"Who let it slip?"
I've been in here for a while to now guess who's voice it was, without looking up. And currently, I was only about to fall asleep on my bed, when I heard Ronan and Judah talking.
I didn't want to eavesdrop, it's just that I couldn't avoid listening to it.
It was too quiet in the room, and Wallace was asleep already.
"What do you mean?" Judah asked, as he climbed down from his bunker to have a face-to-face talk with Jonan.
"Someone told the commoners why they were locked up for so many days. They've known it for a while too, now." Jonan whisper yelled.
"How did you know?"
"I heard them think about it. Was it Wallace?"
"You can't just invade someone's-"
"It's not time for one of your lectures, brother. This is important." Jonan cut him off.
There was shuffling, and that's all I could hear as I kept my eyes closed. Then my bunker creaked.
"Yes, I was the one." So Wallace was awake? And he decided to speak up? "And I think they deserve to know."
"This is not something you tell them." Jonan sounded annoyed.
"Yeah? Then go on, tell me off." Wallace grunted. "You nobles have no idea what it's like to be a commoner or treated like one. These commoners want to fight for you. Are you guys that impudent?"
"Calm down, guys, we need to be-"
"You really need to get off that high horse!"
There was more shuffling until something else creaked and a groan left Wallace's mouth. I couldn't just pretend to be sleeping anymore.
I bolted upright, looking directly at the scene uncovering in front of me.
Jonan had a little dagger like blade in his hand pointing to Wallace's neck, almost cutting it open.
"What the heck are you doing?" Judah pried Jonan away from Wallace, as I got down the bunker.
"What are you doing?" I stood in between Jonan and Wallace.
"Hey, move-" Wallace gritted his teeth, but I had to hold him back for a while as I glared at the nobles.
"So you can read minds? You're a psychic, aren't you?" I gulped, I didn't know what was going through me to act this way, but I wanted to defend Wallace for once. "Is that why you're always quiet? You never speak because you just know everything already about everyone?"
"It's not how it seems." Judah pushed his cousin behind himself. "Listen to me."
"Does he read what they feel too?" I ignored Judah completely, making eye contact with Jonan instead. "Do you know know, their thoughts, as a commoner?"
"Quinn."
"No, let him speak." Wallace growled. "Tell me one thing, you noble," He pushed me aside effortlessly, and came forth. This might as well turn into who can shove each other the best. "Are you really using commoners as bait?"
Wallace wasn't recovered yet, he was injured and needless to say he was in pain as he stood too. I could only imagine how he showed no signs of being in agony physically.
"Do you think we want to?" Jonan bit his lip in frustration.
"I think you're better than that." Wallace clenched his fists. "Atleast, you are."
"Right, right." Judah interrupted, pushing Wallace back onto his bed so he could sit down. The younger only hissed in discomfort, before giving in.
We took a seat, just like Judah wanted us to, before he sighed.
I wasn't letting them take commoners as bait. I will never let that happen. How many more lives are they willing to sacrifice to win a fight that the nobles themselves started?
"We weren't the one who wanted this." Judah explained, but I didn't want to show any change in my opinion. "The higher ups in the capital thought about this."
"And?" Wallace tutted. "Didn't you go against it?"
"We weren't aware."
"Don't give me that excuse."
"But we can think of something else." Jonan moved forward on the bunker to lean in. "We need to make sure the higher ups think the stage is their's."
"While we'll be the ones who sets up the stage." Judah completed the whole statement. "They will never know until they see it themselves."
"Do you mean," I spoke, "We can actually get them out of here?"
"No." the eldest among all of us shook his head. "We cannot do that. This playground isn't ours to claim." He looked at me through corners of his eyes. "Yet."
Can I trust them? Can I really trust them?
I want to, today. Maybe I will.
All of them, nobles or not, were surely something on their own. Together, we might have a greater chance to save everyone.
"What if it's too late?" Wallace suddenly asked, getting uneasy. "What if the higher ups find out before we make a move?"
"More like, what if Vadon attacks before we execute the plan." Jonan layed down on his back. "There are infinite what if's. We can't save everyone, afterall."
We can, can't we? Maybe we can save everyone. And it's pretty miserable to even think about all those people who might get pushed into doing something totally unimaginable.
Pawns.
We were all pawns in their hands.
"Who.." I looked warily at everyone. "Who are these higher ups anyway?"
I heard a snicker from Wallace. "Higher ups are basically all of those who rule in the capitals. And since none of the other young nobles remain, it's just the old ones taking back their authority." He rolled his eyes. "But who's gonna explain to bunch of old men how the generations have changed?"
"And that too, in a situation like this?"
I enjoyed the silence, while I processed what they told me about.
Thinking about this, would they know? Should I ask them about what I've wanted to know all this time?
Will they tell me?
"I wonder," I gripped the sheets of the bed I was sitting on. "Why is Vadon doing this?"