It took a month to go from Kato Kanali to the work camp. Sailing in a boat, he was shackled to the ground while forced to row when the wind wasn’t favorable. Everything was stripped from him, apart from the medal he earned from killing Titus. In ragged clothes, he was stuffed with nearly a hundred people squeezed onto the boat who were common criminals.
When they left fully traversed the lake, they then sailed down the Kyknos river. It was strange, as they stopped in the town of Kinkos for supplies, it was as if Anson was back at war. On the shores of the Starved Sea only stood villages and towns that contained no Kadons.
Soon reaching the source of the river, they disembarked and marched for about a day to the work camp. All along the way they were surrounded by strips of forest where the trees had been cleared. Reaching the camp in the middle of the night, they were rushed into their sleeping halls without any noise or sign to the current occupants of the camp that a fresh new batch of workers had come in. He didn’t even see the sparling operation of work managers, thousands of prisoners, cooks, and cleaners until the next day’s dawn. Even then Anson didn’t get a good look as he was immediately forced out into the forest to cut down trees, drag them down to the river, camp for a day, and then attached them to a boat where they would be shipped down the river back to Kyknos.
Anson didn’t talk to anyone the first couple of days. Only regretting things, he couldn’t change, wondering what everyone in the outside world was up to, and fantasizing that Baldwyn escape along with Cyril reclaiming his freedom. If only he was dead, would he know the answer to these questions, but Deo had denied him.
On the fifth full workday. July 25th, year 501 of the 3rd Era, Anson had come back from dropping a log off and arrived back in base. There was great commotion in the camp, work managers were flustered as they tried to calm down the prisoners as they stopped working, demanding their immediate release. Anson and his crew immediately sat down, chained to posts as they figured out what was happening, after failing to figure it out himself, Anson decided to speak up and ask someone next to him what was happening. However, the man was as clueless as he was.
The work managers kept passing around a letter, which came in what seemed to be a fancy letter and didn’t know what to do as they argued with each other. But as time passed, they reached a decision and told everyone to quiet down. They fixed up a quick podium so the head manger—a short yet muscular looking man—could announce what had happened. “I have some good news for some of you, and bad news for others. I have been given a list, to which I am not allowed to disclose the reason for, of people to be immediately brought back to Kato Kanali. Everyone else shall continue to their work as usual until further notice.” There was a pause as it seemed the man considered announcing the entire list right there and then, but instead put the list in his pocket. “We shall meet with everyone individually, and if you are on the list, you will leave quietly without fanfare. Understood?” There was silence. “Okay. Work is cancelled for the day. Head back to the sleeping halls.”
Anson and everyone else waited in the sleeping halls for about half an hour until anyone was called. It soon became apparent they were going alphabetical by first name, so, to the advantage of Anson, he was called within the hour. When he was summoned from the sleeping halls, a work manager walked him to the head office, where he walked past the main office and into the storage closet. In there stood three other work managers, including the head one. As the man who walked him closed the door to the storage closet, the head work manager apologized. “I’m afraid we don’t want anyone sneaking out of their sleeping halls and hearing who and who isn’t leaving before they are able.”
“I understand,” said Anson.
The head manger pulled out the list from his pocket and double checked the names. “Based on what you are tired of, I am shocked that you have been called back. The list has even been personally signed by the Chairman, including you specifically. Though, the crimes you have been sent here for are usually be considered beyond excusable.”
Anson asked the man to clarify. “May I see the signature,” he asked. The manager obliged, showing only the bright purple ink that the man had signed the list with before hiding it again to not show anyone’s name.
Anson remained silent as the head work manger tried explaining that even though he was deeply shocked by the decision he would follow through and send him back to Kato Kanali. All the while, Anson’s brain clawed for answers. It made no sense, but did anything these days? It can’t be him? Right? “I’m sorry,” said Anson. “Can I please know the reason.”
“I told you already that I cannot.”
Pulling out the medal he earned from killing Titus, Anson asked again, though awkwardly as he cringed at the thought of using such a thing for his advantage. Especially here. However, the manager relented as he said: “I can tell you one thing. It specifically states that the decision was only possible because of certain ‘advisors’ to the Chairman.”
“Thank you,” Anson said as he leaned back. I should have seen it coming. A smirk even formed on his face. “Something funny?” the manager asked.
“No sir,” Anson quickly responded. “It’s just I was thinking of someone else. May I ask if someone from another work camp is on that list? Either freed or not?”
“Even if this list said so, I would not say.”
Anson nodded and asked if there was anything else. The manager said no and wished him luck. Afterward, he was escorted to a group of five or six other people who began to make their way to the boat to Kato Kanali. As they reached it, they waited for about half a day as newly freed men now trickled onto the boat. They were no longer forced to row, instead enjoying the fresh air from the deck as they made their way to drop off logs at Kyknos before being told to board another boat back to the capital.
A day after they boarded, Anson was leaning against the edge of the ship taking in the cool river breeze. Sailors speed-walked by as adjustments were always needed and former prisoners lazily walked around the ship with nothing better to do. Anson still bit his tongue at the thought of going back to Kato Kanali. He could never be certain of what Mercenary Commander Eros wanted of him, but every idea wasn’t pleasant. The most likely being that Eros was trying to cut off loose ends. Getting rid of any man who may wish to usurp his role. Ironically, if Anson was in Eros’ position, he convinced himself that staying in the camp would be the most effective solution, or exile. Why would you even want a man who tried to overthrow the country near the capital? The thought made him reconsider the negative futures that Eros’ could have had planned for him. Maybe the man did actually have something bright in Anson’s future? However, as Anson stood there looking out into the river, and the shore with endless forest behind it, he once again became skeptical of a hopeful future in the capital.
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A moment later, a young man, seemingly a teenager, approached Anson. He was skinny and slouched forward. The young man didn’t say anything for a moment as he dragged his feet across the deck until he was close enough that he could lean on the edge of the boat. The two stood there in silence. Looking out to the shore and river not knowing what to say. Surely he came next to me for a reason. There’s plenty of room elsewhere on the boat. And that is when Anson realized that he hadn’t talked to someone for about a day. Not a sailor, former prisoner, or even himself. So, he tried to think of something to say. “Nice day, huh?” Anson asked.
The man turned his head in shock in the question. “What-yes, yes, it is.” There was silence once more. Anson waited for the young man to continue the conversation and while he did, he watched a flock of birds fly alongside the boat, almost guiding it along the river. But before he could appreciate it more, the young man spoke once again. “What were you in the camp for?”
Like the young man’s reaction to his original question, Anson was shock at the suddenness of the young man’s inquiry. He considered lying, but what was the point? It wasn’t like he was going to get arrested. Besides, he didn’t have much time to come up with a lie. “I was in the camp for treason.” Anson paused thinking that might be enough, but the young man leaned his head forward, looking for more. “I was arrested for trying to overthrow the Chairman in a coup.”
The young man nodded his head, impressed with the response. Or that’s at least what Anson figured. “That’s certainly better than mine. I just stole military cargo.”
Anson nodded along, not thinking of it much, but before the silence could settle in again, Anson thought it didn’t make sense. “They sent you a pardon for something like that?”
“Why wouldn’t they?” asked the young man back, slightly offended.
“I don’t know, seems like something they don’t give out pardons for. I just don’t seem much opportunity for reconsideration.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Though, we’ll just have to see when we get there. Speaking of which,” the young man turned his body toward Anson. “You said you were charged with treason, why were you let out?”
Once again, Anson didn’t know whether to say what he was truly thinking. Surely, Mercenary Commander Eros was certainly behind the pardon, but he didn’t want to just say that to random people, instead he said: “I don’t know. Probably just using this pardon so I can do something for the Chairman.”
The young man nodded. “How did you try to overthrow the Chairman exactly?”
Anson turned to face the young man. “I stole his shares,” he responded. “They caught me red-handed.”
“That’s quite a feat. I’m sure the public announcers loved you.”
“Yeah, they probably did.”
“Well,” the young man said as he stretched. “If everything ends up alright and you don’t know what to do. I have some connections with the Kadon Triad. Though, it’s been some years since I talked to them, so I need time to get back into contact. They probably won’t recognize me. I was a child last time I was in the capital.” At the beginning of the sentence, he sounded confident, but now he just seemed confused.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” responded Anson. “I don’t really like getting caught up in the triad side of things.” He looked down at the moment remembering that troubled day. He no longer seemed like the same man. A man who could pull something off like that. Instead, he looked down as his worn-out feet and frown grew on his face.
The young man had walked away by now, not noticing Anson’s sudden state of grief. “Hey!” Anson called out to get his attention. The young man swiftly turned. “Don’t get involved in anything you don’t understand. Just a note.” Anson said. The young man nodded before walking away again. Anson went back to thinking what could await him in Kato Kanali, he questioned, given enough time, if he would be able to be the same man he was that fateful day. Deo was right. He thought to himself. Being tormented by his failure and killings is worse than death.
Time passed with Anson not getting into anymore conversations like he did with the young man. But when they reached the Kyknos, Anson didn’t board the other boat, instead heading into town and walking to the nearest public announcer’s office. Stepping on dry land felt better than Anson expected, so while on his way to the public announcer’s office, he made sure to visit as many shops as he could without leaving too little time to do what he meant to do and leaving for the boat again. There was a fruit market, a small park with children and their parents, dozens of carriages going down the street, all the while, by himself, Anson watched as he wondered what these people’s lives were like.
Nearly all would amount to nothing. Nowhere near the center of politics. At best, they were in a hub for trade in the southwest of the Lake Republic. If someone somehow here became wealthy or famous, they would most likely have to do it in Kato Kanali. However, unlike that stench-filled city, Kyknos seemed content. Everyone here went about their business and any concept of a “crisis” must have happened kilometers away and the local population’s experience limited to stories told by elders or neighbors.
Eventually, he reached the office, almost missing the sign as he was lost in his thoughts. Entering the building, he asked the seemingly bored clerk, leaning at his post, to pull last month’s public announcer’s statements. “You got money for that?” the man asked. Anson vainly looked for money in his pockets but couldn't find any.
“How about this,” Anson offered. “Is Mercenary Commander Eros mentioned in any of them.”
“I am not about to look for all the announcements mentioning Mercenary Commander Eros. Do you know how many—”
“So, there is stuff mentioning him?” Anson asked. The clerk slowly nodded, probably wondering if there was something wrong with him. “Can you just tell me the biggest parts that you remember? Talking to a stranger can’t cost money, right?”
The clerk sighed and agreed. “Sometime a couple of weeks ago, he was appointed the head general of the newly formed regular service. Then there was an interview or something…it was about… I don’t know, if you really—”
“No, that’s fine, thanks,” Anson said. Already making his way back outside. Before the clerk could say anything more, Anson had already closed the door behind him and made his way to the boat he was supposed to board. Along the way, he was unsure to make of the message. He certainly wanted to believe on thing, but even then, his fate would be uncertain. Would a ‘general Eros’ be more sympathetic to me or more determined to kill me? He was confused about what do to. Until that is, he reached and stood on the docks, staring at it. And as he did, he realized that no one was forcing him to board the ship. He simply looked at it smiling as he had a realization. Goddamn, Mercenary Commander Eros. Motherfucker must have taken control of the country without lifting a finger. I didn’t see any bags of shares in my stagecoach with Osman while going to the Chairman’s office so it must have been in the one with Deo or Cyril. He didn’t know what would happen to him if he got on that boat. Would he actually be forgiven or killed as soon as he arrived just so that the kill could be verified by the man in charge. However, if he stayed here, he would have no money and would probably be homeless for a week or two. But at least he knew what that was like. He only did it for more than a decade with Ahmed by his side.
If Mercenary Commander Eros was able to dupe Chairman Hektor Daniels, surely, he thought he could trick me to come back to Kato Kanali one last time to finish me off. No loose strings. So, making the easiest decision of his life, Anson turned back around and made his way back into town. As he looked for the nearest place for a job, Anson thought of Baldwyn. Maybe he escaped, maybe he didn’t. If he did, it would probably be for the best that Anson didn’t know.
And for Cyril. Maybe the man would come through Kyknos on his way to the Expert’s Commonwealth, though it was unlikely. What Anson did know, though, was that he would be no Osman in another man’s story. He would commit. Commit to a life of dying an old man. At least that way he could save at least one more young man from being a casualty of his coup.