- Dæor -

The throne. There it is. Finally.

In a few movements, I cross the room and reach the chair. Reaching out to stroke the red velvet, I marvel at its softness. The wood is ancient and carved with craftsmanship lost centuries ago. I clench my teeth. This has lasted for far too long. I need to put an end to this tyranny. I twist and face the empty throne hall, wondering at its size. Imagine it filled with people chanting my name. Throngs of people, entire halls full of people, all chanting my name. "Dæor ! Dæor !"

"What are you doing in my Castle, you worthless runt ? If you don't leave, I'll kill you like your sister."

I sit up and smile, slowly. My pulse is calm and I'm not scared at all.

"I've come to send you where you belong."

The King's face clouds with anger.

"You Serv-"

"Oh, shut up."

I bound off the chair and rush in his direction. He barely has the time to get his sword out of his sheath before I bring Shadow up and down against his weapon.

"Time to pay for everything you did to us," I gnarl. He huffs and tries to push against my sword. But I am too strong; he is no match for me. His feet slide backwards, and before he knows it, he is up against the wall.

His face is one of sheer panic, and I can feel his heart thundering from here.

"Time to die," is all I say, before I raise Shadow and-

"D ! D ?"

... get woken up by Keiti.

"Keiti," I groan, wiping drool from my mouth, "Do you really have to do this now ?"

Through my half-open eyelids, I can tell she's smirking.

"It's already midnight, sleepy boy." She tosses a clean change of clothes on my stomach and I receive it with a dull "oof". "Get changed. We gotta go, remember ?"

I wipe my eyes before opening them wide. Has night time always been this glaringly bright ? Ah, no - it's just Keiti waving a torch in front of my face. I glare at her before pushing her out of the bedroom.

"Why am I being kicked out ? I've seen you naked loads of times, you kn-"

I slam the door in her face. I will deal with the consequences later.

I lift my arms and take off my shirt. Sweat drenches my chest. The dream had gotten my body heat up, apparently. I sigh. That dream... It's recurrent. It must be the, what, seventh time I've had it ? And every time, every single time, I wake up before I get to slice his throat. I always curse whatever wakes me up, but I don't this time. Maybe... Maybe it's better that I don't know what happens next. Would I set the throne on fire, like I promised I would do ?

Or would I sit on it ?

I slam the door back open, and Keiti jumps. "Shh, D, they're sleeping, idiot."

"You're literally the only person in Methron who can both call me D and idiot in the same sentence and still live to see another sunset."

My head doesn't turn, but I know she's grinning.

"Alright, recap. What did we ask from him last time ?" she asks.

"Twelve swords and around a hundred arrows. He better have them," I grumble. "We need to replenish our stocks."

We reach the exit of the camp, and Keiti pulls down on the old lever mounted on the wall next to the door. The seemingly bare rock face halves itself, and we step outside.

The cool wind brushes at my face, and I inhale. Fresh air fills my lungs. I revel in the pleasure it brings. Last time I went outside... Must have been at the Summer Palace, wasn't it ? Around two weeks ago, then. I exhale. It's been a while - I need to remember to go outside more often. I forget how peaceful the forest makes me feel. I close my eyes, and for a brief, fleeting moment, it feels as if I am back to when I was with Keiti, younger and full of ideals. We were living from and for ourselves as I wrote in my notebook-

My eyes snap open. The notebook. My face hardens. I really did write a bunch of bullshit in there. I can't go back to that again. The world doesn't have space for ideals.

"You coming ? Let's not keep Brin up all night, okay ?" I don't bother to nod and fall in step behind her.

It takes a good half hour to arrive at our usual drop point. "It must be the largest rock in the entire forest," Keiti murmurs, letting her hand explore the nooks of the ancient stone standing upright in the middle of the clearing. "You say that everytime," I mumble, unamused.

"What was that ? Didn't hear you," she peeks from out behind the rock. Thankfully, before I repeat myself and get us into another argument, a sharp neigh cuts through the frisk night air. "He's here," Keiti exclaims, moving away from me and the rocks. On the other side of the clearing emerges a squat man, flanked on both sides by two powerful stallions. They cut through the grass to finally join us at the stone. Brin hands us the reins and smiles. "Beautiful night, ain't it ?"

"Sure is," Keiti beams back at him. She's always had a soft side for Brin. Well, after all, we all do. "You've gotten us fast ones," I point out, rubbing my hand against one of the mare's flanks. "Thanks."

"Ah, no problem, dearies. Anything for you." Keiti chuckles and begins to mount her horse.

"Oh, Brin ?"

"Yes, sweetheart ?" She leans over. "You wouldn't know of any Isfalt visiting the King anytime soon, would you ?"

That was smart. Brin is a very successful farmer - horses aren't his only trade. Of all of our contacts, he is the most connected. He could have easily heard of something. We need to know as soon as an Isfalt leaves his castle to go to Epoh; we'll then be able to attack it and restock on weapons.

"Hm, I'm not certain. I'll definitely keep my ears open, though."

Keiti pulls back. "Great. Thank you so much, Brin."

"Dæor, your mare is a bit tired. So don't ride her too much, alright ? Then again, I wouldn't know how far out you're going." He scratches the hair behind his left ear.

I was about to reply harshly when Keiti butts in. "Brin," she half-sighs, half-laughs, "You know perfectly well that we can't tell you where we're going. Stop fishing for it. It's for our safety as well-"

"As well as mine, I know. The Guards will hit me less if I don't know and all that stuff, yeah. You've told me before." Then stop asking us. "I'm just so curious." He chuckles. "Sorry, it's become a habit."

"Don't sweat about it, Brin," Keiti tosses over her shoulder as she steers her horse away from him. "See you in three hours, alright ?" He waves at us as we ride away, his jovial smile never fading.

"Wow, he even chose dark-furred horses for discretion. Such a kind man." Keiti beams as she pets her horse's neck. I nod as we enter the forest, leaving Brin behind.

"Hey D, come on ! We haven't got all night," she chides as the distance between us stretches out. Why does she always have to ride so quickly ? With a sharp kick of my heels, the horse begins to trot. Northbound, I simply enjoy the ride.

*****

"What do you mean, you haven't got everything ?" I bark.

"Please, lower your voices ! I have already said that my family is close by. If they hear you, all is lost !"

"Don't change the subject. Where are the rest of our weapons ?"

"I have explained, Dæor. The blacksmith told me he couldn't make so many in so little time. I didn't push him - I was already raising suspicion."

"You're the Isfalt, for Sheso's sake ! You can force whoever you bloody want ! And the arrows ?"

"I have all of those. They were quick to make, apparently."

He twists around and grabs something. Turning back towards us, he hands Keiti a large box.

"Here, they are all there."

I look hard at his features. A single glance would give his social status away. His carefully combed chestnut hair is parted to one side, his hands are clean and manicured, his costume is lavishy pristine. His eyes are the only thing out of place - they dart around like a frightened mouse. They focus on me, then widen and spin back off to the box.

"Keiti. Count the arrows."

She throws an exasperated look at me. "Dæor, really ? We don't have the time, and besides, I trust him. He says there are 100 arrows, there are 100 arrows. Stop being so suspicious." The Baron throws a thankful smile in her direction, which she responds to with a brief nod.

"Alright." I turn towards the Baron. "We need fifty more arrows for next time, and two hatchets."

He pales. "Hatchets ?" he voices. "Hatchets ?!"

"Yes." I retort, firm. "Hatchets. Don't ask why, we won't tell you."

He wrings his hands together. "Hatchets ? How can I possibly ask for those ? They will suspect something for certain !"

"Deal with it," I answer curtly. Out of the side of my eye, I can see Keiti glaring at me. "Baron, you can say you need some of your servants to cut some wood, or something. I'm certain you can manage it," she affirms in a softer voice.

"Are we done ? I mean," he gulps, eyeing me, "would it be possible for me to go back to the castle ? A servant saw me, and I told her I was going for a short walk to cool down after a bad dream, but it's now been three-quarters of an hour. She'll wonder where I am. What if she starts searching for me and finds you ?"

I start to retort, but Keiti interrupts: "No worries, Baron; we understand. We'll leave now, alright ? That's all we had to ask for in any case. Thank you very much."

He smiles, unsure, then turns on his heels and begins to walk back towards the castle. I grit my teeth, but before I can say anything, Keiti wordlessly grabs me by the sleeve and tugs on it, forcing me to follow her back to the horses. "Mount," she tells me. I shoot her a killer look but do as she says. We ride for a couple of minutes before she tells me: "Go on. You can rant now."

I roll my eyes. "Well, when you say it like that, I don't feel like doing it at all."

She chuckles. "I'm not going to encourage you, if that's what you're looking for. Even though your disliking of the Baron does come in handy. We form a nice good rebel/bad rebel duo, don't you think ? Guess who's the good Guard," she smirks.

"Ah, shut your gob. And besides, it's not just a disliking. Did you see him ? He looks like a rat caught in a cage. Why did he offer to help us if he acts as if we're snakes ?" She sighs and looks upwards. "He's explained it a gazillion times, Dæor. He told us he knew we would eventually win against the King, and that in exchange for his help, we would pledge to keep his family safe."

I snort. "Yeah, I see why the family of an Isfalt would need to be protected in a Republic." I really dislike that man. He is only helping us to serve his own needs. He doesn't give a crap about our values or our cause. My anger doubles. And yes, he has no Servs, but it's probably to keep his daughters safe from any rough men. I purse my lips. That man doesn't do anything moral if it's not out of self-interest, which means he never did a good deed in his life.

"Don't mock him, Dæor. He's both a good man and a noble. It happens."

"A good man ? Did you see how he lied about the swords ?"

"He didn't lie ! We asked for a dozen swords in a month. That's short by most standards. And you know he's morally sound. He refuses to take on Servs, for instance."

"But he's an Isfalt, Keiti ! Yes, we need him, but it's not a reason to say he's a good man. He's an Isfalt."

"And why would those two things be incompatible ? Where is the Dæor who saw the good in everyone ?"

I pause.

"You said it yourself, Keiti. That boy is gone."