Chapter 8

"STOOOOPPPPPP" Kylian roared from back.

Every head turned around in unison and froze on their spot. Everything came to a standstill for a moment, even the wind fearful to disobey the man.

Kylian strolled towards them, the crowd parted away as soon as he stepped near them.

Benn held his breath as the crowd parted away and his eyes fell on Kylian. He looked like a death god, a blade on his right hand and a knife on the left, ready to give away verdicts. His light blue eyes on everyone and everything around, delicate yet so intimidating.

'Please don't attack, please.' Benn furrowed, afraid not for him but for the villagers. He could sense the same piercing aura he felt on the cliff earlier. Benn was sure even if one of them as much as point a weapon at Kylian he would make a graveyard out of this village.

Benn released his breath, only when Kylian had walked through the crowd.

Kylian unhastedily hid his knife under his belt and stretched an arm towards Benn who was still on the ground. "Get up ?"

"..."

"Benjamin" he spoke again.

"Yes.... yes I am fine... Thank you." Benn stuttered and clumsily got up on his feet.

"Who are you ?" Saava yelled, trying his best to put up a brave front, but his quivering voice gave away his facade.

"Who are you ?" Kylian responded with a question of his own.

"I am Saava, the village elder," he replied with smug.

"Oh"

With heavy steps, Kylian walked up to Saava. No one dared to interrupt him, they moved away giving him enough space to walk, everyone trying their best not to offend Kylian.

"Wh..aa..t" Saava somehow managed to mutter.

Kylian replied to the old man with a hard punch right at his face.

Everyone gasped simultaneously as they saw their village leader fly a couple of strides away and crashed to the ground. Blood gushing out his wrinkled face.

Kylian looked around, ready for any attacks, hoping he does not have to kill any innocent, but a small part of him craving blood.

No one moved an inch.

Kylian then kicked Saava in his gut. The old man rolled by the impact, puking blood all over the ground.

Another hit and he would fall unconscious or even die, that was Kylian's purpose but he wanted the villagers to know the truth first.

Kylian crouched beside Saava and pulled him up by strands of hair -"Why betray your people ?" he spoke aloud for everyone to listen.

"...Po..wer... I wanted contro.l." the old man managed to speak through his bloodied face.

The whole crowd fell into murmurs. Everything they had seen in these past months seemed like an illusion. Like they were just being played with their life on stakes.

Kylian slowly rose and he raised his hand to get everyone's attention. The noise instantly died down, leaving the whole crowd in silence again.

"Your elder has gone corrupt, he shook hands with those deserters you all call soldiers. He plotted with those deserters to rob all of you of your happiness, your very own leader. Why ? Just so power, he says. When your children were starving, this man" Kylian pointed towards Saava- "your very own 'village elder' was stacking up food. When your family was being taken prisoner, this man was plotting with those bandits. When this whole village was shrouded in despair this man was clawing the bodies of your young ones."

Benn looked at Kylian surrounded by the villagers, he looked regal like a King giving a grandiose speech to his followers before a battle. He could see every word of his connected with the people around, they were ready to do whatever was asked of them.

"He is guilty and will be punished accordingly, but before that, what about you all ?"

Everyone including Benn looked at Kylian, uncertain what he meant?

After taking a pause Kylian continued-

"This man told you to gather here you all did, he slandered this woman you all followed" he pointed his finger at Kia, "this woman's husband and her brother gave their lives for this village, still you were all brazen enough to call her a traitor, a whore. You all cut your own and present it to the outsiders on a platter. You all are disgusting."

The mood of the crowd dulled, the villager lowered their head in self-disgust. They knew every word the man was true as broad daylight.

'Sooner than I expected' from a corner of his eyes Kylian could see small figures walking down the hill.

He took a deep breath- "But all is not yet lost" he spoke aloud.

Heads raised. In those hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes, he could see a flame, all they needed was just one last push.

"You have not lost everything, 'YET'. Look around you closely, and tell me isn't this your family? Look me in the eye and tell me they are the not people you grew up with, aren't these the people who enjoyed more in your success and shed tears at your loss?" "I don't know if the prisoners are still alive or not, but believe me those bandits will be here yet again to trample on what is left of this village and your family, and if you cannot protect what is precious to you then no one would. If you don't fight for your loved ones your are even worse than animals."

"Look" Kylian said pointing towards the foot of the hill, everyone turned, fifteen armed men, swords clearly visible.

Kylain looked at the eyes of the people around. There was no fear just boiling rage in the eyes of the villagers, their scrawny hands clenching around whatever weapons they had brought earlier.

Kylian then inspected the distance from the soldier. 5 minutes at most.

He continued again,

"Let them come here and make sure no one leaves, show them what pain actually feels like." Kylian then slowly but with confident steps walked through the crowd, and whispered-"Take revenge for the one's you all lost."

"Thank you" Kia gave a bow as she saw Kylain walk towards them cutting through the crowd.

Kylian gave a slight nod to her.

Excusing herself she went in the hut.

"That was amazing." Benn was thrilled, by his speech.

"Why aren't you on that cliff helping 'Hodor ?" Kylian asked, annoyed.

"Ummmm....that was so good that you did there Kylian..... You know for a moment there I thou....." Benn tried changing the topic but his words died on his lips when he saw Kylian's irritation only growing.

" 'Hodor said he could manage on his own. I am, sorry " he lowered his head, like a kid being scolded by an elder.

Kylian gave a long sigh,- "You could have died her Benjamin."

"I have made up my mind." Kylian whispered under his breath.

"What mind." Benn stared at him with wide eyes and took a step back- "Just as I changed my mind about you. You kill me."

"You are an idiot."

Benn sighed with relief, he has misunderstood him yet again.

"Kylian can I ask you something ?"

"Hmm"

"Why are you trying to save them ?"

Kylian's brows furrowed, this was one of many questions he had no answer to - "I don't know."

Benn looked at him surprised at a response on such a basic question, but he could see Kylian genuinely did not had an answer to his question.

Benn turned around to footsteps only to find Kia walking out of the hut, her hands clenched around a wooden stick- "You too ?"

"Just taking responsibilities" she replied and continued walking

She wasn't happy, but sometimes things needed to be done for survival or more importantly for the survival of your loved ones. At that moment each and every villager present there understood what was needed.

Kia was soon lost among the crowd, ready to face her demons along with others.