Raya was speaking with a few of the ex-slaves when the messenger came. It was midday and Raya had been taking a break from her administrative work in the inn to get some sunlight and check on a few of their patrols. She missed her times of wandering through the fields all day. Her eyes ached some days—a sign of spending too much time hunched over a candlelit table.
The messenger was walking with Ailo, who had spent the last few days at an inn between Domeran’s portion of Massed Alley and their own. He was a short man, and, from his soft chin and smooth complexion, younger than Benn or Raya.
“Domeran has agreed to meet with us,” Ailo said, as he marched along. “But with one addendum. Tell her what you told me.”
The messenger bowed nervously, glancing over his shoulder to where a patrol had let him past. Raya’s ex-slaves and allied commoners were mismatched in apparel and training, but all were armed with swords. They had liberated enough weapons from the prisons they had cleared. Turning back to Raya, the youngster explained, “Domeran will meet with you. He visited the abandoned buildings in search of a trap and found none. Despite this, he will bring a full compliment of ten guards. He expects you to do the same.”
Raya nodded. They had chosen a location of urban decline on the edge of the central districts of Ith, where a dozen abandoned buildings and scattered slums provided an undesirable no-man’s land. “We’ll be there. Did Domeran choose one of the days we suggested?”
The messenger bowed again. “He said the 1st would be fine.”
“Good. We look forward to discussing terms then,” Raya said. Even most of her people suspected they were actually going to bargain with the gang. It was important not to let even their own people know about the ambush they had planned. Though Raya had wanted to, Axar and Hallist had agreed. Even Avri had given in reluctantly. Most of the commoners could be bought off, and Domeran catching wind of the plan would be a disaster. “Ailo, give this brave courier a coin and send him on the way.”
“Thank you, Mistress Raya,” the messenger said. Ailo led him back toward their defended boundary.
Raya walked down the main street toward Night Kra, then turned left onto Garban Street. The road led right beside the Blue Evening Inn and made for a makeshift training ground during the daytime. While most of Ith continued their daily jobs—desperate to earn a living—those who served the factions acted more like soldiers.
Axar was training with Dondar’s soldiers near the wall of the tavern. “We’ve heard news,” Raya called as she entered. Hallist and Avri stood inside, chatting about a map they had drawn up of their territory. Patrol routes were drawn on with charcoal and a few markings of key locations—towers or public housing—were marked with dots. Axar and Dondar were right behind Raya, wiping their faces with damp towels and panting for breath.
“Dondar will meet with us,” Raya told them. “But with ten guards.”
Axar scowled. “That makes capturing him a lot more complicated. We’ll need to choose our best ten.”
Avri snorted. “That’s nearly a battle,” she said. She crossed her arms and glared at Axar. “Do you really expect us to subdue Domeran’s best fighters and still arrest him ourselves? All while the City Watch is camped out in the building next door? This is foolishness.”
“And trusting a Commander who lost control of his city is better?” Axar asked.
Avri raised her hands out at her sides. “I never said working with Ramas was a good idea. The City Watch can’t be trusted” she exclaimed as she stepped closer to Axar, “and now you have manipulated us into working with the gangs of the city!”
“Gods, girl, watch yourself,” Axar retorted. He raised his hands defensively.
“That’s enough!” Raya snapped. The two stepped back from one another and a terse silence hung over the common room. Hallist ran a hand over his bald scalp and whistled through his teeth.
“I have no desire to work with the gang,” Axar replied. “They will never rule Ith.”
No one had a reply for him. The silence resumed.
After a moment, Raya stepped forward, turning around in place so she could look at each of them. “We already talked about this. We need to trust Ramas at some point in this process. If we successfully bait Domeran, Ramas would be a fool not to make a move. Chances are, he will make the right one.”
Everyone considered it quietly. Axar nodded. Benn smiled. Dondar stood up. “It’s decided then. Aside from a handful of the guards and common fighters, who will you bring? Me, at least. Will you still go yourself?”
“Domeran will run if I’m not,” Raya replied. It would a daunting mission to undertake nonetheless. She took a deep breath. “So, I will go. Dondar, you can come. Axar and Avri?” The two gave her a nod. “And Benn?”
Benn shrugged. His scruffy chin nodded, and he smiled reassuringly. “Of course, I will.”
The silence returned to the common room. Raya stood up, gave them a tip of her head and stepped back from the central table she had taken. In three days’ time, they would meet with one of the most dangerous men in Ith. The silence in the tavern was the calm before the storm. Raya drank it in while she still could. She glanced at Hallist. “Let’s write the letter for Ramas,” she said.