Surprised by the sudden turn of events, Argus turned and dejectedly nodded to the innkeeper, then mouthed a silent "I'm sorry ma'am" to the lady. It felt like every eye in the place was upon him.<br/><br/>He opened the door and saw the rain. But he dared not try to stay in the tavern, and there was nowhere else to go but out the door. And into the rain. He wandered back into the darkness, under a tree to shield him against the rain. At least it was something. And he realized he was right back where he started; outside the tavern, in the dark, wondering what to do.<br/><br/>Hunger was present as was fatigue and depression. Here he was, on the run from the law, no shirt and ragged pants, an injured leg and using a tree branch for a crutch, and would probably end up crippled from it.<br/><br/>He had no idea what to do next. He slid down the tree and sat leaning back on the tree trunk. He closed his eyes, and at that moment he heard a sound. A door opening and slamming against the building. Opening his eyes, he looked to the tavern. The front door remained shut and he realized the back door, the kitchen door was open. He scrambled to his feet and headed to the back of the tavern and saw the door as it swung shut. The dim light escaping as the door shut showed someone throwing scraps of food outside. Hunger told him it was better than nothing and he was soon feeling around the wet ground, in the dark, for scraps of food. He knew not what he was eating, but ate it he did. And in doing so realized that his life could not get much worse.<br/><br/>Eating until he could find no more food, he wandered to the front of the tavern, back where he was, in the shadows, leaning on the tree. He slid down the tree, then leaned on his side and fell asleep in the mud. He didn't fight his shutting eyes. His last thought before he slept was that when daylight arrived it would probably get worse. Somehow.<br/><br/>Dreams are an odd thing. Argus' dream was no exception. His body lay still as if dead. His mind, on the other hand, was alive with colors. It seemed to be swirling and often disjointed. He was going through a tunnel. The sound increased. He saw faces he had long forgotten. And he was somewhat thrust, somewhat floating. And then there was the woman. He saw her face. Again and again. The speed intensified more and more, and then the speed and the noise stopped. Suddenly. And he stood before the King. The King! Even in his dream, he knew he was not worthy to stand before the King. Yet, there he was in the King's Chambers.<br/><br/>Argus saw himself bow before the king.<br/><br/>With a stern face, yet kind eyes, the King looked at Argus. "I have a mission for you, Argus," he said, his voice deep and rich.<br/><br/>"I am at your service," Argus replied, with bowed head.<br/><br/>"Your mission is to tell Erina not to dawdle. The King awaits her information."<br/><br/>The King then put his hand on Argus' shoulder and said, "Godspeed, Argus."<br/><br/>Argus woke with a start. He was wide awake. And he knew that even if he lived to be a wise old man, he<i>absolutely knew</i>that he had been in the presence of the King. And the King had given him a mission and had placed his hand on his shoulder. And he knew that a mission given by the King was an honor that must not be dishonored by failure.<br/><br/>He stood and saw dawn breaking. The night had passed. What started being the worst night of his life, had become its finest.<br/><br/>Instinctively he knew who Erina was. The woman in the tavern. And he knew what he had to do. He was a man on a King's Mission. He must not fail. He surveyed the surroundings and started thinking. Hard.