Although I am aware that you regard me as your leader, I have never asked for or forced this position upon you.If you're being honest with yourself, many of you, as well as I, have become exhausted by this never-ending pursuit of vengeance."

In response to that statement, several faces in my audience were expressionless.

I must determine whether there is something better than being an enraged, escaped slave seeking vengeance.I promise to find you and share what I find with you all if I find what I'm looking for.It is difficult to leave, but I must! You have all become to me like my lost brother!

"Can we not accompany you?"asked Seth, a fighter who was always in trouble and whom I had saved from trouble more times than I could remember.

"No, I have to take care of myself by doing this.I advise you to give up hope of ever seeing me if I do not return by this time next month.Disperse and give up this life of vengeance, as it is doing us no favors, if you would like some advice as you leave!

All of that took place fourteen days ago, and since then, a lot has happened.I glanced over at the boy who was still asleep by the fire as I emerged from my memory of the past.

It was time to wake the boy and move on because the sky was getting dark.I wondered as I looked out over the Hagathic Wastelands how I was going to get the information I had received from the spy in Kharta and the young son of the spy safely to Kingdom Pass in the Valley Lands.I looked over at the boy, whose face was tight from the stress we were both feeling, even while he was asleep.

When I got to Kharta, I found out that the spy had been found and was going to be put to death.Despite not being occupied by the Zoarinians, Kharta was still largely under their control, and they were more than happy to execute a spy on their behalf.

The guard on duty outside the jail access door took his last ragged breaths very early in the morning.I had carefully removed my knife from his tunic as I lowered his lifeless body to the ground, making sure not to make a sound as I did so.I continued on into the city jail's stygian gloom.

"Up here!"I overheard a weak scream.

The cell was further down the row when the voice came in.I could tell that he wouldn't be able to go anywhere with me as I got closer to the voice and could hear more of its owner.He probably wouldn't live long enough to see his own execution given his condition.The enclosed confines of the jail, which appeared to encircle me like a cage, bothered me.I knelt next to the cell of the spy.

I was aware that someone would be sent to get me.He wheezed and said, "You’re a little late, though," while coughing up what appeared to be blood.

The varying ages of the cuts and bruises on his face and beneath his torn shirt indicated that he had been worked over multiple times.

They attempted to persuade me to reveal the location where I hid the intelligence reports, but I refused!I haven't!"

He sank weakly back against the bars of his cell as the fervent outburst ate up a lot of his remaining energy.He said in a desperate tone, "You must do one thing for me, and you must swear to do it or I will not tell you where the reports are," as he reached through the bars with one hand and grabbed one of my hands.

I was forced to concede and nodded my head because of his intense gaze and the incomprehensible spirit of desperation that shone from his eyes.

"You're going to bring my young boy along with you!My son will understand what freedom is, particularly the freedom to worship the Creator without the constraints or fear of this location!He spoke forcefully and painfully simultaneously.

“Please!Promise to take my boy with you!

"I promise it!"I softly agreed.

As he sank to the ground, his grip on me loosened as he weakly leaned back against the bars.

“Good!The reports are in the false bottom of a planter pot in the city's Sonna District, where Rassian Street meets Gonda Way.The young man can be found at 56 Rassian Street.The girl who is keeping him will give you the boy and some food for the journey if you tell her the secret words, "The meadowlark flew away."Go now, before it gets too dark outside.With my boy, you'll have a better chance of leaving the city before the alarm goes off.The Creator hopes to see you safely on your way!Tell my boy how much I care for him and that I wish I could be by his side, but that I must remain here.He will one day comprehend what all of this was about."

Before I could start down the corridor, his failing voice caught me as I stood to leave.

"One more thing, if you would be so kind, leave me a knife," she said.

I gave him a questioning glance.

I can assure you, Sir, that I am not a suicidal person, with the possible exception of having played the game for longer than I should have.With a raspy chuckle that abruptly made him gasp in pain, he said, "There is someone that I very much want to take along with me if I were to die here in this place."

I handed him a small, sharp dagger through the bars without saying a word as I took it out of my left boot.

"Thank you once more, Sir!Please inform me of your name.

I simply replied, "I'm Jasper."

Oh, I knew that!You had something about you that made me think of my previous friend.I'm glad to hear that your grandfather finally found you!As confident as I can possibly be that my son will be safe while in your care, I am at ease now!Your grandfather was one of the Vallian people's greatest warriors.You Ta'lonts are all natural forces!Having another Ta'lont on our side in battle will only aid our fight for freedom!

Ta’lont?Was that actually my last name?I had so many questions I wanted to ask this man.He had a way of knowing my father that I had never known before, but there was no time to ask me what I wanted.I quietly ventured outside into the early morning's cool, still grayness.

Before I could hear him, I heard him say, "Dear Lord, it looks like my time here is almost up."Keep my boy safe and protected.He is so special to me.The rest of what he said was lost on me because I was now out of earshot. His mother and I have...

Yesterday, I had scouted the city and remembered the street intersection the spy had mentioned.From here, it was not far.

Except for night creatures that dug in the alleyways in search of trash that had been thrown there the day before, the streets were devoid of life.As the spy had stated, I observed a row of large planter pots ascending Rassian Street as I got to the intersection.The spy had stated that one of these pots' false bottom contained the report.I came up alongside the first pot and used a knife to tap the flower pot's porcelain outer shell near the bottom, but there was no sound.The hollow-bottomed pot was not found as I continued up the row of pots.

As there were at least fifty more pots to go, my carefully maintained composure began to falter.With each passing second, it was becoming lighter, increasing the likelihood of being caught.There might not have been any reports in a pot with a hollow bottom because the spy might have misplaced it.Perhaps they were only in his shattered imagination.My eyes were wet with sweat that had begun to run down my forehead.Various lights had been illuminated;I would soon be noticed, and it wouldn't be long!

When I saw the address, Rassian Street 311, I started to walk away.I suddenly jumped to the pot outside the boy's house because I had an idea.I used the haft to tap the pot, grabbing my knife from my waistband.Dong!Excitedly, I swung the knife's haft once more against the pot's side like a hammer. The sound of broken pottery could be heard all the way down the street, but no one seemed to have heard it.I discovered the documents of the spies in an oilskin pouch that was lying in the pot's hollow cavity.I moved in the direction of the house's entrance after stuffing the oilskin pouch into my shirt.

I quickly knocked, and the door opened almost immediately, surprising me with its suddenness.As she looked at me, a middle-aged woman with creased worry lines stood in front of me.I recited the phrases that the spy had provided me with.She turned around and called to someone behind her, nodding.To advance, a boy stepped past her.As tears welled up in her eyes, the woman gave him a firm embrace, kissed him on the head, and then quickly shut the door.To face me, the boy turned away from the locked door.The boy looked strong, and he carried the pack well on his back.

"When will I see my dad?"He asked almost immediately, eagerly and with sincerity.

"He's not coming with us," I said, stiffening my head.

The child said, softly, "I see."

He turned his head away from me and looked away.Each second it became lighter.We needed to get out of here before the guards at the jail changed and the city gates were closed.

“We must leave immediately; follow me swiftly and as quietly as you can.Is horse riding possible?”

He raised his head once more and said, "Yes, a little anyway."I pretended not to notice the accumulated moisture in his eye corners.

When I looked back, I saw the first signs of a pursuit in the distance, miles away from the city.Our lives had been one of constant movement ever since.As I evaded the pursuit that had gradually grown further away, we moved north in an irregular manner.