The Raven Mercenary Company quickly took over the Black Lands in the absence of Robert's leadership. All the remaining members of the Black Hand gathered at the Black Fort only to learn of his death, causing some to scatter, abandon their uniforms, and adopt a normal life, while others would stay in the fortress.
Nigel quickly became the de facto leader of the Ravens Mercenary Company, essentially ordering Corvis around at his convenience. Thanks to that and him being forced to honour our deal, I was no longer seen as a walking jackpot but rather a hero. Though, of course, even with the bounty posters removed, people remembered the price on my head. So I didn't have clamouring fans or even people approaching me that frequently, but rather nods of approval as I walked past. Of course, there will always be one or two fans who ask for an autograph, much like when I first arrived in this city.
Though around the start of the month, Laz Nigel asked me to join him in a meeting with Crovis in his office.
"Now, you see Master Fenring. I of my own accord sent a messenger to the viltin army to let them know we've established law and order once again. They responded, saying that they would be delayed by a month. They are due to arrive near the end of Laz or the start of the month of Maria."
"OH!" I piped up from my lounged and relaxed position. "Whatever happened with the one hundred thousand franks I sent my mother?"
"Uhm, I'm not sure, the guild hasn't heard from those merchants as they haven't returned. I believe they sent a pigeon when they arrived at the town, but nothing since then. I'm certain the money has been delivered safely."
"Okay."
Nigel looked back at me, confirming I was done talking, before he turned back to Corvis. "So the army has holdouts? What of the church? Where are they with our payment?"
"Yes, I got a letter from them last night by pigeon. They are coming from the north, so their route is longer. I also have the written missive of the confirmation of Roberts' death here."
He held up a paper that Nigel quickly snatched from his hand. "I'll be holding onto that. So the army will be here first? And they're expecting a peaceful handover of power, right?"
"Correct."
"But, we have some holdouts of our own to deal with. Don't we?"
"The Black Fort, yes. Unfortunately, their numbers have been growing lately, and the remnants of the Sand Fists have joined them as well as the more… extreme…bandit clans. It seems they're taking anyone and everyone who will be hunted and killed by the army. Strange, considering the remnants of the Black Hand were a reputable company with only Robert as the known criminal among their ranks. Why would they suddenly side themselves with the very people they used to hunt and kill…"
"Maybe they're all dead? The Black Hand, I mean." I spoke up again briefly. "Also, why am I here?"
Nigel turns and leans back against the deck. "Because those holdouts of ours need to be dealt with. Are you interested?"
"I mean, I don't really like killing people. I mainly do it in self-defence or necessity… or if they deserve it." My mind flashed to that dark cave again, the horrid stench filled my mind so vividly I could smell it still. I shuddered and shook my head, trying to remove the images from my mind.
Nigel turned back to Corvis. "Now, about that envoy I asked you to send to the border?"
"Nothing yet."
With a sigh, Nigel turned and walked away. I sat upright in my chair, struggling for a moment due to how slouched down into it I was. "We're leaving already?" I stood up and followed Nigel out.
When we were out of earshot of anyone, Nigel leaned in closer. "The army being delayed gives us a little more time. We'll keep playing this game until a path north presents itself."
"Well, if the army is delayed, then the pilgrims will get here first, right?"
Nigel stopped in his tracks, and I stopped a few steps later, looking back at him. "That's our way north. That's the key."
Of course, over the last few months, I was so concerned with my bounty being the issue, but with the war over and the army on the way. The Viltin government knows who and what I am, thanks to Josephine Baker. Even if Henri is at the head of the army, the risk of my being recaptured and used as a military weapon is too high. No, the only way out is north, and now it seems the only way north is to become a pilgrim.
We didn't have much time if we wanted to catch up to them. We immediately went out and bought some simple brown hooded robes and went back to Crovis, demanding a horse so we could scout the Black Fort personally. Of course, that was a lie.
Nigel, thankfully, was skilled at riding. I had seen and been around horses from back home, but never atop one, so I sat behind him and wrapped my arms around his chest as we galloped westward. Among our possessions, all of our money that we had withdrawn from the guild bank, about two hundred thousand franks.
We rode past the turn to the black fort and continued west. We managed to complete the trip to Eastwatch in less than half the time I had done before. We were in a rush simply because we didn't know where the pilgrims were and had to make it somewhere we knew they would stop before they got there. We would blend into their crowd and simply walk past the border.
We continued west, past Eastwatch and onto the Emperor's Walk. As the sun got low, we diverted south and, after a short while, arrived at a small village called Emperor's Rest.
We entered the inn and got a room with two beds. When Nigel asked if the pilgrims had come through yet, the innkeeper simply said no.
Over food and some beers, we spoke in the empty tavern.
"What about the Black Lands? All the work we did there? Was that just a waste of time?"
"No, no, I was keeping options open for a way to get north. You don't know this, but I was also pursuing the idea of counterfeiting a border permit. I had also asked Corvis to hunt down the Sand Fists to take us across the desert. I was pursuing every option to get north all at once."
"And all we had to do was wait?"
Nigel shook his head and swallowed his mead. "The army wouldn't have been delayed if not for our actions."
"What do you mean?"
"With Robert's death, where do you think everyone fled to? There's only one way they can go."
"South? Into the army."
Nigel nodded. "His one-month delay report was a total lie as well; they got delayed by a day or two at most. He was trying to have all the cards so he could stab us in the back."
"Ooooohhh." I finally got it, there was a lot more happening that I realised. "So, this is the first opportunity that came along that seemed like it would work?"
"And we're taking it, without hesitation. We'll head north, meet with Kona in Quima and then… figure something out. Maybe we can go live up north with her and earn our keep there."
It was surprising that he didn't have a plan after this. He was so focused on getting north that not once did he even consider what to do once he got there. As we both downed the last of our mead, we were ready to head upstairs and sleep. The travel here was long and tiresome.
"Nous sommes arrivés!" [We have arrived.] A female voice yelled out as the door to the inn swung open.
We looked over to see a woman in a brown hooded robe with about a dozen or so more people behind her. We had arrived an hour before the pilgrims, but what shocked us most was that we recognised the voice. The woman in the doorway looked directly at us, pulling her hood back and revealing herself as Josephine Baker.
She walked up to our tables and stared down at the two of us as about twenty more robed people walked into the tavern. All forming around the counter, no doubt to order rooms.
"Josie, it's been a while. How are you?" Nigel said with a smile. She looked pissed off to see us, or more so, just to see me.
"Captain, Demon child." She nodded at me with a snarky remark. "What happened with the military? You a deserter now?"
"Dishonourable discharge. But now we're famous mercenaries who just stopped a civil war. In the Black Lands."
Josephine was taken off guard, her angry expression giving way to surprise for only a second as she glanced over to me with the kind of look that said, 'I bet you started that war, monster.' I simply nodded, confirming that what Nigel said was true.
Nigel stood up, placing a hand on Josephine's shoulder. "Look, Josie. We've learned a lot since Red Beach. Shinya here is possessed by a sin, but he can control it, the first human in history to do so. He's not a demon like you think, ask anyone in the Black Lands, they'll call him a hero."
Her eyes widened and locked onto mine the moment the word 'sin' was uttered.
"I think…you…you're an unholy abomination. But if you can take this evil and twist it into something good. I will not stand against you. But…only if you can promise me that."
I looked at her for a moment, thinking about what to say. No matter what I said or how well I explained myself, she would never believe me; that was the feeling I had. So, I turned to Nigel. "Nigel, if the day ever comes when I kill innocent people, please kill me, because Wrath won't let me do it to myself."
Josephine leaned in closer to me, examining my face for something. Her brow furrowed, and her head tilted to the side. "Red eyes?" She whispered under her breath. "The quake that awakens the red eyes." She muttered to herself as she leaned back, looking down at the table.
"Fine, I will not oust you, I will not interfere."
What was that? I thought to myself. I had heard those words before; it was from Yuma on the boat when we explained the meaning of my name. It sounded like a prophecy. Is that what she thinks this is, a prophecy in the making?
"Thanks, Josie. We plan on joining the pilgrims north to get past the closed border."
"You'll need"
"Robes? Already got them. We'll be joining you come morning."
"Fine, I lead team six. You can join us."
"Team six?" I leaned forward. "How many people are there?"
"Maybe two hundred? I don't know. We'll be taking up most of the inns in this village; some will camp. My team walks fast and sleeps in by the way, but we don't stop for lunch. Make sure you wake with the sun and eat a big meal. Also, just because you're part of my team doesn't make us friends."
She stood up and walked over to the innkeeper to organise and pay for rooms. Nigel and I looked at each other. "Well, that could have gone worse. Are you serious about what you said, though? About killing you?"
"You're the only person I know that can beat me in a fight. So yes, if I lose control to Wrath or go insane like marked children are meant to, then kill me… without hesitation."