The Journey's Veil

The crackling fire cast dancing shadows upon our faces as the logs shifted with a soft sound, releasing a flurry of sparks into the night sky. I watched the weary man lower himself onto the ground, a hint of silver streaking through his black hair. Genuine, perhaps, but one can never be too cautious when it comes to strangers met on the road. The man's trustworthiness was certainly not aided by his attire. His clothes were nice and seemed to be of high quality, but he looked unkempt and had grime comparable to that of us peasant children.

"So," he began, settling into a more comfortable position. "What brings you youngsters out here?"

Alistair opened his mouth to respond, but I swiftly interrupted him. It was best to remain cautious and in control of the conversation. "What about you?" I asked curtly, earning a reproachful glance from Alistair.

But the man did not get upset, instead letting out a hearty laugh. The sound echoed through the night, mingling with the chorus of crickets and the crackling fire. "Me and ol' Tug here," he said, motioning towards his horse tied to a carriage nearby, "are out gathering supplies for the harsh winter ahead. It's been a rough harvest this year," he admitted, his voice trembling ever so slightly.

I caught the waver in his voice and pressed on, intrigued. "Bandits?" I inquired, my eyes narrowing in suspicion.

The man shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting anxiously as if fearing an ambush. The silence was only broken by the chorus of crickets and the crackling fire. It was Alistair who spoke, cutting through the tension with certainty. "The Royal Knights," he stated, his words carrying no hint of doubt.

The man's reaction was as clear as day. He hissed, looking around anxiously as if someone might be listening. Alistair snorted dismissively. "They're not here."

"Maybe not," the man conceded, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and sadness. "But that doesn't mean someone else isn't. And some people get defensive about those damned knights."

His words fueled the smoldering anger within me, a reminder of the countless innocents who had suffered at the hands of the Royal Knights. "Our village leader was blackmailed into giving them all of our resources," Alistair offered, his trusting nature shining through. "He was told he would be executed for treason against the king if he failed to comply. It seems his life wasn't even worth the time spent collecting all of our supplies…"

The man's eyes widened, and a flicker of sympathy passed over his face. "They didn't even let him live after he complied?"

"He didn't," I interjected, struggling to suppress my anger. Alistair shot me a brief glance, sensing the rage simmering beneath my surface. "One of the other boys informed the knights instead. He disappeared right before it happened, leaving no trace behind. None of us suspected a thing."

The old man fell silent, his gaze distant. After a brief pause, he spoke softly. "That sounds like one rotten lad."

"Yeah, someone we thought was our friend," Alistair said slowly, realizing the weight of betrayal. I could sense his naivety and his desire to believe in the goodness of others. As much as I wanted to protect him from the harsh realities of the world, I knew it was a futile endeavor.

Aleric Blackthorne, as the man introduced himself, seemed to have caught on to our pain and anger. His sympathetic gaze held mine for a moment before turning to Alistair. "What's a noble doing out here gathering supplies?" Alistair asked, his amazement apparent in his voice.

Aleric responded happily, his eyes gleaming with a genuine warmth. "Well, since I've passed down all of my responsibilities to my son, I find it to be quite fulfilling to help out like this."

Alistair and I glanced at each other, the skepticism still lingering. Aleric then made a proposal, his voice sincere. "Seeing as it's getting late, how would you like to come back with me and stay the night? If my assumption is correct, you probably don't have a safe place to sleep anymore, right?"

Before I could even say anything, Alistair blurted out, "That'd be great!" I shot him a death glare, but it was too late. Aleric chuckled at the enthusiastic response. Alistair turned to me, his eyes pleading. "What's the harm? He's clearly a sympathizer. He's also been treating us very nicely considering the status difference."

I pondered the thought, my instincts urging caution while weariness weighed heavily upon my shoulders. After a few moments, I gave in to temptation. "Fine, we'll come along. Thank you for your generosity." In the end, it was easier to just go with the flow of things and worry later. After days of travel, trying to get as far as we could from the village, Alistair and I were exhausted and didn't want to have to worry anymore.

We immediately got into the carriage and set off. As the moonlight illuminated our surroundings, washing over us with a pale white glow, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of determination. The tragedy that had befallen our village would not go unanswered. We would seek justice for our fallen kin and expose the atrocities committed by the Royal Knights, no matter the cost.