[Music Recommendation: Wicked Game ~ Ursine Vulpine & Annaca]
Early the next morning, Adric and his troops set out to continue their journey. As planned, Malcom led the soldiers on foot while Adric and Rowan left with the horses.
But before they could separate, a young scrawny-looking soldier ran after Adric, dragging his horse-skin bag that was latched on his shoulder.
"Step back and leave with the other soldiers," Rowan said, raising his sword to try to stop the young boy, his eyes looking at him suspiciously.
Adric turned, his eyes moved from the boy and settled on Rowan. "Let him be." Rowan bowed and lowered his sword.
"You, why are you not going with the others?" Adric asked, scanning the boy with his eyes. He looked like one who had barely enough to eat, not to mention leaving for war. This weighed on Adric's mind, breaking his heart that the war had made young boys like this one go to the battlefield.