Chapter 41: Paradigm Shift
"Should we just skip town and forget about the mission?" Lazula asked, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes.
"I don’t want to get caught up in this conflict if we can help it," Sam said. "So, yeah. Let’s get back to the ship and get the fuck out of here while we still can."
They gathered their things quickly and rushed downstairs, intent on sneaking into the alleyway behind the Inn. But when they got to the ground floor, they saw many other guests from the Inn doing the exact same thing.
"Do you know what all this fighting is about? We’re not from around here." Sam asked one of the other persons fleeing.
"The new Chancellor and his allies in the Grand Assembly of the Nexian Alliance jacked up taxes on all the city-states of Nexus Island," the man explained. "And not just by a small margin - they demanded half of all assets."
"Yup, that’ll do it," Sam replied with a sigh.
"Many people accuse them of ripping off the rest of the island so that only Nexus City prospers," the man continued. "Tensions have been building for months, and it seems it’s finally spilled over."
"I don’t blame you for fleeing," Sam added.
The man nodded. "Yeah, we’re getting the fuck out of here."
As the crowd trickled out into the back alley, Sam and the girls finally made it through. They were passing between two buildings, when they spotted a group of rebels in the street throwing a noose around someone’s neck - it was Brion. It was just a few rebels, the others having already moved further down the road.
"Shit, they’re about to hang Brion!" Sam cursed, the girls following his gaze. "Fuck!"
Sam growled and then ran between the buildings, towards the rebels.
"Why are you hanging him?!" Sam demanded.
"Because he’s a filthy supporter of Chancellor Barborra!" a man cried out angrily.
"No, I’m not!" Brion insisted, desperation in his voice. "I keep trying to tell you! My uncle set me up!"
"Lies!" another rebel shrieked. "Lord Prince Sylar is a great ally! We’ll not tolerate your slanderous tongue!"
Holy shit, did Sylar somehow influence this civil war to get Brion killed so he didn’t have to do it himself? Sam thought to himself. He then sighed and conjured his green katana.
"Whoa! Whoa!" the rebels cried out as they saw his weapon.
"Sorry, can’t let you do that!" Sam said as he rushed forward and used the hilt of his sword to knock the rebels unconscious. He didn’t want to kill them because they were just desperate from the high taxes. He then sliced the noose.
"Thank you! But why’d you save me?" Brion asked.
"Your mother sent me," he revealed. "You should have listened to her warning."
Brion hung his head and sighed. "You’re right... She knew something was up. I never would have thought Uncle Sylar would betray me..."
"Well, you’ll have time to think more about it later," Sam said as he motioned for Brion to follow him. "Right now, we need to get you out of here."
The prince shook his head. "As a Crown Prince and a visitor here, I feel it’s my obligation to help end this conflict before it becomes a full blown civil war."
"It’s a little late for that, man," Sam replied with a low chuckle.
"Well, I have to try something," he insisted.
"Where is your uncle now?" Sam asked.
"We were fleeing together, then he turned and told those rebels I was loyal to the Chancellor," Brion explained. "After that, he ran ahead and vanished into the crowd."
"Where do you think he’s headed?" Sam inquired further.
Brion shrugged. "Probably back to the docks to take his ship and return to Braska."
"Not if I get to him first," Sam said, gripping his sword tighter.
"Please, just let him live," Brion begged. "What he did was wrong, and I want him to be held accountable, but he’s still my uncle and I love him."
"I’m sorry, but your mother hired me to kill him," Sam revealed.
"Whatever price she offered you to assassinate him, I’ll double it if you let him live," the prince promised.
"It’s not quite that simple," Sam replied with a snort. "The price is that she’ll join my harem."
Brion’s eyes widened, and then he just facepalmed. "Mother, you’ve become so promiscuous since Father died..." he said quietly.
"I can promise that I will make it quick, as a courtesy to you," Sam pledged. "And then I’m taking you back to your mother."
"I’m not leaving until this conflict is settled," Brion insisted, crossing his arms. "And if you don’t help me end it, I’ll forbid my mother from joining your harem. I’ll lock her in the dungeon if I have to."
Sam’s eyes narrowed. "Bold of you to assume you can command me."
"You want my mother without any problems? That’s what it’s going to take," the prince said, his face serious. "That, and you have to let Sylar live. Capture only, not kill."
Sam looked at him for a long moment, and then laughed and slapped Brion’s shoulder. "You got guts, kid! I like that!"
"Who’re you calling kid? You don’t look that much older than me!" the prince exclaimed.
"Good point," Sam said, then nodded. "Alright, kid, let’s go capture Sylar and then put this whole conflict to rest."
"Stop calling me kid," Brion commanded.
"Sorry, kid," Sam replied with a smirk. "That’s the kinda man I can’t be!"
"Are we really gonna just thrust ourselves into this civil war?" Gabrielle asked, worried.
"You wanna smash Valanta too, don’t you?" Sam asked. All three girls nodded. "Well, there you have it."
"Oh my god, she’s my mother!" the prince shrieked. "Can you please not talk about her like that in front of me?!"
"Sorry, kid," Sam repeated his line from before. "That’s the kinda man I can’t be!"
Brion just sighed and facepalmed again while Sam and the girls all laughed.