Haul screamed. When it was over, Haul collapsed to his knees, holding his side. The king’s gaze could be felt on Haul’s neck. The king motioned the guards to bring Haul to his feet. So they did, and led him to the door. But the king had one last thing to say to Haul.

  “And it’s milord to you, not my lord. You best remember that.”

  Haul looked back and nodded. “Yes, milord,” and left the castle.

  The guards led him back to his forge and left him there. “The king was merciful on you, so best be sure to show it back with better forging.” Haul nodded and got straight to work.

  Haul worked relentlessly on making better and stronger weapons, but while crafting, a voice called out to him. He lifted his head and saw a woman standing in front of him. Her beauty enwrapped him, and he lost all sense of time. The woman bent down and waved her hand. Haul snapped out of it.

  “Sorry, what were you saying?”

  The woman chuckled and smiled. “I was saying I hope the king didn’t give you such a hard time.”

  Haul smiled. “Oh no, he didn’t… wait, how do you know that I was in trouble with the king?”

  The woman smiled. “I overheard the guards speaking to you.” She stepped closer and reached out her hand. “I’m Annabell Berg.”

  Haul shook her hand. “I’m Haul Blackmoor.”

  Annabell smiled. “Well, nice to meet you, but I have to go.”

  Haul stood up and cried out, “Will we speak again soon?”

  Annabell looked back with a look that said if you want, and disappeared within the crowd.

  Haul went straight back to work, for he could not get distracted. He would like to keep his head. When night fell, Haul gave all the forged weapons to the guards, went home, and fell into a deep slumber.

  Late in the night, a knock came at the door. Haul awoke, walked over, and opened it. In a moment’s notice, Haul was brought to the ground.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  The king’s guards brought him to his feet and dragged him to the king. The king looked at Haul with disappointment.

  “Haul Blackmoor, do you know why you’re at my feet at this hour?”

  Haul, still on the cold granite floor, shook his head. The king looked at his guards. “Sit him up.”

  Haul looked into the cold gaze of the king as shivers went down his spine. The sound of silence was loud and heavy, like a boulder pressing against his chest. Haul could only think to himself, say something already. But the king turned around, picked up one of the skulls, held it to his face, and looked at it. Then he turned back and wagged it in front of Haul.

  “Do you know whose skull this once was?”

  Haul shook his head. The king was displeased with that response.

  “I don’t like repeating myself, but I said, do you know whose skull this is?”

  Haul’s whole body was shaking before he spoke, like a timid child. “No, milord.”

  The king was pleased with such a response. “It was the skull of my enemies in the War of the Valley of the Dead.” The king gave the skull to one of the guards. “Have you heard of that war?” he said with a calm, almost twisted type of calmness.

  “I do not, milord.”

  The king turned around, ascended the throne, and sat down. “The War of the Valley of the Dead was a great war, one that almost ended my bloodline. It was started over a rare gem only found in the Valley of the Dead. This gem is said to give unfathomable amounts of wealth and power, so much so it drove the other great kingdoms into absolute madness. But it was for naught, for no one acquired this gem, for this gem was unable to be touched by man.”

  Haul sat there, stunned at what he was hearing. A gem that gives power and wealth. His heart had to have it.

  Haul spoke. “Milord, may I speak freely?”

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  The king waved his hand.

  “This gem… it’s real, yes?”

  The king nodded. “Oh yes, it’s real. But going into the Valley of the Dead is like trying to walk on water. It’s near impossible, for the Valley of the Dead is where the tormented go when they are denied paradise. The place is fully purple, from the trees to the soil.”

  Haul’s eyes glowed. Even if it was impossible, he had to try. He had to become what he wanted most—his dream.

  But that dream was shortly lived, for the king told him the reason he had summoned him. “I wanted to say that the weapons you brought were impeccable. That is all.”

  The guards lifted Haul up, unchained him, and let him go. Haul walked back to his home, where he fell back asleep.

  When morning came, Haul still remembered what the king had said, thinking about his words. Why would the king tell me that? For what purpose? He rolled over and faced the door, still thinking. Whatever the reason, I have to venture out and claim that gem.

  Haul sat up, put on his clothes, stepped outside, and looked at his forge. He pondered for a bit before making the decision to turn the other way and leave the city of Duskreach.

  While walking through the city, he ran into Annabell. He saw her talking to an elderly woman. He was going to speak to her but paused and kept walking. While talking to the elderly woman, Annabell’s gaze caught Haul as he walked down the road. Annabell looked at the old lady and said, “Will you give me a moment?”

  The old lady nodded, and Annabell rushed over to Haul and cried out, “Haul!”

  He turned around and saw Annabell running toward him. He stood there and waited for her to catch up. Once she did, she asked, “Where are you going, Haul? Aren’t you always at your forge?”

  Haul looked into her eyes as they sparkled in the rising sun. “I am, but I’m leaving this city and finding who I am. I have a dream, Annabell—one where I rule a large castle like this one. But to do so, I must go out there and find what I need to accomplish this dream.”

  Annabell looked at Haul with somber eyes. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but I was hoping we could get closer. But since you’re leaving, it will not come to pass.”

  Haul smiled. “Then come with me. We could venture this world together, see the stars at night, walk amongst the fate of the earth.”

  Annabell thought about it for a moment before speaking. Haul stood there, waiting for her response.

  “I don’t know, Haul. My life has ever known this city—the people, the king. I’ve never ventured out.”

  Haul nodded and reached out his hand. “Neither have I, but we will do it together.”

  Annabell looked at his hand, not knowing if she should take it. The hesitation gripped her soul. Then she looked into Haul’s unalterable eyes and felt peace. She took his hand.

  He smiled at her. “Then let us be off, Annabell Berg.”

  They walked through the city toward the gates, passed them, crossed the bridge, and found a small village near the city where horses were sold. Haul walked to the stable boy.

  “Are you the owner?”

  The stable boy laughed. “I am not. My dad is.”

  Haul looked around. “Where might he be?”

  The stable boy pointed toward the tavern. “Getting drunk again.”

  Haul turned his gaze toward the tavern, then back to the stable boy, and gave him one gold coin. “Maybe this will make you feel better.”

  The boy smiled and ran off laughing. Haul turned to Annabell with a grin. “Well, we go to the tavern.”

  Annabell smiled, nodded, and followed Haul inside. When they walked in, Haul called out, “Are any of you the owner of that stable?”

  The drunken men looked at Haul with lazy, drunken gazes. Haul looked around but sensed they would be no help. Then a man in ragged clothes stood up, ale in hand.

  “You w-want the s-stable o-owner? Well, I have some-thing to sa-y to y-ou. Suck my bollocks.”

  Haul looked at the drunken fool. “Are you the stable owner?”

  The drunk nodded slowly.

  Haul walked toward him and handed him three gold coins. “I want to buy a horse. Will this do?”

  The drunk stumbled in place, staring at the coins, then looked at Haul with a smoky gaze, as if his eyes didn’t work. Haul turned around and made his way back to Annabell.

  “We should go.”

  Annabell nodded, and they walked to the stable, picked a horse, and rode off toward the Valley of the Dead, which lay in the middle of Korval. It would take about three days to reach it.

  After riding for a few hours, they saw the sun begin to set. They rode until they found an inn and knocked on its door. The innkeeper opened it. Haul handed him four gold coins.

  “Will this do for a night’s stay?”

  The innkeeper looked at Haul and Annabell like they were crazy, thinking to himself, It’s only three silver coins for a night’s stay. This man gave me five times that. But the keeper was too wise to correct them, using their foolishness to his advantage. He kindly let them in and showed them to the available room.

  They walked in, and Haul saw there was only one bed. He looked at Annabell with embarrassment, but Annabell did not feel embarrassed. She smiled.

  “You don’t have an issue with sleeping with a woman now, do you?”

  “Of course not,” Haul said.

  Annabell sat on the bed and looked at him. “Then get in.”

  Haul walked over, slid under the sheets, and looked at Annabell. Their gazes met. He felt his blood heat and his heart beat louder. Annabell reached out, touched his face, and rubbed it softly as she stared into his eyes with a soft, seductive gaze. She moved closer and whispered, “Do you want to?”

  Haul’s eyes widened as his gaze fell upon her lips, then back to her eyes. “Only if you do.”

  Annabell smiled and closed the space between them gently. The warmth of his lips made her body flutter. The night was familiar as pleasant cries echoed in the air. Haul thought his dreams were finally coming true as he moved against her, slow and careful.

  When it was finished, they lay in the bed, panting, both smiling. When morning rose, Haul awoke and put on his clothes. He looked at Annabell’s naked body as she still slept.

  Haul softly called out to her. “Annabell, time to wake.”

  She opened one eye and looked at him as tiredness tried to take her over. She sat up and pointed to her clothes. “Will you grab those for me?”

  Haul grabbed them with joy and handed them to her. When she finished getting dressed, they walked out of the inn, mounted the horse, and rode off.