“That man is my cousin.” I told him and Yarrow glanced down.

“Your cousin is going to get himself killed.” Yarrow said. He was still pale but he seemed to be gaining control.

“We have to let him know I’m alive before he does something stupid.” I said thinking quickly.

“Will he recognize you from up here?” Yarrow asked. “Which come to think of it how did you recognize him?”

I watched as Idithum jumped to his feet and bounced back. He had a strange way of walking; I’d mocked him for it on many occasions. Instead of walking heel to toe, he walked toe to heel. I nodded towards my cousin as he walked angrily forward. “He walks differently.”

Yarrow gave a small smile. “Yes there’s no denying that. Well let’s give it a try.”

“What if the guards turn around?” I asked.
Yarrow patted his side. “I learned how to use a sword,” I gulped. I didn’t want a massacre on my own property. Of course according to the men who’d killed my family it wasn’t my property any more.

Yarrow stood as tall as he could and began to wave his arms widely to the side. I stumbled to my feet and copied the motion. I saw Idithum pause as he talked to the guards staring at us. Yarrow pulled me to my knees as the guards turned. To my relief they saw nothing. “Keep an eye out I’m going to go get him.” Yarrow whispered in my ear. Then he stepped over me and vanished into the woods. I watched him flick in and out of the trees and I also saw Idithum watching. To the guards he appeared to be listening to them. I got to my knees and waved a couple more times then dropped down.

Yarrow vanished over the side of a hill and Idithum nodded and turned away. I watched hardly daring to breath as one of the guards stalked after him a few minutes later. My cousin was fool hearty and stupid. He may have been seventeen years old but he was undeceive and stupid to put it nicely. I breathed easily only when the guard returned and they both began to talk again.

“Marcos.” I heard the voice and I turned to see Yarrow in the trees. I pulled myself to my hands and knees and crawled to where he was standing. Idithum grabbed my forearms and pulled me to my feet. He was sobbing as he hugged me tightly.

“Marcos it’s all gone.” He sobbed quietly.

I put a hand on the back of his head and tried to shift my weight so I could support myself. My legs were feeling terribly weak. Yarrow pried Idithum away. “Hold on boy.” He said kindly. “Marcos has had about all he can take we need to take him back to the cave.”

Between the two of them they hauled me back to the cave quickly but Idithum couldn’t stop sobbing and I was starting to become a little disturbed. Idithum was proud and it was very out of his character to cry at all let alone not stop crying. I got to the bed and laid down and Idithum sat next to me while Yarrow began to boil some herbs.

“Marcos” He rasped chokingly. “They’ve all been killed.”

“What?” I asked.

“My Mom and Dad, Emilee, Uncle Arin, They’re all dead.”

I stared at him not understanding. “Dead?” I repeated tonelessly. “But,” My brain wouldn’t compute what was being said.

Yarrow was suddenly next to us. He grabbed Idithum by the face and said to him. “Breath son breath.”

Idithum took several long deep breaths. “Vanchura killed them.” He said. His voice was still shaky but not as bad as it had been.

“Who’s that?” Yarrow asked.

I felt my heart stop as I whispered. “The kings stand in.” I turned to Marcos. “Why would he care about our family?”

Idithum shook his head just as puzzled as I was. “That’s just the thing, there seems to be no reason.”

“Hold on why does the king need a stand in?” Yarrow asked still several sentences behind.

“He doesn’t.” Idithum snapped angrily. “He imprisoned King Edward and holds his children hostage. King Edward signs whatever he wants because he doesn’t want his children to be killed.”

I knew the feeling. I glanced at Yarrow and saw his countenance sour. “Do you mean to tell me that we finally got a mostly decent king and some man has come along and is playing him like a puppet.” The outrage made me flinch.

Idithum nodded. “He’s a nightmare. You don’t feel him so much out here but in the cities,” Idithum shuddered.

I studied my cousin hard. Idithum had never showed fear of anything. I worried that this had thrown him off the edge.

“How did it happen?” I asked my own voice catching in my throat. Yarrow left and got me water before Idithum could gather himself enough to tell the story.

“Mam came and got me.” He whispered softly. “She said that the king’s guard had attacked Uncle Arin and I went to help.”

I could easily imagine Idithum marching proudly down the street. I nodded faintly. Idithum continued voice shaking. “When I got there, Vanchura himself was at the house.”

“Vanchura showed up personally?” I asked horrified.  This was much more serious than I had first suspected. Vanchura never did anything personally. Ever.

Idithum nodded shuddering. “He was so calm. He personally stabbed Uncle Arin.”

I felt myself begin to shake. This was sounding far too familiar.

“What did you do?” Yarrow asked.

Idithum shrugged. “The only thing I could. I took my sword and attacked Vanchura.”

“But he blocked the blow didn’t he.” I whispered.

Idithum nodded surprised. “Yeah how’d you know?”

“Because I did the same thing.”

Idithum stared at me. “What?” He asked.

Yarrow stared. “Wait you mean that man in black the one giving orders that was Vanchura?”

I nodded slowly. “It must have been.” I said softly.

Idithum looked me up and down impressed. “You fought Vanchura’s men?” He asked.

I shook my head. “No I fought Vanchura.”

Idithum’s mouth dropped to the cave floor. “Vanchura stabbed you himself?” He cried in dismay. “But why would he do that? No no I know that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really?” I asked. “Because I’d like to know.”

“It’s the silver mine.” Idithum said giving me a strange look. “Shesh Marcos I know you live in the words but seriously you must live under a rock.”

“I’ve been lying in a cave recovering from a sword wound.” I snapped angrily losing my patience briefly. Idithum flinched away and Yarrow snorted.
“Forgive Marcos.” He said apologizing. “He’s very temperamental.”

I opened my mouth to argue with Yarrow the noticed the slight glimmer in his eyes. So I stopped and turned to Idithum. “I’m sorry Idithum,”
“Don’t worry about it.” He shrugged. “You’re right. I was rude. I guess I’m just frustrated.”

We both stared awkwardly at each other.

Yarrow filled the silence. “So, why does this silver mine have anything to do with Vanchura attacking Marcos?” He asked.

Idithum swallowed and glanced briefly at me. “It’s no secret that these mountains have massive amounts of silver in them. Or at least it isn’t now.” Idithum smiled wickedly. I could help but smile as well.

“What did you do?” I asked.

Idithum’s smile widened. “Well after one of Vanchura’s goonies knocked me out cold they took me to a prison. They however left the keys way to close to the door.”

I grinned. “What would your mother say?” I asked teasingly. Idithums eyes darkened with pain and he shrugged helplessly. I wished I could take the words back. Idithum continued after a small pause.

“I happened to overhear the guards talking about how the mines were doing and how much silver was being produced.” Idithum leaned forward. “They’ve processed nearly a ton of silver in the past month alone.” He said softly.

Yarrow raised a startled eyebrow. “A ton?” He asked. “But that’s…” He paused and shook his head the math too great.

“A lot.” Idithum supplied. “Enough to pull our entire country out of poverty if the mine keeps up like this for a couple more years. But Vanchura won’t do that. He’ll keep it for himself and no one will ever see the silver. Edward wouldn’t do that.”

“So go get King Edward out.” Yarrow said.

Idithum snorted. “Oh yeah. It’s on the other side of the country guarded by three hundred men. According to rumors Edward never sees the light of day. That will go over real well.”

I slumped against the wall. “So that’s why.” I whispered. “Vanchura wants more money more power. He killed my family for his money.”

I felt myself retch with horror and angry and Idithum barely managed to roll out of the way. Yarrow cleaned up after me instructing Idithum to put a cool rag on my head. “He’s seen too much today.” He said to Idithum.

I closed my eyes and tried to not think but how could I not. But all the pieces didn’t fit. “Why wasn’t there a warning?” I whispered.

Idithum shook his head. “There was. Three months ago they sent out an official declaration for everyone to move.”

Yarrow snorted. “You can’t just tell all the farmers to move.”

Idithum shook his head. “Vanchura did and most of them won’t. Half the farmers have made a strong hold and have managed to survive a month against Vanchura’s troops. I went out there to offer my assistance but they’ll be all dead soon.”
“Why?” Yarrow asked.

Idithum shook his head growing pale. “The fort is filled with sickness and disease. The morale is low and Vanchura can pay anyone to attack them now. The farmers are down to a mere sixty. Or they were before I left.”

Yarrow suddenly put a hand across Idithums chest blocking him from me. “Why are you here then?” He asked suspiciously. “If your family was killed three weeks ago why didn’t you come then. And why didn’t you come after Marcos’s house was burned?”

I realized it was a good question. I wasn’t sure if I wanted the answer.

Idithum made an angry face. “Because I’m a wanted man.” He snarled. “I escaped from prison and I’ve been on the run looking for people to help me.”

I glanced at Marcos finally moving for the first time. “Natalie?” I asked softly. His fiancé they’d been engaged for the end of the year only two months away. No it was one month away now.

Idithum gave a cold bitter laugh. “Yes,” He muttered softly. “You’d think the bride would be willing to help the groom.”

“She didn’t?” I asked sitting up startled. I’d met this family several times and I’d met Natalie often as well. She’d come to my house once or twice. Though remembering now my wife Tessa had never liked her. Perhaps Tessa had been a better judge of character.

Idithum stood and began to pace the room. “I thought she could help.” He whispered. “I mean I’d only been in prison two days right? I got out and discovered everyone was dead.” His voice caught. “Everyone but me.” He turned to look at me and I could feel the pain in his words and his soul.

“Why?” He asked dropping back down beside me. “Why am I alive when everyone else was killed? Why did Vanchura leave me alive?”

I shook my head mystified. I had no more answers they he did. Idithum looked away. “She sent me away.” He said quietly.

I grabbed his hand sensing that this was what was hurting him the most. “She told me that because I had nothing to give her anymore she couldn’t give me anything.” The tears came again and he wiped them away angrily. Yarrow placed a hand on his shoulder and offered him a cup of herbal tea. I caught a whiff of it and made a face.

Idithum took the cup and smelt it. He was trying to distract himself and ignore the fact that he’d just cried. “What is this?” He asked looking up at Yarrow in surprise and a little disgust.

“Valerian.” Yarrow said. “It will help calm you.”

“Are you certain it won’t kill me?” Idithum said sniffing it again and then handing it back. Yarrow chuckled and held out the cup again.

“Drink this Idithum, Marcos will have his share.”

Idithum took the cup and glanced at me with a half horrified expression. “You’ve drank that before?” He whispered when Yarrow walked away to refill the cups.

“No not Valerian but I’ve had several nasty concoctions and he can hear you no matter how low your voice.”

Yarrow chuckled and Idithum flinched and glanced back. “Are you witch doctor?” He asked rather awed. Unlike me Idithum wasn’t afraid to deal with the magical side of life. But much to Idithum’s dismay Yarrow shook his head.

“No just a herbologist.”

Idithum nodded but I knew he didn’t understand. Yarrow returned with two cups one for me and one for himself. I smelled mine anxiously. I wasn’t too keen on drinking Valerian. If the smell was any indication of the taste then valerian would be much worse than yarrow.

To my intense relief my liquid was yarrow once more. I drank it all in one gulp and Yarrow got more. I drank that too and Idithums eyes were wide. Then he tightened his belt and drank the valerian in one quick gulp.

He was coughing and spewing a little at the end but he got it all down. I clapped and so did Yarrow.

“That was horrible.” Idithum gagged. “Have you ever heard of sugar?”

Yarrow smiled. “Yes but adding sugar doesn’t anything to help. Trust me I’ve tried.” He took a sip of his own yellowish water and Idithum and I exchanged disgusted glances.

“What do you have?” Idithum asked.

Yarrow smiled, “A little of both.”

Idithum had such a horrified face that I had to laugh. It hurt to laugh but if felt good too. Yarrow patted Idithum’s leg. “Don’t worry you’ll get used to it.”

Idithum if possible looked more horrified. I was sure he was going to run for it right then and there but he turned to me. “Has he been doing this to you for the last month?” He asked.

I smiled. “Yes but unlike you I can’t get up and walk away.”

“I’ll help you I swear.” He promised and Yarrow chuckled deeply leaning against the wall and swirling the contents in his cup.

Idithum’s smile gradually faded away. I watched him feeling all the pain. I whispered softly, “Natalie broke off the marriage because you couldn’t offer her the fortune she’d been promised.”

Yarrow made a deep growling sound in the back of his throat. And Idithum only nodded. I squeezed his shoulder and let the subject drop.

Yarrow was silent for a long time. We all were but I sensed that Yarrow was working through something in his head. He finally asked Idithum. “When was your family attacked?”
Idithum shrugged helplessly, “Three weeks ago.”

Yarrow began to bit the inside of his jaw thinking hard. “Marcos was attacked nearly five weeks ago.” He said quietly. “I think there’s a connection.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That would make sense but I don’t’ see it.”

Idithum shook his head. “I don’t either I mean I didn’t even know Marcos had been attacked until I managed to make it here this morning.”

“Make it here?” I asked.

“Yeah there are about thirty guards on the road here and my posters all over the city so they recognized me. It’s taken me four days to figure out a route to get here.”

I studied my cousin a little closer. He was thinner then the last time I’d seen him. He looked scragely and worn out.

“When did you last have a decent meal?” I asked him.

Idithum made a snorting sound. “The night Natalie told me she didn’t want to marry me because I didn’t have enough money. Even though we’ve been engaged for a year.”

“Better to find that out now then ten years from now.” Yarrow said softly.

Idithum glared at Yarrow and I grabbed his arm. “He gives tough love Idithum. His own family was killed like ours and he’s been out here for twenty years we’re the first people he’s talked to in twenty years. He’s not exactly up to date on his social skills.” I sent Yarrow a scathing look and the hermit held up his hands.

“You’re right, Idithum I’m sorry.”

Idithum bit the inside of his lip and sighed. “It’s all right. You’re probably right anyway.”

“Yes but that doesn’t mean I had to say it.” Yarrow amended. “I’ve been up here so long I’ve pretty much forgotten how to be polite. If you haven’t noticed I’m rather blunt.”

Idithum gave a dry smile. “I noticed.” He said.

Yarrow shrugged helplessly then stood up. “Tonight you shall eat a real meal.” He said.

Idithum made a face. “I don’t’ know that I want one.”

I patted his shoulder. “You don’t really have a choice besides it’s not so bad.”

Idithum shuddered. “Yeah you’ve been living off of it for five weeks.”

“Well what have you been doing?”

“Stealing from Vanchura’s men.”

I laughed so much it hurt. “You have not!” I cried but I knew it was true. Idithum grinned.

“Yeah I figured they owe me the rest of my meals for the rest of my life. Or at least Vanchura does. He probably owes you a couple meals too.”

Yarrow dropped a plate behind us and it shattered to pieces. I turned my head to see what had happened. “Vanchura.” He said softly.

Idithum raised an eyebrow. “Yeah we explained that a while ago.” He said sarcastically.

Yarrow shook his head. “No, that’s the key between your two stories.”

We stared at him. “Right.” Idithum said with exaggerated understanding.

“No Vanchura was at both locations.”

I nodded. “Yeah that confuses me. Vanchura’s not known for doing things personally.”

“Well you probably made him ticked.” Idithum shrugged.

I raised an eyebrow. “Before that day I’d never laid eyes on the man.”

“No I mean the official declaration went around a month before and then you didn’t move. But you didn’t rebel either. You just didn’t know. But Vanchura probably didn’t know that. He couldn’t figure out your reasoning so he appeared in person to see.” Idithum said in awe. “No one else has ever done that.”

“Great I made the dictator confused and got my family killed.” I muttered.

Idithum sobered immediately. “Your right.” He said. “It’s not worth that price.”

Yarrow sat down next to us. “You said Vanchura killed your uncle?” He asked Idithum.

“Yes.”

“Did your Uncle do anything?”

Idithum puzzled over this. “Not to my knowledge, the man is one of the nicest on earth. He doesn’t even whip his animals.”

I nodded knowing that the last person on earth who’d try and take out Vanchura would be Uncle Arin.

“So Vanchura had no logical reason to kill him or your family Idithum?” Yarrow pressed.

“Yes.” Idithum said. “At least not that I can find.”

“Unless it was resting solely on the fact that your Marcos’s family.” He said.

I rocked back confused. “But what do you mean? What would make me so special that Vanchura would kill everyone close to me?”

“And how did he know we were family?”

Yarrows face darkened. “He may not have needed to.” He said quietly. “The rich have many friends.”

Idithum raised an eyebrow. “Hey I was a rich boy less than a month ago let’s not go trashing them so soon.”

Yarrow chuckled mirthlessly. “I was a rich man before King Henry ruined me, I know the life.” He said softly.

Idithum rocked back he didn’t know what to say and sympathized. I didn’t know what to say to Yarrow half the time either.

“So Vanchura could have found out who my family was?” I asked.

Yarrow nodded. “Easily.”

“But that doesn’t explain why.” I said softly. “Why would Vanchura want to kill the rest of my family?”

Yarrow shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t understand.”

Idithum put his chin in his hands thinking. “So Vanchura shows up stabs Marcos through then a week later he comes after my family.”

“Why did it take him so long?” Yarrow asked.

“Maybe his spies where slow that week,” I muttered. “Why does it matter?”

“It matters because the rich never do things slowly if they can help it. I told you when I refused to ruin my business associate, two days later he had begun to ruin me. King Henry took two days to assure my demise. I can’t imagine Vanchura would work any differently.”

“But King Henry was killed by his own son.” Idithum said softly. “People tried to kill him but nothing worked. How can we get rid of Vanchura?”

Yarrow shook his head. “That doesn’t matter right now. We need to know why Vanchura tried to burn both ends of the candle.”

“Why?” I asked. “Why is it so important?”

“Because Vanchura wants to know if your dead or not.” Idithum said slowly.

“What?” Yarrow and I asked.

“It took Vanchura a week because he didn’t know if you were alive or not.”

I stared at my young cousin. “And how did you come to this conclusion?”