• I was running, my heart pounding against my chest. I clutched the book as hard as I could so it wouldn’t slip out my sweaty hands. “Crow get back here!” I heard Master Poitier yell at me. I was done fighting for the war, I hated leaving. “Hey you! Stop HIM!!!” Master Poitier yelled at a girl I was about to run into. She instantly stuck her leg out and tripped me. She grabbed my arm, I couldn’t slip out of her grip.

    Master Poitier caught up, he was out of breath. “Thank….you…he s-stole my….book.” Master Poitier pulled me to my feet. “Young lady what is your name?” he asked her. “Irina, sir.” Irina? That’s an odd name? I thought to myself. Her long black hair was well beyond her shoulders, around mid-back. Her eyes were an odd shade of blue. Navy Blue? No. Duke Blue? No…It’s a Midnight Blue! Wow she is the first person I’ve met with that color eyes. “How old are you…” “Irina” “Irina, right. So anyway how old are you?” Master Poitier asked Irina. “Fourteen.” She said sounding confidant. Why would she be confidant about her age? I wondered to my self. She’s a year under me, big whoop.

    “Well, Irina thank you for your help but I must be off.” He said walking away, dragging me behind. “Master I don’t want to fight any more. Okay. Leave me be.” I told him. “No, your father signed you up for the war and you are fighting until you die or it ends.” He ordered. “But my father is fighting too, if I leave it will still keep my family’s honor.” I said. “Don’t forget your father died fighting.” He said as I stopped talking. “What about my brother, Knar?” I suggested.

    “He’s too young, Crow…” he said. I pulled from master and yelled, “He’s thirteen!” I started to run from Master Poitier.

    I ran to the deep woods away from town. I hate him…I hate my life!!! The tears in my eyes blurred my vision, I couldn’t tell where I was going. WHAM!!!! I hit a tree head on, the last thing I saw was darkness.

    When I awoke I saw two sets of eyes looking at me, one a sea green the other, a midnight blue! “Looks like he’s alright,” said a young boy’s voice.

    “Yeah, sure he is. He’s fine except for that big red spot on his forehead. Rade you are an idiot.” Said the girl. It is her, I thought. “Hey I know him.” Said Irina. “Who is he?” Rade asked. “He’s a boy who stole a book from a man, um… Master Poitier? What was his name?” she asked

    “You got his name right and my name is Crow,” I said sitting up. “Ha-ha, Crow.” Rade laughed at my name. “Shut up Rade. Your name is funny too you know.” Irina said to him. He glared at her. “Please excuse my brother, Crow.” She said. “Why are you here?” she asked me. “I ran from Master Poitier again.” I said. “Why?” she asked curiously. “I don’t want to fight in the stupid war!” I yelled in frustration. “You know, your family will lose its honor if you don’t fight.” She said, intellectually. “Yeah I know!” I yelled.

    “Hey, don’t yell at me.” She said in a calm voice, so she wouldn’t yell. “Just for that, I’m taking you back to him.”

    “What?! N-” I was knocked out before I could protest. When I woke up, again, I was in Master Poitier’s office.

    “So, Crow, why’d you run away?” he asked me. “I’m not telling.” I said turning my head from him. He grabbed my jaw and made me look at him. “Tell me why you ran away!” he yelled in my face. “Never!” I said.

    I tried to run but I was tied to a chair. “Untie me NOW!!!” I yelled. “I don’t think so.” Said Irina coming out of the shadows. “Irina let him go.” Rade said. Rade? What was he doing here? “No, he deserves this.” Irina said.

    “Crow, tell me why you tried to run?” Master Poitier said. “No, why should I?” I said. Master Poitier slapped me, my dark brown hair covering my copper eyes. “Tell or next time you will be whipped.” He said, menacingly. If you disobey your masters you will be punished, badly.

    “I don’t want to fight in this stupid war, that’s why I ran okay! Now let me go!” I yelled. “Thank you, and no.” he said smiling, returning to his work. “WHY?!” I asked getting very furious. “I know you will run if I turn you lose.” He said, snickering. I gritted my teeth so I wouldn’t curse at him, which would result in a serious beating.

    “Please, I promise. I’ll go straight home.” I said pleading. “I don’t think so. Crow why would I trust you? You’re a disgrace to your family.” He said. “No I’m not!” I yelled. “Crow, why’d you run?” said my mother coming through the door. “Mom, y-you don’t understand.” I said. “Turn him lose I don’t want to see his face in my house anymore.” She said to Master Poitier. “Mom you can’t do that, he’s my brother!” yelled Knar.

    “Knar if you object, then go with your brother.” She said. “I, um, sorry Crow. I’m staying with mother.” He said lowering his head in dismay. “It’s okay.” I said as Master Poitier untied me. “Here’s a rucksack this is all you get, once you run out, you have to fend for yourself.” Master Poitier said, throwing a pack in my direction. I looked inside and it had one loaf of bread and a canteen of water.

    “Good luck, Crow.” Said Rade. “Yeah he’s gonna need it.” Said Irina. “You know what Irina, I’m tired of your nagging, bossy attitude. I’m going to stay with Crow.” He said. “B-But mother told me t-to watch over you.” Irina protested. “Mom’s not here. Remember? Soldiers came in and took her away.” Rade said, getting teary eyed. “Fine then, I guess I have to come along.” She said. “What?!” I protested. “No, that’s the last thing I need, a bossy know-it-all.” I said. “I’m not bossy!” she yelled.

    “Um, yeah you are sis.” He said taking a small step away from her. “Oh, and Crow, you’ll need to defend your self.” Master Poitier said handing me a sword. “Why are you giving me this.” I asked.

    “You’ll need it. Just because your acting rude doesn’t mean I don’t have to show generosity.” He said with a smirk on his face. What’s he up too? I asked myself. The sheath was about three feet long, but when I pulled out the sword itself the handle was longer than the blade. “He-he, like my going away gift.” He snickered. I threw it on the ground and stormed out of there.

    “Crow wait for me.” Rade said, running up to me. “Let’s get out of here, the sooner the better.” I said. We snuck into the stables, “Grab a horse.” I said as I picked out one for myself. It was a big, black stallion with a white strip going down his face. “Whoa Mir, its just me.” I said trying to calm him down. I mounted Mir as Rade was having trouble with mounting Tier, Mir’s sister. Tier was a solid black mare with white dapples on her rear. “Rade mount her on the right side.” I told him, holding back the laughter. “Oh,” he said going to the right side of her and mounting her on the first try. We charged out of there. “C-Crow! I’ve never ridden a horse before.” He yelled. I slowed Mir down for him. “T-Thanks Crow.” He said. I could see him shaking very badly

    “No prob.” I said, slowing to a walk. “So Rade do you hate your sister or something?” I asked seeming very curious. “Eh, yeah. She’s always so bossy.” He said scrunching his face in anger. “Whoa, I didn’t know you hated her that much.” I said. “Well, I do. She treats me worse than my mother did.” He said. “Not to be nosey or anything, but how bad did your mom treat you?” I asked dismounting Mir. “She treated me like dirt. She loved Irina more than she loved me.” He said as he dismounted Tier, poorly.

    “Oh. My mom, since my dad died, hardly talked to us. She was too busy crying in her room. When I tried talking to her she yelled at me. It was the worst.” I said. “Oh,” he said while sitting on the cold, hard ground. “RADE!! Get back over here.” A girl yelled. His head shot up in terror. Irina stormed over to him. “Rade, you, you left me.” She said grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulled him to his feet. “Irina NO! I’m staying with Crow!”

    “Speaking of Crow, I came to warn you, I don’t know why, but Master Poitier sent some troops after you.” She said. “What? Why?” I asked in a frantic tone. “You left him, ran away” she said.

    “Irina,” I sighed, “Will you help me fend them off?” I asked. “Why. Why do you need my help.” She asked dragging him away. “I need all the help I can get. Please just this once.” I pleaded. “Rade? Do you want to help him?” she asked Rade. “Yes, I can see what the troops are thinking.” He said as she released him. “My brother is a mind reader.” Irina explained.

    “What do you do?” I asked. “I’m an archer.” She said. “Where’s your bow and arrow?” I asked again. “Someone stole it from me.” She said. “That sucks. Hey I have a bow and arrow set at my house. I’ll be right back.” I said. I ran to my home, but right as I stopped at the door I remembered, ‘Turn him lose I don’t want to see his face in my house anymore.’ my mother said when I was in Master Poitier’s office. I went around the house to find the secret entrance.

    The door in the ground was already open, Who’s in there?, I asked myself. “Mom! You can’t throw out Crow’s stuff!” Knar yelled. “FINE! If he’s not here you take it!” I heard my mother yell at Knar. Glass shattered. “Ow,” Knar said quietly. “Oh, quit being a baby.” My mother said. She started up the steps. I was panicking to find a hiding spot. Luckily there was a bush nearby, I jumped behind it. “Stupid boy, needs to bulk up.” My mom said under her breath.

    Knar walked up, I came out of the bush. “C-” I cut him off by placing my hand over his mouth. “Don’t speak. Knar it’s me, let me down into the storage.” I ordered. I released him and he was silent. “Crow your back.” He said in a whisper. “Yeah but not for long, I need some things let me down there.” I ordered in a more stern voice. He nodded his head. I walked down the steps as quietly as I could. I grabbed my sword my father made me, and his old bow and arrow. “What’s the bow and arrow for?” Knar asked.

    “For Irina.” I said looking around to see if my mother was around. “I thought you hated each other?” he asked. “Yeah but her’s was stolen.” I said. “Well, I’m coming with you.” He said.

    “B-But what a-about mother.” I stuttered in fear about what may happen to my brother. “Fine, hurry up.” I said. He ran into the house, “Knar, what are you doing?” I heard my mother say to my brother. “I’m leaving, I’m going to find Crow.” He said. “NO! YOU ARE NOT LEAVING ME! LIKE YOUR FATHER DID!” she yelled. “Father didn’t leave. He died fighting for our honor.” Knar protested.

    “Your father met some nurse while fighting, the left and got married in Tilarewing. I just lied to you and your brother so you wouldn’t know.” She said. I stormed into the house, “YOU LIED TO ME!” I yelled at her. “C-Crow what are you doing here?” my mom asked. “Getting things I need before I leave, but why did you lie to me?” I asked. “So you guys wouldn’t get hurt knowing your father didn’t love you guys.” She said.

    “We wouldn’t get hurt? WE WOULDN’T GET HURT!? MOM YOU’RE THE ONE WHO HURT US!” I exclaimed. “MAYBE HE LOVED US BUT NOT YOU!”

    “Your father loved all of us.” She said. “Really then why did he remarry?” I asked. She stood stiffly and silently. “That’s what I thought.” I said turning my back. Instantly Knar was by my side.

    “Jump on Mir.” I ordered Knar. “You still have ol’ Mir?” Knar asked. “I thought Master Poitier took him from you when you were stripped of your knighthood.”

    “No, I snuck him out along with Tier.” I said as Knar mounted on Mir.