“What are you doing out here?”

He didn’t have to look up to know it was Daniel who walked outside, arms tucked into his jacket and breath puffing out in front of him. Nothing had changed, not entirely, over the past two years and they had been, for the most part, been left alone. The Dravara hadn’t come back and Evander didn’t even recall seeing the ice blue of their scarves since the day they’d been threatened nearly two years ago.

It had been longer than a year, twice as long, and that worried him more than anything.

“Do you know how long it’s been?”

“What?” Daniel asked, sitting down beside him with a huff and a shiver.

“Do you know how long it’s been since the Dravara were here?”

Daniel shrugged, knocking into his shoulder gently. “Do you think they just forgot about us?”

Evander frowned, shaking his head. It had been six months, by his best guess, since the two had gotten into any sort of a major fight and, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, Evander was getting used to Daniel’s company. He’d kept up his guise of not needing anyone, especially something as disposable as a friend, but it hadn’t lasted very long.

When they were younger, Silas was the only friend he needed.

“No,” he said finally.

“I think you’re worrying too much again.”

Glancing up from beneath the hat atop his head, Evander only sighed. For months, Daniel had ridiculed him about the hat that Elizabeth had given to him and after a while, he only wore the thing to spite him. He started to feel odd without it, like something was missing, and eventually it was with him just as much as the compass was.

“I could be but you know they will come back, don’t you?”

Daniel shivered, pulling his coat tighter over himself as his teeth chattered briefly. He shrugged then, looking out into the empty streets.

“I don’t know-“

“Tonight,” Evander mumbled, cutting him off.

“Tonight? Do you really believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

The other runaway only huffed again. “You’ve been saying that every night for a month.”

“Can’t you feel it?”

“If by ‘it’ you mean the cold then, yes. Why are you sitting out here? How can you stand it?”

Evander gave out a small amused grunt, briefly flashing a smile. “You know what I meant.”

It was silent again and Evander pulled his scarf up over his nose, red unlike the blue he refused to wear. A gift, just like the hat, given to him by the innkeeper and his daughter. He was outside enough, they said, and if he wanted to risk catching his death outside, he should at least be warm.

“So, do you actually like being alone or were you waiting for one of us to come rescue you again?”

He glared, shuffling sideways away from Daniel. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I was only trying to stop it from being so,” he paused to lower his voice, “vexing quiet. I hate how silent it gets.”

“Well, I don’t. Perhaps if you learned to stop talking you could stand it.”

Daniel snorted. “I choose to talk, you know.”

“Choose to talk less then.”

The streets were clear despite the freshly fallen snow that had only stopped early that morning, worn already with footpaths and tracks created by people and horses and wagons alike. However, they were silent just like every night, the same eeriness descending down through the air as the first night he’d arrived.

“I’ll leave you alone. Enjoy the cold.”

Evander only tipped his hat, eyes still locked on the streets as Daniel stood.

“Are you okay?”

“Hmm?” he hummed.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”

Daniel only nodded, walking back up the steps for the door again. He didn’t make it far before Evander was on his feet, eyes locking on the first significant movement he’d seen in over a month of watching every night, every day, for something to come.

He’d been wrong for a month when he’d said the Dravara were coming and it seemed highly unlikely that he would actually be correct. But as his eyes followed the path of the horseman, blue against the white of the snow around them, Evander realized that finally, he’d been right.

It was then that he decided he would have rather been wrong for just one more night.

“Something wrong?” Daniel asked, turning around.

Evander didn’t say anything, couldn’t say anything for the air in his lungs was frozen, choking him until finally Daniel grabbed his shoulder roughly.

“Aurora, what’s-“

“Good evening, boys.”

“Get the others,” Evander said hoarsely. “Get Jackson.”

“Distract them…or something,” Daniel called, hurrying back inside and leaving Evander alone again.

He stayed where he was, reaching for the pistol at his hip and skimming his fingers over the cold of the metal. They stopped, horses coming to a halt with clouds of white breath puffing in front of their whiskered muzzles.

Evander swallowed. “You won’t take us today.”

Despite the fact that Silas’ words in the letter shrieked at the back of his mind, he didn’t intend on leaving with them without a fight. They would have to drag him east if it came to it and he’d be kicking and writhing to free himself the entire time.

At least, that was what he told himself.

“I gave you a year, didn’t I? Was feeling a bit generous though, a little forgetful too. It’s been two years, runaway. You remembered that though, didn’t you?”

He couldn’t answer.

“Are you going to come quietly or make this more difficult than it’s already going to be?”

The door opened before he could struggle for an answer and he was shoved aside as Jackson walked out, rifle in hand and Daniel at his side. He nodded reassuringly to the other runaway who looked to be on the far side of terrified.

But there was a third figure that slipped out behind them, dressed in her cloak and with the same stony expression as her father.

“What are you doing?” he snapped. “Get back inside.”

“I’m helping you,” Elizabeth hissed.

“Listen to, Aurora. He’s right,” Daniel said, pausing, “for once.”

The three looked ahead when one of the men laughed from behind Benjamin, silenced soon after but not before the sound sent a shiver down Evander’s spine. He walked up beside Jackson, feeling for the pistol again, only to be shoved backwards roughly.

“It’s good to see you again, Aurora. I’ve put in a good word for you. It seems someone has been very interested in meeting you.”

“Leave the boys alone. Can’t you turn a blind eye?”

“A blind eye?” Benjamin scoffed. “You stay out of this. I know these boys aren’t your sons and I still can’t see why you’d defend them like this. Turn them over,” he smiled, “you know the reward for doing that, don’t you?”

Jackson cocked the rifle, pulling it up against his shoulder.

“Get out of here,” he said simply, voice somehow remaining level. “I’ll pull this vexing trigger if you don’t.”

But Benjamin seemed unfazed by the threat and only sneered, dismounting from his horse and starting forward slowly. Evander watched the others, waiting for one of them to make a move but instead they stayed right where they’d stopped, staring at the pair of runaways keenly. If Jackson could distract them, Evander thought, they could make a run for the trees and from there, they could figure some way to escape.

“Step back. I swear to both of the vexing goddesses I’ll blow your-“

The Dravara officer ignored him, continuing forward only half a step before the world exploded beside Evander’s head. He leaped sideways, ears ringing with the sound of the shot that rang out across the town. Shock held him in place until Elizabeth grabbed him by the coat and tore off down the street with Daniel just beside her.

Benjamin went staggering backwards, clutching his shoulder and roaring an order he didn’t hear to the remaining Dravara.

“Run!”

Evander bolted after her, cursing the fact he’d left Orion in his room and, without a light, knowing just how difficult it was going to be to navigate the forests. It was even more apparent the instant they dove into the tree line, disappearing into the shadows and stumbling through the snow.

The trees reached out with tangled branches, threatening to snatch away any one of them in an instant. Evander didn’t know where they were going or just how they’d escape, how they’d avoid capture and how they could ever hope of managing to flee unscathed. His thoughts were interrupted by a volley of gunshots, skidding all three of them to a halt.

“Is there somewhere we can hide?”

Elizabeth was stunned, staring back the way they came. “A clearing,” she said, choking on her words, “not far. Straight in this direction.”

“Go there,” Evander interrupted before Daniel could reply. “I’ll join you as soon as I can and as soon as I know they aren’t following me. They won’t give up easily.

“That’s-“

“I’m the only one with a gun,” he snapped. “Go.”

The girl threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in the scarf and nodding despite the fact she was pressed up against him. Daniel reached for her, taking her hand comfortingly and looking up at Aurora when she backed away.

“Be careful, alright? Would be a shame to have you killed in something like this after you fought off a whole gang of runaways.”

Evander smiled bleakly. “I lost that fight. Now, go…quickly as you can. I’ll see you soon.”

The two didn’t say another word before they were off, tearing away into the trees and out of sight. It was a relief, to some degree, to see them gone and know that at least Elizabeth knew where they were going. He reached down, briefly taking out his compass to see the needle pointing east, the way he’d head once he was sure no one was following.

He drew the pistol from his side, the weight of in his hand enough to make him feel sick.

“Vex it all,” he swore, raising his arm and firing off into the trees behind him.

For a moment, he waited, listening until he heard incoherent shouts melding with the whinnies of their horses. What he wouldn’t have given to have Orion with him, a lookout as Silas had called him. But he was alone, scared and in the dark while they hunted him down, following the sound of a gunshot like wolves followed a scent trail.

Evander started off, turning away from the direction Elizabeth and Daniel had gone. There were voices, horrible voices, shouting behind him and he feared, even if it was dark, they’d find him much too easily.

For the second time that night, he wished to be wrong.

“Over there!”

A crack rang out, striking the tree to his left and ripping a yelp from him. His finger inched over the trigger. The thought of taking another’s life made him feel sick and he knew, even if he had to, pulling the trigger would haunt him for the rest of his life.

“Vex it all,” he swore, crouching low and trying to avoid being seen again.

He peered towards the source of the gunshot as another whizzed by him, striking another nearby tree and signaling they knew exactly where he was. The glint of a barrel, catching the pale light that filtered down from the treetops, made him freeze as his arm raised slowly. Evander could see the figure who was, despite earlier, on foot and slowly creeping towards him.

A thundering crack rang out, splitting the air and sending his ears ringing like they had earlier. He couldn’t look, eyes clamping shut at the last minute before he squeezed off a shot in response. In the back of his mid he knew what he’d done and the sharp cry of pain that followed directly after only confirmed his fear. They had pulled the trigger first but the bullet had sailed harmless over his head.

His hadn’t.

“No, no, no…”

Evander scrambled to his feet, pausing there and slipping his pistol back into the holster again before it fell through his shaking fingers. He started forward towards the cries, seeing the Dravara fall and feeling his heart hammer in his chest.

“Aldwyn?” he called hoarsely, recognition sparking in his eyes.

The boy looked up at him through the fog of agony, jaw clenched and hands clutching at his thigh where blood, an alarming amount of crimson, spilled out into the snow.

“You,” Aldwyn stopped, crying out again, “you piece of shi-“

“It was an accident,” Evander assured him, removing his coat and peeling the boy’s hands aside to press it against the wound.

“Get away from me!” he snapped, looking towards the trees. “Help! He’s-“

Evander pressed hard against the wound in Aldwyn’s leg and the boy broke off in a scream, silenced when he clapped a hand over his mouth. He didn’t know what to do beyond stop the bleeding and, based on just how much blood there was, it wasn’t going to be easy.

“How does it feel?” Aldwyn seethed from between gritted teeth. “They talk about you in the east. They’re afraid of you…because of what I said.”

“Why would they be afrai-“

“A killer,” he hissed, “that’s what told them.”

“I’m not a killer,” Evander snapped back to him. “Hold your hand here-“

“If I die, you will be,” Aldwyn chortled before it broke off into something that was nearly a sob.

“I think it’s in both of our best interests that you don’t die then.”

Aldwyn groaned again, biting at his lip and leaning back on his elbows in the snow. “They’ll break you, runt. Everyone breaks,” the boy swallowed harshly. “You cave and you fight for them-“

“Shut up,” Evander snapped, pressing hard against the wound in his leg again.

He lowered himself to the ground with a hiss, leaning his head back into the snow while Evander tied his jacket as tight as he could until Aldwyn sat up with a shriek.

“Watch what you’re doing-“

“Yell again and I won’t miss my next shot,” he warned.

“Son of a bitch,” Aldwyn spat, voice waning as he went back again.

Evander stood, wiping the blood on his pants and watching as Aldwyn cracked his eyes open to look up at him.

“You can’t leave me here. I’ll die-“

“You were trying to kill me, trying to take me away. I can do what I damn well please.”

He thought the boy was going to argue but he only swallowed, eyes fluttering closed again, body going slack. Panic shot through him but he stopped, seeing the steady rising and falling of his chest.

“He’s not dead,” a voice said from behind him.

Evander whirled around, facing the Dravara officer as he staggered from the trees towards the two of them. His arm rose, drawing the pistol at his side.

“Stay back.”

“It would have been easier if you just came along. I can help you-“

“I said,” he repeated, aim steadying, “stay back.”

“Please, I’m being sincere with you. I’m sorry, but they’ll find you if you run.”

“Where is the innkeeper?”

The officer paused, raising up slowly. “Dead.”

It was all he needed to hear before he took off into the trees, leaving the two wounded behind, unable to follow.

“Aurora, wait!”

He didn’t stop running.

Next Chapter: Chapter 11