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don’t have to.” Baylor walked to the edge of the ridge. “You’d best follow me down and be on your way.”
    Twitch stayed close to Baylor. The first part of the descent was steep, but the grade became gradual enough for Twitch to walk beside Sir Baylor.
    “Who were those warriors?” he finally mustered the courage to ask.
    Baylor seemed to ignore the question, and Twitch didn’t dare ask twice. Somehow he felt guilty about the recent skirmish, as if it were somehow his fault.
    They walked a few more paces.
    “They were Shadow Warriors under the command of Lucius.” Baylor said it matter-of-factly, but chills ran up Twitch’s spine.
    They came to another lesser ridge that led to their final descent. Baylor hesitated, briefly peering into the gathering dusk.
    “Who are those knights who fought with you?” Twitch asked. “Who are you … really?”
    Baylor looked over at Twitch.
    “Look, son. You’ve already seen too much, and you shouldn’t even be here. These men—they are the tip of the Prince’s sword. Their commitment is total, their sacrifice is great, and their skills are unmatched. I’ve searched the kingdom over to find them. They put their lives on the line for the King and His Son every day, and sometimes …” Baylor turned away. When he turned back, his jaw was clenched and his eyes red. “Sometimes they fall. What I ask from them—what the Prince asks of them—is much, and I would give my life to protect them. Their secrecy is part of that protection.”
    Twitch swallowed hard. Something stirred deep within him, something he had never felt before. For one brief moment of his life he had been witness to a whole new world of conflict and purpose. It was aglimpse he couldn’t forget. It also told him that Sir Baylor was everything he seemed to be and more.
    “I want to join you, sir.” Twitch could not stop the words if he’d tried. They had formed deep in his soul and spilled out before he could think them away. It was a defining moment, a moment that might thrust him into a whole new world about which he knew nothing—a world of battle!
    Baylor halted and stared at Twitch; then a slight smile crossed his lips. His gaze softened as he put a hand on Twitch’s shoulder.
    “Don’t take this wrong, son, but this unit isn’t something you join. My knights are carefully selected, and Gustav—”
    Baylor froze, and his eyes regained their steely gaze. He grabbed Twitch’s tunic and shoved him up next to a tree. He held his finger to his lips, then quietly drew his sword. Twitch’s heart began to race again. Were the Shadow Warriors back? Were there more this time?
    Baylor readied his sword. He turned away from Twitch, his muscles taut and ready to fight. Twitch saw him reach for a chain around his neck and lift a small silver disk out of his tunic. He turned away and brought his hand to his face, then replaced the disk inside his shirt.
    “Stay here,” Baylor whispered over his shoulder.
    Twitch watched as the man stealthily made his way through the trees along the ridge. His face began convulsing again. He drew his own sword and tried to see through the shadows of the retreating day. In another moment, Baylor had disappeared completely, and Twitch struggled to keep his fear in check.
    Something shuffled behind him, and he spun about with his sword, fully expecting another grisly weapon to be descending on him. A squirrel raced across the forest floor and scurried up a tree. Twitch exhaled with relief. The faint sound of deep voices filtered through the foliage, but the words were unintelligible. Finally Baylor appeared again, his sword sheathed. Twitch quickly sheathed his own and waited.
    Baylor walked directly to Twitch and put his fists on his hips. He eyed him up and down with a perplexed look on his face. It was an awkward moment, and Twitch’s cheek seemed worse than ever.
    “What’s your name?” Baylor asked bluntly.
    “Twitch, sir.”
    Annoyance flashed across