When we broke through the treeline and back into the mouth of the forest, the horses were easily visible a few hundred paces down the trail. As we neared, I started to look up into the trees, looking to see where Tarik and Ella hid. However, it became apparent that they split up when Ella came bursting through the bushes to our left and came running towards us.

Ella greeted Lorelle, however it took a few moments before Lorelle seemed to register where she was again and finally responded in kind. Lorelle knelt down in front of Ella and enveloped the small girl in a fierce hug. When they finally pulled back, Ella looked at the ax that Lorelle carefully held at her side.

“You found Papa,” Ella said.

“Yeah,” Lorelle responded in a whisper. “He’s gone. It’s just us now.” Ella looked up to Lorelle instantly, hearing the pain crack through her voice. Lorelle closed her eyes, trying unsuccessfully to block more tears.

“Gone,” Ella said, chewing over the word. Lorelle reached out to hold Ella again, expecting her meltdown at the news. Instead, it seemed that Ella was comforting Lorelle, squeezing her tightly as both quietly cried herself.

I looked away from the private moment to take in the responses to the rest of our company. Tarik finally entered my sightline, a result of him climbing too high and was only now getting down to the path. My eyes traveled to Roy, who was watching the girls intently, a protective scowl etching itself across his face as the girls comforted each other. Was he thinking about his brothers? About how each meeting came with fists instead of embraces? His family is Guild, through and through, but that doesn’t mean they are invulnerable to problems.

I looked over to Jonah and made instant eye contact with him as he seemed to have been watching me. I gave him a sad half smile. Jonah and Torin were raised by Chief Eurus Stone to be true siblings, not simply related, but there for each other, always. From the day I came to the Guild, Jonah and Torin were there for me, comforting me in my many times of sadness, trying to include me and help me become a part of The Guild, a part of their family. Together, we became a sibling unit that Father could be proud of. I could only hope that Lorelle and Ella can become that for each other as well.

The bond between siblings, if approached correctly, could become a bond like no other. Unfortunately for Roy, it has been a source of pain. But that is why our sect of Bastards has become so close over the years. We have felt true pain, but through each other have come out better for it.

Another tear slid down Ella’s face as she reached up and cupped Lorelle’s cheek. “We need to be brave, right? Just a little while longer now and we will be safe,” Ella said sagely, removing her hand. “Tarik told me about The Tavern,” she looked over to the boy, who had just reached the ground and joined the rest of us. “There are caves and farm animals and everyone works together to help protect and provide,” She was rambling with childlike enthusiasm. “They will take care of us. It’s going to be okay. Okay, Lorelle?” The little girl asked. Her rant about the prospects of the Tavern seemed to rouse Lorelle.

“Okay little one,” Lorelle said with a little more life in her voice again.

I moved to stand beside the girls “Are you okay to ride?” I asked Lorelle.

“Yes,” she said, standing up and putting an arm around Ella. She looked down to her little sister “We are going to be okay,” she gave a half smile to put her sister at ease. Ella squeezed Lorelle’s waist in response.

Without further prompting each member of our company walked up the flank of their respective steeds. Tarik held his former steed for the girls before coming to join me.

As everyone got settled on their horses, Jonah briefly consulted the map he carried. He led his steed over beside Tarik and me to discuss our route bad home.

“We can take this path back to the main road,” he said to me. “If we keep a good pace, we should be back before it’s too dark.”

I nodded in response and motioned to the path ahead of us. “Lead on, oh Mighty Navigator”.

“Smart ass” He huffed at me with a slight chuckle. With a flick of his traces, he launched himself down the path.

I followed suit, addressing Lorelle as Tarik and I passed. “Stick between us and Roy”. Without further comment, our company left death and destruction behind us.

—————

The road back to The Tavern cut through the hilly landscape and led to the foot of the Mountains. The cliff faces were on our right side as the road thinned to pass two horses across. We slowed our pace to accommodate the terrain. Jonah, Tarik and I took point with Roy and the girls a few horses paces behind us. The sky was hues of pinks and reds, made the shadow of the mountain cool and dark. Roy, Jonah, and I were on high alert, looking for the hidden path that will take us home.

Jonah slowly pulled ahead, putting me in the middle with him acting as a scout. Eventually, Jonah pulled his horse to a stop and hooted out in happiness as well as signaling to us that our goal lay just ahead. I turned my steed down a path partially obscured by branches. The path was thin enough that we had to go down in single file. However, this part of the trail was well worn in that it was easy to know where to go.

The path led up to a small clearing at the foot of a large cliff face. We pulled our horses to a stop in the center of the clearing. I whistled a long note, stopped and then gave two loud, short bursts.

“Welcome Bastards.” came a loud voice from above.

Lorelle let out a small yip of shock.

“You’re late Miss Stone.” The voice admonished through a thick accent. “Last I heard they were ‘bout to send another sect’a Bastards for ya. Who’re the spares?”

“Our lateness couldn’t be helped,” I said. I motioned to the girls beside us. Both were looking up in the trees, trying to find where the voice was coming from. “They are seekers of refuge from a settlement we passed.”

“It ain’t my place to hear why you’re late. Just point’n out you are. Make sure you take them to see Madge. She’ll need to clear them”

“Of course,” I said.

The face of the mountain opened a crack.

Jonah and Roy dismounted and walked over to a densely packed section of foliage by the cliff side. Together they reached out to a seemingly normal stretch of rock and pulled away from each other at the crack. The cliff face, which was actually just a tightly woven wall of plant fibers textured to look like the cliff face, opened. A deep cave mouth was revealed, and far within a faint orange glow could be seen. Jonah and Roy quickly walked back to their respective steeds.

“Almost home now,” Jonah said cheerfully as he vaulted himself onto his horse and guided the creature within.

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Roy stood beside his horse and motioned for me to follow, then Tarik. Roy would be able to close the wall behind us after guiding his steed within the cave mouth.

The moment he did so, the cave was blanketed in darkness with the only point of light being the glow ahead.

Home.

The spot of light slowly grew, sharp shadows licking the walls. The sounds of people and horses could start to be heard over our collective movement into the cave.

We finally broke through the light and entered a huge cavern room. The cavern was the hub of all Bastard business. Torches decorated the walls throughout with the smoke rising to a small hole in the ceiling that led to the surface. A spiraling pathway that led up and out through a tunnel.

Though the center was clear of obstacles, the rim of the cavern was packed with everything a Bastard could need to prep for a task. Groups of older children could be seen throughout the cavern. Some were waiting studiously about, while others were helping with the horses. A few were waiting with small groups of armed adults around the rim, preparing to deliver messages or carrying gear.

To the right of the pathway ramp, there was a roped off area that served as the stables. It wrapped around a good quarter of the large cavern rim; built to hold enough horses to launch several sects. However, eight horses were being saddled by youths of various ages.

To the left of the ramp was a long wooden table that curved with the cavern wall. The wall behind the table displayed a painted map of the country. There were two distinct groups of adults who were sitting and standing about the table. The older group sat at the table in front of the wall, while the other, younger group stood to wait on the opposite side of the table. The younger Bastards were dressed in leather armor, ready for a fight. The older Bastards were rummaging through a pile of various items, with stacks of flat stones raising up throughout the table.

At our entrance, people throughout the cavern turned to look and sent a small cheer our way before going back to their business. We pulled to a halt beside the stables and dismounted. An olive-skinned woman with raven black hair separated from the group of youths taking care of the horses and approached us. Tamara, a fellow Lead Bastard. She was Jonah and Torin’s aunt. Though she was much more to me. She was a mentor, an aunt, a friend.

“About time you showed up.” She said, reaching her arm out. We clasped forearms and shook once. “Chief had us waiting on standby after getting your message. If you didn’t get back soon, we were coming after you regardless,” she finished. I nodded. Father was always protective.

“The Flyer said you came across another attacked settlement?” Tamara asked.

“Yeah. We saw the smoke as we came back from a task. We went to investigate,” I said.

“Brigands? Or…?” Tamara let the question finish itself.

“There were scorched marks,” I said, answering her question without giving away too much. She would find out later after I have talked with the Chief.

“No one survived then?” She asked.

“Actually…” I turn to see Lorelle and Ella huddled together, looking everywhere. They are seeing something they have only ever heard whispers about. Being here, in and of itself, is a shocking moment. But to be dealing with everything else? These girls are exhausted and overwhelmed. They need to sleep.

“Freyda saved them,” I said. Tamara gave a sad nod, understanding that her childhood friend was dead.

Tamara walked over to stand in front of the girls. She placed her hand over her heart, bowing slightly at the waist. “My condolences for your loss,” she said, straightening to her full height and looking between both girls. “My name is Tamara. I spent some time at Frigga’s and remember your settlement and people, I will never forget them. If there is anything I can do to help either of you, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you for your remembrance Tamara,” Lorelle replied. “I am Lorelle, and this is my sister, Ella,” motioning to the child attached to her side. “Where will we go from here? Is this cavern The Tavern?”

Tamara gave a light chuckle. “This is simply the launching cavern for the Bastards. The Tavern is above us,” she said pointing up towards the smoke hole high above, a few pricks of light could be seen within the black hole.

“You will be staying with our Matron Madge and Tamara until we get you settled,” I said clarifying to the girls her significance. If an orphan finds their way to a sect of The Guild or gets smuggled out of the overcrowded cities, they stay with a Matron until they find their place within the Guild. Madge was one such orphan, however, she stayed with the former Matron and became her successor. Tarik is one of the several orphans under Madge’s charge.

Tamara let out a short whistle, calling attention to the nearby youths, most trained Flyers. “Moira and Amos, over here please,” she ordered nicely. Two of the older children broke from the group, a tall blond boy and a dark-skinned girl and crossed the short distance to us.

“These are some new friends that will be staying with us. Take them to Madge and help them get settled. They are in need of sleep,” Tamara said.

“Of course Miss Tamara,” Amos responded, straightening his back as he took on this task.

Before the children departed, I motioned for Lorelle’s attention and guided her aside.

I watched her eyes flick around the cavern, taking in her surroundings before bringing her full attention to me. “If you need anything or someone to talk to, I am here. ,” I said as I motioned to the cavern around us. “I have been where you are. And I know that this is all very overwhelming at first. If I’m out on a task, Madge is always available to help. But again, if you need anything, just ask.”

Looking back to her sister, who was standing close to the dark Flyer girl, Moira if I remembered correctly. Moira had a comforting arm around Ella, attempting to put her at ease in a strange place.

Lorelle turned back to face me and lifted her father’s ax slightly at her side. “Can you teach me to use this? Can you help me kill the things that killed our family?” She asked abruptly, with iron in her voice.

“Yes,” I said, answering both questions. Knowing how to fight will give her a level of comfort. I could give her that.

“Good. Thank you Miss Stone” Lorelle lowered her head slightly “for everything.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked back to Ella, who reattached to Lorelle’s side the moment she was within reach.

Tamara returned to the group of children before they departed. “When you see my beloved, tell her I’ll be home tonight. It would seem I’m not going out on task.” Lorelle and Ella’s eyes momentarily went wide; two women living together is not commonplace. At least, not commonplace in the country at large. That is not the case within The Guild, it never has been. We judge a person based on their actions, not attractions. It’s one of the reasons some even decide to join the Guild, to escape judgment and persecution over love.

I walked over to a large table that had a large mural of the country behind it. Jonah and Roy fell into step behind me, having handed off the horse to one of the youths about. The table was centered under The Tavern’s territory. The table was manned by an older Bastard, named Sturge. Sturge had a long scar that ran from jaw to cheekbone on the left side of his face. He was one of the toughest Bastards alive, though he hadn’t been outside of The Tavern in over ten cycles, instead served as a Taskmaster, sorting through bounty that Bastards brought back, divided payment between the involved parties and The Guild, and coordinated sect departures and arrivals.

Bastards never die, they just do different tasks

I pulled out a flat, smooth rock and placed it on the table. Loren Russo’s name was painted on the surface. I then grab the three pouches and put them on the table. Jonah placed the sheathed sword to the left of my pouches with Roy placing the cloak down on the table as well.

“Seems you three found yourself a bit of trouble while out dealing with…” Sturge said he looked down at the stone to remind himself of the name “Loren Russo”. He shuffled through the goods on the table. “Good thing you sent word. We were expecting you midday. A sect of Bastards was prep’n to go after ya on Chief’s orders.”

“We came across a destroyed settlement. We needed to check for survivors” I clarified for him.

“That’s what the Flyer said,” Sturge said. He motioned to two such Flyers that were running up the path, up and out of the cavern. The same path Lorelle and Ella left through moments before. “Chief wants to see the three of ya. Go on ahead. We will sort out split and payment later,”

Without a further word, the Taskmaster turned his attention to the fruits of our labor, dismissing us. I turned to Jonah, confused.

Taskmaster never likes to leave a task unfinished.

“Must be important,” Jonah said, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

“Let’s not keep Father waiting then,” I said.

Together we walked down the remaining length of the table to the spiraling pathway. Half a spiral up was the tunnel that led up to The Tavern.