The Grim Ages

Chapter 4

"Photios! Photios wake up!"

I see Pyrrhos standing beside my bed shaking me.

"You were screaming, I could hear you from across the camp! Those dreams are getting pretty serious."

A dream? Thank god. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Pyrrhos.

"No this one was different. Do we know what the light was?"

"Ya, just a big family traveling the land. They walked right beside our camp but we'd already extinguished our fires so they wouldn't see us."

"Ok good. I'm glad everyone is ok."

"Yep! And Tommy just got back with water so we're getting ready to get a move on again."

*****

We've finally returned to our base. All throughout the trip that crazy dream echoed in my head. What does it mean? Is it related to the reoccurring one? And the question that gets me the most. Who is that man?

Bartholomew is the group jester, he's always making us laugh and doing funny stuff. He helps keep us in a good mood before, during and after a battle. However on our way here he caught his foot in a tree root and fell into a thorn bush and he's in recovery. We all need our laughs and we won't be getting them as long as he's in there.

"Sir?" Someone knocks on my door.

"Come. What's your purpose?"

"There are a group of 5 or so who we hear go into towns and kill or take at least 3 children. They've been to 7 towns so far this week."

"Locate and kill them. But before you do see if there are any children alive and return them home. Take 9 others with you and report back to me."

He nods and walks out. It's days like this I realise how bad of a place the world really is.

"Our hunters found a group of cattle! We're having steak tonight!" Pyrrhos yells as he barges through the door.

"I'm on my way!"

We walk to our eating area and begin eating. It's much quieter and less lively though. Now that Bartholomew is in recovery there's not a lot of chatter and just that sense of happiness in the atmosphere. Who knew one person could have such an impact.

After the feast we head to bed, but as we get to our doors 8 severed heads roll down the hallway. They're the heads of the guys I sent to go kill those children killers.