Clyde laid in the back of the carriage, sleeping under the night stars as the Hippocampus pulled it along. Gadius and Ogrin stayed up to watch over the prince as he slept. Alicia was polishing the gem on her wand, occasionally looking over Clyde much like the other two. Out front of the carriage, Heinrich sat next to the coachman of the carriage.

  "How much longer till we make it there?" Heinrich asked. The coachman looked towards the elf and responded, "Judging by the speeds these sea stallions are reaching, I believe we shall arrive quite soon. Maybe a hour." Heinrich nodded, looking straight forwards on the path of the carriage. The elf stood from his seat and walked into the back of the carriage.

  "Is he still asleep?" Heinrich asked Alicia, whom his eyes had fallen upon first. The mage nodded, a smile on her lips, "Indeed he is. So, I heard we have an hour?" Alicia questioned, and quickly Heinrich nodded to confirm. Gadius shifted slightly, but did not let out a peep. Merely showing that he had heard Heinrich. Ogrin laughed, "Not even a word from you Gadius?"

  Gadius did not respond, continuing to stay seated where he was. His red eye glowing the helm he wore. He looked back at Clyde's sleeping form, extending his hand to brush a silver strand of hair from Clyde's slumbering face. "Well I shall be damned, Gadius Morlen showing some kind of compassion." Heinrich teased. Gadius withdrew his hand and glared at Heinrich.

  The elf raised his hands, "Relax, twas merely jest." Gadius looked away, but did not relax. Never did. Always glum and serious, never one for comedy.

  After an hour had passed, the sun had slightly risen over the horizon, the light waking Clyde from his sleep. As he rose, he looked out of the carriage. In the distance, he saw the walls of the Monster Kingdom, cobbled together and mounted with spikes. Alicia was first to notice Clyde awake, her head tilting to look at him, "Good morning, Clydey. How was your rest?"

  Clyde peered back inside of the carriage, looking to Alicia. "It was nice. Feels good to rest my eyes, even if I had various nightmares of what may pass should Maurum succeed..." Clyde said. Alicia's eyes softened, understanding. As she began to open her mouth, the driver interrupted what she would say. "The carriage is stopping now!"

  After the carriage had stopped, Clyde and the Roundtable Knights exited and began to walk forwards. As Clyde began to step closer, ahead of the others, Ogrin grabbed the collar of his garbs. "What the-" Clyde gasped, before Heinrich put a finger over the prince's lips. The elf pointed and spoke, "That chasm there. You nearly strolled right on in my prince."

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  Clyde gazed down, noticing. He gulped and stepped back. He put a hand to his chin and stroked it in thought. 'How to get across...' the prince thought. As if to answer him, a barbaric yell came from the top of the Monster Kingdom walls, drums being beaten. A large ladder of cobbled together scrap metal was dropped across the chasm, connecting the walls to the outside.

  Down the ladder came a Hobgoblin, followed by some normal Goblins. "Oi you, would you 'appen to be the 'Prince Clyde Monar' we was expectin' would ye?" The Hobgoblin said, his voice slimy and gruff. Clyde extended a hand, his greens meeting the grotesque yellows of the Hobgoblin. "Why yes I am. Here to meet with your king, if you can believe so." Clyde spoke.

  The Hobgoblin slapped his hand and beckoned him to follow, "Come on then, feckshites, all five of ye take the ladder." The Roundtable Knights silently expressed disdain at the words of the Hobgoblin. Gadius especially seemed peeved, reaching for his blade. Heinrich immediately grabbed his wrist and shook his head.

  "No. I am aware of your disdain for them, but we mustn't cause conflict." Heinrich softly whispered, causing Gadius to lower his arm. Following Clyde, the Roundtable Knights climbed the ladder and arrived on top of the walls. Alicia looked down, to what the walls protected.

  A chaotic and messy congregation of buildings that could hardly pass for a city, in the center the castle of the Monster Kingdom remained. Rubbed her arm before softly speaking, "Not exactly inviting..." Ogrin nodded and chuckled. "You were expecting the Monster Kingdom to be a grand place? Come, let us go. The prince is already headed down." The dragon hunter told Alicia.

  As the knights caught up to Clyde, the walked behind him as he followed the Hobgoblin and his posse. When they stepped into the proper streets, the smell of filth met their nostrils. Clyde had to hold back from throwing up vomit. The Hobgoblin was unfazed, being used to such conditions. He chuckled in his disgusting tone, "What? Don' like the smell o' me 'ome?"

  His posse cackled, their high pitched voices shrill and scratchy. Clyde and the knights remained silent, not wanting to speak to these Goblins or their leader. And after a while of walking, they stopped infront of a tavern. Clyde looked up at the bar sign and read it as the "Wolf's Bite Tavern." Clyde then looked at the Hobgoblin, "Why are we stopping..."

  The Hobgoblin shrugged, picking rotten meat from his yellow teeth. "The king isn' ready fo' visitors quite yet, so you're goin' to need to waste some of yer time til he is, humie." The Hobgoblin wretched up from his vile vocal cords. Clyde wanted to try and push the urgency of his meeting, but he knew that it would be pointless reasoning with a Hobgoblin.

  The Hobgoblin left, set to return when it was time for the meeting, and Clyde followed by the Roundtable Knights entered the tavern. In it was a variety of monsters, all different sizes and shapes. Clyde let out a sigh and began to step towards the counter.