When Judd emerged from the tent the next morning, he stretched and yawned, pulling against the tautness in his body. He had fallen asleep relatively easily but, possibly owing to the tension of the day before it, he hadn’t slept deeply and woken at every little bump, howl and grunt in the night.

  He was quite relieved when day came and he could escape his restless bed.

  Outside, a low fog lay across the camp of the nomads. The tree trunks of the palisade were lightly veiled and the nomads looked like ghosts, drifting here and there, their feet obscured by the low density fog. Judd yawned again, stretching his arms and neck then caught sight of Chief Bear speaking with Caste. This was rather surprising. Apart from being a translator when required, Caste had avoided the nomads. According to the Order of the Grail, their lifestyle was not in line with the ordinances outlined in the Grail’s doctrine. Because they only interacted when trading horses for supplies, they were allowed to exist at the very limit of the Order’s tolerance. As such, a rule abiding officer of the Grail such as Caste, kept his distance unless absolutely necessary.

  So when Caste finished speaking with Chief Bear and walked over to the tent, trying to wrap himself as tightly as he could in his cape, his face almost hidden in his hood, Judd could only think of one question.

  “What did Bear want?”

  Caste had to push the line of his hood up to see Judd, unaware of his presence until he spoke as his eyes had been focussed on the ground.

  “He didn’t want anything.”

  Judd was taken aback. “You were speaking with him.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  Judd blinked, stunned by Caste’s obtuseness. He turned on his heel and followed him into the tent that felt a great deal warmer than the outside air.

  “Hey,” Judd grabbed his arm, “what’s going on?”

  Caste paused, looking guilty. The others in the tent, Aalis, Verne, Suvau, Yolana and Emeri, turned towards them, unable to avoid hearing the question.

  “I wanted to explain things to Chief Bear.”

  “Explain things?” Verne lifted his chin angrily. “Oh…you mean you distanced yourself from any association with the womanising minstrel?”

  Caste swallowed and turned aside. “What does it matter?”

  “Caste,” Aalis stood up, “did you really?”

  “No of course not.” Caste erupted suddenly. “Why does everyone think the worst about me?” He caught sight of all their surprised expressions. “Chief Bear had vouched for us and it turned out that one of our party was the villain who seduced and deflowered Chief Elk’s daughter.” He folded his arms, still not meeting their gaze. “I felt that Bear needed to know the truth about Giordi…because it reflected poorly on him…and Judd was also maligned in the reputation of his minstrel.”

  “You wiped your hands of Giordi,” Suvau said, astonished, “after he saved your life?”

  “Saved your life?” Aalis held up her hand. “When? How? At Fort Sol?”

  Judd shook his head. “At Fort Omra. Caste had gone into the flooded foundations looking for something and that piece of work Jerom closed the hatch, trapping him inside while the room filled with water.”

  Emeri’s mouth fell open. “You never told me that!” She exclaimed and Caste flinched.

  “Aalis was unconscious, we were researching poisonous plants, the hydra attacked, the fort was on fire, you and your family were on trial and then you were exiled from the fort…when was I supposed to say?” He recoiled defensively.

  “You’ve had nearly a month since!”

  “You wouldn’t even talk to me!”

  Emeri blinked and turned away. Caste gaped, surprised by his own reaction, did the same.

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  Judd looked around at his companions, once so close now fractured and divided.

  He caught Aalis’ gaze and saw she was seeking strength.

  “What we need to decide,” Judd said slowly, “is what to do next.” He met each of their gazes as calmly as he dared though he was churning with uncertainty inside. “Giordi is one of the nomads now. He said it himself, his journey with us ends here…”

  “We are going to leave him?” Aalis asked gently.

  “He made a decision and I think we ought to respect it.” Judd said even though he was still wrestling with the concept himself. He’d gotten used to the flamboyant minstrel with the cheeky air and the positive attitude.

  “Ultimately, this journey was never about Giordi,” Suvau said surprisingly and they turned to him, “it was about Judd LaMogre pursuing his dream of a knighthood. I swore I would see you knighted so where are we on that journey?”

  Judd breathed out, nodding, the fog around his purpose lifting with Suvau’s firm words. “I think, after killing a unicorn and collecting its horn, there’s not much left on the monster list.”

  “All that will remain is the witch,” Caste swallowed, deliberately avoiding Aalis’ eyes, “and the minotaur.”

  “Witch?” Yolana said fearfully.

  “It’s the minotaur we need to concentrate on.” Judd said firmly. “That’s the last monster on the list and it’s also the one right at the bottom. I think it’ll be the toughest to kill.”

  “And to find,” Caste admitted, “I haven’t heard of any minotaur for many years. They used to roam the steppelands and prairies but the accounts of sightings have been few and far between.”

  “I suppose, because they’re larger than most other monsters, the knights manning the forts and maintaining the integrity of the wall would stop them before they got too far.” Judd tapped his teeth.

  Aalis watched him closely, seeing the wheels of his mind turning.

  “Will we stay or shall we go?” She asked gently.

  “I think,” he concentrated, “I think we’ll stay…at least for a few days. I don’t know where else we could go that we’d be more likely to run into a minotaur unless we approach either Fort Verion or Mavour.” Aalis worried her bottom lip but said nothing, her heart hiding deep inside her chest. Judd lifted his chin. “I’ll check with Chief Bear that we’re not imposing and if it’s alright with him, we’ll stay for a few more days.”

  “Good plan.” Suvau nodded.

  It wasn’t the most brilliant of plans but Judd could sense that his friends were more settled. He did as he promised and sought out Chief Bear who, with Caste’s help translating, was happy enough to allow them to stay. As he spoke to the heavyset chief, Judd couldn’t help but notice that the disappointment Bear had displayed after Giordi’s exposure had lessened somewhat. He could only guess that it had something to do with Caste speaking to him earlier. Though Verne had accused Caste of ‘washing his hands’ of the whole party, Judd wondered if Caste had done Giordi, and indeed all of them, a tremendous favour in the hearts of the eastern nomads. Chief Bear would not interfere with Chief Elk’s command but at least his faith in Judd and his companions had not been misplaced.

  For that, Judd was very grateful. He had liked staying with the eastern nomads. The drinking was fierce and the language barrier was a problem but they had been hospitable and generous, even more so than Order approved Terras.

  The fog had lifted by the time they were done speaking.

  “I suppose you want me to stay with you?” Caste asked as Chief Bear left their presence.

  “I wouldn’t mind it. I need to find out if any of the western nomads have seen a minotaur more recently than the Order’s records.” Judd rubbed his hands together. “It’s so cold…it never gets this cold up north. Is that Giordi?”

  The minstrel was coming down the steps of the incline into the main camp. He smiled at Judd and circled the stone pillars, striding towards them.

  “Well met, merry folk.” He said brightly.

  “Ah…well met…I guess.” Judd eyed him. “What are you doing here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well…you got married yesterday…aren’t you supposed to be…” Judd cleared his throat.

  “What he means is…” Giordi said to Caste.

  “I know what he means!” Caste groused and stormed off, muttering something about incorrigible minstrels.

  Giordi chuckled then rubbed his hands together. “I shall miss riling him up, I really will.”

  “For someone accused of someone else’s indiscretion and forced to live out his life as a nomad when you prefer silks, velvet and fine dining, you’re awfully chipper.” Judd remarked then frowned. “Is that because you…”

  “Enjoyed the sanctity of the bedroom?” Giordi asked acutely then shook his head. “I slept in the same bed as my wife but I did not sleep with my wife.” They walked around the stone pillars slowly, Giordi trailing his hands on the cold fa?ade of the ancient structures.

  “How does Revna feel about all this?”

  “As awkward as I…and as guilty.” Giordi sighed then leaned towards Judd, his pleasant tone deepening into a whisper. “Haern did not force her. When Revna discovered she was pregnant she told her father that he did because Chief Elk had warned her not to be swayed by Haern’s seductions. She’s terrified of him.”

  “He’s pretty intimidating,” Judd admitted, “and he’s your father in law.”

  “Not the kind of father in law I ever envisioned,” Giordi leaned against the stone pillar and folded his arms, “not the kind of life I envisioned for myself either.”

  Judd’s brow furrowed as he studied Giordi’s expression. “I cannot fathom how at ease you are with all of this.”

  “Trust me, it’s a mask of calm over a sea of panic.” Giordi shrugged. “While you’re here, I can pretend for a while that it’s just all a weird dream. When you go…when do you go?”

  “We’re staying for a few days. I need to find a minotaur and this is a good place to start looking.” Judd looked around. “I won’t find one in the campsite, though.”

  “Come with me and we’ll ask Sten.”

  “Revna’s brother?” Giordi nodded as Judd fell into step beside him. “Pretty sure he hates you.”

  “That’s why you’re coming with me.”

  “You’ve suddenly become fluent in ancient Terra?”

  “These nomads have more exposure to civilisation. They hide it but they understand much more of what we say than we realise.”