Broken City

Chapter Twenty Eight

“No,” Tom looks straight at me. “We’re going back to Andak city. We are better equipped and we have the infrastructure to organize a defence.”

“So there’s definitely going to be more fighting?” I ask quietly.

“I’m sorry, Deeta, if there was another way I’d be the first to try it—but we’re dealing with the Lewis’s…they know no other way.”

We enter the great hall to find Robin conversing pleasantly with Ryder, they both break off as they see Tom coming.

“I always seem to be saying goodbye to you Tom,” Robin smiles.

“Not this time, Rob, is there somewhere we can talk?”

“Right here if you’d like, what’s wrong?” asks Robin.

“First of all we need to get a few things straight—”

Robin holds up a hand in front of him, stemming the flow of Tom’s words.

“Its okay Tom, we sorted that out last time you were here—Andak is your name, it isn’t who you are.”

“Thanks Rob, I’m grateful—I wish it were that. Ryder was the man in charge of the attack on your compound.”

Robin’s face whitens and he turns to Ryder whose eyes have narrowed in on Tom.

“Is this true?” Robins voice is hoarse.

“Every word,” replies Ryder.

“I needed to tell you that, to be up front with you in case later you heard it from a different source—you have a right to know and base your decision on all of the facts.”

“What decision?” asks Robin sharply.

“There’s going to be a battle,” answers Tom. “Not a fight or a skirmish but a battle. Did you think that we were the only ones to survive, that the people of this city were the only ones left—we’re not. There is a Tribe from a nearby town, the Lewis’s, and they want control of this city, the Andak’s have always stood in the way but at the moment we are weak and unprepared for attack—we can’t do this by ourselves, Robin, we need the help of every tribe to make a stand—we all have to work together if any of us are to survive.”

“You’re asking for my help?” asks Robin. “You destroy my tribe and then ask me to help you?”

“I’m asking you to help yourself, the Lewis’s aren’t a friendly bunch—they’ll kill you on principal so that when they absorb your tribe into their own there won’t be any lingering loyalty to the previous leader…my tribe can help you to rebuild this place, help you to get back on your feet—but we can’t do that if the Lewis’s have wiped us out.”

For a moment there is silence.

“I have nothing but your word, Tom, how do I know that these people don’t just want to destroy your tribe?”

“My word used to be good enough—we were friends once.”

Robin silently considers Tom, with a thoughtful expression etched on his face.

“Jay—round every one up, it seems we’re leaving.”

Tom lets out a breath and smiles.

“Thanks, Rob.”

“It’s nothing,” shrugs Robin. “I’ve known you a long time and you’ve never lied to me—whatever you might have left out...why would you start now?”

“Because I’m up to my neck in trouble and need help?”

“Not your style mate.”

~~~~~~~~~