Restag took the time to take another bite before saying, “First, make it through the night. Tomorrow morning, I want to make another search for the missing Oathless. After that? I am not sure. We could go back, of course. We know who planned your kidnap and murder. We could call for a trial of the High Council. Ecthar could just claim I was lying about what I saw, of course, but we could easily demand he be tried before a Troth-Seer. It would be a dragon’s trial, but if we ask the right questions, maybe we can catch him in a lie. Then even the secrets he holds over the other elders would not be enough to spare him the death due to an oath-breaker.”

Witheric stared incredulously at his friend. It took him a few moments before he could say, “You do not mean that, Restag. You would not have packed all of this if you really expected us to just go home.”

A long pause followed. Finally, Restag, his voice tired and tinted with a mix of emotions that Witheric could not decipher but which gave him sorrow, said, “No. I do not. Ecthar’s hold on the Council is too strong. He might even have a hold on the Troth-Seers. Perhaps not a complete one, but still enough of one that he knew he would be named true of speech. No. If we return right now, I expect we will be killed before we can call for a trial. That is, if he lets us return. He shall be carefully watching for us, ready to send someone to finish us if he catches us with his Sight.”

Heavy silence fell upon them once again, each man lost in thoughts of the truth of that statement and the reality of all that was lost by it. After a long, painful pause, Witheric left his own sorrows to look again to his friend. A new ache formed in his chest, and he said, “Restag, why are you here? Why did you come for me?”

Restag turned to face him, whatever other emotions he held hidden behind the sudden conviction he now showed in his steady eyes as he simply said, “I am Thanesman.”

Rather than bring encouragement as had been intended, grief overcame Witheric as the words pierced him. He stared blankly into the fire and then buried his face in his hands and moaned miserably. Restag came to his side, worry creasing his brow. “Witheric? Witheric, what is it? Your wound, is it–“

The high thane shook his head, his voice trembling as he said, “No. That is not…. Oh, my friend, I have ruined you!”

“Stop that, right now!” said Restag, frightened now by Witheric’s despair. He had only seen this once before, when the young man lost his family and the weight of High Thane fell so suddenly upon him. It was the most terrifying time in Restag’s memory. If not for the immediate necessity for the young thane to act in defense of his people, he was not sure when his friend would have emerged from that grief. Now Restag faced it again, and he did not know what to do. Unable to think of anything else, Restag said, “It is not your doing, Witheric.”

But the young thane replied, “Yes it is! This happened because I am thane. Because I am not strong enough! If you were not my Thanesman, you wouldn’t… you wouldn’t be….”

“Witheric, stop!” Restag snapped fiercely, making his friend’s eyes jump to his. Forcing his anger down again, he continued, “It was my choice. Not yours. I could have abandoned you. As you said, I knew there would be no return if I came here to find you. But I did come. I chose this.” He gestured around them and paused, letting the words sink in before lowering his voice to say, “I swore an oath to you, Witheric, and I intend to keep it.”

Those last words hit the young thane like a slap to his face, shaking him from the dark claws that had been digging themselves into his heart. Taking a few breaths to calm himself further and wiping away the tears that had started to fall, he faced the other man and said, “As did I, Thanesman. I swore, as your thane, to protect and lead you. I gave you my oath-bond, and I do not intend to break it.”

“Good,” said Restag, fear and tension leaving him like a shadow lifted. Returning to his dinner, he said, “Since we cannot go back, where should we go? Wherever you decide, I shall follow.”

That was the question, wasn’t it? Witheric fell into his thoughts as he, too, continued his dinner. As Restag said, they could not go back. Unfortunately, there weren’t many places they could go forward to, either. The Eisensaet had been at war for so long, trying to reclaim control of the other Asgradi, that Witheric had no doubt the other tribes would turn them away to face winter’s wrath should their identities be revealed if they didn’t just kill them on the spot. No. Seeking the aid of the other tribes was out of the question. He had heard that there was a kingdom to the south ruled by an Asgradi king, one which was far enough that they had not fought each other for several generations and powerful enough that none of the other tribes bothered attacking it. Perhaps the grudge between their people had eased enough that they would be willing to shelter them. Though based on the rumors he had heard, they were highly territorial, averse to any outsiders entering their lands, even fellow Asgradi. Such a people held little hope to them, but where else–

“Oh!”

Witheric jumped at Restag’s exclamation. Looking at his friend, he saw him dig through his shirt and pull out a drawstring bag, tossing it over as he said, “I forgot about this.”

The thane dropped his food to catch the bag, which was heavier than he had expected. Undoing the drawstring, he emptied the contents and stared at them in disbelief. Gaping at Restag, he said, “You forgot bandages and boots, but you thought to grab these?”

Restag shrugged and went back to eating. Witheric stared in amazement at the collection of things in his palm. Precious things. Things he had never expected to see again. Quietly, solemnly, he put each item back into the bag, all but the ring, whose gold surface shone like the fire it reflected. An idea was forming, and he turned it over in his mind as he turned the ring over in his hand. Finally, a smile forming on his lips, he said, “We shall go south, to Ithaenia.”

Witheric laughed at the look on Restag’s face. Clearly, the warrior hadn’t even considered such a possibility. “You disapprove, my friend? Do not worry. King Aleukus will welcome us. Maybe he would even be willing to help us return home, come spring. Trust me, Restag. You will see.”

The thanesman’s scowl did not change, but he replied, “I will go where you decide, High Thane. If you say you wish to go to the dark-haired humans, I shall make sure you get there.”

Witheric smiled warmly at his friend. “Thank you, Thanesman.”

Restag did not reply, so Witheric simply dropped the ring back into the bag, tucked the bag into his shirt, and returned to his meal with the knowledge that he would sleep soundly that night.