"Laud as king, what is he thinking? It's not his fault, it's hers. She is putting those thoughts in his head," Lord said as he paced around his room.
Meanwhile, in Pyre, Mark tried to convince Markeen to join the raid.
"What if I provide everything we would need to join the raid?"
"No, I am not joining the raid," Markeena said without hesitation.
"Don't you care about returning home?"
Mark asked and Markeen laughed.
"You mean you care about Boik?"
Markeen said and laughed some more.
"Yes, is that surprising?" Mark asked surprised by her reaction.
"Yes, you have never been to Boik. We were both born here. The fact that we are still fighting over a land we left centuries ago is absurd," Markeen lamented and shook her head.
Mark sighed, as he was walking away he ran into Shaban.
"What happened to you?"
Markeen asked Shaban as she noticed his ragged look.
"We were attacked by the sea monster everyone is talking about. It destroyed my boat. I lost everything," Shaban said as he walked toward the bar.
"That makes five boats just this month. So how are you going to survive this winter?" Markeen asked and Shaban shrugged.
"You can make money for a boat during the raid," Mark announced after eavesdropping for a while.
"You are going for the raid, can I come along?"
Shaban asked.
"There are a few things we need to join the raid, but sure you can come," Markeen said and looked at Mark. The frown on her face made his smile disappear.
"Today is the last day for pledges," Mark said to Markeen. She let out a heavy sigh and headed home.
Mark got home to see her ravaging through her clothes.
"What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I am looking for nice clothes to wear to pledge my boat for the raid," Markeen said and continued to pull out clothes from a leather sack back.
Markeen later met with Shaban. They climbed the mountain as they made their way to the castle.
Laud was in bed when he heard the door open. He turned to see Lord.
"How are you doing?"
Lord asked and Laud sat up. Lord sat by his bedside.
"How about we go flying when you get better?"
Lord suggested and Laud nodded in agreement. Lord got up and walked out. Immediately he left, tears rolled down Laud's cheeks. He started to sob, mucus dozed off his upper lip.
Suddenly his door opened again and he quickly wiped the tears off his face. He turned to see his mother staring.
"It's not you, most people try bonding at the age of sixteen. You are doing this four years too early," Maude said to Laud as she tried to console him.
Markeen and Shaban were at Vestus High Castle.
"We are here to pledge our ships," Shaban said and the guards at the gate let them in.
"Ships, the Bird is barely a boat," Markeen said and stared at Shaban. He did not mind her, he kept walking.
"They have dragons why don't they just let their dragons just kill the sea monster?" Shaban asked frustrated by the activities of the sea monster.
They got to the grand hall and took a knee.
"For the raid, we pledge fourteen warm bodies and a boat," Markeen said with bowed head. Shaban turned and murmured something to her. Lord looked at them with disgust.
"A boat, do they think this is a fishing expedition?" Lord thought as he stared.
"Rise, I grant you Sicree's grace and accept your pledge," High King Tobias said but Shaban and Markeen did not get up. Still on their knees, they whispered to each other.
"Is there a problem?"
High King Tobias asked and Lord gestured at the guards.
"No, Your Highness," Markeen said and got on her feet.
"Your Highness, I just wanted to let you know about a sea monster attacking boats," Shaban said still on his knees.
"Why haven't I heard of this? Guards take care of it," High King Tobias ordered.
"I will handle it," Lord said before the guards left.
"Thank you, your highness," Shaban said and got up. He and Markeen could not get out of there as fast as they wanted to. This was not due to a lack of trying.
Lord got up, he asked a guard to find out where last the monster was spotted. Lord went to a cave meters away from the castle.
"Iron Pig," Lord called and heard what sounded like rock fall.
"Lord, what brings you here?"
A voice said in the dark. The voice filled the cave making it difficult to tell where it was coming from.
Lord kept turning hoping he would be able to tell.
"There is a sea monster attacking villagers. We need to take care of it," Lord said as he continued turning.
"We, that is no concern of mine. You banished me to this cave for months and you expect me to help you? Where is my apology?"
Iron Pig said a gust of wind came from deep within the cave.
"Apology, you were attacking villagers. I had no choice but to keep you here. You owe me an apology. Help me and I will call us even," Lord said he heard another rockfall and turned around.
Behind him, darkness opened its eyes. They were yellow and burnt orange at the edges. In between was a dark slit that looked like a Celtic cross.
Lord heard a faint growl and turned around. Iron Pig already had him between his jaws. He snapped them shut just for Lord to put his arms out.
Lord's arm shook as he held Iron Pig's mouth open.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?"
Lord asked holding hold on. He dove out of the way letting his jaw snap. Iron Pig closed his eyes and became one with the darkness.
"Why eat me now, when you can eat me later? There is a huge sea monster waiting for you,"
Lord knew Iron Pig could not resist a meal.
"As long as I get to eat you later," Iron Pig said and Lord turned to see him.
He got down so Lord could get on his back. Lord got on and Iron Pig flew out. An all black with smooth charred scales. Iron Pig's scales were not reflective, his scales were matte black.
Iron Pig's scales absorbed light. This made it look two-dimensional. They flew to search for the sea monster.