Inside the city walls of the rebel nation, Jason was surrounded by soldiers, their weapons drawn. Each one of them shook, uncertain of what was about to happen. Their leader was dead. They didn’t want to continue with this useless battle, but they’d already committed to rebelling against the Free Nation and with it they knew that they’d have to face consequences for their actions. The gate closed behind Jason. He dismounted, dropping to the ground, and stepped forward toward the soldiers. “Lower your weapons,” was the only thing he spoke before continuing forward. The soldiers didn’t know what to make of him, but as he approached each of the soldiers unanimously dropped out of their readiness and sheathed their weapons. Each of them stood aside as Jason passed by, walking calming into city, leading his newly acquired mount along with him. He had hoped that they would kept their senses about them enough to take it from him, but you could only ask so much from people that were frightened for their futures.

This city had fewer people in it than the Free City’s army. As Jason walked down main street it seemed like he was in a ghost town. Many of the improvements the Free City had facilitated he could see were ripped up and taken apart. They were trying to back engineer how they worked, but given the state of the city it was pretty clear that they had been unsuccessful. Nothing made a sound. It was expected that the civilians would be quiet but there wasn’t any sign of other soldiers than the ones he met upon entering who were now following him. Perhaps they were afraid of him, he thought, but there was no telling without speaking with them. The town square was even empty, not even a trace of being lived in. They must have had scouts out very far from the city and able to travel fast enough that they could lock down the city the moment they heard that Jason and the Free city’s army was coming. Jason continued deeper into the city, towards the “Lord’s Manor” which had been walled off from the rest of the city. The closer he got, the more he began to hear voices shouting in a whispered tone to open the gates and let them in.

Jason stopped at the wooden gate where hundreds of civilians had gathered. When the first one noticed his presence he grabbed another next to them and pointed to Jason. “He’s here,” he said. Another overheard, turned, and shouted, calling everyone’s attention to Jason’s presence. They’d never seen him before but they had heard the stories about the young Human adult who was the leader of the Free City that established the Free Nation. Everything they had heard of him painted a picture of a man that filled them with wonder and awe, but now that they had turned their backs on his leadership those old stories began to take on a new light. You see, while his friends were always protected and treated well, his enemies had always been defeated and worse, killed without mercy. It seemed that once he had decided you were an enemy there was no longer any need to keep you alive. This is what all of the town’s people worried about. This is what they had put out of their mind as they were lead into rebellion by their leader until now. Silence fell over the crowd.

“Would you mind letting me through?” Jason asked.

The members of the crowds looked between each other before looking back at Jason. He hadn’t raised his weapon to them. He didn’t order them. For all intents and purposes it appeared as though he was hostile towards them. Once more, before any vocal response was given, he pressed on. The crowd moved to either side save for one individual who stood in Jason’s way. Jason continued till he was unable to progress without physically pushing the person aside or himself walking around. Either act would send the wrong message for Jason.

“Is there something that I can help you with?” Jason asked.

The person’s eyes locked with Jasons. He was a large muscular Tok`phane. Normally just his appearance was enough to back down anyone that challenged him in any way, but Jason had learned much about the culture and species of Debris. He was unaffected by this dog-man that towered over him. “We don’t need anything from you.”

“Perhaps, but were you not just needing to get through this gate? I believe I can help with that. Is accepting help beneath you? Or is it that you are too weak to accept aid from one such as I?”

“You can’t get through this gate.” the Tok`phane bellowed with laughter.

“I will not know less I try and I cannot try less you move, but even if you do not move can’t I resolve the problem of needing to get into the inner walls without doing so?”

“If you can’t get through me you certainly can’t get through that gate, Human.”

“Perhaps. My goal was never to get to the castle for its own sake. I was just looking for those responsible for the rebellion to bring them to justice. Only those who attacked the Free Nation of their own free will are my concern at the moment. I assume an honourable one, such as yourself would never willingly attack your allies after you agreed to stand side by side with them to protect all. Only those men that would are those who should be held responsible in my estimation.”

“Oh so you only wish to punish our leaders. And what of us? We know how you treat those cities that are under your rule.”

“If you felt abused by my directions I am sorry. This alliance is still new and I am still young and learning. I gave orders for what I needed to protect us all. I had hoped that the governors would adjust them to be reasonable for those they governed. It was never meant to make you all have such hard times.”

“In search of a lesson then are you, pup?” the dog-man growled mirthfully.

“I’m always learning. No need for a special lesson but if that is what is needed to attain peace I’m more than willing to tame a dog or two.”

The Tok`phane burst out laughing. He put his hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Pup, maybe some other time. Right now we have to deal with the soldiers who have holed up behind these walls.”

“Oh that’s not a problem. The gates will open at my behest. I just prefer that I don’t have to destroy them to have them do so,” Jason said, speaking the last bit loud enough that it would be heard by those on the wall and behind the gates in hopes that they would hear and get the idea of what he was implying.

The Tok`phane looked at him funny, his ears perking up at the heightened volume of his speech, before grinning, cleaning his ear, and taking up a position by Jasons side. “Think that’s going to work?”

“Just wait.”

A minute went by without anything happening.

“I don’t think they heard you. Want to try again?”

As the Tok`phane was finishing his sentence the sound of the wooden bolt being drawn back to unbarricade the gate. A clank could be heard and then a creak as the door swung open slowly. Several men revealed themselves as the gateway cleared. Their arms were raised and seemed to have been de-armed, both of their weapons and armor. Behind them stood soldiers with swords and crossbows leveled at them.

“No need.” Jason grinned slyly. He redirected his attention to the soldiers in front of him, stepping forward to inspect the disarmed men and address the situation. “What have we here?” he shouted to the soldiers who had their weapons drawn.

One of the soldiers spoke up, “Sir! We offer you these men as a peace offering. They are the leaders and inciters of the rebellion. We were only following orders when we attacked those traders and other cities. We ask that you have mercy on us and if it pleases your Lordship we can execute these men as the criminals they are.”

“I am grateful that you rounded up these men, but all of you must stand trial for your actions and be punished in accordance with the law. I have sympathy for your situation, but you had the ability to not follow those orders. Besides that, how am I to take your word that these men are to blame for what happened and not yourself? The Free City’s courts will investigate and determine what is to be done to each of you… that is, unless you wish to challenge me to combat right now and see how well you fair.”

The soldiers with their weapons drawn looked to each other as they listened to Jason’s words. They were unsure what to do. Some dropped their weapons. Others began lowering them. The soldier that has spoken before held steady. “Yes, sir. I understand, sir. In the meantime. These prisoners would have us kill you while they run. I dare not let them out of my watch while no others are here to keep them from sneaking off.”

Jason turned to the soldier behind him that had followed him from the outer gate, “Send for my men who wait outside the city. They are to take all as prisoners to be tried. Any resistance is to be stopped in the least harmful manner possible and recorded to be addressed in the courts. Those who do not resist and pose no threat of running off are to be allowed to go about their day within the city freely until their trial. If they need to go outside of the city they are to be escorted. Tell them also to send word to Free City to send several judges. We want to clear up the situation as quickly as possible.” Jason stopped to face the citizens of the city before continuing. “From this day forward, this city is not an independent settlement. All territories and subjects will now belong to the Free City and answer to the Free City’s direct rule. If any of you wish to challenge that we will settle it in the Arena. For the next little while things will be tense, but soon I will appoint a governor that will answer directly to me, treat all those who are found innocent well, and hold those who are criminals accountable for their actions. Please have patience while we clean up the mess that my ignorance has caused.”

One of the soldiers nodded and took off running towards the outer walls. The people remaining surrounded Jason quietly. They thought that maybe, if they worked together, they could take Jason out, catch the soldier before he got to the gate, and continue on with their rebellion. Without Jason they Free Nation would surely fall apart and they, having defeated him, would be recognized as one of the most powerful of the burgeoning nations, but they had made their decision before they reached this moment.

It didn’t take long for the Free City’s army to enter the city and take charge. The men that the soldiers had identified as their leaders were taken into the army’s custody and placed into jail cells which had never been used. THey had been recently built in anticipation of their need at some point by instruction of Jason. The residents of Debris had almost no need of such places. The first battle to reunify the Free Nation was over. it had ended with only one man dying. Jason wanted to go with his surface feelings, that the man did not matter, but something deep inside him told him that any loss of life was a failure, even if there was no other way forward.