Fish in a Barrel

"Fish in a Barrel" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Boris blew on a spoonful of soup and sighed from where he sat next to Olansee. The captain was already chewing on a mouthful of the stew like substance, and remained in silence for several long minutes before he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry Boris…” He eventually said.
“Hm?” The other man looked up at him. “For what?”
“I know we owe him your life…” He shook his head. “But I have to give a full report to the Sorceress, and too many messengers and incompetent officers have already died by her hand over bad news. I won’t risk anything less than a stellar report on this, even for a experimental strike.”
Boris felt his appetite fading and he lowered the spoon warily. “Olansee…what are you doing?”  
The captain set his jaw. “I gave Sven twelve hours, but if their worth anything organizational wise he’ll be done in six. At that point everyone will be huddled in the right side of the town, thinking we’ll be bombarding the left…”
“Olansee! No-!”
“Our target will be condensed and caught unawares. It will likely hold key leaders of the rebellion within their ranks. This former strike could turn into a near death blow for the rebellion.”
Boris stood up, the bowl in his lap upsetting on the ground. “You made a deal!”
Olansee stood as well, nearly putting his forehead to his friends. “With rebels Boris. Rebels! Think about what’s down there! Our biggest enemies and vile, festering breeding ground of half breeds! It calls for removal!”
“This is too much, this is all too much!” Boris argued.
Olansee scoffed. “Death by catapult is too good for them in my mind. They’ve suffered worse in our dungeons.”
“No, no, all of this is too much.” Boris clarified. “The culling, the killings…isn’t it…wrong?” Boris felt his lips drying as he spoke. “I-I m-mean it’s not like I want half folk to be all around where we live, or in positions of authority, or anything like that but…if they were just somewhere else…” He stretched out a hand towards the village. “That’s somewhere else Olansee. Why can’t they just stay there?”
Olansee watched his friend talk, slack jawed, and then rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Gods you’re going to get yourself hung as a sympathist one of these days. Odin Boris…” He pointed behind him. “The evils of man mixed with the beastly nature of animals cannot be left unchecked. That’s why they work, that’s why they are detained and regulated, that’s why some of them have to be hunted!”
Boris grabbed his wrist. “That boy…saved…my life…If you had to spend a day in Mount Massive you’d understand what that means!”
Olansee wrenched away from him, and put up a finger as if in declaration. “And he was a human wasn’t he?! While it was half breeds that tortured you! The strike will commence is six hours time, and I’ll have you tied to a post until then to prevent you from being declared a traitor. And then, this day, will be the last day the Felman family and their half breed livestock will stand unshattered!”
@lbigreyhound13
lbigreyhound13
Sven found himself turning back quite a few times as Pyro took him back to the village trying to see if Olansee was going back on his word to attack in 12 hours. There was a part of him that felt this was too easy. This was High Central, and based on what his parents, aunts, and uncle had told him, High Central could not be reasoned with. However, Olansee seemed like a respectable captain. Maybe he just needed a little push. 
However, there was no time to think about that. He had to focus on getting everyone in the Great Hall safely. Sure enough, he saw Hroar, one of his mother’s council members with a few of their men. 
“I’m sorry, he wouldn’t let up about the attack,” Sven said already figuring that the men filled the council in. 
“It’s alright, Sven,” Hroar said placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You tried your best, and you got him to leave the civilians alone. You did well. Your mother will be proud of you.”
Sven sighed. “So, what happens now?” 
“I have sentries posted at the look-outs,” Hroar explained. “They’ll be able to see when they will attack. We’ll fight back when that happens.”
Sven nodded. “Does…Does Mom know?”
“I sent word to her,” he replied. “Hopefully, the sooner the raid is complete, the quicker she and your dad come back.”
moe-lazyeye
Olansee watched the village as he men prepared the catapults, and rested a hand on one of them. It was taking quite a bit of time to set them up, but it would be worth it. 
“Rooted into the ground with iron, structured to absorb shock…no dragon blast will melt or knock these down…” 
Now all that remained was to wait for the clock to tick away. The captain served himself up another bowl of soup, taking note of how well made the meat was today. It was succulent, instead of tough and chewy for a change. He stood beside the bound Boris. “You should eat.”
“I didn’t like how it tasted.” Boris said moodily, looking away from him.
Olansee couldn’t imagine why, and he gruffly set the bowl in front of him and loosened one of his hands. “Eat…we can fight and get over this later.” 
central-is-growing
“SVEN!”
Darien came racing up the drive towards the group, looking frazzled. “There’s–men–” he panted, leaning over to catch his breath. “There’s men on one of the hills near the island, they’re Central, one of the factions, I don’t know what…” He pushed a hand through his hair, glasses askew. “I’m sorry I didn’t sense them sooner!”
lbigreyhound13
“Darien, Darien,” Sven said holding his hands up to calm the man down, “it’s okay. It’s okay. A friend of mine told me where they were, and I talked to the captain. I couldn’t exactly get him to call off the attack, but…he said that he still needed to…for his boss. He said that he would attack in 12 hours but aim for the side with less people. We made a negotiation.”
central-is-growing
Darien gaped at the boy. “You negotiated?” he said incredulously. “My gods…what on earth did you agree to?”
lbigreyhound13
“I gave him information on Malak and his family,” Sven said with a smirk. “I gave him their” he used air quotes, “‘whereabouts’ and will send them on a wild goose chase. In exchange, he agreed to attack only the side of the village with no people.”
central-is-growing
Darien pressed his lips together, thinking. “You risk inciting their wrath when they find out they are wrong…perhaps I should speak to them, as well.” He had been waiting for a chance to make a dent in the wrongs he had done. Perhaps this was it.
lbigreyhound13
Sven mentally kicked himself for not considering that. However, he couldn’t risk handing over half-breeds to High Central, and he honestly did forget that Darien used to work for High Central. 
“Would you really?” Sven asked. “The captain is some guy named Olansee. I’ve heard my mom talk about him. Do you know him?”
central-is-growing
“I wasn’t familiar with the military, unfortunately. But I can do my best. What are you going to do in the meantime?”
lbigreyhound13
“What are you talking about?” Sven asked incredulously. “I’m going to go with you. I can’t let you go alone.”
central-is-growing
“That’s incredibly prescient of you, Sven. As long as you wouldn’t be in more danger by returning with me,” he warned.
moe-lazyeye
Olansee looked up from his fire place and then jolted when he saw dragons approaching. It didn’t look like an attack force, but he had his men prepare anyway. When he saw it was Sven and someone else, he turned to Boris and untied him, walking him over to a tent. “Stay here and not a word.” He told him, and then stepped back out.
“Chief’s son!” He called, hand on his blade. “You have no further business here. Turn back!” 
lbigreyhound13
“Actually, I do,” Sven said as his Monstrous Nightmare landed a few feet away from Olansee. “I have someone here to talk to you.” 
The future Chief couldn’t help but notice that Boris was nowhere to be found. Perhaps, he went back in the tent? However, he wanted to see how this panned out first. 
moe-lazyeye
“Just because we-” Olansee paused and then squinted greatly at Darien. There was a spell of silence before the captain’s mouth opened. “My word…Darien…could that really be you?
central-is-growing
“You’d normally be whipped for such an informal greeting from someone of your rank,” Darien said dryly, dismounting and crossing his arms. His heart was beating rapidly but with his recent socialization, he felt oddly in his element, even though he knew he was likely branded a traitor among these people. “Call off the attack, Captain.”
moe-lazyeye
Olansee shook his head. “We know too well of you Darien for that. You’ve been gone for years, before we were split into factions. On top of that, your disastrous handling of the Grounded Dungeon is what caused one of Central’s greatest demonic assets to turn against us, and kill our leaders.”
He lifted a hand. “Now you’re here with a rebel, one I imagine would kill you if he knew what you did to the half breed folk they associate with back when I was a child. Now give me one good reason not to fire these catapults off now in light of this bold, but ultimately upsetting display.”
“They know what I’ve done. But it’s funny you should mention demonic assets. You should fear her, especially. Whoever you work for has placed you between a rock and a hard place. You really think you will face no retaliation for firing on this island, from anyone? Moreso, you think your leader will be pleased with a job half done? Death awaits you either way unless you desert.” He spoke to the group as a whole, meeting Olansee’s eyes last.
moe-lazyeye
“I’d rather meet death by demon than by my superior for a job ill done. The sorceress wanted these catapults tested, and tested they will be.” Olansee countered. “The cure to red card and the information on Rhenco and his assets will take care of the rest. This course of action is secure…” The captain trailed off, and then glanced at Sven. “Of course…we could negotiate a step further.” 
He pointed to Darien. “This man was the pride of Central. It aches my heart to see him in this state but that doesn’t make him any less valuable. He’s harmed more half breeds than I could ever dream of doing. Hand him over to me, I will fire only three times, a far cry from a full bombardment, and we’ll leave.”
lbigreyhound13
Sven felt his blood run cold at Olansee’s offer. He felt as if the wind was knocked out of him, and he couldn’t lie this time. Darien was standing right there. He couldn’t protect him like he could with Malak and his family, and even if he did, Olansee would still fire on his village. Yes, Darien was once an enemy, but he had been working with the rebellion. There was no way he would get a warm welcome back at High Central, and he was under Grey’s protection…his protection.
“I-I…can’t…I can’t do that,” Sven said shakily. “But…there might be something else…” He was probably going to regret this immensely, but he couldn’t stand the idea of High Central walking away from attacking them and taking anyone from his island. A chief protected his own. “W-what if…what if you took another prisoner…the son of the Chief of Haligan Island and not attack this village?”
central-is-growing
Darien’s hand shot out and gripped Sven’s shoulder, pulling him back. “No,” he said sharply. “You will not take a child in my place. Take me prisoner and do what you will with me, so long as you do minimal damage to this place.”
moe-lazyeye
Olansee rubbed his chin. 
There was only one way he could reasonably pack up this whole operation, report to the Sorceress without getting brutalized for it, and get his friend to stop being sore with him in all one go. 
“You know what Sven…Darien…I think both have finally provided me with enough to call off the attack.” He gave a sharp whistle and his men dropped what they were doing and took up their bows, training the arrow sights on the two negotiators. 
“You’re both under arrest…”
central-is-growing
Darien’s heart stopped.
“Don’t do this,” he said in a low voice, putting his hands slowly in the air. “You can’t take him, too…” Grey was going to kill him for sure, if he didn’t die to the factions first.
lbigreyhound13
Sven’s heart began to pound as he slowly followed suit and raised his hands in the air. He was quickly snapped out of it when he heard a low growl behind him, and then his heart began to pound even more. Pyro was still here, and as far as he was concerned, only he and Darien were being arrested. There was telling what could happen to his beloved dragon.
Pyro was behind him eying the soldiers. “Pyro, no, get out of here,” he said firmly keeping his eyes on the Captain. He slightly turned his head smiling at Pyro trying his best to reassure him. “I’ll be okay. Go find my sisters. Go…”
The Monstrous Nightmare slowly backed away and quickly but reluctantly took off and flew back to the village…leaving Sven on the ground. 
moe-lazyeye
Olansee watched the dragon fly off and for a moment considered having his men fire upon it. But he figured there had been enough complications. Certainly enough to save testing out the new catapults for another day. He met Darien’s eyes, and there were truly mixed feelings within them. “I’m sorry Darien, but these are the only terms that would be good enough for my superiors.”
He walked up to him as his men steadily moved in to restraint them. “Do you remember that day Darien? The day Central’s capital was razed by countless Vahallians?”
central-is-growing
The old magistrate’s face was grim, but full of a low-simmering anger. “What does it matter? The reckoning is long finished.” He stood protectively in front of Sven.
moe-lazyeye
“We all lost so much that day…” Olansee explained. “But losing you…you were are very image. But now this…it’s like losing you a second time.” He gave the barest shakes of his head. “How…how could you defect? And to the very rebels that ruined your work?”
The soldiers around them began to tie Sven and Darien’s hands, pulling a prisoner wagon over and priming it for use.
lbigreyhound13
Sven didn’t dare say a word as he listened to Darien and Olansee while his hands were tied behind his back. He grunted when one soldier pulled his restraints all too tight, and he started to feel some pins and needles in his hands. He prayed with all his might that he would eventually see a certain Night Fury fly in and save the day, but that was not going happen at least not yet. His mom was way too far away right now, and he just sent his dragon away. However, there was a part of him that was relieved that his sisters and his village were safe.
He heard Olansee’s last question to Darien and glared at the Captain. “Maybe he realized that treating half-breeds this way isn’t right,” he said before Darien could say anything.
central-is-growing
Darien’s eyes were full of emotion as he regarded Sven, continuing to be defiant. He didn’t know exactly how old the boy was, but the shape of his face and the gleam in his eye and the way he held his shoulders reminded him of someone he used to know very well, wearing fine robes and a huge black owl on his arm and a steely authority on his youthful frame. 
“I did,” he said quietly but clearly. “I’m here because I stood on the wrong side of history, I paid dearly for it, and in war I saw where I would rather be when it comes time to read our stories to our descendants.” He looked intently at the captain. “Doing what is right, instead of following orders from people who don’t give a damn about anyone else.” His last words, he directed at the guards behind his back.
moe-lazyeye
Olansee’s hand shot up and his men halted. There was a steely silence as a gust of wind blew over the hills. The captain walked up and leaned ever so slightly down to get a good look at Darien, regarding him closely. 
He bit his lip as Boris’s words came to him, and he inhaled. “How…?” He asked very deliberately. “How is what we are doing wrong? You saw their minds. You said they couldn’t compare to a humans. In all your experiments. Animal minds, animal bodies, but the ability to do evil. You can’t tell me a legend such as yourself got all that wrong through some blunder.”
central-is-growing
“The devout can always be wrong,” Darien insisted. “Racism, self-superiority, denial, lies–they’re all powerful drugs. If what you and I do doesn’t serve the greater interest of everyone–our people, their people, whoever–it is wrong.” He was breathing hard. He could see before him the effects of his own leadership, and it made him sick.
moe-lazyeye
“But you.” Olansee shuttered, his eyes fiery. “Everything you said…it can’t be all wrong. No one like you could have made so many consecutive mistakes. Not a scholar, not a high mage…”
He clenched his fists. “You experimented on their minds. You actually saw and dissected and altered them. So tell me… half breeds… were their minds and hearts actually-” he swallowed. “Actually animal?”
central-is-growing
“No. Nothing to garner our level of hostility,” Darien said emphatically. “There are bare minimums of interesting scientific differences that could further be studied, but–that’s–that’s not the point. I assure you, they have been exaggerated to further the agenda of tyrants. Have you ever even spoken to one, face to face, as a person?”
moe-lazyeye
“Of course I have!” Olansee said defensibly despite him being the one to open this conversation. “I work with the damn…” his lips twitched as if seeking the right word. Already this revelation had sent his preconceived notions reeling. “P-…things…all the time” he finally relented, although the word lacked its usual venom. 
“Captain this is madness.” One of the soldiers called from over Darien’s shoulder. “We’re talking about half breeds here…”
“Yes…to the man who knew them better than anyone…” Olansee growled in reply, his eyes still locked on his former idol. 
Not different?! Impossible! The differences in our brains ought to have been staggering…still he did say they weren’t quite the same…
“Where they…those that were different…they were inferior?” Olansee ventured, looking almost apprehensive to ask. “Lack of cognitive thought. Impulsive, predatory or herd like instinct…yes?” 
"No!" he said, with more heat. "Half-breeds of every kind saved my life when I should have died, even when they knew who I was. They gave me second chances, and hope. Even if their physical and mental structures were bestial, why would we treat someone that acts and thinks and loves like any other human differently than a human? My research was wrong. I was wrong. Everything I did...was...wrong." He stamped his heel into the ground with each emphasis, desperate and emotional. "We can do better."
Oct 24, 2019
“He’s right!” Sven said with a glare on his face. “I’ve grown up with half-breeds. One of which is my mom’s best friend...practically her sister, and her kids are practically my cousins. In fact, my mom was once friends with a half-breed when she was my age...” He remembered one particular story Grey had told him and his sisters before this Rebellion started. “They cared about each other a lot, and he ended up being killed trying to save my mom’s life...from your people.They’re just like us! There’s no reason to treat them this way.”
He sighed. “Let me ask you this, Captain,” he began again after a moment. “Why would my mom and Uncle King Haddock and Uncle Greg and every other member in the first rebellion and this one care about these half-breeds if they were so evil? Did you ever stop to think about that?”
Oct 24, 2019
Olansee's expression varied from shock and uncertainty at Darien's words, to disgust at the idea of mixed families, to uncertainty again at Sven's question. "Well...clearly not all are evi- surely I...we all hold different ideals, the early rebels clearly saw half breeds as equal, were willing to get violent over it, while we...we..." he trailed off. "We figured..." He fell silent again and this time it earned him several critical glances from his men.
The captain cleared his throat, and motioned with a hand. "Um...go on and uh...go on and load them into the wagon but uh..." he glanced back at the tent he knew Boris to be in. "I will processes them after my report to the sorceress. No need for her to worry about this personally unless she asks otherwise..."
Oct 25, 2019
As the prince and the scientist were pushed away a most began to roll in. Not uncommon on the island, the soldiers didn't even take notice. They also didn't take notice that three of them were missing. Of course most of them would hardly get the chance to. One by one they would be killed by the three figures that had been watching in the shadows the tree branches provide. By the time anyone noticed, it would be too late. They each split off again after their fourth kill of the night take down more targets.
Oct 25, 2019
Boris sat on the back of the cart just a little ways from Sven and Darien. He craned his neck around to see if he could see the driver of the cart, and Olansee beside him. He saw two blurry figures through the thick mist and night air, something felt off. Everything was so quiet even for a calm procession as this. 
He told himself it was nothing. No one would be out here anyway. And no perusing rebels would see them in this fog. He turned to the two prisoners. “Uh...” He offered meekly, holding out his hand to Darien. “High Mage Darien...Boris...I’m a friend of Olansee’s.
Oct 25, 2019
*Just Darien will do," he murmured, looking strangely at his proffered hand and flexing his shoulders to indicate his restraints. "Did you need something?"
Oct 25, 2019
Boris opened his mouth...and then closed it. He looked away awkwardly. “Oh...um no...I’m sorry...”
Boris concluded that this hadn’t been the best time to introduce himself to a celebrity. 
Up ahead, Olansee sniffed once, and then peered closer into the mist. “Are we missing men up there?!” He demanded, although there was a note of urgency in his voice. “Everyone count off! One!”
“Two.” The coachman replied.
“Three...” Another soldier called from the side of the wagon.
And the countdown continued, verifying to see if there were any gaps in rank.
Oct 25, 2019
The countdown ended at three, but a moment later even that count was inaccurate.
Oct 25, 2019
Sven pressed his ear against the wall of the wagon trying to see if he could hear an attack happening, but there was hardly a sound coming from outside. 
“What’s going on?” Sven asked aloud. He moved his arms only to sadly remember that he was still tied up. “Something’s not right...”
Oct 25, 2019
“Damn it!” Olansee yelled, and hurled himself over the wagon, taking great strides to tackle Boris and roll him under so he was covered. He stood to his feet and drew his sword as he climbed up where Darien and Sven were. He got behind them and grabbed Sven’s shoulder, putting his blade between the two men. “Who’s ever out there! Show yourselves! I have the heir don’t try anything funny!”
Oct 25, 2019
Sven screamed as Olansee grabbed him and held a sword way too close to his throat. Chills ran down his spine as he remembered when a certain someone held a knife to his throat...he remembered seeing how terrified and angry his parents were.
“So…did it help…? That you were all sufficiently warned…?”
“Mom…” 
“I’m going to guess that you’re Rhenco…” 
He looked around the mist for any signs as to what was happening...if this person was a friend or a foe...trying to remain as still as possible. 
Oct 25, 2019
"it doesn't even notice his drivers perished." One of the assassins said to his fellows.
"Soon he won't be noticing anything." A feminine voice replied. She hopped the long distance to the cart from the tree, landing silently behind the man and flipping him out of the cart where the other two assassins dispatched him. "You are safe now." She says to the two of them.
Oct 25, 2019
Darien immediately sent a mental probe out towards the figure that landed in the cart; an armed force, he didn't want to provoke, but he felt confident he could steal some information from a single person. "If you're here to capture us too," he warned, "you'll be in the same predicament that these soldiers were. You will be hunted."
Oct 25, 2019
His probe is batted away by some intense protection magic. "I believe you failed to hear me, Darien Whiteland. You are safe now. We're you not we would not be speaking now."
The two others hop on board the cart as well, as Sven looks at them he notices they all look sort of familiar.
"The camp is cleared their weapons of destruction, yours." The second one said.
The third one stomped his foot on the kart. "And you down there, will be placed in their charge."
Oct 25, 2019
“W-who are you guys?” Sven said slowly backing away from the three figures standing over him. He was grateful for the rescue, but he did not recognize these people at all. Although, they looked familiar. He just couldn’t place how or why.
Oct 25, 2019
After a minute of looking at them Sven does recognize them. He's seen each of them multiple times throughout his life. One was a butcher, another was a blacksmith and the last was a baker and they'd been living on Haligan for years.
"The Brotherhood watches." The woman said. A rabbit half-breed.
The Brotherhood listens. Said one of the men, human.
Oct 25, 2019
Olansee’s  surprised, wide eyes starred into Boris from where both men lay on the ground.
But only one set was blinking.
The strike to the captain’s heart had been clean and swift. Leaving his body no time to even register what was happening. With shaking hands Boris covered his mouth, his whole body vibrating. “Olansee...” he barely eked. And then jolted when he was address, his heart rate spiking. Everything began to go into tunnel vision. He began to lose focus of the conversation. 
Brotherhood...
Placed in their charge...
You down there...
“No!” He screamed in both despair and panic as he scrambled from his hiding place. “No I’m not going anywhere with you murders! Not again! I cant!”
Oct 25, 2019
The two men began to pull their swords from there scabbards before the woman held up her hand. "Do not pretend your fellows were so innocent. They were going to attack the village in half the time they promised, where they knew the citizens would be. Besides we will not be taking you anywhere."
Oct 25, 2019
Boris staggered a few steps away from the group, turning around to face them. He looked to Sven, and then to the others. He gritted his teeth as a tear ran down his cheek. “I know...” He said. “I know I tried to talk him out of it. Tried to get him to stop. I know he wasn’t innocent but does that change what you just did? Did the sins of your old King out weigh the feeling of your loss when they chopped his head off?! That was my friend!” He screamed with a pointed finger, and then took another step away. “I’m not going with anybody. Not you...not them...I’m going home...”
Oct 25, 2019
"Then you will not breath a word of this to your, Sorceress." She commanded taking a dangerous step forward. "Tell her your party was beset upon by bandits, or wild animals, or what have you. Tell her whatever you like but the truth, for if you do, there not be a hole deep enough or dark enough where the Dark Brotherhood cannot reach you."
Oct 25, 2019
“Boris...” Sven said sadly, “I know he was...” he felt a churning in his stomach, “he was your friend...but..” 
“Jerod was my only friend.” 
He killed someone who was another person’s...HIS only friend. He did it to save Boris’ life, but...he still took a life. He began to breathe heavily before he suddenly bent over with his hands still behind his back...emptying the contents of his stomach. 
Boris stared at him, his shoulders heaving. He glanced once at the darkness behind him, and thought of Mount Massive…Rhenco…
Olansee was the only person who had bothered to go out of his way to recover him. Despite how strict the man had been, he had defied orders doing this…now there was Sven…
“I’m just a citizen…” He murmured, looking shell shocked. “I’ve never even seen the Sorceress. She doesn’t even know I exist.” 
Boris looked up to Sven again, desperation in his eyes as he held out a hand. “Come with me…” He pleased. “You’re the only other person who was there. You’re the only one that knows like I do. You…” He pointed at Darien, before his hand swung over to the Dark Brotherhood members. “And you…you’re all maniacs. You’re crazy. You got dead bodies stacked up on either side of you!” 
The hand came back to Sven. “I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. And the only person you ever killed was an act of self defense. So come with me…I don’t know where. But it’ll be somewhere, anywhere other than this war filled with lunatics!”
Oct 25, 2019
The restraints must’ve fallen off while he was throwing up, but he didn’t care. All he could focus on was what Boris was offering. He could go with him…leave home…leave Haligan Island forever and start over somewhere away from the Rebellion and Rhenco’s madness, but how could he do that to…his family…his sisters…his parents…his people?
“B-Boris…I…I appreciate the offer,” he finally said, “but…I…I can’t. M-My parents…my little sisters…I can’t just leave them. And…I-I’m going to be Chief someday. I…I can’t just abandon the Haligan Tribe. But you could stay here, maybe? M-My mom is a great Chief, and…well, when this is all over, it does get quiet around here.”
Oct 25, 2019
“Sven!” Boris cried. “Your great mom has assassins at her call. My best friend was going to bombard civilians! There is no all over, there is no end, there is no justice, and there is no peace!”
His hand shook as he tried once more. “But if there is…then let them figure it out without us…”
Oct 25, 2019
“You’re wrong.” The woman says. “While I am not at liberty to say who our contractor is, I can tell you we do not answer to the chief.”
Oct 25, 2019
There was the smallest flicker of relief at the words, but it vanished like a grain of sand under a wave. He drew a shakey inhaled, tears freely flowing although he was calmer now.
“Sven…” he offered once more.
Oct 25, 2019
“Don’t make him consider that.” Darien finally spoke up. He had been thinking very fast and very hard about the implications of the scene before him. He knew the Brotherhood, and he knew the extent of their effectiveness. He knew their methods. He remembered recognizing their stealth during the assassinations in Traebor, and the very oddly specific detail of the massive sigil charred into the ground in front of the citadel. They had attacked Haligan. They had failed. Now, the Brotherhood was protecting the Rebellion. Someone wanted their revenge, and had gotten it in one of the most secure, yet dangerous ways possible.
“If you’re hell-bent on escaping Central, this is the place to do it. You go here, or you go to the Wilderwest,” he said firmly. “But if you want to keep running in fear, do it alone. He has protection enough here.”
Oct 25, 2019
Sven silently thanked the gods that Darien intervened standing up for him. As much as he would love for this madness to stop, he couldn’t just leave. He couldn’t leave Grey, Brandt, Dagny, Kari, their family, and their friends. They all tried to help him after he returned home from Rhenco’s hotel. His mom and dad did everything they could to rescue him. Plus, he had a duty to his mother…to his people to some day take his place as the next Chief. Dagny and Kari weren’t meant to do it. He was, and what kind of leader he would be if he just got up and left all because he was scared?
“I’m sorry, Boris,” Sven finally said, “but I can’t…I won’t. My parents…my sisters…my entire family…and…I have a responsibility as the Heir. To leave them now would be a huge mistake. I don’t know what Central has told you about Mom, but if you stay, you’ll see how great of a leader she is. You’ll be under her protection. She’s at the raid right now, but once she gets back, you can see for yourself.” He knew that Boris did not know Grey well, but he knew his mother would never use assassins. Much to his relief, the Brotherhood confirmed it as well.
Oct 26, 2019
Boris’s hand lowered. He feared wondering alone, he could be kidnapped again. But defecting to the rebels, and knowing that at any moment he could be living next to one of the three assassins that killed Olansee made his stomach turn over.
He gripped his hair so tightly strands began to pull out of his scalp as his shoulder heaved with ragged breaths. He staggered a few paces over towards them, and looked up at the assassins. He turned to Sven, knowing that there was recognition in his eyes.
“Who are they…?” He asked.
Oct 26, 2019
“I’m not sure,” Sven said eying the three people in front of them. “I’ve seen them around, but I didn’t think that they were assassins.” He turned to the mage. “Does my mom even know about these guys? Do you know who they are?”
Oct 26, 2019
Darien clenched his mouth shut, studying the Brotherhood around him. “Maybe they could enlighten me on what I’m allowed to tell you,” he said meaningfully, raising his eyebrows to let them know that he knew a lot about them, almost as much as he knew they knew about himself. He didn’t want to end up like the captain.
Oct 26, 2019
She the Half-breed woman stares Darien down and turns to Boris. “We are the Dark Brotherhood. Those who know of us are few, those who live to talk about us are even fewer. We take jobs, preforming assassinations mostly, from various high paying clients. For the most part the client doesn’t matter, only the money and the target.”
Oct 26, 2019
Boris began to breath a little easier and he closed his eyes. He was silent for a few minutes, and then took a shuttering breath. 
“You have set my life…into turmoil…I can’t go with the rebels. I can’t go home, but I can’t find a new one because Olansee is gone. Now I came here with my best intentions to help the very rebels your job was to protect. I have money, and I demand some form of recompense for this!”
Oct 26, 2019
She raises an eyebrow. “And what sort of recompense do you desire?”
Oct 26, 2019
Boris clenched his fists. “Kill somebody…” he said bitterly. “I’ll do whatever it takes to meet your price. Half if you agree prior, and half after it’s done.”
Oct 26, 2019
She crosses her arms. “And who exactly do you want us to kill?”
Oct 26, 2019
“That’s information I’ll entrust to you alone…I’m going back to the camp where the catapults were. There’s enough embers in the pits that will give me enough warmth for the night. You can meet me there once your charges are safe.”
He began walking into the night, but paused. “And Sven…if you never see me again. Its probsbly because they chose to kill me. Your mom should probably know who her benefactors are. Otherwise she’ll be answering to blood that wasn’t her doing that spilled.”
Oct 26, 2019
“What?!” Sven asked in shock as he took a step toward. “I-I don’t understand, w-what are you doing?! You-you just heard them say that they don’t answer to her.”
Oct 26, 2019
“Yes!” Boris snapped back. “So she won’t want more people like me who almost blamed her for their fucking actions! I’m not going to do anything your mom, or rebellion or central! I’m just not going to talk about this personal matter between me and these assassins with you and Darien.”
Oct 26, 2019
Sven sighed. “Okay, okay,” he said running a hand through his hair. “I can talk to her about it, but I don’t know if,” he looked to the assassins, “she can stop them. But I agree, it would be better that she knows. Umm…” he held out his hand to shake, “I hope we do cross paths again…and have it not be during war.”
Oct 26, 2019
Boris didn’t move for a moment, and then he stepped over and shook his hand with a sigh, his head cast towards the ground and his eyes closed. “Yeah…” he muttered, and then bent down and grabbed up Olansee’s sword, strapping it to his waste.
He closed the mans eyes, and then stepped away, retreating back up the path towards the former campsite.
Oct 26, 2019
She nods and the two men break away from her and move towards the two. "They will take you back to the village. I'd recommend recovering the catapults as quickly as possible, but that's your business." She then turns to follow Boris.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Act I
Category:Events
Category:Boris
Category:Olansee
Category:Sven Felman
Category:Darien Whiteland