Episode 6: Untitled

Once Ivan got inside, he realized that the Traveller hadn't come outside with the rest of them to gawk at the Justice Knights. He was still sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands.
"We have to get you out of here," Ivan heard his father say.
The floorboard creaked.
Ivan's father looked up at him. He took off his belt.
"Be ready to bleed, Ivan."
So to avoid dying, Ivan was forced to leave, and listen from a crack in the door.
Ivan's father went on to say: "I think we'll be able to sneak you out without the Justice Knights seeing you."
"Well--Are you sure it's me they want?"
"They said "The Greasy Trout'."
"I HATE that name." The Greasy Trout banged something on the table. It was probably his fist or his head. "Why do they INSIST on calling me that?"
"They demanded soup."
"They always do," The Greasy Trout moaned.
There was a sound of rushing footsteps and the front door opening. Ivan ventured to open the door a little and look inside. Jnii came running into the hut, breathless, and carrying a bag.
"Do you have chickens?" she cried from the doorway.
"Chickens?" Ivan's father scratched his head. "No--we don't have chickens. Why would you need chickens? Don't you have a chicken farm?"
Jnii put her hands on her hips. "Father lost them all this afternoon. Or––I lost––or––whatever.... Anyway, now the Captain is demanding that Father donate the main ingredients for their soup. We're going to starve at this rate!" Jnii let herself fall into a nearby chair with a huff. "I was barely able to control those Justice Knights when they came through the farm before they reached here." She giggled. "They have such hands on them! I'm surprised I still have my virtue!"
"Jnii!" Ivan's father exclaimed in shock. "You still have your virtue?"
"Sort of––?"
For the first time, Jnii looked up and noticed The Traveller sitting by the fire. Or rather, she first recognized him behind the hand he had been holding over his face since she came in. She jumped up.
"You!" she cried.
"Me?'" The Traveller pointed a finger at himself but kept one hand covering his face.
"Do you know my guest, Jnii?" Ivan's father asked.
Jnii smiled. "Of course I do! Why, he came by this afternoon––"
"Well, it's not important," The Traveller cut in. "What's important is getting me out of here before that damnable Captain finds me."
"What's important is saving our houses from being burned and our chickens from being crushed or... whatever," Jnii said.
"And also saving our women from being raped," Ivan's father added.
Jnii shrugged.
"Maybe they'll be distracted enough while eating their soup for me to slip away," The Traveller suggested.
Ivan decided this was the time for him to step forward.
The floorboard creaked again.
"When I get done with you, Ivan," his father roared, "you'll have lost the ability to blink!"
"Please don't hurt me!" Ivan said as meekly as possible. "I just have a suggestion."