The camp was in a hurry this morning on a cloudy day. After the announcement at dinner nobody slept well that night everyone packed up. He was but Nyssa was not.

He was in his new behemoth armor and my new sheath fit his sword well. John must have got the measurements somehow.

checking his moa and packmoa again to make sure everything was in order and watched into the oak forest for satyrs. The camp was not big enough to take on a tribe of satyrs; they brought maybe forty and a lot of them servants. Nyssa came walking briskly towards him, her long sleeve mail shirt and her sword on her hip. her kite shield, her own helmet, a steel cap with a nose guard. over her mail coif. Nyssa seems to hate lady behavior. She almost never wears dresses she can’t sew or cook.

“We'll be leaving shortly” Nyssa said

“so it seems”

“a pity I was looking forward to this hunting trip”

“I’m sorry” she just sighed in response. their scout came riding through camp wearing scale mail

“There half a mile away to the south” he yelled then galloped away to spread the word. Falkner cursed we can’t go home if they were coming from the south. mounting onto my moa and so did Nyssa drawing his sword while holding the reins with his shield arm in his right hand. Once they were all mounted they galloped towards the northeast closer to their land. our moas eating the ground at a great speed. John and mother led in front. I waited with Nyssa until we were behind. on moas or on donkeys the satyrs could never Catch us now. His moa gave a loud screech.

five chupacabra came out of the brush, sickly wolves with patches of black fur, sharp needle-like fangs gaining on them. They slowed down so they were the farthest behind. gods there fast! Blast it sheathing his sword clenching his fist one of them was almost upon him. Falkner’s eyes went up in flames and shot a cone of flame out of his fist. it missed but the chupacabra recoiled and tripped leaving him behind on his right Nyssa threw a ray of ice and hit a chupacabra it went down with a yelp palm open so when he threw fire it spread. turning in my saddle and just let loose spreading fire all behind him the rest of the chupacabra gave up the chase, everyone else where spreading out to avoid the trees

“That wasn't too bad. By the way, your eyes are on fire”

''I know” Falkner replied, his eyes burst into flame whenever he used fire or felt a strong emotion. It was annoying people being able to know instantly when he felt scared or angry.

they rode in silence until meal time they slowed to a stop for dried meat, cheese, and bread. Mother came running towards him

“Are you alright?. You didn't get bitten did you?” Nyssa rolled her eyes at me for some reason

“we're fine,” Falkner assured,

“We need to keep moving,” John said looking behind us as if satyrs were going to leap out of the woods any moment. pulling dried meat and bread from his pouch

“After we grab something to eat then we’ll head north. I believe the town of Ormskirk is near” John nodded but stared at his eyes as if in a trance he felt his eyes go back to normal and John gave a start. mother placed a hand on his arm leading him away from them. Nyssa looked at him with a smirk on her face

“nice job hope you didn't light the whole forest on fire” I didn't think about that looking behind to try to see if there were flames or smoke “just saying maybe you should be more careful” Nyssa said it makes sense I can’t use my powers as she can he didn't see any smoke “now lets go!” Nyssa said mounting up

“but I didn't eat”

“who cares just eat on the go” grumbling he ate as they round. As the day progressed they finally made it to the town of Ormskirk. Hopefully lord Philip would not mind us staying for a day or two were a bit off track from our home in the southeast. “Do you think the satyrs will track us?” Falkner asked

“Possibly” mother said they crossed the river to the east then entered the east gate The town watch didn't even bother checking them or who they were.

“let lord Phillip know where coming” John said to a tall and thin guard in gambeson

“Right away lord John” the guard replied as he hurried away. They waited just inside the walls. The town of Ormskirk was pretty small and the walls were simple but formidable for goblins. but where's the mote?.

The guard came back with three more guards

“Follow me” he announced with a wave of his hand, stable hands took their steads to the stables after a while following them to the manor house in the middle of town. two men and a woman caught his eye.

Two men and a woman in stocks and signs around their necks THIEVES one of the men had strange burned marks on his arm so either they attacked a alchemist or a godling no one man could do this maybe a half brother he hoped

“perhaps it’s best to keep up my lord” Brith said he didn't realize he stopped he hurried to catch up to the others and Brith behind him there wasn't much activity in the market today mostly people with booths shoe makers and such but not a lot of people to buy maybe a hundred in all they must be indoors or out doing harvesting their fields. They reached the manor house lord Phillip came to them. He was a short man only he reached his shoulder but with a rugged build and a bread down to his chest. rich cloths a deep red coat.

“lord John and lady Heather“ Phillip said warmly

“sorry to come unannounced but are hunting trip took a turn for the worst” John said

“not at all in fact I’m happy your on my lands the king wishes to speak with you after me before his trip is over so it well make his trip shorter” John had an unreadable expression our lands are close to Phillip's

“When is he going to be here” mother said

“about a day or two”

“Very well stay at the inn so as not to bother you or your household” Philip looked pleased with that prospect

“Phillip, the three thieves in the stocks, what's the story with them?” Falkner asked Phillip frowned

“there thieves who robbed a local farm six of them I believe where still searching for the other three but they claim there complains left them after they were attacked by a farm boy who defeated all three of them all by himself I mean who would believe such a story they probably were betrayed by their companions once they were caught by are town watch don’t be concern with them they won’t be stealing any time soon” Phillip said “why you ask”

“just curious” so it was a godling but a farmer not a lord interesting “I’m going to have a look around see you at dinner” Falkner said leaving before they could respond

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everyone seems to be taking everything slow they walked lazily not in a hurry he stop to let a cart pulled by a moa pass by he had a half brother at least another godling it has to be no farmer could approach six armed men with such confidence and take down three of them he had to be the burned marks prove it.

a skinny farmer with a straw hat using his pitchfork like a walking stick “excuse me do you know the farmer who got attack” he gave a start

“his name is Aaron I think but not much else my lord” “thank you” and he went on his way Aaron he went around asking about Aaron with not much success until he met a man who said a woman by the name of Jessica would know and that she lived on an orchard not far from the west gate he reached a two story house made of brick and a shingle roof they must pretty well off they had a lot of trees row after row they must also have help he concluded. Knocking on the door then again a middle aged man opened the door

“How can I help you?” “is Jessica here?” He looked at me weird then closed the door. A young woman opened the door. in a dull yellow wool dress “Jessica?”

“yes who’s asking” then she noticed my ring on my right fore finger “my lord?” giving me a curtsy

''yes you know this Aaron” she looked baffled

“Why do you want to meet him?”

Rubbing his sword pommel “I believe he’s my half brother” she burst out laughing then stopped when she saw his serious face and grew serious herself.

“why?” “I bet his father isn't around is he” she looked suspicious of him “how do you know?” “let’s just say my father isn't around either” “your father must be a horrible man” did she not pick up on it?. Focusing on his power until his eyes burst into flame. almost using it. Jessica's eyes almost popped out of her head “I believe Aaron is a son of Ignis“ anger was clear on her face

“he never told me'' gripping her skirt with clenched fingers “why wouldn't he tell me?”

“I don’t know where he is?” “I’ll take you to him, but I still have work to do, so take me where staying so I'll know where to come get you” Jessica said as she entered her house then walked out with her coat. We entered town walking the streets to the inn I was staying in, which inn I don’t know but I figured out something. how many inns could there be in a town this size.

He always wanted a brother, someone immune to fire like me. Nessa was fine for a sister but her powers are the opposite of mine. Sometimes it’s hard to be a godling. People expect him to be more than I am. Except mother , she treated him younger than he was sure but she never treated him differently. I may get married soon. I'm sixteen. It's common for sixteen year old's to marry, especially a godling. younger for ladies but he couldn't find anyone he liked for some reason. Maybe I’m too childish or maybe I’m too cold. Ironically at least that’s what Nyssa said,

Jessica led him to the bigger of the two inns in town

“my lord what is your name?” Jessica asked,

“Falkner” not looking at her. We stood in front of the inn

“I need to return home. I will take you to Aaron in about an hour, my lord” Falkner nodded.

Standing before a four story building with a tile roof, white walls, and black windows shutters and roof once I was inside. It doesn't impress me. The round tables were old looking the wooden floor was a little dirty. It was a little plain but not bad. He couldn't see his family anywhere in the main room, just some farmers and fishermen. A surviving maid approached him, a pretty redhead with freckles wearing an orange dress

“Lord Falkner?” “yes?” “I will show you to your rooms” in the short hallway they climb up some creaky stairs into another hallway lined with doors on either side she lead him to the far right and took a key from her apron and handed to him

“Thank you” Falkner said as she nodded and walked away inside. It was a fairly large room, a cozy fire, and a soft bed away from the outhouse. His stuff was in the left corner. Nobody was in it, where is everybody?

They still must be with Phillip; he changed out of his armor an hour later Jessica came to find him in his room. She wore a green riding dress that covered all the way up to her neck

“Are we going my lord?” putting away the book he was reading, he grabbed his coat, belted his sword on and they both headed out the door

“How much land do you own?” Jessica asked “not much but my parents own about a twelfth of the kingdom” Jessica stopped walking and stared at him in shock. we took a side door to the sables he flipped a copper to the stable boy “my moa and one for the lady” he quickly got them saddled placing his foot in the stirrup Jessica got up on the other awkwardly and looked shaken “relax take it easy” Falkner said with a grin

“that's easy for you to say riding these beasts is easy for you” her moa gave a screech in protest she finally sat upstate and seemed to steady herself enough to not fall off he urged him at a slow trot so Jessica can keep up he was halfway through the town when he realized he had no idea where he was going so Aaron waited for Jessica to lead him out of the south gate. he sat there wanted for a pair of craftsmen to go through the gate before going on there way Falkner notice that there were no towers just some wooden platforms he knew the walls of the town bothered him but he didn't know why tell now

“What makes you think he's your half brother?” Jessica called behind her “I don’t really know. more of a hope” Falkner admitted she didn’t reply she probably thinks I’m a fool

They made it to a farmhouse not even two stories tall and some crops. where a woman probably his mother and a man with gray in his beard but broad of shoulder and still fit working in clothes to fine for farm work but the one he was looking for was the man around his age with long blond hair almost to his shoulders in simple brown trousers and brown shirt his arm was in a sling his shoulder and lower leg had bandages to think a godling a simple farm boy ludicrous there was a son of Venari but her mother was a lady within a mouth. Why is he not a lord? He seemed very interested in that burnt tree for some reason Falkner thought as he dismounted

“Hello Jessica, who's your friend?” the woman called

“lord Falkner” her face went blank

“oh really”

“Lord Falkner? I heard of you” walking over to him and holding out his hand and shaking it “William” William now where I heard that name before? The farm boy was talking to Jessica walking over to him “my lord” Farmboy said looking confused his eyes burst into flame by his shocked expression he wasn’t a son of Ignis “why did your eyes burst into flames?” Farmboy yelped

“My emotions whenever there's a strong emotion or whenever I use my powers they burst into flames. sorry to disturb you” Falkner said flatly then got back on his moa as he was riding away he couldn't help but feel disappointed it was a long shot but he still felt disappointed.

He stopped at there tavern and ordered mutton stew it wasn't very busy only a few people in the dining room today a man came and sat at the table next to him he appeared to be in his thirties short black hair, a goatee, bushy eyebrows and a small nose. he was talking to a woman merchant

“Would you like to hear about the great goddess of light Lux”

“I’m interested” Not paying attention to what they were saying and they spoke softer he frowned he didn't remember being taught about a light goddess.

She ended up rejecting his message then he left probably for other people to try to convert

Nyssa came through the door and sat next to him.

“where were you?” she leaned her back toward the table “talking to lord Phillip he wants an alliance. You?”

he shrugged “something personal but didn't work out”

“how is everyone”

“We'll make being here work”

“Do we have enough money?” Nyssa asked

“I don’t know” how could we be in need of money when we were supposed to be on a hunting trip “where is everyone?”

“didn't you know? A Lot of people at the Tempestas’s temple worshiping” “why? he's dead.” Nyssa threw up her hands in frustration “ I don’t know what do you think the king wants with us?” Nyssa asked

“Maybe try to marry us to his children having a godling in the family would help his legitimacy or I’m just paranoid” he grew irritated. No one cares beyond being a godling is all people ever talk about you.

three men came running up the stairs out of sight then came down with swords on their hips and ran out the door

”we better see what's happening” Nyssa said they ran after them into the streets. people were bustling about towards the north gate running towards it. They made their way open a wooden platform on the left of the gate

There were over two hundred of the town watch and Phillip himself in mail with most of his men with spears and grim faces just outside thousands upon thousands of north men in thick furs men and women some rode on strange beasts. but the mastodon was bigger than an elephant white fur, bigger tusks and they were getting closer. I heard stories about them. now are they friend or foe?