Lost Ones - A False King

Chapter 20 - New Allies

It is late afternoon when Emmod and Novel stand once again in Korbach's barn.
As promised, Korbach has been waiting for them.
His eyes widen, his brow furrows, and his lips curl slightly when he sees them. Surprise, regret, and anger are reflected in his expression. Emmod and Novel stand frozen, their eyes wide open and their jaws slightly tense.
The four strangers with Korbach exchange confused looks, their eyebrows raised and mouths slightly open in astonishment.
For Emmod and Novel, it seems less like a confrontation and more like a secret meeting among friends. Upon closer inspection, they realize the people don't seem entirely unfamiliar.
Had Emmod and Novel just been caught, or were they the ones who had caught Korbach and the other four?
"The Brymbach brothers," says a man, stepping forward. "Excuse me, but none of us could help overhearing. Did the names Ean and Edmur happen to come up just now?" he asks, attentive, with an overly friendly smile. "Were you by any chance talking about the prince and the king?"

"Not by chance," Emmod replies insolently.

"Rather intentionally?" the man continues, his curiosity piqued, pressing Emmod and Novel, knowing he's on the right track.
Korbach clears his throat nervously.
"You know each other?" he asks, trying to defuse the tense situation.
"Not directly," replies the man.
By now, the brothers have figured it out. Among the people present are some they had seen their uncle Ko speaking with in the cellar of the Dragon's Cup. However, there is one younger person among them that they don't recognize.
Emmod and Novel shake their heads.

"Should we?" Novel asks.
"We try to avoid making acquaintances with murderers and assassins," Emmod adds. "The question is, what are these rogues doing here?" he continues, "Korbach, what is going on here?"

Korbach is about to explain himself when a small, inconspicuous woman takes over.
"We'd like to know that as well. What are these children doing here? And why are they coming out of a hay bale?"
"You'd love to know that... you... you... woman!" Novel interrupts.
Suddenly, a chaotic uproar breaks out, the voices growing louder, until Korbach takes a deep breath and a thunderous shout cuts through the air.
"Quite a powerful voice for such an old man," is whispered between both parties.
After the 'old man' has given Novel and the man a piece of his mind for their comments, they scatter around the room.

"How do you know us? We've never met before," Emmod asks curiously. "Who are you?"
"Allow me to introduce us," the man begins. "My name is Gringo Bransym. This is my wife Ely. And our friends Margaret Rix and Siggiwilh Jelderbald, or in short Siggi. And we are freedom fighters, but you probably know us better by our title – The Crimson Crusaders," he says proudly.
At this, they all look at the boys in surprise.
"You're neither surprised nor frightened. What's the reason for that?" Siggiwilh asks in a rough voice.

"I imagined you to be... more knightly," Emmod says frankly.

"But you are ordinary people," Novel adds.

Unlike in the Dragon's Cup, Emmod and Novel can now see them more clearly.

Gringo Bransym sits with his legs spread wide on a hay bale. His stocky build and the three-day-old beard, framed by short, blonde hair, give him a rough appearance.
Next to him stands his wife Ely Bransym. She is short, with gray hair, a few strands falling into her face, emphasizing the wrinkles on her forehead.
Siggiwilh Jelderbald stands sideways leaning against a hay bale, smoking his tobacco pipe. He is a gaunt man with a few white hairs on his head.
"You don't even have anything purple on you. Are you sure you belong with them?" Emmod jokes.
"Look closer," Gringo replies kindly.
And indeed, Gringo and Ely's wedding rings and Siggiwilh's tobacco pipe are soaked in purple, and Margaret now pulls two purple hair ties from her pocket.
Margaret is in her early twenties, with brown eyes and messy brown hair, which she skillfully ties into two little 'devil horns' with the purple hair ties.