“What do you want?” The man's voice was deep and cold.

Pablo couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy in front of the old man. For all his wrinkles and sags underneath his eyes Pablo could tell that the commander was as strong as an ox.

“Most people greet their visitors.” Pablo said with a half baked smile.

“I'm not most people.” The man growled.

“I suppose not.” Pablo said with a defeated tone. “May I come in?”

“Is that an order?” The old man said with narrowed eyes.

Pablo chuckled but the man seemed unfazed. “Who am I to give the retired commander an order?”

“A pain in the ass.”

Pablo felt his jaw dropping but refrained from doing so before the commander noticed. The old man was always quick on his feet with an insult.

“You know, you always had a talent for riling me up.” Pablo tried his best to keep his voice even.

The old man grunted at Pablo's words as he turned back into his cabin. Pablo swore he saw a twitch on the corner of the old commander’s lips. Was that a smile forming? Maybe the old can learn new tricks.

Pablo followed the commander in and was surprised by how much bigger the cabin was on the inside. The cabin had a long hall with a lone desk sitting in the middle of the place. On one side there were provisions stacked seven feet high that could last a single man days without having to return to the city market. On the other side was a map of Nuevo Paraiso covered with notes that the commander must’ve nailed with a hammer to keep it from falling. A long piece of wool string was tied around each nail before centering around Devil’s Mountain and the royal palace.

“You’ve been busy Commander Ettos.” Pablo said as he pointed to the map on the wall.

“What do you want, Pablo?” There was weariness behind his voice. The commander grabbed a half empty bottle of tequila before chugging it down.

“Why is it every time I decide to visit someone it means I want something from them? You're just like my brother. Why can't you simply believe that I came here for no other reason than to see an old friend?”

I'm not in the mood for your games boy.” Ettor growled. The smile on Pablo's face disappeared as a drop of cold sweat fell from his brow.

“I'll cut to the chase then. I need your help Ettor.”

“Ha! How the mighty don has fallen. I'm retired. Get someone else to do your fool's bidding.” Ettor said.

“Won't you at least hear me out? I—”

Ettor raised a finger and this was enough to make Pablo's word become stuck in his chest.

“There is nothing that you can say that will ever convince me to lift a finger for that man. You've hung out with him for so long that you're even starting to act like him. Coming up to my door acting like a fool with that fake smile of yours.”

“You mean Ephidel?” Pablo guessed.

“Zephiel, Ephidel, whatever the hell name he goes by these days.”

Pablo was shocked to hear Ettor's words. “How do you know they're the same—”

“I know.” Ettor sighed as he swallowed a mouthful of tequila. “I've known for years. I also know he's connected with Joaquin's death. I would never work for that man again. In fact I have other plans regarding him.”

Was that what he had written on top of the hung map? I wonder how much he really knows. Knowledge of Zephiel's and Ephidel connection was a closely guarded secret. He expected Ettor to know at least about the dons as he would come across one of them being the commander at one point in his career. But to know about Ephidel's true identity was not something he should know about.

Pablo wanted to probe the commander on how he came to know about Ephidel's secret. But the half drunken half angry expression on Ettor's face told Pablo he wasn't going to get an answer from him. Instead Pablo focused on the second matter.

“How do you know Zephiel was involved with the previous commander's death? Is that what you've been working on on that map of yours?” Pablo asked.

“No. That's a different case I've been working on. But I couldn't find any leads beyond a few hints that lead to something up in the mountains.”

Wait, does he know about— Pablo attention was diverted as the commander continued speaking.

“I don't have any evidence to suggest that our king—” he said the word with disdain. “was involved in any way but,” Ettor chugged the remaining contents of the tequila bottle before rubbing off what spilled onto his chin, “I'm a detective. If there's one thing you oughta learn is to trust your gut. Right now my gut is screaming at me that our king is involved. Personally.”

Maybe your gut is screaming at you because you just chugged down over a day's worth of hard liquor. Pablo thought but didn't say out loud. Too scared to piss off Ettor any more.

“The liquor has nothing to do with it, you brat.”

“I hate it when you do that.” Pablo gave Ettor a half grin.

The old man was always good at deciphering what a person was thinking. Before becoming a don, Pablo always assumed it was the old man's training and years of experience as a detective and a city commander. But then he learned about the dons and the mystery abilities some people develop or are born with. Something he himself lacked.

“Get out of my house and do what you dons do best. Report me to your king.”

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Ettor's words stung Pablo to the core.

“Listen to me you senile old bastard,” Pablo leaned towards Ettor's face. There was rage in his chest. “Do you really think I worked so hard, read all those books, and earned enough wealth solely so I could live the high life behind those golden gates? No! I did it because I needed to. To gain access to contacts, influence and resources needed to realize my plan on killing Ephidel.”

When the words left Pablo's mouth he turned towards the house door as if to find one of the dons there with a fat smile on their face. To say out loud that you were planning on killing someone could land you in a cell. To say that you were planning on killing the city ruler… That was another matter entirely.

If any of the dons were to find out about his plans then everything he had worked so hard to achieve would be for naught. Ettor had a way of getting under his skin. If Pablo doesn't learn to control himself around Ettor then he could kiss his life away. Possibly even his soul.

The first thing Pablo noticed when he turned back to the retired commander was the daze in his eyes beginning to clear. As if life was returning to those old eyes.

“Why… why would you want to kill Ephidel?”

Pablo took a step back and raised his arms into the air. “To become king.” Pablo said smiling and as if talking to an audience.

Ettor glared at Pablo.

“What were you expecting? A speech about how the king has wronged me? Or maybe something about how I'm the last remaining survivor of a family he personally had a hand in killing? You've known me since my beggar days Ettor. You should know why I really want to become king.

Ettor didn't say a word. Pablo could tell he Ettor was losing his patience with him.

Pablo felt a wave of emptiness in his chest. He scratched his head as he mustered up the strength to say the words that were in his head.

“The original plan was to become Zephiel's advisor. His right hand as you would. I'm tired of all this bullshit. Living like animals behind these walls. Seeing people suffered the way I suffered. There's a lot of money behind the inner walls Ettor. All of it hoarded by a few men who do nothing but grow fat as others go day by day with nothing. So yes I want to be king. But because I know I CAN MAKE THE CHANGE.”

When Pablo finished talking he felt alive. He felt like he could take on whatever obstacle came before him. The only thing that made the euphoria even better was seeing the unexpected smile form on Ettor's lips.

“Twenty years.” Ettor said.

Ettor's words confused Pablo.

“It only took you twenty years to show me what I saw in you and your brother when I caught you stealing from that fruit merchant.”

“The pears weren't worth the effort. But what did you see exactly?” Pablo's curiosity was enticed.

“I saw a boy who had the drive to make a change. Even if that boy didn't see it yet.”

Ettor lifted himself from his chair. “Now Pablo. Why did you come here? What is it that you want from me?”

“First I need to know. Did you hear about the robbery?”

“You mean the sighting of the glowing boy? It's the only thing people are talking about these days.”

Pablo checked the windows and looked at the forest. Ettor must've read his mind as he said, “relax. Your colleagues won't dare venture into this forest.”

Pablo wanted to take his word for it. But he knew a lot about the dons and what they were capable of. It wouldn't surprise him if the other Zapojin they were tracking was already taken into custody.

“I've made sure of it, Pablo. You can speak freely.” Ettor's voice was soft but strong. Like a father soothing a son after a nasty fall. It wasn't a tone Pablo has heard Ettor use often. Not since Pablo and Love were kids.

“Fine.” Pablo sighed. He began to break out in a cold sweat. “The zapojin boy isn't the only one in the city. Ephidel already knows and informed us about the other one.”

Ettor didn't say a word. He just stood with his arms crossed as he listened. Pablo was glad he didn't say anything. He was already having trouble getting his words out without feeling like a don would pop out of nowhere to cut his head off.

“But this newcomer isn't from the city. He's from the outside.”

“You mean he's from the outside world. Like a village we don't know about?”

“Perhaps but think about it. If someone managed to get to the city then that person must be strong. Strong enough to survive the wilds. And you mentioned trusting your guts. Well mine is telling me that the city is going to become a warzone soon.”

“I still don't understand why you came here. Why find me after all this time?” Ettor asked.

“To raise an army. If this zapojin can survive the wilds then there's a chance he can fight off a don or two. But a battle like that could cause the city to go wild. There's already talk from the people that the mist is going to return and kill us all because of the zapojin boy. Now imagine that level of hysteria when two freaks battle in the middle of the city!”

“The people would go mad and many would die.” Ettor said.

“Commander Ettor. There's no one else who has experience training an army. Not since—” Pablo wondered how to phrase his words to not offend Ettor. He didn't have a choice. He would have to risk mentioning Joaquin. “Not since Joaquin's death three years ago. Not since the army was disbanded after the village fell. The king will be distracted with his business with the outsider. This is our only chance to raise an army that can save lives but… also take over when Ephidel least expects it.”

Pablo wondered if he had gone too far with his words. Ettor turned his back towards him. The best he could hope for was for Ettor to be thinking about his offer. Pablo already had an idea where the training could take place without arousing suspicion. But for all this to work he needed Ettor. Ettor was the cornerstone to his plans and he couldn't pull this off without his support.

“This… is crazy.” Pablo's heart dropped. Did he fail in convincing Ettor after all? Pablo's lips twisted to form a word but was stopped when Ettor's words landed on Pablo's ears. “I have three conditions.”

Pablo smiled. “Name them.”

“I want you to give me your word that you'll truly make a difference. No more lies and no more deceptions. Whatever you do I want it to be for the benefit of the common man.”

“Done.”

“Second. If you break your word I will kill you. No hesitation and no mercy.”

“That's not really a condition. More like an ultimatum.”

Ettor ignored Pablo as he said. “And finally. I will be the one to kill Zephiel.”

His words shocked Pablo. Pablo wanted to ask why he wanted to be the one to kill Zephiel but found himself nodding in agreement. Pablo's first thought was that Ettor used his sorcery to make him agree to his conditions but knew Ettor to be better than that.

“There's someone at the door. A friend of yours I think.” Ettor said.

Immediately a knock was heard coming from behind the door. Pablo opened it to see one of his spies. A young brown curly haired boy who was stationed near the farm outside the village.

“What is it, Cormag?” Pablo asked. He had never seen the young man in such a hurry to report to him.

“I bring news regarding one of the dons.”

Could it be? Pablo thought. There was a thought in the back of his head but he dared not hope. “Well then speak Cormag. What new did you bring me?”

The boy glanced at the old commander and Pablo could tell with his winced expression that he did not feel it wise to say what he knew to others besides him and him alone.

"Its alright Cormag. This is someone I trust." Pablo said as he pointed at Ettor. "Whatever is for my ears, alone, he may overhear."

"But my Lord, the news I bring meets the highest level of secrecy on your scale. Would it not be wise for us to----"

Pablo patted Cormag on the shoulder and smiled. "You can trust the old geezer. Now speak Cormag. The day grows short."

“One of the dons is dead.”