Taelord’s decision to accompany Rehs to the meeting of farmers didn’t sit well with him for the rest of the day. It wasn’t so much what they were bound to discuss which bothered him. It was the fact that he hadn’t told G’shar.

He kept telling himself it wasn’t his place to interfere, but that didn’t make him feel any better. G’shar had taken him in, given him food and a place to sleep, and the first thing Taelord did was accompany his son to a meeting of people who would probably start some sort of riot.

And still, he said nothing. When G’shar offered him a second helping of dinner that night, he tried to decline, but the words wouldn’t come out. He ended up only nodding feebly, and Aiiva put another bowl before him.

Why? Why didn’t he tell G’shar what Rehs was planning that night? Taelord couldn’t answer that. All he knew was that he had no love for the Empire, and – though he told himself this wasn’t their fight – he wanted to see them defeated. He shook his head. Peace. He wanted peace. That was what he had told himself over and over since he left the Volcarren. Why couldn’t he have that?

Jer’s house wasn’t far, as Rehs had said, and before Taelord could find a satisfactory answer, he found himself before the door, he and Rehs having snuck out. Veth and Scar-shoulder were there too. Rehs knocked, the door was opened by Jer, and they moved inside.

Jer’s home was very similar to G’shar’s in shape. However – as Rehs had told Taelord – Jer was a farmer – albeit a rather successful one – not a freeman, and the difference was noticeable. There were no stone walls or fine wood beams to support the ceiling. The home was made of hardened mud bricks, the roof formed out of poles with animal hides stretched across them.

There was only one room. The house was circular, the only stone in the home being the fireplace, which was set against one side of the house. Against the far side were several beds – little better than the straw Taelord slept on now. He counted three smaller beds for children, and quickly spotted them: three small, dark faces, watching the assembling farmers and Volcarrens from the shadows behind the hearth. A woman – presumably their mother – sat by the fireplace on a simple stool, mending a pile of worn clothes.

“Alright,” Jer called over the low murmur of voices which filled the house. “I believe everyone is here who said they would come.” Taelord glanced around – there were at least twenty of them, including the massive form of Kran in the middle, Nya beside him.

Silence fell, and Jer lowered his voice to a normal level. “We all know why we’re here,” he said. “We believe the Empire has no right to hold Leran. Whether it’s lawful for them or not is irrelevant – we believe it’s wrong. The question now is: what do we do about it?”

“Our goal must be to free him,” Kran said, his voice slow and thoughtful. “And to keep him that way. However we do this, it must end with his family fleeing this city.”

Nya nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, we must flee. If we stay, the Empire will just come after him again.”

“The question then becomes,” Jer said, “just how do we get him out? Leran is being held in the Imperial prison, deep within the walls of the keep. The Empire doesn’t even allow laborers within those walls.”

“I can get him out,” a voice said.

Everyone turned, and Taelord saw a dark-skinned kyrie leaning against the far wall. He didn’t remember seeing him at the Docks.

“Kiran,” the kyrie said. “You may have heard of me.”

“Who is he?” Taelord whispered to Rehs, as murmurs filled the room.

“Resistance fighter,” Rehs whispered back, wide eyes on Kiran. “He’s been imprisoned at least three times, but he just keeps breaking out, usually taking other prisoners with him. He’s opened the gates for rebels, burned Imperial garrisons – I had no idea he was here. I thought he was further north.”

“We’re not looking to start a rebellion,” one of the farmers said, frowning at Kiran. “We just want to free Leran.”

“And I can make that happen,” Kiran said calmly.

“Undoubtedly,” Jer said, a frown on his face. “But I think we should consider alternatives before we try to break him out.”

“Can we reason with the Empire?” Kran asked. “Make them pardon Leran? Show them he had no choice?”

Kiran gave a snort of laughter, but most of the others nodded slowly to themselves.

“They might listen,” Jer said. “It’s no secret they want to avoid a rebellion, and freeing Leran would certainly go a long ways towards preventing any rash actions.” He spared a glance at Kiran.

“Who will they listen to, though?” a farmer asked. “They probably won’t let us even speak, and it’s not like we can bribe our way into a meeting with them.”

“They’ll let me speak,” Jer said. “I might be a laborer, but I am descended – distantly – from a noble family of merchants. They’ll hear me.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Kiran said, still leaning comfortably against the wall. “If they hear your words, then throw them right back at you?”

“Then we’ll try it your way,” Jer said, his mouth set. “I don’t think we have another option.”

The farmers nodded, some looking grim.

“It’s settled then,” Kran said. “Jer, you will speak to the Empire, and try to get Leran released. If they deny you—”

“Then I’ll free him before the moon rises,” Kiran said. He stood. “Be ready,” he added to Kran and Nya. “Once he’s free, you’ll need to fly.”

There was a knock at the door, sharp and sudden, and everyone jumped. Jer crossed the room.

“Who knocks at this hour of the night?” he called through the door.

“I bring a message,” came the reply, “from Lord Utgar.”

Jer opened the door, and a Volcarren stepped inside. He seemed unsurprised to find so many kyrie crammed into the house. “Kran,” he said, stopping just inside the room, “Utgar requests your presence.”

Kran frowned. “When?”

“Now. He’s waiting for you.”

Kran’s frown deepened. “Surely he didn’t listen to the whining of the Empire?”

“I don’t know,” the Volcarren said. “They spoke with him, and he sent them away, then sent me to find you. I heard you were here.”

Kran shrugged. “I’ll be back soon,” he said to Nya. He crossed the room to where the Volcarren stood, and they left together.

“You had all better leave as well,” Jer said. “I doubt the Empire will be very understanding if we’re all found here together.”

Kiran nodded and left immediately, a breeze of cool air entering the home as he opened the door. Taelord glanced at Rehs, who nodded, and they followed Kiran out.