The Last Paladin Episode 6: The Prodigal Daughter

Act 1

Esther Rey swung her no-dachi in a sweeping arc. Her attack drove the enemy knights back behind their shields. Esther looked about her. Her bodyguards stood beside her. The house staff huddled behind Esther and the bodyguards. 

“Surrender yourself princess, and we will spare your people.” An obsidian knight at the front addressed Esther. Esther noted the captain’s red plume on his helmet. 

She shook her head. “I make no concessions to the shadow. You can have my corpse if you fight hard enough. I will give you nothing else.”

Esther looked left and right, and then addressed her bodyguards. “To the death. Give them nothing to take home to their Darklord.” 

Her bodyguards nodded, and they held firm. The obsidian knights outnumbered them five to one. And none of Esther’s guards were holy knights. Instead, she stood beside simple warriors. Well trained, yes, but her guards could not summon the magic that the Obsidian Knights could wield. Esther cursed inwardly, but said nothing to show a lack of confidence. Somebody had betrayed them. The forces of the Shadow had found her hidden keep. They had known the guard cycles. They had known the number and position of her forces. Somebody had betrayed them to the Shadow. 

Esther would kill this traitor if she lived long enough to have the chance. She doubted she would, and decided to take out her frustration on the knights before her. She would fight until they overwhelmed and killed her. But there was no reason that the house staff should die with her. 

“Soldiers with me. Everyone else, flee. Take your lives and run. I relieve you of you duty to me. Go!”

The staff hesitated. And then one by one, they rushed out the door behind them. Esther nodded to herself. She’d done all she could. Now it was time to face death with dignity. 

= = =

Dinah Rey swung her stick in a diagonal arc. 

“Like this,” She said as she spun the stick and whipped the stick back in the opposite direction. 

Beside her, Eve Soldat tried to mimic Dinah’s movements. But Dinah moved like a dancer, and Eve moved like thug. 

“Smooth, let it flow. You want to be able to hit multiple times.”

“It feels wrong. It’s like I’m fighting muscle memory.” Eve answered. 

“You’ll get it. You’re too talented not to get it.”

Eve smiled and blushed. “You see talent that isn’t in me. I’m a blunt instrument. And I know it.”

“You’re direct. And that’s powerful. We need to teach you flow and a good defense. I have total faith that you can get this.”

“Really?”

“Oh yes. You’re the total package. Brawn, brains, and beauty. I mean. Yeah. Brawn, brains, and beauty. What I said.”

Eve rolled her eyes. “I appreciate the compliment. But I dress like a street urchin. Nothing makes my hair behave. And I’m a mess of freckles. That isn’t attractive”

“You look amazing.” Dinah said.

“Well, you’re wrong. I know you’re used to being right. But this time you’re wrong.”

Dinah scowled. “I am not wrong. Never you mind though, back into Terza.”

“Which one is Terza, again?”

“It’s the basic guard. Knuckles as six o’clock. Like this. Remember?”

“Okay, yeah.” 

= = =

The house staff had escaped the keep. Esther didn’t know whether they remained free. Enemy troops might have positioned themselves outside the keep. But she had no control over that. Esther and her bodyguards fought on. The obsidian knights pushed forward and Esther fell back beside her guards. They withdrew through room after room, using the doorways to bottle neck the knights. This tactic neutralized the advantage of their numbers. But the obsidian knights had reserves that Esther did not have. She had killed a dozen knights on her own. Her guards had killed many more. But still the reinforcements filed in to replace the fallen. They were going to wear Esther and her guards out, defeat them by attrition, Esther realized. 

Callum Greer, the captain of her guard, stood to her right as they fought. He looked at Esther and nodded.

“Your majesty. We need to get you out of here.” Callum blocked a thrust and riposted back at the enemy knight. “We will hold the line, and buy time for you to escape.”

Esther shook her head as she dodged a cut, “We don’t abandon anyone. We aren’t the Shadow. Nobody is expendable.”

“Majesty, they want you. We can at least deny them their goal.” Callum blocked a blow with his shield as he spoke.

“My death will do that as well. I would rather die fighting, than live as a coward.” Esther thrust her blade through a gap in her opponent’s armor, below the neck guard. The man gurgled and fell as Esther withdrew her blade.

“Majesty…” Callum slammed his shield into a knight’s helm.

“No. That is final. We fight. We die. We make them pay a dear cost for their pyrrhic victory.”

= = =

Balthasar nodded to Eve and Dinah as they trudged back to the thatched hut where the team had been hiding. Balthasar sat on a rough hewn bench outside the hut. Miriam sat on the ground next to him. She leaned against the unicorn: Indrik.

“How did training go?” Balthasar asked.

“Good,” Dinah answered.

“Terrible,” Eve corrected.

“Oh?” Balthasar raised an graying eyebrow.

“She has a lot of bad habits to unlearn.” Dinah said. “She knows how to fight with a stick, but she’s not used to fighting against armed opponents. Everything she knows is about fighting archers and crossbowmen, and I don’t get why.”

Eve shuffled. “City Watch carry crossbows and clubs. If you get them before they can switch from crossbow to club, you win the fight.”

Miriam smiled. “That’s our juvenile delinquent.”

“It amazes me that you can have such a troubled childhood and still be worthy of an archangel.” Dinah said, putting a hand on Eve’s shoulder. 

Eve shrugged, “I’d never call myself worthy. But Michael is a nut, and who knows what he thinks is important?”

Dinah flinched, “How can you call your patron archangel a nut and not get in trouble?”

“He’s called me worse. It’s kind of our thing.”

“Are Ruth and Sarah as disrespectful to their archangels?” Dinah said. 

"No. I'm the one with a bad attitude."

Dinah opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again and stared into the distance.

Balthasar noticed the change and cocked an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Dinah pointed. The team looked and saw a figure in a dull red cloak running towards the group. Ruth hefted her sledgehammer. Sarah nocked an arrow into her bow.

“Who is that?” Miriam asked.

“They look familiar,” Dinah answered. 

“Good familiar? Or bad familiar?” Eve asked. 

“Your royal highness!” The cloaked figure called as they approached.

“They know who you are.” Balthasar observed.

“They shouldn’t be advertising it.” Eve said.

The figure pulled their cloak from their head. Under the hood lay a woman in late middle age with greying blonde hair. Dinah flinched.

“That’s Renee, my mother’s personal maid.”

“Why isn’t she with your mother?” Balthasar asked.

“I don’t know. But it can’t be good.”

Renee reached the group and collapsed in a heap. “The shadow has your mother. They took the keep. Your mother had us evacuate. She stayed to hold the line.”

“Her guard?” Dinah asked.

“Dead. They found to the last. Not one surrendered. They took your mother. You must save her.”

“We have to go,” Dinah said, retrieving her no-dachi sword. 

“No.” Ruth shook her head.

Dinah turned to look at the bigger girl. Confusion creased Dinah’s face.

“This is my mother. I have to help her.”

Renee broke the silence, “Your mother said you should come alone.”

Miriam screwed up her face. “That sounds like a trap.”

Balthasar nodded. “It does. Something is up here.”

Ruth shook her head again. “How many guards did she have? More than us six, I bet.”

Dinah nodded. “But we’ve got three paladins, a unicorn, and the legendary Balthasar.”

“Your mother said I should bring you alone,” Renee said again.

“They’ll have more troops wherever they took her.” Eve said. “If they took her alive, they want her for something. They won’t leave her under light guard.”

“But she’s my mother. I have to help her.”

“Your mother is a pragmatist,” Balthasar said. “She’d be against a strategic blunder done out of love.”

“But we can’t leave her.” Dinah said, her voice wavering.

Balthasar sighed. “No. We can’t. This is a bad decision. But it’s the right thing to do. You don’t leave a comrade in the enemy hands. And Esther is a pain in the ass, but she’s one on the side of light. We’ll leave in the morning.”

“Her royal highness said that Dinah should go alone.” Renee said.

“She is,” Eve said. “And we’re going with her.”

They ate dinner inside their hut. Dinah’s face roiled with emotions. 

“What’s your mother like?” Eve asked.

“She’s amazing.” Dinah said.

“She is,” Balthasar nodded. “She’s also a stubborn and arrogant woman who expects everyone to kneel before her and do as she says.”

“She’s crown princess,” Dinah said.

“She’s a crown princess with no kingdom.” Balthasar said. “Arcadia fell to Melchior first among the nations. It’s where Melchior betrayed us all.”

“She’s still the rightful ruler, chosen by the Unnamed.” Dinah said.

Balthasar sighed. “And she knows it. Saving her is going to be a nightmare. And not only because of the Shadow.”

“You don’t like my mother.” Dinah said. 

Balthasar chuckled. “I do like your mother. She doesn’t like me. She didn't like who I fraternized with. And she doesn’t approve of what I’ve become.”

“We don’t approve of what you’ve become.” Eve said.

“We don’t know what he’s become,” Miriam said.

“Because he won’t tell us.” Dinah waved her hand.

“Because he can’t tell us. He’s prevented by something magic.” Miriam said.

“I would if I could.” Balthasar nodded. 

“We are wasting time,” Renee said. “Ma’am, we should obey your mother. You and I should leave at once.”

“Dinah doesn’t lead us.” Balthasar said. “We work as a group. I have experience, but the three girls are chosen by the Archangels. And Miriam is chosen by a unicorn. We all have a say.”

Dinah slumped, crumpling into herself. “I’m the lowest on the totem pole here. Nothing but a girl with a sword.”

“You are a princess!” Renee protested. “You outrank them all.”

“I’m a princess without a kingdom. I’m a girl without a mother. I’m not much.”

“Don’t be like that,” Eve put a hand on Dinah’s shoulder. “You’re our best technical fighter. You’re on par with Balthasar for tactical knowledge. You’re an important part of the group.”

Dinah placed her hand on Eve’s and leaned her head against Eve’s hand. “Thank you.”

Balthasar finished eating and stood up. “We should get to sleep. Best if we leave in the predawn, prevent people from seeing us go. Nobody will be up before the sun.”

“We shouldn’t be up before the sun.” Eve said. “The night will devour us.”

Balthasar shook his head. “We have me. You know I scare the night. And now we have Indrik.”

The unicorn looked up at the sound of its name and snorted. 

“Nothing that dwells in the night will dare cross a unicorn.” Balthasar continued. “We leave before the cock crows. Get some sleep.”

= = =

Renee woke Dinah before the predawn. “Ma’am. We must obey your mother. We must go to her. And we must go alone. We must trust your mother.”

Dinah looked out at the darkness seeping through the slats in the window. “It’s still night out there.”

“We must risk it. For your mother.”

Dinah considered, and then nodded. She dressed and put on her armor in silence. The she gathered up her no-dachi and her gear. And together the two set off into the oppressive darkness of the night. 

Act 2

The team woke to find Dinah and Renee gone. Balthasar cursed under his breath.

“Of course she would go alone. Her mother says jump and Dinah jumps, right into the Shadow’s maw. We have to go now, try to catch up with them.”

“She took Sarkany,” Sarah noted, pointing to their riding drakes. 

“We can catch her if we push the drakes. So long as she isn’t doing the same.” Balthasar said. 

“I bet she is.” Ruth said. 

Balthasar nodded, “Of course she will be. This is her mother. Her mother has that effect on people.”

They began to saddle and ready the drakes. Miriam rode Indrik bareback and so helped Dinah with Drakon.

“Who’s a good dummy?” Eve said scratching the drake on it’s forehead. Drakon made happy hissing sounds and leaned into the scratching. 

“You two seem to be getting along.” Miriam noted. 

“Yeah. But speaking of getting along. Dinah was being weird again.”

“It’s her mother, Balthasar said that.” Miriam answered.

“No. Before that. When we were training. She called me the total package, which is crazy. And she said I looked amazing. I don’t get it. She’s so much prettier than I am. Why would she compliment me like that?”

Miriam rolled her eyes, “You don’t see it?”

“See what? Is she trying to be nice because I’m a paladin?”

“She’s trying to hit on you, because she has a massive crush on you.” Miriam said.

“No, she doesn’t! She’s way out of my league.”

“She thinks you’re attractive. She’s always staring at you.”

“But why would she like me?”

“You saved her life. Swooped in and pulled a knight in shining armor. Also, you’re fun and cool and everything she doesn’t let herself be.”

“I’m not cool.”

“You’re a paladin who talks back to her archangel. You’re a former juvenile delinquent who can gamble and pick locks, but you’re still worthy of an Archangel. Yeah. You’re cool.”

Eve blushed and looked away.

“Oh no,” Miriam said. “Don’t you go blushing at me. I already had a devil of a time convincing Dinah that we aren’t a couple.”

Eve didn’t turn back. “I could date you, if you liked girls you know.”

“I know you could. But I like boys, not girls. So we’re out of luck. I’m happy to be your friend.”

Balthasar looked over at the two girls. “Come on you two. Dinah is putting distance between us as you gab away over there.”

“Does she really like me?” Eve hissed.

“She likes you.” Miriam answered.

“What do I do?”

“That depends what you want.”

“Come on,” Balthasar said. “Move.”

Eve tightened the saddle on Drakon and looked over at Balthasar. “Why would she leave without us?”

“Dinah is afraid of her mother,” Balthasar said. “She doesn’t want the team to meet her.” 

“But why wouldn’t she want us to meet a queen?” Sarah asked. 

“She’s not a queen. She’s a princess. She was never crowned. And now her kingdom doesn’t exist.” 

“Why not?” Miriam said. 

“She married the wrong man.” 

“Who’s that?” Ruth asked.

“You must help me! Where is the princess, Dinah Rey?”

The team spun to find themselves looking at Renee, the servant who arrived the day before.

“What?” Eve said, her voice flat.

“My name is Renee. And Dinah’s mother is in danger. She worries the princess may be targeted as well. I am to instruct her to flee.”

“Crap.” Balthasar said.

= = =

Dinah and Renee rode along in the growing predawn light. Renee clung to the Dinah’s back at they shared the saddle. The landscape crawled with gnarled and tormented black locust trees. Ash lay thick upon the ground. And the breeze pulled the ash into air to form a curtain of gray across the horizon. Dinah couldn’t see where they had travelled. And she could not tell where they were headed. Dinah removed a handkerchief from her pocket and tied it around her neck. She then pulled the handkerchief up over her nose and mouth to stop some of the ash from filling her lungs. It did little. 

They rode in silence. Dinah said nothing. Renee gave occasional directions. 

“Bear left at the ruined farmstead.”

“Now up the hill with the giant’s skeleton.”

“Turn right at the burnt out watchtower.”

Dinah felt her hackles rising, something felt off. She couldn’t place it, but she didn’t like it. 

“Where did they take her?”

“To one of their castles.” Renee answered. 

Dinah nodded and urged Sarkany forward. 

“I’m sure I’ve seen this terrain before,” Dinah said. “But I can’t place it. It’s like I’m remembering a dream. To be honest, I’m not sure what I can do for mother on my own.”

“Your mother will know. She sent for you. She will know.”

“I hope so.” Dinah said. 

And then they crested a hill and the ash cleared. Dinah gasped and pulled back on Sarkany’s reins. A spreading crusader castle lay beside a lake thick with peat and sludge. The castle showed much damage to its walls and towers. Black and red flags fluttered from the walls. 

“This is Castle Lycaon!” Dinah whispered. “What are we doing here? I’ haven’t been here since I was two years old. No wonder I didn’t recognize we were.”

“This is where they took your mother.”

“Is father there now? Or is he absent?” Dinah asked, rubbing her forearm. 

“He’s off subjugating somebody or other. It’s only a skeleton crew of guards and servants. We must press on.”

Dinah huffed and looked back at the castle. She knew how to get into the castle. This had been her mother’s castle. And mother had drilled her on the layout of the castle. Dinah knew the ins and outs. She knew the secret passages. She could get into this castle. 

“You’re sure father isn’t there? We don’t stand a chance if father is there.”

“Very sure. We must hurry. Don’t keep your mother waiting.”

Dinah nodded. "Can't keep mother waiting. She doesn’t like that. Not that she likes anything.”

Renee patted Dinah on the back. “Make her proud. Rescue her. Even liberate the castle.”

“There is no way I can liberate Castle Lycaon. And even if I could, I couldn’t hold it. But I can save mother.”

“Yes. Yes. We must hurry then. Before your father returns.”

Dinah nodded and urged Sarkany forward.

= = =

Dinah led Renee through the hidden tunnels beneath the castle. The tunnels lay thick with muck and mold. Dinah had only her lighter to light their way through the murky darkness. But Dinah knew the layout of the tunnels from years of memorization. The tunnels stank of wet earth and mildew. Stagnant wet trickled from the ceiling, raining cold mucus on the two women. 

“Where are they holding mother?” Dinah asked, as they moved through the lightless tunnels.

“She is under guard in her old room.” Renee answered.

“Foolish,” Dinah said. “Mother has weapons hidden in there that even father didn’t know about. But that means we have a chance.”

A light flared in front of them. Dinah drew her no-dachi from its sheath and handed the sheath to Renee. A cloaked figure stood before them in the tunnel. A glowing ball of light hovered beside him. The cloak masked any identifying features. Dinah could tell nothing about the person blocking their way. The figure raised their hand to reveal a rapier. Long and thin, the rapier remained sturdy enough to cut and long enough to manage the no-dachi. 

The figure spoke, in a deep but melodic voice. “Dinah Rey. You walk a treacherous path, and you do not know what lies at the path’s end.”

“My mother lies at the path’s end and I plan to save her. No servant of the Shadow is going to stop me.”

“They might. But before you face the Shadow, you must face me.”

Dinah cocked her head, “Who are you if you aren’t the Shadow?”

“You haven’t earned that information yet. En garde!”

The cloaked figure lunged forward. Dinah parried and responded with a thrust, which the figure parried as well. 

“Be careful ma’am. I don’t know who this is or how they found us.” Renee called from behind Dinah in the darkness. 

They exchanged back and forth. The stranger had an advantage in the narrow corridor. The rapier suited the confines of the tunnel, preferring to thrust rather than cut. The no-dachi was meant for open fields. But as they exchanged Dinah noticed something. The stranger had more skill than she did, but less stamina. The tip of his blade would drop without cause, showing fatigue. And, Dinah realized, he wasn’t fighting to kill her. She’d made several minor mistakes that he could have pressed, but hadn’t. 

“You’re testing me.” She said and they crossed blades, and she struggled for the better position. 

“And you’re doing very well,” the stranger said. “You aren’t good enough to beat your father. But still. I am impressed.”

Dinah pulled back; withdrawing into an ox guard, blade beside her head and pointed at the stranger. 

“What does that mean? Why would that matter?”

The stranger whirled the tip of his rapier, but didn’t approach. “You mean to face him, don’t you? Your little band plans to oppose him. You wouldn’t ride with Balthasar if you didn’t.”

“How do you know about that?”

“You haven’t been subtle. Three new paladins. A unicorn. A fallen knight. All fighting the Shadow together. Word is spreading. And you, the rebel princess. Where else would you be but here?”

Dinah glanced at the glowing ball hovering behind the stranger. Then her eyes widened. 

“You’re a holy knight! Why are you fighting me?”

“Because you aren’t a holy knight. And you aren’t a paladin. And both of them have fallen before. You are the weak link in your team, the most vulnerable to corruption. The other three have their archangels to give them strength. The quiet one is so pure that a unicorn walks with her. Balthasar didn’t let death stop him. So that leaves you.”

“What do you mean, Balthasar didn’t let death stop him. He isn’t dead.”

“No. Not anymore he isn’t. But don’t say that like it’s a good thing. But Balthasar isn’t the one I'm testing here. You are.”

“Who are you to test me?”

“I fought beside your father once,” The stranger said. “But enough. Your skills are solid. But is your soul?”

The stranger withdrew out of range of Dinah’s blade and sheathed his rapier.

“How will you resist the Shadow?” the stranger asked.

“I fight the Shadow.” Dinah replied.

“Many who fight the Shadow fall to it. Why are you different?”

Dinah rested her no-dachi on her shoulder and considered. “I don’t think I am different. I’m just a girl. But I don’t plan to stop resisting.”

“You aren’t just a girl,” Renee said. “You are the princess first in line after your mother. One day you will be queen of a restored Arcadia.”

“And I’ll still be just me.” Dinah said. 

“Oh?” The stranger said.

“I thought I was the hero when I started. But Eve and Miriam proved to me that I wasn’t. I wanted to be a paladin. But everyone has proven worthy except me. So maybe I’m not special. Maybe I’m not different. But I don’t care. Miriam thought she was the weak link. She couldn’t fight. She wasn’t a paladin. But she fought. She inspired us. She told me to keep fighting. So I’m going to keep fighting. And I don’t care who you are. And I don’t care if you think I’m good enough. I will keep fighting.”

The stranger stepped aside.

“Good. Your mother is being held in the north tower.”

“Not in her old chambers?”

“No. Who told you that?” The stranger said.

Dinah looked at Renee. 

“Can we trust this stranger, ma’am?” Renee said.

“Listen to me or don’t.” The stranger stepped back within range. Dinah hesitated, and then lowered her blade. The stranger extended a hand. Dinah reached out and shook the offered hand. 

Feeling something in her hand, Dinah looked down. A small gold key sparkled in her hand.

“Hold your weapons and tools close. Keep them hidden. You’re in enemy territory. You never know who is on your side.”

“And why should we trust you?” Renee asked.

“You shouldn’t.”

Dinah turned back to look at Renee.

“You don’t like him?”

“I don’t know who he is, ma’am.”

“He could have killed us already. Him not doing so is a mark in his favor.”

“Ma’am! Look!”

Dinah turned back, the stranger had vanished. 

Dinah rolled her eyes. “Of course he’s gone.”

“We should go to your mother’s quarters,” Renee said as Dinah led the way through the tunnels. 

Dinah shook her head. And then, realizing Renee couldn’t see her, said, “No. That guys was up to something. But I don’t think he was lying. They must have moved her.”

“What if he’s simply wrong?” Renee asked. 

“I don’t think he is. I don’t know who he is, but he was a swordsmaster. You don’t become that good with a blade and not become somebody. He was also a holy knight.”

“Holy knights can lie.” Renee pressed.

“They can,” Dinah said. “But this guy was explicit that he was testing me. He wants to help, but only if I measure up. That doesn’t say trap to me. That says mentor. I bet he’s part of the resistance. Balthasar probably knows who he is. I’ll ask him when we meet back up. They’ll be close behind us.”

“What do you mean?” Renee asked, her voice rising. 

“My team won’t let me do this alone. Why do you think I rode poor Sarkany so hard? They’re coming. I hope I can get mother out of the castle before they arrive. I don’t want Balthasar and mother fighting behind enemy lines.”

“He wouldn’t dare argue with the crown princess.” Renee said.

“I bet he would. He said mother doesn’t like him. She doesn’t like when people don’t listen or when people talk back. So I’m betting Balthasar does both. He was a paladin. She didn’t outrank him back in the day.”

“He was a what!” Renee’s voice rose again. 

“Hush. You’ll give us away. He was a paladin.”

“He’s that Balthasar?” Renee’s voice wavered. 

“Yes. But he’s not a paladin anymore. He’s still fighting Melchior. But he fell. He won’t tell us exactly what happened. He says magic prevents him from saying.”

“And he’s coming here?” Renee asked. 

“Yeah. But we should finish before he reaches us. I hope.”

“I hope so as well.” Renee said. 

The reached a dead end in the tunnels and Dinah pressed on a round stone in the wall. The wall sank inward and slid to the left. Light poured in from the exposed room. Dinah shielded her eyes, and stepped into the room.

“Mother?” Dinah whispered.

“Dinah?” Esther stared at Dinah, her teeth clenched. “What in the nine hells are you doing here? You’re a disgrace!”

= = =

Ruth looked up from the dirt and shook her head. “We aren’t lucky. She’s riding hard. We can’t catch up. Not with Eve on Drakon. We’re too slow.”

Eve stuck her tongue out. “Well, excuse me for not knowing how to ride a drake.”

Ruth looked at Eve. “Not an insult. Just the truth.”

Balthasar sighed. “Am I insane, or are they heading for Lycaon Castle?”

Sara grinned, “Yup. We’re really going to die this time.”

“It’s fall.” Miriam said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and he won’t be there.”

“When are we lucky?” Balthasar said.

“I mean, we two paladin in one go. And we have a unicorn. Those are pretty lucky. And you’re still here. You could be six feet under. That’s lucky.”

Balthasar shifted in his saddle. “I’ll agree with you on all but the last one.”

“You’d rather be dead?” Sara asked.

“I don’t like what I am.” Balthasar said.

“Well that’s dark.” Miriam said. 

“Leave it,” Balthasar answered.

“You always say that.” Sara said. 

“Come on,” Balthasar urges his drake forward. “Let’s get to Lycaon Castle before more things go wrong.”

= = =

“I told you to run! What are you doing here?” Esther exploded at Dinah. The older woman stepped forward and slapped Dinah across the face. Dinah rocked backward, but said nothing.

“How could you be so stupid? Coming to Lycaon Castle of all places.”

She slapped Dinah again. Dinah remained silent. 

“I thought my daughter had some common sense. Apparently I was wrong.”

She swung her arm to slap Dinah a third time. But this time, Dinah caught Esther’s hand. Esther tried to wrench her arm free, and Dinah firm. 

“My mother was in danger. One of the most important figures of the Resistance. The true heir to Arcadia. I weighed my worth against the risks and decided that I could live with failing. But I couldn’t live with not trying. So when Renee told me to rescue you, I took up my sword.”

“You’re worth more than I am. You should never have come. You’re the hero, but you aren’t ready yet.”

“No, I’m not mother! I’ve met the hero. Michael chose a paladin. It wasn’t me.”

“Nonsense. Wait. When Renee told you to what?” Esther snarled. “I told Renee to instruct you to flee.”

“Well she didn’t.” Dinah said. 

“I can’t believe she would disobey me.” Esther said, her voice low. 

“She didn’t,” Renee said. “She should have reached your companions by now, but I was there first.”

Renee’s skin sloughed off like melting wax. A different older woman with severe features and a widow’s peak emerged from the melting skin. Dinah turned and drew her no-dachi once more. Esther hefted a heavy metal candlestick with both hands. 

“Your father wished to speak with you. And he knew you would rush to your mother’s side if she were in danger.” the witch who had masqueraded as Renee said. 

“I hope you have more tricks than magical disguises,” Dinah said, “Or you won’t be much of a challenge.”

“Oh, worry not, princess. I am prepared for your swordplay.” 

Again the woman’s skin flowed like melting wax. But what emerged from the melting skin was not remotely human looking. A massive insectoid thing stepped towards Dinah, all armored carapace and crushing pincers. Dinah’s eyes swept across the creature. Her gaze fell on the soft tissue in the joints of the creature. 

Dinah launched herself forward, thrusting the point of her blade at the soft patch at the creature’s neck. The creature blocked the thrust with both pincered claws. It lowered it's head and barreled forward. The creature crashed into Dinah and knocking her flying. Her no-dachi spun across the floor. Esther stepped to the sword and flicked the blade up into her hands with her toe. Dinah staggered back to her feet, blood smeared on her face. She wobbled and then crumpled back to the floor. 

Esther and the creature circled each other. Esther launched a thrust, but did not lunge to gain extra distance. The creature knocked the thrust aside with a pincer and moved closer. Esther tried to maintain distance. But the creature cut of the room, looming over her. She struck out at the creature. Thrusting at it again and again, but to no success. The creature moved too close for Esther to thrust the large sword. And then the creature lunged forward and slammed the woman against the stone wall. Esther crumpled to the ground, unconscious. 

Act 3

Dinah opened her eyes and heaved herself to her hands and knees. 

“Where are we?” She said.

“In the dungeon.” Esther said. Dinah looked. Her mother said on a rough hewn oak chair in the corner. 

“Well, that could have gone better.” Dinah said.

“You’ve developed an attitude. Who has inflicted this on you?”

Dinah rubbed her cheek. Pain shot through her face. “I broke my face.”

“You didn’t answer me.”

Dinah shook her head. “That would be the paladin of Michael. She even talks back to her archangel.”

“Then she is unworthy.”

“Michael doesn’t think so. And he gets to make the decision in this case.”

“Such back talk.”

“I’m not wrong mother. The archangel outranks me. He outrank you. If he says Eve is worthy, then we don’t get to disagree.”

Esther didn’t respond. Instead she stood up and walked to the barred door to the cell. “I was in a guest room before your rescue. This is not an improvement.”

“Yes, mother. I see that.”

“And who is this Eve to you? And what makes her worthy?”

Dinah turned red and looked away. “She’s not anything to me. I mean, she’s my friend. But that’s it. And she’s amazing. She saved my life from a witch without even knowing who I was. She’s saved all our lives so many times. She charges in to help people, no matter the risk. She does the right thing.”

“By the Unnamed, you’re besotted. This girl has stolen your senses.”

“No mother, that’s not it.”

“It absolutely is.”

Dinah shook her head, then clutched her cheek again as pain shot through her face. 

“Forgot Eve. Right now we have to get out of here. How do we do that?”

“We don’t.” Esther said. “This was my home. Nobody escapes these dungeons. We are in here until somebody lets us out with a key.”

Dinah’s head snapped up and she reached into her coin purse. Retrieving the small key the stranger had given her, she stared at it. 

“What’s that?” Esther asked.

“I met a man in the tunnels who tested me. He said he fought beside father once upon a time. And he gave me this when he decided to let me pass.”

“You don’t think this stranger could have known which cell they’d lock us in, do you?”

“I don’t think I have another option but to try,” Dinah replied.  

Dinah reached through the bars and put the key into the lock. She twisted and heard a bolt fall inside the lock. Leaning her shoulder into the bars, Dinah pushed the heavy door open. 

“This accomplishes nothing.” Esther said. “We are still trapped in the castle. The guards will be on us as soon as we leave the dungeon.”

“Then lets go kill them.” Dinah said. 

“With what weapons?” Esther asked.

Dinah pointed to a weapons rack at the back wall. A trio of worn but sturdy long swords hung from the rack. Esther rolled her eyes, then nodded. The women retrieved a long sword each and slipped to the door leading out of the dungeon. It was not locked and no guards stood outside the door. 

“That is suspicious,” Esther said.

Dinah nodded. “It is. But what else are we to do? Wait in our cell like obedient prisoners?”

“Do we head for the barbican or the battlements passageway?” Dinah asked.

“The battlements passageway. If there are any troops in the castle at all, they will guard the front entrance. I never told your father about the battlements passageway. It should still be unknown to him.”

The two women made there way up the stairs of the castle. They walked through corridors until they reached the battlements of the castle. They exited into the dying light of dusk. 

And they found themselves staring at Darklord Melchior, alone on the battlements. The man stood six feet tall and was broad across the shoulders. He wore no helmet or armor and dusty blond hair hung long. 

“Hello Esther. I assume this is Dinah?” He smiled. 

Dinah shrank back, a grimace spreading across her face. 

“I’m not sure how you escaped. But I am impressed.” Melchior continued. 

“I don’t care if you’re impressed.” Esther snapped back. “We can’t defeat him, we must flee.”

Dinah's knees shook but she brought the longsword into ox guard and she advanced upon the dark lord.

“I can’t run from this.” She said. “Maybe I’ll get lucky. You run, the resistance needs you. I’m just a girl.”

Esther began to back away from Melchior, and soon Dinah could not see her mother. 

“I applaud your bravery,” Melchior said. “Here. You’ll want a more appropriate weapon.”

Melchior pulled a no-dachi sword from where it leaned against the wall of the battlements. He tossed it to Dinah. She dropped the long sword and caught the new weapon.

“This is Jinjahime. It belonged to your grandmother. Your mother never felt herself worthy to wield it. But you will be.”

Dinah drew the blade from its scabbard. “You’re going to regret giving me a weapon of my choosing.”

Melchior drew out of rapier from within his cape. The blade spiraled in a strange manner. It iridesced with pinks and blues as the last rays of the sun caught the blade. 

“Is that blade a unicorn horn?” Dinah asked, appalled.

Melchior nodded, “The blade is only sharpened on the top half of the horn. But the horn nullifies all but the strongest magic with a touch, so the trade off is worthwhile.”

“You’re a monster,” Dinah whispered.

“This world needs a monster. Come, I will show you. Attack!”

Dinah moved, her mind focused, all pain banished from her thoughts. She needed to be at her best. She reached down inside herself and found her center. Then she attacked. Not blindly, but flowing with her new blade. Melchior stayed on the defensive. Blocking and Parrying, but doing nothing more. At first, Dinah thought that he was testing her like the cloaked stranger had tested her. But as the fight progressed, Dinah realized he could not move to the offensive. She had the better of him. The effort on her concentration was enormous, but she was shutting his offense down. Still, she couldn’t penetrate his defense. And if she didn’t find a way through, she was going to burn herself out, pushing this hard.  

Abruptly, Melchior disengaged and pulled out of range. 

“Good. Good. You are an excellent swordsman. Swordswoman. Either way.  I am pleased. Your years have not been wasted.”

“Let’s finish this then. Why back off?” Dinah asked.

“You still want to be a hero. But I see a useful tool. I see something I can mold into a true warrior. A true lord. But I must break your spirit first. You fought me to a stand still, but you had to fight at your best to do so. Now fight me again. Lucifer, Archangel, Aid me in battle!”

A beam of light poured down from the sky and illuminated Melchior such that Dinah could not look at him. In a moment, the light passed. And Dinah looked back to see Melchior transformed. He floated, dressed in a golden suit of plate armor. A gilded inverted pentagram adorned the breastplate. Wing unfurled behind Melchior. The wings were shimmering iridescent glass. They caught the light and made it dance around him. Melchior’s dull blond hair now glowed like sunlight and curled like spun gold around his head. 

Dinah shuddered and tried to hold her ground. But even standing in his presence proved difficult. She stumbled and nearly fell to one knee in supplication. Melchior hovered above her, smiling down. 

“You see the difference now. You have fought beside three paladins. Have any of them held such power?”

Dinah struggled to stand, refusing to let her legs buckle beneath her. Melchior shook his head.

“Such fortitude, but you will still kneel.” Melchior buffeted her with his wings and the wind drove Dinah to her knees.  

From her knees Dinah managed to swing Jinjahime in a weak arc towards Melchior. He caught the blade in an armored gauntlet and yanked the sword from her hands. 

“You cannot stand. And still you fight. Admirable. I am impressed.” 

Dinah spat at Melchior, the spittle landing in front of his feet. 

He nodded. 

“Defiant to the last. I am proud of you, my daughter.”

“I am not your daughter. I have no father.” Dinah pushed the words out, struggling even to speak in defiance of the man before her. 

“Of course not. Your mother stole you from me, and raised you to hate me. But here is the truth. The world needs me.”

“Bullshi-”

“Ah ah. Language. It’s true. The world is dying. A Darkness is devouring it. And the light of the Unnamed is powerless to stop it. Only the Shadow has the strength to oppose the Darkness. Whole lands are being swallowed up by a night that never ends. The Darkness is so complete that nothing escapes from it. I tried to fight it on the side of Light. I do respect the Light. And if they would admit their folly and join my ranks I would be glad to fight beside them. But they refuse. They oppose my methods, even as their methods fail at every turn. If we leave the saving of the world to the Light, we will die a noble death, swallowed whole by the Darkness. I will not allow that. The world will survive and I will do whatever is necessary to save it.”

“Will the world you create be one worth saving?” Dinah croaked. 

“It will be a world. The alternative is oblivion.”

= = =

“What is that?” Miriam asked, pointing at the beam of light in the distance.

Balthasar sighed. “That’s Melchior invoking his archdemon. Dinah’s lost. We’re too late.”

“We aren’t stopping.” Eve said. 

“No, we aren’t stopping.” Balthasar agreed. “But I’m not sure how much of Dinah will be left when we get there.”

“We’ll be in time. We have to be. I have something to tell her.” Eve said.

= = =

The witch who’d disguised herself as Renee reappeared. She marched Esther back. The stopped beside where Melchior stood and Dinah lay crumpled. Melchior had returned to his normal self. He smiled. 

“Such a wonderful family reunion. My wife returned to me. My daughter by my side for the first time since her birth. This is a wonderful day.”

“Kill me.” Dinah managed.

Melchior laughed. “I didn’t capture your mother as bait to kill you. That would be a pointless waste. You have potential. And I will develop it. You are going to succeed me, be my heir. The world will not survive without a protector. And I will not live forever. I have chosen you to take my place. The training will be arduous. And I apologize in advance for that. But we have a world to save.”

Sun had finished setting and darkness wrapped its wings around the castle. Dinah did not look up. She remained, crumpled upon her knees. Head down. Arms limp. Melchior hefted Dinah into his arms. He carried her back into the castle, with the witch and Esther close behind.