I watched in awe as the two newcomers slowly stepped forward toward Gertha. They looked nearly identical; both would be considered to be frankly beautiful. They had bright dark eyes with long dark hair, tanned skin and an easy-going manner to their walk. They touched a hand to their foreheads, then their hearts, before reaching toward her, she did the same, and they embraced each other. The Stag just watched Eggs with narrow eyes and the occasional stomp of his foot.

  “You two got big!” Gertha smiled.

  “We got strong while you were gone. You missed a lot.” The man said, he eyed me warily as he held Gertha, I smiled and nodded in my best I am not a threat yet manner.

  They broke apart, and Gertha then wandered up to the Stag, whose quills lowered as she approached.

  “And who is this handsome boy?” She cooed.

  “That is Gore.” The woman answered, and I suppressed a laugh. It was a very good, literal name for a Stag. Gertha started scratching the beast's neck, and he leaned into her affections, his spines quivering along his back.

  I took a step forward, my hands resting on my pommel, and I wore my most kindly smile.

  “I’m Tullen Fal Barraz, formerly of Avandun. It’s nice to meet Gertha’s children!” I wasn’t sure what their customs were, so I kept myself at a respectful and safe distance. Couldn’t be too careful.

  “Sila Fal Herrun, this is my sister Sayo Fel Herrun.” The man said, again touching his forehead, then his heart. He didn’t move to hug me, though, but I wouldn’t hold that against him.

  “Your father was Zellish?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at Gertha, who very clearly was neither from the Outlands or Zellund.

  "Yes, he was," Sila said.

  “Oh, I see, right, what part of Zellund was he from?” I asked, thoroughly confused. They didn’t seem Zellish in the way they carried themselves.

  Sila stared blankly at me, “I do not know. He died when we were small.”

  Gertha called back, “He’s asking that because he’s assumed I birthed you and is wondering why you look like Outlanders.” My cheeks flushed red.

  The woman, Sayo, laughed; the noise was music to my ears. “Misrelia is our Hold Mother; she did not have to suffer pain with our arrival”

  “Only the loss of most of my stores every meal time.” Gertha snorted before eventually leaving Gore and joining the pair, patting them both on their shoulders.

  “Sorry. I’m not…accustomed to-...Misrelia?” I began.

  “Tull’s a bit thick with people, but he’s a bastard with a blade and a good man to have at your back. I would be dead without him.” Gertha said, nodding at me with a seriousness that took me back.

  “I’d be just as dead without you Gerth,” I replied, instantly regretting my choice of shortened name. She raised both eyebrows at me, shaking her head.

  “How’d you find us anyway? It’s a nice coincidence, but a strange one, you just happen across us.” I asked.

  “The Tower burned so bright we saw it from miles away. Our Bulriar sent us to investigate.” Sila started.

  “Oh, the Chieftain himself, I’m honoured.” Gertha hissed.

  “We’d also had word that you’d gone missing, Misrelia.” Sayo finished.

  “How could you have possibly known that?” Gertha asked, her voice in the same tone of puzzled as if she were asking if her ale had really been that pricey when she’d left to buy another round.

  “An Avanish Monarch Mouth came to the camp. We don’t know how he found us, but he said that indentured property of King Perek. A Magi and a String Guard had gone missing, and he’d pay handsomely to have them returned.” Sayo said, she stepped toward me and drew a finger across her throat.

  “He said dead or alive wouldn’t affect the payment.” She added. Sounded to me like Nimmond had found his way back, and rather than paying back my good deed of sparing his life by telling Perek we had died, instead dobbed us in to be hunted for the rest of our lives. Honest to the Hunter, what a prick, did he not understand warrior code?

  “So Avandun wants us both dead, and they approached the very people they stole me from for help?” Gertha scoffed, starting to pace.

  “They offered a handsome price, but we would not allow them to take you again, Misrelia,” Sila said sternly, grasping Gertha or Misrelia by the top of her arm.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “What’s this Misrelia about? Is Gertha even your real name?” I asked.

  “If I called out apple and you looked, would that be your name?” Gertha snapped.

  “What? No?”

  “It’s one of them, an old one. One that my young ones know is a privilege.”

  “Sorry, Hold Mother.” They both said in unison.

  “How long has it been since you saw each other?” I asked.

  “A long, long time,” Gertha said sadly. They all embraced again, and I just stood there awkwardly, watching. I thought it odd they weren’t more emotional. I’d often watched String Guard reunite with their families after a particularly nasty attack or a week of night watches, and there would be crying, kissing and hugging. I couldn’t talk, though. If you reintroduced me to my parents, I wouldn’t even recognise them. Unless you mutilated them the same way Peevan did.

  Eggs slithered out of the Lindwyrm’s carcass and coiled around me. They were dripping in gore, and I sighed as the foul liquid slipped through the small gaps between my flesh and the metal of my armour, slowly soaking my tunic.

  “You have a Dragon,” Sayo said. She seemed wary, but the slight smile on her face told me she at least had part of her that was a risk taker.

  “No. They’re a Wyvern.” I replied, scratching Eggs under the jaw, who rumbled in pleasure.

  “Wyverns are not real.” Sayo chuckled, the way she said are not sounded like hour knot and so I found myself flushing.

  “Count the legs,” I replied, smirking when the siblings' eyes widened, and I heard them swear under their breath in Zellish.

  “Truly? This is no trick?” Sila gasped. He approached, pausing when Eggs hissed until I waved him to continue.

  “No trick. I hatched an egg and out came Eggs.”

  “The Egg contained more Eggs?” Sayo asked, her face a picture of wonderment.

  “Well, no, their name is Eggs,” I said, gesturing at my blood-covered child? Pet?.

  “This is no name for a Wyvern. A Wyvern should have a name from legends, not breakfast.” Sila said.

  “Hang on, I show you a creature from myth, and you’re taking the piss out of his name?” I laughed.

  “They are a handsome thing, yes, they are!” Sayo cooed, and I warmed to her even more. Eggs tentatively sniffed the twins and started work cleaning themselves. It was quite the sight for a horse-sized creature. Gore merely looked on, spines pointed the entire time.

  “Yes, a mighty Lizard. Not an angry one, though. Perhaps you can tell your friends to leave us alone, huh?” Sila laughed and beamed at me. They were odd, but I liked them. I wondered what it would have been like for Gertha to raise these two.

  “They try to tame anything they find these two, Tull, look out. You might have competition.” Gertha laughed.

  I smiled, relieved to not be in another fight but also to see some more friendly faces. With two more people at our back, especially Free Nomads, who could clearly fight and survive out here. Our chances of making it had doubled.

  “Nothing wrong with competition. But look. It’s fate itself that set you two toward us, and we need any help we can get to make it to the Hold of the Arcuzane. Will you come with us?” I asked. Gertha looked shocked, but I figured if these two were like children to her, then that was good enough for me, after all. I needed to show her I could trust.

  Sayo clicked her tongue, and Sila hummed to himself.

  “Maybe, first you must come to our camp. Meet with Bulriar.” Sila said.

  “Why?” I asked, feeling the sensation of distrust bloom in my chest. I swatted it away for now.

  “Misrelia was Nomad before she was taken. She will know much of King Perek that Bulriar will need to know.”

  “That makes sense, but there is danger here that we cannot be close to. Strange things you would not believe.” I said sternly.

  “Stranger than a creature of myth come to life?” Sayo asked.

  “Deadlier,” I answered.

  “Ah, you have seen the dead ones,” Sila said nonchalantly.

  “Not just the dead ones. One had magic…it outstripped mine.” Gertha whispered.

  The siblings turned on her immediately.

  “They challenged you?” Sila put his hand on her arm, “You are okay?”

  “Yes. We lived. Thanks to Eggs.” Gertha said.

  “Then we have two Black Wyverns to thank for the safety of our Hold Mother,” Sayo said, touching her forehead, then touching mine. I blushed; it was the first time I’d been called that without a hint of mocking to it.

  “You both must meet with Bulriar; let us share all we know together. Then we can discuss the Arcuzane.” Sila clapped his hands together, “Yes?”

  I looked at Gertha, nodding at her to give her the lead. She smiled faintly at me before nodding in return.

  “Fine. Let’s go before this damn Wyrm starts rotting.” She said.

  Sila smiled and hugged Gertha once more.

  “It will be good to show you our camp and share a fire.” He said before taking hold of one of Gore’s spines and started leading us away. Gertha took Sila’s other arm, and they began speaking. Gore turned back and grunted in Eggs’ direction. Eggs simply chittered and looked at me. I shook my head.

  “It would be best to keep the Wyvern far from Gore, I think. At the back.” Sayo whispered to me.

  “Oh, right, sure we’ll follow you and bring up the rear,” I said.

  “No. I shall walk with you!” She grinned.

  I blushed again.

  “So tell me about your camp,” I asked, doing my best to pay attention to what Sayo said as I lost myself in her dark eyes while Eggs trotted behind us, huffing on the back of my neck.