. Obeiron had charged him while he dodged the spear.

Smart. He thought.

Jack felt a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time. He was fighting someone on his level.

Oberion swung low, cutting a gash in Jack’s leg. Jack clenched his teeth in pain. He swung his shovel to counterattack. Oberion dodged it gracefully, and slid by him.

Jack flipped around. Oberion stood at the wall. Sheathing his blade, he pulled the spear out of the wall.

So a spears’ his favorite weapon.

Oberon jabbed the spear forward, letting it slip just a little to its end, then he twisted it, and with his leg, he tried to kick Jack.

Jack blocked with his shovel, but was unable to block the spear, to he leaned back again, making sure to watch Oberion while he did.

Jack cursed silently. Oberion fought well, he didn’t take Jack lightly, and seemed like he never let his guard down around anyone.

“This can only end with one of us standing!” Jack shouted.

“You’re the one making conditions now?” Oberion snarled back. “The only reason you’re are still alive is because the king ordered me to capture you alive.”

“I’ve killed people stronger than you.” Jack spat.

“I’ve killed more people than you.” Oberion replied.

Oberion slid around. Jack kept up just barely.

“Where are are your renforcements?” Jack asked.

Oberion didn’t respond to this question.

As they continued fighting Jack considered the possibility that Oberion was holding a grudge against someone he worked alongside with.

“Are you a summoned?” Jack asked, as he somersaulted over Oberion’s head, narrowly avoiding the spear that followed him.

“One of those fools? Nay. Do not mistake yourself lad, I have the blood. I have not the stupidity.”

Fair enough.

“They cannot learn. They are just a bag of magic flesh!”

Jack was caught off guard by Oberion’s change in tone from professional to spite.

“They are dangerous, and hard to control. Their children can even learn better than them. Yes, I do despise them so!”

Oberion made a mistake. A small one, but one that Jack spotted and took advantage of. Jack thrusted his blade forward, met with almost no resistance, as it impaled Oberion through his abdomen.

Jack pulled out his shovel-blade. Oberion gave him a look of disbelief, then slumped down on the wall.

Jack turned around, cautiously waiting for the rest of the army to come in and arrest him.

Oberion let out a soft laugh.

Jack whirled around, staring in shock.

“What’s so funny?”

“They are- they aren't coming…” He wheezed.

“Why the hell not?”

“T-the gate is self-locking, assuming you closed it. Which you d-did. Also, If you’re looking for the king, you missed him. He’s in the northern tower. This was his throne room, but we moved everything there.”

Jack was silent. Something didn’t add up.

“I…”

“Hate him.”

“Who?”

“The… King…”

Jack leaned down, surprised. Oberion gave him a weak grin.

“Then why-”

“Why?” Oberion chuckled again. “Why? Because if I didn't, then another damn person would. I didn’t have a home, or a family. Later, long after my family passed on, I found out the reason why.”

Jack nodded. He knew why.

“I suppose you already know. But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“When I see that bastard again, it’ll be in hell. And when I find him among the hordes of the cursed and damned, I will rip him limb from limb. For if he is just a fraud now, I know he will be nothing but a troglodyte when I see him again.”

He paused to look at Jack.

“If you’re gonna kill that son of a bitch, I wish you luck.” Oberion closed his eyes.

“Oh, and watch out for…”

He died before finishing his sentence.

He’s warning me about something. A hero, perhaps? Stay vigilant Jack.

Jack left the throne room. Outside was colder than ever.

He marched to the northern tower.