Chapter 15: All Roads Lead to Zozo ---------------------------------- Koro reluctantly trudged behind the man, leaning on Bit partially for support. He noticed Zozo looming on the horizon, silently taunting him. The familiar rain washed over everything, leaving only dead scrub and buildings full of cutthroats that the area would do much better without. Several of Cinder's men echoed the boy's thought. They stared at the ground, fingering knives worredly. Only Bromis seemed sure of himself, going ahead of the group to scout around. Cinder mentioned that the man had grown up in Zozo, knowing the hidden paths and traps. A rustle made one man fire a flurry of arrows rapidly, causing the creature to fall out of the bushes. The leader kicked it with the toe of his boot, and grunted. "Good job, Argon," he remarked with scorn. "It took a real act of bravery to bring down an unarmed squirrel. Dell, relieve him of his bow, as he doesn't seem to know how to use it properly." Argon cried out in protest, not wanting to be without a weapon, but the other man grabbed it from him. Dell was happy about it, not having a bow of such quality. Bromis came striding back, a black corpse slung over one shoulder. "Shot this up front, boss. Pretty good eatin', these deer." Cinder nodded with approval, while gesturing at it with a claw. He turned to the rest, and said, "This is an example of what I want to see you guys doing, morons. Bromis is a saint compared to you losers." Angry mumbles came from the group, low and unhearable. Koro was uncertain as to whether or not he should bolt away from them. Obviously Cinder wasn't pleased with his men, and they could quite possibly desert or even kill him. Either way, it would make him easy prey for the men or a wild beast passing through. Bromis lit a fire, roasting the meat. An aroma soon drifted through the air, causing everyone to grow suddenly hungry. Selin chopped up the meat with his rusty sword, distributing it out on the end of sticks. Cinder whistled softly, and was slowly meandering over to Koro in an attempt at subtlety. "So how long have you been searching, I mean working, for him?" He sat down, putting his hands in his pockets. "After all, with a famous guy like Mr. Pier..." "Pierce," Koro corrected. "... Pierce, it must be hard to land a job with him. Eh?" Cinder took off his claws, cleaning off the chunks of deer meat that were stuck on the points. "Good money?" "Ah, well. Average money, but great benefits. Really wasn't that hard in getting it. My parents worked with him for many, many years. Helped him dig up the Fossils of Magi, last year. Remember those? Gave them quite a time, really." The man turned red in the face, although nodding. "Who could forget? An event no true, uh, smart person could not know." An awkward silence hung in the air. "Well, I'd better go see what those idiots are doin'." He backed off to supposedly carry it out. Koro finished the meal. He was full, although hungered for something with a taste, not just the blandness of wild deer. Argon and the man Selin started playing cards on a tree stump, while Dell brooded in the shadows of a large oak tree. Cinder warmed his hand to the fire. Bit, who had been hastily tied to a post in the ground, came up to Koro with a knot of rope in her mouth. She pressed her beak into him, begging for food. He tore some grass from a patch and fed it to her. The chocobo chirped in appreciation. "You're much smarter than some Flytail," he whispered to her. Bromis rushed back to camp, with a wearied look. He was breathing raspily. "It's... the Empire," the man managed to blurt out. "Whole... unit of Armors... on guard." Koro leapt up. "What?! Empire? Give me a break. There... isn't any Empire any more. You must have been seeing things." The others nodded in agreement. "Edgar's dead." "Haven't you heard? Some idiot named Akfek and his pet girl started another one. With real Magitek, 'n stuff. Like we said, whole troop stationed... in Zozo. No way that we c'n fight power like that." Bromis breathed deeply. "Now wait a minute," Cinder said, staring his comrade straight in the eye. "When did I give the command 'bout not fightin' 'em?" His second-in-command was at a lost for words. "Got men in there, and I don't desert my men. We're going to fight those soldiers. I ain't never lost to nobody, and I ain't gonna start now. You guys thinkin' on desertin' me?" "We didn't know there was troops there. That's different. Can't 'spect normal guys like us to battle them," someone argued. "Normal guys?" Cinder sneered. "You're wimps, that's what. 'Normal' guys enjoy fightin', an' even start most of it!" Some grumbles rumbled from the men. Argon stood, with Selin looking on. "Look here, Cinder. We've served you well, always fighting your battles, killing your enemies. Never questioned you, neither. Always trustin' you. But now, we could honestly get killed out there. Bromis 'imself said that there's soldiers out there, in whole suits of that Magitek stuff! I, for one, ain't goin'." Dell gave a weak cry of agreement, instantly hushed by a glance from Cinder. He snorted, placing his hands on his hips critically. "So, boys. You thinkin' about disobeying me? That won't get you far. I'll continue, with or without anybody. Except," he pulled Koro forward, "this fine fellow. He's gonna lead me to treasure! Less of you means more for me! "Maybe you don't care about money and gold. But who'll be your leader, eh? Thought about that? I'm the only one with knowledge about this place. Nobody to lead you out of here. What about that, fools?" Selin drew his dagger. "Bromis knows the way." Cinder turned to Bromis. "You figurin' on joining them, my man? Thinkin' of joining the chicken-hearted?" The man thought a minute, then shook his head slowly. "See, boneheads? Your guide doesn't seem to want to come with you. The man opposing him advanced. "You're forcing him to. Let him go, or I'll slay you on the spot. This is suicide, Cinder. Look at the odds of survival." A heavy drizzle started, a passing storm from the city limits of Zozo. He roared with laughter. "Slay me? Don't count on it, Master Selin!" Quicker than lightning, a dagger flew through the air, aimed for Cinder's throat. But he raised his left claw even quicker, making it glance off harshly. He threw a dart quickly after, it sinking into Selin's chest. The man sank to the ground, gasping for air. His face landed in the dirt, dead. "So, any more wish to leave?" Silence. "Good. Amazing what some rain can do to bring out a rebellious air in people." He kicked at the glowing embers, putting out all light. Only the crumpled body of Selin told of their presence, blood seeping from the deep chest wound into the damp soil. The group picked up their things, and marched quietly into the dark, rainy gloom.