With the revelation that Hamish was in hiding in Jandrir, and thus the pearl was here too, spies and messengers were sent out across the city. Screamer had his men discreetly inquire among the nobility, Tulcetar sent missives to the various sects of The Order, stating his intention to find and meet Hamish, and Vagalad’s people went tavern to tavern, barging into traveller’s rooms and asking pointed questions. This last approach understandably caused a bit of a stir, and more than a few clashes followed, particularly in Tinto’s territories. With the ‘grown ups’ preoccupied with the search, Gabriel and the mercenaries were given quarters in the hideout where they could rest up and reflect.

The room was a simple affair, with six bunk beds stacked like crates in something reminiscent of a ship’s cabin. There was even a briny smell that was reminiscent of the ocean, probably an indication of what they had used to wash the stiff, military issue blankets. Topping off the aroma was a mix of moth-balls and a pungent hit of what could only be described as ‘discipline’.

“How long until they find this guy?” Lydia asked as she tossed and turned in her bunk.

“No idea. Not long, I imagine. The man passes his days writing propaganda, after all. Now that we know who we’re looking for, I doubt he’ll elude us much longer,” Gabriel said.

Midday had come and gone and this time all of them had been unable to enjoy the sweet release of sleep. They lay in their bunks with their eyes wide open, memories and fears roiling through their heads. Eventually they had given up the pretense and sought what comfort they could find in their shared insecurities.

“’We’, ‘us’?” Vish asked, “You sound pretty invested there, buddy.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I’m still not sure. It would be nice not to be branded a criminal anymore.”

“So we can’t go to Gladstone or Jandrir anymore, so what?” the mind-mapper said, propping himself up on an elbow, “There’s a whole world out there for us to be ignored by. Plenty of regions have need of shite mercenaries.”

“I’m not so sure about that. Besides, Vagalad did say he’d hunt us down. Plus, without Screamer’s protection, the Albrights will almost certainly put out a bounty on us,” Gabriel considered.

“Ah, whatever. I’ve had plenty of people say they’d chase me to the ends of the continent, and nobody has yet. It’s all talk. They get bored and forget about you quickly enough.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

“I know I’m right.”

“What do you think, Lydia?”

The warrior seemed surprised she’d been asked, “Nothing to debate. We signed up for a job. We finish the job. We get paid.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“You make it sound so simple.”

Lydia wiped her nose with the back of her hand, “It is simple. Everything is simple. Try and make it more complicated and you go mad.”

“Well, my thinking is, you can’t pay a corpse,” Vish said, raising a finger to the ceiling, “Well you can, but, you know, bit redundant.”

“We fight now and we’ve got Tulcetar’s men, Screamer’s men and Vagalad’s men at our backs. We don’t, and we have them on our backs. These are our best odds,” Lydia said as if it were obvious.

“Again, you guys are really underestimating my ability to run and hide.”

“If we were to leave,” Gabriel said hesitantly, “would you come with us, Lydia?”

“Dunno. Probably. Not really got anywhere else to be. I did sign on with you. Not my decision if the unit retreats. Pisses me off though,” she said carefully.

“Fair. What do you reckon, Natasha?”

“Finish,” the redhead said simply, after a prodigious stretch.

“That’s two ‘for’ and two ‘undecided’ at the moment,” Gabriel summarised.

“Who said I was undecided?” the mind-mapper asked.

“I know you too well, Vish. You don’t want to run forever.”

Vish considered this, “No, I really do.”

“I just keep thinking,” Gabriel continued undeterred, “I’ve been a mercenary my whole life, and I’ve never really done any good in that time.”

“We’ve rescued so many cats!”

“Not that I did any good before then,” Gabriel said self-critically, “What if this is our one chance to really do something worthwhile, to make a real impact, you know?”

“What if a fireball impacts against your face?” Vish countered.

“I’m not sure I’d be happy knowing that we left other people to clean up after us. We just shirked all responsibility and let the ‘heroes’ fix our messes. Just like Archimedes and his flipping minotaur,” he noticed he was getting off track, “Look, if Hamish really is that dangerous, then we could potentially be saving a lot of people by helping to stop him,” Gabriel said passionately.

“Okay,” Vish sat up, “a few points there. Firstly, how is this our mess? This has nothing to do with us. Secondly, if Hamish really is that dangerous, then I don’t want to be anywhere near the guy. Thirdly, you are grossly overestimating how helpful you would be.”

“Mm, you might be right there.”

“I am definitely right there,” Vish said, rolling onto his back again.

“Is that why you became a mercenary? You wanted to do something to make a difference?” Lydia scoffed.

“No, nothing as grand as that. To be honest it was a choice that was made for me, not by me. Maybe that’s why I’m struggling now, because I’m not used to making my own decisions. At least, not the big ones.”

“Just what you want to hear from the leader,” Vish said under his breath.

“Well, one way or another, you have to make a decision now,” Lydia said.

“The trouble is, it’s not just me. It’s a decision I have to make for everyone.”

“No it isn’t!” Vish objected.

“Oh, come on, Vish. Are you really telling me you’d pass up a chance to actually do something valiant for once? Would you really want to miss an opportunity to make up for the past? To really be someone?”

“I don’t like what you’re driving at there, Gabe,” the mind-mapper warned.

“From ignoble beginnings,” Gabriel said, “What if we really could wipe the slate clean?”

“Who needs a clean slate? I’ve got a clean conscience, and that’s waay better,” Vish said.

“Do you though?”

“You are making some serious assumptions there, my man.”

“What brings you all the way across the continent to The Kaden Circle, Vish?”

“Fancied a stroll.”

“That stroll took you a long way from home, didn’t it?”

Vish was getting annoyed, “Chase your own demons, Gabriel.”

Gabriel flipped his pillow over, “All I’m saying is that we both have some thinking to do,” the captain said, “Some real thinking.”