“It was some time ago… a night I’d never forget. Clover was there, too. In all accuracy, she was the one who killed her,” he said, his breath heavy with pain. “He made me watch everything… and even though Clover’s eyes showed agony, she didn’t stop as she ripped her apart upon her brother’s request. We’d been an inconvenience to them that night. The Deo Guild were being chased by a band of mercenaries hired by the High Order. Back then, the bounty was still hot, and everyone wanted their hands on those infamous ex hunters. Finally, they had met their match, Xhaventorra being the impending crux of their defeat. In the heat of the chase, they found our humble abode, as my sweet flower and I were having dinner on the patio as we always do when the flowers are blooming. Having no idea we were on their path, we thought nothing of it when we heard shuffling down the forest line, not until a screen of fog boxed us in.
In my blindness, I couldn’t see my wife so I could teleport us out of harm’s way. I already heard accounts of Clover, the pawn to her brother Clave, and the second deadliest member of the Deo Guild at the time. Fog was followed by shadows, my hands and feet bolted to the ground preventing me from using my mana. The smoke cleared, and my wife was vulnerable to demons. She was no arcane angel, and didn’t have one warrior bone in her body. So for them to attack her like that… I just…”
“Rufian… you don’t have to—”
“She was beautiful, Silas… long brunette hair, radiant emerald eyes… she was my everything. A gentle gal; wouldn’t hurt a soul. I’d already known the corrupt system of the High Order and sworn to disrupt it. But that night, it became a part of me. What they’d done to my Danomi, I would never forgive! They treated her like cattle, butchering her to no end! So you must understand why I couldn’t hold my fury! What I’d done to that girl was nothing in comparison to what they did to my beloved!”
My temperament softened. “You don’t need me to tell you how I feel, and I doubt you’d give two shits about it. So I won’t say it.”
“You’re right, I won’t. I know what you are going to say. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Fighting fire with fire won’t solve anything. Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want done to you—but you can save the righteous speech, Silas! What I’d done to her I’d do ten times over if I could!”
“I know you would.”
“I am not part of the problem! I am part of the solution! If we don’t rid this world of scum like Clover and her brother, then we will never repair! This viciousness will repeat itself! I crave change, and it is why I am doing what I am doing today. We take the power from the fae council! We stop the innocent from being tormented, raped, and killed!”
“We are talking about punishing every race except Senterrians to get this done, though.”
“Because they are the only race who strive for peace!”
“Your Danomi was a fae, wasn’t she?”
“My love was human. But don’t let that deter you. Her race played no part in my alliance.”
“It’s hard to think it didn’t.” I sighed. “But, I get what you’re saying, Rufian. I really do. I’m just finding it hard to trust you. You have this impulsive reaction to kill now and ask questions later. Clover wasn’t the only one.”
“If you’re referring to the nymphs…”
“Maxi and her husband, too. And they were innocent.”
“They were outsiders. They could have been anyone. I put the mission first, Silas. Everyone else—”
“Is just in the way, right? I’m sure you would have killed me too if I wasn’t important to your mission.”
“Our mission.”
“We can agree that we see things differently. You have your own path, and I have mine.”
“What are you saying? You won’t help me?”
“I’ll try to get you out of here, but I have to trust my instinct. I think it’s best that I go about this my way. You can find your weapon to bring down the fae council. And I’ll try my hands with another way.”
“Which is what, exactly?”
“Don’t know. I’ll think of something. Maybe reach out to Gavori if I have to.”
“A woman sitting beneath the throne? Are you mad?”
“No, just desperate. We are running out of time.”
“Then quit talking about wasting it. I am your best choice, and you know it. Haven’t I done right by you, Silas? Haven’t I proven myself trustworthy? So I slay with an ambitious fast hand, that doesn’t take away from my dedication to this cause.”
I was conflicted again with a mix of emotions. My problem with Rufian was complicated. There was more to it than him being so kill-happy—his unreliability was a problem as well. But whenever he fell short, he made up for it. I had to remind myself that our alliance could have been worse. For a total stranger, he was more than I could ask for on short notice. And even though he was Jezz’s brother, he didn’t owe me his respect.
At the same time, I couldn't deny the unease that gnawed at my stomach every time I thought about working with him again. He was unpredictable and destructive, letting his criminal side show. I just didn’t feel comfortable with someone who could kill so carelessly. While I sympathized with his history with Clave and Clover, it was obvious that Clover was the victim, and had always been a tool to her brother.
I witnessed firsthand the recklessness and the savagery Rufian was capable of. It was a dangerous game, and I wasn't sure if I was willing to play it anymore.
“I need some time to think,” I finally said. “I'll let you know if I change my mind.”
“I need an answer now, Silas.” Rufian's voice was firm. The pressure was on, and I knew that I had to make a decision soon. But deep down, I already knew what I wanted to do. I couldn't risk working with Rufian again, not when there was so much at stake.
My jaw clenched as I stared at the lost fae. “I can't give you an answer now,” I repeated. “I need time to figure things out.”
“You don't have time,” Rufian snapped back. “The High order won't wait for you to make up your mind. They're getting stronger by the day, and we need to act fast!”
“I know that,” I said, my voice rising. “But I’ll make time for this. I can't make an important decision without thinking it through. I need to know that I can trust you.”
“You can trust me, Silas,” Rufian said, his voice softening. “I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe in this cause. I want to make a difference, just like you.”
“Your methods are too extreme! We can't just kill everyone who gets in our way!”
“Sometimes that's the only way to get things done,” Rufian argued. “You have to be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good, and that is exactly why you need me. You are too soft, too forgiving. For a leader, you need a backbone.”
“A backbone doesn’t equal being a butcher on Slaughterhouse 49!”
“You wear your emotions on your sleeves. It will be the death of you.”
“You keep saying that, but the dungeon core chose me because I don’t have ties to her people or this war. Which means that I could make those hard choices. If anyone wears their emotions on their sleeve, it is you. You can't lose sight of what we're fighting for. We can't become just like the fae council and lose control!”
