Smoke curled lazily from the fireplace of the hidden barracks. The silence of
the night was eerie, betraying the insidious nature of the training area. 

Inside, a group of Black Knights gathered around a table discussing the latest
news from the territory of Heine. 

“But this will disrupt our plans,” one Knight exclaimed. 

“Nonsense,” replied another. “That witch Elindare is not a concern of ours. Our
mission can progress. Her presence is irrelevant.” 

“Irrelevant?” roared the first Knight, temper flaring. “Her very existence
threatens the safety of Aden!” 

“I was just thinking-“ began a third. 

“ENOUGH!” shouted Kurtz, the leader of the Black Knights heavy fist crashing to
the table. “You fight…you kill. You don’t ever THINK!” 

The normally brave Knights quivered before his anger. 

“Our mission proceeds. If anyone opposes us…they die.” 

At a secret dock, workers busily hammered the planks of a frigate as other
scurried through the riggings. The repairs were going slowly. 

“Kurtz won’t be happy,” one of the workers thought. “Not happy at all.”