"It will rain," said Ace, addressing more to himself than to the others around him, his tone coated with doubt and anxiety. True to his words, the night was dark and the air damp, the clouds layered the black sky, and not a single star could be seen. They were standing at a cliff that towered the surrounding plains and forests, where he and the forces of his queen made tents and huts for the siege tonight.

"It will," replied a woman's voice, louder than his own. It was the voice of The Witch. The voice of his queen. The woman who's been betrayed by her own homeland and kingdom from which she ought to rule. "But it will be the rain of my victory," she continued. Her voice matched her beauty, elegant and soft. Yet the ruthlessness and determination from her words depicted her father, Lancelot the True King.

Ace would sacrifice himself in support of her queen's cause, as he would for her father before her. He would do anything in his ability to see that she would sit on the throne, and punish the usurper army of her uncle, the unworthy and so-called king, Guinn.

"Yes, Your Highness." Ace replied. Though the night air was damp and the skies filled with dark clouds, the air around him was strangely warm, perhaps even hot. This was due to the magical power of his queen who stood behind him. The Witch controlled the power of flame and light. She was said to be the strongest fire mage ever walked. However, Ace had his doubts. It will rain, he thought again, It will be a rainstorm.

***

"Your Grace," a man called, walking from the camps. Ace turned his head and saw Sir Burns, his feature blocked the light of the campfire. "The preparation is ready, my queen." Sir Burns bowed. When he stood straight again, Ace saw that the man was tall and old, perhaps older than Ace's own father. He had seen and participated in many battles throughout the years of his service in the Kingdom. However, Sir Burns had left their service to join the ranks of King Lancelot, many said that the True King himself had saved his life once, and he meant to repay it.

"Good," their queen nodded. "What about the catapults I have asked you about?"

There was a pause before Sir Burns answered, "The foreman, he refused. Concerned about the people."

Ace knew nothing about this, "Will we be using catapults as well?" the young man asked. Yet no one answered.

"I will meet the man myself," said the queen, turning around. When she walked back towards the camps and left them, Ace saw her shadow tailed after her, dancing in the light. The thing seemed too long and way darker than any shadow he had ever seen. Strange.

Ace walked towards Sir Burns and spoke, "Sir, if I may ask, what do you mean the catapult's foreman was concerned about the people?"

But the knight before him only gave a grim stare.

"Will we fire those catapults to the villages around the castle? Is that what this mean, sir?" Ace asked, his voice grew louder. Sir Burns sighed and replied, "Our queen will meet and talk with him, the man is weak and cowardly. It is the queen's wish to deploy catapults, do you doubt the plan of the Witch herself, boy?"

"I– I never intend to, sir." Ace said softly. He took his eyes off the older man's gaze. "I pledge my life and service to my queen, whatever happen." He continued, "I swear it, by the honor I have as one of her men, sir."

"Yet no longer you merely be one of her men, boy." Sir Burns began, "You are her knight now, her Ace. You may have that sword on your hip, but you still need to prove yourself here tonight." his tone was strict, though not unkind.

Ace raised his head, "I will do my best." The young man looked up. "But the sky, sir. I think it will be raining soon."

"Are you scared of getting a little wet, boy?" Sir Burns asked, in slight mockery, "Do you fear the rain will rust your precious sword? Is that it?"

Ace did not reply, allowing Sir Burns to spoke again, "Or perhaps you had thought that some rain could somehow weaken our Queen's magic?"

"No sir, of course not." Ace shook his head.

Sir Burns grinned, "That sword you have there, it is the sword of our late king, Lancelot. Our Queen had even imbued her own magic into it." Ace looked down on his sword, the hilt was ornamented with a ruby, and the light nearby reflected on it, it was shining in red.

"The blade itself is fire," said Sir Burns.