Jon watched as Leofrith’s eyes lock onto the same point for just a second before grabbing his sister's hand and ran up the path. The others, including Jon, didn’t even attempt to look behind them as they followed suit. A snarling scream sounded behind them that sent ice to their veins as they ran. Moments later splashes of water as something charged across the stream.

“What is it?!” Aethred yelled, lacking his normal act of bravado. His voiced panicked and nasally, it sounded like he was crying.

“We need a place to hide! We can’t make it back!” a panicked voice from the front ignored his question. Whatever it was, it was moving quickly through the brush to Jon’s right, and a second sound of crashing told him at least a second one was behind him.

“The tree! Get to the tree!” Erin yelled ahead.

“What fucking tree?”

“There’s a big tree by some rocks ahead! We can hide there!”

Jon ignored who was talking and was more focused on the sounds of movement around him. The one behind him was shifting to his right trying to overtake them and the other was already well in front of him.

It normally only took less than 10 minutes to walk from the tree to the stream but the way back was uphill across a rough path, even running didn’t save that much time. The six spent just as much time scrambling up steep parts of the dirt path on all fours as they did running.

An uneasy silence descended around them as the sounds of pursuit slowly died down, Aethred tried to stop but one look from the only two who had seen the beasts stalking them made Erin grab him by the arm and pull. They ran for a moment longer, only hearing the sounds of their feet on the dirt or slipping as they climbed a slope. Jon felt it was worse than when he could hear them running behind him. ‘Fuck what are they, where are they?’

A burst of movement was all Jon saw as a flash of shadow crossed the path in front of him. As it entered the path it was pitch black, while on the other it was just as dark but accompanied by a nearly pure white as well. Pure white, with dirt stains, and strawberry blonde hair. The creature and the girl landed beside the path giving Jon his first look at it.

It was pitch black and looked like an oversized house cat with a broad, slightly elongated snout. It was nearly the size of a large breed dog. The cat had a hold of her smock and its claws were digging into her side as she screamed and tried to break free.

Leofrith skidded into a slide trying to stop as the others bolted past him, and Jon… Jon did what some might view as heroic but only if they’ve never been in a dangerous situation. Those in the know would call it for what it was, acting like an idiot without thinking.

The beast rolled off Jaesmin as Jon’s knee impacted its rib cage with a high-pitched scream. Because of momentum, Jon went right over the top of the girl and ended up crashing to the ground right next to the creature.

The cat was no worse for wear and got to its feet and shot into the brush in but a moment but its scream had elicited two deep roars from either side of the trail. A much larger shadow bolted across the trail in front of them heading in the direction the smaller creature ran. A hand grabbing his tunic brought Jon back to reality and his feet.

“Go, go, go, go!” Leofrith yelled at them and they started running again. The snarling and crashing could be heard from the left as the tree came in sight. Erin was standing outside the entrance looking everywhere waving them on. He saw her go down the hole as soon as Jaesmin spotted it and quickly followed. Leo didn’t even spare a glance back before dropping to the ground and scrambling in next.

Jon however completely expected the monsters chasing him would leap out of nowhere and he’d be forced to fight them in order to escape.

Isn’t that how stories always happen, the main character was forced to fight but miraculously survives through cleverness or sheer luck? As the case would be, the stories were wrong and Jon slid into the hole legs first. He only ended up sliding a little ways as the path actually led upwards but he scooted back and grabbed the brush they used to hide the entrance. They were safe.

“The fuck was that thing!” he could hear Aethred’s voice from inside followed by shushing sounds and a slap. Two sets of hands wrapped around his ankles and pulled him the rest of the way into the small crowded hideout. It was mid-afternoon so the hole in the ceiling that acted as their chimney provided a dim light.

Jon set his crossbow, which he’d somehow managed to hold onto against the wall, and looked at the faces of his friends, sister, and two new additions. A mix of exhaustion, terror, and even a bit of mirth from Andrew. He was crouched at the far end with a grin on his face like a madman that had a story to tell, or someone who was just happy to be alive.

“It was… a-a…. shadowcat,” Leofrith got out, still gulping in the air while trying to catch his breath. A low purring rumble and the sounds of claws scraping against wood and stone could be heard coming from outside, a whimpering cry came from within. “What are... you doing?”

Erin just gave him a glare as she tore open the sides of Jaesmin’s blood-stained dress, giving Aethred a kick when he tried to peak. She let the dress go and started pulling the smock off Jeasmin.

“Our ma’s a healer…” Jon added still winded himself. That seemed to be enough said, Leo looked at the blood soaking down his sister's side and nodded.

“They’re not bad but ma should look at ‘em. Was that a baby?” Erin asked while dabbing Jaesmin’s wounds with the cleanest piece of her torn smock before pressing hard on the deepest gash.

“I think s-” Leofrith was cut off as a resounding roar echoed through the small cavern, forcing everyone to cover their ears when it echoed.

Jon looked down the passage. Rather than seeing rays of sunshine filtering through their rough brush doorway, he saw a pair of slightly glowing yellow eyes and ivory teeth. The creature's head filled nearly the entire passage preventing it from moving further in.

Jon let out an audible sigh as it pulled back and he could see the light revealing the end of the tunnel. A shadow moved across the entrance and a new feline face with glowing eyes and sharp white teeth entered his line of sight causing Jon to stumble back. This one however was far smaller and already squirming its way through the tunnel.

Leofrith jumped to action and slammed the makeshift shield down in front of the entrance to their refuge. Echoing screams resounded again as a clawed paw reached around the edge of the shield and tried to pull, leaving two wooden crossbeams that made the barrel lid and a scrap of cloth that was used as a handle to hold it in place. Grabbing the lip seemed like a guaranteed way to lose a finger or two.

Another problem was barrels were made by coopers, they were difficult to make and no one in the village would waste even the lid of one on a quartet of kids. The one they had was cracked and missing chunks. Otherwise, they’d never be able to play with it. Hunks broke off as the wood splintered, Andrew pushed past to help.

“Stab it!” Aethred said hiding behind the girls, his eyes darting from the entrance to Jaesmin’s bloody side.

“I dropped my fucking dagger!” Leofrith shouted while trying to hold the shield from being pulled away by the dog-sized beast. Andrew for his part was looking for something to use as a weapon. The only ones they had were sticks... and Jon’s crossbow.

**********

The six sat in their small cave for hours, the little light they had came from a trio of tallow candles they’d decided to light after they collectively decided the two beasts weren’t leaving anyways. For good reason, the third smaller shadowcat, presumably the kitten to the two massive monsters outside, lay dead in the passage. A single sharpened stick loosed through its eye, killing it nearly instantly.

At first, they had all sat in silence, their nerves too much to speak. Then came the argument about leaving but the mom and dad shadowcats made that decision for them. Then the argument about the candles, they were tallow, not wax. Meaning they were the dried inner parts of reeds dipped repeatedly in animal fat, their hideout smelled like cooked meat. Finally the hideouts original four occupants started to play, joke, and tell stories. Being a poor villager was already a hard life, they had practice having fun during hard times. Plus it was their hideout. With Jon and his friends' encouragement, the other two joined in.

“So, I know they’re heathens but why does the Temple hate them so much,” Andrew asked hours later, continuing the conversation started about the villages only practitioners of the northern pantheon, “Jon and Erin aren’t bad.”

“Haven’t you read the scriptures,” Jaesmin asked.

“Their ma’s really not ba- Ow,” Aethred tried to throw in a quip but Erin had seen it coming.

“I can’t read well Miss Jaesmin,” Andrew replied sheepishly, “Da and Miss Hild have tried to teach me but I can’t keep track of the letters.”

If Andrew had been born in modern times he’d likely have been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD. Besides problems with letters, he had trouble focusing sometimes and was easily distracted.

Maybe his disability was a secret boon, his ability to keep the conversation going even with abrupt changes kept things interesting and quickly distracted the others when he spoke but he was usually pretty quiet.

Jon and Erin, being siblings didn’t always get along, and who wanted to hang out with their know-it-all sister all the time. Both siblings wanted to hit Aethred on a daily basis and often did because of his never ending perverted comments about their mother, a day without him was a day without wrestling or other violence. Not to mention constantly being called a heathen got on one's nerves. They all had one thing in common though, they were friends with Andrew.

“Huff, they disobey the true gods and attempt to subvert fate,” Jaesmin finally answered although her tone wasn’t derogatory or even arrogant. She was just saying, “It’s not about the Northern gods, if they followed them the way we follow ours they might be considered simply misinformed rather than full heathens. But rather than submitting to the will of the gods, they try to change their own fate.”

“Doesn’t everyone though?” Andrew was really confused, “Fate nearly saw you get eaten, but Jon changed that by kicking… That.” He pointed to the dead shadowcat at the tunnel.

“Ummm….” Jaesmin seemed at a loss for that, she was just helped, if not saved, by a heathen. After a moment she grinned and continued on smartly “Maybe he was fated by the gods to save me. Ever think of that? A Fate-Seer never said the fate the gods have in store for me, maybe it was supposed to happen like that.”

“Jaes, that’s not how Fate-Seers work,” Leofrith said, instantly deflating his sister. He was inspecting Jon’s crossbow, the item of the hour, except maybe the yo-yo that the others kept taking turns with, “They can’t predict your death… or maybe they can but don’t say it, otherwise everyone would be trying to change fate. The point is all they do is tell you your first steps you're fated to take towards your destiny.”

“Have you seen a Fate-Seer?” Andrew asked with a bit of awe, they came around on occasion but they charged a silver coin at least to see. Only 2 or 3 families in the village could afford to waste an entire silver coin. The now lost badger pelt they could have sold would have made them 5-6 copper, They’d have to kill 20 badgers to get enough for just one of them.

“Kind of personal but yes. I joined my father on his trip to Ebrus this past spring after planting and met with the one at the temple,” Leo said, still playing with the locking mechanism of the crossbow, “he told me I should learn to fight, etiquette, politics, and command. Father thinks I’m fated to become a knight-captain or more.”

“How’d he come up with that, you’ll be the Magistrate one day, wouldn’t that fit?” Erin joined the conversation. It had seemed weird to them, sharing their cave with the two nobles but Leofrith had ordered them to drop the honorifics and bowing for now.

“I thought so too but he said Magistrates have no need for fighting and only a little for command. That’s why Magistrates and knights are different despite being the same level of nobility. A knight needs to do all those things the Fate-Seer told me. A Magistrate would have been told just etiquette, politics, and finances,” Leo answered.

“I’ll probably be told the same! That and learn how to raise children, a few years and I’ll be giving Jon and Erin a new bro Oww...Owwww… Ok… Owwww…. I’ll stop!” Everyone laughed at Aethred’s pain, even he did after Erin quit beating him with the notched end of one of Jon’s arrows.

“I like it here,” Jaesmin said softly when the laughter died down, she caught herself smiling at that and turned it into a forced scowl, “I mean the cave, I could be quite peaceful. Outside the presence of heathens, it would make a lovely chamber to reflect upon life and scripture.”

Leofrith gave a slight shake of the head and held his hand in a placating gesture towards Jon. The two ‘heathens’ in the room understood. Others…

“Fucking right it would, it’s not half bad. Get rid of those two before they start sacrificing goats to their false gods, or something, and it’d be even bet—Owww!” Erin got him right across the ear that time. Another burst of laughter filled the caves.

“We don’t sacrifice anything,” she said giving Aethred another smack, “You’ve sat there waiting for us to finish prayers, you’ve heard us.”

“So what is the difference between yours and ours?” Jaesmin of all people asked, she glanced at her brother and quickly added, “In an effort to see where they’ve been misguided. So they may enter the true path.”

“Well… Ma told me like this once. The southern gods-” He stopped as he heard sniffing coming from the entrance and now familiar purred growl, after a moment it stopped, “Well the southern gods like to keep their followers like a flock of sheep in a barn. They’re safe from the weather and monsters but restricted in a prison. The sheep are okay with it because they’re told it’s the only way and of course they stay safe as long as nothing gets into the barn. The northern gods let their sheep roam wide pastures and open meadows, it’s more dangerous but the flock has the freedom to wander and can run or fight back. They have to worry about weather and monsters but they also get to see the sun, stars, flowers, and feel the wind. Our sagas, stories, we don’t have scriptures. Our sagas tell us it’s okay to seek shelter but we also need to fend for ourselves to grow stronger. Fate isn’t the will of the gods we’re destined to reach but a challenge. We’re challenged to reach our destiny ourselves and reach further if we feel we can go higher.”

“But that’s blasphemy, why would the gods want you to challenge their will by going further? It doesn’t make sense, it’d be like a king inviting their subjects to break the law and start a rebellion,” Jaes retorted.

“’cause the gods need us to be more than we are, perhaps more than we can ever be but we need to try. There are sagas that say one day the gods won’t be able to protect us, so every generation needs to be more prepared than the last.” Erin added.

“Protect us from what?” Andrew looked a bit concerned at the idea of mortals facing a threat even the gods couldn’t handle, Jaes had a similar look flash across her face for a moment.

“Dunno, ma said no one knows what it is but it’s the reason for Valhal, Himmel, and Hel…” at the blank stares Jon explained, “Valhal is where dead people go who die bravely in battle, they celebrate their fights and feast with the gods of war, bravery, and goddess of justice. Borje, Haldis, and Aasta. There’s other gods there too but they’re the main three. Our da died fighting bandits, that’s where he went. Himmel is where good people who do good things go, like healers and artisans who help the people get better and subvert fate. Ma said it’s a paradise, warm sun, green fields, plenty of food. A place to relax after a long life of work. Our grandma was a midwife and helped bring new life to the world before dying in her bed, she’s there. It’s the realm of the goddesses Katla and Ashild, one for beauty and the other the patron goddess of the hearth... Queen of the gods. And Engli, god of craftsmen.

All the gods and even the dead can wander between those two realms so long as they return to the one they were sent to. But none of the honorable dead ever enter Hel, because they could never leave. That’s where people who waste their lives go. Cowards who never did nothing to help their people. Ma said it’s dark, cold, and you’re trapped alone while your body rots over and over again but can never die… you’re already dead... That’s where Aethred’s going.” Aethred for his part didn’t interject and just lobbed a stone at Jon, who couldn’t help but grin and spoiled the spooky mood. He believed in the three realms but that didn’t mean Hel didn’t make for a good scary story.

“But how would that help? I thought it was follow the gods' word and you go to paradise, ignore them and you burn in the three hells,” Andrew apparently found a new topic that intrigued him, “and why does your place for bad people and ours have the same name?”

“It makes people want to do better,” Jon said.

“Because you stole the name from us,” Erin added at the same time.

“We did not! The holy scriptures have always called damnation the three Hells. You stole it from us,” Jaesmin called out like the idea her faith had stolen concepts of heathens was beyond scandalous.

“Your scriptures have called them hells since they were written, we’ve called it Hel since the time of the first mortals. Hel isn’t just the name of the place, it’s the name of the goddess of death herself! The place of suffering is in her stomach… she eats the souls of the damned!” Erin’s words turned dark as went on and she said the last part with a sinister tone and mischievous grin. If her goal was to renew the spooky mood, it was achieved. Jon watched Andrew look down his shirt then pat his chest a few times with a grin. Like he’d double checked to make sure his soul wasn’t getting chewed on. Jon grinned again at the subtle Joke from Andrew, it wasn’t the first time he’d heard the Saga’s describing the afterlife. Ma could do it better, she knew entire sagas about that realm.

His grin quickly faded as a howl burst through the night followed by another snarling roar that sounded more panicked. The sound of growls and yelps filled the air outside for a minute before silence. Quick sniffing could be heard outside before voices could be heard in the distance.

“We’ve got a scent,” a rough and deep male voice called out. The children jumped as they heard the only voice other than their own for hours.

“Children are you in there?” a softer female voice came wafting up the tunnel. Jon peaked down the passage to see a pale face with silver hair and two pointed ears looking at him. “Are you okay, is anyone injured?”

“We’re fin- No we’re okay but Miss Jaesmin’s hurt. The bleeding’s stopped but her sides cut up pretty bad,” Jon answered back as the pretty face was replaced by that of a large man with a bald tattooed head and trimmed beard. Next, a long arm reached in and the shadowcat was pulled out by its tail.

With it safe outside and the way open, Jaes was the first to slowly crawl out. Jon went last, shuffling through the passage with his crossbow in hand. As he came out he saw dozens of torches and well over 100 people, knights, rangers, squires, village guards, men at arms, villagers, the Magistrate, and worst of all his mother. Gulp.

**********

The walk back was relatively quick with tall knights crushing the brush underfoot in front. A pair of rangers had placed Jaesmin on a litter after making sure her injuries were under control. They'd used magic to heal her already but they carried her anyways. The three shadowcats were also carried along, as well as a badger with his head crushed.

Nothing was said after checking for injuries and any attempt to talk was quickly stopped by the rangers and knights. They didn’t seem on edge but rather kept their senses keen in the dark forest. Jon walked along with his mother gently grabbing the back of his neck with one hand and Erin’s in the other. Andrew and his dad walked directly behind while Aethred was being carried on his father's back. Leofrith and Jaesmin walked with their father, each child with a man at arms directly behind them and a layer of village guards around them. The eerie part to Jon was his mother, she didn’t hug them or cry, she just held onto them and watched around them. Jon couldn’t help but think his mother and everyone else knew there was something else out there and just wanted to get out of the forest.

Soon enough they were safely within the palisade. The parents were instructed to bring the four to the manner at midday and sent home. The quiet, tense walk through the forest broke down as soon as they were in their hut. Jon was surprised to see Andrew and his father, Kaden, walking in with them. Hild and Kaden broke down crying and started hugging all three between them. The three children soon had tears streaming down their faces too, not that Jon would ever admit that to Aethred.

It didn’t take long for Jon to calm down in his mother's embrace, he felt safe. Maybe that’s what led to what happened next, a mother's instinct telling her that her children had overcome their fear and felt sure that everything would be alright. The moment when crying and hugs turned to a wooden spoon and three 10 year olds trying to scramble away with futility. Erin ended up pinned by their mother while Jon was bent over her knee and his pants roughly yanked down.

“WHAT…”

Slap! Slap!

“WERE…”

Slap! Slap!

“YOU”

Slap!

“THINKING”

SLAP!

Jon’s only respite came a minute later when it was Erin’s turn, he laid face down on the floor with his bare bottom still exposed, Andrew lay next to him in much the same state. Mother owned multiple wooden spoons and Mister Kaden had borrowed one. They laid there listening to Erin’s screams of agony turn to whimpering cries of pain as she lost the will to scream out.

It had been a long time since he’d felt the sting of a wooden spoon across his bare cheeks, years had passed. He was too big to get a spanking like that… then again he was almost eaten by wild animals and had an entire company of knights help search the forest for him and the others. Not to mention the Magistrate himself. It still wasn’t fair, they were just playing.

After the spanking and yelling from both adults in the room, things calmed down. Hild and Kaden sat on Hild’s straw mattress and gave them something to eat before sending them to bed. It was only dried meat, bread, and a bit of cheese but they hadn’t eaten all day. Andrew and Mister Kaden spent the night as it was already late. Andrew slept next to Jon and Mister Kaden shared his mother’s mattress. Jon made a mental note to tell Erin and Andrew never to mention that fact to Aethred. He finally found a position that didn’t bother his bruised backside and dozed off.

**********

The following morning the three of them awoke to Hild making a porridge while Kaden sat nearby looking over Jon’s crossbow. Jon crawled out of bed to sit near the fire but soon decided to stand instead, Erin and Andrew both decided to do the same. Bruised backsides didn’t like hard floors.

They ate in near silence, only speaking out once to explain what had happened but both Hild and Kaden put a stop to it. She’d hear it for the first time when they explained themselves to the Magistrate. Her harsh tone softened after seeing the scared faces looking at her. She assured them they wouldn’t be flogged or enslaved, their punishment would likely be to clean the stables, scrub out chamber pots, or something else safe but humiliating. ‘I hope I get the stables. Cleaning Jaes and Leo’s poop out of a bucket would be..” He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head at that.

He knew he couldn’t play with them but he kind of liked the nobles. They were just like other kids when adults weren’t around. The idea of cleaning their pots would be awkward anytime he was near them.

The time soon came as a guard stopped to gather all five of them and escort them to the manor. They met Aethred and his father along the way, Aethred was walking with a limp and had a large red welt that was turning into a nasty bruise on his face.

“Hild, Kaden... before we get there, I’d like to apologize on my son’s behalf, he spoke of what happened yesterday and admitted to some… inappropriate statements concerning you,” Piers said, looking embarrassed, “He’s been dealt with.”

Jon couldn’t help but sneer at Aethred but quickly dropped it after a look from his mother that said he’d look just the same if he kept it up.

They climbed the hill towards the manor, the eyes of knights and Rangers on them, two were familiar to Jon, one bald head and one with silver hair. Erin recognized them too as they were the ones that helped them out of the tunnel. She turned hard to run straight at them, dodging their mother’s grasp, and hugging the silver-haired woman’s waist as soon as she reached her.

“Thank you! Thank you… for … finding us,” She said between sobs. The Elvanni woman crouched down and hugged her back.

“You’re welcome little one but you best go before you get in more trouble,” The woman said as she pushed Erin back, looking into her eyes, she grinned at Erin.

“I’m sorry miss ranger,” Hild said as she directed Erin back and bowed lightly with a closed fist over her heart, “I am Hild, My children Jon and Erin. You have my thanks as well, to the Knights of Ederath, the ancient line of Hrothgar, and to the fair folk who grace the mountain forests and guard the spires of Duratan.”

That had gotten more looks than the procession of trouble-making children. Some of the knights smirked while others looked on with surprise. One of the knights stepped forward with a genuine smile upon his face. He looked Hild up and down before doing the same to Jon and Erin.

“Many of the north wander, but few that do ever settle… I guess the road isn’t a place for rearing children. There’s no need to thank us, child of Ederath. I’m sure you know our oath and purpose. Ser Avar and Ranger Neasa, and I’m Ser Hallr” He smiled down at her, her five and a half foot frame dwarfed by his six and a half. He quickly added, “No need to thank the pointy ones either, short stature but egos like giants. Please don’t feed it further.”

Hild and the rest were at a loss as roaring laughter suddenly filled the air. She nodded and barely turned back towards to doors to the manor before the two easily distinguishable groups started throwing quips and jabs at each other. ‘man dresses’, ‘hairy assholes’, ‘pointy-eared halflings’, and ‘dogbreath’ were among the many insults thrown back and forth. Each garnering laughter, even by those insulted.

The men at arms standing at the door and the small group of guards breathed a collective sigh of relief, there was no way they could stop them if the visiting group of trained killers started a bout amongst themselves. Many thought those of the Elvan were thin-skinned and quick to take insult but those in the know would tell you that banter was a part of the soldier's lifestyle and even the Elvanni were no different.

The group of four children and three parents walked inside the main hall of the manor, where the ruler of Terra and its lands sat waiting. Ellis sat next to Eva to his left while Leofrith stood with his hands behind his back to his right, slightly behind the chair. Jaesmin knelt to Eva’s left in a new pure white dress. She was on both knees, hands clasped in her lap and her head held down.

All that had entered stopped in the middle of the room and bowed low. Jon was looking at Jaesmin as he bowed until his mother clicked her tongue at him. He couldn’t help but look at her, she was wearing makeup, a lot of makeup. Most of her face was covered in powder and her lower lip looked swollen.

Standing to the side was a knight and a Ranger, both wearing markedly better armor than the ones outside and standing with an air of authority. Neither said a word or greeting but quietly observed. The Elvan woman seemed bored with the affairs while the Ederathan Knight seemed curious with Jon, Erin, and Hild. Jon wondered if his family's out of place sandy blonde hair gave them away in a place where orange, rosy blonde, auburn, or brown was normal. Even his pale blue eyes were different, most had hazel eyes with a few green or blue that were much darker hue than his own.

“Rise, let us get this over with,” Ellis clapped his hands and stood, “Have your children-”

“Hold my dear husband,” Eva interrupted, “Is there not one more that should be here? You where is your wife?”

“Your… ummm, excuse me. Madam, my lovely wife had decided not to attend toda-” Piers started.

“Decided not to? She defies my husband and house?” Eva snapped at the already nervous Piers, causing him to flinch.

“I apologize on her behalf… She has been at the shrine since dawn, seeking the gods' guidance and offering penance for transgression our family may have taken,” Piers said with a shaky voice. Piers was a tall and powerful man, worked with his hands to fell and split massive trees but in the face of a woman that only needed to speak to kill him, he broke. Not even the men at arms would fault him, they knew Eva’s temper better than most.

“Truly!” Eva’s eyebrows shot up as her tone immediately changed, “...very well, even kings shouldn’t disturb a devout in prayer.” She turned to her husband with a bright smile on her face.

‘Bootlicking, pure and simple, Misses Lora was religious but she’d be out of her right mind to ignore a nobles summons for the shrine, except to appease Madam Eva.’ Jon thought but didn’t say anything and only wished his family could do something like that but the lady of the manor would probably accuse them of trying to defile the shrine.

If it wasn’t for the insane zeal and streaks of anger and cruelty, most would find her a prize with a smile like that. A mere 28 years old with hazel eyes, silky chestnut hair reaching her waist, beautiful face, and fine figure. The fact she was from a wealthy family didn’t hurt either.

Next to her husband, she looked like most noble couples. A beauty and a man who had been quite handsome but now had a bit of a belly and receding hairline with patches of gray that made him look dignified in his expensive if gaudy clothing. That’s what happened when a contract is signed to have a 12 year old eventually marry a 2 year old of a neighboring noble.

“Ahem… Have your children discussed the events of yesterday?” Ellis continued. Only Piers nodded.

“Hild and myself decided that we would hear of yesterday at the same moment as you milord,” Kaden said, head bowed.

“Unnecessary but your intention is well noted. You,” He pointed at Jon, “Start from the beginning and leave no detail unspoken.”

Jon had been told to tell everything and everything came out. The Magistrate stopped him before long and chose another child to continue on. Perhaps to see if their stories align without seems or see the reaction of all of them to see if any would dare to lie.

The children told them about first discovering the cave and how it’d become their secret spot. How they’d gone out to play and the fighting over Aethred’s comments about Hild. The interrogation stopped briefly there at Eva’s discretion. After ordering a guard to cuff Aethred it continued on with Aethred crying on the floor.

The Ranger standing by the side only seemed to take note when Jon’s new bow was mentioned and he was forced to try to describe it. Rather than listen to his mumbled explanation, a guard was ordered to go to their hut and retrieve it.

Soon the story moved to badgers and rock collecting, Eva stopped them again and ordered a guard to make a note to check the market for the conman selling rocks as gems. Then was the running and finally, the topic of Jaesmin’s attack came about.

“Is this true?” Ellis said looking at his son, who only nodded and bowed his head, “Speak boy!”

“Yes father, I held her hand but the beasts pounce tore her away from me. Before I could provide my sister aid, he… Jon had kicked it off. I helped her to her feet and grabbed him before we kept running.” Leofrith looked disappointed in himself but his father only nodded and gestured for Andrew, whose turn it was to speak, continued.

Only a few minutes later the story returned back to the cave, the shadowcat dying, sitting around talking, messing with the toys. Andrew was the last one to give his part of the testimony and Jon could swear he could see Jaesmin stop trembling when Andrew skipped the discussion of religion and moved on to the rescue. A few simple questions to clarify things and it was over.

“Very well, this seems to match up with what my own progeny stated,” Ellis said while standing up again, he’d sat during most of the testimony, “Seems you four are not only lucky but two of you is due a reward…” He looked pointedly at Jon and Erin.

Reward?? Almost dying, making a huge mess for the village, inconveniencing knights, rangers, and the Magistrate? How could the same event that led to one of the worst ass whoopings in his lifetime be the same one that earned a promise of reward from a noble?

A servant approached the Magistrate from behind and whispered something into his ear. Everyone waited for the message to be related, the only two who could apparently hear was Ellis, Eva, and if his reactions were to account for it, the knight. His eyebrows raised up before looking at Hild and Kaden. He nodded his head back and forth with a contemplative look before nodding with a smile. The servant stepped back and Ellis again directed his attention to his guests.

“There’s been talk to turn Terra into a proper town, proper homes, proper roads. The initiative to bring trade and prosperity to these lands was to begin next year. I believe we can start with one part a little sooner… In reward for your son providing aid to my daughter while both her and his own life was in danger; and your daughter providing treatment to her injuries. I’ll award you the construction of a new home. To be built before the first snows fall. It shall be built upon…” he looked at his servant who pointed at Kaden, “built upon Mister Kader’s lands while both shall belong to your family forevermore.”

Jon didn’t understand, it sounded like they were going to tear down Mister Kaden and Andrew’s hut to build a new house for them, will they move into their old hut? But what about owning both? It didn’t make sense. Also, Kader?

“I assume there will be no issue?” Ellis asked, seeing the confused reaction of the children and Hild and Kaden standing there with their eyes bulging out of their heads. The look begged him to stop but the Magistrate didn’t seem to catch on.

“No, milord,” the two shocked parents answered in unison. A smirk came to Eva’s face.

“You also have my congratulations, perhaps you’ll be able to break them of their heathen ways Mister Kaden.” She smiled sickly sweet at them before finishing, “You’re wedding is sure to be the talk of the village.”

‘Wedding what the fuck?’ crossed Jon’s mind.

“What the fu-oof!” Aethred didn’t get the chance to finish before his father dished out the punishment that was surely coming by his hand or another.