Outside in front of the house Simon, formally known as the unkempt stranger, loaded up the horse-drawn cart that Lance was preparing when they arrived. He stacked various supplies and tied them down evenly in the wooden cart. Food, water, logs, clothing, and a few other supplies. Enough for a few weeks on the road at the very least. Lance and Champ exited the home and approached him.
“How is she? Asleep I presume?” inquired Simon
“Yes soundly, thank you Simon I am eternally in your debt. For what you are doing and what you will do.” Lance replied warmly.
Simon raised a hand dismissively, humbly declining the praise. He looked over at Champ briefly before continuing his conversation with Lance-
“It's a hard thing being branded, being chosen. It turns your life entirely upside down and uproots everything. Our brands have to stick together. We're hunted and ratted out. Quite lonely otherwise.”
He looked towards Champ again,
“Young sir, are you ready? Life will be different now, but I don't think you need me to tell you that. It's already different isn't it?”
Champ swallowed hard and nodded. Champ hung on to what Simon said briefly and thought to himself-
"Ratted out? Hunted? Why is he saying such weird things about the branded folk? Aren't we just going to see the king and be trained in some amazing fighting hall? Wait, Is he not with the King's Guard?" Champ realized he was thinking for too long and answered out loud finally-
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“I'm ready for what I need to do to keep my family safe, I want to thank you Simon for saving my mom. And for taking me in.”
A soft expression crept over Simon's face,
“Of course Champ, anything for an old friend, your family has kept my secret safe for quite some time at the old shop. Also in some years before yours, your parents even helped hide me from the hounds. I'm merely repaying a debt that I've owed for a while.”
Lance's face brightened with recognition
“By the high gods, that was you? All those years ago? You were just a young lad back then. Life is truly a wheel!” Lance blurted exasperated in disbelief.
“Aye the same young man now a few years older, big Lance. Now that we've just met again we must depart once more. I'm sure people will come by inquiring about the noise and folks are always out and about here in Parish.” Simon replied
“Say your goodbyes boy, we have to send off.” The dryness reappeared in his voice. Simon said this with such an earnest tone that it intimidated Champ.
Champ turned to his father and embraced him in an endearing hug and climbed in the back of the cart, with Simon seated on the front holding onto the reins.
“I'll miss you both dearly, Dad. Tell Mom for me. I'll be back soon when I'm- well…-
Champ struggled to find the right words, words that would comfort his Father, words that could convince him that he was ready and willing, words that could also even convince himself
"When I'm strong enough.”
"Yes my boy, learn what it means to be strong, we will be here"
Champ and his father hugged once more. With a whip of the reins, the cart lurched forward at a modest pace, and Champ and Simon were off into the moonlit main road of Parish, headed towards the Interlands.