The man had started to cook food while the others sat at a table.

The girl sat at a different table, staring at them.

Jon was trying to figure out her age. She seemed young, but not that young. Old, but not that old. She was definitely younger than him by a few years.

She hadn’t said anything to them. She wasn’t even looking at them.

The man finally came out with several plates of food.

He put it in front of Jon.

“We don’t have much,” the man said. “This is all that we have.”

“Are you kidding me?” Tallow asked. “This is incredible with what you can do with no money.”

“Honestly, it’s not as good as it looks,” the man continued. “Raglace and his men come by and take their fill.”

“Sounds like they need a real ass whoopin’,” Tallow said.

“Well, your leader didn’t seem very interested-”

Tallow coughed. “Leader? He isn’t any leader of mine. But I doubt I could do anything about those men by myself anyway. It’s a lot, for any of us.”

Jon grimaced and nodded, before reaching for his plate.

“Maybe…” Amalia frowned.

“Don’t do it, princess,” Tallow said. “You’d be getting in a lot of trouble.”

“Princess?” The man perked up.

“...It’s a figure of speech,” Tallow reassured. Jon was impressed. Unlike the man, Tallow’s lying skills were impressive.

“...Well, I can give you a place to stay, and some food,” the man added. “But-”

“Chop, chop, tell us about your situation before our glorious leader comes back,” Tallow interjected.

“My name is Raymond,” he said. “You can call me Ray, for short. And this girl… she appeared a few days ago.”

“Appeared?” Tallow pretended to look around. “Seems like it’s hard to appear out of nowhere here.”

“I know,” Ray responded. “But that was what happened. I let her stay, but then Raglace and his goons came along and started asking questions about missing artifacts. I didn’t want to give him the girl, and I tried to take away the dagger from her… but it just isn’t meant to be.”

“Dagger.” Tallow nodded. “Okay, I see. So, you let her hide out. How come Raglace hasn't found her yet. Isn’t he from here?”

“He is,” Ray said. “That’s accurate actually, but he took many people away from here and has been traveling around with his pack. Apparently, due to the rise in security and bodyguards, they haven’t made much, so they came back here, and have been living off the land since.

“Did they lose the girl?” Amalia asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “She doesn’t speak to me. I have no idea what to do or say. All I can do is keep her fed and give her a place to stay.”

“That’s a lot to do,” Tallow said.

“I guess I don’t have much to focus on,” Ray responded.

“Well, if we take the girl, we can take her to the guild,” Amalia responded. “Wouldn’t that be good enough?”

“I doubt Raglace would let you out of his sight,” Ray said. “He has men guarding 24/7, and they can signal to each other quite quickly. You wouldn’t get very far.”

“I think we need reinforcements,” Tallow said. She pulled out her gem.

Jon pulled his own out as well.

“Which one of us should make the call?” Tallow asked.

“He gave you one?” Amalia asked. “And not me?”

“Must be short supply,” Tallow answered. “Besides, this one goes to Mallory. That one…”

She pointed to Jon.

“That goes to Hector. In fact, Mallory’s probably useless here. Go call, Jon.”

Jon looked at the gem. He didn’t know how to call.

“You gotta channel mana into it,” Tallow said. “Can you do that?”

Jon didn’t know. He stared at it.

“Pretend you’re shooting it,” Tallow said.

Jon reached for his gun.

“No! Not like that!” Tallow said. “I meant, how does it feel when you shoot your gun?”

Jon put both hands on the gem, then started to feel around it. Could he pretend to shoot it?

He thought really hard. What would he do? Hold it up. Aim, and pull the trigger.

Jon’s ring finger pushed against the side of the gem.

A whining noise suddenly erupted from the gem, making Jon almost drop it.

“What? What? Hold on.” It was unmistakably Hector’s voice coming from the gem. “Jon?”

“Hi,” Jon said.

“Uhh, Jon, what is it? It’s an emergency, right?”

“There’s a girl here with a magical dagger,” Tallow said. “It’s enchanted, like Jon’s gun. So, we can’t take it away from her.”

“Huh. That’s not an emergency. Just take the girl. Do you need to talk to her parents?”

“No, dummy!” Tallow yelled.

Jon felt like she was yelling at him, so he put the gem down on the table.

He wondered if there would be a projection of Hector.

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“No, Jon, pick me up!” Hector said. “This gem is very weak.”

Jon held onto the gem while keeping it on the table.

“There’s like, an army of simpletons, and like, one really strong guy,” Tallow explained, "The leader, he’s been taking tolls from people entering, and-”

“Impossible,” Hector said. “We haven’t had any issues coming from that direction.”

“Dodgy bastards must be picking and choosing his fights,” Tallow said. “Maybe he thought we knew something.”

“This isn’t good. He’s got an army, you say?”

“Yeah,” Tallow answered. “You got reinforcements?”

“No… but I can come,” Hector responded.

“That’s it?” Tallow asked. “Just you?”

“And me!” Avery’s voice came from the gem as well.

“No way. Drop me off here.”

There was some ruffling.

“How’s Amalia?”

“Right here,” Amalia said.

“You’re alive? Good. Now, I can’t leave until…. Tomorrow, maybe.”

“Take your time,” Tallow said. “One man isn’t gonna make a difference.”

“Maybe I’ll talk to my sister,” Hector responded. “Oh, how’s Macy by the way.”

“Alive, unfortunately,” Tallow said.

“Alright… I’ll try to get some reinforcements. I’ll talk to Mallory, see what he says about the dagger. Don’t call until it’s an absolute emergency, Tallow, I can try to contact you.”

“Right,” Tallow said. “We’ll wait for you here.”

“There’s no more energy,” Hector said. “I’m running out. Stay safe. Amalia-”

His voice disappeared.

“Well, this is nice.” Tallow crossed her arms and turned to the girl. “What’s your name?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Do you have a name?” Tallow asked.

The girl nodded slowly.

“That’s a start.” Tallow shrugged.

“I can,' Amalia stood up and went to the girl’s side. After some talking, the two of them stood, and the girl led Amalia up to the stairs in the back.

“I can’t thank you enough,” Ray said.

“We haven’t done anything yet,” Tallow responded. “Don’t thank us yet. It’s bad luck.”

Tallow finally reached for her plate. “Just keep on cooking and we’re set.

Jon nodded. He put the gem away and continued to eat.

After the meal, Lester finally entered the inn again. Tallow had caught him up with everything.

“Lana already said that she would try to send more people,” Lester said.

“What is your situation with her?” Tallow asked.

“Oh, well you see, we've been friends for a bit. I mean, I try every so often to ask her out-”

“I meant with the communication.” Tallow said. “Why did you say you weren’t in contact with her when we left.”

“Oh." Lester put his finger to his chin in thought.

“Oh, we’re gonna be here all day,” Tallow remarked.

“Yeah.” He put his fist in his palm. “Lana is going to be busy for a while. She’s always busy, but she’s gonna be away. She wanted to talk to Hector before she left, but she hasn’t been able to. I’m sure she set out last night."

Jon frowned. Lana must have been really worried about Hector. It was all he was hearing from everyone lately.

Macy suddenly opened the door. “I’m famished. So, famished, I could probably eat a horse.”

“I’m sure if you go outside, you can beat one to death,” Tallow remarked.

“Combining business and pleasure, are we?” Macy took a seat at the table. She saw Amalia’s unfinished plate and took it.

“Really?” Tallow asked.

“Me and Amalia are like sisters,” Macy said. “Well, we probably would have been sisters, but you know.”

“So, is incest the reason that all of you have the same hair?” Tallow asked.

“Ohhh…” Lester said.

“Shut up,” Tallow said.

“Well, that’s funny,” Macy said. “Because I can see if I reach under here…”

She leaned over the table and went towards Tallow’s headwrap.

Tallow knocked her hand away. “Cut that out!”

Macy grabbed Tallow’s finger.

There was a tugging match. Jon slowly began to see Tallow’s face turn from anger to concern.

Macy delicately let go of Tallow’s hand. “You know, you have a strong grip.”

She continued to eat. Tallow stood up.

“Screw this.” She left the table.

“The magical object is connected to a girl,” Lester said as he took a seat. “I wouldn’t be able to take it.”

“I can always knock her out,” Macy suggested.

“Please, don’t!” Ray begged.

“I’m just trying to figure out how to keep her safe,” Macy responded. “Don’t you want that?”

“I…” the man grimaced.

“I can leave here with the girl and Amalia,” Lester said. “Maybe they’ll let us through.”

“I doubt that,” Macy said. “That would probably make them more interested. I don’t think they were scared of us. I think they were testing us.”

“Which is why you made such a show today,” Lester committed.

Macy nodded while she took a bite out of a drumstick.

“Of course,” she said through the food in her mouth.

“You!” Amalia had come down the stairs. She pointed to Ray.

“We should talk,” she said. “Now.”

“I... sure.” Ray went up to Amalia and followed her upstairs.

“Sure is bossy,” Lester said.

“Her and Hector would have made a great couple," Macy added

Lester looked in concern. “What do you mean, would’ve?”

“You… don’t know?” Macy asked.

“What happened?”

“If you were too stupid to find out, I’m not telling you.” Macy continued to eat.

He looked at Jon. “Tell me, Jon!”

“Hector’s getting married,” Jon said. “To Mercy.”

“Mercy…” His eyes widened. “The Highlander chick.”

Macy silently shook her head side to side.

“No way…” He put his hands on the table. “I’m gonna freak out first… but I’m hungry!”

Jon gave Lester the rest of his food.

“Thanks brother.” He began to eat.

Jon stood up and left the two to their meal.

Outside, he had hoped to find Tallow, but she was nowhere to be found.

Jon then heard the door open behind him.

“Care to walk?”

He turned and saw Amalia.

“Okay…” Jon said.

Amalia and Jon walked through the small village.

“That man is lying about something,” she said. “I know it. I don’t think it’s sinister, but I know he has a connection to that girl. I think he’s too young to be her father.”

She turned to Jon. “How old do you think he is?”

Jon thought about it. It had to be somewhere between Ben and Jason.

“Jason,” Jon said out loud.

“Jason? Who’s that?”

“My brother,” Jon answered.

“You have a brother? How many?”

“Two.”

“Any sisters?”

“One.”

Amalia nodded. “Okay. I just have Duranny. And we’re far apart. I feel like his parent sometimes.”

“Mmm…” Jon nodded.

“Are you older?” she asked.

“No.”

“You’re the youngest?”

Jon nodded again.

“Wow. Both of your parents are with you?”

Jon nodded once more.

“That’s lucky… I don’t mean that! It’s not luck. I’m sure they love each other very much. Me and Hector… we don’t have our moms anymore. I’m sure it’s the reason that Harris… My father and Luther get along so well.”

Did Amalia just refer to her father by his first name? Jon applauded her bravery.

“I thought it would bring me and Hector closer together as well… but Hector never let it drag him down. I suppose with him and his sisters.”

Jon nodded.

“Have you met the others?” Amalia asked. “His other sisters?”

“Lana,” Jon responded.

“Right. King’s Guard. Lana’s the one Hector speaks to the most since they work together. But, I’m sure he’s quite jealous of her.”

“Hmmm…”

“Do you speak to your siblings, Jon?”

“Nope.” Jon hadn’t spoken to anyone in years. He even forgot how many. Susan was the last one to leave. At least until he did himself.

“Well, you’re the youngest. So I suppose they all set off to live their lives.”

Jon could do nothing but nod. She was right.

“Why are you so quiet, Jon?”

Huh.

Jon stopped and looked at Amalia. By this time, they had walked enough to enter the forest.

“I’ve noticed,” she continued, “that you don’t seem to have very much to say. In fact, last night, you barely said a single word in that whole conversation. How is that?”

Jon looked around for someone to answer for him, but there wasn’t.

“I… I don’t… I don’t know…”

“Surely,” she said. “You must have something to say. Why don’t you say it?”

“I… don’t have to…” Jon responded.

“Well, that’s silly. Don’t you want to be heard?”

Jon never wanted to be heard.

“You should fight to be heard,” Amalia said. “Make your voice known.”

“Okay.” He tried to speak to her.

“No, I mean…”

“Alright, there, princess, back it up!” Tallow walked in on the two of them.

“Just 'cause you can’t have one doesn’t mean you can take the other,” Tallow commented.

“It’s not like that!” Amalia said. “I’m just making a friend! I don’t have many friends?”

“Not even the other princesses?” Tallow asked.

“It doesn’t work like that! I thought we weren’t supposed to assume things about each other!”

“Uh-huh. Come on, Jon. Before she sucks your blood dry.”

Jon didn’t think she would suck his blood.

“Why are you acting like this?” Amalia asked.

“I know your kind,” Tallow said. “You bleed off of others for your own gain. You live at the top, and all you know how to do is to keep talking so that you stay up there.”

“Who messed you up so badly that you have to talk to me like that?” Amalia asked

“No one. It’s just awareness. Let’s go, Jon.”

Jon started to leave Amalia, but he stopped. They had walked far, and the forest might have been dangerous with the eyepatch man running around.

“We can’t leave her,” Jon said.

“What?”

Jon didn’t know what stung more. Trying to speak up, or seeing Tallow’s face winced in disappointment.

She looked down to the floor. Jon waited for her to say something scary.

“Sure. Whatever. I guess we can’t leave princesses running around by themselves. It’s getting dark anyway.”

She whistled while she started walking back towards the village.

“Thanks, Jon,” Amalia whispered. She and Jon followed Tallow back.