Three days have passed since the Black Scarf rebels took Heavenbright. Orewell, Lurter, Lady Nara and Lady Robyn had made camp in the woods west of the city and are waiting for a chance to leave. It was currently night, a campfire alit with Lurter mindlessly prodding the ground with a stick. Meanwhile, Orewell is at a nearby creek, washing the black tunic that one of the rebels wore along with their signature scarf.

  "You're an asshole.", Lady Nara spoke, an unamused look on her face. "Offering me like that."

  "I killed him before he could touch you. What's the problem?", Orewell asks, squeezing the blood out of the rebel's tunic. "And besides, it bought Lurter and Lady Robyn time to move deeper into the woods where we're safe."

  As he hung the tunic to dry, he heard the crunch of dirt and leaves being stepped on grow more audible until he was tugged on his shoulder to be turned around and Lady Nara, her palm spread wide, slapped him. Hard.

  As his head was turned by the hard slap on his face, he spoke. "I don't expect you to like the idea nor do I expect you to forgive me", he turned to look at Lady Nara. "But you'd be delusional to think that what I did didn't save us all. I could not fight ten men at once, believe me. Lurter isn't useful with a sword, so are you, and much less Lady Robyn who's still grieving."

  His eyes wandered to Lady Robyn's small form that sat by the campfire, a sad look on her face, tears still running from her cheek. He can never understand the pain she's going through right now...but he sympathizes. He then sighed, slowly approaching the young lady and handing her a skewer of fish that's been cooking by the flame. "Eat.", he simply told her.

  She looked up at him, a defeated and helpless expression staring at him. "Why?", she asks. "There's no use. My father is dead, my home is gone...I have nothing. Why bother?"

  Orewell sighed, forcing her to hold the fish skewer. "Eat.", he insisted. "Your father will never come back.", he said, watching her wince. "But you're still alive, aren't you?", he asks her, kneeling down to meet her at eye level, placing his hand atop hers and feeling the warmth in it amidst it's shake in fear. "I know it's hard now...hell, impossible, even", he looked down as he paused his words to think then looked back up at her after, "But you're still alive. House Rivermay hasn't fallen yet and will never fall as long as you're alive", he pulled her small form close for a hug, leaning so his lips are close to her ear as he whispered, "I know my words are not much but listen to me. Things will never get better, you have to accept that fact. But no matter what happens, the only thing you can do is keep living. For your sake and for those that you lost, live. Honor them, keep their memory alive in you. As long as you keep living, you can still see things get better."

  He pulled away from her, "Grieve, if you must. But live. You might be lost now, but nonetheless, keep living. Something out there will definitely put you back on track if you cannot find yourself.", he smiled reassuringly, fake enough to make him laugh, but real enough to convince Lady Robyn. He never smiled. He hated it because he never knows when something out there will come to take that smile or his reason to smile. But even then, he understood that smiling at someone might encourage someone to keep going even if he himself just wants to die. Amelie is the only reason why he has not hung himself yet. She made him smile, he made her smile, and killing himself would take that smile away from her no much he hated himself.

  That seems to have done the job as she smiled back, though melancholic, it's still a smile nonetheless. "Thank you.", she weakly spoke but still enough to let him hear.

  He nods then looks at Lurter. "With the uprising of the Black Scarves, we have no choice but to fall back. We travel east to Solsari and report back to the king.", he tells him and looks at Robyn after he nodded. "We'll take you and Lady Nara there, My Lady. His grace the king will take you as refuge. I don't suppose your house has allies in the West?"

  Robyn shook her head. "No, ser. Almost all the houses in the West hate us.", she answered, her eyes going downcast as she ate her fish slowly.

  "Figured as much.", he sighed. "It'll take at least a month's march or more since we'll go by foot. Best prepare yourself for a long walk.", he tells her.

  "Sleep, Orewell.", Lurter told him. "I'll keep watch tonight. You must be tired from last night."

  "Alright.", he nodded. "Do whatever to wake me up if need be. Good night."

  Him and Lurter exchanged nods as he went to a tree with its roots above the surface of the soil and he laid there, resting his head as he yawned and closed his eyes. While he slept, a familiar voice greeted him, though the sound was more distorted and hollow as if the voice tried to speak while underwater.

  "Brother!", the voice called him. "Brother!", he confirmed that it was Amelie's voice. He opened his eyes and woke up and he found himself sleeping under the shade of a tree in the dull grey skies of winter. 'Bredost?', he thought to himself. "Brother!", Amelie's voice is clear now. Orewell then sat upright, feeling thick snow in his hand as he pushed himself up.

  "You're sleeping outside again!", she says, her voice a tiny bit annoyed. Strangely, Amelie looked a whole lot taller now when he last saw her, like a woman grown.

  "Apologies.", he simply replied, blinking his eyes as he adjusted to his surroundings. He saw an endless blanket of white, snow falling slowly onto the ground. The cold felt familiar...but also foreign. This cold is different from the cold of the North. This feels...colder. "Would it be strange if I asked where we are, sister?", he asks, turning to Amelie who has a confused look on her face as if he had just asked her something outrageous.

  "Did...you hit your head, brother?", she asks.

  "Yes.", he quickly replied. "Now answer my question."

  Amelie sighed heavily, facepalming herself as he had just asked her something stupid. "Alright. We're in Meindseren, the capital of Norour...the capital of your kingdom."

  "My kingdom?", he asks, looking confused. "What do you mean?"

  Amelie gasped in shock, confusion and annoyance all in one. "What do you mean 'What do I mean'?!", she asks, her voice slightly agitated. "You're the king of Norour and you don't know?!"

  "...I don't even know what Norour is.", he flatly told her...which warranted another deep, annoyed sigh from Amelie.

  "By the gods.", he heard Amelie mutter. "Alright, brother. I don't understand how badly you hit your head, but I'll explain..."

  Amelie then went on to explain to him what Norour is. It's a continent north of Divios that they discovered after King Illain declared him a traitor to the crown and rallied all the Lords of Divios against him, Lord Felkin included. He only took her because Lord Felkin discovered the letters they were sending each other and Orewell decided to ride to Bredost to take her. After sailing north to Norour, Orewell was greeted by a woman that Amelie says to be Orewell's birth mother...a name familiar to him, Lilac Angr, the woman he championed long ago. Apparently, she was the first one to sail north and gathered the local tribes into her ranks and has been ruling them ever since. He improved the lives of the tribesmen and developed their primitive lives into the same of those on Divios, he ruled them fairly and granted the lands back into their respective owners and established noble houses under their name.

  "I see...", Orewell muttered softly. Hearing it now, it all sounded crazy. 'Me, a king? Gods be damned if that happened', he thought to himself.

  Taking the sight of the unfamiliar walls that surrounded them, he sighed. "I don't suppose I have a queen as well?", he asks. He had a familiar dream like this some time ago. Vivid dreams where the cold and ground felt too real yet people he knew were older than when he once saw them.

  "How could you forget your own wife that you have three daughters with?!", she asked, her anger finally reaching its peak. It seemed like him forgetting that he's a king of a continent he never knew existed was fine but she draws the line at him forgetting his own wife.

  "I wouldn't ask you if I knew.", he retorted...a big mistake as he was met with a punch to the face that hit surprisingly hard considering Amelie's build and stature.

  Orewell then gasped awake, panting heavily. The rays of the sun shone upon his face, yet what he felt the most is the heavy sensation on his right arm. He heard soft snoring and looked down to what was pressing on his arm, he hoped it's not a wild animal that decided to fall asleep next to him instead of eating him. As he looked down, it was nothing but a wild animal and was instead Lady Robyn. She laid on his arm, tears that ran on her cheek now dry yet it still glistened enough to be noticeable. Sighing softly, he gently wiped it off with his finger and he felt sad for the first time in his life. He does not understand why he cared, much less sympathize for her, yet here he is.

  "It'll be alright.", he muttered to himself, still stroking her cheek, his lips subconsciously curving into a warm and fond smile. He doesn't know why, but seeing Robyn like this, crying and broken, made him realize that there are things that he truly doesn't know yet about himself.

  As he stopped stroking her cheek, she stirred awake. "Good morning.", she softly muttered. She doesn't seem to realize he's laying on him. That or she doesn't care, especially as her small hands now clutched the neck sleeve of his shirt. "Will things truly get better?", she weakly asked him, as if a wrong answer will make her cry again.

  "I personally don't know. You lost your home and father and probably friends, all in one day. You're screwed, truth be told.", he admitted then sighed heavily as he looked back up at the morning sky, feeling her clutch his neck sleeve tighter. "Still...live. Be it things go better or worse, live and see it happen. Have your laments and regrets then."

  "You're cruel.", she muttered. "You promised that everything will be alright in my sleep...yet when I ask you now...you answer me differently."

  "Lies make people feel better.", he replied. "It worked with you.", he sighed again, heavier than the last. "I won't promise, but I'll guarantee enough that I'll help you with what I can."

  "Why do you care so much?", she asks again.

  He sighed, removing her grip from him and sat up. "Who knows?", he asked back though it was more to himself than to her. 'Why do I care? Fuck if I know.', he thought to himself. "Get up.", he said, holding a hand out for her to take. "We'll take a detour. I doubt we'll be safe if we head straight east so we'll go northeast to the border of The North and Westlands, the hill range of Heavenhill, then go east and then go south again to Solsari."

  Lady Robyn's body still weak from sadness leaned on him. "Can't I just be with you?", she asks softly, her arm holding onto his. "I...I don't think the king will like me there..."

  "Why is that?", he asks back, looking down at her.

  "When King Illain rebelled against King Angr, our House were among the loyalists...", she answered. "We've been at bad odds with the Royal House ever since..."

  "I see...", he muttered. "Do you think King Illain will be hostile towards you then?"

  "I...don't believe so. But I don't think I'll be safe in his castle.", she replied, holding him closer as if she was pleading for him to not let her go. "If you truly believe that taking me there is the best choice to do, then I won't oppose you. But...please, give it some thought...don't leave me."

  He sighed. "I'll give it some thought.", he reassured her, patting her head as he helped her stand up to guide her to where the campfire is.

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  At the campfire, Orewell and Lady Robyn arrived at the sight of Lurter and Lady Nara making a meal.

  "Took you long enough. I thought you got mauled by a bear", Lurter greeted and gestured to the logs around the campfire. "Have a seat, you two. Lady Nara and I are almost done here."

  Orewell nodded, guiding Lady Robyn to a log and sat next to her. He weighed the merit and the hassle of having her around. Realistically, she has zero bargaining value as she is still a child who was exiled from her home that no lord will surely take no interest in. She doesn't seem to have any useful skills either, so as it stands, she's a huge liability especially with the Black Scarves roaming about. 'The fuck do I do?', Orewell thought as he facepalmed himself. 'Keep her or leave her somewhere, the answer is as clear as day. But it gets damned more complicated when I begin to think where I'll have to leave her. For fuck's sake.', he groaned.

  "Is...my request too much, Ser?", Lady Robyn meekly asked.

  He shook his head. "No. It's not too much. It's just...I don't know where to take you if I decide to leave you somewhere because I can't keep you forever.", he admitted. "From the little time I had with your father Lord Hubert, I sensed that he's a good man. Great, even. He was willing to help me and Lurter...that's why I want to return the favor by keeping you safe.", he finished with a sigh.

  "Thank you.", she said, now smiling. "The other western lords believe that my father is just a greedy coward that should just die. Thank you of speaking of him so kindly."

  "Don't thank me.", he shook his head. "It's just what I've seen of him. I don't mean it to protect your feelings anyhow", he paused. "I'm thinking if I should bring you to the North...to Bredost. To my home. If you tell my father your circumstances, I'm sure he'll take care of you. Would that be okay with you though? If you refuse, I honestly don't know anywhere else to take you."

  "So you insist on leaving me?", she asks, a small frown on her face.

  Sensing he can't snake around the topic any more, he just decided to answer her truthfully. "Aye. I can't keep you safe forever, Lady Robyn. You're the only surviving member of your House. Your life is of extreme importance to your existence and I can't keep you around willy-nilly."

  "Do you truly believe that to be the best course of action?", she asks, her brown eyes staring staring straight into his blue own.

  He nodded.

  "If you truly believe so.", she sighed, tightening her grip on his arm. "Then I'll trust you, Ser."

  "Just call me by name.", he interrupted her. "Orewell. Just that, please."

  She nodded and smiled. "Alright. I'll trust you, Orewell."

  A smile of his own curved his lips. "Thank you."

  He may smile now, but since the moment that the young Lady Robyn looped her arms on his, he's already feeling an intense headache that he surprisingly hid so well. Multiple visions filled him, the distant past and near future ravaged his mind in a head-splitting sharpness that just makes him want to slit his throat and get it over with. Red and white and red and white, the visions of the color of blood and snow crawled and ingrained itself into his mind and the pain is too much for him to bear. Yet something keeps telling him to not break. To be strong because Lady Robyn relies on him. Yet amidst the thoughts of death and pain that just doesn't seem to end, her smile made it a little bit better.

  "You can rely on me, My Lady.", he said but felt his lips sealed by her finger.

  "Robyn.", she told him. "Just as you want me to call you by name, call me by name as well."

  "You can rely on me, Robyn.", he corrected himself, smiling at her as well.

  Then, Lurter called them for a meal and so they ate. It's a simple stew made from vegetables and meat gathered from a nearby sacked farmstead. After their meal, Orewell found himself to be physically distancing from Robyn. 'It's been like that ever since we arrived at Heavenbright...when she touches me, memories that I should not even have keeps forcing itself into my mind. Her touch feels warm, but it's breaking me at the same time. Being with her is like touching a rose...a pleasant feeling yet also painful.', he thought to himself. He doesn't know why her touching him shows him memories he's not even sure were his in the first place, but he knows that it happens. It would be convenient if he found a way to control it, but the splitting headache is just too painful to bear for him to think of anything else.

  "Fucking headache...", Orewell cursed and groaned, a hand on his head as he was struck by another splitting headache.

  "Are you alright, Orewell?", Lady Robyn asked with a concerned tone. He can also see that Lurter and Lady Nara are also looking at him.

  "No.", he answered with a shake of his head. "My head hurts terribly."

  "Is there..."

  "No.", he interrupted her and inched away from her. "It's up to you to believe it or not, but whenever we make contact with each other, a barrage of memories come into my mind and it's very painful. I just...want to pull my hair out with how painful it is and even then, I'm not sure it'll help."

  "I...I...", she stuttered.

  Meanwhile, Lady Nara took a small rucksack and rummaged through it, eventually pulling out a small pouch. She pinched into it and wrapped it in a leaf of what seems to be a medicinal herb. "Chew on this.", she told him, handing the rolled leaf with a mysterious white powder in it. "Once the flavor goes out, spit the leaf, you've no use for it."

  Orewell nodded his thanks and took the rolled leaf and chewed on it as instructed. He can swear to the Many Gods that his face contorted with how bitter the powder in the leaf is, yet he went on and chewed on it still. After chewing on it for a while, the bitter flavor of the powder eventually faded and he spat the leaf out. He felt his headache slowly become more and more bearable.

  "Ugh...", he groaned. "That was way too bitter for my liking...", he muttered.

  "It's a medicine meant to cure headaches and hangovers.", Lady Nara told him.

  After Lady Nara explained, Lurter spoke. "Where to next?", he asked. "We can't stay here forever. The sentry watching the forest has been gone for a whole day. They're bound to look for him now."

  "North.", Orewell answered. "We keep Lady Nara and Lady Robyn safe first. We can't travel with them forever."

  "It's a shame we haven't made any progress...", Lurter lamented.

  "We can't do anything with these Black Scarf or whatever the hell they call themselves everywhere.", he replied, buckling his scabbard on his waist. "We're probably bound to find horses while we walk North. We'll move after you finish breakfast."

  And so it was decided. After Lady Nara, Lady Robyn and Lurter finished their meal, they removed the evidence of camp being made in the woods and began the long walk North, heading north and exiting the Heavenswood. Then for days, they continued heading North, passing the hill range of Heavenhill and onto a nearby town with a stronghold. The four of them, hooded and covered entered the town. Outside laid signs of battle, men in black, men in colors, pikes and swords and shields and bows as well. By Orewell's guess, there were about less than a hundred but more than seventy from the side of the Black Scarves and about twenty or so from what he assumes to be a local militia from the village.

  "Halt!", a deep voice stopped them, a tall and lean man clad in leathers and armed with a halberd. "State your business!"

  Orewell stepped up and unhooded himself and told Lurter and the others to follow. "We mean no harm, we only want to go north to Bredost."

  The man stared at him in silence and he can practically feel the thick tension brewing, as if one wrong move will make this man tear him and his companions into sad shreds. It was that until the man spoke, lowering his halberd. "What's your name, boy?"

  "Orewell, Ser. Orewell Grey, a bastard of Lord Felkin Ays, Lord Overseer of the North.", he answered. As he did, he can tell the man's gaze become one of disdain.

  "Ah, another lord's bastard, huh? And Felkin's too. I thought that one's was the paragon of honor and virtue but I guess even men like him can't keep it in himself.", he paused. "Who's your mother? I'd wager a farmer's daughter or some brothel whore but surprise me."

  He shook his head. "Fuck if I know?", he replied and shrugged. "Ever since the One God split himself and learned to shit from many asses, my mother's been dead. Or so I've been told. Never knew, never cared."

  "Aye, that's enough. Never cared for some motherless boy's sob story.", the man completely lowered his halberd and stepped aside. "The name's Cryff of House Walldryn, son of Lord Keven Walldryn. You and your friends don't make trouble and you'll be fine. Welcome to Bentyn."

  Orewell nodded, gesturing for them to carry on. "Do you have any horses for sale in the stables?", he asked. "Two should suffice. Those Black Scarf fuckers took ours when we made camp a week or two ago."

  Ser Cryff pointed to the market deeper into the town. "There's some stablehand deeper into town, by the other end of the market. He's got some horses that aren't too fast but gets the job done if your lot isn't in a hurry."

  "And an inn too", Orewell added, looking at the weary ladies behind him. "The ladies in our company need to rest. I could use some drink myself too."

  "Aye. There's one before the marketplace, you won't miss it. If you need someone to warm your bed, there's a brothel by the alleys, help yourself.", Lord Cryff answered.

  "Many thanks. I'll keep that in mind.", he replied with a nod. The four of them proceeded to go on through the town's hustle and bustle. Many merchants try to peddle them items that they don't have any use for, such as pottery of exquisite form, fancy silks and so much more. After a while, they eventually arrived at the inn. It's what you would expect from such an establishment. Patrons eating and drinking, some are fighting and there are barmaids that catch a man's eye enough to make them go for another drink or so.

  "Help yourselves", he gave Lurter the pouch of money, leaving some for himself. "I'll catch up later, I'll just pass by the brothels to kill some time.", he pat his back and left them be, making a left turn at the street in front of the inn and navigated through the alleys until he found foot traffic that led to a certain direction. And so, he arrived. A brown old building with red doors greeted him along with naked women and some patrons that enter and exit, some are having drinks but he paid no mind. He went to the counter where a woman in her thirties or so greeted him, her breasts bare as she tried to woo him.

  "Good evening, laddie!", she greeted with enthusiasm which was strange at least to him. For somebody whose entire job is to be fucked by strangers, she seems surprisingly enthusiastic.

  "No whores.", he interrupted the woman, placing a couple pieces of gold onto the table. "Tell me anything you know about this town. Everything to look out for, rumors from neighboring towns, everything.

  "Get one of our girls first, I'll give you your information then.", she insisted, her enthusiastic face turned stern. "We can't have you spending less for more. Come on."

  He sighed heavily and eventually relented. "Alright. Give me anyone you can. I don't care who it is.", he said and added more gold into what he placed onto the table.

  The woman then beckoned for someone over. A goddamn child. By his guess, no older than ten or eleven. It disgusted him, personally. But a deal's a deal. "Right room at the very end. You have an hour.", she tossed him a key.

  And there he went, the girl following him around as he made his way to the stench of sweat and seed. "I'll need a drink after this...", he muttered to himself as he opened the turned the key and opened the door, letting the girl come into the room first before he went. He sat at one end of the bed and sighed, staring at the ceiling as he mulled at the girl that sat next to him. 'A child shouldn't be sold like this...', he thought, which was eventually interrupted as he felt the girl's small hand touch his thigh.

  "No.", he told her, pushing her hand away. "You don't have to do anything.", he removed his jacket and placed it on the girl, tying the strings well to cover her form.

  "But...", her small voice protested.

  "Just no.", he sighed heavily. "Look...I just need whatever that woman will tell me", he paused, looking at her features. Despite the job she was forced into, there's still an air of innocence in her. "Do you have a home?", he asked, his voice gentle as he turned to face her.

  She shook her head. "I've been born and raised here...I don't know who my parents are...", her words are so soft that he feels like she'll break into tears soon.

  He held her hand. "Do you...want to get out of here?", he asks softly. "Be honest with me. I'll help you with any way I can, I promise."

  And that was what sealed the deal. The small girl sniffled, choking on her own tears until she broke. "Please...help me.", it was a simple plea yet he felt the desperation in her words.

  "Alright...wait for me here. I'll just talk with the woman and I'll come back for you.", he whispered. "Get some rest."

  The girl nodded at him and took that cue to leave, closing the door and making his way to the lobby. "I'm done with her.", he told the woman. "Spill me everything you know."

  "Huh, a quick shot...", the woman muttered. "Alright. This town and the ones going north and east have just repelled an attack by the Black Scarves, currently, the lords are protecting their own lands and the smallfolk under them but there are rumors that the king will soon order the Lords Overseer to mobilize their armies to go on the offensive against the rebels. It turns out, the rebels have strongholds in each of the territories and there are some Lords helping them though the specifics of it are still unknown. There are also rumors that here in the North, House Dert is just one of the many minor Houses in the North that are collaborating with the Black Scarves."

  "Is that all?", he asked.

  The woman nodded. "Aye. This town just had it's third battle against the Black Scarves. Lord Keven's son Ser Cryff is doing a job commanding the militia and repelling the rebels so far. Apart from that, it's business as usual for this place."

  "I see.", he muttered. "Thanks.", he then made his way back to the room.

  "Time's over, lad. Give me the key.", she sternly said.

  "I forgot something. I'll just get it and give the key to you.", he replied. He can swear she grumbled a curse but he didn't mind and went on, arriving at the room and stepping inside it. The girl's still there, wiping her tears after crying. She had a weak smile on her face as she saw him. "We're leaving.", he said, heading to the window and had a feel for it. After confirming it's made of weak wood, he stepped away from it at a fair distance and then ran into it in a tackle, crashing on the other side and into the streets. He then hopped back over to collect the young girl and held her firmly in his arms as he made a run for it, navigating the confusing alleys and made his way back into the inn. With a strained voice, he tossed some gold onto the table. "A room. Anywhere is fine."

  The barmaid at the counter was slightly confused but she handed him a key nonetheless. "Third floor, left room, third to the end."

  He nodded, still carrying the girl, made his way upstairs, climbing to the third floor and into the room the barmaid provided him. "Thank you.", the young girl muttered, her hand grasping his sleeve tightly.

  "What's your name?", he asks, stroking her head to comfort her.

  "Licht.", she weakly answered, her hand holding him tighter. "Please don't leave me.", she pleaded. "Please", she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

  "...yeah. I'll keep you safe...promise.", he muttered, holding her small form close and let her go and laid her down on the bed. "Good night.", he whispered softly.