Oliver and Evelyn relaxed their pace and held hands.
“Who should tell their story first?” he asked.
“You already know some stuff about me. I know nothing about you” she answered.
“Alright. I was born in one of the largest towns. I remember the paths and markets always being so crowded. My family was probably the poorest family there. We always had to steal for food. After I turned seven I had learned everything I needed about our stealing techniques. We were never caught. My dad and I were the usual stealers while my brother worked in our neighbor’s field to get money so we could pay the King or weekly pay. We never had any left over for food and clothes. My mother would stay home and guard the house from rubbers or any other kind of intruder, even though she couldn’t fight. She would always prepare dinner for us after we brought it home. Sometimes we managed to find clothes or fun items like instruments, toys, or we very rarely got to steal some cash. My family was known for being goofballs. We kept the neighbors up with all the instruments we played. I played the flute or guitar, my brother played any percussion and my parents took turns singing, usually very loudly and off key but we laughed and had tons of fun. My mother’s name was Khione, my father’s name was Wally, and my brother’s name was Patrick. My brother was I think… six years older. My parents were younger parents and defiantly acted like it. My mother said that I was so handsome that I’d steal the heart of a princess. Or at least a really beautiful woman, princesses could be ugly. Whenever I would fall, which was A LOT, my father would say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Then I would purposely fall” he explained. Thinking of those memories brought a smile to his face.
“I wish my family life was like that” Evelyn wished.
“I’m not finished though. One day when I was twenty my dad took my on another robbing mission, when we got home we saw note pinned to the wall saying Khione King and Patrick King have been taken by the King. Khione will be one of his personal servants and Patrick is joining the army. The next time you’ll see them is in a casket” he added sadly. Chills ran down his back.
“That’s awful” Evelyn said and clenched her fists.
“That night soldiers raided our house again and took my father. I don’t know where we went but they said the next time I would see him would be again, in a casket. Then I was forced to live on my own. When I was sixteen a new blacksmith building moved in and they singed me up. When I was twenty three I found Verizon in the forest one day and took her home and she stayed with me. That’s pretty much my story” he finished.
“I know why the King split your family up. Since you were having a happy life he wanted to take that away. He must have noticed you guys weren’t contributing to the Kingdom. It’s terrible. I can see why you didn’t back out on the rebellion” she replied. “Do you have any memories still preserved in anything at your house?”
“All my instruments” he answered. “Now tell me about you” he ordered.
“I was born in the forest. My family was on the run from the King’s men. He knew we had been the source of some rebellious acts in our town and wanted to kill us. For the next six years we were still running away and living in the forest. After that long we decided we could go back to a different town since we all looked so different and had a new kid, me. I wanted to learn how to defend myself after I saw my mom savagely beaten by a man for being a woman. She knew how to fight but would’ve exposed us. She taught me how to fight with war fans, which I packed with me, and taught me some of the martial arts hat I know. I was raised mostly by my mom and Felix. My dad was always off working or finding out the newest information about the king. Felix was a great big brother. He read to me at night and would sleep on the floor next to me if I had nightmares. One day our family got an invitation to live at the castle. We thought it was for all my dad had done. But it was actually Felix’s double cross. One night I noticed we wasn’t in is bed and so I told my mom… aand, sorry I’m crying a little but um… we found Felix talking to the King. My mother was about tto attack when Felix attacked and killed her. I ran away and got my dad out of the castle safely. We ran back in the forest and searched for a few more years until finding the rebellion castle” she explained and whipped her eyes.
