“Boys,” the gray haired wagon driver said not bothering to look back. “We are about to reach Mutton, and I will be stopping here for the night. I recommend you do as well there are rumors of monsters in the area. “

“I thought they were already..” Adles started before Orn elbowed him in the side.

“Thank you for the warning,” Orn told the driver. “I know a few people in the area and they should have an empty room for the night.”

The old man nodded still watching the road. “Good lad,” he replied, “rushing to arrive a day earlier is not worth risking your life over. Slow and steady…” the man slowly droned on.

The boys in the bed of his empty cart; were were not listening.

“What was that for?” Adles whispered, and rubbed at his side.

“You were about to about to tell him I killed the monsters,” Orn whispered back sparing the old man a quick glance. They had quickly realized the older man did not hear well, but he would prefer not to be overheard.

“So?” Adles countered.

“I was not exactly quiet about leaving last time,” Orn said scratching the back of his head. “If they see me people will talk. And if they notice me…”

“They will notice me,” Adles finished, but still not looking convinced. “But why not tell Grafk? He could drive us through the night?”

“No one believed me when I told them, until I held up the goblin mother's ear,” Orn said motioning with his empty hands. “I doubt he will believe me without proof.”

“He might though,” Adles said uncertain.

“It is possible,” Orn conceded, “But if he does not he will remember and mention the boys who claimed to have killed a monster. I am sure that would come up in conversation at wherever he was staying.”

Orn could see Adles weighing the options. Eventually his shoulders slumped. “I see your point, we should not risk it.”

The driver cleared his throat, “You boys did not fall asleep on me already?” he asked actually glancing over his shoulder at the pair.

“No, sir,” Adles replied looking up.

The old man simply chuckled. “Sure lad. We are almost there,” he said pointing ahead a the town lit in the evening light. “I was asking if you wanted me to be drop you anywhere?”

“The square is fine,” Orn replied hoping the old man would not press. “We are headed to the west end of town, and I am sure you are headed to Ms. Martha’s inn. There is no need for you to go all that way just to turn around.”

The old man laughed. “That I am,” he replied. “Everyone from out of town calls it ‘The Inn.’ I thought you said you were not a local?”

“I am not,” Orn said quickly. “My mother is from Mutton though. The old village.”

“Oh, that explains it,” the man replied before explaining how the moving of the town had made everything easier for carriage drivers like him.

…

Adles and Orn waved at the wagon driver and started toward the west end of town.

“I cannot believe you can lie that easily,” Adles said as Orn led the way down the street headed west.

“Huh?” Orn missed a step. “What are you talking about?”

“Grafk,” Adles replied. “You told him you knew people here. You said that they had rooms. Then you said your mother was from here.”

“Not a lie actually,” Orn said smiling. “I met Ms. Martha and her husband the last time I was here. They happen to run the inn, so they do have rooms, and we could definitely stay if we asked. It might be in the stables if the inn is full though.”

“That might as well be a lie the way you phrased it though,” Adles said flatly.

“It really was,” Kao added from Orn’s right. “You should listen to your friend. I do not want my knight to have a reputation for being dishonest.”

Orn adjusted his cloak hood to completely block his view of her, and rolled his eyes.

“Hey!” Kao objected. “What are you doing ignoring your goddess?”

Orn smiled as she feigned offense.

“Orn,” Adles voice cut in and he realized the other boy had been talking.

“Sorry, I got distracted,” Orn replied.

“I was asking what about your mother?” Adles repeated.

“What about her?” Orn asked apprehensively.

“You said she was from here,” Adles sighed. “These are the king’s lands, so unless there was a princess I have never heard of she cannot have been from here.”

“She was a shepherdess,” Orn said with a shrug. “Why would a princess be wandering the king’s lands?”

Orn heard the other boy stop, and turned to look back at Adles. The other boy was staring at him.

“What?” Orn asked.

“Your mother was a shepherdess?” Adles continued to stare at him as if he was some sort of strange animal. “And your father is a count?!”

Orn looked around quickly as his friend’s voice had risen a bit at the end. Seeing the street was deserted he turned back to Adles. “Yes, now stop yelling,” Orn motioned for the other boy to lower his voice, and keep moving.

“You mean they are that couple? The one from the songs?” Adles asked excitedly.

“That is what my bunk-mates told me,” Orn shrugged.

“What are they like?” Adles asked excitedly. “Is the Count that good with a blade? Is your mother really so beautiful the king wanted to marry her?”

Orn found himself again talking about how his parents and comparing them to bard’s tales. “… Why the interest though? I was told that nobles tended to dislike the story.”

Adles shook his head. “It does bring out strong opinions, but some version of it is sung every year at my family’s party. Grandfather insists on it. It is very important to him.”

Adles interest suddenly made sense, his grandfather was clearly his hero. Orn could not understand why his grandfather would care. Not sure what to say, he gave a noncommittal nod and kept moving.

“What is it like to know your parents are legends?” Adles asked after a few minutes of silence.

The question was one his bunk-mates had asked but there was something about the question that felt different. “I did not think about it a lot. I knew my father had done something impressive, but I never thought of him as different. He is just my father. It is the same way with my mother. She amazing but she is also just my mother,” he shrugged. “I actually did not know she was from Mutton until a few weeks ago when I got a letter from her.”

“You never compared yourself to them, or worried you would not live up to their legacy?” Adles asked.

“Ummmm. No, not really,” Orn tried to find the right words as something was clearly eating at Adles. “I was a very sickly when I was little so they were thrilled when I started getting healthier after my pathway. If anything they seemed worried I will take after them.”

“Oh,” Adles managed clearly disappointed.

“Why?” Orn watched the other boy’s expression closely. “Are your parents subjects of exaggerated songs? I am serious.” Orn added quickly as Adles expression darkened. “they never had bards or minstrels visit. I did not even know there were stories about them until I came to the academy.”

Aldes expression softened and he shook his head. “It is not my parents,” he looked down. “It is my grandfather. For the love to the goddesses he is the Blood Covered Titan.” Adles looked over at Orn who shook his head. “Highland warriors have a reputation for strength and courage. They have been the warrior the kings have called on since the founding of the kingdom. Then there is my grandfather. He is the highland warrior.”Adles sighed and slumped.

“In the time of the king’s grandfather, the war with the empire had already started turning in their favor.” Adles said as he trudged forward.

Orn nodded remembering the brief passage from Tack’s notes.

“Strategy and picking the battlefield had helped, but the empire caught them unprepared and in the open. Everyone knew it was over if the empire hit them before they got organized. So the King gathered his guard to charge the empire’s vanguard, hoping to buy time. Instead he saw the highlanders fighting them. They charged forward, with the king yelling” Adles shook his head and lookup raising his fist as if it held a sword. “ ‘With me, the blood covered titan is clearing the way.’ ”

Adles hand and voice dropped. “My grandfather is a giant who could be seen treating a gap in the empire’s lines from across a battlefield. I…” he clenched his fists in frustration. “I can barely be spotted in a crowd.”