Yay, finally a new chapter! So sorry for the wait, but I may have time to write during rehearsals now (yay!) If you can remember way back when to the beginning of chapter one, that mey help. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: The Mansion

7 Years Later…

Yurick dropped the heavy pack, exhausted from the day's march.

"Someone start a fire!" yelled an irritable voice.

"Hey, kid. You're the mage, ain'tcha? Start a fire!" Yurick sighed, trying to keep his temper in check.

"There has to be wood for a fire, you see" he said, as if explaining this to a child. "Otherwise, the fire will dissipate and you'll be just as cold as you were before." Yurick smirked, and then ducked at the heavy log aimed for his head.

"Start the damn fire!" growled Kansu, another log in hand. Yurick bit his tongue, trying to keep his anger in check as he set the pile of logs on fire.

Later that night, Yurick lay awake. The others had long since fallen into sleep. Yurick liked the nights because they were the only time he was ever left alone. Just him and his thoughts. There was no one there to criticize him, to tell him he wasn't good enough. He stared up at the stars, allowing his thoughts to wander.

"Oy, Kid! Move along! If you don't hurry your sorry arse, we'll just dump you 'ere, all the good you do us!"

"Where're you going, pipsqueak?"

"Hey, Kid!"

STOP! Yurick nearly swore aloud. Hardening his mind, he shoved the thoughts away.

"Go to sleep," he told himself sternly.

The next morning, the group approached the mansion. It was an impressive house, settled between two hills. Next to the house, a small creek flowed, leading into the grove of trees in the back. Smith stopped them all on the front porch.

"Right, our task is to capture the lord living 'ere. Take what you want from the house; the man'll have no use for any of it once we're through. Tie up anyone you find, and we meet in the drawing room. Questions?" Smith glared around, as if daring one of them to answer him.

"Good. Let's make this quick and easy. Split up." Smith gestured towards the door. "Break it down," he said impatiently.

Yurick was the last to walk through the ruined double doors. Seeing that the other men had taken the stairs and the two hallways, Yurick wandered into a side room. It must be a coat room, thought Yurick, forcing his way through mounds of cloth to reach a door on the other side. In the next room, he found a small cooking room, likely used for heating water. At the moment, the room was completely devoid of people, and the fires were stone cold. He shivered, moving quickly through the room. If he had actively searched, he may have found the servants who had been hiding in the storage closet. Yurick, however, had no desire to find anyone. He wanted to get back to the town as quickly as possible. He heard a voice wafting from the next room. Yurick stiffened. It sounded strangely familiar, like a voice from a dream. He shook the feeling.

It can't be, he thought. Forcing his fingers to turn the knob on the door, he walked into the drawing room.

"Good morning, gentlemen," called a male voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You know damn well what!" came Smith's angry voice. "Rithe wants the land 'ere, and he'll do whatever necessary to get it." Yurick stepped into the room, looking around. It was a sturdy room, with high ceilings and gold-spangled wallpaper. The room was adorned with a simple couch, and two armchairs overlooking a large window. He searched for the source of the voice, confused. It had sounded so familiar, yet it could not be…

"-course it was Rithe. Ruler of Aristes, did you know?" Yurick blanched at the voice. There was no mistaking it. Lord Orrin.

"Although," continued Lord Orrin, turning towards Yurick "I think he prefers to call the town 'Rithetown', now. Silly name, if you ask me. Isn't that right, Yurick?" Orrin stood and extended his hand to Yurick. "It seems we have much to discuss," he said coldly.

Smith intervened. "How dare you talk to 'im like that!" He brushed Yurick aside angrily. "There's no time for blathering about, you're to give us what we came for!"

"So you work with these men now?" asked Orrin. "Shame, really." He walked over to Yurick. "You should know that you broke Lilli's heart when you left," he said softly. "You were like a brother to her." Yurick stared at the ground, not answering.

Smith turned. "You know this man?" Smith asked incredulously.

"N...no. We met once, only in a passing. N…nothing important, really." Yurick stammered. Satisfied, Smith turned to Orrin.

"Now, we can settle the matter that we traveled all this way for. Will you give up the land, or do we have to convince you more?" Smith signaled to one of the men. A door near the back of the room, almost unnoticed before, crashed open. Two men came through, struggling with a young woman with fiery red hair. They dragged her to her knees and pressed a dagger to her neck. Yurick felt the heated glare of a pair of green eyes. Shock echoed thorough Yurick, as he recognized the woman's face. Lilli.

"You do know these people, you lying little swine!" Smith hissed angrily, catching the stunned look on Yurick's face.

"I told you," said Yurick, exasperated, "Only in a passing."

"Right then," sneered Smith. "You can hold this here dagger, then. Right next to her neck, don't be shy." He shoved a knife into Yurick's hands with a leer, and then turned his attention back to Orrin.

"As you can see, Lord Orrin…"

The conversation faded into the background, as Yurick contemplated the knife in his hands. He unsheathed it, and looked into Lilli's face for the first time in seven years. She was quite good-looking, he noted, with her long red locks framing her oval face. She had large green eyes, which would have been very pretty had they not been narrowed in hatred. How she has grown, Yurick thought.

-will NOT give in to Lord Rithe's pressure!" came Orrin's heated voice. "There is nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind."

"Is that so?" said Smith in a low, dangerous tone. "Bind him up." He gestured to his two men.

"No!" cried Lilli through her gag. Smith turned his coal-black eyes on Yurick.

"Kill her." He said, already turning his attention away and addressing his men. "Take whatever you want, and then set this place to the torch. Move out!" he turned to leave the room. Yurick looked at the knife in his hand, then at Lilli. She glared at him with hate, and sat resolute as he brought the dagger closer to her neck. He sighed, frustrated, and then cut through the ropes on her wrists and gag. Muttering an oath, he threw the dagger on the floor. Smith turned around, a treacherous glint in his eyes.

"Get out of here." he told her with a clipped voice. She spared him an unforgiving glance, and then swept out of the room. Smith inched closer, infuriated.

"What?" he said quietly.

"No." Yurick said, firmly, "I won't kill her."

"You won't," Smith repeated. "I think you will."

'"I won't, Smith." Yurck's eyes flared dangerously, as he tried to keep his temper in check.

"Make your choice, kid. You go after her, and take her life, or we'll leave you here to die." Yurick turned, and stared into Smith's hardened face.

"It's been seven years since the day we met," said Yurick, his back to Smith. "I was only a kid then, but I know better now. I've had enough of doing as you say!" an uncontrollable anger bubbled up within Yurick, and something finally snapped inside of him. Yurick turned and struck Smith with all his might. He felt the bones in the man's jaw give way.

"Go to hell," he spat, turning sharply on his heel. Without a backward glance, Yurick walked away from Smith once and for all.

Y'all didn't think I'd really kill her, did you? Hope to see you next chapter (Which should hopefully be up this weekend or earlier…. We'll see…) Thanks to Jess, for editing this, and please leave a review before you go!