Nathaniel was not sure how or when but he was soon asleep again enjoying a sublime dream. When he came too he was lying across the foot of Eira's bed and she was nowhere to be seen. He stood up and walked across the room. A note was left on the table saying she had to go out and he would not wake up so she had left him sleeping. He was very dazed and still quite tired as he slowly woke up and left the house. Wondering what time it was, he looked up into the sky to horrifically see that the sun was reaching its peak. It would soon be noon. He looked around him to get his bearings and then ran through the streets towards the hill. He flew round corners and down alleys and then struggled as he charged on up the hill toward the senate. It was a struggle but he finally made it to the foot of the senate steps, not feeling too out of breath. He had made good time in fact, which was probably again down to the powers of his pendant.
He walked up the steps, with his breath recovered, though still a little hot from his run. Waiting at the top by the entrance was Ogwyn and another man who wore a long dark coat with a fur trim. This must have been Ogwyn's friend in the ministry. They said no word as he approached but led him inside. Silently he followed them round the corridor and to the rear of the senate. The corridor circled the minister's arena. It was like a huge amphitheatre with a large podium for the chancellor and his viceroys. They led on, through a doorway where inside chancellor Lydan was sat behind an ostentatious marble desk. "Ah, this is the guardsman," he said as they entered, "Please take a seat and begin your story." Nathaniel took a seat right in front of the desk and Ogwyn and the minister sat at the back of the room. "Most of what I am about to tell you, you will not believe. I must assure you that I am sound of mind before I begin."
Nathaniel then began, explaining how the patrol was ambushed by goblins. He tried to stress the abnormality of the situation. How the goblins had never shown such organisation before and that something else must be guiding them. He then moved on to explain about Torstein and what he had shown him in the Red Pass, the large army that was building and the dark elves at its head. He stressed the importance of preparing the city for the attack and mentioned that there were ways to do so, built into the city but long since forgotten about. The chancellor seemed to be taking it all in but showed no emotion or expression and Nathaniel was worried that he was not truly listening and did not believe a word he was saying.
When he was finished telling the tale the Chancellor looked deep into his eyes, as if he was trying to catch him out. He looked like he thought Nathaniel was wasting his time with some wild tale of mythical creatures. "You were right," he said at last. "I believe very little of your tale. I do not know how you came to survive the ambush but you have returned to us now and that is good. This army however I cannot believe. The commander of the guard spoke to me days ago and sent a patrol that way. He said they found nothing." Said Lydan bluntly. Nathaniel was shocked beyond words. It had all been a waste of time. The chancellor had already made up his mind and all Nathaniel could do now was leave as he was ushered out by a guard.
He was in a furious mood as he walked back down the hill and to his room. He was in a terrible rage. The ministers had all knowingly sent the city to its doom but were too stubborn and blind to the world to even know they had done it. He had to get back to Torstein as soon as possible. He was the only person now who could help. Only Torstein had the wisdom to guide Nathaniel toward the right path and stand any chance of saving his beloved city. He ran down the stairs of the tower to the armoury to pick up his sword and armour. Then he continued to descend to the stables where he saddled a midnight black horse. It was a magnificent horse and he knew it was the fastest the guards had and so he mounted up. At that moment Martyn came in and held the bridle in a tight grip. "Where are you going?" he asked forcefully,
"I must see Torstein, he is the only one who can help now."
"Come back to the real world Nathaniel,"
"Get out of my way Martyn," he replied getting angrier,
"If you will abandon us all for your fantasies then go, but do not expect to find friends here if you return." There was spite in Martyn's voice as he spat the words out. Nathaniel kicked back into his horse and sped out into the streets. The horse galloped hard through the streets and out the front gate, nearly knocking over innocent bystanders.
He was relentless on the horse, taking it into the forest never letting it slow down. He was limited on time and had to reach Torstein as fast as possible and so he rode hard, right through the night and into the next day. He reached where the road split and still kept the horse at speed. It must have been exhausted by now but it kept soldiering on. Nathaniel was sure he was nearby and was looking deep into the trees for the little hut. There was a strange sound to the wind all of a sudden. The horse slowed up and Nathaniel looked about. The wind blew again and he was sure he could hear a voice in it. Then without command the horse sped away again as if it were following the voice. Soon Torstein's hut was ahead and he stood outside the door waiting.
The horse slowed down and Nathaniel jumped off landing in front of Torstein. "They are all fools, none would listen and believe me," he said with despair, "I need your help Torstein, or Ollorath is lost." Torstein led him inside and sat him down, giving him a cup of water. Nathaniel explained what had passed since he left Torstein a week ago. How he had met Ogwyn and had found the passages under the city but he could not find any of the keys, nor the palace key. Torstein knew of them of course and knew that the prince had kept his father's key when he fled. He had come to Torstein after his exile and it was Torstein who took him to the neighbouring kingdom and brokered the marriage alliance. Nathaniel was confused at how that was possible but Torstein explained that a wizard was not like a man. They were immortal beings and he had been around for over five thousand years, much of which he could still remember.
Nathaniel pleaded with him for his help, but Torstein could not. He might have been a wizard but he could not face an army alone and there was not enough time for him to return and convince the ministry of the reality of the threat. It was down to Nathaniel alone. Torstein had hoped that Nathaniel would find more in the academy library. "You must learn to use basic elven runes, ask this Ogwyn for a book. At the very least they will help you to hold back the attack whilst your people get to safety." Nathaniel had to return again to the city before it was too late but Torstein had further warnings for him. "Something dark and powerful is behind all of this. It has clouded my vision and I cannot see what it is, so be afraid Nathaniel but be brave. You can survive this and that is what is important." He continued, "You have merely a few days before they are ready to move. The prince's key for the passages I placed in the first king's sarcophagus, use it wisely." Nathaniel mounted his horse again and wheeled it around. He charged away down the road once more and heard Torstein calling after him wishing him luck.
Again he pushed the horse to its limits, tearing down the track back to the city. It was tiring though and began to weaken. His speed was dropping steadily but he had to push on. Day became night and still he pushed on, ever slowing as the horse tired. A thought came to him as the horse began to slow right down to a trot. He took his pendant and placed it directly against the horse's neck. Soon life came back into his steed and it was racing once again. Night became day and the forest road wound on getting ever closer to the city until the trees soon stopped and ahead of him lay the beautiful city. He did not slow down as he raced toward the gate, streaming through it he found it harder to grip on the cobbled and had to slow a little. He raced through the streets making his way up toward the hill.
People jumped and dived out of his way as his horse tore through the street upward. He raced past the market and up the steps to the next tier, then across the people's square and up the steps again. Up he climbed, until he was finally on the last flight of steps, at the foot of the ministry. He did not slow down until his horse was almost charging into the ministry building itself. He reigned up and the horse stopped so hard it was forced to stand on its back legs. Nathaniel jumped down and ran headlong down the steps of the arena and into the passage where the chancellor's office was. He burst in, causing the chancellor to spring to his feet in shock. "Oh it's you again," he began, "come back with more tall tales?" he added mockingly.
Nathaniel had no patience for him this time. "There is an army massing in the mountains and it is on its way to this city. If you do nothing the city will be destroyed," demanded Nathaniel grabbing the chancellor by the arm. He needed to prove to him the existence of magic, how he had done with Eira. The look of disgust on Lydan's face was immediate. "Guards!" he shouted, staring Nathaniel dead in the eyes. Two guards came rushing through the door to see the freeze frame of Nathaniel gripping Lydan. "This man has abandoned his post and assaulted his chancellor. Take him away and lock him up!" he commanded. Nathaniel froze suddenly. He could not turn and fight these men or more would come and surely kill him. He could do nothing to save the city from the oncoming attack if he was locked away behind bars. His body made the choice for him and he was carried away, chained up. They took his armour and his sword and led him off down the steps, as he was unable to do anything. "You knew something was not right when you sent us on that patrol!" called Nathaniel as they dragged him out of the room. Lydan made no reply and Nathaniel was now even more powerless to do anything.