The City - PewdieCry

10: Intentional

"There's a Grouping tonight, and I want you to come along." Michael said, looking at me. I gaped at him as he walked away, and tried to understand his motive for making me go. The other soldiers merely snickered at me, and I heard Cry's name once more get whispered around. They were all mocking me.

I couldn't say that I blamed them though. I'd been here long enough, and with Covert's help, had obtained enough knowledge to realize that anyone out of order would stay that way their whole lives if they don't fight their way back in. I was simply here for information, and I had no intention of fighting for anything but that. All I needed was the information to tell me that I was wrong, and I could head home. I snuck out enough times to see Cry that they wouldn't know I was gone until I was too far. If the information was right, well.. That in itself was another story.

Covert wasn't making things any easier on me either. He was a much older man, a higher ranked soldier, yet he spent all his time talking to me. He came over after Michael announced my going to the Grouping that someone had called, and had his cigar in his mouth. He stared at Michael and spoke, not bothering to look at me.

"It's hard to avoid Cry if he keeps putting you in the same environment," he observed, and I snorted.

"Of course he is." Covert looked at me in surprise, and I sighed. I launched into a quick, subtle explanation about that day I had met Cry on neutral grounds and had defended him for I hadn't wanted a fight. Then Ethan had spoken to Michael, and they all had been watchful of me since. "I think he's trying to see how I act around him. Trying to make sure that I'm not committing treason or something." Covert huffed, staring at me.

"I swear, you're too innocent to be up to something." I shifted, trying to find his words as a compliment rather than an insult to my benevolence. "If anyone should be watched, its Cry." He looked out the window, and I opened my mouth to defend the masked man, but quickly shut it. Now was not the time to explain how Cry seemed to operate. I appeared suspicious enough.

"Let's go!" Michael shouted, and those who were going to the Grouping, a small number might I add, headed towards the door. Michael was in fear that Cry was going to attack, and although I knew it to be opposite, I said nothing. Covert looked at me, releasing a puff of smoke off to the side of him.

"You had better get going," he said, and I nodded. He caught my arm before I turned and left. "Keep your eyes open, but off of Cry. Play it safe, try to pay attention. Learn what you can from his soldiers and those around you." Covert hissed into my ear, and I nodded, jogging to catch the tail end of the group. I turned back, looking at Covert standing with one arm across his chest, the other resting upon the first and holding his cigar to his lips. He gave a small nod, and I turned, trotting behind everyone else.

I was thankful of the man's help above all. He was making some things easier and other more difficult, but it didn't matter now. I had to focus on gathering information, whatever that actually meant. The only information that I needed was back at the HQ building, so I dismissed this order and decided simply to watch Michael during the meeting.

We walked into the Grouping Building, and I noticed that the other leaders were up and on the staged area already, talking with one another; we were the last ones to arrive. As soon as we had walked in, Cry's head snapped around, and he peered down through the ranks and searched. I turned, watching where the group was headed instead of meeting the masked man's gaze. We walked towards the back of the room as Michael branched off and made his way towards the stage. He wore a huge grin, and I watched as he sat and the other leader known as John stood quickly.

"I called this meeting because there have been signs of Michael intruding on our land and stealing  gunpowder from our sources." John snapped almost instantly, and I watched as Michael simply sat back and laughed. He stared at John as the man continued with his speculations upon catching our leader, and his escape. I hadn't heard this mission even go into play, was it possible Michael did this secretly?