ã€ŠThe Guild Chroniclesã€‹


 Chapter 0- Prologue

    Lorelle woke suddenly to her mother shaking her and mumbling something repeatedly. Lorelle¡¯s mind was still cloudy with sleep, which stopped her from understanding the words.

    ¡°Lorelle? Wake up. Wake up sweetheart¡± Mother repeated in earnest. The pressure at her sides guided Lorelle upright. She slowly sat up to find both her parents panicked. Father was hovering over her sister¡¯s bed, rousing her as well.

    ¡°Lorelle?¡± Mother repeated. Lorelle nodded her head in response before Mother continued. ¡°Grab your boots and cloak. Something is attacking the settlement. We need to leave, now.¡± Her words were like a bucket of water shocking Lorelle awake. Lorelle was up and moving the moment Mother moved aside for her, grabbing for her boots and cloak.

    Mother quickly turned to grab smaller versions of what Lorelle now donned. Father stood behind Mother with Ella, Lorelle¡¯s little sister, in his arms. With a silent nod from Father, Mother rushed out of the room with Lorelle in tow.

    As a family, they made it down the stairs to the first floor. An area that should have been completely dark, now glowed an angry orange. Screams could be heard outside accompanied by an angry hissing sound.

    Mother quickly released Lorelle¡¯s arm and made her way to the fireplace area and started rummaging through cabinets. Lorelle noted a level of determination in her mother¡¯s stride.

    ¡°Papa, what¡¯s wrong? Why are we leaving¡± Ella asked in a sleepy, yet angelic voice.

    Father set the sister down and ran his hands down her head and arms, trying to soothe the small girl. ¡°I don¡¯t know Little One, but we have to leave. I need you to be brave, can you do that for me?¡± He asked her.

    Ella nodded, with all the bravery someone who has seen 4 season cycles could. Father turned away from her sister and looked at Lorelle. He motioned to the space between her and Lorelle.

    ¡°Help her get dressed,¡± he said shortly. He then rushed to Mother¡¯s side. She was hastily filling a sack with corn and searching for an empty leather bladder to fill in the water bucket.

    ¡°My Sweet, there isn¡¯t time. We have to leave. Now¡± He took her by the arm and tried to guide her away from what she was doing.

    ¡°And starve within a few days?¡± She pulled herself out of Father¡¯s grasp. ¡°No. We need food, water, and supplies. Then we will leave.¡± She motioned towards the door ¡°Get your ax, and knives for Lorelle and me. I have this.¡± She turned her back to him and continued to fill the sack with food.

    Father walked away from the kitchen area, grabbing two small blades off the table as he started to head over to the door and grabbed his double-edged ax that was hanging beside the door.

    By the time Father made it back to the fireplace area, Lorelle had her sister dressed and Mother was closing the flap on the food sack and tying a bladder of water around her waist. He handed out the small blades to Mother and Lorelle.

    ¡°Ready?¡± He asked the room. With nods all around, Father picked up Ella and held her in one arm with his ax ready in the other. Together they left their home, their place of safety, and walked out into a nightmare.

    Lorelle looked at the place that she called home and saw fire in every direction. The screams of her fellow settlers filled the air. Lorelle felt the hairs on her neck stand on edge as she took in the fiery scene.

    As a group, they turned down to the Main Street of the settlement, where most of the others were fleeing to. Lorelle could hear the distinct sound of guttural moans and hisses coming from every which direction. However, she couldn¡¯t see what was making a terrible noise. Lorelle and her family found themselves in the middle of a frantic mob, pushing and shoving each other in order to get away from whatever was burning the buildings and chasing them down.

    Ella was crying and she could hear Father attempt to comfort the girl as he pushed his way forward. Mother had a firm hold on the back of his cloak in one hand and a bruising grip of Lorelle¡¯s arm with the other.

    As the people made their way down the thin, dirt street, people did the best they could to avoid the flames of the buildings around it. The air was hot and Lorelle felt like she could taste her burning town with every breath. It was getting harder to see where the mob of settlers was moving through the smoke. All Lorelle could see was that they were still within the main settlement.

    Lorelle found herself frantically looking around, unable to keep her eyes in one place with so much horror surrounding her. She saw a man that she knew in passing get knocked down and trampled by the stampede of people around her. Half dressed people pushing their way in the crowd, trying to save themselves without a care for those around them. She looked to her mother, hoping to see some of the determination she saw back home, but Lorelle only saw her mother¡¯s eyes full of fear.

    It was at that moment that something from above fell on top of Lorelle, pinning her to the ground. Hordes of the creatures descended from the rooftops, leaping out of the flames and landing on the people below. Blood-chilling screams and howls of triumph filled Lorelle¡¯s ears as her feet were swept from under her.

    Fear shot through Lorelle as she fell. The moment before she landed slowed. Her focus shifted toward her family as saw their terror. She could see her mother turning to see her eldest daughter fall to the ground, her scream stood out from all the rest. Father had Ella, who was crying and screaming at everything, turned away from the scene as he hefted his ax out to his side.

    On the ground, Lorelle¡¯s attention snapped to her immediate danger and she came face to face with the monsters attacking her town. It looked like a hairless human man. The tongue was missing but he roared at her through his teeth, covering her in spittle as he clawed at her leg, pulling himself up against her. There was a silver collar around his neck with a blood red light beating like a pulse. Darkened veins streamed out across the creature¡¯s body from the heart of the collar. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Lorelle flailed her one arm at the creature, holding the knife for dear life and bringing it down, again and again, hitting the mad man¡¯s neck, face, and shoulder. Her mother was frantically pulling Ella away from the creature with one hand and hitting the creature with the sack of food with the other. food sprayed out and onto the ground in the process with each passing swing.

    The blow to the neck missed because it hit the silver band around the Mad man¡¯s neck. Unfortunately, the band was left unmarked by her blow. Despite the stab wounds to the man¡¯s face and shoulder, he continued to crawl his way up Lorelle¡¯s body, trying to bite her any way he could.

    Suddenly, Lorelle felt the air part and saw her father¡¯s steel ax swipe up in front of her face, catching the creature under his jaw. The creature¡¯s blood sprayed across Lorelle and the ground surrounding her. The head hung grossly to the side, Father¡¯s ax cut partially through the spine. The silver band was still unharmed, though Lorelle could have sworn she saw sparks when the ax made contact. the red glow was still pulsing and it illuminated the injury. He twitched once, twice, and then ceased.

    Mother quickly pulled Lorelle to her feet and held her close, trying to assure herself that her eldest was still alive. She pulled Lorelle to stand beside Father, waiting for him to guide them to safety.

    The crowd that was left unmarked scattered, leaving the main road and trying to make for the woods from side routes. Father pulled the family down one such road, between a building that was smoldering from inside and another that hadn¡¯t met a fiery end yet. Stopping, he put Ella down. He could no longer hold her and truly be ready with his ax if any of the creatures attacked again.

    Mother quickly grabbed Ella and hoisted her up, holding the small child close to her. Lorelle, now free of her mother¡¯s grasp, held her knife close and tight, ready to stab anything that attempted to harm her again.

    Father rested a heavy hand on Lorelle¡¯s shoulder and guided her a short distance away from Mother and Ella. He pulled her into a quick, firm hug; trying to convey his worry for her safety and love as best he can. ¡°Are, are you good to walk?¡± he said with a voice full of fear and supposed strength.

    ¡°It scratched up my leg, but I can walk. Most of this blood is his.¡± Gesturing down to her torn and bloodied clothes. With the amount of blood she saw, it would be easy for one to think she was bleeding to death.

    Lorelle looked over to Mother, she was cradling Ella, trying to calm her while her eyes darted from one place to another. Bringing her eyes back to Father, Lorelle asked the impossible question ¡°What are those things? People?¡±

    Father shook his head. ¡°Haven¡¯t the foggiest, but we don¡¯t have time to think on it now.¡± He looked back to Mother and Lorelle saw a hint of sadness cross his face. ¡°We stick together for as long as we can. If we get separated, keep your mother and sister safe.¡± He pointed to the knife Lorelle grasped in her hand. ¡°You know how to use it. Don¡¯t hesitate.¡± With that Father turned back and motioned for Mother to join us, Ella clung onto her neck for dear life.

    In her mind, Lorelle came to an unsettling conclusion. We are going to die.

    With Father in the lead and Lorelle taking up the rear, they made their way down the side street and tried to get to the outskirts of town.

    Lorelle made sure to look down each side street as they made their way to the edge of the settlement. The level of carnage increasing in severity street by street.

    Down one such street, Lorelle saw a creature tearing apart something on the ground. Hearing the family cross the street, the creature looked up. Lorelle could see wet strings dripping from the creature''s maw.

    Father pushed his wife and daughters behind him and readied his ax.¡°Lorelle, get your sister and mother to the forest. I will meet you there.¡± His voice was as sharp as his ax.

    The creature cocked his head to the side, sizing them up. It dropped what it was previously eating with a wet thud. Baring its teeth at us, it charged.

    ¡°Papa¡­¡± Lorelle hesitated. She felt like she should stay to help her father. The creature was halfway to them.

    ¡°GO!¡± He yelled as he launched towards the creature.

    Lorelle turned and pushed her mother into motion. She looked back just in time to see her father and the creature collide. His ax swinging in the air and finding the creature in the middle. He will be okay. Move. Lorelle told herself.

    Lorelle and her charges broke through the buildings and started to run full tilt to the tree line. They quickly ran through the field that surrounded the settlement and was finally within eyesight of the forest. Lorelle felt hope to start to bubble in her gut at the sight, but that quickly ruptured when she noticed a reddish glow within the bushes.

    Lorelle¡¯s blood ran cold when the screams started to pour out of the forest. The reddish light within the bushes grew in brightness as the screams grew louder, making it no longer a safe route of escape.

    ¡°They are in the trees¡± Lorelle barked at her mother. Lorelle pulled her mother to a stop. When her mother struggled and tried to keep heading to the tree line, Lorelle screamed, ¡°Mother, stop!¡±

    Her mother whipped her head around to face her daughter. Lorelle could see that her mother was barely holding herself together. ¡°They are waiting for us in the trees.¡± Lorelle pointed to the bushes and waited a moment to see the understanding spread across her mother¡¯s face. Unfortunately, despair also covered her face at the news. ¡°we have to find another way.¡± Lorelle said determinedly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± Mother stammered a response. ¡°the forest is the only way out¡± she looked back to the burning settlement ¡°your father?¡± Her voice going soft, empty.

    ¡°He will find us. But we need to focus¡± Lorelle Grabbed her mother and forced her to turn away from the flames and look at her. ¡°They are in the forest. They are in the settlement. Where else can we go?¡± Lorelle asked, hoping that her mother will take charge and lead them to safety.

    Lorelle looked at her small sister. Her face was red from her crying. She finally stopped, but Lorelle wasn¡¯t sure if that was because we were acting brave or if she ran out of tears. ¡°Do you want me to carry her?¡±

    ¡°No, I have her.¡± Her mother responded to Lorelle''s second question shortly before elaborating to answer the first. ¡°Frigga¡¯s perhaps? You¡¯re Father worked there for a time. Perhaps they¡¯d help us¡± Mother pondered, ¡°That is if the creatures haven¡¯t gotten there yet.¡± She said more to herself than to Lorelle, but Lorelle understood the concern.

    Frigga¡¯s Tavern was on the outskirts of the settlement. Father used to be an enforcer there It¡¯s close enough to draw those in need of a pint from the settlement, however, it also catered to traveling folk.

    Would the creatures go there?

 Chapter 1

    ¡°Hold,¡± I muttered under my breath. Loud enough to be heard by those at the table but inaudible to the rest of the of the tavern¡¯s patrons. Everyone at the table noticed when our target entered the room. The plump man was clothed lavishly, albeit terribly, with a fur-lined cloak. Other patrons were starting to notice the man¡¯s arrival and greet him in turn. I could sense that my fellow Bastards were starting to itch with the desire to complete our task.

    ¡°Let the man order a drink. It¡¯s only polite.¡± I settled back into my chair, grabbing my own mug of dark brew and drained it in one long pull. Smirks and raised drinks were their response.

    As our target moved through the crowd, I was able to determine our best course of action by the time he stopped to talk to a few tables. One table, in particular, stood out as a group of companions to the man versus mere acquaintances. Most likely lackeys. They could be a problem.

    ¡°So, now what do we do?¡± whispered Tarik. His eyes were darting across the tavern, taking in everything he could. He was practically unable to keep his hands still without a mug to hold. He was against coming into the tavern to begin with, worried his age would give us away. At this point he very well may give us away but because he couldn¡¯t keep still and not because he¡¯s only seen fourteen season cycles.

    ¡°Now we set,¡± l said as I tapped my fist lightly twice on the worn wooden table, then I nodded towards the table of lackeys. A few moments later Jonah, a tall, burly yet handsome man with a dark trimmed beard sitting across from me stood up and started towards them.

    I leaned to my right, closer to Tarik so only he could hear ¡°It¡¯s all about ensuring you are covered in any situation that might arise¡± I tapped my fist once and nodded towards the opposite wall of where Jonah leaned.  At which point Roy, the wild looking giant of a man to my left stood up and made his way over. He leaned against the opposite wall similarly to Jonah.

    ¡°Ready?¡± I asked him as I stood. Tarik nodded. I removed my weather-worn cloak, grabbed my now empty mug and silently left the table as Jonah and Roy had before me.

    I made my way up to the front of the tavern. My sword¡¯s sheath lightly bounced on my thigh as I walked. As I moved my way closer, more eyes were on me.  An armed woman? I ignored them. Men of this town keep their women close to the home. Women weren¡¯t allowed to do much without their male keeper¡¯s say. Let alone allow them to carry a blade. My being here and armed instantly labeled me as an outsider.

    They haven¡¯t the foggiest idea.

    The barkeep grabbed my cup and turned to pour from one of the two large barrels behind him. I reached to my change purse hanging lightly on my belt. Before I could open it I felt and heard the plump man waddle to my side and placed a coin in front of me.

    ¡°Please, allow me to buy you a drink¡±. He said to me in a poor attempt of a seductive voice. He wasn¡¯t making eye contact with me but was looking me over. His gaze settling in a leering way at my chest. His breath wafted over me and I could smell the stench of drink mixed with a flowery perfume he must have dabbed himself with. I suppressed my immediate repulsion of the man and smiled. If I was going to get what I came for I needed to have him off guard.

    ¡°Oh, thank you, sir. That¡¯s very kind.¡± I said while leaning against the bar, and taking a drink. The ale¡¯s warmth spread across my chest.

    ¡°It¡¯s not often that a woman walks in here so armed.¡± He said leaning towards me and eyeing the hilt of my sword that my arm was resting on. ¡°Especially a beautiful woman¡±. Making eye contact with me again.

    A woman who understands this world should always be armed. I wanted to say. But that won¡¯t boost his ego. Even if the plan was to demolish it.

    ¡°My father owns a farm not too far from here. I like to sneak down here sometimes for a pint.¡± I slightly raised my cup for emphasis. ¡°And some company,¡± I said, purposely let my eyes linger on his for a moment before tapping the blade at my side. ¡°The sword was my brother¡¯s. To keep me safe¡± I smiled at him as I raised my glass to my lips but barely took a sip. I needed my wits. The plump man followed suit with a large gulp, obviously not worried about his.

    ¡°Family got a farm around here ya say?¡± His brow furrowed in slight confusion. ¡° Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before. Believe me, I would remember a beautiful woman such as yourself.¡±

    ¡°Father likes to keep us close, out of the way of prying eyes,¡± I said with a sad tone.

    ¡°Your father¡¯s a smart man for keeping ya close. You don¡¯t know what dark things men think of when confronted with beauty¡± At that moment I could see in his eyes the things he was thinking about. Fun things to be sure, but things that I would never find the least bit enthralling in his company.

    ¡°He is.¡± I said with a pout ¡°But that doesn¡¯t have to stop a girl from trying.¡± I took another sip from the mug, making doe eyes at the plump man. He smiled wickedly at my implication.

    ¡°Since I bought you a drink, might I ask if you¡¯d like to spend some more time together. Away from these prying eyes¡± He queried, echoing the worries of a fictitious father. He leaned into me, resting his hand close to mine on the bar.

    Got him.  I took a step closer to him, our bodies almost touching.

    ¡°Interesting you should ask,¡± I sighed dramatically. I rested my right hand lightly on his shoulder. ¡°Because you are just the person I want to spend more time with, Loren Russo¡± my hand slowly slid down to his wrist. A slight shiver seized his arm.

    ¡°Me? How do you know my name?¡± His smile faltered for a moment.

    ¡°Yes, you see I¡¯m here about the items you stole¡± Before he could form a sentence I seized his wrist and twisted his arm behind him. I grabbed his face with my other hand and slammed it onto the bar counter. Blood almost instantly started to drip from his now broken nose. He struggled to get out of my grasp,  but there was little strength behind his plump exterior.

    Loren¡¯s friends quickly stood up from their table, unsure of what was happening but recognizing the danger. Jonah stepped up behind them from the place he was leaning forgotten against the wall and pushed them gruffly back into their seats. ¡°I would leave your friend to his own business if I were you.¡± His voice was deep and terrifying. Between his imposing stature and tone, the rest of the table quickly found their seats again. He nodded to me and I quickly brought my attention back to the task at hand. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°You are no farm wench¡± he spat at me through the pain of having his arm retched behind him.

    ¡°You say wench like it¡¯s a bad thing.¡± I sighed dramatically.  ¡°But you are right about that, Loren. I¡¯m not a farmer¡¯s daughter. I am here on behalf of one though.¡± I pushed his arm up slightly to emphasize the reasoning for our visit here tonight. ¡°A family lets you into their home. Shares their food with you. Gives you a place to sleep. And how do you show your gratitude?¡± I asked rhetorically, pushing slightly harder on his restrained arm to emphasize my question.

    Loren groaned in a painful response

    ¡°You rifle through their belongings until you come across things of value. Things like this shiny ring you got here.¡± I dug my thumb into his wrist, forcing him to flex open his hand. I released his head to pull the ring harshly off his finger, plopping the ring into another pouch on my belt.

    ¡°Did they pay you to track me down?¡± His voice was slightly nasally due to his bloodied and swollen nose. ¡°Listen, I will pay you double they are if you let me go and leave. You can even keep the ring. I sold the rest.¡± His voice was shaky as he talked through the pain of having his arm contorted behind him.

    I mockingly laughed at that. Grabbing his hair, I slammed his head onto the bar again. Blood started to steadily trickle down from his lips and chin, joining the blood already present from his broken nose.

    I released him and step back. He turned to face me and started to raise his fists in front of him. His momentary struggle stopped when I grabbed the knife hidden at the small of my back and press the steel blade to his neck.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡± he stuttered. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt me¡± his fists unclenched and turned into palms out in surrender. ¡°I¡¯ll disappear! Please. You will never hear from me again. I won¡¯t steal.  . .¡±

    Noncommittally I replied, cutting off the rest of his plea. ¡°Hardly. This wasn¡¯t the first time you have swindled people. Why do you think I know your name, Loren? You spend your spoils quickly and boast about them too loudly.¡± True understanding flashed across his face. His eyes flicked around the tavern and he saw the people watching his humiliation; watching and doing nothing. There was no way out of this for him, and he knew it.

    ¡°In so many ways, you¡¯re what¡¯s wrong with the world,¡± I said, bringing his attention back to me. ¡°Taking advantage of the kind-hearted souls who will share what little they have. That¡¯s why I know it won¡¯t be the last. Unless... ¡± I pull the blade slightly across his neck just hard enough to break the skin, wetting my knife with his blood. He yelped in pain but didn¡¯t dare move or else risk accidentally killing himself on my knife.

    I allowed my gaze to travel his person. The pommel of a shortsword hung at his belt, gleaning in the candlelit tavern. Interesting that he has a blade, yet hasn¡¯t reached for it once.  Perhaps it¡¯s new. I could make out the bottom of a few heavy pouches on his opposite hip.

    ¡°Remove your belt,¡± I stated firmly.

    Loren was sweating profusely at this point.¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Remove. Your. Belt.¡± I punctuated each word with pressure on my knife into his wound. Not enough to cut him again, but enough to hurt.

    His hands fumbled with the loops that held his belt around his waist. Holding it out to the side of him and I removed my knife from his throat and stepped back, leaving behind an angry line in the middle of his neck. With one hand, I wiped off both sides of my blade across Loren¡¯s shirt, and with the other, I grabbed his belt. The belt had multiple little pouches dangling from it. Some jingled when I shook it in front of him.

    ¡°If you rob another person again; if I hear the slightest whisper of you taking advantage of others; you will cease to be. Your death will be long and painful and I will be the one to do it. Am. I. Understood?¡± He nodded and stuttered what sounded like agreement. I smiled at him. The same wolfish grin he showed me not too long ago.

    I paused in front of him for a final moment. Make sure he remembers.

    I heaved my knee up into the juncture of his legs. Loren crumpled to his knees before me. ¡°That¡¯s so you don¡¯t forget.¡±

    Roy walked up to the side of us and picked up the fur cloak that Loren had draped on the stool beside him. He briefly made eye contact with me before he looked down to the fallen Loren. ¡°Lovely cloak you have here,¡± Roy picked it up and felt the inside fur of the cloak. he threw it up across his back, draping it across his shoulders. ¡°Oh, warm too. I think I will keep this.¡± Smiling to himself he felt the inside and found a few more pouches.

    ¡°Thanks for the drink¡± I winked down at Loren. Pulling a few coins from Loren¡¯s former coin purse, I placed them onto the bar behind him. Making eye contact with the barkeep, Dougal. ¡°For your trouble.¡± I turned and strode away from a defeated Loren, with Roy close at my heels.

    ¡°Miss Stone, always a pleasure,¡± Dougal stated through a smile to my retreating self.

    As I walked between the tables, Jonah fell into step behind Roy and me. Tarik stood tall at the door, holding it open for me with my cloak in hand. He exuded confidence that I know he wasn¡¯t feeling.

    Good, he is learning.

    I tossed my cloak across my own shoulders as we left the tavern. The four of us walked quickly to our horses and untied them from the post near the trough where we left them. Almost in step we mount our horses and, with Roy in the lead, we cantered onto the road and away from the little tavern.

    ----------------------------------------

    We kept a hard pace to put plenty of ground between us and the little tavern. This left no room for conversation but did allow for me to reflect on the night.

    Everything about the night went according to plan. My sect of Bastards, plus Tarik, was sent out to deal with Loren Russo in the best way possible for the situation. The focus was to get the stolen items back and deal with him as necessary. As Lead Bastard, life or death was to be my choice after evaluating the situation. I went into the little tavern knowing that I might have to end Loren Russo¡¯s life. However, after finally seeing him, and how he carried himself, I decided we could beat him down enough without having to kill him.

    However, if I¡¯m honest with myself, I might have to still. I may have scared him enough to discourage him from harming others again for a long while. Pulling a knife on someone who wasn¡¯t a fighter has that effect.  But if Loren ever resorted back to his old tricks, it will be my responsibility to find him and take care of him properly. The Guild believes in second chances, as do I. But not a third.

    Thankfully Dougal, the tavern keep, is in contact with The Guild regularly, specifically The Tavern, and can send word if a local patron starts flashing things that don¡¯t belong to him.

    After some time I shook myself out of my head and started to focus on the surroundings. The moon shined through the trees, providing plenty of light for night travel. The wind shuffled leaves above us, creating wistful music of nature with The rhythmic sound of the horses keeping the beat.

    We finally slowed when Jonah noticed Tarik was falling asleep on the horse. Bringing my horse next to his, I slipped the reins out of his limp hands. Loosely tying Tarik¡¯s traces around the horn of my saddle, we continued on through the night.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    The sun was just barely warming the horizon when Tarik finally woke up. Sleeping on a horse is a particular talent. One that I have struggled to develop. Instead, I usually opt to keep a weather eye on the path.

    I looked over as I heard him rustling to my side. He started to rub his eyes and looked about him, taking in the new surroundings.

    ¡°Mornin¡± I greeted him. I handed him my water bladder and he grumbled something that sounded like a response and took a long pull.

    ¡°Thank you. Thoughts on when we are going to break for food? I¡¯m hungry¡± he grumbled.

    Jonah, Roy and I exchanged glances. Children.

    Before I could answer, Jonah spoke up. ¡°We will stop once we clear these hills. We are expected to be back to The Tavern by midday, so we will only stop long enough to cook and eat.¡± Jonah lightly tapped the two large geese that he shot out of the sky in the pre-morning fog hanging by a string around their neck that was tied to his saddle bag.

    As we crested another hill, we saw the perfect spot to stop. A wide field that the road cut through with a treeline on the other side. Shade from the rising sun and wood for the fire.

    Pulling the horses to a stop, we dismounted and quickly went about prepping for our morning meal. Roy grabbed the reins of the horses and walked them back into the field to graze. Jonah grabbed the birds, found a seat under one of the trees and started to de-feather one of them. As he pulled the feathers out, he carefully set them aside into a small pouch, a few other feather tips poking out.

    Tarik looked around on the forest floor for dead and dry wood to build a small fire. The pile in his arms slowly growing.

    Joining Jonah under the tree, I pulled out Loren¡¯s belt and pouches. Emptying their contents in front of me, I went about counting our haul.

    Tarik came to join Jonah and me at the tree line. He went about building a small fire for the birds to cook on. His fire building is a bit time consuming as he had to make a couple of trips for the necessary amount of wood. After a few failed strikes of the flint, the kindling caught.

    Jonah grabbed one of the longer sticks that Tarik had found to spear the birds. And went about propping the speared birds over the fire. With our meal cooking, we finally had time to talk about our task.

    Roy joined us at the tree line, with Loren¡¯s cloak draped over his arm. ¡°Thirsty?¡± Roy asked as he rejoined us under the shade. The horses now tethered to a low hanging branch nearby. He tossed my forgotten bladder of water in my direction but Jonah intercepted with a laugh. He took a large pull from the bladder while sitting down to my right.

    Roy places the cloak beside me as he sat. ¡°There are some pouches in this too. Weasel hid his treasures all over.¡± The cloak¡¯s contents made a noise almost to emphasize his point.

    ¡°So what¡¯s our haul?¡± Jonah asked. Taking a final drink from the bladder of water, he handed it to me.

    I gulped some water down before answering his question, just long enough to slightly annoy him. ¡°Not including what¡¯s in the cloak and the cloak itself.¡± I pointed to one of the pouches laid before me. ¡°Change purse has 10 gold cogs and 5 silver cogs. He used some of what he stole for the sword.¡± I picked up the sword and turned it slightly at the hilt for emphasis. ¡°The hilt is nice. It¡¯s got some intricate design so it¡¯ll fetch a good price. Got a pouch of rings and a small number of jewels. I took the signet ring off him. All in all, just what the Chief asked for.¡±

    Tarik shifted in his sitting position, both trying to get comfortable and out of nerves. ¡°The Chief wanted Loren Russo to be handled as well,¡± Tarik said quietly.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think he has been?¡± Jonah asked, a tone of obvious shock and annoyance.

    ¡°He is still alive.¡± Tarik paused. His eyes bounced from Jonah to Roy and then to me. I gave him a small nod, encouraging him to continue. ¡°He could do it again. Even you said this isn¡¯t the first time he has stolen from farmers.¡±

    Jonah gave a huff. ¡°Bronwyn did what the circumstances called for. Like Roy said earlier, Loren is a weasel. He needed to be treated as such.¡± Jonah said with a hint of defense.

    ¡°Jonah,¡± I said warningly. ¡°his confusion is understandable. Try to remember this is a training exercise. Let¡¯s hear him.¡± I shifted my attention back to Tarik ¡°You are wondering why I didn¡¯t lure him out and kill him.¡± I said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°He would have left with you if you asked. He was interested.¡± Tarik said a bit sheepishly.

    ¡°Yes, he was. I could have convinced him to leave with me. But then what? Take him out back and scare him privately? It would not have been nearly as effective without the humiliation of him getting beaten down by a woman in a public tavern.¡±

    ¡°You could have killed him outside,¡± Tarik said.

    ¡°And make a mess for Dougal to clean up on the steps of his place of business?¡± Jonah asked sternly, implying that such a thought was a terrible one.

    ¡°An unnecessary mess for Dougal aside,¡± I started, looking to Jonah again hoping he would understand the meaning of my statement.

    Back down.

    I redirected myself back to Tarik. ¡°Loren was our target, with his loote being our focus. We weren¡¯t looking to intimidate or wrangle in other patrons or beat up some young stud.¡± I motioned to Roy¡¯s relaxed self briefly but remained focused on Tarik. ¡°So there wasn¡¯t a need for a big and messy display. Those who know of us, know that we are firm but fair. Anything less would have been against our code. That¡¯s why we stayed in the tavern. And That¡¯s why I let him leave.¡±

    ¡°He was offering to leave and you said you didn¡¯t believe him. But then you did after threatening him. How do you know he won¡¯t do it again?¡± He asked with a little more confidence in his voice, finally realizing that I wasn¡¯t going to be insulted by him questioning my actions as Lead Bastard.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Even though Jonah seems to have taken that offense for me. I looked over to Jonah in order to see if he would need further direction. A tired Jonah is a grumpy Jonah, that¡¯s not what we need when working with the future of the Guild. He silently nodded back. He understood.

    I looked back and saw that Tarik was engrossed with every word I was saying. ¡°Because Loren Russo won¡¯t keep his word unless he fears for his life.¡± I shrugged my shoulders at the unnecessary fact. ¡°That¡¯s how it is for people like that. They will try to get away with something for as long as they can. But will stop if it¡¯s too much trouble.¡± I responded.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± grumbled Roy, finally joining the conversation from his reclined position against the tree. He looked half asleep, simply waiting for the birds to cook and not sitting alongside a complete conversation. ¡°because at the end of the day, these fuckers are just trying to get by.¡± He leaned forward and pointed at Tarik ¡°Remember that Flyer. They aren¡¯t looking to lose their hide when they can cut tail and run. We just have to make sure they fear the hunter enough to keep the weasel scared and hidden.¡±

    ¡°The hunter being Miss Stone¡± Tarik added, Motioning towards me.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jonah said in more of a mentoring manner. ¡°At least in this instance. The threat of death and emasculation will hinder him from doing it again.¡±

    ¡°If he was younger or had a more aggressive way about him, Roy and I would have traded places.¡° I motioned to Roy. ¡°His strength and intimidating disposition would be more suited to a task like that.

    Weasels, however, are distracted by a pretty face.¡± I paused for a moment to give a mocking seductive face and throw my hair behind my shoulder. ¡°We Bastards apply pressure in the best way to be the most effective.¡± I smiled.

    Roy pulled the spear of birds off the fire and blew out a small flame. Wolfishly he looked over at Tarik. ¡°The occasional grunt work and murder aside, being a Bastard is a good life. The pay is good, the company is nice, and it¡¯s fun scaring the baddies.¡± He laughed at the thought.

    With that, Roy cut off a large chunk of bird and handed the spear to me. I followed suit and handed the spear to Tarik. Once it made it to Jonah, the first bird was almost free of meat. He cut into the second and then with a hand stabbed the spear at an angle into the ground.

    Silence cut across the impromptu camp. After a few steaming bites, Tarik broke through the silence. ¡°I want to be a Bastard¡±

    Looking to each side I noted the smirk on Jonah¡¯s face as he started to eat. Roy was enjoying the meat almost too much to care and simply made a gruff rumble in his throat as a response.

    He has potential.

    Jonah spoke through half a mouthful of the bird. ¡°Perhaps you will be, Don¡¯t rush. You will have time to find your best place.¡±

    With a slight smile, Tarik bit into a steaming piece of bird he had on a leaf. The sound of the crackling fire filled the air as we finished our meal.

    Once everyone was finished with their pieces of bird, the group quickly broke down their impromptu camp. Jonah and I started to kick dirt onto the small fire, snuffing out the flames with the earth below versus using our limited amount of water to split amongst us for the rest of the trip. Roy and Tarik left the camp to go and retrieve the horses.

    As we remounted the horses, we did a final scan of the surroundings. Now that the sun was fully up, we could take in more of the beautiful landscape. shades of blues blanketed the skies above. However, the view of clear skies and rolling green hills was marred by a tall dark column of smoke to the east of us.

    I was just about to point out the distant gray obstruction to the rest of my companions when Tarik¡¯s voice cut in.

    ¡°What is that?¡± He queried.

    It took a moment for Roy and Jonah to turn about their horses to see what Tarik and I both spotted. ¡°Haven¡¯t the foggiest. ¡± Jonah stated. ¡°Nothing good though.¡± Directing his attention away from the rising smoke, Jonah rustled through his side saddle bag to grab and unravel the map he was charged with. I guided my horse to the right side of his.

    Jonah looked all around us, noting the mountains off in the northern distance and the direction back to the little tavern we just came from. He looked back to the map he held up in front of him, holding it slightly tilted so that I could also see.

    ¡°Frigga¡¯s Tavern is northeast from here. Half a morning¡¯s ride. Looks like the smoke is coming from the region it looks after.¡±

    Roy led his horse to the left of Jonah¡¯s; The three of us now able to confer. Tarik was astride his horse slightly away from us, noting that this was not a time for him to speak.

    ¡°I know the tavern¡¯s keeper¡± Roy stated. ¡°Her name is Freyda. Stubborn woman, hell of a fighter though.¡± He started to stare off for a moment, and a half smile crept across his distant look.

    ¡°We should go and investigate,¡± I said, pulling him away from whatever fond memory brought about the sentiment. We needed to stay focused.

    Giving himself a slight shake Roy pulled himself back to the present, rejoining us. ¡°We will be late¡± He pointed out.

    ¡°We could send the Flyer back. He could explain where we went and send support¡± Jonah stated, looking to me for a response.

    Roy cleared his throat, drawing Jonah¡¯s attention from me. Turning around in his saddle, Roy was facing Tarik. ¡°How many times have you been outside,¡± he asked.

    ¡°Since arriving at The Tavern?¡± Tarik asked, more to himself than to us. ¡°This is my first time¡± Tarik stated.

    Satisfied with his answer Roy turned back around in his saddle and looked to me. ¡°He will get lost for sure¡± He gruffly stated.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Tarik said, offended.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said to Roy, ignoring Tarik¡¯s comment. ¡°He doesn''t know the terrain as we do. He stays with us.¡± I stated matter of factly

    ¡°So we are going?¡± Jonah asked

    ¡°Look at that smoke.¡± I motioned in the direction of the column in the distance. ¡°See How dark it is? That¡¯s a recent fire with a lot to burn. Not a snuffed fire but one with rage. Anyone that survived is going to be in need of help.¡±

    ¡°Frigga¡¯s might have sent word,¡± Roy said

    ¡°If they did, another sect of Bastards wouldn¡¯t get there until nightfall. At least.¡± Jonah countered.

    ¡°So we are the closest sect to act.¡± Roy followed

    ¡°We go and do what we can. If Frigga¡¯s didn¡¯t send word, there will at least be a carrier pigeon there to send word ourselves. Agreed?.¡± I asked

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Roy and Jonah said in unison.

    Each of us broke away from our conference in tandem. Jonah started to roll back up the map and place it into his saddlebag and took point position. Roy Pulled his horse back to take up the rear guard of our pack. I moved to join Tarik.

    ¡°We are going to investigate the smoke. You stay with us at all times unless otherwise told. Do as we say, when we say it. That smoke means trouble and we don¡¯t know what kind. Understood?¡±

    Tarik straightened himself in his saddle. ¡°Yes, Miss Stone¡± He responded formally.

    ¡°On me¡± I commanded then turned my horse, guiding him behind Jonah¡¯s. Tarik followed suit and took up his place between myself and Roy.

    Jonah turned back to ensure that we were all ready. I gave a nod. Without another word, Jonah turned and led us off the main road.

    To Frigga¡¯s Tavern, we go.

 Chapter 3: Part 1

    We rode hard to get to Frigga¡¯s Tavern and arrived as quickly as the denser parts of the forest would allow. Due to the full trees overhead, we could no longer see the smoke to act as our guide; we had to rely on Jonah¡¯s superior navigation to get us to where we needed to go.

    As we neared our destination, Jonah raised a gloved fist for us to stop. Each of us guided our steeds to a stop beside each other and dismounted on the thin trail. I grabbed the traces of my horse and brought them to the front, preparing to leave them for Tarik to take care of while we go the rest of the way to Frigga¡¯s.

    As Roy handed his traces over to Tarik, he gave him some parting instructions. ¡°If you need us, give two long blasts on your horn¡±. Tarik seemed hesitant for a moment , then seemed to steel himself and asked ¡°Can I use your horn, mine might have a...a crack in it.¡± I smiled as Roy frowned and thought, his hand wandering to the horn at his side. It was a relatively small horn, no longer than my forearm, but it was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. The rim of the horn was a bronze band, decorated with small hieroglyphs. Its body was the color of moonlight with an elaborate bronze mouthpiece.

    It was a Guild Horn. There were only a handful of horns ever created by the Smith of the Ancient Ones. The Ancient Ones aided the Founders in the formation of the Guild over a hundred season cycles ago. Though The Guild has morphed over time to best serve the people of this country, the values of the Ancient Ones remain. Each horn is held by various descendants of the Guild Founders; a group of merchants, sellswords, and farmers lead by a lord who dreamed of a better life. Roy was one such descendant, he was born into the Chiefs family like Jonah, instead of adopted in like me.

    ¡°Your own horn will do fine, if you really need another one, you can use mine¡± I said, stepping forward with both my horn and traces at the ready to give to Tarik. As I came forward, I stepped close enough to give my orders without having them projected to the others.

    ¡°I want you to stay safe and out of the way. We don¡¯t know if what did this is nearby and I won¡¯t have you caught up in a fight.¡± I handed over my traces. ¡°Tie the horses up and fly high in a tree nearby. If you see something, take note of it and we will investigate when we return.¡± He nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Be safe Miss Stone,¡± Tarik responded fondly as I walked away.

    Jonah didn¡¯t have anything to say to the boy, so he simply handed over the traces and gave Tarik a nod.

    ¡°Flyer,¡± Jonah said in goodbye.

    Jonah jogged up to catch up to where Roy and I were starting to walk. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have waited a moment for me?¡± He fell into step with Roy and I but huffed out a heavy breath every few steps. ¡°You can¡¯t go far without your navigator. With your sense of direction, You could be going the wrong way.¡± Jonah said in mock protested.

    ¡°Are we?¡± I patronized. Still walking but noting Jonah¡¯s mock exhaustion and slowing a touch.

    ¡°Well, No.¡± He stalled. ¡° Frigga¡¯s Tavern is in a meadow just ahead.¡± He pointed in the direction Roy and I were already walking in.

    ¡°Looks like we were able to manage,¡± I retorted. Roy huffed a single laugh and I laughed for a moment as Jonah walked alongside us.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother,¡± I bumped his side, ¡°we would never leave you behind.¡±

    Jonah tossed his arm across the back of my shoulders and pulled me into a side hug. I leaned into the embrace, appreciating the breach in traditional Bastard behavior for a moment. Him being almost a whole head higher than me always made me feel small. But the embrace made me feel safe¡­ home.

    Jonah and I being siblings within the same sect of Bastards isn¡¯t unheard of; however, our reasonings are certainly unique. We were the younger two of the three children of Chief Eurus Stone. Our elder brother Torin was the fourth member of my sect of Bastards since its inception. However, one day he decided that being a Bastard wasn¡¯t what he wanted to do anymore. Now, he works closely with Father back at The Tavern.

    Jonah withdrew his familial embrace after a few moments. It was back to the task at hand.

    As if through a silent message, each Bastard synchronized in their pace and demeanor. Each of us looking for any sign of what happened; our hands close to our weapons, in case of danger as we approach the clearing.

    We could see Frigga¡¯s Tavern sitting in the center of the meadow. Frigga¡¯s was a tan, two-tiered Manor with a small stoned yard off the back kitchens. There was a stable built alongside the right corner of the tavern. Close enough for patrons to leave their horses and go straight it for a pint. But it was empty of horses.

    When we broke through the treeline, the first thing I noted was how silent the meadow was. At this time of day, one would hear the chirping of birds or small creatures rustling through the underbrush. However, the only thing I could hear is my pulse in my ears and the thuds of our steps. As if the creatures fled and the air stood still in order to preserve the horror we found.

    The ground was a muddy mess from the recent rain, leaving behind imprints of a massacre. Dark streaks of blood mixed with the mud through drag marks that went in every which direction. One such drag mark started near where I stood and could be seen leading through the treeline a short distance away from where we entered.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Multiple splashes of blood could be seen along the building¡¯s side, with a river of blood under the wall. It was as if people were pushed against the building¡¯s side and then torn apart. The river of blood was all that remained of their plight.

    My eyes wandered through the bloody mud and traveled down the tavern¡¯s main pathway that led to the nearby settlement. There were various small abandoned items littering the path from the tavern¡¯s door to as far as I could see through the forest. Various items of personal importance or protection that one would grab in terror and flight. My eyes were particularly drawn to a cloth doll stained with mud and blood, smiling back to me.

    Children weren¡¯t even spared.

    I looked around to note the number of blood puddles surrounding Frigga¡¯s. Looking back to the path, I noted that the puddles stretch on down the path, just as far as the drag marks and abandoned heirlooms do. There were at least a couple of dozen deaths marked by these pools of muddy blood.

    What happened here?

    I turned back to see similar looks of shocked inquiry on Jonah and Roy¡¯s faces.

    ¡°Any ideas where everyone is?¡± Jonah asked no one in particular, breaking the silence.

    ¡°By the looks of things? They aren¡¯t alive, where ever they are.¡± Roy stated. The emotion was completely absent from his voice as he took in the ground before him.

    ¡°Can you make sense of things?¡± I asked Roy.

    ¡°I can try. The mud and blood will help tell the story.¡± He pointed to some of the large puddles of blood. ¡°Death marks can say a lot too.¡±

    ¡°Can you start with where they took the bodies? Maybe who did the dragging? ¡± I suggested.

    ¡°Probably,¡± Roy responded with a slight shrug of one shoulder. He pointed with a knife he had pulled during his walk across the meadow. ¡°Some of these drag marks lead together and go off back into the woods. I¡¯ll need to see if it leads anywhere.¡± He started to move towards the drag marks without further comment.

    Jonah came to stand beside me to my right, knowing what my next move would be. I turned and began walking towards the main doors of Frigga¡¯s. I did my best to not disturb the ground, not wanting to disturb the picture that Roy was trying to put together. ¡°Meet us inside when you can,¡± I said over my shoulder to Roy, who was halfway to the bushes.

    Jonah and I approached the main double doors into Frigga¡¯s. The doors of Frigga¡¯s were sad remnants of their former selves. The wood of the doors had been splintered apart as if those who attacked the tavern had a battering ram with them. Long claw marks could be seen where something attempted to pry the doors apart, causing the wood planks to bust apart.

    Okay, so not broken by a ram, but with something¡¯s bare hands?

    Upon closer examination, I was able to see flecks of a black substance along the claw marks. Blood. Black blood.

    With the doors serving as a pathetic barrier, Jonah and I were able to enter the tavern with ease. Inside we found a battleground.

    It was a large single room with a loft above the bar. From where I stood, I could see the tips of abandoned bows peaking over the ledge. Looking at the wall behind us, I saw arrows sticking out. Archers must have shot from the loft.

    Smart. But something was still able to get them, even from their perch.

    Where the tables would typically be spread about the room to accommodate groups of people, instead they were lined up in rows throughout the room. Tables were flipped on their sides, with table tops pointed towards the door in what used to be three rows of barriers. Freyda was smart and fortified the tavern against enemies coming through the main door.

    Well, tried to. Each row of upturned tables was disheveled; tables slightly turned, with just enough space for something to get through every few tables.

    Behind the barriers of tables was the bar, with three large ale barrels laying on their sides on a raised wall, spout out for easy pouring. They were left undamaged by the attack but displayed a bloody splatter of death. Cups and tankards were scattered about on the floor of the bar area, with one lone tankard actually still upright and half full of ale.

    Jonah and I walked through the tavern in tandem with one another, him just a step behind me to my right. We were able to make our way through in the same manner as the attackers did. Both of us looked down the rows of upturned tables, looking for someone, anyone. But nothing. Only the sight of drying blood smears and abandoned tableware. With each passing step, the floorboards creaked louder. Almost to highlight the lack of anything here.

    Wait. The floorboards?

    I stopped at the final of the three rows of upturned tables, just before the bar. I turned to Jonah. ¡°Where is the Guild¡¯s Hole in this tavern?¡±

    ¡°In the kitchen behind the bar if I remember correctly¡±

    So it¡¯s beneath us. Freyda would have put survivors in the Guild¡¯s Hole. Unless there was no one for her to save. Or worse yet, she saved people and whatever did this found them.

    We walked with a bit more purpose back in our step as we approached the bartop and kitchen entrance. As we made our way to the kitchen, Jonah turned and went behind the bar. He reached down to a block on one of the shelves and turned it.

    Click.

    Jonah and I walked through to the kitchen, which was only separated from the tavern hall by the wall the large barrels rested on. On the raised wall, beneath the farthest barrel, a small latch was protruding. I walked over to the latch and turned it to the left one-quarter turn, then to the right two, finally back one left turn and pushing the latch back into the wall.

    A panel popped out to the left of us, revealing itself to be a small door.

    Jonah backed into a squat with his short sword drawn as I reached to open the door.

    ¡°Hello?¡± I said to the yawning emptiness before me.

    There was a slight rustling. Whispers could be heard from within; however, no answer was given to my question. Something was down there. Is it whatever did this?

    I looked to Jonah to see if he heard anything. He nodded, then proceeded to point to himself and then me and then pointed down. I nodded.

    Whatever is down there we will take it on together.

 Chapter 3: Part 2

    Jonah, still crouched, returned his short sword to the small sheath hanging off his left hip. He stepped forward and jumped through the revealed shaft. The moment I heard the thump of his landing I moved to descend as well. I looked down to see him step aside, making room for me, with his side dagger drawn. I dropped down the short distance down into the Guild¡¯s Hole.

    The hole was actually a small room with rows of shelves lining the wall and a small table with some chairs pushed towards the back wall. The room was a little over half the size of the tavern¡¯s hall above us. It was tight quarters for a fight, so it made sense why Jonah grabbed his dagger instead of his short sword. Plus he was like a viper with a dagger.

    Once I landed, I kept myself crouched in order to quickly reach behind me for my dagger with my right hand and retrieved a similar blade strapped to my leg with my left. As I brought myself to the standing position, I shifted my weight to my back leg and held my blades out, ready to spring into a fight at a moment¡¯s notice.

    The two of us slowly and silently progressed into the room, looking for whatever had made the noises before. I kept a listening ear, waiting for the slightest sound to give away whatever is in here with us.

    We were almost to the final shelves and the table when I heard a whimper. Jonah and I stopped at the same instant, he heard it too.

    Evil doesn¡¯t whimper.

    ¡°Hello?¡± I said quietly. Jonah¡¯s head whipped around to look at me, surprised that I spoke. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We won¡¯t hurt you.¡± I said despite his questioning glance. It might be a lie, but I hoped it was the truth. There¡¯s been enough death here today.

    ¡°A priest and a lord walk into a tavern and see an orphan beggar, both offer to take the child away. Who does the beggar go with?¡± A small voice asked from behind the final shelf.

    The code? Freyda must have had time to tell them of it before they got into the Guild¡¯s Hole.

    ¡°Neither. The child goes with the sellsword in the corner¡± I said in response to the riddle.

    Shuffling feet could be heard behind the shelf. Then a young lady, she might have seen fifteen or sixteen season cycles, stepped out into the open just far enough to be seen but holding something back behind the shelf still.

    ¡°Freyda said that anyone who came through the hole would either be an enemy or a member of the Guild.¡± She said, still a little suspicious.

    She needs more convincing that we are friends and not robbers

    ¡°Yes. Freyda was the Tavern Keep here at Frigga¡¯s. She used to be a Bastard like us but moved on to other tasks.¡± I slightly motioned to the building around us. ¡° Like taking over her grandmother¡¯s tavern and namesake.¡± Lorelle slowly nodded at my words. Good, she¡¯s starting to believe. She was starting to come out of that shocked fight or flight feeling that our arrival created.

    ¡°My name is Bronwyn Stone and this is my brother Jonah.¡± I motioned him as I lowered my left arm, putting the blade back into its sheath on my leg. I then returned my right blade to its sheath on my lower back.

    ¡°You¡¯re with the Guild?¡±

    I nodded with a smile. Trying to put the girl at ease.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright now child, you¡¯re safe¡± Jonah said softly. He lowered his blade to its sheath strapped his left side, following my lead of disarming.

    ¡°Stone?¡± She asked then paused, trying to place the name. ¡°My father told me of that name. He used to work here when I was little. He said that the leader of The Guild is Chief Stone¡±

    ¡°Our father,¡± Jonah replied with a crooked half smile.

    The girl nodded her head slowly as if mulling over the new information with what she has apparently learned of the Guild from her father.

    Some of it was a bit inaccurate, but most common people¡¯s knowledge of us is slightly skewed. Father was the Chief of The Tavern, which is a sect within The Guild, not the leader of the Guild itself. As Chief, he leads and counsels The Tavern and it¡¯s people, with the help of his various advisors. The sects of the Guild mostly govern within themselves and protect the surrounding territory of the country. Members of each sect helped to grow food to support themselves and the rest of the people within the Sect.

    Each sect of the Guild had a particular focus and through trade and the occasional smuggling, the sects share the fruits of their labors. The Tavern was a hundred miles for the Western Sea, it was charged with producing ale and wine for taverns across the country; The Port was located slightly west of the Capital City and the Smugglers hub of The Guild; The Farm which was located in the Far East, and was in charge of growing The Guild¡¯s storages of food for the needy; and The Mine was located in the Northern mountains where Bastards go for harsh but necessary training; there was a fifth, The Ball, but it was destroyed when The Crown and The Guild separated a hundred cycles ago.

    Every season cycle, all the Chiefs, and various members of their respective sects gather at one of the five Guild sects. The chiefs meet and discuss topics of import. Bastards, Flyers, and Artisans come together as a single Guild to celebrate the Guild¡¯s continued success and remember their history. Artisans are those who work within the Guild as smiths, farmers, merchants, and smugglers. Though the smugglers tended to find themselves lumped in with Bastards more so than Artisans due to their more sinister means of work. Some return to their sects of origin, while others decide to leave and go to another.

    Seeming to have accepted what she heard, The girl stepped further out into the opening, pulling a small girl by the hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m Lorelle.¡± The girl said without making eye contact. She lifted her and the little girl¡¯s conjoined hands ¡°and this is my sister Ella.¡±

    Ella was holding onto Lorelle¡¯s hand with both of hers. Ella tucked herself into her sister¡¯s side. Her eyes bounced between Jonah and I. Together they slowly progressed over to stand in front of us.

    ¡°Will we go back with you? To The Guild?¡± Lorelle asked.

    ¡°Well, not exactly. The Guild is a people, not a place. We will take you to our home, The Tavern. You will be safe there¡± I nodded with my response as I looked them both over.

    I finally had the chance to get a good look at the girls. Lorelle¡¯s dark hair was matted from dried blood with her clothes stained an ugly reddish brown. The little one, Ella, was a less bloody miniature of Lorelle. ¡°Is any of that blood yours?¡± I motioned between the two as I asked. Ella clung to Lorelle¡¯s side and slightly behind her when I spoke to them.

    She must still be in mild shock.

    ¡°No, we are both relatively unharmed. Got a cut on my leg from where one of those things grabbed me.¡± Lorelle spoke for them. ¡°Most of it came from others at the settlement and here.¡± She said and pointed up.

    I looked up to see small strips of light pouring down from the tavern hall above. A gross image. The blood of the dying must have dripped down into the Guild Hole below. I looked down at the dirt floor for the first time and saw small splash lines of blood from where it dropped through the floorboards into the small room. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Before I could ask any other questions, the floorboards above us started to creak from the movement above. Ella squeaked in fear and shoved herself behind Lorelle and pushed her face into Lorelle¡¯s cloak, hand over her ears.

    ¡°It is alright little one.¡± I lowered myself to my knee so that I was at the same height as the little bundle of fear. ¡°That¡¯s my friend, Roy. He¡¯s a Bastard in the Guild, like us.¡± I motioned to Jonah and myself again. ¡°Don¡¯t fear Ella. You are safe with us. I promise.¡±

    I looked up to Lorelle. ¡°We need to go up.¡± I said. She nodded as a response and started to guide Ella forward towards the Guild¡¯s Hole entrance.

    Ella was hesitant to move as if her feet were held firm by the bloody dirt. But With Lorelle¡¯s pushing yet comforting hand acting as a guide on her shoulder, Ella finally started to move towards the exit. Jonah led the way and stood aside for me to climb up the shaft that had handholds cut into the wall¡¯s side that I didn¡¯t see when we entered.

    Once I climbed to the top of the shaft, I quickly moved to the side in order to let my companions through the door. First Lorelle emerged, followed by Ella, and finally Jonah. Together we made our way out of the tavern¡¯s kitchen and into Frigga¡¯s main hall.

    Roy was standing behind the bar and filling a mug from the closest of the three ale barrels behind him. On the bartop were two more mugs, filled to the brim with a dark colored liquid and an iron birdcage sitting beside them. A carrier pigeon squeaked at our entrance into the main tavern hall.

    Jonah walked down the side of the bar to stand alongside Roy. I brought the girls around to the other side of the bar and picked up a couple of the stools. They found seats and tried to ignore the chaotic scene of the tavern hall. As I sat down beside them on one of the only still standing stools, Roy pushed one of the two dark filled mugs towards me and another to Jonah.

    ¡°I see Freyda managed to stow away some survivors,¡± Roy said with a sad half smile towards the girls. Ella shrank away from him, scared of this wild-haired man. He turned back around and filled two more mugs from the center barrel.

    ¡°The name¡¯s Roy if it pleases you little misses,¡± Roy said.

    He pushed forward two mugs, the clarity of the liquid showing that the contents in their mugs were water. The girls hesitated for a moment, afraid of the imposing stranger before them.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing to fear from me,¡± Roy encouraged.

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Lorelle said. With that, she and her sister quickly drank down the water. Running for safety is thirsty work, and there were no supplies down in the Guild¡¯s Hole. Roy took the empty mugs and refilled them. They both quickly went to drink more from the mugs

    ¡°Take things slow, you don¡¯t want to throw it all back up,¡± I said. They took a sip and then put the mugs back down, showing some restraint before raising the mugs back to their mouths a moment later.

    I directed my attention back to Roy. ¡°What were you able to find out?¡±

    Roy¡¯s expression quickly went stone cold. ¡°Nothing good,¡± He said. He nodded his head slightly to the right, towards the children. The girls were terribly pretending that they weren¡¯t listening to every word.

    ¡°We should get back to Tarik and the horses,¡± I said, nodding in understanding. ¡°We need to send word to the Guild. It¡¯ll be late, but it should get there before they send out a sect to get us.¡±

    Jonah, as if by silent command, walked out from behind the bar, passed us and took the stairs on the side of the hall up to the loft.

    I unstrapped the water bladder from my side and placed it on the bar counter. Roy did the same to his. ¡°Could you fill these while we prepare to leave?¡± I asked Lorelle.

    Lorelle grabbed the bladders in silent assent and handed one to Ella. They walked back around the bar to fill the bladders while Roy hopped over the bar, with an unnecessary show of nimbleness, to stand beside me and to give the girls plenty of space behind the bar to fill the bladders. Lorelle started to fill the first bladder with water from the middle barrel but held her body slightly angled. It was as if half of her attention directed at what we were saying and not the menial task was given to her.

    She¡¯s sharp. Near death experiences will do that to a person.

    ¡°Tell us on the way ¡± I said to Roy. I grabbed and downed my mug in two large mouthfuls. Years as a Bastard of The Guild has given me an affinity for drinking ale.

    Rustling could be heard above as Jonah rifled up in what was probably Freyda¡¯s loft. Not long after the rustling stopped, loud thuds, sounded his descent back down the stairs. In his hands were parchment, an ink well, and a feather pen. Jonah placed the items in front of me on the bar and returned to have a sip from his mug.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said a he nodded and untied the leather bladder from his side. He placed it beside the empty bladder remaining on the counter. ¡°Fill this one with ale,¡± Jonah said.

    ¡°Please,¡± I interjected, not removing my eyes from the blank parchment in front of me but still feeling the need to correct the err in manners.

    ¡°Fill this one with ale...please.¡± He grumbled in response.

    I smiled and looked back to the blank parchment in front of me. Roy was starting to fiddle with the birdcage, preparing to release the bird when I was done with the note. I needed to report what happened in as short a letter as I can make. Hopefully, the bird won¡¯t get shot down for a meal or intercepted for intelligence.

    Stone and Bastards delayed. Settlement near Frigga¡¯s attacked. Providing aid to survivors at Frigga¡¯s. Will return with them after the preliminary sweep of settlement. Another sect will be needed for process and containment.

    B

    Roy came up beside me with the carrier bird perched on his arm. There was a small capsule attached by a strap attached to the bird¡¯s leg. I rolled up the strip of parchment and handed it to Roy. He stuffed the rolled note into the capsule and walked towards the exit.

    Jonah cut in before Roy got to the final row of tables. ¡°Tavern¡¯s that way¡± he pointed northwest. He then finished the contents of his mug. Whatever he saw up in the loft seemed to have been drinking inducing, like the rest of this place.

    Roy freed the bird from the doorway, in the direction Jonah pointed towards and walked back into the tavern hall. He made his way back through the rows of tables without nudging a single one, having to maneuver his body this way and that as he was a bit wider than the rest of us; too much muscle and ale. He continued to walk back behind the bar, grabbing Jonah¡¯s and my cup to refill for a final time.

    ¡°May I have a mug of ale to toast with?¡± Lorelle asked, looking down not making eye contact with anyone, but speaking loudly enough to be heard by all.

    ¡°How many cycles have you seen?¡± Roy asked as he walked back through the tavern and went behind the bar. He was a bit skeptic of giving a youth ale.

    She looked up and made eye contact with Roy. ¡°Enough to have dead to drink to,¡± Lorelle retorted, a bit of iron present in her voice.

    Roy looked over to me; Your call, his eyes said.

    I looked from him to Lorelle. For a moment, I saw a different girl. She was in a fine, cream-colored dress that was stained, torn, and covered in dirt. Her long dark hair was matted down and cut in different sections. Her arms dirty with mud and flakes of rust. So young, but had already gone through so much, too much.

    I nodded once, partially to knock the girl out of my mind¡¯s eye but also in answer to Roy¡¯s silent question.

    Roy grabbed Lorelle¡¯s drained cup and filled it halfway with the same dark liquid we had. He hesitantly handed the mug over to Lorelle. She looked down into the mug to see how much she got. She seemed satisfied. She stood up with her mug held high. Everyone stood to join Lorelle and raised our mug, even Ella had a small amount of water left in her mug.

    Though our group was divided by the bar, we still came together in a half circle. Roy was behind the bar with the girls with Jonah and I standing in front of it, standing with one on each side of the back line. Each of us faced the carnage within the tavern hall. Roy was behind the bar with the girls I couldn¡¯t help but look out the dilapidated doors and out to the path that leads to the settlement. Somewhere that doll was staring back at me.

    Roy¡¯s somber voice echoed through the tavern¡¯s hall ¡°May the Highest Above look over the souls of the departed... and guide the dead to join their ancestors,¡± he said, momentarily feeling the loss of whoever Freyda was to him.

    I spoke from my chest with the honor befitting of those who were lost. ¡°May the Highest Within help the living find peace in their loss, knowing that they will one day join the departed,¡± I said.

    ¡°To the Dead,¡± Jonah finished.

    ¡°To the Dead¡± everyone echoed. We each drank in silence, alone with our thoughts.

    I couldn¡¯t help but think that The Guild and I failed these people, failed these girls. The Guild offers protection throughout the country. Freyda did everything The Guild taught her, everything I would have done, to keep the people within this tavern and the fleeing settlers safe. But it wasn¡¯t enough to change anything.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, breaking the pregnant silence. ¡°We¡¯ve done all we can here.¡±

 Chapter 4: Part 1

    As a group, we made our way back out through the broken barriers and out of Frigga¡¯s and I could imagine the moments just before Frigga¡¯s was breached.

    Each of the patrons would have been waiting behind the rows of barriers, with gnawing fear gripping them by their core. They would have been able to hear the screams of the people rushing here from the settlement. With each passing scream, the patrons would have tightened their grips on their various weapons, stealing themselves for the fight to come. Some would be a little less courageous than others and would have to be corralled by their neighbors.

    But not Freyda.

    If she is, or rather was, anything like the fighter that Roy and rumor say, then she would have been thinking only of Frigga¡¯s Tavern and the people within her walls. She would have given words of encouragement to those who trembled with each terrifying moment. She wouldn¡¯t have been impervious to the fear that those around her felt. Nevertheless, she would have courageously waited to attack whatever enemy broke through those doors, her doors.

    When we reached said dilapidated doors, I stopped in front of the right side door. There was a splintered half circle in the middle with the clawing marks webbing out from the edges from where the creatures pried their way in. It looked like a grotesque rising sun.

    She failed, and my heart broke for her.

    I know how hard it is to be a woman in this world; Even being a woman within The Guild comes with its challenges. Those challenges only compounded her sense of honor, one that usually comes with being descendent of one of the Founders within The Guild. However, it is each member¡¯s duty to uphold the memory of those who came before us, be they a descendant or adopted into The Guild. As women, we do so with the added struggle of defying the expectations of our gender that is held by half of the world. And the consequences for defying those expectations.

    Freyda watched as her family¡¯s legacy fell around her. She and the men in that tavern probably fought as hard as they could. But she still had to watch her men fall to an enemy she couldn¡¯t have had any understanding of, and yet she would have fought on. Because that¡¯s the kind of person Freyda was. She would have fought until her last breath.

    It is the only reason why those girls are still alive.

    Freyda¡¯s grandmother built the tavern with her sect of Bastards near the end of The Guild and The Crown¡¯s union. It was once a place of refuge for The Guild members who were fleeing The Crown when Lord Kamen pulled The Guild¡¯s support from The Crown almost a hundred cycles ago.

    The Crown¡¯s so-called justice for our betrayal was mighty and fierce. Frigga and many Guild members of her generation were killed during the split¡¯s fallout.

    Such a legacy to uphold, and for quite some time, Freyda was the pinnacle of Frigga¡¯s Tavern Women. She had the support of many of the country folk in the area, which allowed her to provide The Guild with much-needed information over the years. But it was under Freyda¡¯s time that this tavern¡¯s legacy came to an end. She died with that sadness weighing down her heart and a blade in her hand.

    Is this my fate too?

    Shaking myself out of my morose thoughts, I brought my attention back to the door itself, versus what the broken door represented. I pulled the door to me and examined at the claw marks one final time. Using the door, I looked at the gouges from every which direction. The black and bloodied claw marks lined the middle of the door. Reaching up, I allowed my hand to hover over one of the main gauges in the door. They were just slightly larger.

    Human?

    Jonah came and stood beside me as Roy motioned for the girls to continue out of Frigga¡¯s. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± He asked in a hushed voice.

    ¡°That this the third settlement within The Tavern¡¯s territory to be attacked in ten cycles,¡± I said, still looking at my hand hovering over the door. I finally pulled my hand away. ¡°That these people were either slaughtered or abducted. And I¡¯m not sure which is worse.¡± I turned away from the door and started to follow Roy and the girls,  Jonah at my side.

    ¡°We have to keep them safe,¡± I said.

    Jonah looked to me, walking in step ¡°We will,¡± Jonah said confidently.

    Jonah and I quickened our step to catch up to Roy and the girls. I was hoping to spare them the image of the slaughter line along the side of the building. Thankfully, Roy had the same idea and had positioned his body between the grim view and the girls, leading them towards the side of the meadow, slightly ahead of where we entered. As the girls walked through the treeline, Roy waited a moment for Jonah and me.

    I stepped aside to let Jonah through the bushes and followed as he walked through the treeline. Roy brought up the rear as we left Frigga¡¯s Tavern and the grotesque scene that was displayed behind us.

    Once we cleared the first few rows of trees, I turned to Roy, ready for his recap of what he learned here. Jonah and the girls were a few paces ahead, so he started to lead the girls the short distance to where Tarik left the horses tied up. Roy would be able to catch him up later.

    ¡°So¡­?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Followed a few of those drag lines out of the meadow.¡± He pointed to a line of disturbed ground a few feet to our right. I followed his line of sight and started to walk towards the area in question.

    ¡°The drag lines are all spaced about the same. They lead out of the meadow, go past a few rows of trees and lead to this,¡± Roy said, gesturing toward the ground at our feet. It was a line of scorched ground. The drag marks led straight through the scorched line but the ground on the other side was left completely undisturbed.

    ¡°All the other draglines lead to marks like these?¡± I crouched down to look at the scorched line more closely. The grass was browned spreading out from the line, which was two knuckles deep.

    ¡°Yup,¡± he said

    ¡°How many?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Found eight in the short time I was out here. Could be a few more out there I didn¡¯t see outright.¡± He motioned a quick circle with his hand ¡°They wrap around the meadow, around Frigga¡¯s.¡± Roy paused for a moment, pulled back into his thoughts.

    Emotion kept creeping in on him in moments that I have always known for him to be serious and take emotion out of a situation. Every Bastard has their own tricks to get over the things we see. Freyda must have been important for her memory to break Roy¡¯s serious demeanor.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°How did you know Freyda?¡± I asked abruptly.

    ¡°What? Oh, I¡­ we¡± he stumbled over his words, still looking at the scorched ground before us. ¡°She came to The Mine for a cycle back when she started out as a Bastard. She was making her way through the Guild,¡± he looked back to me briefly ¡°like we did when we were younger.¡±

    Roy looked back at the ground as if this confession between friends will be less heavy-hearted without talking face to face ¡°I was just a little shit Flyer at the time but whenever I wasn¡¯t running messages or climbing trees, I would watch the Bastards train. She was the only girl Bastard there at the time, but she was the fiercest woman I had ever seen fighting.¡±

    He looked back to me with a half smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Well, one of the fiercest,¡± He said.

    I smiled briefly at his compliment; being compared to Freyda was an honor. Freyda was known throughout The Guild for her time as a Bastard, as well as running Frigga¡¯s Tavern after her mother. And she was his childhood crush.

    ¡°She could have made it,¡± I said, trying to bring some light to his darkened and sad eyes.

    ¡°No,¡± he said, resigned ¡°you saw that hall. She did everything she could. But she¡¯s dead.¡±

    I reached out and put a silent hand on his shoulder. Roy wasn¡¯t a man of sentiment, but hopefully, that action would be enough to give him some small comfort. He reached up and put his hand over mine. We stood that way for a few moments, both of us staring at the scorched ground, thinking of our fallen sister.

    After a few comforting moments, we both turned away from the scorched ground and started to walk in the same direction as Jonah and the girls, back to the horses. It was a quiet walk, but Roy and I have never felt the need to fill the silence between us with awkward conversation. Instead, he was one of the few people were silence wasn¡¯t awkward, but comfortable. It¡¯s one of the reasons why we have been friends for so long.

    As we walked towards Jonah and the girls, we were able to see Tarik climb down the tree beside where they were waiting with the horses. It seemed that Jonah was making introductions between the children. It was a few more moments before Roy and I could make out the conversation

    ¡°You were at Frigga¡¯s when it was attacked?¡± Tarik asked Lorelle. He seemed genuinely concerned but also intrigued by the girls.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lorelle said, without giving further explanation.

    Tarik looked saddened by being brushed aside but seemed to accept it well. He finally saw Roy and me when we were just behind Lorelle and Ella and quickly forgot his previous disappointment. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a small journal. Flyers often act as message runners within the sects of The Guild and are given small journals to help them remember details and take notes while out on their tasks.

    ¡°Miss Stone, you¡¯re back!¡± Tarik said excitedly.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get too excited if I were you,¡± Jonah said

    ¡°Why?¡± I asked.

    ¡°You told me to take note of things that stood out and that you would investigate.¡± Tarik waved his small journal in front of him as emphasis. ¡°So I flew through the treetops around Frigga¡¯s and noted things that stood out,¡± he said smiling.

    ¡°I also told you to fly high and stay safe because we didn¡¯t know what was out there, ¡± I said curtly. His smile fell.

    ¡°But I did!¡± Tarik said in exasperation. ¡°I flew around the tree line that skirted around Frigga¡¯s and noted the burn marks on the ground. I stayed up and out of the way just like you told me to,¡± he said to excuse himself.

    ¡°I meant to stay put and note anything that you can see from your post,¡± I said, a bit frustrated with myself and the boy. If I were more specific, he wouldn¡¯t have gone on his own, but if he hadn¡¯t been so focused on proving himself, it would have been a non-issue.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was just trying to help.¡± He extended his journal.  ¡°I found a bunch of burn marks. I was so quiet that Roy didn¡¯t even hear me when I was right over him,¡±

    I looked over to Roy for clarification. Roy stepped forward towards Tarik, who took a worried step back.

    ¡°Show us the fruits of your insubordination¡± Roy extended his hand and took the map from Tarik. Tarik looks down, afraid he was about to get yelled at.

    As Roy walked back to me he looked over the journal.

    ¡°Flyer¡¯s got a good eye.¡± He chuckled. Roy handed the map over to me to look at.  ¡°Found the ones I missed. They were further back in the treeline.¡±

    He stepped closer to me for a private word. ¡° And if he was up in the trees around me, I didn¡¯t hear him¡±.

    ¡°Impressive,¡± I said.

    Roy grumbled a yes. He stepped back and spoke loud enough to be heard. ¡°Smart little Flyer, but he doesn¡¯t seem to listen to orders quite well.¡±

    ¡°True enough,¡± I said to Roy, I looked over to  Tarik. He was sheepishly standing there, listening and waiting. I approached him stone-faced, allowing him to feel my disappointment. He looked up and I could see his own.

    ¡°I like you Flyer, you got potential.¡± He started to smile at my compliment, that wasn¡¯t my purpose here. ¡°But not following directions is a quick way to get on my shit list.¡± The smile quickly vanished at the prospect. ¡° Be careful,¡± I said.

    ¡°Yes, Miss Stone, I¡¯m sorry¡±

    ¡°Go get the girls situated with your horse,¡± I said, dismissing him. ¡°You¡¯ll be riding with me from here.¡± I turned away from him, allowing the verbal reprimand and my coolness to serve as punishment. Tarik nodded and walked towards the girls, leading them to his horse on the other side of the trail. Its traces were tied up to another low hanging tree branch across the trail.

    Roy, Jonah and I came together in order to use this moment to the girls away so we could have a moment to all speak.  I looked down to the map that Tarik made as Jonah looked over my shoulder

    ¡°Ten scorch marks,¡± I said.

    ¡°Like the others?¡± Roy asked, almost rhetorically; we all knew that these attacks were connected, somehow...

    ¡°Like the others,¡± Jonah and I said in unison. We made eye contact at our responses. What would usually be met with humor and jabs was met with a glimmer of sadness.

    ¡°There is one thing that¡¯s different than the others,¡± I said, looking back to where Lorelle was mounting Tarik¡¯s horse. As she settled, Tarik hoisted Ella up to Lorelle¡¯s waiting arms. The little girl was settled in front of her older sister and quickly laced her fingers through the horse¡¯s mane.

    ¡°Two things actually,¡± I said.

    Jonah turned to me, ¡°I was wondering when you were going to bring that up.¡±

    ¡°Well between mentally processing the implications of another attack, and calming the two traumatized children, I have been a bit busy,¡± I retorted.

    ¡°Chief will want to speak with them. At least the older one,¡± Roy said.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, resigned to the fact that I won¡¯t be able to protect the girl from the barrage of questions that lie in her future. ¡°So will the Council of Advisors and all the Lead Bastards¡±

    ¡°Just their survival will embolden curiosity from others,¡± Jonah said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her,¡± I said. ¡°See what I can find out now.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps your recount of the events will be enough¡± Jonah said, half serious.

    ¡°Unlikely,¡± Roy said. ¡°But if we are going to figure this shot out, knowing what she knows is going to fill in a lot of holes,¡± Roy said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see what we can figure out between the settlement and the girls and then get back to The Tavern,¡± I said.

    Roy and Jonah nodded their agreements, we broke our huddle and walked towards the children. The girls were set on Tarik¡¯s steed, with him wordlessly waiting for us just in front of the horse.

    ¡°The settlement is just down the trail here,¡± Jonah said as he bounded up onto his horse. Roy and I quickly followed suit. I brought my horse to stand beside the girls and Tarik and extended my hand. Tarik reached up and together we hoisted him up behind me on my horse.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Jonah asked as Tarik got settled behind me.

    ¡°Yes. After you, Brother.¡± I said.

    Jonah pulled ahead, with Lorelle leading her steed behind him. Tarik and I followed behind the girls with Roy pulling up the rear. As a group, we rode down the trail, following the abandoned items and death marks the entire way.

 Chapter 4 Part 2

    Our company made its way away from Frigga¡¯s Tavern and toward the settlement that was once its charge. It was a slow-moving single line with Jonah in the lead. His guidance wasn¡¯t necessary, but it was a natural way our sect of Bastards has always traveled. The smoke rose above the treeline straight ahead, letting us know that we were heading in the correct direction; the smoke that was rising was almost white, showing that fire had snuffed itself out.

    The ride to the settlement was a silent and somber one. With each passing moment, more abandoned items littered the road. Abandoned shoes joined the personal mementos and weapons that had been abandoned along the route. People were frantically fleeing to a point that they were simply running out of their shoes. The number of death marks increased until the mud beneath the horses was just a bloody mess.

    The path ahead was starting to lighten significantly as we reached the end of the forest. Jonah raised his fist for us to stop at the mouth of the path became visible. Each of us pulled to a stop, ready to go on foot from here. I held out my arm slightly to help Tarik dismount from behind me, then I followed suit.

    As my feet touched the ground, I looked over my shoulder to see that Jonah and Roy were dismounting as well. Tarik had walked over to the girls¡¯ steed to hold their traces and help them dismount. Each of us held our traces and led our steeds into a huddle, each ready to hear what the plan was going forward.

    ¡°Tarik,¡± I started. ¡°You and the girls are staying here with the horses while we go in.¡± I looked over to Jonah and Roy. ¡°We¡¯ll do a perimeter check before going in. Jonah and I will go to the right of the path; Roy, you take the left. We will meet up on the other side and then walk in from there,¡± I said to Jonah and Roy. I then looked back to the children.

    ¡°Questions?¡± I asked.

    ¡°May I go with you?¡± Lorelle asked hesitantly, ¡°I need to see it myself. What happened to our home.¡±

    Everyone looked at me. I hesitated a moment and then nodded, understanding better than most the desire that was driving her.

    ¡°Do you have a blade or anything? Something for protection?¡± I asked. Lorelle pulled out a small cutting knife as an answer.

    ¡°Okay, but stick with me at all times,¡± I said.

    ¡°What? Why does she get to go? She¡®s a girl¡­¡± Tarik gestured over towards Lorelle as if I didn¡¯t realize who he was referring to. ¡°Not even a Flyer.¡±

    I stopped tying my steed to the tree branch and turned to face Tarik, allowing my dissatisfaction to plague my words. ¡°You are of the Guild. You go where I tell you to go. She isn¡¯t, thus she can go if she pleases; though she should heed our advice. And what of it that she¡¯s a girl?.¡±

    Tarik¡¯s face lost all color. He realized that he finally offended me. Not by questioning my motives as Lead Bastard, not by being a jitterbug before we confronted Loren, but by questioning the ability of a person because they are a woman. He started stuttering over his words. ¡°No¡­. nothing¡­. I was just saying that¡­¡±

    Roy finished for him. ¡°That¡¯s it¡¯s not fair that a smart Flyer boy like yourself can¡¯t go and see the destroyed settlement but the little lady does?¡± He let out a huff of air and leaned in, telling him in a mocking whisper, eyebrows raised, ¡°shows that you know nothing about the strength of women.¡± Roy said. With disappointment in his eyes.

    Roy¡¯s face of iron turned soft as he turned to face Lorelle, cutting off any further response from Tarik. ¡°The settlement might be worse than it was at Frigga¡¯s little miss. Staying back will save ya the image.¡±

    Lorelle looked down a moment, pondering the words of the wild stranger before her. ¡°Thank you, Sir, but I need to see it, or else¡­.¡± Her words faded.

    Or else her imagination will make something up. Something worse.

    ¡°She comes with us,¡± I stated, again. Nods all around with Lorelle letting out a sigh of relief.

    Lorelle turned to her sister and crouched down so they were eye to eye. ¡°Stay here with Tarik. We will be back soon¡± Lorelle said.

    Ella started to cry. All of this was too much on her. I didn¡¯t blame her, she was just a child living within a nightmare. Lorelle pulled her sister into a tight hug.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be okay. I am going to go but I¡¯m going to come right back okay? I promise,¡± she said as she stroked the girl''s hair.

    ¡°But... I don¡¯t want you... to go¡± Ella said through sobs.

    ¡°I know. But I have to all the same.¡± She pulled back from the embrace and looked her sister in the eye, seeming to become so much older than I thought her to originally be.

    ¡°I need you to be brave, okay little one?¡± Lorelle said. Something about the words had an instant impact on the child. Ella stopped crying, wiped her face with her sleeve and nodded to her sister.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said.

    Jonah started moving towards the settlement and Roy motioned for Lorelle to follow suit, she stood back up and followed the rest of the way down the trail to the smoldering settlement. I stayed back for a moment to stand beside Tarik.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss Stone,¡± Tarik said softly. ¡°I, I didn¡¯t mean to say she couldn¡¯t go because she is a girl.¡± He looked down, ashamed of himself.

    ¡°What did you mean then?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. I¡¯ve gotten my words twisted on more than one occasion.

    He looked up, acknowledging the chance to explain himself. ¡°She¡¯s a girl who is untrained. She won¡¯t be able to protect you if something goes wrong.¡±

    ¡°Her going has nothing to do with protection. It has to do with closure. Her closure.¡± I paused ¡°Plus, Lorelle and Ella are the first to survive one of these attacks to the best of The Guild¡¯s knowledge.¡±

    ¡°She will have important information,¡± Tarik said in understanding.

    ¡°Exactly¡±. I stepped forward to follow the others. ¡°Stay here within the tree line, with the horses and stay with Ella,¡± I said.

    Shouldn¡¯t be able to wiggle his way out of those orders.

    ¡°Be safe Miss Stone,¡± He said as I left.

    I turned my head back to show my smile. ¡°Be smart, Flyer¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    I jogged slightly to catch up with the rest of my group. Jonah, Roy, and Lorelle were waiting for me at the mouth of the path with the smoldering settlement waiting behind them. Jonah and Roy were standing slightly to the side of the path, with Lorelle standing in the center, staring at the smoking settlement. My approach caught her attention.

    ¡°Lorelle and I will take the right side. You two take the left.¡± I said to the two gentlemen.

    ¡°You sure? One of us can accompany you two.¡± Jonah said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± I said flatly.

    I have had enough of people second guessing my orders for one day.

    ¡°See you on the other side,¡± I said to them. I walked off to the right, following the treeline, with Lorelle on my heels. With the settlement on our left, we started to make our way around the perimeter of the forest. It was a quiet walk, as I had no idea how to bring up what happened to this girl.

    ¡°Are you going to ask me about what happened?¡± Lorelle asked as if she knew what I was just thinking.

    ¡°In time,¡± I said. ¡°You will have to tell the story many times over before the end, I figured I would give you some time,¡± I could see the displeasure on her face about telling everyone about what happened.

    ¡°Plus, I can start piecing things together a bit based off what I¡¯ve seen thus far while you find the words,¡± I said.

    ¡°Like what?¡± Lorelle asked.

    ¡°Well,¡± pointing through the treetops toward the smoke rising into the sky. ¡°From the color of the smoke, I can tell that whatever happened occurred late last night. When we first saw the smoke it was extremely dark. The smoke color has lightened throughout the day; meaning whatever was on fire is mostly destroyed. The fact that it took so long to turn colors makes me think that the fire probably moved quickly through the settlement and was all-consuming.¡±

    ¡°It was,¡± she said sadly.

    She stared at the settlement as we walked along the perimeter. We fell into an awkward silence again as we walked along the boundary between the settlement¡¯s fields and the forest. I continued scanning the woods around us, taking in the occasional abandoned item and drag mark as we walked.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Lorelle asked. She continued to walk alongside me, looking at her burned home.

    She didn¡¯t see a junction of drag marks and was about to step onto them. I reached out quickly and pulled her to an abrupt stop. Looking down, Lorelle started to see how all of the grass was crushed and pushed aside. The bushes to our right were crushed and a small path was made with whatever, or whoever was dragged through here.

    Without another word, Lorelle fell behind me as I walked through the bushes into the tree line. The path was once again a blending of blood and mud. A few strides within the tree line revealed another line of scorched ground. A bloody trail led up the blackened line with everything past it being left completely undisturbed.

    We silently stared at the line of death. I finally broke the silence by answering Lorelle¡¯s question from before while motioning to the bloody ground surrounding us. ¡°I can tell that Whatever attacked held no mercy within them.¡±

    Silence fell between us for a few moments. I pulled out a small journal of my own from my breast pocket and noted the location of the scorched ground on one of its clean pages. Then we walked back through the tree line to follow the perimeter of the settlement. The crunch of the ground beneath us filled the silence for a few minutes.

    ¡°They looked like people,¡± Lorelle said, breaking the silence. ¡°At least at first glance. But their screams were like the roars of an animal...or a demon.¡± I looked over to see her staring at the ground. ¡°Everyone was fleeing their houses and funneling into the main road.¡± She looked at the settlement longingly but continued along on our perimeter check. ¡°That¡¯s when the creatures fell on us. On me.¡±

    ¡°It clawed cut up my leg a little bit, but Father killed it before it could bite me.¡± Lorelle¡¯s voice became hollow as she continued to recount the events that happened the night before.

    ¡°There were so many people screaming and pushing each other. I saw one of the elders accidentally get pushed into one of the burning buildings.¡± She paused for a moment, looking back towards the settlement before continuing again. ¡°Father led us down a side street to get away from the main fray. But we accidentally crossed paths with one of those creatures.¡± She continued. ¡°Father had me go ahead with Mother and Ella and take them to the forest.¡±

    ¡°Your Mother?¡± I asked gently.

    Lorelle stopped in her tracks.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lorelle. I have to ask,¡± I said, looking back to see Lorelle shed a silent tear.

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Would you like a moment?¡± I asked.

    ¡°No,¡± she said sadly. ¡°It¡¯s like you said. I¡¯m going to have to tell this several times over¡±

    I approached her until I was standing face to face with the girl. She was a head shorter than me. ¡°All the same, you are allowed to feel. You¡¯re only human.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t,¡± she started. ¡°My Mother is dead,¡± She said as another tear escaped. ¡°My Father is missing, just like every other person I have ever known from the settlement.¡± I could hear the iron in her voice ¡°I have to take care of Ella now. I¡¯m all she has,¡± she finished. She wiped angrily at the tears that betrayed her.

    Another child taking over the responsibilities of an adult. She¡¯s afraid that if she starts to ¡°feel¡± now, it¡¯ll come crashing in.

    Lorelle started to move forward again, reinitiating our perimeter check. Even though she said that she didn¡¯t need a moment to collect herself, I gave that time to her anyways. In the meantime, we came across another drag mark that led into the woods. We followed the drag marks to another scorched line in the ground. The area around it looking like the others. I pulled out my impromptu map and marked the location of the line. It was a couple of hundred feet away from the last one.

    ¡°This is where we came through the forest to go to Frigga¡¯s,¡± Lorelle said. She pointed down to the drag marks ¡°These weren¡¯t there. At least I don¡¯t remember seeing them. But it was dark.¡±

    ¡°What happened here, in the forest?¡± I asked. I looked over to see Lorelle staring through the trees, back towards Frigga¡¯s.

    ¡°We thought it would be safe, the forest. We thought that the creatures were just in the settlement. But they were already here, waiting. We were almost to the forest edge when we could hear the screams and I saw a glowing red light through the bushes.¡±

    ¡°Red light?¡± I interrupted, looking over to her, shocked. I know that the Guild hasn¡¯t heard anything about a light, red or otherwise. ¡°What red light?¡±

    ¡°The creatures had these metal bands around their necks, like an animal collar. At the heart of it, there was this pulsing red light.¡±

    A collar? With light? Lorelle had the answers to many of The Guild¡¯s questions. But each answer spawned many more questions.

    ¡°How many creatures?¡±

    ¡°Enough to illuminate the bushes like they were bathed in torchlight,¡± she said grimly.

    Enough creatures to attack and demolish an entire settlement while still having enough to have some waiting in reserves to kill off stragglers.

    ¡°Mother led us through a section of treeline that didn¡¯t seem to have any light, so we figured that meant there wouldn¡¯t be creatures,¡± Lorelle said, looking back to the scorched ground at her feet. ¡°But we were wrong. As we made our way deeper into the forest closer to Frigga¡¯s, a bright white light appeared in front of us, almost like a door opening in the air. Mother had us climb up one of the trees the moment she saw it. She stayed below us. We had just gotten to a good height when I heard the creatures and saw them pour out of the light. When they got closer to us, Mother loudly led them away so we could get to Frigga¡¯s and warn them.¡±

    A door of light?

    ¡°She could have gotten away,¡± I said, echoing the false hope I tried to give Roy earlier.

    ¡°No, they cut her down a few moments later,¡± Lorelle said, emotion slipping out of her voice. ¡°I blocked Ella¡¯s view so she didn¡¯t have to see.¡± She turned, hiding another set of tears.

    She looked down at the scorch mark, an angry mask starting to slip over her features. Lorelle glared at the line as if she could destroy it with her pain. ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll figure out how to go into the pool of light.¡± Lorelle¡¯s voice was iron. ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll go through and I¡¯ll cut down the ones responsible for this.¡±

    Damn, this girl is potential. I couldn¡¯t have said it better myself.

    ¡°Not alone,¡± I said, coming to stand beside her.

    ¡°Good,¡± Lorelle looked to me. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to fight. Not really,¡± Lorelle said.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing you vowed to do it ¡®someday¡¯.¡± I smiled. ¡°We should keep moving,¡± I said, looking back through the treeline to note we still had a bit more of the perimeter to cover. ¡°Otherwise Jonah and Roy won¡¯t let me hear the end of it.¡±

 Chapter 4 Part 3

    Lorelle and I cut across the final bit of treeline toward the small road that split the settlement in two. It led out to the forest on the opposite side of the town from the clearing that we began in. I was able to see an abandoned cart along one side that would serve as a good meeting point for us once we were all done with the perimeter check. As we neared the cart, I was able to distinguish two figures.

    Damn, they beat us.

    Jonah and Roy were waiting beside the abandoned cart on the side of the path that. We found three more scorch marks as we finish our check of the perimeter. The final one only a hundred paces behind us.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time you two showed up,¡± Jonah called out as we neared the two waiting figures. ¡°Get lost or something without your navigator?¡± Jonah smirked at his callback as we came to stop beside them at the cart.

    ¡°Not all of us were checking with an expert tracker who grew up in The Mine.¡± I untied the water bladder and took a long pull. ¡°We were being thorough,¡± I said, handing the bladder towards Lorelle.

    Roy puffs his chest out a bit. ¡°She¡¯s referring to me, ya know,¡± Roy says to Lorelle before Jonah could take the credit.

    Lorelle gave a half smile after she finished another pull from the bladder. ¡°Well considering she¡¯s pretty good, I can¡¯t imagine how good you are,¡± she said, joining in on the familial banter.

    ¡°Who do you think taught me?¡± I asked.

    Roy smiled and gave a slight shrug. ¡°With age comes wisdom.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re four cycles older, ¡± Jonah said, incredulously. ¡°I¡¯d hardly call that wisdom.¡±

    ¡°What did your wisdom find out on your side?¡± I asked Roy, refocusing our group while still getting the last word in with Jonah. Ha.

    Roy pulled out a small beat-up leather journal and opened it; I followed suit.

    ¡°Five scorch marks two hundred and fifty paces apart, and ranging from three to ten paces into the treeline at each location on the left side,¡± Roy said, highlighting the very training I was referring to previously. ¡°How ¡®bout the right?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Same as yours.¡± I showed my journal, which had a drawing depicting the settlement and scorch marks, which were also reflected in his journal.

    Jonah snorted at my simplification. ¡°So another ten scorch marks,¡± he said.

    ¡°At least we know what the scorch marks are now,¡± I said. Jonah and Roy both responding with looks of confusion.

    ¡°They¡¯re doors. At least they are what remains of doors that appeared,¡± I said

    ¡°What?¡± Jonah started. ¡° How do you know?¡±

    ¡°I saw it,¡± Lorelle said, her voice sounding a little more hollow than it did a few moments ago. ¡°These doors of light open out of thin air and the creatures pour out.¡±

    ¡°How do they work?¡± Roy asked Lorelle.

    ¡°What kind of creatures?¡± Jonah asked at the same time.

    ¡°She has no idea,¡± I said for her.

    As if a child...or anyone...would understand how a door of light opens and burns the ground or what the creatures truly were.

    ¡°We should go in,¡± I said to the group. Looking to Lorelle, I asked, ¡°where was the attack thickest?¡±

    ¡°The main road. Everyone was rushing out of their homes and  onto the road, trying to get away from the creatures attacking.¡± She pointed down to the road we were on and followed it up to the settlement. Jonah and Roy nodded along as she spoke, listening intently about the night before for the first time.  ¡°But there were creatures down the alleyways as well,¡± she finished.

    As we walked into what used to be the settlement, I couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed with a profound sense of loss. Every building within the settlement was burned down, with all that remained being the stone foundations and a few structural beams there and there, all charred. The air reeked of burned flesh and carrion birds could be heard, flying overhead. Though the smell of burnt flesh clung to the air, there wasn¡¯t a single body in sight. Like Frigga¡¯s, all that remained were drag marks leading down alleyways

    Lorelle let out a gagging noise. I opened one of the pouches and pulled out a handkerchief. I handed her the strip of cloth to tie around her mouth and nose to help. Everyone else simply co tinted on. The Bastards are a bit more familiar with the smell of death.

    As we walked down the main settlement road, we constantly had to move around abandoned wagons and collapsed segments of various buildings. However, for the most part, we were able to walk through the settlement together, with Lorelle and me between Jonah and Roy.

    The ground was a dusty mess of ash with any death marks either burned away or buried under the debris. It was more than apparent that nothing could have survived this. Whoever is behind the attack intended for this to be a complete massacre.

    ¡°What kind of thing can do this?¡± Jonah asked again. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what they are now. But they looked like they used to be people,¡± Lorelle shared with Jonah and Roy.

    ¡°People?¡± Roy asked incredulously. ¡°People can¡¯t destroy the doors of Frigga¡¯s with their bare hands. These things did.¡± He kicked a half-burnt bucket that was in his path out of the way.

    ¡°I said used to be people¡± Lorelle quipped. ¡°They didn¡¯t have any hair and it seemed like their tongues had been cut out,¡± she continued.  ¡°They made this horrible guttural sound when they attacked people, their blackened claws extended.¡± Jonah scrunched his face at the mental image.

    ¡°And they came through these doors of light?¡± Roy asked.

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Lorelle said, slightly distracted by a broken wooden sign. Most of the two rows of text were illegible, burned off.

    ¡°Ten scorch marks, ten doors,¡± I said, interjecting into the conversation. I looked to Lorelle ¡°you mentioned earlier that the creatures wore a collar?¡± She nodded, looking away from the sign and continuing ahead.

    If they are collared, then maybe they are nothing more than a tool to be used towards a greater purpose. But what purpose? Who would benefit from this kind of destruction?

    ¡°Collars would mean they belonged to someone, someone who can open doors of light,¡± I said, voicing my concerns.

    ¡°Which makes this problem a lot worse than we realized,¡± Jonah commented. I looked from Jonah to Roy, making instant eye contact with both, all of us on the same page.

    Shit. This is bad.

    ¡°What about support? What¡¯s the Crown doing? Are they only attacking settlements?¡± Lorelle asked. Poignant questions for a child and each one led closer to problems the Guild has faced since separating from the Crown.

    ¡°From what our spies tell us, there have been attacks similar to the settlements but on a smaller scale in cities throughout the country. Hitting markets during the early evening rush,¡± I shared.

    ¡°The king has even ordered for a greater number of guards to be posted at markets at all times now. But it would seem that the Crown only cares about the attacks on their markets. As no one has been sent out to the settlements to give them protection.  I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they don¡¯t even know of all of the towns that have been attacked¡± Jonah said. ¡°That¡¯s one of the reasons why The Guild still exists. To protect those that the Crown ignores.¡± He finished smiling slightly with a feeling of purpose.

    Throughout the conversation, I couldn¡¯t help but note that Jonah and Roy were using extreme caution with the girl. No, caution was the wrong word; they were treating her with something closer to kindness. Being gentle with her. Including her in our conversation.  Minding how close they stood by her. They were doing what they could to put Lorelle at ease. It¡¯s one of the reasons I opened up to them all those years ago; and why we have always worked well as a sect of Bastards. Jonah and Roy may be large, scary-looking men, but they also contained within them a great kindness and sense of purpose in helping others.

    ¡°I heard my parents talking about a settlement attack once. A friend of my mother went missing that day.¡± Lorelle said. ¡°But that was a cycle or two ago.¡± She paused for a moment, trying to recollect. ¡°How long has The Guild been looking into this?¡± Lorelle asked.

    ¡°They started up what? Nine? Ten cycles ago?¡± Roy asked, looking over Lorelle and my head to make eye contact with Jonah on my right.

    ¡°Almost ten now,¡± Jonah started. ¡°The attacks seem to happen once or twice a cycle. Never striking the same area twice.¡± He said.

    ¡°Never in the same Guild sect either. As if whoever is attacking is trying to imply they know about us too,¡± I said.

    ¡°Unfortunately, some of the settlements have been discovered too late and anything that would help us in finding out more is washed away,¡± Roy said pointing to one of the few Door scorch marks we¡¯ve been able to find. It was between two destroyed buildings, leading down an alleyway. ¡°So we are only guessing that they are actually connected from the missing people,¡± he finished, continuing to walk down the main road.

    I looked to see what Lorelle¡¯s response to our debrief of the attacks would be, to see that she had stopped a few paces prior, to stare blankly down the alley we had passed.

    ¡°This is the last place I saw my father¡± Lorelle said, sadness enveloping her voice. ¡°We were sneaking down the side alley, trying to get away from the main attack,¡± she started walking down the alleyway as if pulled by a rope.  I followed a few steps behind, with Jonah and Roy staying on the main road

    ¡°A creature saw us and turned to attack.  Father stayed behind to protect us,¡± Lorelle said, stopping beside two large blood marks halfway down the alley.

    Suddenly Lorelle fell to her knees. I quickened my step to come to stand beside her, a bloodied ax on the ground in front of her. There were several death marks in the immediate area. A sob shuddered through Lorelle¡¯s body as she gripped the ax and pulled it close to her chest, hugging the memory of her father.

    He died fighting for his family. Lorelle had mentioned only one creature being, here but a door must have opened shortly after they left. Reading the scuffs and marks on the ground her father took several of the creatures down with him. I looked to the side of us to see the destroyed remnants of a wall. It was splattered with black blood.

    Lorelle had said previously that her father used to be an enforcer at Frigga¡¯s, back when she was a child. Enforcers typically received some sort of training, either from a traveling Bastard or even going to The Mine. His training, our training, helped him take down countless of these things. But one Bastard wasn¡¯t enough.

    I knelt down beside her, just far enough away not to bump her. She sagged into me and I wrapped my arms around her, offering her the comfort she needed. It had to be the first time she was able to express her true feelings since she went to sleep the night before.

    I stroked her hair as she wept on my shoulder. ¡°I am so sorry Lorelle.¡±

    After a few minutes of holding a crying Lorelle, I heard footsteps behind us. I looked to see Jonah approaching us. He stopped for a moment, waiting to see if it was okay to approach. I gave him a silent nod.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we need to keep moving,¡± Jonah said, sympathy present in both his tone and demeanor. ¡°We won¡¯t get to The Tavern until close to nightfall as it is,¡± he finished.

    I nodded my agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll dispatch another sect to process the settlement. We¡¯ve got all we can for now,¡± I said. The follow-up sect will be able to pick things over and find anything worth salvaging that could be returned to families of the dead.

    With a supportive arm around her shoulders, I guided Lorelle to the standing position. She held the ax tightly in her left hand and wiped away the tears streaming down her face with the other. Together we walked back to where Roy stood to wait for us.

    The remaining walk through the settlement showed the same barren spread of death that Frigga¡¯s and the first half of the settlement displayed. We didn¡¯t stop to inspect anything else. Lorelle has finally succumbed to the worst day of her life. We needed to get her home.

    When we broke through the final row of dilapidated buildings, Lorelle stepped out of my guiding embrace. She didn¡¯t say anything, engrossed in her own thoughts. As we walked through the field towards Tarik and Ella, Jonah once again took the point in our journey, knowing exactly where to go to find the rest of our fellowship. Lorelle fell behind me and continued to be silent, looking at the ground but didn¡¯t seem to care where she was walking, or going. Roy trailed behind us and ensured she stayed with us as we left the village behind.

 Chapter 5

    When we broke through the treeline and back into the mouth of the forest, the horses were easily visible a few hundred paces down the trail. As we neared, I started to look up into the trees, looking to see where Tarik and Ella hid. However, it became apparent that they split up when Ella came bursting through the bushes to our left and came running towards us.

    Ella greeted Lorelle, however it took a few moments before Lorelle seemed to register where she was again and finally responded in kind. Lorelle knelt down in front of Ella and enveloped the small girl in a fierce hug. When they finally pulled back, Ella looked at the ax that Lorelle carefully held at her side.

    ¡°You found Papa,¡± Ella said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lorelle responded in a whisper. ¡°He¡¯s gone. It¡¯s just us now.¡± Ella looked up to Lorelle instantly, hearing the pain crack through her voice. Lorelle closed her eyes, trying unsuccessfully to block more tears.

    ¡°Gone,¡± Ella said, chewing over the word. Lorelle reached out to hold Ella again, expecting her meltdown at the news. Instead, it seemed that Ella was comforting Lorelle, squeezing her tightly as both quietly cried herself.

    I looked away from the private moment to take in the responses to the rest of our company. Tarik finally entered my sightline, a result of him climbing too high and was only now getting down to the path. My eyes traveled to Roy, who was watching the girls intently, a protective scowl etching itself across his face as the girls comforted each other. Was he thinking about his brothers? About how each meeting came with fists instead of embraces? His family is Guild, through and through, but that doesn¡¯t mean they are invulnerable to problems.

    I looked over to Jonah and made instant eye contact with him as he seemed to have been watching me. I gave him a sad half smile. Jonah and Torin were raised by Chief Eurus Stone to be true siblings, not simply related, but there for each other, always.  From the day I came to the Guild, Jonah and Torin were there for me, comforting me in my many times of sadness, trying to include me and help me become a part of The Guild, a part of their family. Together, we became a sibling unit that Father could be proud of. I could only hope that Lorelle and Ella can become that for each other as well.

    The bond between siblings, if approached correctly, could become a bond like no other. Unfortunately for Roy, it has been a source of pain. But that is why our sect of Bastards has become so close over the years. We have felt true pain, but through each other have come out better for it.

    Another tear slid down Ella¡¯s face as she reached up and cupped Lorelle¡¯s cheek. ¡°We need to be brave, right? Just a little while longer now and we will be safe,¡± Ella said sagely, removing her hand. ¡°Tarik told me about The Tavern,¡± she looked over to the boy, who had just reached the ground and joined the rest of us. ¡°There are caves and farm animals and everyone works together to help protect and provide,¡± She was rambling with childlike enthusiasm. ¡°They will take care of us. It¡¯s going to be okay. Okay, Lorelle?¡± The little girl asked. Her rant about the prospects of the Tavern seemed to rouse Lorelle.

    ¡°Okay little one,¡± Lorelle said with a little more life in her voice again.

    I moved to stand beside the girls ¡°Are you okay to ride?¡± I asked Lorelle.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, standing up and putting an arm around Ella.  She looked down to her little sister ¡°We are going to be okay,¡± she gave a half smile to put her sister at ease. Ella squeezed Lorelle¡¯s waist in response.

    Without further prompting each member of our company walked up the flank of their respective steeds. Tarik held his former steed for the girls before coming to join me.

    As everyone got settled on their horses, Jonah briefly consulted the map he carried. He led his steed over beside Tarik and me to discuss our route bad home.

    ¡°We can take this path back to the main road,¡± he said to me. ¡°If we keep a good pace, we should be back before it¡¯s too dark.¡±

    I nodded in response and motioned to the path ahead of us. ¡°Lead on, oh Mighty Navigator¡±.

    ¡°Smart ass¡± He huffed at me with a slight chuckle. With a flick of his traces, he launched himself down the path.

    I followed suit, addressing Lorelle as Tarik and I passed. ¡°Stick between us and Roy¡±. Without further comment, our company left death and destruction behind us.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The road back to The Tavern cut through the hilly landscape and led to the foot of the Mountains. The cliff faces were on our right side as the road thinned to pass two horses across. We slowed our pace to accommodate the terrain. Jonah, Tarik and I took point with Roy and the girls a few horses paces behind us. The sky was hues of pinks and reds, made the shadow of the mountain cool and dark. Roy, Jonah, and I were on high alert, looking for the hidden path that will take us home.

    Jonah slowly pulled ahead, putting me in the middle with him acting as a scout. Eventually, Jonah pulled his horse to a stop and hooted out in happiness as well as signaling to us that our goal lay just ahead. I turned my steed down a path partially obscured by branches. The path was thin enough that we had to go down in single file. However, this part of the trail was well worn in that it was easy to know where to go.

    The path led up to a small clearing at the foot of a large cliff face. We pulled our horses to a stop in the center of the clearing. I whistled a long note, stopped and then gave two loud, short bursts.

    ¡°Welcome Bastards.¡± came a loud voice from above.

    Lorelle let out a small yip of shock.

    ¡°You¡¯re late Miss Stone.¡± The voice admonished through a thick accent. ¡°Last I heard they were ¡®bout to send another sect¡¯a Bastards for ya. Who¡¯re the spares?¡±

    ¡°Our lateness couldn¡¯t be helped,¡± I said. I motioned to the girls beside us. Both were looking up in the trees, trying to find where the voice was coming from. ¡°They are seekers of refuge from a settlement we passed.¡±

    ¡°It ain¡¯t my place to hear why you¡¯re late. Just point¡¯n out you are. Make sure you take them to see Madge. She¡¯ll need to clear them¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± I said.

    The face of the mountain opened a crack.

    Jonah and Roy dismounted and walked over to a densely packed section of foliage by the cliff side. Together they reached out to a seemingly normal stretch of rock and pulled away from each other at the crack. The cliff face, which was actually just a tightly woven wall of plant fibers textured to look like the cliff face, opened. A deep cave mouth was revealed, and far within a faint orange glow could be seen. Jonah and Roy quickly walked back to their respective steeds.

    ¡°Almost home now,¡± Jonah said cheerfully as he vaulted himself onto his horse and guided the creature within. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Roy stood beside his horse and motioned for me to follow, then Tarik. Roy would be able to close the wall behind us after guiding his steed within the cave mouth.

    The moment he did so, the cave was blanketed in darkness with the only point of light being the glow ahead.

    Home.

    The spot of light slowly grew, sharp shadows licking the walls. The sounds of people and horses could start to be heard over our collective movement into the cave.

    We finally broke through the light and entered a huge cavern room. The cavern was the hub of all Bastard business. Torches decorated the walls throughout with the smoke rising to a small hole in the ceiling that led to the surface. A spiraling pathway that led up and out through a tunnel.

    Though the center was clear of obstacles, the rim of the cavern was packed with everything a Bastard could need to prep for a task. Groups of older children could be seen throughout the cavern. Some were waiting studiously about, while others were helping with the horses. A few were waiting with small groups of armed adults around the rim, preparing to deliver messages or carrying gear.

    To the right of the pathway ramp, there was a roped off area that served as the stables. It wrapped around a good quarter of the large cavern rim; built to hold enough horses to launch several sects. However, eight horses were being saddled by youths of various ages.

    To the left of the ramp was a long wooden table that curved with the cavern wall. The wall behind the table displayed a painted map of the country. There were two distinct groups of adults who were sitting and standing about the table. The older group sat at the table in front of the wall, while the other, younger group stood to wait on the opposite side of the table. The younger Bastards were dressed in leather armor, ready for a fight. The older Bastards were rummaging through a pile of various items, with stacks of flat stones raising up throughout the table.

    At our entrance, people throughout the cavern turned to look and sent a small cheer our way before going back to their business. We pulled to a halt beside the stables and dismounted. An olive-skinned woman with raven black hair separated from the group of youths taking care of the horses and approached us. Tamara, a fellow Lead Bastard. She was Jonah and Torin¡¯s aunt. Though she was much more to me. She was a mentor, an aunt, a friend.

    ¡°About time you showed up.¡± She said, reaching her arm out. We clasped forearms and shook once.  ¡°Chief had us waiting on standby after getting your message. If you didn¡¯t get back soon, we were coming after you regardless,¡± she finished. I nodded. Father was always protective.

    ¡°The Flyer said you came across another attacked settlement?¡± Tamara asked.

    ¡°Yeah. We saw the smoke as we came back from a task. We went to investigate,¡± I said.

    ¡°Brigands? Or¡­?¡± Tamara let the question finish itself.

    ¡°There were scorched marks,¡± I said, answering her question without giving away too much. She would find out later after I have talked with the Chief.

    ¡°No one survived then?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Actually¡­¡± I turn to see Lorelle and Ella huddled together, looking everywhere. They are seeing something they have only ever heard whispers about. Being here, in and of itself, is a shocking moment. But to be dealing with everything else? These girls are exhausted and overwhelmed. They need to sleep.

    ¡°Freyda saved them,¡± I said. Tamara gave a sad nod, understanding that her childhood friend was dead.

    Tamara walked over to stand in front of the girls. She placed her hand over her heart, bowing slightly at the waist. ¡°My condolences for your loss,¡± she said, straightening to her full height and looking between both girls. ¡°My name is Tamara. I spent some time at Frigga¡¯s and remember your settlement and people, I will never forget them. If there is anything I can do to help either of you, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your remembrance Tamara,¡± Lorelle replied. ¡°I am Lorelle, and this is my sister, Ella,¡± motioning to the child attached to her side. ¡°Where will we go from here? Is this cavern The Tavern?¡±

    Tamara gave a light chuckle. ¡°This is simply the launching cavern for the Bastards. The Tavern is above us,¡± she said pointing up towards the smoke hole high above, a few pricks of light could be seen within the black hole.

    ¡°You will be staying with our Matron Madge and Tamara until we get you settled,¡± I said clarifying to the girls her significance. If an orphan finds their way to a sect of The Guild or gets smuggled out of the overcrowded cities, they stay with a Matron until they find their place within the Guild. Madge was one such orphan, however, she stayed with the former Matron and became her successor. Tarik is one of the several orphans under Madge¡¯s charge.

    Tamara let out a short whistle, calling attention to the nearby youths, most trained Flyers. ¡°Moira and Amos, over here please,¡± she ordered nicely. Two of the older children broke from the group, a tall blond boy and a dark-skinned girl and crossed the short distance to us.

    ¡°These are some new friends that will be staying with us. Take them to Madge and help them get settled. They are in need of sleep,¡± Tamara said.

    ¡°Of course Miss Tamara,¡± Amos responded, straightening his back as he took on this task.

    Before the children departed, I motioned for Lorelle¡¯s attention and guided her aside.

    I watched her eyes flick around the cavern, taking in her surroundings before bringing her full attention to me. ¡°If you need anything or someone to talk to, I am here. ,¡± I said as I motioned to the cavern around us. ¡°I have been where you are. And I know that this is all very overwhelming at first.  If I¡¯m out on a task, Madge is always available to help. But again, if you need anything, just ask.¡±

    Looking back to her sister, who was standing close to the dark Flyer girl, Moira if I remembered correctly. Moira had a comforting arm around Ella, attempting to put her at ease in a strange place.

    Lorelle turned back to face me and lifted her father¡¯s ax slightly at her side. ¡°Can you teach me to use this? Can you help me kill the things that killed our family?¡± She asked abruptly, with iron in her voice.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, answering both questions. Knowing how to fight will give her a level of comfort. I could give her that.

    ¡°Good. Thank you Miss Stone¡± Lorelle lowered her head slightly ¡°for everything.¡± With that, she turned on her heel and walked back to Ella, who reattached to Lorelle¡¯s side the moment she was within reach.

    Tamara returned to the group of children before they departed. ¡°When you see my beloved, tell her I¡¯ll be home tonight. It would seem I¡¯m not going out on task.¡± Lorelle and Ella¡¯s eyes momentarily went wide; two women living together is not commonplace. At least, not commonplace in the country at large. That is not the case within The Guild, it never has been. We judge a person based on their actions, not attractions. It¡¯s one of the reasons some even decide to join the Guild, to escape judgment and persecution over love.

    I walked over to a large table that had a large mural of the country behind it.  Jonah and Roy fell into step behind me, having handed off the horse to one of the youths about. The table was centered under The Tavern¡¯s territory. The table was manned by an older Bastard, named Sturge.  Sturge had a long scar that ran from jaw to cheekbone on the left side of his face. He was one of the toughest Bastards alive, though he hadn¡¯t been outside of The Tavern in over ten cycles, instead served as a Taskmaster, sorting through bounty that Bastards brought back, divided payment between the involved parties and The Guild, and coordinated sect departures and arrivals.

    Bastards never die, they just do different tasks

    I pulled out a flat, smooth rock and placed it on the table. Loren Russo¡¯s name was painted on the surface. I then grab the three pouches and put them on the table. Jonah placed the sheathed sword to the left of my pouches with Roy placing the cloak down on the table as well.

    ¡°Seems you three found yourself a bit of trouble while out dealing with¡­¡± Sturge said he looked down at the stone to remind himself of the name ¡°Loren Russo¡±. He shuffled through the goods on the table. ¡°Good thing you sent word. We were expecting you midday. A sect of Bastards was prep¡¯n to go after ya on Chief¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°We came across a destroyed settlement. We needed to check for survivors¡± I clarified for him.

    ¡°That¡¯s what the Flyer said,¡± Sturge said. He motioned to two such Flyers that were running up the path, up and out of the cavern. The same path Lorelle and Ella left through moments before. ¡°Chief wants to see the three of ya. Go on ahead. We will sort out split and payment later,¡±

    Without a further word, the Taskmaster turned his attention to the fruits of our labor, dismissing us.  I turned to Jonah, confused.

    Taskmaster never likes to leave a task unfinished.

    ¡°Must be important,¡± Jonah said, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not keep Father waiting then,¡± I said.

    Together we walked down the remaining length of the table to the spiraling pathway. Half a spiral up was the tunnel that led up to The Tavern.

 Chapter 5 Part 2

    The three of us walked quietly up the wide tunnel. There was some slight foot traffic, including a couple of Flyers who were most likely delivering messages to the Bastards below, meaning we had no security to discuss our trip before we arrived at our destination.

    When we reached the mouth of the tunnel, I couldn¡¯t help but momentarily appreciate the detailed work of people long dead. Each column displaying lifelike scenes of wildlife. The left shows a scene of deer running through bushes. The right highlighted a wolf defending its den. The overhead supports showed birds flying free through the clouds looking at the countryside below. One could almost imagine the tunnel¡¯s ornate mouth as a picture frame for the vista below, a large valley surrounded by mountains.

    My favorite view.

    The sun was setting between the mountains, casting dappled light upon the main dirt path leading through the valley up to our position. Plots of growing food line the walkway down the entirety of the valley, ensuring that they get the most amount of sunlight possible. Off the main pathway, there were small footpaths that led to several small wooden houses throughout the valley¡¯s walls.

    As we walk out of the tunnel, more architecture that makes up Tavern Life began to come into view. To the immediate right of the tunnel mouth is a two-story pub, built into the side of the mountain. It contained a tunnel that wound through the mountain itself and led to a similar building that does decent business as an inn, though Guildsmen across the country refer to it as Outer Tavern. It¡¯s one of the two points of entry points into the main complex.

    To the left of the tunnel is a longhouse, where most of the official Guild business is handled. It¡¯s where Chief Eurus spends most of his day, and thus our destination. We walk towards and into the main longhouse.  Strong doors opened to reveal tables lined on both sides of the longhouse with a stone fireplace running the center. At the end of the longhouse was a low dais that held up a long table, enough to fit the Chief and his Advisors. Chief Eurus was sitting center in the table, with our brother Torin already there, sitting to father¡¯s right.

    Behind the table was a detailed carving of our history.  Each plank, starting from the top, displayed the various important events that make up the Guild¡¯s history.  battle scenes, coronations, anomalies in the skies above, and moments of peace. The Crown has always lost sight of their past mistakes. But not the Guild.

    The Guild remembers and protects all.

    At our entrance, Father looked and a large smile crossed his face. ¡°Thank Highest Above,  you are both alright,¡± he said looking to Jonah and me.

    Chief Eurus from the head table and came to meet us as we walked down the center of the longhouse to the table. Chief Eurus Stone walked towards us carrying with him a presence that commanded respect. His dark, shoulder-length hair was pulled back, with streams of grey shining like beacons of wisdom in the firelight. He embraced Jonah first, his second eldest. Then Chief Eurus turned to me, a warm smile already placed across his mostly stoic features.  He enveloped me in a fierce and loving hug. ¡°I was worried for you,¡± he said before placing a light peck on my forehead. His only girl, his youngest.

    His niece.

    Chief Eurus Stone was the eldest son of Lord Kamon Moor, and as such, should have inherited his father¡¯s lands and titles upon his death. But his mother was a Guild tavern wench, making him a Bastard, lesser in the eyes of the Crown. Purity of blood was something that the Crown never could get over, and was something the Guild cared very little about; which is why the men and women at arms within the Guild are referred to as Bastards. What the Crown sees as a term for lesser is used by the Guild to show off those with the ability and dedication to be a member of the Guild.

    Because of the Crown¡¯s outlook on legitimacy, Lord Kamon¡¯s inheritance went to his second son or his eldest legitimate son, Leon Moor, my birth father. The two brothers grew up together despite their mothers being of different standings with their bond being one of the first between the Crown and the Guild in decades. Eurus could have been bitter about the fact that his younger brother would have everything he deserved simply because of the crown¡¯s outlook on what legitimacy was, but Eurus was better than that; mostly because of his Guild mother. She instilled within her son the values of the Guild. Lord Kamon provided the best for his sons, even if one was illegitimate, which provided Eurus with an understanding of the rules his father¡¯s society lives by, a unique quality amongst members of the Guild.

    Keeping a comforting arm around me, almost ensuring himself that I¡¯m really here, he guides us to the table where three men and one woman pretended to not be staring at our reunion. These Advisors stood around the table, looking over reports and numbers, helping to guide the future of the Guild. Each member around the table, save for Torin, served as a Bastard with Eurus at some point in their lives. As such, each had a bond born in blood and real-life experiences that connected them to their Chief.

    Anon, who was seated opposite of Torin is father¡¯s closest friend. They¡¯ve been together since childhood, as Anon was a Guild orphan brought in from one of the cities. He came to the Tavern at such a young age that it¡¯s all he has truly known. Eurus and Anon grew up, trained, and traveled the country. Eventually when they became Bastards, Anon was Eurus¡¯ navigator within their Bastard sect, giving him a keen mind for logistics.

    Torin, who was seated to the right of Father¡¯s seat, flashed an unabashed smile as we came to the table. Torin is built like Jonah, but with a softer and boyish face. Despite being the eldest of Chief Eurus¡¯s children, he didn¡¯t look the part in comparison to his brother. Jonah was in too many fights as a kid to come out without a slightly crooked nose.  Ever since Torin had left the Bastards, he had served as a full-time Advisor for father, unlike Jonah and I who advise when not dealing with our Bastard duties.

    Beside Torin was Nilsa. Her beautiful thick hair was pulled back with multiple braids, colorful beads peeking through her tresses. When our eyes met, she gave me a warm smile in greeting. Father has said on more than one occasion that Nilsa was his best advisor; she¡¯s a fighter with a kind heart, thus she always advocates for the weak and trains anyone interested, but has a special place in her heart for the Flyers. Her outlook on the world was refreshing and helped Chief Eurus remember what truly matters. She was an orphan, like Anon, but from a settlement in the Farm¡¯s territory in the east and joined us at a later age. In her eyes, the Guild gave her the will to push on long before she called it home. While begging for table scraps, Nilsa overheard whispers of the Guild and their efforts through the country. It gave her the hope and the strength she needed to survive. When a Guild smuggler finally came to the settlement, she walked straight up to them and asked them to take her away. When she came to the Farm, she trained as a Flyer at the Farm the same time as Eurus and Anon, who were traveling the sects together,  and have been the closest of friends ever since.

    To Anon¡¯s left was Remy, an elder Bastard who was Lead Bastard of Eurus, Anon, and Nilsa when they were young Bastards.  Remy was the closest thing to a grandfather I have ever had, as Lord Kamon Moor died long before I was born. Some of my fondest and sometimes painful memories included Remy. When I was younger, there many were the late evenings of Remy coaching me through martial drills over and over again.

    Upon the table, itself were multiple stacks of papers and flat stones across the periphery of the table.  Around the border of the table were miniaturized images of the scenes displayed on the wall behind the Advisors. As I came to stand in front of the table my eyes were particularly drawn to a scene on the border depicting the night sky with a ball of fire streaking through the scene. In the center of the table was one of the most beautiful maps I have ever seen, the master map of The Tavern territory.

    Artistically detailed but accurate representation of rivers and mountains marked with depictions of animals to highlight good hunting and fishing locations. Every settlement marked with a note of Guild connection held down by a small black stone beside it. There were three settlements with stark white rocks. These are the three settlements that have been attacked within the Tavern¡¯s territory. Beneath each white stone was a small blank note, highlighting the loss of the Guild.

    Beside Father was a stack of flat stones, some matching the stones used to distribute tasks and others matching the stones on the map. Father reached over and retrieved one that was pure white. He handed the stone to me and motioned to the map before us.

    I held the stone in the palm of my hand, taking it in. Though the stone was light in weight and color, it represented a heavy and dark truth, the Guild failed these people. I reached over the map and exchanged the black stone with its white replacement. When I stood back up, each person¡¯s head was down in remembrance for our lost charges. I waited a few respectful moments before breaking the silence. I cleared my throat, calling for the group''s attention. Their attention quickly turned away from grieve and back to business.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°We had stopped for morning meal and were packing up when we spotted a column of smoke in the distance,¡± I started. ¡°Jonah consulted the map and determined that it was coming from the settlement near Frigga¡¯s. We voted as a sect to investigate and send word when we got to Frigga¡¯s.¡± I looked from each member around the table, including them in my detailed account of our sect¡¯s investigation.

    ¡°When we got to Frigga¡¯s,¡± I continued ¡° there wasn¡¯t a body in sight, but death was everywhere. There were drag marks and pools of blood and abandoned items across the courtyard and down the path that led to the settlement.¡± I stopped for a moment, I couldn¡¯t help but think of the bloodied doll left along the side of the path. Focus.

    Roy picked up where I stopped, flawlessly covering for my momentary blunder. ¡°I followed several drag marks back into the treeline. They each led to a scorch mark, then stops,¡± Roy said as I pulled out Tarik¡¯s drawing from my chest pocket and handed it to Father. ¡°Between Tarik and I, we found all ten.¡±

    ¡°The boy helped?¡± Remy asked incredulously as he accepted and looked over Tarik''s drawing.

    ¡°A miscommunication,¡± I said. Nods and a mild chuckle were the group¡¯s response.

    ¡°When we entered Frigga¡¯s it was obvious Freyda tried to make a final stand,¡± I continued. ¡°But it was unsuccessful. We investigated the Guild¡¯s hole and found Lorelle and Ella, two girls from the settlement that Freyda was able to save. After securing them and sending word to the Tavern, we investigated the settlement.¡±

    Roy and I pull out our journals and show the markings we found. ¡°Ten scorch marks surrounded the settlement. Once we were inside, the settlement was too badly burned to find much.¡±

    Father turned to Remy. ¡°Send a sect to process. If there is anything worth salvaging, or more we can piece together, we need it.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡± Remy replied.

    ¡°And the girls?¡± Nilsa asked. ¡°They are the first survivors, to my knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Ella was too traumatized at the time to give much. But Lorelle was able to answer some questions. She saw the creatures and saw how they move. These scorch marks,¡± I pointed back towards the various drawings we provided from our task, ¡°they are doors, doors of light that open and the creatures come pouring out. But she has no idea how they work.¡±

    ¡°Once question answered and another takes its place,¡± Father noted.

    ¡°Where are they now?¡± Torin asked.

    ¡°Tamara helped me get them set up with Madge,¡± I said.

    ¡°Poor girls, they have lost everything,¡± Nilsa said.

    ¡°Make sure they are well taken care of,¡± Father said. ¡°They may have lost everything they have known, but they have a place here for as long as they would like,¡± Father finished.

    ¡°Lorelle is interested in learning how to fight,¡± I added.

    ¡°Good, I will offer my services then,¡± Nilsa said. She often works with the orphans to give them an overview of survival and fighting but can train more in-depth with those interested.

    ¡°I suspect we might be having an influx of orphans before the end,¡± Remy said, pointing out a sad truth. ¡°Might want to build another barracks before we run out of beds.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but you¡¯re right,¡± Father said, rubbing his temple. Most likely a growing headache to accompany the growing problem. ¡°Torin?¡± He asked, directing the task to his eldest.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it,¡± Torin said, nodding as he took on the task. ¡°There''s a parcel out by the corn fields. It could be built within the next moon cycle.¡±

    ¡°Will we lose any plots with the barracks?¡± I asked.

    The last thing we need is to lose food in preparation for more mouths.

    ¡°Not if we build it right,¡± Roy said. He looked to Torin, who nodded in acceptance of the help.

    ¡°I always have such high hopes for our free time before we come to this table¡± Jonah sighed, attempting to cut the building tension with his half-hearted whinging. The responding chuckle was a bit deflated.

    ¡°How did Tarik do while on task with you?¡± Nilsa asked me, directing the group¡¯s thoughts in another productive direction.

    ¡°He did well,¡± I reported. ¡°Tarik is quick on his feet and silent in the trees. He will need some lessons in following directions though.¡± I admitted, thinking back to his inability to follow my orders to the letter.

    ¡°So did you at that age,¡± Father said. True chuckles sounded around the table in response. I smiled, looking to each person. They know better than most the struggles I overcame to get to where I am today. Each has helped me become a better person.

    ¡°He¡¯s got potential,¡± I admitted. ¡° He even said he wanted to be a Bastard someday. Once he gets over his nerves and gets some proper training, he will be a strong addition.¡±

    ¡°High praise, coming from one of the youngest Bastards ever inducted,¡± Remy stated, nodding approvingly. I smiled at his compliment.

    ¡°I have been corresponding with Duff up in the Mine,¡± Nilsa said, Duff, being her respective counterpart within the Mine in the northern mountains. ¡°They are in need of Flyers interested in Bastard training. Theirs have trained and moved on to other sects,¡± she said. A consistent Guild problem. It was too cold in the mountains for most and it took a certain type of person to want to stay there after their training. Torin, Jonah and I spent two cycles there and Torin was miserable the entire time. Partially because Jonah and I were far too entertained at surprising him in impromptu snow fights, and others because he simply missed the sunlight.

    ¡°I will ask the boy if he is interested,¡± I said. If he went to the Mine he would be able to get the Bastard training available to him through the Guild. Training with me was one thing, but the Mine? The best bastards in the Guild train in the Mine.

    ¡°Good. Perhaps with your continued interest, Tarik will be an invaluable asset for the Guild with whatever is to come,¡± Father said, stoic in the face of whatever fight another attack symbolizes.

    Continued interest? Should I take the boy on as an apprentice? Have him fill our empty spot within our Bastard sect? No, he¡¯s still too young. But perhaps we could use him as a Flyer more often, help train him when we can. At least until he goes to the Mine if he decided to.

    ¡°Whatever is to come?¡± Nilsa asked. ¡°You sound like a war is inevitable.¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Anon declared. ¡° This is the fourth attack on Tavern grounds. We have to act. It¡¯s our responsibility.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Remy asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. It¡¯s a question we have asked ourselves over and over again over the last few cycles. ¡°If what the girl, Lorelle, says is true then we have little defense for this enemy,¡± Remy said.  ¡°Creatures descending on defenseless settlements in the night, and using doors of light to move?¡± He said suspiciously of the words as he spoke them.

    ¡°That is why we are here,¡± Father said, he paused a moment to ensure that he had our full attention. ¡°Chiefs across the Guild are meeting with their Advisors asking themselves this question. How do we fight this enemy?¡± Silence met his question.

    ¡°Perhaps there was something the girls saw that could shed light on the situation,¡± Nilsa said.

    ¡°I would suggest being gentle with your questions,¡± I said. ¡°Lorelle has lost everything and is trying to be a pillar of strength for her sister. But she is still a child herself¡±

    ¡°And Ella is far too young to answer a Tribunal,¡± Torin said. ¡°Perhaps Madge can talk to the little one and report back to us. I can tell her what questions she should ask.¡±

    Father nodded, ¡°I also want a complete recounting of everything we have. People, food, weapons, and animals within The Tavern proper. As well as a report highlighting the same for the reaches of the Outer Tavern. Include a summation of the same for each settlement within a day¡¯s ride of here. Better to have an updated understanding of the resources at our disposal for whenever this comes to a head.¡± There was a wisp of disappointment in his voice. He¡¯s starting to accept the inevitability of this.

    Remy raises his hand slightly and nodded, taking up the task of leading the counting. ¡°I¡¯ll have messenger birds flown within the day to each of our Guild contacts within the local settlement. ¡°

    ¡°Has a word of the attack at Frigga¡¯s been sent to the other sects?¡± I asked.

    ¡°I wanted to wait until I heard your report,¡± Father said, shaking his head and motioning to the table between us. ¡°Wanted to see if we could make more sense of this mess.¡± He made a tight fight with his hand and rested his knuckles atop the table. ¡°Messenger birds will be flown at dawn with the news of Frigga¡¯s and the fact that there were survivors,¡± Father declared, his face scrunched into a scornful glare. He stared down the map as if staring long enough will make the answers come to light. ¡°Thank you all for your time and advice today. But if you will excuse us, I would like to speak to my children, alone,¡± he said dismissing the group.

    Everyone looked around to each other, noting the suddenness of the dismissal. I looked to Torin, who shrugged. Father has been getting more temperamental in recent months. This is the third attack to happen across the country this cycle and is the fourth attack within the Tavern¡¯s territory. Not being able to protect those he was charged with was affecting him.

    As everyone gathered their things, Father called out for Roy¡¯s attention. ¡°Roy? Thank you,¡± Father said, extending his forearm out in Roy¡¯s direction, thanking his young friend for keeping his children safe. Roy stepped forward, embracing Father¡¯s forearm with his own. After a nod towards each other in solidarity, Roy turned on his heels and moved towards the exit that the Advisors took before him.

    As Roy walked passed me, he leaned in ¡°See you at meal,¡± he whispered.

    Roy was on the other end of the longhouse when Father redirected our attention by reaching towards one of the images carved into the wall. It was a decorated throne room, with large pillars lining a walkway to a large dais. There were two figures standing on top of the dais.  Etched into the floor was an infinity design of four teardrops, each pointing in the cardinal directions. In the center of the teardrop knot was a prominent diamond shape. Father pressed the knot and the symbol sunk into the wall. Following a series of small clicks, a door slid open from the wall.

    ¡°Come,¡± Father said as he motioned to the secret door with a slightly ruffled envelope pulled from a hidden pocket.  ¡°There is something that I need to you.¡±

 Chapter 6

    With Father holding the door open for us, Jonah, Torin, and I filed into his office. As we walked into the room, it was like walking into a timeless moment of Guild history; every Tavern Chief has used this office. Upon entering, I was warmed by the stone fireplace that was centered on the back wall. Two large wooden chairs were set up around the hearth of the fireplace with several pillows laid out. Father¡¯s desk was set in front of the side wall. Like the table in the main longhouse, this one was also covered in notes and stones.

    We all settled in around the hearth. Father and I got comfortable in the chairs with Jonah sitting on a pillow beside me and Torin standing beside the fire. He was pouring out glasses for everyone from, what I guessed based on the smell of spices in the air, a bladder of mulled wine.  As we got comfortable, Father leaned over and handed me the envelope he held out previously.

    ¡°Fancy paper,¡± I noted, turning the envelope over in my hands. Guild paper is made out of pressed plant product from the Farm, it is durable but by no means delicate. This was fragrant and woven paper made from fine strands. I showed the envelope to Jonah in amusement.

    ¡°The fanciest,¡± Father said, not making eye contact with me. He motioned back to the envelope. ¡°Open it,¡± Father said.

    I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter, the paper was heavy in my hand and the perfume briefly overwhelmed my nose. Upon unfolding it, the King¡¯s Crest glared back at me. My head instantly shot up. ¡°The Crown?¡± I asked, looking to Father. ¡°What do they want?¡±

    ¡°The High Prince specifically,¡± He said, with a hint of impatience. ¡°Read and find out.¡±

    I looked back and read:

    Dear Chief Eurus Stone,

    I am High Prince Olarik Godson the eldest son of King Charles Godson. I write to you understanding the gravity of each pen stroke. Our respective sides haven¡¯t spoken in generations. But I write to you today to save the country we both serve from a terrible evil.

    I am sure you are aware of the long cycle of ravaged settlements and markets throughout our beloved country. Unfortunately, we have been unable to rid our people of this peril working separately. As I ponder my future and how I can help make a true difference as the future king, I cannot help but believe that working collectively is the answer.

    I have recently been made aware of Lord Leon¡¯s lost treasure and its place within the Guild. May she act as proof of how our two sides can work together towards a common goal.

    Respectfully,

    High Prince Olarik Godson

    My stomach dropped as I read the third paragraph of Olarik¡¯s letter. I couldn¡¯t help but read it over and over again, my skin becoming a blanket of nerves. Lord Leon¡¯s treasure?

    They know I¡¯m alive.

    ¡°When?¡± I started to ask, but the words briefly got caught in my throat. ¡°When did you get this?¡± Jonah, upon seeing my distraught reaction to the letter, reached for the letter and I handed it to him. Jonah read the letter as I stared down Father.

    ¡°Recently¡± Father replied cryptically.

    ¡°How recently?¡±I asked, the blanket of nerves seeping into me to turn into hot iron in my core. I couldn¡¯t help the frustration growing in me at his blatant vagueness.

    ¡°Relatively,¡± Father replied.

    ¡°Relatively?¡± I asked skeptically. ¡°So you¡¯ve kept this from me,¡± I clarified. ¡° Why? This pertains to me. Lord Leon¡¯s treasure?¡± I waved at him in sarcasm. ¡°And an alliance between the Crown and the Guild? with me being proof that it could work! You are making decisions that will directly impact me and my work here, but chose not to tell me!¡± I was half shouting with anger.

    ¡°It¡¯s the letters very mention of you and your birth father that we kept this from you,¡± Father replied stoically, despite still not meeting my gaze.

    ¡°We?¡± I asked in bewilderment. Torin cleared his throat, calling for my attention.

    ¡°I knew shortly after the Council weighed in but before Father responded back,¡± Torin said making eye contact with me.

    I shook my head. This was all so much at once, and my hand shook ever so slightly at the building emotions. The Crown somehow knows I¡¯m alive. The Prince wants an alliance and the Guild¡¯s Council is in favor of inquiring. All of which Father and Torin have both kept from me.  Fuck.

    From the day I arrived at the Tavern, Eurus treated me as his daughter and through his name and love, he has protected me as fiercely as a father does his child. Outside of the Tavern, I am strictly referred to as Miss Stone, using his name instead of my own to keep my identity a secret, with me claiming him as my father as fiercely as he claims me to be his daughter.

    Our bond through it all was what made our relationship so incredibly special to me.

    I may not be the daughter of his blood, but I am the daughter of his soul. Which is why not being within his council on this matter hurt.

    ¡°So this has been going on since at least before the last snow,¡± I said trying to piece together how long this omission has been going on.

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Jonah asked.

    ¡°Did you know?¡± I whipped my head around to confront the possibility of more lies. I had almost forgotten that he was sitting beside me. I was so invested in the letter and its implications towards me, that I forgot he was sitting beside me. Jonah¡¯s hands instantly shot up in surrender.

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Father said behind me. I turned back to face him. I finally saw a flicker of sadness cross his face.

    Does he regret keeping this from me? Or regretting the pain it caused?

    ¡°You are his Lead Bastard. It would have pained him to keep this from you so I chose to not put Jonah in that position,¡± Father said. Jonah scrunched his face at that.

    I looked to Jonah in apology, he simply lowered his hands and patted his right on my knee in solidarity. He understood how I felt. When we were younger, the Chief would test us three siblings in ways of strategy, and knowledge, using the goings of the Guild and the Tavern as lessons and examples. Not including all of us on such a large issue stung him as well.

    He was a far better brother than the one I was born with.

    When my father died, my birth brother, Lanzo Moor, struggled with his new title and responsibilities.  My brother¡¯s bad decisions with the power cost our family everything; clearing our coffers to feed into his addictions and his wife¡¯s expensive tastes. He was never told the word no, therefore he and his wife lived luxurious lives.  He would buy beautiful horses and drink away his hefty coin purses in a single night. Due to his inability to manage my father¡¯s lands, my brother¡¯s debts got too high. When the money ran out, he would make deals to clear his debts. With me being an ¡°unfortunate consequence¡± of one such deal. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    I looked back to Jonah and addressed his previous question.  ¡°It would take time to put something like this into motion, especially if the entire Council was consulted. Each Chief would meet with their Advisors  to deliberate and then send back their vote on the matter,¡± I said

    ¡°And any additional correspondences between us and the Crown would take time as well,¡± Jonah added, coming to the same realization as me.

    ¡°Exactly, so the last snow, at the earliest,¡± I said. It was mid-spring now, so this took me at least two moon cycles. I looked to Father, unable to contain my frustration and sense of betrayal at the amount of time that has passed.

    ¡°I know you are upset that I kept this from you,¡± Father said, looking from me to Jonah ¡°from you both. But as your Father, it¡¯s my duty to protect you fiercely from the world; as your uncle, it¡¯s my duty to show you how to stay strong in the world we live in. What is a man to do when he is both?¡± He reaches over and took my hands in his. ¡°I kept this from you, for you. As your Father, I wondered if your fears would come back. And as your Chief, I didn¡¯t know if the Prince¡¯s acknowledgment of your survival would cloud your judgment on the matter.¡±

    His words cut me to my core, the iron there quickly cooling to hard and heavy stone, sinking into my gut. A knife wound would have hurt less. However, what stung the most was that he was correct. After joining the Stones at the Tavern, I was in constant fear of those around me. What if someone knew who I was? Would they send me back to him? I went days without speaking, with Jonah and Torin quietly keeping me company. As I slowly came to realize that I was safe, I opened up and became the Bastard I am today. But I have always known what discovery would mean for me. Death or worse.

    ¡°Self-preservation is a perfectly reasonable response to this. ¡° I acknowledged the inner gnawing feeling I had since reading the letter. ¡°But,¡± I sighed ¡°putting that aside, history speaks for itself. This is a horrible idea, and as one of your Advisors, I would have said as much.¡± Father patted my hand before reclining back into his chair.

    ¡°Do you feel that way because your afraid of being found or because you actually think that discussing an alliance with the Crown is so terrible a thing?¡± Torin asked.

    I couldn¡¯t help the doubt and sarcasm that laced my words. ¡°Think of everything the Guild lost when it split from the Crown. The people who died fleeing the city. We lost the entire Guild sect in the capital that night. All because the Crown no longer believed in the code.  Do you think a hundred years is enough time to remove the blood they smeared across the Guild? Or that they have suddenly become better people?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Father admitted. ¡°but the only way we will know is if we find out for ourselves,¡± Father said, extending a new letter out to me. It would seem he carried all of the letters from the Crown to ensure no one else found out. I handled the envelope again, hesitating to read on. The information here is about to change everything. The weight of that fact stopping me from opening it.

    ¡°Bronie, I understand where you are coming from,¡± Father said sympathetically, noticing my pause. ¡° I wrestled with the same dilemma.¡±  He motioned back towards the new letter he extended out to me. ¡°But I had to ask myself an important question. Do their motives truly matter when their swords will mean more support for the people we have been entrusted to protect?¡±

    With father¡¯s question in mind, I read the Prince¡¯s final correspondence.

    Dear Chief Eurus,

    Thank you for your invitation. I would be delighted to join you at The Guild to learn more about how our respective sides could come together. I will ride with a small company and arrive within the fortnight to the location you specified.

    Respectfully,

    High Prince Olarik Godson

    I silently folded the letter back up and handed it back to Father. So much was decided without Jonah and me, but we will have to live with and enforce it regardless.

    ¡°So?¡± Torin asked.

    ¡°So what?¡± I asked back sarcastically. ¡°You know what it says. Prince Olarik is coming here,  to The Guild within the fortnight¡± Jonah scoffed at the Prince¡¯s misnomer beside me. I handed the new letter to him. ¡°You have decided and taken action without our council.¡± I motioned to Jonah to include him in the hurt. ¡°But we serve the Guild and The Tavern is our home. We will do what we can and what we must.  Even if we would have advised otherwise.¡±

    ¡°You saw what these things are doing with your own eyes. Why is this such a terrible idea? Are you against more support?¡± Father asked.

    ¡°Think you can take on all the baddies yourself?¡± Torin added for levity.

    ¡°Of course not.¡± I stopped, unable to contain the insult I felt at his words. ¡°its idiotic to think I would be against more help. The Guild needs more fighters if we are to protect the people from an enemy that we don¡¯t know or understand. But the Crown and its people are selfish. This alliance isn¡¯t about the deaths of innocents to them. It¡¯s about the loss in revenue.¡±

    The silence was the only response. I was right.  For a few minutes, the crackling fire filling the empty air. Each of us left to think.

    Jonah was the first to cut through the silence. ¡°The Prince sounds sincere,¡± he said

    ¡°In a letter. Anyone can sound sincere with the right wording in a letter.¡± I countered.

    ¡°Is that something they teach  little lords and ladies?¡± Torin quipped.

    ¡°Oh yes. We read from an epic tome called Fancy Words to Use to Confuse the Common.¡± I retorted.  Our momentary joking started to have its planned impact. Torin has always been one to use humor as a tool. I stopped focusing on the sting of being left out and looked at the problem. How else are we supposed to fight the monsters lurking in the dark?

    ¡°You knew him, didn¡¯t you? Prince Olarik.¡± Father asked.

    ¡°Yes, though I was closer to his younger brother, Gaelin,¡± I said.

    ¡°Was he sincere then?¡± Torin asked.

    I paused, remembering the times that my father Lord Leon would take us to tourneys. It was instances such as those that I got to become friends with the young princes. ¡°.....yes¡± I replied.

    ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t it stand to reason that he is sincere in this as well?¡± Torin asked, trying to push me towards acceptance. Regardless of what I might have advised, the time is past for anything to change now. As much as I  don¡¯t like it, I have to accept it and do what I can for the Guild.

    ¡°Possibly. These attacks have plagued the last ten season cycles of his father¡¯s reign. He doesn¡¯t want to same for his.¡± I admitted. Prince Olarik always seemed like a kind-hearted boy, but age and power can corrupt a person. ¡°Even if he is sincere in regards to his intention with The Guild, how do we know he won¡¯t send word to my Lord Husband that I¡¯m alive? That he won¡¯t ship me back to him like my brother? He mentioned my existence for a purpose.¡± My eyes bounced between each of them. Each displaying a different age of the same disgruntled scowl.

    ¡°We will never let that happen.¡± Father said, dismissing the idea just as quickly as I did Torin¡¯s ¡®baddies¡¯ comment

    ¡°Okay,¡± I said disbelievingly.

    ¡°Bronie,¡± Torin started, stepping in front of me in the chair and lowering himself so we were at eye level. ¡°I would cut down anyone who even entertained the idea of sending you back to him. Be they a beggar looking to advance their station or the future king.¡± Torin wiped at a silent tear that escaped from my eyes as he spoke.

    Jonah rested his heavy hand over mine, giving me some of his strength. I looked at him and saw nothing but love. ¡°We haven¡¯t stood by your side for the last twelve season cycles, training with you and watching your back to let some high born twat ruin everything you have done, we have done, for The Guild.¡±

    I¡¯ve lasted this long through the strength the Guild and this family has given me. Who am I to doubt their strength now?

    ¡°So what now?¡± I asked. Each snapped out of our familial moment quickly.

    ¡°Do I dare ask when within the last fortnight you received this?¡± Jonah asked sarcastically. I couldn''t blame him for his continued bitterness. I just concealed mine better after refocusing myself.

    ¡°The Prince will be arriving the night after tomorrow,¡± Father said. Jonah shook his head slightly at the news but said nothing.

    Better to move us in a different direction.

    ¡°He says he will be traveling a with a small company. But who knows how many that actually means,¡± I said.

    ¡°The king is known for his extravagance. Perhaps the son is an echo of the father,¡± Torin said, taking the bait.

    ¡°Not all sons are,¡± I admitted darkly. ¡°But we should bring up a few barrels of grains, ale, cheeses, maybe some dried fruit from the caves. Enough to supplement the additional mouths. I said.

    We should get some Bastards on it tomorrow. Some will need to start working on the barracks, but we have plenty of Bastards in Tavern, Jonah said, joining us in the logistical decisions we are allowed to make.

    Together we finalized the details of the Prince¡¯s arrival and the tasks that should be assigned to ensure Olarik¡¯s visit went smoothly. It¡¯s a timeless family tradition, the three of us debating over Guild news that father shares with us. Father sat back and watched his children, his legacy, go round and round preparing for The Guild¡¯s future.

 Chapter 6 Part 2

    After discussing the Prince¡¯s imminent arrival, we went about assembling the task pouches. These would be given out to members to complete or see to in order to set things in motion. Father grabbed a couple of stacks of flat stones from his desk while Torin grabbed a woven basket of empty pouches. The baskets displayed layers of intricate patterns woven into the basket itself. Each of us settled in with stones and cinch pouches and started marking the stones with the necessary tasks to be assigned to the people of The Tavern.

    Father went back to his desk and Torin took his seat. I was tucked into the cushioned chair, with Jonah sitting beside me. I quickly began writing tasks and assigned names. At this point, I haven¡¯t slept in over a day and a half and found the monotonous task a welcomed one.

    In a matter of moments, a hush swept the room, with the warm fire serving as the only noise besides the scratching sound of writing on the stones. As each of us diligently went about marking down tasks on stones, several task bags were filled and labeled go out in the morning. Heavy cinch bags filled two baskets that laid between Jonah and me.  The tasks range from daily tasks to longer, more elaborate tasks. Usually, if the task required further conversation, it would state who to see as the task versus the task itself.

    After what felt like the hundredth cinch bag, and my stomach made a loud demanding rumble, protesting to be filled.  there were only a few bags left to be filled on my lap, so I pushed through the gnawing of my stomach.

    As if in answer, Father cleared his throat, gaining each of his children¡¯s attention. ¡°The rest of these bags can wait. Let¡¯s go eat before all of Tavern hears Bronie¡¯s stomach¡± Father said humorously. Each of us laughed, finding comfort in our family when we are putting into motion something so drastic. ¡°I will finish the tasks when I return from the meal,¡± he finished.

    ¡°You¡¯re coming back?¡± Jonah asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s still much to do besides the task stones,¡± Father said with a sigh.

    ¡°You need to sleep,¡± I countered. I couldn¡¯t help but think back to the meeting when I could see his weariness. When is the last time he actually got a full night¡¯s sleep?

    ¡°A day for a Chief rarely ends,¡± Torin says ominously and Father nodded in agreement. Father gave Torin a half smile as if Torin had finally learned a lesson Father had been trying to teach him.

    I have long assumed that Father planned for Torin to follow in his footsteps as Chief of The Tavern. Though Torin states he left my sect because didn¡¯t want to be a Bastard anymore, I knew that Father had something to do with his leaving. Though the role of Chief doesn¡¯t move from father to son, a Chief can support someone who they believe will fill the role honorably. Sometimes that person is the Chief¡¯s child, and in other instances, it has been a disciple or someone else entirely.

    Father stood and walked out of the hidden door to his office with Torin Jonah and I behind him. We quickly made our way out of the Command Longhouse and walked down the main trail that through the rest of the Tavern valley.  The walk was a quiet one as we finally ran out of topics to talk about.

    Father was never one for idle chit chat.

    Halfway down the Tavern¡¯s valley was a circular clearing with a large longhouse running parallel with the mountainside at the edge of the clearing. In the center of the clearing was a pit for large bonfires. Though there was nothing within the pit, well worn in tracks could be seen around it from celebrations past. The main longhouse was large enough to fit every person in Tavern within its walls. Thus it was the center of most Tavern life, including meals.

    Some people were trickling out of the main longhouse and congregating in the clearing. The evening meal started well before sundown, so many had already eaten. Jorah started to walk a little faster as he spotted three figures waiting beside the doors of the longhouse. One was a tall and thin figure with two much smaller figures on either side. Jonah slid beside Torin and I before finally dodging ahead of Father. He sped up his walking pace and was halfway across the clearing when we were just past the treeline. Jonah and I had been gone on task for three days, and the gentle giant missed his people.

    ¡°Papa!¡± A small voice cried out and the two small figures ran toward us and collided with Jonah¡¯s legs. Jonah let out a joyous laugh and proceeded to hoist them both up into the air. He held one in each arm and kissed both small bundles.

    In his left was his youngest child Astor, who might be a season cycle older than Ella. She had long and curly brunette hair with an adorable round face. She looked like she could do no wrong, but she was quick and cunning, making her a younger version of her mother Mala. Plus she was covered in mud and sticks, showing that she definitely found something to get into today.

    In Jonah¡¯s right arm was his son, Valery. Though Valery was as ecstatic as his sister to see his giant father, he was old enough to want to be put down quickly after being hoisted in the air; being a few season cycles older than Astor put him at the age where he was easily embarrassed by his parents. He was starting to sprout up and looking like a bruiser like his father. Valery displayed a brute force as a Flyer that no one confused who his father was. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Jonah walked up to give Mala a soft kiss while still holding Astor and a loving arm around Valery, the boy leaned in with a smile. Mala¡¯s dark curls were pulled back in various twists and braids that led down her back. She wore a blue dress with an apron tied around her waist. She was covered in flecks of dirt from working in the fields all day. I¡¯ve never seen two people know each other so well.  She was originally from The Farm, thus had extensive training on growing food for the masses. They met while we were making our way through our Flyer training at each Guild sect when we were children.

    At first, they were just friends as she was the first female friend my age that I was able to make. As the seasons passed that cycle, it became more.  So when it was time for us to move on from The Farm and go to another sect, she joined our motley crew and went from sect to sect with us. Eventually when the time came to choose a sect, she settled down here in The Tavern with us Stones when we became Bastards. Mala used her training from The Farm and now is Father¡¯s main consult on all things food and sustaining the masses.

    The happy family waited for us to walk join them. Though we were hailed and greeted from individuals throughout the clearing, I couldn¡¯t help but be momentarily transfixed by the loving family. Jonah listened animatedly as Astor recounted the goings of the last three days. We were just over halfway through the clearing when Valery turned and spotted us. His smile grew and he vigorously waved towards us. Unfortunately our progress towards the Main Longhouse doors was constantly halted by individuals wanting a brief word with Father.

    ¡°Ladies fighting, it doesn¡¯t seem right. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying,¡± Dornson said, an elderly Bastard who was around when Frigga¡¯s was owned by Frigga herself. He was one of those individuals who enjoyed bringing up difficult topics to argue his point.

    ¡°I understand Dornson, but things change with time. Sometimes it is best to embrace the changes. Look at my Bronie, for example. She¡¯s excellent at farm work and other labor tasks,¡± he said in faked admittance. ¡°But, put a sword in her hand and she can best most of my Bastards,¡± Father said with a smile.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Dornson huffed. ¡°She is a good fighter. But,¡± Dornson started, but Father interrupted.

    ¡°I have to use all of the resources I have at my disposal to best serve The Tavern. It does us no good if I ignore half of what the Tavern has to offer by excluding our women. This isn¡¯t a new outlook Dornson, it¡¯s time to adjust,¡± Father said in with

    Dornson looked down momentarily, resigning to the verbal defeat. ¡°It was different when I was a young Bastard is all I¡¯m saying,¡± Old man rattled. Father looked towards me and his waiting son, then smiled back at Dornson. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to keep ya. Have a good evening Chief Eurus.¡±

    ¡°And to you as well, Dornson,¡± Father said fondly. He patted Dornson on the shoulder, then continued towards the longhouse. Father was able to make the remaining journey to the doors and his waiting family unmolested by questions and inquiries.

    Father stopped to hug and peck his grandchildren then motioned for us to follow him inside the longhouse. As Father walked into the longhouse, he was greeted by a large cheer that quickly spanned the length of the longhouse. Chief Eurus has always been a beloved Chief of his people. There are very few instances where this isn¡¯t the case though. Sellswords and spies have little tolerance for the idiotic or morally repugnant. But Father had a way about him, a certain charisma, that begged to be followed.

    Father walked through the open doors of the longhouse Torin and I followed Father in after a few moments with Jonah and his family in tow behind us. Father quickly left us once he entered the longhouse, assuming his usual routine as Chief. Before getting food, he always spent time going from table to table around the room, checking in on various individuals in regards to life, tasks, or general Tavern life. He hates small talk within the family, but he could small talk for ages with the people of The Tavern.

    As we entered, our processional stopped to look about the longhouse for a seat. Multiple tables filled the space of the hall, with some starting to open up. The laughter of the Tavern and smoke from peace pipes filled the air, and thus started to fill me with a sense of comfort and feeling of being home. I continued to take in the scene in front of me. The walls were carved with scenes depicting the history of The Guild, similarly to the carved wall in the Command longhouse. Above us, candle chandeliers hung up by pulleys.  The chandeliers themselves displayed stories when they were lowered for lighting.

    I finally spotted Roy at a half-filled table by the rear wall of the longhouse.  Jonah bumped my side, pulling my attention away from the longhouse and its occupants. As I turned to face him, I was surprised by another hug around my neck from Astor. I couldn¡¯t help but returned the embrace. The unconditional love of children is always something to lighten one¡¯s heart, even if they aren¡¯t your own. I made eye contact with Jonah over Astor¡¯s shoulder and saw his familiar smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to sit with these ones tonight,¡± Jonah said with a smile. One arm was still holding up Astor while the other was lovingly wrapped around Mala¡¯s waist. Torin looked on beside me, looking for a table for us.

    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you,¡±  I said smiling at Astor. I looked back to Jonah before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at the meeting of the Bastards.¡±

    Torin looked back towards his siblings in time to wave his goodbyes to his niece and nod in understanding toward his brother. Without further ado, our group divided, with Torin and I made our way through the crowd to grab food by the left side wall. Two spikes were set up with a cooked deer on each, both in various states of consumed. Between the two were large cauldrons of a meat and vegetable stew. And a place called The Tavern would be remiss if there weren¡¯t several large barrels of ale propped on a table on either side of the buffet.

    Once we both filled our plates with meat and our mugs with ale, Torin and I continued to search for a place to sit, waiting just beside the buffet to take in the tables. Finally, I heard a cackle of a laugh towards the back of the longhouse. Torin and I make eye contact, both knowing exactly who that laugh belonged to.

 Chapter 6- Part 3

    As we walked down the center aisle, we finally spotted Roy, who is already on his second plate of food and at least one mug of ale, judging by the volume he was talking and laughing at. As we made our way closer to the table, Roy spotted us and let out a cheer at our presence; as if he hadn¡¯t just seen us a short time ago. The rest of the table quickly looked to see who he was cheering for and joined upon spotting us.

    ¡°Bronie! Torin!¡± Roy exclaimed, ¡°Come, come sit.¡± He grabs his plate and mug and shuffles down the bench, making room for us on the same bench he was previously sitting alone. Torin and I settled in, smiling in greeting to the two Bastard brothers at the other side of the table, Jui & Jiw, who were originally from the Port. The tables on either side of Roy¡¯s table was filled with Bastards and Laborers, all of whom were listening to Roy¡¯s story.

    ¡°So what were you so animatedly sharing with these lovely drunks?¡± Torin asked smiling at Roy¡¯s listening audience who laughed good-naturedly.

    ¡°I was just telling our friends here,¡± Roy said gesturing vaguely around ¡°about how Bronie scared little Loren Russo enough that he wouldn¡¯t be a problem any time soon, the little weasel,¡± as everyone nodded in agreement. Loren Russo had been a pest for a few cycles. Having him handled was a relief to those up to date with the country¡¯s affairs. There are some amongst the Guild who live within the sects and don¡¯t enter the actual countryside again, leaving behind the constant problems for a simpler life.

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t so little,¡± I reminded him. ¡°But I don¡¯t think he will be a problem now that he and I have talked,¡± I said, laughing along with the chorus of snickers at my word choice. ¡°And this one was quite full of himself.¡± I raised my mug as I continued. ¡° He even bought me a drink just before I wiped the bartop with his face.¡± I took a long sip from my mug as everyone laughed. Beside me, Roy let out a loud belly-laugh.

    ¡°Enjoyed that did ya, Bronie?¡± Jui asked.

    I squished my face slightly before responding. ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you. But I became a Bastard to help folks and beat down those who would use and abuse them.¡±

    ¡°Aye,¡± Roy said.

    ¡°Some ladies take up knitting to take out their frustrations. Bronie? She bashes heads.¡±

    ¡°Not as many as Jonah,¡± I pointed out.

    ¡°True enough,¡± Roy said.

    ¡°If there weren¡¯t any issues with dealing with Loren Russo, then what kept you today?¡± Burdur asked, he was one of the Laborers listening to Roy at the table to the left of ours.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chian asked, he was a Laborer who was Jui and Jiw¡¯s cousin.

    ¡°Tamara and her sect of bastards were helping in the backfield when a Flyer came with an urgent task and they left. You were the only sect out, and late at that, so I figured something happened.¡± Burdur said

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a bit of speculation,¡± Torin pointed out.

    ¡°But I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡± Burdur said.

    ¡°We were on our way back from the task when we saw a column of smoke and investigated,¡± I said, starting to get annoyed with repeating myself about the event already. ¡°We couldn¡¯t send word about our lateness until we got there,¡± I finished.

    ¡°And?¡± Tumef, another Laborer sitting beside Burdur asked.

    ¡°And what?¡± Roy asked.

    ¡°What was the smoke?¡± Chian asked. Jui and Jiw looked at him, momentarily perplexed. As Bastards, they know what these signs mean. Chian hasn¡¯t left Tavern since the three of them arrived when they were Flyers as children.

    Roy started to retell our journey for the surrounding tables. Torin and I ate the entirety of our meal together in relative silence as the others were invested in Roy¡¯s retelling of what we saw at Frigga¡¯s and its neighboring settlement. However, Roy purposefully neglected to talk about the scorch marks, as that was a particular detail that only Bastards knew about. The Guild¡¯s Council agreed that the best way to determine which attacks were brigands and which were this mysterious enemy was to withhold this main factor. Unfortunately, it was a terribly kept secret.

    Word often spreads quickly through the Tavern. Which meant keeping a secret was fairly difficult. It was a consequence of being a part of a secret organization filled with sellswords, spies, smugglers, and wanted individuals. But there was a code that we of the Guild lived by that separated us from our less moral brethren in the same employ. Unfortunately, I never expected that the spies and sellswords in my life to keep a secret from me.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± I asked Torin in a hushed voice, continuing our earlier conversation.

    Torin sighed. ¡°You know why.¡± He took another bite of the meat on his plate. ¡°If a Chief of the Guild tells you something in confidence, you keep it. Even if you don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I acknowledged. ¡°But accepting the proposal was your idea.¡± I made it a statement rather than a question.

    He lifted his nose slightly in the air as if he was some snub nose royal. ¡°I am known to have good ideas from time to time.¡±

    ¡°Lovely, now you brag,¡± I said with a huff, taking a bite of a piece the deer on my plate.

    ¡°Enough you two,¡± Roy said through a mouthful of food. He grabbed a half-full pitcher of dark liquid from a passing Bastard and refilled both our mugs.   ¡°Drink. Whatever you two are whispering about can wait until tomorrow.¡± We both smirked at his lack of tact but apparently took too long to grab our respective mugs.

    ¡°Drink!¡± Roy yelled, some food flying out with the words. He raised his own mug and the surrounding tables joined him. Torin and I grabbed our respective mugs and raised ours towards the rest of the table. With a cheer to the Guild, each of us emptied our mugs in unison.

    Usually, such comradery would continue with rounds of drinks and laughs, but the ale didn¡¯t spread warmth through me like it usually did. Instead, I couldn¡¯t help my thoughts from drifting back to the Prince¡¯s imminent arrival and my lord husband.

    How am I going to survive this? Will I never escape my fate as Bronwyn Moor? Is this the beginning of the end of my life as Bronie Stone?

    Torin noticed my sudden silence and slightly bumped my side, silently asking me if I was alright.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. But I am going to head to my cabin,¡± I said lifting my mug and finishing off the rest of the ale. ¡°Any more of this and I will sleep through the Bastards meeting in the morning,¡± I said, moving to grab my plate and mug as I got up from the table.

    Torin moved to follow me, but I rested my mug filled hand on his shoulder, halting his ascent. ¡°Stay,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just need some sleep.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡± Torin asked. ¡° I can walk you,¡± he added.

    ¡°Yes, I am sure. Stay, have another round for me,¡± I said smiling. Torin reached up and patted my mug hand briefly and nodded his agreement. ¡°Walk together to the meeting tomorrow?¡± I asked.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Torin said, happy to get some more time together. Though Jonah and I could spar for hours, Torin and I would often talk into the night as children, talking about Flyer training or our thoughts on Guild matters. When Torin left my sect, we lost our ability to frequently have one of our late night talks. I was often out of Tavern escorting caravans of supplies to the various settlements supported by the Guild or dealing with hooligans who are being a nuisance to the country folk.

    I said my good-byes to the rest of the table and Roy, grabbed my mug and plate and moved towards the door. There weren¡¯t many people left within the main longhouse. Most Laborers have early mornings ahead of them. The few that remained here are some of those who either enjoy the company more so than a full night¡¯s sleep or preferred the ale to sleep.

    I was able to slowly make my way to the door, woven baskets full of dirty dishes to the right of it; a task for the youngest group of  Flyers to clean tomorrow. When I first came to the Tavern, I wouldn¡¯t talk to anyone. I was like a skittish deer that felt trapped. This behavior carried over as a Flyer, and subsequently, dishwashing was one of my favorite tasks, as most other Flyer related tasks required talking to others.

    Does Father still see me as that silent and scared little girl? I asked myself. Worse yet, with the fear of being found creeping into my core, I had to wonder if  I am still that little girl.

    As I walked out of the longhouse, I was able to maneuver my way through the emptying clearing and made my way back down the main Tavern path. Quickly the darkness of the surrounding forest enveloped me as I wandered down the path, with only the light of the moon the guide me. Thankfully, I know every inch of The Tavern, so even on nights without the lunar shine, I could still find my way to my little slice of this paradise.

    Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t enjoy the feeling of being back home as my mind kept wandering back to all those season cycles ago. Back to when a rich foreigner came to my brother Lanzo, who had inherited the title of Lord Moor only a season cycle earlier, at the height of his debt. The man offered to pay off all of Lanzo¡¯s debtors, on the condition that he got to marry me. My mind was filled with the image of my brother agreeing in earnest, smiling at the thought of erasing his debts. I could kill him for tossing me aside so easily.

    He agreed despite the fact that the former Lord Moor had already brokered a marriage between me and one of the King¡¯s two sons before his death; my father Leon even made sure that the son was to be determined by me once we were older, in order to give me some semblance of control on who I got to spend my life with.  But Lanzo took away that small fatherly gift when he agreed to this life-altering deal.

    Thankfully the Guild takes care of the abandoned, even if they were originally of the Crown. Or, perhaps it was simply my familial relation that drove Chief Eurus to send a sect of Bastards on task. Nevertheless, they sent someone to infiltrate the stronghold and aid me in escaping from the decisions of a desperate man and smuggle me back to the Tavern.

    What a life I have had here, and all because of Eurus. He gave me a second chance at life, family, friendship, and the opportunity of being my own person. As a member of the Crown, so much of my life had been dictated for me because of the family I was born into. When my brother shipped me off, the Crown did nothing, leaving me to the fate my brother chose for me, despite the insult of a broken deal. But Eurus acted, and he saved me. Coming to the Guild gave me opportunities I never would have had within the Crown. Though that control wasn¡¯t able to hold up against the sadness that being abandoned created. Having family around me during the time afterward saved me. They saved me.

    As I walked around a bend in the path, I was able to spot a lone torch light up ahead, marking a path up the mountainside. The path led to the main lodging lands throughout the Tavern valley. Small foot trails led off of the lodging path, leading to familial lands and Flyer barracks. Most incoming orphans and runaways, like myself, would live in one of the many Flyer barracks. Many Bastard pairings and marriages were forged within one of the many Flyer barracks in each Guild sect. Instead, as a daughter of the Chief, I stayed with the Stones in the Chief¡¯s Lodge, near the Tavern entrance and the Command Lodge.

    But as with all children, the time came where we needed to find our place within the Guild, with me itching to get out of the valley of the Tavern. So, the Stone children chose to go through the various Flyer trainings at the different sects throughout the Guild. As the season cycles passed, each of us got to decide how we wanted to serve the Guild. All three of us decided that we wanted to be Bastards together and returned home to serve our father.

    While we were going through Flyer training, we were only able to come together as a family during the Meeting of the Guild that occurred once a season cycle, so we were also a bit sick for home. When we came back to The Tavern, we were too old to live with Father in the Chief¡¯s Lodge. Together as a family, we found the perfect spot for our cabins on the mountainside of the valley, prepped the stretch of land and then built the cabins together as a family. We also put in a stone pathway connecting each of the Stone children¡¯s cabins. Father handed over chiefly duties to the council and spent half a moon cycle with his children, building their place within the Tavern, his chiefdom.

    I turned off the path towards the rest of the Tavern lodging and turned down the stone pathway we put in. My cabin was the first on the path to the right. Through a lining of trees, I could make out Torin¡¯s cabin.  Jonah¡¯s cabin was further down, marked by another lamppost to help the children. I walked up to the small steps to my cabin¡¯s porch, furnished only by a small set of chairs separated by a table.

    My cabin had the perfect view of the Tavern from the roof with the valley¡®s far edge and field framed by the forest on the mountainside. I slept many summer nights sprawled out under the stars on the perch I made with Father a few cycles ago. It was one of the many cabin related tasks that he worked on with me. From the kitchen table to the chairs on the porch, we slowly built the furnishings that filled my home. Father said I should always know how to make things, both in my mind¡¯s eye and with my hands. He taught me strategy and arms, but he also taught me how to properly swing a hammer and sturdy table.

    As I entered the cabin I scanned the entirety of my small piece of The Tavern. In the left corner directly beside the door, there stood two bookshelves in the corner, each filled with small tokens, stacks of books and piles of blank parchment. Completing the reading corner was a small table and a large lounging pillow, like the one Jonah was sitting in while we were in Father¡¯s office.  Straight ahead was the small kitchen area with a stone fireplace built into the right side of the cabin. Though cabins all had a small functioning fireplace and eating area, many Tavern folks choose to dine each night within the Main longhouse with their brethren. A small ladder led up to the loft above the kitchen area, where the edges of blankets could be seen hanging slightly over the edge.

    I entered my cabin and started to unstrap my belt and remove my riding clothes. Though I tried to focus on the task at hand, my slightly drunk mind drifted back to the foreign man who ruined everything before I knew it.

    His name was Kasrad Doon; even the thought of his name sent a chill down my spine. He was a traveling merchant that was known in the ports as a wealthy businessman with a ruthless dark side. He was slighter taller than the average man and someone that I could only describe as handsome in a non-typical way. His hair was the color of the night sky with silver streaking through by his temples. His handsome face was marred by a scar that ran down his right brow. However, most would probably say that it enhanced his attractiveness. He spoke with a slight accent that drew everyone, including myself, ensuring that you listened to every word. His mannerisms matched each word with extravagance as if he was directing an orchestra with each utterance.

    We were wed only a day after I arrived at his palace deep within the Northern Mountains. No one was there to represent or support me as the marriage was quickly arranged before I was sent off to my future husband. He was never cruel to me, outside of our wedding night, which was a typical evening between husband and wife except I was all of thirteen.

    We are married now my dear. To share our marriage bed is our duty this night. But I promise I will not return to your bed until you are older.

    In the Guild¡¯s eye, only cowards hide behind a sense of duty to explain away their actions when they do cruel or terrible things. However, he kept his promise and didn¡¯t lay a hand on me after that night. Instead, he kept me isolated from those in his keep and had me remain within a suite of rooms. I was alone, save for the maids and tutors that he sent to take care of and teach me.

    Each night we would have dinner together. We would split the feast while having forced, polite conversation. He would share a bit about his day of managing his trading affairs, and I would talk about something that I learned from the tutors. He would then comment on a gift that he sent for me, including gowns and paints for me to pass the time with. It all became quite habitual and was the only interaction

    Despite his kind tokens, I could see a conniving glint hidden in his eyes, even back then. He seemed like the person who used gifts and money to get what he wanted. The way he calculated each move and seemed to plan out each exchange as if everything happened for his sole purpose always made me uncomfortable. In this instance, he wanted me, even though I didn¡¯t understand why.

    It took me a few months before I was finally able to run away from the forced marriage, surely ruining some grand plan for the man. It is because of that fact that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if I ever returned, Kasrad would not show me the mercy or kindness he showed me when I was a child. The night I fled from the Kasrad¡¯s stronghold, his anger was mighty. The walls echoed with his voice, demanding for his servants to find and stop me. His words haunted me to this day, echoing in my head just as it did the night I ran.

    I climbed up the loft ladder and crawled into bed. I was hoping sleep would ease my mind. Instead, I fell asleep with his words echoing in my mind.

    Run, my dear, run and hide. But always remember, Time is my ally, Lady Moors. I will find you, even if it takes an eternity.

 Chapter 7

    I opened my eyes to see a dark canopy hanging above me. Looking to each side of me, I noticed that four, finely carved posts, holding up the canopy.  The walls were deep red with beautiful crown woodworking. There is a small fire crackling in the ornate fireplace to my left with wall to ceiling windows lining the wall to my right. Through the partially opened curtains, I could see the surrounding rocky and grey mountains illuminated by the lunar light.

    I threw the thick covers off of me and quickly got out of bed. Turning on my heel, I lifted the pillow top bed and reached under the wooden bed frame to retrieve the small kitchen knife that I tied to the underside of one of the panels. It was a silver meat knife, about the length of my forearm, with delicate designs on the handle and came to an intimidating point.

    I had stolen the dinner knife one night at dinner with Kasrad by sneaking the knife into the bodice of the new dresses he had sent to me. The accompanying letter read: Wear it for me, my dear. ~K. Little did he know that the dress had enough fabric within its layers for me to be able to easily tuck the knife into the folds of my dress without him noticing.

    When I replaced the pillow top to its rightful place, I felt a pull on my skin around my arm. I lifted my sleeve to itch the irritant spot and came across a bandage on my arm.

    When did that get there?

    I pulled down the sleeve, covering the bandage and walked across the room towards the door. My bare feet made no sound on the thickly carpeted floor. My cream-colored silk nightgown was thin enough that a shiver came over me as I neared the door. Was it nerves or the cool air? I couldn¡¯t tell. The closer I got to the door, the tighter the knot in my stomach got. When I reached the door, I paused. Instead of opening it, I climbed on top of the dresser to the right of the door as quietly as possible. I made myself small on my perch and grabbed one of the dolls resting on top of the dresser with me.

    The guards that I had come in contact with thus far during my time at Kasrad¡¯s keep were very odd men. They followed each order given to them by Kasrad with a blind fervor, as if unable to focus on anything but the order or pleasing him. It¡¯s not just the guards of the keep either. I saw it when we were waited on at dinner, or when we would walk the halls of the keep and his people would almost bow to him as he walked by. They idolized him. Unfortunately, that meant that the people within these walls are my enemy, at least in regards to achieving my goal.

    Kasrad had the guard at my particular door changed with enough frequency that I could never remember their names or faces. I tried to interact with them at first but they would refuse to acknowledge me, instead only talking to Kasrad or another adult escorting me. Their orders were to protect me at all cost, which didn¡¯t include speaking to me. Though they have never done anything outright towards me, being treated as invisible isn¡¯t much better. I held onto that thought as I readied myself, holding the knife at the ready in one hand and the doll in the other.

    Unfortunately, for this to work the guard had to go.

    I paused a few moments, waiting. I didn¡¯t hear anything outside and threw the doll at a vase across the room that tumbled to the ground. The sound of shattering glass was so stark in comparison to the silence of the night that the door guard came rushing into the room. As he entered, the guard quickly looked around the interior of the room, searching for the cause of the noise. Unfortunately for him, he didn¡¯t look behind the door.

    I jumped on top of him, catching him from behind, blade out.  The small blade found its way into his neck. Blood went everywhere the instant my blade pierced through his neck. I covered his mouth with one hand as the other pushed the blade as deep as I could while wishing for him to die quickly and quietly. Instead, the guard flailed his arms frantically at his assassin. He reached for my arms around his neck and face. My hand covering his mouth and he let out a loud moan of pain. I pulled the knife out and brought it down as second time. His grip on my hand weakened instantly and he fell under the continued onslaught as he died.

    I quickly got up from the ground and closed the door, hoping no one heard his moan of pain or our fall. I turned back to the dead guard, and a wave of nausea hit me. Stomach bile rose to my throat, but I suppressed the feeling. This wasn¡¯t the time for a weak stomach. I walked back to the body and searched him, looking for his set of keys. After a few moments of fumbling around with the dead weight of the guard, I was able to unhook the keys from the guard¡¯s belt.

    Before leaving, I reached to remove the blade from his neck. As I pulled the knife free, the wound made a wet sucking noise. I wiped the blade on his sleeve and I looked at the guard¡¯s face for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said. Then, I rose from my crouch and walked towards the door.

    Pressing my ear against the door¡¯s frame, I listened to the corridor beyond before opening, hoping to hear anyone coming that might be responding to the commotion. I opened the door a crack, peering out into the halls checking again for anyone coming. When no one came, I entered the hall for the first time on my own in close to a season cycle. Turning around, I closed and locked the door and without further hesitation, I walked away from my prison cell.

    Just get to the end of the hall.

    As I turned the corner a robed figure stepped out of a previously empty doorframe. I turned to strike out, acting before I thought about who it could be. Thankfully the robed figure¡¯s hand quickly halted its progression before I hurt the one person trying to help me.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Easy there, Little One,¡± a feminine voice whispered.

    The robed figure removed their hood; her bright red hair was momentarily visible before she put the hood back on. It was my most recent tutor, Sabine. She had been with me for close to half a cycle. My previous tutor was an older professor that Kasrad found to be too friendly towards me. It took a few lessons for me to understand that she was not like the other tutors that I had in the past, even back home. She was so much more.

    She released my wrist when she saw recognition in my eyes ¡°Look, then strike, understand?¡± she asked. I nodded. She turned around and closed the door to the room she had hidden in. But not before I could see a couple of limp bodies lying on the floor.

    They heard.

    ¡°We have to go,¡± she said and motioned down the hall. With Sabine at my side, we hurried down the rest of the corridor and then turned down another. After a set of stairs, we entered into a corridor that I had never seen before. Which is one of the many reasons why I needed Sabine¡¯s help to escape. Being kept in isolation made it so that I was only familiar with the areas of the keep that Kasrad wanted me to know. Otherwise, the rest of the keep was a complete mystery to me.

    We walked to the door at the end of the corridor and stopped briefly. Sabine removed her robe and in one smooth motion covered me with the too big fabric and tied it around my neck. I looked down to see an intimidating sword strapped to her side. On her other hip, a dagger¡¯s handle was sticking out towards me. Noting my momentary distraction, she lightly guided my chin so that I was looking back at her.

    ¡°There is a doorway on the other side of this guard post. It leads down to a cellar with a small door. It will open to a passageway out of the mountains. That is our way out,¡± Sabine paused to make sure that I grasped her directions, and then continued. ¡°Whatever happens on the other side of this door, you need to keep moving. My friends are waiting on the other side and will take you to your Uncle¡± she whispered.

    On instinct, I wrapped my arms around her, taking care of the knife I was still holding, and squeezed my rescuer, hoping the hug will convey my thanks. She enveloped me in her arms and hugged me tightly. After a moment she pulled back.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Sabine asked. I nodded, afraid my voice would crack from the fear I felt.

    Without further ado, Sabine reached for my unarmed hand and opened the door out into an unfamiliar courtyard. There were a couple of guards sitting around a fire on the side of the courtyard, oblivious to our entrance.

    I kept my head down but was continuously watching them out of the corner of my eye as we made our way across the courtyard. We were halfway to the door Sabine spoke of before one of the guards called out to us.

    ¡°Hey, you two!¡± The guard called out, moving away from the fire and towards us.

    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be in here!¡± His companion added, following his friend in our direction.

    ¡°Keep walking,¡± Sabine whispered urgently under her breath. She squeezed my hand and then released it, turning to face the guards. ¡°My apologies gentlemen,¡± Sabine said, her voice holding the sound of a smile. ¡°I must have gotten turned around. We were looking for...¡±A horn was blown, interrupting her.

    The guards we left behind must have been found.

    I had just reached the door and turned back to Sabine. The guards in front of her instantly responded to the horn by instantly arming themselves, turning defensive towards the unknown entities in their sights.

    ¡°Come on!¡± I called out to her.

    ¡°No, go. I will follow,¡± she ordered, pulling her own blade out to confront the guards.

    I paused, not wanting to go on without her. I saw the first guard charge and strike at her, but she easily blocked him. Gliding her blade up his own, she swiped at him in return, catching him in his midsection. With a yell of pain he fell to his knees, his Without a further thought to the dying guard, she turned towards the second, entering a defensive stance.

    ¡°Go,¡± she ordered a second time over her shoulder. Not wanting to go against her, I turned and entered the door and closed it behind me. As the door shut, another horn blast sounded, but this one was much closer. The second guard must have called in for reinforcements before challenging Sabine outright.

    I turned and faced the cellar. It was a small room, with shelves on one side and wooden barrels on the other. In the center of the back wall was a door with an unlit sconce with a piece of flint dangling from a small cord. With the sound of swords clashing, I walked towards, the final door between freedom and me. Opening the door, I looked to see a declining passageway that led down into complete darkness.

    After a few shaky strikes of the flint, I was finally able to light the sconce. The sconce was much heavier than I thought it was, but I managed to remove it from its mount on the wall. I walked into the passage and closed the door behind me and started to make my way down the declining stone passageway. I could only see what the sconce illuminated for me but I could feel the path slightly curving away from the keep. The further into the ground the passage went the colder it got rather quickly.

    Suddenly, a cruel voice echoed off the walls of the stone passageway, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. ¡°Lady Bronwyn? Where are you going, my dear?¡± Kasrad called out mockingly. I stopped and frantically looked back and forth within the passage, the flames of the sconce roaring with each hasty movement, but Kasrad was nowhere to be seen.

    Was he in my head?

    ¡°I was so enjoying our time together. Weren¡¯t you?¡± He paused, almost sounding hurt at my departure. I kept moving down the passage, hoping to get away from his voice and influence.

    ¡°Perhaps when you are older you will understand,¡± he resigned. ¡°So run, my dear, run and hide. There is no place you can go that I will not find you,¡± Kasrad challenged and an icy fear crept into my bones that had nothing to do with the coolness of the passageway.

    ¡°But always remember,¡± he chimed as if talking to a toddler before turning back to his anger. ¡°Time is my true ally, dear wife and I will find you, even if it takes an eternity.¡±

    Light started to pour into the passageway behind me. Is it the guards? Sabine? It didn¡¯t matter; I had to keep moving. My pace quickened at the thought.

    ¡°But eternity is a long time, even for me. 1000 gold cogs to the person who brings me my wife,¡± Kasrad commanded and I could hear the cackles and hoots of encouragement from his faithful guards nearby, closing in on me. They were cheering on their master.

    Kasrad¡¯s voice called out one final time, almost as an afterthought, ¡°Bring me her companion, dead or alive¡±

    Knock-knock-knock.

    The noise startled me out of my night terror.

 Chapter 7 Part 2

    Knock-knock-knock.

    ¡°Bronie?¡± Torin¡¯s voice cut through the fog of my nightmare.  I opened my eyes to see the wooden support panels of my cabin. I could even faintly make out the roof access door that was slightly hidden.

    ¡°Bronie?¡± Torin called again, sounding closer than before. There was a slight click of the door closing; he must have come in.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I said.

    ¡°I heard screaming,¡± Torin said, adding ¡°and not the good kind,¡± still concerned but trying to use his humor to put me at ease.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, embarrassed to have been so distraught within the dream to call out, and loud enough for Torin to hear in his cabin. I crawled to the edge of the loft and swung my legs over it so I was sitting on the edge, my legs dangling. Torin was standing in the middle of the cabin¡¯s living space, his hair slightly bedridden hair showing that I woke him. ¡°It was just a night terror,¡± I confessed, though it wasn¡¯t. Night terrors and dreams usually start to fade after I woke; but this was a memory, it was always with me.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t had one like that in cycles,¡± Torin said, still concerned.

    ¡°I know,¡± I said, angry with myself for having such a reaction to recent developments. I have done so much over the cycles to accept what happened all those cycles ago. I¡¯ve tried my best to leave the name of Lady Bronwyn Moor behind and live here within The Guild as Bronie Stone. Being Bronie gave me an opportunity at moving on and living a normal life. A life where my father wants to better me as an individual instead of as an heir, and where my brothers protect me instead of selling me off; a life where I can choose my own path and where I can truly make a difference. But the moment my foundation as Bronie Stone here is shaken, the night terrors always come back.

    Which is why Father was worried about telling me.

    ¡°What was it?¡± Torin asked.

    ¡°First kill,¡± I said, telling half of the truth. There was so much more to that night than my killing of the guard, and Torin knew everything about the night I ran away from Kasrad. But it was a sore topic amongst us Stones for a number of reasons. So we don¡¯t often speak about the time before I came here. But a Bastard¡¯s first kill is always something looked at with sadness, not reverence. That door guard was the first life I ever took. I didn¡¯t know his name, I didn¡¯t know if he had a family that mourned him. But I did know that his death was necessary for me to escape that night. I never would have been able to truly render him unconscious, not for long enough of a head start, not at that age, at least.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Torin said, slightly surprised by the topic. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I pulled you out of bed early,¡± I added to give him an out to go back to sleep.

    ¡°I would have woken up soon,¡± Torin said, motioning out the window, the pitch darkness of the night was starting to lighten at the peaks of the surrounding forest-covered mountain range. ¡°So no trouble for me. But, since I¡¯m already here...¡± he said, prompting. In response, I climbed down the loft¡¯s ladder and joined Torin in the main living area of my humble cabin. It would seem he is staying for a bit.

    ¡°Tea?¡± I asked him, walking over to the fireplace.

    ¡°That would be great,¡± Torin replied.

    ¡°Grab the kettle in the kitchen and fill it with water from the bladder while I get the fire going,¡± I ordered as I walked across the cabin.

    The chimney was made of grey stone and climbed up the side of the entire cabin, which helped to heat the loft during the cold season. There was a wooden shelf built into the chimney that held a small wooden box. Beside the chimney was a small pile of chopped logs with a bucket full of twigs and bits of bark.

    I grabbed a piece of flint out of the wooden box on the shelf then proceeded to grab a small bundle of twigs and dead bark and two cut logs. Within the fireplace was a cooking rack with an accompanying iron hook for the kettle handle. I placed the bundle of twigs and bark between the two posts of the cooking rack and after two good strikes of the flint, the small bundle of kindling caught on fire. I grabbed the two logs and placed it on either side of the fiery bundle.

    Torin came to stand next to me with the kettle and I hooked the handle on the hook of the cooking rack. Torin walked over to the left side of the fireplace and grabbed two pillows. He tossed them on the ground in front of the fire for us to sit and eventually drink our tea.

    Before sitting, I returned to the kitchen and removed two handmade tea mugs from one of the hanging cabinets and placed them on the small kitchen table. I returned to the same cabinet and removed a clay-covered pot and small two sheets of Guild paper that I kept within the cabinet.

    Torin was standing beside the table, waiting quietly to help make the tea bags. It was still early and neither of us was particularly awake, but the reason for his presence hung in the air, waiting to be addressed.

    ¡°So?¡± Torin probed.

    ¡°It was just a dream,¡± I said trying to lessen the implications of my returning night terrors. I removed the cover of the clay pot and was enveloped by the aroma of the various herbs within the small pot; leaves from tea trees and the peace plant mixed with pedals of lavender.

    ¡°A night terror,¡± he said, not falling for my bait. ¡°And one that had you yelling out in your sleep.¡± Both of us took a sheet of thin Guild paper and put a few pinches of the herbs in the center. After a few folds of the paper, the blend was safely stored in the paper and placed at the bottom of our mugs.

    With our mugs readied, Torin and I walked back over to sit in front of the fire. ¡°Do you think anyone heard?¡± I asked as I sat down on one of the two pillows, more embarrassed at the thought of the rest of the Tavern knowing I was off than just my family knowing.

    ¡°No, I was only half asleep as it was,¡± Torin admitted. ¡°And it¡¯s me here, not Jonah. So I think it¡¯s just us.¡± The rest of the cabins that branched off of the lodging path were further away than Jonah¡¯s, and if he didn¡¯t hear then no one else would have. The thought was a comforting one.

    ¡°So,¡± Torin growled. ¡°Are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to interrogate it out of you,¡± Torin said in mock intimidation.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be necessary,¡± I retorted. ¡°It was the night I fled, in all of his grotesque and scarring glory,¡± I said mockingly, trying to cover up my own discomfort with humor. ¡°You know what happened,¡± I added.

    The tea kettle let out a loud whistle, pulling us away from the painful topic.  I rolled up and off the pillow semi-gracefully. I stood in front of the fire for a moment and grabbed the small pad of cloth that the flint box rested on. With the cloth in hand, I reached for the kettled handle and unhooked the kettle from the cooking rack. I turned to return to our pillows to see Torin holding both mugs out to me. I slowly poured the steaming liquid into the mugs, slightly swirling the water to ensure all of the bag¡¯s contents are saturated. I replaced the kettle to the cooking rack, moving the hook so the kettle was off the fire but still warmed.

    I returned to my pillow and took my mug from Torin, breathing in the relaxing aroma of the tea. For a few minutes, the two of us sat in silence, waiting for our tea to cool and watching the fire slowly go out before Torin brought my attention from the flames back to him.

    ¡°Was Mother there?¡± Torin asked, almost in a whisper.

    After a moment of confusion, I realized that Torin was asking about my dream again.  Torin¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t often talked about, in a similar way that we don''t often talk about my true identity and how I came to be at The Tavern. When Chief Eurus got word of the arrangement the newest Lord Moor made on my behalf, he turned to his best sect of Bastards in the ways of espionage to infiltrate the merchant¡¯s keep and return his niece. We had only met a couple of times prior to then, but he felt a sense of duty as family. He also felt that he could only entrust such a task to the woman he loved and the mother of his children, Sabine, my savior, and my aunt.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, turning towards Torin out of concern. His mother¡¯s thick red hair shone in the fire¡¯s light, but his father¡¯s dark eyes stared at the fire with a sad intensity. I wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to know more, but when he didn¡¯t ask, I didn¡¯t continue. Torin was only fifteen the night he lost his mother and gained an adopted sister. He was hurt, he was angry, and for a short time, he blamed me for his mother¡¯s death.  Thankfully, time and working together as Flyers and Bastards brought us together. Jonah, on the other hand, took me under his wing, instantly becoming the protective brother I never knew I needed. But with Torin, we had to work at our bond. It took time to be this comfortable, and honest with each other.

    ¡°Did you hear his voice?¡±Torin continued on with his probe about my dream. My husband Kasrad was the final element that made my coming to The Tavern a typically ¡°off-limits¡± topic of conversation. He is a wealthy, known merchant with great connections within the Crown. And yet, a child claims for him to have the magical ability to control people with his words and be able to project his voice over great distances. When I finally told Father about what happened, he passed Kasrad¡¯s threat off as a child¡¯s imagination for dealing with a difficult situation. But I knew the truth; there was more to Kasrad, and that night proved it, even if others didn¡¯t believe me. All of this caused me to hesitate before answering. Would he believe me?

    ¡°...Yes,¡± I said cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s always the same threat,¡± I admitted. That night has haunted me for the last twelve season cycles. It¡¯s what kept me silent for two seasons. And when I finally told Father and his advisors what happened, they didn¡¯t believe me entirely. Most of the events that I described go hand in hand with what Sabine¡¯s Bastards observed from afar. But they didn¡¯t hear his voice; their lives weren¡¯t marked as his.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± was Torin¡¯s only response.

    We went back to drinking our tea in silence, both left to our own thoughts. It always stung that people, perhaps even Torin and Jonah, didn¡¯t believe me about what I heard that night in the passageway. But I never let that deter me from knowing what happened that night. I can¡¯t explain how but everyone within his keep heard Kasrad as if he were right beside them, but the Bastards waiting for me at the end of that long passageway never heard a sound. What kind of magic does that?

    Magic isn¡¯t something that the Guild takes seriously. It is nothing more than a peddler¡¯s trick to make money off the gullible that would rather cut corners than work hard. Magic potions are horse dung mixed with water that is passed off as the Essence of the Highest Above. But what is it when someone can project their voice and control people? To the Guild, that¡¯s not magic; that¡¯s a child¡¯s imagination.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell Father,¡± I said, breaking our silence, still watching the fire.

    Torin took another sip from his mug before continuing, taking a moment to think about what to say. ¡°He would want to know,¡± he said.

    ¡°He is concerned enough as it is. And he has plenty to worry about as Chief. I could see how much it¡¯s weighing on him at the Advisor¡¯s Council last night. He isn¡¯t getting much in the way of sleep either, by the looks of it,¡± I said.

    ¡°He¡¯s not the only one who is concerned,¡± Torin retorted. ¡°But I know. I¡¯ve noticed it more and more lately. Between this constant mess with the scorch marks, and now the Crown, his mind has been very preoccupied,¡± he turned away from the fire to look at me before finishing. ¡° But I think keeping this from you truly bothered him. From you and Jonah.¡±

    ¡°Which is exactly why I don¡¯t want him to know,¡± I said with an exasperated huff.  ¡°He¡¯s worried enough about how I am going to handle this business with the Crown. Him knowing would only make things worse on him and me¡± B ¡°I am fully capable of doing my duty, and he needs me to be able to, now more than ever,¡± I said, almost frantically. As if I was trying to convince Torin and myself of my ability to move forward.

    ¡°Okay, if you don¡¯t want me to then I won¡¯t tell him. But if they continue, you should.¡± Torin took a sip from his steaming mug of tea. ¡°How are you feeling, otherwise?¡±Torin asked, redirecting the conversation again.

    ¡°Okay, considering,¡± I said, noting the change in topic. I relaxed into my pillow and breathed in the tea¡¯s aroma. ¡°The Crown has been known to fuck things for the Guild and the people so I am hesitant,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°But Olarik and Gaelin were different than the others; if he is suing for peace, then I think he genuinely means it,¡± I finished, taking a sip of my tea.

    ¡°Keep that in mind today at the Bastard¡¯s Meeting,¡± Torin advised, still a bit tense despite the topic change. ¡° People aren¡¯t going to be happy about having a member of The Crown around. Having your vote of confidence could help ease some minds.¡±

    ¡°You sound like a Chief already,¡± I said, smiling at the advice. When Torin didn¡¯t respond, I looked over to see him staring off into the fire again.

    Was that another sad smile?

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Torin said, a little too quickly. He pulled his gaze from the fire and gave me a forced half-smile.

    ¡°Bullshit,¡± I said with a huff.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Torin shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m worried about the meeting. Father wants me to take point in explaining the Crown situation at the meeting today.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re worried?¡± I asked incredulously. The family joker? Worried?

    ¡°Of course. People are going to be skeptical for a number of reasons. I just hope I know what to say to put them at ease.¡±

    Like Father does. I added for him silently.

    ¡°You will make a good Chief someday,¡± I stated, hoping that my faith in him will give him some reassurances. ¡°I believe it, Jonah believes it, and Father believes it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not you three I¡¯m worried about,¡± Torin confessed.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I agreed. Torin¡¯s head snapped to look at me. I paused, almost for dramatic effect. ¡°You need to believe it too.¡±

    ¡°I thought we were here to talk about you,¡± Torin said, trying to move the focus away from himself. He took another sip of his tea and looked back to the fire. The fire was starting to go low; getting that point of either adding another layer of logs or letting it go out.

    ¡°A good Chief can multitask,¡± I said.  ¡°And be honest with their advisors,¡± I pointed out, not letting him successfully move the topic again.

    ¡°Ah,¡± Torin said with mock surprise. ¡°Are you my advisor, Little One?¡± Torin asked with a smile, using the family pet name for me, echoing his mother from my dream.

    ¡°Always,¡± I said smiling.

    In tandem, we both extended our half-empty mugs and toasted to us.

 Chapter 7 Part 3

    Torin and I finished our tea in relative silence. Talking about such heavy topics so early in the morning will do that to an individual. Leaving each of us to our own thoughts and fears. Though I still haven¡¯t processed how I felt about the reminder of my terrible past, I couldn¡¯t help but think over what Torin said about me having sway with the other Bastards.

    After the escape, when I started talking again, I found a supportive group of people who were willing to accept me as their own. I responded to their great kindness by dedicating my life to their ways of life with their members becoming my family. I went on to train to be the best Flyer I could, which took me and my brothers throughout the country. Eventually, between my natural talent with a blade and my training with the Guild, I became the youngest Bastard to be inducted since the Age of Great Union, almost a century ago.  Plus, the Chief of the Tavern suddenly losing his partner and acquiring a daughter was the talk of the Guild for quite some time. Such a journey and alias has given me a minute reputation throughout the Guild, and specifically with the people of the Tavern.

    It would seem that Torin is hoping to use that to his advantage today.

    I looked over to my brother, the future Chief, and saw him staring off, his attention flicking about the room, caught up in his own thoughts as well. He took a silent sip. Perhaps he is starting to feel the pressure of authority that Father was feeling as well. As Torin downed his final bit of tea, he placed his mug down between us and stretched, preparing himself to get up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go get ready,¡± Torin said, putting out his arm towards me slightly. ¡°Jonah and I will be back before daybreak for the meeting.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± I said, leaning into the half-hug. Leaving his cup between us, Torin got up from his pillow and left without further ado.

    I stayed seated in front of the fireplace for a little while longer, enjoying the warmth it bathed over me as I started to finally wake up in the peace of my own company. Something that came from being kept in isolation and proceeding to be silent for seasons was my comfort in being alone; something that the Stone family constantly came together to combat against. This is because sometimes that comfort can turn against you and take you to dark places. Places like a dark keep, deep in the Northern Mountains.

    I shook my head at the thought, attempting to dislodge the memory of the lonely view of the mountains from my prison.  I downed the last of my tea and grabbed my brother¡¯s abandoned mug. Shifting my center I rolled myself back slightly and then pushed myself forward, standing up to stretch before confronting the day. I took the mugs to the kitchen and proceeded to rinse them quickly from my water bladder and wipe the clay mugs down before leaving them to dry.

    Leaving the kitchen area, I went over to the side of the loft ladder, opposite of the little reading nook of my cabin stood a tall wooden cabinet that held my various weapons and gear with a large wooden chest resting beside it, holding my clothes and riding gear.  I first opened the chest and inspected the few pieces of clothing I had, with some needing a good washing. Each was made for me by a member of the Guild, a few even made by me. I grabbed a linen blouse and tough trousers then closed the chest with a solid thud.

    As I pulled my linen blouse and trousers, I couldn¡¯t help but note that I was feeling a bit more at ease as the soothing tea seeped through me after the night terror. Was it talking it over with Torin, or was it my familiarity with the terror, the memory of that night? I wasn¡¯t sure. Perhaps it was the soothing leaves of the peace plant in the tea that helped ground me.  It grew in every corner of the Guild and helped many with their various ailments. It even helped me over the cycles, relaxing me when all I wanted to do was scream.

    Once I was dressed, I sidestepped so that I was in front of the wooden cabinet where one of my belts hung from a small hook on the door with the other lying abandoned on the floor; it would seem I was a little drunker last night than I thought if I couldn¡¯t even get my belts properly hung up; I don¡¯t even remember putting the blades away before climbing up to bed. I picked up the belt off the floor and draped it over my left shoulder so that it hung loosely in waiting. The belt held a dagger sheath that bumped against my back as I moved to open the two doored cabinet and revealed some of my most prized possessions.

    Straps and sheaths hung from the inside of the cabinet doors and swung slighting as I looked at the display to choose my day¡¯s loadout. On the back wall of the cabinet hung swords of various lengths, with each blade held up on display by nails and leather thongs that cushioned the blades resting place. A shortsword hung on each side of the cabinet with a dagger above each. In the center, as if framed by the rest, hung a longsword with runes stretching down the blade and a jeweled pommel. It was the Moor family sword, another victim of my birth brother¡¯s selfish decisions to get himself out of debt.

    The Moor family sword had been passed from father to son for generations, dating back to the time of the Great Union. Unfortunately, desperate people do desperate things when they are drowning in their own mistakes; Lanzo sold the sword, along with other family mementos as a way to pay off ill-placed bets in the fighting pit. Torin, Jonah and I were Flyers at the Farm when I learned from a Guild spy that my lord brother had sold off this invaluable family heirloom and he thought of it being pawned off made my skin crawl, so with the help of my Stone brothers, we stole the sword from the newest person my lord brother was in debt to, a greasy owner of a fighting pit that opened in the Moorlands. Using our newfound Guild espionage skills learned at the Farm, we found that stealing the longsword was relatively easy. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    After we stole it,  we went back to the Tavern and presented the sword to Father, the bastard son of Lord Kamon Moor, but he refused. The sword wasn¡¯t meant for a Crown¡¯s bastard like him, it should go to the intended heir of Lord Leon Moor, me. It was the day I learned that my birth father was planning on naming me as his heir to the Moorlands when I came of age, breaking with the tradition of naming his eldest son, my selfish birth brother. Unfortunately for everyone involved, he died before he was able to fulfill his wish.

    I took a moment and grabbed the ends of the belt on my left shoulder and fastened them so the belt draped across my chest and rested on the opposite hip. I adjusted the dagger sheath so it rested in the curve of my spine. I grabbed one of the sheaths that were pre-strapped and hung on the cabinet door. I hiked my foot up onto the chest to my right and attached the thin dagger sheath to my right thigh.  Standing up, I shook my leg lightly, making sure that the straps held. I finished strapping in by grabbing the final belt hanging on the front cabinet door around my waist. Satisfied, I finished my armoring.

    I reached into the cabinet and removed the top left dagger, a gift from Jonah when I became a Bastard, and slipped it into the sheath that rested on the curve of my back. I then grabbed the left most shortsword, the first sword I bought with my own cogs, and sheathed it at my hip. I reached for my final weapon, the top right dagger. As I removed the dagger and went to place the dagger in its home attached to my thigh, I couldn¡¯t help but stop and admire the blade¡¯s handle, just as I did in my night terror last night.

    After making my way through the tunnel, away from Kasrad¡¯s keep, I found Sabine¡¯s sect of Bastards and they brought me to the Tavern. Though safe for the first time, the blade never left my hand.  I was forced to live defenseless for too long, that I decided I was never going to be caught defenseless again. The blade has long since been replaced with a stiletto blade, but the kitchen knife handle has served me well in many scraps through the cycles, just as it had that night.

    Finally outfitted with my various blades, I gave a final stretch, letting my gear settle into place.  There was no threat for me within the safety of the Guild, but I have since become someone who would prefer to always be prepared, just in case. Plus, with the country continuously slipping into chaos, it was only a matter of time before chaos struck those I love, or me.

    As I finished getting ready, I looked out to see that the sky was starting to warm from deep black to a dark blue. I still had time before the meeting was going to begin. I walked to the reading nook and grabbed carved pipe resting on the middle shelf. Beside it was a clay pot, similar to the one I kept in the kitchen, instead this held the dried flower of the peace plant. The plant would help keep my head focused on the here and now.  Removing the clay lid, I grabbed a small pinch of the crumbled flower and placed it into the pipe.

    Crossing the room, I made my way back over to the chimney and grabbed a twig from the bucket beside the fire.  The tiny flames were finishing their dance beneath the empty cooking rack, with a glowing floor of embers. I carefully lit the long twig in the flames and lit the contents within my pipe. After a few puffs to ensure it was lit, I rose from my crouch and made my way outside, leaving the fire to slowly burn out and keep the cabin warm.

    As I crossed the cabin¡¯s threshold, the sounds of the forest enveloped me in its comforting embrace. The limbs above me shifted slightly in the breeze as songbirds began their day.  I settled into one of the two rocking chairs on the porch, leaving space for when my brothers finally joined me. Just like everything else around The Tavern, they were a piece of art. Beautifully carved designs worked into the chair¡¯s armrests. I bought the pair off a Laborer with some of my Bastard earnings. I knew that it would be perfect for the cabin porch and would serve me well. If I was honest though, the carvings reminded me of a similar design used in the capital of the Moor Lands, a place that used to be home. I rocked myself back and forth while listening to the songs of the forest, taking puffs from the pipe as I waited for my brothers to join me.

    It wasn¡¯t long before Torin and Jonah walked down the stone path. As they entered the clearing, Jonah sped up slightly, once again leaving Torin in his wake. He was quickly at the cabin and took the stairs two at a time. I smiled at my brother as he wordlessly approached and embraced his sister, even with me still sitting. With a single strong squeeze, I could feel that Torin told him about my night terror. Though I was momentarily mad that Torin told him, Jonah in typical fashion, silently affirmed his love and support in one gesture, erasing my annoyance at Torin in an instant. As he pulled away, I handed Jonah the peace pipe in thanks.

    ¡°How was the evening with you and yours?¡± I asked.

    ¡°It was great,¡± Jonah said then took a few puffs from the pipe. ¡°Astor was busy using the bag of feathers I collected for her doll while Valery and I practiced his knife work to help with his Flyer training,¡± Jonah added as he handed the pipe to Torin, who finally joined us on the cabin porch.

    Torin gladly accepted the pipe and took a long pull before speaking. ¡°And Mala?¡± Torin asked.

    ¡°Tired,¡± Jonah said worriedly. ¡°All the fields are close being prepped so she is busy as ever getting ready for planting.¡±

    Each of us wordlessly settled in various spots on the porch. Jonah leaned against the post beside me with Torin sitting on the porch steps. Each of us taking the time to simply looked out into the forest and enjoy the calm of the pre-morning, passing the peace pipe from one sibling to the next. As the pipe¡¯s contents burnt out, we knew it was time to leave. After emptying the pipe¡¯s contents, I left it on the table between the two rockers and together we walked down the path to the Bastard¡¯s Lodge.

 Chapter 7 Part 4

    Jonah, Torin and I made our way down the Lodge path silently. It was a typical quiet Stone family walk as each of us was still waking up for the day. There were slight murmurs of conversations that could be heard in front and behind us as the Tavern valley woke up and went about their various tasks.  Bastards would be making their way to the southern portion of the valley, the hub of Guild activity. While Laborers, like Mala, would be on their way to the northern section of the valley, where the most sun peeked through the mountains. The path would lead them to the fields that sustained the Tavern¡¯s people.

    As we neared the southern clearing, the forest was fully awake and bustling with activity. Upon passing the treeline, I noticed that most of the Bastards that were currently in Tavern were already here, with them  either filing their way into the Lodge or mingling outside of the cave entrance columns. One man in particular caught my eye as he hustled away from the Chief¡¯s Longhouse towards the Bastard¡¯s Lodge. It would seem that Remy was also running a bit behind. As he passed us he raised a hand in greeting then proceeded to cut in front of the Bastards already filing their way through the doors. .

    The three of us followed the group filing into the Bastards Lodge. Upon seeing us, a couple of Bastards throughout the clearing called out in greeting and the three of us raised a hand in reciprocation, just as Remy had to us.

    We entered into the Lodge together to find it about half full. Each sect sitting at their own table, all of which were pushed against the opposing walls and faced  towards the long fire pit that went through the lodge¡¯s center and led up to the raised dais. The advisors were waiting in their plain chairs, talking amongst themselves while Father went from table to table, talking  with each sect as people came in.

    The three of us walked down the center, making our way to the empty table for my sect. Ours was two tables away from the dais. As we made our way towards the table, Torin silently split from the group and walked up to the dais, to join the other Advisors. Jonah and I got settled at our table, both of us straddling opposing benches, facing towards the center of the Lodge. I scanned the Lodge, looking around to see if Roy was there yet. Thankfully the sun hadn¡¯t peaked through the windows yet, so there was still a few minutes before the meeting would start.

    At this point, Father had been able to go to each occupied table and he finally made his way to our table for a moment before going to the dais. He smiled warmly at us as he approached, but his happiness at seeing us didn¡¯t hide the dark bags under his eyes.

    He still isn¡¯t getting enough sleep.

    Jonah and I stood as Father came to stand in front of us. He gave me a quick embrace then turned to embrace Jonah. As Chief Eurus pulled away from his son, he focused his attention back on me. Father rested a heavy hand on my shoulder, ensuring I was taking in his even heavier words.

    ¡°Remember Little One, you  set the tone,¡± he said. He kissed my forehead and then turned to make his way to the dais, nodding to Jonah as he passed. Father greeted Torin and Remy, the two of his advisors to have arrived after him.

    The sun finally started to peak over the mountaintops and poured into the valley. As the sun came through the side windows, people started to find their place, as the meeting was about to begin. Roy cut through the shuffling Bastards and came to sit behind me at our table as everyone was getting settled at theirs.

    ¡°Cutting it a little close, aren¡¯t we?¡± I asked dryly.

    ¡°What can I say, I like to live on the edge,¡± Roy said, flashing his wolfish grin.

    ¡°More like sleep off the ale,¡± Jonah said with a grin. The three of us gave a short laugh as the crowd finished settling in.

    The sun peeked through the windows and lit the Lodge floor, causing a hush to envelop the Lodge. All of our attention turned to the dais, where Chief Eurus Stone and his advisors, two on each side of him, sat in plain chairs on the raised dais. On the edge of the dais step were the task baskets we filled the night before.

    Remy stood and waited a moment for everyone to focus on him. ¡°As we enter the second moon phase of the Spring cycle, it is a busy time here at the Tavern.¡± The old man spoke with a loud but hollowed voice. ¡°Fields are getting prepared for seeding. Travelers are starting to crowd the Country Road, off to make their living. Brigands are coming down from the mountains and causing unrest in the farmlands. And another settlement scorched.¡± He pauses as the room started whispering about what they have guessed at for the last day. ¡°But we stay strong, as is our way of life, handed down to us by our ancestors, guiding us through these troubled times. The Guild Protects. And the Guild Endures.¡± Remy finished.

    ¡°The Guild Protects and the Guild Endures,¡± the room of Bastards echoed back to the old man. With a nod of acknowledgement, Remy sat back down.

    ¡°We will now hear the Bastard¡¯s Report,¡± Chief Eurus announced formally.

    Starting at the opposite side of the Lodge, each Lead Bastard would have the opportunity to report completed tasks, concerns for Guild or country, and share their opinion on topics with their Guild brothers and sisters. The Tavern supported eight sects of Bastards when at full capacity, but with two sects out on task, only six Lead Bastards would share our today before Father shared the most pertinent information after he has heard about the runnings of the Tavern.

    Seli, a wiry man with a scraggly blonde beard and equally straggly hair stood from his sect¡¯s table across from us. Sitting behind him were three burly men of varying age and heights. Though not related, they all shared the same grumpy disposition.  Seli waited for a moment, just as Remy did, before sharing his sect¡¯s task.

    ¡°We were on task in Outer Tavern. As Remy said, there¡¯s more wanderers coming through on the Country Road, bringing news from the different corners of the Country. Word from the East has it that the Moorlands increased their taxes again, causing some to leave the Mill¡¯s territory for lower taxes,¡± Seli announced to the group. At the mention of the Moorlands, eyes slipped from Seli across the fire pit and focused in on me, looking for my reaction, as they always do when connections to my former life are mentioned. I tried my best to suppress the revulsion I felt at the thought of how Lanzo continues to ruin our Father¡¯s lands.

    ¡°In other Crown related news,¡± Seli continued, reclaiming the Lodge¡¯s attention.  ¡°The King is entering marriage talks with a foreign dignitary for Princess Froyola, his youngest daughter.¡± This didn¡¯t incite much of a response from the men in the room, what the Crown did with their women was seen as a Crown problem.  I looked to my Guild Sisters, Tamara and Caltina, and saw the same look I felt, disgust.

    The Guild¡¯s acceptance of women is something that has continued to separate the Guild and the Crown, though there are older Guild members who align with the Crown¡¯s outlook towards women, but with the Guild¡¯s acceptance of their female counterparts, those voices lost their credence. As the Guild accepted women serving as Bastards, Laborers and Chiefs, the Crown continued to only use its ladies as ambassadors and vessels of pleasure. Princess Froyola was most likely acting as a bargaining tool, just as I once had been.

    As Seli returned to his table, Caltina rose from hers, focusing her thoughts on her task instead of the news of another girl being sold off. Unlike Tamara and me, who braided our hair to keep it out of our face, Caltina opted for short hair but otherwise wore the same designed leathers that other Bastard women do. She didn¡¯t wait for the room to focus in on her; she wasn¡¯t one to tolerate wasting time.

    ¡°My sect has been out on task for the last moon cycle. We took Moira, one of the older Flyers with us to take aide to some of the northern settlements in our territory. Moira showed much in the way of interest in being a Bastard as well as promise in her skills developed as a Flyer. With the Tavern¡¯s support, my sect would like to take on Moira¡¯s training as a Bastard.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not a Bastard yet,¡± Torin clarified from the dais.

    ¡°No she isn¡¯t,¡±Caltina admitted. ¡°but she¡¯s interested in learning about it. Moira did well and I am interested in seeing what the girl can do. She could stay on as a Flyer. But we are willing to work with her to learn about something she wants to do.¡±

    ¡°Flyers serve as a pivotal role in the daily goings of the Tavern. If they start training for other tasks before they have completed their own, who knows the impact that could have on the runnings of the sect,¡± Zefris said from the table to the right of Caltina¡¯s. Zefris is a burly older man and the oldest serving Lead Bastard at the Tavern. Despite his age, he was one of the strongest and toughest Bastards alive in the entire Guild. But even so, Zefris and his brother have never been ones to truly accept women Bastards, he being old enough when the Guild and Crown held similar opinions on the roles of women.

    Unconsciously, I rose from my seat. I nodded to Caltina, adding another voice to her point. ¡°If our Flyers are interested in learning about the roles within the Guild, who are we to stop their inquiry?¡± I asked the Lodge, with couple of Bastards nodding at the idea. I pivoted as I spoke, locking eyes momentarily with Zefris before continuing my statement. ¡°They will best serve the Tavern as Flyers if they are able to learn about their interests,¡± I said, turning to my shield sister. ¡°If the Tavern moves towards this, my sect would be willing to take on one of the older Flyers as well¡± I said to her. She nodded her thanks as I returned to my seat.

    Murmurs of people mulling over the new idea spread from table to table in the Lodge, with some letting out a small hoots of agreement. Chief Eurus stood, ending conversation throughout the Lodge. ¡°Thank you for this idea, Caltina. You bring up something that may help us better serve our youth. I will deliberate with my Advisors  and return with a response to this idea at the next Meeting of the Bastards¡±. Caltina nodded her acceptance of her Chief¡¯s word and returned to her seat at her sect¡¯s table. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Zefris rose up next, with Tamara also standing from her table and standing at Zefris¡¯s side. ¡°Our two sects have been helping the Laborers in the fields, preparing for the seeding that will be happening this moon cycle,¡± Tamara said speaking for them both. ¡°We will be staying on to help with the seeding this cycle,¡±

    ¡°Do the Laborers need more support from this body?¡± Remy asked.

    ¡°Between our two sects, the Flyers we¡¯re allowed to have, and the Laborers it will be done in time of the first rain,¡± Zefris said, straight to the point. When no further questions were asked and Zefris nor Tamara had anything further to add, he sat back down at his table.

    The next table that would have gone next in our bastardly lineup was currently out on task, leaving an empty table across from Tamara¡¯s. The next sect to share our was Pizarro¡¯s sect, who were seated to the left of us. Behind him were brothers Xi and Wong, they had entered around the same time as Roy, most likely also sleeping off the night before.

    ¡°Flyer training is coming along well¡± Pizarro stated, staying quiet on Caltina¡¯s idea and strictly reporting on his work with the Flyers. ¡°Some of the older ones will be ready to go out on task like Tarik and Moira did, next cycle,¡± he finished. He looked about the room to look for additional comments, when there were none, he sat down. Finally, it was my turn. I stood as Lead Bastard and mentally prepared myself for the task of telling the Lodge what happened.

    ¡°My sect was tasked with dealing with Loren Russo, a swindler who has been pestering farms to the south. He was easily dealt with. It was our return to Tavern that delayed us as we saw dark smoke rising from the west of us. Upon inspection we were able to determine that Frigga¡¯s and her settlement have been Scorched,¡± I finished my report.  Noises of concern were heard throughout the Lodge. Another settlement gone. I looked at my fellow Bastards and saw looks of defeat and failure.

    ¡°Survivors?¡± Seli asked, cutting through the noise. There never has been, but whispers must have started to stir about the girls hat returned with us.

    ¡°Freyda was able to hide away two sisters, Lorelle and Ella, before Frigga¡¯s was attacked. They are the only ones.¡± I said.

    The volume quickly increased throughout the Lodge, with each table discussing the first survivors of a Scorched settlement. Father stood from his chair on the dais, silencing the talking Bastards.

    With all eyes on him, Chief Eurus addressed his Bastards. ¡°For ten season cycles, our country has been tormented by an evil. It attacks settlements and cities alike. But we are not the only ones who feel that they have failed their duty,¡± he said, pulling out the Prince¡¯s letter. Hushed whispers and sounds of disbelieve came from almost every Bastard table.

    ¡°I recently received correspondence from the King¡¯s eldest son and heir, Prince Olarik, addressing this continued evil. It reads,

    I am High Prince Olarik Godson the eldest son of King Charles Godson. I write to you understanding the gravity of each pen stroke. Our respective sides haven¡¯t spoken in generations. But I write to you today to save the country we both serve from a terrible evil.

    I am sure you are aware of the long cycle of ravaged settlements and markets throughout our beloved country. Unfortunately, we have been unable to rid our people of this peril working separately. As I ponder my future and how I can help make a true difference as the future king, I cannot help but believe that working collectively is the answer.

    He stopped just before the letter mentioned me. He folded the letter and placed it back in his pocket, looking to his audience to gauge their response. There were several gruff sounds of disagreement heard around the room.

    ¡°After consulting the other Chiefs, we have agreed to meet with the Prince. Together we hope to find a way to confront this evil. He will be here the day after tomorrow, if our estimates are correct,¡± he finished.

    ¡°Here? Why?¡± Zefris asked the dais.

    ¡°What about Bronie?¡± Caltina asked from her table.

    ¡°What about her?¡± Chief Eurus countered, ignoring Zefris¡¯s question.

    ¡°If the Prince is coming here, she could be found out. She won¡¯t be safe,¡±  Caltina said, pointing out what she saw as the obvious.

    Finally, someone else was feeling and voicing my own concerns.

    ¡°Her family and sect will protect her while they are here¡± Torin countered, almost sounding insulted that my safety was believed to be an issue.

    ¡°The Tavern as a whole has been charged with her protection. Letting the enemy sniff about with the potential of discovering her isn¡¯t protecting her.¡±    Tamara said from her table, throwing in her thoughts on the matter with a hint of venom in her words.

    Charged with my protection?

    ¡°Send her and her sect of Bastards to The Farm, or even The Port, they¡¯re close enough. Bronie can continue her good work for The Guild and be safe from being found out.¡± Caltina countered.  She didn¡¯t include The Mill because that was the Guild territory that protected the Moorsland. If I went to the Mill, there had always been the danger of me being spotted by someone who recognized me as Lady Bronwyn Moor. Though she is right that leaving would be the safer option, I didn¡¯t like the idea of being sent away from my family and home.

    ¡°She is needed here.¡± Father said simply.

    ¡°Why?¡± Tamara challenged. ¡°Bastards are needed throughout the Guild.¡±

    Instead of answering the question, The Chief looked to me to answer the question for him. Almost as a way to make me understand his motives just as much as convincing others. I stood again and stepped forward, separating myself from my sect to address the Lodge again.

    ¡°I met the Princes when I was a child, as Bronwyn Moor,¡± I started, once again looking from Bastard to Bastard, including them in my memory. ¡°My birth father took me to a tourney to celebrate some Lord, I don¡¯t remember who.  He thought it was important for me to meet all the lords and ladies of the Crown. He said knowing them is half the struggle of being part of the Crown. Plus he knew how much I loved watching knights fights,¡± I smiled at the memory of my Lord Father¡¯s love before moving on.

    ¡°The middle Prince,¡± I continued, ¡°the one with the limp, his name is Gaelin.  He and I became friends over the course of the tourney. He couldn¡¯t keep up with the other boys, who would rather follow the  King¡¯s heir than his gimp of a son. But unlike them, I was willing to walk a little slower. We would watch the knights fight and then he would watch as I practiced my sword moves with a stick,¡± I jabbed at the air, imitating my young self. The Lodge let out a short laugh at the thought.

    ¡°One day near the end of the tourney,¡± I continued, ¡°three little Lordling shits found us while I was practicing. They were angry that a girl had the audacity to imitate a knight. So to them, it was their lordly duty to teach me a lesson,¡± I said angrily. ¡°Gaelin couldn¡¯t do anything to stop them; he was sitting and always had such a hard time getting up because of his leg. So it was me against them.¡± I looked down for a moment before continuing.

    ¡° I wish I could say I smashed them all into the dirt. But I didn¡¯t,¡± I paused for a moment, looking to Tamara, the one who taught me how to swing a lethal blade with finesse, her eyes filled with sadness and worry. I don''t often talk about the time before I came to the Tavern, to do so in such a public setting was very out of turn.

    ¡°They thought I was a stable girl, not a proper lady, so they beat me down, not even sparing my face,¡± I said, motioning towards myself. ¡° They didn¡¯t stop hitting me until Olarik showed up. He pulled out his sword, ready to cut down those shits and they ran like the cowards they were. The future king had come to my rescue,¡± I said with a small smile. ¡°But he made the same presumption that the little lords did. In his mind, I was simply a stable girl being attacked and needed his help. It wasn¡¯t until he got closer, looked past the cuts and bruises that he saw me.¡±

    ¡°Olarik is coming to The Tavern,¡± I continued, my audience still captivated by my words. ¡°He was a kind boy, and I don¡¯t know what kind of man he became. But the boy I knew, the Prince that saved me that day, he didn¡¯t care if I was a stable girl or highborn. He protected me, he was kind to me, and he didn¡¯t care about my status. He simply saw that I was a girl in need and acted. And if I have learned anything during my time here it is that those traits are an essential part of the Guild and its people,¡± I said before turning to my Shield Sisters, hoping to ease their worry. ¡°The boy I knew would be honest in his plea for peace. The boy I knew would keep my secret,¡±

    I looked back to the rest of the Lodge and continued. ¡°My place is here. Not just because this place is my home and it¡¯s people, my family. But because someone is going to have to explain all of this to him,¡± I said, motioning all around us. ¡°Who better to explain the stark differences between the Crown and the Guild than someone who has lived in both realms? Someone who understands and lived through the Crown¡¯s truest weaknesses and knows The Guild to be the pillar of strength needed to fix it.¡±Cheers of agreement filled the Lodge. I looked to Father and he nodded to me approvingly.

    I could stop here and sit. But there was more I wanted, more I needed to say. I turned back to Tamara and Caltina. ¡°But your concerns are warranted. The possibility of working with the Crown brings to light several questions. But the only way we get the answers to those questions is if we welcome the Crown into our home. We ask the difficult questions, and listen to the difficult answers. And perhaps if we can put the terrible past behind us, we can save those we are supposed to protect.¡±

    Some of the older Bastards looked from side to side, gauging the Lodge¡¯s response to my words, but I didn¡¯t stop, their old fashioned ideals weren¡¯t my concern here. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what they can do with my own eyes. We can¡¯t defeat this evil on our own. If we could, we would have already done it. This could be the answer. We owe it to those we protect to try.¡± There were some uncomfortable grumbles of agreement, but I didn¡¯t care. They needed to understand what was at stake. I sat down, done with my explanation and resisted the urge to looked to Father, looking to see if he approved of my addition.

    The door suddenly opened, drawing everyone¡¯s eyes away from me. Another older blonde Flyer, Hewet, walked into the room, his cheeks reddened as he took in the amount of focus on him. I took the momentary distraction to look at Father, to gauge his response to what I said. He was looking at me with a peculiar glance.

    Perhaps that wasn¡¯t exactly what he was expecting.

    ¡°Chief, a message. I was told it couldn¡¯t wait.¡± Hewet announced.

    Father looked away from me and waved the boy forward with a welcoming smile. ¡°Come up,  my boy¡±

    The Flyer climbed the dais and whispered into Father¡¯s ear. His face was emotionless as he took in the message. When Hewet finished Father nodded his understanding.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Father said to Hewet. The Flyer turned on his heel and walked quickly down the center of the Lodge and back out the way he came.

    Father rose from his dais chair and addressed the the Lodge. ¡°It would seem the Prince has made better time than we anticipated. He and his escort have been spotted by our scouts. He will be here by midday.¡± He paused, allowing the Bastards to process what they have heard. ¡°Your tasks have been set. Flyers will be dispatched if there are changes to accommodate his change in arrival.¡± Father rose from his chair and abruptly left out the side door.

    ¡°Thank you Bastards,¡± Torin added. ¡°that will be all today. Leads, make sure tasks are distributed accordingly.¡± He rose from his chair and followed Father, making eye contact with me briefly before exiting the same side door.

    Follow, his eyes said. I gave a single nod.

    As the door closed behind Torin, the Bastard¡¯s Lodge  filled with the sounds of shock as the Tavern¡¯s Bastards were left to process everything they had just heard.