Blood of the Merciless

Chapter Seven

7.

The villagers gathered in the middle of the road similarly to the previous day, only now they have been gathered around Florian. He had been slightly nervous, but he put on a smile as he faced the folk.

"Hear me, people of Nezzagwyn. You are being fooled by Lord Chapman. He sabotages your harvest, making sure you cannot pay once it is collection hour!" Florian exclaimed.

He heard a few gasps within the audience. The elderly man from the previous day spoke up. "I apologise for what I am about to say, milord. But how can we trust what you are saying?"

Florian grabbed the pouch attached to his belt and emptied its contents onto the road.

The crowd gawked at the floor. Thirty green beads lay sprawled out on the ground.

"I swear that if you cannot pay Lord Chapman's tax at the next collection, you shall have my sentz as well as my head," Florian stated.

Florian could feel the tension lifting within the crowd.

"If what you are saying is true, how do you fix our harvest, milord," Thea stated.

Florian smiled at her. "My associates are handling that as we speak. Alas, our plan will only work in secrecy. Lord Chapman cannot find out about our plan or all our heads shall be on his plate."

The crowd shivered at the thought.

"I suggest we believe in him," Thea stated.

The crowd gave her questioning looks.

"Mysurs has been ruled over by casters for many ages. What difference does it make trusting one caster over another? I believe we choose the lesser of two evils." She continued.

Thereafter the crowd had many questions and he answered them as Alaric instructed.

Alaric and Ashe stood at the bank of the river.

"Why didn't you address the people yourself?" Ashe asked.

Alaric shrugged. "As much as I hate to admit it. Florian is more charismatic. If anything this was your plan you should've addressed the people."

Ashe flushed. "No-no-no, all I did was come up with an idea. You set this whole plan up."

Alaric chuckled as he kneeled.

"How certain are you that this will work?"

"Not certain at all, this is still just a theory," Alaric stated.

Alaric revealed his Rixa amulet and dipped a part of the amulet into the river.

Immense pain.

Red eyes.

Pain.

Breathe, you imbecile. His voice called.

Alaric regained consciousness to a teary-eyed Ashe standing over him.

"Are...you alright?" She asked.

"What happened?" He asked as Ashe helped him to his feet.

"I am not certain...you started screaming and started shaking."

Alaric shook his head. "Let's find out if it worked." Alaric grabbed the bucket they had borrowed from Thea and filled it up with water.

"There was..one more thing...your eyes turned purple for a few seconds," Ashe said.

Alaric paused for a moment. "Must've been from the Rixa, I guess."

They made their way back to the village.