Fifty - Tarka

I had told Alden all I knew about Lesion. I knew he hated surprises, because he wanted to always be in control of everything. I knew that he didn't get his hands dirty, so he had his men do all of his work for him. He was incredibly charismatic and had a tongue born for persuasion. A tongue fit for a snake.

I had very little information to give, but it was enough apparently. The wheels in Alden's head started turning. With arms crossed, he started pacing. I looked over at Tristram and his new wife, and I envied her. Not because Tristram loved her, but because she was beautiful. And from what I've seen of her, she was good and kind, loved by all around her.

I envied her, because she was everything I was not.

My head snapped quickly to Alden's direction as he uttered a sound of revelation. "Well, we know the best way to overthrow Lesion is to surprise him. Obviously, he wouldn't expect it, and we have so many people to back us up!"

"Nice thinking, smarty. But HOW would we go about doing that?" I asked with a little more pride in my tone than I wanted to be communicated.

"Well, we tried to surprise him before, but that didn't work. We're going to need some more people on our side."

"I've got a whole army," Tristram chimed in as casually as he could. Alden looked his way with slightly furrowed brows, even if he didn't intend to communicate that to Tristram. It was really obvious that he was still struggling to treat Tristram the same as he used to. Alden looked down at his feet for a second and barely spoke, "Yeah." Tristram's wife wrapped her arms around him, noticing the dejection in his face.

"Is everyone on board with fighting against Lesion, though? Would anyone betray us?" I couldn't help but think of ways our possible plan could go wrong.

"Yes, I have discussed this with my men, and they are ready to fight this villain!" Tristram exclaimed enthusiastically, revealing that he was ready as well.

"The question that Tarka has brought up earlier still stands," Alden added dryly. "We're not just going to march into his camp and arrest him now, are we?"

Tristram grinned. "That wouldn't be a bad idea. There's definitely more of us than the Viridians, why not?"

I shook my head. "Even so, they're more cunning than you think. We'd need more on our side to make sure our attack would be complete."

"It is possible to do so. I'm sure with a little coaxing and persuasion, you could convince the Palkins to join the Brackins." Rhythmus had been quiet up until this point, but he now stood up. "One of us would have to do the convincing, though." He looked toward Alden.

Alden sighed. "They wouldn't believe me. I'm the punk little brother of a scientist who no one ever took seriously, and I was banished, remember?"

Rhythmus took a few silent steps towards that young dejected man, took a hold of his shoulders, and looked deep into his eyes. "Young man, are you going to let your past define you? You seem to have no idea of the potential you possess, all three of you. You are representatives of three very different peoples. And yet, you are united under one single cause. Do you have no faith in your abilities?"

Alden hung his head, looking even more defeated. I sensed his fear. I was scared for him. I was scared of what could happen. None of us knew what would happen, but the Palkin, the Brackin, and the Viridian all knew what needed to be done. After a minute and a deep breath escaped his beautiful smooth lips, he lifted his eyes up and turned to face his comrades. He started to walk away from us. When we didn't follow immediately, he turned around. Hope was shining bright in those darling eyes.

"Well, gang, there's no use sitting here like bricks. We've got an army to build. Let's go!"

Forty-nine - Alden

I didn't know where to go. The whole town was like a giant maze of stone and wood, nothing like the loose sand and hide tents of home. I could take a few lefts, a right at a stone well, walk down a long road, and then find myself where I started. After finding myself at the same stupid rock bench by a strange moss covered pond for the third time I gave up, kicking one of the rocks surrounding the pond into the green muck, allowing the rock to slowly sink into the green abyss.

With a sigh I turned from the pond and noticed Rhythmus sitting on the small bench, stroking his beard as if deep in thought. I have to wonder if that's the only reason old men have beards. Do they think they can hide the fact that they never really learned anything by taking part in the old-man ritual of thoughtful beard stroking? If I can ever grow facial hair perhaps that will be what I will do.

"You seem to have quite the fondness for dirt." Rhythmus noted, raising one white and fuzzy eyebrow.

"I've been through a lot." I sighed, sitting next to the old man.

"I see." He mumbled, hand covering mouth and eyes crinkling the way a person with poor eyesight looks at distant writing.

This look annoyed me, so before he could judge or lecture me with some weird life lesson, I blurted out, "How do we get rid of Lesion?"

Rhythmus squinted an eye. "I do not know." He said, with a shrug of his shoulders and a glance at the far distance.

I looked at him incredulously. "Yes, you do. You're supposed to be the smart old guy who tells everyone else how to do stuff. You know exactly what we're supposed to do."

"Is that so?" Rhythmus let out a soft chuckle. "I do not even know what I will have for breakfast. Just because I am old, does not mean I know everything." He noted.

"Knew it." I muttered to myself. The beard is always a lie.

"Lesion believes I do know his future, which maybe I do, but it is only based on his own follies. If you wish to talk combat you may wish to take it up with your friends. Is Tarka not a valuable ally in all things Viridi? And Tristram, he now has a whole kingdom behind him, and even you're old friend Roman has great training for war." Rhythmus chuckled once more. "Why you think an old man is helpful is quite odd."

I sighed. "All you had to tell me was talk to them." I stood up, frustrated. Looking down at the road, I felt a warmth flood to my cheeks. Even if talking to my friends is what I was supposed to do, I had no idea where I was. My foot twitched, asking to kick another stone into the green sludge pond.

With a loud "hurumph" Rhythmus pushed his way up off of the rock bench, his muscles creating a creaking and popping sound. "Before you go anywhere," he stated,"perhaps you should follow me to the house I have been lent so that you may wash up." He explained, ushering me down a road.

We walked down a one way street, where lots of people led horses with carts attached through to the other end, where a giant water fountain sat, no green sludge to be found. It still surprised me how big and well built this town was, and perhaps it always will be odd to a person who has lived his whole life as a nomad.

"Here we are." Said Rhythmus, as he walked to a small rock house with a wooden door, just right off of the pathway. I went inside and found the bucket of freshwater that Rhythmus told me about, and rinsed away the dirt and mud from my skin. Once clean I came out of the little hideaway room to see everyone huddled in the small house. Tarka smiled at me a little hesitantly, and Tristram stood to her right, his gaze cast mostly downward and towards a girl I did not recognize, nor care about. Roman was then on Tarka's other side, sitting in a chair with his feet on a table, and arms across his chest. I looked at Rhythmus who stood to my left, but he was busy dusting some books with what looked like a few feathers tied together with string.

"Tarka." I whispered, afraid to break the silence but aware of the necessity of it.

"Yes?" She said, coming over to me.

"I need to know everything you know about Lesion." I expressed, eyebrows furrowing. I knew she did not like to talk about her past or her people for that matter. "Anything we can exploit, or habits that make him predictable... anything and everything." I pleaded.

Forty-Eight - Tristram

The wedding ceremony was small and simple. The party the town threw the next day was quite the opposite. During a time of harsh war, a royal wedding was exactly what the people needed to lift their spirits up. The night before I had managed to patch things up with King Pontus who agreed to start working on negotiating a peace treaty with the Palkins as well as responding to Lesion. Everything was going smoothly and according to plan. Elane and I even moved into a small secluded house within the castle walls. it was about a week later when Alden and Tarka showed up at my door.

After my conversation with Tarka, I headed off in the direction Alden ran. I eventually found him in the stables feeding sugar to one of the horses. He was covered in dirt, probably from his journey, but had two clean streaks along his cheeks. guilt twisted in my chest. He hasn't seen me yet, I could easily sneak back out of the stable... but I owe him the truth. I cough, letting him know I'm there. He picks up another sugar cube from the sack beside him and feeds it to the horse.

"Hey... I'm sorry..."
     "Sorry?" Alden interrupts, " You're sorry?" He turns to me, anger in his eyes. The guilt stabs deeper into my chest. "You killed my brother, you don't have the right to be sorry." His voice starts to raise. "If I had known who you were when I met you back in the jungle, I would have killed you there."
     "I'm the one who kept you alive hunted for you, protected you from soldiers."
     "Yeah but you didn't know I was the brother of the man you MURDERED!"
     "Yeah I did." Wrong thing to say. Alden's fists clench and he starts throwing handfuls of sugar cubes at me yelling "you knew you killed my brother and you never told me!?" I take the beating of harmless sugar cubes, knowing I deserve worse.

After a minute Alden quits throwing cubes and collapses to the ground, crying this time. "Alden," I say moving a bit closer, "It was an accident. I got angry and threw a rock...I never meant... It wasn't... but it did and I'm really sorry my anger got out of control. I've learned a lot since then. I've grown and you've helped me learn to forgive myself. Can you please forgive me?"

He stops crying and, after a moment, looks up. "No. I can't forgive you. At least not right now." and the guilt stabs deeper than I thought it could possibly go. I feel like there is no way I can make it up to him, no way he will ever forgive me and be my friend again. I hang my head as Alden stands up. He passes me on his way out then mutters, "But we still need to stop Lesion." Then he is gone. I sit down nursing the ache and brushing off sugar. Elane finds me there and, without asking questions, sits down and wraps her arms around me. It hurts a little less now, but is still hurts.

Forty-Seven - Tarka

The scene before me was playing in slow motion. Everything was a blur and I couldn't really take it all in or really even understand what was going on. The next thing I knew, Alden was flying out the door, and everything sped up again. My first instinct was to run after him, but Rhythmus put down his hand on my shoulder before I even took a step.

"Don't go after him; he'll be back."

"How can you be sure?" 

"He has to come to terms with this himself, without any help from anyone else."

I nodded, then turned to Tristram. He took a step back away from me, unsure of what my next action was going to be. I planted my feet firmly in the floor. "Why did you kill his brother? How long have you known that he was his brother?" 

"I've known almost as long as we've all been friends. I didn't want to tell him because no one would want to help me then. You two were my only refuge for a long time. I didn't want to lose that." He hung his head in shame. 

"So the first question still stands . . . why?"

"He was treating the Brackin people poorly on the job. He even pushed aside an old man! He was not such a saint like everyone thought, I guess. I could not stand by and watch. To think that my people actually tolerated this behavior! I got mad and threw a rock; it wasn't supposed to kill him, just to get his attention and teach him a lesson. I had forgotten my own strength. That is why I was banished originally." The story slowly came back to me as I recollected him telling Alden the story when they had first met, with either not knowing about the others' role in his brothers' life, or death. 

"It makes sense. I really wish Alden would come back and that everything would be alright."

Rhythmus took a step forward between the two of us. "It will be, eventually. Soon enough. Patience, my lady." 

I looked out the window towards the direction that Alden had run off to. "I hope so, Rhythmus." 

Forty-Six - Alden

When we had finally reached Tristram's homeland we were met by several guards. Rhythmus pushed his way through, explaining our situation and why we had Roman with us, and the guards let us through with a shrug. Once past the boarder it was surprising to see so many people, just out enjoying the day or buying food, it was the complete opposite of the desolation back home. For the first time, I think I realized my people were the ones becoming instinct; we are not so evenly matched as Lesion may have thought, which would be why so many Virdians are in our camps.

As we passed the townsfolk, everyone grew quiet, giving us mostly confused looks, with a few scowls from the older generations. I glanced back at Roman, he looked even more uncomfortable than I felt, which is saying a lot.

Rhythmus put a gnarled hand on Roman's shoulder. "Do not worry, friend, they cannot harm you while I'm around."

Roman looked unsure about that, but loosened up any way. After passing a few beggars and an old lady selling pillows we found ourselves at the place Tristram was meant to be. Rhythmus gave a rather slow but loud knock on the wooden door, and panicked scurrying could be heard from within. Tristram threw the door open, looking clumsy in his fine clothing.

"Alden!" He exclaimed, giving me a friendly punch in the arm, causing me to practically fall over.

"Hey--"

"You!" Roman yelled, drawing his scimitar and lunging for Tristram, the rest of his words coming out in unrecognizable screams. Several guards came up and seized him, but he continued to kick wildly and scream until his face was completely red. "You traitor! How could you? How could you? He was my best friend!"

Tristram's face went white, and everyone else had no clue what was going on.

Roman looked right at me. "How do you not know you're working for the man who killed your brother? How could you be such a traitor?"

I looked at Tristram and his face seemed to grow even paler. "No." was all I could manage before Tristram began to profusely apologize.

"You don't understand..." He said, but the rest of his words didn't reach my ears.

I felt I should have known, back in the forest when I first met him it crossed my mind, but I had been so malnourished at that point it all seemed like a bizarre dream. I looked at Tristram, and then to Rhythmus. What was my reaction supposed to be? Why was I not trying to avenge my brother like Roman had tried to do? I was hardly aware of the fact that my feet were taking me away, and that warm tears had made their way out of my eyes. I just had to get away.

Forty Five - Tristram

     King Pontus' eyes filled with understanding and horror as I told him of Lesion's plot to take over the three kingdoms. I also told him that his adviser was manipulating him and had probably killed his father. At the end of my explanation, he simply said "thank you, I need to think about this," and left. and left back towards the castle. After a minute, Elane came from the same direction but without any flowers.
 
     "What did you do Tristram?" she said sternly. Surprised at her tone, I searched for an eloquent answer. I failed. "I told him he was a pawn and started a war so Lesion could take over our kingdom" I blurted out. Elane punched my shoulder. "Idiot!" she shouted. "You have no idea how fragile my brother is! Would anyone react well to being told they are incompetent at being king? Pontus wants to be king even less than you but he is doing it because he wants to make our dad proud!"
     "Elane, why didn't you tell me any of this before? Had I known he was being manipulated in the first place, our entire plan would have changed."
     "You never bothered to ask. You never thought that I, the king's sister who lives in the castle, might have information that would help you stop this war."
     "That's a ridiculous reason, everything would have gone smoother if you had just told us. I wouldn't have to marry you if I knew your brother was on our side."

I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth. Elane gave me a cold glare and said, "so you don't want to be married now, is that right? or is it that you feel like you HAVE to marry me?! Am I just part of your civic duty?! Well now that you know my brother is good, you don't have to marry me. You've escaped your horrible fate!"
     "No, I mean yes, I mean..." She threw up her arms, giving up, and stormed off back towards the castle. "Elane!" I called after her, "wait please! I love you, of course I want to marry you, but not under these circumstances. I want our wedding to be festive, not marred by a war. Most of all, I don't want to be king. Yes, I want to marry you, but I wish it could be done under better circumstances." She turned around sharply, "Tristram, get over yourself! I don't need a big wedding, I just want to be married to you, but only if you really want to be married to me." She started to cry; twin streams that raced down her face, though they didn't obstruct her speech. "We've been friends for ages, more than friends almost as long! Don't you think it is about time? I don't care about the circumstances, all I want is you and me at a wedding altar. Maybe a couple friends and family."

I paused for a moment, taking time to recompose myself and understand the situation. "I'm sorry Elane, I should have asked you about your brother first thing. I'm sorry I didn't take into consideration his feelings as being king. I'm sorry I didn't ask you about our wedding but assumed I knew you completely." I held her close and murmured into her hair, "I absolutely want to marry you, I've just been afraid that I wouldn't be good enough for you."
     "That's all I needed to hear." After a minute, she removed herself from my arms. she was smiling a little and the pain in her eyes faded away. "So," I said, "is there anything else I should know: about your brother, the advisor, or the war?"
     "No, I've basically told you all there is." A sheepish grin spread on her face."So how about tomorrow?" I looked at her, puzzled, then understanding came. "Yeah Elane, we can get married tomorrow."
 

Forty-Four - Tarka

I could not have been more relieved, excited, or full of dopamine as I did in the moment I ran and jumped into Alden's sweet welcoming embrace.

We stood silent for a moment, with arms wrapped around the other tightly, simply enjoying the other's nearness, until we heard someone clear their throat. We let go to see who was the intruder of the moment we were enjoying. Roman stepped towards me while speaking to everyone: "Thank you for coming to our aid. We might not have escaped again. I am . . . utterly grateful for your presence here," he added a little bit of dramatic flair to the last statement and tried to grab my hand. I drew back both of my hands and hid them away behind my back as I looked to Rhythmus while he gave his comment. "Oh, I too am glad that we came at the exact time we were supposed to. Funny how things happen like that."

Alden stepped closer to me, stepping in between Roman and I. "Now for a plan . . . We've got to get back to Brackin territory and help Tristram."

"Yes, by all means, we must make haste to our dear friend," Rhythmus agreed. "Onward!"

The barrier of the mountains seemed to be more of a challenge now than they were before. I was so tired of running around, of walking back and forth across the different territories. I wanted to be planted somewhere, anywhere, it didn't matter as long as I had my friends and loved ones by my side. I wanted peace in the world. I wanted Lesion dead. I wanted everyone safe. No more killing, no more madness.

We trudged through the valley in between the mountains once again. I could tell that I was not the only one who was tired (literally and mentally) of all the traveling. We would walk through several villages, catching the stares of the townspeople as we passed by. We did look like a funny bunch: a Viridian girl, two young Palkin men, a guardian, and a Brackin all walking together. Some saluted us as we passed by, which was an odd thing to experience. However, after it happened, it made me think of how there are several others who are scared of the fighting between the Brackins and the Palkins. I guess we as a group represented unity and peace to them.

Roman would also try to flirt with me and touch me; I avoided him as much as I could. I would also look over at Alden and give him looks that screamed, "Help me!" His facial expressions always had a look of sympathy and annoyance. I continued to wonder what was going on inside his head.

One night, we sat around a small fire because the nights had begun to get more chilly. Roman had plopped down next to me, and I tried to scoot as far away from him as I could. Alden saw what was happening and came over to sit next to me, to rescue me temporarily from my tormentor. I laid my head on his shoulder, and then realizing soon after what I was doing, I jerked my head up and looked at him apologetically. He turned up the corners of his mouth and patted his shoulder with his hand, giving me an official invitation. Relieved, I accepted it, and I couldn't have been happier.

Forty-Three - Alden

Roman and I had run from the tent as fast as we could, racing quickly towards the tall mountains. The terrain grew firmer and uneven, causing my footing be less stable, and the hunger and dehydration that I felt was almost all-consuming, but Roman kept nudging me forward.

Eventually there was a small stream of water that seemed to separate the loose dirt from our Palkin territory and a lush, green and rocky terrain of the mountains that stood between the Northeast border of my home, and the Northwest border of what must be Tristram's. I collapsed at the water's edge, and with shaking hands tried to get the water into my mouth. The trembling of my hands made drinking difficult, and I was lucky to get a good swallow all the way to my lips. A despair seemed to take me over once again. Was this my life now? Grateful for a sip of muddy water?

I sat and stared at the flowing stream, imagining what life might have been like if I were a fish or some other aquatic creature. Maybe it would have been shorter, but it would have been less painful too.

"We need to keep moving." Roman insisted, tugging up on my arm.

"I'm tired of moving." I complained, using my weight to free my arm. "All I ever do is run and abandon people."

Roman knelt down, his face like stone, a common facial expression amongst the Palkin soldiers. "I don't care. You don't get to play momma's boy any more, this is war. Do you think I never wanted to just stay home instead of trampling across borders? Wouldn't it have been great if I could sit around instead of having to miss every big day in the lives of my sisters just because Callow said so? How about the day I had to leave camp just to watch my best friend killed?" Roman grabbed the back of my tunic and forced me up. "My sisters died while I was fighting this stupid war because they didn't have any food, and I could have saved them." He said with an air of defeat, and a wetness in his eyes. "I played with girls and did my duty, and my sisters died. I'm not going to make that mistake again." With a light shove I had been pushed across the stream and was moving once again towards the mountains.

We walked in silence for a long while, neither of us sure what to say after that. "I'm sorry about your sisters." I finally said, still refraining from looking his way.

Roman let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry about your brother."

I looked to Roman now with a sense of urgency. "Wait, you know what happened to my brother?"

Roman seemed to look at me with pity. "I--" he started, but the sounds of the animals around us suddenly became quiet. Roman held a finger to his mouth and drew his scimitar. Three Viridian men dropped from nearby trees, each wielding a sword and quickly circling in on us. One made a quick swipe at Roman, leaving a shallow cut just beneath his ear, while another knocked the scimitar from Roman's hands. I scrambled for anything like a rock, but came up short, and with a quick kick to the ribs.

Just as I was about to suggest we run through them the ground began to shake, knocking all of us onto the ground. Once the ground had stopped moving I looked up to find the Viridian men dead, and a younger man standing above them. "Who are you?" I asked indignantly, but he simply stepped to the side revealing both Rhythmus and Tarka. "Tarka?" I gasped. Roman quickly went for his scimitar, but I grabbed his arm. "It's okay, they're friends."

"Friends?" He asked in disbelief, eyebrows deeply furrowed.

"Yes," I assured. "Friends."

"Ah." He sighed. "I remember the girl now..." He said, a smirk obvious in his voice.

"Seriously?" I groaned.

Forty-Two - Tristram

The decision to remove my charges for murder were unanimous as well as the decision to to place me, once again, as captain of the guard and a member of the war council. I was able to move back into my old home near the palace, permitted to walk freely, allowed to shop, play, and converse with my old friends. But two things needed to be done first: I needed to marry Elane and reveal King Pontus to be acting against the good of the Brackin People. Galea had been working the latter since we entered the city and had started to dig up some evidence. I was to focus on Elane, a task I was more than willing to partake. 

In celebration of my freedom, I took Elane to our favorite spot: in a meadow next to the creek just outside the city walls. it was here that we first met. I was around 15, having recently joined the city guard. After my watch, I would go sit in the meadow and wash my armor in the creek. Elane's room in the castle overlooked this meadow and she would often walk around it collecting flowers. On that day, she was wearing her favorite white dress and had her blonde hair braided. The sun was out so her jasper eyes shimmered. She had decided to pick only yellow lilies too; she would only pick one type of flower each day, that way they would all be picked equally she said. I was lying on the sandbank when she appeared standing over me with the most curious grin. Every boy my age new of Elane and all hoped to marry her so I did what every teenager would do: I ran. I returned to the creek the next day and found Elane waiting. I set down a ways off from her and she didn't move any closer. The next day she brought her own laundry to do as I washed my armor. After about a week, I would move farther up the creek when I washed my armor, closer to her. A month later I finally said hi. She pretended to run away just to make fun of me. She smelled like lavender that day

Our first date had been in this meadow and she always meet me here when she had a bad day. It was like our private spot, though she always had a royal guard or two with her. Even now as I carried a picnic to our spot, we each had three soldiers. We sat down at our laundry spot and I unpacked lunch: pumpkin stew and fresh celery. It had been so long since we had been there... Everything felt right in the world now that I was back. It was like the war didn't exist, only Elane and this meadow. Only the guards and my brand (now seared with an x to signify my reinstatement) served as proof to the contrary. Elane looked as happy as I was and we ate in joyous silence.

Halfway through eating, we heard footsteps coming up over the hill. King Pontus appeared at the ridge, smiled when he saw us, and started to walk down. He was eight years older than Elane, very built with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He had a face that conveyed kindness and strength. "Tristram," he called, " Sorry for interrupting but I have been longing to see you!"
"Hello my king," I said as I bowed.
"None of that Tristram, you are like family. Call me Pontus like my sister." He glanced at Elane and smiled."Sorry Elane, but can I borrow Tristram for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Elane said, "I'll go pick some flowers. I'm thinking of picking some sweetpea today.

After Elane crossed the ridge, Pontus turned to me expectantly. After a few moments he asked, "Don't you have any questions to ask me?" he pointed a thumb in the direction Elane had walked off. Being Elane's brother, he knew of our relationship. Also, with Elane's dad dead, Pontus was now her caretaker and the one I should ask if I wanted to marry her. The suddenness of the question threw me off guard and my tongue refused to work properly. I stuttered and Pontus started to laugh. A happy laugh, not one of ridicule. He smiled at me saying, "Tristram, you have permission to marry Elane, you've always had it from me. How I wish you had married sooner! Then I wouldn't be the king in this aweful war." His mood fell.
"Thank you Pontus," I managed. I didn't mention the king comment. I had not known Pontus well before my banishment but I had never heard anything bad about him. This meeting here seemed to confirm a fear I had had since I heard he was king. Pontus was a pawn, he had no idea he was being manipulated by the Viridi. I wasn't sure if this made our job easier or harder but I decided to risk everything.

"Pontus, I have something to tell you. Have you ever meet Lesion?"

Forty-One - Tarka

My legs could not walk or run fast enough for me to get to Alden as soon as I wanted. There was nothing more I desired than to kill the snake of a man Lesion and have Alden safe and sound, sitting next to me.

I could hear Rhythmus breathing heavily behind me. "Slow down my dear girl! We are all anxious to get to our friend. But my old bones aren't as swift as they used to be." I slowed my pace and turned around to flash him a half smile. His eye contact with me made me realize that he knew what was going through my spinning head and softened heart.

Despite everything I have gone through in the past year, in the short amount of time that I had known him, Alden had kept me from letting my heart go bitter. His boyish ways and shining eyes gave me a glimpse of hope: hope for what was to come and peace because there was still good left in the world. It may be a small bit, but that little ray of sunshine has been my salvation.

We took a water break when we found the river again. "All we have to do is follow this back to Lesion's camp."

Askimi nodded. "It shouldn't be too far from us now. Hopefully they haven't done anything to the poor kid."

That statement made me stand up. "All the more reason to get going as quickly as we can," I stated. Askimi got up and led the way.

Rhythmus kept in pace with me for a good few minutes, and then we naturally started to slip away little by little from Askimi's pace. Still following him from a distance, Rhythmus spoke quietly. "It will be alright, you'll see. You three are doing a marvelous job and have already gotten most to join forces with us!"

"Yes, but we still have to defeat Lesion before his army does any damage," I stated looking down at my trudging feet.

"I know that's not your primary concern at the moment."

I turned to him and saw his slightly raised eyebrows and somewhat of a smirk. "You're a beautiful young woman, Tarka. And a strong one at that. You think you are able to put a mask on and nobody will be able to see you, figure you out. Your eyes speak what the rest of you keeps hidden."

"I was afraid of that. That used to be my worst fear, you know."

"Is it not anymore?"

"No. I mean, not really. I still care deeply if people are able to find things out about me, such as how I'm feeling. But . . ." I turned to face him again. "That's not my primary concern anymore."

The corners of his wide mouth turned upward. "I know your feelings, Tarka. They are noble ones. Do not be afraid of them. But don't act rashly with them either." I nodded in agreement.

We both quickened our pace to catch up with Askimi, who realized we were lagging but didn't give much thought to why. When we got closer to the campsite, we the trio crouched down as much as possible while walking briskly. At the edge of the trees where the campsite started, we stopped and looked around for any potential sign of where Alden could be.

I happened to look over to my left and saw two figures running off to the other side of the tents. Could it be...?

An angry yell came from a tent to my right. "AUGH! Where did the Palkin boy go? Why did you not stand guard like I told you to?!" came an all too familiar voice. A poor soldier was getting lashed out on by the Viridian snake. "I--I'm sorry! I just had to --" A slap reached my ears before the soldier could finish. "You idiot! You let them get away! Go find them, or I shall do things much worse than what I have done to you now." The soldier ran off towards the trees where the two figures had gone.

Askimi, Rhythmus, and I looked at each other in wonder. Who had rescued Alden? Who was running off with him at that moment?

And how were we ever going to find him?

Forty - Alden

I laid in the darkness, streaks of light crossed my body casually, as if taunting me of the freedom beyond their boards. My mind felt numb; not even the pain from the ropes that bound my hands and feet together bothered me anymore. I suppose I was always the useless one, the one to be cast out, and the one to be caught. I let out a heavy sigh, blowing little bits of dust off of the dirt packed ground that had become my new prison.

"Why such a sad sigh?" A voice hissed.

I glanced up to see the light streaks now lying on Damian's face. "You're alive." I stated, almost surprised, but not quite caring.

"Of course." He seemed to snarl, the edges of his lips pulling back into a scowl. Beneath a light weighted tunic a bandage peaked out, a bit of faded red barely showing up in the darkness of the shack. Damian walked over with a swish of his tale, taking notice of the sad situation I was in. Kneeling down, he stuck his face right up to mine. "Where did you send her?"

"I don't know." I said through clenched teeth, trying to keep from gaging on the smell of salted fish that clung to his clothes.

Damian stood up and gave me a good kick, knocking me against the wall a few inches away. Grabbing the hair on my head he pulled me up. "I'll ask you again. Where is the girl?"

I said nothing, concentrating on not showing pain.

"You're nothing but a sad little creature. She could not possibly care for you." He tossed me down and bent down close once again. "You're no better than me, you know." He hissed. "Just as I left her for my cause, you have abandoned her for yours." He stood up and gave one more good kick. "I'd keep your eye out for a knife if she ever comes back around."

A door opened and closed and I was once again alone with the streaks of light. Perhaps he was right, she never cared for me as much as she had Damian, so why should I expect to be treated any differently? My stomach sank, and a nausea over took me. Everything I have ever done has been pointless. Not only have I forsaken Tarka, but my own mother as well. For all I knew she was still waiting at home for son to bring her food. Maybe she thought I was only a dream, that both of her sons are gone forever.

The heaviness became too strong, and in my anger I swung my arms against the wood that held me captive, screaming with all of the fury of my people, of all the ones I love and have hurt, and for myself, because how could I be any better?

"Alden." A voice whispered.

In the light of the doorway, Roman stood before me; the light streaks covering his face, as tears covered my own.

"It's time to go."

Thirty-nine Tristram

I dropped my dinner when Tarka walked in with Galea. Soup splattered across the floor in her direction. She was caked in dust and small dark red stains (blood?) dotted her tunic and pants. She was exhausted, ready to fall at the slightest breeze. Her arms were wrapped around her tight and her eyes looked out into nothing. Alden wasn't with her. "T-Tarka?" I stammered. Light, though dim, returned to her eyes. "Tristram... Tristram!" She ran to my cell and clung to the bars, her eyes wide. "We have to help him! He took him, he took him!" Her voice raised and Rythmus, who had been eating with Elane in the corner, pulled Tarka in close as she started to sob.

"Tarka," Rythmus started, "where is Alden?" She continued to sob., managing only to choke out one word, "Lesion." Rage filed my body. Not only at Legion for capturing, and likely torturing, Alden, but also at myself for not being there to protect him. Maybe if I had sent Rythmus with them or if I had hurried on my own quest then perhaps I could have... Maybe. I forced myself to focus. Alden needed action, not maybes and whatifs. 

Rythmus lead Tarka to a seat next to Elane who started comforting Tarka. Galea then turned to me expectantly, raising his eyebrows. He expected me to make the decision here yet I had no idea what to do. Every nerve in my body screamed to rush out and hunt down Lesion but my brain and heart said stay. My mind knew it was suicide, that I could never rescue Alden by myself. My heart yearned for my people, to remove the traitorous king. It also wanted to stay with Elane. Galea must have sense my hesitation. "The choice is obvious," he said with a hint of anger, "you have to stay. Your people need you. You can't go running after some stranger! You are needed here!" 

SHUT UP!! 

Tarka stood, hands clenched at her side, eyes wide, and tail standing straight up. She was glaring at Galea. Her shouted at him, " Alden is not some stranger. He is brave, smart, and stronger than you'll ever be!" Galea looked as stunned as I was. I had no idea Tarka had come to care for (maybe even love?) Alden that much. 

She turned on me next. " Tristram! Why didn't you run out of here the second I'd told you who took him?!" She clung to the prison bars again, eyes still brimming with tears. "We have to get Alden, Tristram. He is our friend, we owe him that." Her tone softened and she started to fall. Elaine caught her and looked at me with sad eyes. She didn't want me to leave either. But I had killed Alden's brother. Didn't I owe him that? 

Rythmus coughed and all eyes riveted on him. "Tristram, I will not tell you what to do. Only you can make this decision.  But know your resources, know how to manage them. We can sit here all day and argue, but in the end, only you can decide what we do. Now how about we all finish our dinner and letTristram think." 

Elane and I were given privacy to talk and we ultimately came up with the plan. Rythmus, Tarka, and my friend Askimi would go and rescue Alden who was probably in Palkin territory somewhere. Galeo, Elane, and I would stay here. The best way I could help Alden was not by storming a fortress but preparing an army against Lesion so nobody could be hurt by him again. 

Thirty-Eight - Tarka

All I knew what to do at that moment was run.

I could hear leaves rustling behind me with heavy footsteps accompanying it, so I knew someone was following me in hot pursuit. I scrambled up a tree as fast as I could, thinking in that moment that it would be my only option of throwing off whoever was chasing me. I had forgotten, though, that this was a Viridian soldier behind me, who also had the ability to climb trees in a hurry. I heard him two levels below me, but I kept climbing.

I finally got to the point where it was no longer safe to climb any higher. I looked down for a split second and clung to the trunk beside me, for I was up over 100 feet into the air. The Viridian soldier was out of breath and climbing slower than I had, but it gave me enough time to act.

I coiled my tail around the branch to steady myself, took an arrow out of my quiver and shot him in the shoulder. He cried out, but it didn't phase him other than that. I looked around, felt around me, heart thumping from the adrenaline. In seconds, I felt my potential salvation in my pocket, and I took the chance. I threw down the knife, and it lodged into the soldier's chest. He let go of the branch and fell to the ground, dead.

Nausea overwhelmed me. As I climbed down slowly, it won over me, and I ended up vomiting over on the other side of the tree. Feeling weak, I wrapped my tail around the branch I was currently on and laid my head back against the trunk. I closed my eyes and took in a few deep breaths. I needed water, but where would the nearest lake or river be?

After a few minutes of rest to get my beating heart to slow down and for the nausea to go away, I continued my way back down and jumped down to the solid ground. I took care not to step on the body of the poor soldier. I stared at him for a minute. He died fighting for a cause he thought was right . . . Little did he know he was fighting for the wrong side. Poor man.

I started walking, not knowing where in Terraro I was going. Where was Rhythmus? What was happening to Alden now? Should I go back for him? Realizing I was still too weak to fight anyone else then, I knew the only thing to do was to find Rhythmus. I knew he had been with Tristram, but who knows if he was still there? Better to find at least one of them than nobody.

For hours I trudged on toward the Brackin territory. I at least found a stream to drink from; it was better than nothing. Not only was I thirsty, but I also needed to get the awful taste out of my mouth from earlier. At dusk, I reached my destination. I walked in through the gates, anxiously waiting to catch sight of my friends.

"A Viridian!" a Brackin woman exclaimed. "She must be a spy. Help! Police!"

I turned my head violently around me, looking for a place to escape to, but I took too long. Before I could even cry out, a huge Brackin man put his hand on my mouth and a sword pointed towards my side. I stood perfectly still, not wanting to make enemies with the brute.

"You're coming with me!" he bellowed. He guided me to a tent that was highly guarded and opened the flaps. The air was knocked out of me as he threw me to the ground.

"Who are you? And what are you doing trespassing in our land?"

"I, I'm looking for my friend Tristram."

His eyes widened. "How do you know Tristram? And how do I know that you're a friend and not a spy of Lesion's?"

"I killed one of Lesion's soldiers myself. I am also looking for Rhythmus, where are they? I must find them immediately!"

The Brackin man was silent for a few moments. He walked up to me, lifted me gently off the ground. Then he put his hands on my arms. "If I tell you where they are, you will not leave our land without our consent, is that clear?" he spoke softly but sternly.

"Yes sir," I answered equally softly. We stood in that position for a few moments just looking into each others' eyes, trying to read each other, with me breathing heavier than I wanted to show. I didn't want him to see my fear.

"Tristram is in a cell in the prison for safekeeping. We are looking to have him married to the REAL king's daughter, Elane, but until then, he needs to be in a safe place where we know where he is at all times. Who knows where Rhythmus is? Probably roaming around the town. He comes and he goes. It's a bad habit of his."

"I know all too well," I affirmed. "I don't know where the prison is, could you escort me so this doesn't happen again with someone else?" He nodded and took a hold of my arm. A strong hold, but not uncomfortable.

We took a few steps toward the tent flap when I remembered something and turned to him. "I almost forgot, what's your name?"

He almost smirked at me as we started walking out of the tent. "Galea. And yours?"

"Tarka."

"Tarka . . . I like it. It slips right off the tongue."

Thirty-Seven - Alden

We ran as fast as we could across the stretch of sand that stood between us and the border of trees that would offer much better terrain for stealth. My foot steps were clumsy with the shifting sand, and the picture of my mother sitting at home began to burn into my conscious, a guilt I'm not sure I will ever get past. Tarka kept a good pace and gave off no sign of an emotion. I can't help but wonder how she could stab Damian. Not less than twenty-four hours ago she loved him. I suppose this is what Fastus would have called a woman scorned, which no man was to mess with.

Regardless of the emotions either of us may be experiencing, we both knew we had to get to Rhythmus. My people are too well aligned with the Viridi, and our only hope now is just to cut the head off of the snake and hope two more don't grow back in its place.

As we neared the forest line, a sound of foot steps soon began to thunder behind us. Three Viridian soldiers, dressed in tunics and turbans to shield their eyes from the sun and sand, were quickly gaining ground as they rode short haired beluas, with their tongues flopping to the side of their mouths.

"Run, Tarka! Faster!"

We ran even quicker, Tarka moving ahead of me, but before we could reach the trees a whistle seemed to cut through the air. I tried to see what it was, but in mere seconds a stabbing pain dug into my legs, and I fell to the ground. Reaching down I found a rope twisted around my ankles, secured by two sharp pieces of iron that were now lodged into my legs. I tried to pull it out, but the blood made it hard to know how serious the injury was, and time was quickly running out.

Tarka had kept running, but as I fell she stopped to look at me.

"Keep going!" I cried. "You have to get to Rhythmus at all costs! Please, go!"

Tarka stared me for a brief moment, but at the sight of another rope being swung in the air, she took off, disappearing into the safety of her trees. One of the Viridian soldiers followed after her, but the other two stopped to take care of me.

"This was all too easy." One hissed as he slithered off his beast.

"Sorry to be such a disappointment." I growled.

"Oh, don't worry." He went on, dragging a clawed hand across the left side of my face. "We will have plenty of fun with you."

Thirty-six - Tristram

People crowded the streets and the rooftops cheering as I entered the capital. Banners waved, bands played, and merriment overwhelmed the people :their savior had come. I walked with my head high, smiling and waving at everyone. The shackles were still on, but loose enough so that everyone knew I had come willingly. It was great seeing the capital again: a sight I only dreamed about! To see all the townspeople celebrating my return was even sweeter. In the past thirty years, my banishment had been one of the darkest days, especially with a war following, but my return would be seen as one of the greatest in centuries. At least, I see it that way. This was all I had hoped for....But I wasn't free yet. Despite what Galea said, retracting my banishment would still be a difficult task, especially is Legion or King Pontus knew what I was up to. 

The "parade" wound its way through the capital up to the prison. Galea had been sure to not only announce that I was entering the city today, but also to plan the perfect route to parade me through the city. It was all too soon when I was handed over to the prison guards, schackled a little more securely, then led into my cell. On the bright side, my cell was clean and Askimi had ensured two guards loyal to our cause would stand at the cell door. I could still hear all the celebrating from the city hours later when my dinner arrived. Tomorrow I would have to go and plead my case in front of the council but tonight, tonight I could rest. 

Then she arrived. Elane in a plain white dress. She actually came running for my cellar door as I jumped up to met her. At first we just looked at each other, hardly believing this was possible, then our hearts caught up and we grabbed each others arms, both of us radiating joy. She had thinned since I last saw her and her shinning blonde hair had dulled. Her green eyes , however, still sparkled with the life inside her. The guards seemed to have disappeared, leaving Elane and I alone to talk for the first time in months. But we didn't talk much. Mostly, we just sat there, holding hands, wondering how we ever could have lived without each other before. 

Thirty-Five - Tarka

I was enraged.

It took everything in me not to scream til my lungs hurt. The man I thought was dead was alive. The man I thought loved me betrayed me.

Maybe this was all a dream. Or just a mistake. Maybe I can reason with him. Surely he still loves me and will listen to me. That's my only hope...

I looked over at Alden. His arms were moving slightly behind him. He made eye contact with me, then motioned towards my hands with his eyes. I nodded slowly, wanting to be rid of the scratchy bonds.

Before he could scoot over to where I was, the tent flap flew up, and in walked someone I also knew all too well.

 His smile sent chills through my body. And not in the good way. He made his way over to where I was hunched over in the corner of the tent.

"This little rat looks familiar," Lesion sneered.

I tried to kick him but my feet were also tied. He gave an evil belly laugh.

"And who's your friend?" He turned to Alden. I kept silent.

"It doesn't matter, I'll both be rid of you soon anyway. For now, I --"

"Hey boss!"

Lesion turned and snarled, "What do you want?!"

Damian shrunk back, a bit startled. "You're needed in the other tent, the council wishes to speak to you. It's on important business."

"Ugh, fine. I'll have to deal with you two when I get back." The ugly son-of-a-snake humphed out of our tent, brushing away the tent flaps like they were gnats in his face. Alden silently passed his knife to me.

I slowly started cutting the ropes when Damian turned to us and raised his eyebrows at the two of us. Then, he turned specifically to me and knelt down by where I was tied up. "So how long have you two been running around together?"

"Not long enough. Damian . . . what happened to you?! I thought you were dead."

He stood up and paced with his tail swinging back and forth. "I thought I was going to be when they took me back then. I was scared for you. I longed earnestly for you." The look he gave me then almost made me pity him.

"They took me to the dungeon. Lesion's. I didn't even know he had one. He came in, and I was never so scared for my own skin. Do you know what he said to me?" We shook our heads. "He said, 'Damian, you're a young strong fellow. I would hate for you to waste your talents and energy on a false conspiracy.' Of course I didn't want that. He said to me, 'Damian, we are not the enemy! I don't know where you got the idea that we were doing bad things. Yes, we are behind something, but it's for the good of the people, our people, and the Brackins and Palkins. Don't you want to help make the world a better place?' I said, 'Well of course I do.' 'Good,' he said reassuringly. 'I want you to be one of my lead soldiers, to help thwart the plan of an evil man, whose name is Rhythmus. He's trying to destroy our plans! Because he doesn't care about our planet! All he does is live by himself in his little hermit hole.'"

When Damian turned around just long enough, Alden looked at me and made a slight motion with his head towards Damian, and I nodded in acknowledgement and agreement.

Damian turned back to us. "So, my mission is to send out for him."

I felt my face go hot. "What are you going to do with him?" I whispered, scared to know the answer.

"If all goes well, either Roman or I will have the honors of killing him." I gasped.

"But you can't! He's not the bad guy! Don't you see? Lesion's brainwashed you. He's wanting to take over the whole planet of Terraro!"

Damian just laughed. "You're a fool, Tarka. I thought you were smarter than that. YOU'RE the one that's fooled."

I didn't have much time to retaliate before Alden yelled "NOW!" and we both charged toward him. Alden socked a surprised Damian in the nose, and I stabbed him in the back with my knife that I had pulled out of my pocket. He fell back in shock just long enough for Alden and I to escape through the outer tent flaps and run for the forest.

Thirty-Four - Alden

A sudden brightness hit my eyes as a burlap sack was pulled from head, allowing the salt from the built up sweat to cascade into my eyes, adding another factor of pain that could not be relieved as my wrists chaffed against the ropes that are binding my hands behind my back. I shook my head and blinked my eyes rapidly, searching for Tarka as well as our captors. As my vision became clearer I saw a thin, scaly figure standing before me, pulling off a pair of gloves. What? I thought to myself, as I then glimpsed Roman with a burlap sack in his hands, standing beside the scaly man.

"Roman?" I asked, my voice cracking with the pain of thirst. I should have had something to drink while I had the chance.

Roman avoided eye contact and staggered back through a pair of door flaps. The Viridian watched Roman leave, standing with the posture of a soldier, before he walked over to Tarka, who was lying in the far left corner. As the burlap sack was pulled from Tarka's head, Tarka's eyes widened and she seemed to recoil from the man.

"How?" She gasped.

"There are things you do not know." He said, voice firm and pointed, as a glare passed my way. Grabbing Tarka's tied up hands, he secured them to the pole that held up the stretched out hide of the tent. Tarka said nothing, but stared at him in an enraged disbelief. 

Roman called from somewhere else within the tent. "Hurry up, Damian. He'll be here soon."

Now I looked at the man in disbelief. Damian walked to me so he could secure my hands to the far right pole. As he did I looked into his eyes, but saw nothing in them. It was as if they were a blown out candle. "I thought you were dead." I said, not really suppressing my disappointment.

Once my hands were tied, he looked to me. "How disappointing it must be for you." He sighed, leaving me and Tarka alone on the sandy floor. 

"How is this possible?" I asked Tarka, but she gave no response. My stomach seemed to sink. Tarka's has always loved Damian, and I knew that. Perhaps this is how I go out, losing Tarka to them, and being tied up like a farm mammal. Even my brother's best friend had shown no mercy, but betrayed me and led me to believe I was safe when I was not. 

I sat still for a long time, feeling nothing but emptiness, when the voice of Lesion filled the tent. An anger began to rise within me, and I tried to stand. I refused to look weak in front of the man who cannot even fight his own wars. As I was part way up, my back fell against the pole and a clanging sound, followed by a soft thud, was heard. Looking over my shoulder I saw a small glimmer of light. I squatted back down, and searching with my hands until I found the point of a knife. Pausing for a second, I made sure Lesion was still busy talking. Then I quickly took up the knife and began sawing away at the ropes. I worked as fast as I could, not even questioning where the knife had come from, and jumped up to make my escape.

But then I thought of Tarka, and looked at her sitting sullenly in the corner. Did she even want me to save her?

Thirty-Three - Tristram

Having been captain of the guard, the men at camp trusted me as soon as Askimi walked me in. About fifteen of the twenty guards had trained under me and remembered me for the man I was. What was so special about me back then? I don't know. I was very short sighted and honor-bound. I was very prideful of my race. Yet somehow, the men still looked up to me. I told them of Legion's plot over breakfast, a typical army ration of some wafers and salted jerky, and they listened without skepticism. Many of the guard welcomed me back warmly before heading off to their duties around the camp and I headed off to the showers. My first shower since I had been banished. I had washed in streams, but they carry dirt too so you can never get quite as clean as you want. A Brackin shower is another thing. The Palkins taught us how to rig up portable bags and tubing so that by heating up warm water, we could have the luxury of a shower out on the mine sites. Of course our king quickly adapted them for the guard to use when out on the border.
 
After my shower, I slept in Askimi's tent till noon. I went out to the mess hall/tent to see Rythmus sitting at the head table with Askimi and Galea, the head of this troop. Rythmus signaled me to come sit with them. As I walked over, I noticed the worry on their faces. They were all concentrating on a piece of paper on the table between them. As I got closer, I saw it was a map of Terraro. Rythmus rose to greet me. "We were just discussing the best plan of attack" said Rythmus. Galea looked up, gave me a short curt nod, then went back to focusing on the map. Askimi, who had been writing something on the lower left corner, suddenly noticed me and rose to greet me as well. "So," I asked, "What have you come up with?"
     Askimi replied, "Well our first priority is to remove the Viridi counselor, and possibly King Pontus if need be. Perhaps if we can get a new ruler in place, we can at least halt the war."
     "Yes, but the problem is, we have no idea how to remove either of them from power." Rythmus continued. "We need proof to remove either of them, and an heir if we want to remove Pontus. Who is next in line?"
     Askimi blushed and glanced at me. "Currently, the next of kin would be Lord Backus. Though I wouldn't want him in power. He's very snooty. He lives very grandly with little attention given to his household." Galea coughed... I could practically feel Galea and Askimi's eyes staring at me as I looked at my feet. Rythmus broke the silence. "Is there something you need to tell us Tristram?" I continued to state at the ground.
     "Tristram has a sort of relationship with Elane, King Nami's daughter. If Tristram was to marry her, he would have the strongest claim to the throne if King Pontus were disposed," Galea said, with just a hint of jealousy.
     "I'd have to be unbranded in order to marry her," I replied.
     "That won't be hard!" Galea scoffed, "With the war going south, convincing the council to unbrand you would be the easiest thing on our list!"
     "but... but I..." I stammered. It wasn't that I didn't want to marry Elane. I did, I really really did! Ever since I had met her I had wanted to marry her! I just didn't want to marry her only to gain the throne... I didn't want to even be king!
     "But nothing," said Rythmus. His glare seemed to the only rational thought in my mind. I knew I had no choice but to go along with their plan. I bowed my head and submitted the argument. "Well that's one thing" Askimi smiled, "now we just need proof of Legion's involvement."
     "I'm sure we can find something once we get to the capital." Rythmus replied, "shall we head out at dawn?"

The next morning, a small group of soldiers, including both Askimi and Galea, left for the capital city. They had one prisoner in irons... me. Rythmus followed behind at a distance. My chains were loose and mostly for show but I was still weighted down. Not by the irons, but by the burden fate had given me. Not only did I need to stop the massacre of two races at the hand of another and dispose my king of his throne, but I was to become king myself. I see that my punishment had only started with banishment. certainly it would end much worse.
    

Thirty-Two - Tarka

"Who was THAT?" I asked Alden, walking away from our interesting encounter with his so-called "friend."

He rolled his eyes and let out a huffy breath. "Nobody important. All he cares about is getting girls. I should have known he hadn't changed a bit."

"Huh," was all I could say about that.

"I didn't want him to get any ideas about you."

"That bad, huh?"

"Pretty much. I don't want anyone getting any ideas about you." I turned to look at him and raised my eyebrows. He realized what he had said and blushed. "I mean, uhh, you're such an awesome girl, and a good friend, and I'd hate to see you get tangled up in a love-mess and get hurt somehow."

"Riiiight. Not like I haven't already been hurt." I scoffed and looked at my feet as they went in front of each other.

"I'm sorry," Alden was sincere.

"It's getting better. But I'm not completely over Damian yet."

"Oh," Alden sounded surprised and disappointed. "I guess it's going to take a while, huh?"

"Well, yeah. We were in love. Nobody gets over something like that quickly."

"I wouldn't know, I've never had that happen to me before. I've never loved a girl before."

I stopped. My eyes got wide. "Never? Not even a crush?"

"Well, yeah, I've had a crush on a girl. But she never knew. I'm not the aggressive type." He avoided eye contact.

"I guess I should give you some pointers then."

Alden grinned. "I'd like that," he said warmly.

We continued walking and talking, and we continued to search for potential food. The whole time, I was hoping and wishing he would really take these pieces of advice to heart. Because even though I wasn't completely over Damian yet, this Palkin boy, this young man was growing on me, and I was wrapped around his finger like a vine on a tree trunk. Even if he wasn't as masculine as the other men in his country, he had a heart of gold. He was protective, caring, and brave, whether he believed that for himself or not.

We finally came to another field, where there were large wild birds trying to scavenge for their own food. We stood really still, and lowered ourselves as close to the ground as we could. Alden whispered, "Do you have something to kill one or two of those? They would make a feast compared to what we've been eating lately."

I nodded and lifted my bow and arrow ever so slowly, so I wouldn't be noticed. 1... 2....

Something hit my back like a brick wall, and I let the arrow fly, of course missing the bird I had been aiming for. Before I could turn around, a gloved hand flew over my mouth and one over Alden's. Another set of hands tied our flailing hands, and then we were gagged and dragged away from the scene.

I looked up to see who had kidnapped us and couldn't believe who it was.

Thirty-One - Alden

When I had woken up the sun was already high in the sky. I had stayed up late trying to clean up Fastus' room, but hardly anything could be saved. Peering into the small closet Fastus had made, I found piles of dirty shirts. I grabbed one of the cleaner ones and pulled it on, sick of wearing my own torn up clothes, and left Fastus' room to see Tarka and my mother sipping tea in silence. For the first time I recognized a likeness between them. Before I would have rejected any kind of notion that said anyone was like my mother, but the truth was my mother did make me better in her own way, and so has Tarka. They're both the strongest people I've met.

My mother glanced up at me and did a double take. "Alden, you're awake."

"Late as usual." I said, sitting next to Tarka and across from my mother. "How are you feeling this morning?"

She gave a small sigh, but I could tell that the confusion and strangeness from yesterday was already starting to subside. "I'm doing much better now." She said, laying her calloused and worn hand on top of mine. "I quite like Tarka." She added, taking another sip of tea.

I nodded and looked at Tarka who seemed transfixed on the tea. "I'm going to go look for food today." I said, standing up from the table.

"I'm not sure you'll be able to find any." Mother said, eyebrows furrowed.

"I think I know a place." I muttered, thinking of what I had seen yesterday. On my way towards the door I grabbed a machete and a burlap sack. "I'll be back in a bit."

Taking a deep breathe I headed towards the cattle's tent. Peeling back the flaps to the entrance, my eyes began to sting and several hundred bugs seemed to swarm at me, as if even they didn't want to be trapped inside. I found my way to the last remaining cattle that I had seen yesterday. It looked up at me with bulging eyes, and a dry tongue hanging out of its mouth. Kneeling down, I put a hand again the short, tan hairs on its head. It gave a low moan, and leaned into my hand.

Gosh dang it, I thought to myself. How can I kill something so helpless? 

"Here for a mercy killing?"

I jumped up to see a young man standing before me, helmet held in one hand. "Roman!" I exclaimed, giving him a good punch in the arm. Roman had been my brother's dearest friend, and was just like Fastus, with the exception of his outstanding record with women, which Fastus never wasted time with. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." He said, kneeling down to pet the dying creature. "I left the war." He shrugged, standing up straight.

"What do you mean?"

"I got sick of it, so I left. Callow has basically given us all a death sentence out there, and I'm tired of seeing people die."

"Well you came to the wrong place then..." I said. "There's hardly anyone around here, it's a ghost town."

"Ah yes... but there are women here." He smirked. "Surely Callow wouldn't mind my helping us create the next generation before we completely die out."

"You're disgusting." I said, giving him another good punch. "By any chance can you help me with this thing? I have no idea what I'm doing, all I did was shovel their manure... "

"When you showed up to work at all." Roman scoffed, but he knelt down anyway and took the machete from my hand. "Why don't you wait outside."

I gave a shrug and headed out of the tent, grateful to breathe the fresh air, when I spotted Tarka heading this way.

"What are you doing out here?" I called to her.

She came up to me and gave me a half-shrug. "Your mother decided to take a nap, so I thought I would wander around. I've never been outside of my terrain before."

"Well, you should be careful, I don't know who all is around here." I said, just as Roman burst through the tent holding my burlap sack.

"The animal has been put out of its misery!" He exclaimed. "Now--" he stopped having seen Tarka. "Well, well, well... who do we have here?"

"No one." I said, taking the bag from Roman, and pushing him away from Tarka. "Thanks for your help." I grabbed Tarka's hand with my free one, and pulled her quickly back towards home. "Good luck with your women!"