Azkar returned from berating the ineptitude of his men on the gates for allowing the Dethwolf to make so easily past them to the top of the wall. It did seem like an impossible jump. The organization on the parapets was no better either. They would train hard tomorrow for their lack of organization. At least it didn't make it into the castle, and there were only minor injuries. From the first commotion brought by the Dethwolf, he had decided to watch and wait and see how they handled it. If it made it to the inside the walls it he would have killed it instantly. He rested the giant sword by the door and listened. His keen battle sense, always at the ready was on alert. Something was not right, it was too quiet now, grabbing his sword again he burst out the door back into the night.

The blade of the sword reflected the light of the moon, as he sought out the sound, or the presence he had sensed. The smell of excrement filled his nostrils. He heard running footsteps, coming down the inside stairs of the castle, he readied himself. His body tense yet at ease confident in his sword hand. Bang, the door flew open. Geoffrey came cannoning towards Azkar. Azkar relaxed his sword grip.

"Dethwolves! A whole pack!" He breathed heavily, taking a deep breath. "The stone they took the stone!"

Azkar strode forward through the castle door, the smell of excrement filled his nostrils, the strength of the stench. He saw straight away the source of the smell. Giant paw prints, up the stairs, yes a pack of them. Geoffrey was following him through the door, still breathing heavily.

"Are they still there?"

"No. They have gone." Geoffrey answered.

Azkars brain worked and the cogs fell into place quickly, the latrine tunnel. This time striding before the thought was finished, he reached the latrines at the back of the castle against the wall. He could see that he was right by the mass of footprints and the smell. The wooden stalls were torn away and though he would have thought impossible the tunnel was just enough for a Dethwolf to fit through. Lucky nobody was up for a late night job, he was sure he would only find small pieces.

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"Whoa." Geoffrey appeared at the door.

Azkar turned a steely eye to Geoffrey "What of this stone."

"I.. It was nothing the alchemists made nothing of it. I was going to bring it to you as I discovered strange properties, once I tamed the stone. Visions it gave me of far away places. I was going to ask you about them."

"Hmm, places you say, visions. Tell me Geoffrey, do you remember these places."

"A wizard in a room, an old lady on a bed, and a Dethwolve in a cave." Geoffrey said instantly.

"That was no stone, that was a jewel. Rare and powerful, and very dangerous. I'm impressed it didn't take over your mind Geoffrey, you show more qualia than I expected." Azkar turned and store off his sword spinning in his hand absentmindedly.

Geoffrey, ran after him. "Azkar, what of it. What will we do?"

"We? Ha Little Geoffrey, you will go back to your tower and go back to bed. I will get the carpenters to fix the latrine and bar the tunnel."

"I mean about the stone. It was my stone. I want it back."

"Forget the stone Geoffrey. It is nothing but trouble and danger, those more powerful than you want it Geoffrey, you saw them. The wizard, the old lady and the Dethwolves." Azkar turned again.

"Azkar we will get it back." Geoffrey said with the authority he had never used before.

Slowly Azkar turned back to face him.

"You would call on your fathers authority at this time little lord?"

The wind rustled as the brief hesitation passed through like the wind in his tousled hair.

"Yes. I would. Tomorrow we go. Be ready at dawn."

Geoffrey turned and stalked off towards his tower. His heart was beating in his chest, Azkar could take his head clean off in an instant. If it wasn't for his sworn fealty to his father and to his child he would have no authority over such a powerful warrior. He knew Azkar was true to his word more than any man he had known. He would have died for his father, he tried to save him but couldn't.

He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight, the events were too exciting. Besides Geoffrey had to pack. It was a long time since he had left the safety of the castle, and he had never left it's walls without his father before. It was a night of many firsts, his heart leaping out of his chest was the least of them.