I looked around at those gathered around and knew that my decision wasn't going to be a well liked one by my companions. "So how do I find and contact this spy of yours in Kharta?"
My statement jarred them all awake, with a collective chorus of surprised grunts and exclamations. They were all looking at me now, as the firelight flickered onto their faces creating odd shadows. They were undoubtedly a rough looking crew, but I knew there finer points. They had in a way become to me like the family I had lost.
"I know you view me as your leader, but it is a position I have never asked for or pressed onto you. I've grown weary in this endless quest for revenge and so have a lot of you, if you're honest with yourselves."
At that statement there were several downcast faces in my audience.
"I need to find out if there is something better out there than just being an embittered escaped slave on a revenge kick. If I find what I'm looking for I promise that I will find you and share it with all of you. You have all become to me as the brother I once lost, and it is not easy to leave, but I must!"
"Can we not come with you?" Asked Seth, a fighter that was forever getting himself into trouble and that I had saved more times than I could remember from such said troubles.
"No this is something I must do for myself. If I do not return by this time next month I advise you to forsake the hope of ever seeing me again. If you would like some parting advice it would be to disperse and give up this life of revenge as it is doing little good for any of us!"
That had all transpired fourteen days ago and much had happened since then. Awakening from my remembrance of the past I looked over at the boy still asleep by the fire.
The sky had grown dark and soon it would be time to wake the boy and move on. I gazed out over the Hagathic Wastelands, wondering how I was going to get the information given to me by the spy in Kharta, and the spy's young son, safely to Kingdom Pass in the Valley Lands. I looked over at the lad asleep, face tight with the stress we both felt even in sleep.
When I had arrived in Kharta it was to discover that the spy had already been found out and was awaiting his execution. Kharta, while not occupied by the Zoarinians was still very much controlled by them and they were only too willing to execute a spy on behalf of the Zoarinians.