Stranger
"Can you see if they are soldiers or not?" Matthias asks and instinctively reaches backwards to grab a hold of the axe he has strapped to the back. He does not have the energy to make another run for it, but if there are soldiers in the town, he will not give up easily either.
Tino shields his own eyes from the sun and squints in direction of the village. "It does not look like they are soldiers to me," he mutters thoughtfully. "As far as I can see, none of them are wearing any armor, but that's about all I can tell from this distance. Come on, let's go check it out." Then, without waiting for the others, he moves with quick and confident steps towards the village as if he does not have a single worry in the world.
Berwald and Matthias throw each other a questioning look and after a quick nod, they cautiously follow behind Tino, both ready to draw their weapons at a moment's notice should they need to, because somebody need to worry about their safety when Tino does not at all seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.
They soon see the group of people clustered just outside the first row of houses, and when somebody in the group catches sight of them, a few of them even begin waiving them over.
Tino turns around then, gives them a bright smile, and gives them a signal to move faster. "Come on, hurry up," he says lightly. "That is one of my neighbors waiving," he then rambles about how he knows the man, going off on tangents about several other villagers he notices in the crowd and practically skips across the field. "Let's go see what he wants, there seems to be nothing to worry about."
Tino's smile does not last for very long however, and they do not even make it all the way over to the group before shock overcomes his features instead when he notices the state of the people gathered on the outside of his village and he truly seem to grasp that everything is not alright.
Matthias quickly recognizes the crowd as villagers from Griven, and it is obvious that they have been through hell to get here. Some of them are badly injured and poorly dressed, especially considered that winter is quickly approaching and the temperatures at night bordering on freezing. It appears that less than half of them were unable to put on shoes before they fled their homes, and some have feet bleeding from the abuse of the road or have turned into a shade that warns of frostbite.
There are people of all ages present, but there is a frightening low number of the eldest and youngest amongst them and Matthias' heart drops.
"What happened?" Tino yells, and his voice cracks sharply on his words.
"We told you," Berwald replies quietly. "Our village was attacked, and we were running through the forest, making our way here for safety. Those are our people, villagers from Griven."
Tino whirls around to face them, his eyes wide in shock and his mouth hangs open as he struggles to formulate words. "But," he stutters, and it takes him several attempts to formulate a proper sentence and when he does, it comes out chocked. "I never thought it could be this bad."
The gathered villagers finally notice their approach and seem to recognize them, and Matthias can hear his and Berwald's name called from a distance. They move faster over the fields to join the group, and soon after, people hugging them firmly and slapping them on their backs, celebrating their continued survival.
Moments after, Torleif elbows his way through the crowd, his voice loud and people easily part to allow him through. The burly man looks on the verge of tears when he stands before them, and Matthias finds himself almost crushed in a bear hug. "Thank the gods!" Torleif yells. I was beginning to think we lost the two of you, just as we lost so many others. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you boys."
Matthias breaks free of the embrace, holding Torleif by the shoulder. "How many others survived," he asks, even though he is terrified of the answer.
As he feared, Torleif looks saddened by the question. "As far as we know, the only ones that got away from Griven are those you can see right here. Most of us found each other in the forest around the main path and we fled here together, arriving here just a few hours ago. There have been a few stragglers to arrive after us, having chosen different paths through the forest, but not many." He sighs deeply and drags a hand over his graying beard. "I wish there were more of us."
"Why are you just waiting here outside the village?" Tino suddenly asks, bullying his way through a few villagers to stand right next to Berwald and Matthias.
Torleif turns towards the young hunter, narrowing his gaze. "Who are you?" he asks sharply and with a suspicious undertone.
"That's Tino," Berwald ends up answering, as Tino looks frozen under Torleif's gaze and sharp tone, probably worried he has interrupted in the wrong place if Matthias was to hazard a guess. "He helped us find the way when we got lost in the forest. We wouldn't have made it here without him."
The harsh lines on Torleif's face soften a bit and he even offer Tino a grateful smile, though it looks strained by other worries. "The Chieftain is working on finding us all food and beds for the night. He told us to wait here until he is done with the preparations, so we won't scatter everywhere. I have told him what happened to us, and he even promised he will do what he can to help us out further."
"Really?" Matthias asks, genuinely surprised at the news. "He wants to fight the king. Is he really willing to risk the lives and safety of his villagers to help us?"
"You should meet him!" Torleif says and the energy returns to his tone and he puts one hand on each of Matthias and Berwald's shoulder to push them out of the crowd, not seeming to mind that Tino trails after them, hanging on to every word said between them. "It turns out that they have had problems with the king's soldiers here as well. Nobody has lost their lives yet, but just last week, the soldiers came by demanding taxes be paid just as they did us. They then took most of the gold and food they came across, and now the village might not have enough supplies to make it through winter. Some of them want to fight back and regain what is rightfully theirs rather than sit idly by to starve."
Then, a man that can only be the Chieftain walks up to them, his clothes a finer make than most common folk would wear on a normal day and there is a heavy pelt resting on his shoulders. His hair is grey, but well kept and there is a heavy pendant hanging over his chest, showing off his status. He gives Torleif a look of recognition, gives Matthias and Berwald a curt not, and offers each of them a hand to shake and all the while there is a tense line of worry across his brow. Then his gaze turns to Tino, and he smiles almost fondly. "Welcome back Tino," he says warmly. "I'm glad to see you have returned to us safely."
Tino smiles back weakly. "I'm glad to be home, Chief, as always, though I wish the circumstances were better."
The Chieftain gives him a firm nod and turns back towards Matthias and Berwald. "I have heard a lot about you boys already, Torleif has spoken highly of you and your efforts in Griven during the uprising." He gives each of them a look, highly thoughtful as if he is trying to determine if the stories he has heard about them are true. "It is impressive for someone without proper weapons and training to slay some of the king's highly trained soldiers like that."
"We did not really have a choice in the matter," Matthias says darkly and catches himself wiping his hands against the fabric of his pants, suddenly feeling as if they are still tacky with dried blood even though he washed them thoroughly in the river. "Is it true then, you really want to help us defeat the king?"
"Oh, yes," the Chieftain replies firmly, leaving no room for doubt in his tone. "But all of you need to realize that we need a lot more people if we want to win. His army is far greater than any number our two villages can muster, and you have lost several people already and not all are in a condition to fight."
Those who stand close enough to hear the conversation nod gravely in agreement and Matthias clears his throat to speak when no one else appears to do so. "We had every intention on recruiting as many other villages as we could to our cause, but we were attacked before we had the chance to make any proper plans. The soldiers came at night on the very same day that we defied the first ones."
The chieftain nods thoughtfully. "Torleif has informed me of the tragedy in Griven when he arrived with the rest of your group. We have taken precautions and will soon have armed guards on the edges of the village." He makes a wide gesture with his arms as if that will serve to prove a point. "If the soldiers try anything like that here, they will not be able to take us by surprise."
"That's a good thing, right?" Tino asks hesitantly, but there is a hopeful tone, working hard to make a terrible situation seem less bleak. "That should mean we're safe for now."
"For now, Matthias says darkly, the night's terror and following flight still all too fresh in his mind. "But, if they come, there won't be much we can do except run. They surrounded Griven in a matter of hours."
"I still don't understand how they managed to launch an attack only hours the uprising in the first place," Berwald mutters darkly.
"You don't know?" Tino exclaims then. "The king is a sorcerer! He would know about an uprising almost immediately, no trouble!"
The Chieftain frowns at him and there is a line of distaste forming at the corner of his mouth. "That is just a foolish rumor, boy. A story meant to scare children and most villagers from ever daring to defy the king in the first place, fearing he will rain fire upon them in retaliation by magical means."
"I'd like to hear that story," Matthias interrupts quickly, genuinely interested in learning more about their king now that he has become a target and not just a casual topic of conversation when the villagers are bored of discussing this year's crops.
The Chieftain sighs deeply and looks towards the sky as if asking the gods for the strength to deal with youngsters and believers of superstition. "Now is not the time for stories. It has been a long night for your people, and I have asked my people to open their homes for yours. We have a few spare beds among the villagers, and a few others have offered up a space on their floors. It is not much, but we are ready to look after you. Why don't you take the day to rest and gather your strength?" He sighs again when he notices Matthias disappointed expression. "Tonight, we will hold a bonfire in the village square as we keep guard through the night. If you still wish to hear our tales of the king, Tino can tell it then. For now, I bid you a good rest."
Torleif nods in agreement before Matthias have the chance to say anything else, wanting to keep focus on the villagers' well-being rather than storytelling. He whistles sharply to gain the attention of everybody and repeats to them the news from the Chieftain. All of them look relieved at the prospect of some much needed rest.
"Tino" the chieftain says almost like an afterthought. "Maybe you can bring your new friends with you to your house where they can get some rest. Your aunt was one of the people volunteering to take in refugees; I don't think she would mind."
Tino signals for Matthias and Berwald to follow him and his smile is back. "This way, just follow me."
He moves quickly through the village, pointing out the various shops to them along the way, barely remaining silent long enough to catch his breath in between sentences. Matthias looks at the building they pass, listening with only half an ear to Tino's excitable chatter.
Dalahurst appears to be just a little bit bigger than Griven had been. It is a town built for hunters, farmers, and merchants and most of the houses are small and simple. It is nice to see a place that seems untouched by evil. However, there is a dark cloud of knowledge hanging over them that the village is standing without most of its resources on the doorstep of winter even though there are no visible cues to the story.
Matthias loses himself in thought, letting his gaze roam from one building to the next and then he notices him.
The stranger, casually leaning against the wall of a house and staring right at him with a challenging look on his face.
Matthias freezes in his tracks as he stares back, he can imagine his eyes are wide in amazement, because he can hardly believe what he is seeing and barely resists the urge to rub at his eyes to make sure he is not imagining things. The stranger smirks and turns quickly on his heel, disappearing around the corner of the house and out of view and all the while, he just stands there like an idiot.
Tino and Berwald halts just a few steps ahead of him, noticing how he has stopped and give him questioning looks. "Matthias?" Berwald lifts and eyebrow at him. "Are you coming?"
Matthias hums in response, only halfway paying attention, his gaze still glued to the house corner where the stranger disappeared. "I think I'll join you a bit later," he mumbles distractedly, itching to run after the stranger and finally get some answers. "I want to explore for a little bit while it's still daylight."
"Oh?" Tino looks surprised. "Well, okay. I live with my aunt in that read house just down the road, so you can just come by when you're ready." He points out a direction, while at his side; Berwald silently furrows his brows at Matthias in suspicion, but he remains silent.
Matthias gives them a quick smile, says thanks and hurries away before they can question him on the sudden decision to leave. He goes directly towards the spot where he last saw the stranger disappear and rushes down the empty alley that meets him just around the corner. He follows the road and curses under his breath when the passage splits off in two different directions.
If he wants to catch the stranger, he does not have time to agonize over which path is correct, so he picks one at random and picks up pace, jogging down the street util the line of houses ends and before him lies an open orchard.
It appears to be empty, and Matthias moves angrily between the trees, further into the orchard wanting to scream out is frustration. He is really beginning to question his own sanity after the rebellion began, unable to think up a single reason why he is following someone who could just as well be a figment of his imagination. Because the stranger is nowhere in sight amongst the trees and Matthias is just about to give up and head back to find Tino's home and pretend none of this happened.
Then he hears a chuckle.
He spins around trying to locate the sound, but there is no one in sight, the orchard still empty.
"Have you always thought it wise to follow strangers around when you have no idea of their agenda?" The voice is dark, calm and carries just a hint of playfulness to it and it sends a shiver down Matthias' spine. "Look up."
Matthias does as asked and his mouth falls open, he cannot help it.
Perched on one of the branches of an apple tree is the stranger he was beginning to doubt even existed. He is leaning back against the trunk of the tree, calmly swinging one of his legs back and forth off the branch and in his hand, he holds an apple that must have escaped the locals during the main harvest. "Have you any idea what you and your people have gotten involved in by rebelling against the king?" The stranger glances down at Matthias just for a moment, and then he turns his attention back on his apple and proceeds to take a bite from it.
Matthias is at a loss of words and unable to do anything but gawk at the stranger in the tree. The young man is even more handsome up close than he first thought. His skin is pale and flawless; his hair practically shines in the afternoon sun. His clothes are simple, but still elegant and fits him perfectly, obviously tailored to his measurement. He looks far too noble to be a farmer, hunter or any kind of commoner and it does not look like he has done a day of physical work in his life.
"You're real," Matthias finally manages to choke out.
"Well, I would certainly like to think so," the stranger answers calmly and takes another bite of the apple, completely unfazed by Matthias' behavior.
"But I've been seeing you in my dreams," Matthias protest. "I saw you back in Griven and I am pretty sure I saw you out in the forest, like some ghost. Why? Who are you?"
The stranger ignores him and keeps his attention on the already half-eaten apple instead. "What you see in your dreams is not really my problem." His leg swings casually and continues eating. "But I was in the town square on the day you killed one of the king's commanders, and I am here now. I just came by to tell you something that could be of importance if you mean to make anything viable of this rebellion, like where the soldiers intend to strike next, if you care to listen that is."
"What?" Matthias is barely able to believe what he is hearing." How can you possibly know that?"
The stranger tosses away the apple core and sits up on the branch, both legs hanging off on one side now as he stares down at Matthias. "I cannot tell you how I know what I do, but I can guarantee that the soldiers will be in the village of Dale in less than two weeks from now, and after that stunt you pulled off back in Griven, they are not planning on playing nice anymore."
"They weren't playing nice before either," Matthias grumbles. His neck is starting to hurt from tilting his head back for so long, but he does not even dare to look away in case the stranger will disappear again. How he got up there to begin with is a mystery to Matthias, even the lowest branches are out of reach without a ladder. "How do I know you are telling me the truth? I don't know you."
The stranger just stares at him with and carefree attitude, looking very comfortable on his perch, well out of reach for Matthias. "There is just no way for you to know," he replies simply. "I just wanted to give you a fair chance of fighting back. The king have far superior forces and the only way you can even hope to defeat them is by surprise, and you cannot manage to do that without knowing the soldier's movements."
Matthias throws out his arms in frustration. "You obviously know a lot, but you're not making it easy to trust you when you're refusing to give me a straight answer. Can't you come down please, I would feel better if we could at least pretend to be on equal footing and talk face to face and not like this." He gestures between them and to where he is painfully craning his neck when the stranger can look down at him with ease. He hears the pleading tone in his own voice, but ignores how pathetic it makes him feel. If it makes the stranger come down and agree to speak with him proper, it is worth it, there are so many questions he wants to ask, he does not even know where to start.
"I carry no love for the king," the stranger says darkly and his voice grows cold, almost hateful. The playful spark in his eyes are gone as well. "I just wanted to give you the information," he says flatly. "And now I have done that. What you chose to do with it is not for me to decide." He stands up on the branch, perfectly in balance and increasing the distance between them.
"I'm sorry," Matthias blurts out and casts a quick look at the tree, searching for a way up, gaging the distance up to the lowest branch again in case the strangers plans to climb further up the tree to end their conversation and he needs to climb up after him. "I didn't mean to insult you, and if I did, I'm sorry. Please, I just want to know more."
"I have nothing more to tell you," the stranger snaps back.
"At least tell me your name," Matthias pleads desperately, he leans against the trunk of the tree, about two seconds from attempting to climb the damned thing even if it will probably end with embarrassment on his part.
The stranger tilts his head slightly to the side, without breaking their eye contact, looking as if he is contemplating whether or not tell him. Eventually he sighs and Matthias holds his breath. "My name is Lukas," he says.
"Thank you," Matthias breathes when it becomes obvious the stranger will not elaborate further. "Will you come down now? It's not like you have anywhere to go, you'll have to walk past me eventually and I have all day."
Lukas just stares down at him, balancing easily on the branch and he does not seem worried by Matthias' words. "You should not waste your time with me. Your friends will miss you, you should head back."
Matthias is about to argue back when he hears his name called from the village. He curses at the interruption, but instinctively turns towards the sound of his name to find out who is trying to get his attention.
He peers through the lines of apple trees and spots Tino just at the edge of the orchard. Figuring the hunter can wait a little longer, he turns back to the tree, ready to convince Lukas to come down one more time before he attempt to climb the tree and force the issue. "I don't want to hurt you; I just want to talk."
The rest of the argument dies on his tongue, because, when he looks back up, the branch is empty.
The tree looks empty, Lukas is nowhere in sight. The only thing in sight is a small, blue bird looking at him with its head tilted sideways in curiosity. Matthias blinks and peers up through the branches, confused. He rubs at his eyes, but when he opens them, the tree is still just as empty and even the bird flutters away.
Matthias curses quietly to himself, wondering if he imagined this entire meeting, because when he said Lukas had no way to go besides down, he meant it. The tree stands too far away from the other trees to jump from one to the other and last he checked, humans were incapable of flight. He thinks must be losing his mind, but then he notices the apple core lying in the grass just a few meters away, the fruit flesh still pale and fresh, recently eaten. That means Lukas was here and he was real, but Matthias has no idea where he could have gone in the second he looked away.
He makes another circle around the tree to see if someone could have hidden in the higher braches, but the sound of approaching footsteps stops him.
"Are you okay?" Tino asks while stepping up to the tree and he looks at Matthias with worry in his eyes. "We were starting to wonder where you went. I know you wanted to explore, but my aunt made dinner and sent me out to find you so we can all eat together before the bonfire tonight." Then he seems to notice how Matthias is barely listening. "Uhm, what are you looking for?" He glances up the tree as well, looking confused.
Matthias immediately turns his attention to Tino, trying not to look like he is hiding something. "I just thought I saw something," he says, faking nonchalance. "It turns out to be nothing, however. It's been a long night and morning and I'm apparently starting to see ghosts."
Tino smiles gently in sympathy. "Then maybe it is time for a break?" he suggests. "We could all do with some rest; we have a long night ahead of us."
Matthias only nods and Tino turns back to lead the way back to his aunt's home. He casts one last glance back towards the tree, wondering if he will ever see Lukas again.