image [https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/646bd9baef7e904ad31912d5/c2609650-09c4-4b53-869f-b2a44342717f/Akh+Nara+no+labels.png?format=750w&content-type=image%2Fpng]“This mistreatment. This poverty… Is there truly nothing that can be done?” Vir asked. He paced around the orphanage classroom, which was currently devoid of children.
“I’ve been doing my best since the war,” Janani said, biting her lip. “If there was even a sliver of hope, believe me, I’d have grabbed a hold of it. But we have no power here. The Chitrans won the war, and it was no close thing. They wield ultimate authority now. It’s… Well, it’s not so bad.”
Vir raised a brow. “Not so bad? From what I’ve seen, I find it hard to believe it can get much worse.”
Janani averted her eyes. “We’ve eked out a life here. I suppose we should be grateful they haven’t driven us out… Although that might actually be preferable for some of us. I imagine we’d have a far easier time in Baira or Panav. Assuming we survived the journey, of course.”
“They keep you within the city walls to prevent that exact scenario,” Vir said, his blood starting to boil. The Chits weren’t happy with just winning. By forcing them to stay within the city walls, they were telling the world that they wanted the Gargans to suffer.
“What do you need most right now? Food? Clothing?”
“Well,” Janani said, frowning. “Clothes are always appreciated, what with the young ones constantly outgrowing them. But it’s the food I worry about. Without a proper diet, I fear their growth will be stunted.”
“How do you usually get your food?” Vir asked, wondering if he couldn’t—if not solve the problem—at least help.
“Greesha does what she can, though we only try to rely on her when our situation grows dire. She takes a grave risk in helping us. Everyone does.”
“I’m surprised, given her Ruler Calling,” Vir said.
“Not even Greesha is above the law. If she’s ever discovered, she’d be stripped of her Ruler Calling and made an Outcast. Or worse…”
Vir had to give the Seer some credit. Risking her life and reputation to feed orphans was a noble act. Regardless of her prior actions.
But if they can’t rely on Greesha all the time, then how… Ah.
“You steal what you need?”
Janani nodded. “It isn’t exactly theft, but yes. I am ashamed to admit it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Over the years, I’ve managed to reach out to sympathetic grocers. Most are ex-Gargan Laborers, but a few are actually Chitran kothis. We… have an informal agreement, of sorts.”
“An agreement?” Vir asked. “I thought you said—oh. I see. The children go and ‘steal’ from these grocers, don’t they?”
“Exactly. It’s the only way they can give us produce without running afoul of Governor Asuman’s enforcers.”
“I’m surprised no one’s noticed.” It seemed like the sort of secret that’d eventually get out. Especially if several grocers took part.
Janani laughed wryly. “Oh, they know. But thankfully, Asuman also knows that without food, we’ll starve. And if word spread that swaths of Gargans are suddenly dying off, I can’t imagine it’d do anything good for Raja Matiman’s reputation.”
Matiman? So that’s the name of the Chitran Raja—their Clanlord…
“What’s his reputation like these days?” Vir asked.
Janani shrugged. “News is scarce around here. All we hear are rumors. Whether they are to be believed is anyone’s guess. Still, nobody particularly likes him. Several clans still harbor misgivings over Chitran’s conquest of Garga. As the commander of the invading force, I suppose Matiman’s presence must serve as a reminder of their actions.”
So, some of them regret their actions, huh? That was good to know, though Vir found it hard to pity them. They’d chosen to invade Garga. In the same way that seeking revenge wouldn’t bring back the dead, neither would their repentance.
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If Vir succeeded in restoring the Garga to their former glory, there would be remuneration to pay. He’d see to it.
“I fear that Governor Asuman might be losing his mind of late, however,” Janani said. “Either that, or he’s losing control of his enforcers.”
“What do you mean?”
“He has begun persecuting shopkeepers suspected of helping us. Some did. Others, we had nothing to do with. Everyone’s afraid now, and who can blame them? Nobody wants to have their hands cut off and be labeled an Outcast.”
Vir grimaced. If this was the punishment Asuman’s forces were dealing with for such minor crimes, Vir shuddered to think what sentences more serious offenses got.
“We have barely one or two people we can count on anymore. And getting to them is even riskier. I can’t put the children in such danger.”
“It does seem like you're playing with fire,” Vir said.
Janani hung her head in shame. “The children have far better odds of escaping unnoticed with bags of groceries. I only send the eldest, of course.”
Vir sighed. This was terrible. Had he known the situation was this bad, he’d never have tarried in the Ashen Realm.
Now that he was here, though, what could he actually do to help? Should he raid the stores of a Chitran merchant hostile to Janani?
Doing so might feed the orphanage in the short term, but Vir shuddered to think of the consequences they’d pay for it. The shopkeeper would report the incident to the Enforcers, who would no doubt come looking.
While they might hide the produce if they’re smart about it, Vir doubted the secret would last long. And when his actions came to light, the orphans would suffer dearly.
“What of the rebels? Can’t they help?”
Janani averted her eyes. “The rebels… To be honest, they’ve done as much harm as they have good.”
“Meaning?”
“While passion burns strongly in their hearts, they lack the organization to do anything meaningful. Most often, their emotions drive them, and they lash out at the Chitrans. Sometimes even at innocents. The repercussions always haunt us after.”
The more Vir heard of the rebels, the more he felt they were an obstacle, rather than an aid. It seemed that, for now, he was on his own.
Vir could protect them by himself, but what would happen if he were elsewhere? What would happen if he left the city?
He was but one demon. Capable of being only in a single place at once.
But Vaak…
Vaak was a symbol. Vaak could be anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
The seed of a plan formed in Vir’s mind, though it was still far too early to act on it.
For now, he could at least do what he could to ease their immediate pain.
“When is your next food run?” Vir asked. “I’ll handle it.”
Janani’s eyes widened in surprise. “That is… most kind of you. But I cannot ask you to take such a risk.”
Vir smirked. “Then it’s good that you didn’t ask. I volunteered.”
“Y-you don’t know the route! You’ll be spotted!” Janani argued.
“I won’t. I swear to you I can get there and back undetected. I can’t say how, but please trust me. If it means risking one less child, then I am more than happy to do it.”
Janani continued to hesitate.
“Just tell me where I need to go. I’ll handle the rest,” Vir said.
Janani finally bowed her head. “Thank you. Thank you so much!”
----------------------------------------
Vir walked out of the orphanage with a set of directions. The merchant was in the Chitran part of town at the center of the city. The theft was to take place in a few hours, after the business closed for the day.
“Yo!” a voice said.
Vir turned to find Bolin leaning against the orphanage’s wall.
“Bolin,” Vir acknowledged. “Can I help you?”
Bolin glared at Vir in obvious anger, though Vir couldn’t understand why.
“Did I offend you somehow?”
“I heard everything, you know?”
“I know,” Vir replied. He’d sensed a child outside while he spoke with Janani. But nothing he said was especially sensitive—especially to any of the orphans. He hadn’t paid them any mind.
“You… know?” Bolin asked in surprise.
Vir just smiled. “So? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You shouldn’t be going. It’s my duty.”
“So that’s what this is about.”
“You’re right it is! You’re new to the city. You’ll get lost without me. You need me!” Bolin said. Desperation stained his voice.
Bolin crossed his arms. “We go together.”
Vir shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Janani… She didn’t tell you everything,” Bolin said quietly.
“What do you mean?” Vir asked.
“The grocers… they’re only one way we get food.”
“Right, Greesha. She told me.”
“No. Not Greesha. Things have been bad these days. We… we had to get creative finding food. Beggars can’t be choosers, y’know?”
Vir’s eyes narrowed. “You beg on the street?”
“I wish,” Bolin said, scoffing. “We’d be beaten the moment we tried! Or worse. No. We rummage for scraps. Garbage piles, trash bins… that sort of thing.”
Vir stepped back reflexively in horror.
“Janani… she hates it. Can’t stand that we have to do it. She’s the one who goes rummaging, but we help out, too.”
“I… I’m sorry,” Vir said.
“So you see? We can’t mess this up!” Bolin cried. “The food runs are precious for us.”
Vir put a hand on Bolin’s shoulder and stared him in the eye. The boy shuddered under his intense gaze.
“Thank you for telling me this, Bolin. I understand how important this is for you. I truly do. But please also understand that I am capable of fending for myself. I only wish to help.”
“Fine,” Bolin said, looking away. “I’ll give you this chance. But don’t mess it up. If you do…”
“I promise I won’t interfere again,” Vir said with a smile.
“G-good,” Bolin said, whirling and walking away.
Vir watched the boy’s back, simultaneously admiring his grit… and despising the ones who’d forced such a life upon these kids.
“Shan,” Vir muttered once Bolin was gone.
The Ashfire wolf pounced down from a nearby rooftop.
“You saw?”
The black beast gruffed.
“Then you know what must be done. Let’s go.”