At last, near sick with the sorrow and death he had witnessed throughout the day, Padric was ushered back into the chariot. Svala climbed in next to him. They followed one of the rivers towards the heart of the city and finally came to the deep pool that formed where the two rivers met. Here, upon a heavily fortified island at the center of the true Black Pool, the Tower of Vellaunus rose arrogantly into the sky; a twisted old man daring the world to call him weak. The Tower was darkly spoken of across the tales of his boyhood, but Padric could recall none of those tales now. Seeing it with his own eyes, he found it difficult to muster a suitable amount of awe. He was growing weary of legends.

A pair of Red Caps with river poles in their hands waited upon a skiff moored to a rotting jetty.

“Come,” Torcan said, motioning towards the skiff. “We will see Your Grace safely lodged for the night.”

Padric did not hide his distaste as he looked up at the ancient tower. “There?”

“Oh yes,” Torcan said grandly. “Since the day it was first raised, the Tower of Vellaunus has ever been the residence of the Goblin Kings in Black Pool. I assure you, my lord, there is no safer place within the city. And you shall not be without company.”

Torcan motioned and one of his Red Caps took the banner from Slouch Hat. The husk looked at the goblins surrounding him and seemed to consider for a moment, then stepped onto the skiff without a word. Padric helped Svala aboard, then stepped down onto the bobbing craft.

“Rest well, my lord,” Torcan said from the jetty.

Padric merely nodded as the two goblins began to pole the skiff across the inky water. Only two, and their attention was diverted. There would never be a better chance for escape. He and Slouch Hat could easily overpower the goblins. Padric looked back to the jetty where Torcan and a score of Red Caps continued to watch their crossing. It was no good. They would have a slow, ponderous vessel and nowhere to go.

The skiff bumped roughly into the stones of the island, slime covered steps marching down into the water. Slouch Hat disembarked nimbly, then turned and helped Padric before the pair of them lifted Svala onto land. The girl looked up with fearful wonder at the tower, clutching Padric’s cloak tight under her neck. Padric craned his neck and followed her gaze. This close, the tower looked as if it would topple at any moment, rising into the sky at such an alarming angle. Padric looked away quickly, and shook off the hackles that played down his spine.