The intense excitement that’d been buzzing around the atrium after Surelin's win had quickly evolved into exuberant fascination. The Forelians gradually disappeared from the windows, and Gideon watched as most of the household began to stream into the atrium past him. They crowded around Surelin, drowning her in praise and eager questions.
“That was really something!”
“How’d you beat her?”
“You were brilliant, ma’am!”
“Can you teach me that move you did at the end?”
“Yeah!” they all said in unison, then laughed.
Surelin looked around at the Forelians surrounding her—smiling, but clearly a little overwhelmed.
At this rate they’re gonna start asking me questions, too.
Gideon quietly stood up from his leaning position against the wall and exited the atrium, headed for his room. He walked through the empty halls towards the stairwell, listening to Surelin’s muffled voice through the windows as she attempted to answer their questions.
He climbed the stairwell, and upon reaching the second floor was greeted with an unpleasant surprise. Edea stood at the top, waiting for him with a frown.
“I wish to speak with you,” she said curtly.
“That’s nice,” Gideon replied flatly as he walked past her.
She followed him, and when he reached the door to his room he rounded on her.
“Fuck off.”
“You are a guest in my home,” she snapped. “You have no right to refuse communication with me.”
Gideon frowned deeply and turned back around to enter his room. Edea followed him inside, and he growled with frustration at her as she closed the door.
“Are you a man or a dog?” she asked. “Sit down. Believe me, I have no desire to speak with you any longer than necessary.”
He squinted at her, weighing his options.
Much as I want to, I don’t think I can throw her old ass out. Surelin would definitely get mad.
An aggravated sigh left him as he marched towards his bed. After sitting down, he noticed his ruck resting in the corner of the room, looking suspiciously empty.
Edea sat down in the empty armchair as Gideon regained his feet and walked over to the armoire, opening it. His clothing had been folded neatly and placed inside the armoire’s small cubby pockets. The bags full of denars, along with the other items from his ruck, had been stacked inside the armoire’s largest cubby.
“And now you see how you've already benefitted from our arrangement,” Edea said dryly.
He shut the armoire’s doors and walked over to the bed, pushing his claymore out of the way before plopping down.
“Get on with it,” he said impatiently.
She folded her hands in her lap before beginning.
“I will be blunt, since subtlety is an art that is lost on one such as you. Whatever romantic interactions you may have had with my granddaughter—”
“That’s none of your fucking buisiness.”
“—up to this point are irrelevant. Of course it is my business, you ignorant cretin. I am Surelin’s grandmother, which means I have every right to ensure her wellbeing. Her inexperience and circumstances have rendered her incapable of seeing you for what you truly are, but I am not so easily misled. Men like you carve your malicious intent in bloody characters all across the face of the world. You create nothing, and leave only destruction in your wake.”
Gideon glared at Edea as she continued. “From the day she was born, I bent my considerable power towards ensuring that child could live in perfect comfort and security. And as a result she dwelled in fantasy, imagining herself as someone who could use the position she was born into to shape the world according to her will. Despite all my efforts to educate her, she still sees the world for how she wants it to be, not for how it truly is. She is incapable of proper judgment—”
He interrupted her with a harsh, barking laugh. “After everything that’s happened you’re still going to act like you know better than her? You fucking hypocrite. Surelin knows much better than you just how terrible the world can be.”
Edea narrowed her eyes at him, but said nothing. They stared at one another in silence for several long moments before Gideon continued.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right about me,” he sneered. “Maybe I have caused bloody destruction. But I know who you are, too. People like you hire people like me to cause destruction in a way that suits you.”
He scoffed, and studied her for a moment before continuing.
“You think you’re powerful because people jump all over themselves to do your bidding. But you’re not powerful—you’re completely fucking dependent on the strength of others. And don’t ever make the mistake of thinking I am one of those people. You can’t sit there and talk your arrogant horseshit to me. You could be Surelin’s pet goat for all—”
“I am offering you a truce."
He squinted at her. “...A truce? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I will refrain from further attempts to exclude you. In return, you will continue to support Surelin and refrain from pursuing her.”
“...Further attempts. You were behind the guards stopping me at the wall.”
A grim smile spread across Edea’s face. Gideon was quiet for a little while, thinking.
“No,” he said eventually. “Why should I agree to this? I don't need your approval, and I don’t give a single shit about what you think of me. You’re in no position to bargain, here."
"Also," he continued, "Surelin and I aren't like that. Ask her yourself."
Edea frowned at him. "Are you dense or simply being dishonest? I knew once she'd told me about your role in her rescue that something must exist between you."
"It's not like that," he insisted.
“Dense, then," she said. "In any case, must I really explain why having peace between us is necessary for Surelin’s success? Your presence is important for her. I freely admit it. But I am no less important. For the sake of her wellbeing, we must come to a lasting agreement.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
He frowned. Something’s up with this. She’s going to benefit from a truce in some way I don’t understand yet.
“What’s your angle in this?” he asked.
A look of disgust crossed her face. “...My angle?”
“Yeah. What else are you getting out of a truce?”
“Nothing beyond what I’ve already stated. I will leave you be, and you will continue to support Surelin.”
The realization came to him then, and he chuckled darkly.
“That’s what it is. You saw how Surelin beat Celaena and realized I gave her excellent training. You want me to continue training her.”
Edea blinked slowly. “...That is not—”
“You know, I’ve never seen anyone with more raw talent than Surelin. If you’d given her training from a younger age she’d be one of the best sword fighters in Western Lothringia by now. Maybe the best.”
She glared at him. “That would be utterly undignified behavior for a Forelian princess.”
“Yeah? Well, I guess it’s just too bad for Surelin you felt that way.”
Hatred burned in Edea’s eyes as she stood up. Gideon stood as well.
“Protect my granddaughter, mercenary,” she said, extending her hand. “And continue training her. I'd intended to demand you cease your romantic pursuit of her as well, but I see now how feckless you truly are.”
Gideon quickly shook her hand, then waved her towards the door.
“Get out.”
She exited the room wordlessly, and quietly shut the door behind her.
----------------------------------------
Len returned to the estate a few hours later, and soon after people began to gather in the dining room for the briefing. It was well past sundown by the time they were nearly ready, and a large bundle of lit candles set on the table cast flickering shadows over the ceiling and walls. Along with the candles, several trays filled with small sandwiches had been placed on the table, and were being emptied out quickly by the room's inhabitants.
All of the soldiers Gideon had seen around the villa had shown up, sitting at the table or leaning against the walls. Edea sat at the head of the table, with Len standing behind her to her left. Gideon stood by the wall near the door, listening to the idle chatter filling the room as everyone waited for Surelin and Celaena to arrive.
An unfamiliar Losoan man with short brown hair also stood behind Edea, beside Len. He wore a long gray overcoat over a white tunic and white breeches, his hands resting in the overcoat’s pockets. The man was thin, with above average looks, and Gideon guessed him to be somewhere in his mid thirties. When he noticed Gideon’s attention on him he flashed a disarming smile.
“How are we this evening?” Len asked the room. “Ready for a royal rescue?”
He received a chorus of motivated affirmations, and smiled in response.
“Yes, as am I. I think we’ve all been waiting for this moment for a very long time.”
The soldiers returned his smile. There seemed to be a sense of anticipation in the room, an eagerness to finally strike back against the enemy.
The dining room door opened, and Surelin stepped inside, followed closely by Celaena. Gideon was surprised to see that Surelin was wearing a brand new chainmail coat—the links glinting here and there in the candlelight—underneath a leather armor chest piece. With her sheathed broadsword tied to her belt, she looked every bit like a warrior, ready for battle.
Murmurs of approval filled the room as everyone’s gaze was drawn to her.
“Does it fit you?” Edea asked.
Surelin nodded. “Yes, grandmother. Thank you.”
A small frown crossed Edea’s face. “...Do not think that armor will allow you to take unnecessary risks. As a leader, you must remain in the rear. Remember that well.”
“I understood you the first two times,” Surelin replied sharply.
Gideon also frowned. "Since when are you going with them?"
"Since I heard they were going to rescue my brother."
He scowled at her, but said nothing else.
“Now that we are fully assembled,” Len began. “I would like to introduce Doctor Silas. He will be joining Her Majesty’s retinue permanently. If, Kali forbid, any of us are injured, Doctor Silas will care for us.”
Silas looked around the room with the same disarming smile.
“Hello. Try your best not to get injured. Blood is very hard to wash out of clothing.”
A moment of awkward, uncomfortable silence passed over the room before Len continued.
“We will begin the briefing by stating the political objectives of the operation. Ma’am?”
Edea’s gaze lingered on Surelin for a moment before she began.
“You all know that my grandson, your prince, is being held in bondage on the Capella’s estate. Rescuing him is reason enough to launch an assault. However, this assault will also serve a second purpose, one that is just as important as saving the prince.”
“The disparate resistance groups within the city’s slaves are unwilling to coordinate with us to undermine the efforts of Loso’s great houses beyond providing intelligence. They are hesitant to accept our leadership because they believe we do not have the capacity to deal a meaningful blow against the slave masters. In a larger sense, this is true, but that does not mean we are totally powerless.”
“Rescuing Prince Edwin will send a strong signal to the resistance that we are serious about fighting the great houses, and that we have the capability to successfully conduct operations against them. Once the resistance groups are working with us, our ability to strike against the enemy will increase dramatically. It cannot be emphasized enough—rescuing the prince is the first step on the road to freeing our people.”
She looked to Len.
“This operation will be conducted in two stages,” he said. “An evacuation of the household to a new location on the south side of the city, and the attack on the Capella’s estate. Unless we have already approached you, you will be part of the second stage of the operation. The first stage will begin tomorrow morning. Of the twelve of us here, two of you have been assigned to the evacuation. Raise your hands, please.”
Celaena raised hers, along with Caeda, the light skinned woman who’d been half-asleep on guard at the hole in the wall the day before.
“These two will be protecting the rest of the household as they move our belongings to the new location. You will also be protecting Her Majesty once she is prepared to move. There will be no additional support for you, so take any measures you deem necessary to protect Her Majesty’s person.”
“I understand,” Celaena said firmly. Caeda nodded.
Gideon leveled a stare at Edea, and she returned his gaze placidly.
They can only spare two people to guard her and the servants? They must be much more desperate than they’re letting on.
“And now we come to the second stage. In order to slip past enemy surveillance, we will travel in pairs to a location on the north side of the city. Every four hours after the first pair leaves, another pair will leave the villa. Twenty-four hours from now we will all be present in the assembly area, and ready to begin.”
Len looked at Gideon, who raised an eyebrow.
“Tomorrow night, two hours after midnight, we will travel through the sewers to the Capella’s estate. As a native and the person with the most knowledge about our enemy, Gideon will be on point. The manhole on their estate should already be unlocked by one of our agents."
I haven't even agreed to do this yet and they're making me the point man?
Len continued. "Once we are on the grounds, we will move to secure the front gate as quickly and quietly as possible. From there, we will infiltrate the palace, find Prince Edwin, and free him. Our secondary objective will be to rescue any other slaves they are holding on the grounds.”
“No matter what else happens, no matter how many of us must die, we cannot leave the Capella’s estate without freeing the prince. Once we have him, we will exfiltrate through the sewers to the south side of the city. If all goes well, we will be in and out in under an hour, and we will appear in front of our new home with Prince Edwin before dawn breaks.”
“That is all. Are there any questions?”
"Yeah," said Gideon. "Even if I agree to do this, what exactly makes you think I should be on point? I'm not familiar with the sewers."
Len frowned at him. “Our agent will meet with us beforehand and provide us with directions.”
“How many other slaves are on the estate?” Surelin asked.
“Somewhere between twenty and forty.”
Startled murmuring went up. Escorting forty people off the estate and through the sewers would not be easy.
“As I said, the other slaves are a secondary objective. We must be perfectly clear-eyed and cold-blooded about this.”
One of the dark skinned men sitting at the table raised his hand, and Len nodded to him.
“How many guards are we facing?” he asked.
“At least fifteen, with more than a hundred on call if the alarm is raised. However, their reinforcements are stationed several hundred meters away, at an assembly hall near the gate. Fortunately, we will have the element of surprise. They will not be expecting a concerted attack in the dead of night. If we can secure the front gate before the alarm is raised, they will have no ability to summon help.”
A nervous silence descended over the room.
“We must prevail here,” Len said firmly. “The fate of our people rides on the success of this mission. You have been frustrated and angry ever since the fall of Forelia. We all have been. This is the first step towards rescuing our friends and family. So find your courage, and take hold of it. With Kali’s help, we cannot fail.”
He looked between two of the dark skinned men sitting at the table. “Ruvayn and Elas. You will be the first pair to leave. Gather your things, and come find me when you are ready. I will give you the directions to the assembly area. As for the rest of you—get some sleep. Tomorrow night will be one of the most important nights in all our long history.”