William was stunned to hear Rogas' explanation. What the man had just said was a terrifying plan. Not something to play with. He didn't expect Rogas to think that way. So behind Rogas' intention to join the Taupin army, it turned out that he had planned something bigger. He was about to create an army and counterattack the stronghold of the criminals in Alton.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" William asked, still in disbelief. "Do you already know the strength of your enemy?"
"I know," answered Rogas confidently. "With thirty soldiers, as long as all of them are skilled and will follow my every word, I can destroy them."
"Hmm … yeah, good, if that's the case…"
"Quite clever, right?"
"Not bad." William nodded. "But… I wouldn't believe it if that was your only plan. Just to get rid of them? No. In the end, you will definitely rob Bellion. Yes! You're actually planning to make your own band of robbers!"
"Your thoughts are always negative." Rogas sneered. "Listen, in war, spoils of war are common. And again, they are robbers. We're just going to rob the robbers. We can share the loot with the people they previously robbed. Don't you think that's not a noble act?"
William was silent.
Yes, that seemed like a good move. But it still felt wrong.
"Now you understand, don't you?" continued Rogas. "I have a pretty good plan. So I'm sure you'll want to come with me too."
William shrugged. "As long as the pay is right."
Roger laughed. "That's it! You're a mercenary now! You've studied well! Our future is bright, do you agree?"
"As long as you don't act stupid."
"No. As long as luck is on our side."
"Whatever," said William.
He straightened up to get up from his seat. The sun was almost setting behind the hill. All the soldiers who had gathered in the courtyard had already dispersed. Those living in Orulion returned to their respective homes, while those from other villages went to the front and side verandas of Taupin's house, to sleep there. Tomorrow morning they would all gather again at this place, before embarking on their journey north.
"I'm going to bed," William said. "If I'm lucky, maybe I'll have a sweet dream, in which there's definitely no you in it."
"Who do you wish you were with in your dreams? Muriel? Hey, I can help you."
"Shut up!"
Rogas laughed, then restrained William who was about to leave. "This is serious. If you really wish for luck, I can give you something."
William looked suspiciously.
"Look at this." Rogas reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a reddish-yellow metal ring. "Every time I wear this ring, luck never runs away from me. I always win at gambling, never lose in battle, and also … always have luck with the girls." He chuckled.
"Hmm … if it makes you feel lucky, why don't you put it on your finger and instead keep it in your pocket?"
"I used to wear it often."
"I never saw it."
"It's your fault if you never see it," said Rogas. "But I'm serious, it's a lucky ring. If you want, I'll give it to you."
William took the ring, studied it. Despite Rogas' remarks about luck, it was indeed an attractive ring and probably quite expensive. "Yes, this is a fine ring. But if you give it to me, then your luck is lost."
"I have another lucky item," Rogas smirked again as he showed William his necklace. The necklace was black and in front of it hung three thumb-sized bear hooves. "This is something better. With that ring, I've won ten sazets, but with this necklace, I've won thirty!" Roger laughed. A moment later, his expression changed. "Unfortunately, while using both, I lost fifty! Outrageous! Since then I have never used them together. I ended up wearing the ring less often. Now, instead of wasting it, I'll offer it to you."
"You're talking like any other bullshit you said yesterday," William said. "I don't believe it. But, if you really want to give it, I'd be grateful."
"I gave it to you."
"Okay, thanks."
"Put it on." Rogas watched William who was still hesitating. "Then tell me tomorrow, what you did with Muriel in your dream." He laughed out loud again.
William wore the ring, thinking it might not hurt. Who knows, maybe what Rogas said this time was true.
Turns out, in the end, it was still bullshit. When he woke up the next day, William could hardly believe that last night he really hoped to have a sweet dream just because he was wearing the ring that Rogas gave him. In fact, William was fast asleep like a baby. No dreams at all.
Or maybe he should consider himself lucky for not having nightmares and being able to wake up refreshed? William looked at the ring on his finger, then got up from his bed and left the ring on his finger.
All the soldiers had gathered. Thirty people. Plus William, Rogas and Taupin. The weapons were distributed, then they immediately headed north along the Ordelahr River using six boats. There is no release ritual with the villagers. Even though there was a possibility that they would return home in just a name if a battle did occur and they were unlucky. But maybe, if the sadness really existed, these people had released it yesterday in their respective homes.
While rowing a strange feeling came over William. He remembered his mother's message that she did not want him to return to the north. Now he really went there. More than that, he went to confront Hualeg's men. William has half of Hualeg's blood in his body, and now he will fight them. He felt restless, but strangely, excited at the same time. He knew that no matter what happened, he still wanted to see the faces of that strangers from the north, even if they came as enemies.
The Ordelahr River flows from the mountains in the south to the cold seas in the north. If they passed through the thick forest, they would arrive at the land of the Hualeg people. The six boats can go fast because they move in the direction of the river flow. By sunset, they arrived at the next village. The next day ten people from the village joined in and they continued north.
William and his companions rowed for several days and stopped by many villages. When they finally arrived at Thaluk, the last village to the north, eighty people had joined. Twenty Thaluk residents joined in as well. They made their base in an old building on a cliff. From there they could look far to the north, to the river that meandered and then disappeared into the forest.
William heard someone telling a story. Once upon a time, there were other villages in the north, which meant that Thaluk was not really the northernmost village in the region. But all those villages were destroyed. Only Thaluk survived, thanks to its strategic location in the highlands. In this place, when Hualeg's men came, the villagers could see from afar and had the opportunity to flee to the hills to the east. Their treasures in the village were robbed, but at least their lives were saved.