Setting up camp for the night was an awkward experience for everyone involved. Valkar and Keseryn both seemed uncomfortable after the dressing down that Len had given them. Moe and Larry, meanwhile, were unscathed but very much aware of the fact that their boss was in a dark mood. Len was painfully aware of everyone’s state of mind and wasn’t doing any better.
She was also second guessing her behavior a bit. Grand declarations weren’t really her thing to begin with and this particular one had been all the more unfortunate. She’d declared intent to climb the ranks of the Demon Army. Essentially, to become an enemy of all mankind, slayer of the civilized races and all that jazz. Intellectually, she understood that while there were some obvious cultural differences at play, it was readily apparent that the Demon races had plenty of variety to them and more than enough diversity to have good, bad, and whatever else sort of personality and arbitrary alignment system one cared to ascribe to them. That didn’t actually make someone seeking to attain the rank of ‘Demon General’ seem any less, well, villainous.
That tracked rather unfortunately with her current path of murderous intent and she didn’t care for it that much.
To make matters worse, a part of her just felt guilty for berating two people that needed reassurances that she was going to handle this matter fairly. She suspected that she wasn’t cut out for upper leadership if she let herself get too worked up over details like this, but she couldn’t deny her feelings while zoning out as the crew started assembling the tents. Sighing to herself, she decided to take some basic actions and get a move on.
“All right, Kes, follow me. Let’s gather up some firewood while the guys to the rest of the work.”
“Why do I have to?”
“Because I said, because we’re currently engaged in a mission of vengeance on your behalf, because you want to eat something tonight. Take your pick.”
Keseryn let out an annoyed sigh, but followed Len all the same. With her back to the child, Len didn’t bother to suppress the smirk that interaction had brought to her face. The task itself was easy enough, and it didn’t take too long before they’d had a hefty load for the evening’s fire. Len carried the bulk of it, while tasking Kes with the gathering.
“Let’s talk for a bit,” she said as they got ready to head back.
“About what,” the girl asked, a bit sullenly.
“I was a bit harsh with you earlier today. I’m sorry for that. The thing is, though, that I really need to make sure you understand how serious this is. If we screw up here, any one of us could end up dead. I’d very much prefer not to die tomorrow, and that means I need you to do what I say without question.”
“You think I’m not taking this seriously? My parents are dead! It doesn’t get any more serious than that. And if I think you’re going to let them get away with that, I’m damn sure going to act.”
“I brought you here so you could see something that I think you need to see. I get that you’re going to need closure. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to recklessly risk your life on this. More than that, I’m not going to let you risk OUR lives on it. If I can’t trust you on this, I can’t take you any further. You may not trust me yet, and I can understand that, but I need your word that you’ll let me make the decisions here.”
“What if-” Len held up a hand before the girl could say more.
“This is a critical moment, Keseryn. You have to make a decision here and now. I’m giving you my word that if my people are guilty of what you accuse them of, I’ll end them. In exchange, I need your word that you’ll let me handle this. You’re here to witness. Nothing more, nothing less. Believe me, if I really was someone of ill intent, there’d be no sense in bothering with this charade. No offense to you, but you’re only a small part of what this is about. I need to get these people in line if I’m ever going to make any headway in this place.”
“So what? I’m just an afterthought?”
“No, you are a piece of a complicated puzzle that I’m still doing my best to come to terms with. I’ve got a lot that I have to juggle and a lot of people relying on me right now. I can’t focus on one to the exclusion of all else. I need you to recognize that I have your best interests at heart, and I always will so long as you don’t cross me.”
“And what happens if I do cross you?” There was a bitterness to her voice.
“That’ll largely be a bridge to cross if and when we come to it. I was serious about offering you a place with us. We’re all misfits here and I don’t see how having a banished human would further damage our trash reputation. Cause too much trouble and I probably wouldn’t be able to justify keeping you around. I mean, if you went on a murder spree, I suppose we might have to take harsher steps, but I don’t really think you’re the ‘indiscriminate slaughter’ type.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Keseryn looked like she wanted to object, but there really wasn’t much to say on that front. Len kept her gaze locked on the child and continued talking.
“I don’t need you to trust me for years to come. I don’t even need you to trust me all day tomorrow. I just need you to trust me for a few short hours. Trust that I’ll have your interests at heart, and trust that I’ll do right by you. And if I don’t? Well, you can fall back on that suicidal attack route. I don’t like your odds, but it’s your right to try.”
“A couple hours,” Keseryn said slowly. “I can give you that. If you blow it, we’re done.”
Len wanted to say something smart about how the kid really was taking for granted how screwed she’d be without the Hovel to call home, but she held her peace. The girl needed something to hold on to and if the belief that she’d be able to make it on her own was what that was, who was Len to interfere with it? And if it kept matters under control when they got to the house tomorrow, so much the better.
The conversation through, the two of them headed back to camp. They’d only had two tents which meant that the lads were going to be stuck sharing one, much to their dismay. Len and Kes would take the other one. It was a bit odd, she thought, that she’d be spending two nights in a row sleeping beside this stranger, but hardly the oddest thing about life lately. They kept the fire small, not wanting to do too much to alert the hunters if they were looking. They ate their meal quietly and waited to turn in for the night. The fire was enough to push back the cold of night, but no one was in much of a mood for talking. Eventually, they retired to their respective tents to go to sleep, the goblins and the orc splitting up the watch duties.
“Lenore,” said Keseryn softly as they were drifting off for the night. “Please don’t be a bad person.”
“I’m trying, kid,” Len replied. “I’m trying.”
* * * * *
Len didn’t get much sleep that night. Kes eventually drifted off, but again had bouts of sobbing that hit Len hard. She ended up wrapping her arms around the girl and holding her. The tent wasn’t large enough to accommodate much movement either way, so that wasn’t a loss, but it wasn’t a terribly comfortable position to be in and the rock under her side that she’d missed when she laid down dug into her side something fierce. Still, after the day she’d had, it felt good to provide basic comfort to a child, and she opted to suffer through the pain.
When she finally did drift off herself, it seemed like only minutes had passed before the shuffling of the rest of the campers woke her again at dawn. Groggily, she mustered herself back to consciousness and gently shook Keseryn back to the land of the living as well.
“Hey, cool, no one died in the night. That’s a bonus. Anyone spot anything?”
The three shook their heads.
“Quiet night. Nothing to worry about. Frankly, it’s more worrisome HOW quiet it was.”
“Yeah, you’d think there’d be at least a coyote or something out there. Suppose this is why they hardly ever brought back anything worthwhile. We’ll worry about that later.”
“How much longer to go, girl?” Valkar asked Kes harshly.
“Half a day or so,” she snapped back.
“Great, then we can murder my friends on your behalf and be done with it. Maybe set you up with all their gear? Heck, maybe mount their heads on your wall while we’re at it.”
“Enough, Valkar,” Len said firmly.
“Whatever you say, ‘boss’.”
They broke camp and began the trek. Kes had grown more confident in the terrain as the journey had gone on, and now she seemed perfectly familiar with the land, her steps grew less hesitant and quicker, gaining ever more terrible purpose as they drew nearer to her goal. Valkar’s remained firm, but his face was far less certain. Len really hoped that he’d stay with this task and not betray them at the end. It was more than cruel, what she was making him do, but it was also absolutely necessary.
Inevitably, they drew close to the house. As Keseryn had said, there was a good distance to cover from the tree line to the house, plenty of room for a sniper to take notice and get good shots in. There was the option of waiting ‘til nightfall, but everyone’s patience was frayed, and Len didn’t like their chances of staying hidden that long. Shrugging, she strode out into the clearing. Smoke billowed out of the chimney, a strong sign that someone was there. Again, she wished desperately that this was all some silly ploy from a silly girl looking for adventure. A runaway who’d gotten in over her head. The sight of a pair of human bodies tossed in a heap behind a shed put lie to that hope almost instantly. Holding up a hand to keep Keseryn from seeing it, she quickly took off her cloak and covered the two. Jaw set, mind made, she strode to the door and pounded on it with the pommel of her dagger.