The ground and buildings were covered in white fluff snow and the sky said more was on it’s way.

Callisthenes the night watch man pulled his cloak closer to him and stamped his feet and below into his hands every so often , even in his winter leathers and furs he was still cold. He hated night watch especially in winter time when the temperature would drop and only the very brave or very stupid would be out. Callisthenes would rather be back inside where it was warm in front of the warm fire with a goblet or two of wine in the arms of some beautiful woman or two, playing some disc game with his best friend Anatolios.

A stumbling movement out of the corner of his right eye made him snap around to face it.

“Who’s there!” he called into the darkness and putting his hand on the top of his sword just in case it was something or someone unpleasant .

Towards him came a brown haired child about five or six dressed in rags which barely covered his body and bare feet. Callisthenes let go of his sword to catch the child as he stumbled and fell.

He was shivering with cold and his dirty skin had a blueish white look to it. It looked like some had beaten this child with in an inch of his life, bruises and welts covered his body where there was a gash to the forehead on cheek was bruised and dried blood was caked around his mouth and nose, there was also signs that some bones by be broken.

“Poor little mite.” Callisthenes said under his breathe

He noticed that the child was clutching tightly to something, carefully and being gentle as he could Callisthenes prized open the boy’s hand.

He was holding on to a blueish green stone on a leather thong, Callisthenes lifted it out of the boys hands and held it up watching how it looked blue in one light and green in another.

“Where did you get such a pretty thing” he thought

It was then that he noticed the design carved on one side of the stone. It was a design he had seen somewhere before, he knew it because it so memorable with it’s knotted design .

Then it clicked, the king had one, he remembered now, a long time ago one the guards saying that two pendants had been made to the kings own design as a gift to one his generals, but which one.

He named them one by one in his head till he came to one conclusion .

“How the.” he said to himself

He took off his cloak and bundled the child up and into his arms.