"Well, this is a surprise. I thought Aries was the smart one but I guess you're both idiots," Emma snapped, fuming with anger as we three sit at the table eating bread. Emma aggressively chewed her food, staring at me.

"Emma, it was my idea," Liam said, trying to pull Emma's anger from me. She points her finger at him aggressively.

"I know it was and now Aries is going to have to enter to keep you alive, you bellend," Emma replied, her anger now showing in her finger as it shook, "I bet he doesn't want to do this! Aries stay with your dear sister and let Liam get his head bashed in, you're too pretty for this type of thing, men at these tournaments are boorish and only think with their cocks."

"We will be fine because Aries thinks with his head on his shoulders," Liam grins, winking at me.

"My poor Aries," Emma said, frowning at me like she might start crying.

"What about me!?" Liam shouted.

"What about you? You're already dead to me, I figured I would get over it now rather than later," Emma said with a neutral face.

"So cold," Liam mumbles to himself, looking down at the table. Emma takes the tournament paper, reading it.

"So you're to meet at the forest of death, sounds peachy," she said, flipping the paper over her head taking a big bite of her bread loaf with a deadpan look, "You know when I said venture out into the world Aries this isn't what I meant," Emma said, turning to me with disappointment in her eyes.

"I know," I said, looking down at my hands, this was a stupid idea but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see the continent a little.

"Does Allen know he's losing his only productive worker?" she said, chewing the loaf of bread in her cheek like a chipmunk.

"He does."

"and?"

"He offered me 20 copper coins a day to stay," I said as Emma chokes on her bread.

"You said no?!" Emma shouted with wide eyes, patting her chest hard, coughing.

"Takes a lot for you to choke sis," Liam laughed.

"Shut it, dead man," she snaps back.

I nod, "I said No—I can't abandon Liam."

"Of course," Emma replied, looking at the stone fireplace crackling as the wood collapsed on itself.

"You're not stopping us?"

"No, you both are men that can choose their own paths," she said, not looking at either one of us. We sit quietly for a while staring at each other before Emma finally talks, "I will fill two satchel's with as much food and herbs as I can. I'm assuming you two are leaving in the next couple days. The Death Forest is outside brimrock, that is a three week walk."

"Tomorrow was the plan," I said as Emma put her finger up to her eye, wiping away tears.

"Ok," Emma said, getting up quickly, walking into her room.

"I'm going to wash up," Liam said, sliding from his chair, making his way to the creek out back. I get up, putting the leftover food away in the cupboards. I can't help but feel bad for leaving Emma alone. Acting like Liam was the sole person at fault for this was a lie, I could have talked him out of it easily.

Will she be ok?

I walk over to Emma's door after cleaning up, knocking it as the old wooden door swings open from my tap. Emma is laying down curled up on her bed with her knees to her chest. I close the door, sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing her back for a while as she cries. She ends up turning around after a bit smiling.

"My Aries, running off to win himself a wife," Emma said, holding back her tears with a smile. I hate seeing her like this—it only makes me regret my decision more.

"I'm not going for that reason."

"Then what?" she sniffles.

"For you," I said, looking out the window of the bedroom, A cool breeze flowed through the room, blowing my dark brown hair into my face, "I want to give you a better life."

"That's blasphemy you know, Going to that divine tournament with another woman in your heart," Emma joked with a smile.

"I reckon most will have a wife at home."

"Those cock suckers," She laughed, grinning at me as she put her hand on my knee.

"I will bring Liam home , I promise."

"I know you will Aries but most importantly bring yourself back, I don't want to see only one person walking through that front door," She said, sitting up cupping my face with her hands, "I couldn't take the heartache of losing you two, we are family."

"I promise," I replied as she smiles, grabbing my arm, pulling me down into the bed with her. I lay next to Emma while she runs her hands through my hair, humming a gentle tune in my ear. I find my eyelids feeling heavy and before long everything fades to darkness.