Nicholas stared at them and then answered, “I do mean it. I do want to go.”

“You’re crazy,” Luke remarked as he walked into the room. “But I, for one, am glad you are.”

Peter nodded. “Very well, Nicholas. Meet us in the barn, but it must be well before midnight. That’s when the trouble starts and you’ve got to be in the fields by then.”

Nicholas grinned and nodded. “I’ll be there!”

His brothers walked out the door with their bedrolls and food. Nodding back towards Nicholas, they silently headed across their yard to say good bye to their father.

Nicholas dozed off, but awakened with a start. The bright moonlight shining through his window told him midnight drew near. Quickly dressing, he crawled out the window and ran to the barn. His brothers lay there, snoring in the straw. They, too, had fallen asleep.

“Peter! Luke! Wake up!” Nicholas said as he shook them. “I’m here. Do you want to go with me, or stay here?”

Luke looked at Peter, who answered, “Are you sure you want to do this, Nicholas? You don’t have to, you know.”

“Yes, I told you I do,” Nicholas replied. “You two can do what you want, but I’m going.” He smiled at his brothers and turned to go, but Peter caught him by the arm.

“Be safe, little brother,” he said quietly. Lines of worry filled his face. Luke nodded in agreement.

Nicholas looked deeply into their eyes, and replied, “I’ll be safe. See you fellas in the morning. I’ll be back under my covers before Father awakens, mark my words.”