Ezra gazed intently at the edge of the Dark Woods. His team behind him murmured in wonder and disapproval. Maybe some of them didn’t actually believe he would actually venture into the most dangerous portion of Rarogan, willingly heading towards the Swamp of Sudura. Now they had reached the treeline, he figured the mere sight of the dark, gnarly trunks and twisted branches had their insides all in knots.

This is impossible. How could the king expect you to accomplish this? He sent you here to die. Ezra battled the rebellion warring in his mind with the comfort of his father’s voice echoing in his head. You are not forgotten. The pain will only be temporary, but the reward of a unified kingdom and a broken curse will be forever bestowed upon your name.

Ezra drew his sword and exhaled slowly. He turned to face his team. “This is it. Anyone who wants to turn back must now do so.” He stared at each one of them in return. Collin flourished his sword, ready for battle. Esther and Aidan, the former Lawmakers, stared at the forest, visibly disconcerted. Troy, Artemis, Sam, Arianna, Scarlett, and Devin hung in the back, waiting for the rest of the group to make a move. Dalia huddled next to Travis, whispering softly, tears trickling down as the memories of her darkness returned to her. Of course, it would be hardest on her. The Onkron base was implanted deep within the Swamp. Ezra turned to Trevor, who had a mysterious gleam in his eye. He didn’t say anything, just looked at him. Suspecting full well a mutiny. Trevor had sacrificed a lot to follow him, but he knew it wouldn’t last forever.

“I’m ready.” Collin waved his sword back and forth, flexing his muscles. “Let’s go slaughter some Onkrons.”

“No one will be slaughtering Onkrons today,” Trevor piped up. “At least not with Ezra, the prince of Nev.” He snapped his fingers, and immediately, a whole legion of Lawmaker soldiers appeared out of the Dark Woods and surrounded the group. Three burly men pointed their spears at Ezra’s throat, ready to impale him in an instant.

The other eleven Outcasts drew their swords and huddled back to back in a circle. Dalia turned her face into Travis’s shoulder, hiding her tears. Esther and Aidan shared a glance of concern, one only siblings can interpret. Collin yelled and lunged forward. His blade chopped off the hand of a nearby guard.

The guard howled in pain and clutched the bleeding stump of his wrist. The soldiers surrounded Collin with swords, and the ones around Ezra touched his throat.

“Collin!!” Ezra barked. “Killing Wanderers was never my goal, but saving them. Put your sword away!”

The authority in Ezra’s voice rang clear, so Collin reluctantly sheathed his sword. Ezra turned to the soldiers around him. “Here’s proof of my words.” The unblemished ring on his finger began to glow, and the man’s hand floated back up and connected with the man’s wrist. The tissues intertwined, and soon you couldn’t even tell it had been chopped off. The guard whimpered and backed away, suddenly uncertain about his stance on the Asynier.

Trevor sneered. “Well, Ezra, your charade is over. I’ve had enough being disavowed, and I’m claiming my fortune and the rewards promised me for turning you in.”

The leader chuckled menacingly. “Thirty percent of it.” He motioned, and all available soldiers began to force Ezra into the Dark Woods.

Trevor froze. “No, we had a deal!! You said–”

“Enough!!” the leader said. “If this man is really the Asynier, he will survive the Dark Woods no problem. Specifically, the dinosaur arena we’ve set up just inside. And anyone who claims to be his follower will join his fate.” He glowered at the eleven.

“Do what you must,” Ezra said, “but let my team go.”

The leader sneered. “That’s their choice to make.”

Troy and Artemis dashed off, running blindly into the Wilderness of Karak. Sam and Arianna followed suit. Ezra watched sadly as one by one, his team deserted him. Dalia sobbed bitterly as Travis pulled her away. Collin was the last one to leave. He stared at his toes.

“I don’t know this man.” Collin raised his eyes to meet Ezra’s. Whatever he saw written on Ezra’s face cut him to the core, and he rushed off, weeping bitterly.

The leader guffawed. “Just as I suspected. You’re no Asynier. Come, the reptiles are hungry.”

Trevor grabbed the leader’s shoulder. “You said, arrest him. You didn’t say kill him!”

“I didn’t have to,” the leader snarled. He shoved a large bag into Trevor’s hands. “Now get your filthy urchin hands off me, take your thirty percent, and go.”

Trevor stared at Ezra, and realized immediately his mistake. Clinching the sack of coins, he decked the leader in the face before fleeing for his life.

The leader kicked at the dropped sack. “Leave it, and let’s go. No one claims to be a royalty of Nev in our town and gets away with it. Now, come. The Skull is waiting for him.”