The afternoon started quiet enough, Garalt and Kullvox had just finished their daily training duel, it had gone well.
    "You've improved young knight," Kullvox smiled, looking over his armor, "you've really gotten me dirty.  Maybe next time you'll be able to hit me."  Kullvox chuckled as he finished speaking.
    "Well I would have hit you if you hadn't kept running away," Garalt returned, a grin growing on his face.  Kullvox glared at him jokingly and lightly hit the young knight's shoulder with his shield.
    "You know, one of these days I'm not going forget those little comments of yours and really rough you up."
    "I'm sorry to see your mind failing from age so quickly Kullvox."  Kullvox glared at the knight again.
    "Boy, you best respect your elders, I may be old, but I can still teach you a lesson you won't soon forget."
    "Yeah, too bad you will five minutes later."
    With that, Kullvox swung his mace at the young knight, who imediately blocked with his axe.  The two began to spare once more, laughing and chuckling at each other's retorts, thoroughly enjoying the moment.  Garalt always loved their duels, it was never half-way serious any more, both could no longer teach each other any more attacks, it was all for the fun of beating the other.  True, Kullvox knew more about the world than he, but Garalt knew all that he'd ever learn from battling the older knight.  All that was left for him was to refine his skills, and Kullvox and Garalt both knew each other's moves too well to refine anything.  Garalt knew he had to start fighting other, different soldiers, ones with totally different techniques if he was to ever refine his own.
    As the two began to tire once more, they stopped their battle and rested.  The two began to scan the surroundings of lake Halcyon, enjoying the splended view it gave them.
    "This sure is a beautiful place," Garalt sighed, over looking the distant mountains hugged in afternoon clouds.
    "That it is, it's no wonder his majesty built the castle here.  One of the most beautiful spots in Ikros," Kullvox chimed, his pride in his country was clearly evident.  The two turned and gazed upon the castle that sat off the shore of the lake.  It seemed to shine in the afternoon sun.  Garalt looked over to the shoreline to see his newest friends, Garn, Rikio and Ceness.  They were relaxing at the shoreline, enjoying themselves it seemed.  Rikio had taken off her boots and was soaking her toes in the cool Halcyon waters.  Kullvox looked over at the three and then at Garalt.

    "Those three you found... can they be trusted?" Kullvox questioned the young knight, his tone had become quite serious.
    "I'd say so Kullvox.  They could have looted me when those paladins left me, but instead they helped me."
    "That, or they're just using you to get bigger game."
    "I don't know Kullvox, I suppose it's always a possibility, but I just don't get that feeling from them."
    "If you trust them Garalt, then I shall trust them too.  You may be young, but I've known you to be a good judge of character."  Garalt just smiled.
    "What about Durall and those other two his majesty hired?"  Garalt looked towards the castle, seeing the three mercenaries walking out of the castle gate.
    "I trust his majesty's judgement of character as well, though I'll admit those three are a bit more shady than I'd like to deal with."
    All of a sudden Garalt could hear shouts coming from the main entrance to the castle on the shoreline.  The two knights turned to see what all the commotion was about and their jaws dropped.