“I was born to a village chief in the human territory about half a century ago… Guess it would be the old country now. I was the third son, so I wasn’t really set to inherit much, but pops thought I was talented and spent time to allow me to read and write nonetheless.” He chews a little on nothing as he appears to think back.

“I was no good with a sword or spear, so instead of being a pain for everyone in the village, I decided to travel to the city to meet my fortune a few years after I came of age. Pretty quickly I found a position under a salt merchant, peddling salt to all the villages in the area. I only had to pretend to be well versed in business transactions for him to consider me an excellent find.” Patir sports a big grin as if proud of his deception.

“I was earning a decent dime, but as I was planning to settle down, find a wife, maybe start a trading company of my own, I caught wind of some interesting news. The master of coin of local duke here had been executed for treason and I had a thought. Isn’t this a big chance? And so I liquidated all my assets and abandoned all my friends to show up at the duke’s door with some self-made notes describing me as an experienced tax collector, trading savant and overall money-handling genius. I was sweating bullets as I tried to pass of as ten years older and more experienced than I was, but in the end, I got the hire.” He laughed out loud.

I am personally a bit confused as to why nobility existed. I thought they had been eliminated as the kingdoms were united into the human territory, but I guess I was wrong.

“Then I slowly build up a decent track record. A bit of posturing and haggling and I was quickly regarded as a trusted member of the racket around here. Even got a wife introduced to me by the duke and everything.”

“Hold on”, I stop his storytelling. “You are married? Do you have kids?” Patir has always seemed like an old and alone guy.

“Hmm, yeah, but honestly, I never cared that much for them. I often neglected them in favor of spending the night drinking with friends and colleagues, so it’s no wonder they didn’t follow when I was sent out here.” He sports a smile that somehow seems a little regretful.

“Anyway, a certain problem came to light. You see, my father and the merchant I worked for, they… So to say, skimmed a little of every transaction for themselves, even if it was bound for elsewhere and I sort of picked up that habit. I honestly didn’t think of it as wrong, just thought of it as a natural extra wage for those in charge. I was ordered to secure an apprentice under me for my eventual replacement, remember they thought I was much older than I really was, and so I did. Little goody two-shoes he was. Ratted me out the moment he saw me handling the money the way I did.” Again a regretful air wafts off him as he appears to have memories stocked up.

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“I was ordered to pay back every ibris, and when I couldn’t, even as I tried to fudge the numbers, since the 20 years’ worth of coin had long since gone to expensive drinks and delicious food, I was sent out here.”

He looks back to the village even though it has already been enveloped by the fog. “Only luck was, I was spared of any more of the war, that at the time had recently started. I honestly didn’t like that the duke rebelled. It was a whole heap of trouble and lives lost in order for him to hang on to a little more coin.” He sighs deeply. “Anyway, that’s the life of how a cheater and scoundrel ended up on the frontier with no money nor family.” He then turns his eyes back to me.

“How about you, Yian? What did you do to end up in your position?” I should have expected the question to be flung back on me. These past years we have merely spent enjoyable time together without digging into each other’s past. I got to tell him something. I turn my head back to the cart. Kassa is still down and Yasia is sitting with her knees folded and her arms around them. I still see and hear her sniffling a bit. I wonder what goes through her head? Anyway, they also deserve to know about me I think.

“When we camp, I’ll tell everyone then.” I say.

“Right, I’ll be looking forward to it!” Says Patir with a big grin. “Always been curious how a powerhouse like you wandered to the frontier by yourself, but I guess it has something to do with her?” he says as he looks at Kassa.

“Both yes and no.” I answer.

“Hah, interesting!” He responds, laughing a little. We walk a while yet.

“Phew.” He has slowly begun to draw heavier breaths and now lets it show. We have been walking for a few hours after all. “Mind if I sit in the cart too?” He inquires me.

“Go ahead. Ah, do you mind if I speed up a little then?” I ask. He laughs.

“Well, aren’t you just a bundle of stamina too!” I stop and he slowly gets up into the cart.

I start to think. What exactly do I tell them? I get cold feet. If they knew I was the supposedly evil Yos, will they abandon me? Do I introduce Yasia and Patir to Dixy? Do I explain where she came from? Do I reveal my immortality?

Many thoughts cloud my mind. I slowly try to piece out what I want to reveal and what I don’t. I think I trust these people, but revealing the nature of some of these things have only come back to bite me.