The road narrowed to a bridge that spanned a great chasm- one of the few hidden ways in or out of the valley of the Lost Mountains. The centurian saw that another party was already on the bridge crossing over to his side and ordered his squad to halt.

There were seven of them, four of whom were carrying an exquisitely ornamented litter on their shoulders. There were two others walking ahead while one huge one walked behind. They were heavily armored and quite intimidating to look upon.

The centurian looked admiringly at the curtains swaying on the sides of the carriage. They were beautifully inlaid with gold and had a pearl-like luster like he'd never seen before. The entire frame was made of a smooth ivory-like material. There was a symbol on the top front face of it, consisting of what was probably supposed to represent a star or sun made of purest gold. It was encircled by what appeared to be leaves made from rose gold.

"Wow!" the centurian thought to himself. "Whoever they're transporting must be pretty important. One thing's for sure, he's so safe the sky itself is probably afraid to rain on him." Turning to his squad, he orders them to the side of the road to allow the approaching party to pass. He and another soldier lay the stretcher that carried Axem Fortunehunter's body down on a pile of leaves.

As the knightly procession goes by the centurian feels a sense of dread overwhelm him. He's almost thankful that they stare straight ahead as they march and feels that if one of them even looks at him that he'll soil himself. Then, he almost does at what happens next.

"Stop," came a voice from inside the carriage. It was like the sound of birdsong in a breeze.

The party halted almost in perfect unison. The centurian felt the blood draining from his face.

The knight in the lead turned around and spoke at the litter. "There's nothing here for you," he said almost harshly.

"I want to see." It was clearly the sound of a young woman's voice.

"No! We're taking you back," he said.

"Please," came a gentle plea.

The knight looked at his men for a moment, then nodded. The litter was steadily lowered.

By now the centurian could feel the sweat pouring down on his face as he watched the knights form up on the side of the litter.

One of them stretched his hand forth and parted the curtain. A demure figure was revealed, covered in a cloak even more ornate than the curtains. When she came out from the carriage the first knight stepped out in front of her.

"Don't worry, Knightsilver. I won't try to escape." Her voice was sweet and serene.

"Right," he sneered. "Knightlightning!"

One of the others came forward and took the cloaked figure by the arm. Knightsilver stepped aside and took the other arm and they walked towards the centurian, who's apprehension was by now replaced by a feeling of curiousity more than anything else.

With her two knightly escorts she stops before Axem Fortunehunter's remains. "What is this?" she inquires.

Finally realizing that he was being addressed, the centurian stammered, "It's... it's just a body, miss."

"A... body...?"

"That's right," Knightsilver recalled. "You've never seen death before."

"Death?" she asked.

"It's the absence of vital power," he explained.

"I think I understand," she said. Then, looking up at the centurian she asked, "How did this happen?"

Still unable to see her face under her glorious cloak, he answered, "Well, he... he was a criminal who brought much suffering to others. I guess this is the price one pays for being evil."

"The price..." she repeated.

"Uh... yes, that's right," he replied uncertainly.

"...of evil..."

"Uh... yes..."

Turning again to Knightsilver, she asked, "What is evil?"

"Any deed or thought that contributes to the diminishment of vital power can be considered evil," he tutored.

After considering Knightsilver's statement, she turned back to the centurian and said, "He is not evil."

Struggling for words, he finds himself only able to blurt, "What?"

"He has no thoughts," she said. "He does no deeds. Is he still evil?"

He looked down at Fortune and thought for a moment about his crimes.

"When you look at him, I see in your eyes..." She stopped short, for she had no name for it.

"That would be anger," Knightlightning chimed in.

"Well, to some degree, yes," the centurian defended himself. "As I said, he caused many people to suffer."

Looking down at Fortune's husk she said, "I see." She paused for a moment. "But... he paid... the price."

"Yes," the centurian replied. "The ultimate price."

"What is... the ultimate price?" she asked him.

The centurian was stricken by the young lady's innocence. "It's the one thing of more value than anything else in the world- your life."

"...the ultimate price..."

"Yes," the centurian answered.

"Then... all his debts are paid? He is free?"

Looking down at Fortune's body, the centurian pondered. "Free? Yes. I suppose in a manner of speaking he is."

"But... the ultimate price... will not buy forgiveness?" There was the slightest note of sadness in her voice.

The centurian looked back at her in surprise, unsure of what to say next.

The spendidly cloaked figure took a step towards the centurian, only to be pulled back by Knightlightning's hand. "Now that he has paid ...the ultimate price... can you forgive him?" She almost implored it.

The centurian looked down at Axem Fortunehunter again. He suddenly found himself feeling petty and ashamed of himself somehow. He smiled a little and sighed. "Yes," he answered. "I suppose that I can."

"Good," she said with a ring of compassionate relief in her voice.

She knelt down before Fortune's body. Then, she revealed her hands from under the cloak's oversized sleeves. Upon doing so, all seven knights simultaneously braced themselves as if ready to pounce. As she clasped her hands together it could be seen that the was wearing stout shackles around her wrists.

The centurian watched as the cloaked figure then placed her dainty hands on Axem Fortunehunter's body. He could have sworn she whispered, "You are free."

After a brief moment she clasped her hands back together and her two escorts immediately seized her and lifted her back up onto her feet.

"Alright," Knightsilver said. "That's enough of that." He nodded for Knightlightning to take her back to the carriage.

Just then, a moan came from the ground. Paralyzed with amazement the cenrturian watched as Axem Fortunehunter opened his eyes and began to stir. Knightsilver looked down at him with pronounced indifference, and then turned to resume hus duty.

"Whh... whuhh... what? What happened?" he asked as he sat up. Looking out onto the road he saw Knightlightning moving the young lady back into her coach.

As he stood up the knights hefted the litter back onto their shoulders and were ready to move out. "Wait!" he called, while mustering the strength to step toward them. "Please!"

Knightsilver turned to him, but said nothing.

Taking another wobbly step forward, Fortune asked, "Who are you?"

"We," Knightsilver replied, "are the Knights of the Autumn Temple."

With that and a wave of his hand, the knights started back down the road. Stunned by a sense of wonderment Fortunehunter, the centurian and his squad watched as they disappeared into the distance.