Veil of Shadows

Chapter 33. Lies and Truth

"I was supposed to execute them, not make them look like they had been put through a blender!" Notch berated himself while pacing back and forth at the front of the throne room.

He ran a hand over his face and muttered "They were traitors to the crown. They deserved all that and more." Then, he started pacing again and said "No, they should have been given quick and merciful deaths."

He paused and said "They were a threat to my kingdom and were eliminated in the most effective way possible." He groaned out loud and said "But there are lines I shouldn't cross."

For a moment, his conscious mind thought about what he was doing. He was having an argument with himself. Talking to himself. He hesitated. This war is going to end my sanity, he thought, sighing.

                                                     ~

Ranger met up with the rest of the Hero Squad a few hours after daybreak.

After noticing that she was alone, they let her be. They knew that Ranger would only return empty-handed if Patch was dead, and so, they didn't flip out on her for leaving, knowing that it wouldn't end well.

Pro pulled her horse back so that she was alongside Ranger. "You okay?" She asked quietly. Ranger simply nodded. She wondered what the Ender Hybrid had been through to make something like this so easy to get over.

"I hope you at least paid for the chandelier." Pro added, trying to coax a smile out of Ranger. It didn't work. Ranger just stared at her, then replied "Yes. I did." Pro realized that it was hopeless and moved forward.

"Hero Squad."

They all turned to face Caken, who merely grinned. "I must congratulate you on getting this far. Your skills exceed your reputation." Wolf growled "Enough with the flattery. Tell us what you want."

"Flattery? Not even close. I speak the truth." Caken replied, pulling a letter from his pocket. He handed it to Dave and said "Shadow wants you to read this and consider it carefully."

Before any protest could be made, Caken vanished into the nearby forest. The Hero Squad didn't bother to go after him.

Opening the letter, Dave read it aloud.

"Greetings, Hero Squad. Before anything else, I need to make it known that Patch's death was caused by one of my guards, who is now serving jail time for killing a prisoner of war. I send my deepest condolences to you all."

"However, as you know, war is imminent, and there is only so much time for mourning. All I ask is that you think carefully about what I say. You disbelieve me when I tell you that Notch is a tyrant."

"I can tell you right now that he is. For example: several spies I sent to Notch's castle were killed. One spy who returned said that they couldn't even be recognized as my men."

"Not to mention he had their bodies sent to my base as a present. What kind of King finds it in his heart to allow a vile stunt such as this to go unpunished? What King has the conscience?"

"I will tell you once and only once more: Notch is a tyrant and a murderer and a liar. He will turn on you the second you are no longer useful in his plans - whatever they may be. Please, join me and help my cause."

"As ever, Shadow."

Ranger's face had remained surprisingly unreadable. Toxic said "I don't think he's lying about the part where his spies were killed. That, at least, is true. But what about the other sections?..."

"I find it hard to believe that Notch is a tyrant and a liar." Myst spoke up. "True, he has a dark side - but then again, who doesn't? This could easily be the first time this has happened."

"And it could just as easily be the other way around. It could have happened before." Poppy said thoughtfully.

"Why are we even considering this?" Blaze asked exasperatedly. "Notch sent us on a mission to stop the rebellion before it really starts up. Shadow will use any means necessary to try to deter us from our goal."

Wolf nodded support to Blaze's statement. "He could easily be bending honesty - mixing lies and truth to make deception easier." She added.

Soon, they all came to a conclusion: they would fight on Notch's side.