Two middle-aged men with typical Lysene features were walking through the streets of Lys. Nearly two dozen Unsullied surrounded them, a few holding fire torches that provided them with light in the darkness and was casting long, wavering shadows on the walls.
It was deep into the night, not far from dawn. The city had quieted, but there was a hidden chaos brewing beneath the silence.
It had started when an Unsullied had come to deliver a letter to them, late in the night.
"What do you think this is about, Magister?" the first man asked, slight tension forming on his face.
The second man shook his head.
"Like the rest of you, I have no idea," he replied. "The letter from the First Magister was… very unusual."
"Yes," the first man agreed. "He merely asked us to gather at his home after midnight and to send a hundred Unsullied to his compound. Quietly, without drawing attention."
"More importantly," the second man added, in a whisper, "he specifically instructed us not to speak of this to anyone else. And under no circumstances were the free soldiers to be involved."
Both magisters could only think of one possibility. Rebellion.
"Maybe Magister Iklis knows something we do not," the first man said. "Hopefully he has a plan to deal with it."
"Yeah," the second man replied. "It must be. And perhaps the problem is not that large yet. Otherwise, he would not have asked for only a hundred Unsullied."
A letter had been sent from the First Magister to every other magister at Adrian's insistence before the man was killed. The letter instructed them to gather at his mansion after midnight and to dispatch one hundred Unsullied each, sent in small batches to avoid drawing attention. This was all part of the second phase of Adrian's plan.
(Black Dog POV)
I was a free person now. That mysterious man, in a strange and unexpected fashion, had freed all of us. Yet none of us had chosen to leave. We still chose to serve him but simply being called free gave us a sense of pride and respect we had never felt in all our years.
He had also granted us the right to choose names for ourselves. Names of freedom. I would choose a new name for myself but only after completing this task. And this was the first act of free choice I had made.
We all decided to follow him, to become a small part of the grand dream he had proclaimed. The dream to build a grand empire sounded foolish, absurd and idiotic but coming from his mouth, it felt like a gospel. He made us believe he could truly achieve it.
Capturing a city alone, with no force behind you, was madness. Yet he had already succeeded halfway. Now he had 900 men under his command who were willing to die at a single word from him. And more forces were about to join us.
Aside from the initial 900, there were now nearly 3,100 men standing assembled in the compound. Though the space was cramped, there was no disorder or lack of discipline. This was what we were known for.
Of the 25 magisters who had been sent letters, 22 were currently in the city. The other three were away on trade matters.
I recognized some of the Unsullied faces. Like me, they had served other magisters for years. Stoic. Expressionless. With dead eyes.
But not for much longer. Very soon, they too would be free. Very soon, they would know liberty and respect.
It was then that the last two magisters we had been waiting for entered the compound. I noticed the flicker of surprise on their faces as they saw the 3,100 assembled men.
I did not move. I did not need to. A man under my command was quick to approach and escort them into the interior of the mansion, where all the magisters were gathering.
Meanwhile, another man immediately began organizing the two dozen Unsullied they had brought as guards into proper formation.
(Third POV)
The two magisters were led into a large hall of the mansion, a sense of anxiety clear on their faces.
"The First Magister seems to have gathered all his Unsullied here," the first man whispered.
"Yes," the second man nodded. "Maybe because this is his own house, he did not have the risk of drawing too much attention by bringing them all together here. If we have brought all our forces, it could not have been done without creating a ruckus."
"Maybe," the first man replied, though uncertainty lingered in his voice.
"We do not really have to worry," the second magister continued. "Even if there is some trouble, we must remain united with the rest of the magisters. Together, we command 2,200 men."
"If the First Magister had wanted something from us, he would have asked us to come alone," he added.
The two continued on in silence until they reached the main hall. It was brightly lit by flame torches fixed to the walls.
All the magisters were seated around a very large rectangular table. Various dishes and wines had been laid out, and a few magisters had not hesitated to indulge themselves.
"Where is Magister Iklis?" one of the pair asked another magister.
"We have not seen him since we arrived," the magister replied, swallowing a mouthful of wine. "Only the slaves and servants have been tending to us."
"I asked one of them, probably the head maid," he continued. "She said Magister Iklis is busy with something important and would join us as soon as everyone had gathered."
"Now that the two of you are here, he will most likely come soon."
The two men nodded and took their seats. Although the magisters spoke little, their faces were lined with anxiety. Along with that, a growing frustration was creeping in at being made to wait so long.
But the wait was almost over now.
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