Fleas - Songs of the Gnolls I

WHEN FLEAS BITE THE DOG 7.4

One of the sewer exits was very close to the central square. Pli and company slipped through the tents and bushes that lined the sidewalks. Being small had its advantages. They watched as the trolls, lassoed with a thick rope, were dragged and gathered in the center, very close to a gallows where they were hanged five by five.

"What shall we do? "Whispered his son. "It is impossible for us to save them, there are too many guards."

"Unfortunately, we must wait. Maybe we can distract them somehow."

Pli didn't believe in miracles, but one was about to happen. A mountain goat of enormous proportions appeared between the alleys and entered the square like a giant battering ram, sweeping away a large number of guards. Pli took a closer look: in the saddle was little Fleas. He didn't seem to have mastered the saddle, but he was laughing out loud. The guards, fortunately or extremely clumsily, had no crossbows. And it was not easy for them to stop such a big animal. Despite these disadvantages, they gradually cornered them. The trumpets called for reinforcements. Pli saw the opportunity.

"Now, now!"

They approached with haste, but trying not to alert anyone, and with knives they cut the ropes that bound their companions.

"Quickly, to the entrance. Come on, come on," he urged them, but when he saw that Fleas had just fallen from his mount, he took a deep breath and plucked up courage. "All of you, follow me!"

Grabbing stones, sticks, and the weapons of the fallen guards, they attacked those who had cornered Flea. They were now many, and the humans very few. They managed to cut them down. Pli shook Fleas' hand and helped him to his paws.

"You have saved us. Come, we must flee."

Already the hasty steps of reinforcements could be heard. The entrance to the sewers was small and a bottleneck had formed with desperate slaves struggling to get in. Pli saw the sad yet angry faces of his comrades who decided to buy them time by going out to fight. Fleas wanted to join them, but Pli forced him to flee. Once inside, he gave the order to the trolls, and they smashed the entrance.

Pli was sorry, but they had saved at least fifty slaves.

They went through the complex system of tunnels until they reached the central hall. There, friends and family greeted each other fraternally. Pli hugged his partner and children.

"Promise me you won't take any more risks like this," she said.

"I can't, my love. This is who I am, this is who I must be."

Fleas approached them both. Pli introduced him.

"This is the hyaenid who freed me. And now he was the one who saved our lives."

"Too bad Surly fled, I hope he's okay."

"Tell me what happened, why are you here? I thought you had won your freedom."

"Yes," Fleas scratched his head and looked away, "but I had to leave. I will come back later. I left my canvases and paintings in the castle."

Pli laughed. He approached a human family and asked for food. They served him a plate of rabbit stew. Fleas refused.

"There are plenty of rats to hunt here, I like it better than that boiled vegetable stuff. I see it's true what they say about you."

"What is that?"

"That you're a rebel. What I don't understand is why there are humans here."

"Not all humans are bad. I think you know that. Some were slaves, like us. Others were masters, but they were forced to act against their slaves, or they thought it was right until they realized it was not. You can get used to hurting others when you live in ignorance."

Fleas thought for a moment and looked around.

"If what is coming is a war of extermination, then these people have a better chance of surviving here, like the rats, than outside, like the nobles."

"True, that is why many slaves warned their masters and decided to come together. When we get out, we'll all be free beings, at least I'd like to think so."

"If I could warn Dannke, maybe more people could take refuge here."

Seriousness flashed across Pli's face. He sipped the smelly juice and, after licking his lips, answered:

"A time of decision is coming. Soon the invasion will begin, and then we will have to choose between the invaders and the invaded. We could demand fairer treatment from the humans in exchange for helping them, but they might break that promise. And if the invaders attack, we will have to abandon the humans who deserve to be saved. Then we will be just like them, or worse. You have lived among them, what do you think?"

Fleas sat cross-legged.

"It doesn't matter what I think. I realized I'm a fool to trust anyone. War is bullshit, no matter how it ends. But I also learned something else, that nothing is ever the same; beings, societies, even life itself changes. I know this because I am not the same as I was yesterday. Nor am I the same as I might be tomorrow."

"That sounds rather chaotic, doesn't it?"

"Yes, isn't it wonderful? Before I freed you, you were a condemned slave, now you are a rebel leader. Tomorrow you could be a free gnome living in peace. The fact that there is no fate makes everything better."

Pli laughed.

"Sometimes I think you are very childish, and sometimes you seem very wise. Well, let's concentrate on surviving. When the war comes, we'll decide which side we're on. Can we count on you?"

"I have no choice now, so yes. Just..."

Pli raised an eyebrow. Fleas finished his explanation:

"I know I'm being pushy, but I hope to get the paints and brushes back soon. I'm afraid the castle is going to burn down or something. The only thing I could save was this piece of canvas," he showed him.

Pli sighed. He knew he'd regret this... ....

"Where are they?"