Minutes passed as Cade answered every question thrown at him but the crowd kept resurfacing people.

  Eventually Cade gently put his hands out palms facing the crowd. “I wish to help you all, but there are matters I must attend to.”

  The people respected his statement and once again parted a way for him to pass through with the man and woman accompanying him.

  Slade nudged Brad with his elbow. “You see those two behind him? Those are his generals. Jerek Erenheart, and Rona Helgar.”

  The way the three of them carried themselves felt like enough power it could suffocate a small hydra.

  Slade nodded towards them while he looked at Brad. “Let’s follow.”

  Brad shrugged and followed.

  They took a different route than either time Brad explored the city.

  Children running and playing was commonplace.

  So was soldiers and civilians mingling.

  Magic use felt abundant and used freely.

  The architecture even felt like it had more life than within Krail.

  When out of the corner of his eye, Brad noticed a statue.

  The statue was tall.

  More importantly, the statue was of Cade.

  “Ah, there it is.” Brad blurted out.

  Slade looked at Brad and followed his gaze. “There, what is? The statue?”

  Brad nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been trying to find some symbol of arrogance. There it is.”

  Slade shook his head. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”

  Brad was puzzled.

  Slade walked towards the statue. “He argued against it. He wasn’t even present for its creation. The artists guessed. That’s why the sword’s disproportional, and the blindfold’s wrong, and other minor details too.”

  Brad examined the statue closer.

  The detail was remarkable, it was very good. But close. He could see now that there were notable differences, even so — the statue was a testament to his strength.

  The carving of the muscles, the effortless pose of valor, the blindfold’s flow behind his back.

  Cade stood, carved in stone, both hands resting on the pommel of the inverted blade. The sword’s tip touched the base of the statue like an anchor.

  “So why?” Brad asked.

  Slade raised his eyebrow. “Why what?”

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  Brad skimmed through the plaque. “Why create this if not ordered to?”

  Slade let out a soft laugh. “Because they’re internally grateful to him. They didn’t ask for his help, in fact some resented him initially. But after presenting freedoms, they couldn’t be more eternally grateful.”

  Brad nodded slowly. “Just hard to believe, that’s all.”

  Slade gently patted Brad’s back. “I get it.”

  Brad stared at the stone face a moment longer than he intended.

  Brad shook his head. “No, the Reprisal nearly killed me in Krail, before Veran’s death he terrorized children, Rex would kill or alter your memory if he had enough time. There’s just no world where I could idolize a leader like that.”

  Slade’s expression turned cold. “They are nothing like Cade. They thrive on fear and extortion. Cade expels both. He’s saved even soldiers, when the empire deemed soldiers as expendable. And if you don’t like it here, you’re welcome to leave.”

  Brad was frozen. “Shit man, sorry.”

  Slade returned to normal. “It’s cool dude, just don’t take what Cade does for granted.”

  Brad nodded.

  Slade began walking again. “C’mon, let’s catch back up.”

  They continued until they made their way back to the club. This time they didn’t go through the same entrance.

  Slade guided Brad towards the side of the building which had a metal reinforced door leading to a fire lit basement below the club.

  When he walked through the door a soldier immediately saluted both of them.

  As their boots dropped down each step the music from above began fading until the crackle of fire was the only audible noise heard.

  Brad’s eyes drifted forward and saw soldiers saluting Cade, Jerek, and Rona.

  Cade’s head tilted momentarily but he kept his pace.

  As they walked through the hallway no one was questioning why Brad was there, just simply that he was with Slade was sufficient.

  The hallway was a combination of reinforced stone, and metals with mana supporting the structure.

  Soundproofed metal and other materials coated the entire hallway and rooms so no audio could get in, or out.

  The perfect bunker, and the perfect room of secrecy.

  When Brad and Slade entered into the main room there wasn’t another throne, nor was there people kneeling, no statues.

  None of that.

  There were maps, a circle table with some chairs, the same fires that lit the club, a coat rack, and a bathroom.

  That’s it.

  Nothing shiny, nothing special, nothing higher-than-life.

  Just enough to get shit done.

  Brad blinked. This wasn’t what he was expecting a king’s war room to look like.

  Jerek sat across from Rona, and Cade stood tall with his hand stroking his chin.

  “Who’s this?” Cade blurted out the moment Brad entered the room.

  Slade kept walking closer to Cade. “He was found just outside the gate. I got him back to good health and gave him a tour.”

  Cade nodded subtly. “Right. Well he can’t be here when we discuss tactics, but until then,” he turned to Brad. “You’re more than welcome to stay, good friend.”

  Cade’s hand hovered.

  Brad slowly approached while staring at his hand.

  Every step he took the room seemed to shrink.

  Like this was the biggest test of his entire life, and he hadn’t studied for it.

  When Brad stuck his hand out Cade grabbed Brad’s forearm. “A brother in arms.” He said as he shook Brad’s arm.

  Then dropped Brad’s arm and took off his coat then threw it on the coat rack twenty feet away.

  Brad was completely shocked that a blind man moved and acted the way Cade did.

  And yet a warm feeling flooded his heart.

  Like the world had just now been unlocked.

  As if he had been a blind man his whole life and just now is able to see.

  The ambition, the power, the aura Cade gave off like it was casual inspired Brad like he was breathing pure oxygen.

  He felt alive from just one moment.

  Now he knows why the townspeople threw themselves at him.

  Although Brad stood almost starstruck, Cade fired off questions to the room.

  The room had maybe fifteen other people, various ranks and roles, an adventurer or two, even what appeared to be someone cleaning and bringing food and drink.

  Questions such as quarterly reports, potential of various recruits, even asked the adventurers some questions about various caves or the badlands.

  No questions too revealing of any plans or anything of the sort.

  Cade’s attention darted back to Brad suddenly. “Hey, you weren’t planning on joining my ranks were you?”

  The question made Brad’s heart beat faster.

  The thought of fighting against the empire was daunting, but it was at least a chance. A chance at survival.

  “I didn’t initially. But I will give it a shot.” Brad shot back.

  Cade stood and gave out a soft chuckle. “Ease up kid, I’m not drafting you. People fight here because they chose to. If you stay, you stay for yourself”

  Brad’s eyes drifted around the room.

  He was uneasy at first by the question, but when he took a closer look at the room he saw something he hadn’t seen by the empire before.

  Smiles.

  Slade’s quiet grin felt like an invitation.

  Rona’s carried the promise of someone who would teach him.

  Jerek’s said he wouldn’t have to watch his back alone.

  Around the room the guards laughed easily, and the adventurers looked relaxed, like people who had chosen to be here rather than been ordered.

  And Cade— Cade’s smile told Brad he wasn’t a pawn to be pushed into a war.

  He’d be fighting beside that man.

  That’s when the spark of loyalty was born.