The man at the center of the approaching riders flings himself off his horse and strides towards us. I recognize him from the rooftop of the Red Knight's fortress.

Size runs in the family. While he may be in his prime, The Desert Knight isn't much smaller than the Shadow Knight.

"Any trouble, son?" the Desert Knight asks the kid beside me.

"Nay, father."

He yanks me off the horse and grips my chin a little too hard. Sensing danger, I decide to listen to Westley and stay quiet instead of protesting.

"Fully recovered from your fall, I see," the Desert Knight observes. "I have never seen a battle-witch heal so quickly. Is your magic awake, witch?"

"Not consistently," I reply.

"A sennight with the Vulture will fix that."

"Father, we need her magic now. Black Moon Draw will not wait a day to send for his armies," Westley says quietly.

The Knight releases my chin and lifts the medallion off my chest. His eyes match his son's, though his features are heavier, seasoned, and deeply lined.

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"Danger has a way of awakening the magic, does it not?" Westley adds. "We keep her with us in battle."

"You left me a foolish boy and returned a wise man. I should give all my sons to the Red Knight to train."

Westley says nothing. I stay quiet. The Shadow Knight was frustrated by my inability to use magic but willing to give me somewhat of a breather, perhaps because of his family's history and his faith in the curse and legend.

I'm not sensing any intent to offer leniency in the hardened face of the warrior before me. If his son fears him, I don't have a chance.

"Very well. You do not leave her side!" he ordered his son. Releasing me, he stalks back to his horse.

Westley nods towards my horse, indicating I should mount. I do so with little grace and watch the Desert Knight wheel his horse and head back to the tree line. Westley takes my reins without addressing me, and we follow his father through the throngs of Brown Sun Lake men.

I can feel their eyes on me and purposely stare straight ahead, clutching the saddle nervously.

I had hoped to find someone in this place capable of reason instead of war, but after meeting the Shadow and Desert Knights, I don't think a peace summit or discussion is going to happen between the two enemies. They're too hardened to want to work together, their blood feud fueled by a thousand years of repressed anger. It's not going to get fixed in the two days we have left.




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