"What do you want now, Wynic? I already gave you my answer concerning the war with the Minotaur Empire," asked Lord Blackaxe. His eyes darkened, betraying how annoyed he was.

"Not what I want, what you want," answered Wynic.

"Don't play games, Wynic. I'm not in the mood!" snapped Blackaxe.

"Phyon, bringst bitte die Axe," Wynic yelled in old Stornium. He smiled and watched Blackaxe's eyes go wide when Phyon carried in the shining axe. Wynic had polished the axe during the long voyage until it had reached a mirror-like shine.

"The Swathick Axe," murmured Blackaxe reverently.

"Now will you help?" asked Wynic.

"Wynic," said Blackaxe, his throat dry. "I owe you an apology, and I'll make up for it in every possible way."

"I'll take that as a yes," muttered Wynic.

"My army will leave for Athex, today, if possible," the huge Stornium knight said, cradling the axe in his great arms.

"Good, could you supply me with a fast horse? I need to go to Glist and meet Redhawk," asked Wynic.

"What's Redhawk doing down here at the capitol?" asked Blackaxe, shaking his head to straighten out his thoughts.

"Last I saw him, he was staring at Queen Helen, and following her around like some lost puppy!" laughed Wynic.

"Well, then, don't be surprised if they're betrothed when you meet him!" grinned Blackaxe. He took the axe from the harness on his back and replaced it with the Swathick Axe.

"Redhawk? And Helen? You're joking, surely she has thousands of suitors ahead of him," laughed Wynic.

"Afraid not," said Blackaxe sternly. "The only suitors she has are only interested in her wealth and power. Frankly, she wants a lover, not a greedy dumbkopf!" he explained. He folded his arms proudly

Wynic frowned, reminded of Redhawk joking about being a Queen's Champion. "I wonder if I should pity him?"

"If he's as smitten as you say, he's been betrothed at least a week," said Blackaxe. "I'm going with you. This I have to see for myself!"

"Wynic," cried Redhawk. "I see you convinced Blackaxe. What took you so long?" he demanded, after releasing his friend from a crushing embrace. Wynic staggered slightly.

Wynic and Blackaxe had interrupted Helen and Redhawk's dinner, in the huge dining hall. The assassin couldn't tell much about the room, though his night vision was startling sharp. Only a few candles on the table lit the dark room. They were obviously interrupting a very romantic moment between the two.

"Show him Blackaxe," Wynic murmured.

The knight took the Swathick Axe from the harness, and held it aloft so all could see.

"You found it!" cried Helen.

"Huh?" Redhawk asked curiously.

Wynic and Blackaxe glanced at each other, sat down and launched into a long, confusing story. In the end Redhawk just shook his head and muttered: "I'm sorry I asked."

"I'm afraid I have to leave," said Redhawk, turning to Helen soberly. She looked very small and unprotected suddenly. He almost changed his mind, but bit his tongue before he could say it. He had to go.

She swallowed a lump in her throat, and assumed a formal stance. "May the Lord speed your return, betrothed," replied the Queen. She sighed and nearly jumped on the knight, kissing Redhawk's lips passionately, the knight returning the kiss just as passionately.

Blackaxe held out his hand and Wynic fished around in his money pouch, and handed the knight eight gold coins.

"What's this about?" demanded Helen, stopping to breathe.

"A little wager," sulked Wynic.

"You're forgetting the rest," prodded Blackaxe.

"Do I have to do it now?"

"Ya."

Grumbling, Wynic crawled out of his chair and groveled before Blackaxe. "Oh, powerful, handsome, mighty, Lord Blackaxe. You are the greatest man to ever live and ever will," he cried in mock worship.

Redhawk laughed and clutched his sides. Helen leaned against him and laughed so hard she nearly cried. Blackaxe laughed heartily and held out his hand to the assassin. "That's enough, Wynic, I embarrassed you enough," he grinned.

"Remind me to get you for this?" Wynic asked.

"Trust me, Redhawk won't let you forget and I doubt you'd forget anyway!"

"We better go before there's no Athex to defend," said Redhawk, wiping tears from his eyes.

"The Kinian army, and the first half of the Stornium army are camped several leagues to the north with Waytorn's cutthroats," said Jacog.

"Along with a thousand Colnic knights," added General Pegs.

"As soon as we light the pile of wood out in the courtyard of the palace, the knights will charge down the northern hill flanked by the cutthroats and followed by the Storniums, and lastly the Kinian army, who will guard the rear and kill off any survivors," explained General Sahos.

Gisoni grimaced but nodded. He didn't like killing his countrymen one bit. He tried to pass it off that the blood was on Kobalix's hands but it didn't work. It just didn't. He glanced across to the Prince's usual seat, but Nebonex had taken one of his many trips with Gith down to the catacombs below the palace. Only Willium, Jacog, Pegs, Sahos, Dillard, Rades, Pothax, Victoria and himself were present for this announcement.

"The minotaurs don't have any giant crossbows built yet, so they've been using the bulk of their army in assault towers. If we could get them to use more assault towers by the time the knight's come charging down, we could unleash our own giant crossbows, and slaughter the works of them," suggested Rades. An angry glint was in his eye and Victoria had no doubt of its cause.

"Sorry, Rades, but we want to get out of this war with the least number of people killed, that includes minotaurs," said Willium, mindful of Gisoni. Normally the King might not have noticed the huge minotaur's expression, but then again, normally he wasn't sober. Victoria found that she liked him better sober. He seemed more Kingly.

"Shall we go light the fire? I'm really curious about the upcoming battle. It should be interesting," said Jacog, standing up.

"Of course. I'll meet you all on the northern battlements. Victoria, can I speak to you, privately?" asked Willium, excusing himself from the room.

Meeting the King out in the hall, Victoria asked: "What do you want to talk about?"

"Gith mentioned to me that you and Queen Elexenia have been teaching my daughter horsemanship. I have noticed that you are quite a talented, and political person. However, some have referred to politician's as swindlers, and as such, are not to be trusted," smiled Willium.

"Get to the point," said Victoria, unsure if she was being complimented or insulted.

"I'd like you to be my daughter's tutor. You're a fine example of what I want my daughter to become, a good leader. You have noticed that you are the only other officer, with the exception of Rades, at the meetings with the Marshals and General Gisoni. There are people with higher ranks than you, and yet they aren't present for the meetings." Willium shrugged. "Why? Because you're a born leader, and deserving of a higher rank than even brigadier. Perhaps general? Assuming we live through this."

"You want a mercenary, who ran away from home to tutor the future Queen? What are you? Nuts?" cried Victoria.

"Eccentric maybe, not nuts," replied Willium smoothly.

Victoria stared at him speechless. She hadn't imagined Willium to be this good. It was easy to underestimate the chubby King though.

"Come along now. We really mustn't be late getting to the battlements, I don't want to miss the parade."

"See that cloud of dust in the distance?" asked Dillard, pointing to the northeast.

"I see it," replied Rades, distracted.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. The minotaurs seem to be waiting for something. They have the assault towers all ready to attack, but they don't, it's like they're waiting for a signal or something."

"They couldn't have penetrated our meetings with spies, so they can't know about the Kinian's coming. I'll go talk to Gisoni. Maybe he'll know what they're up to!"

"I noticed it too. They're stalling. I'd bet you my swordarm that Mathex has devised a weapon we don't know about, and they're about to use it," Gisoni said grimly. "Pollex, go inform the other commanders to expect something," he ordered.

"Yes, General," said Pollex and marched off.

Dillard studied the minotaur army closely. Silhouettes of minotaurs could be seen going between the many assault towers. Something was definitely wrong. "They look almost like they're at a picnic or some kind of social gathering," he observed.

"I think I'll give the command to fire the giant crossbows at the towers. And the trebuchets as well. That should delay whatever they're planning," murmured Gisoni.

"Disobey Willium's orders?"

"It's not like we haven't disobeyed orders before. Besides something's up, and my minotaurs aren't that good when they're surprised or startled."

"Is it just me or are Gisoni and Dillard going to fire their giant crossbows?" asked Waytorn, absently rubbing the scarred right side of his face.

"Maybe someone sent an order, but we haven't received it?" suggested Victoria, one of the few people who could tolerate the King Culprit's looks.

"Well, in that case, I might as well give the order to load the contraptions."

"Go ahead, but don't fire yet. I'll go find Willium, and see if he knows anything about it."

She found Willium with Queen Elex in a carriage. They were arguing over the building of a zoo, which Elex was clearly in favour of. Victoria shrugged and briefly explained what she and Waytorn had seen. She ignored the Queen's protests.

"What? Who gave them that order?" exclaimed Willium, jumping up and bumping his head on the roof of the carriage. "Ow! Shit!"

"That's why I came to you."

"Driver," yelled Willium. "Get us to Northtower immediately!"

"We're ready General," yelled one of the minotaurs.

"Aim them at the assault towers, and fire away," Gisoni ordered.

"I'd get out of the way first, General."

"Oh? Okay," said Gisoni, feeling foolish as we walked out of the way of the giant crossbows. "I just thought of something," he said to Dillard. "Would those crossbows have any effect on the city gates?"

"I don't think so," replied the Arthian knight. "Those gates are ten feet thick and solid granite. We still haven't figured out how they erected the monsters, and the pulleys that open and close them are nothing short of a mechanical marvel, though it takes half a hour to open and close 'em."

"But wouldn't it be easier than the walls? Surely you could crack them?"

"Nope. These walls are by far easier. You see when they built this city they figured that two wall were better than one. So they built two walls about thirty feet apart. but then another person suggest filling in the space between them with dirt, so now we have walls so big we can have chariot races around the city during the Summerfest. It costs less than repairing the old colleseum," explained Dillard.

"Fire!"

The giant crossbows had been built horizontal and placed on curved tracks that rose up to the rear of the huge weapon. So now when they were fired, they bounced back from the force and rolled up the track and back down to their original position. A cleverly designed latch pulled on the release cord as it rolled back down and recocked the huge weapon. It was now ready to be reloaded and fired again.

The crossbow bolts, which were about a foot and a half thick and twenty feet long, tore into the assault towers lined up on the northern hill with so much force that they toppled over. The minotaur's shrieks of surprise and death could be heard clearly from the city walls.

"Fire those contraptions," ordered Waytorn, having seen the assault towers down by Northtower topple over. His men immediately fired the great weapons with practiced accuracy. The crossbow was one of the favoured weapons of an assassin, therefore the assassins with extreme skill with the weapon had been placed in charge of the artillery.

A cheer went up from the hoards of criminals as the assault towers along Northroad toppled over from the force of the crossbow bolts. A second, larger cheer went up as the Kinian Knights appeared on top of the north hill, and charged down the slope.

An assault tower exploded, raining debris down on the surrounding area and killing the few surviving minotaurs.

"God curse them!" swore Waytorn, jumping back. "They're using black dirt!"

The Kinian Knights and Waytorn's men guarding their flanks saw the explosion, and instantly avoided the assault towers for fear of being incinerated.

"Open the gates," Waytorn ordered harshly.

The huge granite gates began to slide slowly open. A few foolish minotaurs thought that Athex was surrendering and ran towards the gate only to be shot by Waytorn's archers.

The Kinian army crested the hill and followed the knight's example by staying away from the assault towers which were randomly exploding creating pillars of smoke for all to see.

Rades cheer and grabbed the person next to him and hugged her triumphantly. Another explosion went off, this time in his head as she kissed him. He pulled away from her slightly dazed and excited. She was beautiful, though her hair was cut unfashionably short, and her clothes didn't fit her properly. She smiled at him, and he felt his cheeks go red. "I'm sorry-"

"Caught up in the moment," she apologized and blushed. She giggled. "Who are you?"

"Lieutenant Rades of the Royal Stornium Army," he replied. "Lately of Deltex," he said under his breathe.

"D'arcy of Arthian," she said and blushed. "Sorry, I mean, Captain D'arcy of the Royal Arthian Army. I was sent here by Marshall Pegs to ask why the crossbows were being loaded. I suppose I should have ran faster."

"Dillard and I, decided to load them and shoot them at the assault towers, because the minotaurs were stalling for something. Apparently that would be black dirt from all the explosions."

"Dillard and I? Sir Dillard? The commander of the Arthian Knights?"

"Yes? Why?"

"What are you doing here, lieutenant?" She stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm. She wasn't that strong.

"I'm second in command. Dillard's advisor in a way." Rades was very aware of D'arcy's breast's pressing against his chest. They were large and firm. Her hair smelled of spring roses. He also noticed she wore absolutely no armour, and only a sword as a weapon.

"Tell me, would you mind joining me for dinner? Tonight at the Drunken Dragon?" Her lips met Rades, and he couldn't have said no if he'd wanted to. She stepped back seductively.

"Ya," said Rades lustfully.