A significantly different scene than usual was taking place all over Alpar’s slums. Where before people hurried about their business, trying their best to keep themselves occupied, now they moved purposefully. A flame had been lit.
Despite our best efforts, we could never rid them of their fear of the future. They suffered too much, and the nobles proved themselves useless at best and predatory at worst. But now that they heard Leonard will fight them, they found their life back.
Amelia silently strode through the dark alleys, invisible to the eyes of all. Her eyes sought to unravel the change that had occurred so quickly.
Leonard had publicly declared his intent to fight against the entire kingdom only the night before, yet it seemed everyone had already heard the news. None of her agents placed around the minor noble houses had reported anything reaching their nominal masters, so it meant that secrecy had been somehow protected.
The lower classes, from laborers to slaves, knew very well the value of keeping things away from the upper ones. It was their main avenue of survival. While that usually required some active organization, it happened naturally this time.
Amelia didn’t know if this was because of the people’s loyalty to Leonard or their survival instincts, but she appreciated it nonetheless.
She had held back for so long. By herself, she could have rid Alpar of the parasites that sucked all the good out of it in the span of an afternoon, if she took her time. The garrison would have been impotent before her might, not to speak of that of her contracted spirits.
But she hadn’t. Some nights, when she was alone and the thoughts wouldn’t go away, even she didn’t know why. Her mantra felt hollow. “Trust in the plan. It must come from him.”
And finally, finally, the time had come to act. Leonard had shaken away the lethargy of victory and love. Belinda’s death was regrettable, but the woman had been intelligent enough to understand the risks she ran getting together with the most powerful man in the Haylich.
He hadn’t acted in the way she would have, but then again, there was a reason why he was the leader, and she was not. Amelia knew herself well enough to realize she shouldn’t be trusted with that much power. Her soul was too dark. Tainted. It helped her do what needed to be done to ensure Leonard could walk into the light, but she could never be what he was.
But that’s fine. Everyone has a role to play. I wouldn’t enjoy being like that anyway.
“Have you heard?” A harried hobgoblin mother, who was ineffectively trying to gather her children, asked a human man who had evidently just come back from the fields.
“The guys were just telling me,” He answered, removing his straw hat and wiping his sweaty forehead with a dirty hand, “It still seems hard to believe.”
“It’s true!” The hobgoblin insisted, eyes gleaming brightly, “Tom heard it himself. The Hero promised he’s gonna make ‘em pay!”
The laborer brought his hat over his heart and took a deep breath, “We’ll have to prepare then. I doubt anyone in Alpar will reject him. Even the soldiers will come around once they have time to think, but everywhere else is not gonna be easy.”
For all that he looked like a simple farmer, the man had a wise outlook. Shockwaves would hit the markets depending on how successful and aggressive the coming actions would be. Prices might increase significantly if supply lines were slowed, and open fighting would undoubtedly do that. Merchants wouldn’t be able to keep to their routes, especially since most of those who operated in southern Alpar were either slavers - whose business would swiftly end - or native citizens trying to bring money back to their land - a duty which would be taken over by the Revolutionary Government, once Leonard got around to forming it.
War generally meant that the ordinary people would suffer, whether it was won or lost. But since this coming conflict would be fought in their name, Amelia believed their welfare would be prioritized.
It’s why I started sending messages to my agents to direct significant supplies this way. The whole operation is going to be in the red for the first time in years, but it doesn’t really matter. I inherited the ring when it was a wreck and rebuilt it expressly so that I would have the resources when it was time to act. That time has come.
Slipping away from the two, Amelia made her way deeper into the slums, towards the tavern that veterans and the occasional adventurer usually frequented. Before she could reach it, however, she was intercepted.
“The Mistress of the Shadows has returned to her role.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/90PzpVPz/persimmon0-zealous-young-priest-asks-for-mercy-for-a-hero-to-a-8b7ec9ad-513f-4552-83c9-df7bf18f1892.png]
The vicar’s voice was much stronger than the young, enthusiastic one he usually employed in public. His eyes glinted with glee, and Amelia immediately knew he had heard something she hadn’t yet.
“I do my duty. If our leader wants to fight, we need to be prepared.” She answered, not giving him the satisfaction of asking.
After a moment of silence, Damien sighed, “You never let me have fun. Very well. I just heard that a secret communication was sent from Judge Eichelbaum’s office to Thelma’s receiver.”
Ah. The little Judge is stupider than I thought. Well, this is better for us.
A smile spread over her features, so captivating that men had wept at the sight. The Vicar was unmoved.
“He must still think he can retain power if Thelma’s Lord Mayor sends help quickly.” She answered.
“Especially because the three Paladins sent from Mellassoria have been praying non-stop since Leonard’s show. They are not going to protect him.”
Amelia hummed, savoring the news. As always, Leonard managed to turn any situation to his advantage. Sometimes, it was deliberate, and sometimes, it happened as a consequence of who he was, but things still went his way. The three Paladins would not have been a match against him, but if they could bring them to their side, it would remove the enemy's best agents in their camp.
She could make a quick detour and kill them herself, but it would be a powerful propaganda tool for the masses to witness their devotion.
“I trust you can see to their conversion yourself, then?” She asked, earning a nod.
“It shouldn’t take much. They seem to be in the middle of a spiritual crisis. I let them stew for a while, but they will be ready soon.” Damien replied before continuing, “Do you think Thelma’s forces will be a problem? I know that on the battlefield, they won’t amount to much against you and Leonard, but it’d be better if the people won the first battle, and I don’t know if there is enough time to prepare them.”
Amelia tittered, a smooth, melodious sound, “Just do your duty. Leonard’s ability to make miracles happen is more ludicrous than you might believe. You’ll see.”
And with that, she sashayed away. The vicar lingered only for a moment before shrugging and leaving for his Temple.
Enthusiasm is good, but he must know his place. Well, after this thing kicks off, no one will doubt Leonard again.
Amelia's stride carried her purposefully through the slum's alleys until The Broken Lance loomed before her. The tavern's usual ambiance of hopelessness seemed to have undergone a metamorphosis tonight. The buzz of activity was palpable even from outside when usually the atmosphere was of resigned despair.
Pushing open the door, she was met with a scene that seemed to have leaped from the canvas of a master painter. The dim, smoky interior of The Broken Lance was alive in a way she had never seen before. Nearly a hundred people - grizzled veterans of the Incursion, rugged adventurers, and those who had borne witness to the darkest hours of the kingdom and hadn’t come out unscathed - filled the space. Yet, despite their numbers, complete silence pervaded, a collective breath held in anticipation.
They were seated everywhere: on chairs, atop tables, and sprawled across the floor. In the center of this semicircle, sitting on the counter like a general amidst his troops, was Leonard. The glow of the candles flickered against his features, casting him in a transcendent light and giving his fine features a solemn look.
Beside him stood Sir Gareth, a man transformed. Gone was the defeated knight who had sought to drown his sorrows in cheap ale. In his place stood a figure renewed, clean, and powerful, his eyes alight with purpose as he gazed at Leonard with admiration. On the other side, Oliver, the Hero’s squire, hung on his mentor’s lips.
“Because of this, we know they have broken the social contract. I was there when the king and the high nobles promised to support Hetnia’s recovery. Instead, all they do is take. Taxes are still being collected, while the people who gave everything to push back the Void are left languishing.” His voice was firm and compelling, captivating the attention of everyone. Even the servers had stopped.
“Hear, hear!” The crowd shouted back. Humans, hobgoblins, and the occasional half-elf were all as one.
“And if it were only this, I’d call them craven and be done with it.” Leonard continued, “But there are no depths to their depravity. They are using the region’s weakness to plunder its resources; they take away our lumber and iron while enslaving our people!”
A low rumble of energy began to build up as the people listened. Amelia could see fingers twitching with suppressed energy and pupils dilating.
“They force our people to toil for them, away from their vocations! They prevent slaves from earning their blessings! They undermine our rights to grow, given to us not by men but by the Holy Light!”
The rumble turned into a stamping. Feet pounded the floor as the men’s emotions were lifted higher and higher.
“And now they have become so brazen as to kill my love! There are no limits to how low they are willing to go, and so I say to you: It’s enough! The time has come for change to sweep the land! The King’s rule is over!”
A roar followed his words. Everyone got up, shouting their readiness to take the field alongside the Hero. The men swarmed Leonard, shaking his hand and slapping his shoulders.
Through the chaos, Amelia noticed someone who seemed to be less enthused. A young man, dressed in similar clothes to the other patrons but cleaner, snuck away, taking advantage of the moment.
It took her a second, but she recognized him as one of the 105th.
I doubt he was here to enjoy a drink. There are much better places in the town proper, and Sir Gerard is not one to let his men go without coin. He might have come here to gamble but wouldn’t have stayed for so long and left now if that was the case. No, it’s much more likely he’s here to report the situation back to his Captain.
Amelia sighed but allowed the soldier to leave. The cat was already out of the bag anyway. She doubted Sir Gerard would inform any of his superiors after they ignored his requests for aid for months. Still, the choice was not hers to make.
A few minutes later, Leonard finally freed himself from his new posse. She approached him, smiling at Gareth, who kept his place beside him. Oliver was chatting excitedly with an adventurer, who mimed a particular way of thrusting a sword into an enemy’s bowels.
“That was a nice speech. It’s a pity that we had company,” She opened, earning a sigh.
“I noticed. Franz is a good kid, so I let him go. I doubt word hasn’t left the town yet, anyway.” Leonard replied, once again showing himself to be observant. “To be honest, I don’t mind too much. This will put pressure on Gerard. He needs to make a choice and doesn’t have much time left. Tomorrow, I’ll go visit him.” He said.
“He might tell you no. You know he’s a stubborn man.” She replied. Amelia doubted that’d be the case, but sometimes people had the bad habit of surprising her.
“Then I’ll have to kill him,” Leonard answered with finality, eyes hooded.