We walked home after sending a sleepy Gilly on her way with a carriage, promising to check in with her in just a few hours.
"Nicely done. Again," I said, bumping him lightly.
"Yeah... ahhhhh," he yawned deeply in his new uniform. "...Thanks. Again."
"I can't believe you allowed those soldiers to be violated for their armor," I remarked, seeing his outfit. He looked exactly like a Holy Archer now.
He played with the half-cape. "This is one of the best gifts I've received. And it's not my fault the first one's pants and boots didn't fit me. That ridiculous suit was uncomfortable."
Once he mentioned he liked them, Viego called for a full set-up but grew impatient and ordered the soldiers to give up their armor. Two poor souls shared the shame and lost their top and bottom halves, respectively, in private, and Zephyr walked back in wearing them.
He tried some moves in the armor even now.
"We will steal this exact design. It's light, comfortable, and one hundred percent made for footwork." He looked like some kind of dancer, changing stances, his hands moving up and down for balance.
"It's easy enough. We just kidnap some blacksmith here, and they teach it to Olaf."
"We make this a priority." He took my joke and ran with it.
My flippant remark will cause some poor blacksmith a very scary experience if the artisans can't figure it out at home.
"Still, Viego is down. How are you going to deal with First Acolyte Levitan?" I asked.
"His cooperation is assured... mostly," he answered, returning to a regular walking pace.
"When are you going to tell me?"
"When it's done. Once home, and after pleasing my wife for a few days, I will secure his approval one way or another, and the reunification date will be set once Viego's own envoys join. Our future people will take a few weeks to reach Malai."
One way or another, huh? He would bribe, sweet-talk, or possibly go as far as I did and hurt him if he had to.
He stopped moving and smiled, looking up at the slowly changing colors of the night.
"What about you?" he still looked at the moons.
I didn't need to ask. "Now, I'm free. And can finally pursue her."
"Tch tch. Stop with the long courting nonsense. Seline has waited enough. If you're not official in a week, I take some of your manhood."
Cocky, unreasonable, and bloody right.
"I know. Her affections are clear as a summer waterfall. It was me who was hesitant. It's time to set things right."
He tapped my shoulder and walked toward my family house. "I'm proud. You had more resolve than I thought. This trip turned out just the thing for all of us."
"Won't Lylly be mad about us staying a day?"
"She would be mad anyway for some reason. God, I miss her."
We walked past the saluting guard, who looked fresh, probably just starting their shifts.
"Is there a point to sleeping? I mean, the new residents will be up in just a few hours." I said, walking inside the gold house behind him, seeing the sun rising on the horizon.
"Not much. We should just eat. I feel a little nauseous."
"You didn't eat anything?" I waved to the closest guard outside and took off my jacket.
He lay down, armor and all. I'd never tried one on, but he loved it. I should get a set before leaving.
"Ate plenty, but also... I was entertaining high society. They kept offering drinks. You are all a bunch of alcoholics," he complained.
"What else is there to do for fun in this world?"
He smiled, but soon enough, it changed into frustration. "It's called roleplaying, Em, and I haven't done any for too long."
He never told details, but sometimes he was clearly traumatized by whatever they were doing at night. Well, for one thing, there was no one more satisfied than he was in the morning. I wondered what kind of play they were doing.
Soon, the servant girls who always made sure to stay near Welma and the silent one, Sien, arrived, bowing politely.
"Good morning, ladies. Please inform the chefs to start early and cook everything this nation finds delicious. No chocolate on anything."
"Right away, Lord Em." Welma bowed.
"Finally!" He undid some of his top armor. Underneath was a tight, white leather covering his chest.
"I'm really curious about the selection."
I took a seat and poured some water for both of us. "Nothing to ponder there. I'll have the same chefs in my household."
"Yay."
He had no taste.
...
We ate like animals: soups, a whole roasted chicken, steamed and raw vegetables, cheese, bread, eggs. It helped us sober up, and by the end, we'd eaten enough for five.
We gathered our small things and the five sacks filled to the brim. "By the way, here's the mask." I fished it out from the bottom and handed it over to its new owner.
"Nice. She's gonna love this."
"Anna?" I asked.
"Lylly."
I smiled, turning back toward the door. Of course, it wasn't even for himself. Lylly would love this, like anything he got her.
Outside, the cold was ever-present. How I wished for Mother Spring to arrive.
Ten brand-new wagons and forty horses were all waiting. Some of the people fed the animals and waved nervously toward us.
"Good. Your father is sure generous."
"Generous my ass. You have no idea how much gold and support you secured him yesterday. Sitting at the same table as the Pope, the royal family, and the Saint... it's a river of wealth and influence."
"Hmm, the Saint. She looked like any other woman. So did the Queen and the Princess. What are their names?"
Beautiful, desirable women, and he cared less than me.
"The Queen is Katarina Cortez, and her daughter is called Isabella. The Saint, who is the Pope's wife, is Yolanda Anjou Aragona."
"All these idiotic titles. Saint, the Faithful, the Arsehole, the Great... useless." He helped me put the sacks down near the entrance and placed the mask inside his armor.
"Aye. Let's go and visit Gilly before we leave. We did promise."
He turned around until he found the lady from yesterday, Simone.
"How was your night, Lady Simone?" he asked politely.
She bowed a little and was joined by two men, who must be her sons or in-laws. "It was a long time since we slept in such luxury. For some, it was the first time. Lord, your people are ready."
"Thank you. Let us do a final check and then step inside the wagons. Make sure the women and children are all in there immediately."
"Understood, Lord." Simone smiled and hurried away to fulfill his orders.
"Carlos, you mentioned something about soldiers staying as well?" he asked.
"Fifty or so. Most are here, as far as I can see." I saw our uniform, ever outstanding, and soon to be completely changed.
"I'll have words with them first. They can go. No point waiting." He took a weary look at the bags and sacks we filled, decided to carry them.
I signaled the Captain with three gold stripes on the front, and he appeared, saluting.
"M'Lords."
"Sebastian, is it?" I waited until he confirmed it. "Gather all who decided to come and stay. Any who decided on escorting alone?" I asked, scanning the crowds.
"Indeed. I shall bring them with the others."
He ran to gather them.
Soon, in long, orderly lines, the fifty soldiers were assembled. Behind them, another fifty or so civilians, who must be their families. In a separate line, around two dozen or so, were those who decided to escort the wagons.
Zephyr stepped forward.