The Art of Rebellion

Treachery

As I step back into the tavern, I see Leonidas talking to a large man whose back is turned toward me. The smirking idiot panics, but quickly recovers and keeps looking from me to the door. OH! Ok, now I can sense the man's signature. He's that angry fire guy I met in Memphis. Did I have my mask on when he saw me? Better not risk it. I just keep walking, my clothes completely sticking to my wet body. I probably should have dried before leaving, but going back in would just ruin the dramatic impact I left. As I leave through the door, I start walking over to where another old friend of mine used to live. It takes me some time, but I finally reach the shabby old house and walk in without knocking. It's really more of a single room than an actual house, with a single couch being the only furniture. Two guys are sitting on it, the taller of the two looking at me with wide eyes. Slowly, a grin creeps unto his face as he stands up.

"Well, I'll be," he says. "Mister hotshot rebel himself. How've you been, Kol?" He walks up to me and hugs me all awkward-like. He smells even worse than my clothes; Like dead fish and rum. He's wearing a captain's hat, which is in direct contrast to the rags he calls his outfit.

"Hey, Mad Dog." It's a stupid name. It's always been a stupid name. It will always be a stupid name. He's always refused to tell anyone his real one, so Mrs Fitz ended up calling him Pup. "Long time."

He pulls away, a smile on his face. "No shit, man. How's your life workin' out?"

"Oh, you know; Full of murder."

"Nice, nice." He points at his hat as though it's the greatest thing in the world, his smile widening.

"No way," I say. If what I suspect he's about to tell me actually happened, then this whole Rebellion really has a nice shot at working out.

"Way," he replies, spreading his arms. "I got my own ship!" Good for him. Ever since we were kids, he wanted to travel across the Skyfall Sea, which surrounds this weird island-kingdom-thing. At least someone's life is working out. "Can you believe it?"

"No," I say honestly, and he frowns.

"Don't be a downer. I got a ship and I'm puttin' a crew together. Meet Ghost." He gestures toward the guy on the couch. He's an odd-looking kid around En's age. Looks kinda sick with the silver hair and pale skin.

"You now officially have the second worst name of all time."

"Shut up." He punches my shoulder lightly, so he can't actually be mad. "He's a sorcerer like you. Really handy to have around." A drug that creates magic gets produced in this town, and suddenly I meet not one, but two sorcerers? As if.

"Get someone else," I say, and the boy sits up straight, glaring at me.

"No way, man," Mad Dog insists. "He can control freakin' water! Who better to be a part of my crew?" Probably literally anyone else, you poor fool.

"Akira is here," I tell him, keeping my voice firm, but calm. "He's a replacement for councilman Anderson."

"Yeah, I know." I quirk an eyebrow at that. This is gonna suck. "He's the one who gave me a ship." There it is!

"And what did you give him in return?" I ask, and he shrugs. I give him the hardest slap I've ever given anyone, and he staggers back a few steps. "Are you a moron!?"

"What the hell are you doing!?" He rubs the place I hit.

"He didn't just give you the ship, you idiot. He considers you indebted to him. You know full fucking well how the rich work." Honestly, even he shouldn't be capable of idiocy of this magnitude.

"Nice, two minutes we've been together and you're already putting your fist up my ass," he growls. "I know he thinks I owe him, Kol, but I'm not gonna be around to pay up. I'm getting as many people as I can, as quickly as I can, then hightailing it."