Taelord\u2019s decision to accompany Rehs to the meeting of farmers didn\u2019t sit well with him for the rest of the day. It wasn\u2019t so much what they were bound to discuss which bothered him. It was the fact that he hadn\u2019t told G\u2019shar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He kept telling himself it wasn\u2019t his place to interfere, but that didn\u2019t make him feel any better. G\u2019shar 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And still, he said nothing. When G\u2019shar offered him a second helping of dinner that night, he tried to decline, but the words wouldn\u2019t come out. He ended up only nodding feebly, and Aiiva put another bowl before him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why? Why didn\u2019t he tell G\u2019shar what Rehs was planning that night? Taelord couldn\u2019t answer that. All he knew was that he had no love for the Empire, and \u2013 though he told himself this wasn\u2019t their fight \u2013 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\u2019t he have that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jer\u2019s house wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jer\u2019s home was very similar to G\u2019shar\u2019s in shape. However \u2013 as Rehs had told Taelord \u2013 Jer was a farmer \u2013 albeit a rather successful one \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2013 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 \u2013 presumably their mother \u2013 sat by the fireplace on a simple stool, mending a pile of worn clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d Jer called over the low murmur of voices which filled the house. \u201cI believe everyone is here who said they would come.\u201d Taelord glanced around \u2013 there were at least twenty of them, including the massive form of Kran in the middle, Nya beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence fell, and Jer lowered his voice to a normal level. \u201cWe all know why we\u2019re here,\u201d he said. \u201cWe believe the Empire has no right to hold Leran. Whether it\u2019s lawful for them or not is irrelevant \u2013 we believe it\u2019s wrong. The question now is: what do we do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur goal must be to free him,\u201d Kran said, his voice slow and thoughtful. \u201cAnd to keep him that way. However we do this, it must end with his family fleeing this city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nya nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d she whispered. \u201cYes, we must flee. If we stay, the Empire will just come after him again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe question then becomes,\u201d Jer said, \u201cjust how do we get him out? Leran is being held in the Imperial prison, deep within the walls of the keep. The Empire doesn\u2019t even allow laborers within those walls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can get him out,\u201d a voice said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone turned, and Taelord saw a dark-skinned kyrie leaning against the far wall. He didn\u2019t remember seeing him at the Docks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKiran,\u201d the kyrie said. \u201cYou may have heard of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is he?\u201d Taelord whispered to Rehs, as murmurs filled the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cResistance fighter,\u201d Rehs whispered back, wide eyes on Kiran. \u201cHe\u2019s been imprisoned at least three times, but he just keeps breaking out, usually taking other prisoners with him. He\u2019s opened the gates for rebels, burned Imperial garrisons \u2013 I had no idea he was here. I thought he was further north.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not looking to start a rebellion,\u201d one of the farmers said, frowning at Kiran. \u201cWe just want to free Leran.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I can make that happen,\u201d Kiran said calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUndoubtedly,\u201d Jer said, a frown on his face. \u201cBut I think we should consider alternatives before we try to break him out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan we reason with the Empire?\u201d Kran asked. \u201cMake them pardon Leran? Show them he had no choice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kiran gave a snort of laughter, but most of the others nodded slowly to themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey might listen,\u201d Jer said. \u201cIt\u2019s no secret they want to avoid a rebellion, and freeing Leran would certainly go a long ways towards preventing any rash actions.\u201d He spared a glance at Kiran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho will they listen to, though?\u201d a farmer asked. \u201cThey probably won\u2019t let us even speak, and it\u2019s not like we can bribe our way into a meeting with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll let me speak,\u201d Jer said. \u201cI might be a laborer, but I am descended \u2013 distantly \u2013 from a noble family of merchants. They\u2019ll hear me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if that doesn\u2019t work?\u201d Kiran said, still leaning comfortably against the wall. \u201cIf they hear your words, then throw them right back at you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll try it your way,\u201d Jer said, his mouth set. \u201cI don\u2019t think we have another option.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The farmers nodded, some looking grim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s settled then,\u201d Kran said. \u201cJer, you will speak to the Empire, and try to get Leran released. If they deny you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I\u2019ll free him before the moon rises,\u201d Kiran said. He stood. \u201cBe ready,\u201d he added to Kran and Nya. \u201cOnce he\u2019s free, you\u2019ll need to fly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a knock at the door, sharp and sudden, and everyone jumped. Jer crossed the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho knocks at this hour of the night?\u201d he called through the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI bring a message,\u201d came the reply, \u201cfrom Lord Utgar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jer opened the door, and a Volcarren stepped inside. He seemed unsurprised to find so many kyrie crammed into the house. \u201cKran,\u201d he said, stopping just inside the room, \u201cUtgar requests your presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kran frowned. \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow. He\u2019s waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kran\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cSurely he didn\u2019t listen to the whining of the Empire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d the Volcarren said. \u201cThey spoke with him, and he sent them away, then sent me to find you. I heard you were here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kran shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d he said to Nya. He crossed the room to where the Volcarren stood, and they left together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou had all better leave as well,\u201d Jer said. \u201cI doubt the Empire will be very understanding if we\u2019re all found here together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Taelord\u2019s decision to accompany Rehs to the meeting of farmers didn\u2019t sit well with him for the rest of the day. It wasn\u2019t so much what they were bound to discuss which bothered him. It was the fact that he hadn\u2019t told G\u2019shar. He kept telling himself it wasn\u2019t his place to interfere, but that … Continue reading Chapter Ten<\/span>