The chief of the shelter, Baro, sat by himself, awaiting the rest to join him in his dark tent, there was a lonely wavering light keeping him in company, a single candle, its life was near its end, slowly dying in the silence, until it sank its own flame inside of what melted of it
Pharam was the first to join inside the tent, he went inside the moment the candle went off holding his own, new, shiny, alive, he put it by the map, lighting the whole room on, he positioned it beside where their shelter was located
Soon others joined in
Sarom with both hands chained, he entered the space guarded, as Ramo followed after him
Each laid down his candle, they brought them along for the streets they walked were empty, dangerous, and dark
"I guess you do need me in the end" said Sarom seating himself down
Pharam spoke saying, "The whispers in the streets are growing louder, with each second more and more are conspiring, what are your plans chief?"
"Was there anything else heard?" asked Baro
"Some people, are thinking to over throw you" said Pharam
"That I already expected long ago, is that all you have to say??" said Baro the chief
They glanced each other, their eyes worried, Pharam spoke again "They talk about how the first kings never grew weak nor did they age, the stories are being shared under the tables as we speak"
The chief already expecting what is coming but refusing to accept it being the truth, he stared at Pharam, as if staring down at his soul, his core, his thoughts, then spoke
"Say it, speak of it already, the thing you have in mind" said Baro his gaze raising up slowly
"They are questioning if your blood is the same as his, they named you, the false heir" replied Pharam
The chief's face twisted, his eyes lit ablaze as his teethes grinded each other like stone slates, the frustration was obvious, too obvious so he calmed himself down
"One day king of the corner, another the false heir, any other nicknames I don't know of?" said the chief, eyes blackened staring at the map, his fingers wrapped over each other, covering both mouth and nose
The chief stared up at him, still in the same position, only his eyes moved "Any suggestions?"
Sarom spoke once more "Can't we somehow change the public opinion?"
"That is the thing I am asking you people, that is your job, you are supposed to counsel me here, not the other way," said the chief
"We can't just stand by and wait helplessly, single whispers can turn into talks, and if more talks appear we will be the ones facing the angry crowds" replied Sarom
"The crowd needs a motive" said Pharam, they stared at him awaiting the rest "Something to hate, fight, or fear at the very least, for respect is a lost cause in our case"
"Do you have something to say in that topic?" asked Ramo
The look on his face showed that all he had was shallow words, but he looked away and towards the chief" Maybe the king dos have something" the group of them looked at Baro, awaiting an answer
He took a deep breath closing his eyes, he opened them, sharp eyed, determined "If they no longer see the Varish's as more of a threat, then we need to force it in them"
"Are you suggesting we make this safe place a slaughter house?" asked Sarom in shocked as he stood up, palms flat on the table
"There is no other way" said Pharam in agreement
"You too? Weren't you the one who despised these acts the most?!" said Sarom
"Yes, but what is more important is the good of the people, and I will do anything for their sake" replied Pharam
"What good, there is no good in such act, you mean the dead corpses you wish to create for your own greed" replied Sarom
"But we are not the upcoming demise we will be the hero's, the Varish are the ones who will be bringing us death, or at least that what will be known for who remains," said the chief Baro
"You are going to create more lies, while slaughtering the innocent!!, didn't we just agree that lies is the reason we were brought here in the first place," said Sarom
"These lies will have a greater purpose than any other said Ramo the Wiped eye old man
"You can never reach the surface by Diving deeper into the dark!!!" said Sarom
"Resources" said Pharam, "We don't have much left, and these mountains that shelter us are no agricultural land"
"That is just supporting my point, "said Sarom" Allow them to leave, once they taste the truth they will come back willingly, this is better than killing them without handing them a choice" in return to his words, cold gazes stared back
"You… You all, have already made, your choice…" said Sarom, he felt defeated falling back into his chair
"When the time comes, you will be informed" said the chief Baro with a slight head move the guards came forward, they went to Sarom and held him a criminal "Until then, you are not trusted with this info, any leaks and this will be our last stand"
They took Sarom away, he did not fight back nor did he speak up
"We will take the survivors and start a new shelter" he said before as he stared forward, speaking the thought that towered his skull the highest
"And so, my blood, shall live on" he finished his speech right there and then
In the nurse's tent, Fara's, the chief's only daughter, sat nursing Jason, she was treating his remaining scars, checking if for any infection
"I guess we are done here" she said as she removed the last bandage
"Anyways take care of yourself going outside in this dark, would you like a candle?" she asked
"No thanks" replied Jason standing up
"Be careful" she waved at him as he went away
Stepping out he saw something standing in the dark far away
"Where do you think you are going" said a voice behind him, his hand patted Jason's shoulder
As the boy looked back, he saw it to be Pharam
"You should be sleeping by now, or at least inside your dorm" said Pharam
"I was with the nurse inside" replied Jason staring back and forth at the door
Pharam looked back noticing is still on and replied "Go to sleep and don't waste time", Jason went, he kept looking back noticing Pharam stood there watching over him, until he was off sight
Pharam looked to the side, there where Jason stared, finding no one he walked away as well
The next morning Jason woke up to the sound of crowded voices, they seemed to be not too far away, washing his face and wearing his clothes Jason walked outside
The chief on a log addressing the people, beside him the ones from the tent alongside his bodyguard stood sharp like nails, it was as if they were confirming whatever he said
"My people, I stand here not as the chief, but as a brother, as one of you, as one who seeks your comfort and inner piece," said the chief
"I am only here to inform you that the Varish made their decision, and is heading our way"
"Lies, when will you even tell us the truth" a sound yelled hiding in the crowd, whispers burst forth
"My people, my people" shouted the chief trying to seize their attention back
"I may not be the best ruler; you may despise my acts up until now. But for our sake and the sake of our children all I wish is to have you by my side for the upcoming fight, for what comes is far more dangerous"
"I don't ask of you to obey me, I ask of you to survive, if we let these wall fall, our kin will be no more" he said, the people started seeing him in the light for a brief moment
The chief hiding his smile continued
"All I ask, is of you to create little shelters in each of the houses, holes in wish will set the women and children, if the Varish's might reach these grounds"
"The only hope we have lays inside, here alone. Fight back for your selves, your wives, your children"
"Do not fight for me, fight for your blood to live on, same as I do"
The people even though they hated him, they moved in agreement. Their morals were down, wish might affect their production, but the chief did not care about so for it won't affect his plans anyway
Leaving him they went their own paths. From behind Baro grinned hideously, an embodiment of the devil stood between mankind, hiding behind a mask of its own