Chapter 6: Departure (Mark I)

Caden saddled and groomed Starlight while Rilyn settled with the Barkeep. Rilyn walked outside.

"Are you ready?" Caden asked. "We've wasted two nights here, and we're no closer to finding the Dragon Knights, or getting them to save Keilee."

"You were the one who spent the night with a witch."

"She's not a witch," Caden said. "I'm certain of that now."

"Then why did the towns people attack her?"

"She was found with the witch."

"And what would they have been doing together?"

"I don't know."

"I'm not from around here," Rilyn said. "But our cultures do agree on one thing. Thou shall not suffer a witch to live."

"She wasn't a witch."

"But if she had dealings with one, maybe she's on the journey to become one."

Caden looked away. He led Starlight out the courtyard gate. Rilyn followed. Cassy came out the front door to the Tavern. She ran up to Caden and handed him a loaf of bread.

"Come back again," she said. "Ok?"

Caden nodded.

Rilyn led Caden to the east gate. Identical to the first, except the vertical sign read, "出口 東Tinate."

"Father Achilleos said the Dragon Knights went west," Rilyn said. "They have a training camp they bring new recruits to."

"Don't you find it odd that they didn't know about the draft here."

"From what I've heard of the Dragon Knights, it doesn't surprise me."

"You're right," Caden said. "A city this size, they must get enough volunteers that they don't need a draft."

"Yeah," Rilyn said. He walked past Caden. "That's what I meant."

They walked in silence for the rest of the morning. By noon, they exited the forest and no longer had the canopy protecting them from the hot mid-day sun. Caden mounted Starlight, and rode her while eating lunch. He gave Rilyn a spicy stew bread, and ate the last sour seaweed. He looked in his knapsack. He had two honey stews left, four spicy stews, and the loaf Cassy gave him. Cassy's bread was a simple soft wheat dinner loaf. Dinner loafs don't last as long as the stew bread. It would only be good for today, they'd need to eat it for dinner. But that meant finding something more for dinner.

"Can you hunt or fish or anything?" Caden asked.

"I can hunt," said Rilyn, "But not in the way that you're thinking."

"I think we should have picked up some more food before we left."

"That reminds me." Rilyn stopped and turned around. "I promised Father Achilleos that we would return after you finished your errand with the Dragon Knights."

"Why?"

"I told him what I knew about the Dragon Queen. He said that he wanted to hear the story from you since you were there."

Caden pulled on Starlights reigns and stopped. He dismounted and put his hand on the ties for the stone sword. Rilyn turned around and looked ahead. A lone traveler walked down the road towards them. He wore simple brown jodhpurs and a white tunic. A black leather satchel hung across his chest from his left shoulder.

"I don't see any weapons," Rilyn said. "Feeling a bit paranoid."

"Just cautious."

"Then use this." Rilyn passed him a brush axe from under his cloak.

Maybe Rilyn is right, thought Caden. He looked at the man. He didn't have the dark shroud, but neither did the bandits. He didn't have any weapons, but that itself is strange to travel without protection. The highways aren't that safe. Caden stepped away from the stone sword, and put the brush axe into his knapsack. He kept his hand inside the bag on the handle.

The man stopped ten paces away. He looked at Rilyn and Caden. They looked at him. "Hail and well met, travellers."

"Good day, sir."

"I'm Ramone, a simple traveling merchant," said Ramone. "May I ask your names?"

"A merchant?" asked Caden. "Convenient, since I was just thinking about needing to buy food."

"Not convenient, my boy. Providence." Ramone opened his satchel and took out a red cloth.

"For a merchant," said Rilyn, "you're traveling without much to sell."

Ramone took off his satchel and dropped it next to the road. "If you take your hands off of your weapons, I'll show you."

Caden looked at Rilyn. What do you think?

Rilyn looked at Caden. He doesn't look dangerous.

Caden took his hand out of his knapsack. He left the brush axe inside. Rilyn moved his hands out from under his cloak.

"Talking with your eyes," said Ramone. "You must be long time travel companions." Ramone unfolded the cloth. It was thirty hands wide by 45 hands long. He whipped the cloth into the air. It floated down. As it came down, the center was supported by something that wasn't there. The edges dropped down till they touched the road. It looked like the cloth was covering a stack of boxes. Ramone grabbed the cloth and pulled it off. Underneath was several crates. He rolled up the cloth and set it down in the grass.

"How did you?" Rilyn asked.

"That wasn't wizardry or witchcraft," Caden said.

"You're right, but I can't answer your question, because I don't know. It's just a very useful tool I picked up in my travels." Ramone grabbed a pry-bar that was lying on one of the crates. "Hard to get robbed when they can't find your wares."

That night, Caden and Rilyn camped just off of the highway. The highway crossed a river. They got water and Caden built a fire on a large flat rock protruding out into the water. They sat around the fire and roasted fish. Ramone even gave them a good deal on preserves for the bread.

"Rilyn, you've travelled more then I," Caden said. "Have you ever seen a magic that could create something from nothing?"

"No, but perhaps I haven't traveled as much as you think I have." Rilyn stuffed the last of the bread into his mouth, and stood up. "Finish eating. You still need more practice with your swords."

Chapter 6: The Price of Redemption (Mark I)

Rilyn sat up all night with Father Achilleos. They talked till the sun rose and Caden descended from the tower with the young woman behind him. Rilyn watched as they walked into the temple. Caden's face looked like it was carved from wax. He stood there, staring forward, not blinking. The woman kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks," she said. She walked out of the temple.

"Well, looks like that worked out for the best," Father Achilleos said. He stood up, and took Rilyn by the hand. "Remember what I said. And come back to see me after you've finished your errand with the Dragon Knights. May the sages guide you on your journey."

Rilyn walked over next to Caden. "What happened up there?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Caden walked to the door. "Let's depart."

Father Achilleos watched them leave. "That boy." Father Coteson walked to his study, and pulled an ancient book from the shelf.

Chapter 6: Witch (Mark I)

The crowd of people hauled two woman bound to seven foot stakes. One was an old woman, in her seventies. The other was a young brunette, barely over 17 harvest. The old woman was cackling and crying out about the crowd being tortured for a thousands years and black death reigning from above, destroying the town.

The young woman was shouting, "I'm not a witch."

Caden heard about witches in temple service, but had never seen one before. He didn't know if he was actually seeing one right now. What he did know was, the old crone had the same shroud of darkness as Father Coteson, the undead Dragon Knights, and the Bandit leader in the forest. Yet the young girl, she didn't have it. She looked normal, like everyone else in the crowd.

"Rilyn," said Caden. "I think that girl is telling the truth."

"What? Why?"

"Doesn't the older woman remind you of the bandit leader who vanished on the highway?"

"Well, she does have the same eyes, but that's not all that strange on someone her age."

"No, the black shroud."

"What shroud?"

"You don't see that darkness surrounding her?"

"No," Rilyn said. "And the bandit leader had the same thing?"

"Same with Father Coteson."

"And the girl doesn't?"

"Right," Caden said. "We have to save her."

"So do you want to tell the angry mob that they got the wrong person?"

"Follow me." Caden pushed through the crowd and ran down a side street.

Caden and Rilyn emerged from an alley. They were at the temple mall. Large, flat, white stones paved the ground. The mob was already there, carrying the two women into the temple.

"Damn." Caden punched the side of the alley. "I was hoping to beat them here."

Rilyn noticed the cracks left in the stone from Caden's punch. "I'm surprised we got here when we did." Rilyn walked past Caden and onto the mall. "After all, you did try to take a short cut in a city you've never been to."

"How hard is it to head towards the giant stone tower." Caden pointed at the white marble tower above the temple. It was the tallest building in Tinate.

"Apparently it is," said Rilyn. "Judging from the number of dead ends you lead us to." He looked back at Caden. "What do you want to do now?"

"Only thing we can do," Caden said. "We wait for the crowd to leave, then we speak with the Father."

The sun was setting by the time the crowd completely disbursed. The Father was walking in the garden, tending to the plants. He wore the daily vestments of plain white shirt and pants under his black and silver coat. The holy, ten-pointed star was embroidered in gold on the back of his jacket. Caden and Rilyn walked with him as he moved through the garden.

"So why don't you think she's evil?" he asked.

"It's hard to explain, Father Achilleos," Caden said. "But I feel a fire in my gut telling me that this is the right thing to do."

Father Achilleos stopped next to a flowering tree. He lifted a shriveled, rotting flower in his gloved hand. "This flower isn't evil, it'll soon be dead. Yet if left on the tree, the rot will spread to the other flowers. If left untended, the disease will consume more flowers and leaves, till the tree can no longer function. It won't die from the rot, but it will die from the loss. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Father Achilleos snipped the flower off and handed it Caden.

"Yes."

"I wonder if that's true."

"I will save her from the rot."

"It's not easy, they have already been placed on the top of the Shrift Tower." Father Achilleos pointed to the white marble tower. "The only thing you can do now, is stand witness to her judgment by the goddess."

Caden looked up at the tower. "Very well."

"You might get cut off with the flower you want to save."

He walked into the temple. "I know."

"Interesting boy you're traveling with." Father Achilleos turns to Rilyn. "Does he know about you?"

"He knows nothing." They turn and watch Caden enter the shadows inside the temple.

"Come, my child," Father Achilleos lead Rilyn into the temple. "I sense that you're in need of some absolution yourself."

Caden stood on top of the spire. The roof was flat, with no walls on the outside edge. He was next to the chained women. The old hag screamed like she was being burned. The young girl cried. The wind whipped through his hair and clothes. Caden watched the sunset. When the last part of the sun fell below the horizon, the sky flashed green. Caden raised his arms and shielded his eyes. The wind picked up and he felt like he was going to be blown off the edge.

Chapter 5: Tinate (Mark I)

Caden and Rilyn walked along the highway. The weapons were put away, and Caden massaged his shoulder. Rilyn moved behind Caden. When he got next to Starlight, she nipped at him. Rilyn jumped away. Caden pulled the reigns.
"I don't think she likes me," Rilyn said.

"She senses that you're afraid of her," said Caden. "That makes her in charge. With animals, it's all about who's the master."

"Yeah," said Rilyn. "But people aren't that way."

"You're not going to start up on the bandits again?"

"It was a mistake to leave them alive."

"Enough already," Caden said. "One is never going to be able to walk right again, and if infection sets in, the other is going to lose his sword arm. Even if he avoids infection, wounds like that never heal straight. We won't see them again."

"You know what they say, a wounded Kryptop is the most dangerous."

Where does he get these sayings? "Besides, you stole their bush axes," Caden said. "So I guess they're wounded and toothless Kryptops."

Caden and Rilyn walked through the southern gate of Tinate. The gate had two massive stone pillars, each almost 5 fathom's tall and 15 hands wide. They were 1 and a half fathom's apart. The pillars were connected by two cross beams, one above the other. In the center of the cross beams, a vertical sign displayed, "南 Tinate." Four guards, two on each side, stood at the gate.

Caden stopped under the gate. Rilyn continued to walk. The guards looked at him. The traffic moved around him. "Um? Excuse me?" asked Caden.

"What do you want, kid?"

"Have the Dragon Knights passed through here?"

"Who're they?" asked the first Guard.

"Don't know know that Dragon's don't exist, kid?" said the second guard. "Now get lost."

Caden looked at them. They started making jokes about dragons. Caden pulled on Starlight's reigns and caught up to Rilyn.

They searched the city for cheap lodging. They settled on the Blue Fox. Caden tied Starlight up in the central courtyard next to a trough. They walked into the common room. Caden looked at the barkeep. He knodded at them, so they sat at a table near the fire place.

Caden leaned next to Rilyn. "I hope it's okay for me to be here."

"Why wouldn't it?" asked Rilyn.

"In Erdon, they said I was too young."

The serving girl walked over to the table. Caden guessed that she was about 20 harvests. Caden stared, she wore only a black skirt, yellow camisole, and red bodice. She set two mugs down. "If you're hungry, we have lamb, roasted with onions, potatoes, and carrots. I can fix you up with some bread and cheese if you prefer that. We have rooms available. If you want separate chambers, it'll cost 30 swans, but only 20 if you share a room." She looked at Caden staring. "If you want company tonight, that costs more."

"What?"

Rilyn kicked Caden under the table. Caden looked away from the serving girl's chest and looked at Rilyn. "We'll share a room, thanks," said Rilyn. "And bring us two plates of lamb, and some bread and cheese to share, and make the next round a pitcher of dark stout."

"Sure thing, sweetie." The serving girl walked off.

Caden stared at her leaving. "Maybe we should look for some place cheaper," he said. He turned to Rilyn. "I only have about 12 swans."

"Relax," Rilyn said. "The mayor knew you wouldn't have any money. He's covering all of this." Rilyn removed the coins from under his cloak. "Just promise not to do anything stupid and lose what money you do have."

"What's that mean?" Caden took a drink from his mug. The clear liquid felt like fire. Caden coughed.

"And go easy on the shine."

The serving girl set down the plates, a loaf of bread, a wheel of cheese with a small knife, and a pitcher. She winked at Caden. "My name's Cassy, by the way." She took Rilyn's coin and left. Caden watched her leave again.

Caden left the table shortly after eating. The shine and stout made his face feel hot, and the rest of his body feel very tired. He remembered that he'd been awake since the night before. He went out into the court yard, and brushed and fed Starlight. He took the saddle, stone sword, and his knapsack into their room. He fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.

Caden woke up in the middle of the night. Someone was taking his boots off. He looked up and saw a figure moving in the dim light. He squinted, and in the shadows saw a woman moving around the room. He rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.

The next morning, Caden woke up after Rilyn was already up and out of the room. He walked over to the dresser where there was a pitcher and bowl. He poured the cold water into the bowl and washed his face. Then he opened the window and dumped it outside. He put his boots on and walked out of the room into the courtyard.

Caden found Rilyn eating in the common room. "Have fun last night?" Caden sat down.

"What do you mean?" Rilyn ate a bowl of pumpkin porridge.

"I woke up last night. I saw that you brought Cassy back to our room."

"I think you are confused," Rilyn said. He took a sip from a steaming mug. "It was only us in the room last night."

"What ever, I know what I saw."

Cassy walked up and gave Caden a bowl of porridge and a steaming mug. She was dressed more conservatively that morning.

"The guards said they didn't know who the Dragon Knights were." Caden took a bite of porridge. "What's up with that," he said with his mouth full."

"Cover your mouth, you barbarian."

Caden swallowed. "Sorry."

"After you went to bed last night, I asked around. It seems they're called the King's Knights around here." Rilyn looked around the room and leaned across the table. "And I wouldn't say anything about the Dragon Queen here, either," he said in a soft whisper.

Rilyn and Caden looked out the front window. A loud commotion of people were walking past. They both heard the crowd shouting, "Witches!"

Chapter 5: Highway Robbery (Mark I)

Caden rode Starlight for a while, then dismounted. "Would you like to rest for a while?" asked Caden.

"No thanks," Rilyn said. "I'm fine just walking."

"Come on." Caden handed him the reigns. "Your training routine this morning put us behind schedule. I don't want to stop for another break."

Rilyn stared at the horse.

"What are you waiting for?"

Rilyn grabbed the horse's mane and the saddle. He tried to pull himself up. The horse cried out and bit Rilyn on the arm. "Ow, you stupid beast!" He let go of Starlight and she trotted ahead 20 paces.

Caden fetched Starlight and walked her back. "What was that?" He looked at Rilyn rubbing his arm. "You would think you've never seen a horse."

"Actually, I haven't," Rilyn said. "We don't have them where I come from."

"Where are you from?"

"Doesn't matter. I can't return."

Caden stared at Rilyn rubbing his arm. "That's going to bruise, but it's better then if she had kicked you." Caden tied Starlight to a low tree branch. "Come here, I'll teach you some basics so you can play nice with the old girl."

Rilyn rode on Starlight, but didn't feel comfortable with the commands. So he just sat on her back while Caden led the horse on foot. Caden saw something dark moving in the woods. "You know," he said. "We need to be careful. If someone saw me leading your horse, they might think your royalty."

"Why? Nobles don't know how to ride either?"

Caden watched the dark movement. "I'm sure they do," he said. "But Sir Eric says that actual riding is considered below them. So they either ride in Carriages or have some one lead the horse on foot."

"In that case," said Rilyn. "I think I'll get off for now."

Caden stopped the horse. "That's a good idea." The dark shape in the forest stopped too. Caden helped Rilyn climb down. The horse snorted and stamped it's foot. "In fact, why don't we resume our training from earlier?"

"I thought you wanted keep moving?"

"I did." Caden looked Rilyn in the eyes. "But you can never be too careful."

Rilyn looked out the corner of his eyes. He nodded and moved his arms under his cloak. Caden untied the stone sword and let it drop. He bent over to pick it up.

Clink, clink! Rilyn had a curved sword out and deflected two daggers. The landed at Caden's feet. Caden knelt on the ground and rested the stone sword on his shoulder. He never saw a sword like Rilyn's before. It was six hands long and curved to form a half circle. It had a single edge on the inside curve. The outside was etched to resemble a ring of flames.

Caden watched the black shape move again. Laughter came from the woods, and three men came out. The each held up a black steel brush axe.

"I'm impressed you saw them," Rilyn said.

"I didn't." Caden watched the black shape. "I saw him."

Rilyn looked at where Caden was looking, but didn't see anyone.

"Looks like we have quite the pair here," said one of the men.

"They got lucky with the knives," said another. "But what are they planning on doing with a bent sword and stone log."

"This is a half sun blade," Rilyn said. "Pray the full sun never rises." He raised the blade over his head, and held it to the side. It looked like a sun rising over the horizon.

Caden looked at Rilyn, he stood up, keeping the stone sword propped on his shoulder. "I'll have you know," he said, "this sword is a Sacred Artifact of the Five Sages."

The three men rushed forward. Caden flipped his sword over his shoulder and crashed it into the lead man's sword arm. His arm shattered, bone splitting and protruding from the skin. Rilyn sidestepped the second man's attack and hit him in the throat with the inner curve of her blade. She pulled him off his feet and dropped him to the ground. He hit the ground dead. Blood gushed from the deep cut in his neck. Caden turned and spun the sword in a circle. He hit the third man in the knee. The man's knee gave out with a crunch. He fell to the ground, his leg bent in the wrong direction.

Caden lifted the stone sword in one hand, and pointed it into the woods. "Why don't you come out too."

The men with shattered bones screamed, vomited, and passed out.

Rilyn stared at Caden holding the massive sword so easily. He followed the sword's blade to where it pointed into the woods. He saw a man there, young, and extremely strong. But his eyes were sunken. The skin around his eyes were black, and had more wrinkles then anyone Rilyn had ever seen before. He smiled, his gums were black and purple, his tongue was swollen and gray.

"Impressive," he said. "I'll be looking forward to meeting you again." He backed away into the woods. Caden saw the darkness vanish like smoke.

"We should go after him," Rilyn said.

Caden turned his sword and grabbed the blade in his free hand. "I don't think we'll be able to catch him."

"I guess you weren't lying." Rilyn looked at the sword. "But a Sacred Artifact?"

"Well." Caden laughed. He let go of the blade and rubbed his head. "I did find it in the crypt of a temple."

Rilyn giggled. Caden looked at Rilyn, his laugh sounded very girly.

Caden dropped the stone sword and grabbed his arm. "Ow!"

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know," Caden said. "The sword just got too heavy." Caden lifted his arm. "Ow, I think I pulled my shoulder."

Chapter 5: Buried in the Sand (Mark I)

Caden and Rilyn walked for the rest of the night. Caden never rode Starlight. They reached the highway by sunrise. The road to Erdon was marked by an old well next to a log lean-to and trough. Caden drew water from the well and filled the trough. He let Starlight drink while he sat in the lean-to.

"Planning on taking a break already?"

"No," Caden said.

"Just asking," said Rilyn. "Because when I ran away from home, I went more then a couple of hours away."

"This is the farthest I've ever traveled from my home."

"So what?" Rilyn dropped the bucket into the well. "Eric told me you wanted to leave that town."

"Hey! Do you even remember what it was like to leave your home for the first time?"

"Yeah." Rilyn pulled the rope and hauled the full bucket out. "It was a month ago. And I haven't looked back." He carried the bucket to Caden. "Like you, staying home meant death."

"I'm not going die if I stay in Erdon."

"You're not?"

"No!" Caden yelled.

"Staying put, delivering bread every morning, getting married and raising a home," said Rilyn. "While every year, the Dragon Knights come, and choose people, but never you? Watching the people you know, leave you behind and live the life you dream of?"

Caden looked at the bucket in Rilyn's hands.

"There are ways of dying that don't leave you buried in the sand."

"I will join the Dragon Knights," Caden said. He looked Rilyn in the eyes.

"Not like that you won't." Rilyn set the bucket down. "Unless you want to be buried in the sand, get that sword of yours off the horse."

Caden looked down the road, back to Erdon. Rilyn picked up the bucket and threw the water on Caden. "What?" Caden shook his head.

"I said, get your sword and..."

Caden ran at Rilyn. He threw a punch with all of his strength. Rilyn stepped to the side. Caden's punch missed. It passed by Rilyn's ear. Rilyn's elbow hit Caden in the solar plexus while he drew a dirk. He put the tip against Caden's neck.

"As I said, you'll be buried in the sand." Rilyn put his dagger away. "Your Mayor charged me with making sure that doesn't happen."

When they started, Caden couldn't lift the stone sword. When they finished, Caden couldn't lift his own arms. He laid on his back in front of the lean-to. He stared at the light filtering through the trees.

Rilyn looked at his stone sword. "I could break this thing," he said. "Then you'll have a better chance of clubbing someone with it."

"No. I can use it. I saved the children."

"From a grumpy, moldy old man," Rilyn said, "in robes. That's hardly proof of your prowess against a trained fighter. This thing is going to get you killed."

Caden sat up. "Don't doubt me. I was able to lift it in one hand."

Rilyn looked at Caden's skinny arms. "I doubt that." Rilyn opened Caden's knapsack and took out two loaves. He tossed one to Caden. "Eat, drink, then we need to get moving." Rilyn broke the hard outer crust.

"Wait." Rilyn looked at Caden. "Switch loaves."

Rilyn looked at the two loaves. His was darker. He thought it was over cooked and burnt a little. He shrugged and swapped loaves with Caden. He broke the lighter loaf in half and bit into the meaty filling. He cringed and puckered at the taste. It was the most sour thing he ever put into his mouth. And there was a lingering taste of something he never had before. He looked at the bread, it was dotted with green specks.

Caden laughed. "You're really not from around here," he said. "Don't worry, I don't care for the sour seaweed stew either." He broke open his bread and took a big bite. "Now the sweet honey stew is to die for." Bits of food flew from his mouth as he talked. He picked up his knapsack. "Next time, don't take my food without asking."

Rilyn smiled. He watched Caden untie the horse and lead it out onto the highway. He looked down at the disgusting bread. He took another bite and forced himself to eat it while following Caden.

Chapter 5: The road to Tinate (Mark I)

A week passed, and the Dragon Queen had not returned. It seemed like the old stories were true. A sacrificed daughter would appease the queen and she would not return for a year and a day. The stories did not say why she wanted the sacrifice.

Caden was there. He saw the Dragon Queen take Keilee. It didn't kill her, it took her. He knew she was still alive. No one else believed him. Even if it took her alive, it would have eaten her by now. She was dead, the town held a memorial for her, and thanked her for saving the town.

Yet no one thanked Harron.

The town did not mention the role he played in the sacrifice of his daughter. He saved them, they knew that. But no one approved. Harron returned to his homestead with the remainder of his family. No one went out to check on them. No one would consider talking with him.

In that week, the people were busy rebuilding their town. Sir Eric eventually recovered, but moped around worse then before. No one ever saw him sober anymore. He just walked around the town with a bottle of shine in his left hand. His right arm and shoulder were gone.

The stranger, Rilyn, even helped out with the rebuilding. He had recovered and was only using a cane instead of a crutch.

Caden fought a different battle. He tried to convince his father to let him go after the Dragon Knights. To get them to mobilize and hunt down the Dragon Queen, and save Keilee. His father refused. He told his father that someone had to notify the church of Father Coteson's actions. His father refused.

Caden crept into the kitchen late at night. He carried a knapsack with a change of clothes. His father had been baking a lot of stew rolls lately. Giving them to the workers around the town. It was a good bread, hard outer crust allowed it to last for days. Inside was a soft bread stuffed with meat, vegetables, gravy, and potatoes. Caden preferred the spicy and sweet flavors, but couldn't tell which were which in the dark. So he opened his knapsack and filled it with loaves from all three trays.

He moved a bench over to the ovens and climbed up. On top was a small lock box. Caden grabbed the box and brought it down. Inside was a handful of coins. He took about half. Right now, neighbors were helping neighbors. His father received free ingredients as long as he gave free bread to the people working. But it wouldn't last, and Caden wanted to leave him with enough to buy what he would need.

His father's mare, Starlight, was old, past 10 harvests. Caden walked her out of his father's back yard and through town. He wasn't going to ride her until they were past the hollows left by the dragon's attack. Instead he carefully lead her down each one and back up the other side.

He passed the temple, and saw the stone sword laying in the garden where he left it. He walked over and picked it up. He could barely lift it. He tried to swing it, but failed. He didn't understand why he couldn't lift it anymore.

"What are you planning on doing with that?" Rylin stepped out from under a tree. In the moonlight, his hat cast a shadow over his eyes.

"Protection," Caden said. "Bandits are on the highway, and I've heard people talk about the gremlins attacking at night."

"And what good will it do you if you can't lift it?"

"Hey, I can lift it." Caden strapped the sword to Starlight. "I saved the kids using this sword. And I'm going to save it Keilee with it."

"You're going to get yourself killed."

"Why are you here, Rilyn?"

"The mayor said you were going to be leaving tonight," said Rilyn. He picked up a sack, threw it over his shoulder, and tied it in place. "Asked me to go with you."

"How could he have known that?"

"I don't know, kid. So where are we going?"

"The Dragon Knights left town, heading north. So I'm going to check Fort Tinate first."

"Lead the way."

Rilyn wasn't stopping him, so Caden didn't care what he did. Rilyn followed Caden as they walked out of town. They exited the northern gate and followed the road till they reached the highway.