The Festival of the Hearth was finally over.

William had taken little time to enjoy the hospitality of the King. He didn't like sitting idle, and the day after his arrival, he sought out Eitrigg. The two of them began healing the sick and injured of the capital. William learned that Eitrigg's ability for healing was nearly as strong as his own. It took him minutes to heal wounds that William could fix in mere moments. Eitrigg couldn't regrow limbs either. William could, assuming the injury didn't symbolize anything. Even so, Eitrigg knew several techniques that William found helpful.

"You should use the bare minimum amount of power when healing," Eitrigg said. He tended to an old man with a broken leg as he did. "It's better to use a small amount of power to inspire the person's body to heal itself. Not make miracles left and right."

"Why is that?" asked William.

"It's about efficient use of resources," explained Eitrigg. "You should learn to use a little power to do a lot. Then, when you have to do something massive, you'll accomplish much more." He paused. "I've seen many healers in Elranor's service, and I've never seen someone with your skill, William. Who taught you?"

"No one," said William. "Elranor granted me power."

"Well, yes, that's a given," said Eitrigg. "But you must have had a teacher. What was your first case?"

"My friend, Felix," said William, "he was stabbed by a satyr through the stomach. He was dying, and I found the power within me. I healed him. Then, later, Elranor appeared before me and offered me a position as one of his paladins."

"You healed a lethal wound for your first case?" asked Eitrigg. "You must be truly favored."

"I hope so," said William. "If I'm not in Elranor's favor, I'm trying to get there."

The door opened, and Tanith entered. She was clad in a black tunic and pants and stretching. "Hey, Eitrigg, I know you're going through this pacifist phase, but could you spar with me?"

"I told you," said Eitrigg. "I've given up war."

"Well, it's not war," said Tanith. "Come on, just a nonlethal spar." She paused. "What about you, William?"

"Tanith," said William, "I will spar with you if you let me finish my rounds here."

"Fine," said Tanith, "I'll hold you to that." Then she turned and walked out.

"She never used to be like this," said William. "When we were children, she was easygoing. When we campaigned, she seemed normal, if a bit bloodthirsty. But now she's never satisfied unless she is fighting someone."

"It's her way of coping," said Eitrigg. "When sailing with Argath Marn, we saw... we did things..." His eyes grew distant. "Well, it isn't something I want to dwell on. Suffice to say what I do now is atonement for what I did then."

"What happened to Tanith?" asked William.

"She was Argath's favorite," said Eitrigg. "And she tried to fill the role." He paused. "After this, I will make rounds to the various villages and heal everyone I can. Why don't you come with me? You could be of great help. Though it will take several days."

"Of course," said William. "I don't feel much like celebrating anyway."

That had been how William and Eitrigg began their ministry. William did most of the healing while Eitrigg instructed him in better techniques. Among those techniques was meditation—that and focusing his emotions. William knew that different mental states were better for different kinds of magic. But Rusara did not have the same skill at healing. Under Eitrigg's instruction, he found himself rapidly improving.

Felix was there, of course, but he said nothing. He seemed to be wrestling with some inner struggle. Sometimes, he would look far south as if conflicted. However, when William asked about it, he said nothing.

Eventually, they returned. When they did, Mother was already gone. She had gone out on her own mission, and they had only just missed her. Returning to his room, William had just sat down after getting back when Felix entered. "William, King Estal is here to see you."

"The King?" asked William. "Of course, let him in."

King Estal entered. He looked very pleased and looked at William with approval. "I am told that every village in my Kingdom has been visited. The sick and the injured flock to you and are made whole. Those who dabble in the art of healing for-profit curse your name.

"You are a strange knight, Sir William."

William flushed with pride. "Thank you," he said. "Yet, I've never been formally knighted."

"And yet you bear the scars of war and carry yourself with strength and nobility few can match," noted Estal.

"You flatter me, King Estal," said William, embarrassed. "But I am sure you did not come all this way to say just that."

"No, I did not," admitted Estal. "I think that you may well be worthy of being a knight. If you wish it, I will knight you."

To be knighted at his age? Well, of course, William had already done his share of questing. "You honor me."

"First, however. I would have you first complete a quest for me," said Estal.

That was standard. A tradition that a knight performs a task for the one who did the knighting. "Name it, and it shall be done."

"Some months ago, we were at war with the cyclopi of the northern highlands," said Estal. "But one of them, the King, crept into Estal and kidnapped my daughter, Cassandra."

"A cyclops crept past all your guards?" asked William in surprise.

"He is a sorcerer," said Estal. "Some say he possesses the power of shapeshifting and to meld with the shadows. Now, he holds her hostage, and she languishes in prison. And if we move to attack them, she will surely be killed."

"You would have me rescue her," guessed William.

"I would," said Estal. "You may, of course, take whatever companions you wish."

"Very well, then," said William. "Felix, go find Tanith. She'll want to be involved in this."

"Ah, Tanith. I knighted her as well," said Estal. "Good choice. Still, are you certain you should take the Calishan?"

William felt a surge of resentment but crushed it. "Felix is among my oldest friends. I trust him with my life."

"Very well," said Estal. "You may choose your companions. And you will depart as soon as possible. I must return to my court. I fear I have judgments to pass."

The King departed, and William took up his sword. Unsheathing the blade, he stopped. The black sword was far longer and broader than when Moira presented it. The sword had grown as he had grown. The red runes upon it did not glow so brightly. The darkness seemed deeper. Yet the steely glint was stronger.

He was still looking at the blade when the door opened. Tanith and Felix entered. Tanith was already wearing her armor. She seemed happier than she'd been in days. "Felix tells me we're going after Princess Cassandra. Sounds fun to me? She's supposed to be a real beauty."

"Haven't you met her?" asked William. "You were here before."

"Yeah, but I didn't spend much time in the palace," said Tanith. "I only went there once to be knighted. Mostly, Aris and I were making plans for raids and piracy."

"Right," said William. "Is there anyone who knows the realm of the cyclopi?"

"Well, that would be Eitrigg," said Tanith. "He lived in that region before he took to raiding. I'll go ask him."

"Let me get my armor on, and I'll go with you," said William. "Felix, could you help me with this."

Once again, William wondered why Rusara had chosen such morbid imagery for the armor she gave him. It had been a gift, and he treasured it. Yet the way the helm warped his voice into sounding like a cold north wind disturbed him. He'd known Rusara valued fear as a tactic but hadn't known that well.

Tanith led them through the halls. Eventually, she came to a room and banged on the door. "Hey, Eitrigg! Eitrigg!"

The door opened. "This is a meditation room, you know?"

"You can sleep when you're dead," said Tanith. "Are you up for another adventure?"

"To what end?" asked Eitrigg. "I already told you I'm not going to kill anyone ever again."

"Not that," said Tanith. "We just need someone who knows the domain of the cyclopi. We've got to rescue Princess Cassandra, and you know that area better than anyway."

Eitrigg remained silent. "...Very well, I will lead you. However, I have a condition."

"What is it?" asked Tanith.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"There is to be no blood spilled without need," said Eitrigg. "Not a single creature, monster or mortal, god or demon is to be killed save at the greatest needs. Promise me this, and I will go with you. Otherwise, find someone else."

"Oh, come on, Eitrigg. They're cyclopi, not people," said Tanith.

"That is my condition," said Eitrigg. "Take it or leave it, Tanith."

"We accept, of course," said William. "I have no love of blood."

Eitrigg flinched as he heard the voice. "Well, that is something. We should go soon. I have the feeling we will need haste in this matter."

"What makes you say that?" asked Tanith.

"A feeling in my heart," said Eitrigg.

"We were leaving immediately anyway," said William.

They quickly got together provisions and made their way out of the palace. With the holiday over, the colorful banners were now mere leftovers. People were tired of drinking and entertainment. Now, a sense of weary contentment was on the streets.

Tanith led them to the gates and past the villages on this side of the gorge. As they walked, they saw a large group of brown-clad men. They were practicing with spears and large round shields. It looked like they were trying to make a formation, but they weren't doing a very good job. Nor were they trying very hard.

"Are those the local militia?" asked William.

"Yes," said Eitrigg. "They are drilling for combat, as is their custom two days a week."

"They aren't doing a very good job of it," said William. "Their formation is uneven. They aren't making proper use of their shields. And the rear lines aren't even lowering their spears over their shoulders."

"Truth be told, Estal doesn't get much use out of its militia save to put down criminals," said Eitrigg. "They are surrounded by water, and the navy is the source of their power."

"What of the cyclopi?" asked William.

"The cyclopi don't attack very often," said Eitrigg. "Or at all. Most of those who have died to them died because they intruded on their territory."

"Ah," said William.

They crossed the gorge, and Eitrigg halted a little down the road. William could see the other villages training their militia as well. They weren't doing much better.

"We'll turn off the road here," said Eitrigg. "The cyclopi will have that watched. We must make our way cross country toward the mountain. See up there. Near the peak is a cave, and in that cave dwells the King of the Cyclopi. It is there that we will find Cassandra."

"If it's all that easy, why do we need a guide?" asked Felix.

"Getting there is the trouble," said Eitrigg. "Don't be fooled by their one eye. A cyclops can see far better than any human. And they'll have patrols. If we took the road, we'd have been grabbed long before we got anywhere and would have to fight our way up." They began to cut across the country. It had rained the previous night, and the ground was moist. It yielded beneath their feet and was unpleasant to walk in.

Eventually, they came into a forest leading uphill toward the mountain. The trees here were huge, and their branches were high above them. However, there were still patches of underbrush here or there.

"Something troubles me, Eitrigg," said William. "You said that cyclopi rarely attack. If so, how did war break out between Estal and the cyclopi?"

"A young cyclops had taken to stealing the apples from a nobles orchard," said Eitrigg. "One day, the noble and his men wait for him. They ambushed him, blinded him, and sent him off. Some of his friends came by and devoured the noble and his family."

"I remember this," said Tanith fondly. "Aris and I went after them and shot dead several of them as they fled. Estal started mustering its army. Many soldiers said we should drive out the cyclopi once and for all.

"Things were just getting good. Then Cassandra got kidnapped, and the whole war ground to a halt. I was looking forward to killing a Cyclops in hand to hand."

"It was probably for the best," said Eitrigg. "Whichever side had won would have been devastated. Instead, King Estal consulted the Seers of Laevian as to what he should do. And he was told that his daughter would be returned. It would happen when a boy with the valor of knights, clad as death, came to his island by no will of his own.

"All other efforts would fail."

"That's convenient," said William.

"Not for me. I don't much like the idea of fighting such creatures," said Eitrigg. "Even if I were willing to kill them. Cyclopi are not evil by nature. Not like satyrs. They largely wish to be left to do as they will. And their crimes are petty."

"First off, some of my best friends have been satyrs," said Tanith, scorn in her voice. "And secondly, Cyclopi not being evil by nature? I can only assume you mean when they aren't eating nobles?"

"They don't believe in wasting anything," said Eitrigg. "To them, eating another species which they have killed is not wrong, even if that species thinks. After all, the alternative is to let the meat go to waste."

"Bah," said Massacre with obvious sarcasm.

William looked up to see that the chimera had snuck upon them. She'd broken off from them at some point and hadn't appeared during the whole Festival. "Massacre, where did you come from?"

"Bah," said Massacre.

"So Mother has been training with the militia of Estal?" asked William, "What does she think of it?"

"Bah," said Massacre.

"That bad?" said William.

"You can speak with this creature?" asked Eitrigg.

"Yes. Massacre is very intelligent," said William. "She was just telling me that the militias of Estal need improvement."

"That is nothing we did not already know," said Eitrigg. "It hardly matters. There are always more mercenaries looking to carve a living out of the hides of Calishans. Truthfully had the militia system not been set out by Anoa the Bright, we likely would have abandoned it."

"Why not send them with the ships?" asked William.

"Some do go out with the ships, but not many. When a knight dies in battle, it is a tragedy, but no one will starve," said Eitrigg. "When a peasant dies in battle, they will never return to tend their fields. Commoners are of more use producing food for us since the soil here isn't as good as the mainland."

"I suppose-" began William.

"Stop," said Eitrigg. "Into the underbrush quickly."

"But-" began Tanith.

"Quickly," said Eitrigg.

They rushed quickly to the underbrush. However, even as they did, their feet left huge pits in the earth where they stepped. Hiding there, William looked. "Anyone who comes will see the tracks."

"One moment," said Eitrigg. He raised a talisman from within his robes and focused on it. "Barden, grant us this blessing." Gradually, the tracks they had left began to recede, the ground returning to the way it once was.

It was not a moment too soon. For out of the trees came two large cyclopi. They were like the giants of Viokinar, but they had one pure black eye each. Their legs were like those of the satyrs, with a white horn on top of their heads. They carried huge maces in their hands and wore heavy armor.

Yet they walked without a sound.

"I swear I saw something out here, Polyus," boomed one.

"As did I," said Polyus, "Perhaps some adventurers?"

"They likely lost their nerve like the others," said the first.

"Still, I don't like this, Krosus," said Polyus. "I'll keep a watch here. You head up to the King's cave and tell him what is happening. Get some warriors down here."

And he sat down with his back to them. Krosus turned and made his way back up the slope. Leaving them lying in the wet mud with a mere cyclops feet away.

"Well, we are stuck now, aren't we?" said Felix.

"He's got his back to us," said Tanith. "I'll sneak up behind him and put a sword in his neck."

"No. I told you before, no killing," said Eitrigg.

"Will you get over yourself, Eitrigg?" asked Tanith. "When did you become so spineless?"

"You-" began Eitrigg.

"Stop," said William. "Let me think." He considered the situation for a while. "Alright, I'm going out there."

"You're wearing full armor," said Felix. "You won't be able to sneak like that."

"Who says I'm sneaking?" asked William.

Then, getting to his feet, he stepped out into the light. Polyus heard him and arose a mace in hand. William raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Excuse me."

"What?" said Polyus. "A human? What is your business here? Speak quickly!"

"I mean you no harm, I assure you," said William.

"Do you not?" asked Polyus.

"Yes," said William. "I am William Gabriel, son of Duke Vanion Gabriel. I've come on a mission from the King of Estal. He wishes to negotiate the return of his daughter, Cassandra."

"Then why did you hide?" asked Polyus.

"I was afraid we would be taken for enemies and killed," said William. "I promised I would achieve my objective without blood."

"...I don't know if what you say is true," said Polyus. "However, if it is, you will wait here until my comrade returns. When I have warriors, I shall take you to the King. Then we will see."

"As you wish," said William.

Tanith came out with the others. "William, what are you doing?"

"Improvising. If there really is only one way into the cave, we'll never get in and out without fighting," said William. "Not unless they let us in."

"I hope you are right," said Eitrigg.

"I know you are wrong," snapped Tanith. "Even if peace is made with these animals, there will only be another war. We may as well slaughter them all on our way up."

"You want to storm the Cyclopi King's palace with just us?" asked Felix.

"Bah," said Massacre doubtfully.

"Why not?" asked Tanith. "There would be stories told of the day."

"Yes, and once you'd slaughter all those innocents, there would be eternal hatred. Estal and the cyclops would fight for years to come," said Eitrigg.

"Not if there were no cyclopi left to hate," said Tanith, an edge in her tone. "Tell me Eitrigg, when did the boldest of Prince Aris' soldiers transform into a pacifist?" The last word was practically spat.

"You would have agreed with me a few years ago," said Eitrigg.

"No, I wouldn't," said Tanith.

"Yes, you would," said Eitrigg. "You've changed, and not for the better. Even since we went with Argath Marn, you've lived for blood. It's all you care about anymore."

"Well, obviously," said Tanith. "There is no greater glory than the destruction of the enemies of Elranor."

"Was Argath Marn thinking of Elranor when he ordered the children of that village put on stakes?" asked Eitrigg. "Was he thinking of Elranor when he had those who refused his orders executed? To scare the rest into following suit. Or perhaps when he burned our ship to force us to raid a Calishan port and kill even more people.

"We were terrified of him. So we did as we were told. Horrors of our creation surrounded us. So we became sadists and learned to laugh at them. When anyone questions, what we did, we said it was for Elranor.

"Well, I know that to be a lie now. And you do as well."

"The Calishans aren't really people. They're barbarians," said Tanith. "They killed Anoa the IX. Killing them is doing the world a favor."

"Then what am I doing here?" asked Felix.

"I..." Tanith paused, "well, you're different."

"How?" asked Felix.

Tanith said nothing.

"I cannot take back those things I did, Tanith," said Eitrigg. "Neither can you. But for my part, I will try to make amends for them."

"So you've said before," said William, annoyed for reasons he didn't understand. "We shouldn't be discussing this here."

At that moment, a group of cyclopi came through the trees. There were nearly a dozen of them, all holding maces as tall as William was. Their leader came forward, larger than all the rest. His eye peered at them, then Polyus.

"Polyus, we're here. Are these the intruders?" he asked.

"They claim to be emissaries from King Estal, Captain Kronel," said Polyus. "They hope to secure the release of Princess Cassandra. Shall we take them to the King?"

"Very well. We will bring them," said Polyus. "But keep an eye on them, and if they make any sudden movements, club their heads in."

Well, this had all gone better than expected. Assuming Tanith didn't go berserk, they shouldn't have a problem.