The great campaign

Bucket of water

The bucket of water was probably around a quarter of his weight. Clearly to heavy for him to carry for another half-hour, and still he did. He had no choice.

He carried the bucket by the metal bail with both of his hands between his widened legs. Leaving him in a sort of crab like position. And even though his palms saw red from the lifting he kept going.

With a grunt the boy took another small step forward. It was a quick one, barely able to lift his foot from the ground, and stamping when it landed. But a step forward got his hopes up to take another one. That's how it went, a struggle to even walk. He put the bucket down, rested up a bit, got ready, picked the bucket up again.

"Okay now it's time to go!!!" The boy screamed with determination to the open air of the forest, he took in a deep breath through his nose.

And started to spurt forward, shuffling his way down the road. His face began to see red as he was already panting for his life. His pace slowed down every moment and thoughts of stopping crossed his mind ages ago.

It angered him that he was already having ideas to give up. "No!" he yelled furiously "Not while mom is waiting for us. I cannot stop!" Forcefully, he began taking wide steps forward with energy that he didn't have.

With his rough way of moving the bail weakend, bending and becoming more fluid until one side broke of. The bucket fell to the ground and all of the water in it splashed onto the kid; It made his clothes wet and the water went down to his feet, washing the dirt away that had compiled there.

He just looked at the bail and felt guilty, that was one problem they did not need. Now it was something else he had to deal with, every single time he went to get water. The boy had to hold himself from crying right then and there, he simply didn't want to. Men don't cry.

Back at the spring he filled the bucket with water again. This time he had to hold it from underneath it, something that was way harder than before.

It was now more difficult to balance the water inside, putting more strain on his muscles. Also the pain of his bruised palms finally started to feel real. After a few minutes of stumbling he fumbled and let the bucket fall again. Not even moving two meters forward.

The boy fell to his knees, ready to lash out when someone suddenly asked,

"how old even are you kid?" a voice from behind surprised him. He turned around in a hurry to see a man standing a few meters away from him, kneeling down at the spring with one hand in the water.

He wore a dark triangle shaped hat that went over his eyes, so only his chin was visible at all times. No facial hair was to be seen, though long curly hair came from his head. He had thick red lips that where almost feminine to a point but his voice told another story; A deep, powerful and commanding voice with a soft calmness to boot.

His whole body was covered in a dark cloak revealing almost nothing personal. But somewhere on his waist you could see a outline of what looked like a sword. "I am 8 years old mister." The boy said, kind of scared but also interested. No one he ever met dressed like that, though he has an idea what the man could be.

"Dont you have a father to do heavy work like this?" the cloaked man asked. "Mom said that he died before I was born." Vesimir responded.

"And what about your mother than, is she to busy?" The man pulled a flask out of the spring and closed the lid.

"She can't do this, she has been sick for a while now." The boy put a hand over his mouth fast. He didn't tip of a strange man that they were for the taking did he.

His mother had warned him for that, telling people their business. She told him explicitly: "You shouldn't tell strangers our home situation, if they know how weak we are criminals could come to harm us. They could take you from me, take me from you, if the wrong people knew we would be in trouble. So keep quiet about us sweetheart."

The boy conjured up the biggest smile he had and said, "I lied, dad is a big strong man who just came back from the army so he is tired. And mom is at the uhh, she is at home taking care of dad. I just asked to do this, to help..."

The cloaked man knew he was lying, the kid could feel it. It was just the way that man kept looking at him with that ear deafening silence. The boy had another way to scare him of.

He made himself as big as possible, to hide how skinny he truly was. Flexing the arm muscles he didn't have and said with his deepest most intimidating voice: "What are you looking at!? you want to fight or something!"

The man smirked and stood up revealing a shinning armor plate in the crack of his cloak. Compared to him, the boy was a dwarf. Then the man started walking towards him and the kid immediately broke his composure.

"If you come any closer I wil bite you," he barked, he picked up a nearby stick and held it infront of him. "You see this, I wil beat your face in." The kid got ready to strike when the man calmly walked past him and picked up the bucket. He filled it up with water again and said, "If that is true about your mom being sick, you shouldn't tell strangers about that kid. They aren't always people you can trust." the boy frowned at the same story being told to him twice.

"It's about to be dark outside, I wil help you get this to your home. Better than to leave you with the wolves tonight."

"sorry, but I don't need your help mister. I can do it myself."

"Are you sure about that? The way I saw you drop the bucket just now, and the way you where about to lose it, you've been trying for a long time now didn't you?"

The boy looked at the bucket, then to the woods. He has lived in this place for eight years now, he knows that the light shines now but the darkness could rule in a instant. Then he remembered how he has been doing this for hours and how it could continue for hours. He faced at the man with a defeated look.

"It's alright kid, we can't do it all by ourselves." the cloaked man said.

While they were walking the boy made things clear. "First, you can't come into our house, I don't trust you." He was waiving the stick in the air commandingly. "And remember this, our neighborhood is full of trustworthy people, they don't like criminals, so don't try anything funny alright."

"sure kid." a moment of quiet passed between the two. The sun was already at the horizon, shining a soft orange color on the two.

"What even is your name mister?" The kid asked. It was quiet for a moment, then the man answered, "They call me Davil."

"Davil, Like the god?"

"Yes."

"Well you don't look like a coward mister. So what's with that."

"You would be surprised kid... there is truth in my name." He paused, looking at seemingly nowhere. "And what is your name boy?" Davil started with his most child friendly tone, though it came out sounding creepy.

"My name is Vesimir. Mom said that it was also grandpa's name."

"aVesimir, that is a rare name. Though it feels like I have heard before."

The man looked at the kid to be surprised that he was already looking back. "Are you a knight mister?" Vesimir asked it with curious eyes.

All the signs pointed to it: The sword, armor plate, and the kindness he was giving. Just like the stories Vesimir's mom told him about. The two walked through a gate that led them into the city.

"Wel at some point in my life I was."

Vesimir's eyes glowed with fascination. "That is so cool," He said with a childish amazement. "Is it true that you guys are the strongest people in the kingdom, or that you safe princesses or or-"

"Ho ho calm down kid," Davil interrupted then he looked at Vesimir's eyes that sat full of expectations. "Yes those are all true, even though saving princesses is quite rare." He thought he was done explaining, but Vesimir was still hanging on his lips. Davil let out a soft sigh."Being a knight is a part of my life that I wil never forget."

"Of course you won't forget it. Because it's awesome right?" Vesimir jumped in excited. "The weapons, but most of all slaying those wretched Kliku demons."

Davil his walking slowed to a halt, he was looking at the market place infront of them, and even though his eyes where covered, it was obvious that he was focused on on something or someone in particular. Vesimir tried to figure out at what he was staring, but all he saw where everyday people minding their business. Soon they where back to their normal pace. "Actually," He continued.

"The klikuins weren't there in my time. It's a lot of different things that made my time as a knight memorable: the excitement, the competition, The journey's and most of all the people are now a unforgettable part of my experience."

Davil didn't give a lot of concrete imagery but the boys imagination ran wild. "You know, you know," Vesimir said stuttering over his words. "When I'm old enough I also want to be a knight."

Davil wanted to say that reaching those heights would be almost impossible, especially for a kid like him. The boy was skinny, covered in wounds, had raggedy clothes and didn't even wear shoes. Even reaching adulthood would be a feat by itself. Indeed, if reaching adulthood was something that would be hard, why would he break this kid his fantasy. "It will be hard, but doable"

"I don't care how hard, I wil just have to do whatever it takes."

The city was a lively one, smiles could be seen on any face, music from street performers could be heard in the distance, and the guards - who were patrolling around with their rifles in hand- kept it all safe. All of them seemed larger than life with their dark red berets and black coats. Davil and Vesimir passed a few of them, all of them walked in pairs.

The two walked past loud market stands, clothes shops that had the most exclusive suits and even a con man who trying to force them to buy his bracelets. Though the deeper they went into the city the darker it got. The streets in which Vesimir and Davil were now walking had stone grounds dirtied with rotten food, cigarettes, broken beer bottles and more. That mixed with the hot sun gave the city a certain feel.

Vesimir didn't mind, for him this was everyday life.

At some point though, Davil his presence seemed to completely disappear. Vesimir noticed to late, even forgetting his bucket. When he noticed that the knight was gone he looked around cluelessly.

He walked deeper into the city to the direction of his house, as that was the only solution he had.

As he was walking in the busy streets his attention got drawn by police station. The building had a simple square for with red and black painted all over it. The place seemed in a complete uproar as the Watchmen were rushing in and out the wooden door every second. Usually they were calm, so even for Vesimir whom was a child, it was obvious something noteworthy was happening.

Then a man with a blue suit and golden lapels stepped out, followed by other watchmen that circled him. They were clearly in his face trying to tell him something. But he wasn't paying them any attention. The man, who was now lighting up brown a cigarette with match, had a clean face. No beard, mustache, acne, or scars. All you could see was a young man with piercing blue eyes.

His hair was not hidden by anything, even though most adults of status did. His blond hair was slicked back with some kind of oil. Though, a strand of hair was hanging over his face. Two silver revolvers were openly hanging by both his hips, and two ammunition belts crossed his chest.

Beside the fact that he looked clean, he dressed dangerous, and Vesimir could feel a calm confidence ooze from the man as he was watching. Then, the boy saw that man waving at him, throwing him a charming smile while he did. Vesimir waved back.

After he left the block Davil suddenly appeared back next to him. Shocked to see the man back Vesimir exclaimed, "Where were you? I didn't even notice you left." "I was next to you all along kid, I never left."

Vesimir knitted his eyebrows. "Are you sure."

"Yes."

As they continued the streets turned darker; The homeless became more common to see, crime was done in the open air as the guards were practically gone, Davil was even sure he saw a dead body rotting in a ally way. They now were in the dangerous parts of the city.

"Here we are, this is were I live." Vesimir announced. They arrived at a appartement complex that looked similar to all the others; It was big enough to hold 30 to 40 people, the windows were broken open so they were barricaded shut with wooden planks.

"If you want to come inside you can. I trust you know mister." the boy said it nervously "I don't think that's neede-" "Its also very dangerous to be outside during the night, even for a knight you. So let me help you like you did me" Vesimir persisted.

The man looked to the streets. He saw a group of drunks wandering the streets, looking to harass someone, anyone. Then he saw another group of boys, clearly hiding knives planning something. With his expensive looking gear out like he had it was indeed not a good idea to be outside.

Davil chuckled and said, "Your right, its better not to waste energy this night. I will come, but only with your mothers permission." The boy ran inside while the man waited in the hall.

Within a moment he came back and dragged Davil inside. He then stood in a small room. A chair sat right infront of him in, it sat next to a mattress on the floor with a blanket.

In it lied a woman. Davil could only see her face as the rest was covered. Though he could already see she, like her son was malnourished, even more so than her son. She looked older than she was supposed to, her hair was thinning, her lips were dry. At a glance Davil could tell the woman was dying.

Vesimir went to his knees to talk to her "Mom look look, it's the knight I just told you about." He pointed to Davil that was right behind him and the woman turned her head to see him. She looked at him as if she was seeing into his soul, she even tried to look under the hat to see his eyes. Though, that was not possible. Davil put the bucket next to the entrance and introduced himself.

He did that with a small neck bow. He wanted to get on his knees, reach under the lady's blanket and kiss her hand. But that would be doing too much.

With a frail voice Vesimir's mother also introduced herself. "My name Chrisele Lowland, but you must already know that..." The look of concern that got on her face after she said that was something that Davil could understand. He was a strange man that just entered her house. "Huh, mom you are joking." Vesimir turned to the man smiling and said, "Mom's name is Mary, we do not have a last name. Only rich people have that. We are not rich."

Mary laughed out loud, though it came out sounding like light coughing. "You are right Vesimir, I am joking. But where are my manners, take a seat and if you want to have some bread." "No no thank you, I will sit on the ground, as for the bread, I already ate this evening."

That's what Davil said, but what he meant was that if he sat in that chair it would collapse from his weight. The small family looked poor enough, they did not need to break bread with him.

Mary her smile faded as she asked, "But tell me how did you meet this man Vesimir?" while looking at Davil his sword hilt that pointed out of his cloak.

Vesimir got a towel, made it wet with the water and cleaned his mom he as explained everything that happened that day smiling wildly as he did. After making his mom drink some water and when Vesimir was done explaining, he was practically begging the Davil to tell him one of his adventure's. Or to let him touch the sword. The man though, stayed secretive about everything, not even unsheathing his weapon.

Vesimir did not give up, only being stopped by his mother. She would tell him to crawl in bed because it was bedtime. He snuggled in his mother's arms and got comfortable but still struggled to stay awake. He kept bugging the cloaked man, though Davil chuckled it of. This continued for some time until the boy yawned his last yawn.

Sensing his last few moments awake, he asked with sleepy eyes: "Tell me, how does it feel to be able to protect the ones that you love."

Davil shot up from were he was sitting. And though he tried to answer that, nothing came from his lips, it did not matter. Vesimir already fell asleep. Davil got comfortable on the ground again. With him thinking both Vesimir and his mother were asleep he dived into deep thoughts.

It had been sometime since he had a normal conversation with a human, especially with a child. It went better than he expected. It had been six months since he escaped harry and his Striders, four since he saw Lotvie so Davil assumed that it would to enter city again. Though, coincidentally he bumped into one the second he walked into a city. Davil was sure that this one did not notice him, but if he stayed here for long enough he would be looking for trouble. as all Striders most definitely knew who he was and speculated where he could be. Maybe it wasn't coincidence, maybe they just knew that he would be in this city at this moment. Davil could never know for sure with these guys.

He had already calculated if this family was in danger thanks to his presence, when he would have to depart from this town, and were he would head next. At most he could stay One week outside of town and then he would need to leave One day he would finally confront oldest hunter Harry, Lotvie and be free from his curse. Though that was not this day, or next week, not even this year.

"He did not go to bed just because I said so you know." Mary began, the man snapped out of his thoughts back to reality. "Tomorrow he must wake up early to go to his job." she continued "what?" Davil exclaimed.

"I know, strange right? Only eight years old and he already has a job. With no man to make money and me to sick to work Vesimir went out to the dangerous world to do it himself. He puts bread on our table. That's how dire our situation has gotten. Let me tell you, it's most certainly not the life I expected for us." Mary her eyes watered a bit. "You don't have to tell me this if you don't want to." Davil responded understandingly

The woman still continued, her face now sterner than before "It seems that even through all that hard work and running away you have finally caught up to us. I can't blame him, he is a child still. You probably still would've found us either way."

She petted the sleeping boy his head while he laid in her arms. "I don't know if I can, but I wil try to bargain. Vesimir doesn't know anything about this, he doesn't even know that we are fugitives, much less why. So please please, let my boy, our boy live. I beg you."

"I don't know what you are talking about lady.' The woman sighed, then took a breath 'You can tell the the king that you didn't see a kid, or that he had already died from hunger, whatever it takes."

"Again, I don't know what you are talking about." Davil said still confused. "Stop toying with me! Your a knight right, why else would you be here?' her voice didn't seem so weak now. "I was a knight once in my life that's true, but that period has passed, I am no one now."

"So the name Lowland really doesn't ring a bell."

"No, maybe I should know, but in my direct memory it doesn't."

It was as if an intense air of thickness just left the room. Mary felt that she and her sweetheart were safe again. She apologized for her accusing Davil. It didn't matter to him, he didn't even know what she was talking about.

A moment of quiet passed between the Two, long enough to hear what was happening outside the room. In the hallway Davil heard a man walking through the hall, and open door of his room.

Right after that he heard a woman's voice scream at him, she was clearly crying. She yelled at the man about how he always came home late, and how he barely was a father to their child. A loud slap followed after, followed by the woman her cries intensifying.

Then the man started yelling at her, though not a lot of sentences came from him. He just cursed her out.

"Seems like James an Ester are at it again." Mary said "Do you know them?" Davil asked.

"Yes, I first met them nine years ago when I first came to this city. They were very happy the pair of them." "What happened then." "Money," Mary simply said. "they lacked it, and I am sure that because of that James joined the local gang. At least that's what I suspect. Whatever it was that happened it happened four years ago. Their relationship started deteriorating because of it."

"Your son said that your neighbors were trustworthy." Davil said "These people don't really sound like that." Of all the depressing things he had heard from the boy, he hoped that at least that was true.

"Trustworthy? far from that," Mary chuckled. "This whole place is like poison for a kid like him. It wil try to corrupt him, I am sure of that, I just hope that I prepared him wel enough to reject all of that, cause I wil be gone by then." Mary kissed the head of her son and hugged him even tighter.

Davil made up his mind when he saw that happened "Your son, when will he be done with his work tomorrow?"

"Why would you need to know that?"

"I can train him in the way of the sword, learn him some discipline and some morals. It will help him"

"But why? You don't even have anything to do with us, you also don't owe us anything."

"Your son said he wanted to be a knight, might as well help him achieve that goal."

Mary put her hand over her mouth, clearly holding back some tears. Vesimir had told her his dream before. She always assured him he could do it, even though she wasn't sure if life played that way. She wasn't sure when Davil offered to help. But when life finally gave her son a chance she couldn't help but to be moved.

She put away her hand and said clearly. "3 o'clock."