Waiting Game
"Tino is back."
Three simple words, yet they hold so much power, and so much hope.
The city that has seemed so very dark in the last few suddenly seem brighter again, like the clouds emanating from the castle seizes to matter. The King can sit up there in his castle plotting out how best to kill every single rebel and the citizens he no longer sees a use for. It will not help him. They are the one with the upper hand now.
Berwald is up from his chair in an instant. It screeches against the floorboards, betraying just how eager he is to leave right this instant.
Vilje barely bothers to hide a snicker behind the sleeve of her tunic, and she leans in to elbow Matthias in the side to catch his attention. "He is so obvious," she whispers, and Matthias has to bite down on his own lip to remain quiet and not let his own laughter escape.
There has been some tension between Matthias and Berwald since their talk a few days ago, but Vilje's presence has done wonders to ease up conversation between them. She talks to them as if nothing has happened, somehow not noticing any of the lingering anger they have towards each other. That or she is very good at pretending it does not exists. She has no memories of the night that she got hurt, at least none that she has talked about, and she is endlessly excited about everything they have managed to achieve while she was sleeping.
Matthias and Vilje is lost to their laughter, but there is at least one person present in the shop that is capable of keeping their head and not getting distracted by good news. "Has he managed to get into the city yet?" Leah asks sharply as she stands up to close the door behind the messenger and keep their conversation away from the wrong ears.
The messenger nods frantically. "Yes, he has, I talked to him myself. There was no trouble for him through the main gates. The paperwork was all in order and he came in with all the other farmers after workdays end out in the field." The messenger appears to grow nervous. "We did not dare give him the paperwork of somebody else to get him into the merchant district. I must tell you, I was checked thoroughly on my way here. I have a store that means I need to transfer goods between the districts, but they still gave me hell on my way back here. I doubt Tino could manage to get through the same kind of crosscheck with borrowed paperwork."
"Probably smart," Leah comments. "We should not push our luck too far unless we absolutely have to."
The messenger wipes some sweat off his forehead, finally taking the time to take a few proper breaths. "He is staying with a family close to the outer wall in the western section until you can smuggle him out of the district some other way."
Berwald looks like he wants to storm outside right this instant, the look he gives Matthias is impatient and leaves nothing for discussion.
"Guess we'll get the damned uniforms then," Matthias says with a sigh even though he is impatient to move as well. "Leah, do you have a bag we can put Tino's uniform in? I don't think we want to risk bring him through looking like a commoner."
Leah gives a quick glance towards the windows and frowns. There might be two hours or so worth of light outside and the city will quiet down fast after that. Most people would consider heading home at this point of the day, not wanting to risk running into guards when evening is closing in. "You have better be quick then, boys," she replies. "It might have been smarter to wait until tomorrow, but I can se that there will be no convincing any of you to wait." She gives a pointed look at Berwald who ignores her completely.
Vilje looks a little conflicted at the prospect of them leaving her behind, and she bites down on her lower lip to keep back her frustrated commentary. Matthias knows it is because she wants to come with them. The past three days have done wonders to her health, but Leah refuses to let her do much more than light errands, making sure that she does not strain herself too much. They do not have a uniform for her either and so they all know there is no option of letting her tag along, but it is still frustrating for her to watch them leave.
The messenger looks uneasy where he stands in the doorway. "That is all the news I had," he says hesitantly. "I should head home to my family before it gets dark. The wife is terrified of sleeping at night and I cannot blame her."
Leah gives him a tiny, yet reassuring smile. "You go home," she says mildly. "Thank you, so much for coming here." When he disappears out the door, she turns back to Berwald and Matthias. "I thought the two of you were leaving as well?"
She grins after them as they rush upstairs and quickly pulls on the pieces of armor that have become almost familiar. It no longer takes them more than a minutes to get the pieces in the proper place and without help. They gather up Tino's lighter uniform and tuck in into a discreet bag from Leah when they go back downstairs. Berwald hides it underneath his cloak. It should be hidden enough unless somebody comes too close and can get a proper look on it.
On their way they do notice that the guards are very carefully checking each person that wants to make an entry from the common district to the merchant one. Only on the other side of the gate do they realize that the messenger never actually told them where the farmers that agreed to take in Tino actually lives. Luckily it seems the city rebels must have told their people to keep an eye out for them, because a nervous-looking woman approaches them almost immediately after they enter the commoner district while looking around like idiots and trying to decide on which way to go.
"Might you be looking for a young farmer by any chance?" she asks meekly, keeping her eyes carefully downcast as she speaks. The phrase is neutral, and had the two of them been actual guards, then they might have thought that she was tipping them off about some crime being committed instead of telling them that she knows where they should go. It is a clever move on her side, even though it is risky should actual guards want her to show them way to a crime scene that does not exist.
"This farmer you speak of, might he have been out in the fields for a little too long?" Matthias asks, before Berwald has the chance to scare her off with his intimidating presence, knowing that he needs to convince this woman that they are on the same side before she will trust them with Tino's location. His reply is just as vague as hers, but if she really is involved with the city rebels, then it should be enough information for her to know they are speaking about the same person.
"I think I will be able to help you out." She says and she actually does look up from the ground to meet their eyes. "If you will follow me, I can take you to him."
They follow her as she weaves her way through the much narrower streets of the common district. Eventually, she leads down an almost hidden side street and points towards an anonymous looking door a few steps down. "You will find your friend in there," she says as she walks up first to knock for them.
The rhythm she uses is very distinct, clearly a signal for the inhabitants.
The door opens a short while later. Just a crack and barely enough to let the person on the inside see them in the dim light of the narrow alley.
"They are here," their guide says, and then she steps aside to let the person inside get a clearer view of the two rebels in full capitol garb behind her.
Matthias attempt to look friendly and non-threatening as he steps up towards the door. It is no easy task in armor and with Berwald standing right behind him and looking like he wants to tear the door down if that is what it takes for him to get past. "We are here for Tino," he says gently as he can before Berwald can speak up and make impatient demands.
Then there is a bright cheery voice from within the house, interrupting whatever the inhabitant in the doorway is about to say. About a second later the door slams open and Tino's short frame crashes into Berwald's. Tino has apparently forgotten that there are other people present as he flings his arms around Berwald in a hug. Then he finally realizes what he has just done, and he steps back, face shining a bright red.
Berwald does not seem bothered in the slightest, and Matthias snickers audibly into the sleeve of his shirt, not even trying to hide it. The poor commoner in the doorways just seems relieved to see that they all know each other and that he is not about to be dragged off to face justice for harboring a rebel in his home.
"I'm so glad to see you guys," Tino exclaims. "There is so much I need to tell you!" He can barely contain his excitement, practically bouncing on the spot. "You have no idea!"
"Maybe we can wait with that until we are back at Leah's?" Matthias suggest quickly. "This is not a conversation for the streets."
"Yes, of course!" Tino is still smiling.
"We brought your uniform," Berwald adds.
That earns a grimace from Tino. "You know what, I almost prefer these dirty rags to that thing." He gestures between the bag with his uniform and the borrowed clothing.
Tino has not washed in the time he was gone, that much is clear. His darker dyed hair is greasy, his face and hair dirty, and his borrowed clothing looking a bit more ragged than when he first got them, likely caught and torn on branches and brambles in his way. He accepts the bag of armor and tucks away into a corner of the house to change his clothes, apologizing to the inhabitants who politely turn their back to give him some semblance of privacy.
After changing, he hands over the pile of borrowed clothes. "Please give these back to their proper owners and offer them a thanks from me." He makes a grimace. "Maybe also offer them an apology for tearing them up so badly, but I was in a hurry. Also, thank you two so much for taking me in, I really do appreciate a safe place to wait."
The wife of the house gives him a gentle hug. "If you can save us all from this hellhole that has become our city, then this tiny risk we had to take by hiding you away is nothing." She wipes a few tears on her sleeve as she lets him go again. "The soldiers took our children, I want them back."
"We will do our best," Matthias says, and with those last words they leave the tiny house and the alley behind.
They are all a lot more tense on the return trip, all of them equally excited to share whatever information they have come across in the past four days, but they still have to move through a city full of dangers.
Matthias decides to keep his mouth shut and not tease when he notices that Berwald is walking just a little bit to close to Tino to be considered normal, practically squishing him between the two of them and shielding him from people walking by. It is natural that he feels protective after their time apart. It has been a long four days for Berwald not knowing how Tino was doing on the outside. He must be dying to just reassure himself that Tino is really back whole and hale.
"Are we not walking through the guard-doors?" Tino suddenly asks when he realizes they are heading for a citizens gate to the next district.
"We would rather stay away from those for the time being," Matthias mutters stiffly. "There was a bit of an incident after you left and a very big chance they increased security, especially further in towards the castle."
"What!" Tino stops abruptly on the street and Berwald has to gently nudge him forward to not stop the flow of people on the street. "You can't just say something like that and not explain exactly what happened!" He hisses quietly to keep the conversation between only them. "Should I be worried?"
"It is not necessarily all that bad," Matthias says weakly. He can see how Berwald's mouth narrows down to a thin line of annoyance at his choice of words. He has obviously not forgiven Matthias completely for the so called 'incident'. "The Rat King followed me into the castle when I went there for spying, and he was found out by the guards."
Again, Berwald has to forcibly move Tino along the road. "He is dead," he states firmly. "He won't bother us again. His men have also stayed away since then."
Tino's face morphs into several different expressions in rapid succession. Shock, surprise, relief and he begin stuttering over several attempts at demanding an explanation from either of them. He does not have a chance to find the right words before the checkpoint is before them and they all have to fake the serious expressions and make their way past the guards and move on with the fastest pace they can get away with, eager to get back so they can discuss the event of day past in secret and safety.
The moment they step through the front door of the apothecary Vilje throws herself at Tino with the closest thing to a shriek that she can manage with her injured throat and hugs him tightly, almost crushing him. There is crying and laughing interchangeably and no telling which one of them the sounds are coming from. Even Leah is unable to keep on her stony facade and cracks a smile, making a mention of putting on a kettle of tea for them all and brining out some supper.
Matthias pulls up one of their largest maps of the city with surrounding farmland and forests, spreading it out across the table so they can properly discuss future tactics when they are ready.
Leah returns soon after with a plate of simple food and barely has the time to tell them to help themselves before Tino has thrown himself over the bread, stuffing his face and chewing manically.
"I suppose the selection of food out there was lacking," Leah comments dryly.
"I'm so sorry," Tino mumbles, quickly turning red. "I didn't want to stop and waste time on hunting, especially not in the King's forests where there could be guards around and arrest me for poaching. I didn't have much to barter with either." He reaches for another slice of bread, but this one he eats slower, initial hunger dampened somewhat. "It was pretty easy slipping away from the fields once I made it out of the city. Usually, guards are more worried about people breaking in somewhere and not out. I just walked, then ran, and then I came across a farm and I kind of stole a horse."
He looks ashamed at his own admission, the red growing brighter and spreading across his face, creeping down to his neck and up his ears. Matthias and Vilje snicker at each other, thoroughly amused at Tino's expense. Come better days, this is likely to be a story they will all enjoy retelling with a drink in their hands and with roaring laughter all around them in a bar-room or around a campfire.
"Walking was too slow!" Tino argues. "You would have done the same!"
Matthias wipes away a few tears of laughter. "I sure would have," he says. "With all the illegal things we've done over the last few months I don't think horse theft is the worst."
Leah returns once again, this time with the tea and Tino reaches for a cup, trying to drink it far to quick and ending up mostly cursing as he burns his tongue, far to impatient to wait for it to cool down to a reasonable temperature.
"So did you find the others?" Berwald asks.
Tino nods rapidly, setting his cup down with a slam and his entire face lights up. "I did! It was really easy actually. The army is so big now." He takes a deep breath. "They are not really bothering hiding anymore since they are so may people. Pretty much anybody I came across could tell me which way to go to find them, well more like most of them told me where I should avoid going, but that made it easy. It turns out that us folks in the west were not the only ones rising up against the king. The east and the south have been building armies of their own and joined up with out people just two weeks ago or so. It doubled the size of or army, or so Torleif told me."
"No wonder the King does not want to send out any more soldiers to fight on the open fields anymore," Leah commends darkly. "He knows he cannot fight the entire population and so he decided to protect what he can at the cost of everybody else."
There is a vicious glint in Vilje's eyes. "But he does not know you figured out a way to get through the walls," she says. "He is in for one nasty surprise."
"That is for sure," Tino agrees.
"When will they be here?" Matthias asks.
Tino who is reaching for another slice of bread stops and begin counting on his fingers instead. "Two days," he says hesitantly. "Maybe more. I was riding pretty hard, and they won't move as fast with how many people they are. They are also trying to avoid most of the cities where they can. That way there won't be conflict between rebels and citizens on the way."
"Well," Matthias says. "That leaves us two more days before we have to be ready then. Did you tell Torleif about our plan with the pretend army?"
More nodding from Tino. "You should have heard the amount cursing he came up with when I told him how they were recruited. I don't think I've ever seen him that angry, and he has been angry a lot."
"You have come up with a plan then?" Leah interrupts, growing impatient.
"Oh yes we did," Tino replies. "I told him all we know about the king's plan, our plans, and then we agreed on signals. So, all we need now is a way to get the information to those trapped in the main square and we will be as prepared as we are ever going to be."
It is completely dark outside by the time they finish catching up and Leah chases them off for bed, for a night that gives them some of the best sleep they have had in several long weeks.
It is sometime in the afternoon the next day when a man comes by.
He is a few years past his prime maybe, but still look strong and capable. His hair is a mix of grey and blonde and his beard long but well kept. Judging from his clothes he is a merchant district man. Matthias has not seen him before, but the expression on Leah's face as she greets him warmly, tells him that this man is important somehow.
"Einar," she says. "Please come in and take a seat."
She gestures towards one of the free chairs and follows him as makes his way over to the table, carefully eying the three rebels before he settles down. Leah is quick to provide him with a cup of tea, a luxury she is not willing to offer many people that comes by her little shop, only emphasizing the importance of this one visitor.
"Thank you," the man named Einar says as he cradles the cup between his palms, staring firmly into it. His voice is strong, but heavy with withheld emotion. "I almost changed my mind a few times on the way here." He looks up, his face filled with shame.
Leah gives him a soft smile while the three other rebels realize that this is continuation of a conversation that they have not been part of until now.
"Nobody would blame you for changing your mind," Leah says softly, "but I am very glad you did not." She turns towards the rest of them. "Einar has volunteered to go to the main square and tell the soldiers he wants to join the army."
Deafening silence follows until Tino accidentally knocks over a jar from the table to crash loudly against the floor. "You're really willing to do that?" he exclaims.
Einar nods slowly, still wearing his grim expression. "I am a widower," he says weakly as way of explanation, clearly struggling to talk about what has driven him to accept what might very easily be a suicide mission. "I lost my wife ten winters ago and the only thing I have left in life that even compares to her is my daughter, and they took her away."
Understanding and sympathy dawns on them all.
"If I lose her, then I truly have nothing left worth living for." Einar makes a wounded sound at the back of his throat, and they can all hear the tears in his voice even though none appear on his face. "She was all set to get married come spring, got her dress ready and she was just so excited. I need to do this to at least buy her a chance of survival and having the life she deserves."
It is hard to come up with a good reply to express their feelings properly after a story like that one. They have heard many similar ones from grieving family members that are desperately searching for a way to save their loved ones, but it never gets any easier to hear them or to come up with the right words of comfort that might give them a bit of hope.
"When our plan works there will be many people that owe you their lives," Matthias says eventually. "People both from the city and the outside. We just recently had contact with our leaders on the outside and they know about this plan and we have come up with the signals to show them that the army send out on the battlefield are on their side and they will let the unwilling fighters flee to the forest where they can hide until the fighting is all over."
There is a change in Einar as he finally looks up properly from his untouched tea, is face hardening to something determined. "I am ready to do what it takes," he says, "but I have to admit that I do not care much for the gratitude of others. I just want my daughter to live."
This time it is Vilje who comes to the rescue. "It does not make your bravery any less," she says. "Thanks to you there will be countless parents that will get a chance to see their children grow up the way they should."
Einar nods. "True enough." He scratches impatiently at his beard and sighs. "Now, if you could just give me those details so I can get on my way, I would really appreciate it."
There are a few sympathetic smiles shared around the table and then Tino takes it upon himself to explain in careful detail how Torleif and his people are planning to approach the city and how they are going to give the capitol's false army a chance to prove that they are on the same side.
Einar listens carefully and asks several questions along the way, sometimes asking Tino to repeat himself two or sometimes even three times to make sure that not a single detail is left to chance.
"When did you say the rebels would be here?" he asks when Tino finally sighs as he finishes explaining.
"At the very earlies they could be here by tomorrow, but they're not going to attack straight away. They're going to send out scouts to check out the entire area surrounding the Capitol first, to pretend that they are looking for a good place to launch their attack. We don't want the king to suspect that we already know exactly where we want out forces to stand come battle. So, if they are quick, we can have forces lined outside the city walls in two days time if not three or four."
"That does not leave a lot of time to talk to everybody in the main square and let them in on the plan," Einar says nervously.
"That is true," Matthias agrees. "This plan is risky and depends on a lot of luck. But, considering the way everybody inside that square was forced to join the army, we believe that people are only far too eager to betray the King. He is sending them out on the fields to die, everybody knows that, so why wouldn't they take any chance of survival that is thrown their way. We just need you to begin spreading the word and we think the rest should take care of itself."
Einar stands up, from his chair, brushes off some dust and adjusts his jacket. "Then there is no time to waste," he says sharply. "I will go to the square and tell the guards I wish to join."
"Just be careful," Leah says gently. "Remember that you cannot seem too eager to join or they might grow suspicious."
"I have a plan," Einar replies sharply."
"I'll come with you to the square," Matthias offers. "We kind of need to see if the guards take the bait. Either way, you won't exactly be in a situation to tell us."
Einar nods and makes his way for the door.
Tino is quick to stand up as well and Berwald is up on his feet only seconds later. "We'll come as well."
Einar walks some distance ahead of them through the streets, keeping his back straight and steps determined all the way. He only throws one glance behind himself as they near the square just in time to see the three rebels tuck in behind a corner to watch him approach the guards.
The three of them scuffle a little to get the best position to listen and quite possible see. Tino ends up almost crouching lower to the ground as Matthias pushes him to lean around the corner. Berwald is the one to hold them both back from tumbling out on the street.
"Halt!" They hear one of the guards yell as they take notice of the one man walking up to them. "This is a restricted area!"
"I am here to make a trade," they hear Einar yell back.
"You must be mistaken," another one of the guards growls mockingly. "This is not a marketplace, we do not deal in trades."
"Please," Einar continues. "You have my daughter conscripted. She is not a fighter, but I am still strong despite my years and more than capable. Let me trade places with her, I beg of you!"
Loud, mocking laughter fills the streets. "If you are that eager to fight, then we are more than happy to grant your wish." There is the sound of footsteps and the sharp sound of steel being drawn from its sheath.
"No wait," Einar says, sounding a little bit panicked now as the guards have drawn swords on him. "I do not want to fight unless I get to trade places with my daughter!"
"I wish it was that simple," one of the guards laugh without meaning a single word. "We just cannot make any exceptions, and neither can we say no to anybody offering their services to our good cause."
There are more frantic footsteps and some weak protests from Einar and Matthias can no longer stop himself from peeking. Two guards have grabbed Einar by and arm each and is pulling him towards the square against his protests, laughing all the while.
"It was clever asking to swap places with his daughter," Matthias says quietly as the streets turn silent once more.
"I just wished for his sake that they could have agreed to make the trade thought," Tino replies just as quietly. "It would have given him some peace of mind to know that she was safe."
Matthias makes a grimace as he stares off towards the gate where the guards have disappeared with poor Einar in tow and then he feels the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end from out of nowhere. He has the sudden feeling that somebody is watching them, and seconds later, his left arm itches in a response and he knows that Lukas is out on the prowl. He turns around slowly, looking up towards the top of the wall and sure enough he spots a familiar figure.
There is no warmth over the bond, only a cold detachment.
This is the first significant thing he has felt over the bond since the day in the castle. There has been the occasional scattered emotion reaching through on random, but most of them are distressed and tend to leave Matthias feeling sick to his stomach. All is does is make him want to head straight into danger and seek Lukas out, and so he does his best to ignore most of what reaches through rather than act on impulse again and put their entire operation at risk. Also, Berwald has been watching him like a hawk, as if he knows what Matthias is considering doing.
Matthias nudges Berwald's arm, careful not to get Tino's attention in the process. "We should get out of here," he whispers.
Berwald glances around the streets on instinct, expecting to see more soldiers approaching them on the ground most likely, and so Matthias discretely holds up his arm. He gestures discretely towards his marked arm and then points up towards the top of the wall and then Berwald catches on. His expression is somewhat difficult as he squints upwards to really confirm what he is seeing.
"Can he see us?" Berwald whispers back.
"Not yet," Matthias replies, "but he will if we don't move away from here. I am pretty sure he knows I am here, probably not the two of you, but I don't know what he might do if he actually sees us."
That earns a grimace as Berwald.
"What is going on?" Tino asks, not one to let anything go unnoticed so close by him.
"Trollbunden is on the wall," Matthias tells him.
Tino pales as fumbles for the pouch by his hip on instinct, the one he began to carry again not long after returning. Berwald must have given it to him and let him know how important it is that he brings it along with him everywhere. "He is just out patrolling right?" he says hesitantly. "He is not looking for us, we should be okay."
"I don't want to take that chance," Matthias says. "Even the Rat King preferred to hide when he was nearby and stay out of sight and that was when we were in Mudtown where he belonged. He was terrified of being noticed."
Tino shudders and makes a grimace. "Let's get some distance then. We don't want to draw any attention on Einar by him noticing suspicious activity outside the main square just as they bring in a last minute recruit for their army."
"I couldn't agree more," Berwald grumbles, already turning away from the square.
They move away quickly, trying to stick to the shadows best as they can.
Matthias' skin still prickles, and he cannot stop himself from looking back to catch one more look at the light-armored figure atop the wall.
Then there is a hard grip around his arm, and Berwald pushes him to move faster forward, not happy with his state of distraction. "Get a grip," he hisses. "You need to focus on the task, or I'll find some way to lock you up when the army comes!"
That is threat enough to keep Matthias going and to keep himself from looking back.
They get back to the shop and deliver the news to Leah and Vilje, that Einar was dragged into the square and that the guards seemed convinced.
The only thing left for them to do is wait, something they all are exceedingly bad at. There are quite a few people to come by, buying them a few hours of distraction at the time, but there are still many hours of restlessness to fill.
Leah is a busy woman on a normal day but knowing that her skills will be sorely needed in a few days to treat the injured after combat, she has her hands fuller than before. Vilje has chosen to spend her time helping out and learning Leah's craft so that she may be useful as well when the fighting begins, and she is banned from actively participating because of her injured throat.
Tino is practically bouncing off the walls within only a few hours, much to Leah's endless frustration, but it is not like she can yell at him and demand he burn off some of that energy out elsewhere.
Matthias must be spending too much time staring longingly out the windows, looking off towards the wall. Berwald keeps a close eye on him, appearing rather suspicious and nervous. In the evenings when Leah brings Matthias' tea, he stands at the back of the room as Matthias drinks the foul brew and remains close by until he falls asleep for another forced night of dreamless sleep.
On the third morning after Tino's return to the Capitol, they all wake to the sound of bells ringing throughout the entire city and messengers running through the streets yelling that the rebels are on their doorsteps and to prepare the city for a siege.