6 Respective Plans (1/2)
By the time Fadelio had returned to the mouth of the cave, he saw Atau carry the last of the treasures out into the open. Before the warrior's eyes, a mountain of barrels and chests had been loaded onto what was left of their cart. At least the duke's men had known enough decency to leave the donkey alive. It would make their next journey much easier, though he didn't know yet where it would lead them.
”Where is Master?” Fadelio asked the bearded southerner as he came forward.
”Corco's still inside, mixing some stuff together again. Here, help with that.”
Atau pointed down to the chest by his feet, the last treasure they had to load up before they were ready to depart. Together, the two men grabbed onto the box and, with heavy groans, carried it up onto the worn wood planks. Still out of breath, Atau nodded in gratitude.
”So, now what?” he asked as he turned around and took a heavy seat next to the chest.
”Now, we go back to Etra,” Corco answered from behind.
Fadelio turned and found both Corco and Brym standing by the cave entrance. The prince carried a bowl filled with a white substance in his left, but Fadelio never even registered his master's shield hand. He could only look towards his right, where the prince held his own pony tail, cut off from his head.
”Master...” Fadelio muttered in shock.
”By the depths, what are you doing?” the incredulous voice of Corco's cousin rang out.
”I cut my hair. I also made a little something. Move over.” Corco moved to his two friends, and, after Atau had made some room, took place on top of the wagon as well.
”But... how could a prince of Medala be allowed to lose his hair? Why wouldn't you stop him?” Wide-eyed, Atau stared over to the flustered Brym.
”...wait, I didn't know the hair was special. If I knew I would have done something!” Rattled by their reactions, Brym tried to defend himself as his eyes focused on Atau in hope for an explanation.
”...the long hair is the symbol of our pride. Only a defeated warrior will cut his hair, in shame.”
”And we were defeated. Can you deny that?” Corco's calm voice answered for the confused Brym.
”This was no defeat! Look around you!” Fadelio refuted in anger.
Rather than turn towards the corpses, Corco turned away, a queasy feeling rising in his stomach. At least they hadn't eaten breakfast today. Otherwise, he was sure he would have lost his meal at the horrific sight of the dead soldiers he and Brym had passed on their way through the cave. Even so, Atau had loaded up the entire cart in the time it had taken Cprcp to stop shaking. It seemed like the new memories didn't only come with advantages.
”We lost almost everything and we were driven out of the country. You think that's a win?” the prince continued.
”With how easy these flies were to take down, why not go back and show that duke what price there is to pay for messing with men of Medala.”
”Those were only ten people... and it was far from easy. Do you have any idea how many men the duke has? You wanna battle your way through an entire army?”
”We won't have to. With our courage and master's new ideas, we can circumvent the armies and take the duke down all the same!”
”And then what? What happens after, if, your suicidal plan works out? We'll be the heathens who killed Duke Herak of Balit, brother to the bornish king. We'll be wanted men all over the continent. Don't forget that our goals are greater than just taking down one duke who was mean to us. We want to rebuild the Fastgrade Merchants. You think we can still do that once we have noble blood on our hands?”
Corco gave his overzealous attendant a stern look. Fadelio was far too prideful for his own good. If they wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future, the warrior would have to change as well.
”Then what, are we just gonna run?” Atau asked the question the servant wouldn't.
”For now, we will have to disappear,” Corco nodded his head as he rubbed his fingers into the mix of talcum and oil he had improvised. Then he began to rub the cream onto his face.
”...you're whitening your skin?” his cousin asked in consternation.
”No need for that kind of look. I know. I threw my powder away halfway across the sea, but things are different now.”
”But you wouldn't even whiten your skin in Medala.”
”In Medala the whitening is done for nothing more than the vanity of the lords. Back home, everyone's got more or less the same skin color anyways. Here, things are different. If we want to disappear, we need to be less visible first.” Corco looked to his two giant companions with a frown. ”...at least somewhat.”
”So we leave Borna and rebuild the company. Easy enough, but what happens if another Duke Herak comes along? There's nothing we can do if a greedy noble tries to steal our things again, is there?”