Soon Wills clothes were only slightly damp, and he donned his coat. Brushing off the remaining dust that was clinging to it. Catching his reflection in the creek, he saw that he had cleaned up nicely, and could, with a little stretch, pass as a farm hand or peasant boy.

But then he caught sight of the shackles on his wrists and sighed. Wrapping the chain dangling between his wrists in his hand, he pulled his coat's sleeves down to hide it and did the same to the iron cuffs. It was no longer visible, and as long as he kept his hands together, it would stay that way.

Setting off once again, he strolled down the road, trying to appear familiar with the surroundings, and soon neared the gates of the village, which where being watched over by two bored guards. Will knew the guards were posted at the gate only as a routine and not really as precaution. As he got closer, he noticed a worn sign above the gates that said "REDMONT", so he was in presumably in Redmont fief.

Knowing he had to appear at home entering through the gate, he strode purposefully through the gate and past the watching guards. They didn't give him a second glance so he kept walking down the street without a backward look. The village was made up of mostly comfortable looking houses and shops that were closely built.

There were still a people around the marketplace, mostly farmers, doing their last minute shopping. Will walked behind a stall that was selling furniture and ducked into an ally. From there he scanned his surroundings, and moved unseen toward a busy bakery with a small crowd in front of it. Good, he wouldn't be noticed helping himself to some bread.

He walked towards it.

Unnoticed by Will, was a group of older boys, all of them big and heavyset. They were also hanging around the stall, waiting for an opportune moment to snatch some sugar cakes. These were the town bullies, and they were known for starting fights in the streets, and dealing with anyone that defied them. Spotting the small, slight boy heading their way, they decided to have some fun.

Will had reached the stall and was waiting mingling with for the right moment, when he was suddenly shoved forcefully from behind and tripped, ramming into the man standing in front of him.

Losing his balance he toppled backwards, not being able to turn and soften his fall with his hands. This was going to hurt. But before he could hit the ground, the man he had hit, turned, and with lightning-quick speed, snatched his arm to steady him. Will's grip on the chain hidden in his sleeve slackened, and it fell out with a jangel, fully exposing the shackels at his wrists.

The man stared at the chain.

Will's eyes widened in horror, he dimly heard laughing and footsteps running away behind him.

The man, who he now noticed was wearing a strange green and grey cloak and a cowl over his head that hid his face in shadow, had not loosened his grip on Will's arm. Panicking Will tried to wrench his arm free, but the grip was vicelike.

Turning smoothly, Will slammed his elbow as hard as he could into the man's stomach, eliciting a grunt of pain and surprise. The iron grip slacken only slightly, but it was enough for Will to wrench his arm free. He took off as as fast as he could, running down the street and behind a corner, not daring to look back and see if he was being followed. He ran past several streets, putting some distance between himself and the man in the cloak.

Finally he could run no more and he hid in a dark ally, slumping down against the side of a house and panting with exhaustion. "That had been close", Will thought, still breathing hard. He needed to get out of this village fast, before the man found him. Still leaning against the wall of the ally as he tried to regain his breath, he tried calm his racing heart.

Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching.

Will froze, listening as they got closer.

But instead of just one pair of footsteps as he'd expected, he counted at least seven. Sure enough seven boys walked out of the dark. The same boys that had pushed him and blown his cover.

"Found the little rat", the biggest one guffawed. Stepping forward in a threatening way.

"Thought he could get away from us", another laughed.

"What do you want?",Will said through clenched teeth.

The one that had spoken first, obviously the leader let out a harsh laugh.

"Why you of course", he said. "What are you doing with those chains on your hands?"

Will said nothing.

"Bet your a runaway fugitive", the older boy snarled. "Then we can get some money if we turn you in", he added.

The boys surrounded him, slowly closing in. Will's eyes darted around,searching for and opening.

"But it wouldn't be fun if we just turned him in, would it Alda", one of the boys cackled, addressing the leader.

Alda said nothing, but he smiled.

A few of the boys produced heavy canes. Will assessed his chances, normally he could have beaten them if a fight with only a little difficulty. But in his weakened state he had no doubt his chance where slim, and of course they were armed, he thought, eyeing there canes. Then he cursed the chains around his hands that would make it even harder for him.

He'd have to to try to break free-

His train of thought was suddenly interrupted as a boy to his left swung his cane down. Will dodged it easily and moved in a fluent uppercut to the boys chin. The boy cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Will turned just in time to escape a blow to his head. He ducked and rolled out of its path and then turned and swept the bigger boys legs out from under him.

But they had him surrounded and before he could stand, he felt the crack of a cane on his back. He doubled over with a cry, the pain made worse for the fact that he had been hit on one of his wounds.

Instantly blows rained down on him from every direction. He was sent sprawling with a kick to his stomach, and heard a sickening crack as a cane collided with his ribs. He knew if he stayed down they'd have no mercy on him.

With a great effort he regained his feet, his side burning with the effort, dodging as many blows as he could, he struck out at the nearest boy, topeling him to the ground. But eventually he was struck down again, and this time he didn't have the stengh to keep fighting.

He tried to shield himself from the endless torrent of blows, but his vision became blurred by tears of pain. He let out a sob of pain as he was struck again.

"Baby's crying ", Alda mocked. "maybe he wants some more", he laughed.

Will was on his hands and knees now, sick from the pain, his head spinning with the nausea that engulfed him.

"Stop", he croaked. His voice barely above a whisper.

"Please, stop."

He didn't think his body could take the pain any longer.

Suddenly the blows stopped. Will had the slightest gleam of hope, that they'd gotten tired of tormenting him.

But instead, he felt himself being dragged to his feet. Someone grabbed his hair and he was slammed jarringly against the wall of the ally. Something cold and thin was pressed to his neck. He opened his eyes to find Alda holding a knife to his throat.

"I've had a thought boys", he said.

"Congratulations", Will muttered, not caring about the consequences.

Alda's face turned red with anger, and he struck the side of Will's face hard. Will's head jerked sideways from the blow, his vision blackening around the edges.

"We don't need to turn in this brat, alive", spat the thug, pressing the knife harder against Will's neck and drawing a thin line of blood. The group snarled and cackled cruelly.

"I'd put that down if I were you", said an even, low voice.

The group turned at the sound, startled by its presence. Will tried to push back all the pain coursing through his body. He slitted his eyes and saw a dark figure standing in the shadows.

It was the man in the strange mottled cloak.