Vladimir Grigory Mikhailov page 2
	When there were only about fifty of us left the killings seemed to stop. They would drag us along with them when they went to kill other caravans so that we could do the vile work of stripping and gathering up the bodies of the fallen. This went on for almost two years when they finally made a mistake. They had become so lazy of doing anything on their own that we slaves numbered a little over two hundred. I got to talking with some of the stronger men of breaking loose during the next raid and preparations were set to do so. The raid came and we were holding at the back of the force like we always did when the cry went out to break. I made certain that Dimitri and Natasha were with me as we started running. It seemed that we were going to make it when the general and his personal guard rode into our ranks. Everyone began to scatter but many did not make it far. Natasha was having problems running so I picked her up and yelled for Dimitri to follow, but when I turned I saw him charging that same knight who killed our father. He swung his fists in vain against the knights gleaming, black armor before he was lifted up over the evil general’s head and impaled on his sword. With a scream of anguish and tears in my eyes I ran on as fast as I could. My body burned when I made it into a wooded area, but the cover of the trees gave me no sense of security so on I ran. I recall the sun coming up and going down again before I was swallowed up by darkness. When I awoke it was to the sound of Natasha’s voice. She was speaking with someone else. I then noticed that we were not the only ones to get away. There were half a dozen others with us, a man, a woman with her baby boy, and two girls. The man claimed to know of a town about three days to the west where we might find shelter. We took some time to gather and eat anything that we could before we set out. We managed to arrive at the town without further incident. The people were very hospitable towards us and made sure that we had plenty to eat and gave us new clothes. We were all given weapons too, in order to make the journey back to Erengrad. That night I nearly died. After bearing it for so long I took the dagger that I was given and carved the branding out of my chest. Luckily, Natasha was able to get a doctor to me in time. To this day I cannot believe that I was so foolish, after surviving all that I had been through, I nearly took my own life with a single act of defiance. After I was healed, Natasha, the woman with her baby, and myself along with some mercenaries hired by the town set off for Erengrad. There were a few encounters with the minions of chaos along the way and I was eager to assist the trained warriors in dispatching them. When we finally arrived back home we were very well taken care of by the town. My sister and I were eager to help repay that debt and joined the town guard. Over the years I became very proficient with a blade and Natasha developed her skills with a bow to a deadly precision. But sitting in the town, waiting for the next group of chaos to attack was driving me crazy. I needed to get out in the world and make a difference. I needed to go make the world a better place for my sister and future family. Speaking with my sister, I found it difficult to explain to her what I had to do but I finally convinced her that I would return. As a promise I gave her the necklace that I had taken from my father and promised that one day I would return so that I could give that necklace to my wife. She cried for hours and made me swear a million times that I would return. I gave her my word that I would return when I have helped to make the world a better place. This is where my story begins.
				Page 1
		Vladimir's Travel Journals
		Table of Contents