Reborn From the Cosmos

Arc 8-42

“So, ya fell on yer woman?”

“Fell isn’t exactly right.” After our argument, I take Rey into the house and sit her at the dining table. The woman has problems, major ones that only start with her willingness to resort to violence. I wouldn’t know where to begin to work on them or even if it’s my place. I do know that good food makes everything a little better, a little easier to tolerate. That means snack time while I try to figure out the lady pirate.

“To be exact, she rescued me from a tree.”

“What, like a cat? Ha!”

“It sounds ridiculous now but if you were thrown into that abysshole, you’d be in a tree in no time. Not that it’d save you. The monsters can climb.”

“Can’t believe ya were scared of a bunch of dogs. Not even proper monsters. If it ain’t the size of a ship, it’s not even worth the bother.”

I huff before nomming one of the cookies on the tray between us. They’re amazing of course. Just sweet enough to be a dessert, with honey and something slightly smokey. I don’t understand how or what it’s made out of, but it’s best not to question what comes out of a succubus’ kitchen.

“At the time, I was weak.  Weaker than Maxine. Speaking of.” I point half a cookie at her. “How did that happen? You falling for her, I mean.”

“Ah told ya already.”

“You gave me the highlights. I want details.”

“Why?”

“Because I love love. Or did you not get that from the multiple lovers? Come on. It can’t be all about seeing you for who you are. There’s got to be something she did. A moment when you realized your interest.”

She blushes again, so easily. “Ah knew she was nice. People don’t really want me around, yeah? But Maxie lets me come and go. She talks with me. Ah mean, really talks, not just tries to get me to go away. On the way here, we spent days just talking. Never did that before.”

I hold back a wince. Saints, it almost sounds like Rey latched onto the first woman that showed her some attention. “Let’s say you do manage to woo her. What’s the plan? Do you want her to move onto your ship or whatever? Or are you going to follow her back to the capital?”

Her face scrunches up like she’s tasted something sour. “What’s the capital like? Ah hear it’s nothing but idiots wearing fancy pants who spend their money on useless crap like, uh, gold hats.”

“Never seen anyone wear a hat made of gold but I’m sure there are a few lords that’d do it. Aside from that…” I shrug. "The capital is enjoyable enough. Certainly plenty to do. As long as you have the power not to be pushed around by all the clashing egos, it’s great. Also, incredible shopping.”

“Ah’m not much for shopping.”

“Then you’ve never had too much money at the right store. Don’t try to tell me you don’t have any indulgences.”

“Ha! Ain’t a body in the Gray without vices. Cheap ones.”

I raise a cookie to her. “I hear that. My family did cheap for a long time. Thankfully, my wife and her unusual access to precious gems solved that issue.”

“She’s pretty and rich? Lucky bastard.”

“Don’t I know it. I…” I pause, looking over my shoulder as Alana enters the room, Rolly flying over her shoulder. She’s toweling off her sweat and the cloth blocks her vision for a few precious moments. The look on her face when she sees the two of us sharing a plate of cookies is priceless; I can tell she thinks we’re up to no good or heading for it. Amusingly, I see the moment she decides not to care, stepping forward and snatching a handful of the treats.

“I was thinking,” she says around a bite. “It’s about time we send Yulia back north.”

“I thought the two of you were getting along better?” I ask while waving for her to join me. She thoughtlessly pushes the closest seat right against my own before dropping into it, reaching for another treat as she settles.

“Getting along is a stretch but things are…civil.” She shakes her head. “But as always, Yulia is being…Yulia.”

“What do you mean?”

“Been keeping up with the camp?”

“No.” I hold up a finger, turning to a confused Rey. “After the fight, the school on the flying island set up a camp to help people who lost. Yulia is Alana’s sister and she volunteers there.”

“Sounds like a scam.”

I chuckle. “It’s not.”

“Bet it is. Ya just don’t know how they’re making their money yet.”

Satisfied that the pirate can follow the conversation, I turn back to Alana and motion for her to continue. Then I poke her in the side as she ignores me in favor of the cookie tray. It takes two more nudges before she looks up from the sweets. I mentally save the sight of her trying to look solemn while brushing crumbs from her lips.

“Things have been heating up over there. Orum caused a mess with that plant. The refugees are pissed that the Hall is strictly limiting access to the fields and continuing the food rations without their input. Meanwhile the Hall is pissed at the royal knights, who are limiting how many of the plants they can seed. Apparently, as the plant was given to Prince Samuel, it is property of the royal family and ultimately is governed by the crown, or its hands in this case. And the royal knights…well, they’re kind of unreachable assholes, according to the people, according to Yulia. They have two master casters that could be doing a lot more to help but can’t even bring in the rebels.”

“The same thing could be said about the masters of the Hall.”

“The Hall's masters are theoretical casters, scholars. The royal knights are soldiers. People expect more from them. More importantly, people see them walking the camp everyday. They’re a lot more recognizable and a lot easier to hate.”

“So, everyone wants the flowering gold in that field and they hate each other.”

“Just about. My sister being who she is, she’s ready to stir up trouble.”

Saints shield her. “She really wants to throw herself in the middle of all that?”

“I imagine she thinks she can avoid being directly involved. But what she wants to do is be everyone’s idol. She wants to champion for the people, rally them to fight for a better future or whatever. Unfortunately, the person she’s going to be speaking out against isn’t her doting father that’ll turn a blind eye to her speeches.”

“It’s the saints damned king who’s just looking for an excuse to take out a northerner.” I’ve got no illusions that there will be no consequences for the north. This time, the duke has made a bit too much noise for the crown to pretend Victory doesn’t exist. Yulia could end up making herself a target, the beautiful fool.

“Why is she doing this?”

“To look good? Maybe to do some good but definitely to look good.”

“...I was mainly asking what gives her the courage.”

“Ancestors know. Probably thinks no one dares to touch her, between you and our father.”

Sigh. “While that isn’t wrong, I’d rather she didn’t take advantage of it.”

“Yulia doesn’t know how not to take advantage.” Alana’s shoulders slump. “That was too much. But this is going to become a problem. Trust me.”

“I do. If you think it’s best, send her packing.” I decided a while ago that it was best to let Alana handle her sister. I’ve got no problem choosing sides and it’ll be Alana’s every time.

She leans against me and mutters a quiet “Thanks,” before raising her voice. “So, why are you two doing whatever this is? I thought that one was a prisoner.”

“Oi! Ah’m no one’s package!”

“You are,” my knight says in a deadpan, never one to sidestep the truth, except when it comes to herself.

Rey throws a cookie at her. I snap it out of the air and bite into it while shaking a finger at the irate woman on the other side of the table. “Bad pirate. No throwing things.” My smirk fades to a solemn expression as I meet Rey’s strange gaze. “If you attack anyone in this house, there’s no more cookies and goodwill.”

“Think ya need to explain that to me?”

“Given you already attacked me, yes.”

“Ah knew what attacking ya meant. Just didn’t care right then.”

“Hopefully, you care a little more in the future. I’ve actually killed someone for less.”

“Yeah, yeah. Big, bad lady boss, ah get it.”

“Ancestors protect us,” Alana grumbles. “She made a friend.”