Hartmar stopped near a tree. Next to the tree was a cross; a plaque was on it, unreadable from a distance. The only thing that was clear was that there were two names on it. Hartmar got off his horse He pulled a few different flowers from near the tree. He then walked over to the grave, putting the flowers on it.

  Kian sat on his horse next to Hartmar’s and got off as well.He watched Hartmar as he placed the flowers on the grave.Kid, have you ever had a friend who lost something and changed because of it?’

  Kian balled his fist.’There was one. One who was killed by the two you saved me from.’ Hartmar turned around. ’Then it is fate itself that made me come to you in your time of need, son.’ Even in beggar’s clothes, Hartmar looked like a preacher, using his cane like a fairytale wizard. There was just one thing that didn’t fit. One thing that should not be possible. Not only how his horse and his stance looked so different, as if he had been faking much of his life.Not only that, but also the fact that he had survived the two. Hartmar closed in on Kian. ’Yes, the good faith of this world, the people who help me survive. That is what it is all about.’Kian said, reaching for his dagger Hartmar needed only a small distance to be right in Kian’s face. Throw the knife for a distraction. Create distance. Use bow. Simple idea, how can it fail?Kian threw his knife at Hartmar. Hartmar shifted his cane slightly, knocking the knife out of the air. ’Kid, I was really only helping you. Are you sure you want to do this?’

  Kian tried to create distance, but Hartmar picked his pace just as fast. An old body moving like someone in their prime.Kian had his bow ready and loosed an arrow.Hartmar drew his sword from his cane, letting the arrow strike the blade and split into two pieces that flew past him.Hartmar sheathed his sword.Catching up to Kian unsettlingly fast after the first arrow was loosed.Before Kian could nock another arrow, Hartmar stood in front of him. He knocked Kian’s bow from his hands, then struck his leg with the cane, sending Kian to the ground.

  Hartmar held the cane in front of Kian’s face as if it were a sword. ′ Kid, I cannot keep you out of his hands. But I promise you, I will keep you safe when the time demands it. ′ Hartmar knocked Kian out with his cane. At that moment, Kelvanya came riding in from the distance.

  Hartmar raised his cane into the air as a signaling wave. Kelvanya rode closer, pulling her horse alongside Kian’s and Hartmar’s horses.She dismounted and walked straight to the grave. ′ The Red Smile, Tyrilda, Ranzolf, and Grummulde are all on their way to the Undying Tower.’ She knelt on one knee in front of the grave. Hartmar knelt beside her. ’I put some flowers on it for you.’ Kelvanya looked at Hartmar as he said it.Hartmar’s eyes were watered up.Hartmar could only see those dead eyes she normally had. He could only hope that something different was happening inside her than what she showed on the outside.

  Kelvanya got up again. ‘Thank you, Hartmar.’ She looked over towards the kid again. ’Is he going to be okay?’ Hartmar turned to look at what she was looking at. ’Yes, I only knocked him out for trying to kill me But I ain’t ever going to kill a child. Don’t worry about that for a second.’

  Kelvanya didn’t know if that was a lie to make her feel better or a truth he genuinely meant. Either way, it was better than the alternative.Better than the other remaining members.Kelvanya got up. She lifted Kian’s unconscious body onto her horse while Hartmar took the reins of Kian’s horse, resting his cane across the saddle like a spear. ’Kelvanya, I need to ask, do you really want to make your wish come true? For a long time, I wanted to be back in my prime.Having fought in needless conflicts. I thought that he could be the one. What lies do we tell ourselves to make us believe in things that are not true?’ Hartmar looked down at the stump where his arm had once been. ’Don’t you think we make too many sacrifices, that too many innocents are involved?’ Hartmar looked over at Kelvanya. He placed his remaining hand atop his cane.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kelvanya looked back at him. I know. ’I’ve heard the wishes of the others. I have seen everything up close today. I have seen how they dirty their hands. I have done horrific things, but they... I don’t think they would want to see what I’ve become, working with people like this.But we are now so close. The boy doesn’t need to die, and our lord will not allow the other dreams of chaos to reign.Else his plan will not work.’

  Hartmar loosened his grip on his cane.Instead, he took out something to eat.Dried, salted meat. He ate while observing Kelvanya’s expression.Trying to read the deadness in her face.It showed no change. Even so, he felt that something had changed her in the village.

  Kelvanya took the lead as they began traveling toward the Undying Tower.Not long after they left, Kian woke up. Out of instinct, he threw himself off the horse and hit the ground. He tried to crawl away while Hartmar merely watched and Kelvanya turned around. ’Kian, son, I think you’ll be faster on your horse than trying to do… whatever it is you’re trying to do.’

  Kian, a bit dazed by the fall, turned around. He searched himself for any weapons. Finding none. His captors watched him as if he were part of a play.There was no point in trying, was there? Kian got up. ’What do you want? Where are you leading me to?’

  Hartmar playfully scoffed at it. Even daring to talk back, as if he didn’t know how outclassed he was. ’We are bringing you to Heiron. Our lord. He needs you to make wishes come true.’

  Kian could not even react to it. How ludicrous, to make wishes come true. Even if that were true. ’How? what do I do for him to make it happen?’ Kian said, hoping that would make them tell him.

  Kelvanya and Hartmar looked at each other. Hartmar shrugged with his one functional shoulder. ’We do not know how.The only thing we know is that he needs you alive. He only said that you have the same power as him. That’s why. I think he needs you as an extra conductor, because it’s too much power for him alone.’Hartmar tried to say this with a reassuring smile.

  Kelvanya didn’t even try to talk about it. She only nodded in acceptance of Hartmar’s theory. It looks like there is really no other way out of this. At least it is not something to kill for. ’Why did you attack us? Why try to kill Rederick and Albaras?’

  Kelvanya stepped in, taking over something Hartmar couldn’t answer. ’Not every one of us is sane. Not only that, but I have made sure that Rederick and Albaras are still alive. I even gave one of them a map to pick you up after our lord is done with his ritual.’

  Kian exchanged glances with the two. ’Alright, I can see there will be no other option than to go with you. It is good to know that they are still alive.’ Kian said, sounding a bit more hopeful. His anger faded. Hartmar brought him his horse, though his weapons were still bound to Hartmar’s horse.There was no chance of getting them back at this point. ’’How did you people meet your lord?’ If he was a captive, it was better to get as much information from them as possible. Neither of them gave an answer.Did they know the plan, or was it something they didn’t want to talk about?They remained silent for the entire trip.Not a word since Kian woke up. Even when Kian tried to make conversation, they said nothing.It was almost as if they knew just as much as he did.The farther they got from the village and the closer they came to their destination, the more unsure Kian became. They did not have any answers, did not have any proof, the only thing that they could offer was their word. All of it felt empty in the face of the truth that would come at the end of the road.