Nidian kicked the rock once more. It's round shape clacking as it rolled down the path. He had his hands in his pockets. His home was gone, everything he was taught was now in question, the cities were closed off. Was what the priest said true? Was it all some lie to keep everyone from questioning them? It seemed too simple, too obvious. Everything was upside down. He glanced to the side at the distant sound of shouting. Several mavericks were helping an injured family of three into Torrel's place. Krygarian by the looks of it. They had pristine fur clothes and had the mountain crest on them. The people of this town seemed to exude a kindness that somehow surpassed that of his own people. The people he was taught were the most generous of all. The husband was bleeding considerably from the leg. A man had taken off his cloak and tied it to the wound to help stop the bleeding.

  Torrel had swung the door open and ushered them in quickly with alarm on his face.

  "Fourth family in two days" Malles somberly whispered behind him. Nidian swung around and had a fist ready to strike, sharply inhaling. "How long have you- what...what happened to them?? What do you mean the fourth family?"

  Malles raised his shoulders, tapping his foot awkwardly. "A lot of city folk haven't been able to get back into the cities. We've had a few seek refuge here but more often than not they don't arrive unscathed."

  "So I've heard..." Nidian sighed, it didn't trouble him any less hearing it the second time. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the details but curiosity got the better of him. "How are they getting hurt?"

  Malles seemed to find a sudden reluctance to open his mouth, contemplating his words for once. "Not all the mavericks are friendly. There are some pretty cut throat groups out here. The Kordhan warns everyone about them, they just also don't mention the nice ones."

  "Guess I should count myself lucky then." Nidian glanced back as the the door was pulled shut. Hopefully that man got the aid he needed. His heart couldn't help but feel the weight of the family's struggle.

  "Don't worry about them, Torrel doesn't leave anyone without the aid they need. Man has turned this town into a haven for anyone." Malles reassured him, tapping his shoulder. "By the way, you left this at the temple."

  Nidian immediately looked down at his journal. His chest squeezed tight in a bout of panic. He aggressively ripped it from his hands and stuffed it in his pocket. He flitted his gaze up, Malles raising his hands in a placate manner, "I didn't read it much honest!"

  Nidian had to do a double take at the boy. "Much? You looked through it?" He held tension in his voice, trying to not lose it. He hadn't even really gone through it himself. Who knows what Malles saw.

  "I can tell it's about this whole dragon nonsense. I overhead things last night from my room. I was going to offer my help. Some of this is in Brul, I studied it a while when I was following the studies my folks set me up with. I can translate it for you."

  Nidian's face wrinkled. Malles was Kordish like him, but Neiiran made it clear to trust no one else with their research. But if it was in the Brutennian langauge he could use the help. He had barely scratched the surface of the western languages.. "You can read Brul? I thought you did culinary stuff?"

  Malles started walking to not draw attention to them standing in the road, Nidian closely trailing behind. Malles could tell he piqued his interest and maybe saved himself a lecture from the guy on nosing through his stuff. "I did that after. My blessing from the Kordhan elders was to become a record keeper. Translate and unify any retrieved historical texts under the Kordish language. I didn't feel like being a glorified librarian. Too quiet and meticulous. I wanted to seek out becoming one of the cooks for the king of Delenar. We see where my ambitions landed me."

  The burden of shame became increasingly heavy in Nidian's mind. Malles seemed like such a great guy. Energetic, optimistic, passionate. It was sickening to think he was tossed aside for something as simple as a change of interests. Sympathy befell him. "I'm sorry to hear that. Starting to feel like the Kordahn are the bad guys at this point." Nidian rubbed his neck awkwardly, seeing Malles nod at his comment.

  "Yeah, it might seem that way. Though in reality there's no real black and white. Evil and hate find their way into all nations, all people. The Kordhan simply think they can somehow evade it if they control everything. They lose themselves in that though. It's why being a Maverick actually ain't so bad, you should try it sometime." Malles jested at the end, but there was hints of a genuine suggestion in his brief chuckle. Nidian smiled politely and nodded. He wasn't sure what to say to back. The two continued to take the back roads around town to circle back to Torrel's. Arrien's Alchemical, Gabbar's Trinkets and Tools. This small hamlet had a fully functioning economy. Another thing they cities forgot to mention. They always said it was just a free for all for resources out here. Malles could pick up on the confusion and progressing frustration on his face. The wrinkled scowls, and knit brows.

  "Trust me it was a lot for me to process when I first got out here too." He piped up, stepping in front of Nidian, glancing at the wooden signs hanging from the buildings built from raw quarried stone and twisted wooden logs. The architecture was certainly far more primitive, but it had charm. Nidian heard him, but was still busy studying the details. Despite the quality of material used it was still a sealed up well structured dwelling. Or at least it looked the part. "Its no wonder they're so strict about traveling to other cities. They probably didn't want people finding out it's not as bad out here as they make it seem."

  "Yeah it's a lot to process in two days. Torrel mentioned Ae saved you too? What was that like?"

  Malles watched Nidian's gaze shift onto him. He shrugged recalling the events. "Uh..terrifying to start. I was all on my own. No food or nothing. Some group of men found me, saw I was Kordish and just started beating the lights out of me. Strung me up to a tree to lure in game. After sitting there for three hours I guess they got tired of waiting with live bait. Guy took out this wicked looking blade. Told me he was gonna bleed me dry. How he was gonna go slow..make me feel the agony we made them feel throwing them out into the wilds. Right before he could Ae came out of nowhere. Three of them looked like they saw a star stalker or something. Pale as could be. Two of them dropped their weapons and surrendered. Another two went for her and were cut down in the blink of an eye. And I mean gutted, like- in pieces. She ripped em apart like some rabid carnivore drugged with moon dust. The man who had me tried to take me as a hostage. He got me halfway into position when she kicked him into the tree. Guy just slumped down. I heard it, she just in that one deft move broke at least ten bones. Covered in blood, death in her eyes, but somehow past that there was some sort of calm in them. Which I feel makes it a thousand times worse. She helped me up, asked me what I was doing out here. After I told her she just guided me here."

  Nidian had gone just as pale as the men described in the story. She was just as violent as the posters warned. The concerns about the allegations against her surfaced once more in his mind. "She was a lot less horrifying in my case. Granted there wasn't any psychos beating me up. Wonder why she helped us..She genuinely doesn't give off the energy of someone who cares about others."

  Malles had to concur, "Yeah, and it is no secret she hates the Kordahn, and by extension Kordish citizens. I thought I was a goner. I was just as shocked as you probably were when she was as nice as she was. All I know about her is she's covert with her intentions. But she helps a lot of folks out here. If you cross her though; Navi help you. She's fast, she's strong, and there is no hesitation in her eyes when she kills."

  "She ain't the only one who hates you preeners." A gruff voice shouted. The two boys glancing to their left. Some tall bulky man in dire wolf's fur clothing stood at the end of the path. He had short greasy hair, scars disfiguring his face. A pupil had gone fully white from scar tissue. The quality of his garb had been degraded by blood and loads of stitches.

  Malles shrunk, his head trying to recede below his shoulders like a turtle. Nidian however had gone stiff and grimaced. He'd never been called such a horrid thing before and he certainly wasn't going to stand for it. "I beg your pardon?"

  The man grinned, chipped teeth dotting his broken smile. This man was foul to gaze at from every angle. Nidian had to turn away partially to avoid the queasiness he got just looking at him.

  The figure lumbered forward and cracked his knuckles. "I said that freak of a wench isn't the only one who hates preeners like you. Damn city folk think you can cast us out here, laugh at our misery. And then expect us to cater to you all when you run out on your luck. Torrel think's he's some perfect saint. Preaching to take care of everyone while he throws all our hard earned resources into keeping your kind happy. Man was never one of us, even if he's brainwashed the rest of this damn town into thinking so. And now his redwood bitch dragged you in. I seen you strutting around like you own the place." He sluggishly moved forward, the influence of alcohol clear in his gait. His voice swung between sharp and drawn out, exaggerating his words with wide swings of his arms.

  Malles tugged at the leather of Nidian's shirt, "Nidian we should just-"

  "I was not! I was helping deliver herbs to your cleric! Never once have I thought I own the place. I didn't even want to be here to begin with! I was forced here by Ae and I don't know if you've seen her but she's not the kind of person you say no to! So how about you get your facts straight before you go slinging accusations like that! Who even are you?" Nidian fired back, taking a step forward, leaning away from the force of Malles' grip.

  "Balak. I founded this town. No Kordish man dared to tread here. It was paradise until Torrel started letting your filth in. Now it's tainted, ruined. And the freak you all call Ae just walked in one day, stole my fame, my town. Now everyone praises her like she's some angel. She's nothing more than a backstabbing, sorcery dabbling cannibal. No man let alone a woman; claims as many bounties as she does. Especially all while keeping that stupid flawless face. Her and her silky skin, it makes me sick. She's a sorceress. I don't need her little rescues cluttering my streets. I'd advise you skip out of town before you overstay your welcome." He had closed the gap, leaning into Nidian's face. The decay and booze on his breath made him hold his own.

  Nidian pulled his arm free from Malles' grip, who then backed up a step or two watching them enter a staring contest. Nidian glanced between the man's blind eye, and his sharp amber one. Not at all complimenting to his disheveled oily black rag he had for hair. Torrel said to tell anyone that bothered that he was on a job for him. But given this man's spite toward Torrel it was rendered rather pointless. He had no idea what to say. The residual anger from the slur pleaded to throw an insult, his survival instincts screamed for him to back down.

  "If you're so upset about a woman running your town and helping people in need, don't lose it to one then." He sassed before he could stop himself. The fire that ignited in the brute's left eye was all it took to make Nidian recoil. Before he could step away he felt the dirt crusted thick calloused grip around his throat shortly before he was thrown against the wooden wall.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.