[b]Lexianna[/b]

I nod in understanding. My soul mourning for these children. So young and already know the true cruelty of this world.

						[indent][indent]“You may write me down in history[/indent][/indent] 
			 	[indent][indent] With your bitter, twisted lies,[/indent][/indent] 
				 [indent][indent]You may trod me in the very dirt[/indent][/indent]
 			 	[indent][indent]But still, like dust, I'll rise.”[/indent][/indent]


I take the hands of the children in my own. “You have been so brave. Thank you for sharing you stories with me. It may not be necessary but if I might be so bold as to ask your help.  I’m telling Lord Shadow of the unspeakable evil happening in his sector. Would you be brave again, and share your stories with him if I cannot convince him myself? “ I hug both children to me. The girl with her height and age reminding me of Li-Li.

My eyes find Karnariel’s over their heads. “Through all this, they still managed to find the one guardian angel left.” From the way he identified me earlier it seems he has no affection for the heavenly hosts. Perhaps this will coax him into telling me why.

[b]In the forest[/b]
I leave my log ignoring both men. Instead, I focus on the horse that Shadow’s attendant is having a difficult time calming. As I draw closer the horse starts to calm. I stop a foot away, hold out my hand. The horse comes to me immediately. As it touches its nose to my hand it visibly calms. Muscles relax, feet stop stamping, and its head lowers. “Animals have a high intuition for knowing people and their true selves.” I look over my shoulder to Shadow.

“You trust this man with your life. That means you must know a great deal about him. Such as when he’s lying per chance.” 

I look back up to the man on the horse. “Lloyd, was it? Your lord seems like a genuinely good man. The kind of man who would want his villages ran fairly. Imperial guards hiding behind their ranks and pillaging the locals, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Raping women and girls to death, killing any who oppose them, conscripting children effectively sentencing them to death at the age of 12. These are things that are happening daily, normally in your lord’s villages are they not? Remember he will know if you’re lying…and so will I.”