There was something that Harold liked when he woke up. A sense of peace before the long hard day ahead of him. In his case, it was the road to Klarelva.

He won't miss Skoravik, but he did wish he would stay here longer. After all, rest was getting lesser and lesser, and considering that winter would only be ninety days ahead, it would seem a tiring journey. He would say no, only if he hadn't said that a hundred times. Not for his uncle to blame, but for Alfred. Very unlike of him to leave at such short notice.

As Harold gathered his inventory in such a small space, he glanced at his own longsword. Fine craftsmanship was imprinted on it, as even after a hundred years of use by his father and grandfather, its texture stands strong. His father made good use of it no doubt, back in the Great War. A proud thane of Westhaven, who have stood for hundreds of years thanks to men like him.

How did I end up here, he thought. The markings of the sword only made Harold feel worse.

By the dawn of sunlight, Alfred's men were already on their way out of Skoravik. Ten men all readying their horses as the cloaked woman once again came. Harold shook his head as he saw her again, not wanting to have another fight with his uncle.

"For a moment, I thought leaving you here would be nice," Harold said without even looking at her. Clearly, he did not appreciate her presence. The lady did not say anything, as she merely packed her belongings, what little there were. Harold again groomed Mary, as the horse rubbed her head at her owner.

Harold looked at Edwin as he looked at him, already going to be on horseback as he was going to set off. "Always the early bird huh?" Harold said, giving off a grin to hide his dissatisfaction. As much as Alfred's men may be harsh and reckless, they were efficient in their job. And at least they knew not to bother him. Then, Harold noticed that the cloaked woman was raised up to Edwin's horse.

"You're protecting her?" Harold asked.

"Father told me to," Edwin said, as he gracefully got her up on horseback. Harold went to the horse, close enough for Lady to understand what he was saying. "I do not wish to fail in my duty,"

Lady simply sat there as Harold looked her in the eye. This time, he merely sighed as he went towards her, trying his best to contain his emotions. "You try to do anything suspicious, and you will know," Harold said to her, his breath near enough to reach her. Under her mask, she looked as if she didn't even flinch at him.

"I wouldn't dare if it makes you happy," she said under her mask before Edwin got up as well. "Did you really have to be so coarse, cousin?" he said as Harold got on horseback too. A long trip, this may very well be.

"Klarelva, ninety days it is," Harold said under his breath as he saw Alfred signalling to leave Skoravik. He took one last glance into the city. Something in his soul told him that it would be a long, arduous journey ahead.

Either that, or he was merely cynical. Most likely the latter, Harold thought.

...

Trees and the breeze of air were the only things that was constant in their journey. Harold could end up sipping a bit of ale like his fellow bandmates. But he knew well what happens when you drown yourself in it. Never again would he allow himself to be robbed of money by a bunch of urchins due to some drunken stupor.

"How far to Klarelva again?" someone yelled. From Alred no less. Loud enough to startle the Lady as she shook Edwin. Alfred looked despondent as he turned to John.

"Hey, how many days again?" Alfred whispered as John could barely understand. Harold didn't blame him; couldn't make himself look like a fool in front of his men. But he was admittedly getting annoyed with him.

"Ninety days Alfred, you told me that yourself," John said as he didn't even bother to look at him. Too busy to scan for any bandits that may ambush them.

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"Yes, but I fear it may be more," Alfred said.

"What makes you say that," John said annoyingly, this time giving a stern look. The jagged nature of the ground did not change his stature, but it did make him feel worse. Harold could not bring his eyes away from the Lady, who was stuck to Edwin. One trick, that's all that Harold needed as an excuse.

"You better don't do anything..."

Just then, the clamping of horses could be heard, but not from them. Harold saw a small band of men on horseback, just like them. John saw red as he turned to Alfred.

"You told me there was no one else on this road!" John whispered angrily.

"I didn't know!" Alfred said in defence. John must have seen the truth in his eyes, as he calmed down almost immediately. Harold didn't try to reach for his sword, for they may very well be just soldiers.

Indeed, the green dragon insignia with a white background could be seen on their chests. A Westhaven insignia no less. Harold only saw a reminder of what happened to his father, as he gripped his saddle hard. John could only sigh at another inspection again.

"Don't do anything stupid," Harold thought as he saw Edwin. As a matter of fact, they were all nervous. Alfred most of all, as his stance on authorities, was less than favourable.

"I'm Ser Oswald, thane of Earl Cuthbert. We come here on the Crown's business," the one in the front said. John recognizes that kind of talk. He was a thane, no doubt. The thane looked rather polished, as his hair was straightened and his posture was strong. John looked over his men as he made himself presentable, he did not wish to seek any offence to him. He knew that his boys knew of the consequences of offending a thane.

Harold took deep breaths before looking at Edwin. His horse was shivering, but not because of Edwin. He noticed the Lady gripping Edwin hard, not letting go at all. Afraid, was she? John thought.

"Well, if you insist my lord," Alfred said, trying to crack a smile. He raised his hand to signify his men to calm themselves down. The thane merely looked at all of them. All had life in them but looked haggard. Harold looked all over, either bandits or wolves could come at them in a moment. But at this moment, the guards were the most dangerous.

"We're here to catch a criminal, one who has killed twelve men," the thane said as he scanned every single one of Alfred's men. Alfred turned back in a quick hurry. 'They didn't do anything stupid, did they?" Alfred thought. For all he knew, they could have killed a man or stolen some jewellery in their drunken stupor. Every pair of eyes was dark, with a hair colour shared by pines.

'By what appearance does this 'criminal' have?' Alfred said in a lightened manner. Although the thane refuses to humour him. "A Nordic one, you know what they look like," Ser Oswald continued. "A she, one with a slender figure, you happen to have a woman in your group?"

John turned cold as he heard that. Perhaps greed has blinded him. John turned to Harold, who looked even sourer. Oswald noted the group's silence as if it only confirmed his suspicions.

"They don't think we're convicts, correct?" Edwin whispered close enough to Harold.

"If they do, we will be fighting or dead," Harold replied. A stupid question in hindsight.

"I do not know what you're saying," Alfred turned to a nervous grin as John could clearly see him shivering. "A woman in our group? What use do we..."

"Silence," the thane commanded. He rode to every man of the group. Either silent, shivering or nervous. Harold did not see how they could merely leave at once. They were essentially trapped. "Damn it old man," Harold thought. Finally, he set his eyes on Lady. Harold turned white, his worst fears coming to light as Oswald looked at her in the eye.

"So you have a woman... Take off your mask," Oswald said. The Lady sat there silently. No words were uttered from her. Edwin looked at the back, completely helpless.

"What are you doing?" Edwin whispered. For once, Harold shared the same fears as his cousin. Harold itches for his longsword, although he prays that he did not need to do so. Lady, however, was as stone-cold as her mask. Not a single word was uttered in her own defence.

"I said, open your damned mask!"

Harold looked in horror, as in a swift strike, the thane fell to the ground lifelessly. Like a stroke of an artist. The lady had her blade filled with blood, much to the horror of everyone.

"Kill them all!" a voice shouted out as they all drew their swords. No form of words or trickery could save them now. Edwin saw the chaos unfold before him as the swords clash against one another. Edwin's horse cried in a hurry, as he lost control of the horse soon enough.

Edwin didn't lose a single thought to flee. The lady had to grasp his back as they both plunged out of the battle. The road goes on as soon enough as he even gets lost.

"Are they chasing us?" Edwin panted as faint sounds of horses galloping could be heard from behind. He did not hear anything from Lady. But sure enough, one rider bearing the dragon crest was after them. He panted further as his hands trembled too much.

"No!" Edwin yelled as his horse fell down towards the snow. Edwin and the Lady all collapse as the former could feel blood trickling down his head. His body stumbles into the snow as his mind wishes that they will not be found.

For him, everything ended in a blur.