“Kriesta!” A young boy bellowed, dashing from the High Road into town, brown eyes searching for his sister. “Kriesta!” He continued loudly, running past the knowing grins of those familiar with the erratic boy’s behavior. He had hardly past the only Inn in the surrounding area when he crashed into a young woman about ten years older than himself. “Kriesta!” He yelled again, though this time his voice was loud with the excitement of discovery.

“What is it, Daren?” The woman the young boy had slammed into replied, in an almost annoyed voice. Her honey brown eyes met his darker ones, which were shining in earnest.

“There’s this half dead guy that Kayos and Dad are dragging off the High Road!” He twittered in excitement. However, he had wisely lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “He’s covered and blood and everything! You gotta come see!”

“Daren, it’s not polite to say such things about someone you don’t know.” The girl sighed, pushing back a strand of chestnut brown hair behind her ears almost absently. She paused, and then turned to her eight year old brother with a curious grin. “What’s this guy look like?”

Daren beamed, and began hustling back to the outskirts of their small town, where their stone house resided. Kriesta followed at the same earnest pace. “Well, I didn’t get to see him yet, but Momma said that Kayos had come rushing home saying he found this soldier, and then Momma got all worried and Dad jumped up and they went out to get him. I just thought you would want to know so I came to get you.”

Kriesta smiled fondly and ruffled her brother’s dark hair. At the ripe old age of eighteen, she towered over her short brother, whose head came up to the bottom of her rib cage. She was tall for a woman, standing an inch or two under the average height of a man, and she was skinny as well. If it weren’t for the fact that her hair met her waist, and her delicate facial features gave her away, most would have labeled her a boy. As it was, Kriesta was fond of breeches and a tunic that hid her gender, as well as a cap that the page boys favored.

Daren idolized both his older sister and brother. He had opted to wearing the same hat that Kriesta owned, and usually trailed after her or Kayos. He wore his hair in the short style that barely graced his ears, which was the same haircut that Kayos was fond of. Every now and then, he would practice mock sword fighting with his older siblings, but by the huge smile stretched across his face, no one would dare try to beat him.

Daren, Kriesta, and their mother were all bright and bubbly people, while their father and Kayos required a bit more privacy. However, they were as close as a family could get, and that alone could bring a smile to all their faces.

“Kriesta, Daren, you’re home!” Eliza Willow was anything but cheerful at the moment, which was an oddity for the blonde woman. She was short and thin, and looked well for her forty or so years of age. All of her children had gotten her bone structure and attractiveness, but sadly, none of them had gotten her pale hair and shining blue eyes. The usual smile that graced her features was not there; instead replaced by a worried frown. “Hurry, get inside!”

Before Daren could open his mouth, Kriesta scooped him under her arm and dashed inside. She didn’t know what was bothering her mother, but serious moments in the Willow household were not to be taken lightly.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” She asked quietly, once her mother had bolted the door. Once her gaze fixated on her mother, she knew it was not for Daren’s ears. “Daren, honey, could you grab my wrap for me? I’m cold.”

Daren nodded somberly, knowing automatically that he wasn’t supposed to hear the conversation. Despite his childish attitude, he really did have a good head upon his shoulders.

“You know of that stranger Kayos found today?” At Kriesta’s nod, Eliza continued. “Well, he’s seriously wounded, and most of the problems stem from his head injury. We don’t know how dangerous he is, and if that head wound affected him mentally, but we’ll need to watch over him. He was covered in weapons, and it seems like he knows how to use them.”

Kriesta felt a cold, sinking feeling settle into the pit of her stomach. “You…you don’t think he’s with the Empire, do you? Or worse yet, one of the Cursed Ones?” The last prospect was more horrifying than Kriesta could imagine.

Eliza shook her head slowly. “We shouldn’t suspect the worst, Kree, but you never know. We’ll have to take turns watching him, and observing his behavior. Once he heals, we’ll have to take extra precautions that he doesn’t do anything harmful. The town needs to be protected, but as of now, I think our worst problem will be Daren.”

At this, a small smile lit Kriesta’s pretty face. “Yes, he’s so curious he’ll be poking the guy in due time.”

Eliza let loose a small grin as well, and the tension slowly leaked out of the room.