With the assassins in front of him gone, Eliezer finally had a moment to let it all sink in. The convoy had been ambushed, his personal knight was dead, and who was this masked stranger who had come to his aid? The man mentioned a 'Moon Raven', and it was rather clear from the name whom it was who had sent him. The prince thanked her in his mind, before backing up against a tree for support and taking a few deep breaths as he sheathed his sword. Even with all his experience with blocking out his emotions his entire life, the trauma that Eliezer currently felt was visible, at least for a short while. Hearing the stranger speak to him, he composed himself and responded to the man.

"I am grateful for your help, although I am unsure if you are aware of the distance of Dainia from this place. Riding back would be just as dangerous as riding forward, Mister... How may I address you?"

However, right after he had asked that question, the sound of galloping horses rapidly approached them from across the path accompanied by shouts of "Your Highness!", as two knights sped around the still-burning caravans. One of them was about to leap at the stranger before Eliezer stopped them both from attacking.

"Halt!" The prince snapped, prompting the knights to pull on the reins of their horses and skid to a stop. Both dismounted their horses as Eliezer continued. "This one is a friend. I am relieved to see survivors from our convoy, pray identify yourselves."

The knights removed their helmets and spoke.

"Dame Gertrude Monday, Your Highness."

"Sir Hildebrand Ward, Your Highness."

Noting the family name of the young male knight, Eliezer turned to him. "You were a relative of Sir Aldebrand?"

"H- He... was my brother, Your Highness," Hildebrand responded, the grief and rage apparent on his face as he fought to keep himself together. He then held out a blood-stained dagger with the crest of Lunar engraved into it. "The ones who attacked us, they were Lunarian assassins."

Eliezer nodded respectfully. "My deepest condolences, Sir Hildebrand."

"Your Highness, your orders?" Asked Gertrude.

The prince looked to the masked man. "My soldiers have died after taking me this far, I cannot let that go to waste by turning around now, and with the same risk as if I were to continue on to Sorene. The Kingdom of Sorene is our ally, and I shall be able to seek aid once I arrive. You have also informed me that you are injured. You are in no condition to protect anyone, so please return to Dainia without me. I thank you once again for your help, kind stranger. You may inform Lady O- [i]the Moon Raven[/i] of what has taken place here, and that she shall hear from me soon."

Eliezer then addressed his knights. "Dame Gertrude shall ride forward with me to Sorene. Sir Hildebrand shall ride back to Dainia with this gentleman. Inform the royal family of what has happened, Sir Hildebrand, as well as your own. Tell them that your brother's death was an honorable one, that he was killed... protecting his prince."

The male knight then spoke up. "If I may, Your Highness. I wish to be the one to accompany you. My brother defended you with his life. It would mean a lot to me if I could finish what he was to do - to get you safely to Sorene. As he did, I shall die before I let any harm come to you. If you would allow this, I will send a letter to my family instead."

After what Aldebrand had done for him, Eliezer decided that he could not refuse his brother's request. "Very well, Dame Gertrude will ride back to Dainia instead. Have a safe journey, Dame Gertrude, and you too, stranger."