Jezebel lay on her moa, her legs dangling over its side. She could not sit upright for more than a few minutes because of her injured back as if reading her thoughts

“you know you should have known better than to wonder into a alleyway have you forgotten when you lived near the butcher shop we’re halfbreeds after all” but I’ve never been to a city at least never in the open

“Thank you so much” Jezebel snapped my poor back when will this adventure end by the look of that tiny mountain in the distance not very soon

“It’s not polite to remind people of their mistakes” Hector said come to think of it with his straight back and poster I’ve only seen that in lords not something in a wild man

“This is halfbreed business,” Safiya replied. Why must these two never get along? “it’s ok besides where all in the same boat I mean have you seen us” Jezebel tried to make the atmosphere light

“I don’t know about you but I smell not that bad. Maybe it’s the pure blood” Hector replied pointing at her halfbreed traits

“you! You smell worse than both of us combined!” Safiya screeched Hector smiled

“enough both of you! We're all outcasts so we need to get along” I cannot tell Saifya’s reaction to that

“me? Its Safiya causing all the trouble by accusing me of being untrustworthy” Jezebel sighed

“at least I’m not the one who barricaded myself in during the battle, coward” Hector didn’t respond to that for a while.

“By the looks of it that day you didn't see any combat so don’t talk all high and mighty”

“What did I tell you about not fighting!” Jezebel snapped

“fine” Hector said

“Fine,” Safiya snapped. Hector tensed turning her head to view Safiya definitely looked hurt at me, excuse me for trying to keep the peace!. Jezebel thought if anyone should be grouchy it should be me I’m in pain! Oh it hurts the fire in my back the throb of pain I can’t even sit up straight all I can do is watch the scenery slowly crawl

They stopped for lunch and to feed their moas and drink. After that they built a fire and melted snow so the moas could drink. Then headed out again but not an hour had passed when Hector called for a halt. Hector grabbed her reins so her moa would stop. Now what? She then saw fifteen riders with spears wearing mail shirts that glittered in the pale sun blocked the path our pursuers are here. how! These guys don’t quit!

“What's the meaning of this!” Hector called one one in the middle and rode out a little bit

“You are moa thieves! And you will face justice for your thievery!”

“you must be mistaking” Hector replied he looked calm unlike Safiya who was trembling as was Jezebel I can’t get enough air they won’t buy that

“we have worked hard and saved to get these fine animals” Hector went on

“I’m sure you did and those saddles don’t have the symbol of an eagle on them let us check them if what you say is true you can be on your merry way” Hector cursed under his breath then turned to Safiya

“don't come back for me whatever ever happens, get to that mountain and save us, may the new gods have mercy on my soul” Hector said before dismounting “ride!” Safiya grabbed Jezebel's reins to make us head behind a large hill. Hector charged them screaming. riding as fast as their moas could. Goodbye Hector you will be remembered by all halfbreeds. I’ve lost a friend tears ran down her cheeks in all of the confusion

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they rode and rode towards the wilderness but none of the their pursuers followed Jezebel asked Safiya stop behind a large hill on the plains it had been an hour before Hector died most likely and looking back towards where Hector made his last stand for us

“he bought us time”

“I was wrong about him” Safiya said softly then shook herself

“this is crazy if we didn’t steal maybe things would be different”

“oh do you know the law’s punishment for theft you get locked in a dungeon or work until it’s has been repaid for how much the thing was worth”

“So that's not too bad it’s better than being robbers”

“it's double for halfbreed's” Safiya looked troubled

“why there can’t be that many halfbreeds there, less than one in every ten thousand of everyone else” after a day of riding Jezebel tugged on the reins

Where are they? There's no way killing Hector took this long. They should be at our heels. They stopped near some woodland

“I’m not leaving him alone I 'm going back”

“what! And leave me to finish the journey alone!”

“you can make it I can’t just leave him there and...and” Safiya pointed a finger at her

“you go back and you will make his sacrifice meaningless”

“No I won’t, you will go on. I will always be there for my friends and since you don’t need me I will be there for him just practice with your sling” riding back for him with grim determination

“Fine, I’ll just go on without you!” Safiya called.

she will be alright. right? Riding with nothing but her and Hector’s moa I will not lose a friend if I can help it. Safiya and Hector are my friends and I will not lose them! After riding all day she made camp after dark and ate something then went to sleep on her blanket.in the morning she continued riding straight away. Soon she saw a man climbing a hill clenching his stomach. It’s Hector! That long beard, those dirty clothes, he did need my help

“Hector!” galloping to him he stopped and as she looked into his eyes they were filled with anguish. He looked exhausted, dismounting to help him up into the saddle he didn’t protest, then she climbed on as well on her moa and rode back at a trot. What happened? How did he escape and where were our pursuers?

“They won’t bother us any more” Hector whispered before slumping into the saddle. The ride back was long and painful. finally when they got back to their moas, Safiya was practicing with her sling and muttering loudly to herself before the moas

“How could she leave me for him! It makes no sense I was her first friend when you think you know a girl and besides when she returns and brings those guards upon us I won’t be here no sir I will get to that mountain alone” pouting to the small mountain in the distance

“Good thing you won’t have too” Jezebel said Safiya startled and turned around to see her riding back with Hector in the saddle asleep “I can’t explain now my back is killing me” collapsing onto the snow. before she could ask questions

“How is Hector alive? Where are the men-at-arms?” Jezebel looked at Safiya with tired eyes

“not now and I don’t know” with that they moved towards the mountain from the southeast they traveled in silence for a while I hope I can flex my wings soon at least I’m healing and it could have been worse I guess but the same topic came up there’s no doubt that Hector got rid of are pursuers but how? It made no sense he’s not a godling nor does he even have celestial iron, it's a mystery. I’ll just ask him when he wakes up. But Safiya has a point: he is more dangerous than he looks.

They stopped so the moas could rest and graze our moas are tired, especially mine. We must not be feeding them enough but our supply moa doesn't have enough for us so we let them graze as much as possible. curse this winter. From now on we need to take better care of them but how? Hector seems to know quite a bit. He walks and his poster is that of a lord from what I’ve seen when mother lets me watch her political meetings in secret. Could he be a lord who was banished? But that doesn't expand why he hates towns. I remember how we had to talk him into entering the city of Cromerth and why he left Cromerth as fast as possible. He doesn't make any sense looking at the pack moa. We will need more supplies and if hunting can’t be relied on no more then begging but people won’t always be generous. I will worry about that later all I know is I have my friends and we will reach that mountain somehow.