FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Part 14

"Who's got the bee, who's got the big bumbley bee! Bzz bzzz bzzzzz!"

Doctor Sara Silver smiled as the infant in front of her giggled and reached out to grab the stuffed bumble bee over his head. The lights of the healing guild were turned low as the gloomy half light of day turned into the rich blue-grey darkness of evening. It had been a long day, and most of the other doctors had already gone home.

As Sara made a comical buzzing noise, the baby began to lose interest. His face twisted into a scowl and he began to push and tug against his quilt, grunting and moaning softly.

"Oh I'm sorry sweetie." Sara crooned, gently pulling the baby from his basket and cradling him in her arms, "You must be getting hungry. Is that it, hmmm? Is the little man getting hungry?

The baby offered no useful explanation and instead set about sucking on his own tail.

"Don't worry." Sara said, tickling the infant's ears, "I am sure mommy will be back soon."

As Sara walked around the office, trying to quiet the fussing infant, she heard footsteps outside of her door.

"Kallen? Is that you?"

Moments later another doctor, an older Basitin with short white hair and a long beard, poked his head into the staff room.

"Dr. Silver? What are you still doing here?" Dr Felix stepped inside the staff room, raising an eyebrow. Catching sight of the infant his eyes brightened. "And who is your new friend?"

Sara sighed and shifted the infant from one shoulder to another. "This is Nicholai, Kallen... I mean Dr. Hail's son. She asked me to look after him while she ran down a hunch on the Kolvest incident."

Dr. Felix nodded, "Oh yes. She was looking for information about a plant I believe? There was something I've been meaning to tell her about that."

"Well she was supposed to be back this afternoon, but no one has seen hide nor hair of her."

"I see."

Sara cleared her throat, "Dr. Felix... I really feel like I should go and try and find her. Could you possibly..."

"Hmmm?"

"Well, forgive me for asking Doctor, but is there any way you could you possibly watch the baby while I go look for her?"

"Of course!" Without even a moment's hesitation Dr. Felix stepped forwards and swept baby Nicholai into his arms with a grin. "Hello little buddy!"

Sara was stunned. Dr. Felix had a reputation for being stoic at best, a straight laced and old-fashioned sort who rarely cracked more than a half smile. Yet within moments of taking Nicholai into his arms, Dr. Felix was making whooshing noises with his mouth and bouncing the child up and down, eliciting a chorus of happy giggles.

"I didn't know you liked children." Sara commented.

"My daughter had her first just two years ago." Dr. Felix replied, smiling wider than Sara had ever seen him smile before. "My wife and I took some time last summer to visit them on the mainland. I must admit... I found being a grandfather much more enjoyable than I had first suspected. It would seem I have a knack with young ones."

"Well, thank you sir, I appreciate it."

"As for Doctor Hail, perhaps we should consider alerting the town guard?" Dr. Felix asked, playfully poking Nicholai's nose.

"I'm sure Dr. Hail just got caught up in her work." Sara pulled her cloak off the wall and threw it over her shoulders. "I'll see if I can find her first."

"As long as you are certain. Just be sure to mind the curfew."

"Yes, of course. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll take the little one to my place, see if I can rustle up something for him to eat." Dr. Felix rubbed his nose against Nicholas's. "Would you like that? Huh? Would you like that little Nicky?"

"Alright... you have my thanks." As she walked out of the staff office, Sara's face shifted into a frown.

"Kallen would never forget about Nicholai... Where... where would she go, and where could she be?"

=====

Alwyn stood with her arms crossed, a pair of guards flanking her on either side, as Captain Halec and Kaiba were led into one of the Hearth's many antechambers. Both were blindfolded, being guided by Hearth guardians. Kaiba carried a large wooden barrel on his shoulder, which he set down gently as they came to a stop in front of Alwyn.

As blindfolds were removed, Alwyn nodded her head. "Welcome friends, to the Hearth."

"You make a habit of blindfolding your friends do ya?" Captain Halec demanded, rubbing his eyes. As his vision adjusted, Halec's eyes widened at the sight of Alwyn, "Holy jumping!"

"Is there a problem, Captain?"

He coughed to clear his throat, "Well... I'd heard the rumours but I, uh, I never thought they were all true."

Alwyn raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Well..." Halec cleared his throat, trying not to stare at Alwyn's chest. "It's just, I had heard that..." He shifted from foot to foot. "You know, I had heard you didn't wear... and that you were so... But hadn't ever believed that you were..."

"So beautiful!" Kaiba breathed, his tail rapidly wagging and his eyes wide with excitement. "My lady, I have sailed to almost e'rey corner of this world, and you might jus' might be the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen!"

Alwyn put her hands on her hips and walked forward. "So, you're the wolf I've been warned about. I'm told you left behind a few broken hearts in Hearth Calidus on the continent."

"Well can you blame me?" Kaiba stepped forward and took one of Alwyn's hands. He smiled at Alwyn as he planted a gentlemanly kiss on her fingers. "I've found very little in this world that can match the bewitching beauty of yer people."

Despite herself, Alwyn chuckled. "Not bad Keidran, I can see where your reputation comes from."

"Please, call me Kaiba."

"Well, as much as I would love to continue this very flattering romancing of yours..." Alwyn turned to Halec. "I want to hear your report."

Halec nodded quickly, "Yes, of course. We received word from Argent a few weeks back that something was going on, odd troop movements and such. Argent was worried it might be the precursor to some sort of attack on the Hearth."

"Yes, I know that already."

"Well, this afternoon, while we were making preparations for our departure in two days, this woman asked to come aboard. Says she needs help identifying a plant."

"A plant?"

"Nosgoth fang." Kaiba spoke up. "Nasty stuff, very rare too."

"And you, Lady Alwyn, are the only one we know of who might have such a rare plant in your possession."

Alwyn paused for a moment. "So... let me get this straight... You kidnapped a woman... because she came aboard your ship... asking about a plant."

"Well yes! We've delivered you hundreds of plants, from all over the world! I've seen your storeroom, you have thousands of such specimens!"

"And have I ever requested this 'Nosgoth Fang' from you?"

"Not that I know of, no, but-"

"And what happens when she wakes? What happens when someone comes looking for her?"

"We thought of that." Kaiba replied brightly, tapping on the barrel.

"You-" Alwyns eyes widened. "Are you saying she's in the barrel? What in all twelve hells is she doing in the barrel?"

"We thought it better to bring her here than leave her on my ship."

"And why, in the name of all that is holy, would you think that?" Alwyn demanded.

Halec's face twisted into a scowl. "Now look here, we got word from Argent, same as you, that someone might try and infiltrate the Hearth. And you yourself, lady Alwyn, said that you wanted to deal with any security threats personally!"

"Plus, who would question a sailor walking about with a barrel on his shoulder?" Kaiba added. "Unconscious basitin woman on your shoulder, many questions. Barrel, not so many questions."

"I-" Alwyn hesitated before sighing heavily, pinching her nose, "That's a fair point. Fine, we'll take care of it from here. I'll make sure that the Jade Echo and her crew are rewarded for your vigilance. Now, could you please get our guest out of the barrel?"

"Right away." Halec snapped his fingers. "Mr Kaiba, if you will."

As he popped the top off the barrel and lifted the unconscious Kallen into his arms, Kaiba turned to Alwyn. "So... what uh... what are you gonna do with her anyways?"

"I'm going to find out what she knows."

"Yeah but... after that."

"She'll be dealt with."

Kaiba's ears twitched. "Dealt with?"

"Kaiba!" Halev hissed.

Alwyn's eyes narrowed. "I am responsible for the lives of everyone in this Hearth, and for your lives as well. Even if she hadn't been brought down here, now she knows about the Jade Echo. I will do what I must to protect my people, even if it means certain sacrifices have to be made."

"Wait..." Kaiba's ears drooped. "You don't mean... yer not gonna kill her, are yeh?"

"I assure you, once she has answered my questions, her death will be painless."

"Hold on, no no no." Kaiba shook his head and held Kallen close to his chest. "No way! She was just askin about a plant! She was tryin to 'elp someone!"

Halec rounded on his first mate. "Mr. Kaiba, that is enough!"

"You drugged her and brought her here, what exactly did you think was going to happen?" Alwyn demanded.

What if, what if we took 'er back t' the ship an jus' dropped her off somewhere? Fox Coast, or something?"

"We cannot risk it."

"Then jus keep 'er 'ere!"

Alwyn raised an eyebrow, "We are a community, we are not in the habit of taking prisoners and holding them forever."

"What about-"

"Mr. Kaiba!" Halec roared, his voice echoing through the cavern, startling everyone. "You will set that woman down, right now! That is an order!"

"But..." Kaiba looked down at Kallen. "But she's not... she was trying t' help someone. This ain't right!"

"Mr. Kaiba!" As Captain Halec spoke, Alwyns guards also raised their spears.

"I..." With a heavy sigh, Kaiba set Kallen gently down on the ground. "I'm really sorry lass, I didn't mean fer this t' happen..."

"Thank you." Alwyn turned to Captain Halec. "Now, with all due respect Captain, I think it is time for you and your first mate to leave."

"I agree."

Alwyn's guards stepped forward and set about blindfolding both Kaiba and Halec. As the guards wrapped the cloth around his eyes, Kaiba extended one of the claws on his left hand and drove it into his palm. The only outwards sign of his pain was a slight twitch of his muzzle.

Satisfied that they were blinded, the guards took up positions behind Halec and Kaiba. "Alright, let's go."

As the guard gently pushed him, Kaiba let his hands drop to his sides. As he walked, small droplets of blood dripped from his palm onto the stones.

===

The light of day was fading fast as Sara stepped up to the front door of a house in the female quarter. Raising her fist she banged on the door three times.

Moments later a call came from inside the house. "By the king, do you have any idea what time it is?"

The door flew open and a portly Basitin woman stepped out onto the front porch. "What do you want?" she demanded, puffing away on her pipe.

"Good evening miss." Sara bowed her head, "I understand that you own the house rented by Marien Kolvest."

"Oh for f- You aren't another bloody doctor are you?"

"I am actually, I am looking for a colleague of mine. She said she was going to investigate Kolvest's house and-"

"Yes yes!" the woman interrupted, waving a hand. "She came in, babbling on about some plant, took something off the spice shelf, then ran out without so much as a 'thank you'."

"What did she take?"

"How the hell should I know!" the woman took an extra long puff and blew the smoke into Sara's face, "Now, it is late, I am tired, and I have had enough to do with doctors for a good long while. Good day madam."

Sara flinched as the door slammed in her face.

"If she found what she was looking for... where would she go?" Sara pondered as she made her way back to the road. "She said she checked all of the apothecaries in the city."

Sara froze, and looked quickly down at the dock. "Wait... could she!" Her eyes widened, "Oh no!"

===

The first thing that Kallen noticed when she awoke was the echoing sound of water dripping. She tried to move, but found that her hands and legs were bound. Kallen could also feel that someone had put a blindfold on her, as well as a gag in her mouth.

As she tested her bonds, Kallen's mind raced. "Who are these people? Templar slavers? Western kidnappers? Pirates? I don't think I'm on the ship anymore, where am I? How long have I been out?"

Judging by how dry her mouth felt, and the strength of the lunamilk, Kallen guessed she'd been out for at least five or six hours.

The sound of footsteps sent a current of fear running up Kallen's back. The footsteps approached, stopped, and were replaced by the sound of someone lowering themselves onto the stone in front of her. There were other shuffling sounds that she couldn't identify, though she did hear the sound of metal being set upon stone.

After a moment a female voice spoke in a soft, yet firm tone. "Listen to me very carefully. I would like to remove your blindfold and your gag, but first I need you to understand a few things. First, you are underground, so no one will hear you even if you yell. Second, I am a soldier, I have killed before and will again. I have been trained to cause a great deal of pain if I have to. But if you cooperate I have no particular desire to hurt you. Nod if you understand."

Kallen nodded, trying to keep herself from trembling in terror. Moments later she felt a pair of hands untie her blindfold and then her gag.

Blinking quickly to try and adjust her eyes, Kallen froze at the sigh of Alwyn sitting cross legged in front of her. The cave was lit by a pair of candles set into the stone on either of the entrance. A small stack of parchment and a quill sat on Alwyn's left, while at her right side was a long, curved knife.

"Wh-where am I?" Kallen asked, her voice hoarse from fear and thirst.

"Here." Alwyn reached behind her and produced a small glass bottle filled with water. She put the bottle to Kallen's lips and gently tipped it up.

The water was clean and ice cold and Kallen drank quickly.

Alwyn set the empty bottle aside. "I have some questions for you. If you answer them truthfully, you will remain safe. If you refuse to answer, or if you lie..." Alwyn's hand drifted down to the knife, the metal ringing as she slowly dragged one of her claws along the edge.

"I understand." Kallen gulped.

"Good. What is your name?"

"K-Kallen Hail."

"What is your profession, Kallen Hail."

"I'm a doctor at the Healing Guild."

"And why were you looking for information on a plant called 'Nosgoth Fang'?"

"It.... It was used to poison one of my patients."

"Who?"

Kallen shook her head, "I- I'm sorry, I can't reveal that."

Alwyn reached down and picked up the knife sitting beside her.

Kallen shrank back, "Please... I can't betray my patient."

"Answer the question."

"I can't!"

Alwyn's face hardened as she gripped the knife tighter. "Then you have chosen pain."

"Dammit I can't!" Kallen shouted, her voice echoing around the cave. Terrified tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't know what is going on! I don't know who you are! I don't know where I am! I... I don't know what you want..."

"Calm down, I just want you to answer my question."

"Marien Kolvest!" Kallen yelled, the words torn from her chest. "The plant was used to poison Marien Kolvest!"

Alwyn paused. "Kolvest? The little soldier?"

"Y-you know her?"

"I know of her. Why would someone want to poison her?"

"I don't know!" Kallen shook her head and started sobbing. "I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! Please... I have a son! He's only a few months old, he needs me!"

Alwyn slowly replaced the knife at her side and leaned forwards. Gently she brushed the tears away from Kallen's eyes. "Then for his sake, answer my questions and tell me what you know."

===

"Mr. Kaiba I will hear no more about this!"

"Sir, it's not right and you know it! This ain't what I signed up fer."

Captain Halec scowled as he leaned back in his chair. Kaiba stood before him, a pair of swords strapped to his waist, a quiver of javelins on his back, and a long spear in his hand.

After a moment, Captain Halec leaned forwards again. "We are not launching a rescue operation into the Hearth to retrieve the girl simply because you have a crush!"

"T'ain't a crush sir. And even if it were, this'd still be wrong. The girl was trying t' help someone! She shouldn't die for that."

"That is not our call!"

"With respect Captain, I am making it my call."

"You have no right! And even if you did, do you really want to fight the head priestess? By the spirits Kaiba, she's damn near as big as King Adelaide!"

As he spoke, Captain Halec cursed himself inwardly. "Why? Why did I allow Keidran on my crew? One word to a basitin first mate and this conversation would have been over! Wolves... the bastards are insane to a man!"

"Very well." Kaiba straightened and saluted, "With respect then cap'm, I resign as your first officer. Anything I do after this is my business and mine alone."

Halec surged out of his chair. "You dare-"

As Halec stood, Kaiba's hand flashed down to his sword. Halec paused. Wolves were not the most elegant fighters, but their size and speed made them quite dangerous. Though Halec was certain that between him and the rest of his crew he could easily overpower Kaiba, such a contest would have casualties.

Recognizing that passion would not win out, Halec slowly lowered himself back into his chair.

"Kaiba... you are not just my first mate, you are my friend. I need you, this ship and its crew needs you. I am asking you to not throw that away, please."

Kaiba lowered his hand from his sword. "When yeh took me in five years ago cap'm, you looked damn near the same as you do now. I, on the other hand, 'ave grown from a lad into an adult."

"What... what bearing does that have."

"You may have the luxury of decades of life and drink to rationalize and forgive yourself for sins. I do not. You saved me, sir, from a life of pain and slavery. And since I have never been able to return that favour properly, I shall instead pass it on."

Halec sighed, "Mr. Kaiba, do not mistake my refusal to run off on some... insane rescue mission, as an act of callousness or cowardice. It simply isn't our place."

"I've followed you from one corner of the world to another sir, I've seen some truly horrible things, but I've never been a party to them. If'n yeh won't join me, that's fine, all I ask is that you not try and stop me."

Before Halec could speak again, there was a knock on his cabin door.

"What is it?"

"Pardon me Captain." A deckhand opened the door a crack and stuck his head in, "Sir, there is another female on the dock asking to come aboard. She says she is looking for her friend."

Immediately Halec's eyes widened. "Shit!"

"Well, looks like I'll have some company tryin to find the little miss," Kaiba said, smiling and crossing his arms.

"You idiot, if the town guard finds out about us and the Hearth, there is no chance of us getting out of here alive!"

Immediately Kaiba's eyes widened. "Oh..."

"Tell her to come on board and bring her to me," Halec ordered, turning to the deck hand. "And get a message to Argent, tell him we have problems and may need to get out of here in a hurry."

"Yes captain!"

His heart beating loudly in his chest, Halec turned to Kaiba. "Look, just... we'll incapacitate her and keep her on the ship for now, alright?"

"No killing?"

"No killing."

"And no handing over to the priestess for killing?"

"I... for fu... Fine! No handing over to Alwyn either! Just... just do your bloody job you great moronic fleabag!"

"You're lucky I like you Captain." Kaiba smiled as he stepped back against the wall, blending into the shadows.

"Yeah, real lucky." Halec muttered.

A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.

Standing and straightening his hat and jacket, Halec called out, "Come!"

The door opened and Sara stepped inside. She bowed her head, "Captain Halec."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss?"

"Doctor. Doctor Sara Silver."

All of the colour drained out of Halec's face in an instant. "S-Silver? Are you related to General Silver?"

"He is my husband."

Halec nearly fainted. "I see... well, how can we help you Ma'am?"

"I'm looking for a friend of mine, another Doctor, who came aboard your vessel looking for information about a plant."

"I... I have no memory of this person."

Sara's eyes narrowed, "Really? That's odd, because when I spoke to your crewman, he said that a female Basitin did come onboard."

Taking a moment to compose himself, Halec nodded, "Oh yes, of course. My apologies, it's been a rather busy day. Unfortunately we were unable to help her and she departed some time ago."

"Any idea as to where she went."

"She... mentioned something about the library I believe."

As Halec spoke, Kaiba slowly detached from the shadows and crept towards Sara.

"So you are saying she went to the library?" Sara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's what she said. Perhaps that's where you should start your search."

"Indeed. But then... Why is there a wolf sneaking up behind me?"

Before Either Halec or Kaiba could react, Sara leapt up from her chair and delivered a powerful kick directly to Kaiba's groin. As the wolf fell to the ground in agony, Sara grabbed hold of one of the swords at his belt and a javelin from the quiver on his back. Aiming the point of the sword at Kaiba, Sara swung the spear and placed the point directly under Halec's chin.

"Keep your hands at your side!" Sara barked. "Move one single muscle and you will find out just how much faster a trained soldier is than a sailor who's been at sea too long. And you," she nudged Kaiba with her foot, "Stay down."

"No problem." Kaiba groaned.

Sara turned back to Halec. "So, am I to assume that this means that my friend did not, in fact, go to the library?"

"Lady, you've made a big mistake," Halec snarled. "Kill either of us and every man and woman on this ship will cut you to ribbons."

Sara's eyes narrowed, "An empty threat, Captain, we both know that. Now, I know who it is you are working for. I want to know what you did with Kallen, then I want you to take me to them."

"H-how do you-" Halec paused as Sara gently pushed the point into his neck. "She came aboard, asking about a plant that only our employers would know about. We... took her to them."

"Alive?"

"She was when we left her."

"Meaning?"

"The big Basitin said she was gonna kill her." Kaiba groaned, his voice a slightly higher pitch than before. "I was gonna go and save her... right before you sent the twins right up into my throat..."

"Take me to them! Now!"

"W-we have to send word first!" Halec sputtered, "I don't know where they are!"

"I do."

Both Halec and Sara looked down at Kaiba in surprise.

"How the hell do YOU know?" Halec demanded, flinching as the sudden movement drove the sharp tip of the spear into his flesh.

Shakily, Kaiba raised his left hand. "Poked a hole in m'self, gave me a trail to follow," he said, pointing at a small bloodied bandage wrapped around his palm.

"Good." Sara lowered her spear. "Then let's go. Now."

"You're as daft as him!" Halec cried as Sara lowered her spear and bent down to help Kaiba to his feet. "You want us to go out there, onto the dock, after curfew, to go and fight our own allies?"

"Of course not." Sara replied. "I, General Silver's wife, will be out seeing to private business on behalf of the general, along with my two bodyguards."

"This is why I love Basitin women," Kaiba said with a pained smile. "Not a moment of pause to a damn thing you do."

===

Sieg sighed heavily as he stared out over the waters of Kaiser bay as the dull orange glow in the west faded away. The rain had started again, the sound of the drops splattering on his helmet echoing in his ears.

A dark circle surrounded his still swollen left eye. His jaw still ached, and he was fairly certain one of his molars had been knocked loose. Worse, his head still pounded from the rum, and his mouth felt fuzzy and burned from gulping down the hot cocoa that Paul had offered him as a cure.

"Rum is a very cruel mistress." Paul had said, clapping Sieg on the back when he had stumbled down the stairs and offered an apology. Paul had also taken him out back and thrown a large bucket of ice cold water over him to wash the last of the dirt and mud from his fur. All in all, it had not been a good day.

Sieg was so lost in his own thoughts that he barely heard a voice to his left, "What happened to you sir?"

"Huh?" Sieg turned, "Oh, Private Garra, I'm sorry."

The young private frowned. "With respect, again sir, it's Garda."

"Right, of course, my apologies." Sieg shook his head. "Forgive me Private, I'm a bit distracted."

"Looks like someone tried knocking your block off sir."

"Troubles with my wife."

Garda blinked in surprise. "Oh! My apologies sir, I didn't mean to pry."

Sieg shook his head. "Think nothing of it. She's a Captain, so, I guess I should have known better."

Garda took up his post beside Sieg. "My mother always told me that if my girl ever hit me, she'd cut her to pieces and use her as bait."

Despite himself Sieg chuckled, "Yeah..."

"You gonna get her back sir?"

Sieg sighed heavily. "I can't. She's lost just about everything already... I just don't want her to hurt anymore."

"Yes sir."

"You don't really get it, do you?"

Garda shook his head. "No sir, not sure I do."

"Neither do I."

For a long time, Sieg and Garda stood together, staring out over the bay. The rain came and went, sometimes light, sometimes heavy.

Eventually Sieg set about doing his rounds, moving from dock to dock, checking on the guard posts.

As he drew near the front gate, another guard and a stranger dressed in a dark cloak approached.

The guard saluted. "Sir, there is someone here to see you. I told her it was past curfew, but she insisted on speaking with you."

As the guard spoke, the stranger lowered the hood of her cloak

"Naomi?"

"Good evening Sieg," she bowed.

The guard turned back to Sieg. "Would you like to deal with this yourself sir?"

"Y-yes, thank you."

As the guard stepped away, Sieg turned to Naomi. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous at night!"

Naomi blushed a little. "Well I... I saw that you were hurt when you were walking here. I tried to stop you but... you didn't seem to hear me."

"Oh..." Sieg paused for a moment, "It's nothing, really. I just had a fight with Marien?"

Shani smiled internally. "Bingo."

"That's terrible!" Naomi said, reaching up and examining Sieg's face. "She must have really hurt you, you look terrible."

"Thanks." Sieg snorted.

"Oh, you know what I meant." After a few moments, Naomi spoke up again. "So, what were you fighting about?"

"Marien is... she's making plans to go and join the war. She'll be leaving for a long time."

"But... I thought she was pregnant."

"She... she was." Sieg's ears drooped as he stared at his feet, "She... we lost the baby."

Naomi's hands flew up to her mouth, "Oh Sieg.... Oh no..."

"Yeah. It's been..." Sieg sighed heavily. "You know I'm not sure I'd wish this week on anyone, not even on that bastard Lyon."

"I'm so sorry." Noami reached out and grabbed Sieg's arm. "That is terrible, I'm sorry Seig. And she... left you because of it?"

"What?" Sieg shook his head, "No she... she didn't leave me."

"But she hit you, and she must have hit you hard." Noami reached up and gently touched Sieg's cheek. "It looks like it hurt."

Sieg blushed a little, "Uh... well yeah, a little."

For a moment Noami and Sieg's eyes met. Despite himself, Seig felt a genuine spark. His heart began to beat faster, his breathing quickened, and her felt heat rising up his back and into his face.

Noting Sieg's response, Shani smiled to herself. "Good, but not quite yet. Just a little bit more, then I have him."

Naomi's breath was hot in the night air, "Sieg... I have to tell you..."

Sieg felt his throat go dry. He didn't know what to do, or what to think. He knew he should push her away. He thought of Marien, of the cave, their child's bedroom, their first night. But no words would come, his thoughts were jumbled and confused.

Slowly the two drifted closer.

How Shani wished she could lick her lips as she felt the thrill of victory. "The pheromones are working. Now, final touches."

All of a sudden Noami's face turned red as she looked away, shyly brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.

"I... I brought something for you."

Reaching into her tunic, Naomi pulled out a paper wrapped package. "Your favourite."

"I... I shouldn't really eat on duty."

"Come on, it's much better fresh."

"Thank you." Sieg took the package and opened it, the delicious smell of fried fish filling his nose. The smell was so tantalizing that for a moment he even forgot about his hangover.

Sieg smiled as he tok a bite. "It's great, as usual."

"Thank you. I tried cooking it a little different this time."

"What did you do differently?" Sieg asked as he took another bite.

"Well I used more flour in the breading, tried to make it flakier." Naomi smiled, "I guess it worked, you're wearing a fair bit of it."

Hurriedly Sieg wiped off his mouth, "Oh, sorry."

"Here, let me." Noami reached up and touched Sieg's cheeks. Again their eyes met. For a long moment the two stared at one another.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Shani caught a flicker of movement on the dock, a familiar figure moving towards them, the one she had been waiting for for hours.

"Finally, the guest of honour."

As she leaned forwards, Shani smiled to herself. "I win."

===

As Marien approached the main gate of the dock, the guards standing on duty saluted.

"Good evening Captain! How may we assist you."

Marien cleared her throat, "I... I would like to see Lieutenant Kolvest. Is he on duty?"

"Yes ma'am, I can take you to him."

Marien held up a hand, "No need, I'll find him."

"Yes ma'am."

As Marien entered the dock she nervously brushed herself off. "What am I going to say to him." she wondered. She rubbed the knuckles on her right hand, they still hurt from hitting Sieg's jaw.

"I can't believe I hit him." she growled to herself, shaking her head. "I can't believe I was such an-"

In an instant, Marien's world went black and white and all sound fell away. Ahead of her was a dock that stretched out into the bay. Not thirty paces away, standing beneath the awning of a small shack, was Seig and another woman. The woman had her arms wrapped around Sieg's neck and she was kissing him deeply.

A hundred possibilities flashed before Marien's eyes. She could scream, run, attack, swear, so many thoughts flitted across her mind in the time it took her to blink.

Without a sound, Marien turned on her heel and walked away.

"Did you find him Captain?" one of the guards at the gate asked as Marien stepped through.

For a moment Marien paused. "Yes... yes I did."

Reaching down, Marien unclipped Sieg's sword belt from around her waist.

"Tell him someone came to give him back his sword." Marien ordered, tossing the belt to the guard.

"Y-yes ma'am. Anything else."

"No." Marien replied simply. "There's nothing else to say."

As she walked back into the night, Marien brought up the hood of her cloak. The tears that fell mixed with the rain and were swept away.

===

When Naomi kissed him, for a moment Sieg was frozen in place. It felt good, Naomi was warm and gentle, she even smelled nice. For a few seconds, Sieg simply didn't know how to react, and instinctively wrapped his arms around Naomi.

But the surprise faded, and sudden awareness of what was happening crashed over him. With a panicked gasp, Sieg pushed Naomi away.

"Naomi! What are you doing?!" he sputtered, stepping back.

"I... I don't know what came over me! Naomis gasped.

"Naomi you... you kissed me! Why?"

"It felt right, like it was the right thing to do." Naomi tilted her head slightly, "Didn't it... didn't it feel right?"

"No! I mean, it was nice but... Naomi, no!"

"Why not?"

Sieg's heart felt like it was going to burst his ribs and his head spun. "We're friends! I... I don't think about you that way!"

For a moment Shani almost dropped the mask. "What the hell? Is he serious? Switch tactics, sympathetic approach."

"I just..." Naomi stopped and turned away, her shoulders shaking, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Dropping his spear to the dock, Sieg stepped forward and grabbed Naomi's shoulders. "No! Hey, it's okay! I... I wasn't." Sieg struggled to find the right words.

"Look... Naomi, I care about you, I do. And... I'm not saying I don't like you."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I love Marien. She's my wife, and we're going to be a family. I can't betray her like this."

"I thought you said she was going to war. That she was going to leave you alone." Naomi shook Sieg's hands from her shoulders and stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. "What kind of family is that?"

As she backed away, Shani frantically examined Sieg's face.

"What the hell is going on? My words, my actions, the pheromones, he should be crawling all over me! Dragging me back to his place? But there's... nothing! No lust, no.... no hesitation, no temptation, not even anger! What is happening?"

Sieg paused, "Well yeah, but not forever. She'll be back."

"But what about your baby?"

Sieg blinked in surprise, "Naomi... I can't just abandon Marien. She's hurt, she needs me and I need her."

"But... she hit you." Noami reached up and touched Sieg's face again, "She beat you! She hurt you! How can you ignore that."

"I can't." Sieg gripped Naomi's hand and pulled it away from his face.

Shani crossed her arms, "But you're still going to let her get away with it."

"I can't explain it." Sieg replied with a shrug. "She was hurting, she was in pain and I... I put myself in the way. I'm not afraid of her, she wasn't trying to hurt me, not really."

"There is no excuse." Shani growled, her hands clenched into fists. "There is never an excuse!"

As she spoke, Shani felt a surge of panic and rage fill her chest. Unwanted images flashed through her mind, her mother striking her with hands and feet, the words of hate that she had been pelted with day after day. In her core she felt pain long forgotten, the feeling of cracked ribs and bleeding gums, of bruises and welts.

"We had a fight." Sieg shrugged. "All couples fight, this one just... got out of hand. We'll talk about it, we'll fix it."

"And what if she tries to kill you during one of these 'out of hand times'? Who will protect you then?"

"Kill me? Naomi, Marien is in pain, but she's not going to kill me..."

"It's not fair!" Shani yelled, turning around and facing Sieg with tears in her eyes. "You're the first person I've ever met who treats me with honour and respect, the first person who actually seems to care about me."

As she spoke, Shani suddenly found that she was no longer following the script she had prepared. She was speaking words as they happened. And for the first time in her life, she felt like she couldn't stop. And as she spoke, Shani found she no longer cared.

"You're actually nice, a genuine person with genuine feelings!" Shani cried, shaking her head. "You don't want to use me, you don't want something from me, to turn me into something. You just... you don't want me at all!"

Sieg shook Naomi's shoulders. "I want you to be my friend! I want you to greet me at the gate from time to time, to bring me fish. You make me happy! I like spending time with you! But I love Marien."

"So you are the same." Shani snarled, "The same as everyone else! You want me to make you happy, to do things for you, but you don't want to give anything in return."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you felt this way."

"Well I do!"

Shani turned and looked up at Basikal city, the light stretching up the hill above the dock. "It's so frustrating, to see everyone else going through life like it is so simple. I just want to stop. I just want a normal life!"

"Normal?" Sieg tilted his head, "Naomi, what are you talking about? What you're saying... it doesn't make any sense. What's really going on here?"

"What am I doing!" Shani screamed inwardly. "I have him! Get a grip!"

"I meant..." Naomi shook her head, "It doesn't matter, none of it matters."

All of a sudden Sieg stepped forward and pulled Shani into a hug, holding her tight. Instinctively Shani's hand went for her knife but she paused when Sieg started stroking the back of her head.

"I'm sorry," Sieg said quietly. "I didn't know I was making you feel that way. I suppose I know what it's like to be on the receiving end now."

"The...receiving end?"

Sieg let Shani go, but held her hands. "I fell in love with Marien the first moment I saw her. My family and I were walking to Fort Dauntless to start our training. I heard a noise behind me, and there she was, this dark furred girl with a flower necklace and beautiful eyes. I know it sounds silly but... at that moment, I decided I was going to love her forever."

Shani shivered slightly, "I... I didn't say I loved you."

Sieg shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I spent years following Marien, pursuing her, trying to get her to see me, to like me back. Maybe that's how you felt? I just... didn't see it"

Shani was quiet for a moment. Her plan lay in tatters at her feet. She had no more plans, no more contingencies. She had plotted so many iterations of this encounter, all of them useless.

But her mind quickly clicked back into focus. "Improvise, adapt. Target weak point."

"But... wouldn't it be better to have your family here?"

"Well yes, of course."

"You're a noble person, you deserve to have the family you want, the life that you want. And Marien... I'm sorry Seig, but Marien can't give it to you."

Sieg bristled at Naomi's words. "What do you mean?"

"Marien is a soldier. She's going to war. And even if she comes back, she'll still want to go again." Naomi shook her head. "Sieg... even if you love Marien... she needs the war, more than she needs you."

Naomi's words hit Seig like a crashing wave.

"Got him!"

Naomi shook her head, "I'm not... I'm not saying Marien is a bad person. You chose her, you obviously love her... but isn't she choosing the war over you? What if... what if letting her go is best for both of you?"

"The war..."

"Sieg don't you understand? You aren't betraying her, she's already betrayed you! She's decided to fight, rather than accept what you are trying to give her!"

But Naomi's words fell on deaf ears. Seig's mind raced.

"The war... that's the reason for all of it! Marien doesn't want to run, she wants to be accepted for who she is! And the war... the war is the reason why she can't."

Without thinking, Sieg's hand went to his left breast pocket, to the small silver coin he had kept there for so many months.

Shani noticed the movement and paused. "Sieg?"

"Huh?" Sieg shook his head. "Listen, Naomi... we should talk more later, but right now there is something I have to do."

Before Noami could speak, Sieg took off running. Several guards turned and watched in surprise as Sieg sprinted past them. He leapt up the stairs three at a time, leading from the docks to the shore. He leapt over barrels and crates, dodging from side to side and he dashed like a madman towards the gate.

"If Commander Bachres asks where I am, tell her I have something I have to see to!" Sieg yelled as he sprinted past the guards at the gate.

One of the guards called out, "Sir! Wait!" But Sieg was already gone.

As she watched Sieg vanish into the night, Shani could do nothing but stare and blink.

"Wh-what the hell just happened?"

End of Part 14

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