Telamon waited by his father's bedside while taking care of him. He regularly changed the cloth on his forehead, while making sure he was comfortable. Now and then, his father would cough, at which point he would rush over to the bed and support him, holding his chest. Once or twice, it seemed as if his father would wake up after a coughing fit, but he would quickly sink back into sleep after mumbling something incoherent. Telamon looked outside and saw the setting sun. His brother should be home soon if all goes according to plan. He decided that his father needed some hearty porridge, so he took out a crude bronze cooking pot and placed it on the stove. He went to the nearby river and filled two buckets with water, which he then brought into their home. He boiled some of the water, into which he then put oat grains, which had been soaked in water for half a day into that boiling water. He continuously stirred with a wooden spoon, while feeding wood to the fire to keep it from going out.

Once the porridge was done, he scooped some of it out and placed it into a wooden bowl. He brought it to his father and shook his father's shoulder. "Come father, you need to eat something. I've made some porridge for you." The man groggily blinked his eyes, before sitting up in his bed. He took the wooden bowl and spoon from Telamon and took a spoonful of porridge. "Where is Herodotos?" He asked, half awake. Telamon patted reassuringly on his father's shoulder. "Don't worry about him. He just went to the medicine man to get you some remedy. More importantly, how are you feeling?" The man waved Telamon off. "You and your brother worry too much. I'm feeling better than this morning. I was just a bit tired is all." Suddenly a violent coughing fit overcame him, and the harsh coughs shook his lungs to their core. Telamon held his chest and lightly clapped him on the back. Once the man finished coughing, he drew in a shuddering breath. "You should eat and rest, father. Herodotos and I will take care of the field in the meantime."

Suddenly the door slammed open with a bang. Herodotos rushed into the house while panting heavily. Telamon greeted him. "Herodotos, you're back. Did you get the medicine?" Herodotos panted and took a second to regain his breath. He then took out a small pouch from his cloak. "Yes, here it is. Set some water to boil, but more importantly, I messed up. I think I've been discovered." Hearing these words Telamon's pulse spiked, and worry started to seep into his heart. The man lying on the bed supported himself up on his elbows and looked Herotodos in the eyes. "What do you mean you were discovered? Is that accursed Feidi on her way here?" Herotodos shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. On my way back, I heard a scream come from the jungle, so I went to investigate. I found a hunter trying to fight off a panther, so I helped him with my powers. It seems the hunter belonged to the city lord, as he and his companions recognized me as Mundus's child. I didn't know what to do, so I ran away as fast as I could. Father, what should we do?" The man still holding the wooden bowl of porridge coughed violently, making the two brother's hearts flutter with worry. Telamon wanted to rush to him to support him, yet the man raised one hand, stopping him from approaching. Once he finished coughing, the man drew in a ragged breath.

"Where was that? If you were to fly back now, would you be able to intercept him before he reached the city?" The man gazed intensely into Herodotos' eyes. His gaze was piercing, and within those pupils lay a fire that Herodotos had never seen before, not since they had settled in this village. He felt like those eyes would devour him whole, so intense was his father's gaze. It was as if the sick man lying on the bed was no longer his beloved father, but a terrifying monster ready to maul anybody in its way. Herodotos broke out of his trance and stammered out an answer. "I- I'm not sure. It was very close to the city, so I don't think I would be able to get to him before he arrives." The man cursed silently beneath his breath. "Why didn't you kill him then and there? Now they know that we're here." Hearing his father's words, Herodotos flinched, not expecting the harsh tone. The man looked at Herodotos' and noticed his widened eyes. A flash of realization crossed the man's face before it seemed like all energy drained out of him. A defeated and tired expression emerged, replacing the previous intense gaze.

"It doesn't matter now. I hoped to be able to keep the two of you hidden for longer, but I knew that this day would come. Gather your things, we are going to be on the run from now on." The man's words shocked the two brothers. They exchanged glances before they sprang into action. Telamon quickly prepared the medicine for their father, while Herodotos retrieved the items hidden beneath the stove. He already had the pouch of coins, so he also retrieved the stone tablets and bronze sword. After checking once more to ensure there wasn't nothing left inside the hidden compartment, Herodotos closed the hidden space and rose to his feet. It seemed Telamon had given the medicine to the sick man and had already packed some food. The sick man, having finished the porridge and medicine tried to stand up, yet his strength failed him making him collapse back into the bed. Telamon was quickly by his side, a worried expression marring his face. The old man sighed. "I am too weak to travel and would slow you down. The two of you go ahead, and I will catch up with you soon." The two brothers shook their heads vehemently. "Absolutely not. Father, you're coming with us. If you're too weak to walk on your own, then we can fashion a sled to drag you along." The man shook his head with a disgruntled expression. "And leave a clear trail for your pursuers to follow? I've taught you better than that. No the two of you must go ahead on your own."

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Herodotos couldn't help but speak up as well, a pleading expression evident on his face. "I can carry you using my powers. I could float all three of us to safety." The old man laughed a heinous laugh at Herodotos' delusions. "You might as well scream around that you are a descendant of Minsol. Add to that, you barely have the training and focus to carry an additional person with you, how do you hope to safely carry three? No, the matter is decided and nothing you can say will sway my decision. Instead of wasting time here, the two of you should leave and get as big of a head start to your pursuers as you can." Herodotos wore an upset expression while balling his fist. Herodotos didn't say anything else, but he didn't move either. Telamon looked from his father to his brother, before with an ashamed expression he turned away from his father and gripped his brother's shoulder. "Listen to Father. We must leave." Herodotos wore a shocked and disbelieving expression. "What do you mean? We can't just leave him here. He needs our help. We need-" Before Herodotos could say another word, he suddenly heard a clap and felt the side of his cheek sting with pain. Slowly he reached up a hand to his face, feeling the warm sting lingering on his face. "Listen for once what people are telling you, Herodotos. We don't have a choice in this matter. Now take your things and let's go." As if in a trance, Herodotos looked up into Telamon's glare.

Slowly he nodded his head, before turning around and gathering a cloak, some food, a waterskin, his obsidian knife, the coal pouch, and a few other travel necessities. Once the two brothers were ready, they stood at the foot of the bed, neither willing to be the first to speak. The man noticed their silence and sighed, before waving them to step closer. Once they took a step closer, the sick man started speaking. "The jungle is too dangerous for you to hide in, Feidi would know to look there. Instead, head north and once you come across the main road connecting the capital and western city, walk west along the road, until you reach the western city. The lord of the western city used to be an ally of Mundus, but he surrendered at the battle of the northern plains. Show him the stone tablets, and he should give you protection. But be wary, it's been over a decade since I last saw him, and he might have changed since then. At the very least outwardly he will have to be loyal to the bloody queen, so make sure to approach him in secret." Telamon nodded seriously, while Herodotos struggled to project a serious and composed expression. The sick man sighed.

"Take my sword with you. You know how to activate it, so make sure to do that once you will have the time. I can't use it anyway. Once the two of you have gone, I will follow you as soon as I can. Make sure to travel off-road and make sure not to be seen. Now both of you better be on your way. An old man like me needs his rest anyway." At that, Herodotos revealed a desperate expression and balled his fists. Telamon nodded grimly while giving his father a silent promise. The father, seeing Telamon's expression, nodded. Telamon grabbed his brother by the arm and dragged him to the entrance of the house. Once they reached the door, the man's voice rang out from behind them once more. "While I may not have been your true father, I always viewed you as my own." Herodotos balled his fist and wiped the snot and unformed tears from his face, turning around once more. "You have always been our father, and you always will. Thank you, for everything." Telamon simply nodded his head in agreement. The old man showed a relieved smile and lay down on the bed. "That is nice to hear. Now the two of you should get going."

After the man spoke, a brief silence followed, before he heard how the door opened and shortly afterward closed. The man glanced to the door, seeing the house now stood empty, save for the bed he was currently occupying. He let out a tired sigh, while his gaze wandered along the ceiling. After waiting for a while, he stood up and started gathering travel equipment. All previous weakness seemed to have disappeared from him. "Paeon's medicine truly is the best." Mumbling to himself, he packed a cloak, food, a knife, and a waterskin. He then leisurely strolled out of his house and took the public road south of the village. While walking along the road, he came across a few of his neighbors heading home after a day of hard work. Whenever they would meet, he would happily chat with them, telling them how he was heading to the jungle to gather some firewood. Finally after a short trek south, he reached the jungle's edge. Once he entered the jungle, he walked eastwards while leaving footprints in the mud. He soon reached a river and made sure the footprints led to that river. He then walked upstream in the shallow part of the river, avoiding making footprints back west, from where he came from. After a while, he found a shallow spot in the river and crossed it, entering deeper into the jungle. After another trek, he stopped before a clearing and whistled a piercing tone. The sound penetrated the cacophony of the jungle and could be heard from a great distance. The man then sat down and waited. Soon, to the side of the man, the underbrush rustled, and the man pulled out his knife while whipping around to face the threat. A giant lizard emerged from the underbrush, its scales old and flaky, many scars marring its body. The lizard pounced at the man, tackling him to the ground. The man let out a breath, as he fell backward. He laughed when he felt the snout of the lizard nuzzling itself into his chest, demanding affection. The man obliged and rubbed it below the chin and around the neck. "Hello old friend, I've missed you too. Are you ready to play a game of hide and seek?"