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Sieg and Marien - A Basitin Love Story - Part 15 - Sara Silver

"Sir?"

"mmMmmMmmmm"

"Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you."

"V-Valen? Is that you Valen?"

"No sir, it's Bruik. Sir, are you awake."

With an irritated sigh, Kent's eyes slid open. "Yes, I suppose I am now. What time is it?"

"It is a little past midnight sir." Kent's personal bodyguard bowed his head. "Please forgive me for disturbing you, but there is a very insistent young man who says that he wishes to speak with you."

Kent rubbed his eyes and yawned loudly. "Who is it?"

"He says his name is Sieg Kolvest sir."

Immediately Kent's eyes widened and his ears perked up. "Oh... now that is interesting."

"He also said you gave him this."

As Kent sat up, his bodyguard extended a hand. In his plam sat the silver coin stamped with the face of General Alaric.

"Where is he now?" Kent asked, standing and picking up a bright red robe hanging beside his bed.

"In your study General."

"Well then," Kent smiled as he whirled the robe around his shoulders and tied it around his waist. "Let's go and see what he wants."

===

"So you had no knowledge of the Nosgoth Fang before you boarded the Jade Echo."

Blearily Kallen shook her head. "No..."

"And you had no idea that the Jade Echo was affiliated with us."

"I don't even know who you are."

"Answer the question."

"No... I just boarded the ship looking for information about the plant."

"And what do you know of General Kent Silver? And the troop movements around Basikal?"

"I'm a doctor... I don't know anything about troop movements... And I've only met Kent through his wife Sara. I work with her."

"And Argent?"

"I have no idea who that is."

Alwyn sighed and leaned back. "I believe you."

Kallen let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you..."

"Of course, that still leaves us with what is to be done with you."

"I don't know who you are," Kallen replied, leaning back against the wall of the cave. "I don't know where I am. Just... let me go, or drop me off somewhere. I promise, I won't say anything to anyone..."

Alwyn shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, I can't do that."

Despite her desperate fatigue, Kallen felt another pulse of fear run up her back. "Wh-what?"

"You know about the Jade Echo. And even if you don't know where you are, the last thing we want is the guards to be looking for us."

"So... what are you."

Alwyn leaned forward and gently touched Kallen's shoulder. "I'm very sorry, but we can't let you go, and we can't keep you here."

"Kallen's eyes widened, "Wait, y-you're going to kill me?"

"I'm sorry."

Immediately Kallen sat back up, her eyes wide with terror, "No! Please! My son, he has no father, I'm all he has!"

"And he will be cared for, I swear it."

"I won't tell anyone anything! I swear! On my life, on my son's life, on whatever you want, I swear it!"

Alwyn lowered her gaze. "I am sorry, but there are hundreds of lives that would ride on your silence, silence that I will not be able to guarantee. I promise you, it will be painless."

Kallen shook her head. "Please..."

"You are a doctor, you know that sometimes you have to preserve the lives you can save at the cost of the ones you can't."

Despite her tears, Kallen's face hardened. "Don't you dare compare what I do to murdering me you monster!"

"Listen to me I-" Alwyn paused as Kallen leaned forward and spit in her face.

Calmly wiping off her nose and forehead, Alwyn looked back up at Kallen. "Listen to me. I don't expect you to understand. However, I have a gift I wish to give you."

"To hell with you and your gift!" Kallen snarled. She strained against the ropes around her arms and legs, but they would not budge.

Alwyn reached down and tapped the paper she had brought. "Your son will grow up, safe, that I can promise you. I am offering you a chance to leave him a message."

As Alwyn tapped the paper, Kallen lunged forward and tried to sink her teeth into Alwyns hand. Alwyn moved her hand aside and instead caught Kallen's head, pinning her to the cave of the floor.

"If you can calm your fear for just a moment, you will see that I am offering you something valuable," Alwyn said quietly as she leaned in close to Kallen's face. "I am offering you the chance to guide your son, even though you will be gone."

"Just let me go!" Kallen wailed, her voice filled with both sorrow and rage.

"I wish I could, I really do, but I can't"

As Alwyn spoke, she heard sprinting footsteps approaching the cave. Climbing to her feet she looked down at Kallen, "Think on the words you wish to leave him. He will receive them, I promise you."

As Alwyn stepped out of the cave, she was met by a panting Hearth Guard.

"What is it?"

"We have a problem!" the guard gasped. "Intruders, in the Hearth!"

"You stay here and guard the doctor, make certain that she doesn't escape. If she gets loose, kill her."

"Y-yes Priestess."

As she made her way back towards the Hearth's main chamber, Alwyn reached to her back and drew the broken greatsword from its sheath.

"Let no threat stand," She growled to herself.

===

"Alright everyone, stay calm!" Kaiba called out. "We're not 'ere t' hurt anyone!"

"I told you this was a terrible idea!" Halec growled, brandishing his cutlass at a pair of Hearth guards. "Thank you so so much for getting us into this, Doctor!"

Sara didn't respond. She stood with her back to Halec and Kaiba, a short spear in her grasp. With Kaiba's nose and the trail he had left, finding the entrance to the Hearth hadn't been difficult, nor had it taken much to disable the guards who had been protecting the entrance.

Now, in the Hearth's main chamber, her and her companions were surrounded and outnumbered. A dozen armed Basitins wearing armour and carrying a variety of weapons, had formed a ring around them. Two of the guards were slowly picking themselves up off the ground, groaning in pain from a pair of vicious punches from Kaiba.

"What are we waiting for exactly?" Halec demanded.

"The same thing they are," Sara replied, meeting the nervous gaze of one of the guards and shaking her head while brandishing her spear. "Their leader."

"Oh, the big one!" Kaiba's eyes brightened and his tail started to wag. "Looking forward to seeing her again."

Halec's mouth fell open, "Are you kidding? She'll tear us into pieces!"

"She can lay into me any day she wants."

"Would you shut your mouth you insane canine?!"

"Both of you, be quiet," Sara barked. "I have a plan."

"I would certainly hope so," A commanding voice called out.

The ring of Hearth Guards parted as Alwyn strode forward, her sword in hand.

Coming to a stop just out of the range of Sara's spear, Alwyn put a hand on her hip. "I certainly hope the rest of your plan is better than this part."

Before Sara could speak, Halec turned and grabbed hold of her, putting his sword against her throat.

"Forgive us, high priestess," he shouted. "She came to our ship searching for the other female! She blackmailed us into coming here and-"

"Oh shut up!" Sara growled. Seizing hold of Halec's wrist she held the blade at bay as she reared back and drove the back of her head into Halec's nose. As Halec cried out, Sara twisted the blade away, rolled under Halec's arm, and drove her knee as hard as she could into his groin. Halec crumpled to the ground in a groaning, bleeding heap.

"You are entirely too fond of that move," Kaiba observed, wincing as he looked down at Halec.

"Now," Sara tossed the sword and spear aside and stepped forwards towards Alwyn. "I want to have a word with you."

"Do you indeed."

Sara's eyes narrowed. "The sun may be down, but the spirits hear our shadows."

Immediately Alwyn's eyes widened. After a moment she turned to her guards. "I will speak with this one alone. In the meantime, please watch the Captain and his wolf friend."

"Yes priestess!"

"And you," Alwyn turned to Kaiba. "Put down your weapons and you won't be harmed."

"Didn't come 'ere t' fight, came 'ere to get the woman I brought. Bring her t' me, an' no one has to get hurt." Halec groaned and Kaiba looked down at him, "Well... no one else."

"Kaiba, please, let me handle this," Sara said, looking over her shoulder. "Just put your weapons down. Everything is under control."

"But-"

"Trust me."

Slowly, Kaiba nodded and lowered his swords. "Alright lass... I'll trust ya."

As the guards stepped forward, Kaiba raised his sword once more and aimed the point at them. "Jus' remember, someone so much as looks at me liken they wanna stick me, I'll carve 'em up like a turkey."

"You heard him," Alwyn called out. "This is a sacred place. Keep your weapons down."

Turning back to Sara, Alwyn nodded her head, "Follow me, and let's talk."

===

Sieg nervously tapped on his knees as he sat and waited in General Silver's study. The adrenaline had faded, and now he honestly felt a little silly for rushing out of the docks. He was also more than a little nervous for disturbing the General at such a late hour.

The study was very different from what Sieg had expected. He'd thought there would be hunting trophies, weapons and armour, and paintings of the General's ancestors on the wall, much like his own father's study.

Instead, hundreds upon hundreds of books lined the walls, some of them Basitin, but many of them human. Several large volumes were decorated with delicate gold filigree, and a few had tiny chips of glowing Mana stone embedded in the spine. There were even Kiedran books, rough edged paper bound in leather.

From where he was sitting Sieg couldn't make out many of the titles, but what he could read suggested that Kent's library covered an extensive array of topics.

There were also a number of frames containing collections of exotic insects. One large frame contained hundreds of butterflies, their wings splashed with every single colour Sieg had ever seen, and even a few he hadn't.

The rest of the walls were covered in paintings of every style. There were landscapes that looked so real that Sieg felt as if he could climb right inside of them and walk about. Others were more abstract; random splashes of colour that seemed to dance even in stillness.

Sieg found his eyes drawn to one in particular, a painting of a stunningly beautiful light grey feline Keidran with dark spots and beautiful green eyes. Sieg found the sly yet friendly smile on her gentle face enchanting.

Sieg's staring was interrupted when the door to the study opened and Kent stepped inside.

Sieg leapt to his feet and bowed. "General Silver."

"Mr. Kolvest, a pleasure to see you again." Kent gestured towards a pair of high backed chairs sitting in front of the fireplace. "Please, join me."

With a quick nod, Sieg approached the fireplace and dropped into the chair. He was surprised at how comfortable it was, his body sinking easily into the soft velvet.

"Would you care for a drink?" Kent asked as he set about fiddling with a small collection of bottles on a narrow table sitting against the wall.

"No, thank you sir."

"Do you mind if I?"

"Of course not sir."

After a few moments, Kent turned around, a pair of glasses in his hand. As he sat, he handed the second glass to Sieg.

"Forgive me, but seeing how nervous you are I thought that perhaps you were simply being polite."

Sieg sniffed the glass, a deep fruity scent filling his nose.

"The Tiger Clans call it 'tree spirits' or 'jungle wine'," Kent explained as Sieg took an exploratory sip. "They hollow out the core of a tree with fire, fill the trunk with various fruits and let them ferment. The sap sweetens the brew, and before you know it, you have a rather delicious beverage. I find it helps calm the nerves. That, and it helps smooth over a hangover."

"H-hangover sir."

"I've been around alcohol long enough to know when someone is suffering ," Kent smiled.

"I... thank you sir."

"Now," Kent took a gulp of his own drink before setting the glass aside and locking his gaze with Sieg. "What is it that you want to talk about?"

"You told me before that... if I had any doubts about our people... I should come and see you."

"I did indeed."

"I..." Sieg paused for a moment, not sure of the words he wanted to say.

"Come on lad, spit it out. You've come this far."

Still Sieg couldn't speak. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled, looking down at his feet, his ears drooping, "It's... it's foolish."

"Maybe, but foolish things can be very important."

Again, Sieg tried to speak, but the words seemed to stick to his tongue.

Downing his drink, Kent climbed up from his chair and started walking around his study, his hands folded behind his back.

"I saw you examining my artwork. Do you like it?"

"Yes sir, it's... it's beautiful."

"Which is your favourite?"

"I.." Sieg looked back at the picture of the Keidran, "That one. There's something about it, something... special."

"Ah yes, I like it as well. It was painted with love, a great deal of it. Strange, considering the artist was a human, and his subject a slave."

"Yes sir."

"I love art." Kent sighed, gazing from one painting to the next, "It captures a moment, freezes it in time, like an insect in amber. But what I love most is that you can tell so much about that moment from the little details, the ones you are meant to miss."

Kent paused at one painting, a scene of three human farmers struggling to bring in a meagre harvest. "This one, for example. There was a famine, some eighty years ago, which struck the western provinces of the human empire. Thousands upon thousands died of illness and starvation, rebellions cropped up, even the slaves revolted. The Empire, of course, has maintained that it was a minor incident."

Kent's eyes darted over the painting. "The artist captured that moment very well. The resilience of the humans, the optimism in the face of periol. But if you look closely, you can see more."

Gesturing for Sieg to join him, Kent nodded at the canvas. "What do you see?"

Sieg's eyes swept the painting. "I see three farmers, humans. They're so thin..." Sieg looked to Kent who nodded with encouragement.

"The trees are bare, and the wheat they are harvesting looks very poor. But they still seem... hopeful?"

"Look beyond that lad, deeper."

"What am I looking for."

"Anything, the slightest little detail."

"I see..." Sieg frowned as he leaned closer. "There are... hairs, in the paint."

"Which probably indicates an older brush was used, one which the artist should have thrown away. What else."

"There are places where there is no paint. The clouds, the ground, the woman's dress. Anywhere where he didn't need paint there is none. The paint is also very thin."

Kent nodded, "Very good. And what does that say to you?"

"He was... short on paint?" Sieg looked over at Kent, "And if he was short on paint... would that mean that he artist was suffering too."

"Well done lad," Kent smiled. "This was painted by a man named Gillian Vaughn, an ancestor of the man who painted the portrait of the Keidran you were looking at when I arrived."

Kent folded his hands behind his back again and walked over to another painting. "The Vaughns have been rich slave traders for generations. For the famine to have touched even their family tells you just how bad it must have been, and speaks volumes about the Empire and it's desire to hide the truth."

"It says more than they wanted it to say."

"Indeed. With that in mind, take a look at this one."

Again Sieg joined Kent in front of another painting. The canvas was large, the paint bright and new. The scene was of the fall of the great mana tower in the Capital. The king, joined by her warriors, fought against the terrifying figure of the Grand Templar, lightning crackling around his hands. General Alabaster, his arms spread like a saint, and his robes billowing out behind him, stood before the tower, heroically shielding it with his body.

Sieg found his eyes drawn to the base of the tower, to the bodies of several Basitins already slain. It felt as if a blade had been driven into his back as he realised that one of those bodies was meant to represent his own brother.

"I imagine that this is a hard scene for you to see." Kent said, putting a hand on Sieg's shoulder. "But it is important."

Hard as it was, Sieg forced himself to stare at the painting. He tried to detach himself, to see past the image, to see past the few splashes of colour that were meant to represent his brother, the splotches of red meant to be his blood.

"They are protecting the tower." Sieg said after a moment. "Alabaster, the king, the guards... They are protecting the Mana tower."

"Indeed." Kent gestured at the work, "And look at how it is rendered, such care and precision, every detail perfect."

"But our fortress isn't!" Sieg interrupted, leaning closer. "It's all blocky, the walls have almost no detail.

"Look at the windows, they're mere single strokes of colour. He even got the eye colour of the King wrong."

"The tower... that's what was most important. Not the king, not the battle, but the tower." Sieg looked back up at Kent, "But why?"

"You tell me."

"Power," Sieg said after a moment. "It was going to give us power."

"Immense power, the power to harness mana." Kent nodded, smiling approvingly down at Sieg. "With that kind of strength in our arsenal, not a single nation in this world could have stopped us. With our military equipped with magic, we would have torn through the human empire like a brush fire."

Kent turned away and moved to return to his chair. "No small wonder then that the artist considered the loss of the tower to be such a blow."

Tearing his gaze away from the painting, Sieg rejoined Kent.

"Now, of course, power on its own is meaningless." Kent said, tossing another log onto the failing blaze in the hearth. "A blacksmith can forge a magnificent sword, but if he can't wield it, it's nothing."

"Power... helps you change things."

Kent leaned back and folded his fingers in front of his chin. "And yet, if you were to ask so many of our people whether things should change, so many would say no. Things are static, perfect the way they are, etched in stone and hardened by law. So, why the tower?"

"Because... people do want it to change, but they don't say it," Sieg frowned slightly. "Or they can't say it. But the tower, the painting, it proves that, under the surface, we want change."

"Like tides under the ice," Kent nodded. "The ice can hold on for a time, but eventually the forces underneath will crack it, and break it apart. And you, Mr. Kolvest, are a very big crack."

===

Sara followed closely behind Alwyn as she made her way out of the central Hearth chamber and into the catacombs of smaller caves beyond. Eventually they came to a thick red curtain that covered the entrance of a smaller cave.

"In," Alwyn ordered, pulling the curtain aside and gesturing for Sara to enter.

With a small nod, Sara stepped past the curtain and into the cave beyond.

Alwyn's private quarters were decorated with long trails of fabric hanging from the ceiling. Hundreds of different kinds of plants hung in bundles from the walls, and against the far wall was a mixing table covered in chemistry implements. Alwyns' bed was a single large cushion, and beside it was a small wooden crib.

As Sara turned back around to face Alwyn, she found herself face to face with Alwyn's sword.

"How do you know that code?" Alwyn demanded. "No games, no lies, speak quickly."

Sarah crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you've guessed it already. This place was once my home."

Alwyn paused as Sara started walking around her room, touching several of the plant bundles hanging from the ceiling.

"It's been a long time. I left this place when I was fifteen years old, long before you came here."

"You left? Or were you forced out?"

"I didn't want to spend my life living in caves. I wanted to bring the knowledge we had protected for so long to the surface, I wanted to help."

"How have you remained hidden?" Alwyn asked, replacing her sword in its sheath. "None of us have ever successfully reintegrated."

"You think anyone questions the wife of a General?" Sara shrugged. "Though I suppose Kent was still a lieutenant colonel when I met him. Still, his authority was enough to silence any probing questions about my lack of paperwork."

"Sara Silver..."

"My Hearth name is Neucel, Neucel, out of Mira, by Adrian." Sara examined a bundle of dried flowers, gently stroking the petals. "But Sara works just fine for me."

"Does your husband know of us?"

"If he does, he's never said anything about it. But he's no fool, I suspect he has some idea and is simply uninterested in you."

"And why are you here?"

"I am here for my friend, Kallen."

Alwyn shook her head, "I'm sorry sister, but that's not possible. My decision has already been made."

Sara's eyes narrowed. "If you've hurt Kallen, I will make you regret it."

"You've been living on the surface too long, sister," Alwyn replied, crossing her arms. "You're talking like them, violent and arrogant."

"Have you hurt her?"

"She is unharmed."

"Then I will take her."

"I can't let you do that."

"I'm not giving you a choice." Sara growled, her tail lashing back and forth as her ears flattened against her head. "I'm giving you an order."

Alwyn raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And by what right do you order me to do anything?"

"If you wish to keep receiving intelligence from the surface, you will do as I command."

"I thought so," Alwyn nodded. "You're Argent, aren't you?"

"I've been supplying you with information straight from my husband's desk." Sara replied, picking up and examining a small knife on Alwyn's table. "And if you want that to continue, you will give me Kallen. If you don't, Argent will vanish."

"So be it." Alywn shrugged as Sara looked back at her with surprise. "We survived for a thousand years without your information, we will survive a thousand more."

"Is taking the life of this woman so important to you that you would sacrifice your greatest source of intelligence?" Sara scoffed dismissively as she gently touched a small bundle of twigs on the wall. "Now who is arrogant?"

"And is your commitment to saving her worth putting the lives of your brothers and sisters, of our history and way of life, in mortal peril?"

Alwyn stepped into her room and leaned against a wall. "I understand your anger, and I certainly understand your loyalty to your friend. We stand at crossed purposes, but there is no need for you to talk as if we are enemies. But you must understand that I will do what I must to protect our community."

"It is my fault that she is here, and I MUST correct that." Sara said at last, her tone absent much of the anger it had held mere moments ago. "If I hadn't left her to investigate alone... if I had just thought about where her inquiries might lead..."

With a heavy sigh, Alwyn stepped forwards, "Sister, please understand what I must weigh here. The Hearth protects thousands of years of history and knowledge, we are the last remaining traces of what our people are truly capable of being, a single strand that, once severed, will be gone forever. We don't just act to protect ourselves, but to protect all that we retain of our civilization. We serve a critical function for all Basitins on all points of the compass."

"Don't patronize me." Sara replied sharply. "I know what is at stake. I grew up here, remember?"

"And yet you would let your own guilt put it all in danger."

"I can convince Kallen not to speak of this."

"But for how long? What happens when you are gone? Or if her tongue is loosened by drink? Or if she is interrogated?"

"We banish her then." Sara said at last, turning back to Alwyn. "I can arrange for her child to be retrieved, then she and him can be transported to the mainland, to Hearth Sunical. I plant some evidence and the authorities will think she simply defected to the West."

"And then what? Hold her at Sunical forever?"

"It's better than death."

"Is it? Would you choose such a life for yourself and your child?"

"You are being ignorant and obtuse!" Sara snapped as her hands clenched into fists.

"And you are being sentimental and foolish!"

For a long moment the cave was filled only with a heavy silence, the air crackling like the sky just before a lightning strike. Finally, Sara rounded on Alwyn, a fire burning in her gaze that made even Alwyn take a step back. "Understand this, Priestess, I will not allow you to kill her."

"Then you force my hand," Alwyn replied, reaching for her sword. She stopped when Sara raised a hand.

"I want to speak with her. At least allow me to hear what she has to say. Please, Priestess, have faith in me and allow me try and convince her."

"If you try and escape, I will have no choice but to stop you," Alwyn replied after a moment, lowering her hand. "I beg you sister, please don't make me go to war with you on this."

"You needn't fear." Sara pushed her way past Alwyn and through the curtain. "There will be no war."

===

For a long time, Sieg and Kent stared into the fire crackling in the hearth, watching as the logs slowly disintegrated into glowing coals. The only sounds were those of the fire, the pattering of rain on the windows, and the soft ticking of a mechanical clock set upon the mantlepiece.

"You're saying... we can't keep this up?" Sieg said at last, turning to Kent. "That our society is broken."

Kent met Sieg's gaze. "Would you be here if that wasn't the case?"

"No... I guess not."

"Then I ask again: what do you want?"

"I want..." Sieg swallowed hard, "I want... I want the war to end."

"Oh?"

"I want... I want Marien to be able to live in peace. I want to stop hearing the recruits I guard the dock with talk about how much they look forward to fighting. Every time they talk like that... I see them dead, cut open on some battlefield!"

Sieg leapt up from his chair, Anger billowing up inside of him. "I want to stop worrying about Marien every moment that she is gone. I want to stop hearing about her having to fight duels, and I certainly don't want her to go to battle! She wants to go off and fight because people look at her like she's the enemy! Why? Why is she the enemy? Simply because she looks different!"

Sieg threw up his hands, "All wolves look the same, all tigers look the same, all humans look the same, and I bet to them WE all look the same! So why, why the hell are we fighting?! Why are we wasting lives and time and.... everything, on this stupid, evil war?!"

Sieg felt dizzy, he felt like he couldn't catch his breath. "I hate it!" he yelled, "I hate it! I hate it all! I hate this place! I hate this city, this goddam island, this whole goddamn country! I hate the war! I hate Lyon! I hate.... I hate...."

"Go on." Kent said, resting his chin on his elbow. "You really seemed to be getting somewhere there."

"It doesn't matter." Sieg sighed heavily, dropping back into his chair, his head in his hands, "Nothing will change."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't have the power to change anything. My father, hell even Marien, is right, I just stand on a dock watching for troublesome seagulls. I try to convince myself that I have pride in what I do... but really, I just can't stand the idea of fighting." Sieg's ears drooped as he looked down at his lap, "I'm just a coward."

"And yet you are here, at two in the morning, meeting with me."

Sieg looked up, his eyes exhausted and stinging, "That's not bravery."

"Isn't it?" Getting up from his chair, Kent knelt down in front of Sieg. "It took courage to say what you just said. I salute you, Mr. Kolvest, I truly do."

Sieg blushed and looked away. "I haven't done anything."

"You love Marien, despite all the problems that it has caused for you. That has taken more courage than most of the warriors I know possess."

When Sieg couldn't seem to find anything to say, Kent got back to his feet. "You know it occurs to me, I asked you about your favourite painting, but I didn't tell you mine."

Sieg tilted his head as Kent gestured at a painting over the fireplace. The picture was that of a Basitin, handsome and tall, standing against a Basitin flag. He had a sword in his hand, its point aimed forward as if aimed at the future, a confident smile on his face.

'This, this is my favourite." Kent said, a wistful smile on his face as he stared up at the canvas. "This is my husband, Valen."

Sieg blinked in surprise, "Husband?"

Kent looked over his shoulder, "Yes, and I was his. We were together for nearly seven years, and we served together in the fourth legion."

"But... aren't you...married?"

"Oh yes, and I love my Sara dearly." Kent looked back at the painting, "But Valen was the great love of my life. We met in school, grew up together, and fell in love. We saved one another's lives many times, fought back to back, huddled together for warmth... we meant everything to one another."

Sieg wasn't sure what to think. He had heard of such relationships. Though they weren't exactly illegal, they were very rarely spoken of and very much discouraged. Romance, after all, was a means to an end: helping the Basitin Empire expand, replenishing losses, and growing in strength.

"When I was struck by a spear during the Red Summer and fell from the fortress wall, Valen was the first one at my side," Kent continued, reaching up to touch the painting's frame. "And when the fort was surrounded and our supplies began to run dry, Valen gave me some of his food and water to keep me alive."

"What... happened to him?" Sieg asked.

"When the fourth legion surrendered, I was sent home along with the other wounded. Valen was forced to stay behind with the rest of the fourth legion. He was assigned to a prisoner unit that was rebuilding a shipyard we'd destroyed during our occupation of the Western lands." A single tear ran down Kent's face and dropped to the ground. "He fell from a scaffold. I'm told they tried very hard to save him but.... "

"I'm sorry." Sieg looked down at his feet, "I suppose what I said must seem so foolish..."

"Or treacherous," Sieg thought to himself.

"I was asked, many many times, whether I wanted revenge." Kent replied, turning back to Sieg. "And I wanted to say yes, I wanted to feel what they felt, this thirst for retribution, this burning need to hate. But I just kept coming back to something Valen said."

Kent dropped back into his chair, still staring up at the painting. "We had just finished a minor skirmish, about a dozen Westerners were running from us. We were shooting at them, and I noticed that Valen just kept missing again and again. Valen never missed. I'd seen him hit a bird in flight while he was running with the sun in his eyes."

"I can barely hit a still target." Sieg thought to himself, covering up his surprise by taking a sip of wine.

"I asked him why he was deliberately missing the Westerners." Kent continued, "He told me: 'because I would want them to miss me'. Valen taught me that our 'enemies', they want the same things we want. Why should I hate the Westerners? Because they were victorious? We sought the same victory. When we occupied their villages they cried the same things at us that our people shouted at them when our borders were breached. All of this 'ignorant savage' and 'immoral barbarians' is nonsense."

Frustration etched in his face, Kent climbed back to his feet and strode over to his drinks table. "But to speak of such things is 'treachery' or 'disloyalty'. We've created a society where the law is supposed to protect us, but it is as much a prison keeping us in as it is a shield keeping our enemies out,"

Kent downed his first glass and poured himself another. "But the worst part is, despite being as cruel as it is inflexible, our precious shell is far weaker than we believe."

Sieg nodded, Kent's words starting to make sense to him. "The way people talk about Marien... it doesn't make them look strong. It makes them look weak. Laws are necessary, but we have squeezed and squeezed and squeezed, the life and vibrancy out of our people."

"Exactly. Which is something that our predecessor understood very well."

"Predecessor, sir?"

Kent tossed another log on the fire as he returned to his chair. "Tell me, Sieg, what do you know of General Nicholai Alleric?"

===

Making certain to keep one eye on the guard standing outside of her cave, Kallen tried to twist her wrists so that she could use her claws against the ropes holding her. The bindings bit into her wrists, and though she could touch the rope, she couldn't get any purchase to scratch at them.

"Dammit dammit dammit!" She growled to herself, careful not to make any actual noise. She'd tried breaking the bottle that Alwyn had brought her water in, but the guard had heard and taken the glass from her. She'd tried rubbing the ropes against the stone, but that hadn't helped at all.

As Kallen desperately tried to think of something else, she heard footsteps approaching the cave.

"I know, if I can get my teeth into her neck, I can hold her hostage." Kallen's mind raced. Quickly she slumped to try and appear as if she had fallen asleep.

"Don't worry Nicholai, mommy is coming!"

She heard muffled voices outside of the cave, and then heard someone enter. Kallen cracked open her eye as little as she could to get a look. She saw feet, but unlike the woman from before, the newcomers' ankles were wrapped.

"Kallen, are you alright?"

Kallen's eyes flew open, "Sara!"

"It's me." Sara said softly, kneeling down in front of Kallen.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"I know these people," Sara replied, brushing Kallen's hair out of her eyes. "It's a long story. Are you alright, did they hurt you?"

"Not yet. But Sara, they said they were going to kill me!"

"I know, but it's okay, I'm not going to let them do that." Sara put her hands on Kallen's shoulders. "I'm going to get you out of here, alright. You just have to trust me."

"They-they wanted me to write a note for Nicholas."

Sara paused, "And did you?"

"Wh- no! Something happened and she left."

"That was me coming to get you. Don't worry, it's all alright now." Sara reached into her tunic and withdrew a small knife, "Just hold still, I'll get these ropes off."

"Thank you Sara." Kallen breathed, relief flooding through her as Sara set about cutting the ropes from her wrists. "I was so scared, I was- ow!"

"Sorry! Knife slipped. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"There." Sara tossed aside the ropes around Kallen's arms and set to work cutting the ones around her ankles.

"How do we get out of here?"

"I've spoken to the leader. She knows who I am. She says that if you swear that you won't tell anyone about them or this place, they will let you go."

"Thank you Sara." Kallen sighed, rubbing her wrists.

"Just relax, all this will be over soon."

"How did-" Kallen yawned, a sudden wave of fatigue washing over her. "Sorry, how did you know... know where to... where to find me."

"The wolf, the one you met on the boat, he came to rescue you."

Kallen blinked, her eyelids feeling suddenly very heavy, "Kaiba... did that..."

"He did." Sara looked up at Kallen and smiled, "You know, he's rather fond of you."

"He is nice... for a...Kiedran..."

Sara finished cutting the ropes off of Kallen's ankles and tossed them away. As she did, Kallen slumped forwards, unable to hold herself up. Sara leaned over and pulled Kallen against her body.

"I'm so tired..." Kallen mumbled as Sara held her, gently rocking her back and forth.

"Shhhh, it's been a long day." Sara said softly, stroking Kallen's hair, "Just go to sleep, and when you wake up you'll be in your own bed with Nicky."

"I will..."

"I promise. Just close your eyes and rest."

"Thank... you... for coming... for me."

"It's alright. Just sleep."

Kallen yawned again, nestling her head against Sara's chest. "Nicky..."

"Goodnight Kallen." Sara said softly, kissing her friend between the ears as she slumped in Sara's arms. "I'm so so sorry..."

Sara held Kallen for a long time, sitting with her and stroking her hair. Finally, Kallens breathing stopped and she was still. With tears running down her cheeks, Sara shifted and gently lay Kallen down on the floor, folding her hands over her chest.

"It was the right thing to do." Alwyn said from the entrance, her head bowed. "The Hearth must be protected."

"She was trying to help someone, and I killed her for it," Sara looked over her shoulder, cold rage and pain flickering in her gaze. "But I could never let her die alone and afraid."

"Her son will be cared for, I swear it."

"No." Sara climbed to her feet. "Do not dare go anywhere near that child! He is my responsibility, I will take care of him."

"Sister... we all share-"

"Save it," Sara snapped. "There's been enough collateral damage for one day. His mother died to protect your secret, and I'll be damned if you put him in any more danger."

As Sara pushed past her, Alwyn spoke up. "When I saw what you were doing with the plants in my quarters... I thought that perhaps your knife was for me."

Sara paused mid step. "You're still the high Priestess. I may have left my home behind... but not its traditions. But I could not allow you to be the one to do it."

"What of her body?"

"Dispose of it in the usual way." Sara looked over her shoulder. "Just another robbery gone wrong..."

"You are certain."

"It's the only way to protect the Hearth."

"And what of your companions?

Sara turned away, "They are your problem, you deal with them."

"Hey!" Alwyn reached out and seized Sara's shoulder. "Sister, you made a horrible choice today, but you cannot allow this to harden your heart."

"I just killed a friend who I trained, who trusted me, and made her son an orphan." Sara replied, trying hard to keep the sorrow out of her voice. "Believe me, Alwyn, my heart is already plenty hard."

"If you ever need to come back to us, we will be here." Alwyn called out as Sara walked away.

"I don't belong here anymore," Sara muttered to herself. "By the spirits... who knows where I belong now..."

===

By the time Shani arrived back at the Chariot manor, the servants had long ago retired to their own residences on the grounds. All of the manor windows were all dark, save for the exterior lanterns.

Shani was in a foul mood as she opened the door and stepped into the front hall.

"What a colossal failure." She growled to herself as she tossed her cloak aside and shook her soaking wet fur.

"I don't understand at all. I did everything right! We should be back at his place right now, all cuddled up and warm. So why the hell am I here, soaking wet and freezing!"

Shani's tail lashed back and forth as she stalked down the hall, her fingers and ears aching from the cold. "Maybe Jabarian was right, engineer an accident for the Westerner and take Kolvest that way."

Shani growled as she carelessly tossed her coat aside. "Of course the daft bastard would probably spend the next hundred or so years moping!"

As she climbed the stairs towards the second level, the stairway lit only by a pair of candles, Shani ran her hand through her hair. "Dammit, how did this happen?"

As she reached the top of the stairs, Shani took a minutes to take a deep breath. Only then did she notice the rumbling in her stomach. For a moment she considered waking Jabarian to cook her something, but decided against it.

"Of course I'm going to have to tell Jabarian about this. That's going to be a ton of fun. And if that twat Conrad makes one comment I'll turn him inside out with my bare hands!"

"Relax," she muttered out loud as she strode down the darkened hallway towards her room. "Everything can still be salvaged. The Western woman still saw me kissing Sieg, I am certain of that, so this may still all work out for the best." The words felt hollow, even to her own ears.

As she walked, Shani continued to peel off her clothing, leaving a trail behind her as she walked. By the time she reached her bedroom, she was wearing nothing but a loose tank top and underwear. She'd always found an illicit thrill in walking about the house naked, and at least it helped take her mind off her failure.

"First thing is first." Shani said, pushing open her door, "A nice, hot bath-"

The moment she stepped into her room, terror flashed through Shani as the blade of a sword streaking down towards her filled her vision.

End of Part 15

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