Commander Ramas took a week to contact Raya once more. The waiting was difficult—Hallist and Dondar advised that Raya double the number of patrols and urge everyone to keep an eye out. If the City Watch were to attack them, there was little they could do to stand their ground; in the very least, an organized retreat deeper into Massed Alley might save some lives. Benn, estranged from Raya by her busyness running the group, joined the patrols or spent time discussing strategy with Hallist. Axar and Avri argued anxiously about every topic they could.
At last, two days ago, a letter had been delivered to Raya’s outer defences. It had been brought to Raya with its seal intact—a wax square with a hand embossed upon it. She had sat down at the nearest table at the Blue Evening Inn and cracked the communication open. Ramas had written of his success in convincing the Advisory to reconsider their priorities; he had asked Raya to meet him again at their neutral position in the Low Dales.
For a second time, Raya sat down across from a chainmail-wearing strategist. Ramas’ moustache was accented by an afternoon shadow today, but his stern eyes were as present as they had been before. “It worked,” he told Raya simply.
Axar, sitting to Raya’s right side, leaned a little closer. “The City Watch will not attack?” he asked.
Ramas nodded. “We will focus on Domeran and deal with our smaller foes later,” he said. “This buys you some time to prove your lawful intentions.”
“Lawful intentions….” Avri muttered. The ex-slave had little regard for a legal system that had mistreated her for most of her life. She leaned back in her chair while sighing hard enough for the tiny hairs on Raya’s left elbow to stand.
“I have a plan for it,” Ramas said. Then he grimaced and explained, “But I don’t think you will like it.”
“I’ll listen regardless,” Raya replied, keeping her arms crossed on the wooden tabletop. She needed to consider every option.
Ramas nodded. “Domeran’s gang likely considers your group in a similar light as the City Watch does—that you are a somewhat criminal faction. This is supported further by the fact that some of the prisoners you freed from those jails in fact joined his alliance.”
That was not what Raya wanted to hear. She had tried to free the prisoners of the Mage Kings above all, but some had clearly been imprisoned as genuine criminals, too. “What’s your plan, Commander?”
“I will use the guards that I know are loyal to me to back up a baited trap for Domeran. You can draw the gang leader out to meet you and then my men would move in to capture him,” Ramas explained.
“There’s no guarantee that Domeran would even speak to me,” Raya pointed out.
Ramas nodded. “That’s true. But remember that Domeran’s gang is only a notable faction because it has absorbed many other criminal groups. He actively recruits them in order to build an army for himself. He can’t afford to ignore a group of two hundred potential recruits.”
“Two hundred?” Axar asked. He was likely surprised that Ramas had an accurate count of their faction, but he passed the phrase off incredulously—as though that was a low guess.
“And if Domeran were to agree to meet me—if I even agree to this plan?” Raya asked.
“Send a letter to me in Pranan’s Hill and provide the details of your meeting place and time,” Ramas said simply. “This is too high of a priority for me to miss. My men will be there. Not only will you prove your willingness to work with the City Watch, but you will give me a position against the other Commanders on the Advisory. If I have Domeran alive, I have the power to destroy one of Ith’s factions and I could demand your group be left unharmed.”
Raya nodded. “It’s a lot to consider. A risky plan for my people even more than for yours. You must understand that I need to address this with my own friends first.”
“Of course,” Ramas said, bowing his head. His hair, though thick on his forehead, was thinning on top. He promptly stood up, grumbling as usual, and then paused to smile at Raya. “I know we can bring some semblance of order to this city—I only hope you will be able to support it. If you need anything else, do not hesitant to call upon me.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Raya said. They clasped hands once more, and the City Watch withdrew.
After the military men had departed, Raya glanced at Avri and Axar. “Thoughts?” she asked.
“Bringing down Domeran’s gang would set us over the Delivered,” Avri pointed out. She looked south, into Massed Alley. “The Delivered fight skirmishes with the guards and Domeran alike, but they have accomplished nothing. We could.”
Axar nodded. The man’s fit figure leaned comfortably against the wooden table. “I know Ramas from reputation. The security of Ith has always been his greatest priority—I think that alone makes him trustworthy.”
Raya watched Avri’s eyes narrow as the magician spoke. She loathed him. Unable to contest what Axar had said, Avri instead said, “We should see what the rest have to say.”
“We definitely will,” Raya confirmed. She stood up and reclaimed her bow from the wall it leaned against nearby. Though she had been training with hand and blade, she had years of experience with the ranged weapon. It still accompanied her wherever she went—and they had a long walk through Massed Alley before they could relax in the safety of their inn-home.