The Non-Human Society

Chapter 198 - Vim - Thieves in the Night and Words Not Spoken

      It's never ending.

When the world got active, it never let up. There was always something else. Always another event around the bend.

I took a small breath as one of the men let out a tiny whine. He, like the other three, wore a sack over his head. It was tied lightly with a fisherman's rope, but it honestly didn't need to be. All of them had their hands bound firmly, and were kneeling on the ground.

This was why I needed to leave soon. Even if it wasn't the most correct thing to do.

If I stayed in Lumen I'd never be able to leave. I'd get entwined in all the politics and schemes and...

"This one's a knight, Vim. Had ma' men check. Deserter during the monster attack," Ronalldo pointed at the man in question, it was the man in the middle. His back went straight and his shoulders rose upon being the focus of the conversation.

He didn't say anything though, even as Ronalldo spat near him. I knew none of their mouths were bound, so I knew the only reason none were talking was out of pure fear. They had been muttering and begging when I had entered the room... but had gone silent once I sat in front of them.

Which was interesting... since I hadn't said a word yet, and there really shouldn't be any way these men knew who or what I was.

Maybe Ronalldo and the other sailors had said something.

Ronalldo had sent the other sailors out of the room, and it was now only the two of us with these would-be-thieves. Several of them were hurt, but strangely Ronalldo looked the worse out of all of them.

His face was covered in dried blood, but I didn't say anything. Either he was too angry to clean himself up, or wanted everyone to see his injury. To let them know he was man enough to endure it.

"The others are likely just pirates or opportunists. None of them are too important in the underworld here either," Ronalldo said as he stepped over to the larger man on the right. He sent a harsh foot out and into the man's stomach, kicking the wind out of the man. He buckled, and the other bound men shuffled worriedly as they listened to their friend's groans of pain.

I understood Ronalldo's temper. Even if he hadn't gotten bashed over the head as they had done to him, he would have still been furious. Just like the other sailors here.

These men had tried to steal the ship, during the night. They likely thought with Lumen still in something of disarray they'd easily be able to pirate it and sail away before anyone noticed.

To Ronalldo, and most sailors, their ship was more than just a boat. It was a home. Their country. They took more pride in their ship than they did their own appearance and names, half the time.

They'd sooner forgive these men for murder than what they had done.

"If they were working for someone, they aint' saying it," Ronalldo said as he smirked down at the man still hunched over. His kick had been fierce; maybe Ronalldo's boot had hit ribs.

"Is that true?" I asked the men.

They all shifted, even the one bent over.

My words lingered in the air for a moment, and then Ronallod stepped forward. To kick again. But the men startled at the sound of his footstep, and began to speak.

"No! No one!" the one on the left shouted.

"We aint work for no one!" another said.

Ronalldo didn't let their hurried attempts at staving off his interrogation stop him. He kicked another man, this time in the shoulder. He fell backward, yelling out in pain. He fell harshly, thanks to the way his hands and arms were bound. He struggled to roll over, bumping into the other men in the process.