Arriving back at West Gondor, Mongo couldn’t believe his eyes. Everything had changed. The guard towers at the entrance of the walls had fallen and the massive gates that normally were open for guests and travelers were blocked shut by the rubble – not that it was posing much of a problem for travelers, seeing as how half the wall itself had collapsed also!

“I’d heard it was bad, but had no idea,” the merchant whom they were traveling with muttered softly to him as he rode up in the driver’s seat next to where he sat on his wagon.

Getting out of the crypts was an exercise in frustration and persistence that Mongo didn’t want to think about, and prayed to never have to repeat. Crystal and Ghost were both unconscious – they still hadn’t woken up even after all this time – and that meant they had to be carried out of the depths of the nightmarish hole they’d all ended up in. Being the only man left, most of the burden on carrying and dragging the girls was left up to him!

If the dead wouldn’t have been destroyed and quiet, they would’ve been slaughtered down in that unnatural abyss, and knowing that still gave Mongo nightmares when he tried to sleep. Jess wasn’t much better, having turn inwardly moody and brooding; only Tiffany somehow managed to keep her bounce and laughter through it all.

Thank the gods for Tiffany, Mongo thought. If it wouldn’t have been for her, he would’ve probably went crazy.

“Halt!” A male’s voice called out from the side of the road, pulling Mongo out of his own inner thoughts. Glancing over, two large plate wearing knights slowly walked towards the wagon they were in. Looking around, Mongo was astonished by the number of men in full armor that he saw nearby. The city had never had this many knights – not even close! Where the hell had they all came from?

“Woah, Lucy!” Pulling back the reigns on the horse, the merchant slowed the wagon to a stop. “We doing something wrong, gentlemen?” The merchant asked, politely.

“Not at all, old-timer,” the knight on the left responded as he pulled off his helmet and tucked it under his arm. Well-kept blond hair flowed freely out and down to his shoulders as he briefly saluted. “We just wanted to ask what supplies you might be carrying, and if there’s any sick or injured you have with you that needs attention.”

“We have two injured,” Mongo spoke up, wearily. “No idea what’s wrong with them, to be honest. They were hurt and our healers can’t wake them now.”

The old merchant nodded to confirm his words. “Picked them up a way up the road, trying to drag two of their friends back with them on some sort of makeshift gurney. They’re students from the school who were out on a task when whatever the hell it was that happened, happened,” the merchant explained. “As for goods, I’m hauling basic wares which I normally pick up in town for the farmers and hunters who live a bit off, and I’ve got a nice supply of foods and hides which they trade to me in return. “

I mainly just work as a go-between for the outlying folks, to save them a trip all the way into town,” the merchant explained. “Easier for them to pay me just a little more than they’d spend in town, and not have to pack up and make the journey back and forth themselves, you know.”

“We understand,” the blond-haired knight nodded. “If you’re interested, I’m authorized to buy any and all food, bandages, or medical supplies from you for twice the normal going rate. Anything we gather will be used to support the army here and to help heal and take care of the people, but the choice is, of course yours,” the young man nodded respectfully. “I’m certain with some of the people as desperate for things as they are in the city, you can earn more if you hold out and find the proper buyer.”

“If’n you don’t get murdered for it first,” the other knight warned.

Sighing, the blond-haired knight sadly nodded. “There’s always that chance as well. We do all we can to keep everyone safe, but even with the Lady Heartstone’s assistance, we’re pushed to our limits. There’s simply too many refugees in the city now, and not enough to go around. You’ll need to watch yourself, my lord,” the knight warned. “We’ll help if we can if something happens, but we’re just stretched too thin. Be careful to take care of yourself first and foremost, until we can get things settled and back to normal around here.”

“I certainly will,” the merchant promised, “and I’d be happy to sell to the kingdom knights – and for fair market value, and not a copper more,” he stated, stubbornly.

“My lord, we’ll pay twice…”

“No you won’t,” the merchant interrupted. “At least, you won’t to me. Fair market value, not a copper more, or else I’ll simply take my chances and sell elsewhere.”

“No need for that,” the knight laughed, “we’ll take whatever you’ve got to sale at that price.”

“Then we have a bargain my lords,” the old merchant laughed, sealing the deal with a simple nod of his head. “Where you want it delivered?”

“Not to be rude,” Mongo coughed once, interrupting. “What about my friends? They need to see a full-fledged healer and not just a student – no offense Tiff.”

“I’m not Tiff,” the blond-haired knight laughed lightly. “My name is Sir Kestrel, and this is my partner Joseph. You seem to have us confused with someone else,” he answered, smiling lightly.

“No, no, no,” Mongo muttered, sounding half distracted and staring off into space. “There’s no need for you to climb out of the wagon yet. We’re not there. We’ve been held up at the gates.”

“He’s a mite addled in the head, methinks,” the old merchant whispered down towards the knights. “Tiffany be the name of one of the healer girls with him. Sometimes he thinks he can talk to her even when she isn’t around, and sometimes, he thinks he is her. I think he may be a needing a mind-healer himself, though the lad doesn’t seem dangerous at all.”

“Teeheeheeheehee!” Giggling quite girlishly all at once, Mongo placed his hands on his hips and swayed seductively back and forth. “Boys, be nice and shoo on out of the way so we can get to the school or the temple. My friends need help, and if you’re quick about it, I’ll give you a hug and a kiss.

“NO! Dammit, you will not,” Mongo suddenly shouted at no one in particular.

“Teeheeheeheehee!” And once again, he was giggling girlishly. “I will if I want too.” Sticking his tongue out at thin air, he made a ‘pbbbbtttbbtt’ sound and then giggled girlishly some more. “Would it help if I said I was a Knight Protector of the People?” Mongo asked, innocently.

“Don’t tell them that,” he suddenly screamed at himself, his face twisting half up in an angry expression!

“But it’s the truth!” Suddenly he looked almost as if he was pouting and going to cry.

“It’s okay. I’m not mad at you,” he comforted himself.

Everything and everyone around had stopped and was now simply staring at where Mongo sat on the wagon, apparently lost in some sort of strange conversation consoling himself…