Martin laughed as he charged towards me, weapons in hand. He opened his arms and before I could stop him, buried me into his chest. His arms and muscles were solid as steel. Martin seemed rather cheerful in seeing me again. My breathing came to a stop as he almost crushed the air out of my lungs. The blood trickling down my arm seemed like an afterthought now.

A tense air filled the winds as I followed behind Martin. My wounds had been bandaged and I was given a horse to ride. Many of his men seemed scornful of me for no particular reason. Perhaps they thought I should've been cast aside? I didn't know if I should praise or curse my luck.

I gave quick glances to the mercenaries behind me and was incredulous that Martin led them. They all had a dangerous feeling surrounding them. Martin looked like he grew up a bit faster and matured. He never asked about the Hero and I wouldn't know what to tell him other than the truth. I could only stare at his back and hope for the best.

"I don't blame you, you know."

"For what?" I said.

"For the Hero, you did what you thought was best," Martin said. "The strong can dictate to the weak and you were stronger than the Hero."

"…"

Could Martin read my mind?

"I'm not strong at all," I whispered.

Was I stronger than the Hero? No, I don't believe that. I'm actually far from strong, I could never protect the things I care about. It's because I'm weak that I suffer and my scars are proof enough of that.

"I didn't know…" Martin said.

"Know what?"

"What the Hero and the rest were up to."

Martin turned around and had a somber face.

"If I knew, I would've stopped it before it began," Martin said. "I lost my brother and sister because of what they did."

"…"

Those hazel eyes of his looked at me with true admiration, and I felt grateful. So I wasn't the only one that felt how wrong their course of action was. My weight seems to lighten as Martin told me. So not all of my companions knew of what was planned. My mind began to rack up many thoughts. Who else knew and who didn't? Cassandra? Silvia? Camille? Liz?

"So where are you headed?" Martin said.

"To Swillsden," I replied.

Martin had a stunned look on his face before laughing.

"What fate! We are heading back there as well!" Martin had a smile on his face.

"Mercenary work?" I asked.

"No, I'm the Mayor."

"What? Were you given a lordship?"

"No, I was given a town to take care of and do things as I see fit," Martin said.

"What about these mercenaries?"

Martin gave me a surprised look and laughed.

"These are my men, they are the town guards," he said. "They were displaced after the war just like me."

I looked back to see the group of men and examine them. I had thought they were mercenaries because of the sternness shown on their faces, but their eyes told me differently. Those eyes were like mine, they had the expressions of a survivor. Martin had gathered his own following of strong people.

"You've really grown Martin," I said.

Martin gave me a smile and a nod.

"I want to be better than the Hero." He said.

I cast my head down at Martin's words. Instead of dwelling on the past and wallowing in self-pity. Martin had tried to become better than the Hero. He had truly grown up to be a good man. This furthered my resolve to head into Demon territory and atone for my deeds.

"Why were you out of town?" I said.

"We were looking for some criminals that had been terrorizing Swillsden," Martin said. "We couldn't find them, they had slipped past us using the forest."

"If I can help out in any way, let me know," I said.

Martin smiled and laughed heartily.

"I knew you would, Demitri!"

The journey to Swillsden didn't take long on horseback. The horses were as fierce and sturdy as the men riding them. My mood became merrier talking to Martin and the pain in my arm subsided. Martin told me of how he went to his hometown after the war. There was nothing left but he did find some survivors. Though they were weak and didn't make it through the coming days. Martin never asked what became of me and why I was littered with injuries.

"We're here Demitri! Welcome to Swillsden!" Martin grabbed hold of me on the shoulder.

It was still amazing looking at Martin and knowing that he is just a young man. His enormous body and pot belly would tell a different story. He had a thick beard and a full head of hair that would make many think he was a bear instead of a man. Martin also had a big appetite that went with his big frame.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Tonight! Let's feast boys!" Martin yelled.

The mercenaries behind us all goaded with vigor at his words.

Entering Swillsden, it looked like a huge farming community. There were massive fields of crops and others like it. A river ran through the side of the fields, an appealing water source for the town and the crops. The only thing missing was the amount of pigs the town was known for. My eyes searched for them but they could not be found.

"What happened to all the swine?" I asked.

Martin showed a grim face.

"They all died in the war," he said. "Both the soldiers of Solace and Bareth used them as war rations."

"All of them?"

"Yes, Swillsden was in starvation because of it."

"How could they!?"

"How could they not?" Martin said. "The weak can't fight the strong."

I expected the worse when we entered the heart of the town but it was far from it. Everyone had a smile on their faces, from the youngest to the oldest. The town folk looked fat and content, they looked like they were nobles themselves. I looked for the vagabonds and the strays but there were none. Martin had created a utopia in Swillsden.

"Everyone looks so happy," I said.

"Yes! No one has a want for anything, everyone eats!" Martin had a beaming smile on his face.

"There's no poor here?"

"None."

"How?"

"Being poor happens only when they don't have anything Demitri!" Martin said. "No one starves here in Swillsden, I won't allow it!"

Martin was one of the few to know the plights of the poor. He grew up a simple butcher's son and had a great taste for meat. The problems of the Kingdom affected the poor first and Martin witnessed that first hand. Even though there was a famine that plagued the Kingdom of Bareth, Martin, and his siblings never starved. His parents made sure of that until they had died from never eating.

Martin had a great appetite and ate most of his fill. The famine struck his town and many had abandoned their own children. His parents had loved him and his siblings greatly. Instead of spreading the scraps of food they had, they gave it to their children. In the end, they had died from starvation and Martin vowed to not let anyone else suffer that fate.

The Hero had found Martin working as a mercenary, doing all sorts of dangerous things for food and money. The Hero heard of Martin's story and offered him a place with us, he became a steadfast companion ever since. I'm glad that Martin was able to find a new place in life, only the living can make that choice.

We hopped off our horses and tied them near a stable.

"Come, Demitri!"

Martin led me into a tavern with his men.

"This place has one of the finest beers on the eastern side of Bareth!"

The tavern was brightly lit and they had many tables to serve a lot of guests. Some patrons were sitting at the bar. There were only women who worked here and they were abnormally thin but beautiful.

"I'll go cook us some meat! Everyone get your beers!"

The mercenaries inside of the tavern roared with excitement. Martin disappeared deeper into the tavern. Martin always had a skill for roasting meat from being a butcher's son. He knew the highest quality cuts and the right way to prepare them. My mouth couldn't wait to savor the delicacies he would make. My luck looked to be brighter in meeting Martin again.

I sat at a table by myself in the corner. I could use a beer to lighten up my heavy thoughts. I waved my hand to the barmaid and she saw it with a piercing gaze. There was a look of confusion on her face but it was quickly replaced with a smile. The other men stared at her in lust but I had no thoughts of that at the moment.

The barmaid had a bewitching beauty and came towards me to serve me a drink. She placed down my drink and had an unnatural smile on her face. Though I could tell there was a small hint of fear in her eyes and I didn't know why. She leaned over, close to me, showing off her cleavage. The other men in the room were hollering loudly at her actions.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"My name is Demitri, I'm just passing by," I replied.

The barmaid's smile became more warming and she leaned closer to my ear.

"Don't eat the meat." She whispered.

Quickly, she left as fast as she came.

I became puzzled by her words, just when I thought my luck had turned.

Was I wrong?