head.
“The Arbiters have adopted a scorched earth policy when it comes to dissidents,” he said, stopping as the three approached what was left of the guild hall. “The Watchmen, the guild here on Wrye Island, was full of likeminded players. Most of them were here because of how remote it was. That’s the same reason why I came.”
“The Arbiters did this?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “This is complete destruction. I didn’t think they’d-”
“It’s more than just destruction,” said Kaoru. “Uh, what did you say your name was, again?”
“I’m Kato. This is my friend and guild mate, Silverstrike.”
“Kato.” Kaoru nodded. “Most of the members of The Watchmen had gone all in.”
They aren’t coming back. The people that were killed here are gone, permanently.
“That’s insane,” said Silverstrike. “How can… how can that be?”
“I asked myself the same question while I was watching it happen,” said Kaoru. “Quentin, the guild leader, made me swear that I’d stay hidden in the cliffs, and not reveal myself no matter what. I think he figured that the Arbiters would just search the guild hall and be done with it.”
“And you didn’t come out of hiding?” Luke didn’t mean for his words to sound like an accusation, but it was clear from Kaoru’s reaction that he took them as one.
“No,” he said. “I didn’t.”
Luke and Silverstrike didn’t say anything.
“I saw what they did to the players in the settlement,” he said. “To the people in the settlement, that lived here peacefully.”
Luke could only stare at Kaoru, open mouthed and in shock.
They slaughtered them…
“What you’re feeling right now, Kato, is the only logical response.” Kaoru held his body almost unnaturally still as he spoke, as though it was taking an immense effort to keep his emotion in check.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling right now,” said Luke.
“You do,” said Kaoru. “And you know what needs to be done. It just so happens that I have an idea about how to do it.”
CHAPTER 7
The trip back to Megwin’s Bay felt like it went by much more quickly than the trip out. Kaoru refused to give any further details about his plan, even after Luke and Silverstrike had committed themselves to sheltering him in Dunidan’s Rest.
Is this too much of a risk? If the Arbiters get wind of what we’re doing, our fate will be the same as the Wrye Island settlement.
The sun was slowly creeping up the eastern horizon when they arrived back in port. Luke felt fatigue beginning to wear at him, both in-game and in real life. He and the others had a small meal of dried beef and bread as the boat pulled into dock. His stamina was restored in Yvvaros, but there was nothing he could do about his physical body right then.
“I see you were successful.” Megwin was waiting for them outside of his guild hall, and smiled when he saw the three of them. “As the Hero of Kantor, I expected nothing less from you.”
Kaoru looked surprised, and Luke sensed him looking him over, searching, for something in Luke he might have missed.
I’m just like any other player, sorry to disappoint you.
“Did you know?” asked Silverstrike, anger seeping into his tone as he glared at Megwin. “Did you know about what was going to happen to the settlement?”
“Easy, Silverstrike,” said Luke.
“I had my suspicions, but I didn’t receive word of the attack until after the two of you had already left.” Megwin shrugged. “There is no safe haven in Yvvaros anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiding a wanted man or not. Other towns have been destroyed by the Arbiters in the same way.”
“Come on, we don’t have time to waste here,” said Kaoru. “Megwin, we will have a lot to discuss in the coming days. Keep your ears open.”
Megwin nodded, and Luke, Kaoru, and Silverstrike headed out of the settlement. They traveled at a brisk pace. Kaoru walked between them, his cloak covering his
“The Arbiters have adopted a scorched earth policy when it comes to dissidents,” he said, stopping as the three approached what was left of the guild hall. “The Watchmen, the guild here on Wrye Island, was full of likeminded players. Most of them were here because of how remote it was. That’s the same reason why I came.”
“The Arbiters did this?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “This is complete destruction. I didn’t think they’d-”
“It’s more than just destruction,” said Kaoru. “Uh, what did you say your name was, again?”
“I’m Kato. This is my friend and guild mate, Silverstrike.”
“Kato.” Kaoru nodded. “Most of the members of The Watchmen had gone all in.”
They aren’t coming back. The people that were killed here are gone, permanently.
“That’s insane,” said Silverstrike. “How can… how can that be?”
“I asked myself the same question while I was watching it happen,” said Kaoru. “Quentin, the guild leader, made me swear that I’d stay hidden in the cliffs, and not reveal myself no matter what. I think he figured that the Arbiters would just search the guild hall and be done with it.”
“And you didn’t come out of hiding?” Luke didn’t mean for his words to sound like an accusation, but it was clear from Kaoru’s reaction that he took them as one.
“No,” he said. “I didn’t.”
Luke and Silverstrike didn’t say anything.
“I saw what they did to the players in the settlement,” he said. “To the people in the settlement, that lived here peacefully.”
Luke could only stare at Kaoru, open mouthed and in shock.
They slaughtered them…
“What you’re feeling right now, Kato, is the only logical response.” Kaoru held his body almost unnaturally still as he spoke, as though it was taking an immense effort to keep his emotion in check.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling right now,” said Luke.
“You do,” said Kaoru. “And you know what needs to be done. It just so happens that I have an idea about how to do it.”
CHAPTER 7
The trip back to Megwin’s Bay felt like it went by much more quickly than the trip out. Kaoru refused to give any further details about his plan, even after Luke and Silverstrike had committed themselves to sheltering him in Dunidan’s Rest.
Is this too much of a risk? If the Arbiters get wind of what we’re doing, our fate will be the same as the Wrye Island settlement.
The sun was slowly creeping up the eastern horizon when they arrived back in port. Luke felt fatigue beginning to wear at him, both in-game and in real life. He and the others had a small meal of dried beef and bread as the boat pulled into dock. His stamina was restored in Yvvaros, but there was nothing he could do about his physical body right then.
“I see you were successful.” Megwin was waiting for them outside of his guild hall, and smiled when he saw the three of them. “As the Hero of Kantor, I expected nothing less from you.”
Kaoru looked surprised, and Luke sensed him looking him over, searching, for something in Luke he might have missed.
I’m just like any other player, sorry to disappoint you.
“Did you know?” asked Silverstrike, anger seeping into his tone as he glared at Megwin. “Did you know about what was going to happen to the settlement?”
“Easy, Silverstrike,” said Luke.
“I had my suspicions, but I didn’t receive word of the attack until after the two of you had already left.” Megwin shrugged. “There is no safe haven in Yvvaros anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiding a wanted man or not. Other towns have been destroyed by the Arbiters in the same way.”
“Come on, we don’t have time to waste here,” said Kaoru. “Megwin, we will have a lot to discuss in the coming days. Keep your ears open.”
Megwin nodded, and Luke, Kaoru, and Silverstrike headed out of the settlement. They traveled at a brisk pace. Kaoru walked between them, his cloak covering his
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