It had been a weary long two days for Zilian. Farame woke him and Erica up yesterday before dawn broke the horizon, and packed up everything that was not needed immediately - heavy things, such as tools, kitchenware and equipment. They were left exhausted by midnight, only to wake up just as early today.

Today was just as busy if not more, though only a few things left to put away - the rest of their clothes and kitchenware. The last thing they had to do was simply to finish loading the carts. Fortunately there was no short supply on food, one of the many benefits of running a farm. Both carts were filled to the brim, leaving no space unused.

Zilian jumped out of the cart after securely tying boxes in place, he heaved from landing on the ground, trotting into the house after he had smacked the dirt off his pants. Erica and Farame had just finished storing things they did not need, at least until and if they ever to come back.

"Ya think we got it all?" Farame asked Erica.

"Yeah. I think so." She replied, wiping the sweat from her brows.

It was hotter then usual today and they was a lot of heavy lifting involved. Zilian was shocked to see how strong and resilient Farame was. He always assumed the man was not very capable, until these past two days. He should have known sooner, they were on their own before Farame invited him into the family.

Farame groaned as he stood upright after tying another box. One does not know how much they have stored, and the memories that go along with them. It has been the hardest on Erica; She wanted to keep everything but was only able to bring a few books.

Farame waved for Zilian’s attention, "We need to get them last few boxes from upstairs, then we all can go."

"Before we do that, it is time to eat. It's already midday." Erica said.

Farame grunted agreeably, "Very well. Need to keep our strength up."

"Sounds great to me." Zilian gave his enthused reply, he could not agree any more. He feels like he can munch on anything, even hapers, although he would rather not.

"We have dried hapers." Erica said.

Zilian shoulders slumped and jaws dropped, cursed be him and his thought. However, his despair was short-lived when he saw her hand the bowl to Farame - she meant it was for Farame. Erica tossed him a marilla apple, which he aptly caught.

"Today only have fruits. Cooking pans are packed away, so no freshly cooked food." Erica explained.

He took a bite into the apple, "No problem. Perfectly fine as long as it's not hapers for me." He said with his mouth full. The apple sweet to perfection, added with its lustful colors, it just made his mouth water even more.

Farame retorted to his remark, "Ya wouldn't dislike'em if ya give it a try."

"Yeah. I don't think I will ever do that."

Erica tried to conceal her laugh, clearly amused by his frank and honest reply. The three of them sat there on the boxes, munching quietly on their food. It seemed so tranquil to Zilian, it was hard to believe there was a war going on outside; A war that lasted almost a thousand years. In fact, these past few months seemed so unrealistic. Forest Mist, the city he went to did not seem to have had troops in it patrolling the streets. As frequently as it was in his old town.

He remembered how it was back at his old town, with soldiers from the swamp often camping near the town and getting supplies to heal their wounded as they returned from the front lines. Although, in the months prior to the Mountain laying claim to his town, the Swamp slowed to seldom camping nearby and eventually quit coming altogether.

"Hey Farame, I have question." Zilian implored.

"Speak it, I can't guess it." Farame always replied same way when Zilian started his questions like that; he made a mental note to avoid asking to ask again.

"Why is it Misty Forest didn't have troops from any of the four empires?"

Farame spoke with his mouth biting onto another haper, "That's be because they not part of them."

"There's cities like that?"

"Yeah, granted them be few. There even more villages and colonies like that, although, yet again still a few. Most people who are in them are folks who think this war is pointless and that they want no part of it, others in it to get away from the center of attention, hiding from someone else." He wiped his mouth with the last sentence.

"I see." Zilian toyed with his half-eaten apple, rolling it between his fingers.

Noises erupted outside in the front, interrupting their calm lunch. The sound of horses rhythmic trotting and neighing echoed through the house, Farame stood to see who their unexpected guests were. Wide-eyed from surprise, his eyes looked like they could pop out of their sockets. He signaled, waving his hand low for them to crouch.

"Them Mountain soldiers. Hopefully this is nothing, but ya best hide upstairs for in case."

As Farame walked off and straightening himself to greet their unwelcomed visitors, at the time Zilian alongside Erica quickly and silently went upstairs to hide. When upstairs they found that there was nowhere to hide, every room was far too exposed.

"There is nowhere to hide!" Erica exclaimed quietly.

That instant they heard the door open and Farame welcoming them with his normal cheerful aptitude. The response was husked and not friendly in return, "We have executive order to search your premises under the authority of the Mountain Empire."

"We are not part of the Mountain, you'll need to get the warrant from the Forest Mist vicinity."

"In that case sir, you'll find we don't need permission. Check the house!" He ordered other men.

He ran to the room located furthest away from the front, they were running out of time. Stepped against the window and lifting it delicately to not make a grating noise, he scanned the immediate area quickly making certain no one would see them. They could walk outside onto the roof and easily hide in a spot where the roof overlapped the next, there they would remain invisible from the troops outside.

He waved for Erica to step out first, and she understood what he saw. Zilian followed her out, closing the window in order to not arouse suspicion. He ducked sideways from the window, and soldiers appeared not a moment after he lowered the window. He feared that they had been caught.

"The whole house looks like it is ready to pick up and go, seems the higher ups were smart sending us out here to double check."

Zilian tread lightly away from the window to not risk being caught, they did not see him or his shadow. He would have had never known that his stealing skills would have been focused for his own survival. He did not make a single roof board piece creak, sliding carefully onto his side beside Erica.

After a few heartbeats, "I think we slipped past them."

"What's going on?" Erica asked.

"Don't know, but I can figure it out."

"Don't do anything stupid." Erica eyed him warily.

"Don't worry, I am just gonna poke myself on the edge of the roof to see what they're doing." He assured her.

He slid himself to the roof on the front of the house, giving himself a clear vantage point and good cover. From there he saw eight horses and a closed-in carriage. The carriage seemed tall enough for someone to stand up straight inside, so he assumed there were at least nine soldiers. He did not want to believe it, but the red cross on their helms confirmed his fear; they were mountain soldiers. He saw two soldiers outside, one standing guard with the horses whereas the other walked inside the carriage.

He assumed the rest were searching the house and possibly in the barn. Zilian ducked behind the rood, a soldier with red armor exited the front door right under him. He heard Farame grunt as if someone shoved him forward, forcing him to follow. He could just make out the edge of his bald head over the edge.

"May I ask, what is ya reason to invade my house?"

"You very well know what our reasons are Farame. Since you insist on playing stupid, you have been caught in act of treachery against the Mountain."

Zilian was shocked of how they could have known that they knew Farame was relaying information to the Swamp Empire, he was very careful to not get caught. Farame acted coolly, with a exasperated tone that made him sound sincere and innocent.

"What treachery? I sell ya goods and offer ya my fine wine as ya visit. That’d be what ya talking about? Them have a new policy of no wine?"

The man was now getting impatient, "No! You'll be taken to custody and that will be the end of your case."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Zilian observed his pattern of speech, noted that he was lying - every time he mentioned about treachery he paused and flicked his eye. He was not taking him in for treason, he was taking him in for what he knew. Whatever it is that Farame learned from them a few days ago, it got them wired up into a hasty frenzy. He wedged to poke a sole eye over the edge.

"So, what's with all this packing? You're moving, perhaps even leaving the Mountain’s protection?" The interrogator waved his arm towards the carts.

"Ya, I be moving. I have grown weary of this placed, lived here for too many years. After the death of my son and his wife... too many memories. I've met this man from further south - still in ya territory mind ya, selling this place he claimed to be nice. Checked it out, liked it. Had to have it, before he be changing his mind. It is already a farm, so perfect place for me to continue. I was gonna file them papers to let ya know where I'll be at."

"Hmm..." The soldier pondered what he said, he relaxed his shoulders almost convinced. Zilian himself thought he would have believed him if he had not known better. Then again, he knew he did not have the best judgment abilities.

The door slammed wide opened as a soldier burst outside excitedly, "Captain, look at what we found in one of the dormitories on the second floor!"

He cursed in his breath, the soldier had his sword which he foolishly forgot all about. The Captain snatched the blade, and stood straighter as he unsheathed it. As he lifted it up and marveled it, took a brief moment reading the engravings on it.

"Very well. You did good soldier."

The Captain drawled, "Now Farame,” making him sound creepy, “I would like to think you didn't know anything about this. Now tell me, who are you holding here as your guest? I’d imagine may even be as family."

Farame played as a fool again, "What ya talking about?"

"The one who stole this blade from the Mountain. He or she is a fugitive for aiding another fugitive. This fugitive is an accomplice, maybe even from the family of the one who originally stole this blade. I want to know where this person is!" The Captain exclaimed.

"He is a fugitive?" Farame echoed.

The captain grinned, "Ah, so it is a he. You didn't know he was fugitive then. Well then, do tell us where he is and we shall let this transgression slide."

"I don't know, he goes out of the house everyday doing something. Pays handsomely for me not minding my business." Farame lied, clearly protecting Zilian.

"Very well then. Pray we don't find him in your house, or else you'll be caught in a lie and would be considered as an accomplice in a conspiracy."

"Zilian."

Zilian jumped back, startled hearing his name right behind his ear. It was Erica leaning right next to him.

"What are we gonna do? You know Farame is not gonna let them take you, but we can't let them take him either."

"Don't worry. It won't come to either." Zilian reassured her.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I better come up with a plan in a few minutes."

Erica understood that it was now best to stay silent. He needed silence to devise a way to get them out. I could ambush them from the roof, but then everyone inside would come out and I can’t deal with all of them. I could get them from inside, but they’ll have fair amount of warning outside. Either way, I have no armor or weapon so they’ll just slice me up.

Erica is peered over the edge, watching her grandfather worriedly, "Shame we can't use a name to make them leave."

Then an idea popped in Zilian's head, Erica practically told him what to do. Completely crazy in every way, but it could work.

"That's it!" Zilian he remarked excitedly, "You're a genius Erica. We'll use a name."

"How?" Her brows tightened further emphasizing her question.

"You'll see soon enough. I’ll be right back. Wait here." He slid down despite he hush objection.

Sliding further down to the back of the house, he edges over where there is a pile of hay. He checks to make sure nobody is around, since he has to get in motion as soon as he goes down. He topples from the side of the house into the hay and rolls out swiftly, keeping himself low as he moves quickly around the edge and into to the barn.

When he slips inside the barn, he hears some shuffling among the boxes in the back. He ducks behind a box near the door a moment before he sees the soldier's helmet. He crawls alongside the walls of the of the barn, sneaking to the ladder towards the rear of the building. When he reaches reached the ladder, he took a quick peek to see if the soldier was in a line of sight. He saw his helmet poking behind several boxes, good he won't see me.

Zilian climbs swiftly up the ladder, before the soldier got out from the maze of boxes, allowing him to get to the top without being seeing. We wedges around to where the soldier was - he is preoccupied opening boxes. Zilian grabs a heavy bag filled with flour and looks over the edge of the platform, the soldier is right under his nose. Without hesitation, he dropped the bag over the soldier. It crashed with a muted thud, dumping the flour all around. The soldier groans and topples forward, fortunately not making noise on the way; the last thing he wants is to alert more soldiers.

With the soldier out of the way, Zilian did not waste anytime going back around to the ladder. He jumps on the pile of boxes, using them like a staircase. He quickly goes to the tool box in the middle and digs through to grab a hammer, a box of matches and a small bottle with lamp oil. With everything he needs, he heads back to the entrance.

When he comes back outside, he sees the soldiers getting more intense. They overturned the carts and literally ripping the house apart. He sneaks to where the soldiers carriage is at, keeping himself low. Now that he is next to it, he could tell it was an ammunition and armory cart - by the smell of explosive powder and the clumsy clang of metal falling, someone was still inside. He grinned in satisfaction, this would work better then what Zilian originally thought. Stealthily going back to the barn while the rest of the soldiers were still busy, he made his way back to the carriage with a couple sacks of wheat.

Time for the next phase. He thought to himself. 

Zilian knocks on the door of the carriage, getting the soldier’s attention, "Yes, Captain!" The soldier saw there was no one standing in the entrance, "Kailo. That you?" Zilian did not even make a peep, "I swear, if you're gonna spook me, I'll gut you."

He remained calm as the footsteps of the soldier draw nearer to the door, the instant he saw his foot he swings his hand as hard as he can into soldiers face. Catching the soldier by surprise, his punch knocks the soldier unconscious. Zilian felt proud of himself being able to go this far without being caught, then he felt a throbbing pain with his hand.

"Ow. Ow. Ow." Zilian wrapped his shirt around his hand, "No more punching guys faces. Hurts a lot. Focus, next part of the plan." He shook his hand to relieve the pain.

He dragged the soldier outside, then brought in the two bags of flour he has next to the carriage. He grabbed a couple of dusha daggers, both normal and explosive. He hooked the daggers on his strap belt, pulled out his hammer, and smashed open all the tops to the barrels of explosive powder to pour the powder all over.

After he finished dumping the the powder from every barrel open, he walked out, pouring a trail of his lamp oil. He then lit a match and set the oil on fire a safe distance away from the carriage. It trailed to the carriage with all the explosives set in the open.

The soldier that Zilian knocked out inside the barn came out just as the fire disappeared into the carriage. He saw Zilian just beyond his fellow soldier sprawled unconscious. He charged Zilian while sounding a vocal alarm, but his run was cut short - knocked down by the deafening explosion when he was a foot away. Zilian himself covered his ears to mute the blast, but it still rang in his head, his hands only able to mute the sound by a bit.

The smoke from the carriage blanketed a large area, forming a light smokescreen around them. Zilian pulls his collar up blotting out the smoke in the air, then ran to where he heard Farame coughing. He sneaks around past Farame and up to where the Captain. Again he used his honed stealing skills and snatched his blade from the sheath, then ran back to take position in front of the house.

Let's see if this show is convincing enough. He hoped for the best, and a bit of luck.

A gust blows the smokescreen further downwind clearing the area, he can now see all the soldiers are outside was outside with the except for one. All the soldiers were dumbfounded, and surprise was printed on their faces; all except for the Captain who simply grinned in satisfaction - he was saved the effort of needing to recapture the blade, and from nothing more than a young boy at that.

"What you think you doing boy? Snatching toys from older men like us?" Pointing at the sword now in Zilian's hand.

"I don't like it when you play with my toys." He did not flinch under the Captain’s gaze, he took the stance he remembered reading - blade bent down with hilt over shoulders and legs spread out.

The man was amused, he cackled, "Do you know what you are saying? That sword was stolen by a fugitive. Are you saying you are his accomplice?"

"Yes, yes I am."

As a shadow looms from behind him he reacts almost instinctively, turning around and parrying the sword that almost slashed at his back. He pulls off one of his daggers from his belt and crosses it between the parried sword, he pulls on the knotted swords and tosses the soldier around the front of the house. To further make his statement he then tossed his dusha at the man aiming for his leg, but instead it flies right by his head, barely missing his neck.

Facing the Captain again, he holds the sword with two hands, "I want you to leave now." Zilian ordered them.

Captain stares back his eyes burn through him, considering what he should do. The few heartbeats are tense, "How about this, a bargain. You tell me your name, then I will decide if I would to go."

Jackpot. That is exactly what Zilian wanted to hear, "The name is Zilian Ainn, now go." He said seriously.

The Captain grinned menacingly, he could tell there was something between Mountain soldiers and their grins, "Very well then. Keep your teeth sharpened, we will be back and when that time comes, you will be dead and that blade will be ours."

He ordered his men to retreat, taking the few horses they had, a couple shared horses since the carriage was no more then splinters. As quickly as they had come, they all left. Zilian waited another minute to make sure they did not come back to spy on them, only checking on Farame after he was sure they were gone. He dug his sword into the ground, freeing his hands to turn Farame’s body around. For a moment he was worried he had died until he heard cackling.

"Can't say if ya smart, or ya stupid. Maybe ya a bit of both."

He sighed from relief to know Farame is fine, he gave him a hand up. They both looked around, in just a little bit of time the soldiers destroyed just about everything they had. Their carts that were packed up were overturned and their contents tossed about. Even though their house was in disarray, he could see from the frown Farame gave meant something else.

Farame asserted, "I believe what I know is real now. I have to go, ya have to go another direction without me."

"What do you mean?" Zilian was baffled, he at first wanted to all go together and now he is saying they should go separate ways. At that same moment Erica came running out of the house into her grandfather's arm.

"Ferry, why you scare me like that?" Erica said.

"Oh Erica, you and your mother so much a like. Worry too much." He stroked her hair back,"Erica, you gonna have to leave me."

"What?" Erica was also caught off-guard. She pulled back from Farame, the displeasure from her frown demanded an explanation.

"Them soldiers, them came for what I know, not for what I did. They don't know what I did, they just coming with excuses. Because of that, I have to go making my trip that more dangerous. To keep ya safe, I want ya to go to Mauris and tell him to take ya to Kenplar estate."

"No Ferry, you can't leave me." Tears welled up in her clear blue eyes, she is almost broken-hearten to part ways with her loved grandfather.

"Don't worry Erica, you remember the Kenplar's. Them are nice folk."

Erica at this point was now sniffing. Farame seemed beat, it was just as painful for him too, "How bout this, we meet at Greyus City, at the Melamel Motel. From then in two weeks, we'll meet together and leave for Kenplar, together. Sound good to ya?"

Erica brightened up, "As long if you promise you come back." She hugged him again.

"Of course, I wouldn't promise anything less." 

Zilian turned away, remembering how he and Shavo were separated and left on bad terms. Would dad had done the same for me? He wondered. Looking back at Farame and Erica, he hoped that they would not lose what Zilian regretted of not having. He did not wish the same to happen to them, in part because he felt Farame gave him what he had then forsaken and lost.