Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, and black clouds hung heavy in the sky, threatening to dump their contents on the people who scurried about below them at any moment. It had been five days since the boys had left Estport and the meal they had shared with Emily’s mother was still fresh in their memories. They had found a new appreciation of food since they began travelling with the prince and princess, Tim was confident that he would remember that breakfast until his dying day. Delicately poached eggs coupled with sumptuous and fragrant smoked sausages, the boys had no idea that such exquisite tastes existed in the world up until then, and he often caught himself salivating at the memory.

“Say, Tim,” Eric whispered. “Do you remember what that tavern was called?”

Tim shook his head. “I don’t think it will be hard to find if we ever go back.”

“Maybe we should ask the princess for the name,” Eric suggested.

Tim glanced over his shoulder and stole a glance at Emily who was riding with Nina behind them. The princess had been in a funk ever since they had left Estport. Nina had confided in the boys that the princess both missed her husband dearly but at the same time was dreading meeting her father who they heard was also in the capital, waiting for her arrival.

“Now’s not the time,” Tim replied softly. “Perhaps we can ask Nina later.”

“What are the two of you gossiping about?” Nina demanded.

“Nothing,” The boys sang in unison out of reflex. They often did precisely that when adults asked them the same thing back in Potter’s Hollow.

“It’s disgusting how in sync the two of you are,” Nina said sourly, drawing a chuckle from Emily. The handmaiden’s tone turned cheerful. “We should be arriving in Aroden shortly, My Lady.”

“Really?” Eric asked as he looked around excitedly. They were travelling on a broad dirt road that was built along the banks of a wide, slow moving river.

“Yokel,” Nina sniffed.

Eric turned around and was about to give an indignant retort when he saw Emily smiling at the two boys. “Have you been to the capital before?”

Eric shook his head. “The closest we came was at that inn where we parted ways with Old Horatio.”

Emily’s eyes twinkled. “Then you’re in for a treat. We should be able to see the city after we round the next bend.”

Eric turned around excitedly and would have sped his horse up were it not for the wagon in front of them. Tim too, fell silent with anticipation as they made their way excruciating slowly up the road. As they rounded the next bend, they saw it, a sprawling city that was larger than anything they could have imagined on the far bank of the river. A hill rose sharply in the heart of the city. Houses were built on the sides that seemed to grow in size and opulence as they went further up the hill. On the hill’s peak was an enormous palace complex where Tim assumed the king lived. The walls were made from white stone, and the roof was covered in blue tiles that shimmered under the afternoon sun.

“You could fit the whole of Potter’s Hollow in that thing,” Eric breathed as he stared at the massive three towers of the city’s cathedral to the Three Divinities rising from the city proper, towering over the surrounding buildings.

“Yokels,” Nina snorted again as the boys took the city in.

“Will we get to explore the city?” Eric asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Emily shrugged.

The traffic grew as they got closer to the city, and by the time they reached the massive stone bridge that spanned the river, their progress had slowed to a crawl.

“Perhaps we should raise your banner, My Lady,” Nina suggested as a group of merchants travelling on foot pushed past them, startling their horses.

“I don’t think that will help,” Emily remarked as she surveyed the packed bridge.

“Well at least it’s moving,” Tim said absently as he and Eric watched the heavily laden barges pass under the bridge on their way to the docks further downstream.

“It’s all grains,” Eric breathed. “Can a city eat that much?”

Tim shrugged and looked at the crush of humanity around them. “I didn’t think there were this many people in the entire world.”

Eventually, they made it across the bridge and into the city proper, where to Tim’s amazement, the broad, paved streets were packed with even more people than the bridge.

“Stay close boys,” Nina warned as she and Emily rode past to take the lead. “If you get lost, just find the hill and ride up as far as the guards will let you. Tell them you’re looking for Lady Emily Soren and word should reach me.”

Rain began to fall as their horses pushed through the sea of people, but the city dwellers seemed not to notice as they went about their business. Back in Potter’s Hollow, everything would have ground to a halt as people sought shelter, which was often the Frisky Goat Inn, where they would sit down to have a pint while they waited for the rain to stop.

Emily and Nina abruptly turned left onto a road that sloped gently upward and grabbed Eric, who had been too distracted by the sights and sounds of the city to notice before following them up. This road was considerably quieter and was lined by tidy stone buildings. The princess glanced over her shoulder to check if the boys were still following her and then slowed down to allow them to catch up.

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“Boys, I must confess that I’ve been hiding something from you.”

The tone in Emily’s voice concerned Tim, and he broke out into a cold sweat. “What is it?”

Emily turned around and gave the boys an apologetic look. “Sir Giles sent his report ahead of us and asked that I ensure the two of you were present when I met with my father.”

Eric looked at the princess blankly. “I don’t understand.”

“She thinks that Sir Giles has blamed us for the debacle back at the docks,” Tim explained.

Eric’s jaw dropped. “Why? We had little to do with that.”

“Well, he couldn’t blame me, or himself, could he?” Emily pointed out. “The two of you are convenient scapegoats.”

“Then… then why don’t we just leave for Potter’s Hollow,” Eric stammered. “We can forget that we ever fell in with you.”

“I’m afraid Father would search for you to the ends of the earth for a blunder of this magnitude,” Emily sighed. “At least I can speak in your favour if we face him together.”

Tim broke out in a cold sweat. “Do you think that will help?”

“I’ll do what I can,” Emily said. Her voice was small, and she didn’t seem confident. If anything, she seemed afraid of confronting her father.

Eric and Tim exchanged uncomfortable looks, and the feeling of wonder at their surroundings had all but vanished. Tim spoke next. “When will we meet our father.”

“We will pass by our residence in the city before reaching the palace,” Emily replied. “I have been instructed to stop there first.”

Eric looked over his shoulder at the crowds of the city proper and whispered, “Perhaps we should make a run for it, live life on the run.”

Tim followed his gaze and considered it briefly. “Do you know the first thing about how to live on your own?”

Eric shook his head slowly and Tim sighed. “I think we should just go take our lumps.”

“If you say so,” Eric said uncertainly.

Finding no choice but resigning themselves to whatever fate awaited them, they continued climbing the hill in silence and as they did, the houses on either side of the road grew larger and more opulent. When they reached the upper levels, they rode past a large park that was cordoned off by a black wrought iron fence. Its lawns were immaculately clipped, and its flowerbeds were filled with blooms of every conceivable colour, but the beauty of the surreal scene was not enough to distract the boys from their growing trepidation. Beyond the park, the road was completely deserted and was lined on both sides by tall walls that blocked the huge manors behind them from view. Most were guarded by soldiers wearing steel armour and the colours of their lords. All of them seemed to recognize Emily and nodded at her deferentially before giving the boys who followed behind her curious looks.

As they approached the end road before it turned up to the plateau on top of the hill, a pair of wrought iron gates swung open, revealing the head of a howling wolf that was covered in gold leaf. Moments later, two dozen men wearing scarlet cloaks and steel cuirasses with the head of a wolf etched into them marched out of the compound to block the road before turning smartly to face Emily and her entourage.

“Those are your father’s personal guards,” Nina whispered, her voice heavy with concern. “What are they doing on sentry duty?”

“Lady Emily,” The man at the head of the formation said as he bowed formally. He was a tall, slender man, possessing piercing blue eyes that missed little. “Welcome to Aroden.”

“Thank you, Sir Steven,” Emily replied warily as she brought the others to a halt thirty yards away from the Soren soldiers. “Is father home?”

“Yes, Lord Ferdinand is waiting for the pleasure of your company,” the man’s voice was devoid of any emotion, which unnerved Tim. “You are to follow me inside.”

“And what about my people?” Emily asked.

“Your handmaiden is of course free to accompany you,” Steven replied. “My men will take care of your escorts.”

A chill ran down Tim’s spine as he looked at the men scarlet cloaked men standing behind Steven who was looking at him and Eric impassively. Tim leaned over and muttered, “Perhaps we should make a run for it after all.”

“It’s too late for that,” Eric replied. Tim looked over his shoulder and his heart sank when he saw more crimson cloaked men marching up behind them. They were armed with long pikes which even Tim knew were the natural enemy of men on horseback.

“What does Father plan to do with them?” Emily demanded.

“He did not say,” Steven replied. “He did, however, order me to tell you that their fates are no concern of yours.”

“But…” Emily began.

“Lord Ferdinand was very clear on the matter,” Steven pointed out. “Now please, My Lady, come with me. Your father is waiting. Do not concern yourself with these two.”

“Those two boys are under my command, Sir Steven,” Tim looked up, and his heart soared when he saw Horatio riding down the road alone from the direction of the palace. “I will have to insist that they come with me.”

The crimson cloaked men bristled when they saw Horatio, and Steven pushed through his men to confront him. “As I told the Lady Emily, My Lord’s instructions were explicit.”

“Your master has no authority over them, Sir Steven,” Horatio replied serenely. “They will come with me.”

Steven was more powerfully built than the older man, though he was on foot while the latter was on horseback. His hand drifted to the sword and there was menace in his voice. “I have my orders, Lord Carver.”

Horatio sighed and nudged his horse forward. He would have knocked the younger man over had he not stepped out of the way at the last minute.

“Watch it,” Steven warned as he grabbed the horse’s reins with one hand and the hilt of his sword with the other. The chestnut mare whinnied and stamped her feet before coming to a stop.

Horatio looked down at the younger man. “As I have said, I am responsible for these boys. If they have offended your master, he can take it up with me. Now unhand my horse and permit me to leave with my men, or I will have no choice but to take it as a personal affront against my honour.”

“You are playing a dangerous game, Lord Carver,” Steven warned. “One day, someone might call your bluff.”

“Your concern is noted,” Horatio replied evenly.

The men locked eyes for a moment longer, and just when Tim thought they would come to blows, Steven released the reins and grunted at his men who made way for the rider.

“Come along boys,” Horatio said.

Eric and Tim didn’t need a second invitation and hurriedly nudged their horses after Horatio’s. The scarlet cloaked men behind them parted ways while glaring at the boys. Once they were well behind, Tim realized he had been holding his breath, and exhaled.

“That was a near thing,” he breathed. He then noticed that Horatio was sweating profusely.

“Yes, it was,” Horatio agreed.

“Wait, what about Emily?” Eric asked.

“No harm will come to her,” A gravelly voice said. Tim jumped and looked down to see that Huntsman walking alongside them. “At least not physical harm. Not while she is the princess at any rate.”

“Your timing is impeccable as always,” Horatio sighed.

“Are you sure you want to be staking your reputation on these two?” Huntsman asked sourly.

Horatio shrugged. “It’s in tatters anyway.”

“It’s going to haunt you if you can’t turn things around,” Huntsman warned.

“I’m finished if I don’t get the invasion back on track,” Horatio replied tiredly. “And if I’m successful, then I will be able to take the hit without issue.”

“Where are we going, anyway?” Eric asked.

Horatio brightened visibly. “To the Metal District.”

Tim blinked. “Why?”

“Come along,” Horatio grinned. “You’ll see.”