101: Change of plans.

101: Change of plans.
Hale pov 

I couldn’t go back to sleep after the vote. Instead, I lay there and listened to the camp pretend it was still a camp. Someone poked the fire and someone else brought up something about water while Garrick’s voice stayed low and even, like a man who had already decided the world belonged to him. 

That was what bothered me most - not the betrayal, but the careless attitude of everyone.

Cowards should’ve looked like cowards, not like men who carried the word on their shoulders and finally looked relieved. We had a deal, we signed a contract and now all of them decided it meant nothing.

Bastian slept through all of it, like the world was still arranged around his next speech. When he finally sat up, hair flattened on one side, eyes already hunting for an audience, I made sure I was close enough to be useful.

“You’re up late,” Bastian said.

“Couldn’t sleep.” I muttered, eyes still scanning the camp.

There was a hint of suspicion in his eyes, but behind it, I found something else - contentment. Bastian liked men who couldn’t sleep around him and always looked loyal.

He stood, stretched, scanned the trees like Ryker might walk out of them any moment and spoke, “have they moved?”

“The patrol? Still on the longer route last I heard.” I answered with a shrug as my eyes unwillingly stopped on Garrick, who still looked far too much at ease and content with himself.

Bastian nodded, satisfied by the information. “Sounds perfect, I want that bastard to think the travels are safe and he’s not in danger until the very last moment.”

After a moment of tense silence, Garrick passed us with an armful of wood. He didn’t even glance my way, which was new - Garrick always looked at people. He loved knowing his men were watching him as much as he watched us, but tides had changed and I wasn’t one of his anymore.

Bastian noticed nothing, which, in a way, was a blessing. The longer he remained clueless, the better.

I waited until Garrick was gone and the inner circle had scattered into their little jobs: fire, bags, fake purpose. Once I was completely sure they were busy, I followed Bastian as he headed to his position from which he watched Ryker’s camp in the distance. 

I kept some distance to ensure I didn’t crowd him, but at the same time, I stayed close enough for him to know I hadn’t left.

“You’re quiet,” Bastian suddenly said, not bothering to turn around and look at me.

“So is everyone else.” I grumbled, hoping and praying he’d understand the double meaning behind my words. 

And he did. I think he did, because as soon as the words left me, Bastian stopped and turned to look at me. I kept my face as emotionless as a stone while he took his time trying to read me.

After a bit, Bastian took a step closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “What does that mean?” 

I shrugged. “Means the camp feels different this morning. Men talking much less, Garrick smiling so wide he’s showing off his teeth. On top of everything, the scout took off before the sun was properly up and nobody wanted to say where.”

Bastian’s eyebrows drew together, as if my last words - the actual warning - meant nothing more than a few words about another scout running circles around us. “The scout always moves.”

“Not like that.” I insisted and glanced back toward camp. The men were still busy so I stepped closer to Bastian and dropped my voice to a whisper. “He didn’t look like a man running an errand - he was sent on a mission to find something, or maybe someone. This run isn’t one of the usual ones.” 

Bastian laughed, but still kept the sound as quiet as possible.  “Garrick is jumpy and jumpy men send people running in circles.”

“Maybe.” I muttered and looked away. A part of me hoped Bastian could be a smarter man, someone who’d understand the meaning behind my words without being told to think, but I couldn’t force it. 

His eyes didn’t leave me, even when I tried to avoid his gaze and after a long, tense moment of silence, he took a step closer, reached out and grabbed my upper arm. “Say what you came to say.”

There it was, finally, he understood there might be a knife pointed at his throat, held by the very men who swore loyalty to him weeks ago in exchange for money even I knew Bastian didn’t have.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to sound like I knew less than I actually wanted to say. “I think some of them are done.”

“Done with what?” He asked and released his hold on me to cross his arms.

“With you.” I answered as plainly as I could.

Bastian’s face twisted into something ugly, the expression he wore only moments before he decided to risk it all for whatever he wanted, “careful,” he sneered.

“I’m being careful,” I hissed back, keeping my chin up. “That’s why I’m telling you instead of standing in a circle nodding along like the rest of them.”

Bastian’s expression twisted into an even uglier one, “and what exactly did you hear? I need words, not clues, give me names and don’t sugarcoat it.”

“No names that matter.” I said and held his gaze. “Garrick called them in while you were still asleep. When they came back, they already had a decision.”

Bastian’s jaw flexed. “That’s nothing.”

“It’s enough when you add the scout.” I insisted. 

At the end of the day, I couldn’t let him know every detail - I needed him to figure it out. That way, nobody could claim that those were my words that drove him to the rebellion against him. If Bastian failed, I needed a place to return to - Garrick and the rest of the rogues were my next best solution.

Bastian looked past me, toward camp. I could almost see him rearranging the morning in his head, trying to make it fit the story where he was still the center of every decision.

“Garrick wouldn’t move against me,” he said, tone less tense. “He likes money and living too much.”

“He likes living more than he likes you,” I corrected him. “That’s the part I don’t think you’ve wanted to look at.”

Bastian’s hands clenched at his sides. “If they wanted out, they would run.”

“Not if they think running makes them look guilty and staying close keeps you calm enough not to move away from the position here.” I said and watched his expression change again. “A man who wants to leave doesn’t always pack a bag. Sometimes, he just gets quieter and waits for someone else to do the dangerous part.”

Bastian stared at me for a long time, seemingly considering my words until an ugly smile spread across his lips. “You’re saying my men are planning something.”

Unable to take his stupidity, I took a step closer and whisper-hissed, “I’m saying your men are acting like they already planned it.” 

For once, the words landed just where I needed them - I saw the exact moment they sunk in and Bastian realized that for once, he didn’t see the betrayal coming. 

Slowly, he turned to the camp fully, glaring daggers at men who didn’t notice him watching them. “Who?”

“I don’t know.” I said with a shrug.

“Don’t lie to me.” Bastian snarled, eyes still blazing, focused on those he deemed traitors now. 

“I’m not.” I spat back and in a sense I really wasn’t. Just because I didn’t tell him it was Garrick’s idea and a vote happened already didn’t mean I was lying - I was only withholding information to ensure as many men could survive this shitstorm as possible. “If I start pointing at the loudest man, you go charging in and whoever is actually responsible for the rebellion among our own gets to sit back and watch you rage.”

Bastian made a sound that didn’t sound like anything friendly.  “So I should sit here and guess?”

“You should watch,” I said. “That’s all I’m giving you. Watch who changes the subject, who wants you pointed at Ryker and nowhere else and who is suddenly very interested in keeping you busy.”

His eyes flicked back to me. “And you? Why are you telling me this? You could’ve kept your mouth shut and floated with the rest of them.”

I had an answer ready, so giving it was easy, “because I didn’t come out here to die for Garrick’s nerves and watch you get boxed in by men who already decided you’re too expensive to keep.”

Bastian studied my face for so long, I actually got uncomfortable. “You still believe I can finish this,” he said eventually.

“I believe you’re the only one who actually wants this whole shit finished. I don’t care about the girl, but if you get rid of the obstacles to get her, life gets better for us.” I answered and crossed my arms, mirroring his position. “The others want a way out that leaves them breathing, I want a better life.”

My words clearly struck a cord, because finally, I could see one thing in Bastian’s eyes that had been missing for so long - hunger.

When I already thought I should leave, he stopped me with one, sharp nod. “If you’re wrong, I’ll remember this conversation.”

A smirk pulled at my lips, “I know you will. And if I’m right, you’ll still remember it.” 

Bastian chuckled and walked back to the camp. I stayed behind, at a safe distance to let others think I had no connection to whatever he was planning to do next. 

When he stopped by the fire, all eyes turned to him. “Listen up,” Bastian called and waited until he was sure nobody would dare to look the other way. “Change of plans. I’m tired of sitting around and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Ryker is getting closer, it’s about time we stop treating this like a picnic.”

Garrick was the first one to react, rising to his feet, “we said we needed better ground.”

“And now, I’m saying I’m done waiting,” Bastian shot back as his gaze moved from face to face. “If anyone has a problem with that, they can say it now.”