The afternoon sun was bright, blinding Devin as he was half dragged and half walked from the tent. More importantly though, the fresh outside air was a blessing. It was tinged with the smells of a semi-permanent camp, body odor and human waste, but compared to the inside of the monstrosity that called herself a queen’s tent, it was the purest thing he could have ever hoped for. He took in large gulps of air as they were brought back to their group.

“Seize them all,” Tonkins commanded.

Griff and Murton started, and began to reach for whatever weapons they had hidden.

“Don’t,” Devin said, shaking his head at the two men. They watched him for a moment, then relaxed and let the thieves take them.

Tonkins must have assumed Devin was talking to him when he responded, “I truly am sorry for this, but we have to follow the Queen’s orders.” Devin noticed several of the thieves that held them did not do so with gusto. They shifted their eyes around and did not meet any of the prisoners' gazes. Perhaps there was some division in this camp over who was ruling them? He could hardly blame them, he could never submit to being ruled by someone so disgustingly full of themself.

The brigands led the small group of adventurers away from the main tent toward the camp's edge on the north. They were steered in between two standard looking hide tents and came upon several cages at the edge of the camp, near where the trees and undergrowth began to creep back in and try to reclaim their clearing.

The cages themselves were made of wood, bound together with what looked like leather or hide. They were divided up and placed into two separate cages with Devin, Teryn, and Shia in one and Griff and Murton in the other. Tonkins put a padlock on each cage, locking them in.

“Again, I am sorry about this.” He looked at Teryn specifically, “Please don't judge us too harshly to the Silver Queen. Tintin is, well, she's her own person,” he finished lamely.

Devin leaned in close so only Tonkins could hear, “I couldn’t help but notice some unrest among some of your mates. Is everyone on board with her ruling?”

“Of course, everyone submits to our Queen’s rule. To question her rule is to invite death.”

“Fair enough,” Devin leaned back a little inside the cage. “How did she get to become your leader? Most outlaw groups I see follow a might makes right or similar style of rule. How did someone so free in their ideas of hygiene become a leader?” Teryn covered a smile with her hand.

Tonkins watched Devin, running his tongue over his teeth. After a few moments he knelt down and beckoned him to come closer.

“Power has nothing to do with who is the strongest anymore. Power rests in those who others believe have it. Take your Silver Queen. Damn near anyone could march up to her and kill her, as easy as killing a baby pig. But people believe she has power and follow her, performing whatever tasks she asks of them and protecting her, creating her power. It’s the same thing here.”

“I can see in at least half of the brigands here that they don’t like her in power. There has to be someone better, she is going to lead you to ruin. I’m guessing the little show we got was only a small fraction of the tantrums she can throw. How long until she throws out that boytoy and picks a new ogling slave, huh?” Devin asked.

Tonkins took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don't even know why I am talking to you about this. Talk like this gets a man killed. Maybe I’m growing older and am tired of the law breaking routine. It wears a man down, you know? You start to reflect back on some of the choices a much younger, much angrier man made and regret them. I’m at the age now that those choices could be made against me.” A half smile formed. “Call me a coward, but now that I realize that I do kind of like the idea of law and order.”

Devin saw the doubt in the man's face and decided to take a wild shot. “We can help you. You get us our weapons, set us loose, we can help you take control of the camp.”

“No,” Tonkins shook his head. “No, then we would just replace the leader and continue this thieving rough as shit lifestyle. I don’t want that. At least now when it all comes to a head she’ll be the one facing the strictest punishment. We look at death by the blade or maybe hanging. No torture in the Silver Queens cells.”

Devin chewed his bottom lip and looked over to Teryn. She had always been better at talking to people and he was losing Tonkins fast.

“What if we could get you pardons? Get you set up to start over on the right side of the law? Would that help any?” she asked.

“Now that,” his eyes brightened a little, “Would be of interest to me. But only if you can guarantee you’ll get it for the men and women who side with me as well. We’ve talked about this for a long time now. Tintin promised us similar when that stupid man came through guaranteeing us the same thing and provided weapons, but all he’s had us do is kill innocents and slaughter investigators.”

“Tonkins, who was that man? Who asked you to do all this?” Devin whispered.

“I don’t know his name, I never got to speak with him directly. He marched right in with six of the most heavily armed men I’ve ever seen and demanded to see our leader. He wooed and flirted with her and she melted like pig fat on a fire.”

“Well, what did he look like?” Devin asked, his heart starting to thump.

“That I can tell you. Handsome devil. Eyes like a cloudless winter sky, blonde hair cropped to his head military style, oh, and a scar running down his right cheek. Long one too, only seemed to make him look better though, damndest thing.

Devin’s heart leapt through his chest. He had it. He had the thing he needed to take down his hated rival. Bronn was providing arms to outlaws. For what purpose he had no idea, but still, this was something that would not go over well with the town or even the Queen herself. He would have to investigate more to get to the bottom of this and get more evidence. However, priority one was getting the outlaws' help and escaping this camp.

He looked over to Teryn and saw her eyes wide, she had come to the same conclusion as he had.

“Ring any bells for you two?” Shia asked from behind Devin.

“We have got an inkling,” Teryn said.

Devin turned back to Tonkins, “We can help you. I have it in real well with the Silver Queen. We will fight here in the camp with you if need be and establish you as the leader.”

Tonkins stroked his chin, looking back and forth between the three prisoners in the cage. Murton and Griff sat in their cages, staring forward and pretending not to listen. Devin knew they were though, the outcome of this conversation determined what course of action they would take next. If need be, Devin was sure that Griff could tear apart his cage just by moving around in it.

“If you do help me,” the bandit finally stated, “How can I be sure the camp will accept me? What if they view your help as an affront to our little band?”

“Or,” Teryn countered, “They will see you as manipulating one of the Queen's own Chroniclers and adventuring bands into helping you, proving you more than wise to lead them. Plus, when you fight, they’ll see your combat prowess.”

Devin could see the cogs working in the thief’s brain. A spark of light came to his eyes and he broke into a wide grin. “Yeah, yeah, that could work out really well, actually. Let's do this.”

Tonkins stood up and walked over to one of the guards. He leaned in close and started whispering. The guard nodded a few times, then started to smile as well. Tonkins walked off around a tent back into the main camp.

“What was that about?” the second guard asked.

The first waved him over, “Come over here and I'll tell ya. Can't have the prisoners hearing anything.”

The second guard walked over. The first one glanced around, then took a knife from his belt and stuck him straight in the throat in one smooth movement. The second guard did not react beyond a look of shock on his face. Scarlet blood flowed freely from the gaping cut, pouring down his throat and into his leather armor. The first guard grabbed the man and drug him behind the cages, into the undergrowth.

Devin watched through the gap between the two tents, worried someone would take it upon themselves to peek back and catch the guard who had just murdered his compatriot. He finally let out a sigh of relief when the guard came back from wherever he stashed the body. He stood back at his post and resumed watching the five prisoners stuck in their cages.

After a few tense minutes, Tonkins returned with a large chest and two more bandits, both finely armored in boiled leather and with clean swords. He dropped the chest on the ground, causing a wince from the group as several metallic clangs sounded from within.

“Sorry, that thing is heavy as a bitch,” Tonkins said. He nodded to the two guards flanking him. They each strode to a cage and undid the simple padlock on it, freeing those within. Tonkins kicked at the chest and the lid flew open.

Devin let Teryn and Shia leave the prison first, following them toward the now open chest. Murton and Griff were already there, pulling their respective weapons out. Shia reached in and grabbed her bow, pulling on the taut string, likely checking for any damage from the drop and rough handling.

Teryn pulled out Devin’s two daggers, Blossom and Thorn, and handed them over to him. The familiar weight of his weapons had a soothing effect on him, similar to what he assumed those rich assholes in Mossglenn got when they drank their droopweed infused teas.

He strapped the sheaths to his belt and patted them contentedly. Glancing around he saw Griff had his shield drawn and hammer in hand. Murton was caressing his axe, whispering things to it Devin was sure he did not want to hear. Shia seemed satisfied with her inspection and was strapping her quiver to her waist.

“Not going to put that on your back?” Tonkins asked when he saw her tying the quiver.

“Nah,” she said, finishing up tying. She gave it a small pull and nodded when it did not move. “I have a few different types of arrows to use, as well as some tricks in the pockets.”

“What's the plan, Tonkins? Have you talked to your group of supporters yet?” Devin asked.

“We’ve actually had a plan set up for quite awhile now. I am going to stride out into the center of the camp, near the fire, and challenge Tintin for leadership. She will likely have her consort fight as her champion. The winner of this duel, as long as the band recognizes their win, will be crowned leader.”

“That’s actually a very honorable way of doing things, I did not expect that.” Shia said.

“Oh I don't plan on following through with the proper route. I will challenge her so she has to come out of her tent. When she does, her consort will gut her, then my group and I will kill any who have openly supported her. We will give those who don't raise arms the chance to swear fealty to me, but might kill a few just to make a point.”

Murton guffawed openly, “That is exactly what I was expecting! Gods, it’s about time you all started acting like a proper bandit band. Been an embarrassment to all your kind so far save the fancy weapons and armor!”

“Be careful with that tongue of yours, dwarf,” Tonkins glowered at Murton, “Or I may forget to tell the people joining me you are also fighting with us.”

“Now just a minute you hopped up tree porker!” Murton started to advance toward Tonkins, axe in hand.

“Stupid dwarf’s temper will be the end of us,” Teryn muttered.

Devin stepped in front of Murton, blocking his advancement. “Let's hold on just a second.” He leaned down and whispered, “How about we fight our way out of here first, then we can deal with this guy and his bandits. Sound good?”

Murton glared past Devin at the bandit, then looked at Devin. “Aye,” he whispered back. “But if it comes to it. The swine is mine and mine alone.”

“Fair enough,” Devin nodded, standing back up. He turned toward Tonkins. “What is our job during your coup d’etat?”

“During my what?” He asked.

“Your coup. Your overthrow of the current ruling person. What do you want us to do while you challenge the filthy lady and take control?”

Tonkins frowned and furrowed his brows, “Just watch my back. Hang back and make sure no one is going to sneak up on me and gut me or something. Can't be the leader of a new gang if I get knifed during the transition period.” He turned away from them and started walking back into the camp. The three guards followed him.

“Does not know coup, but he understands transition period,” Teryn muttered to the group, causing a few snickers.

“So, what are we actually going to do?” Shia asked. “I’ve gathered we don't truly intend to help him create a new bandit party or give them pardons, and I know for a fact Devin does not have it in with the Silver Queen and Teryn is not a Chronicler. So, what is our plan?”

The group all turned toward Devin after she finished asking. He looked them over one by one and saw their willingness to follow his decision. They could try to help this Tonkins fellow, try to get him pardons, but that would likely end up with all of them in jail or worse. He also knew Bronn was up to something with these fellows, and needed to get to the bottom of that. That problem was the more pressing one for him, and one he could not afford to lose sight of.

“We can’t really let them go or give them any sort of pardon. These people slaughtered an entire damn village. That is not something I intend to see go unpunished. I say we let them fight it out, weaken themselves then hop in and finish them all save for a few. Try to keep Tonkins alive, and maybe a few others who look like they are ranking officers, or whatever thieves call themselves. I’m not familiar with their structure. Ultimately, we need to find out what the hell Bronn is doing arming people like these and if he is involved in the killing of that town.”

Devin was met with a group of nodding heads, with even Griff agreeing. “Thank you everyone. So we will go out there, watch things unfold and the fight to begin, and go at my command?” Another nod of their heads.

“Let’s do this,” Devin said, unsheathing his twin blades with a soft ring. He stepped toward the gap in between the two tents that blocked their view into the main camp and saw all hell had broken loose.