Once again, the leaders of Raya’s group gathered in the common room of the inn. Axar and Ailo stuck together, while Avri sat near Benn, across a few empty tables from the mage and his guard. Dondar and his guards filled a long table near the bar. Raya sat with Hallist, leaning against the counter.
“What if the City Watch doesn’t show up?” Dondar asked. “If Ramas ignores the meeting, then you end up actually meeting with a criminal boss—having to deal with him and everything.”
“That wasn’t the deal, and for now, I trust Ramas,” Raya said. “Did you get a different impression? Axar? Avri?”
They both shrugged to Raya. Avri said, “He genuinely seemed to want to defeat Domeran and restore peace. Peace under the rule of the sword.”
“I’ve heard several of my friends echo that sentiment,” Hallist said. He looked down the bar at Raya and nodded. “Not many are comfortable with helping the City Watch gain power over the other factions. Many would rather see the Delivered rise in power—and a few even prefer Domeran’s group.”
Raya snorted. “Would things be better for Ith and for the common people, with Domeran in charge?”
“Many feel so,” Hallist said, and Avri nodded.
“We could live without an enforced law,” Avri added. “People would be free to do what they want for the first time in centuries.”
“But I certainly do not want Domeran in charge,” Hallist replied.
Raya tapped the bar. “In Olston, the laws help people too.” In her mind, she saw the courtroom where Novar had been found guilty. Though the memory pained her, she had told the truth on the stand. There had to be law, or Novar’s senseless crime would have been permissible. “We need to find a way to move forward with changed laws and better guards.”
“Laws have only harmed in Ith,” Avri muttered.
Hallist sighed. “Raya, this issue is divisive, to say the least. We need to make a decision even if we don’t find the solution. A hundred years might not find it.”
The cloudy sky outside gave way to a glowing sunshine and the tavern window lit up. “We’ll need to choose our meeting place wisely,” Dondar said. “We don’t want Domeran’s men to attack here in retaliation for his disappearance.”
“Agreed,” said Axar. “Our patrols need to be sizeable after the capture. We can’t count on the City Watch to protect our turf.”
Raya nodded. “Hallist, that will be your responsibility.”
“So, is this real?” Avri asked. “We were discussing if it was possible. But now—are we actually doing this?”
“Does anyone have a strong reason not to?” Raya asked.
The room was silent. Even Avri shook her head. The sunlight had begun to fade from the window. Hallist had assured them it would rain this evening.
Raya nodded. “Then we’re doing it. Ailo, will you deliver the invitation?”
“I will,” Ailo said, and leaned back in his chair.
Axar sat forward. “I have one worry—a tactical concern. Ramas spoke about his possession of a captive Domeran providing him power with the other Commanders of the City Watch. I worry that capturing the leader of two factions would give him even more power than the capture of one. He might send his guards to bring both you and Domeran into his custody.”
“I never got that impression,” Raya replied, “but that is a reasonable fear. I don’t see another way except to trust in Ramas’ claims of protection.”
“It’s simple. We direct Ramas and his city watch to the property adjacent to the actual meeting,” Axar explained. “Then we make the arrest, and we hand Domeran over to Ramas ‘next door.’ In a way, this makes Domeran our hostage. It gives us the power.”
“Until the hand-off is made,” Dondar added. Axar inclined his head to the Olston guard.
Raya considered the plan. It was only a mild deceit. If all went according to plan it would make Raya seem cautious, perhaps even cunning, to Ramas. If Ramas planned to betray her, Axar’s suggestion might be the only other course of action. “Let’s do that,” Raya decided. “Dondar, make certain to choose a meeting place with this plan in mind.” Her old friend bobbed his head in response. “We should devise a signal. If Ramas doesn’t show at all, we will need to pretend to deal with Domeran in order to escape safely. Bringing the head of a gang back here is not an option.”
With their plans decided, there was plenty of work to be done. Of course, it started to rain shortly after that. For the next couple hours, Raya hurried where she was needed, kept damp by the weather, and attempted to calm the concerns of her people. Many worried commoners wanted assurances that the City Watch would not be taking over their small corner of peace in the chaotic city.