Milo crept along the alley. He gripped an old knife, the blade turning rusty with age, in his left hand and a full leather sack in his right. He seemed to melt into the shadows. Following the alley, he met up with a large cobblestone street. It was deserted except for a few rats sniffing for scraps. Milo darted along the street, starting at the smallest noise. He stopped at an old house, knocking a secret code. A minute past, and then, at last, it opened a crack.
"Milo? Is that you?" A voice asked
"Of course! Now let me in! You sure took long enough." The door opened and Milo slipped in. Inside a fire crackled merrily in the hearth. A small pot hung above it with a delicious aroma coming from it. A half-elf stirring the pot waved a greeting to Milo. The halfling who had let Milo in excitedly asked Milo, "What did you get this time?"
"Calm down Reed," he said playfully ruffling his little brother's hair. He slid his knife into a sheath at his waist. Walking over to a bowl of clean water he rubbed the soot from his face. Milo then opened the leather sack and started taking items out. He pulls out a fresh loaf of bread, carefully wrapped, setting it on the small dining table. Next, he pulls out a coat and a few ragged blankets, along with two bundles of cloth and a spool of thread, putting them aside for later.
"I have some special presents today," Milo promises. First, he pulls a small bottle of ink, a quill, and a roll of parchment tied with a piece of twine. This he sets aside for himself. Next, he pulls out a small bag of peppermint sticks for Reed, a cookbook for the half-elf, and a small wooden Panflute for his halfling sister, Kora. Finally, he takes two last things from the leather sack: a small pouch that jingles merrily, and a wooden box containing freshly baked pastries.
"Pastries for dessert!" Milo exclaims "Fresh out of the oven, and I also got lucky, for there was a rich merchant and I was able to get ten gold pieces I snagged from his purse. The oaf didn't have a clue!" Milo then goes over and removes a chest from their secret hiding place under a loose floorboard, unlocks with a key, and pours in the money. Just then there is their secret knock at the door.
"It's Kora," Reed informs, peering through a crack in a shutter covering a window.
"Well let her in!" Milo says. Reed pulls open the door, and Kora walks in, her lute still in her hands.
"The Bard returns at last!" Milo jokes.
"Oh stop it!" Kora exclaims smiling.
"What did you get? What did you get?" Reed jumps up and down excited.
"Today I got five gold pieces, twenty-seven silver pieces, and thirteen copper pieces," Kora says, taking out her pouch of money and emptying it into the chest. Milo closes and locks the chest, putting it back into the hiding place.
"Reed, help Lark with the dinner." Kora orders Reed. Reed scampers over to the half-elf, while Kora pulls Milo into another room, "Come on, we have to talk."
What is it?" Milo sighs.
"You have to stop stealing!" Kora exclaims "Reed now wants to help, and you are teaching him that it's okay!"
"What other choice do I have? Every night we go to bed hungry and cold. It has been almost eight years since we had a real home."
"Don't you see, this is our home Milo, and this is our family, our parents are gone. Reed, Lark, you and I are our family. Choose your priorities."
"Don't say that! You might think our parents are dead, but I don't, and I do care for Reed and Lark, but I also care for our parents. I am going to go to eat, join us if you want." Milo says, then stalks away.
The dinner table is set with four straw placemats with a clay bowl and plate on each, filled with hot soup and a slice of bread. Reed and Lark are already sitting. Milo sits down and Kora soon follows. When everyone is sitting they all start to eat.
When everyone has eaten their fill, Reed jumps up and asks Kora "Can you sing us a song? Please!"
"Whatever." Kora gives in. She takes out her lute and settles in her chair. She strums a few chords then begins to sing.
"Listen ye now for I'm calling you down,
To hear the great tale of a warrior renown! His strength without question, his skin hard as steel. For warriors and heroes he did appeal.
Remember the time that Brightsteel did fight,
Against the great imposing Champion-Knight. Recall now the clash of swords against steel, and how in the end that great knight did kneel.
Remember the battle of Mid-Summer's day, alone against many he did square-away. Remember the ending to that fateful fight, how Brightsteel did battle well into the night.
Guard ye your hearts and never forget, when ye find yourselves completely beset, the heart of a warrior will never surrender.
Be ye like Brightsteel and make your own splendor.
May it inspire you when fights go awry."
The song ended and Kora strummed the final notes. Reed clapped enthusiastically.
"More, more!" He pleaded.
"I think that is enough for the night," says Kora setting the lute down, "Now go get ready for bed and then Milo or I will come read to you."
"Okay!" Reed says and dashes off.
Milo stands up and walks over to the hearth. Without looking at Kora or Lark he says "We have to do something. Every day it gets worse. I think we should visit the Golden Grove."
"No!" says Kora, " Reed isn't ready."
"Will he ever be ready Kora? Or will you keep putting it off? We should go now! What do you say, Lark?" Milo asks.
"If anything now is the time."
"Exactly!" Milo exclaims.
"How can you guys say that? We have settled in here. Do you think Reed will want to leave? It is a long journey and what if our parents return while we are gone? What then Milo?"
"Kora, we have waited for seven years! We have to do something. If you want to stay then you don't have to come!"
Just then Reed comes in. "What were you talking about?"
"Nothing," says Milo, embarrassed.
"Reed, you should be in bed," says Kora sternly.
"But-"
"Reed, now."
"Okaaaaaay," says Reed dragging his feet all the way back to his bed.
We will finish this discussion later," says Kora with a look that says not to argue, "Now, I am going to get Reed ready for bed." Kora walks away, leaving Milo and Lark.
"Will you teach him the ways of the forest?" Milo asks Lark, "We must prepare Reed. Please. For the good of everyone."
"I shall. I do not want to, because I worry about what will befall him but you are my friend and Reed must be prepared."
"Thank you!" says Milo.
"Do not thank me yet, it could curse us all..."
o-o-o-o-o
Milo listened to the sounds of his companions sleeping. Sighing he dipped the quill back in the ink and continued to write about the events of the day. When he was finished he carefully put the journal back in his bag, reaching under his ragged pillow to hold the small jade bear that he had received from his parents just before they were captured. He fell asleep still holding it.
o-o-o-o-o
Light streamed through the window. Milo pulls himself to his feet, rubbing his eyes. Kora and Reed are still sleeping, but Lark's bed is empty. He slowly walks over to his clothes folded neatly on the floor and changes into his dark brown trousers and a charcoal gray shirt. He buckles his knife onto his belt and grabs his backpack with all his supplies. Slipping on his worn leather traveler boots, he emerges outside into the sunshine. He starts off at a jog, heading alongside the road. Soon after a few minutes of running, he reaches the stone wall surrounding the town. The guard lifts the gate, letting Milo pass. Milo follows the path through the forest until he reaches a great oak tree. Here he takes a long overgrown trail, branching off from the main road. Soon the trail comes into a large clearing. In the center lies a large, round boulder. Lark is sitting cross-legged on the stone, meditating.
Milo waits patiently for an hour or two, and finally, Lark opens his eyes and looks at Milo. "I shall mentor him in the ways of the Druid, and the Ranger."