Taelord thought nothing else could happen to make him feel worse, but he was wrong. He helped Syafa and Aiiva collect what last-minute things they hadn\u2019t yet packed, and then entered the now-empty storeroom to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He couldn\u2019t have slept for very long, however, before several rough voices woke him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t seriously expect me to.\u201d That was G\u2019shar\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will make you move. Leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dull thud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taelord sprang from his bed, grabbing his sword, which lay nearby. He pulled open the storeroom door, and then the main door to the house, and lantern-light flooded into the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five people were just outside, one of them on the ground, curled up. Two of them held lanterns. They all carried axes, and wore the half masks of Einar\u2019s rebels. One carried a torch, the end flickering with fire. G\u2019shar was the one on the ground, seeming to have been thrown there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It didn\u2019t take Taelord long to guess what was happening. There was only one reason to carry a torch when lanterns were readily available, and it wasn\u2019t for light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He heard a squeak of fear \u2013 Syafa and Aiiva seemed to have entered the main room, and were standing just behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They stood there for a moment, Taelord in the doorway, sword held in both hands, point down. The four rebels watched him, hands on their axes. Between them, G\u2019shar seemed to be trying to regain his breath; Taelord guessed he had been kicked in the stomach and winded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStand aside, Volcarren,\u201d one of the rebels finally said. \u201cYou know why we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do,\u201d Taelord said. He didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u2019shar pulled himself to his feet against the wall of the house, and Syafa and Aiiva reached out, pulling him through the door. The eyes of the rebels followed him, but they didn\u2019t move. Taelord heard G\u2019shar slump in a chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOut of the way,\u201d the rebel said to Taelord. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen leave,\u201d Taelord said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rebel frowned. \u201cThese people are loyalists,\u201d he said. \u201cImperial sympathizers. They\u2019ve refused to support the rebellion, and now plan to escape before the Empire loses the city. You have no business being in their home, or defending them. Get out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Taelord said. He knew perfectly well that the four rebels could easily overpower him. Only two things were keeping that from happening. One was the sword he held, which could easily spill a rebel\u2019s guts if one got too close. The other was the fact that he was a Volcarren, and, whether or not his mother was a traitor, the rebels seemed reluctant to harm Volcarrens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rebels decided to call his bluff. \u201cMove,\u201d one said, stepping forward to push Taelord aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taelord brought his sword up, and the rebel backed off. The four of them unhooked their axes, and spread out, forming a semi-circle around the door. Taelord retreated further into the home, so that they could only come at him one at a time through the doorway. He bumped into someone. Aiiva put a trembling hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rebels closed in slowly. The largest one, the one who had spoken, came first. He put one foot across the threshold, just out of reach of Taelord\u2019s sword. His eyes took in the house \u2013 all wood. Easily flammable. He glanced at G\u2019shar, who Taelord guessed was sitting limply in a chair. Then his eyes traveled further, to where Taelord judged Syafa and Aiiva to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe we\u2019ll have ourselves a little fun before we burn this place down,\u201d he said over his shoulder to the others. He flicked his eyes back to Taelord, sizing him up. Then he stepped in quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe he thought Taelord wouldn\u2019t do anything. Maybe he thought he was just a thirteen-year-old who didn\u2019t know how to use a weapon. Both were wrong. Taelord had grown up in the Volcarren, and knew how to fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He shifted one foot back, and swung the sword up in a curving motion, right across the rebel\u2019s path. He missed the stomach intentionally. Instead, the sword carved a deep gash in the rebel\u2019s chest, skating across the ribs. Painful, but not lethal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The man staggered backwards as blood sprayed Taelord\u2019s sword. His companions pulled him back, and Taelord remained where he was, one foot back, sword held ready above his head, the point angled down towards the rebels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rebel howled in pain, urging his companions to attack, but they seemed wary. They could take Taelord, they all knew it, but the first one through the door would probably lose more than blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d the rebel with the torch said. \u201cG\u2019shar is nothing. It isn\u2019t worth it.\u201d He pulled his companions away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reluctantly, the rebels helped up their injured friend, and left, melting into the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taelord finally lowered his sword, and closed the door after them. Only once it was shut did he become aware of how fast his heart was beating, and the cold sweat which had covered him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d G\u2019shar said weakly. He was sitting in the nearest chair, taking deep breaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were standing guard?\u201d Taelord guessed, turning to him. His voice shook slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G\u2019shar nodded. \u201cI thought they might try to burn the house. I tried to stop them, but\u2026 one of them hit me in the leg\u2026 my old injury, and\u2026 it gave out.\u201d He held it tightly, grimacing in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet some rest,\u201d Taelord said. \u201cI\u2019ll keep an eye out the rest of the night.\u201d He pulled open the door and walked out before they could object. He wasn\u2019t tired; his body was too full of adrenalin. He put his sword point down on the ground, and adopted a posture he knew he could hold for hours if necessary. No one was going to burn G\u2019shar\u2019s home tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He owed them that much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn seemed to take forever to come. No one came near G\u2019shar\u2019s home, though Taelord heard the occasional distant shout or scream. The Empire wouldn\u2019t take much more of this. They would find a way to strike back, and soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When red streaked the horizon, he heard Syafa inside, preparing an early meal. He opened the door. She was standing over the fire, adding the last of the food they had left unpacked into a pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something I need to do,\u201d Taelord told her. \u201cYou\u2019re safe now; the rebels won\u2019t do anything during the day.\u201d Yet<\/em>, he added to himself. \u201cI won\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She glanced at him. \u201cBe careful,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd Taelord? Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was the least I could do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then he closed the door, rested his sword on his shoulder, and went in search of Rehs. G\u2019shar might have accepted that Rehs was staying, but Taelord wasn\u2019t ready to give up that easily. Not after last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The city he walked through was full of smoke. The rebels were getting overzealous, burning down homes with the slightest connection to the Empire. A great gray-white cloud hung over the Docks \u2013 Taelord knew Yesen and some of his crew had stood guard over the Windchaser<\/em> last night, to keep it from being damaged by the fires again. Clearly their presence hadn\u2019t stopped the rebels from burning other Imperials ships docked there, as well as probably empty storehouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The streets were empty. The rebels had retreated, and no one else was up yet. It was still quite early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord went to Jer\u2019s home. He didn\u2019t know where Rehs was, but guessed that Jer might. After banging on the door for a solid minute, a wary-looking Jer finally opened it, and grudgingly told Taelord that many of the rebels had taken up residence in the abandoned buildings closest to Utgar\u2019s pavilion. Taelord thanked him and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He got lucky. The first building he checked \u2013 which he thought might have been the home of an elderly Imperial woman who had left a few days before \u2013 contained a handful of rebels, including Rehs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They had built a small fire just outside the door, but nearly all of them were inside, sleeping after the night\u2019s activities. Only Rehs remained, huddled against the wall of the home, staring into the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He started when he saw Taelord. His eyes flicked to the sword he carried, and drop of fear entered his expression. Good,<\/em> Taelord thought. Rehs could use a little fear for what he had gotten himself into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord walked right up to the fire, and sat down next to Rehs, his sword by his side. He had grown cold standing outside all night \u2013 the fire felt good, even if it was nearly out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d Rehs asked warily. He glanced at the sword, which Taelord realized was still splattered with the rebel\u2019s blood. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord didn\u2019t look at him. \u201cI just came from your home,\u201d he said, keeping his eyes fixed on the fire. \u201cThe rebels tried to burn it down last night. They struck your father. Scared your sister near half to death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre\u2026 Are they all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re fine,\u201d Taelord said, still not looking at Rehs. \u201cThey\u2019re all fine. No thanks to your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fire was low, nearly out. Taelord couldn\u2019t feel much heat from it. He started to feel cold again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou want me to come back,\u201d Rehs said. \u201cYou want me to go with my family, leave the rebellion behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course I do,\u201d Taelord said, staring at the charred wood of the fire. \u201cIf I were in your place, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs sighed. \u201cThis is important,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord finally turned to him. \u201cCan\u2019t you see what\u2019s happening?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs glanced at him, frowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I left the Volcarren and saw this place, I saw potential. I saw freedom, happiness\u2026 but your rebellion is turning it into the Volcarren. Even the sky looks the same now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs\u2019 frown deepened. \u201cYou saw what you wanted to see,\u201d he said. \u201cYou know that right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They looked at each other for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHelsng,\u201d Rehs said, \u201cValhalla\u2026 it\u2019s a land of oppression, not freedom. There hasn\u2019t been any potential here, no bright future, for a long time. Now there is. Now, for the first time since you were imprisoned, we have a real chance to have a better life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shook his head and looked back at the fire. \u201cYou talk about peace, Taelord, and how you want it \u2013 I want that too. But the only way we\u2019ll get it is by fighting the Empire.\u201d He stood, looking down at Taelord. \u201cYou fought them,\u201d he said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t give you another choice, so you fought them. Well, they haven\u2019t given us another choice either. So don\u2019t come here and try to tell me we shouldn\u2019t fight, or that it will accomplish nothing. People would have said the same thing about you fighting the Empire back in the Volcarren. You proved them wrong. You proved it was possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He paused, watching Taelord. \u201cGo back to my father,\u201d he said. \u201cThey should leave now, while they can. But I\u2019m staying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord stood as well, picking up his sword. He met Rehs\u2019 gaze for a time, and Rehs returned it, his face set. Then Taelord turned and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs wouldn\u2019t be convinced. Taelord believed that now. He had failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He directed his steps back to G\u2019shar\u2019s home, his sword back on his shoulder. People were starting to move in the city, though they gave him a wide berth. Taelord guessed the blood on his sword probably had something to do with that. He found that he didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rehs\u2019 words stung him. Not just because of what Rehs was abandoning, but also because he was probably right. Taelord had seen what he had wanted to see in Helsng. He had been convinced that they would walk out of the Volcarren, and enter a land where they could live their lives in peace. Where they wouldn\u2019t have to worry about the next meal, or being raided in the night, or the Empire taking away what little they had managed to save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord snorted to himself. He couldn\u2019t help it. Now that he saw what Helsng was, he realized he had been as na\u00efve as Runa. A life of peace in Valhalla was an idyllic dream, a silly fantasy. They would need to fight for it. They had always needed to fight for anything worth having. Ahnvad had taught him that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord paused, G\u2019shar\u2019s home in sight. Ahnvad. His father had been right. He had said they would always be locked in war, with the Empire, with each other, struggling for some distant future. And he had been right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord stared at the dirt between his feet without seeing it. Curse you, Ahnvad<\/em>. He had won. He had always won. Taelord\u2019s mother had finally accepted that. And now\u2026 now it was Taelord\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taelord looked up, searching, desperate for something \u2013 anything \u2013 to prove Ahnvad wrong. But there was nothing around him except houses. Houses and smoke. And yet\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all of the smoke came from the rebels. Some came from chimneys, from fires in nearby homes, over which kyrie were cooking their morning meal, just as Syafa had done for Taelord. Inside, the family would be sitting at their table. Helsng was nearly consumed by war, and still people could sleep. Sleep, eat, talk. There was still life beyond the rebellion and the Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You couldn\u2019t control everything, Ahnvad,<\/em> Taelord thought. You wanted the world to be as twisted and violent as you were\u2026 that\u2019s why you came to the Volcarren, isn\u2019t it? Because you knew you were wrong? Because you thought you could turn the Volcarren into some kind of reflection of yourself? And you were mostly successful. But you didn\u2019t reach Runa then. She had hope. And you can\u2019t reach G\u2019shar now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Little comfort that was. So there had been a few who had resisted Ahnvad. What difference had it made? Runa had been captured and tortured. G\u2019shar was being forced to flee with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTaelord?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He looked up, and saw G\u2019shar himself approaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSyafa said you left\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wanted to talk to Rehs,\u201d Taelord said. \u201cOne last time. See if I could convince him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou spoke to him?\u201d G\u2019shar said. \u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe said\u2014” Taelord paused. He had just noticed Aiiva behind her father \u2013 perhaps she had followed him, hoping for word of her brother. She watched him now from behind G\u2019shar, her face half hopeful, half pleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGive him time,\u201d Taelord said, facing G\u2019shar. \u201cHe\u2019s made up his mind, but\u201d \u2013 he glanced again at Aiiva \u2013 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t give up hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a chance, then,\u201d G\u2019shar said, letting out a sigh of relief. He turned, saw Aiiva, and pulled her into a hug. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he said. \u201cYou and your mother will leave with Yesen. I\u2019ll follow as soon as I can with Rehs. We\u2019ll be together again. All of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There wasn\u2019t a chance of it. G\u2019shar and Aiiva turned, and began heading back in the direction of the house, but Taelord couldn\u2019t bring himself to follow them. Did he believe what he had told them? That Rehs could change his mind? Not at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thought sickened him. That was the sort of thing Ahnvad would say. Taelord had always responded with resistance to Ahnvad\u2019s words, insisting that things could get better. Even after he was proven wrong, he had still continued to say so, just to annoy his father. What had happened to that person? What had happened to the boy who had looked on Helsng, and hoped?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Was he dead? Replaced by a shadow, a shadow of Ahnvad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curse you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe Rehs could change his mind. Maybe once he got a glimpse of what war really meant, of the killing and the chaos, he\u2019d realize what he was leaving behind. Maybe he would be ready to listen to G\u2019shar. Maybe he would be reunited with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He will. <\/em>Taelord slowly followed G\u2019shar back to the house. He will. He will. <\/em>He didn\u2019t give himself a chance to doubt. Not because he was convinced Rehs could change. But because he had to believe it, even if it was impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He will.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Taelord thought nothing else could happen to make him feel worse, but he was wrong. He helped Syafa and Aiiva collect what last-minute things they hadn\u2019t yet packed, and then entered the now-empty storeroom to sleep. He couldn\u2019t have slept for very long, however, before several rough voices woke him. \u201cMove.\u201d \u201cYou can\u2019t seriously expect … Continue reading Chapter Twenty-Six<\/span>