Rigged from the Start

Chapter 54

A Farewell Meal

Doluna was quiet. Not the kind of quiet that meant silence. The city still buzzed, perhaps even more now that Plegia was officially at war with Ylisse. Conscription officers roamed the city streets, taking any men able to fight. Grimleal mages manned the walls alongside the usual city guards. Generals stationed from all across the kingdom gathered with a small escort company to convene planning and strategy councils. Overall, the city was quite alive.

No, it was quiet for me and Severa. Upon our arrival, we were allowed to walk back to our quarters in the barracks without a word being said. No summons came our way from the King or Validar. Mustafa did not call on us for a report. Hell, even our bad batch did not bother us, except Gaius. He occasionally stopped by with news on what the others were up to.

We were left to ourselves. Pent up in our quarters like a dungeon. The soldiers in the barracks looked at us differently. The Grimleal mages held more contempt for us than usual. And the damn silence from those with our lives in their hands made it all the more agonizing.

Yet, we could not let them think it bothered us. If Severa and I showed they were getting to us, then they would pounce, because then we would be weak. We would be, in their eyes, guilty. So, for the first couple of days in Doluna, we went about business as usual. We trained, we presided over the exercises of our scouts, trained some more, and did whatever menial tasks we had before turning in for the night.

This existence was tense though. Not even training could provide a moment of respite. Severa did not have her usual smile while sparring. I did not feel my usual amusement as I instructed our squad on sneaking, scouting, the various tools at their disposal in the field. I could feel the clock ticking, and every second sounded louder in the silence.

Finally, on the third day in Doluna, something happened. Severa and I decided to give our scouts a day off, a rarity for them. We disguised it as something they earned for their work at the border, as well as something we needed to recuperate. In reality, it was one of the few opportunities we had to figure out our next step. Before we could begin discussing it, though, a Grimleal messenger arrived at our door.

The knock made my heart stop in my chest. My heart then jumped to my throat when I saw that the Grimleal messenger was Tharja. Behind me, sitting on her bed, Severa gripped her sword as she went about her daily cleaning of her steel.

Tharja eyed me carefully then flicked her gaze past me to Severa.

"You appear stressed," She hummed.

My throat bobbed and I gave her a tense smile. "What gave that away?"

Tharja shrugged. "A certain quality to the air. It reeks of desperation. I highly suggest you find a way to freshen it because Lord Validar wishes to speak with you."

My lips thinned. Severa sat still as a stone on her bed. I could see her mentally debating whether she should risk trying to bring her sword with her or not. In the end, she resigned herself to the fact that it would be taken from her anyway, and she would be damned if she let someone she did not trust handle her weapon.

We followed Tharja to the Grimleal Temple in silence. Upon arriving at the Temple, I noticed a huge influx of Grimleal mages within. The once hollow atrium had throngs of dark mages milling through the wide corridors. Chatter buzzed like bees in the air. Dark glares flashed from mage to mage, some of them were even directed at us. Although, I wondered if they were meant for me and Severa, or Tharja. From the sharp glares Tharja returned, I assumed rivalry and treachery were common and those contemptuous glares were intended for the daughter of House Raad.

I expected to meet Validar on the garden terrace where we first met him. Instead, Tharja led us to the inner sanctum, where the ritual that raised the first Risen we had seen in the past took place so many months ago.

Severa stiffened upon realizing where we were. I gave her a worried look which she returned with a quick fear-filled glance. A second later, her mask was on, and she resumed her usual scowl.

My eyes turned to the back of the sanctum, towards the table Validar and Aversa sacrificed that woman and raised a risen on. The High Priest of the Grimleal milled near it, his yellow eyes scrutinizing a letter pinched between his long fingers. Aversa lingered by a pillar to the side, her dark eyes glaring daggers at me, Severa, and Tharja. And, to my shock, Lady Raad stood serenely beside Validar, her hands folded in front of her as she watched us approach with great interest.

Severa and I paused at the base of the dais leading to the large table. Bright beams of sunlight filtered in through large skylights, giving the inner sanctum a far less imposing quality than the last time we were here. It was as if Validar wanted us to feel comfortable. Yet, it made me feel even more on edge. After all, the three people we were meeting were the three people most interested in discovering who Severa and I really were. All three could kill us without breaking a sweat.

This room, despite its newfound inviting glow, was the most dangerous room in the world.

Tharja moved up the dais and took her place beside her mother, who gave her a small smile of approval before returning her attention to me and Severa. At that moment, Validar drew in a deep breath and folded the letter in his hands.

"Aversa, take this letter back to General Campari. Tell him that if he wants to test my patience further he better at least entertain me in person with a halfway decent red wine."

Tharja's lips twitched, barely hiding an amused smirk. Aversa bowed her head, plucked the letter from Validar's hands, and moved down the dais towards the exit. She passed by me and Severa, flashing us a dark look before storming out of the room.

That's not good.

A deep sigh came from Validar. He closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, before exhaling again. When his eyes opened again, those golden irises focused squarely on me and Severa.

"I have not heard good things in regards to the border skirmish, Mister Baggins, Miss Daraen," Validar hummed, folding his hands behind his back as he glowered at us. "Not good things at all."

I pursed my lips. "I didn't think the Grimleal were concerned about the performance of mercenaries in the King's army."

A flash of anger arced through Validar's gaze as I jabbed at him and his authority over us. But the man had remarkable control over his emotions. Not even a hint of a snarl marred his features. That being said, he did not look very thrilled by my remark.

"The King is currently indisposed."

"As always…" Lady Raad droned, a look of frustration passing over her face.

Validar's eyes darted to her, but the matriarch of house Raad did not quiver beneath his glare. She matched it and added a smarmy smirk. Validar seethed beneath his veneer of calm, jaw clenching as he tore his gaze from Lady Raad back to me and Severa.

"Because of his current state, I am handling affairs for the Kingdom."

I arched an eyebrow, doing everything in my power to not shake in my boots. "Is the King ill?"

"Yes," Was Validar's measured reply.

Ill with a case of madness.

"Then shouldn't Severa and I be reporting directly to General Mustafa? Why are we here?" I pressed, aiming to draw out Validar's purpose for having us here.

Validar's eyes narrowed. "You are here because-"

The doors to the Inner Sanctum burst open and a powerful voice boomed through the cavernous room.

"Validar!" Mustafa thundered, causing Tharja's eyes to widen, Lady Raad's gaze to sparkle with amusement, and Validar's face to contort into a nigh imperceptible sneer.

Mustafa's powerful strides carried him past me and Severa right up the dais to Validar's level. Beside the High Priest, Mustafa looked like a giant. While Validar nearly matched him in height, he could not hope to ever physically overpower the General. He looked minuscule beside a fuming Mustafa as the General's gaze bored holes into Validar.

"What are you doing with my-"

"They are the King's mercenaries, General," Validar interrupted. "And the King has given me the authority to-"

"To do nothing, because their contract puts them under my direct command, my lord," Mustafa rumbled, not backing down in the slightest. He turned his gaze to me and Severa. "I will be taking them out of this place. If you want to speak with them again you will contact me first."

Mustafa marched down the dais back to Severa and me. Both of his strong hands grasped our shoulders and spun us around, urging us towards the sanctum's exit. As we were guided out of the heart of the Grimleal, Validar called after Mustafa.

"And if I don't speak with you first?"

Mustafa paused near the door, turned, and faced Validar again. "The Grimleal may hold political power, but you are still outnumbered by the regular man, my lord."

The smirk on Validar's lips evaporated. A light sniff came from Lady Raad; whether it was amusement or contempt, I did not know. And I did not want to find out. The two most dangerous individuals in the entire Kingdom were Lady Raad and Validar, and I would always thank my lucky stars that Mustafa barged in to stop whatever schemes they were about to unleash on me and Severa.

We followed Mustafa out of the Temple, none of us saying a word. I did notice far fewer dark glares sent our way as we walked with Mustafa. Despite his lack of magical ability, Mustafa carried a presence that deterred even the vilest of the Grimleal. Not having Tharja leading us into the Temple probably helped as well.

Once outside of the Temple walls, Mustafa's pace slowed, and he finally spoke.

"Were you harmed in any way?"

I glanced at Severa, and we both shook our heads.

"Good," Mustafa nodded, still not breaking stride as we moved towards the Fortress Ring of Doluna. "Validar overstepped, and he knows it."

I pursed my lips. "I'm not sure he does."

Mustafa flicked his eyes back to me as we reached the fortress ring. "Regardless, you will not be dealing with him for today, at least. Still, I suggest you join me for dinner tonight."

I paused beneath the fortress gate. Severa had a completely puzzled expression on her face.

"In the officer's mess?" Severa asked.

Mustafa snorted. "No. I haven't eaten there in years. Mostly because my wife makes a far better roast than they ever could. A messenger will be by your quarters in a few hours. No need to dress up. I prefer to leave that for the actual formal functions." He took a step towards us. "Until then, stay in your quarters. Do not leave. Do not accept anyone's invitations. Do not allow anyone in, not even your scouts."

Severa frowned. "Why-"

"Just listen to me. I'll explain more when less ears are listening tonight," Mustafa drew in a deep breath. "Get going, both of you. I have some more business with General Campari to take care of."

Without another word, Mustafa marched into the fortress, leaving Severa and I standing in the gate's shadow. Once he was gone, I gave Severa a perplexed look, one she shared with me.

"Any ideas?" Severa asked.

"Not really," I commented, "But I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Mustafa saved our asses."

"For now," Severa snorted, starting towards the fortress door so we could head for our quarters.

"True," I breathed. "We better make sure we're packed."

"Agreed." Severa furrowed her brow as we delved through the fortress's long corridors towards our room, "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"We need to get out of this city."

I nodded. "Yeah, we do. But first, dinner with Mustafa. Might as well get a good meal in before we run for the hills."


Mustafa did not live near the fortress ring. He did not live where any of the other high ranking officials, officers, or noblemen lived either. The messenger that fetched Severa and I a few hours after our tense encounter with Validar led us towards the outer ring of Doluna. The area was not slums, but the houses were nothing fancy either.

If I had to give it a comparable, it reminded me a lot of my hometown of Appleton. Unless you went to the northern section of town, you did not see big, fancy houses. This area, like Appleton, appeared blue-collar. Men were coming home from work with soot on their hands, dirt on their faces, and smiles on their lips. Some wandered towards lively taverns. Others trudged to small two or three-room homes where a throng of children greeted them with hugs and giggles.

The roads were clean, if a bit dusty from all the sand swirling in from beyond the outer walls. Guards patrolled the area, but not as thick as near the fortress or noble rings. If there was a place to raise a family in this dustbin of a city, this was it. But, it still surprised me Mustafa chose this area to live in.

His house was modest, to say the least. It was a two-level, clay brick home with small gaps between the houses it was wedged between. A sturdy, wood door led the way into the house. When the messenger knocked, it rang out in a strong thunk.

Shuffling emanated from the other side of the door. Then, the door opened with hardly a creak. General Mustafa stood in the doorway, wearing clothing that appeared comfortable for him. Nothing more than a simple linen shirt, pants, and sandals on his feet. A gracious smile formed on his lips when he saw me, Severa, and the messenger.

"Well done, boy," He handed the messenger a couple of gold coins and shooed him away. Once the messenger was gone, he waved me and Severa into his home.

The inside of the General's home was warm, like most of Plegia, but not uncomfortably so. A few torches glowed against the walls, and some candles burned on tables in the common room, providing light as the sun faded.

A small kitchen sat off to the side of the common room. In the kitchen, I spotted a middle-aged woman with coal-black hair tied up in a tight bun atop her tanned head. A content smile rested on her lips as she stirred a pot of something delicious over a fire. Bouncing on his toes beside her, eagerly anticipating a delicious meal, was a young boy who Mustafa called to as we entered his home.

"Bassil, come here."

Bassil gasped when he spotted me and Severa. He rushed towards Mustafa's side, bouncing with excitement as he stared wonderstruck at us.

"Papa, are they… are they the mercs?"

Severa arched an eyebrow while I let out a slight snort. Mustafa uttered a small sigh and patted his son's shoulder.

"Son, how do we address guests?"

Bassil gulped. "Oh, right," He bowed his head. "A pleasure to meet you, Mister and Missus Mercs."

"Missus!?" Severa exclaimed.

"It's nice to meet you too, Bassil," I chuckled.

"He's taken some things out of context," Mustafa chortled, giving his son's head a rub. "Go help your mother. We'll be waiting out back."

"Okay!"

Bassil rushed back to his mother. Mustafa couldn't help but shake his head as the boy began jabbering her with questions.

"Energetic," Mustafa breathed. "Remember this Samwise: dealing with soldiers is less exhausting than dealing with children, but nowhere near as rewarding."

"I'll keep that in mind," I smiled. "Shall we?"

Mustafa raised a hand. "There's one more guest."

He stepped around me and Severa and opened his door again. I furrowed my brow. There wasn't even a knock, who could be joining us?

Dark snickers sent shivers up and down my spine. A crow cawed behind me, and my blood ran cold. A sing-song voice uttered my name, and I closed my eyes, letting out a long exhale. Severa tensed up next to me as well, more so out of irritation than fear. Then again, she was never threatened with becoming a living autopsy by Henry in the future.

"Ah, they beat me here! I was hoping Bill and I could greet them with you, Mustafa," Henry snickered, sweeping around all of us before offering a small bow to Severa and a shimmering grin to me.

"Hi, Henry," I gulped.

Henry beamed at me, blue eyes glowing with delight as he drank in my apprehension.

"Oh, I never get tired of seeing that look on your face," He quietly cackled. Bill cawed on his shoulder. "I still don't know what exactly I did to make you fear me, but I'm sure it must've been quite spectacular. Hm… then again, I probably would remember it. Strange."

"Doesn't matter," Mustafa said. "We can discuss such things in a moment. Come, join me for a drink in the yard."

The home's yard wasn't huge. Again, it reminded me eerily of my parent's home in my old world. My parent's house wasn't very big in Appleton, and the yard matched the house, except it was a tad bigger because it was a corner lot. There was enough room for a small patio, some chairs, a table, and a little firepit; a characteristic Mustafa's home shared.

Strange… I thought, more than a little mystified by the similarities.

The one major difference between this yard, and my parents', was the lack of grass in Mustafa's. It would be hard to grow nice, green turf in a desert, after all. Especially without modern irrigation techniques. Still, the patio was mostly dust and dirt free. The wood table was polished to a pleasant shine. And, the wicker chairs all had freshly cleaned cushions that were comfortable to sit in.

As I sank into my seat, Mustafa moved past me, setting a glass of red wine down on the table in front of me. He did the same for Severa and Henry. Henry grinned, plucked his glass, and held it to Bill, who greedily drank from it. Severa gawked at the crow for a moment, then she sipped her wine.

Mustafa let out a content sigh as he took his seat, folded one leg over the other, and sipped his glass of wine, which looked comically small in his large hand. After taking a sip, he exhaled and nodded.

"Interesting..." He muttered, glancing at me and Severa.

I nodded in agreement while Severa took a long drink. "Tastes pretty good."

Mustafa cracked a good-natured smile. "Are you not a wine drinker, Samwise?"

"Um, well, why wouldn't I be?"

Bill cawed and Henry snickered.

"Because, it's swill," Henry laughed, one finger stroking Bill's head with tender care. "Bill seems to like it though."

Mustafa nodded while Severa froze mid-sip. "It is yes. Came from the officer's supply in the barracks. Not the best at all. Don't worry, I'll break out the finer stuff once we've eaten." Mustafa set his glass down while Severa took a much guiltier looking gulp of wine. "Before we eat though, I do think we need to get some serious matters taken care of. I'd much rather be upfront with both of you rather than tiptoe around things. You've earned that much."

Severa flashed me an anxious look. I pursed my lips, setting my glass down on the table in front of me and folding my hands in my lap.

"Well," I began. "What do you want to discuss? I assume it has something to do with that fiasco at the border?"

Mustafa bobbed his head. "Partially. Although, that's as good a place to start as any."

Henry blinked. "I thought we agreed to talk about how Samwise got that candy-loving thief to snatch my notes?"

A harsh cough wracked my lungs. "That um- that was a test."

"You didn't open it did you?" Henry asked before drawing back in his seat, as if he was surprised by his own question. "Wait, no you couldn't have. You'd be dead if you tried. Did I ever tell you how spellbooks work, Mister Baggins?"

"Not the mage equals lots of blood," I replied, making a creepy grin spread over Henry's face.

"About sums it up," Henry nodded. "You forgot to add in the explosive guts though."

Severa paled. "I'm sorry, explosive what?"

"Oh, wonderful question!" Henry crowed as his bird drank his wine. "You see, there's a nasty little hex I've created where the intestines expand thanks to an influx of bowel gasses. Too much expansion and..."

Mustafa massaged his eyes with one hand. "Henry, not before dinner."

Henry cackled, waving his hand dismissively. "You both get the idea. Anywho, I'm most happy you both are still alive. Such a death is not worthy for friends like you. While quick, it would've been quite stupid." He turned his gaze to me. "By the way," His tone dropped to a level that made me shrink in my seat. "I want my notes back."

I swallowed hard and only managed to reply with a shaky nod. As soon as I nodded, Henry's face lit up, any animosity evaporating as if it never existed.

"Splendid," He waved his hand at Mustafa. "Go ahead now."

"Thank you," Mustafa exhaled. He leveled his gaze on me and Severa, a strange weariness and melancholy replacing the genial demeanor he exuded when we first arrived. "Validar has wormed his way into the King's ear- far more than I had thought possible. In doing so, he managed to pry your squad away from your command."

My heart stopped in my chest. I said nothing, but Severa's gaze hardened.

"What?" She growled.

"The King said Validar requires them for a special assignment. Validar then assured the King, who still likes you despite what happened at the border, that they would be returned to your command once that assignment is over."

Henry let out a scoffing laugh. "Oh, the politics…"

"Precisely," Mustafa nodded. "You two should know that Validar has no intentions of allowing that to happen. The meeting he staged today was meant to make one of you trip up enough so he could imprison you."

A pit yawned wide in my stomach. My hands trembled as they remained folded in my lap. If not for Mustafa, Severa and I would likely be imprisoned or dead. Lady Raad and Validar were attempting to spring their trap on us earlier today and I did not even see it coming. My instincts told me something was up, but I did not realize the extent till now.

I snatched my wine glass from the table and downed all of it in one gulp. Once the last drop ran down my throat, I tore the glass from my lips and gasped for air.

"Why?" Severa asked while I sucked wind.

Mustafa drew in a deep breath. He leaned back in his seat, as relaxed as ever as he gave both of us a stern glare.

"I was hoping you two would explain that for me."

A stone lodged in my throat, joining the pit swallowing my stomach. The way Mustafa was looking at me told me that he was aware of something. This was not the look of a friend asking if I needed help, or asking me if something was wrong. This was the look of a man searching for the truth. If I did not give him the truth, or if I gave him a less than satisfactory truth, the repercussions could be disastrous. After all, Mustafa just saved us from the dungeons. He risked a lot for us.

I shared a sidelong look with Severa. She sat still as stone in her chair, one hand gripping her wine glass so tight I feared it would shatter. Her other hand was balled up on the armrest of her chair, knuckles white with fear and fury. When I pursed my lips, her eyes briefly widened.

"Samwise…" She warned.

"It was quite the portal you came out of," Henry piped up. Severa blanched and I closed my eyes in defeat. "Took me a long time and a lot of reading to even come close to what it might be. Some sort of warp portal. Very powerful, from Mustafa's description of it. Last I checked, run-of-the-mill mercenaries from Valm were not privy to such magic. Even powerful members of the Grimleal would be incapable of such a spell. Also, judging by its properties, it was most certainly not a dark spell."

Severa glared at Henry, and Henry matched her glare with a wide grin and smiling eyes; as if he was daring her to try something. Bill cawed on his shoulder, bobbing his head up and down with excitement as the bird sensed his master's giddiness.

Slowly, Severa's gaze shifted to me. She shook her head, begging me to remain silent. I would have done so too, if not for the next words that came from Mustafa's lips.

"They planned on arresting you tonight," Mustafa began. "They probably will kill you, Samwise," My entire body went numb while Severa trembled in her seat. "As for you, Severa, Validar has a specific interest in you. Henry told me he wanted you brought in alive and unharmed."

Terror rushed into Severa's eyes. Fear gripped me tightly, squeezing me to the point that I felt like I couldn't breathe. As I sat there, petrified, Mustafa's wife emerged from the house carrying a plate of bread and cheeses.

"Thank you, dearest," Mustafa muttered to her, pecking her on the cheek before she shuffled back inside, unaware of the gravity of the conversation occurring beyond her door.

Mustafa took a cube of cheese and popped it into his mouth. As he savored the taste, he hummed, nodding his head.

"Genuine cheese," He gestured to the platter on the table. "A true luxury in Plegia. Cows are a rarity, but every so often, we get a trader from Regna Ferox in Doluna with enough of a supply to last for a little while before spoiling. Quite expensive stuff given the distance traveled, preservation techniques, danger. You both understand that well enough. I never doubted that you two were well-traveled. And, I never doubted that you both have seen much."

Mustafa eyed me and Severa. His gaze did not hold malice. It held empathy mixed with melancholy that made me feel guilty for staying silent.

"You are both soldiers. Very young soldiers, but soldiers nonetheless. You're too young to have seen battle in the last war with Ylisse. You're also not Valmese. If Severa's name did give that away, then your struggle to maintain a consistent lie did."

I bowed my head, cursing my lying abilities. Anna always said I was a terrible liar, but I thought I managed to grow a little bit in that area. Apparently, I did not progress enough.

"What gave it away?" I asked.

Mustafa shrugged. "I always suspected."

"And the crows told me," Henry giggled. "You both were very chatty in your tent out in the desert."

Severa sucked in a sharp breath.

"So…" Henry steepled his fingers, a dark glow coming over his features as torchlight flickered in the yard. "Care to explain a little more for us?"

My mouth felt dry, like I had sand swirling across my tongue instead of saliva. The wine must've taken some moisture from my lips, but the fear did the most to parch me. A thin film of sweat formed on my brow. My gaze darted between Mustafa, Henry, and Severa. For the first time this evening, I saw a look of defeat intermingled with Severa's terror.

The jig was up.

"We're Ylissean," I breathed, causing Severa to jerk her gaze to me. "And… whatever the hell Severa's relationship is with Validar may not have much to do with it."

I knew what I had to do. I needed to steer the conversation away from Severa's heritage. I needed to make sure that all of the flack was taken away from there and directed elsewhere. The only way I could do that was to be completely honest about our mission, about why we stayed in Plegia to begin with. If I could convince Mustafa about our cause, he may be able to find a permanent way to shield us from Validar and his machinations.

I drew in a deep breath, swallowing the fear I had.

"We're also from the future." Mustafa's brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "The portal you saw Severa come out of was a spell designed by Naga herself to send a select few individuals to the past. We came to the past to prevent the rise of Grima. The reason we remained in Plegia was because this, right here, is where it all starts," I pointed a finger at the ground as I spoke. "This war that Gangrel's sparked will be the beginning of the end for all life if something is not done about it."

I glanced at Severa. Her face was as white as a sheet and her hands clenched the armrests tightly. All I could hope for now was that she would understand why I was unveiling everything about our mission. Hopefully, she will forgive me as well.

"We are not against Plegia, even if we aren't entirely comfortable here," I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "We aren't even for Ylisse, even though that is our home. We are for everyone because Grima is against everyone. He doesn't care who you worship, what nation you claim to be from, or how powerful you are. He will slaughter you, and laugh about it. We know because we have seen it."

I pressed my lips into a thin line, inhaling deeply as I struggled to remain calm. All of my fight or flight instincts were on alert. Mustafa's response could go in so many different directions. He could order our arrest. He could order Henry to kill us. He could alert Validar to who we are and our cause, thereby endangering everything and everyone Severa and I cared about. I just took a massive risk, and I could only pray to God that it paid off.

"So… there," I exhaled. "That's the truth."

Silence. Cold, heart pounding, silence. All I could do was wait with bated breath for Mustafa's response.

The General's dark eyes leveled on me as he soaked in my words. Henry, likewise, remained silent. That somehow seemed more terrifying than Mustafa's quiet musing. Henry was always giggling like a jester who was in on a joke no one knew about. For him to be so serious spoke ill of mine and Severa's fates.

I glanced at Henry and my throat tightened. He was not smiling. The mad mage was frowning.

Oh, we're dead. I killed us. I destroyed the mission. I-

"How long?"

I blinked when I heard Mustafa's voice. "I-I'm-"

Mustafa took a long, deep drink from his wine cup, then set it back down on the table. He drew in a deep breath and his voice rumbled again.

"How long until the Fell Dragon reappears?"

I glanced at Severa. She rolled her shoulders back, sat up a little straighter, and took this situation in stride.

"He rose again when I was eleven years old, somewhere in Plegia. I was born about three years from now. In the process, he wiped out Plegia and killed Ylisse's Exalt. Sent all of the living on the run, fighting for survival," A distant look entered Severa's red eyes. "As… as far as I know, Grima succeeded in the future. The only people alive from that time are me, Samwise, and the friends that went through the portal with us."

"And where are they?" Mustafa pressed.

Severa's gaze sharpened. "I have no idea. And if I did, there's no way in hell I would tell you."

Mustafa nodded. "That is fair. I am a Plegian General, sworn to serve my country and my king." My heart sank as he spoke. I had a feeling it was coming. Mustafa was about to place us under arrest. "However," Mustafa continued, making me stiffen in my seat. "I am not sworn to Grima."

I looked at Mustafa, dumbfounded. "You believe us?"

Mustafa picked up his wine glass and took another long, deep drink until the glass was empty. As he drank, Bill cawed, hopped off of Henry's shoulder onto the table, and pecked at a cube of cheese.

"Do you know what happens when religious zealots gain power, Severa, Samwise?" Mustafa asked, causing confusion to well up inside of me.

"I can't say I do." I replied.

Mustafa nodded. "You are fortunate then. I am very well aware of what happens. Only, I was not on the side of the powerful. None of Plegia was."

He ran a hand over his beard, a deep hum emanating from him as he pondered his words for a moment.

"Exalt Emmeryn's predecessor held an insane belief that the Grimleal were attempting to bring Grima back to life. At the time, everyone in Plegia dismissed it as an absurd notion. You can't bring back what is dead, after all. Yet, Exalt Arcturus was so certain of it, so certain of what his Priests of Naga were whispering in his ear, that he attempted genocide on my people to prevent it from happening. The consequences of his actions are still being felt to this day. If he had not done that, Gangrel would never be king, Validar might not be High Priest, and we might not have a war on our hands now. One which I fear will be more terrible than the first."

Mustafa drew in a breath. He glanced at Henry, who remained as silent as the grave.

"So," I pressed my lips into a thin line, "do you believe we are a pair of religious zealots?"

Mustafa frowned. "I would, if not for the evidence I saw before my damn eyes. If not for that, the research Henry conducted, and your actions in my service, I would have dismissed both of you and handed you over to Validar."

"I would have laughed while it happened," Henry muttered, his eyes down in his lap, fingers running through Bill's feathers as Bill pecked at a chunk of bread. "Only the most painful, least bloody of deaths could be allowed for you two if that were the case."

"And it is not the case. Not in my eyes," Mustafa continued, further taking me and Severa off guard. "If even a fraction of what you told me is true then you are both in grave danger. Validar will not rest until you are eliminated. Unfortunately for him, you proved yourselves to be honorable soldiers and good friends to myself and my men. Also, Validar's actions have pissed me off, so I'll happily make his life harder in whatever petty ways I can."

For the first time during this entire conversation, Henry cackled. He threw his head back and howled with delight. Bill cawed with him, throwing his wings out wide as he sang with his master.

"Oh, Mustafa, we get to throw a wrench in carefully laid plans. I love it! Chaos galore!"

Mustafa snorted. "Hopefully it will be controlled chaos. The first step will be to make sure he can't get his hands on you two. I'm sending Morteza and Nader on an extended mission to our northern border with Ylisse. We are at war, after all, and we need to make sure Ylisse doesn't try anything up there. You two will go with them. It gets you out of Doluna, and close to Regna Ferox in case Validar attempts to pursue."

My jaw must've been on the floor. Of all the possible responses Mustafa could've given, I did not expect this. Not only was he believing us, but he was also trying to help us escape Validar and the Grimleal. If I still wasn't terrified by the prospect of Validar hunting us down, I probably would have teared up.

"Th-thank you," I croaked, still unsure how to exactly to respond. My mind then rushed to our squad, to the Bad Batch Severa and I trained. "Wh-what about our scouts?"

Melancholy returned to Mustafa's face. "I can't do anything about that. The King ordered them into Validar's service. I will do my best to keep tabs on them, but what happens to them is out of my hands. Right now, they are not something you should be worried about."

Mustafa's wife emerged from the house, along with Bassil. Both carried trays of steaming stew that smelled divine. I did not have much of an appetite due to the events of the day, but I knew I would devour the food placed in front of me. Severa looked less than enthused about the food, but she gratefully took a bowl anyway.

"Once we finish eating, you will join Morteza and Nader at the gates along with Henry. Make haste north. From there, may the gods be with you. Hopefully, we will see each other again when this war ends."

I gave Mustafa a grim nod then dug into my food. The rest of the night passed like a normal dinner. Mustafa's wife, Nadiyya, was a wonderful woman who brought a sense of calm and lightheartedness to the table, even cracking several jokes that had Henry bursting at the seams with laughter.

During the entire dinner, Severa never cracked a smile. She never looked up from her bowl. She simply acknowledged when she was addressed, responded when asked a question, then ate in silence. Once we finished eating, Henry spirited us from Mustafa's house towards the gate; where Morteza, Nader, and their small platoon of scouts waited for us.

Morteza welcomed us warmly, as he always did. Nader welcomed us with his usual pessimism, which was also a welcome sight. Both men seemed a little more on edge around Henry, but there was no escaping the mage, and they remained cordial with him. After a couple of moments of greeting, we set out from Doluna into the Northern Wastes towards the border. Towards a war we could not stop, and away from death that still nipped on our heels.

For such a dangerous night, I was grateful Mustafa provided some sense of normalcy and security. Even if it was only for a short while.

And chapter! Friendships pay off in the end, and thank goodness they did for Sam and Severa. They are out of some immediate danger, but that doesn't mean they are going to avoid danger forever. Validar is after them, and so is Lady Raad, and who knows if they are in cahoots with each other and for what reasons they might be. Either way, things are dicey for our heroes. We'll see where this takes them, now won't we? Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!

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