• Rit walked up the stone steps that lead to his home. he had been gone a year and could not wait to see his wife Alice. it was dark and damp from a down pour the night before. as he came to level ground, his house in sight, when the sound of screaming found his ears. Rit dropped his pack and, taking out his knife, rushed to the door kicking it open. he quickly scanned the room finding no one but two women and a small baby.the younger of the two jumped out of her chair and ran to Rit.
    "oh, Rite! we were so scared! you've been gone so long." Rite looked at his young sister then back to his wife. she smiled widely and turned the child so that the face could be seen. Rite looked down at a pale baby no more then a few months old. the baby had large, bright eyes and a small mouth that smiled up at him. "yours." was all Alice said.
    "Milly please let go."

    she did and Rit went to his wife taking the child from her dainty hands.
    "He's a boy and i've named him Alexander." Rite let the blanket fall a little, showing a small arm and tiny fist. Rite looked up at Alice and grined widely. the rest of the night was talk of when Alice found out, milly's reaction and glee. Rite was nothing but happy. thrilled and amazed. he had not seen this comeing. his wife and himself had been married many years with no hope of a child.this made Rit so proud that what happened later that week made him crash.
    it started with a knock. Alice answered and was shoved from the entrence. Rit heard the scuffle from the next room and hurried to the kitchen. two armered men stood in his kitchen, his wife on the floor . the tallest, and most hard faced, spoke. " it's been ordered that every new borne is to be taken to the castle to the king."
    "why?"
    " we are to take any new borne to the castle. it does not matter why, your king has ordered it and you will follow." this man stood straighter, if possible, and glared down at Rite. Rite stared back and said, " your boy died not two days ago." though this was not true and Rite was sure they would search his home, he felt sure they would not find Alexender. Alice had brought the boy to milly's early that morning. As Rite had guessed the soldiers searched his home and found nothing but soil'd cloth. the man that had spoken before came back to the kitchen and continued to glare at Rite. " We will be back. do not flee for we will ketch you." and with that the two men left, slamming the door behind them. Rite looked down at his wife who was now weeping. his face hardened and he said with a voice he had never used before. "Go to my sister tomarrow and tell her that she is going on a trip to visit our cousin, Arrow."