The group and surviving residents gathered themselves in a deeper section of the catacombs. It seemed like they were traveling farther away from the center of the kingdom.
The sound of boots striking the ground above them could no longer be heard after retreating to this point. Finally the slum faction could catch a breath.
While focused purely on survival and a successful escape, Strom did not have the time to gather his thoughts. But now, as he carefully set Seri down next to Jin and also briefly rested himself, the scene from the slum's sanctum replayed in his mind.
Strom could see that the rat hiding in the Slum King's chamber and the appearance of the kingdom's soldiers definitely had shaken Aaron. The Zephyr council obviously had their dirty hands involved in this. Strom knew that the time he had for his original plan may have been reduced with the Zephyr military already engaged. On top of all that, Strom still had not been able to have a proper talk with Aaron.
But looking over at Aaron now, who was bandaging the stubborn Marcus with rags; Strom knew that it wasn't quite the best time for that.
Sighing, Strom investigated his own wounds. There were no major injuries that needed immediate attention. But the few minor burns he had received in areas his leather scout armor did not cover were still irritating.
"Do you have any injuries?" Asked Aaron after finally finishing his pestering of the proud warrior next to him.
"Nah, I'm all good. How's he doing?" Responded Strom while nodding towards Marcus.
While fleeing from the Zephyr troops, Strom had noticed the warrior was pretty beat up and had suffered the most burns out of the group. However, the prideful warrior had refused his supporting shoulder after they made it a distance away from the destroyed sanctuary.
"I'm fine alright! Can everyone stop worrying about me and just focus on what the hell we're supposed to do now!" Grumbled the peeved warrior after hearing the conversation being directed towards him.
"There's not much to say... We'll go to the mercenaries and regroup. And after that..." Trailed off Aaron.
"War..." Finished Strom.
Aaron and Strom glanced at each other seriously before looking towards the trio of tired kids slumped against the catacomb wall.
"What're you gonna do about the kids..." Murmured Strom.
"I'll have Amira arrange something so that their safe, but until then... We'll have to watch over them." Sighed Aaron while rubbing his covered forehead.
After a moment of further rest, Aaron stood up to declare their next move.
"Alright everyone! I know you are tired and scared, but we need to keep moving!" He shouted.
Many of the residents grumbled as they stood back up while nursing their wounds.
"How can we continue to push forward when even our sanctuary got destroyed!"
"I just lost my family and home... And now this?"
"What the hell are we supposed to do now!"
The surviving slum residents who were now truly on the brink of despair rose up with their unending complaints.
However, the loud clunking sound of metal echoing through the catacomb halls silenced the enraged crowd. Many of the people began to tremble and break out in a cold sweat.
"W-What's that?"
"How can they have caught up already?"
"I don't wanna die!"
The frightened mob cried out in fear, completely losing their rage from mere moments before.
"It's alright! I've made a deal with the mercenaries. They'll be able to help us if we can make it to them!" Aaron explained in hopes of calming the people.
"The foreigners?"
"I saw them! They looked really tough!"
"They've helped us before! Maybe they'll save us!"
Hope was once again sparked in the hearts of these lost souls as Aaron coaxed them into pushing onwards. Although, only mere days ago they had been untrusting of the foreign mercenaries.
The group and residents continued on through the catacombs with a new vigor and hope for survival. But something still felt off for Strom.
'Wait... How were those bastards able to get down here in the first place?'
Strom had used Sigexe to lead the way through the labyrinth like halls of the catacombs. Without his guide, there was no possible way for Strom to have found the sanctuary in the first place. But the Zephyr soldiers had gotten down here on their own.
That rat bastard from before who was spying for them had to have been still inside the sanctuary when the soldiers arrived. So there was no way they had anyone leading them.
'Unless...'
Strom felt a sinking feeling from the bottom of his stomach.
'There could only be two possible ways for those bastards to have located and gotten to the sanctuary. They have a map that was made before the raid or... There's more than just that rat bastard down here spying while mingled in with the crowd.'
A new danger presented itself for the slums. If what Strom just guessed was actually true then that could only mean one thing.
'It's a trap...'
Strom's eyes widened while his fists tightened at the sudden realization.
He glanced back through the number of residents fleeing alongside them with suspicion.
Besides Aaron and his close group surrounding him, no one could be trusted. Strom knew he needed to bring this information to light with Aaron but he had to be extremely careful. If there were more spies mixed into the group then he couldn't raise their suspicions or alert them to any kind of alarm.
Up ahead the pathway broke off into three sections. The large group immediately stopped before this intersection.
"What are we waiting for?"
"Quick, I can hear the soldiers!"
Panic once again emerged within the stagnant group.
Strom looked over towards Aaron and noticed his unusual pause.
'Could he be already thinking the same thing?' Strom wondered.
Aaron suddenly turned towards the crowd and gestured at two separate paths.
"I know we don't have much time but everyone hear me out! Right now you have three choices. The first pathway will take you outside the city where you can flee and hope to survive through a new life. The second is back towards the main district where you can escape by mingling in with the crowds there. As for the third... That is the path my group will be taking and likely the most dangerous. This path leads towards the battlements of the inner kingdom where we will meet the mercenaries for a final stand." Aaron tightened his fists with this statement and raised them in front of the cowering group from the slums.
"Those of you who wish to see the old glory of the Zephyr kingdom follow me! I can't promise you life and I can't promise you a brighter future... But I will promise this... Those who are sick and tired of the famine, the disease, the injustice, and the aftermath of a unwanted war can stand with me to the very end. For the sake of your loved ones, our recently deceased, and our kingdom; We will be victorious in this life and the next!" Exclaimed Aaron passionately.
The muttering people of the slums became silent and stared at one another. After a few seconds of deliberation, three groups split up the remaining faction of the slums.
"Aaron... What are you thinking?" Groaned Marcus as a small group of twenty people raced down a dark tunnel.
"This is for the best." Whispered Aaron.
Strom could notice a small glint in the man's eyes as they continued towards their destination.
Finally a meek glittering of light shone up ahead as a reward for their perseverance.
"We're here..." Muttered Aaron as he carefully hoisted Marcus up an old wooden ladder doused in light from above with the help of Strom.
"Do you think they're gone now?" Whispered Strom as the two men lifted the large injured warrior above them.
"I can't say for certain but I would imagine so." Answered Aaron in a hushed voice.
Two of them stayed back as they let the rest of the group ascend before them, while carefully studying everyone in their small circle.
When it was finally only the two of them at the bottom of the ladder a deep sigh came from them both.
"You were aware of the spies then?" Confirmed Strom while glancing back up at the ladder.
"I wasn't sure but either way, this is for the better." Replied Aaron as he rebandaged a cut on his arm.
"Right... So I'm guessing this isn't the battlements either then." Pointed out Strom with a small smirk.
"No, if there were any spies then they would have taken the second route to alert their superiors about our plans." Sighed Aaron.
'Makes sense...' Nodded Strom in response as Aaron began climbing the ladder.
He was more sure than ever that the man in rags before him must be his brother. After seeing the king's close group and his actions, Strom had felt a familiar connection towards him that he hadn't felt since he had first left the Zephyr kingdom.
All of this time he had continued to push off this confrontation. But with death looming around the corner for them all, Strom's resolve weakened.
The only question was...
How did they end up in this situation right now. The entire reason Strom had left in the first place was to provide support for his small family of "thieves", but somehow it didn't seem like any of that had been received.
And yet again, there was another question Strom had. It would probably be seen as a silly one right now considering their situation. But nevertheless, it held a great significance depending on the answer.
"Aaron..." Strom muttered in a low voice.
The slum king halted his ascension up the wooden ladder for a brief moment.
"There's nothing to say Strom." Responded the king before continuing up the rickety ladder.
Strom hung his head while watching his confirmed brother cross into the space above them that the ladder led to and took a moment alone to ponder.
"Have we really changed that much after such a brief amount of time..." He wondered before climbing the ladder himself.