story about as much as I believe in the Paun,” Gordyn laughed. “I suspect the Turgent is behind all of this.”
“Make sure you watch who you say that around.” Toby frowned at Gordyn. “Here you are among those you can trust, but I don’t want to have to send Macgowan to save your ass again if those words reach the wrong ears.”
All eyes turned to Gordyn, but Osric and Kenneth’s expressions portrayed confusion.
“Do tell.” Kenneth smiled at the serious tone in the room.
“That can wait.” Toby turned back. “Right now we need to know who is behind this.”
“Well,” Kenneth looked at Gordyn, “you are in for two surprises. The first is that the Paun do exist, and Osric cut the head off of one before it could kill us. I will let you wait to hear the next.”
“Wait, what?” The shocked faces of the other three men echoed the statement.
Osric peered back nervously trying to avoid the sudden attention. “We need to focus, men.” Osric hardened his gaze to bring the conversation around. “It appears as though the Turgent is under the influence of another man. I am not sure how he managed to do it, but Konsult Dredek is the one making the decisions in Rowain.”
“That skinny, murdering rat of a man that fled in such a hurry?” Gordyn stepped forward.
“Yes, but that’s not all.” Osric prepared himself for the objections he knew would come with his next statement. “We need to contact all of the Vigiles and flee Stanton. The Kallegian have been ordered to eliminate all of us.”
“The Vigile don’t flee. They are going to have a surprise in store for them when they arrive!”
“No, Toby. We need to get out while we can. We can come up with a plan and come back later.” Osric pointed a finger at him, but he could sense that the argument was not over.
“Have you seen our people? Every man, woman, and child in Stanton is broken.” Toby raised his voice above a whisper for the first time as he hammered his fist on the table. “Their hearts have been ripped out of their bodies and it was your leadership that brought them hope. Your men have been working to bring them food and shelter since you left, and they won’t leave these people now!”
“After these last few weeks, I don’t think our people will stand by and watch the Union try to take us out,” Gordyn said.
“Look, I don’t want to get people killed. We need to get out and come up with a plan,” Osric pleaded with the men.
“I have news for you. We are at war,” Toby placed a hand on Osric’s shoulder. “Whether we go to war with the irua, or we fight for our lives here, it’s still war. I would rather be fighting for the right reasons.”
“Me too.” Gordyn smiled.
“And I,” Macgowan spoke in his low rumbling tone.
“I’d do what he says. Do you see the size of that man’s hands?” Kenneth broke the moment’s uncomfortable silence with a joke.
Osric’s eyes glazed over as his mind raced. He could not imagine a way to convince them to leave Stanton. He had no idea what to do after they had disarmed his entire argument. Uncertainty began to cloud his mind as, even deep within the barracks, the chill of the new snowfall pierced through the heat of the flames in the hearth.
“You still have the dragons and eagles on your side. We may stand a chance if we all join forces.” Kenneth sat up and turned slowly on a pivot.
“I cannot ask the dragons to fight for us after all we have done to them, and the eagles have no reason to help us either. I think we are on our own in this,” Osric said stoically.
“Then we will do it on our own. There are hundreds of people in this town, including the Vigiles, that have been waiting for a reason to fight and someone to lead them. We can communicate with them without the Kallegians knowing, if we are careful.” Toby’s voice was filled with conviction.
“And who better than the High-Wizard to lead them?” Bridgett’s voice startled Osric, and he spun around to see her standing in the doorway, accompanied by Eublin and Gus, with Pebble on her shoulder. She walked straight to him, reaching up and tenderly touching the cuts and bruises on his face. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her eyes, and Macgowan smiled sweetly, the suspended tear finally streaking