Several years passed since the prevention of Edward's war. I took his body beyong the mountains after everything had settled down and burned it, letting the flames consume his evil. When I returned I enjoyed a year of peace, having only to send Knights out to mend minor disputes in the area. During the second year, activity in the area grew intense, and a new crime syndicate was born in the streets. They called themselves the Black Shadow, and operated out an old castle near the norhternmost edge of Dreamland. They dealt out the metal Luke's blade was coated with, which was now considered illegal, and many weapons imported from different parts of the country. They also stole the first crossbow made in the area and started making more, before selling them illegally. At first I thought it was another group of thugs, and would soon be dealt with by local police. I never thought The Order would eventually have to deal with them. But as the second year finished and the third began, the Black Shadow became more militant. They arranged themselves into raiding parties of fifty men, and scoured the country for things. They also became very wealthy, and with their wealth, came arrogance. Luke sent several new Knights to attempt to stop the Black Shadow's activities, but they never returned. I assumed that with the metals used to make anti-vampire weapons, they caught the Knights snooping around and killed them. However, with no evidence to back that up, I never expressed my concern. Luke went himself to snoop around, and I chose to go with him. Kathleen angrily protested my going, but I assured her I would be fine. "You won't be fine. You probably won't return." She said, a frown upon her beautiful face, while crossing her arms in frustration. "I've got Luke with me. We've fought our way past more experience people than these criminals. I'll be fine." I said, gently laying my hands on her shoulders. I looked her deep in the eyes and smiled. "If you come back with so much as a scratch you'll never hear the end of it." she said, knowing she couldn't stop me from going to investigate. I smiled, and she smiled back. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I wrapped mine around her waist. I kissed her gently, and she happily returned it. "I'll be back before you know it." I said, giving her the best smile possible. She grinned back. I told her I loved her, and she said she loved me as well, and Luke and I left. With two wild horses we found in the area, we rode north towards the castle of the Black Shadow, our black cloaks fluttering in the wind behind us.