[i]‘’Raditsch? Master Einhard? I think I’ve found the flowers!’’[/i] Marozia climbs the steep trail where last she saw her traveling companions, only to find it deserted. [i]‘’Hey, Raditsch, these look purple-ish enough. I hope these are the ones you meant.’’[/i] Clutched in her hands is a sprout with a magenta-like bud, holding it forward. [i]‘’Where did everyone go?’’[/i] Marozia looks around, before scaling towards the cliff where she last saw Einhard. After she looks down, Marozia drops the flowers in shock. [i]“Oh no… Wha- what happened?!”[/i] Marozia blurts out to herself as panic begins to overtake her. She has spotted Einhard, down in the camp, far beyond reach and in the midst of soldiers carrying banners of the Lampertei Bear. She whimper; [i]“No… I can’t be alone again...”[/i] [hr] [center][h3]Captivity in the Lampert mountain camp[/h3] [b]North of Skadania[/b][/center] His mace was ripped off his waist as the Paladin was swarmed by hands, tugging at him and pushing his face to the ground. After he was disarmed, subdued and bonded, Einhard was pushed and pulled by at least a dozen men towards a cage, jeering and laughing at him the entire way. [i]‘’Take this Chlotar pig to the enclosure! Be swift with it!’’[/i] Voices of men all around Einhard are clamouring. [i]‘’We’ll present him to Dalgiserius later!’’[/i] [i]‘’No, he’ll be a good snack for the Jet Hound… Ghahaha!’’[/i] With a creak, a metallic door was opened, and the helpless Paladin was hurled inside. Then with a clang, the door shuts as a solid chain sealed around it. Einhard digs his fingernails into the dirty wooden floor, feeling the anger well up in him over the betrayal by Raditisch. Einhard looks towards the guards who threw him into the cage, and growls [i]“I’ll see each one of you strung up dancing.”[/i] Einhard turns his head back towards the floor and begins to feverishly recite the Godas Warrior Prayer. [i][center]O Allfather ruling from Lighthome, may my deeds spell your name, give me the sight to lead my people, and vanquish those who lead us astray. Show me the passion and fury to undertake your will, for my journey has merrily started, when the days have gone down in Visandza, behind the hills and into shadow. Godas give me strength.[/center][/i] [i]‘’Stop your prayer, you bumbling idiot. God will not hear you here.’’[/i] A man in a lamellar cuirass, with a grim blond stached face and missing eyeball appears behind the bars of the cage. The man sneers cruelly at the captured Paladin. [i]‘’Face it; you have none to blame this fate for but your damned self. You were foolhardy enough to trust a Lampert! Hahaha!"[/i] Einhard eyes drift up towards him and he mutters to himself, “Perhaps I will lay you out on your bloody altars like has been done to my brethren.” The Lampert leans in closer with a hand placed to his hear. [i]‘’I’m sorry, can you repeat yourself, Chlotar muppet?’’[/i] Einhard looks at him deadpan, and begins to contort his body to sit facing away from the guards. There, from the corner of his eyes he catches a familiar presence entering the camp. A man in rags wearing a straw hat. It is Raditschs. Einhard is immediately repulsed by the mere sight, and closes his eyes, whispering to himself; [i]‘’I see now why you would be cursed; you are damnable. ...You damned fiend.’’[/i] The cursed man walks further into the camp towards the men responsible for capturing the Paladin, with whom he was in cahoots the entire time. Meanwhile the one eyed man that had just addressed Einhard is standing much further back, and the Paladin can recognise his orotund voice. [i]‘’Mighty King, we have captured the Chlotar King’s interloper. By the armor, he seems to be of high standing.’’[/i] [i]‘’Is that so…’’[/i] A heavier voice yet replies. And in that moment, Einhard is overcome by an intense sensation of foreboding, giving him an inkling to whom the voice belongs. Then Raditsch walks past the cage, his head turning away perhaps in shame, to avoid eye-contact with the man he has betrayed. He walks straight towards Dalgiserius, and kneels before him. [i]‘’My Cuninc… King…’’[/i] Dalgiserius turns around, leering at the man groveling at his feet. Through the bars Einhard catches a glimpse of the King’s large and imposing frame, most notably his dark beard, and bearhide mantle. [i]‘’I return faithfully to your service… In homage to mine eternal Lampertei allegiance, I brought thee the man that, by Chlotar Cuninc was decreed to bring about your reign’s endingaz.’’[/i] The cursed man’s head hangs low in submission. And all can sense how he shivers. [i]‘’You.’’[/i] The king quivers red with contained, seething rage. [i]‘’I told you what would happen if ever you dared present your mangy skin to me again…’’[/i] [i]‘’My King, I bid thee only redemption. In all my years of exile I have never stopped serving You, o King, and Lampertei. I bid thee…. I beg thee…. I am your most faithful, loyal, steadfa-’’[/i] Dalgiserius did not let him finish. A brutal and sickly crack was heard as the King’s scepter smashed into the cursed man’s head, and with such forcefulness that Raditschs was flung into the air, out of sight and ferried straight to the afterlife. After so many years of restless wandering, the damned man has at last been lifted of the King’s curse, though not in the way he had hoped. A red stain is visible on the Lampert King’s scepter. The whole of the camp falls deadly silent, motionless, and not even the one-eyed man twitches. Than Dalgiserius turns his gaze towards the cage, and spots Einhard looking at him. The two make brief eye-contact before the Lampert king approaches him. The whole of the cage seems to rattle tremblingly at the King’s approaching footsteps. [i]‘’So you are the Chlotar Interloper which the Dead Traitor brought to my camp. I know what you are, Godboy. You were tasked with destroying Lampertei? Don’t make me laugh… You are alone, abandoned -- there is nothing threatening about you. You’re a sniveling little pup, much like your master.’’[/i] Dalgiserius’ scowling icy blue eyes pierce into the captive Paladin. Einhard stares coldly back at Dalgiserius refusing to break his gaze and curtly replies, [i]“Not even a drink for your honored guest?”[/i] Dalgiserius bares his grinding teeth, yellowed, brittle and broken, likewise not breaking eye-contact or even blinking.. [i]‘’I would throw you to the dogs. Break every bone in your body. But not kill you.. no… Soon, Godboy, I will wipe that smile off your face. The Farigai have their ways of… cowing you.’’[/i] The King turns his head sideways, and calls out: [i]‘’Gastald Liutpertus.’’[/i] [i]‘’Yes, my King?’’[/i] The same one-eyed man of before steps to the fore, whose name is apparently Liutpertus. [i]‘’Show this Chlotar runt a taste of the Lampert hospitality he requested.’’[/i] The gastald motions to two other Lamperts to help him remove the chain off the door to take hold of the Paladin. The King, meanwhile, turns away. [i]‘’Now, with this ‘’Chlotar threat’’ neutralized, I will be returning to my Hold… Get me my horse, you hayborn mongrels.’’[/i] Having uttered those words, Dalgiserius leaves the scene. Einhard braces himself for the coming Lampert brutality and thinks of Marozia wandering the mountain passes all alone, [i]“May Godas be with you young one”[/i] he whispers to himself.