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Insufferable. Arrogant. Conceited.
The words repeated in Ajune’s head like a mantra as he walked the camp. He wasn’t like the others. He’d done nothing wrong. He didn’t deserve to be here.
Neel. The word echoed like a curse through his head, vibrating through his skull.
He’d ruined everything. He’d doomed them all. The Chits may have been harsh rulers, but they’d at least promised salvation! Put in the time, keep their heads low, and they’d be granted freedom. As if Neel wasn't disgusting enough on his own, the prisoners had bowed their heads and followed him like the blind sheep they were.
Ajune was no sheep. He likened himself more to a wolf. Ajune knew he didn’t belong here. Fate had conspired against him. Fate… and Neel.
Now, there was no hope. No chance at all of a happy outcome. Not after Neel went and murdered the Overseer in cold blood.
Yes, he might survive, but what of the rest of them? As if proving his point, the chal had left so suddenly, taking the Ash’va with him. To find weapons and armor?
Only a fool would believe such things.
Ajune wanted to yell in rage. So stupid. So naïve. The others… they believed him! They actually believed him!
He’d left with their most valuable assets. And they’d let him!
No, they would never see that demon again. The others would soon understand. They’d realize they’ve been abandoned. They’d come to terms with the hopelessness of their situation.
And what then?
Then it would be too late. It was already too late… That was, of course, for everyone else.
Just because Ajune had been forced onto this sinking ship didn’t mean he deserved to go down with it.
No, he was smarter than that. He always had been, hadn’t he?
Ajune didn’t sneak—that was what amateurs did. He simply strode to the place where the Chitran guards were being held, pretending like he hadn’t a care in the world.
The foul naga Balagra had forced the kothis to drink some concoction that had put them under—a decision that puzzled Ajune to no end.
For whatever reason, Neel had been unwilling to end their lives. What reason such a cold-blooded murderer could possibly have for sparing them was lost on him. Perhaps the demon intended to use them as bargaining chips against the Chitran?
It wouldn’t work. Not after he’d slain the Overseer in plain view of everyone. The Chitrans’ response would be so fierce, so unbridled in its wrath, that an offering of guards would be like dousing a raging fire with a single bucket of water.
Which was precisely why Ajune needed to take action. On his own.
They’d all been prisoners. All slaves—carted in cages like livestock. So what gave Neel and Balagra the right to determine their fate? Merely because they were strong?
Granted, it was the demon way, but Ajune refused to accept that. That was little better than the law of the jungle. He was cultured, dammit. He didn’t belong here.
The demons assigned to guard the Chitran were, rather predictably, enjoying a game with the cards they’d stolen off their charges’ bodies. That was Neel and Balagra’s first mistake. They’d thought of these demons as an army. They weren’t. They were little better than a mob cowed into obedience through fear.
Ajune had considered riling them up to sow chaos, but their glorious leaders had actually left someone halfway competent in charge. The camp remained orderly, and was growing more so by the hour. An impressive feat… For a layman.
After some contemplation, Ajune had opted for a simpler approach.
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“You two. Malik wanted to speak with you. He sent me to take your place.”
A professional soldier would’ve regarded such a request with suspicion. ‘He only sent one to replace us?’ they’d have asked. They might even have interrogated him about his capabilities.
The ‘guards’, of course, did no such thing. Rather, they appeared more irked that their card game had been interrupted than anything else. With the lethargic motions of someone doing something they absolutely detested, they slowly rose and marched off to the other end of the camp, where the so-called ‘leaders’ had erected their command tent.
Ajune watched them go, then produced several vials from his pocket. He’d been part of the group who’d searched the Chitrans’ bodies. Rather, he’d ensured he’d been part of that group.
For what soldiers wouldn’t carry around some common antidotes? Whatever Balagra had cooked up to keep them asleep couldn’t have been anything fancy. Where would he have gotten the ingredients?
Ajune uncorked the stopper and drained half a vial down each guard’s throat. There wasn’t quite enough for them all, but this would at least rouse them. Which suited him just fine. Awake, but not in any capacity to panic or resist. Perfect for selling them his pitch.
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Malik was fussing over his camp organization plans when he was interrupted for what had to have been the tenth time in as many minutes.
“What is it?” he asked wearily, unable to recall the last time he’d gotten some proper rest. The caged caravan wasn’t exactly the most hospitable environment, nor were the open pits they were supposed to call a camp. How anyone ever adjusted to resting with soot continuously falling upon them, Malik could not fathom.
This time, it was a large-framed, muscular Warrior who approached. At least a familiar face.
“The water, sir. We’re running low.”
While not everyone had adopted the military discipline Malik had so badly desired, there was progress. And, while it was glacial progress, Malik supposed he ought to be thankful he had even that.
“Already?” he replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir. We seem to have gone through our stock at an alarming rate.”
“Check the food,” Malik said after a pause. “Double the guards and bring as much of our supplies to the command tent as you can. Just… don’t make a big deal of it, yes?”
The demon he’d appointed nodded slowly. He caught on quickly—one of the reasons Malik had chosen him in the first place. That, and his large stature and Aspect tattoo helped dissuade any who’d oppose him.
“Understood,” he said, nodding in salute before walking off.
“I must admit, you are more patient with them than I would have been,” Balagra said, taking a sip of water.
“Yes, well, spend a few years in logistics, and you will learn patience,” Malik replied, sagging his shoulders.
“We have a saboteur,” Balagra said quietly. Though they were the only two in the command tent, its walls were hardly thick enough to muffle voices.
“Seems that way,” Malik agreed. “I anticipated not everyone would agree with Neel’s actions, though I hadn’t expected treason so early.”
“Which means he’s smart,” Balagra said. “He sees our dismal prospects and aims to take action to avoid that fate.”
“At least we can ensure no more food and water is taken if we bring them here. I’d considered it, but decided against. It’d have sent the wrong message.”
“Perhaps,” Balagra said. “But is a hit to morale more important than starving or dying of thirst?”
“That is an unanswerable question, and you know it.”
Balagra let out a slow breath. “Perhaps it is.”
“Do you believe in him? In Neel?” Malik asked. In truth, the same feeling had been nagging at the back of his mind—and, he suspected, the minds of everyone else. What now?
Malik understood the need to address their immediate worries, of course. Food, water, better armament. Then training and discipline. But what then? What came after?
“I like to focus on the present,” Balagra said, avoiding Malik’s question. “If our saboteur succeeds, it will be he who benefits.”
“At our expense,” Malik completed, his lips tight.
“Indeed. As I said. A smart one.”
“I suppose the only question that remains is to see just who is smarter,” Malik replied. “Us? Or him?”
Neither spoke what didn’t need to be said. Whoever this person—or persons—were, they had the initiative. And if they’d already managed to drain the water without being detected, they were likely up to worse. As for how much worse? That was in Badrak’s hands. Only the trickster god would know.
Perhaps I should make a round, Malik thought, though no sooner had he decided that a pair of two demons ambled up to him.
“You two are… the guards assigned to watch over the Chitrans, yes? Why are you here?” Malik asked with annoyance. And why would you leave them unguarded?
The look of confusion on their faces, however, sparked some of his own.
“You asked us here, didn’t you?”
Malik frowned. “I did not. Who told you this?”
“Dunno. Some bloke. Said he was sent to relieve us.”
Malik’s eyes shot wide. “That wasn’t me, you dolts! Seize him. Immediately!”
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“You’re awake,” Ajune said. “Good. Keep your eyes shut. I fear we have little time.”
The Chitrans did as they were told, hardly giving a single sign that their consciousness had returned.
This was what professional troops looked like. Discipline, even in the midst of confusion and crisis.
“The prisoners drugged you and put you under, intending to feed you to Ash Beasts to eliminate any evidence,” Ajune lied. The only reason they were still alive was because Neel and Balagra saw some value in it. But the Chits didn’t need to hear that.
“I disagree with their plan. I disagree with what Neel did to the Overseer. As such, I am setting you free. In return, I would like protection back to Garrison Atnu. Wag your tails if you agree.”
Ajune kept his voice low and his tempo quick. He wasn’t joking about time being short. The moment those ‘guards’ reached Malik, he’d have a minute or two at best.
Several of the kothis’ tails wagged.
“Good. I have brought your weapons, though I was unable to procure any Ash’va as they are under heavy guard. When I give word, take your weapons, turn right, and follow me.”
Ajune took a glance at their surroundings. Demons milled about, blissfully oblivious to his actions.
He cracked a grin. Finally, something was about to go his way at last.
“Now!”