Things Considered

We'll head out in the mornin, Ike says. Let's drink on it. A few more rounds of pine sap vodka later, Saba looks like she can barely sit up in her chair. Starts spewin ramble 'bout the sky an stars an crows so bad Emmi an Epona gotta help her up to bed.

Ike chuckles. Fer someone so prickly, she cain't handle her liquor very well.

Hey, I says. That ain't ezzackly fair. Fer the size of you, you could drink anyone into the ground.

I take a look around the tavern. It's gotten dimmer, the candles low, the fireplace is cracklin, an the sounds of the villains snorin on the table by the fire fills the air. Emmi's turned in fer the night with her sister an Ash an Epona are chuckin darts an whisperin to each other. Add in Ike an Nero an that'll be our merry little band. Off to fight the big guys.

We need to talk business, Ike, I says, keepin my voice low.

Ah yes, Freedom Fields. So far, all I know is that you need my help to rescue her brother from the Tonton. We gotta get there before the crazies sacrifice him to the gawds or somethin like that... he takes another swig from his cup.

An then we're gonna burn the place to the ground, I says.

Come agin, Jack? his mustache twitches. You know what? Maybe you should hold off on the strong stuff fer now. It's messin with yer head. Not that you were ever in the right mind anyway.

Ike, I says, lookin him straight in the face.

He freezes. Oh hell no, yer serious aren't you? My Gawd, Jack, of all things to git tangled up in. An now you want me to pitch up, too?

Ash an Epona from the Free Hawks are in on this plan, too, I says, pointin to the two girls. This is our chance, Ike. To make things right. To git rid of the chaal once an fer all.

Jack, I unnerstand the saving her brother part, but why the hell would you wanna put yerself in even more danger like that? It'd be hard enough goin back to that place anyway.

We're gonna set free the slaves, I says, heart beatin faster. We're gonna burn down all the chaal till there's nuthin left, an nobody will ever have to suffer through what we did agin.

There's a helluva lot more risk in doin that than jest gittin her brother an boltin out as fast as you can. I take it Saba don't actually know about this.

Not until it's too late fer her to do anythin but go with it.

You're one sneaky, sly bastard, Jack, he says, shakin his head. He's starin hard into his cup, his face remainin emotionless. Besides, why're you all of a sudden actin fer the greater good? I know you, you don't do anythin unless somethin comes out of it fer yer own sake.

I think on this fer a moment. Then I says, Cuz I'm sick of runnin, Ike. I'm sick of always livin in fear fer my life, goin here an there jest to scrape up somethin decent to eat. I'm sick of watchin people git kilt, beaten, taken of what's rightfully theirs. Us dyin in this wasteland while the king's capital takes what we have left to grow this gawddamn chaal to control people's minds so we cain't even think fer ourselves anymore. You cain't honestly tell me you ain't sick an tired of this shit.

I am, but what can a brother do on his own? You ain't no hero, Jack. Whatever you decide, I'll go with you cuz it's my obligation. But I'm warnin you. He leans forward, eyes pitch black, voice droppin to a low grumble. This ain't no game, Jack. Once yer in it, yer in it fer life until Gawd knows what end.

We're jest gonna burn it down an leave -

But it ain't that simple an you know that. Pinch may be dead, but that don't mean the Angel still don't have that price on her head.

You knew who she was even before I told you, didn't you?

Word spreads like wildfire, Jack. An by gittin involved with her, you've already gotten yerself into this mess. Or...deeper I should say.

We're all outlaws here, Ike, I says. We're already on the lists fer escapin the chaal fields. This cain't possibly make it worse.

Fer you, no. Of course not. But haven't you ever given a care about what this might do to me? To Molly? To Tommo? To everyone I've grown to care about an the life I've built fer myself?

Rule of Three, Ike, I says through gritted teeth.

Gawddamn the Rule of Three, Jack! Fergit that idea in that selfish head of yers an think about what I'm sayin fer jest a moment! He bangs his meaty fist down on the table so's the drink spills outta the cups.

Don't think I don't have people I care about too, I says. But because of this hell we're livin in, it's all bin ruined.

You know what I think? he says, pointin a finger at me.

What? I says, anger wormin it's way into my voice.

I think, yer jest lookin fer another adventure, he slurs. The drink's takin its toll on him. I know you, Jack, you've never bin able to sit still fer long. You like excitement, danger, and the world's jest bin a little too gawddamn borin fer you of late. So yer jest usin this opportunity to git yer puny heart racin an the adrenaline pumpin through yer sorry ass!

That ain't true! I says, jumpin up an knockin the chair to the ground. One of the villains groans. Ash an Epona take a half-step toward us, but I put up my hand to stop 'em.

An yer too selfish to even think about how yer riskin everyone else's lives, includin the brother yer supposed to rescue.

I got my reasons, Ike, I says. Don't you dare pretend like you know what's goin on in my head cuz you don't!

Oh, that how it is? You think I dunno the guy my life belongs to well enough to know when he's tryin to be a high an mighty daredevil?

So that's it, then? I says. You ain't comin? You breakin our deal?

I ain't said nuthin like that, he barks back. Rubs a hand over his eyes, an it's the first time I notice how tired he looks. Things ain't the way they used to be, Jack. I cain't jest pick up an leave whenever I want to anymore. I got...responsibilities.

I know, I says. You got the business here an Tommo.

An where I go, he'll always follow, he says. I don't wanna put his life in danger like that, but I ain't about to abandon him same as his father did eether.

That ain't gonna be problem s'long as he can fight, I says.

Oh he can hold his own in a fight, I made sure of that, he says.

I see, I says. You gotta lot to consider. Honestly never thought you'd turn out this way.

Neether did I, he says. But times change an people change.

The taverns gone from rowdy an raucous to strangely still an quiet, save fer the drunken snores comin from the center table. Ash an Epona are gone. We're the only two still awake here.

It's bin a while since I seen her, he says, leanin back an closin his eyes. Sometimes, if I concentrate real hard, I can see her cherry lips, moonbeam skin, golden hair that smells like a field of roses...

You miss her that much, huh? I says.

There ain't nuthin that can come close to Molly Pratt, that's fer sure, he says. Nuthin, I tell ya.

Believe me, I know, I says shakin my head. Some woman, alright...

You ever think about her? he says. She'd of bin pretty big right now about this time -

Ike, I says, cuttin him off. This ain't the time. Freedom Fields remember?

His eyes fly open an he grunts in response. Seems like you got it all figgered out, he says. Whaddya still need me fer?

You know why, Ike, I says. Becuz this is bigger'n anythin I've done before an I need the extra help. Saba an the Free Hawks, we all need you.

I already said I'd go, not that I had any choice in the matter anyway. But I did promise Saba my help, at least before I heard of yer sneakin behind her back. An I never back outta my deals. One more round fer good measure? He holds up the vodka bottle.

Cheers, Ike, I says. He pours both of us full shots an we down it in one. It burns so much that I don't feel it in my stummick anymore. I turn towards Ike an see he's ready to clonk out any moment now. My best friend who's bin there with me to hell an back. Whose life belongs to me cuz I saved his life three times. Sometimes I wonder what I would do without the Rule of Three.

A/N: I just finished reading Raging Star and my end reaction was jaw dropping silence. I could not believe what she did to Saba throughout the book. I won't say much because of spoilers, but it seriously messed with my head and my heart, and everything. As for Jack, well, he's Jack but with a lot more character development since he was absent for most of Rebel Heart.

Back to my story, this was just a short filler/transition/behind the scenes chapter with not much plot progression, but I felt it was important to explore more of Ike and Jack's friendship dynamic since it is from Jack's point of view. We'll get back to the canon storyline starting in the next chapter.

I love reading reviews (and also answer them), so if you could leave one, that would be really great.