Chapter 23
Facing Your Destiny
Near Neapolis Free City, Aurean Empire
Rather than take the overland route from Lustig into Aurea, where the border was likely closed, Toma and his companions continued eastward to Veneta to travel by sea. Tiberia was near the coast anyway, so it was almost certainly the better choice.
Toma had never seen the sea before. He had never been on a ship either, obviously. After a few days of misery, Toma was able to overcome his seasickness for the most part, but it seemed to come back when he was cooped up in his cabin. Whenever he could, he would find an out-of-the-way place on deck so he could get some air and try to work out some of the things that were on his mind.
He found himself thinking about the morning the party split up. He was woken up by Marius lightly shaking his shoulder.
"Come on, boy," he said. "Get up, get dressed. It's time."
You could just barely see the first rays of sunlight on the horizon when Toma emerged from his tent. It wasn't long before everyone was assembled. The same company that had escorted them into Adom would be taking them through Lustig, but there was a different staff officer accompanying them to treat with the Aureans as Rebabah Yohan was assigned to Adom.
The two groups faced each other. Parting being such sweet sorrow and all that, the atmosphere was terribly awkward. Marius and Duran took the first step and embraced each other.
"Be careful out there, brother," Duran said.
"Oh, you might find that you're the one walkin' into the den a' lions."
"No kiddin'. If they figure out who I am..."
"I know it's risky, but I need you on this."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Meanwhile, Dru approached Cray. She was still acting all clumsy and passive around her.
"Lulu..." she said. "Take... take care of yourself... Give my regards to Father and Mother."
"Speaking of Mother..." Cray replied.
She rummaged around in the knapsack hanging off her shoulder and pulled out a wadded-up handkerchief. Opening the handkerchief, she revealed a gold necklace with a large green gem. It looked a lot like the one Dru had before she traded it to Duran to get them across the border into Greland. Actually, it was the very same necklace.
"Mother gave you this," Cray said.
"Where did you find it?" Dru asked.
"I took it from the commandant of Campo di Malo. He said he got it off a smuggler they caught."
"That'd be me," Duran said.
Cray ignored Duran and continued, "I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to give it back to you."
Accepting the necklace, Dru said, "Oh, thank you, Lulu."
Overcoming her reservations, Dru hugged her sister. Cray returned her embrace and stroked her sister's hair as they held each other.
While Toma was watching this, he almost didn't notice Molly approach him.
"I, ah... Ye..."
She flushed, unable to say whatever it was she meant to say, and just punched Toma in the chest instead.
"Ow! What the hell!?"
She turned and left without saying another word. Marius took it upon himself to fill in the blanks.
"'I'm gonna miss ye. Take care a' yerself. Dream 'bout me, my dear, sweet Toma.'"
If looks could kill, they would have to find someone else to lead the expedition to Redgrave. If the glare from Toma did not do the job, the one from Molly definitely would have. Dru and Cray both also seemed rather annoyed by Marius' antics. He just laughed.
"I'm gettin' it from all sides. You hafta laugh, ladies, or else you're just gonna cry."
"Mr. Marius, you could be a little more serious," Dru said reproachfully. "We don't know when we'll see each other again, or even if we'll see each other again, God forbid anything should happen to any of us."
"That's exactly why you should send people off with a light heart, Princess," Marius replied. "Being all gloomy about it doesn't make it any better."
"Perhaps we should wrap this up and be on our way," Cray said. She walked over to Toma and said, "Tomasino Marisco, I won't thank you for sparing my life, nor will I ask forgiveness for what my men and I have done, but I will thank you for looking after Drusilla. I am in your debt, though it is a debt I know I can never repay."
Probably the best thing Toma could do under the circumstances was to say nothing, and that was exactly what he did. Cray was not fool enough to seek anything more from him.
"You should know," she continued, "the survivors of your village were sent to Trant to work as forced laborers. If this should end the way you people are hoping, you may be able to get them back."
As she walked away, the one tall Dragoon who seemed to be second to Cray went up to Toma and said, "The Colonel may not thank you for her life, but I will. You can hate us, you can damn us to Hell, and I won't say you're not justified for it, but I'm obliged to you, Tomasino Marisco, and I won't forget it."
"Come along, Captain Gernot," Cray said. "Whatever you're trying to do, it won't make things any better."
"You said your piece, Colonel, and I said mine."
"Cheeky as ever, you..."
"Toma?"
It was Dru's voice, but Toma didn't remember her saying anything then.
"Toma!"
Toma realized it wasn't Dru in his memory, but Dru in the here and now who was speaking. He must have really been lost in thought to have been so out of it.
"I've been looking for you, Toma," Dru said. "You really do like being up on deck, don't you?"
"Guess I'm just made for the open air," Toma replied.
Dru giggled a little, then said, "I wanted to let you know we'll be coming into port soon, so you should get your things together."
"I don't have that much stuff."
"All the same. Anyway, I... I wanted to tell you about some things before we make land."
"What things?"
"Well, thanks to Lulu recovering Aurelius' ring, he should have no trouble identifying himself so that we can be swiftly escorted to the Capital. It's just that, well... Aurea can be... a difficult country. They're very strict about social divisions. We're going to be walking into a very delicate diplomatic situation. There are going to be people who will be looking for any excuse to sabotage this alliance. It would be easy for them to make you that excuse, which is why... for... expedience... I want you to act as Lady Aloisa's servant. Oh, Toma, don't be mad at me. It's not that I think you—"
Toma held up a hand to stop her.
"I get it," he said. "I know it's not you. I've got a princess pleading with me almost with tears in her eyes. I'd be a right jackass if I got angry about it."
Dru really was on the verge of tears, but the happy sort, as she said, "Oh, Toma, thank you, thank you. Thank you for understanding."
She kissed him on the cheek. Toma wasn't expecting her to do that and judging from the look on her face afterward, neither was she. She turned about the brightest red he'd ever seen.
"E, excuse me..."
She quietly shuffled off. As Toma watched her go, he touched his cheek where she kissed him. Coming was probably a mistake.