LOL! Because you never comment David, yet I know you read! I want to hear what you think to! So, in honor of your comment, although I am still in Vermont, I have made a special trip onto the internet just to post for you. I hope you enjoy. Oh, and I'm glad Aiden is finally riding Magnar too. It was suppose to happen at some point, the two.. okay just Aiden... just refused to get along!
Ashley, I totally agree about the last chapter. The fact that it has little emotional depth has always bugged me and I will surely be changing that in the rewrite. Thanks for the comment! But don't worry, Michelle, I'll make sure the last line stays in tact! I'm glad you connected so well with it!
Britt, we have a couple ideas on how we are going to pull that part off. Believe me, whatever we decide, you will not want to miss it!
LOL. Short but sweet. Thanks for the comment Kirk! I hope you didn't have to wait too long! Be sure to thank David for that!
And now.. Kristalyn is determined to dig into Aiden's past, Egan is well being Egan, and who is this person in battle... could it be.. yes, it is....and no. Read to find out! It's on to the show!

CHAPTER 27 ~ MISTAKEN IDENTITY

AIDEN

The fire that night felt good. I hated to admit it would have felt better if I knew where Magnar had gotten himself too. He had wanted to check out the Elangsia army for himself. He was convinced he’d spot Travon among them. It was the hope of a kid, but then just because Magnar was full grown, didn’t mean he didn’t have kid tendencies, a whole lot of them. Whatever, the griffin was fine and after all the travel I was ready for a good long rest.

“How long before Egan gets his proper carcass back here?”

Kristalyn smiled at my description of the stuck up dragon. “I don’t know. It could be by tomorrow night or the next day. It depends on how long it takes him to find Tray.”

I nodded and settled back down. The rabbit had filled my belly quite nicely and for once the accusations of my mind were calm. I was going to get sleep while I could.

“Aiden?”

Argh!

“What?”

“Tell me about Wren.”

I looked at her in surprise. “What?”

“That was your sister who defied Duard, right? Tell me what she’s like.”

“Quiet.” I grunted.

“Me or her?” She asked.

“Kristalyn, you are never quiet,” I muttered.

“That’s not true. But it’s also not what I meant. Do you want me to be quiet or is she quiet?”

“Both of those work,” I answered, closing my eyes again.

“Aiden!”

“What?” I groaned.

“I’m serious.”

So was I. For what had to be the first time since I had left Bradioch Forest, I allowed my mind to concentrate fully on my sister. “She is quiet.” I said the words so low, they almost weren’t even out loud. “She’s practical too and great with her weapons. She can track anything anywhere and her falcons help with that. She’s loyal and trustworthy. Don’t mess with her, she might not like dealing with tons of people, but she knows how too. But Wren’s different. She sees things everyone else misses, especially with me.” Suddenly, her face was vivid before me, with those eyes that saw everything and changed color with her moods. Her tan face and brown hair plated as always down her back and an expression of gentle, understanding, calm. I hadn’t seen her in over two years, almost two and a half now. I hadn’t seen one of her falcons in a long time either. Was she okay? Would her falcons know to find me if she needed help?

“She sounds amazing,” Kristalyn commented.

I blinked, waking myself up and nodded. “She is.”

“Are all you siblings like that?”

I laughed. “No. They were…are all very unique.”

“You miss them like I miss Tray, don’t you?”

I paused and looked at her. Did I miss them that much? I hardly ever let myself think about them. Could I really miss them then? I shrugged and didn’t answer.

“Why did your guardian split you up?”

“Because he is a fool!” I answered harshly, not wanting to discuss Duard in any way.

Kristalyn nodded and threw a few more sticks, that weren’t really needed, into the fire. At least the quiz was over. Maybe now I could get some sleep.

A huge shadow crossed me and the ground shook when it landed. Magnar screeched into my face excitedly. I howled and grabbed my ears.

“Back up you idiot! Quite screeching at me!” I tried to sit up, but the griffin was shaking with excitement and I couldn’t move. “Magnar, back up now!” I yelled the command.

The griffin backed up quickly and sat down with a humph. He was back on his feet in seconds and screeching again. I could hear words laced in, but he was talking far to fast for me to even attempt to follow.

“Slow down,” I groaned and finally sat up. “Okay, what has you tied in knots of energy?”

“Travon!” The screech was clear this time.

“What?” I heard myself asking anyways. Travon was not supposed to be anywhere close to here. He was supposed to be safe. Somewhere far away and safe. “You must be seeing things.”

The griffin growled low in his throat exactly what he thought about that idea.

“Okay, okay.” I sighed. I was going to have to hear this one out. If Travon was out there, I needed to know. Never mind why I needed to, I just did. “Explain slowly.”

Magnar cocked his head at me and waited. For being so excited to tell me, he was taking his time now. I crossed my arms, ready to wait him out, when Kristalyn shifted behind Magnar. Words. Magnar needed to tell me in words and he couldn’t with Kristalyn able to hear. He needed me to give him permission to either speak with her there or we’d have to move away. I groaned again. I had no wish to move anywhere, but I wasn’t ready to give Kristalyn Magnar’s secret either. Not just yet at any rate.

“All right. Let’s go for a ride. You need to get out all that excess energy anyway.”

The griffin was shaking again.

He howled his agreement and waited for me to climb on. I did so swiftly and he took off. I would never get use to the sensation of flying. The sky everything impossible on the earth suddenly seemed possible. The wind and freedom of the sky allowed every constraint from the world below to be left behind. It was a feeling I had come to appreciate greatly.

Magnar slowed his free wheeling in order to make his words heard.

“Travon I saw. Captive in Elangsia’s army he is. Rescue him we must.”

“Magnar, how close were you? Are you sure it is him?”

The griffin snorted. “Sure, I am.”

“Well, did he look like he could escape?” I had no wish to take on all of Elangsia’s army for one boy. Even if it was Travon.

“No. Aiden, rescue him we must.”

He was right. I just didn’t want to admit it. I had trained the kid and pretty much told him to spy on the enemy. If he was captured, it was my fault the kid had stuck around. I didn’t need that on my shoulders. I had too much else I had to deal with already.

“Where was he exactly?”

“Middle stocks he is in.”

“They have him in stocks?” I questioned, my voice going hard. What had he done to deserve that? “Look, Magnar, we’ll go in after him, but you have to tell me exactly what the arrangement is.”

We discussed things for a while, before we landed back at the camp, both exhausted. Kristalyn sat up from where she had been lying next to the fire. I dropped down to the ground as Kurioden got padded over to Magnar to converse.

“What is it?” Kristalyn asked, her tone worried.

“Travon is being held captive in Elangsia’s army. Magnar and I need to get him out.”

“Wait, wait. Slow down. Who? Isn’t that the name you asked the assassin about?”

“Travon is a kid from one of the villages Ricald ransacked. He’s the only survivor. He joined our camp under my protection and I was training him for a while. When I left, he stayed behind to spy on Ricald. I don’t know what he’s doing with the army, but Magnar is convinced, which means there’s no peace until I know for sure it’s not Travon or we get him out.”

“How long did Magnar stay with the army?”

“Until they camped.”

“How close?”

“Close enough. The battle can start in a day if they want it too.”

Kristalyn sighed. “I don’t know what Tray wants yet.”

“Since when do you require your brother’s permission for every move you make? I seem to recall you keeping him in the dark an awful lot in Ruma. In fact, you still are.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that. I just don’t like running on incomplete information. Tray would be able to give us more facts. When do you want to go after Travon?”

“It would be easier to get him after the battle has started, although, its not necessary. Magnar is going to be impossible until we leave.”

“What if you could wait until Egan comes back with Tray’s message? I’ll go with you then.”

I looked at her in surprise. “Why?”

“You might need the help. Magnar can’t go in with you, although if you wait until the battle starts he might be some help. He’s a pretty effective distraction,” her voice held amusement.

I had no wish to be reminded of the final time I had attempted to murder her brother. “That still doesn’t tell me why you want to come. It’s no concern of yours. Shouldn’t you be more worried about your country’s fight?”

She said nothing for a moment and then spoke softly, “Not at the moment.”

I couldn’t see her face, but I didn’t need that to read her. There was more she wasn’t telling me and it had to do with me and I was pretty sure I knew what. “Worried about me, are you?”

“Should I be?” Her voice was stronger now, but it still held the trace of concern from earlier.

“You’re the one who cares, Kristalyn. You have to answer that.” I said calmly, knowing there was no hint of teasing in my voice. I laid down on my bed.

“What… what’s that supposed to mean?” She asked, quickly.

I laughed. “Figure it out, Kristalyn. Goodnight.”

***

Magnar spent most of the morning pacing back and fourth like a caged lion. Occasionally he’d let out a frustrated growl, but for the most part he screeched to himself and paced. It wasn’t long before I had lost all patience, not that I had any to begin with. While Kristalyn erased all traces of the camp, I headed over to the huge griffen. Either I was going to calm him or kill him. I hadn’t quite decided yet.

“Magnar, knock it off! He’s survived this long, he’ll be fine.”

“We wait, why?” Magnar growled at me, ignoring me instructions completely.

“In the chaos of the battle it will be easy to get close and get him out.”

“Take them now, we can.” Magnar insisted.

“Sure, but I’m not risking my neck if I don’t have too.”

Magnar snorted. “Since when?”

“Since now,” I responded tightly.

It was one thing to fight to gain more skill, but I already knew that I could remain untouched in a battle of many. I needed different challenges. The problem was, now that I had let the Hunter go, I had no idea what that looked like. I was floundering and I hated it. For the first time, it seemed like I had no mission, no way to turn to make myself better. I still had to get stronger, but I didn’t know how any more. Fighting Kristalyn’s war was just an excuse to keep moving. I had joined to fight against Ricald, the Hunter’s Duard, but I had no illusions I would meet him in a battle this large. So, why was I still staying?

“Come.” Magnar spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

“Where are we going?”

“To check,” he responded.

“On the Elangsians? Why?”

“Bored and crazy,” the griffin miffed.

I laughed out loud. “Who, you or me? All right, let’s go.”

I climbed onto his back and together we soared up past the tree canopy. From so high up, both armies looked like miniature toys and the space between that was closing rapidly. Tomorrow, there would be a battle.

***

KRISTALYN

I watched as Aiden and Magnar soared out of sight above the tree tops. I wasn’t sure where they were headed, but as far as I was concerned anywhere was good. They two had both been making me crazy with their restlessness. They were too use to action all the time. In war, the waiting was always with you. ‘Hurry up and wait’ was the mandate of such times. Hurry to get the army ready, wait for the battle to begin. It was never easy.

I wondered how my brother and the men were faring. He would be preparing them all. He was never good at speeches, but he could inspire anybody to follow him and he did. If the battle started even tomorrow, my friends would be following my brother possibly to death. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, but then war never was.

I shook my head to shake off the dismal thoughts and concentrated on the meat. I was pulling the last of it out, before I shut down the fire. I wanted to be ready to leave within a seconds notice. I glanced up at the sky. Of course, that would be more difficult if Aiden and Magnar were still out joy riding.

Instead of Magnar’s golden brown wings, I spotted a small spot of blue clacking its way towards me. Egan had returned. I grinned and felt my heart start to thump wildly. He brought with him news of my brother!

I raced my arm and the dragon landed gracefully on it. His coat turning a deep blue, almost black.

“Uh oh, did it not go well? Where is Tray? Is he all right? Did you find him?”

Hmph! The small dragon sniffed.

“Egan! This is my brother we are talking about! Stop being so stuck up and tell me what’s happening!”

Trouble, trouble, trouble. The dragon grumbled.

“Trouble? What kind of trouble? Is Tancred okay?”

No, me! The dragon reared his head to look at me pointedly.

“You? I don’t understand. Explain from the beginning please.”

With that permission, Egan launched into a very vivid description of just how much trouble and pain I had caused him with Tray and how I should be very sorry. It was complete with clacks, sighs of torture, and any other manner of outrageous emotion Egan could manage to fit in. I listened, unsure of just how amused I was supposed to be.

“Okay, let me get this straight. Tray didn’t give you enough time to eat and it’s my fault he’s mad at you because you lied, which I told you not to do, and told him I was in Mairbrac freeing slaves?”

Egan nodded once.

“Egan!” I exclaimed. “Did you honestly think he was going to believe that! Of course, he knows you lied to him! Oh, what he must think of me now.”

Egan huffed his opinion of both Tancred and myself, neither of which was flattering, and settled around my shoulders. His gray blue scales told me he was lying about his opinion of us, but it made him feel better to spout about something at the moment.

“Did he give you instructions for me?” I finally asked.

Egan was silent for a long moment, before finally sniffing importantly and clacking out a series of instructions. I listened closely, hardly believing what I was hearing.

“Ricald went to join the Wild Men north of us? That means he’s bringing them here and my job is to stop them,” I summed up, out loud.

Egan clacked harshly again.

“Yeah, I heard you. In any way I can. Aiden will love the challenge of harassing and raiding them.”

Egan turned fully black and clacked angrily.

“Yes, he’s coming with us. That’s a stupid thing to ask… Egan, did you say anything to Tray about Aiden?”

For once the dragon was silent.

“Egan!”

Maybe. Companion. Kurioden.

“You told him I had a companion then claimed it was Kurio? I ought to choke you.”

The dragon let out a stream of smoke, startled.

I ignored his outburst, at least Tray didn’t know I was with the assassin how tried to kill him yet. I turned my thoughts back to the task at hand. “You mentioned men? Do you know who or when?”

Not who, but soon.

I sighed. “Okay. There is some meat I just cooked if you want some.”

Egan clacked happily and took of more roughly than he really needed too. Pay back for being smart with him. My thoughts were on my brother though. He had given me another mission to complete. That couldn’t have been easy for him. We hadn’t seen each other it what seemed like forever at this point. There was no doubt in my mind he wanted me back at his side as much as I wanted to be there. But if Ricald and the Wild Men were where he thought, I was in the perfect position to stop them from joining Elangsia’s army. It could mean the difference for our country’s survival. That meant the longer separation was one I could handle.

“Deus, you know how much I was looking forward to seeing Tray, I mean, really seeing him. Please, Abba, be with him in this battle. I can’t be by his side to protect him, but you are always there. Please keep him safe. I want to see him again. He must be going crazy not understanding what is happening with me. Help him put it out of his mind and focus. Our friends need his strength and wisdom more than every right now. Be with Mom too. I don’t even know how she is, Deus. But I know she’s strong and wise. Please, just be with them all. And Aiden and I too.

It’s so strange to be fighting on the same side as him, Deus. But I think that was part of Your plan all along, wasn’t it? So, what do you want me to do with him now? You have to show me, because when it comes to Aiden, I’m lost.”

Finished for now, I went to pry more information out of Egan and wait for Aiden’s return.

***

It was dusk when Aiden and Magnar finally landed. Both seemed to be calmer, which was good news for me. Took took all of a second for Aiden to spot Egan, who was lounging on top of Kurioden’s back. He glanced quickly at me and then settled next to the fire, Magnar right behind him.

“Well? What did the famous Hunter command his sister to do?”

“You can stop with the sarcasm,” I responded first, putting more wood into the fire. “Ricald and the Wild Men are heading in our direction. We have men coming up from camp to meet with us so we can go stop them by any means necessary.”

“Any?” Aiden questioned.

I hesitated for only a second, before nodding firmly. “Anything. If they join with Elangsia, we don’t stand a chance. We have to stop them.”

“How many are coming?”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure. Egan was sent off before the men moved out. They shouldn’t be too far behind though. My guess,” I paused to hand Aiden his supper, “is that the number is few. A small band can be just as efficient as large one for a mission like this.”

“And of course, the Hunter’s men are the best.”

I nodded once. “Yes, they are.”

Aiden leaned back against Magnar. “So, Ricald is north of us. I think it’s past time we teach him a lesson. What do you say, Magnar?”

The griffin screeched loudly his agreement.

“We are going after Travon tomorrow, whether the battle starts or not. We may have a way in if it doesn’t, but if it does we’ll take out a few Elangsia men out on our way.”

I nodded. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll have Egan and Kurioden stay back and wait for our men to get here.”

“Our?” He questioned, eyebrows raised.

Did I say that? Oops. “Our, mine, whatever.” I shrugged it off.

A slow amused smile formed on his mouth. “Whose operation is this?”

Deus? What do I do here? What do you want from us?

Follow together.

But, Deus, he doesn’t follow you.

This time there was no answer. I took a deep breath and decided to follow.

“The men will follow my instructions. It will take them a while to learn to follow yours too. But, they’ll learn to trust you when they see I do. We’ll just keep the whole assassin thing to ourselves for now.”

“You trust me?” Aiden asked.

He would latch onto that. “Haven’t we already covered this?”

He laughed. “So, we’ll share the operation?”

I nodded and he smiled at me before saying, “Deal.”

Things were changing yet again.

***

When I woke the next morning, I stood at the edge of the forest with Kurioden at my side. Dawn had barely pierced the night air, yet already I could see sighs of both camps stirring . It was as impressive a sight as it was a horrifying one. Soon, these two mighty forces would collide with no regard for their opponent, except that his life be cut short at the tip of their lance or sword. No matter who would win this battle today, both sides would lose good men.

“Some of the bodies that would lie across this battle field tonight will be my friends.” My voice surprised me in the stillness of the morning. I hadn’t meant to speak out loud.

My own words sent a knife of ice cold terror through my body and a thought I had tried to keep from my mind crossed it yet again. I was a coward for not fighting beside them. My brother may have given me orders, even necessary ones, but my place is in the middle of the battle below. If my friends give their lives on this day, it is my duty to be at their side. Instead, I was forced to play the part no true warrior wants in a battle. I would observe from safety.

Behind me, Aiden stirred and grumbled about something I couldn’t hear. I myself a smile, but it was only a shadow. I would go in to the battle today, but it would be a rescue mission. If we could find the boy, great, if not, I would fight while I could for my country, but more for my friends. In battle, that was they kept you alive, not the banner under which you fought.

“Deus, guide my brother and our friends. Let their swords be swift and their hearts strong and true. And, Deus, if it is your will bring each out of this alive.”

“You honestly thing he hears or cares?” Aiden asked from her shoulder.

It was the first time he had asked seriously about Deus. I felt my heart leap at the small victory. I nodded. “Yes. I know he does.”

“And what if one of your friends doesn’t make it? Will you believe the same then?” His voice held only a trace of its usual mocking.

I felt the cold again at the thought. Dues, give me wisdom. “Yes, even then I will believe that Deus knew things I could not see or understand and He did what was best.”

“And if it is your brother?” He pressed harder.

I felt the lump in my throat, but refused to swallow. “If my brother should die today, he will have given his life fighting for what he loved. And when he awakes, he will be in Deus’ presence. As much as I want Tray here with me, we both look forward to the day we will be in Deus presence with our father.”

I looked at Aiden then, but he was watching the two army’s start their movements to form up.

“You are a strange creature, Kristalyn,” he finally said.

I laughed softly. “Why is that, Aiden?”

He shook his head. “You have faith in a god who gives no guarantees but expects your all, even your life.”

“Guarantees, Aiden? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. In that battle down there, before your life is taken, faith is all you will have,” I replied quietly.

“And then the sword enters your body, you won’t even have that,” he answered.

“You won’t need it. You’ll have all the proof you need before your eyes. The problem with waiting until then to make your decision is that it is already too late. Your choice was made and your judgment begins.” Was I getting through at all? Did he understand?

He looked at me. “Will you? Or will you see you’ve given your life for nothing but a dream god?”

“Faith, Aiden, faith.”

He shook his head. “I will have faith in myself, before I believe in a god who requires so much for so little.” He turned and walked back to the camp.

“You’re wrong, Aiden.” I called out, and he paused. “You have it backwards. He gives all and he requires only one thing in return. You.”

He turned and gave me a half smile. “The one thing I will not give.”

I sighed as he walked on. If Aiden died today, he was not ready to meet Dues. Not like my friends were. Suddenly, eternity looked awful bleak if Aiden was not there.

“Spare him, Dues, until he is ready, spare him.”

Kneeling down, I placed my hand on Kurioden’s head. “Come on, Kurio. We need to make sure Aiden makes it out of that battle alive. Dues isn’t finished with him, I’m sure of it.”

Kurioden meowed his agreement and I smiled.

***

The two armies met each other in their death duel only a few hours later. The morning was quickly ripped apart with screams of agony, victory, and challenge. The smell of blood rose up from the scene to assault your scenes no matter where you stood and the body count grew as each minute passed. Swords clashing with hatred rang through the air as fierce men fought for their lives. Helmets, swords, spears, shields, and even horses littered the ground and still hundreds of troops surged over top of them to battle their enemy.

As Aiden, Kurioden, and I edged along the field, with Magnar flying high over head and in front of us, the two full armies became individual solders. Some were should have had grandchildren on their knees telling stories, while others were too young to have ever left home. Older faces, splattered with blood, showed grim determination and the younger ones wore looks shock and fear that told the horror of the day would never be forgotten… if they lived through it. War was no place for anyone and yet countries deemed it necessary and soldiers lost their lives.

Suddenly, Aiden was plunging into the battle, up to now, we had only skirted around.

“Kurioden! Don’t lose him!” I called as I followed and the cat leapt in front of me.

Within seconds, they had been folded into the battle. Quickly, I followed, my sword drawn. It was finally time to fight. I jumped over a dying horse and had to rise my sword quickly to fend off its owner’s lunge. Pushing the sword down, I slashed hard, cutting deep into his neck. I withdrew the sword and moved a step farther to engage the next one in my way. My sword dripped with blood after only a few minutes inside the chaos, but I didn’t pause. Aiden had gotten further ahead of me and I could barely see him and Kurioden. I pushed deeper into the battle and Elangsia’s lines. Each step meant another fight and someone died. I could only be grateful it was not me as I continued to move forward. As I stepped over yet another body I wondered briefly if I knew him, but I didn’t stop to check. There was no time. Later, people would come out to gather all the dead and burn them properly. For now, it was only a bath of blood and hurt. Was this really the only way to gain our freedom?

I heard Aiden’s yell ahead of me and moved quickly towards it. Kurioden leapt from somewhere, only to dash back into the fray. I heaved frustrated, even as I ducked to the right and drove my sword into the unprotected stomach of a man blocking my path. I was going to lose him if I wasn’t more careful. Suddenly, a horse dashed by me, almost crushing me. I jumped back and turned to watch the riderless horse, move forward on a mission of his own. My breath caught.

“Chale?”

I was sure it was Trancred’s horse, but then where was my brother? Frantically, I raced in the direction the horse had come from. A break in the battle lines and I saw a man Tray’s height engaged in a fierce one on one battle. If it was Tray, calling out to him would only distract him.

“Argh!” A yell from behind me, forced me to turn and engage in a quick battle of my own.

The solider attacking me was already tired, though, and I knocked his sword from his hand with ease. Kicking out of the way, when he reached for it, I dropped my sword quickly and cut deep into his arm. He screamed and dropped to the ground holding it, fear in his eyes. I frowned, there was to much death on this field.

Quickly, I turned back only to see, Tray reach down to pick up his helmet and put it back on his head.

“Tray!” I yelled, running forward.

But he had already plunged back into the lines.

“Tray! Wait!” I yelled louder, trying to get to him.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist and held fast. I turned and swept my sword back at the same time. My assailant ducked and yelled out, “hey!”

Aiden.

“Watch what you’re doing with that thing!”

“Let me go! I saw Tray!”

Aidfen scanned around us. “Where?”

I pointed in the direction that had now been swallowed up again by soldiers fighting. It was impossible to pick only individual out.

Aiden shook his head and Kurioden appeared at my side. “He’s not there now. Let’s go.”

“Wait. Where’s Travon?” I asked, remembering our mission.

“Gone. If he was there at all. We couldn’t spot him anywhere. There’s no one in the shackles, so its possible he’s escaped. Either way, we need to get out of here.”

“But Tray…” I started again to explain.

“Gave you a task to do. We need to move it. Every second we delay, gives Ricald a better chance to get here. Hopefully, the men are waiting for us.” Aiden said, already heading away and pulling me along.

I jerked him back towards me quickly, and raised my sword again barely blocking a blow from a soldier who thought he was being smart.

Aiden snarled and swept his sword up. The blade when deep into the man’s armpit before Aiden pulled it out and then used it to cut into his neck. The blood spilled everywhere, even on Aiden. He sneered disgusted and pushed the man back, where he fell dead.

Aiden tuned back to me. “Move. Now.”

I obeyed.

***

Hello all!
Yes, it is very good to be back. Thanks for the well wishes! I've greatly enjoyed being able to pour my focus into Aiden's story. He has traveled far on his adventure of self, too bad for him, he still has far to go. Kristalyn too struggles with who this man truly is and wanting him to be more. Sorry about the confusion switching between Kris and Aiden's thoughts. Hopefully, it doesn't throw you off too much. Let me know if there is something that is specifically confusing to you and I'll try to fix it! Thanks for letting me know about the switching! And I do love trying to give chapters good closing lines. Some are much better than others though! To answer your questions, Britt, you'll just have to read and find out. And tell David if he wants another chapter, he'll have to post a comment of his own next time. That and that alone dictates how fast these chapters go up now, since...dare I mention it?.... I've written up through Chapter 30. Oops, I mentioned it! Believe me, you don't want to miss where Aiden and Kristalyn are heading. Even I was surprised! So, enjoy the story and let me know what you think! I'm SO glad I am able to have these conversations with all of you! I love that you are all part of Aiden's story each time you read and comment!
Love,
Charissa
P.S. if you haven't check out my personal sites, don't forget to click on my name in the right sidebar and do so! Let me know what you think! There will be a new poll up soon! Now, on to the main event!

CHAPTER 26 ~ MAKING PLANS TOGETHER

TWO YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS

AFTER BANISHMENT

KRISTALYN

He was the most stubborn person on the face of the world and he was going to help us. But, I crossed my arms and stared at him firmly, not until after he had more time to heal. It was the morning after the attempt to capture him and he was arguing the position as well as he could, but it was more amusing and frustrating to me than in any way convincing.

“…and that is final,” Aiden finished whatever he had been saying.

I looked at him calmly. “Yes, it is. You are staying here until you are better.”

“Kristalyn!” He groaned.

I held up my hand to stall the next argument. “I am more aware than anyone that we need to move quickly, Aiden. But you are hurt. That fight yesterday left you more worn out then you want to admit and it opened up the wound again. You are no good to any of us if you are dead.”

“I said I would help you, Kristalyn. That does not give you the right to order me around,” he said quite stubbornly.

“No, but the fact that I care does,” I argued back. Suddenly, his room where our stand off was happening seemed to get a whole lot smaller. I barely stopped the groan that wanted to leave me at my own words. Why, in Dues’ mighty power, had I admitted that?

Aiden seemed to take that in for a moment, because he stopped speaking at all. “What?” He finally asked.

“I care about what happens to you. You’re a valuable asset to my people,” I responded casually, but the words rang untrue in my own ears. He was a valuable asset, but that wasn’t why I cared.

Aiden’s voice thankfully stopped my thoughts from going any further. “So, that’s all I am again? An asset to be used at will for whatever purpose you deem me capable of?”

I could hear the cold anger in his voice. This was not going well. I sighed, unsure how to make this better without really incriminating myself.

“That’s not true, Aiden, and it’s an unfair accusation.”

He looked at me coldly. “I’d say it’s very fair based on your own words.”

“No, you’re angry because you know I’m right and your twisting my words to meet your own needs,” realizing the words were true even as I spoke them. “I’m not your enemy here. Stop treating me like one.”

Aiden glared at me, but said nothing. He didn’t have to when his eyes held mine like that. They were more steel than blue right now because he was mad. Inside them, I could see his cold, brutal fury, but I could also see the pain. He had so much trapped inside of him and I didn’t know what I was supposed to do to help. In the end, that was all I wanted to do.

“Come on, Aiden,” I pleaded slightly. “You know you can feel the pain. It won’t kill us to wait a few more days. Please.”

Aiden looked subdued for a moment, then finally turned and moved back to his bed. He was good at hiding things, but he still walked in a stiff manner. He really was in pain.

“Have it your way. This is your war, not mine. But don’t think this will happen all the time.” He spoke even as he laid down on his bed.

I smiled and moved to turn down the lamp on the desk. “Sure, Aiden, whatever you say.”

***

The very next day, Aiden insisted on seeing Magnar. Reluctantly, I agreed, but managed to wait to convince him until night had almost fallen. In the dusk, I was able to send Egan to bring the two animals closer and saved Aiden from having to walk even that distance. We found a secluded spot along the city wall that we could safely meet the animals at. Aiden spent the whole time complaining that it was an unnecessary measures and he could walk just fine. I had won the argument already, so I just let him complain. It was easier that way.

I smiled when I saw Kurioden melted from the shadows and to appear at my side. Egan swooped down next to him and said, Fly, before taking off again.

I nodded absently and bent down to wrap my arms around Kurio’s neck, burying my face in his silky fur. We had spent more time apart over the last month than we had since I had first found my partner. Someone had killed the kit’s mother, but the little cub somehow escaped their scrutiny. A fact I had always been thankful for. Mom had hadn’t known how to react at first, but she had been willing to help me, although she insisted I had to do all the actual work with the cub. Tancred had been much less sure, afraid he’d turn at me at some point. But from the very beginning, Kurioden had proved he was loyal to me and we had many adventures together. He had saved my life more than once and being separated from him was always hard.

“I missed you, Kurio. How are you holding up?” I asked, not letting go of him.

He purred and rubbed against me, sensing my need for the contact.

Magnar appeared then and he screeched his happiness and bounded over. I winced, but the griffin stopped short of actually hitting Aiden and I breathed in relief. Aiden welcomed his friend and took him farther away from Kurioden and I. Apparently, whatever he had to say to the griffin he didn’t want us overhearing.

“How have you been?” I asked, concentrating on the panther.

He growled and then purred softly.

I smiled and loosened my hold slightly. “Sorry. I’m glad you and Magnar are getting along so well. It must be different having to live with a griffin.”

Kurio huffed in an ‘you have no idea’ way.

I laughed. “Well, I know what he was like when we traveled together, but I’m sure without Aiden and I around, you are both acting different.”

An angry screech came from behind me and I turned to look at Aiden, who was glaring at Magnar. “Oh come on!”

The two were obviously involved in some argument.

Kurioden growled low and then bucked against me. I petted his head gently.

“What is that all about?”

Kurioden shook his head briskly and meowed low.

“It is so my business. Well, now. Kurio, he’s going to help us. He decided to come with us back to Aerilya and help us win our freedom back.”

Kurioden looked at me in surprise.

“Ricald sent people after him to kill him or bring him back and Aiden wasn’t pleased about it. He decided to switch sides. Kurio, I know I shouldn’t, but I want to trust him. I want to believe he’s really changing.”

Kurio made a low rumble sound in his chest.

“I know. You saw it too, huh? I can’t help it, Kurioden. I have to keep my distance from him or I’m really going to be in trouble, but we need his help.”

Kurio mad a questioning sound and I grimaced.

“Sure, I know what I’m doing,” but my voice held anything but certainty.

“Fine!” Aiden stormed past me, although he moved rather stiffly for it to have any good effect, if that was what he was going for.

I turned to look at Magnar, who was watching his friend with a worried look on his face.

“What was that all about?” I asked quickly.

The two animals had a conference, in the middle of which Egan swooped down from wherever he had been enjoying his freedom of flight to join in. I waited for a moment then lost patience.

“Anyone want to let me in on this?” I finally questioned.

All three creatures looked up at me, but it was Egan who finally spoke.

Argument.

“Obviously. About what?”

Leaving, soon.

“Oh. Aiden tried to convince you to let him leave now, huh?” I looked at Magnar.

The griffin lowered his head and screeched sadly.

I walked over to him and rubbed his head gently.

“Its okay, Mag, you did the right thing. He’s still not ready. Can you carry him when we do leave and go real slow?”

Egan snorted. Trouble.

“He’s worth it, Egan. You’ll see.”

Egan snorted again, saying without words that it wasn’t possible.

“Mag?”

He nodded his agreement.

“Okay, I’m going to go catch up to stubborn. You three head back to the glade. Egan, stay out here from now on. You’ll be able to fly and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep Aiden in the city for more than a day or two anyway.”

The three animals nodded their agreement, although Egan’s was rather reluctant. I didn’t bother to comment on it and raced to catch up to Aiden. He had almost made it to the gate. By the time we got to the room, he still hadn’t talked. He really could be stubborn.

***

Four days to the moment almost, we were leaving the city. It was just before dusk when we headed out. The time would discourage anyone from following and gave the animals better cover.

I was surprised by the tension I felt releasing from around my shoulders and hearts the minute I left the gate, knowing I would not have to be back. So much death and tension had happened inside the city of Ruma, it was hard not to want to blame the city itself. But it was only the King who had done so many cruel deeds to my family and his own people. If we could force this battle to go our way, it was possible, even the people of Ruma would feel the relief. But regardless, I was feeling it now.

“Thank you, Deus. We have all survived this city and its king once again,” I whispered as I walked beside the slow moving Aiden.

I felt him stiffen beside me and knew he had heard my soft prayer. It still troubled me that he would not hear anything I said about Deus. He was completely closed off to the subject. It didn’t seem to matter what angle I approached it from, as soon as he heard Deus name, the subject was closed. It was strange in a way, because while he claimed that Deus did not exist, he seemed to blame Him for everything that had happened in his past at the same time. It made me wonder if he had known the true Deus at one point and rejected Him later on. It was a thought worth pursuing.

But not right then, as a trio of animals came out of their hiding spot to meet us. We stopped and waited for their approach. I hugged Kurio and said hi to Egan, who nodded stiffly at me. Apparently, he was still miffed at having to travel with Aiden again. Aiden, for his part, ignored all of them, including Magnar, who tried to greet him by rubbing up against him. Aiden shoved him off quickly. He was obviously still mad.

Magnar shook his head sadly, but then looked at Aiden and screeched angrily.

I watched with interest as I slipped my pack off of my back and secured it to Kurioden. It was a special bag we had made up for him. He could pull at it with his teeth and it would come fall instantly allowing him to move unhindered and it allowed me to be free to handle my bow and arrows. Magnar screeched again.

“No,” Aiden replied firmly, moving forward. Kurioden stepped in front of him and Aiden growled in frustration.

“What is going on?” I asked, crossing my arms and glaring at all of them.

“He wants me to ride,” Aiden muttered.

“And?” I asked, seeing the wisdom and the blow to Aiden’s ego at the same time.

“And? And no,” Aiden spouted.

“Look, we have a long way to go and it’s going to be even longer if you are battling us the whole way. Face it, your hurt. If you want to be up to full strength be the time we reach Aerilya, then you are going to take it easy now, whether you like it or not. Quite being stubborn and get on!” I stated very firmly and turned away from him. “Come on, Egan, Kurioden. Time to move it. I want to see Tray soon.”

Aiden groaned at my comment. I wouldn’t want a real meeting with the man I had tried to murder three times either… even if I was on the same side now. How in Deus’ green world was I going to explain this one to Tancred? It was not a pleasant thought. But I was still desperate to see my brother again and be able to actually talk to him. I hated being separated from him for so long and what made it worse was that the last time he had heard of me was from an assassin’s mouth. He must be worried sick.

Egan took the opportunity to settle around my shoulders as I walked. His tail flicked his agitation, although, apparently he wasn’t too agitated to hitch a ride. Behind me, I heard Aiden mumbling and then shifting before Magnar’s pace finally picked up. It was going to be a rather long trip.

***

I hated seeing the pain cross his face. It tore at me every time. He had healed quite a bit during his forced rest, but the jostling of Magnar’s walk irritated him. If Magnar had been able to fly it would have been soother, but after only a day of travel we were still too close to curious eyes for that. Not to mention, Magnar had just become big enough to carry a human and he hadn’t done so yet. Carrying an injured Aiden wasn’t the best time to test his abilities.

The most galling thing was that I couldn’t help him. He wouldn’t let me. It seemed to be a pattern with him and not for the first time I wondered what had made him so harsh and full of pain. If I could solve that mystery perhaps I would… my thoughts stopped there. Perhaps I would what? If I did find out about his background what would that get me? He was already going to help us. What did it matter beyond that? I glanced behind me and saw him in some deep discussion with Magnar. But it did matter… a lot.

Kurioden padded along next to me and growled low. I ignored him for a moment. I couldn’t explain my thoughts and was far less sure I wanted to, even if I could. I could just say my fascination was just curiosity, but it was more than that, and I knew it. Despite my, um, personal feelings, whatever they were, I knew Deus did have a hand on him and I wanted to know why. Aiden’s hatred for my God was almost visible, yet my own father had not followed Deus at one point either and he was the greatest man I knew. In Aiden’s eyes, behind the pain and hate, I saw the same man. And I wanted to get to know him.

Kurioden meowed again and I turned to him this time. “What, Kurio? Don’t like being ignored?”

The panther hissed.

I smiled at him and laid a hand on top of his head. I’m sorry. I was lost in thought.”

Egan, riding on my shoulder, clacked his agreement.

“Oh, please, I wasn’t trying to ignore you both. I was simply thinking.”

About him.

“That’s not your concern, Egan.”

The psudo-dragon snorted his disagreement and I sighed.

“I’m going to walk back with Aiden and Magnar, do you want to be on my shoulders when I do?”

The dragon changed his coloring from its normal rusty hue to a dark, almost black, blue. He was angry with me, but I didn’t say anything and the dragon launched from my shoulder with more roughness than usual. Immediately, I slowed my pace to allow Magnar to catch up with me. Aiden glanced at me, but that was it.

“How are you?” I finally asked to dispel the awkward silence.

“Fine.”

I nodded. “Good. Not having too much trouble then?”

“Would it make you happier if I was?”

Sighing, I replied, “I thought we already established I’m not the enemy.”

He was silent for a moment, and then gave a short nod. “I’m sorry, Kristalyn.”

I looked at him in surprise. “You’re apologizing?”

He glanced at me, but then looked straight ahead again. “Do you deserve less?”

“No. It’s just not normal for you,” I murmured.

He laughed. “And you have me all figured out, don’t you, Kristalyn?”

I walked silently for a few more paces, before shaking my head. “No, not everything.”

We were quite for a while, before I ventured my real question. “What made you like this Aiden?”

“What do you mean?” He finally asked.

I laughed softly. “A lot of things I guess. Where did you come from originally?”

“A place on the other side of the mountains called Bradiach Forest.”

“What was there?” I asked, as I watched his face. The pain and sorrow that flashed across it was too great for even him to hide.

“Everything.”

That was where it had all started. “Your family?”

“They were there… at one point.” His voice was so low and his grey blue eyes said there was a painful story there.

Magnar screeched sympathetically and Aiden rubbed his head absently.

“It’s a long story. One I don’t want to go in too.”

I nodded, but heard myself asking, “Is it really that painful?”

“That would be one word to use.”

“Aiden, why can’t you tell me what happened?” I heard the pleading in my tone, but I couldn’t seem to keep it out.

He finally turned his head to look at me. “Why do you need to know?”

I had to look away quickly, because I could feel the blush creeping into my cheeks. How was I supposed to answer that?

“Does it affect how much you trust me or my helping you?” He continued to question.

I blinked, surprised. “No, of course not. I’ve seen you in action. I trust you abilities.”

“But not me personally?”

Chuckling, I said, “You mean the guy who was trying to murder my brother?”

He laughed out loud, and then grimaced. “Point made. But I know you trust me more than that.”

“I do.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I paused for a moment to sort my thoughts. Why not just tell him the truth? “Because I’ve seen in you more than what you’ve shown.”

“Oh?”

“You’re not as hard or cruel as you want everyone to believe. You care about things no completely hardened assassin would. And when it comes down to it, you do the right thing.”

“And you’ve seen all this?” He seemed disturbed by the revelation.

“Yes.”

“How do you know I haven’t just been leading you on?”

“I just do,” I finally answered.

He nodded and we walked on again in silence.

***

We had almost been traveling for a week when we saw the upper edges of Maribrac Forest. We would travel along it for a ways, before going in deeper to reach the camp. Aiden had spent most of the trip training himself and Magnar. His upper body strength was almost back to full now and Magnar was getting rather good at carrying Aiden’s weight in the air. The two were a joy to watch soar through the air. At first, the process had been awkward, and Aiden had almost been dumped more than once, but now the two moved as one.

Suddenly, the two landed with a hard thump next to me and I looked at them in surrpsie. They hadn’t shown any signs of coming down. One look at Aiden’s face though, and I knew it hadn’t been a planned stop.

“What happened?”

“Elangsia is almost here.”

I felt the shock ripple through my body. “What? That’s not possible!”

“Possible or not, they did it,” Aiden’s voice was grim. “They aren’t a small army either. Your Aerilya has its work cut out for it.”

I swallowed hard and Kurio bumped up against me. Absently, I rubbed his head. If the army was already here, we were later than I thought. Had Aerilya had time to prepare?

“What about Aerilya? Did you see our army?”

Aiden gave a small smile. They are camped up closer to the forest. They look like they’ve been waiting.”

“The Wild Men haven’t arrived?” I asked.

Aiden shook his head. “I don’t know. If they are, they moved far faster than they should have under even the best circumstances.”

I nodded. “I wonder how far out they are then.”

Aiden just shook his head. “So, what’s the plan?”

I looked at him in surprise. “You’re asking me?”

“You’re the brains here, girl. I’m along for the ride, remember?”

“Are you? I thought you had more motive than that,” I responded lightly. He never had really explained why he had turned sides. I only knew it had to do with the assassins Ricald had sent. But with Aiden there had to more to it than just that.

“Does it matter?” Aiden finally asked.

“It does to me,” my reply came out softer than I intended it too.

Aiden was silent for a long moment, before he finally replied, “Then I will tell you, but not today. We need to concentrate on other things.”

I sighed and nodded. Maybe he would tell me, but I had the feeling when he did it would be right before he walked out of my life forever. The thought left me feeling much colder than it should have. “Um, we need more information.” I managed to put my thoughts back on track. “How far away are they?”

“Not far. They’ll meet your army by morning sometime.”

“Oh, Deus.” I took a deep breath and sent up a prayer for peace and wisdom. When I opened my eyes again, Aiden was watching me intensely, but I was calm again. “We need to get under cover. The woods will be safest. We can form a better plan from there, but I need to know what my brother is planning.” I thought for a moment. “Egan.” The lithe dragon came to attention on my shoulder. “Let’s get more information on situation. Fly over the army and find out what you can. Let me know anything you find. We’ll meet you at the woods edge.”

Egan clacked his agreement and took off. He had barely made it into the sky, when Magnar screeched and tried to launch after him.

“Hey!” Aiden exclaimed at the suddenly move. He glared at the griffin and slid off. “What are you doing?”

Magnar screeched again and arched his neck after Egan. Aiden shook his head.

“Are you crazy? You’re too big.”

The griffin screeched again, anger lacing his tone.

Aiden looked at him in surprise. “What? Why is it so important?”

The griffin looked at me, before ducking his great head and screeching something low. I frowned. It had almost sounded like… I shook my head at the silly thought .

Aiden understood though, because he looked at the griffin and shook his head. “You’re crazy. But go ahead. I won’t be able to stop you anyway.”

The griffin screeched happily and took off. I watched him go and turned to Aiden. What was all that?”

“One stubborn griffin. Let’s go.” With that, Aiden grabbed his bag and started walking.

For once, I decided not to press. Quickly, I caught up. The forest was directly in front of us now and the sight made me warm with the familiar feeling of home. I had grown up under its canopy. I prayed the battle here would not hurt its beauty.

We hadn’t quite reached its edges, when Egan swooping in with his customary clacking. The three of us paused, so the dragon, now bright blue, could land on my arm.

“Well?”

No Wild. Large. Home ready.

“Okay. What about Tray?”

No.

“Hmm. He should have made it back long before now. He’d be camping in the woods if he is here. Let me think. If the Wild Men aren’t here, they must still be on their way. But at least home is ready for them. I’m surprised they were able to prepare so fast. I have to guess Tray is there. That means I’m going to need instructions. Tray might want me at the battle or he might need the location of those Wild Men.”

I started walking again as I thought. I still needed more information, which meant I had to get in touch with my brother. Egan could get there quickly, but one of the things he would want from Egan was information. I glanced at Aiden, information I wasn’t ready to give just yet. “Egan, you have to go to Tray. Tell him I’m in Mirbrac, but northwest of him and I need instructions. Let him know I’m glad Aerilya is ready and that with Elangsia here so quickly I need to know what he wants me to do.”

Past?

I groaned. Tray would want to know what I had been up too. “Oh, I don’t know, Egan. Make something up.”

The little dragon arched his neck so he could look me in the face. Lie?

“No, don’t lie…I don’t want to know what you tell him. Just don’t say anything about Ruma or Aiden. You hear me? Nothing about Aiden. That’s something I’ll have do deal with in person.”

Lucky. Egan snorted almost gleefully.

“Hush. Just go. And please be quick.”

The dragon nodded once and took off.

“Egan?”

The dragon paused and hovered in mid flight.

“Tell Tray I miss him and I’m fine, okay?” I didn’t care that Aiden could hear the hurt in my voice. Being this close to Tray and once again unable to get to him was so hard.

Egan nodded once.

“Okay. Be careful.”

Egan grinned and clacked happily.

I laughed. “Yes, I care about you too. No go on.”

Egan clacked a goodbye and within minutes was only a little speck in the sky.

“He’s excited to get to Tray.”

“He’s missed him too,” Aiden observed.

I was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, he did.”

Aiden gave a short nod. “You’ll see him soon.”

I turned to look at his face, but he was already walking to the forest. There had been something in his tone, something so sad. He said his siblings were no longer at their home. His only connection had been three small letters. Did he wonder when he would see his own family again? He must.

“Oh, Aiden, I wish you would open up to me.” But the man of my thoughts never heard my plea.

***

Hello All!
First off, MEGA thanks to Rachel for keeping up on posts while I was gone and to Emily for reminding us both Aiden needed a new chapter up! I hope you have all enjoyed the story thus far. I've loved reading the few comments I have received from you. I've read them all and they've been a great encouragement to both me and Aiden. I'm having so much fun living with him and being a part of his story and I hope you are as well! Hopefully, this next chapter will make up for the length between posts as it is rather lengthy. I didn't realize it until I went to post, but them I'm sure you won't mind! Aiden is making some huge changes and decisions as he begins to come to terms with who he is and who he has let surround and define him. What do you think?

P.S. Make sure you check out my personal site by clicking on my name in the side bar and then Dream Mountain Adventures. It's been drastically update and will continue to be so. Plus, I'll be posting cool polls from time to time and I can't wait to get your opinion on them!

CHAPTER 25 ~ PICKING SIDES

KRISTALYN

It didn’t make any sense at all. He should still be far from a full recovery, yet he was up and almost fully healed, or close enough at any rate. His chest held a permanent scar, a visual reminder of what he had tried to do, but that was it. The knife had not caused any more damage as it should have and that helped to speed up his healing process as well. Still, it was miraculous. I was beginning to think that was the only way it should be described. I knew Deus had his hand on this mercenary, but perhaps I had not realized how much so.

As I cooked the last of the elk over the small fire I had made, I watched the object of my thoughts. He was leaning back against Maglynar, though he no longer required the griffin’s support. The two seemed to be acting differently since the market and Aiden’s attempt to take his own life, more like friends or something. Just then, Kurio padded over and nudged my hand.

“Yes, it will be ready soon,” I answered, not really paying attention.

He didn’t seem to take to well to that answer, because the next thing I knew he nipped at my hand.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, glaring at him and still feeling his teeth marks. “And that was for…?”

He purred and rubbed against me gently.

“Not enough attention, huh?” I patted his head and nodded towards Aiden. “What’s going on with those two? Do you know?”

Kurio just looked at me, his large eyes unblinking.

“Not going to tell me, are you?” I shrugged and looked at Aiden again. “What happened, Kurio? Why did he do it? Why is he doing any of it?” I turned the meat and continued, “He could have killed Tray. Tray was protecting two people and he was defenseless. He could have killed him, but he just stared. At one point, he reached for his knife and just held it. He saw me. Looking in his eyes, it was something I’ve never seen before. Like… I don’t know. I can’t describe it. But something happened. Something stopped him from murdering Tancred and then something made him want to kill himself instead.”

I pulled the meat off the fire and looked at Kurioden. “I want to know what.”

I handed Kurioden the largest portion of cooked meat and carried the rest over to Maglynar and Aiden.

“Maglynar, your food is over by the fire,” I told him, handing Aiden his own part. I hadn’t cooked Maglynar’s. There really wasn’t any point.

The griffin screeched and shook his head.

“His name is Magnar now. He is no longer a little warrior,” Aiden supplied.

“Oh. My apologies, Magnar! And congratulations.”

The griffin screeched proudly and rose to go to his meal. I sat down, cross –legged, next to Aiden.

“When are you going to decide to explain things to me?” I asked, getting right to the point.

Aiden finished chewing slowly and finally said, “When I feel I need too.”

“Well, I’m telling you you do.”

Aiden glanced at me then went back to his food. “And that should matter to me, why?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

He didn’t bother to answer.

“Aiden, you could have killed my brother and you didn’t. You spared him. Why? What happened between the two of you?” I persisted, momentarily forgetting my own food.

“That is between the two of us,” he finally answered after a long silence.

I heaved frustrated. He wasn’t being forthcoming at all and I really needed some answers. “You’ve been hunting him like an animal for months now. And suddenly you just decide you’re not going to go through with it? Last week you told me in no uncertain terms that you were going to kill him and I couldn’t stop you. Well, something did! Aiden, please, what changed?”

“It wasn’t you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he answered in an impassive voice.

“I already figured that out, thank you. I’m thrilled to know I have such influence over you.” I didn’t even bother to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Although, it was hard to admit that after spending so much time with him, I hadn’t influenced his decision at all.

A small smile appeared on his lips. It just made me more frustrated, once again I was only an amusement too him. No more needed or wanted than the tavern wench who couldn’t keep her eyes or her hands off of him. Actually, that wasn’t true. He paid more attention to her than he did to me. The thought was a very disturbing one and I suddenly lost my appetite. Carefully, I put the food down on the ground. I could give it to Kurioden later.

“No hungry anymore?” He asked causally.

“Not really,” I replied, disturbed that my thoughts had left me slightly numb. When had Aiden’s opinion of me begun to matter so much? It didn’t just matter to me either, it mattered a lot. The change had been so gradual, I had hardly noticed. I mentally shook my head, that wasn’t totally true. I had noticed, but I had shoved it away as being unimportant. But it wasn’t unimportant now. I didn’t want to be some stupid tavern wench to Aiden. The girl had been nothing but an obvious flirt with a flair for the overdramatic, but Aiden hadn’t seemed to mind. I wanted to cough at the bitter taste in my mouth. I was jealous! The realization should have struck me as funny, but it didn’t, not by a long shot. I was jealous of some wench and what Aiden did or didn’t think of her. Why? What had gotten into me?

“Kristalyn?” Aiden’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“What?” I asked, not sure if he had been saying anything to me or not.

His eyes held a concerned look. Aiden? Concerned for me? The thought almost lifted me spirits… almost.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

“Oh, I can’t know your thoughts and reasonings, but I should just lay all mine out for you to examine?” The retort came out harsher than I expected it too.

Aiden must have thought so too, because he straightened up. “What was that for?”

I sighed. I was not in very good shape at the moment. I needed to get out and clear my head. Being around him was doing strange things to me.

“Nothing. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

He nodded, but didn’t take his eyes off me.

“I.. um.. should go…clean up,” I finally managed.

I had only half stood, when Aiden issued the command, “Sit.”

I looked at him in surprise.

“Sit down, Kristalyn,” his voice held a more gentle quality to it and I obeyed, even as my mind protested it was a bad idea.

I shouldn’t be around him when I felt like this, although, I wasn’t quite sure what ‘this’ was.

“Are you feeling okay?” I asked to cover up my own awkwardness.

He nodded. “You did a good job.”

I shook my head slowly. “I barely did anything. Only changed your dressings, and helped break your fever. Deus is watching over you.”

He frowned at the comment. “Well, thank you.”

“Your welcome.” I didn’t know what else too say. Everything suddenly felt awkward.

The silence lasted for a long moment. Eventually, I let my thoughts wander. Aiden had been out cold at first. When Kurioden had brought me to his side, my own heart had stopped. I don’t remember ever having been so scared, not even when Aiden was so close to killing Tancred. But seeing Aiden, lying there, with his own knife in his chest was almost more than I could bear. I let out a low sigh. That’s when it had changed. That’s when everything had started to change. All of the things I had seen in him before, all those little moments I had been storing in my mind, they all accumulated in his sparing Tray, and then I saw his life die out. Over the time I had worked to save him, I had come to care.

Deus, help me. I care for Aiden.

I didn’t say the words out loud, but I could feel them take hold inside of me. That was why I had wanted him to live so baldy. Why I had almost cried in that first day and why it hurt so badly that I still did not even rate in his opinion. Somewhere, somehow, I had started to care for this warrior assassin. If Tray knew, he would have killed me right now. But regardless, I was in a very large amount of trouble.

“You did have something to do with it, you know,” Aiden’s voice was again cut into my thoughts.

Had I heard him correctly? “What do you mean? You said I didn’t.”

“Well, not what you said, but who you are.” Aiden sighed. “I spared him because of his connection to you.”

“Being siblings,” it was a statement of fact, not a question.

“Yes.”

“Because of your own siblings?” I asked, curiously.

“Something like that,” he responded, his voice laced with a deep seeded pain.

I wasn’t sure why he was telling me this now, but I wanted to know all I could while he still planned on talking. “What actually happened?”

“You said you read Wren’s letter. You already know,” Aiden responded, picking at the last of his meal.

Was that why he was telling me? Because he figured I knew it already?

“I don’t know all that much. All Wren said was that she was defying Duard’s order. I’m guessing she meant contacting you and the others,” my voice invited him to tell me more.

“Yes.” He was silent for a long time and I wondered if that was all I was going to get out of him, though I knew there was more to the story. Finally, he spoke again, “Our so called guardian forced us all to leave our homes and forbid us from ever contacting one another again. That was over two years ago, almost two and a half now. We’ve each been on our own ever since.”

“That’s horrible. And you haven’t heard from anyone besides Wren, Aquila, and Daelia?” I asked, cautiously.

“No, not in all that time,” his tone made it sound like there was much more to the story.

“Is that why you carry around so much pain, Aiden?” I asked softly.

His eyes came up and met mine. “No, but that’s one reason why I deserve it.”

“I don’t understand.” The answer made no sense.

“Nobody does. Just be grateful. It is because of them I spared your brother.” He methodically finished his food and put his plate down.

There was more to it than that. He wasn’t fooling me that easily. He had spared Tray for some other reason besides that he too had a sibling he cared for. He had known we were siblings before the last attack and he had still been determined to go through with it, until the very end. Could that really be the only thing that had changed his mind in the end? Somehow I couldn’t believe it. But I wasn’t going to get any more answers out of him now. Still, his family would be a subject I would bring up again later. Right now, I had another question I needed answering.

“Is it over then? Will you go after him again?”

A low groan escaped him, as if the answer to that question would tear him apart.

“It’s over.” He said it so low I almost couldn’t hear it.

“Then what happens next?” Deciding for the moment to take him at his word that it was over. With Aiden, I could never be sure.

He sighed. “I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

“You mean you don’t know?” For Aiden, that seemed highly unlikely.

“Kristalyn, I’m still a member of Elangsia’s army. Killing the Hunter was my one way out of that contract. Now, I’m stuck.”

“Why?” I had to make sure I understood.

He looked at me as if I were a simpleton gnome. “I’m under Ricald’s thumb. I have to follow his orders until I can figure some other way out. If I do.”

“I don’t understand. Why don’t you just leave?” The thought struck me as a good one and the next step seemed logical. It didn’t take me long to figure out it was what I had always been hoping for. “Defect, Aiden. Join our side. Aerilya needs fighters like you.”

He laughed, but it was a harsh hopeless sound. “No one needs me. No one.”

I looked at him in surprise. “That’s not true.”

“You don’t know anything,” he responded listlessly.

“I know enough to know that you are needed. Aerilya needs you, from you sister’s letter it sounds like they still need you,” I paused for a moment, but then forced myself to continue, “and so do I.”

He sneered. “You’re so naive. You don’t know half of what is out there or what I’ve done.”

I sat back at the violence in his voice. “I know you’re not the same mercenary that once tried to kill me. You’ve changed a lot since then, Aiden, and you’re still changing.”

“Into what?” He shouted, then winced and covered his chest. He spoke lower the next time. “I’m changing. But it does me no good. I haven’t changed enough. I’ve proven that. I’m still not strong enough. I never will be.”

Emotions flashed through me as I watched this man I cared about deal with something he couldn’t handle on his own. Yet, I knew he would refuse to give it up to Deus to handle either and until he did that, he would continue to struggle.

“So, you’re giving up then?” I asked, forcing my voice to sound scornful.

He looked at me in surprise.

“That’s it? One minor set back and you’re through? This Duard must be pretty powerful to make you cower like you are. Does he do the same to your siblings? Did you all fall before him?”

“Shut up, Kristalyn. You have no idea what you are talking about!” His voice was so low and malicious, I could almost feel his hatred. Yet I knew it wasn’t directed at me, but at this Duard who had created the hate and pain filled person before me.

“I know you’re giving up! I know you’re letting him win. That is why you wanted to die isn’t it? Because you couldn’t cut it? I don’t know how messed up your mind is, Aiden, and I might not know the whole story, but I can guess! This Duard, your so called guardian split you up and you feel responsible for letting it happen. That’s your real mission, isn’t it? To take revenge on him? I can hear the hate for him in your voice. And each time you kill someone else in revenge, he takes one more piece of your soul!” I snapped at him. Consciously, I lowered my voice. “Do you really expect to beat him like that? There are other ways, Aiden. But if you die now, you’ll never find any of them and your siblings will never have the chance of coming back together. Join me. Help my brother and I free Aerilya and maybe you’ll discover how to beat Duard along the way.”

My heart ached for him to say yes. If he would only take the chance! Yes, Aerilya would gain a great warrior, but it would be Deus who would gain in the end. And perhaps in the time remaining, I could reach him too.

***

AIDEN

Join Aerilya? Leave Ricald? It was something worth considering, but even as I did I could feel myself reject the idea. Consider, yes, but no more. Even if I did leave Elangsia’s service, I would not become beholden to another army at the same time. There was nothing for me there, no hope of gaining anything.

Her words drove stakes through my very heart though. She was right. If I died, if I stopped, Duard would win. As far as I knew, none of my other siblings were working to get back together, they were too busy surviving. Only Tearith knew of Duard’s challenge to us. But I had no way of knowing if my brother had taken him up on it. Was he trying to become smart enough to thwart the man that had held us in the palm of his wicked hand for so long? I had to be strong enough. I had to do it for all of us. I had to be the avenger for our lost time. If I was dead, I did not know what would happen to my family, but I would not be able to go to their aid if they called.

I had been a fool. I had let Duard’s evil influence me yet again. It was his words that rang in my head the night I had taken the knife to my own body. It had been his influence and hatred that had consumed me and it had almost won. If Magnar and Kristalyn had not been so determined, he would have. White light or not, Deus or not, Duard would not be allowed to win. I had to stop him.

No, I hadn’t killed the Hunter, but perhaps that didn’t make me weaker, maybe in some way it made me stronger. I had let myself live that day and I knew it. Now, I had to choose to live again. I felt my fist tighten and live I would. Perhaps I wasn’t strong enough yet, but there were different types of strength, weren’t there? Tearith would laugh at my question and tell me of course there were, even Wren would say the same. I needed to know those strengths and for once, I wasn’t so sure I could find them on the battle field. But I had to find out.

“Aiden? Aiden, will you join us?” Kristalyn asked, for what couldn’t have been the first time.

I looked at her. Would I join her? I had no reason to care about the Elangsia or Aerilya. No reason except that Kristalyn and her brother fought on one side and Ricald on the other. Still I had the contract to complete. I was under it until I killed the Hunter and that was no longer an option. That didn’t leave me with many choices. Ricald would send his lesser mercenaries out after me if he thought I wasn’t going to complete my part. They would be instructed to return his beloved hardened killer to him to use on as many more mission as he saw fit. I had no wish to be that person again. It would take some time to figure out. But one thing I knew was that I did not want to fall out of one side of the battle only to fall into the other side. I had had my fill of both.

“No. You can rest assured I won’t go after your brother again, but I won’t join you either. I have other things to figure out.”

“Is that your final answer?” She asked, her mouth tightening.

I watched her closely and saw the hope die in her eyes. I didn’t want to kill it, not now, I didn’t know why, it shouldn’t have mattered, but I didn’t want to hurt her. I wasn’t going to give her false hope either. I had no wish to join her army.

“Yes. Don’t push me anymore, Kristalyn.” I spoke in a voice that said the discussion was over.

She nodded once. “Fine. But this is far from over no matter what you think.”

I laughed. “You have no idea. Go home or to your brother. You have no reason to stay here anymore.”

Kristalyn stood, but she paused and looked down at him steadily. “No, Aiden. You have no idea.”

With that, she turned and walked over to where the animals had been keeping a safe distance away.

I had to wonder what she meant by that. Sometimes, she was still hard to read.

***

I watched her from a distance. She had yet to say anything to me since our conversation earlier in the day. She didn’t seem like she was mad at me, but she was frustrated. There was nothing I could do about that though. I would not join her army. It served me no purpose. However, I did have to decide what to do. I was well past the deadline Ricald had given me and I hadn’t reported in at all. He had to be wondering what I was doing and where I was. It was almost surprising he hadn’t sent someone to get in contact with me already, surprising or disturbing.

“Travon,” Magnar’s low screech came from behind me.

“What about him?” I turned to face the large griffin.

He padded further away from Kristalyn and waited for me to join him.

“Miss him I do,” he answered my question.

“You were the one who was so determined to come with me.”

“Done now. Return to him?” Magnar refused to be sidetracked.

I sighed. “I don’t know, Magnar. He was expecting us too, but he was going to spy for Aerilya. There’s a chance he’s not even with Ricald anymore.”

“Find out,” the griffin whined.

I sighed. He would be impossible to deal with if I told him no. It wouldn’t be so bad seeing Travon again if he was with Ricald and I did owe the kid that much. The trip back would give me time to figure out my next move as well. It wasn’t a great solution, but for now it would work.

“All right, Magnar. We’ll head back,” I agreed.

The griffin let out a purr from deep in his chest and bucked his head against me.

“Yeah, yeah. Knock it off.” I pushed him away, but he didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll have to go back into town and get some supplies. Some of my things are still there too. We can head out tomorrow. Can you wait that long?” I asked as if I was going to give him any choice in the matter.

“Will wait. Then, see Travon we will,” he purred happily.

“Yeah, well, there is a chance he’s not with Ricald anymore. But we’ll at least find out.”

I led Magnar back into the main part of the camp only to find Kristalyn packing. I frowned. If she knew to pack had she heard our conversation? She still didn’t know Magnar could talk and it wasn’t a fact I really wanted revealed, even to her. She looked up as I approached.

“I’m heading back. Egan has been alone for almost two days since my last visit and he’s probably cranky and irritable.”

“So, normal?” I asked, unimpressed.

“Um, yeah,” she mumbled, going back to her work.

Something was obviously still bothering her. She was too subdued. She was barely acknowledging me. In all the time she’d been with me this was a new one.

“I’m heading back too,” I commented, watching her closely.

Her hands stilled for only a moment, before moving again. “Are you sure you are well enough?”

“I’m sure. I won’t be doing any extensive fighting for a while, but it should be much worse.”

She nodded. “Yes, it should.”

I didn’t answer. I had no wish to go down that particular path. She finished and swung her pack onto her back. Reaching down, she petted Kurioden.

“I’ll be back soon.” She looked over to Magnar, who had come to stand next to me. If he stood any closer one of us was going to fall. He would be in trouble when that happened. “See you, Magnar.” She glanced at me. “Right?”

I shrugged, but only slightly. “I don’t see why not. One more time at least.”

She nodded curtly and exited the grove.

Wow, she was a pain to deal with. The thought that I would miss it caught me off guard and I pushed it quickly away. Instead, I focused on Magnar.

“I’ll be back by tomorrow. Be ready.”

Magnar huffed as if insulted I would think he’d be anything but.

“Yeah, well, stay out of trouble till then.”

“Will. You too,” he screeched meaningfully.

I just shook my head at the command.

“See you, Kurioden.” I called as I headed out. I heard the cat answer with a howl.

She hadn’t gotten too far ahead and I caught up with her relatively quickly. It would still take quite a while to reach the city. We traveled in silence.

“So, you’ve decided?” She finally asked as if the answer didn’t matter, though I could tell by her movements it did.

I waited a minute, wishing the silence would come back. “For the moment.”

“Okay,” she replied, apparently she didn’t want to push the issue, although one glance at her face told me the truth.

“You?” I asked just to shift the focus.

“My mission was to stop you. I did. Now, I need to work with Tray to help win this battle.”

I shook my head. “You can’t.”

She shot me a side look. “Yes, I can.”

Quickly, I realized she thought I meant her personally. “No, you can’t win. Elangsia has obviously secured the Wild Men’s allegiance. If they are what Ricald says, you’re country is going to lose.”

Her chin came up in a stubborn pose. “They are. But it is the Hunter’s job to stop that.”

I shook my head. “Be realistic.”

She barked a laugh. “What like you? Thanks. I’ll take my chances.”

I didn’t reply to that and we walked on in silence again. It was only when the city first came into view that she spoke again.

“You could change those odds you know,” she spoke softly.

I tensed mentally. “No, Kristalyn, I’m not joining you.”

“Will you fight against me then?”

It wasn’t something I’d considered, but she was right. Ricald would except it. I would have to fight against her, the Hunter, and Travon. Briefly, I wondered what side Zoe would choose. It was possible she was still in this land somewhere or at least she had traveled in this direction. It wasn’t much of a choice. Zoe would fight for Aerilya if she was forced to choose. Where was my Little Firebrand anyway?

“Aiden?”

I shook myself from the thought. “No. I won’t fight against you either.”

“Ricald…”

“Won’t have a say,” I interrupted. “I’m through with evil conceited men running my life.”

“Does that include you?” She asked softly.

I looked at her surprised. “Meaning?”

She looked like she was going to say something, but whatever it was, she said instead, “Figure it out yourself.”

I wasn’t so sure I liked her in this mood. She was far too cryptic with her statement and I was having trouble reading her emotions. I didn’t have much time to think about it though as we were finally approaching the gate. Because we had been out and in so often, we had no trouble at the gate and headed straight for the tavern.

It had been a week since I had last had a decent meal and I was looking forward to the simple pleasure. The tavern was full of smells I would not normally call delicious, but under the circumstances, they would do. Instead of heading up to my room, I headed for the normal back table that I occupied, pleased to find it empty and waiting. Kristalyn slid in next to me and within seconds a familiar face was sliding over to the table. I could feel Kristalyn tensing from across the table.

“Oh, Handsome!” she said in her customary tone, as she slid in next to me. “Where have you been? I missed you all week long.” Her lips formed into a little pout.

Why did she keep coming back? I had never followed through on anything she might have thought I’d promised, yet she acted as if I had filled her every wish. Or that she had filled mine.

“I had business outside the city,” I answered impassively. “I’ll take my usual and if you could make it fast, I’m very hungry.”

“Well, I’ll give you an extra big portion then! Growing men do need to eat,” she whispered the last part, putting her mouth close to my ear. She could have been saying anything.

I didn’t need to look at Kristalyn to know she was upset by the girl. I could feel the tension rolling off of her, but when I did glance at her, that wasn’t what made me reevaluate the whole situation. Her eyes told a story I hadn’t seen before. She noticed me watching her and turned her face away quickly, pretending not to care. But it was far too late. Her eyes held a look of pained sadness. I realized with a small amount of surprise that I hated that look and I hated whatever had put it there. The girl’s hand moved on my arm. It didn’t take much to know that this was exactly what had put that sadness into Kristalyn’s large green eyes. It was true, I had been using the girl just to get a reaction out of Kristalyn before, but quite suddenly the game was no longer fun.

With a deft moment, I had the girl’s wrist tightly in mine. She gave a small squeal, but I ignored it. It was time this stopped, past time really.

“You have three seconds to get your well used body away from mine and get me our food or I’ll take my knife and make sure no man every looks at that face of yours twice. Do you understand?” I spoke in a low threatening voice that allowed for no misconceptions I was speaking the truth.

Her eyes grew wide in disbelief and then hard in anger. She tried to jerk away, but I simply gave a little twist and she gasped in pain.

“Do you understand?” I repeated. This time she nodded. “Good. Bring us both our usual and this time without the pathetic attitude.”

She nodded again and I dropped her wrist. Quickly, she made her escape. I turned to see Kristalyn looking at me with wonderment. She blinked and then looked at me again, this time with curiosity.

“What brought that on?” She asked.

“She’s been bothering me since day one,” I responded causally.

Kristalyn scoffed. “Oh, has she?”

I smiled slowly and turned to face her fully. “Yes. You don’t believe me?”

She watched me for a moment, then shrugged, and smiled. “Not for a minute.”

It surprised me when I laughed automatically, not because of what she said, but because the tension had left her face and voice. I didn’t want to analyze why that felt good to me, the feeling was so strange, yet I knew it did.

The rest of the meal was eaten in peace and we traveled to the market afterwards to pick up supplies that we both needed. I had my trip to take care of and Kristlayn wanted to be out of the city before she contacted her brother. She was picking up a few things for her camping experience. It seemed like a lot of trouble just so her brother wouldn’t know she had been in a city she was forbidden to go to, but it wasn’t my problem. All I had to worry about now was how to find Ricald and what to do when I did.

When we entered the tavern again, the wench was over by the bar, but this time she made no move to come towards me. I walked by her without stopping, but I could feel her glare. When I glanced back at Kristalyn, I noticed she had a smile on her face and the feeling of that being good came back from earlier. We stopped outside our room doors.

“Will you be leaving in the morning then?” She asked, not looking at me.

“Yes.” It was best to keep responses simple.

“Is there anything I can do to convince you to change your mind?” Her voice was so soft, but I could hear the pain laced behind it. Pain I was sure she thought she had erased from it.

For the briefest of moments, I wanted to stay. I could help them, I was sure of it, yet I didn’t have a real reason too. I didn’t owe her anything and I might prove a danger if I didn’t get back to Ricald. Besides, I had to continue on my own mission. I couldn’t let Duard win that battle.

“You can’t.” I didn’t add the ‘I’m sorry,’ like I felt I should.

She nodded and finally looked up and into my eyes. As I had noticed more and more, her emotions lay inside her own eyes for me to read at will. “Can I go with you to say goodbye to Magnar?”

I nodded and she sighed deeply as if relieved of a burden for the night.

“Then I will see you in the morning. If I can get things ready in time, which I should be able too, I’ll go with you for some of your journey. At least, until you reach the forest again,” she seemed to be thinking out loud.

I swallowed. Why in the world was this so difficult? I felt like I was being forced to say goodbye to my siblings again and yet this was different too. “That’s fine.”

“Okay,” her voice was still so soft and it had a melody to it I hadn’t noticed before. “Goodnight, Aiden.”

“Goodnight, Kristalyn,” I responded automatically.

She opened her door with a click and I heard an immediate, “Egan! Get down! I’m sorry, okay!”

The familiarness of the sounds brought me back from whatever reality I had been experiencing. I had to get away from here and the faster the better. My mind was playing odd tricks on me and I didn’t like it.

I knew something was wrong the second I entered the room. My dagger was in my hand before I knew I had moved it and leaving the door open behind me I slowly stepped further into the darkened area. The only light came from the doorway beyond me and the moonlit window in front of me. Silhouette in a portion of that window was a standing figure.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” I asked calmly, still searching the room. By instinct I could tell there were more of them, but I couldn’t be sure where and that made them dangerous.

“Don’t worry about it. All that matters is that you are the reward,” the shadow answered back.

Reward? Bounty Hunters? But that didn’t make any sense. No one knew who I was or why I was here. No one except the Hunter and Kristalyn. But the Hunter and I were through and Kristalyn would never betray me. I didn’t doubt that fact for even a second. Still, someone knew.

The figure came from the right side of the doorway and above me without any warning. I lifted my right arm to block, even as I let the dagger fall into my left and berated myself for falling prey to the diversion tactic. His body slammed against me raised arm hard and my dagger came up and plunged into a spot in his ribs. He groaned and fell to the ground. Most of his weight was still on me and it pulled me with him, causing me to stumble as well. My right shoulder hit the floor first and my chest burned red hot at the hard exertion to my still healing wound. Gasping for air, and grunting with exertion, I yanked my dagger out of the man’s rib cage. It hadn’t gone in all the way, but the man had passed out completely.

I hardly had time to make the assertion when I saw the second figure pass by the light in the doorway and moving towards me fast. I flipped the dagger in my hand to face up, but I was still on the ground and vulnerable. Quickly, I rolled further to the right and just as fast I felt the fire blossoming in my chest, making it almost impossible to breath. I was in trouble and I still had at least two people to deal with.

The bounty hunter lost me in the shadows and kicked violently to find my position. His kick landed hard on the thigh of my leg. I let out a small grunt, but it was enough to give me away. I twisted to face him and pulled me legs up to my chest. He swung down hard at my legs, and I kicked hard, just missing his fist and managing to kick him somewhere near his groin.

He gasped and let out a loud curse. “You’ll pay for that! Ricald doesn’t need you alive!”

“Shut up!” The voice from the back said.

“Bah!” The man spit out. “He’s dead anyways. More fun for us.”

Ricald? He was trying to kill me? Why?

The man in front of me quickly advanced again. I used both feet this time to kick out at the assailant. He dogged at the last second to grab hold of them. Without other options, I jerked my legs back towards me and punched up then I kicked them back out again. The combination sent the assailant flying backwards. I heard him hit something. It could have been the desk.

The exertion of the kick stretched my upper body out to its full extent in a strong jerking motion. I hadn’t fully healed yet and now I was completely spent and unprotected. I had the knife in my hand still, but I would only have one shot with it. I wouldn’t be able to fight anymore after that.

“Why does Ricald want me dead?” I asked slowly, both to stall for time and to try and get my breath back.

He laughed. “His perfect little assassin failed. That’s why!”

“What does he know? I haven’t reported back anything,” I replied, keeping my voice calm.

“Exactly,” his voice was full of mockery as he advanced slowly towards me. “As far as he’s concerned, you’ve gone rogue. He wants you questioned and tortured, but it doesn’t really matter.” I saw the flash of a sword in his hand. He was almost on top of me now and I still hadn’t been able to move. “You took my job and now I’m going to take your life!”

No! Everything in me screamed that it could not end like this. If this small time excuse for a bounty hunter was going to take my life, I would take his! I would not die without a fight, not after I had struggled to live.

Forcing myself to back up farther and sit up some, I tightened my grip on the knife. I had once chance and one chance only.

The loud thwak that happened in the following seconds wasn’t one I expected, especially when the assailant’s sword never moved downward. Instead, standing above me, I saw him clutching an arrow in his chest a look of horrified shock frozen on his face.

“No,” he whispered dropping his sword from his one hand. “I was to win. Ricald would give me your place again.” He took a small unconscious step back and glared at me. “You’ll still pay.” But his voice was weak and he collapsed to the ground dead in only a few seconds.

“You first,” I muttered.

“Move and your next,” Kristalyn’s hard and uncompromising voice uttered her challenge from the doorway.

I raised my eyes from the dead man to see a forth figure materialize from the shadows by the window, his hands already up in surrender.

“Aiden?” Kristalyn’s voice asked calmly.

“Fine,” I replied shortly, both disgusted at needing the help and because it was still difficult to breath.

I stood slowly and turned to see her. She stood unmovable in the doorway, a second arrow in her bow and a look of hard determination on her face. This was the same girl who had once apposed me as the Hunter. She was strong, courageous, and stubborn beyond all belief. I wondered briefly at the admiration I felt. Kristalyn’s eyes never left the forth person and she never lowered her bow either. I decided to stay out of her way and turned back around to take in the scene.

The first of Ricald’s bounty hunters was still out cold. If he was alive he would need medical attention quickly. The second was just inside the light of the window rubbing his head and the third was dead. The fourth didn’t move from his place in front of Kristalyn’s bow. All of these men had come to take my life. Why? Ricald had no way of knowing I had spared the Hunter’s life. These men had to be sent out weeks ago or even a month ago. I had spared Tancred only a last week. Ricald had prematurely called for my death. Yet, he had sent incompetent men, who I would have easily defeated had I not been wounded. Did he really want me dead or was there something I was missing?

My thoughts had allowed me to catch me breath and bring the pain to a tolerable level. I looked at the forth man again. This was one of the men sent to kill me and he was currently the only one I could question. “Who are you?”

“Adien,” the forth shadow spoke, his voice low and sad.

I paused, thinking hard. I knew that voice, knew it rather well. “Jaton?” I finally asked.

“Hello,” he responded.

“What is going on? Who are these others?” I demanded, wondering if I knew the ones that had attacked me or died.

“They are the assassins that you took the place of when you joined Ricald’s army. Not our friends,” Jaton responded calmly.

“Some friend,” Kristalyn muttered, still holding her arrow on him.

“What are you doing?” I asked, though silently I agreed with her. I wouldn’t call anyone I had known in Ricald’s army a friend, not even Jaton.

“They already told you.”

“Explain it again,” I ordered, not in the mood for any attitude.

“You’re late,” he said simply. “Ricald send us to bring you back.”

“Dead or alive?”

“Preferably alive,” the shadow shrugged. “But either way.” He gestured to the men lying on the floor. “They liked dead better.”

Moving slowly, I crossed to the desk and the man closest to it shuffled clumsily out of my way. I lit the lamp on it, the room suddenly bathed in its soft light. I studied my old ‘friend’ from the army. His face was weathered and he looked older than when I had last seen him. He had added some scars as well, but otherwise it was still Jaton.

“Why you?” I finally asked.

“I knew you. I had the better chance.”

That much would at least be true. Though, I noticed, he hadn’t fought at all and I knew he was perfectly capable of doing so.

“The others?” I finally asked, still sorting things in my mind.

“Dead or wishing they were. Sartan remains alive.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to ask the next question, but I had too. “Travon?”

Jaton shook his head. “I do not know. He left about a month after you did. He wasn’t the same without you. I believe you told him to spy?”

I didn’t say anything, but Jaton nodded.

“I suspected it was so. After your deadline, he waited for some time and then he too spilt off, to where I do not know. If Ricald had caught him though, he would certainly be dead.”

Then there was a chance he was out there somewhere. I wasn’t sure if Magnar would be pleased or not with the news. I wasn’t sure I knew what to be either.

“Will you be coming back?” Jaton asked simply.

I glared at him. Ricald had sent assassins after me. Bad ones, yes, but he had still sent them. He had to know they wouldn’t make it. He was a coward figuring me for a loose arrow he would control. He had made a vital mistake. I was through being his toy and if I saw him again I would be sure he knew it. He had neither loyalty nor morals to live by. I didn’t either for that matter, but he was different than me… He was Durad. The thought struck me as obvious and I wondered how I had not seen it before. Just as the Hunter was who I might have been, Ricald was his Duard. I should be fighting against Ricald not for him.

“Get out Jaton and don’t come back,” I said by way of response.

“Ricald will kill me if I return without you. That was the price for failure,” He said mildly.

“Then don’t return. You hate him as much as I do. I won’t be used by such a coward and a fool.” I was stupid for ever thinking otherwise. Ricald and Duard were the same and I had let my hatred for Duard blind me to that fact for far too long.

Jaton nodded and motioned towards the others.

“Take them away, but do not return. Next time I’ll kill them.” We both knew it was not an empty threat.

Kristalyn lowered her weapon and disappeared into her room. She returned with a length of rope and part of a sheet. She tied the two soldiers together and then wrapped the sheet around the one with the knife wound, he was just coming around to consciousness. She slapped him a few times to help him along the way.

“I’ll dump the body,” I said.

Jaton nodded and moving forward picked up the rope and then helped the two outside. When they were safely out of the room, he turned back. “I was a slave brought in from a foreign country long ago. Perhaps it is finally time I returned. Sartan has lived his whole life here, but he grows tired of the war and worries about the upcoming battle. It may be he will join me.”

I smiled slightly. “Go in peace, my friend.”

“You as well.”

With that they were gone. I could feel Kristalyn’s eyes on me, but she said nothing. Jaton was a slave too? How many others had Ricald and his king forced to work for them? Zoe was from another country. Had she too been captured by these barbarians? What would I do if she were? She would have escaped Duard only to fall prey to men just like him. Quite suddenly, my decision was made.

Without turning around I said firmly, “Contact your brother. I’ll give the Hunter whatever help he needs.”

***