Chapter 42 Failure’s first strike
SAM'S POV
The men walked into the room, Sam at their rear.
He looked around, surveying his surroundings. They'd all decided to stick together just in case of necessity.
The noisy hall became quiet as the men noticed their intruders. They drew out their swords, ready to take them on.
“Come in peace,” Sam said even as his hands rested on his sheath. He would not be taken by surprise.
“What do you want?” A heavily scarred man who appeared to be their leader spoke up. He waved his hands, telling his men to drop their weapons.
“The question should be, what do you want?” Sam said with a small smile.
“Everyone can see you have been surrounded.”
The man bowed his head. “Still doesn't mean we have to accept intruders like you.”
“We were sent here by His Majesty, Lucien Blackthorn.”
The fury in the man's eyes could not be hidden, as he stood up, drawing his already sheathed sword.
“Do you have a death wish?” He screamed as he lunged at Sam.
Sam reacted, standing in his position, his sword out to defend himself instantly.
Both men were in a gridlock, panting. Actually, the scarred man was panting, while Sam barely stood. Not even a drop of sweat had appeared on his forehead.
“Now I can see why you have been defeated.” He smirked as he pushed him off, making the man stagger.
“I thought you were the stronger faction?” Disdain filled Sam's voice.
“We are,” his smile was bitter. “Alex.” He stretched out his hand.
“Sam,” Sam said, accepting his hand.
“Or should I say, we were.” The man called Alex continued, looking around the room with a sad smile.
“We used to be more than this. They had help from your King.”
“No.” Sam drew his breath sharply as realisation dawned on him.
“No?” Alex laughed in mockery. “They are marked just the way you are.” He said, finding it funny that Sam couldn't believe it was his men outside.
“They are not ours.” He said. “They are part of us, but they're not ours.”
His mind worked fast, as he thought of the best possible way to go about the situation.
He looked around the room. “Is this all you have left?”
Alex's smile was bitter as his eyes wandered around the room.
“We are supposed to be the stronger faction.”
Sam wanted to stop him. He didn't need all the details, but he was too slow. Alex continued.
“Actually, we had won and my master was about to be crowned leader, before we'd been taken by surprise.”
“Surprise?” He was thankful that he'd allowed the other man to speak.
Alex nodded. “They'd stormed us. First thing they'd done was to shoot an arrow in our leader's chest.”
Sam nodded. That was the most effective way to cause disarray in a group and with Alex and his group, it had worked like magic.
“We found out that they were sent by your Master.”
Sam shook his head, wanting to correct him, but Alex was undeterred. “We were a little over one thousand.”
Sam looked around the hall. There were fewer than a hundred. Even ten of his men would be able to take them and win.
He shook his head, confused.
Damien had been a step ahead of them. He'd gotten to the weaker faction, using Lucien's name. Like he'd known what Lucien was planning.
He could leave, meet with Lucien secretly and feed these ones to their enemy, making them extinct, all the while explaining to Lucien what had actually happened.
It would not be his fault. Damien had gotten this round.
“No,” Alex spoke with horror in his face. “If you plan to do what I think you plan to do, we will not go down without a fight.”
Sam's smile curled. He had always been expressionless, but this Alex here had managed to figure out what he was thinking in a minute.
“How easy it is for you to figure out my thoughts, but not how you defeat your enemy and take back what belongs to you.” He booed, making Alex flinch.
“What do you want?” Alex responded instead, undeterred by Sam’s underhanded comment.
“I don't think you can give me what I want,” Sam smirked. “We can take you out now.”
He gestured to his men, who immediately brought out their swords.
“But you won't,” Alex said with a cunning smile. “Tell your men to sheath their swords. You need us more alive than dead.”
Sam studied the scarred man before him. “I can bet that your talent is negotiating. Which is why you have so many scars.”
Alex smiled. “Yet, your own fighting talent has you looking for an ally to help you defeat the tyrant you have in your clan.”
Sam nodded. “Sheath your swords.” He said to his men, his gaze not leaving Alex.
“There is not much we can do for you right now. It is only a matter of time before the crowd outside force themselves on you.”
“We all know that,” Alex said, nodding. “What are you proposing?”
Sam cocked his head to the side. “I take you to the same place safe and in return, you fight for us when we need your help.”
It was Alex's turn to give a cocky smile. “That's an unfair trade.”
“How?” Sam barked. “ You'll be killed here, sooner or later, so what are you on about?”
The light in the man's eyes had nothing to do with how he looked. He looked joyous. “You're right.” He admitted, his eyes twinkling. “We'll be killed sooner or later, but at least we get the go down honourably. Our names will be embedded in history, as a rival faction. Heck, we'll even be used as cautionary tales in fifty years to come.”
He crouched, picking up a handful of sand. “Going with you has so much lower benefits than this. Also, what's to say that you won't have us killed the moment we stop doing your bidding?”
Sam smiled despite himself. “I like you. What you lack in strength, you have made up for in words.”
Alex bowed mockingly.
“What do you want?”
Alex's eyes widened, surprised that Sam had given in.
“You must really need us.”
“Don't push it.” Sam's voice was hard.
Alex cleared his throat. “Here's what we need. You'll take us out to someplace safe. In return, we'll help you and fight for you.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Isn't that what I proposed?”
“I'm not done,” Alex smiled. “And after all this is over, you'll help us in return. Take out our enemies and install us back as leaders.”
Sam couldn't help the laugh in his stomach. “This is ridiculous,” he laughed out loud. “You're not serious, are you?” The laugh died when he realised Alex had not as much as smiled.
“You are indeed, Serious.” He wondered out loud.
“You need us, as much as we need you. And make no mistake, we are not as weak as you think us to be.”
There were murmurs of agreement from the crowd.
“We have been demoralised.”
Sam cut in. “That's a lame excuse, Alex.”
His words made Alex's face red.
“Battles will not always go your way. What say you when you lose again, you'll be demoralised?” He mocked.
“That…”
Sam shook his head, indicating that he was not done. “Yeah, I get it. You think you have more value than what is shown here.”
He turned to his men, before glancing back at Alex. “We are a little over fifteen, but we can take you. You do not get to lay up claims and think we'll accept them just because we are desperate.”
He ignored the hurt in Alex's eyes. “We are going to accept your offer, not because you think you're good, but because I have been instructed not to come back empty-handed.”
Relief flooded Alex's face. “Thank you.” He muttered.
Sam barely nodded, before looking around. “I believe there is a secret exit here?” We do not have time on our side.”
Sam nodded and pointed to the floor. “It's a passage that goes underground, into a forest.”
“And you haven't used it?” Sam wondered.
Alex hesitated. “It has never been used before. It was built by my father. We've never had cause to escape, not from our land.”
For the first time, Sam saw vulnerability in Alex's eyes.
The young man was running away from his home like a criminal, a fugitive who would be killed if he didn't escape.
He looked at his men. “Check out the place.”
They grunted and opened the lid immediately, walking down.
“What do you think?” Sam cocked his head at Alex. “Ready to be partners?” He muttered, his hands outstretched.
Alex nodded, taking his hand. “Thank you.” He muttered.
Sam waved him off. Lucien had been right, Damien would do anything to win. He'd won this round, taking them unawares, but the next would have him calling for help.