Flight of The Harpy's Heart

Chapter xx: Confrontation

On the first night they got into the village, Marcus sneaked into the storage to see for anything he could find to capture a harpy. He checked all of the nooks and creases in the storage and found nothing but provisions and arrows and bolts.

He met Ralph on his exit from the storage. Ralph threatened to report him to the Captain and they came up with a plan.

Ralph confirmed to Marcus that the provision and the food stock indeed wouldn't be enough for the winter.

"So much mouth to feed so little to eat," Ralph spoke blatantly. "We had to leave them."

"What about your wife?" asked Victor.

"It's very unfortunate for her," Ralph answered with a smirk as he held Agnes's golden comb in his hand.

Victor was not a stupid man, he was able to put the two and two together.

Ralph was a man who was willing to leave his wife to die. More than that, Ralph would file a deceased report of his wife after the village was destroyed and the villagers were killed by the harpies.

The Aione court would grant him all of her assets and unclaimed assets. especially that he is a chedaim. The court wouldn't ask. Between women and a chedaim, with all the power the New Way gave to women, they would still favor a chedaim.

All they would see is a man of God's chosen people who lost his wife in a tragic wildlings incident, not a man who left his wife to die for his own safety and to get her assets.

He was nothing but a male black widow in human flesh. He might be God's chosen people, the original people of the Ark, the true sons of Adam, the superior race, the blood of God, but for Victor, he was the lowest of the low in human society.

If only Ralph was not their ticket out of this situation he would push him down a cliff, kill him right here and there. No one would be a witness in this desolate mountain.

Victor clenched his grip on the wooden pole carrying the harpy. He was too deep in thought to realize that Oliver was not behind him.

The kid stopped walking. He just stood there on the road.

Victor noticed and told Marcus, that both smugglers also stopped walking. Ralph kept on treading the road.

Marcus put down the harpy on the ground. Marcus loosened up his shoulder. Carrying the harpy down the mountain path was really tiring for him and Victor.

The senior smuggler turned to Oliver. He stepped closer to the uncertain boy.

"Look, it always us first. remember? that's how we survive until this day," explained Marcus, "There is no such thing as no man left behind or whatever horseshit they spit in the soldier's barrack."

"But you left Ethan."Oliver whimpered.

"I know, it can't be helped. Ethan would be against our plan. He always be a holier than thou fellow. He wants his old life back but he can't see the bigger picture."

Oliver made a curious face with mixed feelings of sadness.

"What picture?" the boy asked.

"The picture of that village and the people in it, dying either from starving or by the harpies' claws."

"It's unfortunate for them, but we shouldn't sink along with them."

"Forget the Valuel Piece smoke dream," Marcus blurted.

Marcus nudged the harpy gently with his foot, "With this harpy, we can leave our smuggling day behind and open up a legitimate business, our own winery. This harpy is our ticket. We would be lords in our own estate. Just like we always talk about in the alehouse. We can pay for Victor's daughter's dance and acting class, we can pay for your knightship tuition. All of us would live a comfortable life."