Chapter 29: Ratlings
By the time Charon woke, the camp had been packed up.
The food was gone, as were the pews, rearranged to fit the hall. The campfire was also missing, every trace of the flame and ash hidden.
Liam was happy to explain why.
"It’s so the other bastards don’t know we are using this as a base. If they learn, they might try and jump us next time we wander through. I say let them try, but the High Elders don’t care what I think."
Annie rolled her eyes.
"That’s because you tried to kill them the first time you met."
Liam shrugged, disinterested in her excuse.
"They had it coming. Those old idiots wouldn’t know how to win a war if it slapped them on the ass. Far as I see it, the moment the other colonies declared war, we should’ve burned every town they had."
Darius flashed him a look, but the heavy bags under his eyes made it hard to read.
Emerius yawned, sharing similar bags under his own eyes, evidence of their feud going into the night.
The one good thing that came out of it was a begrudging respect between the two, even so far as Darius returning their weapons.
Charon patted the dagger lodged in the chain around his neck, as well as the sling holding the tome around his back.