[Eskal]

"So where are you from?" Marius asked Cormac as he helped with clean up.
"A village in the Green Valley."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"I'm from Havard's Pass." Astien said."

[Eskal]

Marius let out a low whistle. "I've heard things about Havard's Pass. Not a place I'd like to pass through."
"Trust me, you don't want to," Cormac said.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"It's socially acceptable for parents to burn their children at the stake there. He'll, the whole town does it." He shuddered at the memory. "Mine tried to burn me. It was a nightmare."


(Sleepies)

[Eskal]

"I'm sorry to hear that Astien," Marius said gently.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"When my magical abilities began to manifest, I tried to hide them. But then I accidentally burned down the barn. Next thing I knew, I was tied to a stake, sitting in a dark barn, waiting for the adults to come and parade me around the town as an evil witch, then finally burn me."

[Eskal]

Marius gently hugged Astien. "It's in the past now," he said. "All we can do is look forward."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien took a deep breath. "Yes. It's in the past. Sometimes, though... Sometimes I hear the screams of the other children who were burned." He shuddered. "Last night I heard the screaming of those harpies. 'Rip it open and tear it out.'" He held his belly protectively. "Thank the gods that's behind us."

[Eskal]

Marius kissed Astien's head. "We wont let that happen again. Ain't that right Kid?"
Cormac nodded. "That's right."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien leaned his head on Marius' shoulder. "Thank you. I'm lucky to have you both. Now let's see, what time is it?"

[Eskal]

"It's still early in the night," Marius said.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Just then, there was a knock on the door, outside stood a harpy, wearing a mail carrier's uniform and sporting a large messenger bag. "Hello? Is anyone in there?"

[Eskal]

Cormac answered the door. "Can I help you?"

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Ah, hello. Is there an..." He paused and checked a letter he was holding. "'Astien Tymnas' here?" Astien came out and took the letter from the harpy. "I'll wait while you write a reply, unless you think it'd be a while."

Astien shook his head. "No, I should be fairly quick." He stepped back inside and read the letter.

[Eskal]

"What does it say?" Marius asked.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien sighed. "It's from a friend. Hjulmir in Falmein. He's been wondering where I am. I was supposed to be there a while ago." He found a sheet of paper and quickly began writing a response. He sealed it in an envelope and handed it back to the harpy.

"Alright then, good day." With that, the harpy flew off.

[Eskal]

"What, not writing a letter you your sweetheart Kid?" Marius teased Cormac.
"I'll write her in a few days," Cormac said. "I only saw her off this afternoon."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Poor Hjulmir. He must be so worried about me. Incidentally, Cormac, Hjulmir is tr person I was going to ask about giving you lessons in swordplay." He smiled. "He's the highest ranking person in the King's Circle, the absolute best of the best."

[Eskal]

"Sounds like a man I'd like to meet as well," Marius said.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"He's been in the King's Circle for just under 300 years. He's a hero to all of Orotelos."