If You Stayed Alive

Olivia stared at the horses standing near the tree and climbed on the one leisurely.

"Hey, that horse belongs to the master!" said Ethan when Edgar and Rudiger raised their head and stared hard at her too.

"I know, your master has given me the horse and this is my first salary. He asked me to go and rest at home to replenish my strength so that I look fresh when we have training in the evening together!" Everyone stared at the bag full of gold coins and then at her with envy.

Reward! Rest! Replenish strength! All three words sound too foreign to them.

All they have heard is, work! Work! And yes one more thing, work!

They all felt the injustice when she just shrugged her shoulders.

"He is not the one to blame but you are, you should learn to tell him what you need instead of listening to his every order.

When he shouted at me in the room, I told him that he needs me, not the other way around. So, if he wanted me to work with him, he had to be lenient and learn how to behave.

He was startled but had nothing to refute. So, he gave in and offered me everything I wanted.

Anyways, this is just advice but he needs all of you more than he needs me. So, if you will ask and rebel against him unitedly, he would have to surrender and listen to all of your demands.

Rest is your wish. I am off. I have to give my wife a party with all this money." she laughed pitying all of their faces that looked like a hungry puppy who was wagging his tail for food as she sped off.

They all exchanged glances once she left.

"I think Oliver is right. We have never raised our voice against the master. So, he took us for granted. If we would go and tell him that we are not going to bear that torment anymore, he would have to give in.

After all, we are the elites of his team. He needs us. The empire could not be protected without us." said Ethan while others pursued their lips.

Though they have similar thoughts. Going against their master, they have never thought this as the choice. They have absolute loyalty but asking for some rest sounds too tempting.

"Laim, didn't you say you have to go and meet your fiance soon or she had threatened you that she would marry someone else?

If you would not ask, how would the master know about your problem?

And Edgar, didn't you say that you want to go fishing for once. Since there is no urgent task, we should be given a holiday to enjoy leisure activities.

And you Rudiger…" like a siren, he started to lure everyone in his words.

Though they did not say a word, the desire to leave was dancing in their eyes and could be read on their face.

"Then tell me, who is with me in this?" he asked with a loud voice like a rebel is luring others to accompany him.

"I am in!"

"So am i!"

"I guess I have no other choice then!"

Ethan had a wide grin on his face as he could already imagine sleeping himself in the room without a crew in the world. He would not have to spar with his master then. Finally, he would be relieved of the torment.

"Why are you all standing there like statues, haven't I assigned work to you all?" Just when many of them nodded their heads and others gave a silent consent, the cold voice brought them out of their dreams.

Ethan jumped from his place and turned to stare at his master whose face was colder. He stared at all of them with a frown when he noticed none of them was working but having chit chat.

"Is there some problem?" he stared at all of their faces which were losing colors and turning ashen with bewilderment.

"Master, I have something to ask." with a hint of confidence on his face, he started but his voice trembled when Alex turned to look at him.

His dark eyes were boring holes on the skin of Ethan who flinched.

"And that is.." his voice is laced with the sharpness of a dagger while his eyes have fiery flames which make him gulp.

"We all want a holiday. We are too tired by working day and night.

We have just finished the task of spying on the new emperor of the neighboring empire and now we have also eradicated all the new places where crime had started to take place.

Now it's time for us to get a vacation with our family. And everyone thinks same, so you have to grant our wishes this time.'' With his head held high, he spoke everything at once and soon his chest deflated like a balloon without air when he met his cold eyes.

"Who are we here?" he asked as he looked behind him only to see there was none. They all had crawled at the corners afraid that they would be misunderstood as one supporting him.

"Of course it is.." with a smirk Ethan turned only to see blank space mocking him back and he gulped.

"It is.. My family. My family told me to come back for marriage." cursing all of them in their heart, he tried to take the responsibility of what he had done and prayed that he would leave alive from this predicament as he closed his eyes like a lamb that was ready to be slaughtered.

"Alright, you can go then." really! For real! He got what he wanted?????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With a smug look on his face, he mocked all his comrades who had a shocked face as if they had seen ghosts standing in front of them.

"You can leave tomorrow morning after the spar if you stay alive after that!"