Ronin groaned as he hauled himself out of bed the next morning. Stretching his body, he cracked his neck to loosen up the pressure. His whole body hurt. He hurt in places and ways he didn’t know it was possible to hurt in. Rolling out of bed, he stumbled to his feet and looked around. The place was a disaster zone.
“At least I didn’t have too many possessions in here,” he said aloud as he took in the piles of clothes, armor, weaponry, and books that littered the floor. His desk had been tipped over along with his chairs and their contents were strewn in among the rest of the debris. Even his bed hadn’t escaped unscathed. It was a sturdy wooden framed thing, made from local timbers. The mattress was a dinosaur hide that had been stuffed with wool and topped with several blankets. Each made from either wool or fur covered hides from various animals.
He gaped when he realized the sturdy frame had been broken. He thought that must have happened when Vasylia had thrown him across the room. That woman was brutal, and all to eager to fight with him over whether she would be submitting to him as his ‘wife’. He shook his head in wonder. Such a strange custom the bugbear had. No wonder all their furniture was carved out of solid stone.
After changing his clothes, Ronin exited his tent to find K3 standing on guard duty. The Kaldarr had his helmet on, so Ronin couldn’t see his face, but he had the feeling the giant was smirking at him.
“What?” he snapped at the giant. Then, feeling guilty at taking his embarrassment out on him, he asked. “Did you switch out with someone else last night? I told you not to pull all night shifts on duty.”
“I kept watch all night boss,” the Kaldarr said with laughter in his voice. “I wasn’t about to let anyone else listen to their lord getting it handed to him by his three loving ‘wives’… besides, you know as well as I do that we can go for days without sleep in the middle of battle. I was just standing here, so I’ll be fine.” Ronin couldn’t argue the point. He was also a little relieved that no one else heard what had transpired.
“Thanks man,” Ronin said, clapping his guard on the back. “Though it was only two wives. I’ll not be dealing with Safie again.” He frowned as he remembered how rude she’d been at every interaction they’d had. Until he was unable to take it anymore and had said he rejected her as his wife. Apparently, that was a big deal, because Lily and Vasylia had taken her away after that.
“Yea,” K3 said a frown in his voice. “I’m not sure that was such a good idea boss. It might cause trouble for you going forward.” Ronin frowned at his friend, not wanting to believe it could be that big a deal.
“Perhaps,” he said at last. “But so what if it does. I couldn’t deal with her talk forever.” He was starting to regret his actions a little, but she’d brought what had happened on herself. “So, what’s our first move this morning?” he asked, figuring Owl two would have contacted K3 over a sleeping Ronin with his marching orders. That was strange, the lord receiving his orders from his assistant. Ah well, it couldn’t be helped unless Ronin wanted to take over the monumental task that Owl two was dealing with around camp… and he definitely didn’t want to do that.
“A bath sir,” K3 said letting Ronin change the subject without complaint. “You should really wash up and change your clothes, along with cleaning your armor before you go out today.” Ronin frowned, wondering if he really smelled all that bad. “Don’t worry about it sir, its completely normal after that much activity. The bath tent is just over there,” he said pointing “once you’re cleaned up and changed Owl two wants you to make another round of camp before your meeting starts.”
Nodding his head at that, Ronin gathered up some fresh clothes and his armor cleaning supplies and made for a bath. He sniffed himself under the arm as he walked, trying to see if he could detect what K3 was referring to too. He smelled something odd on himself he supposed, but not having smelled it before he didn’t recognize the odor. It probably was a good idea to just get himself cleaned up after all. He’d have a nice soak to clear the negative thoughts from his mind.
Once he’d cleaned his body, changed his clothes and donned his armor again, Ronin felt like a new man. The aches and bruises from last night had faded thanks to his advanced recovery rate and he was ready to start the day. He wondered what the bugbear women were up to today but shook the thought aside just as fast as it had surfaced. He didn’t need the distraction right now, so he put last night’s confrontation completely out of his mind.
“Should I clean up the tent before we go?” he wondered aloud as he came back out of his tent again, in fresh clothes and clean armor.
“That won’t be necessary, boss.” K3 said falling into step behind Ronin. “The food corps will have it cleaned back up in no time. They really love taking care of you sir, it would be a shame to deprive them of the opportunity.” Ronin didn’t know how he felt about that, but it was true that the corps Guts had put together from the working-class goblin men was highly loyal to him and happy to do any manual chores if it meant helping him out.
“Very well” Ronin said, giving in. “Let’s go make our rounds then.” With a nod to each other, the pair exited the southern tunnel and entered the chaos of the valley once more.
Ronin’s expression darkened upon exiting the tunnel and viewing the tent city. The people were agitated, several of the bugbears were yelling and pushing each other. A large group of them was forming in an open space, and Ronin felt a sinking feeling inside when he realized that it was centered around Safie.
“What is going on?” he asked, as he made his way forward towards the group. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the group was made up of Halican’s old followers. They were armored and were raising their weapons against the scout teams that had reacted to the ruckus. It looked a little comical, the goblins who weren’t any taller than four feet, facing off against the bugbears who stood around seven feet tall. Ronin knew that the size difference wasn’t everything, with the powerful crossbows Owl two had designed, the scout team was more than a match for anyone. At least until they entered melee range.
“What is going on here?” Ronin repeated loudly when he’d reached the area where the bugbears were congregating. Looking around he also saw that Lily was present with her four warriors as was Vasylia surrounded by a small knot of warriors, most of whom had seen too many years to be considered fighting fit.
“I’m sorry my lord,” Lily said stepping forward to meet him. “I tried to contain the fall out, but when you rejected Safie as your third wife her family decided they wouldn’t follow you anymore.” Ronin looked at her in confusion.
“What do you mean?” he asked, trying to come to grips with what he was seeing. It looked like over one hundred, fully a third of the fighting capable bugbears were gearing up for combat.
“The clans are formed from families, my lord.” Vasylia said in Lily’s place, “These men here are what’s left of my family. Harken,” she gestured towards the old bugbear who’d just arrived on the scene with another fifty or so men, fully half of which were either too young or too old to be effective in combat. “Is leading what’s left of his family. We were brought together by marriage, and marriage has kept us together. Without that marriage, Safie’s family feels no need to stay under your banner.”
Ronin nodded to her in thanks, looking at the different groups of bugbears who were gathering on the field. Only the group around the glaring Safie held a majority of young healthy-looking men. The others were all either too young or too old. Leading Ronin to the belief that they’d stayed out of combat while the other families did the fighting and the dying. Only having the courage to act like this because they believed no one could oppose them now.
“Is this really what you want?” he asked Safie as he saw three full squads of Benjamin's men march into the square. They were armed with Kaldarr inspired rifles and the grizzled Benjamin walked at their head, a sour look on his face.
“What I want?” Safie shrieked, a hint of insanity in her eyes. “Of course not you fool. I want to lead this rabble back in my clan city. I want to be rid of you furless abominations. I want to go back to before all this happened… but I can’t do that now can I? thanks to you, I can’t even retain my position as the lowest of your wives. So, I’m leaving with my family. We’ll find somewhere else to call home. Away from you stinking elves and human filth.”
This had all escalated too fast. Ronin thought back to the night before, when he’d told her he’d had enough of her slandering him and Vasylia. He’d told her he hadn’t wanted her as a wife if that’s how she was going to be. Lily and Vasylia had tried to warn him that it wasn’t a good idea, but how could he have known that a few words could cause this? he stood there pondering what to do as Owl two, Hunter, Guts and the rest of his inner circle that weren’t out on the ships arrived.
“Safie,” he began slowly. Hoping he could salvage the situation. “I’m sorry I told you to leave ok, can we just calm down and talk about this?”
“How can I calm down?” she asked, her voice getting higher pitched as she screeched at him. “Your men have detained seven members of my family, including my older brother and I’m told you plan to execute them yourself today. You kill my husband, ruin my dreams, now you plan to kill my kin and only brother and you want me to calm down?”
“What?” Ronin thought, trying to understand what she was talking about.
“The men who attacked the goblins, my lord.” K3 said helpfully from beside Ronin, having noticed his confusion. “They’re locked up in the damaged drop ship along with a few others who stole food and one kid who killed somebody.” Hearing K3’s explanation, it was clear his bodyguard didn’t know Ronin had already been informed about them. He nodded his thanks before turning his attention back to the growing disaster in his camp.
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“Quite the dilemma you’ve created, White flame.” Elyria said from right beside him. He didn’t know when she’d gotten there but her comments were as useful as ever. The wood elves were filing into the area now too. It looked like everyone who’d been brought back via the ships was now in attendance.
“Your brother and his friends committed crimes against their fellow syndicate members.” Ronin said trying to keep his voice calm. “I didn’t force them to do that, no more than I forced Halican to demand I hand over my people and my ships when we first arrived at your clan city. Our customs aren’t the same, Safie. But I’m trying to be respectful of them while we work everything out.” He didn’t think his words were having any effect on her, but Owl two’s voice coming from right beside him confirmed it.
“I’m sorry my lord,” he said as he arrived beside Ronin at last. “I didn’t realize that this family of bugbears were so unreasonable. I’m afraid that there is no making her see reason at this point.”
“Oh yea?” Ronin snapped angrily. “So, what would you suggest then?” He was angry and didn’t really intend to take it out on his assistant, but the android didn’t seem to be bothered by his tone, only acting on his words themselves.
“Everyone who isn’t involved with this situation, please move behind our lord’s position.” He said, projecting his voice out over several speakers that Ronin hadn’t seen before. The volume of his words filled the entire camp and anyone who hadn’t known about the confrontation would now. “Do it now, thank you.” The android said again when people hesitated to move.
“What are you doing?” Ronin asked Owl two, worried that he knew exactly what he was doing.
“Anyone involved who wishes to withdraw from this conflict please drop your weapons and move to this side of the line.” He said, now directing his words at the members of Safie’s family. None of them reacted to his words, just sneering and shouting at him to return their kin.
“I’ve cleared the field, my lord.” Owl two said turning to Ronin again. “It is up to you to give the order.” Ronin stared at the more than one hundred able bodied fighters who were standing in front of him as he listened to Owl two’s words.
“Lily,” he said turning to his first wife desperately. “Is there anything I can do to stop this coming to blows?” his face fell when she shook her head.
“I’m sorry my lord.” She said sadly, “I’m afraid that even if you hadn’t lost your temper with her last night that this would have happened anyway. We can be very protective of our families, and she’s lost too much to back down now.” Ronin nodded, looking back at the men and women gathered against him sadly. He didn’t understand it, he didn’t want to understand it, but it was what it was. Unslinging the railgun from his equipment harness, he turned to his people.
“Fire on three.” He said, sighting on Safie’s head. He didn’t want her to have to suffer, so he planned to take her out himself. “One, two, three.” The simultaneous cracking of gunfire and the twang of crossbows split the air. They were also joined by several dozen arrows, and Ronin was gratified to see that Unyielding oak and her people had joined in at his order to fire.
It was over in a matter of seconds. The bugbear’s unable to hold up against the combined fire of Ronin’s more advanced weaponry. He tried in vain to get the sight of Safie’s head exploding out of his vision, but it was stuck there. He knew that it would be haunting his nightmares for a long time to come.
“A pity,” he heard Elyria saying from beside him. When he turned his angry glare on her however, she was nowhere to be seen. He didn’t know where she’d gone, but he was glad she hadn’t taken issue with the massacre. He was having a hard enough time coming to terms with how quickly all those men and women had been killed as it was. He really didn’t want to deal with her on top of that.
“Food corps,” he called out and was relieved to see that Guts stepped up without hesitation.
“Yea boss?” he asked, banging his fist against his breast plate in the Owl team salute.
“Can you get this mess cleaned up please?” he asked, looking back at the pile of bodies in disgust, most of which was aimed at himself. “Pull their equipment, get it cleaned up and into the cave. Then bury them somewhere out of the way.”
“You got it boss,” Guts said with another salute. He began barking orders at his own people who jumped to action right away. It was a shame the goblins were so small; they really were the best people he had. Shaking his head Ronin turned around.
“I’m sorry this happened and that you had to see it.” He called out to the men and women who were staring in shock at the hundred some bodies that had been living breathing people just moments before. Perhaps they’d expected some kind of protracted battle to take place here or something. Sadly, with firearms at their disposal, there wasn’t much chance a group armed with maces and war hammers was going to put up much of a fight.
“Go back to your tents. We’ll get this mess cleaned up soon enough.” He continued looking at as many faces as he could. “I didn’t do this happily, nor easily. But I did it all the same. Because I’m committed to the safety of our forming syndicate. I want this to be a safe place for our people. Not only from our enemies, but from within as well. I won’t tolerate behavior that can harm our people. Thank you all. I won’t abuse your trust.” It wasn’t much of a speech, but he wasn’t really in the mood for speeches. He just told them what he felt, let them do with it what they will.
“I’m going back to my tent,” he told Owl two. “I want to take care of the criminals as soon as possible though, so once you’ve got them out send someone to get me. I don’t want to draw this out. Let’s get it over with so we can move on from this bloody day.”
“Of course, my lord.” Owl two said with a bow. His bow was repeated by all those who were still present, and Ronin returned to the southern tunnel only minutes after he’d exited it, feeling the weight of their stares on his back as he left.
* * *
Ronin hadn’t been seated at his desk for very long when a goblin runner came to get him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes in frustration. He’d expected at least a little longer to collect himself before he had to go back out there. Thanking the goblin, whom he didn’t recognize, Ronin got back on his feet and left his tent.
“Are you ready for this?” K3 asked him, when he exited. He supposed his face must look pretty bad. Perhaps he should start wearing his helmet again all the time? he’d stopped wearing it outside of combat because he was always talking with people now, and not being able to show expression had been hampering him.
“Does it matter?” he shot back, a little irritated at the question. “I don’t know,” he said after a moment. “All those people, K3. They’re dead now. We wasted so much time and resources getting them here just to kill them? what’s worse, though I feel like a villain even mentioning it, is that they were the lion’s share of the able-bodied bugbears… this is going to hurt our combat effectiveness a lot.” They walked in silence for a little while before K3 answered.
“Will it though?” he asked, the question startling Ronin out of his daze. “Think about it sir. Why was that family the least effected by the locust war? Why was that family entirely responsible for the goblin attacks? How effective in combat do you think they would have been for you, since they didn’t even fight for their own home? From a practical standpoint sir, I think you removed a problem before it could rear its head.”
Ronin nodded at the words. They were likely true, and someday he might come to believe them. Right now, however, he couldn’t get the image of Safie’s flopping body out of his mind. Why did this have to happen? it felt like it came out of nowhere. There wasn’t any build up to a betrayal like he read about in the books… no, his people had arrested a few malcontents, he’d refused a vial woman an honored position, and they’d revolted. He pondered on that, wondering how he hadn’t known anything beforehand.
“K3,” he said grasping at an idea that he’d overlooked before. “I’m too disconnected from the people here.” The grunt K3 gave him at those words meant it was obvious to his guard, but Ronin hadn’t realized it before now. “That’s why Owl two wants me to go spend time with them, to play cards with them… it might not have prevented what happened here, but it might prevent something like this from happening again…” his mind was a blur, thinking about how the prince and the captain each handled situations with their men.
“I should probably have an information network set up as well,” he mused. “In the stories, all the important people have spies who can inform them of when things like what happened today are brewing… I was too removed from the situation to have noticed anything, but if I’d had ears on the ground, I might have noticed… the poor living conditions, the poorly dug latrines. We’ve all been focusing on the battles but ignoring the people.” He was rambling now, and he knew it. Still, K3 just walked silently beside him, throwing out the occasional grunt to show Ronin that he was listening.
“I’ll need to make a trip out to the queen soon, but apart from that… Owl two and Benjamin can focus on preparing for the undercity battle. I’ll spend the next few weeks with the people.” They’d exited the tunnel at that point, so Ronin stopped talking but his head was still buzzing with ideas. He wasn’t any good at this leadership business, but he was going to try his best. He scoffed to himself; he hadn’t even thought about the points the bugbear massacre would cost him. Perhaps that meant he was at least headed in the right direction.
He didn’t need to be told where to go. The large crowd of people was sufficient to lead him. He glanced at the field where the bugbears had died. It was still covered with bodies. Goblins were hard at work, rolling the giant forms onto wheeled carts and hauling them away. There were just so many of them, and so few of the food corps that it was likely to take a while.
“Excuse me,” Ronin said politely to a group of mixed races who were blocking the path forward.
“Shove off pal, I was here f…” a big bugbear started to say as he turned to face the interloper. The words died in his throat however when he noticed who’d been addressing him. “My apologies, lord white flame.” He said bowing deeply and backing away. He bumped into other people as he backed up, causing a wave to go through the crowd as the people noticed who was there and backed up themselves.
“Thank you,” Ronin said inclining his head at the people. He moved through the opening they had created for him, his feet sinking into the muddy dirt of the path. He had to get this taken care of, he was sure it was harming morale.
Exiting the crowd into a circle they’d formed, Ronin looked on to see Benjamin at the head of a group of prisoners. There were twenty of them, but none of them were bound. Instead, each had a collar around their neck that bound them in place more securely than any ropes could.
“Greetings lord Ronin,” Benjamin said with a deep bow that all his men and a few in the crowd mirrored. “The prisoners, my lord.” He continued, gesturing behind him at the collared people. There were more than ronin expected. He hadn’t asked when Owl two had been telling him what had been done. Twenty people? that seems like a lot for only being here a few days.
“Thank you, lieutenant.” Ronin said with an incline of his head. Turning in a slow circle, he addressed the gathered crowd. “I know this is a bad time for a trial.” He said in a carrying voice, “but is there ever a good time for one? these people have done wrong by their fellow syndicate members and will be judged accordingly.” Walking up to the first person in line, an old human, Ronin stopped in front of him and asked. “Lieutenant, what is this man charged with?”