125 Ottis’ Plan

AUTHOR'S POV

Bound and gagged, Atrius, Haelan, Jacomus and Umbriel were all chained together in a line. Dragged by Omar upfront, he kept on pulling each time they slow down. The captives were guarded by the twins from behind, and Ottis and Matteo on each side. Earl Andrew, the trusted right hand of Valdemar leader of the Valcan Revolt, led their way to the Valcan Territory in the land of the volcanoes.

The day quickly turned into night. Their bellies grumbled in hunger, and their throats have run dry. Andrew have decided to take a sojourn in a small cave, to rest their feet and supress their hunger. Still bound, the captives were hung on some tree branches not too far from the cave, while Haelan was kept close to Andrew with the others. Showing off what he can do best, Ottis hunted for snake meat and caught a few fish for his new found company. The rebels were impressed on Ottis, that he immediately gained their trust through their stomachs.

"So tell me the story", Andrew said as he grab the first bite of the snake meat. The darkness have completely fallen, and only the glow from the two bonfires Ottis and Matteo made illuminate the cold night.

Ottis looked to the sides, confirming if Andrew is talking to him. "Sto..ry? Of.. what," Ottis asked as he continue to roast the squirming snakes.

"Don't act dumb. Why weren't you affected by the water lizards?", Andrew asked. He took a glimpse of Haelan who's sitting at the mouth of the cave with her hands tied on her back and mouth covered. She had this cold stares fixed on Ottis.

"Oh the mermaids?", Ottis uttered.

"Don't call them that, they are nothing like the real mermaids. Ouch!", Nico said as he burn himself from picking the fish.

Andrew placed his snake meat back in the open fire, as it was still raw inside. "Merewif is the home of the vicious sirens who lure men into the water. They are known to play a harmony mixed with an alluring spell. Once these men step foot into the water…", Andrew explained but was cut off by Marco.

"Gregleee!!", Marco gurgled as he mimic a man drowning. "You'll be dragged to the bottom of that nasty water and they'll eat you while you drown", he said as he grab a piece of fish and ate it. Haelan, who's listening closely, finally understood why she saw things differently way back in Merewif's Springs. The siren's charms doesn't work on women.

"I… I don't know", Ottis said as he tried to recall what happened earlier. Everything was blurry ever since they stepped into the territory of the mermaids.

"My men told me, they suddenly woke up from the charmed spell of the sirens, and you were already being dragged out of the water. How in the world did you all got uncharmed?", Andrew asked inquisitively. He squinted his eyes as he wait for Ottis' answer, something that he's very interested to find out.

"I really don't know.", Ottis had a hard time remembering what took place in the springs. From the begining, he thought Merewif's Springs is an easy path to take. "All I could remember, was that.. a siren is already pulling me down", he said.

"Oh", Andrew sighed softly. "If that's what you say, then", his eyes darkened as he pay attention to Ottis. Omar, the twins and Matteo have noticed the change in Earl Andrew's vibe, that they kept their heads low to stay out of trouble. Andrew, who's also the vindictive adopted son of Valdemar, is known to be iron-fisted with a sharp tongue. No one dares to neither cross his path, nor disengage with his plans. "They say, Merewif was once a sanctuary of the most beautiful mystical creatures in Nether", he noticed Haelan was listening so he made his voice louder. "However, the people of this damned kingdom thought they know better. They thought they own it all, know it all. They trash every place they step on, poison every lake and river, and conquer every land. So look what they got?", Andrew implied that the sirens is the nature's revenge on the people's cruelty.

"Deserve", Omar clinked his cup with the twins.

"They call us rebels, because we stand for something that's right. And yet we're the bad guys? We hate people who trash nature. We loathe the nobles who turn a blind eye on the truth, and most especially… we despise liars.", Andrew grabbed Ottis by the arm and squeezed it tightly. "So, whatever you did back there, I intend to find out. And I won't stop until I know it", Andrew said as he let go. Then, stepped out of the cave to light up some thinly rolled cigarette and smoked.

Meanwhile, Haelan tried so hard to untie the ropes that were tightly wrapped around her wrists. She's been worried about her friends who were hanging unarmed and unprotected somewhere in the dark. As she watch Ottis from where she sits, she accepted that they have completely lost Ottis and that they have one less chance to get rid of these merceneries. And then her gazes turned to their weapons and her staff laying not too faraway. Several dangerous plans to breakfree started to run in her head.

Ottis continued to roast more meat and serve the rebels well enough until they're full. They shared a good laugh and recalled the childhood memories that they similiarly spent in the Valcan Territory. As soon as the last piece of meat was consumed, Ottis immediately started cleaning up.

"Oh hey where are you going? The party is just about to start", Nico told Ottis who's gathering all the snake skins and fish bones on a large piece of a leaf.

"I'll just clean up. I don't like leaving tracks", Ottis said as he leave the cave to the rebels. He brought with him a torch to light up his way.

"He sure is cagey", Omar commended the great wariness and extreme caution that Ottis partake. Something that a true member of the Valcan revolt do.

Ottis went out in the woods, far flung from the cave. He dug a small pit and dump the leftovers that he gathered. He sighed loudly as he held his torch up. "I can do this, I should do this", he whispered. Then, he looked around before ceasing the burning flame of his torch. He hid in the dark as he peek out at a distance where he can clearly see Haelan, Andrew and the rebels. He waited in the dark. Watching how the insurgents take Haelan inside the cave, he took the bare chance to execute his plan as quickly as he possibly can.