"How much?" asked Wynic, pointing at an emerald studded ring with rose shaped rubies and crafted gold maple leaves twined around a simple silver band.

"Fifty silver," replied the jeweler.

"How about seven platinum?" asked the red-haired assassin.

"Seven platinum will do," said the greedy jeweler, rubbing pudgy hands together. Taking the precious ring from underneath the glass case he handed it over in exchange for seven shiny platinum coins.

Taking a piece of twine, Wynic put it through the ring and tied the two ends together. Putting the crude necklace around his neck, Wynic carefully hid it underneath his tunic.

"What's taking Wynic so long?" asked Nebonex, marching impatiently.

"I don't know, Sire," said General Gisoni, watching Nebonex pacing with a worried expression.

Someone waved at Redhawk though the knight barely saw it amidst all the minotaurs, knights and soldiers. He mounted his horse and looked around, ignoring Nebonex's muttering.

"I thought I saw him too," said Victoria, mounting her horse.

"There he is!" said Redhawk to Victoria, pointing.

Wynic shook his head at them and held a finger to his lips. He then disappeared back into the crowd of people. Appearing behind Nebonex, he made a face of ridiculous worriedness.

Nebonex kept on pacing as Wynic walked so silently right behind him.

"Don't tell him, Gisoni," whispered Redhawk in the General's ear.

"I won't," replied Gisoni, looking away and biting his tongue to keep from laughing.

"Where is he?" demanded Nebonex.

"Where's who?" asked Wynic, imitating Redhawk's Kinian accent.

"Wynic of course!" said Nebonex, spinning about and nearly trampling the assassin. "What the hell? Wynic where have you been?" he asked startled.

"Right here. Where have you been?" asked Wynic.

"I-I was here," stammered Nebonex confused.

Redhawk couldn't help it and burst out laughing. Victoria and Gisoni quickly joining the soon hysterical knight. The three were still laughing when Elexenia's carriage rolled up beside them.

"Were ready to depart Nebonex," said Jacog, sticking his head out of the carriage window.

"Ah, okay," said Nebonex, ignoring his companions. "Gisoni give the order to move out."

The laughing minotaur nodded and closed his eyes to calm himself. "Move out," he ordered loudly before going back to laughing.

"Captain, there appears to be a fleet out in the harbour," said Lieutenant Rades, pointing out towards the harbour of Deltex.

"Where?" asked Captain Sathic, looking out at the harbour.

"In the harbour, Captain," repeated Rades.

"Don't be a smart ass, Rades! Where?" demanded Sathic, ignoring the chuckles of his fellow soldiers.

"A couple leagues out from the eastern point," replied Rades.

"Hmm," mumbled Sathic. "You, go confirm this and report back immediately," he said, pointing at a soldier. The soldier snapped to attention, and hurried off to carry out Sathic's orders.

A few minutes later the soldier returned to report. "Minotaur fleet...about a league south of the eastern point by now...moving very rapidly," gasped the soldier and fell back into line with the rest of the soldiers.

"Rades, go inform his lordship. I'll go report to the colonel," ordered Sathic, saluting and marching off, leaving command to the second lieutenant.

Rades made a mock salute to his soldiers and marched backwards away.

The soldiers laughed heartily. Few would ever laugh again.

"Hiya, Bilt," said Rades casually. "I need to speak with his High and Mighty Lordship. The guard grinned and led the way.

"Watch this," whispered the lieutenant as he passed through the doorway and into the dining hall.

The hall was adorned much like a hunting shack is. Trophies lining the walls and a huge blazing fireplace at the one end. Lord Staves sat at the end of a huge Arthian Oak table, nearest the fireplace. The throne-like seat that Lord Staves sat in was placed there so that the fire would make it look as if he had a halo. Rades thought it made his head look on fire.

"Vat da ya vant?" asked the drunken lord.

"Oh, High and Mighty Lordship," cried Rades, falling to on the hard granite floor and groveling. He ignored Bilt out in the hallway laughing. "Mighty Staves," groveled Rades. "The Minotaur Fleet doth approach'd as we speak, alas, what shall we do? Help us Mighty Staves!" Rades cried in mock anguish.

Staves blinked several times, trying to think through the haze of alcohol. "Umm, I'lp tack car of it. Tack da sem message to me vife," said Staves slowly, thinking over every word.

"Yes, oh, Great Lordship," genuflected Rades, with agonizing slowness. Piece of cack as Staves would say," said Rades as soon as the door closed behind him.

"How'd you keep a straight face in front of that ass?" Bilt asked.

"I imagine the penalty for laughing in his Mighty Lordships face," smiled Rades.

"Bilt grinned back and shook his head.

"Oh, dear," said the middle-aged Lady Staves.

"What is it, Lady?" asked Rades, serious for once.

"I just received a message that the Minotaur Empire might declare war on Athex," said the Lady, standing up and pacing.

"Why?"

"Apparently Emporer Nebonex was assassinated two weeks ago and the blame was placed on Athex. The Empress has been known for her temper," explained the Lady, chewing on a fingernail nervously.

"Is that bad for us?" asked Rades, standing up and pacing beside her.

"Stornium is allied with Arthian, so if the Minotaur fleet appears here on their way to Athex, I'd wager they're not here to join us for tea," she explained.

"Huh?"

"They're gonna slaughter us stupid!" she shouted.

"Oh!"

"Have you ever been to Athex?" she asked suddenly, turning towards him

"Yes, but-"

"Go to King Willium as quick as you can and inform him that the Minotaur Army has arrived here. Warn all the estates along the way," she ordered.

"Yes," obeyed Rades and leaving immediately. It never occurred to him that he might never again see Athex.

The minotaurs stormed up the beach towards Castle Deltex in groups of threes and fours. The castle had closed its gates as soon as the first ship had landed and now the ramparts were crowded with soldiers and volunteer fighters.

"Okay men, we are Stornium! We are the finest fighting men in the world!" shouted the Colonel. "Whether you die in this battle does not matter, but that you die defending your country, your home, your family. No bunch of cows are going to drive you away!"

Sathic tried to listen, but all he could do is watch the minotaurs stampede across the sand, turning up the ground like some god-like plow. The noise was like growing thunder, until Sathic could no longer hear the Colonel.

Blood spurted out of Sathic's mouth and he stared down at the crossbow bolt imbedded in his chest. Everything went black.

Wynic had tried several times to ask Victoria the question, but he kept stalling hoping for a better time. Now they were riding down hill towards Athex, and he still hadn't asked her to marry him. The Great Walls of Athex loomed ahead and Wynic was still wondering how to ask her. He certainly couldn't just make a comment about the weather and suddenly pop the question.

"Wynic," yelled Dillard, riding up beside him. "Were all supposed to meet in the palace dining hall. Then we can go over the defense of the city," he explained.

Wynic nodded, abhorring the thought of politics.

"Com'on. Victoria wants to talk to you," said Dillard, spurring his horse ahead.

Wynic spurred his horse and followed.

"You've been avoiding me!" accused Victoria as soon as she was sure no one else could hear.

"I have? I'm sorry," replied Wynic, leaning forward and kissing her. In truth he had been avoiding her, finding that he couldn't think straight when she was near.

"Let's ride ahead and surprise King Willium," suggested Victoria, spurring her horse to a gallop. Wynic followed thoughtfully.

"And who are you?" asked Victoria, bending over to speak with a little girl who was sitting in the palace gardens quietly playing with dolls.

"I'm a beautiful princess," replied the girl with a grin. She stood and looked Victoria over carefully, especially Victoria's warhorse.

"Really?" asked Victoria. "And what's your name?" she asked as she dismounted.

"Princess Darylinn, the most beautiful daughter of King Willium," said the girl with a curtsey and pointing over at where King Willium, Gith and Wynic sat talking.

"Wow, it must be pretty neat being a Real Princess," said Victoria, kneeling down so she was at eye level with the Princess.

"Yup!"

"Have you ever ridden a horse?" asked Victoria.

"Yes, I rode with daddy in a parade once," answered the Princess.

"No, I mean alone," said Victoria.

Darylinn shook her head.

"Would you like to ride my horse all alone?"

"Really?" asked Darylinn, her eyes wide.

"Really," said the archeress, picking the little Princess up by the armpits and lifting her into the saddle.

"Wow! I'm on a real horsie! All by meself," cried Darylinn, bouncing around in the saddle.

"Here," said Victoria, taking Darylinn's tiny hands and putting them on the pommel of the saddle. "Now you hold on real, real tight. Okay?" she asked, taking the reins.

"Look daddy! Look! I'm on a real horsie!" shouted Darylinn.

That's great sweetie! Remind me to thank Victoria later," yelled Willium with a wave. "Gith, you were right, if I buy her a pony, she'll forget all about pet snakes and giving them funerals. My gardener nearly had a heart attack when he saw what she did to the crimson cascades," grinned Willium, causing his face to wrinkle as he shook his head.

"Don't tell her yet. We still don't know if we're going to live through all of this," said Wynic, looking at Victoria thoughtfully and remembering the ring hidden beneath his tunic.