Torchlight illuminated the twins. Arms bound by rope; the bandits who had caught them stealing supplies encircled the pair. Blood ran down the corners of Vivian’s mouth. None of it her own, instead it had come from the orc who she’d bitten the ear off of as they tried to bind her and her brother.

Kai lay by her side. Tossed face-first in the mud, unable to look at those who caught them. Vivian spat blood into the soft, wet soil, “Cowards, all of you. I’ll take any of you on in fair combat and win.”

“Quiet,” commanded a Lacerian with vibrant pink scales. He raked claws across Vivian’s face. Three rivers of blood ran down her cheek. The Lacerian licked his claws clean, “Such a pretty face soiled by that mouth.”

“Wish I could say the same about you,” she shot back. When a bandit drew his sword, Vivian moved to block her defenseless brother from his view.

“Sister, watch out,” Kai said.

Before she could react, one of the bandits behind her drove his boot into the back of her head. She yelped in pain as she fell into the mud. As she tried to get up, the weight of someone’s foot pressed into her neck.

“Leave her alone, you bastard” her twin cried out. “It was my idea to steal from you, punish me. But don’t touch my sister.”

Vivian could hear the grunts of her brother’s pain. Unable to see what they were doing to him. “You cowardly bastards,” she barked. The pressure left her neck and a hand grabbed tightly around her collar. Hoisting her off the ground, she was brought to eye level with an orc whose breath smelled of rotted fish. Her attention lingered on his unsymmetrical head, the left side missing an ear. “Can I speak to anyone but him?” Vivian turned away with a scrunched face.

The air was knocked from her lungs. Dropped to the forest floor gasping for air, Vivian’s eyes welled with tears.

“Sister!” her brother called out, followed by a grunt of pain as he fell to her side. Blood streamed from his busted nose. “I’m sorry,” he wept. “This is all my fault.”

A Brimborne woman with ember-red skin and messy black hair leaned over the two. Her burning yellow eyes fell on Kai, “What pretty eyes ya got there. Oh, ain’t they just the darndest thing? Reckon ya gotta be somethin’ rare to have a shade like that. I ain’t never seen somethin’ like that before. Ya some kinda half-breed?”

Kai remained silent.

“A cute one as well,” the Brimborne continued. “Maybe I could make ya my pet. How’d ya like that?”

“Stop playing around,” grumbled the one-eared orc. “Just kill them and let’s move on.”

“Now, hold on,” spoke a human in a dirt-coated cloak that nearly blended in with the verdant surroundings. “I like the feistiness of these two. Young, alone; look at their clothes, those aren’t made for traveling. No, these soot-coated, scraped-up lads must have survived something terrible. They have what we enjoy, spirit.”

“She bit off my ear,” growled the orc.

“And that’s exactly the fiery spirit that makes me want to keep them. Besides, that shit’s funny.” Vivian watched as the human man marched to her and her brother. The other bandits made no moves to stop him. In seconds, he had undone their bindings. “There we are,” he laughed, tossing the rope aside.

Once free, Vivian drove her fist into the man’s gut. Unbothered by the spittle that sprayed on her face. Her fists remained raised as the men closed in on the twins.

“It’s fine,” wheezed the cloaked man. “I deserve that.” With some difficulties, he kept himself on his feet. Wincing with each laugh he let out. “We could use someone like you. You’re either the bravest person I’ve ever met, or crazy enough to not care.” Stable once more, the man pulled down his hood. He was a young and handsome man, his blonde hair swept back and his chin covered in a finely groomed goatee. “The name’s Leon, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Leon held out his hand to Vivian, a smile plastered across his face as he awaited her to take his hand.

“I don’t like this, sister,” Kai said. Tucking himself close behind her. Lowering his voice to a soft whisper, “We should go. There’s nothing for us to gain staying here.”

“Why should we trust you?” Vivian asked. Keeping her fist ready for a fight. Eyes darting from Leon to the other members of his crew. She knew her brother would be keeping watch of those behind her.

“I have already proven I hold no ill will toward you, have I not?” Leon said, laughing with each word. “My men could have killed you, and yet you still live.” No one could deny that. Still, Vivian was unconvinced. Leon took notice of that, “And you and your brother are free to leave.” Stepping to the side, he waved them off with a bow. “Please, leave now if you so desire.” Both siblings paused. Leon stood back to his full height, “Then, shall I have your names?”

A month later, Vivian and Cara—the Brimborne woman—found themselves in the heart of Neilvenhal, a city in the southern region of Valstrom. The midnight air was cool; the streets illuminated by dancing torchlight. The pair of them there for a bit of fun.

Cara smiled as the two stopped in front of a fishing warehouse. “This is it,” Cara said with a smile.

“And this is?” Vivian asked with a smirk. As Cara pushed the door open, Vivian got her answer. Gathered among the crates of supplies, people had gathered for one reason; combat. The smell of sweat permeated the air, the echoes of flesh-on-flesh contact, an aura of intensity that swelled in the air. It all brought a smile to Vivian’s face.

“Don’t ya just stand there gawkin’,” Cara laughed, “go and get yerself registered for a fight or two.”

Vivian perked up, “We’re not just here to watch?”

Cara shook her head, “Imma be watchin’, and yer a gonna be makin’ us money.” She then went on to explain how the main draw of the fights was the bets.

“You really think I can earn us plenty of gold?” Vivian blushed. “I mean, I know I’m good, but am I this good?”

Cara found her question amusing. “If ya don’t win, then I reckon I’ll be takin’ yer cut of our next job.” Knowing Cara had that level of faith in her, Vivian agreed to enter the tournament. “And if ya do well enough here, then ya might get invited to try at better payin’ rings.” Vivian seemed confused by this, prompting Cara to explain that nearly every major city had fighting rings like this one. Some even attended by major political figures, and how to get into those arenas you needed to win an invitation from one of the smaller competitions.

ΦΦΦ

“Fire when ready,” Leon said, standing several feet from Kai. Blindfolded.

Kai nocked an arrow and pulled back. Unsure why the bandit leader had asked him to do this. When he had tried to protest he was outvoted. With no other choice, he fired. The twang of his bowstring echoed in his ears as he loosed the arrow.

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Skillfully, Leon shifted his feet and spun around the incoming projectile. Snatching it out of the air with a flourish. With a snap of his wrist, Leon tossed the arrow into the soft soil and took a bow. “I know, you’re impressed.”

Kai took this time to nock a second arrow and fired at the unsuspecting Leon. Bewildered as he watched the bandit leader shift his weight. No longer bowed, but bent backward to allow the arrow to sail over himself. Once more he caught Kai’s arrow and tossed it aside. “How are you doing that?” Kai questioned. Not willing to try for a third time.

Leon removed his blindfold, his eyes cold and focused. A look he rarely wore. “Practice,” Leon said, his face growing soft and gentle. “If you want, I can shoot arrows at you until you master this as well.”

“I’d rather not,” Kai said.

“All right then,” Leon drew twin daggers from his hip. Casually throwing them Kai’s way, impaling them inches from the teen’s feet. “Then we’ll practice with these.”

“Why would I need to learn how to use these?” questioned Kai as he bent down to retrieve the daggers. “I’d rather keep using my bow.” By the time he stood up, Leon had closed the gap between them, a new dagger in hand. Kai managed to avoid the bite of steel as Leon tried to stab at him. “What the hell?” Kai yelled as Leon continued his assault. All Kai could manage to do was dodge. Unlike his sister, he was not good at fighting with just his hands. And there was no time for him to ready an arrow before he had to dodge again.

Focused on not getting cut, he lost track of his surroundings. Kai tripped on an exposed tree root and fell to the ground.

Leon stood over the boy, blade aimed at him. “And this is why we train with the daggers.”

“All right,” Kai reached up for Leon’s help. “Teach me.”

ΦΦΦ

Unsteady breaths; Vivian rested on one knee. One eye swollen shut, and her body trembled from exhaustion. A low buzzing in her ears as her hearing came in and out of focus. She was still in better shape than her opponent. The gnome she’d been fighting lay unconscious. The event hosts checked to see if she had killed her opponent.

An official call was made. Once the ruling was passed on to the giant overseeing the matches, she roared over the cheering crowd, “Victory by death! Vivian earns a double payout.” Those who had put their money on the young woman erupted into applause, Cara running to Vivian’s side and embracing her as best she could.

“Ya done won us sixty-thousand,” Cara said, tears of joy in her eyes. “Yer the best.”

Vivian gave a bloodied smile. When Cara withdrew a bit, Vivian closed her lips. Swallowing down the iron taste in her mouth, Vivian strained to speak, “Was that the final round?” Cara nodded, prompting Vivian to collapse to the floor, “Get me a healer, now.”

Cara ran off and returned with an elven healer. His magical touch did well to ease her pain and mend bones. Even with his aid, it would still be some time before she was fully recovered. After his subpar work, he took his payment and went off.

“Lovely one, he is,” Cara said with mockery in her voice. “Come now, ya done got patched up. Now all we got left to do is celebrate the way the gods intended.”

“Soup and sleep?” Vivian smiled.

“Close,” Cara laughed, “we drink!”

“I’m only fifteen years,” Vivian frowned, “two years too early for any tavern visits.”

Cara shook her head with a smile. “Ya done won an illegal fightin’ bracket, plus ya been spendin’ yer time with bandits. But nowya care bout what’s lawful?” A single look was all it took to silence Cara on the subject. “Then we should at least throw a feast,” she suggested as an alternative. “Come on, gonna need yer help carryin’ back supplies.

Later that night, Leon and Cara led the bandits in celebration. With the winnings from Vivian’s fight, they had managed to provide enough food and ale to last a solid week. Knowing their company, the twins suspected it would all be gone within the night.

While the others danced around the roast fires and sang into the night, the twins found themselves huddled away from the festivities. Vivian watched with a longing eye, “It seems fun, being in their world.”

“We’ve been in their world,” Kai reminded his sister. “I don’t much care for it. We should be doing more with ourselves. Hunting down the men who killed our family, doing good in the world. Like…:

“Like father would have?” Vivian turned to her brother. Determination filled his fiery eyes. “You want to make him proud.”

“I want to make myself proud,” he corrected. Kai’s gaze moved from his sister toward the bandits who had taken them in. “They’re not bad people, but I don’t think this is where we belong.”

“And where do we belong?”

“Home.”

“But we don’t have a home anymore.” Vivian wrapped an arm around her brother, pulling him in close to her, “So we need to make a home.” Kai pushed away from her and began to walk off. “Don’t go far, brother. It’s late.”

“I’ll be fine,” Kai waved to her from over his shoulder. Escaping into the night. She hated when he did that. Going off to who knows where, alone. He thinks he’s unstoppable. Before she could get caught up in wondering about her brother, Vivian saw Cara coming her way. Two tankards in hand.

“Where is yer brother off to?” Cara asked. Watching Kai wander from the group, a longing expression on her face.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Vivian lied. “I hope that tankard wasn’t for him. You’d have a hard time convincing him to partake in ale.”

Cara handed a tankard to Vivian, “Then yer just gonna have to drink instead.” Vivian showed hesitation, prompting Cara to roll her eyes, “For fuck’s sake, yer a bandit now. One of us, live a little.” The Brimborne chugged down her drink. Emptying her cup in seconds. “Come now, yer turn.”

Tipping back the tankard, Vivian began drinking. Pulling the cup away as she entered a coughing fit. Ale burned her throat as it washed down. “You drink this stuff?” Vivian spurted out.

“Ya get used to it,” Cara said, waving for Vivian to keep going. And so, she did. It took her a few sips to get it down, but her cup ran dry. Cara gleefully took a seat next to Vivian. Wrapping her arm around the young woman’s neck, “Yer gonna learn to love it.”

The two decided to join the rest of the group by the fires. Roasted pig and pheasant were passed around. Baked potatoes and honeyed apples as well, all washed down with wines that smelled and tasted of mixed berries. While people feasted and drank they would tell stories and sing songs. Lost in celebration and each other’s company. They were more than a band of bandits traveling the countryside. Leon and his group were a family. One that had reluctantly added Vivian and her brother.

Vivian’s eyes found the orc she had mutilated, Gres. Of all the members of their gang, he had been the most difficult to convince to accept the twins. Once he got over his anger towards Vivian—anger he was very justified in harboring—he wound up becoming one of her closest friends. Or at least he had chosen to act as her teacher when it came to improving her skills in martial combat. Without his help, she would not have been able to win them the feast they now enjoyed. Vivian couldn’t stop herself from wondering why Cara hadn’t asked him to fight instead, but she found herself pleased she had picked her instead.

Vivian then turned her attention to Leon. She wondered why he was the one in charge. Most of the time they had been traveling with them, it seemed as if Gres was the true leader. As Leon spent his days sleeping. Meanwhile, Gres kept everyone in line. The orc had been the one to set up their robberies and make sure the spoils were fairly distributed. However, whenever Leon gave an order, Gres would surrender control of the situation.

In the month they had spent with the bandits, Leon had taken a liking to her brother. Usually having Kai stay behind with him. There had been times when Vivian would return to find the two of them training with one another. Usually, Leon helped Kai improve his skill with the bow. On occasion, they would wander off together to teach Kai about tracking and stealth. He was almost like an older brother for Kai, which Vivian found joy in this. She suspected Kai did as well, though he would never tell anyone if he did.

He took notice of her watching him and waved for her to come over.

Embarrassed, she approached; face beat-red. “Thank you for looking after my brother,” Vivian said as he got closer. Trying her best to respect the bandit leader despite not being sure how to word it.

“No, I should thank you,” Leon said as he ripped the meat off a drumstick. Juices from the tenderly cooked fowl dripped from his chin. “We thank you for giving us this wonderful meal.” Vivian wanted to tell her it was truly Cara’s doing, but she was cut off as he continued, “And it has been a pleasure hosting you and your brother.”

Leon raised his voice. Silencing everyone as he spoke, addressing the entire camp, “It is with a heavy heart that we throw this celebration. As tonight we must say our farewells to Kai and Vivian. May they never be forgotten.”

“Farewell?” Vivian asked just above a whisper, speaking so only Leon might hear her. “Why is this farewell?”

She’d never seen that look in Leon’s eyes before. Ice-cold determination and focus. A look that would birth fear in the eyes of most who caught a glimpse. “I cannot keep around foes of the Aranea,” Leon said.

“Aranea?” asked Vivian.

Leon nodded, “It took me a moment to realize it, but over the last month I did my best to prepare you and your brother. You’re the last survivors of Hamal.”

Vivian felt ice run through her veins. Neither of the twins had told anyone about their past. Yet Leon had figured it all out. “How do you know that?” She was left without an answer. Leon’s parting words were nothing more than a gentle laugh as he went on his way to speak with the other members of the bandit camp. And just like that, the twins had lost another family.