Ascension (48 page)

I shouted once, twice, three times
to try and break things up, but my voice was drowned out by the
chaos around me. I desperately ran into the center of the crowd,
trying to pry the men apart, but I was too weak. I pulled on his
arm, but he shoved me off, sending me to the ground. Frustrated, I
felt hot tears come to my eyes. I wiped them aside and picked
myself up, ready to try again, but was stopped by a hand on my
shoulder.

Erik stepped past me, pushing me
back sternly, making in very clear that I was not to
move.

I watched in amazement as the crowd
seemed to hush as he walked into the fray. It was if they could
feel his command in every step, recognize his authority without him
even needing to speak. As the crowd quieted, the accuser slowed his
attack and looked around him. The man underneath him slowly made
his way out, dazedly realizing that the attack had finished. I held
my breath as he lifted his face towards the crowd, wondering just
what kind of damage had been done.

I exhaled in
relief when I saw that, despite a broken nose and the beginnings of
a black eye, the man didn
’
t suffer any major injuries.
Once he got his wits about him, he tried to scatter off, but Erik
grabbed him by the collar.

“
Not so
fast,
”
he chastised.
“I
’m sure I don’
t need to inform
you men that this behavior is completely unacceptable. Now, in a
more civilized manner, could someone please explain to me just what
is going on here.
”

The large man
seemed to wilt under the pressure of Erik
’
s gaze. “
Well, you see, your
highness,
”
he looked to the ground and
lowered his head in a weak bow,
“
my
family pin was stolen. My wife gave it to me before I left my
colony, and I
’
ve worn it on my cloak every day of this journey. This
morning I had to take off my cloak to help with the goats, and when
I turned around, my cloak was in a heap on the group, and the pin
was missing. I saw that,
”
he pointing at
the man in Erik
’
s hands,
“
rat scurrying away.
”

“
Who are you
calling a rat,
”
the man blubbered with
his hand over his nose. Erik tightened his grip around his collar,
not letting him get loose.

“
Did you or did
you not take the pin?
”
Erik asked,
addressing the man in his grip. He squirmed around, not looking
Erik in the eye, so Erik gave him another jerk.

“
Okay, yes, I
took it!
”
The man admitted, and luckily
someone from the crowd pulled the accuser back before he could get
his hands on thief again, who yelped and covered his face. Erik
patted him down until he found the pin, which was intricately
detailed in silver with precious stones placed throughout it. He
gave it back to its owner, while the man in his arms
seethed,
“
Can you blame me? I
don
’
t know what
to expect in the future! This plan could go terribly wrong, and we
could all end up scattered with nothing to our name. And if it
works? Then what? We somehow find a way to start our lives over
from scratch in a city where we have nothing of value to
trade?
”

Some of the crowd murmured assent,
and I felt the spirit collectively fall as they realized the truth
in his argument.

But then another
spoke up. It was the older man from Grundale, Wilson.
“
That isn
’
t true. Who do you think
supplies the surface with all their necessities, like gold and
granite, coal and silver, and all the elements in between? We are
the only ones who know how to dig them up. If they were smart, they
would try their best to get on our good side in case we do manage
to succeed. And if we don
’
t? Well, we
’
ve seen the surface,
we
’
ve been
shown a way out and I know I don
’
t speak just for myself when I
say that I don
’
t intend on going back. If that King tries to send me back
down to the ground, he
’
d have to do so after I'm dead.
”
He stared across the crowd, as if challenging someone to
argue with him. But the crowd remained silent, their eyes downcast.
With my palms slightly sweaty, I made my way towards the center of
the crowd.

“
I realize you
all are growing nervous, and this is causing tempers to flare. But
I know, I know, that we can do this. You have all proven yourself
so strong. You
’
ve come to the surface, leaving everything behind and
coming to an entirely new land, with new people, new plants, new
adventures, new trials, and you have accepted them all. Alone, we
have survived. But together, we can fight, we can win, and we can
thrive.
”

The crowd cheered and raised their
fists, and I felt something in me strengthen.

Ξ

Later in the evening, we made camp.
We were very close to the wall, so Erik, Croxley, and some others
scoped around to find a place that would keep us close, but hidden.
I noticed that Jean stuck near Croxley and volunteered to check the
borders with him. I smiled as I watched them disappear into the
forest together. The bushes at my back rustled as Erik joined me. I
turned and leaned against him for a few moments before righting
myself.

“
I
’
m going to take first
watch,
”
he told me. I kept my gaze
directed towards the forest as I said,
“I
’
ll stay up with
you.
”

“
No,”
he
answered.
“
You need to get your rest.
I
’
ll be
fine.
”

I was about to
protest when a yawn took over, and I realized that I was exhausted.
He was right, I hadn
’
t been sleeping very well since, well, since I first left
Stonewall. Everything has been so wild, so hectic, so crazy, that I
couldn
’
t wrap
my mind around it all. Who am I kidding, I thought to myself, I
still can
’
t
wrap my mind around it. But now I didn
’
t have much of a choice;.
Tomorrow morning, Croxley and Erik will infiltrate the gates and
try to steal some weapons. If all things go according to plan, they
will have the weapons back by midday and we can assemble around the
entrance. I
’
m
still hoping that we can settle things peacefully, that our mass
presence alone will inspire an audience and convince the King to
grant us our freedom, but I know that they weapons are needed as a
back up. I admitted to myself that they might also add some weight
to our argument.

“
Fara, go to
sleep.
”
I swayed on my feet as Erik
turned me around by the shoulders and pushed me gently in the
direction of camp. I let my feet carry me as I went back to my
sleeping arrangement, which I shared with my mother and father. My
father was still up, no doubt checking on the last-minute details.
I felt bad not being a part of the final preparations, but they
surpassed my capabilities. I don
’
t know anything about combat or
battle. Then again, I don
’
t know anything about assembling
and leading people into rebellion, and I
’
ve seemed to do well so far. But
something told me that this was different. It was time for me to
let somebody else take the reigns for a change, before I ended up
driving myself and everyone else off a cliff. My mother was already
asleep, sprawled out with her face to the world, as if challenging
it even in while she slept. I fell in beside her, the sound of her
gentle breathing lulling me to the brink of sleep, but something
kept me from drifting off completely. I tried to get a grasp on it,
but with each breath I sunk more and more into the ground, until I
lost the battle and let the darkness overcome me.

Chapter
38

“
Let me come with
you,
”
Jean said. She and Croxley were
discussing the plan to siege the gates and take the weapons, their
quiet voices joining the sounds of the nighttime forest through
which she and Croxley were combing through. He held a branch for
her to pass under, then followed behind her.

“
And why would I
let you?
”

“
Because I know
Stonewall. And don
’
t say you know it too,
”
she said,
holding her hand up to pause the argument Croxley had already
opened his mouth to give,
“
because
I
’
ve seen all
of it. You
’
ve
only seen the shining streets, the glistening ballrooms, the
extravagant feasts. Me? Every moment I
’
ve spent up here has been in the
background, cleaning up the skeletons in the closets, taking the
dirty backroads, fighting for a scrap of leftovers. I know how to
navigate the ins and outs of the castle as well as all its
in-betweens. Most importantly, I know how to get us into the weapon
room.
”

“
We already have
a plan to get into the weapon room,
”
Croxley replied, dismissing her, but Jean shook her
head.

“
It
won
’
t work.
You
’
re trying
to get too many men in too fast. The guards will notice
immediately. What we really need is just a two people, you and me,
to open it from the inside. Once we get in and get to the weapons,
we can bring in a few men at a time to help them carry everything
back. But we only need two or three at most. Otherwise we will be
noticed for sure.
”

“
Why
didn
’
t you
mention this earlier, when we were planning
everything?
”

“
Because then I
wouldn
’
t be
able to go. Admit it, you and Erik would probably end up going
together, leaving Fara and I behind to wait for you. When are you
men going to realize that women are just as capable as you are of
making and carrying out plans?
”

Croxley stopped walking, not sure
whether to be embarrassed, ashamed, or offended.

He
didn
’
t have
much time to decide, however, because at that moment, Erik stepped
out of the bushes in front of them.

“
Maybe when you
start telling us the plans instead of always keeping them secret.
Honestly, you women are so hard to understand
sometimes.
”

Croxley and Jean looked at each
other with bewilderment on their faces, both self-consciously
taking a step apart.

“
I want to help
with your plan. Just tell me what part I have to do in order to
make it work,
”
Erik
announced.

Croxley looked at
Jean, and when she didn
’
t say anything, he exclaimed
with exasperation,
“
Come on,
it
’s your plan. You
can’
t expect me to be the one to explain
it. What happened to women being equal?
”

Jean scowled at
Croxley before she began to explain her idea to Erik.
“
Well, it starts off with us going to the wall.
Once we get in, I
’
ll make sure Croxley and I get to the
weapon
’
s room.
When we open it and the coast is clear, I can run back to the
entrance. That
’
s where I need you to be on the lookout for a signal. Once
you see it, send some men to gather the weapons, and they will
bring them back to camp so that everyone will be ready to fight, if
need be.
”

Erik could tell that Jean was
leaving out some parts of the plan, but decided not to push much
further for fear that she would reconsider letting him in on the
plan at all.

“
Last question.
When are we leaving?
”

Jean
answered,
“
We need to leave
now.
”

Erik
nodded,
“Okay. I
’
ll meet you there after I go back to the camp to get my
men. Will that give you enough time to get in?
”

“
That should be
fine. Just wait behind the cover of the trees for a signal from
Croxley and I.
”
She produced two small
cuttings of mirror glass from her shift and flashed them, catching
the starlight just right. She handed one to Erik and placed the
other one back in her shift.

“
Got it.
”
Erik tucked the piece into his pocket and then
placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
“
Good luck,
”
he said, and they
split ways.