Word of King Ura's decree reached the scattered camps before nightfall. Whispers rippled through the tents and ramshackle huts like wind through dry grass: Surrender the Mad King, and the past would be forgiven. The stolen grain would be theirs to keep.
Among the unarmed, fear and greed stirred in equal measure. Some had followed the Mad King out of desperation, others out of awe, but few had forgotten how brutally he had risen to power. Still, many were tired. They feared that the water tribe soilders would match to their camp and killed them all. The idea of peace, even at the cost of betrayal was tempting.
It was in the third encampment, deep in the Ashen where the first plot was born. Seven men, once woodcutters and field hands, gathered under the veil of darkness. Their leader, a broad-shouldered man named Derren, had once lost a brother to the Mad King's punishments. Another had been flogged for speaking out. The rest merely wanted the safety king Ura promised.
"He is no king," Derren said, voice low but firm. "He is just a mad boy playing war. We tie him up, offer him to the soldiers, and this all ends."
Darren had never truly been loyal to the mad King. He had joined the team for a chance to avenge his brother but he had waited for two years with no chance. Now that king Ura has spoken he felt he finally had the chance to act.
"Tie him? Just the seven of us? Have you forgotten that he once fought against ten men and killed them all?" One of the men asked.
"If you are scared then get lost," Darren was angry to be reminded of that fight after all his brother was one of the men that had died in that fight.
"Darren, he has a point, a mad is not easy to fight against. He is not scared of death but if we are going to die first, I would rather oppose the water tribe Army," another raised his objection.
Everyone acknowledged his words, after all betraying the mad King was a chance for survival. Apart from the grains from the military camp, there were also riches stolen from the Steward of the water tribe. If the mad King died it would be their but if they die before they could try it made no sense.
"I work close to the kitchen where his food is prepared, let poison him. As long as he is weak tying him up and delivering him should be easy," someone suggested.
The others nodded.
Even with a well thought out plan capturing the Mad King proved no easy task. He slept little and trusted no one. His tent was always guarded, and even his food was tasted first by the pet he raised. For three nights the conspirators tried and failed. On the fourth night, the Mad King himself summoned Derren.
When Derren arrived he noticed there were four other men in the tent.
"You think I don't know?" he asked calmly, seated before a dying fire, a blade across his lap.
The four men looked at each other. They each had a group that they lead secretly to eliminate the mad king.
One of the men fell to his knees. "It's not too late. Give yourself up. We're finished otherwise."
The Mad King laughed, not a madman's cackle, but something quieter, colder. "Finished? You think king Ura will let rats live after they've tasted grain? He'll burn you all, after he's used you."
The four men looked at each other, "no matter what king Ura would not kill us all, it is a chance to survive if you surrender. Those water tribe Steward would not longer short pay us. Nothing is more important than surviving," anotheran said.
The other three men nod in agreement but Derren said nothing.
"I will not surrender, this is your last chance to pledge alliance," the mad King said. He looked at the four men and waited for them to make a choice.
Derren rose slowly, bowed, and left. Even without King Ura's offer he wanted to deal with the mad king. He was unwilling to give up the chance. He felt that it was either he succed or die trying.
Seeing that the mad king did not stop him but let him go, another also stoold and imitate Darren leaving. Seeing the two leave successfully the other three also bowed and left together.
"Let join hands," Derren reached out to the leaders of the other group after they exited the man king's tent.
At first they were reluctant but after talking for a while, there realized that it was better to join hands as it offers a better chance for success.
"Let attack him together tonight, countimg there are fifty of us. No matter how strong he is, he would not defeat us all," Derren said.
"I would never fight thead king head on. Even if like you said, fifty of us can bring him down but would he just stand by and let us tie him. The mad king is ruthless. I want a chance of survival not die," one of the men refused.
"If you are not willing to take a chance, then leave us," Derren frown.
"Do you people want to follow his plan, I tell you, he would push you in front to die while he reap the benefits. Did you not hear that in the last three days, two of his followers already lost their lifes?" The man said not taking a step to leave.
"Are you a spy for the mad king?" Derren frown seeing that the other three men began to hesitant.
"Ahh! You don't let others tell the truth, if I were a spy for the mad king will I make it so obvious? Perhaps I can suspect you as a spy, after all, how did you men die while you remain fine. Are you planning to send us to the mad king for our death?" The man argued.
"You are talking nonsense Tair, I think you are here to cause confusion," Derren said.
"Who want to follow me? I have some fire oil , I stole from a water tribe Steward. Two of my men are guards for the mad king. With their help we can set his tent on fire and burn him. Even if he managed to excape the fire, he would be weak, which is a perfect opportunity to attack," Tair said.
The other three men thought about it, his plan had a better chance of survival. Perhaps, they would not need to risk their life.
"I will join your team, what can we help with," one man immediately said. The other two joined. As they were about to leave, Derren also decided to join. After all, he hope to avenge his brother not die before he succeed.
That same night, the traitors traitor made there move. Since they would not capture the Mad King.
They would burn him.
At dawn, while the camp still slept and the sky remained iron gray, Derren and fair lead their men to soaked the Mad King's tent with oil and pitch. They lit the corners with trembling hands, then fled into the rocks, listening for screams.