The journey felt almost endless without Albaras and Rederick. Kian could still feel them stalking these lands. Did that mean they had taken care of them?There needed to be a place to hide.A place to rest and let them pass, giving an opportunity to backtrack. He ended up in a village, quite a large one.It looked like it had been built on an open field, with trees in the distance and a river nearby where they could get water. The village was surrounded by hills, some close, others quite far away.Farms were built near the water, several water wheels taking advantage of its current. Elsewhere were fields with animals and crops.It lay open on all sides, easily bypassed, a perfect place to stay low for a while.

  Entering the village, there were many people walking around. Kian noticed guards carrying shields on their backs.Their shields and clothing carried the symbol of a heart wrapped in thorns.

  Before he could gather more clues about the place, a cloaked figure came into sight.A man his cloak dirty by the mud or let it hope, because the smell told a different story. It was completely torn to pieces. No need to mind him, yet he came closer. He stroked Kian’s horse with two fingers while desperately trying to keep hold of his cane.

  Curiosity took over. Scanning his body, several things were… off.His other arm was missing. He looked up at Kian, revealing his bronze skin, a white-and-silver mustache, and matching hair. One of his eyes was silver, while the other was pure white, lacking even a pupil—scarred, clearly blind in it.

  ’My, my… what are you searching for, young’un?’ His voice was old, scraping past his lungs as if he hadn’t drunk in years.There was a form of pity felt between them.

  ’Sir, can you move out of the way? I’m in a hurry.’ Is he stalling me? In the shadows he looks like one of them.

  He closed his one good eye; the other tried to shut but lacked an eyelid.’I can feel that you need a place to stay for a little while. I know just a place to be. Where you can stay safely.’ It was almost as if he could read minds. However in hurry, there was no other option. Kian accepted his request.

  The beggar led him around town. It felt like they had already passed some of these places, the same butcher, the same tavern.The more they walked, the closer they seemed to get. Before Kian could say anything that could be set in stone, spoke the beggar. ’We have arrived at the first place you need.’ His voice was barely audible

  Almost forgot. Kian pulled out a water flask bound to the side of his horse in view for him, for how long it has been. ’Sir, can I offer you something to drink?’ Kian’s voice cracked with embarrassment for forgetting.

  He grabbed the flask carefully as if he would else hurt someone if he grabbed it too fast. ’Thank you, deary. It has been quite some time before I had something. Just as he grabbed it, he drank it. The tiny sip he took could make anyone feel sorry for him.He somehow closed it with one hand, holding both the flask and his cane as he handed it back.

  ′Not far from here is a place you can stay. He has helped me through fights, rainy nights, and hunger when there was nothing to gain. A child he will definitely help.’ The beggar said, as if trying to convince them both of the idea.As he led Kian through the alley.

  At the end stood a wooden door reinforced with iron beams. ’He is well known in the village, the main reason there are so few bars here.’ The beggar said giving a small smile. He tapped the door with his cane. When finished, he struck it harder until it opened. A man stood now instead of the door. With his black moustache it looked like a simple butler. He looked up and down at the beggar. ’Hartmar, what did you do now?’ He almost sounded like a disappointed father.

  Hartmar pointed toward Kian. ′Can you hide these two for some time?′ The man looked at the horse and the child on it.He let out a deep breath through his nose. ′Kid, you can come inside, same with the horse.′

  Kian dismounted while the man stepped aside to make room for Kian and his horse to pass. ’Hartmar, I know you try to do the right thing, but what are you getting me into?’ the man said.

  Hartmar had already begun to walk away. ’He, eh… he seemed to need a place to stay.Not only to rest but to stay hidden.. He shouldn’t, couldn’t, be in a tavern because of this, and he’s still a child. We elders are supposed to help children in need, no? You taught me to help people in need, and he looks like someone who needs it.’

  The man took another deep breath. ’Right.’ He said thoughtfully. ‘Right.’ he said excited now. ’Helping a child… Hmph shouldn’t even have second-guessed myself about that.’

  Hartmar walked away humming as the man entered his bar and closed the door behind him. ’Well, boy, why do you need to keep low?’ he asked warmly. He walked to the right, as if to get something.Kian followed him, revealing a bar. A few men were spread around, some seated at the bar others at tables. Most had friendly faces. Some looked up, curious at the sound of a horse inside the building. Some began to joke. ‘When were pets allowed in?’Found another stray wandering around town?’ If you need something to help him, you can always ask.’ At that, most of them raised their cups and cheered.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The man grabbed a drink, apple juice. Then he went back into the hallway, smiling at the guests and raising his bottle. Kian followed him back into the hallway as the man handed him the bottle.The man knelt down and spoke again. ’Tell your story, kid.’ He smiled as he spoke, and a sensation washed over Kian,one he had only felt once before. Rederick. Kian trembled, but no tears came.His teeth ground together. His fists balled, but no sound escaped him.The bottle fell to the floor.

  The man stood back up and opened a door at the end of the hallway on the right. ’Kid, you can stay in there with the horse. I’ll make sure you have everything you need.’

  Hearing his words again broke Kian from his trance. ′Sorry, sir, for not answering your question. A lot has happened, and the people I have travelled with are.’ He paused. Kian forced himself to accept the only possibility, even though his mind fought against it. ‘Dead.’

  ’That was something I could have expected.’ The man said with quietly. ’Can you tell me what they look like? That way I can keep my eye out for them.’

  Kian looked up to remember. To engrave. ’There is one with orange eyes. Using something to corrode things. An enormous woman and someone I couldn’t see. It used a bow.’

  ’Not much to go on then.’ The man said, stroking his mustache with two fingers. ’I’ll try.’

  Kian looked through the doorway. There was a staircase leading downward. A thought came to him.′One more thing, sir, what’s your name?′

  ′Patriono,′ the man replied. Kian went down the stairs with his horse following behind him. Kian slipped his hand inside his cloak, now that it was dark, and grabbed the dagger hidden there.Down the stairs, only a few candles provided light; most illumination came naturally from small gaps that let in the outside world. They revealed rows of barrels and crates holding bottles. It was cold down here.

  He looked around. Was there anyone else here?In a corner, a woman sat with a child, covered in fur to keep them warm. The barrels and crates were arranged around them, almost to hide them.They didn’t react at first, only when Kian came close and the candlelight began to catch his cloak.She moved her child directly behind her and held up her hand, a frightened expression on her face.She looked terrified. For the first time in a long while, something was afraid of Kian.He had met so many knights, orders, and monsters that he thought he could face anything.Now, seeing a woman down here with almost nothing in her life, looking scared, struck him.Kian loosened his grip on the dagger’s hilt and raised both hands into view. Before either of them could react, Patriono came down the stairs carrying furs.He hurried between them. “Els, I see you’ve met the new guest staying the night here. Don’t worry. Eh, I never got your name.

  ’It’s Kian, sir.’

  Patriono continued talking. ’You will be living together for a while. So keep it civilised.’

  Els took a deep breath, and the child came out from behind her into view. It looked only a few years younger than Kian. It looked shy, young, still learning how the world works.

  Patriono gave the furs to Kian. ‘Here to be warm.’ Patriono gave a final look at the two. Seeing that there was no grievance between the two, he left. Kian kept quiet and set down, wrapping himself in the fur and casting curious glances at Els and the child. They did the same. Throughout the night, there was only silence until darkness took over.

  A fire grew brighter, and a chant could be heard. Shadowy figures danced around me. As I looked over them, they moved in circles, slowly sinking into the ground until only nine remained.One lay on the ground. Two were walking away. One shied away. One was praising something into the darkness while the remaining four kept looking at me, fixated on me. Then in the darkness was a light. The one who praised the darkness seemed to absolutely hate the light, scurrying back into the shadows.The two who had walked away disappeared completely.

  The light came closer, as it did it made a form of a human being. It looked like it wanted to say something, reaching toward me with an open hand. Before it could touch my forehead, a white fire fell from what felt like heaven, covering everything. The light became as unseeable as the darkness, and when it faded, I saw a woman.

  Kian looked up at Els as she shook him awake. The kid was hiding away in the furs. Kian shook her hand off him. Els spoke, ‘What was that?’ Her voice was soft, like a mother’s.

  Kian wanted to tear up a little but knew that it will do nothing. ’It’s just a nightmare. I have them now and then,’ he said, trying to sound normal. It came out sounding threatening, with cracks in his voice.

  Els took a few steps back. Before either of them could speak, Patriono entered, holding four plates on one arm like a waiter. He gave each person a plate. ‘Hope that you will like it Kian.’

  Kian looked at the food.It smelled fantastic and looked better than anything he had eaten in days.“Albaras could cook, but this looked like it had been made by a professional chef. ‘It will do.’ Kian said.

  Patriono seated with them. ’There is still no news outside regarding those caped men, Kian. And Els, your transport will be here in a few hours.

  ‘Good, then we will be leaving soon.’ Els said. Patriono gave a smile as an answer. Kian looked deep in thought. After eating, Patriono left. At least he had made the air more breathable with his kind nature, instead of the heavy silence between the two guests. Kian gathered his words. It had been too long since I last had a normal conversation, so long ago that normality felt like a distant memory. ′ What is your reason for leaving?’ Kian said.

  Els looked at him. ’A husband that saw a false future.’ She said. Kian wanted to continue on it. But as he wanted to ask the second one he saw the pain she has in her eyes. A pain that he remembered well then he looked at the child again. Kian turned around, not wanting them to see. ‘No emotion,’ he reminded himself, as one must in jobs risking death. He remembered Rederick on the roof, his anger in Patriono’s hall. No emotion from now on, he repeated silently in his head.