Chapter 58

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 29th days

Almuharib, town-state of the forsaken

The sunset was coming to an end, and the light inside the town was barely enough to see a few steps ahead as they were walking. The noise of the band’s members came from the inn.

Lanaya – “You’ve taken a hard choice and I hope you won’t regret it, but keep in mind that you haven’t betrayed your own. Their future has been sealed without their consent and accepting to change your own destiny doesn’t influence their fate.”

Derfel – “They are just blinded by their pride, too scared of you to trust your words, or simply too broken to choose.”

Lanaya – “How do you feel then?”

Derfel – “As long as I’m not a slave, I could hardly care, and as you said, it’s not like I could change their fate anyway. Sometimes, life just fucks you all over, and you’ve got to choose between bad and awful. I have no reason to trust you, but I’ll take the gamble and see where it leads me.”

Lanaya – “If only more people could open their eyes the way you do.”

Derfel – “Your speech hasn’t opened my eyes. They were already open, and from the look of it, you failed to open theirs. So, how do you intend to change the world if you can’t change the mind of a few slaves?”

Lanaya – “If you failed to hunt a deer, would you starve or try again? Besides, I’ve already changed it for many, and I’ll keep changing it.”

Alphael was following the two of them in silence. As they reached the inn on the upper floor, the smell of roasted chicken came from the entrance. A fragrance of oregano and mint was adding a fresh smell to the air as they entered.

Lanaya – “Everyone!”

She waited until her band gave her their attention.

Lanaya – “I present you our new member! His name’s Derfel. He used to be a Valmai soldier and will now be joining our rank, so be kind to him!”

Each of them turned around and looked at him. He was standing there in sorrow and uncertainty.

Owen – “Come eat, you must be starving.”

Tomos – “Come on! Don’t be shy! We’re not as bad as we look.”

Lanaya – “We leave Almuharib in two days. Until then, you can relax. If you want anything, tell me and I’ll take care of it. I’ll give everyone their pay once we’re back in Avem.”

As Derfel walked toward them, Alphael looked at Lanaya.

Alphael – “So just one?”

Lanaya – “Yeah . . .”

Alphael – “You know what they say about slaves?”

Lanaya – “No, I don’t.”

Alphael – “The best slaves come from far away!”

Lanaya – “I don’t want slaves. I want people who are driven . . . People who believe in the making of a better world.”

Alphael – “We’re all making the world better for ourselves. Some manage it well and some don’t. Let’s take you, for instance. With your skill, you could be rich, but you share your earnings with your band, and let’s be honest, half of them aren’t worth what you give them.”

Lanaya – “Your wrong. They are not corrupted by the thorns of this world, and that alone is worth more than I could ever pay them.”

Alphael – “And how are they different? Instead of killing for gods, for pride, for honour, for vengeance, or for the necessity of survival, they are fighting for hope? All I see are a bunch of morons willing to buy my blades before running to their deaths.”

Lanaya – “Except our fighting will meet an end. One day, we’ll have the power to stop wars. In a hundred years, the lives and actions of those who lived today won’t matter. What will matter is how they shall live their lives. And for as long as mankind shall live, the lives of those fighting for such a goal will be worth more than the life of a thousand mindless peasants who just stare at the horrible world without trying to better it. If you only better yourself and don’t try to use that power for a greater purpose, in the best of all worlds, you’ll end as a king whose crown will be contested and whose land will be ruled by blood and steel. Each of them is worth beyond compare.”

Realising he wouldn’t change her mind, Alphael shook his head.

Alphael – “I’ll go to sleep. I’m leaving early tomorrow.”

Lanaya – “Then it’s a farewell until next year!”

Alphael – “Until next year!”