The grey November sky hung low that day. The clouds tainted red as men rode in.

The attack had already started by the time the runner had returned with the mercenaries.
Half the town was in flames that licked towards the darkening sky. The smell of death was already pungent as the bandits rode around striking down everything in their path. But for all their wild ferocity none of them had ever served in the Crusades.

The armored men strode in and struck back like a fist of cold iron.

Unprepared for any sort of resistance the rouges started to turn, but the mercenaries were paid to finish what the bandits had started. There would be no survivors.

A bloodied gurgle spat up from the mouth of one as a former knight drove his sword into a fallen rouge. He then moved on wordlessly, making sure ever twitching body was stopped.

Hearing movement he turned to a fallen inn. Pausing he listened again for the sound. There was a dulled groan. Pulling aside the teetering door he let it fall the rest of the way. Soot rising in a dirty cloud around his muddied boots as surveyed the area. The ceiling had fallen in from the blaze, mangled body parts poked out from the debris. His eye looked over the scene. The man and woman had been clinging to each other up to the end, and past. He looked aside, focusing on the mission, his hand reaffirming his grip on his sword.

There was the groan again.


Kicking aside a chunk of table he found the source. Curled up as the feet of the woman was a girl. Her face splattered with blood and soot, clothing and fur singed.

Past his armor he could feel his heart sinking as the ghosts of his past rose up from their graves deep in his mind. Kneeling down he pulled his cloak from his back and wrapped her in it.

Images flickering past his eyes, he was away at war when his own village was attacked.

Her body was limp as he lifted her up. Had that been her last breath?

The pain inside grew colder as he started to speak, “…yeah God… it’s been a while since our falling out… ….but please…”

- - -

A sweet spring breeze blew across the land.

Hopping from rock to rock a young girl worked her way across the stream. With her attention on a passing butterfly her paw hit a damp spot upon the last rock and instantly she felt it all slipping out from under. A pair of hands plucked her out of the air and set her on the rock before him.

“Tabitha! What did I tell you about being careful?”

The girl looked up at her ‘father’, big blue eyes letting her get away with anything, “Oh come on dad! I know as long as you’re around nothing’s ever going to happen to me.”

The former knight and former mercenary smiled as he scooped her up into his arms, “Yep that was the deal.”

“What deal?”

With a smirk he turned around and started striding across the stones, “Oh nothing… come on, let’s get you back home.”