Redwar was silent for so long I almost opened my mouth to say my question again. But then he spoke.

"Let's make a deal. I tell you my history, and you tell me yours."

"You already know my history. My village was raided, all my family was captured except my brother, and I escaped."

Redwar snorted. "And because of that assassins were sent after you? There's more to it Ravine. And I need every single detail if I'm going help you."

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling a little bad. Here I was demanding he tell me his history, which was obviously painful for him, but denying him the right to know mine?

"I'm sorry Redwar. I shouldn't have been so surely. Alright, it's a deal. I'll tell you mine first."

I began my tale, with way more details than I'd told Valeria. Several times Redwar had me go back and clarify something, but other than that left me alone. I was so into it I didn't notice where we were going.

"That's when you found me," I said, finishing up. "And you know it from then on."

He nodded. "And why do you think Corban sent assassins after you?"

"You don't know?"

"I know. I want to know if you do."

"Because he revealed a valuable secret of the Ravagers. And if anyone finds out, he'll be in trouble. Considered a traitor, I would think. Plus, we'd have our defenses up."

"What's the secret?"

"That Ravagers aren't just dark-skinned. They're also light-skinned. And they've planted spies throughout our villages, towns, and nation."

As I said it it sent shudders up and down my body. How could I have forgotten? How? Had my grief so consumed me that I couldn't think of helping prevent grief for others?

Redwar nodded again. "And you don't even know the half of it," he whispered to himself. I decided not to comment. I'd get my answers soon enough.

"Where are we going?"

"We're not going. We're here," he said, pulling Ladine to a stop.

We'd emerged on the banks of a swiftly flowing creek. I knew it's name and now, where we were. This was Serva creek, a tributary of the Green river. I know, my people were so creative when they named it.

Redwar dismounted. He sat down by the edge of the creek and let Ladine graze behind him, the reins trailing long behind him. I copied him.

"Why do you think Corban told you?"

I reached down a hand and relished the cool swirling feel of the creek. "I don't know. Now that you mention it, why tell me?"

"I think he loved you."

That startled me. I yanked my hand out of the creek. "What?"

"Why else? From what you've told me, I think he had, if you will, a crush on you. So his tongue slipped, and now he's scrambling to cover up the mess he made."

The idea of Corban having a crush on me and thus revealing one of the greatest secrets of the Ravagers caused me to chuckle. "I never knew."

"You wouldn't have. You still viewed it all through the lens of friendship."

I let my hand down into the water again. "Alright. You know my history now. Now it's time for yours." I had a sternness in my voice that let him know: I would not be deterred again.

I almost regretted it when he visibly stiffened. But then he let out a long sigh that deflated him. "Very well. You would think it would get easier, all the times I've done it."

I didn't respond and he continued. "As I'm sure you've already surmised, I am not part of one of the Seven Clans of Thathia. I was a Ravager."

It hurt in a way to hear him say it. I knew it was coming though. And I also knew why he was not dark-skinned.

"You are like Corban." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes. I am like Corban." He exhaled. "You don't know all of it though.

"Ravagers were not light-skinned originally. But some of their children were light-skinned, because they interbred with the Thathian women they captured. Thus, about a hundred years back, these light-skins were commanded by the Ravager council to become spies.

"They do this in various ways. Some just blend into Thathia. Others are raised in Thathia, like Corban was. Even with the honorable," he ground the word out. "Work they do, they are still thought less of by other Ravagers, because they come from Thathian blood."

"I was raised in Ravager land, trained from the days of my youth to be a top notch Ravager. I was an ruthless man. Because of my despised light-skin, I had to work extra hard to prove myself. And I did."

He rubbed his hand along his face. "Oh Ravine. The sheer amount of villages I decimated, the slaves I accumulated, the lives I ruined, the people I tortured, the women I violated..."

He raised his head and looked out across the creek. "For all I know, Corban could be one of my sons."

I stiffened. I found it hard to believe that this man sitting next to me had done all of these things. And yet, from Corban, I had learned that people are often not what they seem.

"What changed? You said you were a Ravager, not that you are one." I tightened my grip on Axe's reins, suddenly wary. What if he had never changed? What if it was all an act?

He sighed. "Don't fear. I could never return to that way of life.

"What changed? I couldn't tell you exactly. It just slowly began to unravel. I had the highest position possible in Ravager society without being on the Council members. I had as many slaves as I desired, and all Ravager women fawned over me. I had sons and daughters to carry on my legacy. My wealth was matched only by those higher than me.

"But it all began to unravel. The straw that broke the camel's back, if you will, was one day, as I was..." He seemed to choke. "Torturing a Thathian man, he looked at me. And he was so calm. So very calm. And he didn't seem angry towards me. He just said, "You could have been good." And then he died.

"Something broke Ravine. And it's still broken. I grabbed my sword, some necessities, and mounted Ladine. I left. I just left. And I never went back. I can't explain to you what was going through my mind.

"When I fled to Thathia, I rode aimlessly. I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get out of there. I was so confused. How could the man be so calm?"

He ran his hand through his hair. "To leave like that, without orders, and towards Thathia, was all the Ravagers, especially the ones jealous of my position, needed to pin me as traitor. As you know, to this day I am a mystery to my people. I left all for little, and they don't understand why.

"They sent assassins after me. One of them nearly got me. I was in much the same situation as you were, only I was backed up against a tree.

"A man came to my aid. And I was drawn to him, because he had that same calm as the man I'd tortured. He tended to my wounds and took me to his house."

For the first time since he'd started, Redwar smiled a little. "I found out later he was a devout follower, a priest if you will, of the Life-Giver.

"He put up with me for five months. How long those months must have seemed to him! I was angry, depressed, and confused. His ways were so different to what I was used to. I yelled at him, other times I cried on his shoulder. And never was he angry with me but for one time, when I tried to mock his God." He chuckled. "I never did that again.

"When I had healed, I went searching for a remote place. I built a cabin and a farm. And I began to help others. And that, Ravine, is how you found me. I've lived here for fourteen years.

"I still struggle. And I think the guilt, if I let it, would crush me. One day, I might not be strong enough, and it will.

"I am a stubborn, selfish old man who lives alone in a forest, helping only a few as best I can. Memories still torment me when I allow them to arise. And you have caused them to arise more than any other person I've helped."

He buried his face in his hands and wept. This strong mountain of a man, who could beat any other with a sword, wept. And my anger was replaced with pity.

I wrapped my arm around his heaving shoulders and whispered into his ear. "I don't blame you Redwar. I know you were not at fault for what happened to my family. And if it makes you feel any better, your help will aid me in righting the wrong done to us.

"I forgive you."

AN: Wow guys, intense chapter here. I couldn't seem to stop writing it. When I first introduced Redwar, I don't think I anticipated how fleshed-out of a character he was going to become. I had no plans for him to become what he has. But that's okay. Now, I think he is one of my favorites. This, ladies and gents, is the fun of being a pantser ;)