She felt nothing. Everything had been extinguished the very moment his light faded from the world, this time for good.
Stumbling as she made her way through the streets, taking the path of least resistance as she cradled his battered body against hers, the thought came into her head that someone might miss her. She no longer cared. Her body was about to expire, but she ignored it.
Ronnie had to do this one last thing, and after that, she knew not what... but she was empty.
*******
A sheet of ice blanketed a city block in every direction, the trail of destruction leading back to the pile of rubble that was Mercurius's mansion. The fact that the sun was peeking over the horizon didn't seem to faze the artificial winter.
Norman shivered despite himself as he surveyed the scene before them. Debris was heaped in massive piles around what appeared to be a giant icicle several stories high. Part of that icicle had broken off and lay in pieces amongst the ruins, but that didn't account for the sheet of ice that had literally appeared beneath their feet as they reached the mansion.
Eyesoar was flying listlessly over the rubble, picking through the bits he could lift slowly and steadily. Scotch and Cornelius were digging as well, and Pauline was doing her best to help. Her knuckles were bloodied, in fact, from her frantic efforts to find someone--anyone--who had survived.
It looked bleak, Norman admitted silently to himself. It didn't seem as if anyone COULD have lived through... whatever had happened after that blinding flash of light.
Ralloric Marceel just stared at the sky, tears running down his face. He was laughing.
"Are... you...?" Norman finally voiced.
"She's gone." he exulted, holding his arms at length to catch the tiny snowflakes that were drifting down from the icicle.
"Who...?"
"My sister," he replied simply, "is gone."
"We found someone!" screamed Pauline, waving him over. Norman rushed over to where Pauline and Cornelius had converged, leaping over wreckage to reach them. Before he even got there, however, Pauline burst into tears, causing his heart to sink.
"Whoever it is, they didn't make it." Cornelius said matter-of-factly. He gestured to a rather bloody mess that probably once resembled a man of great stature. The man's body had been impaled by at least nine jagged shards of ice, but his eyes betrayed only a look of peace.
"...It's Kranach." Norman said after a moment. There was something else. "...there's... there's something under him!"
Cornelius moved the dead vampire's body aside with as much care as he tended to treat most things of that nature---a casual toss. Curled beneath where the vampire had lay, seemingly devoid of a single scratch, was a familiar face.
"Jaoullin!" Norman shouted to Eyesoar and Scotch. "We got Jaoullin!!" This time, Cornelius's extraction was much more careful.
Jaoullin was bare except for a tattered pair of undershorts, and though he appeared all right, he was unconscious, and there was certainly something wrong they weren't putting their finger on. Climbing over the rubble to the edge of the pile they had found the Sunshine Knight in, Cornelius set the man down gently next to Eyesoar.
"What about Ronnie...?" the Winger asked worriedly.
"We're still looking." Scotch said firmly.
By this time, a crowd had begun to gather, as well as the fact that the Imperials had caught up. But no arrests were being made, as all were dumbstruck by the sight before them.
"Who... what... what is the meaning of this?!" the Imperial lieutenant, an average, curly-brown-haired man of thirty, finally had the guts to speak up.
No one had an answer until a small girl appeared from seemingly within the ruins. Upon closer inspection, it seemed that she was no ordinary little girl, but a Song Sprite clad all in pink. It was Cherrie, and she was furious---at who, nobody knew.
"I will tell you what happened." she said in a voice that some laughed at, from the sheer authority in it.
"Are you...ah... responsible for this? Can you...?" the lieutenant asked half-heartedly. Barking orders at this cherubic girl didn't seem right, nor did he have the energy. The weight of the paperwork this incident would force him to eventually file was already creeping into his thoughts.
"Master," Cherrie said firmly, "was a horrible bad man. This was his fault, and he is dead. That is all."
"A-are you referring to the master of this house, miss...ah...young lady?"
"Yes." squeaked Cherrie, her scowl unmoving.
"So... he caused this mishap, then."
"Yes."
"...I do find that a bit hard to believe, miss," the lieutenant replied, finally taking issue with the elfin girl's story, "Mercurius Valognes is---er, was---an upstanding member of society--"
"He was a liar, a thief, a kidnapper, an extortionist, and most of all, he was a murderer." came a clear voice from above. A beautiful woman with pale skin, blue and blonde hair, a black bikini and a whip floated down and landed beside Cherrie.
"Who--what---what's all this about?" the lieutenant demanded.
Nikki, the vampiress, smiled.
"I mean you no harm, gentlemen. The truth is, this illustrious man you speak of was a monster, plain and simple," she explained. "He took advantage of the downtrodden and made vampires out of them. And that's just the beginning."
The lieutenant studied her uneasily.
"Are you one of his... uh, victims, miss?"
"No. I came here to set things right." Nikki clarified. "I apologize for the damage this has done to your city, but I'm not entirely sure what happened myself."
The lieutenant nodded.
"I see. So we're all still in the dark, here." A subordinate tapped the man on the shoulder.
"Sir, uh... aren't those people the escapees we were ordered to capture?" he prompted, pointing at the bandits digging through the rubble. His superior nodded.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to lay a hand on any of them unless you come through me." Nikki said evenly.
"Don't get hasty." the lieutenant cautioned, waving his hand at her dismissively. "I don't intend to make any sudden moves just yet. There's too much I don't know, here."
"She's not here, you guys... why isn't she here??" Eyesoar said, distressed. For once, the appearance of Nikki had barely registered in his mind.
"We'll find her." Scotch said through clenched teeth as he continued digging through the rubble beneath him.
******
Ronnie opened her eyes. It was all blurry and the room was spinning. What happened? Where was she?
She looked up and met the gaze of a warm, familiar face.
"Mom..." she murmured, reaching up to caress her face before it disappeared.
"Oh, you poor thing... gracious, what you must have been through..." her mother's face said with someone else's voice.
The room twirled back into alignment and her eyes focused. It wasn't her mother after all. A kindly looking older woman, her long gray-brown hair pulled back in a braid, hovered over her. Ronnie tensed and tried to sit up. Pain shot through her.
"Oh, no... don't get excited, sweetie. Just relax... you're okay now." the woman said in a comforting tone.
"It wasn't a dream, then." Ronnie said hollowly. It wasn't a question.
"Apparently not, dear." the woman said with a frown. "Look, you just relax, I'm going to fetch some tea for you---how's that sound?" She stood.
"Fine." Ronnie said.
"By the way, dear, what's your name?"
What does it matter?
"Ronnie."
"I'm Betty, and I'll be back soon, Ronnie. Sit tight."
Ronnie finally got a look around. She was in some sort of musty-smelling bedroom. The pea-green drapes were closed except for a crack of light that had somehow snuck past their watch.
Then she saw the bed next to her. A blanket had been laid carefully over a body, covering even the head. An ache welled up within her, though she had thought herself numb. She didn't need to ask what was under it.
Betty soon returned and handed Ronnie a cup of tea.
"Oh..." she started in, "I'm afraid your friend---"
"It's okay," Ronnie said with tears in her eyes, "I know."
"I'm so sorry. He was gone when I found you." Betty apologized, lines of worry creasing her face.
"Can I see him?" Ronnie asked, wondering to herself why she was even asking this woman. It was really none of HER business.
"Please, dear, you don't need to ask me. Go right ahead, I'll give you as long as you need." said Betty, removing herself swiftly from the room, tea tray in hand.
Ronnie put down her tea cup on the bedside table, and scooted over to the other bed on her knees, ignoring the pain her body was telling her she was in. She gently pulled the blanket back and looked into Tristan's face.
She looked past the pale skin and the fangs, the unfamiliar hairstyle, the foreign garb. In his face, was peace. Somehow, it set her at ease. After all those years, she would finally have some closure. She could rest... because he was. And this time, she'd gotten to say goodbye. It was a big help.
She kissed his forehead lovingly, idly wondering if she would ever find such a love again. She doubted it. He'd had to die twice to tear them apart, and then just barely. Something like that, she knew, came about but once in a lifetime.
"Ah... Betty?" she called, dabbing at her eyes before the old woman returned to the room.
"Yes? Do you need something?"
"A rather large favor, actually." Ronnie said.
"Oh?"
"I was going to bury Tristan, but... it doesn't feel right to do it here. This wasn't a happy place for either of us." Ronnie explained, trying to keep her words sterile so she could get through her request without breaking down.
"I... see. What can I do...?" Betty asked.
"I'd appreciate it if you could see that his body's sent home to his parents. They live in Warriors' Village, their name is Aegolas." Ronnie said. She handed the old woman some money.
"C-certainly." Betty said of the request. Ronnie knew it was a lot to ask, but she couldn't do it herself. As much as she wanted to, she had a feeling if she returned to that village and buried him, she might never leave again. There were still things she needed to do.
"Sorry to burden you, but... I appreciate it." Ronnie said.
"O-of course, dear. I just hope everything turns out right for you in the end." Betty expressed.
"Now, can I ask you one last favor? It's a smaller one, I promise..." Ronnie said with a hint of a wan smile.
"What is it?"
"Take me to the Valognes estate, if you know where it is..."
"Oh, honey," Betty said, "I'm sorry, but it was demolished this morning---"
"I know that," Ronnie interrupted, "I destroyed it."
Betty looked scandalized, but her heart was too kind (and she was in too deep) to refuse the bandit queen.
******
"Lieutenant, I know we're all confused here, but people are dead." the Imperial's subordinate prodded. "We need to start preparing to notify next of kin."
"You're right." the lieutenant replied, his curly hair bobbing as he shook his head. "Who WAS De Valognes's next of kin?" He looked around at his men for answers.
"That would be his daughter, sir. I know her. She's away in Jowston on business." said a young man.
"Get on that, would you?---Ah, if you can find her."
"And this man?" another Imperial inquired, indicating Kranach.
"That man has no family, sir," Nikki answered, "Leave him to me."
"What about this---" An Imperial soldier pointed to Jaoullin.
"He's not dead, you idiot!" Pauline admonished, waving him away.
"But, but, uh, Pauline... something's wrong with him... can't you tell?" Eyesoar said to her. She nodded grimly.
"Can someone get a doctor?" she commanded. "Please."
"Private, send for the medical officer." the lieutenant said.
The medic arrived shortly, coming forward to examine Jaoullin.
"Hmmm..." he said, doing a bit of prodding, "He looks healthy to me, bodily--it's possible his affliction is magical, though. Someone get a runemaster. Hurry."
"LOOK!" Eyesoar cried, shooting a foot into the air, flailing.
Ronnie appeared from down the street, being led by an older woman no one recognized. She didn't look well, but she was walking on her own.
"Ronnie! She's okay, guys!" the Winger celebrated. They flocked to her, and she couldn't help but smile.
"We thought..." Scotch gasped.
"I know. I thought, too. But he saved me---Tristan." Ronnie said breathlessly, "Kranach, too..."
"...What...?" Norman said, his eyes widening. "What do you mean??"
"Ask me later, okay?" Ronnie said, defusing that situation for the moment. "I've had a rough night."
She hugged them all, in turn.
"Where's Jaoullin? You found him, right?" she asked.
"He's over there. Something happened to him." Scotch said worriedly.
"That's an understatement." Ronnie muttered. She took charge, as was her duty. "Everybody just try to stay calm, okay? I'll sort this out in good time."
The runemaster arrived. He was a man who looked to be in his late forties, dressed in a black robe trimmed in red. He had salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a ponytail.
"Who's that?" asked Ronnie of her men.
"A runemaster. He's lookin' at Jaoullin." Eyesoar replied.
"I want to see what he has to say, then." Ronnie said, pushing through the crowd of onlookers.
"Uh, ma'am, this area's kind of a mess right now and this runemaster needs room to work--" the lieutenant said, holding up his hand.
"Move. That's my friend there." Ronnie grunted, shoving in.
"Who... who attached this man's rune?! This was done completely wrong! This man's on the brink of death, not to mention the serious injury this has already caused him!" the runemaster ranted.
"He attached it. I know he's no expert, but it was very desperate in there." Ronnie said to him. He turned and looked at her, his brow furrowing.
"Foolish... foolish!" the runemaster sighed, "And you are?"
"Ronnie Bell." she answered sharply, "You?"
"Master Narim, Miss Bell. This man is a friend of yours?"
"Employee, friend, what have you. Just tell me if you can help him or not."
"I'll have to take him back to my shop first, if I may. He is in dire need of my assistance." Master Narim insisted. Ronnie nodded. Whatever it took.
"Miss... Bell, is it." the lieutenant said, stepping forward. "You seem to know what's going on here. Would you care to explain yourself?"
"I might care to." Ronnie said, wary of any Imperial attention. "I might not."
"Ronnie Bell's a wanted bandit leader and rabble-rouser, sir!" one of the underlings dutifully reported.
"Thank you, but that's not necessary. I know of her exploits." the lieutenant said calmly. Whether he actually had before then remained a mystery.
Rabble-rouser? Ronnie thought with a frown.
"What are you getting at?" she demanded. Her fuse was short this morning, and so help her, if they pulled something, they'd all be dead. She'd pulverize them.
"It's my understanding that Mercurius de Valognes was dabbling in some illegal activities, and---"
"Dabbling? Dabbling?! I don't believe this!" Ronnie unloaded.
"Please let me finish." the lieutenant said sharply. He seemed to be a man with a rather long fuse, himself. "Was this a 'hit'? Is that what you were hired to do?"
"No." Ronnie said, glaring. "This was a kidnapping on his part. As well as attempted murder, murder, robbery---you name it."
"I told you, lieutenant." Nikki put in. Ronnie blinked.
Eh? When did Slutvira get here?
"I understand, I understand. I'm just doing my job here." the lieutenant said, raising his hands to halt any arguments.
"...What is your name, lieutenant?" Ronnie asked.
"Frigg, Miss Bell. Lieutenant Frigg." he answered. "Now, would you mind terribly coming with me and answering a few questions? It would help this city clear up the matter more quickly, and you can be on your way."
She scarcely believed it. Imperials, and they weren't clamoring to arrest her? She kept her eyes open for a trap.
"All right." She turned to her men. "Could you all please look after Jaoullin---except you, Eyesoar. I need you watching the weather for travel conditions. We leave as soon as this business is finished."
Eyesoar nodded. That meant, Follow me and make sure these idiots don't try anything.
Lt. Frigg left a detachment of soldiers to look after the clean-up efforts, and left with Ronnie.
******
The first thing Cornelius noticed was the smell of the runemaster's shop--it was pleasant. The place reeked of ancient artifacts and monster-killing implements and various other niceities.
"This place stinks!" Pauline gasped, wrinkling her nose and making no effort to lower her voice.
Norman, Scotch, Cornelius and Pauline walked into Master Narim's shop, located in another corner of Antei. It seemed to be a rune shop less frequented than others might've been---it was dusty and musty and mostly empty. What customers there were must have been shooed out by Narim, who had all but thrown his belongings off of an old oak table so that he could lay Jaoullin out on it.
"This is fascinating... I've never seen this rune before." Master Narim noted, tracing the outline of a mark that had appeared on the Sunshine Knight's chest with his bony finger.
"Can you safely remove it?" Norman asked.
"Such a unique design... it's not in any of my books..." Narim practically drooled, flipping through pages as he looked back and forth.
"Master Narim, please. CAN you safely remove it?" Norman repeated.
"What? Oh, oh, I'm fairly sure. He did do himself an awful favor with this shoddy job, though..." Narim said, tut-tutting.
"Jaoullin's not a runemaster. I don't even know where he got a rune or why he'd do it." Norman said.
"It must have been hell in there." Scotch said softly, looking at his companion sadly.
"This won't be easy..." Narim concluded upon inspection, "This rune, whatever it is, is clearly intended for weapon attachment only. Not only that, but this man attached it directly into his torso."
"Is that bad?" Pauline asked.
"It's not unheard of, but there's something of an unspoken rule that runes, commercially, are meant for attachment on the hands or forehead only. Bodily attachment is harder to work with." he explained.
"Just be careful, all right?" Norman said.
"I promise you I'll do my best." the runemaster assured.
"Don't worry too much 'bout him. He'll pull through--he's a strong guy, that one." Cornelius said from the other room where he was browsing the shelves. "Hey, a Killer Rune!"
"Great, that's all we need. Cornelius with more firepower." Scotch whispered, rolling his eyes.
******
"That's an extensive list of charges. I guess Mercurius had quite a circus running under our noses." Lt. Frigg said with a sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
They were in a tiny outpost on the outskirts of the city, as Ronnie's own men had violently ransacked the main office of the Imperial Army just the previous evening. The lieutenant's room was sparsely decorated--a simple desk and two chairs on opposing sides, a small stack of papers, a map on the wall, and a portrait of a pretty young woman in a frame on the lieutenant's desk.
"He wasn't human." Ronnie spat, trying not to think of the bastard who took her family away from her. Calm down, Ronnie. He was dead now, after all.
"There's one part I don't understand, and that's where all the ice came from. A city block in every direction is covered, you know. It's a mess." Frigg said, annoyed.
"I told you that Mercurius stole valuable runes. It, well, uh, a certain rune had a 'meltdown' in the fight--it was one-of-a-kind and ice-related. I'm sure that's it." Ronnie said, giving the lieutenant a plausible half-truth. He'd been cooperative so far, and she didn't feel like testing his patience with ghost stories he'd be unlikely to believe.
"I suppose that about wraps it up," Lt. Frigg stated, "But there's still an issue left over... this report."
"Report? Meaning?"
"The only surviving witnesses to this event are your friend, currently in a coma, yourself, and an overly mysterious vampire girl. None of my superiors will believe this unless one of you signs it as proof." His brow furrowed.
"I... understand, but you know why I'm reluctant to put my name down on your little document." Ronnie said, frowning.
"Come now, Miss Bell..." Frigg pleaded. "This document only helps me to validate your story. It won't get you into trouble."
"According to the government, am I not a 'dangerous bandit,' 'rabble-rouser,' and all that? I'm not sure my word would be believed even with my signature."
"Look, I know all that, but... oh, here. Just wait." Frigg said, standing and sticking his head out the door. "Sergeant, see if you can't find that song-sprite girl and the vampiress at the Valognes place. Bring them in." After a second, he came back in and sat down.
"Vampire or not, that woman's cooperation will help sort this out." Frigg decided, mostly to himself.
"There's another thing." Ronnie brought up, despite her better judgement. "If I sign that paper, I'll never make it home. As soon as I walk up to the Northern Checkpoint, the commanding officer there will arrest me. He has an order out for my arrest. What about that?"
Frigg looked torn. He knew he had a duty to uphold to his country as a whole, but right now his city was in shambles and this piece of paper was the only explanation he had to give when his superiors came sniffing around asking questions.
"Look, lieutenant, I'm not asking you to commit treason here. I'll admit to being a bandit leader; I've been one for almost ten years. But I mean this land no harm... I love it too." Ronnie confessed.
"Just remember. In the eyes of this country, the way you make your living puts you right in with Valognes." Frigg warned.
"That's wrong." Ronnie said darkly. "In the eyes of THIS country, he was on a pedestal because he had money. He ruined countless lives---we'll likely never know how many. I do what I do because there's nothing else for me." She was halfway out of her chair with fists clenched before she realized it.
Frigg laughed nervously.
"Heh, ever considered joining our cause? We could use some strength like yours." he suggested. Sheepish, she sat back down.
"You mean the Imperial Army? Oh, goodness, no. I mean, yes, I've considered it, but... well, I hope you won't be offended when I say your organization as a whole sickens me. My village's plight was ignored by your army." Ronnie explained matter-of-factly. Frigg shrugged.
"I understand. There are things about it I don't like either, and I'm sorry about your village. Er, what village was that?"
"Warriors' Village." Ronnie said.
"Ah. I heard about trouble in Lorimar, but you understand we individual factions of the army can't all mobilize into another region without an order from some higher power, right?" Frigg explained.
"Yes, I know. Forgive me for saying it, but a dead emperor was more useful to us than the current one." Ronnie said. She took a moment to choose a careful amendment. "Figuratively speaking."
"I... see." Frigg said. He looked confused.
A moment of silence passed. Ronnie tried not to fidget, but authority like this made her nervous, despite what an obviously level-headed man Lt. Frigg was. He hadn't dismissed her, but she wasn't ready to sign that report just yet. It seemed he was waiting for the arrival of Nikki and Cherrie. She decided to make idle conversation.
"Is that... uh... your wife?" she said of the picture he was currently adjusting.
"Nah, I'm not married. She's what you might call my girlfriend." Frigg said with a shrug.
"And what might YOU call her?" Ronnie teased.
"My girlfriend." he said with a grin.
"What's her name?" Ronnie asked.
"Miranda. We worked in the same branch but she got transferred. So we're dating-by-mail." he said wryly.
"Well, I'm sure you'll see her again." Ronnie said, trying her hardest to keep her mind blank of any thoughts related to romance.
It's not fair!
Love comes so easily to everyone else.
I'll feel that again someday too, won't I?
Would you betray his memory like that?!
He'd want me to move on.
Stop dreaming. There's no substitute for the one.
JUST SHUT UP! Quit THINKING on it so much!
"Everything all right?" Frigg asked her. Ronnie realized her expression must've betrayed the onslaught of troubling thoughts she had tried to stave off.
"Yes, yes... as 'right' as I can be at the moment." Ronnie said, waving him off.
A knock sounded at the door.
"What is it?" Frigg called. An underling entered, saluting.
"Miss Von Neclord and Miss Cherrie are here, sir."
"Send them in." Frigg ordered.
Nikki entered, all elegance and grace, beside Cherrie, a bundle of nerves. The fury Frigg had seen in her pint-sized frame earlier had melted off somewhat to reveal the elfin girl's old self.
"I understand you need us to confirm the account of what happened in that mansion." Nikki said, poised and businesslike. She certainly didn't act the age she looked. Of course, she wasn't the age she looked, so that point was moot.
"That's correct. Miss Bell would feel much better about cooperating if you'd go along with it." Frigg said, somewhat strained. Ronnie knew he had a job to do, but that didn't put her much at ease. It wasn't her fault she was conditioned by Imperials to think they were all wolves.
"Very well." Nikki said, leaning down to sign the papers. Lt. Frigg tried not to ogle the incredible cleavage before him, concentrating instead on the picture of Miranda on his desk. Ronnie smirked, amused. Men were so typical, but at least this one tried a little harder than some she knew.
"M-mister soldier," Cherrie squeaked, "A-am I free to go? M-master is gone."
"I... don't see why not. But... uh... I thought you merely worked in one of his taverns."
"Mercurius enslaved that poor girl. Yet another law he flagrantly broke." Nikki said harshly as she put the tip of the pen on the dotted line. She paused. "You understand that we didn't witness everything in this report, right? Some things only Ronnie saw."
"That's all right. It will do." Frigg confirmed. Nikki nodded, and signed her name. Cherrie shakily followed suit.
"Is that all, lieutenant?" Nikki asked, the purr in her voice practically daring him to refuse.
"Y-yes. You're free to go, both of you."
With that, Nikki took Cherrie's hand and led her out.
"Well... Miss Bell, I can't legally----well, okay, never mind that warrant, but---I don't feel COMFORTABLE holding you here against your will. Sign or don't, and I'd appreciate it if you would, but you can go if you like." Lt. Frigg told her.
"I'd like to, you know, but I told you, Major Lione wants my head and likely the rest of me, locked up, keys thrown away." Ronnie said regretfully.
Frigg fell over backwards in his chair with a resounding crash, scattering papers everywhere. Ronnie got up to help him.
"Lione? That changes everything!" he proclaimed, climbing to his feet and righting his chair. "Uh, thanks."
"Lieutenant! Are you all right, sir? Did she attack you?!" one of his men shouted, bursting in with another soldier.
"Busted, bandit queen!" crowed the second.
"Um, I'm fine. My chair just tipped over." Frigg clarified, thoroughly embarrassed. The braggy second soldier snapped his mouth shut. Ronnie didn't waste a good glare on him; she knew such an assumption was likely given the circumstances. They saluted, and left, shutting the door behind them.
"Uh... what do you mean by that, anyway?" Ronnie asked him once they had gone.
"If you sign that paper, I'll not only assure you aren't messed with, but I'll escort you to Senan myself." Frigg said firmly.
"I don't understand. Why the change of heart?"
Or special treatment? she thought.
"Preston Lione did a horrible thing to a very good friend of mine, and I'll do anything to stick it to the bastard. If he causes a scene, I'll merely tell him I apprehended you and were ordered to bring you straight to General Kasim. He won't like that at all, but there won't be a thing he can do. Once in Senan, you can go as you please, though I wouldn't recommend causing Major Lione any more trouble in the near future." Frigg went on excitedly.
Ronnie nodded appraisingly. At last, a rift in the Imperial forces that worked in her favor. She was no fan of Lione, either, though Rod Hard had been nothing more than entertaining.
"Very well. I'll validate your report then. And thank you---er, I have your word on this?" Ronnie confirmed one last time before signing her name.
Frigg nodded sincerely, and she went through with it. After all, as he had said, it did tell her side of the story.
"So, uh, when does this little escort set out?" Ronnie asked.
"Well, most of the morning's been wasted already. And I imagine I'll be busy the rest of the day with this Valognes mess. Give me until tomorrow morning to prepare my things and at least delegate some work to..." he paused, looking frazzled, "...someone else."
She chuckled.
"All right."
"I'll put you and your friends up in a hotel for the night, on my tab." Lt. Frigg offered.
"I appreciate that, thanks." Ronnie said. "Which hotel?"
"Uh, well, I have a tab at the 'Red Rabbit.' You know it?" Frigg offered.
Ho-tel, indeed, she thought, trying not to roll her eyes.
"Yes, I've been there. I thought it was just a..."
Whore-house? "...casino."
"They've added on due to, ah, popularity among certain crowds, including several of my men. They often visit on my tab if I think they've earned it---on their time off, of course." Frigg explained.
"I see. Well, I have to check on my friend at the rune shop, lieutenant, but I'll see you in the morning." Ronnie said, standing.
"I'll notify the Red Rabbit staff to expect you. And we'll meet at daybreak tomorrow, here---if that works for you." Frigg said, shaking her hand warmly.
"It's a plan, lieutenant." Ronnie agreed.
******
Master Narim squinted and wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve as he worked. He extended his bony fingertips and closed his eyes, the energy from another low-level Water spell suffusing throughout his patient's body, making sure it stayed stable for the duration of his operation. So far, so good.
The Rune hadn't cooperated so far. It didn't WANT to be removed from this young man's body, however odd it sounded. Narim found himself at another point when he suspiciously considered the possibility that runes had conscious desires. He shooed the thought from his head, as it was just too creepy.
So far, all Narim had succeeded in doing was moving the Rune, little by little, via partial detachment and re-attachment methods, towards his patient's right hand. At least there, it would be more easily dealt with and controlled, but as for extraction, it would take a better runemaster than he.
Just a little more... he thought, WILLING the Rune to move as much as possible without damaging this young man.
Then, with one final Water spell and a nudge (and a bit of a prayer), the Rune was properly attached to the patient's right hand. The man in question groaned slightly, shifting for the first time since he had been found in the rubble.
IT WAS ALIIIIIIIIIIIVE!
...Well, Narim figured, it had better be, or he'd be in trouble.
In the front room, the others paced by the door, impatient.
"What if he doesn't make it?" Pauline whimpered, distraught.
"Don't say stuff like that. He'll pull through. I mean, it's just a rune, right?" Scotch said, downplaying the crisis.
Cornelius was off in a corner, still poking through someone else's belongings, shelf-to-shelf. In his zeal he accidentally knocked off a man-shaped idol that shattered upon impact with the floor. A tiny light from within the idol rose up, pink smoke coalescing around it. After a moment, it faded.
Cornelius scratched an itch behind his ear.
"What did you break, Cornelius??" Norman sighed.
"I think it was a Sacrificial Jizo," Cornelius said, examining the broken shards. "Well, no one has to know." He busied himself with hiding the evidence.
"If Master Narim finds out, you're paying for it. We're not footing your bills any longer, man." Scotch said. Cornelius looked like a heartbroken, lost puppy dog, but couldn't keep up the guise for long.
"Say, what happens when you use one o' those Jizo idols, but no one around is injured or unconscious??" Cornelius wondered aloud.
"Nothing. The magic just dissipates." Norman assumed.
There was a knock at the shop's front door. Eyesoar smashed his face up against the glass and smeared it, as a greeting. Scotch opened the door to let him in. It seemed Ronnie was with him.
"How was it?" Pauline asked of the interrogation.
"Very good, actually." Ronnie said happily, "Tonight's hotel bill is on the Imperial Army, and we have an escort to Senan tomorrow who's actually on our side."
"How'd you manage that one, Ron?" Scotch asked, surprised but pleased. Everyone waited for the obvious jab of 'Sleep with him?' but then realized it would've been Jaoullin saying it. That sobered them.
"...How is he?" Ronnie asked.
"We don't know. Narim's been in there for hours." Norman said.
No sooner had Norman made the comment than Master Narim burst out of the back room, jumping for joy.
"Ohhhh, thank the gods! It was successful! He lives!" he shrieked, dancing around with Eyesoar. He calmed suddenly.
"I mean, erm, it was never a question of success. I had it all under control. Ahem."
"Great job, Master Narim... how's he doing?" Scotch said.
"He's a little woozy, but some sleep should fix that. Mind you, the Rune is still within him, but it's more manageable now, should he need to use its powers. And should you come across a more skilled runemaster, they may be able to remove it." Narim explained.
"I want to see him. Can we see him?" Norman said. The runemaster nodded, triumphant.
They filed into the back room. Jaoullin stared weakly up at them, wrapped in an old, floral-patterned blanket. His face was split by a wide smile as they appeared.
"...We've got to stop meeting like this." he said, breaking the ice. They laughed nervously, knowing that it had been too close a call this last time.
"You idiot! I hate everything about you!! How could you be so stupid?" Pauline laid into him, raising some eyebrows. She threw herself onto him abruptly.
"Hey, I'm hurt here! Have you no respect?" Jaoullin protested.
"Never leave me again, 'Golden Boy'." she gasped, proceeding to eat his face.
"I---won't---again---'Princess'--" he managed to say during intervals where he could breathe the air before having his mouth aggressively attacked again.
"...Pet names?" Ronnie said, doubling over with laughter.
"This is serious." Norman declared, snorting.
"I saw two Fur-Furs do this once. Then I shot them." Cornelius noted.
"H-hey! I eat on that table!" Narim protested, anguished.
"...Ew." Eyesoar said, scrunching up his face.
"I guess we'd better leave you two alone. Obviously you're okay, Jaoullin." Scotch laughed.
"See you at the hotel, and if not, in the morning at the Imperial outpost near the north side of town." Ronnie called as they filed out of the room as quickly as they had entered.
******
Another day in Antei City was coming to a close, as was another chapter in the lives of many. Life after life had been lost in just the last week, but some of the survivors were coming to find out that there was just that---life---after loss.
Nikki lit the torch and sent it sailing with a flourish onto the pyre she'd made, not far from the city, giving Kranach one final send-off. The smoke began to rise into the dimming sky, and she smiled.
"You were a better man than you gave yourself credit for, Kranach..." she said sadly, "You just got caught up in the wrong game."
Cherrie wiped her tears, sniffling.
"O-Once mister Kranach stood up to Bad Bartender for me, and I loved him forever. But Master was mean to Kranach." she whimpered.
"I know..." Nikki said softly. "Now, it's time to put the bad memories behind us, and move on. Just as Kranach moves on tonight."
"Mm-hm..." Cherrie nodded.
"Where will you go, Cherrie?" Nikki asked after a few minutes.
"I... I loves the singing, I do... but home is where I want to see... just one time again." Cherrie said slowly, gathering her thoughts.
"Do you know the way?"
"N-no. Master took me from there long ago." Cherrie said.
"Perhaps after I return to my home, I can help you find yours. It would be a shame for your wish to go un-granted." Nikki said with a smile.
"W-would you??" Cherrie said, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, thank you, Miss Nikki!" The elfin girl threw her arms around Nikki's leg, overjoyed.
The smoke continued to rise, unfettered.
******
Ronnie could not remember a single visit to the Red Rabbit Casino when all of her crew members had actually declined to go down and watch the nudey dancers in the showroom. Instead, all were gathered around her in a tiny hotel room on the second floor.
"I know you all probably want to hear the specifics, so I won't hold anything back. It was a painful night for everyone, but I'm prepared to handle it, so don't worry." Ronnie said, giving them her little disclaimer.
"So this guy was a Rune Collector??" Norman asked.
"He... killed your dad?" Eyesoar inquired, wide-eyed.
"I'll get to all that, in due time." Ronnie said, holding up her hands good-naturedly. A knock sounded at the door.
She opened it to find a man in uniform greeting her.
"Miss Bell? A woman gave this to Lt. Frigg, who had me pass it on to you. It's a message from 'Betty'." the soldier said.
"Oh, thank you." she said, taking the note and reading it to herself.
Ronnie,
I'm glad I could help you, even a little.
Your precious cargo is on its way.
Good luck, from Betty.
"What's that?" Cornelius asked. "Death threat? Want me to take 'em out? I have plenty of blank contracts if you wanna sign one. I mean, y'know, I never betray 'em and all that---for you, even, a discount rate---"
"It's okay, Cornelius. No death threats." Ronnie said. Cornelius looked truly disappointed.
"Anyway, Ron..." Scotch prompted.
"Anyway, yes." Ronnie said, sitting on the bed next to the window. She could see a plume of smoke rising in the distance, beyond the city. For some reason, it made her think of Tristan.
Closure. she reminded herself firmly, launching into the story of just what had happened with Mercurius... and everything.
For once, Ronnie Bell was looking forward to tomorrow.
