John returned and entered his tent, he placed the bread and potatoes in a basket beside their chest of clothes. His wife, with her black hair tied exposing her pale thin face, sat opposite of it.

"I'm hungry, father," his son said.

"I'll boil you some potatoes, Joseph. Help me carry your mother outside first, she needs the fresh air," John replied. Joseph held his mother's legs while John carried his wife while she was holding the baby.

They sat her on a log in front of their fire.

"Are you comfortable, Mary?" John asked.

"Yes, thank you, John," Mary replied with a faint smile.

"Put some potatoes in the pot, Joseph. I'll add more wood to our fire."

"Yes, father," Joseph grabbed the bag of potatoes and opened it, "Oh there's more potatoes than last time, father."

"Really?" Mary asked pleasantly.

"Yes, Mark was kind enough to give us some of his."

"Thank the gods, you have such kind friends, John."

"And thank the gods, you and little Henry there is safe." John replied with a smile.

Shortly after supper, Mary and little Henry were in the tent sleeping. "You watch over your mother now, Joseph. I shall do my watch." John kissed Joseph on the head and left.

The night was bright but cold. Bats sped over John's head and eyes of owls shined through the branches as their heads turned. Small critters were making all kinds of noises in the shrubs, this was a good a sign.

There were footsteps behind him coming closer, John turned.

"Hey, Richard," he said.

"Good evening, John," Richard greeted back.

"What is it? It's not your watch yet."

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"Aye, but listen, we heard that you got a new child."

"Aye, little Henry."

"Congratulations, John-"

"Thank you, Richard."

"Listen, John, I came here because perhaps you could help me and our other friends and neighbors."

"Sure, Richard, how can I help?"

"You see, while me and my friends were on watch, we came across a camp of former soldiers."

"former soldiers? Veterans or...?"

"The second one," Richard whispered.

"What happened?" John was worried.

"Nothing bad, don't worry, John. We just talked. They asked us if we would like to... uh... help them."

"Help?"

"Yes, they said that merchants are travelling south towards the camp of the main army, they know what road the merchants go through. They said it'll be fast, no one has to get to hurt, just point your weapon on to them and take whatever you can take then run back to the woods."

"Wait, what the- are you asking me to rob merchants on the road?" John was surprised.

"Come on, John. You got a new child, my wife is also pregnant. We need the extra food and money," Richard said in a low voice.

"What about their escorts? If they see us, we're dead."

"They travel relatively close to the army, so they don't hire escorts anymore because the army scares away bandits, that's what I've been told."

"Then the army's knights will get us."

"It'll be a straight road towards the south, we will see them a mile away, then we get back in the forest where it is too difficult for their horses to maneuver."

John paused, he swallowed the saliva in his mouth, looked around then slowed down his breathing,

I shouldn't, but I need to, and it's my chance to, I just have to do what I have to do, I'm tired of being a..., he faced Richard again, "When will it happen?" he asked.

"Tomorrow night."

"Fine, I'll help you."

"Thank you, friend."

Richard tapped John on the shoulder and left. John continued his watch sweating as the cold night breeze blew to his face.