Yakob was frowning from the conversation with Arria, but the second he saw Amos' face in the dim lighting, a grin crept onto his features. He rushed forward and wrapped his brother in a warm embrace.
"What are you doing here?" he said. "You shouldn't be here."
"Just travelling," Amos shrugged.
"No, I mean," Yakob began, "you really shouldn't be here. Trenmir presence is being bolstered in this area. They caught a whiff of you being around here somehow. You need to go."
"That's the idea," Amos nodded at Mondir lying on the ground. "Meet Mondir Fastheart, leader of the Fastheart Wildmen. He's taking me to the Avidia Institute."
Mondir wiggled his shoulders and eyebrows at the same time. "Hey."
"Why are you guys tied up?" Yakob cast a glance around the room.
"Might have hurt your girlfriend's feelings," Amos said. "How was I supposed to know she was still sore about the mess you apparently made."
Yakob glared at him. "So you deserve to be tied up."
Amos shrugged. There was clattering in the other room. Yakob flinched as a string of curse words came from Arria, along with some violent banging. "She's... interesting."
"Keep it to yourself, Amos," Yakob warned, "or I'll tighten those ropes."
"Ok, sorry, sorry!" Amos giggled. It was good to be reunited with family again. "Have you heard from Kien and Leila?"
"You mean Mum and Dad?"
"Uh... yeah."
"No," Yakob shook his head sadly. "They keep me here hunting for you."
"Found me."
"I should probably tell you about the plan, seeing as you're going to the Institute."
"I remember you saying you were a double agent. You're a Drai working for the Trenmir."
"Yes," Yakob said, "I get information on where the Trenmir are going, what they're doing, and their next moves. Then, every fortnight, I meet up with Shanty and pass the information along to the Avidia Institute."
"Wait, the Avidia Institute? You said to meet me there. The Gods in my head are directing me to Port Ryndem. Xaemarra told me to meet her there. Mondir is guiding me. What's so special about this place?"
"Avidia Institute is a secret haven for all the Drai in Mauria. We're a group that protects and trains each other. But Xaemarra contacted you personally? She never gets involved. What's going on with you Amos?"
Amos hesitated. He looked at Mondir. He seemed to be falling asleep. This conversation clearly didn't interest him. Ink was still in a deep slumber.
Fuck it.
"I have two souls."
"Huh?"
"Two souls. One is your brother, but I am from another world. I died and was reincarnated in this body. I don't fully understand it but sometimes we share our body, sometimes not. Right now, I am not your brother. My real name was Bailey."
Yakob paused, eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
"Yes. It means that I have two sets of Drai powers. The star sign of your brother - Aries - and my own - Cancer."
"So you weren't... My brother wasn't hiding anything from me. This actually... It actually makes sense. This is why you were acting so strange."
Amos nodded.
"Where is my brother? Is he okay?"
Amos shook his head. "He is stuck in soul form. We got in a fight and he was captured. I'm trying to get him back, but I don't even know if it's possible. Maybe the other Drai at Avidia Institute can help me?"
"Oh..." Yakob looked crestfallen. "Of course. My teacher will definitely be able to help you. But he's-"
Arria entered the room with three custard pies. They smelled slightly of cinnamon. "I made these earlier," she said. "You three can have them. I'm sorry I don't have a real meal for you."
"Three?" Yakob asked, counting the people in the room. "Oh."
Arria's steely gaze passed over him without a flicker of emotion.
"Could you untie us?" Amos asked.
Arria just tossed the pie at Amos and left the other two on the floor, then exited the room to continue cleaning without a word. She came back in a moment later with a pair of scissors and cut everyone's ropes.
Ink chose this moment to wake up. "Huh?" he looked around with crusty rheum in his eyes. "Yakob!"
"Hey, Ink," Yakob smiled gently.
"I'm going with them," Arria said to Yakob.
"What?"
"I'm going to Port Ryndem with your brother. The Wildman won't be able to protect him and this fella," she indicated Ink, "seems to lack his wits. I'm going with to make sure they're safe."
"And get away from me?"
Arria just huffed, then left the room. "Rest up, boys. We leave early in the morning."
Yakob slumped against the wall. "I should get going. The Trenmir wake us up early."
"Duty calls," Amos said.
"When you make it to the Institute, Shanty will let me know. Please do your best to find my brother, Bailey. He's annoying but I love him."
"I will," Amos said. "And things will get better with Arria. She's angry because she loves you, not because she doesn't."
"Yeah," Yakob smiled at him. "Thanks. Don't die out there."
Then he left. He lingered by the door, but Arria kept her back to him.
Amos slept soundly. He didn't have a bed, but it was warm and he was too tired to even notice.
...
Arria woke everyone up before sunrise. They walked through cobblestone streets with the last vestiges of mud from the day before obscuring their faces. Arria walked with a straight back and brooked no conversation. Amos feared any Trenmir that stopped them would get a rolling pin to the head. He rubbed his own skull where he felt a lump had grown.
There were sparse pickings for canoes in Botre Village. They tended to float up and down the Armastan River lazily, picking up stragglers for coin wherever they went. Not many people wanted to come to Botre, and not many wished to leave, so there were only two canoes parked on the river docks when Arria and her gaggle of haggard outlaws approached.
Leaning by the entrance was a pair of Trenmir. Their black coats camouflaged against the dark wood cast in the dim light of the early morning.
"Halt!" It was the same grey-haired Trenmir agent from the previous night. He looked tired and grumpy, having likely patrolled all night. "You look familiar..."
"No, sir," Arria said.
"What you mean no? I'm telling you I know those faces," he stopped leaning on his post. His friend stood to attention beside him.
"We're just looking to get some fishing done early," Arria said. "No trouble."
"I'll be the one to decide if there's trouble," the Trenmir peered over her shoulder at Amos with his downcast eyes. "Ain't you the boys from last night? Said you lived at the bakery."
"That's us," Amos didn't want to antagonise this man any further.
"Well, Gronn, tell me if I'm wrong," the leader turned to his subordinate, "but do you normally get fish from the bakery?"
"Ain't normally," Gronn said dumbly.
"Something smells fishy here," the leader sauntered up to Arria's group. "I'd like to see your papers."
"Didn't bring 'em," Arria said.
"Well..." the leader grabbed Arria's face by the cheeks visciously. "Guess I'll just have to get a real good look at your face."
"Run along now, boys," Gronn said at Amos, Ink, and Mondir. "Don't need to see yer faces."
"Put her down," Ink said.
"Or what?" the leader sneered. "We're just checking identities."
Gronn sauntered up to the Amos, and as he approached, he could see the thoughts starting to form behind his dull eyes. "Hang on, boss..."
The leader turned to look.
"It's the kid! The guy!" Gronn wheeled backwards reaching for his baton.
"What guy?" the leader came closer. "Shit! It's Amos Aquila! Backup! We need backu-"
Mondir sneered and rushed forward. He almost lost his balance, but kept it and leaned back to deliver a heavy headbutt to Gronn.
Amos was out of mana, so he punched the leader in the stomach, forcing him to double over. Ink took the opportunity to sock him in the side of the head, knocking him out cleanly. They were both down in a flash.
Amos looked over at Arria to ask if she was okay, only to find her kneeling over a gurgling Gronn, bloodstained kitchen knife in hand. She had slit his throat and was angling for the unconscious leader next.
"Wait!" Amos said.
Arria didn't pause. Her grip on the knife tightened. "You saw what they would've done to me. They deserve this."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Ink said.
Mondir stood shakily. He shouldn't have done that. "If we let them live, they'll tell the Trenmir where we're going," he said. "This is the smart decision. If you don't have the guts for it, then let her."
Amos' stomach knotted itself, and he turned away. He felt sick when Arria slit the leader's throat with a wet slice. He couldn't look.
"Ink," Mondir said, "throw the bodies in the river."
"But-" Ink started.
"Just do it," Mondir growled.
Ink looked to Amos, but Amos couldn't meet his eyes.
Splash.
Splash.
Droplets of water sprayed up and wet Amos' pant leg. It wasn't red, but he felt stained nonetheless.
"Boat. Now" Mondir jerked his head in the direction of a canoe.
Arria led them onto one and pressed a string of jingling metal into the owner's hands. "Row, Jasper," she said. "That's more than enough to buy your silence."