criminals and brutes who come into town, for us folk to be shaken by them, you know they are dangerous!” Horatius cried.
“Then you need to tell us everything so we can stop them,” Milea ordered.
“Just stay out of it,” Horatius pleaded.
“Forget it, Milea. He won't talk,” Varg said. He then gestured for the door with a nod of his head and turned to leave.
As the two of them approached the back door, Horatius said, “You two are the most stubborn fools I have ever met, and I've thought I've seen it all.”
Varg turned around and said, “Say what you want, but I don't stop until a job is done.”
Varg kicked the door and broke the lock. He allowed Milea to step out of the pub first into the approaching daylight. Before he followed her, Varg turned to Horatius and tossed a gold coin in his direction.
Horatius caught the coin and asked, “What is this?”
Varg paused, stared blankly into Horatius's eyes, and muttered, “That was for the drinks last night.”
The old man never budged as Varg threw the door closed behind him and left forever.
Once on the edge of the village, the strain of his old friend's betrayal took its toll on Varg. He wasn't about to well up with tears, but his mood became somber and it took everything he had not to punch the nearest tree. The only thing that kept him going was the hope of finding evidence at their next destination.
“Where next?” Milea asked when they were clear out of Birhog and in the forest again.
“Well, we know that there are more of those men and that Lionel apparently knew some of their secrets, so perhaps we can find what he knew in his home in Virland,” Varg suggested.
“Good thinking,” Milea said.
Varg could tell she was still upset about killing the young men and, though he hated to admit it, he felt a pang of guilt himself. He looked at her while he walked forward and said, “I want you to know that it's all right. It's not a sin to do what you have to do to survive.”
“I know, Varg, but I still can't help but wish it could have been different for them,” Milea said.
“As do I,” Varg said. “I wish everyone was given the chance to choose a better path.”
“Whatever the case, we still need answers and it's a safe chance that we'll be attacked again before the end,” Milea said.
“Perhaps we can find more answers when we reach Virland,” Varg said.
“I hope you're right,” Milea said. “This quest is becoming more dangerous by the minute.”
“We'll be all right if we stick together,” Varg said.
Milea nodded. “Agreed. I'm starting to like your company anyway.”
CHAPTER 5
AFTER A SCENIC HIKE SOUTH of Birhog, Varg and Milea were out of Rivershire County, where Count Greenwood's men were searching around every corner. They had to travel only in the wilderness to avoid detection from the law, but they also had to avoid repercussion from the mysterious organization of assassins if they had any hope to survive. They stuck close together and exchanged shifts in the middle of the night to assure they both rested. After such a tiring journey, it was more than a pleasant sight to see the tower of Virland's keep come into view late in the evening on the third day.
Even when miles from the town, it was clear that Virland's key aspect was its dense, lush forests. Rich greens were painted across the landscape in the form of tall trees and thick brush. The trees were often topped with various flowers and roses often grew effortlessly along the brush in town and around the wall surrounding the castle. Even the town banner bore an emerald green backdrop to compliment the scenery it was lucky enough to be a part of.
Varg crouched behind some brush“Everything seems quiet, but I can't see the keep very well from here,” Varg said as he peeked through a sage bush.
“We should wait for nightfall to infiltrate the keep,” Milea said.
“I'm getting hungry anyway. Want some jerky?” Varg
“Then you need to tell us everything so we can stop them,” Milea ordered.
“Just stay out of it,” Horatius pleaded.
“Forget it, Milea. He won't talk,” Varg said. He then gestured for the door with a nod of his head and turned to leave.
As the two of them approached the back door, Horatius said, “You two are the most stubborn fools I have ever met, and I've thought I've seen it all.”
Varg turned around and said, “Say what you want, but I don't stop until a job is done.”
Varg kicked the door and broke the lock. He allowed Milea to step out of the pub first into the approaching daylight. Before he followed her, Varg turned to Horatius and tossed a gold coin in his direction.
Horatius caught the coin and asked, “What is this?”
Varg paused, stared blankly into Horatius's eyes, and muttered, “That was for the drinks last night.”
The old man never budged as Varg threw the door closed behind him and left forever.
Once on the edge of the village, the strain of his old friend's betrayal took its toll on Varg. He wasn't about to well up with tears, but his mood became somber and it took everything he had not to punch the nearest tree. The only thing that kept him going was the hope of finding evidence at their next destination.
“Where next?” Milea asked when they were clear out of Birhog and in the forest again.
“Well, we know that there are more of those men and that Lionel apparently knew some of their secrets, so perhaps we can find what he knew in his home in Virland,” Varg suggested.
“Good thinking,” Milea said.
Varg could tell she was still upset about killing the young men and, though he hated to admit it, he felt a pang of guilt himself. He looked at her while he walked forward and said, “I want you to know that it's all right. It's not a sin to do what you have to do to survive.”
“I know, Varg, but I still can't help but wish it could have been different for them,” Milea said.
“As do I,” Varg said. “I wish everyone was given the chance to choose a better path.”
“Whatever the case, we still need answers and it's a safe chance that we'll be attacked again before the end,” Milea said.
“Perhaps we can find more answers when we reach Virland,” Varg said.
“I hope you're right,” Milea said. “This quest is becoming more dangerous by the minute.”
“We'll be all right if we stick together,” Varg said.
Milea nodded. “Agreed. I'm starting to like your company anyway.”
CHAPTER 5
AFTER A SCENIC HIKE SOUTH of Birhog, Varg and Milea were out of Rivershire County, where Count Greenwood's men were searching around every corner. They had to travel only in the wilderness to avoid detection from the law, but they also had to avoid repercussion from the mysterious organization of assassins if they had any hope to survive. They stuck close together and exchanged shifts in the middle of the night to assure they both rested. After such a tiring journey, it was more than a pleasant sight to see the tower of Virland's keep come into view late in the evening on the third day.
Even when miles from the town, it was clear that Virland's key aspect was its dense, lush forests. Rich greens were painted across the landscape in the form of tall trees and thick brush. The trees were often topped with various flowers and roses often grew effortlessly along the brush in town and around the wall surrounding the castle. Even the town banner bore an emerald green backdrop to compliment the scenery it was lucky enough to be a part of.
Varg crouched behind some brush“Everything seems quiet, but I can't see the keep very well from here,” Varg said as he peeked through a sage bush.
“We should wait for nightfall to infiltrate the keep,” Milea said.
“I'm getting hungry anyway. Want some jerky?” Varg
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