Kingdoms #7 - Rebels

Ruby spreaded the plans, the brave mother who made Shani run away crying with her tail between her legs.

They hid beneath the capitol, inside enormous ancient caves, used for mighty long metal vehicles of an extinct civilization.

The rebels, gathering, scheming, planning their mutiny to overthrow Zyrah and her family.

“We will strike here”, she pointed at the map, looking at her comrades, “Yen has been gone for days, we have to hurry, this is our chance”, she said in passion.

A messenger entered the hall, “we have word, Yen have been spotted near Shaniaria”

Ruby paused, then made a dire face, “it means she will be here in a matter of days”

“She fought and killed a goddess queen of another kingdom, she’s injured”.

The hall was silent, everyone waited for Ruby to talk.

“Who was it, the other goddess queen, do we know?”

“One of Vera’s daughters, we don’t know, it might be a rumor, but Yen has a broken arm, that’s certain”, the messenger said.

Ruby paused to think again, looking at the plans, then she punched the table hard, “this is it!” She exclaimed, everyone looked at her with anticipation.

“Rey”, she pointed at her lieutenant, “take dozen soldiers, go to Vera’s kingdom, ask for audience”

“R-Ruby it's a journey that might take months, even a year”

She made a smile, “no, go to the bug stables, you’re taking the grasshoppers”.

Rey’s eyes opened up in fear, “Ruby this is madness”

“Madness?” She asked, shaking her head and closing her eyes, “madness is my son getting trampled to death like nothing as a game for a young girl!” She shouted in tears, “don’t you talk to me about madness, you are taking the grasshoppers, you have to figure out how to tame them, it must happen, this is our only way”, she said in such determination that everyone’s eyes sparkled, Rey bowed his head and nodded, knowing she’s right.

“Overthrow the goddess queens” Someone raised his fist up, “overthrow the goddess queens”, more joined him, “overthrow the goddess queens”, everyone chanted.

Ruby nodded towards Rey, “you’ll leave now, if Yen is injured, it might be our only chance, we can’t miss it”

“What am I to say to Vera, why would she even speak with me?” Rey asked.

“Tell her we have the same interests, she wants vengeance for her daughter, and we want to be deliberated from Zyrah's rule, we want them dead”, she stated, everyone kept chanting in the background.

“I understand”, he nodded, looking at his men, they all knew how important their mission was.

It’s a long shot, but everyone believed in Ruby, after generations of making Zyrah’s bloodline with armor and weapons, they are probably the kingdom with the most knowledge of warfare.

They might be tinies, insignificant, used to get trampled by goddess queens their entire life - but these rebels have let themselves hope big.

“Zyrah’s bugs” were everywhere, Ruby knew she had eyes and ears in every corner, perhaps even here, she didn’t care if she knew about the plan.

Deep in her heart, Ruby knew it’s a lost cause, that it’s a grand suicide mission, and yet - her only goal was to strike fear in Zyrah’s heart, to show her that they are done dying for sadistic pleasure. If they get trampled - at least it will be in a fight.