The smell of piss and cheap perfume was sickening. Nearby, a flame-eater demonstrates his skill to the poor children. Lady Ellence is seen helping in hospital. Duri wheels himself to the market stall.
"I'll take two loaves of bread, and an orange if you spare one."
"I don't sell to cripples, bad for business."
"I'll pay double your rates."
"Fine, deal. Now buggar off."
Duri wheeled himself down the road, away from the market, and into the slums. He stops at his friend Marcus.
"Here, I got you and orange and a loaf."
"'Kindness to a beggar, and healing for the crippled,' that's the saying, right?"
"Aye, it is, but can't one old chap be friends with another old chap?"
"I suppose you're right. Say, did you see? The Knights are riding in from Durvadaa. Some are saying the King is going to choose one of them to be Lord Governor."
"I met a Knight once. Helped in during the war. Fed him, clothed him, even befriended him. Made me rich, but a rich cripple is as good as golden trash bin."
"I remember the war. Fought in it, until I was exiled for refusing to execute a boy on command. He was innocent and deserved to live, but the commander's order was final. I was lucky they let me leave alive."
"Didn't they end the war in a truce? We are still technically at war, correct?"
"I think? I've been here for a long time now. What was it, seven years ago they stopped the fighting?"
"Aye, that sounds right. It seems, however, that we may be going back to war. The King has called the banners. All of them from Werinvas to Helorion."
'Aye, that is telling. Say! It's the Knight's of Durvadaa!"
The Knights strode in on their horses, armor gleaming in the summer sun. A knight towards the back spots Duri and Marcus.
"Duri! Good to see you old pal. How's the rich man's life?"
"It gets quite boring Hyriod."
"Did you hear? King called the knights in, we're to be made commanders."
"Dosent the King already have commanders?"
"He did, but they couldn't win the war, now could they?"
"See me when you have your station then."
"Will do. Good to see you, kind friend."
Hyriod got back into the parade and made his way up to the keep. The castle's walls stood high and mighty, with plaques of the great kings of old.
"King Rheravir, slayer of the demon Ayrikiea."
"King Dylor, founder of the Knights hall of Durvadaa."
"Queen Lacennia, the giver of laws."
As Hyriod made his way into the throne room, the King bade them hold fast.
"Knight's of Durvadaa, you have travelled far to be assigned your posts as commanders. But this was a suicide mission. LOCK THE GATES!"
At the Kings command, the guards locked the door to the throne room, and the gates to the castle and city walls.
"Lord of Death, accept this sacrifice!"
With that, he bade the fuses be struck. At first, a rumble. Then, a boom. The keep erupted into a cloud of fire and ash, and the city fell into chaos. Hyriod was trapped under the keep, what was left of it, anyway.