Orion walked in front of the cart as they continued to the boarder of Arronsville. Arronsville was worse than blackbarrel. Many houses had been burned down leaving only 6 buildings in the whole town.
"This place looks awful."Fareman said.
"It is, no rules no leaders. Everyone for themselves."Orion said.
"Why don't you move away?"Malcom asked.
"Because...I have my reasons. It's better here than anywhere else."Orion said.
"How is Leonard?"William asked.
"He's better than a while back. Here is where we live."Orion said as he pointed to a cottage.
"You both live here?"William asked.
"Um...yes."Orion said awkwardly.
"Man, I guess he really has changed."Willam said.
Orion and everyone else walked towards the door and knocked. The door flung open and a knife quickly started outward but stopped right before stabbing William in the neck.
"I thought he liked you!" Malcom shouted.
"I tolerate you!"the scruffy Leonard shouted.
"Leonard, let them in. They are hurt."Orion begged.
Leonard lowered his knife and said, "Alright, alright. Come in and don't touch anything!"
Everyone walked into the surprisingly nice house and Leonard quickly shut the door behind them. There were many drawers and chests as well as a table with two chairs. But there was only one bed.
"Thank you for inviting us and not your home, we won't be here for long. I am Malcom and this is prince Elric of Sawlendale."Malcom said.
"You brought a prince into my home?"Leonard shouted towards Orion.
"Your home, Leo! Our home!"Orion snapped.
"Right, well let's have a look at that leg William."Leonard said.
William put his leg on one of the chairs as Leonard examined it. He tilted it left and right and then stepped away from it.
"This doesn't look to good. He won't be able to walk on his own for at least 5 days."Leonard said.
"5 days?"Henry exclaimed, "We need him to walk by tomorrow."
"I really think you should watch your tone, boy! I'll do the best I can."Leonard said impatiently.
"Alright, alright."Henry said.
"Leonard, may I ask if we can have a talk, just us 5?"Elric asked.
"Fine, 6 minutes."Leonard said as he and Orion went into another room and closed the door.
There was an awkward silence until William broke it.
"I can't go with you to the mountains. I'd just be useless weight."
"I agree that you should not be on your feet but what if we need you?"Fareman said.
"What if you don't."William replied.
"I think I'm sick, Malcom."Henry said woozily before collapsing on the ground.
"Henry!"Malcom shouted.
Leonard rushed back in and helped put Henry on the bed. Leonard then put the back of his hand on Henry's forehead.
"He has a fever!"He shouted.
"Good lord everything is going wrong!"Malcom shouted.
"Leonard, Orion, do you think that William and Henry can stay here for a few days while we go to the mountain tomorrow?"Elric asked.
"No way? Sorry, but no!"Leonard said.
"Leo!"Orion argued.
"Come on, Orion! We can't keep them here!" Leonard said.
"Please, Leo."Orion begged.
"Fine but only if you tell me why you need to get to those mountains so badly."Leonard asked.
"It will take a while to catch you up, so I would suggest taking a seat."Malcom said.
For the next hour, Malcom, Elric, William, and Fareman each told their hosts about everything leading up to that point in time. They went on and on until it grew dark.
"I've heard enough!"Leonard shouted. "If you 3 promise to leave tomorrow, I'll help those two until you stop that man."
"Well, thank you."Elric calmly said.
"You all should get some sleep. Sleep anywhere in this room. We will take the other one."Orion said.
"Thanks."William said, quietly.
The two men walked into the other room and quickly closed the door. Henry had already fallen asleep half way through the story and everyone else found somewhere to sleep. But Elric couldn't sleep like everyone else because he needed to clear things.
Elric knocked on the door of Leonard and Orion's room as quietly as possible. Leonard grabbed Elric by the shirt and pulled him into the room.
"You know don't you?"Leonard whispered.
"Yes. I know."Elric said awkwardly.
"What are you going to do? You know the punishment."
"I don't care. It's a law that I don't agree with. Neither does my father but he's too scared to change things."
"Everyone knew about me. That I was strange and different. But you don't. You treat me like a human, not an oddity."
"Because you aren't. You just hate people."
"I didn't always."
"When I get back here, maybe we can all go back to Sawlendale together. Nobody needs to know yet. It'll be better for you two."
"Don't try to change the unchangeable."
"We'll talk when we get back. I'm tired."
"Alright. Bye."Leonard said after Elric left for sleep.
Leonard didn't just tolerate Elric. He saw him as a friend. As the night went on everyone slept for the last time together before splitting off.
