“You can’t be serious!” he said. “He’s gonna kill you?”

“What would you do in his position?” Montgomery asked. “It’s easy to take away a knight’s weapon, but mages? That’s a hazard! Especially two at the same time.”

“I mean, you’re right, but that sounds… drastic.”

“He’s already proven himself more than capable of killing people with no use to him,” Varyan reminded him.

“I know, but I’m just a random slave. You two are lords! The king must be against that!”

“There’s no difference if you’re a lord or a pauper. If you’re not an Adventurer, then you are trash in the king’s eyes,” Varyan said.

The lord’s choice of words was very familiar.

“But doesn’t that scare you at all? Knowing that you’ll die soon?” he asked Varyan.

“My sister does have a tendency to run late,” the twin admitted, “but-”

Montgomery snickered and Varyan wiggled his finger.

“Watch yourself, Sir Cliffe!” Varyan teased him.

Sir? That guy?

Montgomery returned the sarcasm. “Of course, Lord Blitz.”

Varyan returned to the conversation.

“What I was trying to say: I completely trust my sister,” Varyan stated proudly. “I am content with waiting it out and so is my brother.”

“That’s incredible.” He could only marvel at the young lords’ steadfastness.

“We’ve got one year to figure something out with you,” Montgomery reiterated. “The Baron won’t make a move before that. If something happens to the lords, then chaos will ensue across the manor. He can’t afford all of us dying at the same time.”

He shuddered at these less than rosy expectations, but he found comfort in the fact that the slaves would hold together albeit just for the lords. On my first day they all seemed like they’d given up all hope. I’m glad I was wrong.

“One year as a slave,” Varyan said, extending a hand to him. “Will you be able to stand it?”

He shook Varyan’s hand, accepting his promise. “Yes, my Lord.”

Varyan smiled, as he usually did. “Please, I’ve told you before. It’s just Varyan. Lord Blitz is my brother.”

“It’s the outfit,” Montgomery joked and the boys laughed.

“Thank you,” he said. For giving me hope.

“Anytime,” Varyan replied. “Now, how about we join the others? There’s a whole celebration going on, and it’d be a shame to miss it.”

“What a great idea, my Lord. I’ve run out of nourishment.” Montgomery waved his bowl upside-down to indicate that it was empty. “Let’s hope the birthday feast is still going on.”

Varyan ignored the man’s sarcasm and indicated to follow him. Montgomery and Varyan led the way back to the heart of the camp, where the fires blazed brightly and the air was filled with music and laughter. The smell of the stew grew stronger, and his attention turned back to the bowl in his hand. The rest of his meal wasn’t steaming anymore, but the bowl was still warm to the touch. After their talk, his appetite had come back twofold, and he lost no time digging in. The group split, as Varyan took his place next to his brother and Shadis, while Montgomery queued in line to get a second serving. He made his way to the large bonfire where the others were gathered, the warmth of the flames enveloping him from the outside, while the stew warmed him from the inside. It’s so delicious! I need a second serving too!

As the night wore on, he found himself laughing and talking with the others, the weight of his worries lifting with each passing moment. Some miners had heard from Montgomery that he fought PP in the pit and that he gave him a hard time. They expressed their respect for his quick wits and toasted to his prowess. Water had never tasted as good as in that moment. The festivities continued late into the night, the slaves momentarily forgetting their hardships and reveling in the rare moment of joy. He looked around at the faces illuminated by the firelight, his heart swelling with gratitude and resolve. For the first time since he arrived there, he felt a sense of belonging. He was one of them. A slave, a fighter, a survivor.

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As the fire slowly started to go out and the music started to wind down, the slaves slowly started to leave. The first to go were the farmers. After that, the servants left for the shanty town, not before tidying the place up. When the miners headed to their tents one by one, he was overcome with tiredness.

“Recruit!” someone yelled.

It was Cadmun stomping towards the fireplace with Montgomery in a headlock. Oh, oh.

“There you are!” Cadmun said, as he threw Montgomery on the ground next to him.

Unsure what to say, he replied with a greeting. “H-Hello, Cadmun.”

“Don’t ‘hello Cadmun’ me! I know what you did!”

“What? What did I do?”

“Stop acting innocent, you swine!”

The grovelling Montgomery on the ground tried to get his attention. “Please, I can explain.”

A shiver went down his spine. What did he say?

“So you like back washes, huh?” Cadmun asked, cracking his knuckles. “I’ll wash your back real good.”

“Oh, no. No, no, no. This is a misunderstanding.”

But Cadmun wasn’t listening. Instead, he stepped closer to the two.

“You have to run,” Montgomery wheezed. “Go on without me.”

“Sir Frost, please,” he tried pleading. “I apologise for the disrespect.”

He bowed, making himself the perfect target for Cadmun’s fist hitting the back of his head. He fell on his ass, and even though he had his Protection up, it hurt.

“Did I ask you to apologise or if you’re sorry?” Cadmun asked while beating Montgomery on his head too.

As he sat on the ground huffing like an insulted child, he said: “I’m sorry.”

“Now, since you destroyed my tent and you instigated Lydia to do unsavoury things, you’ll be sleeping outside like the dogs you are. I’ll take Monty’s tent for the week. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow will be business as usual.”

And with that, Cadmun made his way towards the tents and left them there.

“I regret nothing!” Montgomery shouted towards the disappearing bald man.

Now left alone, the two of them looked each other in the eyes. He crossed his arms to signal his disappointment with the man.

image [https://i.imgur.com/oGDYjVb.jpeg]

“Great Gods, Recruit. All of this because you couldn’t keep your pants on,” Montgomery said.

Silence. Then came the laughing. They laughed and laughed and laughed, until one of the miners already in his tent trying to sleep yelled at them to shut up. But that made them laugh even harder until their bellies started to hurt. It was difficult staying mad at Montgomery when they were both rubbing the backs of their heads. Soon the joke faded, and the two calmed down. They assumed a spot near the dying fire trying to make themselves as comfortable as possible in the dirt. As they lay on the ground stargazing with their hands behind their heads, he felt thankful for having found a friend in this strange world.

“Good night,” Montgomery yawned.

“Good night,” he responded before drifting off to a dreamless sleep.

When he next opened his eyes, Montgomery was gone.