He didn't know how he had done it, but he managed to reach his home unnoticed. The pirates were everywhere in the village, taking and destroying everything they found. They were noisy, but Kese was silent and swift like a cat and could hear them everywhere they went in spite of the blowing wind. He moved from house to house, running bent and hiding behind walls and hutches. The animals had been already taken away, so they wouldn't have the chance to clang or scream whenever the blonde dashed by.

He reached his and Tas' workshop, then quickly made it to the house. When he stepped in he immediately noticed that the pirates had been there before and already finished their work there. The kitchen, his parents' room and his own looked like a tornado had just gone through them, the pantry was left empty. Everything was thrown to the ground, the chairs flipped over, clothes and shreds of vases everywhere. The blonde couldn't see anyone near or far within those walls. That meant his family...

- Oh no... – he sighed and buried his face into his palms. He was about to leave, when he heard noise from his room. It was very quiet, and definitely wasn't made by an animal. It was like the whimper of a young child, or rather, a baby. He stepped into his room and watchfully whispered. – Mother?

- Kese! – a quiet voice rang from under his bed. He sighed in relief, kneeled down and helped Rozi out. Her daughters were there, too. – Where is your father?

- I don't know. We need to go back to... – he heard as someone was approaching their house singing loudly. – Back!

Rozi hid under his bed again and Kese stood into the gap between the door and the wall. He didn't have time to hide in the other room, and he didn't want to leave her mother and sisters alone in his own. A pirate entered the house, walked and looked around for a minute, then murmured. – Ah, nuthin' more 'ere, eh?! – and fortunately he was about to leave already.

But then Csepke started to whimper louder than before, and it was enough for the pirate to hear and start looking for her. He stepped into Kese's room. – Where are ya, little kitty? – his evil giggle made the air colder. The blonde's heart stopped then started to race; he felt a lump in his throat as he was thinking about what he could do to prevent his family getting hurt. He heard Rozi trying to calm Csepke down, but no success. The pirate stepped closer to the bed. Kese froze when he saw a sabre in his hands. The pirate lifted his weapon. – Are ya perhaps under the bed? – he chuckled, bloodlust filled his voice. Kese couldn't think, his mind was hazed and his instincts switched on. He pushed the door away and stepped behind the man.

He had learnt the Tug Baranta. He could use it in fist fight, when he had no weapons: one of its main moves was to lay the enemy out using strangleholds. Kese was able use it properly and he could use it now as well. He could just knock out the pirate; it wouldn't be so hard for him. But he didn't knock him out, he didn't use any strangleholds. He just grabbed the stranger's head and simply but forcefully turned it. There was a loud crack and the pirate lifelessly fell to the ground.

There was silence in his room, even the whimpering stopped. The blonde stood there, dumbfounded by his deed. He couldn't believe what he had done. He had just gracefully and brutally broken a man's neck. He had just killed someone. And he felt like something snapped open inside him.

He looked down at the corpse and then at his hands. For an instant Kese did see a bloody blade on his left, then his own palms were in front of him again. He was trembling and panting; he had to grab a hold on his robbed wardrobe.

He had just killed the pirate. But why if there had been another way?

He tried to clear his mind; he didn't have time to linger above what he had done. His family had to reach the safety of the cave. He helped Rozi out again, then she took Csepke out, and finally Jolánta appeared from under his bed. He didn't dare looking into their eyes. – What happened, Kese? – his sister whispered, pointing at the pirate.

- I made him sleep. He won't wake up soon. – he lied as he went to the entrance to take a look. His body and his voice were still shaking. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm gently stroking his skin through his shirt.

- Are you feeling alright? – Rozi whispered uneasily. Kese painfully closed his eyelids and shook his head. The woman wanted to calm and hug her son but he politely refused.

- We don't have much time. We have to reach the cave without being noticed by those bastards. Follow me, and try to move quiet and fast.

- I'm afraid. – Jolánta whined in silent voice. Kese stroked her cheek with a bleak smile appearing on his lips.

- Don't be afraid, my ladybug. We'll be there in no time.

The pirates were blind or just simply dumb; most likely both, because Kese managed to lead his family to the abbey without being seen or followed. He couldn't believe it.

The first thing he did after they reached safety was asking Ince about his father. He hadn't seen him since the blonde had left. Kese assumed the blacksmith was still out there looking for his wife and daughters, so he decided to stay at the tunnel's outer entrance in case Tas would return. He was worried about him, but he trusted he would see his father again in one piece. Everyone except him was already inside the cave; and after Kese gently informed a few of them about what had been happening in the village, he hoarded sticks for a faggot to hide the entrance.

And then he waited. And he couldn't sit still again, because of his deed now. He had a prick of conscience of course, but he felt like... it was a natural move for him, to kill someone. He was blinded by his fear of losing his loved ones, but he had done it in cold blood. And this freaked him out and made him very nervous. He had already decided he would bury the corpse himself. But what if the pirates notice the lack of a man or find him?

What if they find his father? What if they had already found him?

These questions gave him creeps. Fortunately, he didn't have time to carry on these thoughts for suddenly Tas appeared amongst the abbey's houses making him relieve. Kese hissed to him and took away the sticks for an easy entry. The man rushed to him, and when he jumped into the tunnel, he whispered. – Close it! I've been followed.

The worried blonde frowned while he was doing as he was told. Then he peeked out to see the pirates roaming around the monks' houses.

- I'm sorry, son...

- Why?

- I couldn't find your mother and sisters.

- Don't worry, they are here. – he saw the surprised look on his father's face. - When I came back with Karcsa and the others, I didn't find you all in there, so I went to the village to look for you. I found them and we managed to get back... – the blonde left out his killing intentionally. He looked back, towards the cave and frowned again. – They are noisy. Could you tell them to stay quiet or they will hear us?

Tas nodded and disappeared. Kese watched the darkness of the tunnel, then heard rustling from outside and saw a shadow from the corner of his eyes. He carefully crouched and looked out, through the holes of the faggot. He had a very bad feeling about this.

Suddenly the sticks flew away; a hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of the tunnel with amazing speed and strength. The blonde felt himself soaring in the air, then he roughly hit the ground a few metres away from his previous position. He tried to get up, but someone kicked his side and flipped him over to his back. – This is not the one we've chased! – a hoarse voice shouted in Elemental, and then someone stepped on the blonde's chest pressing him to the ground. The air from his lungs were squeezed out. Kese finally opened his eyes and saw four slovenly pirates in dirty clothes. – Where's 'e, ya little brat?

- Wha-? – Kese moaned, trying to remove the foot from his body, but got a hard kick to his stomach. One of the pirates pulled him up and pushed him to a tree. He told something to the blonde, but he couldn't understand his sputtering accent and was put off by the nauseous smell of his mouth.

- There he is! – he heard another pirate's shout; and after the man who was holding him up turned towards his fellow, the blonde saw Tas in the tunnel's entrance. The pirates drew their knives, and got ready to cut down the blacksmith. Kese took the opportunity and head butted the man in front of him with such force the pirate released him and fell to the ground. The blonde himself got a little dizzy too, but quickly grabbed the man's double edged dagger and rushed to the other three. One of them stepped into his way and cut towards him.

Their bodies crashed into each other's. A moan of pain was heard from both of them as they just stood there. The two other pirates looked at them not knowing what had been going on. Tas' eyes widened – he was the first to realise what had just happened. Filled with worry he rushed towards his son, punching and throwing away the men from his way. Then he suddenly halted.

The pirate in front of the blonde slumped down, painfully lay to the ground clutching his red stained stomach. He jerked a few; then went still, his eyes gazing towards the dark cloudy sky.

The blacksmith looked at the panting blonde stunned and confused. He looked back with an unexplainable expression, like he was scared and ashamed because his father had seen his deed. The two remaining pirates stood up dumbfounded, then attacked the young killer, roaring and swinging their knifes. Tas thought his son had got shock and wasn't able react to anything; but it was him who was in shock and wasn't fast enough to protect him. Instead of this, Kese protected himself more than well.

He grabbed the first attacker and threw him away, then side-stepped from the other one and quickly stabbed the pirate in the back. He shrieked and fell into the dust, dead. The last pirate seeing this got angrier; but before he could attack, Kese stepped to him and sliced his throat. His blood spurted out, and a seethe was heard as he took his last breath and tumbled down. He struggled for a few more seconds, but eventually gave in.

And this was the moment when the paled Tas turned back, calmly walked up to a tree and discretely took out the contents of his stomach. Just after he finished had he the courage to look at the blonde. He was sitting on his heels, the dagger still in his hands, his right sleeve was covered with red dots. He was staring out of his head with an emotionless expression while rubbing his abdomen with his left. His look didn't calm down Tas.

- Are you injured? – he whispered a little afraid, seeing blood on his shirt.

Kese shook his head. – No. It's just... – he wanted to explain it was the pirate's blood staining his clothes; so to reassure his father he pulled up his shirt. – My scar hurts.

Tas walked up to him. – But your side...

He looked under his left arm and saw a shallow cut. – I didn't notice. – he stated still emotionlessly, and it made the older man nervous. The blonde stood up, looked around at the three corpses. He had killed again. But now, the bloody blade was right in his hand; it wasn't a vision or an illusion anymore. Despite of this, he felt less remorse and guilt than before.

He didn't doubt now that it had been a part of him some time before.

- Are you alright? – Tas asked seeing Kese was looking for something.

The blonde frowned. – Where is the fourth? – then his eyes widened and turned towards the village. – Got away!? – he would immediately start chasing him down, but his father stopped him.

- He's gone, why would you go after him?

- He will come back with the others. – Kese stated firmly, and the other blacksmith realized this too. – I won't let him do that, so please, don't hold me back.

- And what if you run into the other pirates? – Tas became frustrated. - Will you fight against them, too?

- Yes. – his menacingly glowing gaze pierced into his father's worried eyes. He heard as the man gritted his teeth.

- I won't let you do that. We hide back and...

- And what? Wait for them to come back with greater forces and slice down all of us? No, thanks... – he turned his back to Tas again.

- Damn it, I don't want you to get hurt again, Botond!

The blonde froze as he heard the man's thunder-like call. Tas didn't notice his mistake, but Kese did. He forgave him, calmed down his body and dropped the dagger.

– I'm sorry, father. – he rapidly turned back and punched the blacksmith on his temple. It made Tas only lurch, so the blonde punched him again harder, sending him to the ground and knocking him out for a short time. He took the opportunity to go after the fleeing pirate; but before he left the abbey, he grabbed the dagger and spoke loudly to his unconscious father.

- My name is Kese, not Botond... I'm sorry...

A blood-curdling scream fainted away in the shadows of dying canopies. Everything became ominously silent, only the fluttering of frightened birds filled the cold air. The storm was about to crash into the island; the wind became stronger and the waves were lashing against the rocky coast. And it was dark, very dark. Kese could barely see the bloody corpse of his victim. He had found the fourth, fled pirate in the forest. Poor soul had got lost, overwhelmed by fear and unaware of his surroundings. It was so easy now; it even scared Kese how easily he had killed him.

He wanted to sit down and put his thoughts into a more bearable chaos, but he noticed the light of a burning torch not far away. He quickly hid himself on a tree, three metres above ground. He had the dagger in his grip, just to be sure. His scar hurt like his wound had used to hurt before, even rubbing didn't help it. In addition he constantly saw a few ghosts around, confusing him more than his own deeds.

Five pirates came from the village to look for their fellows. They didn't know the way to the abbey, but followed the beaten track in the forest. The tree Kese hid on was close to it, and unfortunately – or maybe fortunately – they noticed their comrade's body and approached it. If they found out he was dead, they would search for the killer and might discover the way to the cave. Once there they would find the other corpses and the Magors too...

Kese couldn't take such risk. He had done it once and more; he would do it again to ensure the safety of his family and village. They might not be his life's original relatives and friends, but they were all real and precious for him now. He was afraid, but decided to do it. He quietly climbed down, stepped behind the nearest pirate, covered his mouth and immediately stabbed his side. The slim blade hardly found its way between his ribs, to the man's organs. Kese turned his weapon and pulled it out while helping down the fainting body. His arms trembled, but he managed to make only a small noise. Despite of his efforts, he was discovered.

- What the..?! – one of the pirates reached for his sabre, but with a few quick step, Kese appeared in front of him and cut into his neck. The injured man fell to the ground, grasping his wound, trying to stop the pulsating blood, in vain. Another one charged at the blonde, roaring and lifting his axe above his head. Kese dodged and the pirate's weapon sank into a tree and got stuck. The next one punched the blonde, sending him to the ground and attacking him again, but with his sword. Kese managed to stop it with his dagger and kicked the pirate hard on his loin. The man fell to his knees, screaming in pain until he received a blade in his skull. Kese couldn't pull it out, so he grabbed the pirate's sword and rolled away from the heavy axe's next strike. He got up to his feet and saw the pirate lifting his weapon again, leaving his abdomen unprotected. Taking the opportunity he brutally stabbed his sword into the man's abdomen. The stench, sound and sight of what came out of the wound made Kese retch as he pulled out his blade and immediately turned away – avoiding a knife colliding with his head. He looked around and saw the pirate with the torch as he threw another knife at him. He moved away, but his upper arm still got a cut.

Fortunately for him, the other man had just run out of knives and the only weapon he could use was the torch. He swung it towards the blonde, shouting swearwords at him. Kese could see anger and fear in his enemy's eyes; the fear he too felt. He was afraid, but his will overcame it and gave him strength and courage. He stopped the pirate's arm and with an upright move he cut into his chest. But unlike his sword's point, the edge itself was dull; it only tore the man's clothes. His enemy punched him with his empty fist, then he almost hit the blonde with the other. Kese's hair got singed by the flames, but the next time he grabbed the torch and pushed it into the pirate's face. His scream was agonizing as his mouth and throat were burnt away. To ease his pain, the blonde stabbed the sword into his enemy's chest and left it there.

Kese was panting when he finished this fight, and fell to his bottom. He decided to lie down and rest a little. He rubbed his belly again; his scar hadn't hurt like this for a long time. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he was somewhere else. He could see the starry sky, he felt dry soil and crunchy grass under his back, heard the quiet sound of flowing water. As he blinked the scene changed: it was a red, hot sunset, the air was heavy and filled with the stench of blood and death. Then it changed again, and he was lying in a huge round tent, surrounded by beautiful carpets...

The blonde shook his head to clear his senses, and he was on the Silent Island again. He took a deep breath, smelt the scent of the sea and stench of dead bodies, then instantly was startled by a loud and dazzling thunderbolt. He slowly stood up and closed his eyes, didn't want to look at corpses again. He managed to stop the fled pirate, and the other five gave him a strange feeling. 'Maybe they sent a few of them after the others. This could mean, they would leave the island soon - these are good news. But this also means they would send more men after those I've killed.' He shivered of these words. 'Those I've killed.' He felt dizzy, like he was about to faint. - I cannot black out now! – he collected himself and picked a long knife from a corpse. He tied its sheathe to his waist, put out the torch, then headed towards the village. He left the forest behind and was almost at the houses when he stumbled across a few other pirates. Fortunately they didn't notice him in the darkness. He lay low behind some bushes and listened. He barely heard anything - because of the wind and his heart's fast and loud beats – but it was enough.

A few metres from him there were two men holding up another who was moaning in pain. Kese heard that he had been beaten up by some stranger as big and strong as a bear, and a few of them had gone after him to give the beat back. The blonde couldn't resist a grin: it had been obviously his father. But his smirk felt when he thought about those pirates the beaten one had mentioned.

Kese followed them to the village. Once there he remained at the back of the houses to avoid getting noticed. The three men went to a large group, resting near the stairs leading down to the docks. The blacksmiths' house wasn't far from them, so Kese hid on its thatched roof. He could see and hear them perfectly.

The pirates were around a fire, a few of them standing, a few of them sitting; about one and a half dozen of them with the beaten one and his companions. Kese saw the bald pirate sprawling on a large chair in the centre next to a fire. That was Tas' chair from their kitchen. He was drinking vine from a beautiful ceramic jug. It was Rozi's favourite jug; she had got it from her grandmother. The pirate's knife was stabbed into a black cat, a white stain around its right eye. The suffocating stench of burnt hair filled the air – they had thrown Tas' and Kese's costume into the fire. And the bald pirate was holding its mask.

But why? Why did they do it? And why with only their belongings?

The blonde froze when he noticed the answer to his questions. Behind them there was a body lying on the ground, its neck strangely bent. Kese felt like he recognized that body - the corpse of his first kill. He shivered again; they must have found it in his room.

Another four pirates appeared from somewhere. The bald one turned to them.

- Have you find them? – it wasn't clear whether he asked about the villagers or the Busós. His voice seemed calm, but tension was hidden in it. The four hesitated.

- No, but... But we found the others in the forest. – the one who dared to respond took a deep breath. – They are dead. All of them killed.

Grumbling, shouting and swearing was heard amongst them. The bald one rose, his limbs shaking with anger which he let out. – God damn this fucking island! – he roared and threw the mask away. It landed on the roof, within Kese's reach. He quickly grabbed it before it could have slipped down, then took a look at it: the mask was undamaged, even its horns and hair were still on.

- What now? – a pirate asked. The bald one sighed and scratched his beard.

- Bring them here! We'll bury them; then we leave this miserable place as soon as we can.

- But the cap'n said...

- I don't care about his fucking treasure anymore! – he snapped. – Hurry, you shitbags! – half of the bunch left, and other few men was sent to search for spades and shovels. The bald was walking around the fire. A bit later all of his men arrived. – Bury them at the backyard of those houses! – he pointed in the opposite direction of where Kese was. He flopped into the chair, and rubbed his face. His voice was tired. – Get yourself some torches. We'll burn down this damned village.