The rebels were here. Despite their efforts, the Empire had failed to keep Helsng from being infiltrated. Now Einar, the leader of the rebels himself, was here in the city. The rebellion in Helsng had all but begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Einar made himself known to several others, including prominent Volcarrens and Vel, as well as laborers throughout the city. However, he did not speak with Utgar or Vydar, and Taelord found himself wondering why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Helsng changed in the course of a single day. Every soldier Taelord saw seemed tense and alert, gripping their weapons tightly and watching anyone \u2013 especially Volcarrens \u2013 who passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone else seemed unable to keep from smiling. Cheering and laughter could be heard in the streets all day, and what seemed like the entire population of Helsng accompanied Leran and Nya back to their home, where they were reunited with their children. Food was showered on them as it had been on the Volcarrens, and the celebration lasted long into the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u2019shar seemed to share Taelord\u2019s worry. He had gone to Yesen and arranged for his family to accompany them when they left, though it would be a few days yet. Rehs meanwhile was completely absent. Taelord had last seen him with the crowd surrounding Leran, and guessed that he had joined in the celebrations, along with Veth and Scar-shoulder, who were also gone. He only appeared when dinner was nearly ready, and gave a non-committal excuse about forgetting the time. Veth and Scar-shoulder were not with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had just finished eating the evening meal when a knock came at G\u2019shar\u2019s door. G\u2019shar opened it, and found Kran standing there, out of breath, an excited gleam in his eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEinar,\u201d he said, then paused for breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u2019shar\u2019s mouth tightened \u2013 though he hadn\u2019t seen Einar, word of his presence in Helsng had reached practically every ear. It was one of the reasons the Empire was now so on edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEinar\u2019s called a meeting,\u201d Kran said. \u201cFor any who believe in liberating Helsng. It\u2019s happening now, at Jer\u2019s home. I\u2019ve got to let the others know.\u201d He turned, and dashed off into the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u2019shar closed the door, and turned to find every face watching him. Rehs was already halfway out of his seat. \u201cNo,\u201d G\u2019shar said pointedly, looking at his son. \u201cYou\u2019re not going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course I\u2019m going,\u201d Rehs said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t about to ask that. I was going<\/em> to ask if you were going also.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar frowned. \u201cAttending this meeting would brand us as rebels,\u201d he said. \u201cLeran was nearly executed for breaking the law; I don\u2019t intend to find out what would happen to us if the Empire discovered this meeting. I\u2019m not going, and neither are you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Rehs\u2019 turn to frown. \u201cI am<\/em> going, Father,\u201d he said, standing. \u201cThis is important. You can take Mother and Aiiva and flee if you want, but I\u2019m staying. I\u2019m tired of the Empire telling us what to do. I\u2019m ready to fight for my freedom. I can\u2019t do that if I run away. I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He walked to the door, pulled it open, and was gone before G\u2019shar could stop him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord glanced at his mother. She was sitting at the table, but hadn\u2019t said a word. She stared at the fire dancing in the hearth, and only shook her head at the flames, a small, sad motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord glanced at G\u2019shar, somehow feeling like he should apologize for Rehs. \u201cI\u2019ll go with him,\u201d he found himself saying instead. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure he doesn\u2019t\u2026 do anything foolish. And I\u2019ll bring him back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n G\u2019shar nodded, sighing. \u201cMaybe that\u2019s the most I can hope for,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you, Taelord. And\u2026 tell me what they say at this meeting. I would know what Einar has planned for this city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord nodded, and moved for the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d a voice said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned, and saw his mother looking at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStay,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMother\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese rebels are trouble,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you go, you\u2019ll be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord frowned. \u201cI don\u2019t intend to get involved,\u201d he said. \u201cBut someone has to make sure Rehs doesn\u2019t do something he\u2019ll regret.\u201d He crossed the room and hugged his mother. \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon; don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She remained where she was, frowning at him, but said nothing further, so Taelord crossed to the door, pulled it open, and set off after Rehs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He caught up to him at the door to Jer\u2019s home. It opened as he approached, allowing him to see that a large crowd had gathered inside. He and Rehs moved in, several others joining them from the dark night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone seemed to be crowded around the edge of the circular home in a great ring. There was a good deal of excited whispering and muttering, and Rehs and Taelord squeezed their way through the crowd to a place where they could see the center of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four people stood there, one instantly recognizable as Einar. Curiously, he hadn\u2019t removed his half-mask, and neither had the three kyrie with him. Taelord wondered if he had to hide his identity because he was someone well known. Or perhaps he was disfigured?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides the mask, he didn\u2019t look like a rebel. He wore the same clothing as everyone else \u2013 a simple pair of pants and a sleeveless shirt, with a leather vest tied over it with cord. But his bare arms were lean and muscled, and several raised lines ran across them, which Taelord recognized as scars. Sword slashes, or perhaps spear thrusts. Einar had seen combat, probably more than most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three kyrie with him looked more like what Taelord had expected. Most kyrie were clean-shaven, but these three all had the shadows of stubble darkening their chins. Their hair was long and wild, and their skin appeared mottled with dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They wore the same clothes as Einar, but as where his were clean and looked new, theirs had obviously been worn for a long time. They weren\u2019t torn, but the ends had frayed, and they were stained with dirt, so that they looked more like discarded grain sacks than actual clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their general appearance of unkemptness, the kyrie exuded an air of capability. They were all built powerfully, and their dark eyes watched the crowd assembling around them. They each carried a simple hand axe, tied to a leather strap about their waist, the head chipped and rusted. Unless that redness wasn\u2019t rust\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think everyone\u2019s here, Kran\u201d Einar called from the middle of the room, interrupting Taelord thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He glanced to the door, where Kran had appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone who said they were coming,\u201d Kran replied, closing the door. \u201cQuite a few were frightened the Empire would find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstandable,\u201d Einar said. \u201cI don\u2019t normally hold a meeting this large, but Helsng is a special case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kran settled against the wall near the door, and all eyes turned to Einar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was silent for a moment, then he looked up at them. \u201cYou all know why you\u2019ve come,\u201d he said. \u201cYou believe in claiming your freedom from the Empire. I am Einar, leader of the rebels, and I am here to make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was an immediate murmur of agreement and excitement. Many kyrie nodded their heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen do we start?\u201d one \u2013 not much older than Rehs \u2013 asked from near the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSoon,\u201d Einar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWill we storm the keep?\u201d the boy asked. \u201cBurn Helsng? Do we march on Elenrul itself?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re here,\u201d one of Einar\u2019s men said, his voice a growl. \u201cThe Empire\u2019s time is over. Helsng will be ours, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnough,\u201d Einar said. He glanced at the rebel who had spoken, and the man fell silent instantly, looking instead at the floor. \u201cWe are here to free you,\u201d Einar said, looking back at the crowd, \u201cbut this must be done carefully. The garrison here is strong \u2013 even a full uprising won\u2019t overwhelm them, not while they control the keep. So, as much as I know you are eager to strike against the Empire, we must be patient. We will win this fight, but it will have to be fought through subterfuge and secrecy. In open combat the Empire would destroy us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The boy looked disappointed, but Taelord saw many of the older kyrie present nod at Einar\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst though,\u201d Einar said, \u201cI must make one thing plain. There will be no killing. Listen to me,\u201d he added, raising his voice to quell the cries of protest which erupted almost instantly. \u201cUtgar, our Valkyrie, does not want a war. He wishes to avoid conflict at all costs. Striking down Imperials in the streets would almost certainly start a battle. Therefore, we will avoid killing. I don\u2019t want to be on the wrong side of a Valkyrie, and I doubt any of you do either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was silent for a moment, watching the crowd, but no one contradicted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow will we free ourselves,\u201d one asked from across the room, \u201cif we cannot kill the Imperials?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will exercise what we can<\/em> do,\u201d Einar said. \u201cCovert attacks.\u201d He turned slowly, watching the faces of the crowd. \u201cThe Empire can\u2019t fight what it can\u2019t find. Our job is to make them unwelcome here. Threaten them. Make the streets unsafe at night. Make them fear the Maze and Docks. Make them feel the need to bar their door, or better yet, leave Helsng to us. We will slowly bleed the Empire of its people until, when they have no men left, the time will come to finally take the keep. When that time comes, the Empire will have no choice but to surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAdditionally, we recruit. From now on, everyone in Helsng is either helping us or helping the Empire. Any who are not prepared to do either should leave. You came tonight; go amongst those who stayed in their homes, tell them what I have said, and bring them over to our cause. Eventually there will be too many rebels here in Helsng for the Empire to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat of the soldiers?\u201d one woman asked. \u201cThey might be Imperials, but they are laborers, like us. They aren\u2019t Merchants. They might\u2026 understand. Sympathize. They might join us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Einar shook his head. \u201cThe Empire had been careful to select soldiers who have grown up fighting wars,\u201d he said. \u201cThe guards in this city, and the soldiers Jandar has brought with him, are all well fed and well paid. They believe in the Empire. They might be laborers by class, but they are the enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd what of Utgar?\u201d a Volcarren asked. \u201cWill he join us? Will he open the Wellspring?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is not for us to know,\u201d Einar said, frowning. \u201cUtgar is undecided. I believe he has no love for the Empire, but I know he also wishes to avoid a conflict. He will refuse to join either side for as long as he can. In time though, he will have to choose. When that time comes, I believe he will join us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs for the Wellspring, that is his decision. The Wellsprings were sealed for good reason, and he may decide to keep them that way. Or he may seek to open them. Either way, he alone can do either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe cannot rely on Utgar to fight for us. He will have to join us eventually, but until then, we are on our own. We will not anger him by killing Imperials, but we will fight for our freedom, with or without him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow,\u201d he said, folding his arms and looking at the crowd, \u201cthere will be no organized resistance. The Empire can predict and stop order. Therefore, I will leave how and when you fight for this city up to you. I will offer only direction: make the Imperials fearful for their safety. Act in the night to avoid detection. Focus your efforts on the Maze and the Docks first, and then the Rows, where the Imperials feel safe, but avoid the keep, where they expect an attack. I and my men will handle that. Finally, understand that this will not be easy. Many of you may be captured, and several may be executed. I will save who I can, but my resources are limited. Therefore, use caution. Do not get caught. The rebellion needs you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow go, return to your homes, before the Empire finds us here.\u201d He bowed his head, and conversation broke out immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs turned to Taelord, an unsettling light in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s begun,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The rebels were here. Despite their efforts, the Empire had failed to keep Helsng from being infiltrated. Now Einar, the leader of the rebels himself, was here in the city. The rebellion in Helsng had all but begun. Einar made himself known to several others, including prominent Volcarrens and Vel, as well as laborers throughout … Continue reading Chapter Fifteen<\/span>