The guards on the walltop rush down and start to surround me.<br/>Confused by this I tap the nearest man's shoulder, causing him to jump a little.<br/><br/>"Excuse me, but what is going on," I ask.<br/><br/>The guard shrugs.<br/>"Don't know but we are to be ready to protect you at any time, no matter what. You are a treasure that we cannot afford to lose."<br/><br/>The sentries in the towers are ringing their bells and the guards within the prison rush out and form a defense at the gate. Archers fill the wall tops accompanied by armored swordsman. Wonder is on my face as I see how many people have poured out of the fortress. Last of all four groups of men wielding two-handed swords and no armor take their positions throughout the courtyard.<br/><br/>Several figures in red robes tipped with gold and surrounded by armed guards with the insignia of the king on their chests stop by the gate. The leader of the force of men are stationed here walks up to the gate, accompanied by his two captains, before open the spy slit.<br/><br/>"Who goes," the captain of the guard demands.<br/><br/>The answer is immediate.<br/>"The Counicil of the Seven Kingdoms desires to see and speak with Prince Windrider," the escort of guards say.<br/><br/>The captain of the guard motions me forward I move over toward the door surrounded by my escort of forty-eight elite warriors. I look into the slit and flick my head back just in time as a small throwing knife dripping with a unknown venom flies toward me. "Sound the alarm, we're under attack!" The sentries ring their bells and the archers take their positions near the arrow slits along the wall top, in their tunnel. The forty-eight elite warriors remove my chains and stretch my limbs. Taken aback by their actions, I open my mouth to speak. Only to have one of them gently place a hand on my head.<br/><br/>"There isn't time for second thoughts, your highness, we don't yet know what we are against, but my heart is telling me that we might need you, before the day is out. I raise my hands and a white light glows around the defenders. The defenders nod and prepare to do battle.<br/><br/>The gate rattle and the archers flee from the walltops as terrible winged creatures with razor sharp talons and unearthly green eyes swoop down at them. "Harpies," the cry in fear as they leap off the battlements and onto the ground. The sentries however think that these are nothing to what is to come. The watchmen leap off just in time as giant clubs demolishes the watch towers. I know that craftsmanship immediately, giant made. Giants are attacking. Then hundred of hounds covered in crimson flames leap over the battlements and encircle me and my escort. "Hellhounds," the men cry as they prepare to do battle with the beast. Then enormous beings covered in flames with leathery wings and great big swords engage the champions, or the men wielding two-handed great swords. The captain of the guard deflects a blow from the nearest creature. "Demon lords, who the hell are these guys," he says as he kicks his opponent over and charges after him. The one guard that is watching the group outside dodges as a dozen fireballs fly toward him. Evil laughter flows and the succumbus mount the wall tops while the anti-paladins smash down the gate and engage the guards. As soon I see a spear-tipped tail I know what it that is attacking us. "They're succumbus, and their guards are anti-paladins," I cry. Then the clubs I saw from before erupt in flame. Fire giants are assaulting the fortress. A giant smashes through a wall and hundreds of lesser demons swarm through the gap. I launch my self off the ground and tackle the nearest giant. The giant discard his club demolishing a group of houses and seizes me around the chest, clamping his hands around my body and imprisoning my wings beneath his fingers.<br/>"You're coming with us, Prince," the giant says. I shake me head and sink my teeth into his hand. The giant throws me against a wall and it crumbles on top of me. With a sickening crunch I fall to the ground unable to move. The giant then sweeps aside the rubble and scoops me up in his hand. I spew fire at him only to have him laugh as he reaches into his giant pocket and snaps a muzzle around my mouth. "Naughty little dragon prince, you should know better than that," a voice says. As I look below me, I freeze. The Mistress of the Succumbus's smiles as she sees the fear on my face. "Hello, Windrider, long time no see," she replies flicking her whip.