Chapter 116: Tell Me (Patreon)

I sat in a hovercar. Not the same velvet-lined one that had taken me to Jewls place, though it was still far nicer than the one we’d taken to the city. It was larger, too—it had to accommodate for Giir, after all. Zinuetet and Day sat beside me, while Vast, Giir, and Rubio sat across from us. 

There was an unfamiliar man driving us to our destination. He was working for the client who had arranged this entire thing, and was only to be a driver. There was no access to the front seat. It would make carjacking very difficult. Fortunately, it allowed us to speak without being overheard. 

“Why did you leave so suddenly? And in such a luxurious vehicle?” Vast asked me directly. 

“I wasn’t arranging people to help us with our… little problem, if that’s what you’re discussing,” I said, hesitant to speak in plain terms. Though the window was blocked off, I couldn’t be sure that there weren’t other methods of listening installed in the car. 

“That’s good; there won’t be any conflicts, then. I’ve taken care of it.”

“Wunderbar. You’ll have to tell me about it when we land.” I leaned back in my chair and rested my arm on the seat behind Day. 

“I’m not sure I can give you as much as we agreed to. I don’t think you were suitably engrossed in the task.” Vast leaned forward and entwined his fingers, his round, bulbous eyes staring at my own. 

I smiled. “Ah, it doesn’t matter. Take it all if you want. I’ve got bigger things to concern myself with.”

Vast expressed what I supposed was surprise in his mantis face. Today was a very monumental day for me. That little conversation with Duke Jewls had been in the works for a long time. The moment I heard the Archduke discuss the coming possibility of a war, I knew that I wasn’t in a comfortable position for the long term. A lot of people would die. If possible, playing both sides would be the best option.

And now I was. 

Of course, I was far more inclined to the Archduchy, both on principle and on experience. The Richt Empire’s settlements were hell. The Archduchy was actually a nice place to live… if you discount the sheer insanity of its residence, and the utter lack of order. 

“Then I’ll take you up on that offer,” Vast said agreeably. 

“But I might just accidentally tell Ruel of this whole thing. Or perhaps kill the people you’ve hired? After all, I’m not receiving anything. I’m not working with you.” My smile grew wider. 

Vast leaned far back in his chair, and the two next to him seemed similarly aggrieved. The atmosphere grew tense, but I was rather calm. After having spoken to Duke Jewls, it felt like little could rattle me. I felt like my old self again. Maybe I should make sure I don’t fall back into old habits. 

“20% is all I ask,” I said with a compromising tone. “I was distracted by other, more important matters. They’re of a galactic scale—I’m sure you understand. But make no mistake; I don’t intend on having the same thing happen twice. Sometimes, though, you have to make a sacrifice for the good of yourself.”

Vast clicked his mandibles in what I assumed was irritation. “Fine. But I expect you to focus your efforts on dealing with Leedie. I won’t be helping you with that.”

I cringed a little inwardly, but responded, “That’s fair.” I pulled my arm out from behind Day and held it out to Vast. He shook it without much hesitation. 

#####

We alighted from the hovercar, and it took off into the air at once. We were on a cliff of a floating island, alongside the rest of our compatriots. I had seen the place briefly from the windows on our way here. It was a palatial estate, made of black stone and decorated with vibrant and massive gemstones. It was extremely well-guarded. Supposedly, they weren’t any stronger than any of us, but we’d have to see.

They had yet to see us, which was a universally good thing. Vast, at once, pulled me away from the rest of the group. “I’ll be brief, because it’s clear that Ruel had something to say. I’ve spoke to one of the men that guards this place. He’s wearing a bright red sash on his head. Don’t. Kill him.” Vast said pointedly. “He’s the one to be looting the place once we’re gone.”

“Simple enough. Day’s probably heard, but I’ll tell Zinuetet, too.” I nodded. 

“Good.” Vast put his hand on my shoulder and we both walked back to the rest. 

Ruel watched as we approached. Everyone else had been waiting on us. “You two lovebirds done?”

“For now,” I responded, not missing a beat. The best way to defuse an insult was to accept it, in my experience. 

“Alright then. I’ll keep things very brief. Well… maybe I don’t need to. We’re just waiting for a signal, after all.” Ruel pointed off into the distance, where another floating island drifted lazily through the sky, flames streaking from the bottom. “That place is going to fire a flare.

“When it does,” Ruel continued, lowering his hand, “We’re going to climb up this cliff right here and get to work. This is your first mission, so I’m going to hold your hand a bit. I won’t be attacking… but I’ll be leading you. Stick close to me. Don’t run off unpredictably. We’re outnumbered, but we’re better trained than them individually.”

Ruel pointed a finger at everyone. “Don’t try to play hero, or run off on your own to get a lot of merit. I don’t think dying is particularly meritorious. I don’t care how confident you are in your fighting ability—fighting five men at once is not something that you can handle. Stick together. Fight together. It’s the safest way not to die.”

Ruel sat down again, and then remembered something. “And don’t pick up any more kids, please. Just leave them here.”