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being groomed for a leadership position. With age and experience he became a man and one of the most feared combatants in northern Malweir. Unfortunately, becoming a man led to the discovery of drink and women. Grelic played as hard as he trained. His excesses became the talk of the barracks, ultimately proving his downfall. Discipline slipped and he lost everything.
    Grelic slipped from his cot and stared out the small circular window at the pale sun. Great sadness filled him.
    “One more day in the sun,” he whispered. “One more chance to prove my worth.”
    A deep voice behind him replied, “Be careful what you wish for.”
    Grelic turned. He knew the voice almost as well as his own. He looked back at Rentor. Neither blinked. Grelic showed no fear. Either Rentor had come to finally finish the job or he hadn’t. It was that simple.
    “Come to do the job personally eh?” Grelic said with a smile. “I expected no less.”
    “Think what you will of me but I saved your life more times than you know. For the life of me I can’t figure out why. You’ve cost me more in hospital expenses and tavern upkeep than the rest of the army combined.”
    Grelic’s cheeks flushed. “You’ve no need to justify yourself to me, King Rentor. I know what I’ve done.”
    “Damn you, Grelic,” Rentor cursed. “The ministers want to see you finished. They’re tired of punishing you and think having you banished or executed will send a clear message to other lawbreakers. If I could find a way to put them on the front lines of a battlefield I would. Then again I don’t care to lose a battle.”
    “You mentioned about being careful what I wished for?”
    Grelic wasn’t in the mood to bandy with the king. There wasn’t any point in aimless pondering or supposition for a man trapped in a dungeon with death hanging around his neck. That made the whole conversation terribly frustrating.
    “You want a war, to feel the power of the blade one final time before Lord Death comes to claim you,” Rentor stated.
    “I’m listening,” Grelic replied.
    “I’m offering you the chance.”
    “Against who?” Grelic asked, mirroring the king’s movements. “There is no war that I know of.”
    “I’m trying to keep it that way.”
    Grelic laughed. “By involving me?”
    The king nodded. “As odd as that sounds, yes. We’re already under attack. An unknown enemy has been raiding small towns and villages outside of the protective blanket of the army.”
    “You want me to find out who’s doing it and stop them?”
    “More or less.”
    Grelic slowly reached up and wrapped his curiously strong fingers around the slightly rusted bars. “Tell me why I should care.”
    Rentor wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting but selfishness was certainly on the list. Still, he nearly walked out before realizing Grelic was testing him. “It gives you back your neck. Or perhaps you’d prefer the enjoyment of the ministers while your neck snaps after the drop. Take your pick. Go on the hunt one last time or inspect the gallows. The choice is yours.”
    “Not much of a choice when you think about it,” Grelic replied without thinking. “It’s too drafty down here for me anyway. Who do I have to kill?”
    “That’s what I need you to figure out. Once you get released, come to the rose gardens behind the palace. Make use of the back gates. Climb the wall if you need to. Just don’t get caught. The last thing I need is to be seen consorting with you.”
    Grelic nodded, finally noticing Rentor’s casual attire. He didn’t come dressed as a king. If it weren’t for his naturally imposing stature, people might not recognize him. He wondered what game the king of Thrae played at. Grelic praised the decisions though doubted the reaction of the public once they discovered he’d set himself free. Or is it escaped? It didn’t take much to imagine betrayal at the end of this foolishness.
    “You trust me to do this alone? What’s to keep me from