Yesssssss the return of the king, as the memes say!

I’d kind of hoped to put in Raubahn’s flashbacks in the previous chapter, to pair up his memories of Lyse’s father with Achiyo’s last Echo involving her ‘father’, but eh the pacing ended up not really working out.

Thancred’s line about leather waistcoats… research tells me is a Monkey Island reference (to go with the ridiculous breath holding). (I’ve played several of the Monkey Island games, but it’s been quite a while. That sort of puzzle game isn’t really my cup of tea.)

Chapter 62: Legacies

 

Chapter 63: Reunion

The first thing to do was to warn the army of the experiments they’d encountered. The Empire did like building sinister laboratories everywhere they could – they’d built one beneath Doma Castle, for kami’s sake – and if they were creating machines that were part-beast, or worse, part-Spoken in one place, they could be creating them elsewhere. Or who knew which of their experiments had been approved and put into production. Their very horror would grant them an edge, let alone their combat capabilities. Everyone needed to know.

And then Achiyo went in search of Tam. She had to ask Kekeniro where he was, for he was not within the village. Even then it was not easy to get to him; once again he’d climbed to the highest point he could, which in this case was back to Nyunkrepf’s Hope. She looked at the cliff… and summoned her chocobo. She was not climbing that.

He was seated on a statue of an animal, staring south at the trackless mountains, beyond which somewhere lay the sea. “You must really want to speak to me if you came all the way up here.” The ship was much more gigantic than it had looked from below, and she peered up at it uncertainly as it loomed over them. It was of an alien design to her, and not one that appealed to her.

“You killed that monster,” she said. “I wanted to make sure you knew it was right.” That he was not upset over breaking his creed.

He snorted a little. “Of course it was right. I wouldn’t do it if it was wrong. I was considered maverick and politically dangerous, not evil.”

“All right,” she said. “Thank you. It was good to put it out of its misery.”

“Yes,” he said, looking out. “That’s why I did it. I know why you’re asking. Even if it had any sapience… even if it was somehow originally a person… which I would question, honestly, even though it had a third eye – there was no saving it. Best to end it quickly. I’ve put down wounded and sick creatures in mercy before.” He sighed and dropped down lightly to lean against the statue’s leg beside her. “If it was still a person, I would not. A person could always have another chance and I will not step on the slippery slope that leads to denying them that. But that creature would never be a person again. If they were in the first place.”

“No,” she said. “I could not imagine such a life.” She had not noticed the third eye. How awful. “I am glad you are not conflicted.”

“Don’t you worry about me, kiddo,” he said. “I’m old enough to take care of my own moral dilemmas. You have enough to worry about with the younger ones. Speaking of, have you decided what to do about Thancred yet?”

“No,” she said. “I will wait for R’nyath’s word. And what can be done to aid him, save for finding a way to hasten Minfilia’s mission to a happy conclusion? And I certainly do not know how to do that.”

“I’m sure all you magical people will figure out something eventually,” Tam drawled.

 

R’nyath tramped through the hilly wasteland after Raubahn, wiping sweat from his face, and mildly cursed the summer Ala Mhigan sun. His ancestors might be from desert regions but he was a child of the forest, thanks. Lyse didn’t seem to show any discomfort and he envied her. Raubahn had asked Lyse to come along so he could show her something, and Lyse had asked R’nyath for company, for moral support. Of course he agreed. She’d changed just since coming back to Gyr Abania, and it was a good change.

Raubahn walked into a small valley… with little stone huts dotted around it. A few people were about in this hamlet, and they looked up at the newcomers, but R’nyath would guess that half the houses currently stood empty. A bit sad. Raubahn walked up to one of the empty houses and patted its wall.

He turned to the two Scions. “I wanted to show you this house,” he said. “My house.”

“You mean… this is where you grew up?” Lyse asked, slightly disbelieving. There was something faded written on the wall by the door…

“Aye,” Raubahn answered. “Not much to look at, is it? Same could be said of the village.” He glanced around at the weathered huts, the weathered people. “It was damn near impossible to live off the land, barren as it was – which is why so many of us traded our plowshares for swords. Swords and uniforms, mind. We became military men. Tensions were rising between Ala Mhigo and the Empire, and there was always a need for more soldiers to watch the border.”

He looked into the distance, into the past. “‘Twas only a matter of time before the first skirmishes broke out. It is a frightening thing to face magitek armour for the first time. But after a lot of trial and error, I found ways to bring them down. After a few victories, people even said I had a knack for it. And then one day they hit us. Hard. I was wounded and sent home to recover. Back here…”

Aw drat, an Echo was coming on. R’nyath turned a little away, trying not to be rude about his superpower.

He saw the village, looking no less weathered than it currently did, but filled with many more people. In front of them stood a tanned, blond man in rather fancy armour, gesturing passionately.

“Will you remain silent for fear of the mad king’s vengeance?” called the man to the crowd. “Of his eyes and ears in the shadows and his knives in the dark? You who call this ‘living’ dishonour our nation – it is but a slow death!” He turned and wrote on the wall of the building in chalk, and the letters were crisp and new and readily legible. “Liberty or death. Liberty or death! If this be your creed, then raise up your hands! Raise up your voices! Together we will tear Theodoric from the throne! Together we will reclaim our freedom!”

The crowd cheered, and began to talk eagerly amongst themselves. R’nyath noticed with a start that Raubahn was in the crowd – of course he was, this was his Echo. He was speaking with a young Ilberd. They both looked so determined and optimistic.

The blond man approached them. Was he… was he Lyse’s dad or something? He thought he saw a resemblance, and not just the hair and charisma. “Sent you home to mend, did they?”

Raubahn nodded. “Aye, sir. Garleans got the better of us. The… the chirurgeons say I’m healing well, so it won’t be long now.” His voice was way less raspy than it was now. Not so many years of shouting warcries and commands, he supposed; of roaring in the Coliseum. But he also sounded more hesitant, almost shy. This Raubahn was not yet a leader.

“Liberty or death, is it?” murmured the man. “Tell me, soldier: what do you think those words mean?”

“We… we must needs be willing to die for liberty?” Raubahn guessed.

The man nodded approvingly. “Spoken like a true patriot. But liberty should not be the end in and of itself. Liberty is the chance to build something better. A stronger, more prosperous home for our people. It’s not quick or easy work, and it is never truly finished – but if you neglect it, then sooner or later, you look up to find you’ve traded one tyrant for another.”

Raubahn thought about that. “Well, sir, I… I’ve never asked for much. Never wanted to live like a king – just wish it were a little bit easier is all. For me and everyone else. And I’m… I’m willing to die for that, if that’s what it takes!”

“Dying is easy, soldier,” said the man. “Living is harder. Rest. Mend. Regain your strength. You’ll need it in the days to come… and mayhap one day we will need it too.”

R’nyath woke from the Echo, but apparently he hadn’t missed much, if anything. And Raubahn was talking to Lyse, anyway.

“Conrad chose you as his successor, Lyse, and I will not gainsay his decision. I have but one question to ask.” Raubahn tapped the wall with the faded chalk words. “Liberty or death. Those were Curtis’s words, and his creed. Will you swear by your father’s creed before your comrades and the gods?” Oh yeah, that had been Lyse’s dad. Confirmation acquired! R’nyath kept his mouth shut, though.

“Liberty or death…” Lyse said slowly. “That’s all you can hope for in war. Father understood that… and you want to know if I do too.” She lifted her head and gave Raubahn a look of determination. “I swear to you, here and now: I will fight until the end, be it liberty or be it death. But the freedom we win must be for every Ala Mhigan – even ones like Fordola, though they may hate us, and the Ananta, though they may fear us. We’ll fight and we’ll talk and we’ll find a way to make it work for all of us. Compared to all that, retaking our home will seem like the easy part.”

Raubahn smiled. “Hmm. A good oath. Then there is naught else to say. You are indeed your father’s daughter…”

Lyse walked up to the wall to look at the chalk. “Liberty or death. Has it really been twenty years since he wrote those words?”

She looked like she needed a minute alone with the wall. R’nyath walked away. Raubahn followed him. “Even a blind man could see that Lyse wasn’t herself,” he rumbled quietly. Oh right, when they’d talked to Raubahn about Castrum Abania, she’d been so listless and distracted. That had led to the invitation and everything. “Not that I don’t understand. To be thrust into a position of authority under such circumstances – to be made responsible for the lives of so many… It isn’t easy. And when you see your friend get cut down before your eyes, it only gets harder. I’ll wager she thought Alisaie was dead for a moment back there.”

“Oh yeah, I didn’t think of it that way,” R’nyath said. “Kekeniro’s been dealing with those feelings too – it was his order that put Alisaie forward. But if he hadn’t, maybe it would be Lyse in recovery right now. And maybe Lyse would like that better, but Kekeniro would be just as upset.”

Raubahn nodded. “‘Tis one thing to risk your life for a cause. But to risk that of another is a burden no soldier is ever truly ready to shoulder. The fear, the guilt – it weighs on her. And that’s good. It will make her a better commander. But first she needs to learn to carry it. To not let it break her. To remember that some causes are worth fighting for.”

“She’s grown a lot since last year already,” R’nyath said. “Once we all looked up to Minfilia, and then Achiyo. But Lyse is ready to join them.” He looked back at Lyse. “Once she absorbs that she and her dad really do feel the same way.”

“‘Liberty or death’,” Raubahn repeated. “Her father’s words gave me strength once. Mayhap they’ll do the same for her now.” He exhaled and turned away from R’nyath. “Right, then. I think I’ve said enough. The two of you can head back. I mean to stay a bit longer…”

“Thanks for taking us here,” R’nyath said, and skipped over to Lyse, who straightened up to see him, smiling.

 

Alisaie was banished to Rhalgr’s Reach, more to prevent her from running back to battle before she was completely healed than to ensure she was not caught in a Garlean counterattack. And Alphinaud, Lyse, Achiyo, and Tam came with her, on chocobos as Alisaie didn’t have the strength to Teleport. Lyse had to discuss things with the Ala Mhigan officers there, for one. “Must seem strange seeing me doling out orders,” she muttered to Achiyo on the way. “But not half as strange as it feels to do it, let me tell you.”

The infirmary at Rhalgr’s Reach had a bed ready, having been informed ahead of time. Alisaie was soon installed in its vicinity, though she refused to lie down like an invalid just yet, as if that would change the fact that she was. But she sat cross-legged on it and sighed. “Honestly, Alphinaud, you needn’t have gone to all this trouble…”

Alphinaud crossed his arms. “What can I say? It seemed a good way to discourage you from limping off to battle when my back was turned. Listen to Orella, please. You need your rest.”

Alisaie rolled her eyes… but not half as sarcastically as she normally would. “I know, I know… Any news of Krile? She’ll be cross if you make her wait too long. As will I.”

“Hah,” Alphinaud said. “A chilling prospect indeed… I’ll find her, Sister. And I’ll fight twice as hard – for the both of us.”

That did not seem to cheer Alisaie as much as Alphinaud might have hoped. “I should have been there with you to the end…”

Alphinaud reached out to shake her shoulder a little. “We’ll find Krile and bring her home. After all, I need her to tell you to stay in bed. But Urianger will be paying you a visit soon, and he is already worried enough as it is.”

“Oh, Urianger,” Alisaie said, and flopped on her back, stretching out. “All right. Go do your thing. I’m an invalid. I need to rest. Quickly.”

Alphinaud chuckled and withdrew.

Achiyo followed him. “Alphinaud… I wished to ask…”

He looked concerned – she was definitely asking too indirectly. “Speak your mind. What is it?”

“You are resolved to come with us?”

“I am,” he said. “Doubly so, for Krile and Alisaie’s sakes. Why?”

“I do not want to lose you either,” she said. He started to frown at her, then stopped when he saw her face. “I do not think I can.”

He gave her a wry smile. “Achiyo, you would not allow anyone to fight but yourself, if you had your way,” he said, then his smile faded. “I know you have lost many people in your life, but we shall not be among them. I promise you.”

“You cannot promise that,” she said quietly. No one she’d lost had wanted to die. He was right – she did not want to let anyone fight if she could help it, to ensure they would not come to harm. It was the only way to guarantee it… to make sure no one else left her alone…

“Do you doubt our skills?” he asked. “Alisaie was taken by surprise – normally she would be a match for such an opponent.”

“No, no… It is not your skills. You are far more skilful and experienced than I was at your age. I was still learning to fight… But you are not even full-grown.” She did not want to bring up their parents. Doubtless they already thought of them.

“Height is somewhat irrelevant to adolescent Elezen,” he said, smiling in amusement. “We will grow… eventually. In the meantime, I am just as capable as any arcanist, even at my age. More, perhaps – we are known as prodigies.”

She smiled and conceded defeat. “You are. And normally being a smaller, more nimble target is an advantage. Very well. If I cannot persuade you, I shall simply have to defend you with all my strength.”

“As you ever do,” he said. “And who shall defend you, Achiyo? Ser Aymeric?”

“Nay, I shall defend him too,” she said, laughing. “He must not come to the least harm or I shall have words. And steel.”

“But he must feel the same about you! Wait- Achiyo!” But she had run away from him, feeling embarrassed… and yet warm and teasing. Her fears were softened by Alphinaud’s reassurances.

 

Tam had gone outside. Lyse had said she would meet him there. He was wondering if he ought to participate in this assault at all… Not because of some moral or ethical concern. Everyone else in the world was resolved to fight, and kill, and die, and they had presented logical arguments for why this was the way it was in their world. What a bother. Who would have guessed that mortality made life cheap? He would have thought it the other way around. But no, there was a logic to it – if people were constantly dying around you, maybe it wasn’t such a big deal to speed it up.

…No, he still didn’t get it.

But that was beside the point. Rather, did they even need him? He was not a freedom fighter. He was a wanderer of woods and mountains. Recent events had been increasingly out of his ken and he had no pressing need to go along for the ride.

But there were certain to be plenty of machines and monsters for him to deal with, so even if he could not bring himself to actually plunge his lance into another sapient being and watch them die by his hand, that was fine. He felt the people he had made an association with shouldn’t die too soon, and that meant he could remove those non-living threats to them so they could deal with the living threats – since they were resolved to do it. It was the same as the non-combatants helping any way they could, by providing food or shelter or equipment or information. Not everyone had to kill to fight for freedom. And he supposed he had to help them fight for freedom on principle – the Empire was dead set against the sort of freedom that was most dear to his heart.

He heard Lyse long before he saw her, and her steps sounded different. She’d changed her shoes. Then he turned around and saw she’d changed all her clothes.

She smiled self-consciously when she saw him. “Sorry to have kept you waiting… Well, what do you think?” She made a little twirl, her new skirt fanning out around her. “I know it’s a bit old-fashioned… but in a traditional sort of way. Yda wore it whenever she could… Not that I’m pretending to be her or anything! Not again. It’s just… if this is the last battle we fight to free Ala Mhigo, then she ought to be a part of it.”

“It looks nice on you,” he said. “Beautiful colour.” Though he was wondering about the top. It didn’t look like it gave a lot of support in the chest area, and he’d heard from Vivienne grousing in camp about armour design that that was important. But then again, he was pretty sure Yaleia didn’t use any kind of support, and she went running around pretending she was a deer all the time.

Lyse twiddled her hands, blushing. “It’s nice of you to say so. Aaand a bit embarrassing. But mostly nice. Anyway, the real reason I asked you here was to sneak in some sparring before the final battle. There’s this place I know where monks used to spar as part of their training. Care to join me?”

“Do I have to?” he asked.

Lyse deflated a little. “Well… no. But. Look – you’ll like it. It’s up there.” And she pointed up at the top of the giant statue.

Well, he was intrigued. “Sure, why not. You just want to make sure you can fight with all that skirt.”

“You’re not wrong!” Lyse said, laughing. “I haven’t worn one of these in… oh, ages! Come on, I’ll show you the way. Not that you probably need it, being a dragoon and all…”

Tam squinted at the top of the statue. “Dragoons jump; they don’t fly. Lead on.”

 

“You are returned!” cried Pipin as Alphinaud, Achiyo, and Tam walked over from the aetheryte in Ala Ghiri. The other Warriors of Light were gathered there with the Lalafell commander. “How fares your sister, Alphinaud?”

Alphinaud offered a little smile. “Her rapier wit remains undulled – for better or for worse. Have there been any developments in our absence?”

“I am proud to say that Castrum Abania is now wholly under our control,” Pipin said. “At present, we are taking stock of the enemy’s supplies and redistributing them amongst our men. Also, while sifting through the officers’ documents, we learned that a unit of Skulls under Fordola’s command passed through the castrum en route to the capital… with a single prisoner in their custody a fortnight ago – not long after that attack upon the convoy of wounded.”

“Krile!” Alphinaud exclaimed. “It has to be her!”

Pipin nodded. “In all likelihood, yes. You will be glad to hear that the tunnel leading to the Lochs has been secured by our soldiers and is now safe for travel. And one final piece of good news: reinforcements from all four Alliance nations are on their way and will join the main host, which has established a new base of operations within the Lochs. I am just completing the last matters of import here, and I will be leaving to join Father within the bell.”

“Oh, when will they be here? The reinforcements?” R’nyath asked, with an innocent look at Achiyo. She kept her face calm.

“A day for the Immortal Flames and Yellow Serpents, and perhaps two for the Maelstrom and Temple Knights,” Pipin said. 

Two days until… Surely he would be with them. All Eorzea should stand together for this assault, and he would consider it a slight on his honour to not personally aid in it.

Besides, she flattered herself that her presence was added incentive for him to come. …She had to stay calm.

Lyse hurried up, her red skirt fluttering behind her. Achiyo smiled in delight to see her beautiful new outfit, crimson silk and white wool, tastefully adorned. The way it floated around her legs was captivating. “Sorry for keeping you all waiting!”

Alphinaud also looked at her clothes in admiration. “An Ala Mhigan folk dress? How very fitting. And well-fitting, I might add.”

Lyse looked bashful momentarily, but recovered quickly. “I wanted to do something for Yda. And myself.”

“Ow, ow,” R’nyath called. “It’s spectacular. You’re going to fight in it, or…?”

“Yes, I tested it earlier today,” Lyse said, with a glance at Tam. “I got it enchanted the same as my old armour, so I’ll be able to do all the same things as before. Except now I can… I feel more like the leader I’m supposed to be, when I’m wearing this.”

“Well, they say the clothes make the man… or woman,” R’nyath said. “Every bit of confidence helps!”

“Agreed!” Lyse said. “Sorry, let’s not get sidetracked. We are moving to the Lochs?”

 

R’nyath was walking around admiring the new camp. He’d just sent a letter to Rinala, asking if she wanted to come back for the final battle, no pressure, when he felt a tap on the shoulder and turned to see… five officers, one from each army, smiling at him. “Uhhhh… you have need of me? Captain Keautier?”

The Serpent officer bowed. “A pleasure to see you again, R’nyath Tia. Allow me to introduce my colleagues. We are each the directors of our military’s bands, and when we make our grand assault we should like to play in concert, to enhance our feeling of unity. We have no single tune in common, however, but I thought of you – you are a capable composer, and you have written some incredible music in the past few years.”

“Aye, Dragonsong was nothing short of genius,” said the Temple Knight band director. “Your talent stirs the heart like nothing else.”

“I didn’t write that one, Hydaelyn did,” R’nyath said, irritated that they’d misinterpreted the opening preamble to the Dragonsong performance. “But… well… sure.” When else was he going to get to play around with five military bands? “I wanna know what instruments I’m working with, and… milady?”

“Aesa Stormcaller, Master R’nyath,” the Ala Mhigan band director introduced herself. “What can I do to help?”

“I think it would be appropriate to use an Ala Mhigan folksong or two for the base,” R’nyath said. “If we’re writing something new anyway, and we’re fighting for Ala Mhigo, let’s give the home team a bit of a boost, eh?”

Her face lit up, and the other officers nodded amongst themselves.

“Okay, let’s talk,” R’nyath said, pulling out his guitar.

 

The Lochs were a sight unlike any Achiyo had seen before – a great white plain, stretching from the Alabathia’s Skull mountains to a city taller and wider than Ul’dah. Its main gate was a mass of ramps and ramparts; any attempt to gain entry would be an uphill battle in all senses of the word. In the salt flats were two enormous statues. Of Rhalgr, perhaps? One of them was broken off at the base, the other at the chest, the fragments scattered around. This land bore the scars of a long and bloody history, though the salt was so smooth and pure.

The Alliance was making a very large camp at Porta Praetoria, the small fortress that guarded the exit to the tunnel through the mountain range. How it lifted her heart to see their banners! The Scions pitched in to assist, and the numbers of the army swelled dramatically with each day – with each hour, even. Achiyo tried to remain calm. She must remain calm. She was not aided by Chuchupa making sly looks at her. So she sorted arms and armour with a single-minded intensity that had the stores looking as pristine as a showroom.

She deliberately lost track of time in so doing. She would not appear to be waiting for him, would do nothing that would give away anything to anyone who did not know, not until they could announce their betrothal together. And something she had not fully considered before… the gossip among her friends was bad enough. Would she be able to withstand the gossip from the world at large? 

“Achiyo,” Alphinaud called her, breaking her from her concentration. His voice was slightly more sing-songy than he was wont, and as she looked up, he grinned knowingly. Aymeric must have arrived. “The last Alliance leaders have arrived, and we will have our meeting in ten minutes.”

“I understand,” she said. “I will be there soon.”

If any were looking for a reaction from her, as she walked to Raubahn’s strategy canopy, she was determined to disappoint them. There was a flash of blue – be still, her heart – black hair, he turned, and his light blue eyes nearly undid her in blushes and smiles then and there.

She blinked, and that was all. A perfect, graceful, pleasant smile. A slight bow. Her core muscles were so tense, to keep her face relaxed as was proper, but in armour it would not be noticed. His eyes widened to see her, but he returned her impartial smile and bow. Lucia was stonefaced, and gave her a polite nod. All three of them were hiding a mighty struggle, holding fast to their self-restraint.

And she must needs greet Admiral Merlwyb and the Elder Seedseer with the same grace.

The meeting flew by; though she listened with half an ear for anything that would pertain to the Scions, and she had been careful not to stand too close to him, she was constantly conscious of his presence over on her right. She hoped he was not likewise distracted by her. He had a job to do here.

So once the main gist of the strategy was fleshed out, the Scions were excused, and she went quickly. He glanced at her, but no more than that. The commanders had detailed tactics to plan for their assault on the morrow, and she would not be a cause of inattention.

They returned to the aetheryte plaza. Alphinaud was frowning in anxiety. “For all our other accomplishments, Krile remains in the hands of our enemy, and I find myself wondering if we – if I could have done more. Though we know now that she was taken to the city, we have found nothing which might tell us where she is being held.”

“You know, you could just ask me,” someone drawled from nearby, and they looked around to see Thancred leaning casually against a wall.

“Thancred!” Alphinaud cried. “What have you learned?”

“I shall spare you the particulars of my infiltration and simply state that I have seen her with my own eyes,” Thancred said, leaving his wall to join them. “She is being held within the residential district south of the city proper. I tracked her to the ruins of an old temple of the Fist of Rhalgr, within which the Imperials have constructed a research facility…”

“A research facility?” Alphinaud said in horror. “What manner of research?”

“Why… methods to imbue Garleans with the power to manipulate aether. In pursuit of which goal, their scientists have, I am sorry to report, performed many questionable experiments – on living subjects.” Thancred shook his head.

“What!?” Alphinaud gasped.

“Poor Krile…” R’nyath said.

“Calm down, Alphinaud,” Lyse said. “We’ve already been tasked with securing the Ala Mhigan Quarter. This just gives us a reason to do it faster.”

“Had I judged it possible to rescue her myself, I would have,” Thancred said. “But there were too many guards; too many ways it could have ended badly. I entered and exited the facility by stowing aboard Imperial transports, but that method is not suitable for a larger force. And it goes without saying that a direct assault on the rather substantial main gates would be ill-advised.”

They all looked at the main gates across the valley. “Yes, if the other gate looks anything like this one, we won’t make it within a malm of it,” Kekeniro said. “Well, our goal is to get Krile out as soon as possible, and to capture the suburb. The gate’s a secondary concern.”

M’naago lifted her hand. “I think I might know someone who can help. One of my men. He had an idea about how to get into the city – Actually, it might be best if I let him explain it himself.”

Lyse remembered the young man when he appeared. He had been one of the angry youth of Ala Gannha. Apparently there might be a tunnel from the salty loch to the wells of the city. And if there was, there was a locked door on the other side. So the first step was the get the key – from Wiscar’s grandfather. It sounded a long shot to Achiyo, but it was the most straightforward plan anyone had.

“Let’s not waste any more time, then, shall we?” Lyse said, and turned to march off.

Achiyo suddenly stopped. “Must we go now? This instant?” She looked up to the ramparts, and caught sight of blue. He was out of the meeting.

“The sooner, the better,” Thancred said. “Why?”

“She hasn’t seen her fiancé yet since he got here,” Vivienne said bluntly.

Thancred did an exaggerated double-take. “You got engaged? Since when?”

“Since the night before we all left for Doma,” R’nyath said smugly. “Oh yeah, you weren’t there. Nobody noticed until we were already on the ship. And don’t spread it around, they haven’t announced it yet.”

“My lips are sealed,” Thancred said solemnly, and Wiscar and M’naago nodded too. “What say we go on ahead, and you catch up? I’m sure some obstacle or other will come up to slow us down.”

She shook her head ruefully. “I pray it does not. I shall be… ah… a quarter-bell.” She just wanted to see him, to hear him, to tell him how much she missed him and hear the same from him. To know that their love was still alive. That was all she asked.

“You can follow with Naago and Arenvald, when they’re done assembling the Resistance forces,” Lyse said, and M’naago gave her a thumbs-up. “Go on, go see him!”

“I notice you didn’t ask who she got engaged to,” R’nyath said to Thancred.

“It will forever remain a mystery,” Thancred replied sarcastically.

She heard no more. She was up the stairs, trying not to get lost among all the levels of the fortress, searching for the Ishgardian camp headquarters.

There he was, on one of the turrets – Lucia beside him, and knights guarding the stairs below. “Lady Achiyo!” said one, and she smiled, for she knew him.

“Ser Syndael!” she answered, and Aymeric above nearly dropped his teacup. “It is good to see you again. How have you been?”

“I am very well,” he said. “Linnea and I have been wed, and she is in Ishgard now with my mother. We are expecting our first child, or she would join me here…”

“I wish you all joy, and my sincerest congratulations,” she said. “Our tactician Kekeniro and his wife Lilidi are also expecting a child.” He did look… older, somehow, in a good way. His experience on the Steps of Faith had not broken him, only given him maturity.

“I would offer my congratulations in turn,” he said. “But I expect you would like to visit the Lord Commander. It has been so long since last we saw you in Ishgard!”

“Regrettably long,” she said. “I would, if he is not busy.”

“Not for you, Lady Achiyo,” Aymeric said, coming down, with Lucia, sans teacup. “‘Tis a pleasure to see you again. It has been far too long.”

He was so close, and yet with people around, so far. Patience. Serenity. “How have you both been?” she asked. “How is Ishgard? How are the Fortemps family?”

“I have been well,” Lucia said. “Lord Commander, I would see to the water rations.” She nodded to Achiyo and brushed past her to go.

Achiyo opened her mouth to stop her, to give her the gift for her, then stopped. It was not the right time. Lucia did not want it.

Aymeric watched her go wistfully. She knows, he mouthed to Achiyo, and she nodded. “Lady Achiyo, is there a place we could speak in private?”

Where was there in all this busy camp that anyone could steal kisses in ten minutes or less? “There might be… over here.”

“Ser Syndael, with me,” Aymeric said. “Dame Eldine, I will be back shortly.”

She led him down the stairs and around several corners, to a walkway by the southern gate choked with crates and boxes piled high as a Roegadyn. It would not be a very innocent look for them to be caught there, but she could not think of a lot of options.

“Syndael, stand watch, if you’d be so kind,” Aymeric said, and took Achiyo’s hand and pulled her further under the shelter of the wall, behind the crates. There was a little box on its own and she stepped up on it – she barely had time to turn around before his arms were around her and his mouth on hers. Her heart nearly exploded with joyous butterflies. Her hand got pinched between her armour and his decorative pieces – “itai” “pardon” – but she managed to get her hands on his face, pulling him closer. His fingers were in her hair, caressing her face, her ear, almost desperately.

“By the Fury, I missed you,” he whispered between breathless kisses. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you as well,” she whispered back. “Your ring is safe. I thought of you each day. I am so glad to see you here.”

“You know I would not miss this for the world, beloved.”

She just about melted at the endearment. “And Ishgard – how are the Fortemps?”

“They are all well,” he said. “Lord Artoirel is the subject of much gossip for being yet unwed – as I am, of course. Lord Emmanellain has settled into his new role… surprisingly well. Lord Edmont continues his writing. Handeloup and Hilda are managing the remainder of the military in my absence. But naught has happened of much import in Ishgard compared to your journey – tell me of the East.”

“I cannot tell you very much now,” she said. “I only have a few minutes. The Scions are beginning their rescue mission for Krile this moment.”

“But you are here with me,” he said, alarmed. “Should you not be with them?”

“And leave you on yet another dangerous quest with nary a word after an entire year of silence?” she said. “You would think I did not care for you.” And if something happened… she would not want to die leaving him unkissed forever after a year of fruitless waiting.

“I would not think that– But- well- I shall accept with gratitude. Thank you for granting me this time.” He leaned his forehead on hers, pressing against the patch of scales there. “You were very unforthcoming at the strategy meeting, and I understand, but indeed I was second-guessing myself until you appeared just now. I have so much to say, so much to ask. But for now I shall only say: I give thanks that you are safe returned. I love you.”

She leaned up to kiss him again. She had thought that being away for a whole year would make her shy of it again, but the passion he gave her, the pleasure it afforded her, banished all her hesitations. “I love you. I will tell you everything when I can. And if you are able and willing to invite the others, they may help me when my poor memory fails me, that you may have the whole story. But I will say… Doma was… you were right. I am glad I went. To see her restored was a blessing I cannot describe.”

“Perhaps it might be similar to how Ishgard felt once Nidhogg was finally defeated,” he said. “I am glad for you.”

“And I have gifts for everyone. I won’t give them now – when I have time to explain them.”

“Of course.” Another, longer kiss. “Achiyo, when may we tell all the world of our betrothal? I have waited so patiently. The only people who know are Lucia, Handeloup, Syndael, and Amaury. I have not even told Lord Edmont. Though heavens know how many others guess at it.”

“Now that I am returned, whenever it is sensible,” she said. “This is an awkward time, is it not?” Before the battle, such an announcement might be a distraction, especially to those who neither suspected nor cared. And once she left camp with the Resistance, she would not be returning until it was all over. After the battle, assuming they won, there would be memorials, at which it would be horribly tasteless, and celebrations, and they ought not to hijack those. Unless… “If Lyse or Raubahn would be persuaded to invite us to announce it, we could make it part of the victory celebrations without it being inappropriate.” To add to the celebration instead of taking it over.

He thought about that briefly. “Aye, that could be simple enough. As if I needed any more incentive to fight my best.”

She giggled. “Or I. But speaking of fighting… I ought to go.”

He gave a forlorn sigh. “Already you have granted me such happiness, and I am grateful beyond words, but I am greedy and wish for more… Until later, then. Be safe, beloved. I shall pray for your swift return, with your companions, our friends.”

“Be well, m-my love.” She had not used an endearment before, and that one did not seem to fit. “Anata.” That was better, even if it was a little early in their relationship for it. “I will see you when I return.”

One more fierce kiss, and he released her, though with such a look of yearning – certainly fifteen minutes was not enough after an entire year! She caught her breath and felt her lips – how red were they? How badly was she blushing? She looked up at him to see him thinking the same, and they smiled wryly at each other.

They returned to Syndael, who saluted them. “Your tea’s certainly gone cold, ser,” he said as they headed back into the camp. “Lady Achiyo, even on the verge of this siege, the Lord Commander simply will not forgo his tea. To see him drink it so calmly, you would think him anywhere but a battlefield.”

“In this weather mayhap ’tis better cold,” Aymeric replied, glancing at the cloudless sky as they approached his previous location. “And what better way to spend my brief respite from my duties than with tea? But thank you for granting me that interview, Lady Achiyo. I shall see you anon.”

“It was a pleasure, Aymeric-sama,” she said, bowing formally. Syndael’s mouth was twitching. Was it really so funny to see them pretending they were not so close? “I trust we shall speak again soon.”

She didn’t run until she was down the stairs and out of sight from them. M’naago was waiting on the edge of camp with the Ala Mhigan force, and… Urianger!?

 

It was a long walk to get to where Wiscar’s grandfather was probably hiding, and even with all the Imperial patrols around there were long periods of silence. R’nyath found it awkward. “Soooo… Thancred, how you been the last year? When we left you all on your lonesome to go jaunting about the East?”

“It was fine,” Thancred said shortly. “I helped out the Alliance, helped out the Resistance. Or rather I should say ‘we’, for once Y’shtola was back up on her feet, she was perhaps more help than I was. We participated in several missions, separately and together, until casualties began to mount again and we determined that her energies would be best spent in tending the worst wounded in Revenant’s Toll. So away she went with Krile… but Krile never made it, as you know.”

“Sounds busy,” Vivienne said. “Will she be coming for the attack tomorrow?”

“I think she would like to,” Thancred said. “But alas, the number of those near death’s door does not grow less…” R’nyath waited, but Thancred didn’t ask the question he was waiting for. Though Thancred did pick up that he was expecting something. “What is it?

“Well…” How to segue naturally? “I don’t know if Rinala will be here tomorrow either. She wants to come back for the final battle, but she’s… unwell. Personal issues.”

“Ah.” Thancred was quiet a minute. “Sorry to hear that.”

“You’re welcome to visit her,” Kekeniro said guilelessly. “When you’re not busy. We don’t want her to feel lonely without us.”

“I do not know how much I can help right now,” Thancred said slowly. “I might only make things worse.”

Maybe. But maybe he should just bloody say it to her face. Even if nothing was said by anyone and the crumbling romantic status quo remained, he was still being a godsawful friend. R’nyath thought she would appreciate it, anyway.

And now the walk was twice as awkward as it was before. Never had R’nyath been so happy to see a mechanical gorilla before. And he’d never seen one before.

 

Achiyo and M’naago led the little army cautiously around the southern edge of the lochs. The salt had made fascinating patterns as it crystallized, and crunched underfoot in a strangely satisfying way, though she was thinking about how carefully she would have to clean her armour afterwards. She was ever conscious of the looming city walls ahead and on their left; any Imperial with binoculars would be able to spot them and know who they were.

They stopped on the south shore of the loch, in the dubious shadow of a steep hill, and rested there for a bell or so until Lyse’s group approached them from the highlands even further to the south. It was almost unbearably humid with the afternoon sun beating down on the water before them, but they did not dare move. They were close enough to the walls that cannonfire might reach them.

Lyse held up an old iron key. “We have the key. If we can find a way in to the wells, we can find our way out again.”

“Fantastic!” M’naago said. “Good job, Wiscar.”

Wiscar mumbled something about it being no trouble.

“We’ll need to dive into the lochs and look for a tunnel leading beneath the residential district,” Lyse said. “That should be no problem for the Warriors of Light, and me, thanks to the Kojin’s blessing, but for the rest of you…”

“I will have you know that I can hold my breath for ten minutes!” Thancred said brightly.

“Why?” Vivienne asked, and immediately put up a hand. “Wait. I don’t want to know. I’m sure it’s something to do with women.”

Thancred smirked. “You would be surprised what skills an urchin can pick up in a city of pirates. A knack for selling fine leather waistcoats being one…”

“I suppose that has some sort of double meaning,” Achiyo said. “But I do not know it.”

“I’m a little wounded by the both of you doubting me, but I can’t deny it’s not unwarranted,” Thancred said.

Alphinaud looked out at the loch. “…Hm. I think it best that I support M’naago and Arenvald.”

“Oh, right,” Lyse said. “You can’t swim.”

“I am aware of that, thank you!” Alphinaud retorted, greatly irked. “But it is neither here nor there, given that I lack both the Kojin’s blessing and Thancred’s preternatural lung capacity!”

“Hey.” Tam put a hand on Alphinaud’s head. “It’s become a well-known fact that I can’t swim either.”

“Right, right. Of course. I didn’t mean anything by it. Nothing at all.” Lyse was very serious… she was definitely trying not to smile. “So… you guys, Thancred, and me. Let’s head to the water’s edge. Alphinaud, Tam, and Wiscar can rejoin the others and wait outside the gates for us to let them in.”

“What is it with Elezen an’ not-swimmin’?” Chuchupa muttered. Alphinaud glared at her.

“Ah, before we go,” Achiyo said, and held out the device Urianger had given her. “I received a visit from Urianger. He gave me this.”

“Moenbryda’s aetheric siphon!” Alphinaud cried. Of course he would recognize it at sight. “For what purpose?”

Achiyo shook her head. “He was quite vague. We must needs only activate it if we face Fordola, and it may remove the unnatural edge that she appeared to have in the recent battle we fought with her.”

“Oh, good,” Lyse said grimly. “I’ll be looking forward to that. Thanks for bringing it.”

 

In the end, it was Lyse, Thancred, R’nyath, who took charge of the siphon, and Achiyo who went in. A small team would be less easily caught. Vivienne, Aentfryn, and Chuchupa were going to lend their aid to the main force in taking the city after the gates were opened; Kekeniro, Tam, and Alphinaud would then join Lyse’s group in looking for Krile.

Achiyo need not have worried about gaining entry to the well. There was a huge tunnel in the right direction that looked purposefully bored into the wall of the loch. At some length in the tunnel, there was a dim light coming from above. She headed towards it, wondering how fast she could draw her sword if need be… but there was no need. She broke the surface in a large empty chamber, and Thancred came up beside her.

He wheezed for air. “That tunnel was much longer than anticipated. I would rather not make the trip again, if it’s all the same to you.”

“I think we can arrange that,” she said, and gave him a hand out of the pool. He went to sit on the stairs a minute, catching his breath.

Lyse and R’nyath popped up at the same time. Lyse giggled as she hauled herself out of the water. “Whew! That was fun!”

“Yes, yes,” Thancred said sarcastically, dumping water out of his boots. “Tremendous fun. Who needs a beastman’s blessing anyway?”

“I still can’t believe you managed to hold your breath the entire time,” Lyse said. “Anyway, it’s time to let our friends in. Once we head up these stairs, we’ll need to make our way to the main gates, which are… somewhere to the west of here? Thancred, since you’ve been here before, will you lead the way?”

“Of course,” he said. “But I will move quickly, so see that you do not fall behind.”

Achiyo wondered if she should be offended that he doubted her so, but it wasn’t worth it. There were an inordinate number of stairs out of the well – fetching water must be quite a chore – and the sun was setting angry and red by the time they quietly unlocked the barred gate and stepped out into the street. They were still dripping wet, and she already felt her clothes were stiffer with salt, but there was no help for that.

The city interior was surprisingly quiet, even if Thancred had not been leading them down back alleys. There were almost no civilians – was there a curfew on the city? There were a few Garlean patrols in the main streets, and sentries standing watch here and there, but far fewer than Achiyo would have expected. They must feel safe behind their walls. Thancred didn’t even kill the sentries they had to go through – simply knocking them on the head from behind and dragging them into dark corners.

There was the gate, and now even as they took out the sentries that guarded it, they had been spotted and a local alarm sounded. That was fine. “R’nyath, open it!” Achiyo called, placing herself between the Imperials and her companions. The Miqo’te ran to obey, and the gates ponderously creaked open. The Ala Mhigan army streamed in, brandishing their weapons. “Remember the Reach!” shouted the Ala Mhigan officer at M’naago’s shoulder. “Remember the towers! For Ala Mhigo!”

That brought the Garleans down on them in force. The Ala Mhigans roared in defiance, Vivienne, Chuchupa, and Aentfryn with them, and plunged into the city. Alarms went off everywhere, and they heard the pounding feet of magitek walkers approaching. In the chaos it was a fairly small matter for Alphinaud, Kekeniro, and Tam to rejoin the smaller group, following Thancred to the research facility. They ran through darkened streets, zig-zagging their way between blocky stone buildings, cutting their way through the few units that tried to stop them.

Thancred stopped in front of a rather unassuming door. “Here we are. The side entrance.”

“They almost certainly know we’re coming,” Alphinaud said. “Are we all ready?”

“We are,” Achiyo said, and gestured for Thancred to open the door.

The inside of the temple was doused in a reddish light from the many Garlean lamps that had been set up in place of the ancient ceremonial candlesticks that now stood unused. There was a lurking stench in the air – of death and rot, and as Achiyo walked forward, she realized… in every corner lay countless bodybags of every size. Her stomach lurched. She was no stranger to death, but that these poor souls were not just dead but unburied, disrespected even after their earthly torment was over…

Ahead was a… thing. Circular platforms, with coffin-like cases placed around its sides, and a stairway leading to… she wasn’t sure what was set up on top. A medical table with a bright light over it? These things were beyond her comprehension, but it was Garlean, and perpetrated cruelty, and she would destroy it before the bell was up. It would take a lot of work to purify the temple from the evils that had been done here.

“Krile is inside one of those,” Thancred said in a low voice, pointing to the cases. Alphinaud caught his breath in repulsion.

Fordola stepped out in front of them, followed by a squad of Imperial soldiers. She glared at them, and… something was wrong with her right eye. “I reckoned you lot would come, but I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to break the bloody doors down! Makes no difference to me, though… time to die!” She flexed, whether in pain or in power, and aether veritably streamed off her as she charged them. “I can read your every move!”

“R’nyath!” Lyse said, moving to counter her. Achiyo ran to engage the Imperial troops instead. Lyse needed to concentrate.

“Got… got it,” he said, in the middle of re-casting Protect. “Sheesh, how does Rinala do this so easily…?”

“Years of practise,” Tam said, using the butt of his lance against a soldier. “Alphinaud, you start looking for Krile; I’ll cover for you.”

“Right!” Alphinaud said, and ran over to inspect the devices. Two soldiers tried to go after him, but Tam and Thancred blocked them.

Lyse punched, and was parried as if she’d telegraphed her attack in slow motion. Fordola counter-attacked, and sent her stumbling back. “R’nyath!”

“I got it!” he said again, and held out the siphon. Fordola groaned in pain, clutching her head, then forced herself to keep moving again.

That gave Lyse a momentary advantage, but it wasn’t long until Fordola’s aether built up again, and then once again she was moving unnaturally fast. “R’nyath, again!”

Fordola fell to one knee as the siphon’s beam hit her. “Seven hells… You’ll… you’ll pay for that!” She weakly batted away Lyse’s next attack, then struggled back to her feet again. Now her sights were set on R’nyath, who giggled nervously and hopped behind Achiyo.

“None of that!” Lyse said, setting herself firmly in Fordola’s way.

More Imperial soldiers rushed in through the front doors, their leader shouting orders. “Reinforcements!” Thancred called. “Help me hold them off!” Achiyo had just finished with her opponent, and turned to intercept them.

“Not a problem,” Kekeniro said. “I just finished getting ready. Come, Bahamut!”

A whoosh of aether coalesced into… a very small, transparent dragon, about the size of a Roegadyn, but yes, that was a tiny Bahamut. It reared back and struck, and the lead soldiers of the charge vanished in a white pillar of light – Akh Morn. When the light faded, there were only corpses. The other soldiers stopped short, terror in their limbs.

“Yes!” Kekeniro shouted. “You like test subjects so much, you can be mine!”

“Easy, there,” R’nyath said soothingly. “Don’t go full evil Lalafell. It’s very exciting you can summon the scary dragon, but don’t let it go to your head. Or else no more Balance for you.”

Kekeniro panted for a moment, then sighed. “Yes. You’re right. Surrender, and I won’t obliterate you!”

“Close enough,” R’nyath said, shrugging. The soldiers threw down their weapons. Bahamut vanished and Kekeniro sagged, as if released from a great strain.

Lyse and Fordola were still fighting with all their might, but the siphon was taking its toll. Even as the soldiers surrendered, Lyse struck Fordola full in the chest, knocking her to the ground on her back. Fordola climbed painfully to her feet again, clutching the bruise. “No… Not after everything… I cannot lose… I will not!”

“Oh, but you will!” Lyse cried, clenching her fist in fury. “Without your tricks, you’re nothing! Conrad, Meffrid, your own comrades! I should kill you here and now for what you did!” She lowered her hand. “But there’s no place for that kind of justice here. Not in my Ala Mhigo.”

“Oh, how very bloody noble of you,” Fordola growled. “You’ll pardon me my sins, will you? After you and your ‘freedom fighters’ come and tear down everything we’ve worked so hard to build!? We were fighting for our people’s freedom!” She charged once more.

But her strike was clumsy. Lyse easily knocked it aside and roundhouse kicked her across the room. “You’re slaves to a tyrant!” she shouted passionately. “There’s no freedom in that!”

“I found her!” Alphinaud cried, from the devices. “Krile!” One of the cases was opening, showing Krile, pale and limp. She tumbled forward into Alphinaud arms, and he gently picked her up and carried her.

“Need a hand?” Tam asked.

“I’ve got her,” Alphinaud said. Krile stirred and mumbled something, and Alphinaud smiled with tears in his eyes.

“Touching as this moment is, it will have to wait,” Thancred said from closer to the door. “We should rejoin the main force at once. Lyse!”

Lyse had her knee on Fordola’s back, binding her hands behind her. “I’m taking her back with us. Alive. She’s going to answer for what she’s done.”

Fordola chuckled bitterly. “Listen to you, talking like you’ve already won. Zenos is going to tear you apart. He commands a power echoing that of the eikons.”

Lyse stilled her movements. “What are you talking about?”

“The hunt, you stupid cow – I’m talking about the hunt! He said you’d come. And here you are, his willing prey. You and your friends are dead – just like mine. And all our misery, all our sacrifice… it was all for naught!”

“…No,” Lyse said, resuming her efforts with determination. “You’re gonna live long enough to see us win our freedom. I promise you that.”

Achiyo stopped in front of them both, and knelt down so Fordola knew she was there. “I will defeat Zenos. I do not care what power he wields, I will overcome it. You have been steeped in the Empire’s lies since birth, they who would say that slavery is freedom and liberty is destruction, but we will show you that truth is better.”

Fordola spat at her.

“Interrogations can wait,” Thancred said. “Let us be off!”

The streets were fully dark when they emerged, cautiously, with all their prisoners. But the fighting seemed to have died down. In fact, the first person they met was an Aha Mhigan soldier, who saluted Lyse. “Commander Hext! The district is ours! We are clearing out the last areas of resistance, but no reinforcements have come from the city centre.” He looked nervous but jubilant.

“Good,” Lyse said. “I have prisoners and wounded to get to Porta Praetoria. Form a detachment to escort them. Alphinaud, Tam, could I ask you to go with them?”

“Certainly,” Alphinaud said. “Krile, how are you feeling?”

“Weary of carrying me?” she teased. “I believe I can walk now. I… fear I am still recovering from the effects of the drugs used to keep me in a torpor for most of my imprisonment… But I will be fine. I will.”

“As you say.” He let her down, and she took a few faltering steps before steadying.

“It’s a long walk to Porta Praetoria,” Tam said. “If you get tired, I’m sure someone will help.”

“Thank you, but perhaps exercise is just what I need to recover,” Krile said with a smile.

Lyse nodded. “Be safe, and well, all of you. I must remain here and prepare for our next objective.”

“The Twelve watch over you,” Alphinaud wished her back, and moved off with the Ala Mhigans and the prisoners.

“Gods, look at me, pretending like I know what I’m doing,” Lyse muttered to the other Scions.

“You are doing well,” Achiyo said. “You are not showing your fears to those who rely on you, and that is half the battle, I think.”

“I wonder why they didn’t send reinforcements,” Kekeniro said. “Surely they know we’re here.”

“Conserving energy, no doubt,” Thancred said. “It’s likely they do not really care about this district, given the inhabitants are not Garlean.”

“Right,” Lyse said. “Well, you lot have to rest.”

“What?” R’nyath exclaimed. “But- but we’re going to go knock out some cannons next!”

“And you in particular are going to lead the charge into the city,” Lyse said. “We need all the Warriors of Light fresh as daisies if we’re going to take down Zenos! Off to bed, now! When I find the other three, they’re going with you.”

Achiyo did not protest. Lyse was right. Her task on the morrow would be to lead the front of the charge and then fight Zenos at the end of it, and she would not be found lacking from weariness. A soldier came to show them to a corner where they’d set up sleeping rolls for them. Lyse, Thancred, R’nyath, and Achiyo all changed out of their salty clothes, which were becoming rather uncomfortable, and Achiyo was promised she would get her gambeson back by morning, cleaned and dried. 

Eventually Vivienne, Aentfryn, and Chuchupa came to join them, Chuchupa complaining up a storm. Achiyo cleaned her armour carefully. Truly, swimming in salt water was a measure of last resort. It had been bad enough dealing with it in the Ruby Sea. The city no longer rang with the noises of conflict, but it waited uneasily in the night. The sound of Vivienne brushing her hair was more calming.

She could not sleep for a while, even after Chuchupa’s grumbles dwindled – possibly soothed by a flask of rum, if the gulping noises were anything to go by. He was so close, only a few malms away. They could probably have Teleported back to Porta Praetoria for the night without ill effect. But there was little point in that. He had his own cares for the morrow, so she would not be able to see him anyway. But she knew he was thinking about her in just the same way.

She reached up to her chest and found her ring on its chain. It was a comforting weight in her hand. Soothed by holding it, and by pleasant thoughts of the moment they’d shared in the afternoon, she rolled over and went to sleep.

 

Chapter 64: For Ala Mhigo