[b][center][h1]Saving the Tylers[/h1][/center][/b]

[center]A collaboration with [@Aerandir][/center]

Two figures in brown cloaks road into town through the North gate of the small village. The taller one looking to and asking one of the town guard. “I need to speak with the Sebastian and his little sister Isobel Tyler immediately. Have them come to your village leaders home right away. Their lives are in danger.“ He tossed a tiny bag of coin to the guard to help him go and do what he asked. The young lad nodding ran off to find his captain. 


Sebastian was at the moment sending men to perform whatever duties they had for the day, when the young guardsman, Carl, arrived with the message.

“Captain!” He shouted.

“Aye?” Sebastian asked. He was a man of few words.

“Two figures in brown cloaks arrived to the town and told to bring you and Isobel to the leaders home. You are in danger!”

Sebastian thought for a moment and then dismissed Carl, leaving to get Isobel. The girl was taking care of the pigs when Sebastian arrived.

“Welcome back, Big Brother!” Isobel greeted when she saw Sebastian arrive, but got worried when he didn’t reply. “Big Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Trouble” He simply said. “Where is Gran?”

“Right here.” Said the voice of an old woman, Viola, coming from the chicken coop. “Is it today?”

“Aye.” Sebastian confirmed “Two brown cloaks came with a warning, told to take Isobel and go.”

“B-But what about Gran?” Isobel asked, looking at Viola.

“I won’t be coming with you two.” The woman said, sadness in her voice.

“I don’t want to leave you!” Isobel shouted, hugging her grandmother.

“I don’t want to leave you two either.” Viola replied, pushing Isobel away. “But you two need to move quickly. I would slow you down.”

Viola took a pendant from her neck and gave it to Isobel.

“Hold onto this, Isobel. I will come to take it back. Okay?”

“Okay…” Isobel said, holding the pendant in her fingers.

“I dismiss our staff and go to another direction,” Viola spoke to Sebastian, “It will give you time and distraction. Good luck, my wonderful Grandchildren.”

“Wait, I changed my mind!” Isobel shouted, but couldn’t do much as Sebastian grabbed her and pulled over his shoulder. Isobel tried to resist, but the 9-year-old girl couldn’t do much against Sebastian, who was a huge man. Soon enough Sebastian was back on his horse with crying Isobel with him, riding to the Leaders home. There he saw a group of guardsmen waiting outside.

“Hm?” He simply grunted.

“We came here to protect you two.” A sergeant, Donner, declared, “If those two are inquisitors or Vanguard, they won’t leave the house alive.”

“Thank you” Sebastian replied and got down from his horse, leaving Isobel to be watched over by the guards. “Only let her in if I say so.”

Donner nodded and took Isobel’s hand, while Sebastian entered the house

Upon entering the house of the leader of the village, Sebastian would immediately see two figures in brown cloaks, with recurve bows and quivers on their backs while one was of average height and build, the other was smaller. Like that of a teenager.

The leader who had a perminate bend in his back, and a missing arm from his years as a vanguard. looked over to Sebastian “There he is.” he mentioned to the taller man, who was looking at him already from under his cowl. 

When he would get closer, the leader would say, “Sebastian. This man just informed me that you and Isobel are in danger. The Vanguard are on their way to bring you two back to the capital to be questioned by the inquisitors. Annabelle apparently attempted to assassinate the king and was captured.”

Sebastian was taken aback by what the leader was telling him.

“Fate help us all.” He whispered while massaging his forehead. “My little sister has always had trouble with thinking before doing, but to try and kill the king? I had hoped that all we’d had to do was to find safety among our friends if and when the inquisition decided to target Annabelle, but now I fear that Vanguard comb all of Tricaelia to find us.”

Sebastian sighed before turning to brown cloaks. “What do we need to do?”

The taller figure quietly said, “Do exactly as I say from now on and you and your youngest sister will survive. There is no safety within the kingdom for you or Isobel. The vanguard will destroy the entire village if they thought you were hiding somewhere here. So we are going to get you out of the kingdom.” 

He looked to the old man and said, “I have a plan to save the village from the vanguard’s wrath….though It might require personal sacrifice on your end sir.” There was a sound of regret in his voice, but it was clear what he meant. “We don't have much time to go over the plan, the vanguard are nearly upon the village.”

The old man nodded “Whatever it takes if it saves the village.” He said with a firm conviction. 

The hooded man nodded in approval. Looking to Sebastian. “You follow him.” he pointed to the young man next to him who was no older than twelve years old. “You listen to everything he says as if I said it. Got it?” 

Sebastian nodded in confirmation. “Aye. Shall I call Isobel here now?”

“No.” the man said, “Go and get her, you don’t need to hear this part of the plan. Go the tavern to hide.” He then gave a nod to the boy who then said, “Come on then, we don't have much time.” Before quickly moving towards the door.

Sebastian nodded and went outside, where Isobel was waiting with the guards. “Come now” He urged her little sister, who decided not to resist this time. Together they rose to the back of their horse. “Do what the Leader and brown cloaks tell you” he said to the guards before leaving with Isobel. They stopped at the tavern and entered.

“Just remember to stay quiet and listen” Sebastian told Isobel, who nodded.

They didn't have to wait long, as the vanguard came a few minutes later gathering people into the center. The boy didn’t say anything during those minutes, his bow in his hand with an arrow nocked. He was waiting for the first man, who seemed to just suddenly appear in the room. He now smelt horrible, as if he rubbed horse shit over his pants. The part of his face that was once clean was now covered in dirt.

“Ugh...why did you do that.” The boy asked. As he put a hand up to his nose. 

The man took a bottle and drank some of it, and poured a little bit on his cloak. “Because no one ever looks too closely to a smelly, dirty drunk. It's a way of staying hidden while being seen.” 

The boy nodded, understanding...but its something he swore he probably never will do. 

The man outside was yelling now, as the first one walked to the door, about to start his distraction. Looking back to the boy.”Remember, if I am not at the spot in a day, take them the rest of the way. “ He didn’t open the door till the boy nodded again. 

While the taller man started his distraction, the boy then urged the others to follow. “Not a word.” He said to them. Putting his finger to his lips as he looked at the girl. He gave her an encouraging smile. She must have been terrified hearing what she heard from that giant of a man outside. Also the fact that she had to leave her home suddenly. “I won't let anything happen to you” Tried flashing a confident smile his master did every time there was a girl involved. That's what he was supposed to do right? 

He lead them out the back and moving silently surprisingly silently, he moved from corner to corner, checking around it before moving on. He would lead them through the alleys towards the north wall. There he slipped his bow over his shoulder, slipping the arrow back into the quiver.  He quickly climbed up and over the wall as easily as a squirrel climbed a tree. 

After looking around making sure no guards were looking he motioned towards them to follow. Before jumping down on the other side.

Tyler siblings followed suit, with Sebastian giving a little help to Isobel. Once they were all on the other side, Sebastian tried to signal with his hand for the boy to lead on.