Mat drank one of the boosters right away and went to sleep, finding a small but comfortable bed, feeling guilty seeing how the old man had obviously decided to give him his own. He lay a few yards away on two bales of hay, covered by a thick woolen blanket snoring deeply. It was the hand of Mamaran shaking him up a few hours later. At first, Mat went for his swords, but Mamaran saw it and urgently said, “Easy, Farlander. Just trying to wake you up. The Captain said you’d want to be up…” That got Mat’s attention right away. “… before we leave,” Mamaran added. That got Mat to jump up from the bed, looking around. “What did I miss? Where is the Princess? Where is the old man? It’s still dark outside.” Mamaran shook his head, as if he did not expect nothing better from the Farlander, then decided to inform him of the most important update. “Our scouts have returned. The enemy is but a few hours from here. They stopped for a night and made a camp there, but with Paleskins you can never know.” Mat sighed as he looked at Mamaran wearing his full armor again. “So, you are leaving?” Mamaran nodded his head. “All of you?” Mamaran smirked. “The Princess is up. We are trying to tell her to ride a wagon, but she wants to be up on the horse with the rest of us.” “Okay…” Mat said. “And where is she now?” “You will find her in the lounge.” The lounge was almost all empty when Mat walked in. Four or five drunks snored in the darkness on the benches and floors, while the smell of the smoked pipes and spilled beer still lingered heavily in the air, a few candles still burning stubbornly, not ready to give up. He approached the table where the Princess set alone, yawning on his way, but observing her clearly, watching her chew on a piece of dried meat, hard-boiled egg, and pickled vegetables that filled the rest of her plate. “They told me you saved my life. That you fought well,” she said, not really looking at him but not really looking away, more as if he was just a distraction, and her thanking him was just politeness and courtesy that she felt she should adhere to. “I guess it’s good we let you live there in the dungeon.” Mat let go of a soft chuckle. “Yeah, really good,” he muttered out, more words stuck in his throat. She was cold and distant. Maybe it would have felt better for him if he stayed in the room and have Mamaran slap him on his cheek a few times. Of course she is. Why shouldn’t she? Who the fuck am I anyway? If someone threw a bucket of ice-cold water on me, I’d feel better. Mat sighed. “Not that it’s any of my business, but… there are but a few of you. If you…” “Our troops will come in numbers. A few dozen of our knights have already gathered, camping outside.” “A few dozen? Huh… I feel better for all of you already. Paleskins have no chance now,” he said in a patronizing voice. “We are what we are. Hopefully, some of the kings will send reinforcements, although, knowing them, I would not hold my breath.” Mat sighed, set next to her, watching her shuffling food in her mouth as fast as she could. A moment later, she’d finish. And then she’d be gone. And if she is lucky, he did not save her in vain. “You know, I never got to ask you, did you catch up with Helen, or 'Eilen? Besides, what is your deal with her?” He asked her a question, not sure if it was for the answer or just to hear her voice. Or just to make her sit there and be next to him for a few seconds longer. “Well, I guess I can tell you now. But, sorry to say, I do not know a whole lot about 'Eilen or her life story, but… I met her in a little village in Oromar plains. That’s about a ten-day ride West from here. She is a Farlander like you, right?” “Not exactly like me, but yeah, close by.” “Well, what I know from the story that was told to me is that she washed on the shore of the lake there, and this family saved her. Sort of took her in and helped her get back on her feet. She stayed with them for a long while. Eventually, she left, went places, but always ended up returning to them. Then, about a few weeks ago, the Priests came to the village, wanted to baptize everyone. "What I heard and saw, things went bad. Very bad. Villages rebelled. The blood was spilled. The Priests ended up killing almost half the village, including the young boy who found her and his baby sister. "Well, since then, she was eager to get to the High Priest and make him pay for what his men have done.” “The kids probably reminded her of her siblings,” Mat muttered to himself. “No wonder she is so eager to get to the High Priest. She has a score to settle.” “Wouldn’t you?” “I guess I would.” The Princess sighed and then finished her glass of apple cider. In the end, she added, “I was hoping to catch her. But lost her. We wanted to hunt down the High Priest and make him pay for what he has done. Now, I only hope she does not find the High Priest, not all by herself.” “Why not?” “I like her. There is a strength in her. And honesty. But if she faces him alone, it would be her death.” “I see.” Out of questions to answer, the Princes decided that the chat time was over, so, she got up, shook her head, and put her gown on. “You’re not going to advise me to lay down and rest?” she suddenly asked. “Nope. I know you’re going to be fine,” Mat said cheerfully. “Just have enough brain to put something over your head if it starts raining arrows again.” Those words made her stop and turn around, finally giving him a smile. “Hope to see you again, Farlander,” she said. “Really hope to see you again, Mat.” Was it his dream or did she really say that? Did his mind just make that up? And she knew my name?! Mat needed a cold water bucket more than ever. Outside, it was still dark. People have gathered, and the Captain was giving a speech.

“When all the kings have left this land, when they signed agreement that none of them would claim it, it is like they have also forgot about everyone who lives here, forgot about us, but also about thieves and murders, forgot about Paleksins and Orcs, and let them flourish, unchecked. That’s why we formed this brotherhood of knights, to protect us and do the justice when no one else would.

But we can’t do it alone. We fight but for one head we take off, Orcs come back with two. And now the Paleskins. We need help. And you need help.

“Come and join us," he said louder in his guttural voice. "We fight not for the glory of the kings, we fight not for the glory of fighting. Heck, most of us do not even like to fight. The only reason we fight is to protect, to stand up to monsters that come to kill you all, take everything you’ve got. So, come and join us. We are few, but we are proud for we know our cause is the noblest of them all. Come and join us. Without uniting us all, we stand all divided for the Paleskins, Orcs, or any other monster to come and do with us as they please. Only united we can fight. United we stand the chance to push them away from our lands, so we can leave here all in peace that we all so crave for.” “Actually a pretty good speech. Not too short and to the point.” Mat told himself as he walked slowly toward a big wagon with four horses already tied to it. From all the barrels filling its space behind, he was guessing that would be his ride. Vaina was there, putting the last of the supplies inside as three of the young brothers circled her. Just from the look of them, Mat knew what they were up to even before they started to speak. “We buried all the supplies we could in the field,” said Rem, the youngest and the smallest of them.” Hopefully, they will not find them.” “I saw you working all night. I guess that is what it was all about. My good boys, I’m so lucky to have you,” Vaina said as she caressed Ren’s cheek. “It’s the least we could do. Also… We’re all so grateful for what you have done for all of us, ever since our parents died. We would have starved to death, froze in that winter if it was not for your kind heart.” “You know, you do not need to thank me. I could not love you more if you were my own flesh and bone.” The tear curled up in Ren’s eyes, but he pushed it back, swallowed hard what was in his throat, staring her straight in her eyes while two of his brothers just froze with their head’s bound, eyes on the ground. “We won’t be coming with you.” “What?” “It’s the best thing we can do, join the knights, fight the Paleskins. I figure, I’m good with a bow, and Mak and Pen can swing an ax as good as any. We can help. Besides, you do not need us anymore. We would just be extra mouths to feed.” “You could never be an extra mouth to feed.” “When things settle down, when we drive the Paleskins away, when you come back, we’d be glad to come back and work for you again. But I’m the youngest, and I’m almost seventeen years old. Have to take a stand. For something. You know it’s the right thing to do. If we leave with you, it would be like hiding. Have to try to help others just like you helped us. It’s what you taught us to do, not only by mere words but by your actions too. You know what I mean.” Mat knew what was coming, a warrior of many battles and wars, yet seeing Vaina giving all three of them her famous hug, seeing them boys fighting hard not to sob, he had to turn away and snort and clear his throat, do anything to stop his own tears wetting his cheek. He found the old man on the other side of the wagon. “How long till we get there?” he asked him. “Two days ride to the border if we don’t stop for a night and change horses every ten hours. Might be hard to do that. Stations that we might normally serve us will probably clear out, and fresh horses will be most likely in high demand now. So, I would not count to cross the border so fast.” “Damn, I need to get there fast.” “We could take Ertin River if there is a barge there. That could take us straight to the City of Lan in three days' time.” “Let’s see if we can do that. If you can help me get to the city in the shortest amount of time, I will compensate for your loss. I give you that promise.” The old man turned to look at his sister that came around. “I trust him,” he said. She shrugged her shoulders, “Well, we have goods to trade with. Might as well try.” Mat looked around, trying to have the last glimpse of the Princess, but the first rays of daylight that started to chase the night away did nothing to reveal her presence. Disappointed, he sighed and turned back to the old man. “It’s going to be a long journey. A lot of time sitting down. Probably will have a lot of spare time. I would not mind trying that brew that you talked to me about last night. From your mother, you know. I think I’m going to need my mind sharper than ever before this is over.” The old man had his smirk on, nodding his head. “I thought you would want it. So, I’ve already taken it. Don’t you worry, my friend. We’ll get you fixed just fine,” he said and padded Mat on the shoulder. “Oh, one more thing,” the old man said and hustled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. “The stranger with a black hat that visited us last night…” “Yes.” “Last night when he left, he dropped this off to Ren, said to give it to you.” Mat took the paper and realized it was a note from Eisen. It read, 'The ship has arrived. They sent me a message. The timetable has been moved. Have not more than ten days left.'