They passed through the devastated streets, paying attention to every dark corner and every shady turn. It seemed like peace had taken over -- a few guards wandered while a pair beat a drunken joker. But Villered was a city of deception -- everyone who forgot that was a goner.

“What are they hiding?!” Devina frantically turned from one side to the other.

“Nothing yet,” Tillon said. “It is unlikely, but they could have controlled the population.”

“Unlikely?” Devina scoffed. “It’s impossible!”

Nobody could be certain when the series of unfortunate events began, but everybody knew the current situation. All the guardsmen and all the companies that fought to keep the city around the Indigo mansion at bay, had failed. Even now, the soldiers worked and patrolled to keep up only an illusion.

“You’re too worried,” Melodra murmured.

“Me? I’m readying for the worst,” Devina said. “I’ve heard too many damn stories to do otherwise.”

“We’re company and they’re broke peasants.”

“Mad peasants.”

“Alright.” Tillon cleared his throat. “Devi, I think I have an idea of what we need to do.”

“To suck up to Guardian?”

Tillon nodded. “I wish it wasn’t, but it is a dirty matter from the get go,” he continued. “We come in there and we stay quiet. Don’t make a fuss, but don’t disappear. We must not be at the forefront of their attention, but they gotta keep an eye on us. Then, when everyone is there, we go up and we show why what they are doing is stupid and why we’re not ones to mess with.”

“They already know that,” Melodra muttered.

“They know, but they’re not certain of it.” Tillon waved. “We struck the bottom of their barrel. We basically cleaned their trash. Now it is the perfect opportunity to strike the heads themselves, show them that we might even poke an eye out, if they mess with us.” Tillon jerked his finger and grinned. “We hit Steelgordon, we hit Third, we hit Catherine...”

Devina smiled, while Melodra frowned at those words.

Tillon knew why she wasn’t fond of the idea, but he was willing to take a risk. Great leaders always took gambles. If he lost, the the consequences would be terrible: the company would lose its reputation, wouldn’t be invited to diplomatic meetings, not for a long time at least, and he essentially would have to go into exile. If he won, he’d get what he wanted and Devina also would no longer have to try and prove herself at every corner.

It’s a win-win except that Mel might try and screw it all up.

“Well… how long till the In--that mansion?” Devina spoke.

“The Indigo mansion,” Tillon said. “And if we stay on edge, it should be ten minutes.”

“Oh powers that be, we’ve been riding for longer than that drunkard tried to set the stables ablaze...”

“You saw that too?” Tillon couldn’t help, but crack a grin.

“Pretty sure everyone in Company’s Heart saw that.”

“What did he too that for? Also, what do you think Guardian will do to him?”

“I guess it was a stupid, drunk bet,” Devina said. “Weird to think: that poor bastard will probably lose his life for that.”

He tried to burn down a barn surrounded by overflowing barracks using a magnifying glass and the shine of the nightsun. Considering the death he could've caused, doesn’t seem that bad of a punishment to me.

“Yes, but..” Tillon trailed off.

Something rumbled behind them.

A dozen figures in maroon vestments creeped. The mad townsfolk. The ones Tillon thought he’d avoided.The townsfolk carried candles and red daggers while a few in the back whispered tunes in a foreign tongue.

Tillon exchanged confused glances with Melodra and Devina. They all drew their weapons in unison.

“Stop where you are!” Tillon ordered.

“I’ll kill you if you look at me wrong!” Devina screamed.

The mad townsfolk didn’t stop at the words. They continued in their steady pace. For a moment, Tillon was confused, but then fear rushed over him. They were in a dark street surrounded by abandoned buildings and they hadn’t seen guards in a while. Everything was off.

Tillon pulled on the reins and his steed slowly backed off.

“What are you doing?” Devina asked, the last to turn her horse around.

“We don’t want to mess with these madmen,” Tillon said. “We… don’t have the time…”

Melodra nodded approvingly.

First time this month she doesn’t want to strangle me.

They galloped away, forgetting all caution. The townsfolk followed, quickening their pace.

I don’t like this one bit.

Hurrying as fast as their horses let them, they arrived at the gates of the Indigo mansion in minutes.

***

Foolish child, Tillon thought, looking back at himself five minutes ago.

As they faced the gates and the countless carriages behind them, crowds of mad dwellers surrounded them from every direction. They creeped like a wave of blood, slowly, but surely closing in with bad intentions .

“I think we might have made a mistake,” Tillon said, hopping off his horse. He could’ve either tried staying on to fight or running away. Instead, he chose the third option: to stick to the plan and continue to the Indigo mansion.

Now we’re even more cornered in.

As Melodra and Devina got off their steeds, Tillon opened the bags on his horse and brought out a pair of revolvers and a sword. Then, he put a belt of ammo around his waist and shut the bag.

His hands shook: in moments when he was pressed for time or under pressure, his mind was dazed and his arms worked against him.

“Devi, keep watch while we announce ourselves” Tillon ordered.

He neared the gates, Melodra by his side. The mansion was incredible and a complete contrast to the grimy town that surrounded it. Tillon reached for a small glass ball that hung off a steel rod and rung it. There wasn’t a single soul in the huge yard behind the gates, but he hoped that someone heard it and would open the gates.

The circle in which they could navigate became smaller as the crowd neared. The candles burned brighter and the masked folk sung louder. It was like a public lynching.

Then, someone grunted behind Tillon.

He turned to face a guard: a middle aged fella with three scars going down his face.

“Who’ll you’ll be?” The man spoke in a raucous voice.

“The Swords of the Guardians.”

The guard squinted then looked at the sea of cloaked madmen.

“Well, you’ll could consider yourselves screwed.”

Tillon repeatedly tapped his foot.

“Oh, powers that be, just let us in!”

The man grinned. “I’ll don’t’ll know,” he spoke then shouted. “Hey, should I’ll let them in?!”

In unison, the townsfolk stopped. A pair of individuals came out, locking eyes with the ground. They nodded and returned to the crowd.

The guard smirked then unlocked the gates. The company dashed inside. Tillon closed them with a bang, turned and frowned at the guard. The man started marching towards the front door of the Indigo mansion without making eye contact with anyone, a thick satchel of coins on his waist ringing.

***

“Goodnight, misters and misses!” A kinguor greeted the company. Behind him, the mansion was bustling: music played, glasses clinked and people laughed. Everything to give the illusion of safety.

So the madmen even managed to take hold of this place.

What is going on with this world…

Tillon pushed the polite kinguor aside and strided in. After all the bullshit he’d faced, he was far from willing to take any more.

The company passed the priceless main hall, laden with paintings of battles and sorcerers. Eventually, they made their way to the chamber of diplomacy. It was a legendary place. Tillon was one of only dozens to ever step foot inside, but he didn’t feel the magic; only the crookedness.

Someone is going to try to screw us and someone is working with the townsfolk. How bloody wonderful.

He wasn’t late. There were quite a few people, shuffling and talking. They were all divided into barely visible little groups. But at least they weren’t in the middle of a heated negotiation. If they were, that would have been… bad.

All in attendance turned to the company. They walked in, and passed everyone. Tillon pointed to a few in chairs in the back while he turned towards a familiar face.

“Ah... you have finally arrived,” Third spoke. He adjusted his eyepatch then fully took it off, revealing his red left eye. He adjusted his perfectly equal gray hair, took out a mirror, tilted his head a few degrees and nodded. “It is a pleasure to see you.”

So you’re without your armor, huh? Feeling safe?

“Indeed,” Tillon said.

When he returned to the company, Devina whispered to Melodra who stared blankly at a wall.

“What did you two find already?”

“Nothing,” Devina said. “And that’s bad: they’re all too perfect. Everyone’s speaking to their allies, no one’s even sharing a look with their enemies. It’s like they’re all acting in a terrible play.”

“You saw that?”

“Well… Mel did.”

Tillon sat down beside the two and closed his eyes. Too many things were going through his mind. He took a deep breath and returned to the matter at hand.

The chamber filled up. More and more people of all types arrived and joined their little groups that quickly turned to two alliances. One that agreed with Third and one that’d slice his throat if they could.

“Fifty people,” Melodra muttered.

Tillon tilted his head. “And there’s only eight seats by the table. That’s a lot of entourage for everyone.”

“It makes sense.”

A petite lady from Third’s opponents walked up to the company. She bowed.

“We hope you’re not gamblers,” she spoke and walked away.

Tillon frowned.

Damn politics like a bascalle, he thought. Though this is what I’m signing up for. Better get used to it now if I want to make it.

Servants started going around the room, extinguishing most of the torches, leaving only the necessary ones. In the dimness, they left and shut the entrance to the chamber. Everyone was here and the negotiation was to begin.

Would he splurge all the influence they had by letting Melodra and Devina sit at the table too or would he save it and go at it alone?

Tough choice and no time.

Tillon furrowed his brow looking at Melodra.

Then he jerked his head and they all got up. A good leader was only a good leader if there was someone who served him.

***

“As you all know, I am Kingus Colordo,” a man with a ginormous beard spoke. “And I am the overseer of the neutral ground known as the Indigo mansion. I hope we shall discuss in an orderly fashion and find a common solution.”

Everyone around the table stayed mute.

“I’d like to lay down some rules first: if you have something on your mind, raise your hand before speaking and be mannerful of others. We’re here to solve conflict, not start another war, remember? If I could get your attention, I’d also like to point out the four doors in the back of the chambers. The first three are free to use. Do whatever you like in there, fine gentlemen and fine ladies. But remember, the fourth room is a no go. If I even see you looking at-- If I sense you thinking about opening it, bad things are going to…” Kingus trailed off. “Well, I hope for the best for each one of you!” He stepped away from the table and sat in a dark corner.

Tillon glanced at Devina’s eager face and Melodra’s reluctant eyes. He waited for a second more, hoping to hear or see something. Then, he stood up, smashed the table with his fists and nodded.

“We are here, aren’t we? Interesting day, is it not?!” Tillon spoke, making sure he got everyone’s attention. “It is nice to see you Third, it a pleasure to lay my eyes upon Steelgordon, it is great to be in the same room as White, it is amazing to be in Hefferi’s presence and… perfect to meet you, Catherine.”

Steelgordon rolled his green eyes, Catherine took a pipe out of her silver dress and Hefferi gestured, his baggy leather tunic flapping around.

Hefferi raised a hand. “What is your--”

“Did I finish talking?”

“We--”

“I asked you.” Tillon tilted his head.

“You… you didn’t finish talking,” Hefferi locked eyes with the table.

The weakest of the bunch.

“Well, me and my fellow companywomen.” Tillon pointed. “We have come to discuss the heap of bullshit that you all are currently playing around in.”

He found the hardest to keep his voice stern while not shouting. He needed to be the power in the room and not the madman screaming in the center of town square. He needed attention and respect.

“I know you know about the situation. Otherwise you would not be here,” Tillon spoke. “I’ll say a reminder to your rusty, old minds: some fool sent an army to Ixorono. A town were a Swords of the Guardians palace and garrison reside. And it is not just an army that is going there. An idiot sent ten thousand men to--our spies say--ravage and pillage the city. Guess what? I am more than sure the idiot who sent the army is sitting here.”

“What you all should know: we’re not leaving this forsaken place until I know who did it and until everyone votes to forget Third’s suggestion even existed,” Tillon continued. “We do no want that bullshit.”

You also can't leave this room for the whole upcoming day nonetheless, but let's pretend you don't know that.

“What’s wrong with sending another pair of armies and have one big battle to figure out who’s the strongest and who takes the city?” A young boy out of Third’s entourage spoke. The man shushed the kid, waved for him to come closer then slapped him hard. Blood splattered on the table.

“Because it is a stupid idea,” Tillon said. “It is so stupid, explaining it would be an amazing waste of time and a waste of my lucid thoughts.” He waved. “You fools think about civilian deaths? You fools ever think about how much war destroys the land?!”

Third grinned. Then he started laughing.

“You? You! The Swords of the Guardians are here and they’re threatening us? What a world,” he spoke then his face turned cold. “I could crush you and your measly company in a day.”

“Let’s not forget who controls the walls and halls of Company’s Heart.” Tillon pierced the man with a sharp gaze. “Let’s not forget who controls the contract of contract priority or the contract of the continent’s allowance. We are not just a pawn your can write of when you attack Ixorono!”

“Me?! Attacked Ixo?!” Third crossed his arms.

Sure, we don’t know who’s sending an army to that town. But you’re surely not making us write you off any lists.

“No, I am not saying you attacked Ixorono,” Tillon spoke. “But everyone perfectly knows you want the bloodshed and the perfect void to sweep in and collect power like a gatherer in a berryfield. Everybody knows you’re a conqueror and a bluffing failure. But we, the Swords of the Guardians, know more than just everybody.”

“Stopping moping around,” Catherine said from the corner. “You’re all threats and you’re all big words, but what are they for, boy?”

I already said that.

Or...

Tillon furrowed his brow. “Just following orders, just wanting to stop unnecessary bloodshed and...”

Better not say I’m here to rank up.

“Seems like you’re stupid,” Catherine remarked.

Melodra let out a quick laugh.

Tillon stepped back and frowned at both of them. Then he smashed his fist on the table again.

This is going to be a long night.