Chapter 4

Year 163 – Summer – Quartus Mensis – 35^th day

Velika Forest, southeast of Tree-Fall Village, northern Vale

Among the large forest of the Vale, the noise of civilisation broke the silence of nature. The rings of their mail hauberk were rattling with each step. Their blades were chopping a path through the forest. On this unpolished road, they walked, followed by their mules.

Her helmet hung on the back of her shoulder. Her silver hair was braided in a long tail and swayed from side to side as she advanced through the wood. She cut the branches with a large one-handed sword, carving a way for her companions.

Nelis –“Are you sure this was worth it? We lost close to 20 days of plundering for this . . .”

Lanaya –“Are you doubting my judgement?”

Nelis –“Yes, like always. That’s my duty!”

Jurren –“Alphael will give us money for these slaves. He will save us months of travelling and selling.”

Lanaya – “There you go!”

Nelis –“Still, I don’t like him. He’s not trustworthy!”

Alphael –“I can hear you.”

Nelis –“You’re not trustworthy! Better?”

Alphael –‘’ . . .’’

Lanaya –“Nelis, stop. We already settled it in Almuharib.”

Alphael –“No, no, let him speak his mind. I’d rather solve the problem now. Why am I not trustworthy?”

Nelis –“I don’t know you. You said you travel every year, but we’ve never heard of you before. Besides, traders aren’t trustworthy.”

Alphael –“Well, I suppose I can agree that some of us are not the most trustworthy people, but do you mind me telling you what I think?”

Lanaya –“Be careful, Nelis, he might poison your mind with words! Ahahahahah.”

The youngest recruit abruptly joined her laughter in a slightly forced manner.

Leo –“Ahahah, great one!”

Jurren –“Don’t force yourself to laugh, Leo. Lanaya’s got a bad sense of humour, and she knows it. She won’t get offended.”

Lanaya –“What did you say?”

Nelis –“He said you’re not funny, and yeah, you can speak your mind on the matter.”

Lanaya –“Aren’t you supposed to show respect to your leader?”

Jurren – “With all the respect that you deserve, you are the best leader on this earth, and I would die under your order.”

Nelis –“You forgot to add that being funny is not required to be a good leader!”

Lanaya –“This is getting nowhere. Alphael, let us hear what you have to say.”

Alphael –“Thank you, I didn’t want to stop your humble chat. So, umm . . . I was about to say that trust is nothing but a facet. We use it to describe the behaviour of others in a fast and general way. If someone tends to lie, he won’t be trustworthy, while if someone says the truth, he will be reliable. But what happens when the person lies in order to help your safety or tell you a truce that places you in danger?”

Nelis –“The context matters, obviously.”

Alphael –“But if you have no way to know if the person is lying, wouldn’t you assume he is saying the truth? If you don’t, wouldn’t it mean that everyone is lying unless they can prove otherwise? And if you talk to a stranger, it means they are automatically lying since you cannot prove that they are trustworthy because you don’t know anything about them.’’

Nelis –“Correct.”

Alphael –“But wouldn’t that stop you from interacting with others and reduce your chances of accomplishing your own goal in the same way? It is as if you would enter a cage to protect yourself from the wolves.”

Nelis –“I can trust those who have been through hell before my eyes, because when the world around you leaves you alone, only then will you show your true self and only then will you be able to develop a bond stronger than blood. Why do you think families often matter more than friends? It’s not because of the blood link or the desire; it’s because they took care of you while you had no other choice but to rely on them. It’s because they used their own sweat for your sake, asking for nothing in return. When someone creates such a bond with another, they can call each other a family, may their blood be blue or red. Two broken souls can hold each other. Sometimes, through sheer luck, a single broken soul will be carried by another, but in the world where you and I live, both of us can fully hide our true intent, and that alone makes you untrustworthy.”

Alphael –“Aren’t you being a little too careful? Even your leader seems to have faith in me.”

Nelis –“And that’s exactly why I won’t. I would rather be wrong all the way than blindly trust you during that critical moment where I shouldn’t. Until that day, may it ever come, I’ll be the dog in the herd looking for a wolf.”

Alphael –“Staying alert like that must feel like quite the burden. I pity your fate.”

Nelis – “Everyone carries a burden. Choosing which one is where the luxury hides.”

Leo –“I didn’t know you were like that, Nelis . . .”

Jurren –“I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t trust you either, Leo. He doesn’t even trust Elgan, who’s been here for two years.”

Leo –“Really?”

Lanaya –“Don’t worry too much about it. I trust you and I will put my faith in your potential. But if you want to earn my respect, you’ll have to gain his.”

Elgan –“And that may well be out of your reach.”

Nelis –“That’s not entirely true, although not far off.”

Leo –“I mean, you trust the rest of the band, right?”

Nelis –“Only those who have proven themselves worthy of it. Well, I trust them more than that trader since I know their intent.”

Alphael –“My only intent is to trade.”

Nelis –“Which doesn’t say much about how you’ll achieve it.”

Leo –“How can you not trust your own companion?”

Lanaya –“If you take ten branches and take the biggest one, you could probably break it. Breaking them together might seem much harder, but all you need is to set them aflame, and they’ll blaze into ashes. Opening your trust allows you to form bonds and gain the strength of your allies, but it also opens yourself for betrayal. Anyone who walks in the dark will need a light to find the way, but as long as you are in the light, you are showing your weakness. The more you follow the light, the more you’ll be afraid of the dark. Keeping allies in the dark keeps those in the light safe. I trust each and every single one of you, and I can do that because Nelis won’t.”

Jurren –“Leo, you’re still young, but you’re not that built up so you might want to learn from Nelis. He’s got a shitty character, but if I had to put my life on the line, he would be the one I’d trust for the task.”

Lanaya –“Maybe another time. There is something ahead.”

Nelis –“How far?”

Lanaya –“A little less than a mile, but I don’t think it’s moving. It smells like blood and sweat.”

Alphael –“You’re kidding, right? How could you smell anything a mile from here? We can barely see 40 feet away with all these trees.”

Lanaya –“Everyone draw your weapon and stay on guard. We will find out what it is.”

All 18 members of the Silver Lining drew their weapons and kept marching forward as Alphael and his personal guards watched from afar.