52 chapter 52

Bines spoke back in his normal tone,"This land is filled with a ton of villages that will help you when you are in need. But beware with the fact that they fear outsiders due to constant bandit interference. Once they get to know they will often give you the shirt off your back. Once you are family to them you are family for life."

The twins were handed money in bags to take with them until they could find some sort of income.

Bines spoke,"You two should do alright in this land but hide your powers like I showed you Don't use them until they are necessary. But..."

Rin spoke,"But why, grandpa? What was you going to tell us?"

Bines spoke,"Here is a map, you two. If you want to see me again then follow the directions written on it."

The old man had misdirected the twins away from the question by giving them the hope of what the map might bring. Rin was given the map by Bines, since he was the better navigator of the two.

Bines gave one last word of warning,"You will have to rid this land of its bandit pestilence, if you ever hope to see me again. The people of the desert will require many years of battling and training before you could even dare to try them in combat."

Bines and his family held each other tenderly as they all cried about their forced parting. Rin and Lin both gave their grandfather a kiss on the cheek after they finally let loose of their grip on their

grandpa.

Bines was finally allowing himself show emotion unlike he had done the rest of his long life. He was taught showing emotion was a sign of weakness but he cared less about that teaching at this present time.

The three wiped their tears as they separated after the last thirteen years of being together.

The twins walked together into the Lowrado woods. Rin and Lin harden themselves as they turned their back to the only family that they had ever known.

Rin thought,"What caused you to change your ways after such a long time. It does not make sense!"

Lin took the parting much harder than her brother did.

Lin thought,"Why did you abandoned us Grandpa? Were we not good enough anymore.

The two of them carried a yoke of sadness, yet still had a way of hope contained in Bines' map.

#

Rin and Lin traveled for several days, not very stay long at any one place. They were eager to find the place that Bines had marked on the map that he had given him. More time goes by and they had reached the eastern border of Lowrado.

Rin spoke,"We had gone as far east as we can, so we need to go down south until we get wherever the map has an "x" on it."

Lin spoke," Are you sure, brother?"

Rin spoke,"I don't know this map may be older than grandpa is for all I know. The landmarks could had been changed over time."

Rin kicked a nearby rock out of anger.

Lin spoke,"You know that grandpa would not lie to us! You know that as well as I!"

Rin shook his head of frustration.

Rin spoke,"I love the man to death, but he always spoke in riddles or parables. He could never

give a direct answer about anything!

Lin spoke,"Do you think that he put us on a fool's errand so that we give us and stay behind in this land?"

#

As Bines returned back home, he remember all the good times that he had shared with his grandchildren in the last thirteen years. Rin and Lin brought joy to his existence. He harked back to the

time that he was approached by a stranger in the middle of the night.

Bines had not be able to sleep that night so he decided to seat under one of the palm trees as he had done for years.

Bines' well trained eyes spotted a figure in white approaching the humble home. The man did not look like anything special but assassins do not wear a shirt with assassin written upon it. This could be one of the invisible hands many members. This guy had a strange aura all over him, like which Bines had never seen before.

Bines turned his head for just a second and this guy was gone. He let out a curse as he turned in a circle in the attempt to find this man.

But, it was for no avail.

Bines could not find him, so the stranger found him instead. He had taken completely by surprise, because he had a hand placed on his shoulder from behind.

Bines turned in a one hundred and eighty degree to strike at the man. But the stranger was now to the front of Bines.

Bines spoke,"Who are you and why are you here? Why are you trespassing on my property in

the middle of the night. It is very shady at best to me for you to be here like in this manner."

The stranger spoke,"I mean you harm or ill intent, since my purpose is to help you this very night."

Bines spoke,"How is that, my strange house guest?"

The stranger spoke,"I am here concerning the twins, Rin and Lin. They are special to my

overseer."

Bines pulled out a sword and put it to the throat of the stranger. The sword went right through the neck of the man but there was no blood!"

Bines spoke,"You are without a corporal body, are you not? What are you?"

The old man quickly put his blade back under his clothes, since it would not do him so good against this strange man. HE backed away from the man several paces in the vain attempt of safety.

Bines was now completely paying attention to the body less stranger.

The stranger spoke,"My overseer and I are not of this world as you can now plainly see. You all need to leave this place immediately since it is unsafe.

Bines spoke,"Why is that? I had keep it safe for close to one hundred years."

The stranger spoke,"The twins' parents were ex invisible hand cult members and the cult plans to kill all traces of the rebels' bloodline."

Bines spoke,"What, the kids had done nothing to go against the invisible hand cult."

The stranger spoke,"The five generals of Socanas are behind the incoming attack! Be gone within three days or it will be too late!"

The stranger spoke,"That does not matter, since the parents killed a cult leader on the way out!" The group will spare nothing to kill Rin and Lin. Thus, ridding themselves of rebels' complete bloodline. It is their corrupted way of doing things.

Bines was in shock and when he came to, the stranger had left completely unseen.

#

Rin spoke,"Sister, I do not know grandpa's intentions, but something must had spooked him something awful. He had never acted like in the way before, since we had known him."

Lin spoke,"You might be right about that Rin. it is getting late, why don't we set up camp for the night.

Rin spoke,"Let us do just that. You wanna have rabbit tonight?'

Lin smiled at the thought.