Chapter 2c

“Really?” Ben looked at Faust who shook his head, meaning 'not for the Azorian Military he wasn't'. Of course he wasn't, otherwise his family wouldn't be out here in exile.

“We can't remember what he looks like for real but Kore has a picture in her bag.” Kore showed Ben a battered portrait of a man in some sort of cloth armour. The picture was so badly worn and creased that the type of armour couldn't be seen, nor could a good likeness of the man's face.

“He's a very strong looking man.” Ben said encouragingly. “He went to the War then?”

“I think so.” Leo nodded. “Mum said everyone was just attacking everyone else and no one knew why. That's why my daddy brought us out here. He never came back for us.” Leo's lip wobbled. “We aren't babies, me and Kore know he must have died but we didn't say so in case it made our mum cry.” Ben was close to crying too, let alone anyone else.

“What happened to your mum?” Ben asked gently.

“She got sick just before our birthday last year. She just got worse and worse even though me and Kore tried to make her better. She wasn't breathing at all one day when we woke up. We sat next to her to keep her warm for two more days in case she was going to start breathing again.”

“Oh for mercy's sake.” Ben looked at Faust and Rand, sheer pity etched all over his face.

“We had to make a big hole to put her in because the birds kept landing on her.” Kore helped. “It took us two weeks to make the hole big enough but we covered mum with clothes and leaves and kept the fire going.”

“Where did you bury her Kore?” Ben asked what the Military would have asked them anyway.

“Just at the bottom of that big mountain in the next forest.” Kore answered.

“The Haskell Mountain?” Ben asked in surprise and Leo nodded. “You crossed two jungles and a thirty mile plane by yourselves?”

“It took from our birthday last year to now and we had our birthday six weeks ago.” Kore nodded. “We're really good at looking after ourselves aren't we Leo? Our mum was too and she taught us how to do it properly. We were supposed to go to Tibrae though Leo.”

“Mum said if ever we got lost to go to Tibrae.” Leo Explained. “She said to keep away from Azoria. We've gone the wrong way.” Leo held his sister's hand. “I know you're Azorian soldiers because you said so earlier. Will your boss over there let us go to Tibrae?”

“Listen to me.” Ben stood up. “There's no one fighting any more in Azoria, that all stopped four years ago.” The children didn't look too sure. “Honestly. If there was still fighting you'd be able to hear it. Also I wouldn't be out here with only two friends if the War was still happening. I'd be either in Azoria, or with at least a million other soldiers. Yes? Ask General Cooper, he's my boss and Generals aren't allowed to tell lies.” The children looked at Faust who looked terrified of them.

“He's right. The War's finished. It was silly anyway.” Faust coughed. “Take no notice of those two shit bags over there.” Faust threw a few stones at Marx and Pape. “They aren't real soldiers. I'm going to throw them out of my nice army.”

“Oo!” Kore seemed hugely impressed at Faust's power. “Serves them right General Cougar. I think you're a very good General. Will you let us go to the Broth Hall?” Faust made a funny squeaking noise. “What? I'm hungry!”

“Yes, quite. Astrella stop smirking, you're on child watch. Lorette help me throw these dung heaps on a horse please.”

“I'll help!” Kore ran at her enemies with a stick and Faust flinched and glared at Ben.

“Leo go get your sister. Only soldiers are allowed to throw dung heaps around.” Ben said and Leo ran off to grab Kore. “What will we do with them Sir? Hell I never, ever expected to find anyone out here, not ever.” Ben exhaled loudly.

“Me either, especially not two kids. Twins eh?” Faust nodded to where Rand had let the children prod Marx and Pape towards a horse with sticks, very gently.

“Apparently so. Sir with all respect and just between me and you, I'm not comfortable with turning them over to the government authorities. I know, I shouldn't be saying that.” Ben looked at the ground.

“You'd be abnormal if you were comfortable with it.” Faust said gruffly. “Adults would have been different, there is employment for them, albeit of an atrocious nature. The state run orphanages are rife with arseholes and exploiters, I know as well as you do. They'd be shipped off to Killiad within six months.” He shuddered. Killiad was another continent on the far off shores of Lake Sapphire. It was noted for it's lack of civil laws and lack of any sort of morales. “Don't suppose you're ready to actually keep hold of one of your conquests and have a ready made family?”

“I'm pleased you're smirking Sir.” Ben said dryly. “Even if I was, it wouldn't be an option, not with my family being a tad high profile. The children would be investigated straight away. Even I can't produce two ten year old Astrella heirs overnight. You?”

“Not even in jest Astrella. I'm fifty and a confirmed bachelor and brothel-rat. They need to disappear into society without drawing attention to the fact that they came from out here.” Faust frowned at his renegade soldiers. “They're bound to make waves. I'll fill out the forms for the state transfers to an orphanage and get Marx to deliver them to the government.”

“Sir! Sir you've just said how awful ...”

“Oh hush your noise.” Faust waved his hand at Ben. “If I bring charges against those two bastards then it'll all be dragged out in front of a string of tribunal courts and the focus of it will be their behaviour towards those kids. Those kids who we are trying not to draw attention to. You with me so far?” Ben nodded and Faust went quiet.

“And?” Ben pressed.

“Dunno.” Faust scowled. “I need to think. Go and get them and keep them occupied and out of the way until we get them back to Azoria. I'll go ahead with Lorette and the rest of the division, then double back after I've dispatched the forms with Marx. I'll meet you at the edge of the bridge.”

“I'm a soldier not a bloody nanny.” Ben grumbled. “Sir it makes my guts churn to think those two psychopaths aren't going to get reprimanded for this crap. Athula sympathiser descendants or not, they're still ten year old kids.”

“You like kids don't you? You'll have a houseful of your own by the time you're my age.” Faust smiled and headed off to meet the rest of the division.

“What's going to happen to the kids?” Rand whispered to Ben on his way past with his dung laden horse.

“They'll be OK Rand.” Ben smiled weakly.

“I doubt it.” Rand said sadly. “Poor little sods might have been better off out here.” He lead the horse past Ben and through the trees after General Cooper.