The echo of the watchmen's horns still lingered in the air, swelled by the murmur of the crowd. Pike thought his head was going to burst. He had never seen a city street so crowded, nor so many eyes looking his way all at once. Had they nothing better to do with their miserable lives than watch a few horsemen ride by? Many of those people would surely recognise him anyways, but riding with a group of Rangers had only made it worse. Pike scowled at Erda's guards, riding ahead of him, in their gaudy cloaks and tattoos. They were showy enough without the one called Conn thrusting his fist into the air and shouting "Crom Taran! Taran gwyn’arod! " Pike wished he could throttle the man.

Ruadh reigned his horse in beside Conn's and elbowed the young warrior in the ribs. "Curb that tongue of yours, pup," he said in the language of the Rangers. "You have the honour of riding with the queen, start acting like it."

"Sorry chief. The blood is up, you know. I've never seen so many in one place before. Look at them all!"

"Well no need to go making a scene. We are here to represent our people. We have a reputation to uphold."

"Aye," called Erda over her shoulder. "The Thanes might not appreciate such bravado from a Ranger. We are famous in the March for slyness and secrecy after all"

Ruadh bristled. "Is that what they say about us? That cannot be borne! Watch out you March-dogs! Hide your daughters, hide your wives! The Rangers have come, to end your lives!"

Conn and Bran took up the song, and Erda laughed heartily at their antics. Nim, Erda's handmaid, looked about in fascination at the city. "I knew cities were large and all, but its something else to see in person…"

"This is nothing compared to what they have in the south," said Erda. "And the cities across the sea are said to be grander still."

"Do you miss it, lady Erda? Living in the empire?"

"Perhaps. My heart lies elsewhere now, but there's a beauty to be seen in the city-life." She wrinkled her nose. "Don't miss the smell though."

The two laughed, until Nim glanced over her shoulder. "Our companion seems more out of place here than we are."

"Pike? Oh yes. He said he's a hunter of outlaws after all. I'm sure he's much more used to the wilds than the city."

"Are we sure he's not an outlaw himself? It might have been a bad idea to bring him with us, if he's not welcome here…"

Erda shook her head. "Whatever the case, I promised to see him healed.”

“If you say so m’lady.”

Before long the company went seperate ways. A group of soldiers, led by some nobles, appeared to escort Erda to the palace. Ruadh and Nim were to accompany her, while the others would be led to the barracks where they were to be housed. Erda fell in beside Pike, who felt many pairs of eyes aimed his way. If the soldiers recognised him, they said nothing.

“I will be staying with the queen’s household during the stay here. You may go with Bran and Conn to the barracks, I’ve asked them to accomodate you.”

Pike held her gaze for only a moment before looking away, trying to look like he was studying the weather. “I do not think the locals will be too happy about that.”

“Are you a criminal?”

“No, not exactly…”

“Then we shall worry about it later. After all that riding, I want you in a bed as soon as possible. I will come to check on you later.”

Before Pike could argue, Erda had turned her horse and cantered away, followed by the rest of her escort and leaving Pike watching her in uncertain silence.

Bran coughed loudly. “You’ll catch flies leaving your mouth open like that friend.”

Pike’s jaws snapped shut as he glowered at the Ranger. “Save it. I am not your friend.” Pain began to swell in Pike’s stitched wound, making him double over in pain.

"No, but it seems we are to be your nurses." Bran said with a sneer.

Conn piped up. "Bugger that. I've got silver to spend. Come, lets find our quarters and leave our patient to die somewhere quiet."

The trio followed a couple of warrior-Thanes to the barracks, where their horses were stabled and quarters assigned to them, a small room on the first floor. Pike winced at the thought of sharing so small a room with a pair of strangers, but the pain was becoming too much, even for him. He shuffled his way inside and eased himself down onto his pallet with clenched teeth, ignoring the gazes of the Rangers who followed him in.

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"Maybe we should dice over who has to help him take a piss," said Conn with a chuckle, not caring to use a language Pike didn't understand.

"I'm more worried about him soiling himself," said Bran.

"Good point. I'll help him piss if you-"

"Hold on, you said we were dicing over it."

"Ah, but you told me never to gamble…"

"If you two are going to keep flirting then do it elsewhere," grunted Pike from his pallet. "Or you'll both need help pissing."

"Fine," said Conn. "We'll leave you to your beauty sleep." He turned to Bran. "Come, let's go find something exotic to eat."

"Alright, but don't complain if it doesn't agree with your stomach…"

Pike listened as their chatter faded and disappeared as they walked away. He closed his eyes, trying to forget the pain, until blissful sleep finally overtook him, his hand clenching the hilt of his sword all the while.

The shadows loomed around him, grotesque horrors only vaguely human shaped. Their faces were contorted as they leered at him, mocked him. And above them all loomed the One-Eyed Man, staring down at Pike, distant yet ever present. Pike felt his soul shrink beneath the dreadful gaze, waiting for doom to fall, like a mouse who hears the beating of the owl’s wings above.

But then, the shadows seemed to part, and a white light came forward. The light came closer, until it changed into the form of a woman, clad in white robes, though her face was a shadow. The woman came closer, and Pike lowered himself before her presence. A gentle hand came to rest upon his own, the hand which held his sword’s hilt to his chest. The other reached for his face. Pike tried to focus on her, his vision blurring, the white light fading.

“Erda…” he mumbled.

The cold knife-edge against his throat banished sleep from him. There, standing above him, was the outlaw-woman, dagger in hand. Her spare hand held Pike’s sword-hand pinned against his chest. Pike was annoyed, surely he should have heard her steps.

“Remember me?” said Myra.

Pike raised an eyebrow. “Should I?”

She pressed the blade harder against Pike’s throat, jerking his head back. “Aye, you should. Cause I remember you. You bastard. Murdering bastard…”

“I was only joking. I remember you. The one with the head on her shoulders.”

“Shut up! Oh gods above and below, I’ve been wanting this… I could kill you a hundred times and it still wouldn’t pay for what you’ve done…”

“Oh? If I remember rightly, I spared your life when I could have turned your bounty in. If anything, you owe me ten silver…”

“You’re a monster. How has no one killed you yet?”

“Because they couldn’t. No one can.”

“We’ll see about that…”

There was the sound of booted feet at the door. Myra whirled on her feet, hiding her knife behind her back, out of sight from Erasmus. The imperial warrior was standing there in the doorway, a puzzled look on his scarred face.

“Oh… Myra? I… er… didn’t expect to see you here.” Myra was at a loss for words. Pike watched on with a bemused grin.

“Erasmus! I… I’m sorry for disappearing on you like that. But… I came to here to ask questions from… from him.” Myra pointed a tentative finger at Pike. The head-hunter raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, I see. You know Pike then?”

“We’ve met once. I figured if anyone could tell me anything about…” she paused. “It would be him.”

“I understand. Sorry to disturb. I just stopped by to see our friend here myself. I almost couldn’t believe it, had to see for myself. What brings you back so soon hunter? Got sick of squatting in the rain?”

“Nice scar you’ve got there.” Pike said curtly. “You like hell.”

“I think it makes me look rather dashing.” Erasmus grinned smugly. “How’d you get that wound there?”

“Fell over.”

“Must have been a serious fall…”

“Dead serious.”

“You are as charismatic as ever Pike. Well, I have places to be. Shall I pass on a message to the Lady Erda?”

“Won’t be necessary. No need to take up her time.”

Erasmus nodded. “Very good. So… Myra, I suppose I shall leave you to your business here?”

“Oh, yes. I won’t take very long anyway…” Myra said, turning her knife uncertainly behind her back.

“That’s good. Shall we meet again somewhere soon? I’ll be dining amongst the lords’ retinues tonight. It’s only a casual thing. You should come, if you have nothing else to attend to.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, you are my guest. You had a bad first impression of my city, I would like to make it up to you.” Erasmus gave a nod of farewell, turned about and left, leaving Myra and Pike in a silent room.

“Oh my…” Pike barely held in his excitement. “He doesn’t know…”

“If you say anything to him…” Myra said coldly.

“I thought you were trying to kill me. What happened to that? Or perhaps your new man might find that strange, you getting into knife fights with outlaw hunters?”

“No… this isn’t over.”

“If you say so. Go ahead, let’s continue. Although, for myself, I’d rather not have to butcher a woman right here and now, in the middle of this damned city. So if you forget this business of trying to kill me, I’ll forget to tell brave sir Erasmus, and all those noble lords in the palace, that you are a bloody-handed outlaw.”

Myra’s teeth clenched. In a rage, she hurled her knife across the room, letting it clatter to the floor. She leaned heavily against the wall, trying to slow her breath. She hadn’t anticipated this. She had not thought of what to do if she killed Pike and lived. But now, presented with the choice, she could not choose easily between getting her vengeance, or forsaking herself to the short life of being a lone vagabond, hated by the whole world.

“This won’t last, head-hunter. I’ll never forget about Garth, about what you took from me. We’ll get even, some day. You’re not invincible.” She did not wait for him to say anything, she only turned her back on Pike and strode out the door. Again, Pike was alone.

When he was at last certain that no more visitors were coming, Pike reached for a wine-skin and guzzled its contents, trying anything to numb the pain. Laying his head back, he fought for sleep once again, letting out a long winded sigh.

“I hate people…” he muttered.