It was pandemonium in the gatehouse, but Tim kept his eyes firmly on the holes in the ceiling. Moments later, liquid started pouring out.

“Raise your shields, attack from above!” he cried as he raised his shield and pulled Emily under it.

“Hey, get your hands off her!” Nina objected but was interrupted as Eric pulled her under his shield.

Men screamed as boiling oil poured down from above.

“Raise your shields!” Erwyn cried from somewhere amongst the panicking mass of flesh and steel. “Raise them over your heads!”

“Princess, can you get your fire up through those holes?” Tim asked tersely.

Emily swallowed and nodded.

“Wait for the right moment,” Tim gasped as drops of boiling oil bounced off someone’s shield and onto his exposed neck.

When the oil ceased temporarily, Tim cried, “Now!”

Tim moved his shield away and Emily sent a gout of fire from each hand up the holes. Men screamed above them, and the oil ceased. Tim then studied the gate’s doors behind them and saw that metal bars extended from the top of each of the two doors up into the chamber above the gatehouse. There were mountings on the gate itself for a huge drawbar that was leaned against one of the walls.

“That must be how they’re closed,” he muttered to himself. “If that’s the only way they’re held shut…”

“What are you talking about?” Eric demanded as he looked around frantically for a way out.

Tim quickly found Karl and tugged on his belt. The giant man looked down at him and smiled wryly. “They’ve trapped us alright, Little Man.”

Tim pointed at the top of the gate. “That’s all that’s holding the gate shut. Think you and your tribesmen can force it open?”

Karl’s eyes lit up when he saw the metal bars extending through the ceiling. “Of course we can.”

As Karl pushed his way through the sea of smaller men to find his kin, they heard Horatio cry, “North Men to the front, now is the time to prove your strength! Everyone else, make way!”

Though the oil had stopped raining down, arrows were beginning to fly through the portcullis. For now, the Brotherhood of the Prince were protected by the bodies of the heavily armoured cavalry and North Men in front of them. A gout of fire erupted from another Sister’s hands driving Hulvans back from the portcullis to cries of, “Witch!”

As Karl conscripted ten massive North Men to push on the gate behind them, the remainder walked up to the portcullis and grabbed onto the steel structure while the Carthun soldiers and the Sister attempted to keep the Hulvans away.

“Lift on three!” Horatio cried.

“One, two, three!”

The portcullis shuddered as the North Men put their immense strength into lifting it. Hulvan cavalry mounted a desperate charge to stop them, braving fire, and lances as they hurled their steeds at full speed towards the portcullis. One made it through, striking the North Man with enough strength to run his lance all the way through the giant’s armoured body before smashing himself against the steel structure.

Despite being mortally wounded, the North Man continued to lift the massive portcullis. Arthur led the charge when there was enough space to roll under the portcullis, and Tim and Eric were right behind him. The trio hurled themselves at the onrushing Hulvans. However, the weight of their numbers was too great, and they were about to be overwhelmed when Emily scrambled under the portcullis and incinerated four men and intimidated the remainder to back off, buying them precious breathing room.

“Princess, you really shouldn’t be here!” Tim gasped as he narrowly blocked an arrow that was aimed at her with his shield.

Emily hurled another fireball, scattering a group of Hulvans who were approaching from the right, before looking Tim in the eye. “You’d all be long dead if I weren’t here.”

Soon, the North Men entered the fray, cackling with glee as they swung their weapons with reckless abandon, driving the Hulvans away from the gatehouse with their immense strength. A cheer went up behind them as the gates creaked open wide enough to permit a small man to pass through one at a time.

“Karl’s going to be furious with you for sending him away from the fighting,” Eric remarked.

Tim turned pale as he watched the North Men scythe down the Hulvan soldiers who were foolish or brave enough to face them like wheat at the harvest.

“My Prince, that was reckless of you,” Horatio panted as he arrived by Arthur’s side.

Tim looked at the portcullis that was now just tall enough for a man to walk under. The North Men’s huge weapons were wedged under it as well as the shields and spears of the cavalry.

“We had better find a way to keep that raised,” Erwyn warned as he too emerged from the trap. “That thing could slam shut at any moment.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“We should reign in the North Men as well,” Horatio observed as he watched them enter the city proper. “I’ll do have to be the one to do that.”

“I’ll go with you,” Arthur offered as he cleaned his enemy’s blood off his sword.

Horatio shook his head. “You take charge of things here. It is too dangerous for you to enter the city.”

“But Lord Carver,” Arthur protested. “I saw King Patrick’s banners earlier. He must be near. If we capture him, we can finally get answers for the Betrayal.”

Horatio shook his head. “If we pursue him, we risk running headlong into another trap. The bulk of our forces are still outside the city gates.”

“But,” Arthur began.

Horatio sighed and placed both his hands on Arthur’s shoulders. “My Prince, please, consider your position and what would happen to the kingdom if anything were to happen to you.”

“Father is still there,” Arthur protested.

Horatio glanced at Emily before looking back at Arthur. “I know the two of you have been working hard at it, but is your wife…”

“No, I’m not,” Emily said softly, the disappointment clear on her face.

“The battle and the war is all but won My Prince,” Horatio said. “There is no need for you to risk yourself unnecessarily now.”

Arthur gritted his teeth and nodded. Horatio patted the prince on the shoulder before running after the North Men who were carving a path of destruction down the Divine Path. Arthur watched his mentor for a moment before turning to his Valet.

“Lord Erwyn,” he said tersely. “I want you to send a hundred men from the cavalry ahead to the palace.”

Erwyn blinked. “My Prince, Lord Carver…”

“The enemy is in full retreat, Erwyn,” Arthur said. “Lord Carver wishes for me to stay here, and I will obey that order. However, we must close off the palace before their people can destroy anything that might give us a clue about the Betrayal.”

He paused and saw the looks of avarice on some of the Carthun’s faces as they feasted their eyes on the city. “And before ours destroy anything irreplaceable while they loot. Find Lord Franklin, have him lead some men to secure the palace.”

As Erwyn left to relay Arthur’s orders, Tim took a moment to appreciate the city. The streets were clean, and the masonry on the stone buildings was immaculate. Lifelike statues lined the Divine Path within the city, and a marble sculpture with a burbling fountain as its centrepiece stood nearby.

“This place makes Aroden look like a pigsty,” Eric said with wonder in his voice.

“Something’s off, though,” Tim remarked. “Where are all the people?”

“I reckon they made a run for it,” Eric shrugged.

“It’s been less than an hour since we stormed the gate,” Tim pointed out. “And this city must be home to thousands and yet there isn’t a soul to be seen.”

“You always said you wanted to come here with me,” Emily remarked as she took Arthur’s arm in hers.

Arthur smiled wryly. “I just wish it was under different circumstances.”

Tim sat uncomfortably in his chair close to the window, watching Carthun soldiers hurry about. It had been an hour since they had entered this tavern close to the city gates, and he was consciously aware that there was still much to be done. The gates had just been opened and the rest of the Carthun army was still assembling inside the city. Horatio had managed to get the North Men to return and soon, they would begin to secure the city in earnest.

“Look alive now,” Tim hissed to Eric, who was behind the bar, looking for something alcoholic to drink.

The pair leapt to their feet as Erwyn entered the room. He narrowed his eyes at Eric. “Where’s the prince?”

The boys looked up the stairs with sheepish looks on their faces and Erwyn shook his head. The prince’s valet walked up to the stairs and cleared his throat. “My Prince, Lord Carver is prepared to take the army further into the city.”

There was a loud thump from upstairs, and moments later, they heard Arthur reply. “I will be down shortly. Have you heard from Lord Franklin?”

Erwyn frowned. “No. He should have sent word back ages ago.”

Arthur soon descended the stairs. Emily walked down a moment later with as much dignity as she could muster. Her hair was dishevelled, and she couldn’t meet Erwyn’s gaze.

Arthur looked out the door and rubbed his cheek thoughtfully. “Any news from the other scouts?”

“They found no trace of the enemy in the city,” Erwyn replied. “But none have gone as far as the Noble District.”

Arthur nodded thoughtfully. “Gather the rest of the Brotherhood and send them up to the palace, Erwyn.”

Erwyn looked at the prince with concern. “And what will you be doing, My Prince?”

Arthur turned to his valet and smiled. “I think I’ll take my wife on a walk.”

“But My Prince, it isn’t safe,” Erwyn protested.

“It will be fine,” Arthur soothed. “There has been no sign of the enemy, and you will be right behind us. Lord Franklin probably has his hands full trying to stop his men from looting the palace.”

When Erwyn didn’t budge, Arthur sighed. “Don’t worry, we’ll turn back at the first sign of trouble. I just want to take a quiet stroll with my wife while we have the opportunity. Estos is a beautiful place.”

Erwyn bit his lip before nodding. “Shall I inform Lord Carver?”

“Yes, but only after I’ve gone,” Arthur grinned.

Erwyn turned to the boys and his gaze turned icy. “The two of you are responsible for the prince. If he so much as sprains his ankle, you will be put to death as traitors of the kingdom, do you understand?”

The boys snapped to attention and nodded. “Yes, My Lord.”

“Come along then, boys,” Arthur smiled as he and Emily walked out the door.

The boys hurried after the prince and saw the massive figure of Karl approach. “My Prince, do we have orders?”

Arthur shrugged. “We were just about to go on a stroll. You are welcome to join us if you like.”

Karl sniffed. “I suppose I might as well. The fighting appears to be over, and I have nothing to show for it.”

“My Prince, please, let us take the lead,” Tim offered as Arthur and Emily began to pull away.

“That won’t be necessary,” Arthur replied without turning around. “Besides, do you know your way around the city?”

“No I don’t,” Tim conceded.

“Then please, give us some space,” Arthur asked.

“But Lord Erwyn…” Eric began.

“It’ll be fine, boys,” Arthur assured them as they walked down the Divine Path, deeper into the city. “Listen.”

The boys did as they were told, and Eric frowned. “I don’t hear anything.”

Arthur turned around and smiled wryly. “Exactly. I sent almost a hundred men to the palace. Stout fighters all of them. If anything happened to them, we’d have heard at least the sounds of battle.”

Tim took a moment to admire a twenty foot tall statue on a plinth. It depicted Archava, the God of War as a bearded man in flowing robes wielding a polearm that stood as tall as he did.

“This city sure is pretty. Even the streets are spotless,” Eric mused. “I wonder if Velos is grander than this.”

The boys fell silent as Arthur wrapped his arm around Emily’s shoulders as they walked seemingly without a care in the world. Then, they kissed, and Tim felt himself turn red.

“I wonder if we’ll get to Monsi,” Eric said abruptly, to hide his embarrassment. “They say that you can see the Light of Ascension from there.”

“I’ve never seen it myself,” Karl offered. “But I hear it’s quite the spectacle.”

The trio began chatting about inconsequential matters to distract themselves from the public display of affection in front of them as they walked down the Divine Path, not knowing that the course of the war would soon take an abrupt turn.