Chapter 32: Consequences I
A sudden hush fell over the clearing. It was as though as soon as Sonia had stepped through the crowd, time itself had slowed down.
Eyes turned in her direction. People shifted as subtly backwards as they could, but for the most part the spectators remained perfectly frozen, unmoving under the weight of the Hounds Leader’s presence.
Leo’s hand moved over to his belt, only to remember that he’d already thrown his dagger. Hazel eyes never left the woman, all senses heightened as Sonia calmly studied the area.
Her gaze first landed on Fergus, stock still, the hand around his axe shaking a little. Thin streams of red blood trickled down the blade, dripping down and staining the earth with dark blooms.
Sonia’s eyes then snapped over to Irving. The elderly man’s jaw was tight as he stood in front of his home door. He hadn’t gone inside and seemed to be trying to get a better look at the injured boy, but he wasn’t moving closer either.
Finally, the Hound turned to them, expression unreadable as she eyed the wounded boy, then Allan and Spade crouched over with the former’s hands still glowing with magic, and finally at Leo.
The [Fragmentholder] stiffened, but didn’t look away. He was faintly aware of Ivan saying something and then running off again, but he didn’t dare check.
A calm smile spread across Sonia’s features. She turned to Fergus.
“I like to think the Hounds are a fairly orderly group. We have structures and rules; we’re not barbarians. Wouldn’t you agree?”
The other Hound didn’t say anything, and Sonia stepped forward.
“Imagine my surprise when I hear Ivan running over telling me one of my Hounds has knowingly broken my rules.” Her expression was unchanging, voice so calm that it sent a chill down Leo’s spine.
The woman came to a stop a few feet away from Fergus.
“Tell me, are you going senile, Fergus?”
A beat passed. Slowly, the man shook his head.
A rustle sounded nearby, and Leo shifted his gaze just long enough to see Ivan returning with a frazzled looking man carrying a wooden box.
The two bolted for the wounded boy, where Allan and Spade were still crouched. The [Healer]’s breaths were heavy, forehead gleaming with sweat. Given his current magic and [Mend]’s level, it seemed the most he could do was keep slowing the bleeding through continual spell use.
Spade glanced up and muttered something to the man, who quickly sat down and opened the box. He must be Clearside’s doctor. The glow around Allan’s hands finally died, and he swayed a little, but the primary expression on his face was one of frustration. Leo wanted to go over and check on him, but he had to keep an eye on Fergus and Sonia.
The woman in question smiled, still facing the other Hound.
“I didn’t think so.” She cocked her head. “Do tell me, then, what would possess you to make such a remarkably stupid decision.”
The Hounds leader hadn’t drawn any weapons yet; as far as Leo could tell she wasn’t carrying any. And yet, the longer she stood there, the more and more wary he grew.
Fergus swallowed, his fingers tightening around the handle of his axe. There would be no talking his way out of this, he seemed to realize. Dark eyes darted around. The crowd had given them a wide berth, and a mix of villagers and Hounds alike surrounded them on all sides. There was no escape.
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The man swallowed, and Leo could see him visibly steeling himself. His own shoulders were drawn in a tense line. He had a bad feeling about this.
“What’s stupid,” Fergus began, words starting a little shaky but gaining steadiness and intensity as he spoke, “is us doing your dirty work while you walk away with all the spoils.”
His voice got louder until he was nearly yelling. “It’s you ordering us around and expecting us to follow like dogs! I’ve paid off my debts. I don’t owe you anything.”
A few murmurs ran through the gathered crowd, but they quickly died down. Sonia raised an eyebrow, expression as calm as ever. If anything, Leo thought he detected a hint of amusement.
“Is that so? In that case, I suppose there’s no need for you to remain with the Hounds.”
Fergus faltered for just a moment, and Leo quickly activated [Judgement]. Almost immediately, a mirrored notification appeared in front of him.
[You have been removed from your party]
Fergus’s eyes widened, but it was too late. Sonia curled her index finger, beckoning the other Hound over.
[Sonia has activated the [Lifeline] skill]
In less than a second, Fergus was violently yanked forward, flying straight towards Sonia like a puppet on a string.
A squelching sound rang too loud across the street.
Dark red stained the earth beneath them, spreading and crawling outwards. The Hound’s body was hunched over directly in front of Sonia.
A hand had pierced straight through his chest.
Dark eyes stared down in disbelief. Fergus coughed, and Sonia yanked her hand out. It came loose with another squelch.
Red stained her hand and sleeve, soaking the fabric and dripping down in a steady stream. A few fleshy pieces were pulled out as well, and they landed on the ground in soft squishy heaps among the viscous puddle. Her expression remained impassive.
Fergus stumbled back, gasping and clutching at his chest. His axe fell to the ground with a clatter, and a gurgling sound rose in his throat as he struggled to breathe. Leo was only vaguely aware of the screams, the sound of a child crying amidst the crowd of spectators.
The Hound fell to the ground, hunching in on himself as he tried in vain to stop the bleeding with his hands.
Sonia was going to make all of them—Hounds and villagers old and young alike—watch the man slowly die, Leo realized. A sick feeling rose in his stomach.
He didn’t know how long it took Fergus to fall still. It seemed like forever that the man kept jerking around, twitching and thrashing and making that gasping, wheezing sound.
But finally, after what felt like hours, he finally landed in a heap on the ground. Unmoving.
Sonia looked on idly, casually studying the stains on her sleeve. She ripped the bloodied part off, letting the soaked fabric flutter to the ground, and turned to the spectators, gazing at each of the gathered Hounds with those cool blue eyes.
“I understand that a number of you have grown… discontent with the current situation.”
No one dared respond. Fergus’s dead body was all too prominent on the ground. Sonia smiled.
“Worry not. I’ve heard your complaints, and I find them quite reasonable.” She gestured at the Hounds in the crowd, her hand still stained in red.
“You have my word that when our hunt begins, each of you will be able to search for the fragment individually. If you have the skill to find it first, then it’s yours.”
Leo frowned at that. He couldn’t tell how truthful she was being, and based on the unease in the Hounds’s expressions, they were just as unsure. If she was being honest, then that might change their search pattern.
Sonia stepped over Fergus’s corpse, not minding the pooling blood, and continued in that uncannily steady voice.
“Now that we have that established, I trust no one will be so foolish as to break our rules again.”
The silence spoke volumes. Sonia nodded in what might have been approval, but it was difficult to discern anything from her.
Raising her bloodied hand, she flicked her wrist, and Leo wasn’t the only one in the crowd who instinctively flinched at the gesture.
“That’s enough excitement for today. Back to your duties. Douglas is still waiting by the shore for those boats. Flora, you’re responsible for cleaning up this mess.”
A mutter ran through the crowd, everyone hesitating, but a sharp look was all it took for them to fully disperse.
Everyone gave Fergus’s dead body a wide berth. Leo saw that several onlookers, mostly villagers, had thrown up at the sight. The putrid smell of vomit mixed with the metallic stench of iron, but Leo barely processed it.
He avoided looking directly at the corpse, instead focusing on Allan, Spade, and the doctor attending to the injured villager. It was the right call, because Sonia turned in their direction as well.