134 Resentmen (1/2)
After shifting through the dark alleys of Holm, Pod found himself dipping into the sewers of the city.
Sewer water splashed onto his boots, some even touching his feet. It was damp, slimy and cold.
But Pod didn't mind the sewer water. The worst was the smell. The putrid scent of the decaying refuse of the city was unbearable. A certain sourness rose through his throat. He gagged, almost flushing his lunch.
But the smell and the cold and the slimy liquid couldn't stop Pod. Trivial things, he thought. He was determined in seeing this through- for he had decided.
A huge rat, almost stygian in color ran not far from him. Pod screamed a scream of both shock and fear. He had always hated rats.
Nevertheless Pod trudged forward, withstanding his fear. He must see this through for he had decided, Pod repeated in his heart.
After a few hundred paces of waddling trough the sewers, Pod found the place. It was a small dry portion of the sewers directly below the noble district of Holm. Noble houses were sparsely distributed unlike those of commoners. The sewer below the noble district was dryer and more... accommodating for their purpose today.
There were already a few dozen people talking amidst the dim illumination of torches. Some of them wore commoner clothes while a select few wore expensive coats made with beaver fur.
”Ave, comrades” Pod greeted. The few dozen people all turned their heads towards him.
”Late. Aren't we Pod?” An old man wearing beaver fur coat said. If Pod was not mistaken, the old man was a silk merchant.
”I got lost. I'm sorry” Pod bowed a little ”Apologies are enough I hope?”
The merchant chanted something under his breath. If Pod was to guess, it was a curse of sorts.
The merchant then opened his palm towards Pod ”We have wasted enough time. Do you have it?”
Pod stepped forward. His boots scraping against the dry but still sticky floor of the sewer.
He sheathed his hand inside the pocket of his woolly coat and pulled a folded piece of paper. Parchment was a better word to describe the thing as it was tough and durable.
He examined the faces of the several dozen people and raised the parchment level to his head.
”Before I give this, I would like to remind the lot of you that this is treason. The Queen...” Pod paused and shook his head a little ”As merciful as she is, will not be kind to traitors. We could all hang just by meeting like this”
”Are you having second thoughts now boy?” The merchant bellowed with a hint of mockery.
”Nothing of sorts. My determination remains as it is. Just reminding you of the gravity of your actions”
”Hush now boy. Give us the map and let us be done with this”
Pod clicked his tongue once. He handed the merchant the folded parchment.
The merchant unfolded the parchment with a smile- a smirk if examined more closely. But the smirk soon turned into frown and the frown turned into a glare.
”This is not the map of the palace. All there is are words and names”
”I know” Pod put both hands inside his pocket. ”I know” he repeated a second time before clearing his throat and straightening his posture.
”Those are your names and that is your arrest warrant”
Pod snapped his fingers and some of the people in the group revealed their weapons hidden inside their coats. Like him, they were loyal Royal Guards tasked to defend the Union from people of little vision like the merchant and his lot.
Seeing the royal guards the would be rebels all flinched.
”What is the meaning of this Pod!?” the merchant roared a confused question.
”With the power vested in me by Her Majesty, Queen Lucia Vanadis, I, Pod Fickle, Royal Guard, do hereby order your arrest for the crimes of conspiracy, sedition and treason. With the Omniscient as witness, I accuse ye, traitors to the Union. Surrender and you will be judged by law. Resist and we will take all measures necessary”
The silk merchant took a single step backwards. The other rebels huddled near the him.
”You are a betrayer!” The merchant shouted to Pod.
”I betrayed no one” Pod said with calmness ”I was, am and always will be loyal to Her Majesty”
”To Her Majesty!? That harlot sold our nation to the Castonians! She betrayed us. Opening her legs to a foreign King in exchange for what? I bet she only wants a warm splutter inside her belly. A wench I tell you. And you still follow her. You are a disgrace!”
”Do not insult Her Majesty. You are the disgrace. Too close-minded and blind to see that cooperation with Castonia is the future. Surrender now!”
The merchant smiled ”No. We shall fight. Weapons!” he shouted and the rebels revealed their weapons. Some were carrying clubs while others had daggers.
”You choose death then?”
”No boy. I choose freedom” the merchant said with a smile and a sigh.
Pod unsheathed a short sword fastened on his waist. He raised and held it firm. Blood will flow with sewer water today. He must defend the Union and Her Majesty.