The hours had stretched on like an eternity for Billa and Diyaka as they anxiously sat in the living room of their humble cottage, waiting for Soayi.

The night had come for them to join Soayi on his quest to defeat Lord Dreck. They had spent the past couple of days and restless nights preparing for this moment, and now, with the plan in motion, the minutes felt like hours as they nervously waited for the elder’s arrival.

Diyaka gave off a sigh as he glanced at his younger brother, and grabbed him by the hand. “You ready?” he asked.

Billa looked at him, that unwavering hope still apparent in his eyes, and nodded. “Yes, yes. This is it. Hopefully, we’ll win, and Mandeland will be free again.”

Diyaka nodded and cracked a tiny smile, when a soft knock at the door sent their hearts racing. Billa and Diyaka exchanged a quick glance before Diyaka cautiously rose up and approached the door.

He opened it to find Soayi standing there, his face bearing the weight of the world while he carried many items in his arms.

He looked at them, his eyes filled with resolve, before speaking in a low, urgent tone.

“It is time.”

***

“So remember, this is how it goes. All of us are supposed to convene in the throne room with Lord Dreck at the break of dawn to officially declare another wave of terror upon the villagers, so the bandits will retire early to their room while we the elders will meet an hour after midnight. I have been assigned to ensure compliance with those orders, so I will make sure that everyone is indoors. What I’ll need you to do is prepare the gas diffusers while I deal with the elders.

“So when I’m done with them, I’ll come back for you, and we’ll go get the padlock and chain to lock up the bandits’ room after I let it off. So you’ll need to ensure you’re both outside, so we can lock it up as quickly as we can. Then for Lord Dreck himself… I’ll need you both in that room to finish him off.”

Billa, who had been nodding as Soayi spoke while they moved stealthily to the palace, inhaled and exhaled deeply as that last sentence was uttered. “Hmmmm. Being in the same room as that monster. Frightening.”

“Indeed,” Diyaka agreed, holding the chains Soayi had brought along. “He’s so evil and so nasty, I can’t even imagine the thought of being that close to him.”

Soayi nodded. “I understand. But that’s why I’ll knock him out before I give you boys the chance to finish him off. Surely you can deal with an unconscious Lord Dreck, no?”

The boys sighed and nodded. “Yeah, yeah, we can,” Diyaka answered.

“Good. So, prepare yourselves. And soon, you’re gonna have to wear those chains… I know, Diyaka, you’re not happy about it. But like I said, if you walk up to that palace with no chains, they’re going to kill us all. If you do, they’ll assume I’ve captured you and will let you alone. So please, just comply and let’s ensure this plan is carried out to perfection…”

***

About twenty minutes later, they found themselves in the palace, and in Soayi’s personal lair.

He had been right; the few bandits that were around when they arrived quickly assumed that Billa and Diyaka, clad in prisoners’ chains, had been captured by Soayi, and left them alone. The look on Soayi’s face alone, one of extreme sternness, deterred them from trying anything funny. They knew he was still very much hurt over losing Oren and did not want to trigger him in any way.

“Alright, now move to the side of my bed and put those diffusers together,” he ordered. The boys obediently rushed to the side of the bed, holding the bag full of the ingredients.

“And remember, be careful! Don’t do anything to set any of them off, or you’ll die. And most of all, be quiet! Don’t do anything to attract anyone’s attention. Got that?”

They nodded.

“Good.” He picked up a dagger and nodded. “I’ll be back.”

He left the room.

***

A soft knock could be heard on Bikama’s door. The elder had dozed off in his bed.

Soayi entered and walked gently to his bed. His footsteps caused Bikama to stir.

“Elder Bikama, it is time for our meeting,” Soayi claimed softly.

Bikama, looking quite drowsy, frowned as he squinted his eyes. “Really?” he questioned. “But… but I only just began my brief slumber.” He looked at the other side of his bed, away from Soayi. “It’s only been about ten minut-“

Soayi immediately grabbed the sides of his head, and turned his neck violently, snapping it with monstrous force.

Bikama dropped back onto the bed instantly.

Soayi sneered at him. “Heartless fool.”

He quickly made his way to Munito’s lair. The elder was also sleeping, but woke up upon Soayi’s entry.

His execution was just like Bikama’s.

Finally, Soayi walked into Sakisor’s lair. This elder too was asleep. However, he was a bit of a deep sleeper, and Soayi wanted him awake to experience his end, as a substantial amount of anger in Soayi’s heart had been stored up against him for the way he dismissed Oren’s death.

“Sakisor!”

The elder’s eyes popped open upon hearing his name.

The next thing he felt: a dagger driving right through his chest.

Unable to scream, he jerked violently at the impact. His eyesight, already blacking out, glared at Soayi, who scowled at him. “This is for calling my boy an inconsequence, you ungrateful bastard!”

Soayi lifted the dagger and stabbed him three more times.

And it was over.

***

In the dimly lit chamber of his palace, Dreck reclined upon a grand, ornate couch, his mind consumed by a number of things.

There was a lot to think about, considering his elders were to meet him early to confirm that the next wave of attacks would commence. The village was on its knees, and after this next line of attacks, it would most certainly be on its face. All that he desired was coming to pass.

But the dominant matter consuming his mind at that moment was another matter. One that had already been dealt with, but he could not easily forget.

The recent confrontation with Soayi over the execution of his cousin.

In reality, Soayi’s audacity had caught him off guard, and as his mind dwelt on the heated exchange, a bitter taste of resentment lingered on his lips. He expected nothing but loyalty, obedience, and unwavering servitude from everyone subject to him, and yet Soayi had dared to challenge him, to question his authority.

Reflecting in solitude, the rage that simmered within him refused to be extinguished. Yes, Soayi might have apologized not long after, which momentarily spared him from immediate retribution, but now, Dreck found it utterly insufficient.

“Apologies mean nothing,” Dreck muttered to himself, his voice carrying the weight of his malevolence. “He thinks he can challenge me and then just ask for forgiveness?”

In his mind’s eye, he played out scenarios of the punishment he would inflict upon Soayi. The image of Soayi’s humiliation, the degradation of his once-loyal elder, brought a sinister satisfaction that brought an evil grin to his face.

As he reveled in his vengeful thoughts, Lord Dreck’s resolve hardened. He wouldn’t simply punish Soayi; he would make an example of him. From bandits to elders, all would learn that defiance against Lord Dreck came at an unbearable cost. Forgiveness was a useless commodity for him; it was perfect obedience or death.

He got up and headed for his sword in the corner of the room. “Soayi,” he whispered, the name dripping with venom, “you will pay dearly for your defiance.”

***

“I’m back,” Soayi announced, reentering his room, stains of blood visible on his hood.

Billa and Diyaka stared at him, eyes wide. He could literally see chills run down their bodies upon seeing his bloodied expression.

“Uhh… okay,” Diyaka commented after a few mute seconds. “Uhh, wouldn’t you… want to clean up for something?”

Soayi shook his head. “the bandits will think it was you boys I’ve killed. Don’t worry about that. Are the diffusers ready?”

They both held them up.

“Perfect. Let’s move, quickly!”

***

Soayi, Billa, and Diyaka moved swiftly through the corridors of the palace, their hearts pounding in their chests as they headed for the bandits’ room. Soayi had doubly checked to ensure they were all in the room, and once all was clear, it was time to move.

As they reached the door leading to the bandits’ rooms, Soayi turned to Billa and Diyaka with a determined expression. “Remember, stay near, but out of sight. And as soon as I appear back at the door, get in place with the chains and the padlock. Speed is of the essence, do you understand?”

Billa and Diyaka nodded in understanding, their faces etched with fear and resolve. They knew precise execution was paramount, and any slip would mean certain death.

Soayi took a deep breath, then entered the room.

***

The bandits who were awake sat up as he entered the room.

He was back. Back for another walk through the room where he’d pass by Oren’s bed.

He had been doing this for the past three days, around this exact time, and there was nothing any of them could say about it. Nobody dared to question him or bar him from entering the room to do what he wanted to do. They just allowed him to come in, hoping he’d eventually come to terms with reality.

He walked to the end of the room and back, stopping by Oren’s bed both times to touch the bed.

Some of them sighed with sadness as he returned to the door.

He then turned to face the room.

He bowed his head sadly.

Placed his hands in his pocket.

Then suddenly threw some unidentifiable objects on the floor, which burst into smoke.

And jumped out.

***

“MOVE! NOW!”

Billa and Diyaka, who were in place the moment they saw Soayi at the doorstep, sprung into action, wrapping the handles of the door with the chains as fast as they could.

“DON’T LET IT SLIP!” Diyaka yelled as they passed the tip of the chain to each other.

“I’VE GOT IT! I’VE GOT IT!” Billa yelled back, his hands trembling but passionately moving while the panicked bandits banged on the door.

A few more seconds, and once the chains were totally wrapped around, Diyaka quickly grabbed the padlock and shut it down on the chains.

Sitting back against the wall, their job done, the brothers could literally feel their hearts threatening to break out of their chests. The bandits continued to bang and scream, although the intensity with which they did so had begun to wane. Billa, still breathing hard, nodded in the direction of the door as he looked at Soayi. “What’s going to happen to them?”

“The gases are already taking effect. They’re getting weaker as we speak. In the next five minutes, they should be knocked out totally. Another ten minutes of no oxygen, and they’re all dead.”

“Wow!” Diyaka breathed, his hand on his chest. “Oh, heavens, this was intense!”

“Yeah, extremely intense!” Billa agreed. “But we did it! And now we can-“

“SOAYI!!!”

That chilling voice that echoed through the corridor sent pangs of fright down their spine.

The three all looked in the direction of that voice.

And froze.

It was Dreck.

His bare chest in view. A ferocious look on his face…

… and a sword in his hand.

Uh-oh. Looks like we’re in for a deadly showdown. It’s all gonna come down to this…