Whether she liked it or not, Raya had to accept the advise of her friends. She could not join one of the factions of Ith. She had no interest in joining the gang of Domeran, here at the edge of Massed Alley, but even the Delivered—the freed slaves of the Mage Kings—would be as likely to put her and Axar to death as they would be to listen to Raya’s urgent explanation that she had never supported the Mage Kings.
“They’ve been slighted by my kind a few times too many,” Axar had said.
Raya was inclined to agree. She was glad that Axar was still supporting her throughout this process, even if she didn’t fully trust him. It was an improvement over his last few weeks of dreariness.
They kept staying at the Blinded Oryx for now, until they decided what to do next. Ailo went daily to listen to rumours in the streets and learn what he could about the situation. He often reported first to Axar, and then to Raya, leading the young woman to suspect that he may have delivered her partial news.
It was useful news nonetheless. There had been a scuffle between the aggressive Delivered and the defensive City Watch, a couple days ago. The criminal alliance of Domeran grew day-by-day, incorporating freelance crook and street gang alike.
“I need to come up with some way to demonstrate my trustworthiness to the people,” she told Benn over lunch one day. It seemed they ate stew more often than any other meal. “But with a reputation of working with the Mage Kings, the only way I can think of to show them that I want to help the common people, is to start my own group.”
Benn blinked. “That’s ambitious,” he said, and finished chewing a mouthful of broth soaked beans. He swallowed. “But I think you could do it. Even the people in these warring factions are in need, and they know it.”
“What can I provide them?” Raya asked. “I’m not a tactician or a healer.”
“But you have tacticians and healers in your group already,” Benn said.
They both looked at Axar, sitting with Ailo and Dondar at a larger table. Raya grimaced. “I’m not certain if I want to trust him with all those responsibilities.”
“Others will join you though,” Benn said. “Like in Vagren. Lotha may have lied to you, but Viker was always helpful to you.”
Raya nodded. She needed to get better at discerning that difference, she thought. Axar noticed them looking in his direction and waved her over. Raya finished her stew and left the bowl beside Benn’s empty one. She sat down a moment later beside Dondar, while Benn took the empty seat next to Ailo.
“So?” Axar asked. “If we’re going to do something, we need to decide now. The conflict for this city is only going to get busier. This lull is an advantage.”
Raya nodded. She looked at Benn; he gave her a nod. Then she told the group what was on her mind. “I want to start my own group. Even if we later join with another, we need to at least begin to prove our good intentions.”
It didn’t seem to surprise either Axar or Ailo. Dondar nodded as he considered it, sipping at a warm mead. “Where?” asked Ailo.
Raya shrugged. “If we start operating from a base inside the territory of a faction, like our hosts here in Domeran’s domain, we put a second target on our backs. We need to find unclaimed territory.”
“That would position us between two other groups,” Axar pointed out. “Almost just as dangerous.”
“I don’t want to become the reluctant leader of a warful group,” Raya said. “So we should avoid the criminal claim—I won’t make a treaty with murderers and smugglers.”
Axar smirked. “Then don’t play for Ith. Everyone is a murderer or a smuggler in this city.”
Raya brushed the comment off. “The first scuffle was between the guards and the slaves,” she said. “Near the border between Massed Alley and Pranan’s Hill. Any fighting between those groups is good for Domeran’s gang, and bad for the future of Ith. We should base ourselves there.”
Dondar nodded, while Axar shrugged and tipped his head. “And our goal?” asked the magician. “To rule Ith or to keep the peace?”
“I want the people who were slaves to be treated well—they should be citizens now. We can’t let another system as abusive as the Mage Kings form. I don’t want to rule Ith, but I want someone that is good to do so,” Raya said. “Every group or person that tries to work toward a better future will encourage that future to arrive.”
Axar nodded. “We’ll need supporters, either way.”
“Of course,” said Raya.
“There are a lot of prisons and worksites that once belonged to the Mage Kings but have not been vindicated yet,” Axar told her. Ailo and Dondar nodded. “If we can free some of those groups, they would likely be the ones to see us as a trustworthy cause first. It would also send a message to the other groups in Ith that we are trying to do good, not rule like the Mage Kings.”
Raya nodded. “That’s exactly the message I want to be known. It sounds difficult to free people from prisons, but if you think we can, it would be a good place to start.”
“If we need more support in either security or simply in reliable allies,” Dondar said, “I could see if anyone in Olston would volunteer. This is the sort of good reputation work they would want attached to the image of the town.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Raya said. She considered it quietly for a moment while Dondar sipped his mead. “It would be good to have some more people we know to cover our backs, but I don’t want to weaken Olston at all. I can only imagine how the influx of refugees and roaming bandit groups has increased since we left. Maybe just a handful of reinforcements for now?”
Dondar nodded. “That’s reasonable. Should I go right away? It’s a long journey.”
“We might need every man we have for our first couple plans,” Axar said. “Even if we start with the weaker prisoners and barracks.”
“I agree,” Raya said. “Let’s wait to see if we actually have people joining our group. All of this could amount to nothing.” She hoped it amounted to a change though. Even a small one. Somehow, the people of Ith were freed. It was their turn to rule their city.