The streets of Mandeland were cloaked in a melancholic dusk, the sun sinking below the horizon as Soayi walked alone through the cobblestone streets. His hooded robe concealed his face in darkness, but his heavy heart was a burden he could not hide.

As he strolled through the quiet town, the memories of his late cousin, Oren, weighed heavily on his mind.

Painful memories.

Tears welled up behind Soayi’s hooded eyes, hidden from the world. In the midst of all that rage and that fury he had unleashed upon everyone at the palace, an aching heart beat sadly, weeping for a dearly cherished boy.

“Oren. My poor Oren,” he whispered to himself.

Oren had been more than just a cousin; he had been the son Soayi never had. He had been the young man’s friend, confidant, and guide. He had nurtured the lad in this journey of cruelty; training him to become a ruthless and wicked bandit. Together, they had joined this psychopath and watched as they grew from just a band of ruffians who caused trouble to a proper army that had taken down and devastated an entire village. He had hoped that one day, Oren would be as powerful as Dreck was, if not more.

Now that would never happen.

“Ugh, curse you, Oren!” he hissed to himself. “I told you to rid yourself of that weakness! I told you! I knew it would come back to bite you in the heel one day. You don’t serve a man like Lord Dreck and harbour pity in your heart. You just don’t! Now look! All that potential… down the throat of a hungry lion.”

It was the curse of the Achilles heel, wasn’t it? A great person with a small weakness, felled by that very weakness. Looked like Oren had gone the way of Achilles and Icarus.

“But really, did Dreck have to sentence him to death?” he murmured as he moved on. “He didn’t, if we’re being truthful to ourselves. This was so unnecessary. A strong rebuke would have sufficed. Honestly, Dreck is starting to lose it. He really is.”

His thoughts had grown darker over the past couple of days as he pondered the depths of Lord Dreck’s depravity. He had been more than eager to serve this man and help him wreak havoc from the very beginning, but after this, and especially after Dreck’s defiant refusal to acknowledge his wrong, it was clear his actions were on the path to becoming untenable.

Surely, as a member of his army, the only reason for death would be if Oren openly defected to the side of Mandeland. Or maybe, if he had been warned several times and just refused to change. But for him to hesitate for a second or two, and immediately get executed? No, it was a step too far, a descent into unforgivable madness that could not be ignored.

It wouldn’t be long until he started getting more bandits killed at a whim for the silliest of reasons. And nobody could question or advise him; he would probably have them executed as well.

About two days had passed since the ugly confrontation. The other elders had forced him to issue a grovelling apology to Dreck, who reluctantly accepted it, just to quell the tension in the palace. He had requested for these walks to be able to mourn Oren, which had been granted. At a distance, it looked like sleeping dogs had been allowed to lie, and all was back to normal.

But in Soayi’s brain, that wasn’t the case at all.

Lord Dreck had proven that he cared about himself and himself alone. He didn’t give a hoot about the men working for him, and Oren’s brutal death made it blatantly obvious. And if he could have such a loyal servant executed on a whim, then it meant no one was safe. Not even the elders were insulated from flashes of his madness.

He had to be stopped.

While walking, Soayi had structured a dainty little plan in his mind. One that he was sure would put an end to all this madness.

All he needed was one or two young men to help him out.

As to where he’d get them, he couldn’t tell. But he’d eventually find them. He knew he would…

“Hmmmm!” he sighed to himself as his steps brought him near the entrance to the underground hideout Oren had directed them to a few nights ago. He looked at it sadly, memories of him and his cousin slaughtering those men in there.

His feet shifted, and his brain pondered. Over whether to go in and revive more memories, or just walk away and move on.

To go in there or not to go in there? Hmmmm…

***

Billa and Diyaka sat huddled in the small, dimly lit room of the underground hideout where their father and other men had been killed, quietly sobbing, their faces etched with despair.

They had been going there since the night of the massacre after reluctantly entering and finding the bloodied and lifeless body of their father Ubar. With each visit, the dagger of despair drove deeper and deeper into their souls.

Now as they sat there, oblivious to the stench of the corpses around them, with a melting candle the only source of light in the room, every sinew of hope had been sapped out of them. The oppressive weight of Lord Dreck’s tyranny had grown unbearable, and they were now convinced that their beloved village was only days away from total destruction.

Billa, his voice trembling, spoke in a low, defeated tone. “Diyaka, I can’t take it anymore. I give up. Lord Dreck will surely destroy Mandeland. There’s no hope left.”

Diyaka, tears glistening in his eyes, nodded sadly in agreement. “I know, Billa. It’s over. There’s no hope. I don’t see it anywhere. This man Lord Dreck is too powerful. I don’t know what else can be done.”

Billa shook his head. “Me neither, brother. We’re facing an unstoppable force. Nothing we have is good enough to even match him and his bandits. It’s no use. He’s going to destroy us to the uttermost.”

As they spoke, the candle’s flame flickered, casting dancing shadows on the room’s walls. It was as if even the light itself was wavering in the face of their despair.

Billa continued. “I can’t bear to think of seeing all other homes reduced to ashes, our loved ones suffering at the hands of that monster. We’re just powerless souls against Lord Dreck’s ruthless cruelty. I’ve seen enough, honestly.”

Diyaka sighed. “Me too. I can’t take it anymore. I guess it’s time.”

Billa nodded solemnly, knowing what was next.

Diyaka then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of poison. He looked at it, placed it on the floor between them and sighed. “Wolfsbane. Our only way out.”

The room seemed to close in around them as they stared at it, despair overwhelming their hearts.

They looked at each other, their tear glands starting their work yet again.

How they would have loved to not take this action! But under this despot, it was a better option than falling victim to another callous attack of his bandits.

As they prepared to drink the poison, their trembling hands hovered over the vial. Tears glistened in their eyes, and their voices quavered as they whispered their goodbyes to each other, and to their beloved village.

“Goodbye, Mandeland.”

“We’re sorry, Mandeland.”

As they were about to uncork the vial, a creaking sound broke the depressive silence of the room.

Both Billa and Diyaka froze, their hearts pounding with dread as they stared at the door.

The door slowly swung open…

… and in stepped a familiar face.

It was the one they called Soayi.

One of Lord Dreck’s elders.

His presence sent shockwaves of fear through the boys. And utter frustration.

It was like fate had determined to be as cruel to them as possible. Just as they were about to take their own lives, this monster who worked for the evil lord had to step in and do the job?

They stood to their feet and stared at him defiantly.

“What are you waiting for? You serve Lord Dreck, don’t you? Just get it over with and end our suffering!” Billa yelled.

“You’ve done enough!” Diyaka added passionately. “Just do it already! Kill us! Cut our heads off! Go on, do it!”

Their eyes were filled with a mix of anger and resignation as they stared the man in the face, ready to face the same fate that their parents and many other inhabitants of Mandeland had faced.

“Go on! Kill us!” Diyaka barked. “We’re not afraid any more! Just do it already!”

Soayi’s expression remained unreadable as he calmly closed the door behind him. He stared at the boys for a few seconds.

Then he opened his mouth.

“Why would I end your lives when I can help you?”

This is it, isn’t it? This is the point when the tide turns for our boys…