Choices.

Isabella was now standing in the middle surrounded by her acquired legion. In her feet were the dead bodies of the Italian mafia members she had killed. The winds were again catching their speeds while the rain rested.

Isabella had her mind throttled, it ceased any desire to run away. She wanted to fight now, to fight and to win.

What is this feeling? It feels so different. What have I put myself into?

The soldiers scrambled the bodies of the dead men, trying to find anything useful to improve their situation. While their hearts ached to take to such unhonourable tactics there was a different sense of glimmer in their eyes, seeing their enemies fall easily without a search on them and their comrades.

"That was a well-prepared plan, I have to say. That too thought out in such a small moment. I have to say your tactfulness is praiseworthy."

Thomas spoke out to Isabella, he was astonished to see the difference in her ways of thinking inside and outside of the battle. 

"Good grace of nature. That was a proper display of mind and muscle, no wonder someone as skilled as you was once a partner of the highly respected Sir Edward Kenway. I apologize for my previous discourtesy and wish to ask your name?" 

Jonas voiced his thoughts after seeing a victory, apologising to comment himself for his earlier actions.

"Call me Isabella, just that and do you believe I am Edward's partner."

"Madam Isabella, I dearly do."

She bore a more bashful than all smile on her face, he was being praised along with the one she loved. She turned around and began walking towards nowhere once again. 

This confused Jonas for a second, he looked at Thomas who too was weirded out by such child-like actions, it was like a war machine and the child was trapped in an adult woman's body. 

But there were more important things to be concerned about.

"Sir. We have found some clues in their clothes."

 The soldiers carefully checked the bodies of the mafia members and found something. This caught the attention of the three and they came rushing to the body.

The soldier who sat near the corpse showed a piece of paper in his hand, as

Thomas and Jonas approached it was clear to them that it was a map. Thomas took the paper from Thomas's hands and looked upon it,

"It is a map of the city."

Jonas, Isabella, and many other soldiers surrounded Thomas, each surprised by the information available to the enemy.

The map was a bird's eye view of the entire city, drawn with black oil colours, it highlighted the important points in the city while showing each alleyway. but between all these details there was the one the group needed.

Thomas took a lantern from a soldier's hand and placed it near the map to better show everybody and he began telling his ideas,

"There are three areas marked in red, which I believe are the core areas of their attack. We need to identify and protect these places from their attacks."

"I can identify one of the places, the first one is the warehouse."

Thomas placed his finger on one of the red dots, Isabella saw that the building was at the corner of the city in the direction of the hospital. This justified the attack on the hospital since it was a crucial building near the target locations.

" This one on the side is where the thieves are assigned to seek refugee in case of emergency...." Jonas spoke up.

The feeling of urgency and conflict rose in the face of the group beside one unfazed member.

"The third point is one near the gate, they are planning to seize control of the gate to make them go out anytime they want. Their locations too are at opposite corners." Thomas continued.

Three positions, all critical. Each place needed to be defended, all things had their value. The lives of humans who were going to be slaughtered, the gate which was the only way the group had any chance to stop and the warehouse, the mystery of the city, if it were to fall no one knew what would fall on the Kingdom of Brittania.

" We have a lot on our shoulders, considering the outside forces won't enter this area until the king Lucius personally allows them it is just us to hold all of this. How do we work on this situation? The more we learn the worse we know it is."

The group was now searching for an answer to win a three-way deadlock while being under-armed and overnumbered by the enemy.

"It's simple, there will be two groups, one goes to the bridge and the other protects the warehouse. We can't be concerned with those thieves, those are not worth it after this place is burned down to ash. What we need to protect is the secrets of this place." Thomas argued.

Amid the confusion, a solution was prospered an s simple and logical one, on which everyone could agree. It was the option to prioritize the things which were valuable in their rights

"You're right! Everybody get ready. Take the weapons from the corpses and collect any other maps or duplicates of this map from them." Jonas and a few other soldiers rolled in Thomas's suggestion after a little deliberation, what was needed to protect their nation and the soldiers started the scavenging.

"...." Isabella did not say anything nor did she plan to, she planned to go along the plans of Thomas and help them to survive the battle to get her name free from her criminal record but she noticed something...

The gazes of the few among the soldiers were looking at her in such a different manner as if they wanted to say something to her, asking her to help them.

Do they want met to argue to save the thieves?!

It was no doubt the truth, they wanted to save them but could not speak against their superiors bound by duty but a person like Isabella who had earned such a high regard could and they needed it.

Could this be the moment? Can I get my army? Mother Elana, give me your Blessings!!

"I want to save the thieves," Isabella spoke up.

"....!!" Within a second the entire group went quiet, deep silence everybody stopped their activities looking at Isabella with shocked eyes, some now hostile once again.

"What the hell are you talking about?! You Quacksalver?! You want to save those bloody dogs on the leashes?!"

Thomas spoke up in absolute rage standing from the position and moving to look at Isabella in the eyes with a freighting look,

"...."

Faced with such rage and hostile eyes all while being alone with the people she considered leaving not 10 minutes ago. For a second she was scared, and for a second her feet wobbled, her heartbeat raised and her thoughts crumbled but in the nick of a second her eyes fell on the soldier who wished her actions there was a slight glimmer of hope.

It was the reason why she stayed and why she needed to continue forward. She needed to stand strong. She needed a plan and strength to work.

"I don't fight to kill myself. I fight to survive and win and from what I see. With forces this low, I don't believe that there would be a bit of difference if you were to do it alone or with these men. We will die for nought." 

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The vol will reach its end very soon.

see you tomorrow.