LOYAL [TWD] (third book to TROUBLE)

breaking point

Nanami's leg jumped nervously on the horse as he and Carl trotted into Kingdom.

"Long time, no see," Benjamin comments as the gates close.

"We're here for business," Carl assures.

"Ah. Your dad sent you to do his dirty work," Sophia comments, crossing her arms.

Nanami was going to make a hole in the gate by how fast he bolted out of them.

"Where's Ezekiel?" Carl asks, getting a bit uncomfortable himself.

"He and Jerry are out trading with Oceanside. We're in charge," Benjamin informs as Nanami and Carl climb down from their saddles.

"Ah," Carl nods, "Well, we need to talk, then."

"You'll have to come to the staging area."

"If the King is out, why still put up the act?"

"That act has kept these people alive. My apologies, but it's how we do things around here."

The couple relent as a few stablemen come over to take the horses to allow them to rest.

Nanami followed silently, nervously looking around like everyone would shoot him.

There was a woman in the garden with some kids, Nabila. She shot him something in the shape of the dirtiest glare he'd ever seen in his life.

They make it to the theater and Benjamin curses under his breath.

Nanami looks down the rows of seats, seeing what Benjamin had.

Sakiko.

Fuck.

Nanami was going to die.

Sakiko turns at the sound of footsteps in the area.

"Ben?" she calls, holding a hand up to block the bright lights.

"Hey.. What are you doing in here?" Benjamin questions.

"Moms needed some of the extra paint in the back before session starts. I was gonna-" her words fall short.

"Hey," Carl greets, reaching behind Nanami to poke him in the back.

"What are you doing here?"

"Business, mostly. We wanna make a deal."

Sakiko looks to Benjamin who shrugs.

She doesn't look Nanami in the eye as she turns back to continue looking for paint.

"Sakiko," Nanami finds his voice.

"What kind of deal do you want?" Benjamin questions, leading the group to the stage so they could talk around the meeting table.

"Did you hear that route B is down?" Carl asks, snapping into leader role without hesitation.

"Daryl mentioned it," Benjamin nods,

"Alexandria is leading the charge to get it fixed. We know that the route links Kingdom and Oceanside closest and offers another route to Alexandria, so we were going to ask what the Kingdom would take in exchange for help on fixing the bridge."

Benjamin and Sophia trade a knowing look.

"Is there anything you're in need of?" Carl pushes.

"Ah.. We're actually doing more than okay with the supplies traded between Hilltop and Oceanside.." Benjamin admits.

Carl looks at Nanami who sighs. Go figure they'd pull this.

"I have one," Sakiko offers, stepping out from behind the stage background.