For the entire night and most of the following day July didn’t speak to anyone. Outside the settlement he sat on the high bank of the river and stared into space for hours on end. Tom worried for him but the best he could do was get up to date with business at Haven and make sure his new companions settled in. Even though July wanted to be alone Alice still brought him some food and a blanket, but when Thomas checked on him that night he hadn’t touched them.
The welcoming party by the Royalists that Tom had to deal with went pretty well as expected. Sal, the commanding officer, was a shallow and abusive man. On his orders, the group’s weapons were confiscated as well as what remained of their money. It took everything in their power to stop Charlie from killing Sal when he touched her Barret M82.
Tom also feared for Wade, even though the man was a bandit and a liar, because July wanted him alive and it was hard to tell how the Royalists dealt with Raider captives, although it was likely not very pretty. When Tom and Alice brought some food and clothes to Wade’s jail cell they sat with him as he explained the true reason why he was with them; the Raiders attacked his home, killed anyone who fought back or ran away, leaving Wade no choice but to join their ranks if he wanted to survive. He admitted to killing three civilians on Leah Mackenzie’s orders however he saved many more by warning them before each of Leah’s attacks. When Leah began to suspect him of being a traitor he risked an escape and fled to the Sun Children’s cache, where he met with July and Tom.
So far Sal and his Royalist underlings had said few words to Tom and his group, but they were constantly watching from afar, and it made Tom nervous, though not as much as Charlie as she watched the Royalists with murderous eyes. It was time to act before someone got hurt. Tom visited July again, he had returned to Sophia’s gravestone and once again stood motionless.
“Get everyone,” July said, a new grim determination in his voice. “Charlie, Jodie, Alice, and Leonard and Granny, and anyone else who’s important. Find someplace we can meet and don’t tell the Royalists.”
Thirty minutes later the new small council gathered around a large table with July at the head; the others had bathed and changed their clothes since their arrival however July still wore his dirty rugged attire. Leonard sat at the end of the table on July’s right, he was a short middle-aged man, a little scrawny, but very neat. Granny sat across from Leonard, and anyone else at the table was a close associate to the two of them.
“So, July, care to tell us why you called us here?” Leonard demanded, leaning back with his arms crossed.
“I think it’s time we made another attempt to push the Royalists out of our territory. I’ve been thinking…”
“What gives you the right to show up and tell us what to do with our land?” Leonard snapped. “And if I remember correctly, this hasn’t been your territory for ten years.”
“At least I actually call it home instead of selling it off to some Royalist dogs.”
“These people put me in charge of protecting them. I won’t let you undermine my authority while you’re here.”
“Look, I’m not trying to undermine you. I’m just putting forward a proposition. I understand you went through some tough times while I was gone but I’m here now and I know I can help.”
Leonard opened his mouth again but Granny raised her hand and silenced him. She turned to July. “I know you want to help, dear. Let’s hear what you have to say.”
“Thank you, Granny. Okay, so, the first time the Royalists came to Haven Alister managed to push them straight back out, however, even though his heart was in the right place, I think what he did was a mistake. The Royalists aren’t just someone we can go up against head to head.” July paused. “I think we should try and broker some kind of peace.”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been doing,” Leonard pointed out.
“Becoming their bitch doesn’t exactly count as making peace,” said Charlie.
“Charlie’s right,” July went on. “There’s a difference between being a subordinate and being an ally. We have to prove to the Royalists that we don’t take any shit, that we are independent, and that we are willing to give them something they want in return for their cooperation.”
“For their cooperation?” said Leonard, aghast. “Christ man! You said it yourself, we can’t mess around with an enemy like that, especially when our militia and its leader are locked up somewhere.”
“Which brings us to the first stage of my plan.” July leaned forward and locked his fingers together. “We’ll need to dig Alister and his men out of whatever hole they’ve been thrown into.”
“And how to you plan on doing that?” said Leonard.
“Just leave that to me. I don’t intend on making any moves that risk the safety of Haven until I know for certain that we can defend it.” He opened up a large map and laid it across the table. “Once we have the manpower and resources required, our little rebellion can commence. From what I saw there are only a handful of soldiers watching the settlement at any one time, they shouldn’t be too hard to deal with.”
“Perhaps,” said Leonard, “but there’s an entire garrison stationed at Red-Rock Pass, more than enough to wipe us out if we do anything aggressive, and more than enough to deal with a small militia fresh out of prison.”
“Don’t worry,” July smirked. “I have a few ideas about that as well.” He glanced from Leonard to Granny. “I promise this will keep all of us safe. But I need your blessing first.”
“You have it dear, but if you screw this up you’ll have to answer to me, you hear?”
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