Chapter 21: Dialogues of War

Ash walked into the main room of the Blackguard Inn before it filled with its morning clientele. He was astonished at the group Kiara had managed to assemble after another week of secretive planning. He hadn’t expected her to gather so many men and women together. Each of them seemed hardened in one way or another, each of them ready for battle.

Kiara stood on a bench and began to speak.

“Thank you everyone for coming this morning. Over the last few days, I’ve reached out to each of you, hoping to find the best this city has to offer -- the strongest, the bravest. As I look upon your faces, I see that I was correct in my assessment. We are here to attack The Cuffs. This is not a simple raid. No, we are not raiders. We are warriors -- warriors about to launch a war swifter than lightning. I am not after riches, although riches we may find. I am after justice. The Chain Gang has ravaged our lands for too long. These men attack innocent travellers, kill our men, and kidnap our women. The survivors are taken as slaves. From The Cuffs, these women and children are sold and sent far from their homes. Where they end up, I cannot say. What is done to them, I dare not say. But, I promise you this: the Chain Gang will be broken. The Cuffs shall be shattered. Their slaves shall be freed. I am not interested in half-measures. I am not interested in an easy battle. I am interested in the total destruction of The Cuffs. I will not rest until every single gang member is dead. Stand with me in this fight. I cannot promise you success. I cannot promise you safety. I cannot even promise you survival. But what I can promise is the chance for justice. So, gentlemen, ladies, will you stand beside me? Will you hold the sword of justice?”

The amassed group cheered in a unified assent.

Ash peered at the faces of the men and women assembled before her. He noticed that in the middle of her speech, Scarlett and Smiles had entered and waited by the front door. Scarlett clapped slowly as the men closer to the front continued their shouting. Kiara had found men -- and a few women -- who were dedicated to vanquishing the Chain Gang. Many of them had relatives taken or killed in the skirmishes with the gang. For the most part, citizens after a single encounter with these roving bands, would seek security behind the city walls. Many of them had brewed with the desire of revenge for years. Others were simply tired of being afraid. This young black-haired woman gave them the opportunity to regain a tiny part of what they had lost.

“Come, let’s discuss our next steps,” Kiara said to the crowd as she jumped from her bench. Garrick had smoothed out a small map of the region and told the group about the logistics of their war camp.

Ash waited at the side of the room beside Sander.

“Quite the speech,” Sander said with admiration.

Ash agreed silently. His stomach tightened at the thought of all-out combat. This time, however, he didn’t fear combat as much as the reality that he or anyone else gathered here might die. He was certain of impending death. People would die. It was inevitable. His mind turned over the worthiness of the war. These people would kill and die for an unknown number of captives, of slaves. Did they gather for this selfless act? Or did they have their own private reasons? Kiara wanted revenge against those who had transgressed against her. Ash was only helping her so she would help him get out of this simulation. Sander was bored. Garrick just wanted more combat. No one in this room wished to die out of selflessness. They would die seeking their own benefit, the conclusion of their own personal narratives.

Scar and Smiles stopped before the two men.

“Well?” Scar said, cocking an eyebrow. “Will you be needing our assistance?”

Sander shook his head in laughter. “It ain’t my call, sis.”

Scar flashed him a look of disdain and said nothing more. She left their presence and lingered on the periphery of the others gathered. Smiles lingered a little longer in the presence of the two men, before silently skulking to Scar’s side.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“Do you trust them?” Sander asked.

“Trust them? Why would I trust them?” Ash fired back.

“Just asking.”

“No, I don’t. I wouldn’t,” Ash said. “But they have their own reasons. And, honestly, I think that’s enough. No one here is motivated by anything except personal gain.”

“Ah, you’re learning,” Sander said, chuckling. “It’s not a great revelation.”

“But a necessary one. I used to believe in the common good, you know. That’s the way it was out there.”

“I know it. I lived it.”

“Everything for the State and Nation. Everything for the Good of the People. Everything for the Good of the Family. But why? It’s just someone benefiting somewhere along the way.”

“Yeah, but some of that might be true. It’s a little different here though,” Sander said, taking the opposite end of his personal opinion. “These people might have their own agendas, their own plans, but that doesn’t mean we can’t come together a do something for once.” Sander analyzed Ash’s face. “Yeah, even if it’s not real.”

Ash brushed back his dark hair. He hadn’t cut it since he had selected his avatar. It had only been a few weeks, but he noticed the difference in length. Casper seemed to grow his hair faster than he did in the real world.

The men heard a handclap and the crowds dispersed. After a few moments, Kiara approached them.

“It’s settled. We’ve got a nice neat crew. The first group will be leaving in a few hours for the gas station. Simon promised to lend a few boots to those lacking proper equipment. Otherwise, I think it’s time to visit Dunstan and see what we can load into the van as far as food and weapons go. More people are packing firearms than I thought they would.” Kiara spoke with an unhideable excitement. She seemed to glow at the prospect of killing those who had filled a portion of her life with suffering.

Scar approached Kiara and placed her hand on her shoulder.

“Well?” Scar waited for an answer.

Kiara peeled her fingers from her shoulder. She disliked this sort of touch.

“It should come as no surprise that I don’t trust you.”

“You’d be stupid if you did,” Scar retorted.

“And I have more than enough fighters, as you can tell.”

Scar looked at the departing group. She lightly tossed her head back and forth as to indicate a judgemental ‘maybe’. Scar turned her attention to men, looking for them to contribute a small response to their war leader.

“Don’t look at me,” Sander said, moving his palms to his chest as though he were pushing the question away. As he did so, everyone in the group turned to Ash.

“Me?” he said.

“Yeah, what do you think?” Kiara asked.

“Uh, I think you’re right. We can’t trust them. But they have their reasons for being here. And it’s probably not to spoil our plans. If Scar wanted to harm us, she could arrest us. She runs the guard. If Smiles wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t wait for the opportunity to shoot me in the back.”

“Yeah,” Smiles spat quickly, “I’d shoot you in the face for everything you’ve taken from me.”

Sander shifted from his relaxed pose, readying himself to confront the older man.

“I think it would be stupid to trust them, but I think their intention -- I’m not going to say good, -- but they align with ours. We can trust them, and, I think, they’ll trust us because of it.”

Scar patted Ash on the cheek. “Not just a pretty face.”

Kiara wrinkled her nose. She didn’t like the matter, but she knew Ash was right. “Fine,” she said, “I won’t like it, but, for now, I’ll trust you.” Kiara shook hands with Scar. “Don’t make me regret this decision.”

“I assure you,” Scar said, her voice mellow with satisfaction, “that you won’t.”

Sander put his hand out to shake Scar’s hand, but she looked at it and didn’t react. Sander moved his outstretched hand to Smiles, who, similarly, looked at it and didn’t react. Jokingly, he moved his hand in front of Ash. Ash took it and shook it for them. “Good man,” he said with a smile.

“How many weapons are you lacking?” Scar asked Kiara.

“Almost everyone has a handgun. Just five short. Otherwise, if you wanted to give us a dozen rifles or a few explosives, a grenade or two, I’d gladly accept.”

“I’ll give you a dozen of both weapons with extra rounds. Grenades are a little harder to come by, but I have a grenade launcher with six shots in it.” Without waiting for a thank you, Scar continued. “I’ll see you at the gas station.” She left the inn.

Smiles grinned and left the three of them to join the company of a few of the other stragglers.

“This better be good,” Kiara said. “There’s no way she’ll give us that much fire power.”

“Maybe the kid is right,” Sander said. “Maybe they have their own reasons, and they’re going to see it through.”

Without another word, Kiara and Sander left to make their preparations. Ash, now alone at the bar, looked around and tried to find something to do. Without guidance, he felt a little lost. He left the bar and went to the cobbler shop, almost out of routine at this point. Simon, at least, would give him some last-minute duties.

Ash exited the inn and looked at the sun. In two days, he would become a soldier and fight his first war.