Within a split second, a punch slammed into his chin.

  Julius hit the ground, his vision blurred.

  “Bloody hell!”

  “Greetings to you too, Julius.”

  Looking up, he saw a man stepping closer.

  “Who–Dominic?!”

  “I know what you did.”

  The sound of Dominic unsheathing his sword made Julius regain his vision.

  “Die, you worthless bastard!”

  He swung at Julius.

  His blade met with Julius’s scabbard in the middle, Julius felt the impact through his arms.

  Dominic raised his sword and swung again, Julius got himself up on his feet.

  “Agh!”

  The blade cut him swiftly, before he could get away.

  “Haha! Yes, scream. Scream as much as you can, Julius.”

  The blood from Julius’s wound dripped down his arm, blood droplets fell to the ground.

  “How’d you know, Dominic?”

  Julius unsheathed his sword, and threw the scabbard to the side.

  “Oh… Don’t worry about that, Julius. I have my ways.”

  They stared one another down, both holding their swords steady in their hands.

  “Oh what, you're scared to engage?”

  “Julius, those foolish words of yours won’t work on me this time.”

  In the distance, a guard was heard yelling something neither of them heard.

  “Where’s your blindfold, Dominic?”

  The two blades met in the middle, Dominic attempted to bind.

  Their blades scraped as they parted.

  Julius pivoted and thrust his sword at Dominic.

  “Can’t you see, my eye has healed up, unlike yours.”

  Grinning, he stepped back to avoid the thrust.

  His feet scraped the dirt.

  Julius carefully held his sword out, pointing at Dominic’s body.

  “Stop it right now!”

  Dominic’s longsword actively invited the bind.

  Julius swiftly avoided it, circling to the right.

  Before Dominic could step back, Julius’s sword punctured his chest.

  Blood gushed from the wound, staining his blade.

  “Gah!”

  “You should’ve stepped back sooner.”

  A guard approached them, grabbing Julius by the wrist.

  “I said stop it, damn it!”

  On the ground was Dominic, gasping in pain.

  “How about you help the bastard?”

  The guard looked at Dominic, then back at Julius.

  “Don’t move.”

  He let go of his wrist, walked over to Dominic and started treating him.

  After putting a cloth over the wound, he turned his head around and Julius was gone.

  “God damn it!”

  “Man, let him go–help me!”

  Sweat dripped down Julius’s face as he ran through the dark town. Pressing down on his wounded shoulder, his hand soaked in blood.

  Multiple guards through the town saw him running. Eventually he reached the old, ruined house.

  As soon as he stepped inside, the old man called to him.

  “Julius, why in such a hurry?”

  After regaining his breath, he responded.

  “I just wanna sleep.”

  “That you may, but Julius…”

  Julius turned his head and looked at the old man.

  “How do you think this will turn out?”

  “...”

  Without saying anything, he grabbed the glass bottle filled with alcohol from the old man’s shelf.

  “Julius, you’re not gonna drink that. Are you?”

  “Haha! Don’t worry, you ancient one. It’s for my wound.”

  Stepping inside the room across, he placed his sword near the doorway.

  As he sat down on the hay in the corner, he gripped the cork firmly, pulling it upward and opening the bottle.

  “Here it goes…”

  With his back against the wall, he looked up at the ceiling and poured some alcohol on the wound.

  His toes curled, his hands were shaking. He clenched his jaw, spilling some alcohol on the ground.

  Slowly he placed the bottle on the window, and ripped a piece of his cape. Tying it around the wound on his shoulder.

  Tucking himself in the corner, the smell of alcohol and blood filled the room. He closed his eyes.

  Later, the sound of footsteps from outside alerted him.

  “You two, go inside this hole. See if he’s there.”

  “Sir!”

  Swiftly, Julius took his cape off and tucked the ends in the cracks above the window.

  As he heard someone coming up to the room, he stepped into a dark corner and blended with the shadows.

  The guard stood at the doorway for a moment, looking around in the dark.

  Julius’s heart was pounding through his chest.

  Hesitant to step inside the dark room, the guard’s feet caused the planks to creak.

  “Not here!”

  As soon as he left, Julius took his cape, grabbed the bottle and jumped through the window.

  Slowly, he pulled the hood over his head and walked calmly through the silent, narrow streets.

  “God damn it, can’t even get some sleep.”

  After walking for some time, he stopped at a small chicken pen.

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  “...”

  Silently, he crouched and tucked himself in a corner, to avoid waking the chicken.

  “Bloody chicken–”

  He whispered as the smell of chicken feathers and coop dust filled his nostrils.

  Before falling asleep, he took a sip from the bottle. Covered himself with his cape and closed his eyes.

  The rooster’s crow shook the whole pen, Julius jolted awake and slammed his head on the low roof.

  “God DAMN it!”

  The low hatch slammed open and Julius crawled out.

  A faint morning light allowed him to see the feathers that stuck on his cape.

  Violently, he shook his cape and the feathers came off.

  “Next time–I’m sleeping on a tree.”

  Glancing back at the pen, the rooster peeked through the hatch and crowed loudly yet again.

  “Really? Fine, I’ll go.”

  Julius turned around, tied his blindfold firmly and walked down the streets.

  Two guards were walking his way. He pulled his hood over his head, walking past them.

  “I can’t believe it…”

  “Mate I’m telling you, Dominic was beaten again! Haha!”

  The sound of horses neighing in front of him, a man stood near the stables looking over the horses.

  “Who might you be?”

  “The king has sent me, I need a horse.”

  His hand reached into his pocket. He handed the paper to the stablemaster.

  “My, my… If it ain’t from Custos himself.”

  With a confused look on his face, he looked at the stablemaster.

  “Who?”

  “Mate, don’t worry about it. Take this black stallion, and take care of him.”

  Julius scoffed.

  “It’s not like I’m gonna eat it…”

  The stablemaster went silent out of surprise, looking at Julius mounting the horse.

  “Say what now?”

  “Don’t worry about it, mate.”

  The horse sharply exhaled, the saddle creaked. With a smile on his face, Julius rode out of town.

  On the small, old path inside the forest, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

  A moment later, the horse stopped.

  When he opened his eyes, in front of him stood a man on a horse.

  “How about you watch where you’re going, fool?”

  “My apologies.”

  The man had a gladius on his left hip, the scabbard had the roman eagle engraved into it.

  “No wonder you couldn’t see me, you got a bloody blindfold over your eye.”

  He murmured something and rode past Julius.

  Julius glanced at him for a moment, then continued riding his horse.

  “What is a Roman soldier doing here?”

  At midnight, he found himself in the woods near the old village.

  His horse was tied to a tree, he climbed up the tree and laid on one of the branches.

  Crickets chirped, owls hooted, and Julius listened.

  Leaning against the trunk, he closed his eyes.

  Later, the branch wobbled as he shifted in his sleep. He caught himself just before falling.

  “Man, did you see that? Like a cat!”

  His heart was pounding; he was talking to the horse.

  It was asleep on its side. Julius stared at it.

  “Rude… The sun is almost up.”

  He tapped his wounded shoulder after he climbed down. Hesitating with each touch.

  Tying the blindfold tightly, he pulled the hood over his head and stood still for a moment.

  The sun slowly rose above the horizon.

  Julius walked through the ruined part of the village.

  Houses, overgrown with grass and moss. Smaller trees were scattered around the area.

  That feeling of ease and calm sent shivers down his spine, the familiar sounds of metal clangs and the smell of smoke and coal in the air.

  “Faber.”

  Standing inside the smithy was Faber, doing his usual stuff.

  “How can I help you?”

  “Faber, turn around mate–it’s me.”

  Turning around, he laid his hammer on the anvil.

  “Julius? What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Listen, I need a favor.”

  “As much as I am glad to see you, you should get out of here Julius.”

  Faber’s face was dripping with sweat.

  “You feeling well? You’re sweating.”

  “I’ve been working a lot lately, don’t worry.”

  “Look, I know I shouldn’t be here but–please tell Dolores to meet me at our spot. She’ll know.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell her.”

  They looked at each other, just standing for a moment.

  “Don’t hang around in the village too long, if someone sees you…”

  “I know. Faber, you remember that sword of mine?”

  “Yes, why?”

  Julius put his hand on one of the shelves. The fire behind Faber crackled.

  “Can you make the same sword out of steel?”

  “Sure, bring me some steel and I’ll do it.”

  “Where can I get some?”

  “From a merchant.”

  “Can’t you use some old tools?”

  Faber scoffed.

  “If you got some old stuff that you don’t need, yes.”

  “Well go to my house and see for yourself, I can’t really bring it to you.”

  “Fine, now go before someone sees you.”

  “Calm down, lad. Ain’t no one gonna see me.”

  He chuckled and began walking away, waving at Faber.

  “See ya, friend.”

  Walking through the woods, he stopped at a spot where the woods were less thick and the sun shined brightly at the clearing.

  The sound of the flowing river nearby and the birds chirping made his heart feel warm.

  Butterflies and bees were flying around, landing on the various flowers and apples on the ground.

  The apple tree in the middle of the spot had a part of its bark removed.

  In the grass sat Julius and waited patiently.

  “Julius?”

  Behind him, a soft voice called.

  “Dolores…”

  He stood up and turned around, Dolores ran to hug him.

  A tear ran down her face, they caressed each other’s hair and kissed.

  “Why do you smell like chicken… Julius?”

  They chuckled.

  “Let’s just say I had to sleep among chickens last night.”

  She took his hand and led him closer to the river.

  “You’re gonna get rid of that smell right now, sir.”

  “Hold on, you little imp!”

  Before entering the cold river, they took their boots off. Water splashed around them and they laughed cheerfully.

  “How are the children doing?”

  “They miss you.”

  “...”

  “I miss all of you, and I’m so sorry–Dolores.”

  She held his hand softly.

  “Don’t be, it’s not your fault it turned out this way.”

  He looked into her brown eyes and brushed a wet strand of hair from her face, making her laugh.

  “It is my fault–had I controlled myself…”

  “Shhh, I know you couldn’t. Dominic crossed a line and he deserved it.”

  “I know.”

  She slowly removed his blindfold.

  “Let me take it off for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  For a moment, they remained silent.

  “I think for now, it’s best if you stay in the village. You’re gonna be alright?”

  “I don’t know how long, but–yes.”

  After getting out of the river, they went to the spot where they met earlier.

  Sitting at the tree with its bark removed in the shape of a heart, they leaned on the trunk.

  “Julius, where have you been?”

  “Solona.”

  “I thought it was destroyed?”

  “So we were told. But it’s actually a good place.”

  They looked up at the letters engraved into the heart on the tree.

  “Remember when we made that?”

  “Yeah, Julius and Dolores.”

  “We couldn’t have picked a better spot.”

  A butterfly flew in front of their faces for a split moment, then disappeared in the distance.

  “What happened to your shoulder?”

  “Dolores…”

  “No, Julius. Tell me.”

  “I got into some trouble, a brawl.”

  He inhaled sharply.

  “But I’m fine.”

  Her hand caressed his cheek, she inspected his right eye.

  “Does it hurt you?”

  “No, not so often.”

  With a deep sigh, she rested her head on his right shoulder.

  “And this?”

  “Haha! Yes, that does.”

  “You can handle it…”

  They laughed, and sat in silence for a while.

  “Are you coming home?”

  “I would love to, really. But–I can’t risk someone seeing me, you know?”

  “Well, I’ve got to go. I’ll take your cape with me.”

  “Don’t tell them I’m here. Just tell them I’m okay.”

  With a last kiss they gave each other, she smiled and walked away.

  Julius sighed deeply, glancing at the blindfold in his hand.

  Tightly, he tied it to his head and pulled it over the right eye.

  He walked back to his horse, which was grazing on grass.

  “Finally awake, huh?”

  After six days…