Despite not knowing anything about Deadwood only a fortnight prior, Cassian felt a peculiar fondness towards it as he and Light walked into the town. The sun loomed high in the sky. A faint breeze blew through the mountainside causing the leaves of the trees to sway peacefully like they were dancing.

Sunlight pushed its way through the sparse cloud coverage warming Cassian’s face. It felt delightful after traveling through the dark, frostbitten woods all day. For a brief moment, he allowed himself a smile. The simple expression of joy evaporated when he remembered why he had come to Deadwood.

Cassian and Light walked through the maze of hastily constructed structures with a hurried pace. Townsfolk and children at play noticed the sense of urgency and were quick to get out of their way. Occasionally someone would recognize the strange pair and shoot a brief greeting towards them. Cassian ignored them, rushing straight towards the Brass Blossom, there would be time for pleasantries later. Time is of the essence. If I’m going to have any chance at retaking the city I’ll need Reinhold and all of the miners we can rally. I just hope they’ll be willing to help. Stars know they don’t have much love for the capital.

When he stepped into the Brass Blossom it buzzed with patrons gambling, drinking, and stuffing their faces. Just like the last time he walked into the establishment, the patrons went dead silent, watching him like a pit viper had just slithered into the tavern. Cassian gulped then shifted side to side uncomfortably. I guess I better get used to this. Seems that this type of greeting is something I’ll be living with the rest of my days. Groaning he ran his hand through Light’s fur a few times, brushing some powdery snow off his muscular feline friend.

“Well, well, well…” Reinhold roared lightheartedly. “It’s the damned heroes of Deadwood! Stop staring you lizard brained simpletons. Don’t you know, these two liberated our town!” The patrons squinted their eyes before eventually shrugging and returning to normal. Before long the establishment returned to laughing and conversing. Broad-shouldered Reinhold sauntered over to the pair.

“It’s good to see you again.” Cassian said.

“Looks like the tower wasn’t able to fix your eyes, eh lad?’

“Unfortunately not…” Cassian said, masking his tone so that his words only dripped with a hint of disappointment. “But that’s unimportant now. Have you heard the grim news?”

“Indeed. The town’s divided on it. Some think we should pack it up an flee before the Bohlkovians have a chance to enslave us or worse.”

“And what do you think of the situation?”

A puzzled expression came over Reinhold’s face. “That’s a damn fine question. To tell you the truth, I’m undecided. On one hand the fancy folk in the capital never gave two shits about us. No offense, kid. And on the other hand, Enthamere is my home.”

“You have every right to be conflicted, my friend. But Cloudreach is my home, and sure, some of the citizens are power hungry social climbers, but there are plenty of good people in the city as well. That’s why I’ve returned. I seek to retake my city and as much as I wish I could, I can’t do it alone.”

“You want to do what?” Reinhold asked, puzzled expression shifting to full blown disbelief.

“Exactly as I said. I wish to sneak into the capital and make life hell for the Bohlkovians. I’ll need strong fighters by my side.” Cassian’s jet black eyes looked directly into Reinholds. “ I know this is asking a lot of you. Probably more than I have any right to reasonably ask. But I need you by my side, and as many miners as we can convince with us if we’re to have any shot at saving the kingdom.”

Reinhold pulled on his beard and grimaced. “And I know I’m going to regret this, but I’ll join you.”

“Thank you, Reinhold!” Cassian exclaimed, wrapping his arms around the burly man and hugging him tightly.

“I don’t know about the rest of the miners though. I can’t speak for them, all we can do is stand before them and make the best case we can. And by we, I mean you. I’ll gather them all, meet me at the mining company headquarters near the road into town around sundown?”

“Thank you, my friend.”

After eating and resting up, Light and Cassian felt a bit better. Well, Light seemed more or less indifferent. Must be nice. Cassian’s mind raced and his palms were slick with sweat. Thinking about how he was going to convince the miners to join what appeared to be a suicide mission weighed heavily on him. They’re obviously not the most patriotic of Enthamerean citizens, so that’s probably not the right angle. It's likely best not to broach the subject with too much doom and gloom, but they must know in their hearts that a Bohlkovian invasion is going to get ugly fast. Come on, think back to the public speaking classes. What would old professor Holden do to get them to join my cause?

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Cassian ran through the labyrinth in his mind trying desperately to find the right words. Eventually he could see the sun departing behind the snow capped mountain peaks. He knew the sands of time had slipped through his fingers, try as he might to clutch them, time waited for no man. Still unsure exactly what he was going to say when he was pushed before the rugged miners—Cassian and Light left the Brass Blossom and headed to the mining company headquarters.

Standing on the platform in front of the mining company headquarters, Cassian chewed his lip. As the sun disappeared, a blanket of fog rolled out over the landscape until the distant peaks and treeline faded into shadowy silhouettes. Wiping the sweat from his brow he noticed Light cleaning himself—the big cat was as carefree as an eagle soaring above a raging battle. “Once again, I wish we could switch places, buddy.”

Cassian ran his fingers over the cold iron hand rail and gave collecting his thoughts into something vaguely cohesive one last shot. That’s when Reinhold appeared out of the fog followed by a mob of miners. Terrific! I guess I’m just going to have to speak from the heart and hope something lands. Nothing like a shot in the dark when the whole kingdom rests on my shoulders. Light rubbed up against him, licking the side of his face reassuringly. The warm drool surprisingly pulled him from his disheveled thoughts. “Thanks, Light. You don’t know how badly I needed that.”

With a sea of apprehensive eyes staring up at him, Cassian cleared his throat and began, “G-g-good evening men and women of Deadwood. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, I only wish it were under different circumstances.”

“Get on with it then!” Shouted a belligerent woman from the crowd.

“Yes, thank you for that bit of encouragement,” Cassian mumbled, rolling his eyes. “As many of you have likely heard, Bohlkov has invaded Enthamere. They have started by taking the capital, but mak—”

“What’s that got to do with us?” A gruff voice cried out.

“W-w-well, it has everything to do with you I’m afraid. Do you think Bohlkov is going to pillage Cloudreach then just return right home for supper?”

A bottle sailed through the air narrowly missing Cassian before shattering against the exterior of the mining company headquarters. “Those stick up their ass topside bastards deserve whatever Bohlkov dishes them!”

“Aye!” Cheered a handful of voices from the mass.

Cassian looked side to side, sweat dripping down his forehead. Bloody shards, I’m losing them. Think, think, think.

Reinhold dashed up the staircase before skidding to a stop next to Cassian on the iron walkway. “My brothers and sisters, are we not above this?” Reinhold said with the full power of his booming voice. Looking out at the miners he shook his head solemnly. “You shame yourselves by acting like animals. How soon you forget! If not for Cassian, our friends and family would still be getting murdered as scapegoats for that worm Ingram!”

The gathering of miners went silent, some even looking around at one another with embarrassment.

“Prince Cassian has shown us the harm in judging entire groups of people based on the actions of the few! If you ask me, the least we can do is listen to what he has to say…” Exclaimed Reinhold.

The nervous energy that consumed Cassian moments earlier washed away like sand on a beach. With a subtle grin, he looked over at Reinhold and offered a thankful nod. The nervousness was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming confidence that spread through him like wildfire.

Cassian couldn’t remember a time he had ever felt this way before. Knowing that someone else believed in him, when even he didn’t believe in himself reignited the flame inside his heart. “Bohlkov has shown based on their past transgressions a total disregard for the sanctity of life. They pour over the lands like a plague spreading misery. They kill with reckless abandon. They make slaves out of the cultures they conquer. Open your eyes! It’s only a matter of time until theycome for the rest of Enthamere.”

Panicked whispers began to echo through the crowd. “We need to pack up and flee while we still can!”

“And where would you find sanctuary?” Asked Cassian rhetorically. “Not a nation in the known world will be safe if Enthamere falls and Bohlkov seizes control of our amethite mines.”

The crowd considered the dark words before falling silent.

“I’ll take your lack of sly remarks to mean you know my words to be true. The Church of Embers thinks that they’ve already won. That taking Cloudreach has granted them free reign over our lands! They don’t think any of our countrymen will stand against them! Will you let them slaughter your loved ones and pillage your homes?”

Cassian’s question was met by the worked up shouts of enraged miners. “Over my dead body!”

“I have no right to ask this of you good folks. But our only chance is to stop them before they can seize control of the amethite supply. Reinhold, Light and I are going to journey to the capital and seize it from the maw of the beast. If you still wish to flee with your tails between your legs feel free. Who here will join us in defending our homeland?”

Half the crowd erupted into passionate chants. The others backed away with heads shaking and disappeared into the town. Cassian and Reinhold looked each other in the eyes and shared a nod of understanding.

“To those brave souls who will fight for their future, I commend you.” Cassian shouted, drawing his sword and lifting it towards the stars. “When we retake the city you will be heroes sung about for ages. The few who stood against the many when the night was darkest. We will show Bohlkov that they’ve woken a sleeping giant. Prepare yourselves, we march at first light!”

The miners who remained looked up at Cassian with grim expressions and heavy hearts. As they began to head off to prepare for the ordeal that lay ahead of them Cassian stepped over to Reinhold. “You know, I think that went about as well as we could have hoped.”