***

Beregond ran from the camp quickly, trailed after by a few trained knights, yet lost them in the mountains. Dante was taken to Couronne after being wounded in battle. Thinking to himself for a moment Beregond pondered- did I not kill that fool of a knight only so long ago? His memory was beginning to wear obviously, but it didn't matter- he would slay the man regardless. If the Gods wished his head on a platter than it was what he'd give them.

He walked through the mountains yet again. Taking the routes through the bases of the mountains originally dug out by Dwarfs and reinforced by Bretonnians for merchants, he came upon the borders of Couronne. The main city itself stood as a testament to both Elven and Human craft. Beregond removed his armour, hiding it away in a mountain cave, only keeping his great sword. Donning upon him a hood to mask his face from being revealed, he headed into the city. There were so many people... and it would take a long time of searching... and even then Beregond had to get into the military barracks.

It only took until late winter, early spring of the following year for Beregond to find him. He had not yet strike, though, simply followed him in the city for months- tracking his movements, waiting for the right time. In the very city of the King himself, one cannot pounce upon one's prey until the coast is clear. As long as this knight was on leave from battle... he would be in the city. Beregond was forced to wait.

***

As I awoke, I looked through the nearby window. The sun had just risen; I had lain in bed for moments, thinking to myself about everything. Life itself had been so hard, and is not easily overcome... yet I began to think. At the ruins... there were two crosses. "Mercedes and Alexander? Where was the cross for Dante?" I thought to myself.

Was there any chance of Dante being alive or was I just hoping to see my brother's face again in these times. It had been almost 5 and a half years since I had seen him, what possible chances were there of him being alive? "Didn't Reginald say everyone was dead? Well... why can't he be alive? There's nothing saying he isn't... maybe... maybe he could be." I continued to think. Grasping at the concept it seemed like a fools hope, yet as I thought about it more and more I found myself realizing it one step at a time. "He must be alive! He just... can't be dead, he can't. I didn't see him die, nor did anyone else. If his cross isn't standing there Dante must be breathing!" I had thought out loud, drawing my hopeful conclusion. Quickly getting up I ran to wake Dom.

"Dom... Dom wake up!" I shouted, shaking him. His eyes opened wearily as he looked up at his cousin. "Dante... he's alive. He must be!" I stated boldly, "If his body wasn't at the site of the ruins, then he could not have just gotten up and walked away, neither would he have retreated! He must be alive!"

Dominique pondered for a moment. "Shouldn't we check to see if your thesis checks out?" He asked me. I nodded to him as we got up and took a morning stroll. We headed out to l'Ambertrou, or at least the ruins thereof. As we had approached it was exactly as I had seen it: Two crosses; one for my father and one for my mother. A smile crept on my face as I looked over to Dominique.

"We can try to find him then." He said smiling back. "Where would we start?" I asked quickly in reply. "Simple. Couronne... the Fey Enchantress is there with the King now... if we could get a meeting with her grace, we could locate him!" I rolled my eyes as Dominique suggested it. It wasn't the easiest thing getting an audience with the Fey... but it was worth a try. "To Couronne then!" I said. "Hey... we haven't even stopped for breakfast!" Dominique replied with a chuckle.

We sat down in the dining room as Dominique's wife, Rosalyn, walked in with a cheery smile. She had cooked us up some fine morning delicacies as we sat down to eat. A home cooked meal? This was truly a dream I had to wake up from! I mumbled "This is a dream." under my breath in disbelief to find Dominique pinching my arm. Looking at him, raising a brow, he winked at me. "Wake up lad." He said with a grin. I felt almost at home... family like him could never die, even if he was gone.

We quickly mounted upon steeds as my face was covered for protection. "When it comes to these kinds of things," Dominique started, "Let me do the talking." His smile was refreshing- someone to talk to. I think that's all I may have really needed at that time. It took a good ride to get to the city itself and we had spent the night at a local inn, heading out to a night at one of the local taverns. Dominique sat down with me at the counter ordering the Lady knows what as I rolled my eyes and settled with some good Bordeleaux wine.

"Hey... what's with your friend there?" The bartender asked after a number of minutes to Dominique after a few minutes. Dominique smiled and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Why nothing my friend, why worry? Pass me another pint!" He said with a smile. "Ask him to remove his hood... them shadowy types aren't going to settle with me." The bartender replied.

Dominique raised an eyebrow. "He has done nothing wrong, leave him be." He whispered at the bartender somewhat darkly. "Look if your friend is afraid of showing his face then pay the tab and leave... I can't trust your-" The bartender said being cut off as Dominique grabbed the collar of his shirt, dragging him across the countertop. "You know nothing of me and you know nothing of him. Without any doubt I could tell you this man to my right has more balls than you." Dominique said, shoving the Bartender back into the cabinets of drinks behind him, crashing down on the poor man. "I think we better leave, Jean." He said with a stern look on his face.

Yes that was his character... although he was a light-hearted one, when Dominique was crossed with he could go on the borders of rude or defensive. Leaving a pile of gold coins on the counter top, Dominique left, allowing me to follow.