Queen Jezebel remembered the night of that particular lesson. It had been raining outside, and her husband had awoken her in the middle of the night.

"Jezzy, my dear," he had whispered. "I want to show you something." She had gotten out of bed in her silk pajamas and followed him. He led her through the stalls, through the courtyard, and into the storage silos. He held the door open for her and held the lantern high.

"What am I supposed to be seeing?" she had asked stiffly.

Her husband ushered her inside and crouched near the floor. "You see this?" he asked. And she did see it. One of the sacks of grain had been chewed open by a mouse, and the grain had spilled all across the floor. Rain dripped from a leak in the silo, ruining pounds and pounds of grain.

The king stood up and took her hand. "Jezzy my dear...It doesn't take a large enemy to create large damage."

Queen Jezebel laughed to herself at the memory. As the king had found out, it didn't even take an enemy to create damage.
But her husband had been a fool. He had been too concerned with the tangle of politics and not treading on toes. Too many times, she had seen him bend over backwards for a mere peasant.

Cain's approach stirred Jezebel from her thoughts. "Come in General Cain," she invited. Cain was, of course, the one man Queen Jezebel would keep in her guard and Cain knew it. His ruthlessness and perseverance matched no other's. In his mid 40's and ambitious, his bright blue eyes set him apart from most people in Kepult. That and the queen's unusual red hair made them a curious couple.

Jezebel watched the man with his hands clasped behind his back for a few cold moments. She parted her lips as though she was about to speak but then appeared to change her mind, pushing him aside to stick her head outside the tent.

"You will find yourselves hungry," she stated to the sentries. After making sure they had all left, she returned to the back of the tent and reclined on her cot, propping herself up on her elbow. "You can drop the formalities Cain," she stated.

She imagined Cain begging her forgiveness for his failures and it caused her to give a lilting and mocking laugh. "Don't be a fool Cain!" she challenged him. "We all know how much you hate being here. How much you would rather be with your mistress." She hissed the last word as if it was a personal insult. "You'd rather have all these men killed here on the spot so that we can make a hastier retreat home," she challenged. "Cain, what do you really want?" She raised a sharp eyebrow and smiled. "Do you want to go after those two yourself? Wanting a trophy to present to the ladies?" she questioned.

She held out a finger as though not wanting him to speak as she continued her own speech. Twirling a stalk of grass lazily, she avoided his flashing eyes. "And what would make you more successful than your men? Can you, at least, recognize a set of tracks verses a lone traveler's tracks?" A tricky question better not answered, and hopefully Cain knew it. She finally dropped the stalk on the ground and met Cain's gaze. "Why should I allow you to leave my bed for so many nights Cain?"

Queen Jezebel said nothing and instead closed her eyes. She waited to speak until she was sure General Cain thought he was being dismissed. "There's no need in that." She opened her eyes and stood up. "I have a better plan for you." She walked towards her make-shift desk and picked up a crumpled envelope. Approaching the general, she spoke in a dangerous tone. "You do this for me instead, and then you can pursue the scientists to the ends of the earth if you so wish." With that, she dismissed him to go to his camp and gather up his prisoner Jael and his soldiers for the long march ahead.

*********

A quiet night of travel had found Theophilus in a strange position. Normally he was very familiar with the surrounding territory, but it had been a long time since he had left home to roam. Thus, he found it a bit awkward when the four of them were suddenly within eyesight of a new town.

Theophilus and Aderes crouched behind a mossy boulder, the horses having been left tied to some trees in the forest behind them. Theophilus scanned the town below carefully, soaking in every detail the younger ones were bound to miss.
"Well?" Aderes inquired of his analysis.

Theophilus kept scanning as he replied back in a hushed voice. "Nope. This definitely wasn't here last time I passed through this way," he said. "Town looks young though. Bold and stupid."

"Why don't we just cut around it?" Aderes asked, unsure of what Theophilus was worried about. He turned and gave the younger man an incredulous look.

"Do you like horse meat?" he asked.

"I don't know," Aderes scoffed. "Why would I be eating horse meat?"

Theophilus nodded his head back in the direction of the trees. "Unless you wanna eat your mount back there, we better stop here and get some supplies."

Aderes scoffed again. "With what money? Are you suggesting we steal?!"

Theophilus ignored Aderes' inquiry, giving one last look at the valley below. "Patience my friend, patience." He stood up and walked back towards the forest, hoping Aderes would follow suit. Aderes knew that the best way to deal with Theo was to simply have patience, so he followed silently until they reached the horses. He watched as Theophilus untied the horses and saddled them up. Aderes tossed him his bag, but instead of attaching it to the saddle, the older man placed it on the ground and opened it up.

"What are you looking for?" Aderes asked him.

"These," he said, and he pulled out a couple of knives in their sheaths. He tossed one Aderes' way and finally tied his bag to his horse's saddle.  The bag on the other horse was already put in place, but Theophilus approached this horse regardless. He then took both the horse's reigns and looked Aderes in the eyes.

"Your name isn’t the same here," he told Aderes. "You will go by Sered,” He then gave a small pause and added, “I don't have a name." Aderes was about to express his confusion when Theophilus shocked his friend even further.

"Hi-yah!" he exclaimed as he slapped the horses on their rears, sending them flying away.

"Whatever did you do that for?!?!" Aderes yelled.

Theophilus glared at him in a no-nonsense manner. "Don't think for a minute we aren't being hunted down! Any chance we get to throw our hunters off, you can bet I'll take it. And if you don't like it, you can go chase the horses down yourself. Now don't mess with me boy because those horses have been my closest friends for years."

Theophilus turned sharply away and began the hike back towards the small town, taking his frustration out on a piece of wood he had picked up.

"Theo!" Aderes protested with a groan, but Theophilus interrupted.

"Remember Sered, I don’t have a name!" He fiddled with his knife and the wood, and Aderes grumpily tagged behind.  

 *******

It was almost dark by the time they made it down the valley walls, and Theophilus hadn't said much during the hike. Aderes fumed behind him, angry at not knowing once again what was going on in the old man's head. The outskirts of the town appeared to be deserted upon entry and rats ran helter skelter without a worry. Aderes stepped over the debris in disgust.

“What kind of people live here?” he whispered to Theophilus rhetorically.

Theo made his way forward slowly, determining which way would be best to go. “I told you that already,” he said. “Bold and stupid.”

They picked their way through the narrow streets of shabby houses with paint peeling off the walls. “Are you sure this is a new town?” Aderes asked in astonishment upon seeing its condition.

Theophilus nodded his head. “It doesn’t take age to wear down a place,” he said.

A couple of streets over, and it was apparent where the town’s people were aggregated. Boisterous music came from the only building with a fresh coat of paint. The sounds of rowdy fighting and breaking glasses filled the atmosphere, and a callow yellow light fell across the doorstep. A big sign in brightly colored letters in the window read “Pride’s Tavern.”

Aderes gave Theophilus a questioning look.

“Into the lion’s den we go Sered,” he said with a nod to his younger counterpart. He started up the steps and pushed the doors open with a mighty shove. For a moment Theo and Aderes were completely blinded by the flood of light. Although their eyes weren’t functioning, their ears were. Except for the few men who were too drunk to notice they were on the floor, the entire tavern went quiet. Aderes' eyes quickly adjusted and met dozens of stares. Despite the angry eyes, Theophilus approached the bar confidently. Aderes followed him, though perhaps more timidly than he should have. The whole town must have indeed been there, for not a stool was unoccupied. Undeterred, Theophilus squeezed between two burly men and slapped the counter.

“A water,” he said as if unphased the place was a bar.

The bartender measured Theophilus head to toe before responding. “And jest who might ye be?” he asked roughly.
The men and women in the tavern continued to stare. Their stares were cold and calculating, unnerved by two strangers walking in. They seemed to measure the couple and size them up.

“Ain’t got a name here my friend.” Theophilus winked and tossed something at the bartender before resting his elbows on the counter. “Just a traveler baring the news of our kingdom.” He nodded towards the object in the bartender’s hand and Aderes finally realized what it was. It was the wood Theophilus had fiddled with on the way down, now sculpted into a new creature. “Traveling so much offers the time and I can’t stand idle hands so,” Theophilus said as he shrugged his shoulders, “I sell those for a few extra coins here and there as well.”

The bartender gave a raucous laugh but continued to finger the beautifully sculpted lamb. “What use have I fer sech a silly trinket?” he roared, slapping one thigh with his free hand.

Theophilus waited until the bartender had quit laughing before he continued. “It’s not those you’re going to need,” he said calmly. “It’s my services.” He nodded towards the door. “I see that your town could use a bit fixing up. As it turns out, I’m in need of new horses and food.”

The bartender thought the offer over. “What happen’d to yer horses?” he asked to bide time, glancing at Aderes and then back to the older man. He was certain they didn't walk here, as they didn't nearly look worn enough or fatigued enough.

“Got spooked by all your rats,” Theophilus replied easily. “Didn’t even get them tied to a post before they yanked the reigns out of our hands.”

“And what ‘bout your friend? He work?” The bartender’s eyes remained locked on Theophilus, but all the other eyes in the tavern shifted to Aderes. Aderes opened his mouth, shocked at finally having been addressed directly, but Theophilus spoke first.

“This one's a mute,” he said, hooking a thumb over his shoulder at Aderes. Aderes quickly shut his mouth. The bartender guffawed again and there were a few chuckles around the room.

"And you?," Jacob said in his drawal, his eyes shifting to Theo.  However, as though thinking of a better question, he interrupted his own thoughts with another question.

“What good is a mute news barer?” Jacob managed to spit out. Theophilus leaned close and spoke in a hushed and threatening tone. “You’d be surprised by how many people wrongly assume a mute is also deaf.” He straightened up and smiled. “Truth is, Sered here has the best ears in the land. Because of assumptions made, he can go places I’m not even allowed. He gets all the news directly from the top sources, and I’ve known the boy so long I can read ‘im like a book.”

The answer seemed to satisfy the man, but he was apparently trying to find any way to stir up some trouble. He continued to finger the little wooden lamb as he thought, and he eyed the two of them with suspicious eyes. Shoulders began to roll and a few of the people in the tavern stood as the atmosphere became thick.

Before the silence became any heavier, Theophilus seized the opportunity that the silence offered. Retaining his quick wit, he slapped the counter again. “So where’s my water?” he asked.

Jacob nodded to himself, still not sure he trusted the two, but he knew an opportunity to make a profit when he saw it. He began to pull out a glass and he brought it to the tap. Now that Jacob was finally pouring Theophilus a drink, the rest of the tavern took this to be a sign of acceptance. They began to settle back down and become once more immersed in their own private conversations. The conversations were somehow more lively now, and eyes darted rapidly from person to person, as though the new visitors were certainly the topic of interest.

Okay, so I think that's enough for tonight.  As for what's left, this is where the story starts dropping off, unfortunately.  It was from this point that I always start struggling, even though I get a few good pages more.  From here, Theophilus and Aderes are hired by Jacob to patch a roof.  After a night of argument between the two, the next morning entails to be an interesting one.  Aderes gets on the roof to begin the patches, but Jacob calls Theophilus inside for some private conversation.  During this conversation, Jacob really tries to test Theophilus to see where his loyalties lie, and a verbal battle of political answers takes place.  Although Jacob begins to suspect the two, he doesn't at because he is keen on getting proof and being rewarded by the queen for any information he can trick out of Theo and Aderes.

In the meantime, Aderes is working on the roof when a strange man rides into town.  This man wears a certain emblem that only a few wear, and he wears all black and conceals his identity using a hood.  He is challenged by a small mob in the center of town, which catches Aderes' attention. The man handles the confrontation well, and in fact reveals his identity by pulling his hood down.  That's when the others notice his red hair, and they immediately give him room in fear that he is aligned with the queen and thus a powerful enemy.  Just as Aderes is about to climb down from the roof, Theophilus and Jacob leave the tavern to discover the stranger outside.
There are also a few cut scenes to General Cain, his men, and Jael, but they aren't of much significance.  The purpose of these cuts was to keep readers interested, and also to display just how wicked these men were.  Those passages though, I'll probably water down for this site.  They aren't detailed or meaningful, but they are suggestive just (as I said) to show the evil nature of Cain and his men.  They were also to get the readers to pity Jael and vie for her rescue.

Okay, so here are my issues:
1.  Although I introduced this character, I have NO idea what his significance shall be, or what to do with him. I merely introduced him in order to try and add interest to a part of the story that I felt was getting a little drab.  However, my initial wishes were that he would be a 'good guy'.  He'd be mysterious, but I don't know what his group (signified by the emblem) would be or what they would do.

I had an idea that Theophilus and this stranger would never realize that they were on the 'same' side while both were in the town.  However, long after Theo and Aderes have left, the stranger will be interested in the little lamb sculpture.  He asks Jacob to buy it, and upon inspection, he sees a secret Christian symbol or phrase etched into the bottom.  Realizing that Theo was a man of faith, he'd then pursue them.

2.  I was worried about working through the story too quickly, or that moving the characters from town to town too quickly would not give the story or the characters much of a chance to develop.  Plus, if my characters are constantly on the move, that puts them closer to their destiny and thus shortens the story considerably.  Therefore, I was thinking they should stay in this town for some time.  But WHY should they stay?  This is exactly the reason I can never progress past this part of the story. I have NEVER been able to get past the conversation of the mysterious stranger.

IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ARE SO.... SO!!!!... WELCOME.  PLEASE HELP!  FEEDBACK IS LOVELY!