Chapter 28

Mei'An watched as the bell started to slow, the blue faded, and slowly all activity ceased. Ellenaria stood before her again. She panted slightly, and her face was pale.

"I have not done that for a good while. Not since the Dragon Lord last walked this world in fact." She walked over to Mei'An. Now to put you in place. Time grows short."

Ellenaria reached up and placed a hand on Mei'An's shoulder.

"You will meet with your Companion in the cave with Antonin. Already he grows restless. Yet he feels he cannot leave the horses. I have ensured this, but your arrival will break that compulsion. Go now."

Mei'An heard the chime of the little bell, and was about to speak when she found herself in her true form, in the cave by the ice valley, and leaning on the arm of her Guard Companion. Himself a little surprised, as much perhaps as the others in the cave.

A slight tremor rumbled through the earth, stopping all speech in mid sentence. It seemed to emphasise the situation.

Antonin strode forward to meet Mei'An. Catharina and Desare behind him and Rees a few paces back.

'It's true.' Though Mei'An. 'I can feel the bond between them.'

"What's happening Mei'An?" Asked Antonin. "Is this you, or only a dream?"

At that moment Sarweio and M'belie slid down the rope and strode into the cave. M'belie carried the chest under one huge arm.

"We are all real my Lord of the Dragons. We came to assist and to guide. And to warn. The Morgoth await you in that far castle." She waved over her shoulder in the direction of the cave mouth. "So do the combined Wind Readers, although the Morgoth don't know it yet." The smile on her face was pure delight. Antonin thought that the Morgoth might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Antonin stood on the slightly higher ledge by the fire pit. The others gathered now in front of him.

"The time has come to face our foes. We must defeat the Morgoth and retake the castle. We cannot have Morgoth gaining the Keystone. All will be lost if that happens." Catharina and Desare stood just below Antonin, Mei'An to one side of them. Sarweio to the front of those gathered in the chamber.

Mei'An stepped forward.

"Listen to me now," Mei'An paused for effect. All eyes were on her. "I will tell you this." Again she paused and looked around.

"We have only moments now. Antonin, take up The Disk of the Sun. Rees, take up the Keeper of the Blue Tower. Desare, the Moon Gate please."

Antonin held up his hand

"We can be fairly sure that the Morgoth do not yet have the Keystone. That is still in the hands of the Tharsians. Cinnabar knows that he must have Desare in order to control the Great Seal. Her presence here is to that purpose. Desare is to be guarded with our very lives." He looked around at his friends. The warrior maidens had all moved closer to Desare. They nodded their heads in unconscious agreement. They were as tense as cats on the hunt, and hefted their short spears as though looking for a target here in the cave. Desare herself looked a little alarmed.

Rees lounged against the wall, casually watching the group, the statue of the Keeper held in the crook of his left arm. The sky could be seen from where he stood, and occasionally one of the leather winged dragons would flap across the clear span of sky. Raucous cries echoed around the valley as they called to each other. Free at last from their icy prison.

Sarweio and M'belie looked out over the valley.

"Antonin. It is time to move to the castle. We will arrive in the throne room. There the combined Wind Readers wait in silence. The Morgoth are in the vaults below, and do not know of their arrival. Cinnabar will know when you arrive though, and in that instant will attack. Be ready and watch for his Gateway. The dragons will not aid you in this. They will only watch. I'm not sure, but I think they are awaiting a sign that their true Lord has returned. Your word Antonin, is not enough. Come gather around, we go now."

Sarweio spread her arms wide and a pale blue nimbus spread throughout the cave. Everything living thing was included. Even the horses.

Antonin shook his head. There was something about the horses, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Suddenly there was a lurch and the entire group came down hard on the green stairs of the castle's huge throne room. Very hard. A gasp escaped more than one clenched jaw. The horses included in the shift cried out in alarm and one skittered on unsteady legs on the wet slimy stones. The clatter of hooves echoed loudly in the chamber. The maidens were the first to recover, and whirled into a tight circle around Desare. She stood wide eyed, clutching the orb that was the Gate of the Moon. The throne room appeared to be empty. Where were the Wind Readers? No sooner had Antonin thought this than they started to appear. Winking into existence like fire flies on a spring night. Still the only sound was the horses.

The maidens signalled each other with their fingers, and a group of three moved away to begin a scout of the extremities of the vast room. They had not gone but a few paces when there was a roar like an avalanche. Morgoth poured into the chamber, roaring at the top of their lungs. The Guard Companions were engaged instantly, the Wind Readers likewise. Blue flame leapt from their finger tips, sending the Morgoth reeling, although not yet stopping them. The Guard Companions, one for each Wind Reader dealt with Morgoth warriors with sword and axe. A dozen of the maidens who had been brought from the cave had already been around Desare, and now slowly moved her to the centre of the room. Around them were Rees, Gaul, Antonin, Catharina, Elsa and Edina in a wider circle. Antonin clutched the Disk of the Sun. He stuffed it into his vest against his skin. He could not fight if he held this. Rees looped the statue through his belt. He muttered his apologies to it for the discomfit. He was none too sure that the statue wasn't actually alive. Desare held the orb in front of her in slightly shaking hands.

The roaring and bellowing increased as more and more Morgoth poured into the room from the many surrounding passages. The clash of steel was deafening and it was added to by the hissing crackle and booming of the work of the Wind Readers.

The Maidens were darting through the throng, selecting Morgoth targets and cutting them down. they were hard opponents though, and the count of dead and wounded on both sides slowly mounted.

Across the plain the massed warriors could hear the battle. The water was not entirely gone from this part of the valley. The low plains still held enough water to bar access to the warriors. All they could do was calmer at the water's edge and wait for the levels to drop.

Every boom and roar from the castle lifted the perched dragons into the air, wheeling and screeching. They made no move to join the battle, though they could clearly see it raging below them as the battle spilled out onto the ramparts. It would still be some hours before the warriors could join the battle. The Morgoth outnumbered the massed Wind Readers and their Guard Companions, and it started to show. Slowly the circle was tightening. Cinnabar had not yet shown himself and Antonin knew that he would. A Wind Reader near to Antonin went down, a cruelly barbed spear embedded in her heart. Her Guard Companion went into a frenzy as he stood over her body. The onrushing Morgoth were sliced to pieces before they knew they were dead. With a last look at his fallen companion, he strode directly into the oncoming Morgoth, his sword and axe whirling blurs before him.

Antonin watched in awe as the man cut a path to where a small group of his fellows stood in battle. With his arrival they moved to positions at arms breadth from each other and began a circuit of the chamber. A dozen killing machines loose on the enemy. They had no companions to guard now, and cared not a whit for their own lives. A wide swath was being cut through the Morgoth. Antonin could see that more and more guards were joining their ranks. The Wind Readers were being decimated. He had to help. Suddenly it came to him. Why else had he been burdened with these thing from the chest. He dragged out the Disk of the Sun from under his rough tunic. It pulsed with a strange yellow light. Antonin almost dropped it in surprise. Above the din he called to Rees.

"Rees, Rees," he got his attention. "Hold up the statue. Face it to me. Hurry man."

Antonin held the Disk of the Sun high above his head.

"Desare, " he shouted. "Hold the Orb high, as high as you can."

Desare lifted the orb high above her head, almost on her finger tips. Rees dragged the statue from his belt and held it up facing Antonin. Nothing happened. Rees looked up at the statue above his head. "Ellenaria, if you are going to help, now would be a good time." He muttered. He jumped as the statue winked at him. "Don't do that!" The eyes of the statue focused on the Disk of the Sun above Antonin's head and a radiant bar of pure white light poured from both eyes in a steady stream that built up and slowly reached out to the disk above Antonin's head. Suddenly it met the surface and in an instant flashed out to the Orb above Desare's head. It struck the polished surface and was scattered in thousands upon thousands of beams, each one shooting out to attach to one of the Wind Readers. Suddenly the bolts of charged fire they had been hurling at the Morgoth turned crackling blue, and the Morgoth struck with them exploded. Literally. Exploded in a red mist. The ozone in the air could be tasted. It stung the nose. The Wind Readers were now untouchable. No spear could get near them. Nothing could touch them. The Morgoth were being destroyed now in their hundreds. At this rate the battle would be won. Antonin lowered the Disk of the Sun, and the others, Desare and Rees did likewise. The power had been transferred to the Wind Readers.

There was a gurgling scream to Antonin's left. To his horror he was watching two halves of one of the Maidens fall to the floor. She appeared to have been sliced in half by a razor sharp blade. Then Cinnabar stepped out of nothing. Antonin realized he was looking at a gateway edge on. Cinnabar had eyes only for Desare. He stalked across the stones in a half crouch, sweeping aside the Maidens rushing to meet him as though they were moths. Antonin could not wait. He drew his sword, and at that moment Desare faced Cinnabar alone.

Her surrounding guard were down, Catharina and Elsa were engaged and Edina was not to be seen. Rees and Gaul were too far away now to help, leaving only Antonin in striking distance.

Desare screamed, her arms held out the Orb. "Antonin" in a high wailing call, death facing her only a stride away.

The bell that had rung so often before sounded now with all the force of the world behind it. As it had done before it brought the Wind Readers to their knees. The Morgoth fared much worse. Those in the hall itself simply dropped dead in their tracks. Those outside reeled about in a daze, being cut to pieces by Guard Companions and those warriors still alive to fight.

Desare had feinted, a crumpled form on the cold stone floor. Cinnabar tried to reach her, but he too was Morgoth, and the tolling of the bell had badly damaged him. Still he struggled forward, trying desperately to reach Desare. He looked down in surprise as the blade of Antonin's sword appeared out of his chest. Antonin withdrew the blade and with a whirling swing designed to take off the head of Cinnabar, began the stroke. With a supreme effort Cinnabar opened a gateway and fell through. The closing gate snipped Antonin's blade off as though it were a blade of grass. Antonin was stunned and off balance, his sword now only a stub in his hands. He almost fell as he tried to regain balance. There was quiet in the room. A few groans from the dying and wounded. All the Morgoth were dead. Those within the great hall. Those outside were on the run. They had felt the loss of their leader, and no help was forthcoming. As they fled the castle grounds the dragons were making sport with them. No Morgoth would survive this encounter.

Antonin had no idea if Cinnabar would survive. Desare was safe, and the battle over for now. Antonin sat on a fallen statue and rested. The girls were gathering around Desare, helping her to her feet. Rees and Gaul squatted on their heels near Antonin. They surveyed the carnage around them silently.

The Wind Readers were gathering in the centre of the hall. They counted their numbers, and found a good half missing. There were many Guard Companions now standing alone. Desolate looks settled on their faces. There was a feeling that the battle had been won, but at a terrible cost.

"Where is Edina?" Asked Antonin, looking around. Elsa was on her feet looking around the hall. There was no sign of Edina but then the mounds of dead would hide much. Elsa was just about to start moving bodies when Edina sauntered into the great hall from the courtyard.

"There isn't a Morgoth in sight!" She said brightly. Stepping over bodies she made her way over to the group around Desare as though she didn't have a care in the world. Blood wept from the nicks and cuts that seemed to cover her from head to foot, and she casually wiped a trickle from her eye brow. Antonin looked at her with raised eyebrows. Edina looked back with a steady gaze.

Elsa came over and clapped her on the shoulder.

"A good battle Edina. Such as we haven't' seen in many a year." Elsa herself was a patchwork of cut and grazes as were they all. Elsa paused a moment.

"We were worried Edina. We couldn't see you." Her voice was gruff, as though to admit such emotion as concern was not done.

"Ha!" Laughed Edina. "I pursued a couple of Morgoth who thought they might leave all the fun to others," with a smile she added. "They didn't get far though. I had to chase one of those skulking dragons too. It thought to take the Morgoth from me." Edina looked at Antonin directly, and with challenge in her voice said. "And what of your dragons, Oh Lord of the Dragon Armies? A fat lot of help they were."

Everyone looked at Antonin. the question had quite obviously occurred to them as well. Antonin was at a loss for words. He didn't know the answer. He was moving from moment to moment himself., Trying to learn as he went. The dragons were supposedly at his command, but so far had shown little inclination to communicate with anyone. The first visit in the cave had been all the connection there was so far.

"Desare, you know as much about the dragons as I do it seems. Perhaps more so. I have no idea why they did not help."

Antonin was not altogether happy. Cinnabar had almost laid hold of Desare. It seemed at least half of the Wind Readers and their Guard Companions were dead. All of his friends were wounded, although alive thankfully.

Where was Mei'An? Had she survived? He looked toward the gathered Wind Readers.

"Mei'An?" He called hopefully. To his great relief she appeared, stepping to the front of the small group. "Yes, my Lord? You called?" Her voice was distant and cold. Antonin took a step back in surprise. He looked carefully at the faces. Mei'An's Guard Companion was missing.

"He is wounded. Badly. My Lord" Mei'An almost spat the words at Antonin. Before he could reply, Desare called to Mei'An.

"Go now to the garden of the Blue Tower. Hurry, all of you." Without another word, all of the Wind Readers, including Mei'An, simply winked out, like candles going out. Their Guard companions gone with them. Desare smiled a secret smile.

"She was about to argue with you my Lord, so I just sent them there. The Keeper will look after them all. They are hers, after all."

Antonin glanced at the others. They were all looking at Desare with their mouths hanging open. This little girl was revealing considerable power, and the twinkle in her eye said she enjoyed it.

With the Wind Readers gone, the vast chamber seemed suddenly oppressive, with its mounds of dead and its dimly lit recesses.

"Come, out into the light. Enough of this horror chamber." Antonin strode to the entrance and out onto the flagstones of the courtyard. He needed some rest. He was beginning to feel like he had been awake and without food for days. The others trailed after him, no less weary.

The old castle had been built on a rise in the valley floor. The valley itself was little but a muddy bog at present. The way was clear to the far wall, and the warriors so badly needed earlier could be seen making their way toward the castle across the boggy landscape. It would take them hours to reach the castle yet. The dragons still sat hunched on the battlements, watching the humans below through their reptilian eyes.

Edina, Elsa and the others found a clean pool and washed the blood and grime of battle from themselves. Desare stayed by Antonin's side. She could see he was troubled and tired. Antonin sat on some fallen masonry and rested his weary body against some moss covered statue. Desare wiped his face with a dampened cloth torn from the hem of her dress.

"Rest, my Lord. The others will be here before night fall. They bring food and shelter, as well as warm clothing. Perhaps a small fire will help to dispel the cold of these stones."

Desare moved away a little and reached out her hand. A flame danced just above her palm, and she carefully put it down to the flagstone at her feet. It grew in size before everyone's astonished eyes until it was the size of a good campfire. There was no doubt there was heat in it. The stones began to sizzle and steam as they heated. There was nothing to burn in this soggy landscape, but the flames danced and crackled merrily as though fed with dry kindling. Desare smiled with satisfaction. "Mother would be proud of me now." She murmured to herself. Everyone, including Antonin, came to stand around the fire and warmed themselves. The day was indeed growing colder.

Antonin tried to plan what needed doing. It was difficult though. So much had happened. It did seem that Cinnabar and his Morgoth warriors had been defeated for now. Cinnabar had certainly been terribly wounded, although Antonin had no idea of the Morgoth physical structure, so did not know if the wound was fatal. It would have been better to see Cinnabar dead, but surely he had been badly wounded. A sword thrust through the chest was enough to stop any man or beast. His army had been destroyed, so any new threat from him was likely to be a long time coming. If in fact he had even survived.

Still, Antonin mused, they were no closer to regaining the Keystone. He had no idea where it was, except for the vague notion that the Tharsians had taken it into their forest home. The Dark One might win yet. The Great Wheel of Sara Sara still moved. Antonin was sure that if he listened carefully he could hear it grinding the rock in its slow passage.

Warmed and restored by the fire, and with a little dried beef in him thanks to the well prepared warriors, Antonin climbed the stairs set in the wall up to the top. The picture he saw shocked him. More or less confined to the throne room, he had no idea of the scale of the battle. The entire castle grounds were littered with the bodies of Morgoth warriors, even out in the boggy ground surrounding the outer walls. Antonin noted grimly that not all of the bodies were Morgoth. He returned rapidly to the courtyard.

"We must bring in our fallen companions immediately, and see to the proper rites for them. Come now, no time yet to mourn their loss."

Quickly they organised into pairs and began moving through the castle and grounds, struggling back with the bodies of their companions. They were laid in rows in the courtyard, and Antonin grew oppressed at their growing number. Finally no more could be found. Only the Morgoth were left. Antonin could not think what to do with them, but they could not be left to rot or the smell itself would be enough to kill off remaining life. One of the dragons perched on the roof of a tower dislodged a roof tile. It crashed into the courtyard, making everyone jump. Suddenly Antonin knew how to get rid of the dead Morgoth.

Somehow, he would command these beasts to do his will. The sun was setting behind the high mountain walls, and already the vast castle was falling into deep shadow. The Morgoth battle had been won with the help of the Wind Readers and their Companions at terrible cost. The few warriors who had accompanied Antonin and his companions in the shift from the cave had fared a little better, but even an unacceptable number of them had been lost. Antonin stood by the fire, still burning it's invisible kindling.

"My friends, With your help we have won a decisive victory over the dark forces today. I have decided. We will regroup here. The castle will be cleaned and rebuilt. The plains roundabout will soon be covered again with grass and trees. When we are healed. When we are ready, we will take on the Tharsians, return the Keystone, and end this constant struggle forever." He looked up at the darkening sky. A few dragons circled in the high winds.

"Tomorrow, I will bend the dragons to my will."

With the setting sun glimmering its last rays over the peaks, the first of the mud spattered warriors struggled into the castle grounds. With them eventually came kindling, furs, food and all the trappings of camp life. The vast courtyard held their increasing numbers easily, and soon there were open camps and fires springing up all over the stone courtyard. A wide berth was being given to the fire that warmed Antonin and his friends. Soon a tent with open sides had been erected, the supporting pegs driven into the cracks between the stones. The stone, now dry and warm from the fire soon had rugs and cushions for Antonin and his friends. As the camps were set up, the bodies of the Morgoth were being moved outside the walls of the castle. Nobody made camp near the neat rows of fallen companions.

The pack animals had arrived almost with the first warriors. Rees and Gaul looked at the trappings of their camp tent with some alarm. It looked very much like the camp of royalty. Antonin rested on the cushions on his side, cradling his head in the cup of his hand. He looked at the surrounding people. They accepted him without question, although they continued to give his fire a wide berth, and Desare alike. The word had soon spread that it was the doing of Desare. That slip of a girl in peasants dress who sat cross legged by Antonin's side. There was no formality from the warriors of the Star Field Plain. More from those who had come from the city in search of adventure. The warriors of the plain were proud and aloof. They had no fear, and gave way to no one. They fought if they wished, not if they were commanded. Antonin might be a Lord, but not one of them considered him their Lord.

The warriors of the city were less sure of themselves. They were used to being commanded, and they dressed in full armour and carried weapons that had not been seen by the plains men and women.

Rees noticed that they mingled happily enough. Sharing fires and ground sheets with little comment. they were all subdued. They had all seen the rows of bodies. The dead Morgoth. The dragons in the high places. They knew the dragons had not taken part in the battle, yet all the Morgoth were dead. Thousands of them. There were hundreds of Wind Readers and their Guard Companions, along with Star Field Plains warriors in the rows of dead. Not enough to have won so great a battle though. Many a mind did the sums, and uncertain eyes weighed up the young man called Antonin and his half dozen silent companions.

Tomorrow, Antonin decided, the bodies of the Morgoth would be taken a few miles downwind from the castle and wood collected from the surrounding hills. There they would be burnt. The bodies of their friends would be given proper burial according their rites. Work would also begin on restoring the castle. It needed to be made habitable again. Perhaps it would provide a good means of increased trade for Nareena's distant city, although it still seemed that it was referred to as a village. It certainly seemed like half of that village was here at the castle. Even Antonin's horses, along with the others was here. Still the warriors streamed in out of the darkness. The entire force that had arrived from the Star Field Plain was arriving. The castle was slowly filling with people. Even the sprawling courtyard was not big enough to hold them all, as well as the animals, and the adjoining courtyards and halls began to fill as well. No one wanted to venture down to the lower levels just yet. The sun had long since set, yet still they arrived. Scattered in small groups among these late arrivals were people who were obviously not warriors. Women in small groups, their long skirts tied up to their knees out of the mud and carrying bags, older men in clothes that spoke of various trade crafts, and a number of older children with eyes as big as owls, astonished at the things they were seeing.

Rees and Gaul talked quietly together. Elsa, Edina and Catharina sat near Desare and silent hand talk flicked between them. Hardly moving, just flicking their fingers, bringing the occasional smile. There was no doubt that Rees, Gaul and Antonin were the subject, but none of the men would be drawn.

Rees spoke up to Antonin.

"Antonin, my friend. May I speak?"

Antonin looked up in surprise.

"Of course. Why are you asking? You are my friend. I hope still after today. Do not ask permission of me. What is it? believe me, I need your advice."

"Well Antonin. It will take many months to make this place liveable. It may take years to make the valley fertile again. Can we wait so long while we know that the Wheel still moves?"

Antonin was silent for long moments.

"We must wait here at least a while I think. At least until this place is rebuilt and seen again as the home of the Lord of the Dragon Armies. Not my home. My home is on the plains. But the Lord of the Morning must live here. Yes. We must wait. I need everyone here. I need those dragons. I do not want any of my friends ever hurt in battle again."

"Antonin," said Gaul. "You know that is not possible. In battle, friends are lost."

"Not my friends!" Shouted Antonin and smashed his fist on the flagstones. The ground rumbled deeply, and the dragons rose screeching into the night sky. The fierce look on Antonin's face caused his friends to back away slightly.

'Could this be affecting my friend Antonin?' Thought Rees. He turned to Catharina, still watching Antonin through lowered eye lashes. Antonin was staring into the distance, a distracted air about him.

"Catharina," whispered Rees. "What's happening to Antonin do you think?"

Catharina reclined back onto one elbow, turning away from Antonin as she did so. Quietly she replied. "I don't know Rees. I really don't know, but it worries me. I think perhaps he needs some rest is all." She didn't sound at all confident though. Suddenly she sprang to her feet. Lightning fast, as graceful as a cat, Catharina quickly moved out into the surrounding camps. Stopping here, stopping there for a word, with other Maidens simply some flickering hand talk. There was as subdued flurry of activity, and within minutes there was a slaughtered goat being roasted on the spit of Antonin's fire. An iron pot of vegetable stew began to bubble, and a barrel of ale appeared from somewhere. Just within the entrance to the great throne room where they had made camp, the smoke hung in a cloud up on the high ceiling and funnelled out of the high windows, the glass long since gone. The smell of roast meat and steaming vegetables slowly brought Antonin back from his wandering thoughts. His stomach rumbled loudly. Heads turned in his direction. Antonin sat up in surprise, just as Edina casually passed him a dripping piece of meat impaled on one of her arrows. It wasn't until he stopped eating a good while later, and having emptied more than one tankard of ale, that he recalled just how hungry he had been. The others had made short work of their portions as well, and everyone felt much better. A small pile of bones and scraps by his side attested to it. His ale mug brimming again, he began to settle back in comfort now and take in his surroundings. With a start he saw that that there was a young child kneeling by his cushions keeping his mug full. Another had removed his food scraps. Yet another was busy arranging the rugs and cushions about his person.

With a start he sat bolt upright.

"Stop!" He roared. The entire building fell silent. Nothing moved but the dust motes in the air.

Desare moved over and knelt by Antonin's side. She knew what was wrong.

"Antonin, you are the Lord of the Morning. You are a King. The King. It is expected. People will be offended if you refuse them." She spoke very quietly, but there was a strength in her voice that Antonin had not heard before.

"People look to you as their leader now, and in helping you as best they can, even if only to serve you, they feel that they are contributing and aiding you in the quest." She paused, and looked squarely at Antonin, deep into his gaze. Softly she spoke. "We are not all warriors my dearest Antonin."

At the sound of his name, spoken so softly, the Bell of the Blue Tower gave no more than a soft thrumming sound. It was enough to break the spell that seemed to hold the entire company in thrall. No one else had heard what Desare had said to Antonin.

He settled back to a relaxed cross legged position. He waved a hand to the people around him. "Sorry." He muttered somewhat bashfully. "I didn't mean to startle everyone." After a moment or two, the activity in the vast room and the courtyards started again. People eating, drinking, laughing. Some women resumed covering the bodies of the fallen with cloth and blankets, muttering prayers as they did so. There were many Gods it seemed, and one was as good as the next in such circumstances.

Antonin's friends were looking sideways at him, but he wasn't game to look in their direction. Instead he looked at the dancing flames of the fire and thought of what Desare had said. It was true, he had to admit it. All of these people. Every single one. They were all here because they followed him here. Perhaps not him - but what he stood for.

Antonin rose to his feet with a grunt. The preceding battle had taken a lot out of him. More than he thought, but there was work to be done. Catharina and Elsa were right alongside him.

"Let us set the night guards, take a turn about the walls and see that all is well." Antonin strode off. Both girls knew that the guard was already in place. It was automatic. The Plains warriors set guards even in their sept houses within a village. The guard was rotated regularly, and everyone performed the duty. There was no rank within the warriors of the Plains. It didn't take Antonin long to realize this, so he contented himself with a walk along the battlements. The guards were deeper shadows within shadow and didn't stir at his passing. He was known by all, and they required no recognition. Catharina and Elsa both ignored the guards. Their eyes never rested. There were enemies in dark places, and the battle had only recently ended. Who knew if the Morgoth had been the only ones they fought.

The vast courtyards of the castle were crowded with people. The flaming torches in a trail away to the mountain wall told Antonin that even more people were still arriving. So many in fact that camps were being set up on the boggy ground surrounding the outer walls. Half the city must be arriving. There was nothing to be done. Antonin returned to his camp. Some stood as he passed and gave greeting. Some ignored him. One outburst of laughter caused Catharina and Elsa both to whirl in the direction of the person laughing. The laughter was cut short with a strangling gurgle as the unfortunate warrior saw the look in Catharina and Elsa's eyes. Antonin stopped and came back to where the camp fire flickered on the burnished faces of the warriors, now all on their feet.

"What was the joke?" Asked Antonin quietly, his hands clasped lightly behind his back. He presented no threat in that stance. The warriors looked at each other. One raised his chin and spoke up.

"My Lord of the Dragons." He began.

Antonin cut him off with a raised palm.

"Just Antonin. Please. My name."

"As my Lord pleases... er, as I was saying my Lord. There were three warriors from different houses camped in an old hut while out on the hunt. An Asha Altan from the Stone Dogs, and one from the Water Seekers. The third was a Mare Altan from the Broken Lance. The candle that lit the hut sputtered and went out. There was a kissing sound and a slap. The candle was relit and the Stone Dog was nursing a stinging cheek. The other two looked carefully away. The Stone Dog was thinking - 'That Water Seeker must have tried to kiss the Mare Altan and she has slapped me by mistake!' The maiden of the Broken Lance was thinking - 'That Stone Dog must have tried to kiss me, and kissed the Water Seeker by mistake and got a whack for his trouble.' - She smiled. The Water Seeker was thinking - 'I hope that candle goes out again so I can make a kissing sound and slap that stupid Stone Dog again!' "

All was silent for a split second. Antonin caught the joke of it and in moments was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face. Elsa and Catharina both rattled their spears against their hide bucklers and grinned in appreciation.

"A good joke Water Seeker. A good joke. Are there no Stone Dogs nearby though?" To everyone's surprise one warrior, rolling on the ground with laughter sputtered. "I am Stone Dog. A great joke." He yelled as he got too close to the hot embers, setting off another round of laughter.

"It is good my friends," laughed Antonin. "Another day tomorrow. I think I can now rest easy, knowing that I am surrounded by warriors with no concerns for unexpected attack.. Thank you friends." Still chuckling, Antonin returned to his blankets and settled down to sleep. There were those who settled down close by, but not to sleep. As the fires died, they sat with eyes flicking from place to place, ever watchful.