"Keep running Sir!," shouted a soldier.

A dozen ghastly forms blundered through the narrow trail. Each time a sole touched earth a tremor was heard. The night carried no other sounds except for their heavy breaths and the constant shakes of the earth. Lightning and storms seemed to follow their wake in this clear night.

The few equipped men had on little armor and a single sword strapped on each of their waist. The rest of the group were dressed in finery and, some, in homespun for practicality. None of their wears were left without smudge since their hasty flight through the mountains to this forest. The Dead Forest.

"Keep moving dear," chided Arthur. He bored into his wife. Her reddish yellow hair glowed even in the dim lighting of the forest and sky. Her eyes spoke truth and her voice moved mountains. She had the fortitude and patience for politics and a face that dealt blows to men's heart, his included.

She was beautiful.

Alice bent down with heavy heaves and huffs all the while clutching a cloth bundle. She was a whole head shorter than him with a small frame, however when she spoke it was like the warm summers mixed in the sweetest honey from Constantia. But she was a woman of few words.

She nodded briefly and squeezed his hand. A small head poked through the fabrics and gave a small shriek. Another shriek came from the bundle Arthur was carrying as well. "Shhh..my little devils," Alice cooed. She stood next to Arthur and gently whispered to the twins.

"Sir, we must continue. Time is of the essence," said the lead soldier.

Arthur responded, "I know."

With that, Arthur gave a nod and they continued their trek through the Dead Forest.

It has been long known that the Dead Forest is unwelcoming to all Strangers. It shimmers and glows during the quiet of the night, as if yearning for all to notice. It never rains and the wind never blows. However, the bushes are green, the trees tall and full, and the animal trails aplenty. If any Strangers were asked they would say the Dead Forest was alive with a beating heart of its own.

"Right through here milord," cried the lead soldier.

"Are you sure we're on the right path?" asked Arthur.

"Yessir. Court Wizard Anton said to follow this trail until we hit an ugly red tree stump. Once there we must double back."

Arthur looked with shock and confusion while the soldier continued on as if he had just told him that water isn't wet.

"Double back, you said?," Arthur questioned catching up to him.

The lead soldier didn't slow down nor pay heed to the question.

"Soldier, I asked you a question," commanded Arthur.

Upon closer inspection he realized their lead tracker was the greenie.

"Keep up the pace sir, we need to create more distance," said the greenie. Despite the horrendous trek, the dim lighting, the clashes of rocks and dirt, the thunderstorms in the clear sky, he had no difficulty finding his way. Arthur tried to recall this soldier's face among all the greenies he received in the past two Suun days.

"Alright sir, we're just about there. Past that grove and we'll be in sight of the stump." Then he muttered to himself, "Almost to Sanctuary."

Arthur thought back into the past about this particular soldier. He recalled seeing him with wizard Anton many times in and off court. The soldier was tall. Taller even than him and he toppled most men in the kingdom. Perhaps twice his own weight even, but looking closely he can't be older than a young man just growing a beard. Definitely not the roughest man he's seen, but the way he moved can only be described as graceful and fluid. No wasted movements. Calm and control even in this quandary. It was as if each part of his body knew exactly where to be and where to go for full efficiency.

Now that Arthur thought about it, perhaps due to the increased taxation on his body, impending danger, or maybe it's the Dead Forest working its dark magic, he did not know, but at this moment his mind was clear as day. He remembered seeing this same man some twenty cycles ago when he, himself, was just old enough to work in his father's shop.

When his father suddenly earned the rights to their dukedom.

This man hadn't changed. Not one bit. Not in over twenty cycles.

"What's your name?" Arthur asked suddenly. The lead soldier turned his full body around but continued moving forward effortlessly. "Name's Ancile," he replied. Putting on a full grin. "Sir."

The name, more than anything even the smile itself that's so out of place in their current predicament, threw Arthur for a loop. He let out a quick gasp. "The Shields."

"Yes and no your highness. But now is not the time for questions is it," Ancile replied smartly.

Arthur contemplated the soldier for a brief moment. The Shields are real! They were only known to the king, dukes, and less nobles than he can count on his one hand. Supposedly, only the king had authority over the Shields and he, even, denies their existence from time to time. Deciding to broach the subject later Arthur dropped it. There will be a later. He'll make sure of it. Not one more of them will die this night.

Ancile finally lead the group to the stump. His pace hadn't changed, but with every step closer it was as if he skipped and hopped merrily.

"Is something wrong Ancile?" asked Arthur.

Ancile turned his head with a lopsided grin. "I can feel them. They're close." He continued to the stump and when they turned around to double back, all was even quieter. "Here I thought we weren't going to get any action." Disbelief on Arthur's face caused the grin to spread even wider on Ancile's face.

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Through the black night, rustles spread from all the trees and bushes. It seemed as if life was emerging from the forest itself.

Becoming alive.

Countless shadows stepped from each bush and tree. Each wearing a different mask and insignia upon their breasts. They carried a myriad number of weapons from swords to bows and staves. The closest figure spoke.

"Leave the children."

Another from a different direction they could not tell.

"And we'll grant you painless deaths." The shadows drew closer. Each drawing a different weapon.

Arthur looked to his ragtag group and the few soldiers he thought to bring with him. He should have brought more!

Suddenly all heads turned toward an even more eerie sound than the quiet of the night. Laughter. A madness one even. Manifesting itself like a bug from its shell this laughter broke through the throng of despair and darkness in their midst. Building into a crescendo that can only be described as coming from a madman about to commit his greatest achievement in life.

"I'm sorry. Really." Ancile fought for breath with every stroke. He huffed and puffed.

And continued laughing. "Bwahahahahahahahah!!"

"That was just what I needed. I'll admit guys you made some good time." Ancile peered at each of the shadows. "For children that is."

A shadow brandished its weapons. A short sword and knife, and blinked within strike range to the ragtap group. "HOLD!" commanded the lead. The flighty shadow withdrew immediately.

"He's disrespected the Umbra. His punishment is death, Sir," hissing the entire speech. The figure surprised them all, Arthur's group included. He backhanded the flighty shadow.

"Good man." Ancile commented. Arthur didn't noticed but Ancile was right behind him holding a small pebble in between his fingers.

"What the-?" Ancile gently prodded Arthur back.

The lead shadow motioned to the shadow he struck, "Fool." Even through the darkness and mask everyone could feel the blush coming from the shadow. It retreated back into the ranks.

"Who are you?" asked the lead, all the while seemingly to stare through his mask to Ancile.

"My name's not important. I would appreciate it if you and your children get out of my way. I have an important meeting that just cannot go underway without my divine presence. But of course if you choose not to, I'll have to entertain myself with you and yours and no one wants that." Arthur wasn't sure, but it almost seemed like Ancile WANTS the shadows to say no.

"I'm afraid I cannot comply." The lead raised his hand for a gesture.

"Your highness, I need you to gather our little group and tell them all to make a break through their ranks when I give the signal," Ancile whispered to Arthur.

Arthur baffled. "Are you mad?" Ancile grinned and nodded. Hoping against all hope that the Shields were the stuff of legends he has heard about from the King and his peers. He had no choice but to place his trust in this madman. He looked to Alice. She too gave him a nod. He had to believe.

"All right. What's the signal?" Ancile turned his head away from the shadow to him again. Another lopsided grin. "You'll know."

He hoped he wasn't making a mistake. With that Arthur turned around and motioned for the whole group.

Ahhh, Ancile internally sighed. Finally some action. I was almost getting too bored with this routine. Anton owes me double now. That two-face, dung-smelling, peach fart! "It'll be fun" he said. "It'll be exciting" he said. "It'll change your perspective on the Strangers!" he said! All lies!

I still think they're a bunch of monkeys handling iron and wood like they know better. Well..maybe except for the little ones. They weren't too far off and almost cute.

Almost.

But those two. Ancile recalled his first time in their presence. Toddlers they may be, but it was like his brothers and sisters were there.

They may prove to be just what Anton told him they were. Umbra's Bane.

They feel...different.

Almost like they have the imperii.

Maybe they can stop Umbra. Not these children in masks and cloaks claiming Umbra's name.

No. These children know not what they do.

The Umbra. The Shadow in the Shadows. The Dark in the Darkness. It lives, yet not alive. It's Death, yet not eternal. Umbra they called it.

I've yet to face it in all my cycles here on Erra.

I wonder what Ultor wants me to do.

The signal was instantaneous and incredibly overpowering. Arthur thought he saw Ancile standing between him and the shadows. But the next instant Ancile was right in the middle of the shadows. Before he knew it, Ancile screamed.

Not a loud scream. A muted scream. Tranquil and serene.

Arthur didn't hear it so much as he felt it. It was wonderful yet terrifying. Filled him with limitless energy. Overbearing even. He turned his head this way and that. Everyone seemed stunned just like him. He turned back to Ancile standing in the middle of them all.

A nod. This was it. He grabbed Alice's hand and motioned for everyone to run.

"What did you do!" the lead shadow almost shouted.

Ancile gave them his most prominent gift. His too-good looking smile.

The lead shadow made a gesture and a shadow broke off rank to attack Arthur's group. He didn't take so much as a step before his legs disappeared completely. Not cut off. Just gone from the knee down. There was no blood or gore. The dismembered shadow's scream was cutoff by a quick snap of his neck, seemingly out of nowhere.

No one moved. No one else had moved during that whole spectacled. All the shadows stood even more motionless.

Ancile smiled even further, if that was possible.

Understanding dawned on the leader and he bowed. He spoke, slowly, in the most reverent tone.

"You are One."

Ancile's smile broke. He frowned. "You should not know that."

The leader continued as if Ancile had not spoken. "We shall be honored to die in combat to the One." He spoke with so much heart and purposefulness that all the shadows repeated it.

"We shall be honored to die in combat to the One."

Ancile blew out a breath. He already knew about these children's radical view of the afterlife. Supposedly mighty warriors who fall in combat to the Gods were granted eternal service of glory. Reincarnation to a blessed house or being reborn as an honorary God themselves. Contrary to the radical belief, it was not peaceful for the deranged.

No one was supposed to have known his existence though. There were only two people who knew and he told them himself. They were both long dead now. A mix of anguish and regret showed on his face. Is this another repeat of his mistakes?

"Your oaths and fealty means nothing to me."

He glanced around. Each shadow brandished their own weapons. His own voice rising beyond a mortal's understanding.

"There IS no honor in death."

He walked purposefully to the lead shadow. Each step seeming to quake the soil they stood upon.

"Come!" 

HIs eyes darkened. His imperii flashed out. Morphing. Exploding. Creating raw earth and air around him. He beckoned towards them.

"Let me show you."