I looked at the retainers faces. They were scared. The name Windpikes made them remember the bad days. It made my stomach hurt to see them like this.

Then I looked at Meli. She was right. There were to many of them. I wanted to fight because I was angry. I wanted to hurt the people who took our friends. But if we died then no one would save the Gathering.

[b]"You are right,"[/b] I said to Meli. [b]"The Gathering became like a second family to me. I love them too. But you were born in it. If you think we need to wait then I wont go against you."[/b]

I looked at Garrick next. He said Adam left something for us. A secret in the forest. My heart beat faster. Adam always had a plan. Even from the grave he was trying to help us.

[b]"Okay Garrick,"[/b] I said. [b]"We will go with you. If they are going to the castle then we have a long way to go. We will need whatever Adam hid in the woods."[/b]

It felt wrong to walk away from the carts. But I had to trust Garrick. And I had to trust Meli.

[b]"I will go prepare my own bag,"[/b] I told them. [b]"We should only take what we need. Be ready to move fast."[/b]

I walked into my bedroom. It felt quiet. Too quiet. I grabbed my old leather backpack from the corner. It was stiff but strong.

I started packing the basics. I rolled up my wool blanket tight and tied it to the bottom. I threw in some dried apples from last harvest and some strips of jerky. It wasnt a feast but it would keep us walking. I filled my waterskin at the basin.

I grabbed the flint and steel from my nightstand. Adam taught me how to use it when I was six. I also took a coil of hemp rope and my whetstone. A dull sword is just a heavy metal club.

Then I stopped. I looked at the loose board under my bed.

I knelt down and pried it open. Wrapped in old burned cloth was the secret.

I pulled it out gentle. The cloth fell away. The egg sat in my hands. It was heavy. Veins of gold ran through the dark stone. It was warm against my skin. Warmer than before. It hummed with a life I didnt understand yet.

[b]"We are leaving,"[/b] I whispered to it. [b]"Time to see the world."[/b]

I wrapped it up careful in a spare shirt and placed it in the center of my pack. I put it where it would be safe.

I stood up and put the bag on my back. I was ready.