The final preparations were being made for the coronation of the new kingdom.

A small ceremony had already occurred in the castle, but for the whole kingdom, it was going to have to wait.

Abner stepped into his wing of the castle, which had long tables about and tapestries hanging from the ceiling.

His new clothes spoke of royalty, and his headache spoke of having to deal with the king.

Beniah sat, waiting, as Abner walked around the room.

"It's fine. It's fine. The king and I must get to know each other more. And we need Joab here. Has anyone seen him?"

Beniah shook his head.

"What about Abishai?"

"He is still at the outpost."

"He needs to be here. They both need to be here," Abner's voice raised. "It wasn't my fault."

Beniah didn't respond.

"Come. I need you to take a few of our best warriors. There was a royal convoy that was supposed to have come from the north. The governor there was bringing tithes and allegiances to the king. They should've been here by now."

Beniah nodded and began to move, but stopped. "It'll just be me. I don't need anyone else."

Abner waved his hands. Whatever.

"Beniah," Abner warned. "The giants. They are up to something. The king wants to make a new strike force. Or militia. The best warriors. The king's own."

Beniah held his tongue.

"There are some you might need to find. Warriors from both kingdoms. Forgive me. When there was two," Abner kept going.

"Send the Messengers."

"They'll kill them," Abner snapped.

Beniah chuckled.

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"Why don't you just say you want me to find Elhanan," Beniah said.

Abner did not respond, but smiled, and waved for Beniah to go.

Beniah ran out of Abner's chambers, and then down a long hallway bridge, opening to a view of the kingdom.

His mind was full of his mission and adventures and this new team, but then he stopped.

Adira stood there in a ravishing royal gown, staring out at the kingdom and the city built around the moat.

She slowly turned her head to see Beniah.

Beniah nodded respectfully and kept walking.

"I've been waiting for you here," she said, as he was almost out of reach.

Beniah stopped.

"The king's own are not permitted in this part of the castle," Beniah warned, not turning.

"The king's own can do what they please," Adira whispered back. "And see who they want."

Beniah looked at her, the love of his life, now the king's own.

Every right and moral and good decision he made could be thrown away here.

Especially falling for the concubine of the king who had been his enemy.

"I must go," Beniah said, and disappeared down the stairs.

Adira watched him go.

Beniah took his horse and rode hard out of the castle and city, heading to the north.

Away from the forests and into the beautiful plains and rivers. Into fruit trees and gardens and life.

Where the farmers had more than enough.

And where the giants wanted to go next.

Beniah rode through the night and into the dawn, breaking briefly under an orchard.

When he awoke, he heard the birds.

He mounted his horse and pulled his sword and went over the hill.

Below was the royal convoy.

Or what was left of it.

Bodies torn to pieces.

Royal chests and carriages destroyed.

The guard and protectors all dead, and the horses maimed.

The governor's body was hung upside on a tree and the skinned pulled from it.

The birds and beasts had been feeding for sometime.

No giants were here.

But they had been.

Beniah covered his mouth and put his hood over his head, and rode to what was left.

He pulled a piece of bloody flag, showing the governor's insignia, and rode as hard as he could back to the king.