Walther stood outside of the makeshift medics room, having listened in to the majority of the two friends’ conversation. He had done as he said, having fetched his loyal servant, but happened to overhear the conversation as he walked past. He wore a troubled expression, rubbing at the uncombed beard on his chin. Beside him Oswin’s fists shook with rage.

Aethelstan walked out the room and barely batted an eye at the two of them, giving them both nothing more than a scowl. ‘Let him sleep,’ he demanded.

‘Of course,’ Walther replied.

He watched as the man walked away, intrigued by the loyalty the two showed to each other. ‘My lord!?’

Behind him, Oswin could barely contain the rage that was burning from his insides. ‘Yes my dear Oswin?’

‘You can’t genuinely!-’ Oswin caught himself, his voice raised loud enough to wake the dead. He continued in a whisper. ‘You can’t genuinely be thinking of just leaving this alone can you? The man’s a hypocrite. A liar!’

Walther rolled his eyes. He struggled to understand Oswin’s jealousy over Gunnar Vaen, they both performed entirely different functions, and had completely opposite talents and abilities. There was no need to feel competitive, one could never replace the other. ‘The past will always influence the future, all we can do is hope to only use the good lessons our mistakes teach us, surely you of all people can understand that Oswin?’

The servant fell silent. They both knew of his past, a past he’d rather soon forget. There were few ways the mercenary and Oswin were similar, an inability to reconcile with the past was one. Walther looked through the door, the mercenary’s cheeks were damp from his tears, eyes puffed and red. He was already tired, no doubt it was all too much for his fragile state. ‘It explains so much about him, I’m surprised I never figured it out. Perhaps now he can finally mature a little.’

‘My lord, you care about him don’t you? Was he not hired to be disposable? So as not to throw your people in harm’s way?’ Oswin grumbled, still wanting to find some outlet for his emotions.

Was that true? Did he care about the foul mouthed noble hating brat in front of him? Indeed, his heart felt fondness. Though it was more akin to respect than anything else? ‘Our control over our hearts is no stronger than our control over the sun and the stars above our heads. Indeed despite myself I find I am quite fond of the lad. Don’t mistake me though my dear Oswin, we will all make sacrifices before the end.’

Oswin watched his master for a few seconds further, then bowed his head. ‘Then I shall go find this Monty and bring him back with haste.’

Walther nodded along, not leaving his position, studying the mercenary. ‘I know you care not for Gunnar Vaen, but this city currently belongs to a genocidal monster that likely has many mercenaries in their pocket. And the man in front of us is the only one that has survived a fight against them. If you can call it a fight of course,’ his eyes turned down to the ground. ‘All we have is each other right now Oswin and it’s going to take each of us to stand a chance in the days to come.’

The servant stayed quiet. He continued to think on what his master said as he gathered a few supplies and made his way to the safehouse entrance with a map in hand. Punching in a code, Oswin waited for the doors to grind open before stepping outside. He turned to look back as its thick metal doors began to close, hiding two dwellers inside with his beloved master. Oswin didn’t know if they stood a chance at saving the city, no doubt they weren’t the only people that were going to try, but if anyone were to succeed it was going to be them. Or, rather, for his master’s sake, it had to be them.

So, that’s the end of book one! There is honestly quite a lot I want to change before I even think of publishing this book or starting book two properly. Thanks to a lot of requested feedback, I now know that even more needs to change than I originally thought.

The early chapters, especially chapter six I think it is, need a lot of work. I feel like plot points are getting repeated far too much. Then there’s stuff I want to add to the later chapters, a few plot holes that need filling. I also think I witheld too much information at points, its always a balance of how much to keep a mystery and how much to tell.

I also just need to tighten up the chapters, I have a tendency to ramble in my writing. Already managed to thin chapter one by 700 or so words. Finally, two of the chapters are far too long and need splitting up.

There is also a part of me that wants to change the ending a bit, I’ll have to see peoples thoughts on it, I dunno.

This story also really didn’t take off anywhere I posted it, which does make me wonder if its even worth carrying on with the story or moving on to another idea. I already have a draft for book two, so I feel obligated to finish that, as for the rest of the series I had planned. I’m not so sure.

Anyway, for those that did read this story, thank you so much! I would love to know where the problems were for you and what you think already works and what might need fixing!