Divine Heritage: Only I Can Judge The gods-Chapter 17: Never Trust a Friend

The next day was much like the previous days, only a little different.

The news of his feats had spread around the camp like wildfire. Everyone was talking about how he had braved the odds despite the conditions and had come out on top.

All eyes were on Ark, the lower ranked guards looked at him with admiration while the lord's guards looked at him with disdain.

And a little bit of fear.

It was funny really, Ark was not actually skilled when it came to fighting. He could swing a sword at best but when it came to tact and battle technique he was severely lacking.

His only strong point was his strength.

If they were to all go at him at once...

He didn't like to think about what would happen.

Ark was currently seated among the same set of people he had sat with from the very beginning, just that this time it was a far larger crowd.

They were still discussing the events of the previous nights themselves while Ark sat, not paying them any mind.

"I would have loved to see his face when you brought the head of that beast!"

"The commander must have been scared, trembling even."

"And they thought you would never come back! Vile scum!" A bolder member of the audience said.

This caused an eruption of murmurs amongst them, it felt like they all felt the same way. After all, Ark had not been the only one suffering from their abuse.

Michael happened to stroll into the camp at that exact moment, joining the conversation as though he had been hearing them before he got close.

"The Lord's guards are cruel, they still have our lady locked up like a criminal!"

His hands balled into a fist, his fingers tightening so much that they became white.

"If only..."

That was where his voice trailed off instead, he just plummeted on the log looking utterly defeated.

The formerly jovial atmosphere had suddenly become more dull.

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Everyone had their reservations about the lord, but with no leader to direct them and the man who held the most influence, Michael, looking as defeated as he was, no one dared to make a move.

And yet this was the perfect opportunity to sow even more fear.

"Just make sure to protect yourselves, who knows what they are going to do next?"

With that Ark got up and walked away from the group.

When you only rarely speak, people tend to pay more attention the few times you do. Luck had left them with a message, or rather a threat of sorts.

He had hinted at a potential danger in their camp and left it up to their imagination to do the work.

In his case he had been given a suicidal task, what would they soon do to them?

That was what he wanted them to think and from the silence that filled shortly after, Ark was sure his words had done the job.

Just as Ark was walking away from them, Michael hurriedly ran to catch up with him until they could walk side by side.

"Hey man!"

"Michael, what's up?"

His eyes darted around, as though he was looking to check if anyone was watching and then his voice became low as he spoke:

"Let's find a place with fewer eyes, it's about the lady..."

Ark acted as though he had not heard anything and simply followed Michael until they arrived at an area a little distant from camp.

When Michael finally stopped walking, he turned to face Ark, his face hard.

"Why don't you start a rebellion?"

Ark perked up a brow.

'Is this guy serious?'

Starting a rebellion was paramount to treason, he would be betraying the Lord he served as well as putting his life and the life of others in danger.

Ark was very sure Michael knew the consequences and yet he seemed hell bent on it.

"I know what you're thinking! Why would I do something so stupid? But think about it, you said it yourself... we don't know what they're going to do next."

"What if they start eliminating us one by one? Although, I doubt that is possible since they need our services..."

He seemed a little confused as he racked his brain for possible reasons to start a rebellion.

"We'll keep getting maltreated you know? This time it might have been just a joke with you but what if they did something more dangerous to someone next time?"

Ark's eyes narrowed slightly.

He was still feeling the pain from the fight with the snow beast and here Michael was playing it off as a joke.

"Our lady too might be in danger—"

"No."

That was Ark's simple answer.

"I can't risk my life leading a rebellion that could very much cost me my life."

He held onto Michael's shoulders.

"I know you like the lady..." Ark noticed a faint blush on his cheeks. "...But let's leave the matter of nobles to nobles, anything else and you're going to get yourself killed."

Michael did not respond after that, he simply looked away and after some time they decided to head back.

There was no protest or argument.

But once they got back to the camp, it was very obvious that he had not heeded his warning.

The way he spoke to the rest of the camp was the same, he was looking for someone to lead a rebellion, for his sake...

***

It was once again time for guard duty, normally Ark was meant to be off duty for at least two days but it seemed this was the only way the chief could think of punishing him.

Ark secured his sword and dagger but just before leaving he walked past Michael and nudged him with his foot.

And then he left the camp as though nothing had happened.

But the ever perceptive Michael knew what that nudge meant.

Ark had gone back to the spot where they had met earlier and waited in the snow. Shortly after, his friend arrived.

"My goodness! I knew that tap wasn't for nothing! Who would have thought... So, what do you need?"

Ark walked towards him, his expression dark.

"I have decided to do what you've suggested. Let's start a rebellion..."

Michael's eyes widened slightly.

"You can't b serio—"

Ark brought his hand to his mouth, silencing him.

His voice was a harsh whisper as he spoke. It was comical watching a boy with a smaller build talk to a more able bodied man like he was his student.

"Not here!"

Ark looked around, his gestures very elaborate.

"You should know a better spot, let's head farther from camp."

Michael nodded fiercely and began to lead them both away from the camp, along with every potential eavesdropper that might walk into them.

They walked for about an hour, during that time Micheal had tried on many occasions to get the plan out of Ark but he simply remained silent, urging him to wait until they were completely secured.

They walked for what seemed to be an hour before Ark was finally satisfied with the distance.

"This should be far enough."

Michael let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally we've been—"

His words were cut short as he was suddenly overwhelmed by the dreadfully cold sensation of Ark's dagger plunging deep into his back, and gripping his heart, in its cold embrace.