Rose
Moderator: Moderators
I will keep writing untill this is over!
Then Darkside!
Then Hunters!
Then whatever comes after that!
And that! And that too!
Then I give up.
Kerri looked at her father. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure you have to go?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Father nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to take Joa home├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere does Joa live?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe lives in a far away place called the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said ├óÔé¼┼ôits a nice place and Joa really wants to go there├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is Alex?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is a man that Joa knows in the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe loves him...very much├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike you and mommy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. Father looked away, eyes moist ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like that├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked away from the bed and to Harry, who was scratching his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure about this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pulling on his coat and grabbing his hat. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a complete stranger├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you find anyone who is in trouble help them, no matter who they are to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat kind of trouble is she in, dad?├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThe kind of trouble that will get you killed most likely├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe. Take care of Kerri├óÔé¼┬Ø. Harry sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll make sure she goes to school every day. And...watch her├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWatch the Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear...stories about Imperials├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut this woman had more bruises and scars then even a football star...she said she got them in the care of a Republican like you and me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Harry ran his hands through his hair, his ears flattening to the sides of his head ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to believe it├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now...I'm not so sure├óÔé¼┬Ø. Harry bit his lower lip ├óÔé¼┼ôTake care dad├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Steve shouldered his quiver and smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI will├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he turned around and walked out of the house. Outside Joa stood, a large cloak draped about her shoulders and a hat slammed over her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoes it a-a-always get this d-d-d-d-damn cold?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, her teeth chattering. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlways├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. He was wearing half as much as Joa, and yet she looked far more cold then he.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said as they started to walk down the road to the city ├óÔé¼┼ôYou actually look like a Republican with that on├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Republican?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...you mean a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never got why you people call us silverbacks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at you're back├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve suddenly got it ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats pretty clever├óÔé¼┬Ø. They kept walking through the rapidly piling up snow. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat gives├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôthis place was almost warm when I arrived├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou arrived at the turning point between winters├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are more then one?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's the cold one and the not so cold one├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, grinning. Joa groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôYou mean summer and winter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, still grinning.
They arrived at the city. It was still clogged with traffic, with loads of Silverbacks pushing and shoving through the streets. Joa joined them, trailing behind Steve. Even so every single silverback man that she saw made her want to run, curl up or start screaming. They all looked like the animals she had been with on the ship. Then they got to the far end of the city, where a large stable were kept. There Steve haggled with a driver until he agreed to drive them. After handing him some coins, Steve and the driver brought a stagecoach to the front.
Steve opened the side door and held out his hand to help Joa into the coach. Joa, after some hesitation, took the hand and let him help her into the coach. She sat down across from Steve. Then the coach started to go. Joa looked out of the window and saw the city recede behind them. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow its just a week long trip to Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, feeling her throat tighten slightly. She looked around the coach ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...kind of small in here├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, feeling her heat beat faster and faster. Steve was close. Very close. She had to get air. Joa forced the feeling down and a smile to her lips. Steve smiled back. It wasn't a lustful smile, or anything. Just a nice kindly smile. One a friend would give to his other.
The coach rumbled on for a while. It was nice and warm inside. Joa leaned back and rested her head against the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bit too hot├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured. But she didn't take off her over coat. Steve shifted slightly in his chair and tried to get some rest as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese roads are pretty good├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe learned something from the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBuild good roads├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, still not looking at Steve. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a little...claustrophobic├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded slowly and slowly slid down the chair to slouch a bit more. His knee bumped against Joa. Joa jerked back violently. ├óÔé¼┼ôPull over├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need air├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded and shouted to the driver.
The driver stopped and Joa jerked the door open. She stood outside, breathing heavily, running her hands through her hair, tearing her hat off. She tried to calm her breathing. Steve walked up behind her ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you oka-├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Joa spun around and her fist smashing into Steve's face. He spun around and landed face first in the snow. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, reverting to Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI am so sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve stood up, blood trickling down his face ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm okay├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, daubing at his nose ├óÔé¼┼ôIts okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm okay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets...lets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve held out his hand to help her into the coach.
Joa stood there. Her subconscious froze her solid, not wanting to take hold of a silverback. But Steve...Steve had never laid a non-platonic finger on her. He had been nothing more then kind and helpful. Joa took his hand, grabbing it tight and let him help her into the stage coach. Then she closed the door and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnderstand what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnderstand you're...feelings about...us. About...Republicans├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen I get you to Stelvi├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to make sure that the government knows about the conditions on that ship├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa just shook her head, not wanting to break him out of his naivety.
They holed up in a waystation for the night. The snow was blowing harder then ever. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hate snow├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said miserably as she walked into the waystation. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would like two rooms for the night├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, not looking very cold at all. The waystation was cramped, but mostly empty. Even so it was very warm. A fire crackled merrily in the middle of the chambers, heating the room and proceeding good cheer. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne r-r-room├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve turned around, trying to not let the relief show on his face. He was getting deadly low on funds. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Joa shivered ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I s-s-sleep alone I a-a-am sure to f-freeze├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOne room├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The clerk nodded and took considerably less coin's then he wanted before. Then he pointed to a 'room'. Joa sighed. The waystation was, in reality, nothing more then a massive room with rooms marked off by tents, the walls of those created by cloth hung from ropes crisscrossing the celling. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts so...poor around here├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa whispered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe war├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure the Reich has enough materials to defend itself and still feed its citizens. We and the Eastlanders are not so lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø his voice got very bitter. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you o-okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pulling the cloth aside and gesturing for Joa to go in first. There was one bed.
Joa gulped. Oh gods she wished she had taken two rooms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go down first. I'll watch the place├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôIts-s-s-s getting c-colder├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm f-f-f-freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve was also freezing. He was just more used to it. His house had gotten colder and colder with every body leaving it. First Harry had left, then Jerry and Larry. Now only he and Kerri could share the single bed and try and keep one another warm. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. Joa nodded, her teeth chattering ├óÔé¼┼ôThe d-d-damn f-ffff-fire doesn't do m-m-m-much├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve nodded and lay down. Joa lay down as well, the motion mechanical. She was focusing on not completely panicking. Steve rolled over so his back was facing her. Joa rolled over and curled up. Her head stuck into the coat that Steve wore on his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, trying to calm herself. If she concentrated hard enough then she could pretend Steve was just a pillow, not a silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy wife, Maria, used to do that├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. Joa was silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you have a wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe died├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was killed in the food riots├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFood riots?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shifted. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was when this damn war started├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe President shifted food from the cities to our armies├óÔé¼┬Ø. He shivered. Joa rubbed her hands together but she still couldn't get warm. Then she slipped her arms around Steve's waist. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, clinging to his back.
Steve moved slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt helps, doesn't it?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Joa nodded. Then she was asleep. Steve lay away quite a while longer. He felt Joa burrow more into his back and tried not to move. He wouldn't want to wake her. But Joa was slowly getting over...it. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was Steve. Steve tossed that thought away. He was here to help a woman in need. Not to... He focused on thoughts of Kerri. Thoughts of Joa bashed in, despite everything he did on the contrary. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa murmured softly, her arms tightening around Steve's waist. Steve breathed in slow. ├óÔé¼┼ôBe still my beating heart├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, so quiet that only he could hear.
Joa woke up in the morning. She was warm. That was the first thing she noticed. It fooled her into thinking...maybe she was home. She felt a large manly chest under her arms. Maybe it was Alex. Maybe this had all been a nightmare. She slowly sat up and saw a single furry ear sticking out of the pile of hair that marked Steve's head. It slowly twitched from side to side like a dogs. Then reality crashed down on Joa and she curled up, trying not to cry. Steve rolled over onto his back and heard Joa's stifled groans. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice throaty ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...I miss home├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in Imperial. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI miss home├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in his language.
The stage coach was still there, the driver asleep in the back seat. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve reached in and smacked the driver ├óÔé¼┼ôWake up you lazy punk!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The driver uncurled and opened the door, climbing out and grumbling about slave drivers. Joa and Steve got into the back and the cart started to drive. The snow started again about half way through the day, but the cart kept going as best it could. It would only take two or so more days to get to Stelvi. Joa sat in the coach, trying not to fidget. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you love you're wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI loved her very much├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shook herself ├óÔé¼┼ôKerri doesn't need to live here├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI could...I could adopt her and bring you in as a...a retainer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two could move to the Reich...the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I could hire you. My sister is a Priestess. She can give you leave to immigrate. Money and influence...they could work├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat would I do in this mighty Reich of you're?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut its just so...inhospitable here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôPart of me wants you to stay here. Part of me wants to go with you to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Steve looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôLike what?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike...I'm...I├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you're not ready for a romantic relation with...a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter what you went through I'm surprised that you managed to fall asleep last night├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I pretended you were someone you're not├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...It worked├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed, looking out the window. Joa looked out her window. The stage coach rattled onwards and the second day ended at another waystation. This one was much more crowded and much larger. Steve loosed his bow and hip quiver, looking at the shady types in the place. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø a silverback said ├óÔé¼┼ôI give you my room for fine woman!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pushing past the silverback. The silverback eyed Joa, but went to a different group with a woman.
Then two silverbacks stepped in front of them, coming out of a tent room. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said, pointing at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou had a very fine little twat├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's back stiffened. She recognized the slightly bent nose of the one who was pointing at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are these two├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, weakling!├óÔé¼┬Ø the one without a crooked nose said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are talking to our very own whore├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are these-├óÔé¼┬Ø. A fist slammed into the side of his head and sent Steve flying. Joa acted. She reached forward and yanked the sword out of the silverback sailors scabbard. She brought it whistling around and sliced through his neck, hitting his vein expertly. Joa was pleased to see that despite her lack of practice she was still able to nail a hard target like that.
The surviving silverback, the one with a crooked nose, drew his sword. Joa ducked under the wild blow and slammed her sword into his guts. Blood and intestines splattered onto the ground. Joa slid the scabbard off the silverback's belt and clipped it to her own. Then she slid the sword into her scabbard and helped Steve to his feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve started to say. Then he saw what was left of the two silverbacks. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get a room├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve was still gibbering at the corpses as Joa dragged him to the front desk.
Then Darkside!
Then Hunters!
Then whatever comes after that!
And that! And that too!
Then I give up.
Kerri looked at her father. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure you have to go?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Father nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to take Joa home├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere does Joa live?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe lives in a far away place called the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said ├óÔé¼┼ôits a nice place and Joa really wants to go there├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is Alex?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is a man that Joa knows in the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe loves him...very much├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike you and mommy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kerri asked. Father looked away, eyes moist ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like that├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked away from the bed and to Harry, who was scratching his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure about this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pulling on his coat and grabbing his hat. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a complete stranger├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you find anyone who is in trouble help them, no matter who they are to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat kind of trouble is she in, dad?├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThe kind of trouble that will get you killed most likely├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe. Take care of Kerri├óÔé¼┬Ø. Harry sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll make sure she goes to school every day. And...watch her├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWatch the Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear...stories about Imperials├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut this woman had more bruises and scars then even a football star...she said she got them in the care of a Republican like you and me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Harry ran his hands through his hair, his ears flattening to the sides of his head ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to believe it├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now...I'm not so sure├óÔé¼┬Ø. Harry bit his lower lip ├óÔé¼┼ôTake care dad├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Steve shouldered his quiver and smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI will├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he turned around and walked out of the house. Outside Joa stood, a large cloak draped about her shoulders and a hat slammed over her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoes it a-a-always get this d-d-d-d-damn cold?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, her teeth chattering. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlways├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. He was wearing half as much as Joa, and yet she looked far more cold then he.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said as they started to walk down the road to the city ├óÔé¼┼ôYou actually look like a Republican with that on├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Republican?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...you mean a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI never got why you people call us silverbacks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at you're back├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve suddenly got it ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats pretty clever├óÔé¼┬Ø. They kept walking through the rapidly piling up snow. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat gives├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôthis place was almost warm when I arrived├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou arrived at the turning point between winters├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are more then one?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's the cold one and the not so cold one├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, grinning. Joa groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôYou mean summer and winter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, still grinning.
They arrived at the city. It was still clogged with traffic, with loads of Silverbacks pushing and shoving through the streets. Joa joined them, trailing behind Steve. Even so every single silverback man that she saw made her want to run, curl up or start screaming. They all looked like the animals she had been with on the ship. Then they got to the far end of the city, where a large stable were kept. There Steve haggled with a driver until he agreed to drive them. After handing him some coins, Steve and the driver brought a stagecoach to the front.
Steve opened the side door and held out his hand to help Joa into the coach. Joa, after some hesitation, took the hand and let him help her into the coach. She sat down across from Steve. Then the coach started to go. Joa looked out of the window and saw the city recede behind them. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow its just a week long trip to Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, feeling her throat tighten slightly. She looked around the coach ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...kind of small in here├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, feeling her heat beat faster and faster. Steve was close. Very close. She had to get air. Joa forced the feeling down and a smile to her lips. Steve smiled back. It wasn't a lustful smile, or anything. Just a nice kindly smile. One a friend would give to his other.
The coach rumbled on for a while. It was nice and warm inside. Joa leaned back and rested her head against the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bit too hot├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured. But she didn't take off her over coat. Steve shifted slightly in his chair and tried to get some rest as well. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese roads are pretty good├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe learned something from the Reich├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôBuild good roads├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded, still not looking at Steve. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a little...claustrophobic├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded slowly and slowly slid down the chair to slouch a bit more. His knee bumped against Joa. Joa jerked back violently. ├óÔé¼┼ôPull over├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need air├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded and shouted to the driver.
The driver stopped and Joa jerked the door open. She stood outside, breathing heavily, running her hands through her hair, tearing her hat off. She tried to calm her breathing. Steve walked up behind her ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you oka-├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Joa spun around and her fist smashing into Steve's face. He spun around and landed face first in the snow. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, reverting to Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI am so sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve stood up, blood trickling down his face ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm okay├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, daubing at his nose ├óÔé¼┼ôIts okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm okay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets...lets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve held out his hand to help her into the coach.
Joa stood there. Her subconscious froze her solid, not wanting to take hold of a silverback. But Steve...Steve had never laid a non-platonic finger on her. He had been nothing more then kind and helpful. Joa took his hand, grabbing it tight and let him help her into the stage coach. Then she closed the door and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnderstand what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnderstand you're...feelings about...us. About...Republicans├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen I get you to Stelvi├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to make sure that the government knows about the conditions on that ship├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa just shook her head, not wanting to break him out of his naivety.
They holed up in a waystation for the night. The snow was blowing harder then ever. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hate snow├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said miserably as she walked into the waystation. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would like two rooms for the night├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, not looking very cold at all. The waystation was cramped, but mostly empty. Even so it was very warm. A fire crackled merrily in the middle of the chambers, heating the room and proceeding good cheer. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne r-r-room├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve turned around, trying to not let the relief show on his face. He was getting deadly low on funds. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Joa shivered ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I s-s-sleep alone I a-a-am sure to f-freeze├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOne room├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The clerk nodded and took considerably less coin's then he wanted before. Then he pointed to a 'room'. Joa sighed. The waystation was, in reality, nothing more then a massive room with rooms marked off by tents, the walls of those created by cloth hung from ropes crisscrossing the celling. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts so...poor around here├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa whispered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe war├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure the Reich has enough materials to defend itself and still feed its citizens. We and the Eastlanders are not so lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø his voice got very bitter. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you o-okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pulling the cloth aside and gesturing for Joa to go in first. There was one bed.
Joa gulped. Oh gods she wished she had taken two rooms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go down first. I'll watch the place├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôIts-s-s-s getting c-colder├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm f-f-f-freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve was also freezing. He was just more used to it. His house had gotten colder and colder with every body leaving it. First Harry had left, then Jerry and Larry. Now only he and Kerri could share the single bed and try and keep one another warm. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. Joa nodded, her teeth chattering ├óÔé¼┼ôThe d-d-damn f-ffff-fire doesn't do m-m-m-much├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve nodded and lay down. Joa lay down as well, the motion mechanical. She was focusing on not completely panicking. Steve rolled over so his back was facing her. Joa rolled over and curled up. Her head stuck into the coat that Steve wore on his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, trying to calm herself. If she concentrated hard enough then she could pretend Steve was just a pillow, not a silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy wife, Maria, used to do that├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. Joa was silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you have a wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe died├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was killed in the food riots├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFood riots?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shifted. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was when this damn war started├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe President shifted food from the cities to our armies├óÔé¼┬Ø. He shivered. Joa rubbed her hands together but she still couldn't get warm. Then she slipped her arms around Steve's waist. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, clinging to his back.
Steve moved slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt helps, doesn't it?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Joa nodded. Then she was asleep. Steve lay away quite a while longer. He felt Joa burrow more into his back and tried not to move. He wouldn't want to wake her. But Joa was slowly getting over...it. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was Steve. Steve tossed that thought away. He was here to help a woman in need. Not to... He focused on thoughts of Kerri. Thoughts of Joa bashed in, despite everything he did on the contrary. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa murmured softly, her arms tightening around Steve's waist. Steve breathed in slow. ├óÔé¼┼ôBe still my beating heart├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, so quiet that only he could hear.
Joa woke up in the morning. She was warm. That was the first thing she noticed. It fooled her into thinking...maybe she was home. She felt a large manly chest under her arms. Maybe it was Alex. Maybe this had all been a nightmare. She slowly sat up and saw a single furry ear sticking out of the pile of hair that marked Steve's head. It slowly twitched from side to side like a dogs. Then reality crashed down on Joa and she curled up, trying not to cry. Steve rolled over onto his back and heard Joa's stifled groans. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice throaty ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...I miss home├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in Imperial. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI miss home├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in his language.
The stage coach was still there, the driver asleep in the back seat. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve reached in and smacked the driver ├óÔé¼┼ôWake up you lazy punk!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The driver uncurled and opened the door, climbing out and grumbling about slave drivers. Joa and Steve got into the back and the cart started to drive. The snow started again about half way through the day, but the cart kept going as best it could. It would only take two or so more days to get to Stelvi. Joa sat in the coach, trying not to fidget. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you love you're wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI loved her very much├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shook herself ├óÔé¼┼ôKerri doesn't need to live here├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI could...I could adopt her and bring you in as a...a retainer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two could move to the Reich...the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I could hire you. My sister is a Priestess. She can give you leave to immigrate. Money and influence...they could work├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat would I do in this mighty Reich of you're?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut its just so...inhospitable here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôPart of me wants you to stay here. Part of me wants to go with you to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Steve looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôLike what?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike...I'm...I├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you're not ready for a romantic relation with...a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter what you went through I'm surprised that you managed to fall asleep last night├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I pretended you were someone you're not├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...It worked├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed, looking out the window. Joa looked out her window. The stage coach rattled onwards and the second day ended at another waystation. This one was much more crowded and much larger. Steve loosed his bow and hip quiver, looking at the shady types in the place. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø a silverback said ├óÔé¼┼ôI give you my room for fine woman!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, pushing past the silverback. The silverback eyed Joa, but went to a different group with a woman.
Then two silverbacks stepped in front of them, coming out of a tent room. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said, pointing at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou had a very fine little twat├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's back stiffened. She recognized the slightly bent nose of the one who was pointing at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are these two├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, weakling!├óÔé¼┬Ø the one without a crooked nose said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are talking to our very own whore├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are these-├óÔé¼┬Ø. A fist slammed into the side of his head and sent Steve flying. Joa acted. She reached forward and yanked the sword out of the silverback sailors scabbard. She brought it whistling around and sliced through his neck, hitting his vein expertly. Joa was pleased to see that despite her lack of practice she was still able to nail a hard target like that.
The surviving silverback, the one with a crooked nose, drew his sword. Joa ducked under the wild blow and slammed her sword into his guts. Blood and intestines splattered onto the ground. Joa slid the scabbard off the silverback's belt and clipped it to her own. Then she slid the sword into her scabbard and helped Steve to his feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve started to say. Then he saw what was left of the two silverbacks. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get a room├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve was still gibbering at the corpses as Joa dragged him to the front desk.
More postage!
Joa nestled into Steve's back. She had stopped trying to think of him as just a pillow. It was the same realization that came more subtly over Alex. It occurred when Alex realized Lucy was just like him. Just with horns. It came over Joa with a snap. Steve was not a silverback. Steve was a kind man with fur on his back, a tail and fuzzy ears. Joa snuggled closer ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve grunted ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôFor treating you...so shabbily├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve rolled over. Joa locked eyes with him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't need to apologize├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't nee-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa kissed him. Steve's ears shot out to the side of his head, vibrating like tuning forks.
Joa broke the kiss. Steve didn't do anything. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was an invitation├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI was...I don't want to...force you or anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut if we don't go on now my courage is going to leave pretty quick├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know I had a time limit├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, crawling on top of her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot...not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...it's too much├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded and crawled off. ├óÔé¼┼ôRoll onto you're back├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve did so, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure its...private enough here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked around at the silhouettes that slowly walked around their tent room. Over the din of the crowd she could pick out a few very happy gasps and groans. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not the only ones├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow hurry up...I...I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve hauled her down, brining her lips in contact with his. Joa suddenly felt panic shoot into her mind. She shouted, the sound muffled by Steve's lips. She shoved off of him, rolling onto her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease...I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded, trying to hide his disappointment ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need to take it slow...then...well...thats fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shivered ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still too damn cold├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet..Let me hold you├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. Joa nodded, rolling onto her side. This time Steve was on her back and Joa could curl up and still have something backing her up. It was very comforting to be clung too rather then clinging to something. Then Steve's arms reached around her waist, holding her closer at the belly. Joa closed her eyes, forcing herself to breath slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs...is that too much?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its...its fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYou smell...you smell afraid├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not...I swear├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, trying to choke back tears. Steve slowly moved his hands away and Joa shivered, feeling the cold bite in that much worse. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôPut you're hands back or else├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve blinked. The fear in her voice was gone, replaced by a hard command. He slipped his hands over her waist again and hugged her tightly. Joa forced the panic down. It was easier this time.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're growing quite a bread├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking at Steve. The stage coach was trundling along at a good pace. Steve scratched his growing beard and smiled. Then the cart stopped. Joa caught a glimpse of the driver running madly of the road into the road drifts. Joa stood up and opened the door in the side of the stage coach. She poked her head out even as Steve joined her. There was a large Royal Army marching towards them. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa called out in the silverback's language. Then she smacked herself mentally and said, in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôGreetings!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The army marched past the stage coach, none of them turning to look. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm an Imperial!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted, tearing off her hat. One of the officers on horseback brought his horse to the stage coach. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts good to see an Imperial in this land├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially a fine lady like you're self. You can head that way for about three miles├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed down the road ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get to Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's brow furrowed ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôStelvi pass is still a day away from here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot now├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer said, his army still marching past ├óÔé¼┼ôWe captured the city. Its the new Stelvi. Once you're there you can get a ride back to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. The officer looked down the column of his army and reigned his horse around. He road away, leaving Joa there. Joa looked at Steve ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose that...that this is goodbye├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to get you to Stelvi. We're still three miles from it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa walked into Stelvi. The camp was huge and the army huger. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey must have taken the Western and Northern forces here├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking around ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd brought them to bear├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed, wearing the hat that Joa had been wearing the rest of the time ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose this is no good for my side. I'm thinking more and more about you're offer├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. Joa turned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary stopped running ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought that you were someone else├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGary?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean...is that the Gary my brother has told me so much about?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Di├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been looking for my brother. It was said he was captured by the Southlanders├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCaptured?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what they told you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was killed by the Southlanders. His best friend Alex saw him fall├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked. So Alex thought she was dead. Remembering how many arrows George had pulled out of her, that was not so surprising. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is...where is this Alex...if he was the last one to see my brother then I would be loath to not talk to him├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's living in the Delta├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôUnlike me and my friends he got a Honorable Discharge├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôGood luck├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks mam├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. Joa turned away and started to walk to the stables. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I and my friend have horses?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked the stable master. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you crazy?├óÔé¼┬Ø The stable master said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a civilian!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo I'm not├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. She reached into her pocket. Then she remembered the Southlanders had taken her Dragoon badge and she was dressed as a woman. The stable master guffawed and said ├óÔé¼┼ôSure you are├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you're a Dragoon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa made a face and said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there a way I and my friend can get horses? We need to get to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Poor Steve was a bit left out of this conversation as it was entirely in Imperial and he only caught a few words, like Reich and Pferd. Then Joa turned away from the stable master and walked to two horses. She asked Steve for all his coin. Steve gave it too her and they rented the horses for the next few days. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in Imperial. Steve got the gist of it and mounted up as best he could. Then they started to ride towards the mountains. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to get warm├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd soon├óÔé¼┬Ø. But she felt as if she were already there, a warm glow growing from her chest. Alex was living in a house, on the delta. He wasn't in the military anymore. Maybe he would remember his rash offer to Joa. A tug of guilt dragged at her as she looked at Steve. But Steve knew that she loved Alex.
Alex opened the door. A stranger stood outside the door. It was a woman, with long brown hair and striking green eyes. Her face was very thin, very angular and very pretty. She was rail thin and had smallish breasts. Something about her tugged at his memory in the same way that Lucy loved to tug at his newly grown goatee. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Alex Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman gaped slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't...Don't you recognize me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Her voice was soft. The memory tugged at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre...are you...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...Dianna?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Alex blinked. Then he froze.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø he croaked, the woman's face suddenly blurring as tears started to flow from his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, hugging him. Then she kissed him ├óÔé¼┼ôOh Alex I've missed you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa you're-├óÔé¼┬Ø but Alex was cut off by Joa kissed him again ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're what kept me alive. When I wanted to die I thought of you├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her breath coming in quick gasps ├óÔé¼┼ôI dreamed of you every night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pushing her away slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. But her voice died on her lips. She saw the ring on Alex's finger. Then a familer woman walked up behind Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is it honey?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Joa saw the horns. Then, glinting mockingly at her, was a identical ring to Alex's sat on the woman's finger. Lucy slipped her arm around Alex's waist and looked at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you invite someone and not introduce me?├óÔé¼┬Ø .
├óÔé¼┼ôHi I'm Lucy Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy reached her hand out. She wanted to shake. Joa blinked, trying to get her mind to do...something. Anger, sorrow, despair. Something. Anything. But no emotions came. She just stood there, feeling colder then the winters of the Southlands. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...Its Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's alive├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa look at the hand Lucy was still offering her. ├óÔé¼┼ôGod!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa didn't feel alive. She took a faltering step back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, shaking her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa, don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slipping out of Lucy's hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, shaking her head again. She took another step ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy get Sandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell her that Joa's alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa felt her head spin.
Before she hit the ground she wished Steve was here. Alex turned his head back and saw Joa was lying on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods Joa!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He picked her up as Lucy ran outside ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's fainted. I think she might be sick├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running into the house ├óÔé¼┼ôSend a runner to Dianna, have them tell her that Joa is alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded and ran into the house to draft one of their servants as a runner. A few minutes later a maid with nothing else to do ran out of the house and into the street. Alex lay Joa down on his bed ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa listen to me. Can you here me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa was completely out. Alex bit his lip ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. All the guilt and indecision that had plagued him just a month ago had come back in full force.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI betrayed her├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, closing the door to his room and walking into the hallway ├óÔé¼┼ôI betrayed her!├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a flurry of pounding sounds at the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is it now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôGod?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex laughed somehow and walked down the stairs. He opened the door and a very worried looking Silverback man stood outside. His ears drooped down his sides, making him look slightly comical as he played with his snow cap. He was very overdressed, still wearing snow cloaks and furs. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in very poor Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI Steve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are not hiring├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am come Joa...come with Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded, understanding and said in the Southlander language ├óÔé¼┼ôI can speak you're language├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve brightened ├óÔé¼┼ôMy daughter found Joa washed up on the beach├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI spent the next week nursing her back to heath. Then I brought her to Stelvi pass and she persuaded me to go back├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why are you here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, struggling with the unfamiliar language. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not a good persuader├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve smiled. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôHow did she get to the Southland shore?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was picked up by the Southlander army. She was put in a boat and taken to shore. She escaped├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve looked dark ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at her back. You see what ship like├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt a chill. He walked up the stairs, explaining what Steve had said to Lucy as they followed him.
Alex gently rolled Joa on her side. Steve went around to Joa's front and took hold of her hand. It was obvious that he was in love with her. Alex smiled. Who would have thought...Joa with a Southlander. Who would have thought Alex with a Nipponese woman? Both were equally unlikely. Then he gently rolled up the shirt on Joa's back. He jerked backwards, feeling as if he had been punched in the gut. Lucy was aghast, her hand pressed to her mouth. There were scars and sines of very old, very bad bruises. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's been abused├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd more then once...those scars are older then those scars├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed ├óÔé¼┼ôAgain...and again├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôRape├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey...they raped her. Made her sell body for free├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fury began to build ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you what...watched?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Steve looked confused. Then Alex grabbed him and slammed him into the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou fucking bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou and you're ENTIRE RACE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He saw red. Steve was babbling something in the Southlander language. Alex punched him in the jaw, feeling his knuckles crack. Steve's head jerked to the side, blood spraying from his mouth. Steve spat and a tooth flew onto the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...do...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...do...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted. Alex punched him in the stomach ├óÔé¼┼ôYou DID NOTHING!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôTHATS JUST AS BAD!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve groaned, barely able to talk ├óÔé¼┼ôI...not...know├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted, sitting up. Alex paused. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. She got out of bed and pulled Alex off Steve. Then she hauled off and punched him in the face. Alex stood there, head ringing. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe saved my life├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe got me from one end of the Southlands to the others and got me home! I LOVE HIM!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Every one was silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Joa was also surprised. She hadn't meant to say that. ├óÔé¼┼ôI love him├óÔé¼┬Ø she repeated quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe...he didn't do anything├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't matter that he didn't rape you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that what this is about?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, looking insulted ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't advertise it to the public!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked. He hadn't thought of that. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe really didn't know. He wouldn't have believed me without the scars and the bruises├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve was still standing, leaning against the wall with blood dribbling out of his mouth. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou obviously don't want me here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa...Joa I...I love you. I always have. But you were dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sniffed, trying to not call attention to herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now I married Lucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't abandon her. And...I love her too. I'd never leave her├óÔé¼┬Ø he closed his eyes. Steve muttered something in his own language, something that Alex hadn't learned. Joa laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did he say?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe said that next time I visit friends he will bring better arms├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts all right├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was what I would have done├óÔé¼┬Ø he daubed at his missing tooth ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have an cotton?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex watched as Steve and Joa moved into a room next to his own. He sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's still hard to believe├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. Lucy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is still sobbing. She's just so happy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. He saw Sandra walked down the halls and into Joa's room. He heard happy shouts and the sound of Joa groaning loudly. Alex smiled, remembering the huge hug that Sandra had given him once. Lucy placed her hand on Alex's shoulders ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo do I├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, kissing her. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, undoing a lace on her dress. Alex followed her into her rooms as Lucy's dress fell to the ground. He kicked the door close.
Alex wasn't sure what sound had woken him up. But one moment he was asleep, then the next he was awake. Lucy's nude body pressed into his back, her hands draped over his chest. Alex sat up and breathed in the cold air of the house. He didn't know that downstairs Joa and Steve had dropped their blankets on the ground, thinking it far far to hot. Alex got up and slipped his pants on. Then he heard the same sound that had woken him up. It was coming from the lobby. Alex opened the door and walked to the balcony hallway that lined the upper floor. He looked into the main lobby and saw something that froze his heart. Four men in black clothes with amulets dangling around their necks were dragging a nude and fiercely struggling Joa out of the house. The amulets had the symbol of a black hand print with a grinning skull in the middle.
├óÔé¼┼ôSTOP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo you stop├óÔé¼┬Ø A deadly voice came from Alex's left. He turned slowly and saw a man wearing a Priests robe ├óÔé¼┼ôYou, Alexander Xue, are charged with homosexuality. You have been reported as kissing and hugging the late Dragoon Jonathan by one...Colman Ulessyus├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's eyes widened. He couldn't remember if he had ever kissed Joa when she had been in male make up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone in this house in under arrest. I noticed you have two silverback servants...two more then norms├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am not a├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Then a sack was slammed over his head. Before Alex was dragged away he heard Lucy scream. Then she was muffled.
Joa nestled into Steve's back. She had stopped trying to think of him as just a pillow. It was the same realization that came more subtly over Alex. It occurred when Alex realized Lucy was just like him. Just with horns. It came over Joa with a snap. Steve was not a silverback. Steve was a kind man with fur on his back, a tail and fuzzy ears. Joa snuggled closer ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve grunted ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôFor treating you...so shabbily├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve rolled over. Joa locked eyes with him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't need to apologize├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't nee-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa kissed him. Steve's ears shot out to the side of his head, vibrating like tuning forks.
Joa broke the kiss. Steve didn't do anything. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was an invitation├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI was...I don't want to...force you or anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut if we don't go on now my courage is going to leave pretty quick├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know I had a time limit├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said, crawling on top of her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot...not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...it's too much├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded and crawled off. ├óÔé¼┼ôRoll onto you're back├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve did so, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure its...private enough here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked around at the silhouettes that slowly walked around their tent room. Over the din of the crowd she could pick out a few very happy gasps and groans. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not the only ones├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow hurry up...I...I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve hauled her down, brining her lips in contact with his. Joa suddenly felt panic shoot into her mind. She shouted, the sound muffled by Steve's lips. She shoved off of him, rolling onto her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease...I can't├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded, trying to hide his disappointment ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need to take it slow...then...well...thats fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa shivered ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still too damn cold├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet..Let me hold you├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said. Joa nodded, rolling onto her side. This time Steve was on her back and Joa could curl up and still have something backing her up. It was very comforting to be clung too rather then clinging to something. Then Steve's arms reached around her waist, holding her closer at the belly. Joa closed her eyes, forcing herself to breath slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs...is that too much?├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its...its fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYou smell...you smell afraid├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not...I swear├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, trying to choke back tears. Steve slowly moved his hands away and Joa shivered, feeling the cold bite in that much worse. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts okay├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSteve├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôPut you're hands back or else├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve blinked. The fear in her voice was gone, replaced by a hard command. He slipped his hands over her waist again and hugged her tightly. Joa forced the panic down. It was easier this time.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're growing quite a bread├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking at Steve. The stage coach was trundling along at a good pace. Steve scratched his growing beard and smiled. Then the cart stopped. Joa caught a glimpse of the driver running madly of the road into the road drifts. Joa stood up and opened the door in the side of the stage coach. She poked her head out even as Steve joined her. There was a large Royal Army marching towards them. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa called out in the silverback's language. Then she smacked herself mentally and said, in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôGreetings!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The army marched past the stage coach, none of them turning to look. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm an Imperial!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted, tearing off her hat. One of the officers on horseback brought his horse to the stage coach. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts good to see an Imperial in this land├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially a fine lady like you're self. You can head that way for about three miles├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed down the road ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get to Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's brow furrowed ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôStelvi pass is still a day away from here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot now├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer said, his army still marching past ├óÔé¼┼ôWe captured the city. Its the new Stelvi. Once you're there you can get a ride back to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. The officer looked down the column of his army and reigned his horse around. He road away, leaving Joa there. Joa looked at Steve ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose that...that this is goodbye├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to get you to Stelvi. We're still three miles from it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa walked into Stelvi. The camp was huge and the army huger. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey must have taken the Western and Northern forces here├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking around ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd brought them to bear├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve sighed, wearing the hat that Joa had been wearing the rest of the time ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose this is no good for my side. I'm thinking more and more about you're offer├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. Joa turned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary stopped running ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought that you were someone else├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGary?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean...is that the Gary my brother has told me so much about?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know Jon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Di├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been looking for my brother. It was said he was captured by the Southlanders├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCaptured?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what they told you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was killed by the Southlanders. His best friend Alex saw him fall├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked. So Alex thought she was dead. Remembering how many arrows George had pulled out of her, that was not so surprising. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is...where is this Alex...if he was the last one to see my brother then I would be loath to not talk to him├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's living in the Delta├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôUnlike me and my friends he got a Honorable Discharge├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôGood luck├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks mam├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. Joa turned away and started to walk to the stables. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I and my friend have horses?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked the stable master. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you crazy?├óÔé¼┬Ø The stable master said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a civilian!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo I'm not├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. She reached into her pocket. Then she remembered the Southlanders had taken her Dragoon badge and she was dressed as a woman. The stable master guffawed and said ├óÔé¼┼ôSure you are├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you're a Dragoon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa made a face and said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there a way I and my friend can get horses? We need to get to the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Poor Steve was a bit left out of this conversation as it was entirely in Imperial and he only caught a few words, like Reich and Pferd. Then Joa turned away from the stable master and walked to two horses. She asked Steve for all his coin. Steve gave it too her and they rented the horses for the next few days. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said in Imperial. Steve got the gist of it and mounted up as best he could. Then they started to ride towards the mountains. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to get warm├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd soon├óÔé¼┬Ø. But she felt as if she were already there, a warm glow growing from her chest. Alex was living in a house, on the delta. He wasn't in the military anymore. Maybe he would remember his rash offer to Joa. A tug of guilt dragged at her as she looked at Steve. But Steve knew that she loved Alex.
Alex opened the door. A stranger stood outside the door. It was a woman, with long brown hair and striking green eyes. Her face was very thin, very angular and very pretty. She was rail thin and had smallish breasts. Something about her tugged at his memory in the same way that Lucy loved to tug at his newly grown goatee. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Alex Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman gaped slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't...Don't you recognize me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Her voice was soft. The memory tugged at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre...are you...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôUm...Dianna?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Alex blinked. Then he froze.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods├óÔé¼┬Ø he croaked, the woman's face suddenly blurring as tears started to flow from his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, hugging him. Then she kissed him ├óÔé¼┼ôOh Alex I've missed you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa you're-├óÔé¼┬Ø but Alex was cut off by Joa kissed him again ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're what kept me alive. When I wanted to die I thought of you├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, her breath coming in quick gasps ├óÔé¼┼ôI dreamed of you every night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, pushing her away slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. But her voice died on her lips. She saw the ring on Alex's finger. Then a familer woman walked up behind Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is it honey?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Joa saw the horns. Then, glinting mockingly at her, was a identical ring to Alex's sat on the woman's finger. Lucy slipped her arm around Alex's waist and looked at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you invite someone and not introduce me?├óÔé¼┬Ø .
├óÔé¼┼ôHi I'm Lucy Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy reached her hand out. She wanted to shake. Joa blinked, trying to get her mind to do...something. Anger, sorrow, despair. Something. Anything. But no emotions came. She just stood there, feeling colder then the winters of the Southlands. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...Its Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's alive├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa look at the hand Lucy was still offering her. ├óÔé¼┼ôGod!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa didn't feel alive. She took a faltering step back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, shaking her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa, don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slipping out of Lucy's hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, shaking her head again. She took another step ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy get Sandra├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell her that Joa's alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa felt her head spin.
Before she hit the ground she wished Steve was here. Alex turned his head back and saw Joa was lying on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôOh gods Joa!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He picked her up as Lucy ran outside ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's fainted. I think she might be sick├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running into the house ├óÔé¼┼ôSend a runner to Dianna, have them tell her that Joa is alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded and ran into the house to draft one of their servants as a runner. A few minutes later a maid with nothing else to do ran out of the house and into the street. Alex lay Joa down on his bed ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa listen to me. Can you here me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa was completely out. Alex bit his lip ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. All the guilt and indecision that had plagued him just a month ago had come back in full force.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI betrayed her├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, closing the door to his room and walking into the hallway ├óÔé¼┼ôI betrayed her!├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a flurry of pounding sounds at the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is it now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôGod?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex laughed somehow and walked down the stairs. He opened the door and a very worried looking Silverback man stood outside. His ears drooped down his sides, making him look slightly comical as he played with his snow cap. He was very overdressed, still wearing snow cloaks and furs. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in very poor Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôI Steve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are not hiring├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am come Joa...come with Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded, understanding and said in the Southlander language ├óÔé¼┼ôI can speak you're language├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve brightened ├óÔé¼┼ôMy daughter found Joa washed up on the beach├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI spent the next week nursing her back to heath. Then I brought her to Stelvi pass and she persuaded me to go back├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why are you here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, struggling with the unfamiliar language. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not a good persuader├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve smiled. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôHow did she get to the Southland shore?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was picked up by the Southlander army. She was put in a boat and taken to shore. She escaped├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve looked dark ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at her back. You see what ship like├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex felt a chill. He walked up the stairs, explaining what Steve had said to Lucy as they followed him.
Alex gently rolled Joa on her side. Steve went around to Joa's front and took hold of her hand. It was obvious that he was in love with her. Alex smiled. Who would have thought...Joa with a Southlander. Who would have thought Alex with a Nipponese woman? Both were equally unlikely. Then he gently rolled up the shirt on Joa's back. He jerked backwards, feeling as if he had been punched in the gut. Lucy was aghast, her hand pressed to her mouth. There were scars and sines of very old, very bad bruises. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's been abused├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd more then once...those scars are older then those scars├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed ├óÔé¼┼ôAgain...and again├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôRape├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey...they raped her. Made her sell body for free├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fury began to build ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you what...watched?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Steve looked confused. Then Alex grabbed him and slammed him into the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou fucking bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou and you're ENTIRE RACE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He saw red. Steve was babbling something in the Southlander language. Alex punched him in the jaw, feeling his knuckles crack. Steve's head jerked to the side, blood spraying from his mouth. Steve spat and a tooth flew onto the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...do...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...do...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted. Alex punched him in the stomach ├óÔé¼┼ôYou DID NOTHING!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôTHATS JUST AS BAD!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Steve groaned, barely able to talk ├óÔé¼┼ôI...not...know├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted, sitting up. Alex paused. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. She got out of bed and pulled Alex off Steve. Then she hauled off and punched him in the face. Alex stood there, head ringing. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe saved my life├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe got me from one end of the Southlands to the others and got me home! I LOVE HIM!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Every one was silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Joa was also surprised. She hadn't meant to say that. ├óÔé¼┼ôI love him├óÔé¼┬Ø she repeated quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe...he didn't do anything├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't matter that he didn't rape you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that what this is about?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked, looking insulted ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't advertise it to the public!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked. He hadn't thought of that. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe really didn't know. He wouldn't have believed me without the scars and the bruises├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Steve was still standing, leaning against the wall with blood dribbling out of his mouth. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou obviously don't want me here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa...Joa I...I love you. I always have. But you were dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy sniffed, trying to not call attention to herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut now I married Lucy├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't abandon her. And...I love her too. I'd never leave her├óÔé¼┬Ø he closed his eyes. Steve muttered something in his own language, something that Alex hadn't learned. Joa laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did he say?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe said that next time I visit friends he will bring better arms├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts all right├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was what I would have done├óÔé¼┬Ø he daubed at his missing tooth ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have an cotton?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex watched as Steve and Joa moved into a room next to his own. He sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's still hard to believe├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. Lucy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra is still sobbing. She's just so happy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. He saw Sandra walked down the halls and into Joa's room. He heard happy shouts and the sound of Joa groaning loudly. Alex smiled, remembering the huge hug that Sandra had given him once. Lucy placed her hand on Alex's shoulders ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo do I├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, kissing her. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, undoing a lace on her dress. Alex followed her into her rooms as Lucy's dress fell to the ground. He kicked the door close.
Alex wasn't sure what sound had woken him up. But one moment he was asleep, then the next he was awake. Lucy's nude body pressed into his back, her hands draped over his chest. Alex sat up and breathed in the cold air of the house. He didn't know that downstairs Joa and Steve had dropped their blankets on the ground, thinking it far far to hot. Alex got up and slipped his pants on. Then he heard the same sound that had woken him up. It was coming from the lobby. Alex opened the door and walked to the balcony hallway that lined the upper floor. He looked into the main lobby and saw something that froze his heart. Four men in black clothes with amulets dangling around their necks were dragging a nude and fiercely struggling Joa out of the house. The amulets had the symbol of a black hand print with a grinning skull in the middle.
├óÔé¼┼ôSTOP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo you stop├óÔé¼┬Ø A deadly voice came from Alex's left. He turned slowly and saw a man wearing a Priests robe ├óÔé¼┼ôYou, Alexander Xue, are charged with homosexuality. You have been reported as kissing and hugging the late Dragoon Jonathan by one...Colman Ulessyus├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's eyes widened. He couldn't remember if he had ever kissed Joa when she had been in male make up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone in this house in under arrest. I noticed you have two silverback servants...two more then norms├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am not a├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex started to say. Then a sack was slammed over his head. Before Alex was dragged away he heard Lucy scream. Then she was muffled.
The crowd was huge. The trial of Alexander Xue, the most famous living Dragoon in the Empire was no little thing. Thirty military officers had asked for leave just to attend. Lucy stood in the front row. After a quick questioning she had been released as diplomatically immune to Imperial law. Joa and Steve joined her, being recognized as guests. Joa looked drawn and worried ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe it├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could Colman betray us like that?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôHe hates fagots├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts hard to find people who don't├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIncluding me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa muttered darkly ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but Alex is not a fag. He's normal, just like you and me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø someone said. Alex was being taken into the center of the courtroom, witch looked more like a gladiatorial stadium. Lucy, Joa and Steven all sat in the front row, a mere four feet from the ground, where Alex was ushered onto a small podium, wearing two manicals. Alex looked at his feet, obviously resined to his death. Then the Inquisitional court strode into the stadium. There were four priests, two male and two female. Joa's back stiffened. One of them was Di. The eldest male priest coughed and started to speak. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice deep and condemning ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are charged with the abhorrent practice of Homosexuality with the late Dragoon Jonathan Wingates. This act is sinful before the Gods and is punishable by death and the endless death of the next life├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex looked up at the Priest. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have anything to say in you're defense before we render judgment├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey aren't going to have a trial!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa be quite├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is about to-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex slowly shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have nothing to say. I...I am guilty├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is he doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's protecting me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said, clearing his throat and saying ├óÔé¼┼ôI sentence you to dea-├óÔé¼┬Ø slowly. Joa stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôStop!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. Her voice echoed throughout the mostly silent courtroom. Everyone stared at her. Joa mounted up on the railing around the edge of the seats and jumped over the side and landed on the ground with a thump. She stood, somewhat unsteadily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you, young man?├óÔé¼┬Ø the priest asked, squinting at Joa.
Joa was wearing her hair back, but her breasts were small and her clothes baggy. It was understandable that people could mistake Joa for a man. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Dragoon Jonathan Wingates├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said loudly. There was a sudden sput of conversation in the crowd. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is dead├óÔé¼┬Ø the priestess said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI believe Dianna would recognize me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Di was staring at her. Then she gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôIt IS him!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI swear by the goddess├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid Alexander Xue kiss you?├óÔé¼┬Ø the head Priest said, frowning mightily at Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI kissed him├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...my name is not Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø.
She pulled her shirt up and off and tossed it to the side. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Joana Wingates├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, glad that she had gotten her hands on a breast band. There was silence. Then she heard a very loud laugh. ├óÔé¼┼ôHA!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, standing up ├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest blinked, staring at Joa's semi-exposed anatomy. Di clapped her hands to her mouth, her face completely pink. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø The priest said, somewhat hurriedly ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are exonerated of charges. You are as normal as the rest of us. Guards let him go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Two guards walked out of the shadows around the center of the court and unlocked the manicals on Alex' wrists. He felt his wrists and looked at Joa, horror on his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôKill that woman├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The guards drew their swords. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shoved past the guards and stood in front of Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôThis woman has done NOTHING wrong!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôShe has saved my life more then once. She has survived being captured and raped by the silverbacks! I...I love her!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy didn't react with the jealousy she expected. Instead she felt immensely proud of Alex. There was silence in the crowd. Alex looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôWill no one else stand with me? Will no one else object!├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was no response. The head priest coughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNo matter how brave you're gesture, young Dragoon├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Then Steve stood up and jumped into the stadium floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôI stand with him├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI love her too├óÔé¼┬Ø. He stood next to Alex, facing the guards without a weapon.
The priest gaped at the silverback who was facing down his guards. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, running down the rows that surrounded the center of the court. He jumped to the floor and ran next to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's the best fighter I've ever seen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd a better fighter then I and my friends put together!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh you bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary shouted from the back row ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't commit suicide without you're buddy!├óÔé¼┬Ø he ran into the center of the stadium and joined Josh. He looked at Alex, Josh and Joa and grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just like old times? Remember that bar?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest looked at the growing number of people that surrounded Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll stand with him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, climbing slowly over the rail and walking sedately to them.
├óÔé¼┼ôI will stand with him├óÔé¼┬Ø Di said softly. The priest looked at her, shock writ plane over his face. Di walked and joined the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will stand with my master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, joining the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would be a heartless son of a whore├óÔé¼┬Ø a familer voice said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I didn't stand with these youngsters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôL...Lord Garret?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, looking at the old man hobbling down the rows. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe one and only├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think I'd miss the trial...of my daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're what!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. Garret smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're father was an evil man. I like to think that I was a good one and thats why you're mother spent more of her time with me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Garret somehow managed to get onto the lower floor, helped by a retainer who was with him. The retainer handed Garret the cane he had used and Garret hobbled slowly to the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's the wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn the gutter├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôShowed her for poisoning me├óÔé¼┬Ø. They all stood around Joa, who was looking very flustered. The Priest's mouth was hanging open, staring at the small crowd. Then one last person walked into the court. Colman didn't say anything. The others in the group stared at him, not exactly sure what he was doing there. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't stand a fag├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry. I was wrong├óÔé¼┬Ø. And that was that.
├óÔé¼┼ôT...This is unprecedented├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. The crowd was humming to itself, lots of whispered conversations moving through it. The guards looked at each other ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do?├óÔé¼┬Ø they asked. The Priest stared around the room. If he ordered them to attack it would be a blood bath. Many of the people in the crowd around the woman were popular with the soldiers and the people. The Priestesses Di was his personal friend. ├óÔé¼┼ôStand down├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôStand down├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pointed at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me. You to├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex. The Priest turned around and walked out of the court, moving through one of the doors that ringed the place. The crowd erupted into raucous cheering. They saw it as a victory. The Priest snorted, wondering how many of them had thought through the implications of their cheers.
Alex sat down in the study, Joa right next to him. The Priest had taken off his robe and wore a simple tunic and pants underneath it. He suddenly looked like a tired old man, not some unstoppable, judgmental arbitrator. He sat down on the chair behind his desk and closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôHave been giving the Church heart attacks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôHave married an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Nipponese├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy has a name and Lucy's people have a name. She is a Nippon woman. Not an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice poisonous. Joa gaped at him. She had never heard Alex use a foreign name for a land. Even in the Southlands she had always called them the ├óÔé¼┼ôSouth Land├óÔé¼┬Ø in their language. Not their word for it, ├óÔé¼┼ôRossiya├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Priest coughed and said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou married an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, frowning mightily at Alex, who fumed back at her ├óÔé¼┼ôand are openly in love with her├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's forehead twitched slightly. Joa could tell he was getting uncontrollably angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is one thing to marry for political convenience. But you openly kiss you're wife in public. You, according to our surveillance records, have done...things that only Imperials do to one another. Oral pleasures, to put it bluntly├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...dare├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI dare? You protect its body, but we defend its very soul. We keep out sickness and rot. But we let you live├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's eyes widened as he realized that he was in the sights of the Death Hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe let you live because you're Marriage is necessary. But the Southlanders are losing. Soon we will have to worry far less about an alliance with the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. He turned to Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you're a woman. That is a...corruption of man's most sacred field, the field of battle. You're existence is an abomination. You're a bastard child and you were violated by you're father at a young age, as he confessed when we...questioned him├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's face drained of blood. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd recently you came back to LIFE which carries with it all the problems of resuming surveillance and tracking by the Librarians├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you done?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. Both him and Joa were ready to kill the Priest for the insults he had delved out. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ônow you two are bigger problems because...we can't kill you. You're little stunt in the court has seared you into the publics mind. More reports will get out then the Librarians can suppress. If we kill you the people will stop believing in the church. If we lose believe then we lose the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what are you going to do├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest crossed his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need a new diplomat to the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow would you like a more pay then you're pension. All you have to do is treat with you're own step-father and live in Nippon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex blinked. The Priest had used the right word.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said to Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go back to the Southlands with you're...lover├óÔé¼┬Ø he seemed physically revolted by the idea of Joa being with a Southlander. You stop making trouble for us and you live out you're lives peacefully. Thats my offer├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was silence. Joa and Alex sat there, looking at the priest. Then Joa stood up. ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething has changed, today├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've learned something...you can never keep things out forever. No matter how much you try├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around and walked out of the room. Alex stood up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest asked, looking very annoyed at Joa's response. ├óÔé¼┼ôI say...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running his hand through his goatee ├óÔé¼┼ôthat you can go to hell├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Epilogue:
A few months later and Alex was sitting at his table. Lucy cradled her son, gently rocking him from side to side. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is Jonathan doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, reading his newspaper. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's fine├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnything noteworthy in the news?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's struck another blow├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOn who?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, looking up. Then Jonathan tugged at her shirt and she sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeone wants more food├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, unbuttoning her shirt and letting Jonathan suckle to her nipple. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Jonathan doesn't interrupt us again...what blow did who strike and against what?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis story got through the censor├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, turning the paper around.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Rose Knight strikes again├óÔé¼┬Ø was emblazoned on the top of the paper. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat means Joa has done it...again├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe sure has├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe sure has├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a comfortable silence between them. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo do you really think this will work├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her voice soft ├óÔé¼┼ôOr is she just hopelessly idealistic?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI think...she's both. Only idiots would try something like this. But only an idiot would think that they could succeed. And you can only succeed...if you think you can├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex folded up the newspaper and placed it on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope that Jonathan doesn't hog you for too long. I've got some new ideas for that new bath we got├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Priest read the latest reports from the front. Not many people knew there was a 'front' anymore, with peace declared in the Southlands. But the...the ideological terrorist, the so called ├óÔé¼┼ôRose Knight├óÔé¼┬Ø Was somehow getting her subversive message through the Librarian's censor. It had to be Di. But the Priest could never prove that Joa was the one behind all this. She was supposedly in a completely different country, raising some silverback brat. The thought of an Imperial woman with a silverback made the Priest sick. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He would save the Empire. He had to.
Joa watched Kerri run around the beach. Life was...pretty much perfect. She let the hammock slowly go back and forth in the summer breeze. This would be a winter breeze in the Reich...but she was so used to thinking in Southlander terms by now that she didn't even miss the Empire. Steve was inside, cooking up some meals. Kerri ran up to the hammock ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you new mommy├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, crawling into the hammock. Joa hugged her back ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you too, new daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Kerri giggled as Joa tickled her behind her ears. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey guys!├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve shouted from inside ├óÔé¼┼ôFood is ready├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't we eat out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a kid on my chest!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve walked out, hauling the huge pot he was cooking their stew with. He plopped it in the sand and ran back inside for bowels. He came back out, filled the bowels and handed them to Joa and Kerri. Joa slurped the hot soup down without waiting for Steve to get her a spoon. Kerri laughed and followed her new mother's example. Steve sighed, ears drooping comedicly as he held the two spoons he had run inside to get for his wife and daughter. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder, sometimes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout Alex...I wondered what he's doing now a days├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex sat down at his desk. He wondered what Joana was doing, now a days. He supposed she was happy, far away from everything that was happening in the Empire. Lucy was unaware of what he did in the study, late at night. She was happy, thinking that he just followed the 'Rose Knight' because he was interested in politics. She also thought the Rose Knight was Joa, writing in secret. Alex whetted his pen in the inkwell and put it to paper. Then he started to write:
├óÔé¼┼ôI am the Rose Knight. There are people who don't want you to hear this, who don't want you to know what I am going to tell you. Its going to be frightening. Its going to be hard. But we have to start. Now. The world is changing, and we...the citizens of the Empire have to change with it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
And THATS THE END OF OUR SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø someone said. Alex was being taken into the center of the courtroom, witch looked more like a gladiatorial stadium. Lucy, Joa and Steven all sat in the front row, a mere four feet from the ground, where Alex was ushered onto a small podium, wearing two manicals. Alex looked at his feet, obviously resined to his death. Then the Inquisitional court strode into the stadium. There were four priests, two male and two female. Joa's back stiffened. One of them was Di. The eldest male priest coughed and started to speak. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice deep and condemning ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are charged with the abhorrent practice of Homosexuality with the late Dragoon Jonathan Wingates. This act is sinful before the Gods and is punishable by death and the endless death of the next life├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex looked up at the Priest. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have anything to say in you're defense before we render judgment├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey aren't going to have a trial!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa be quite├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex is about to-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex slowly shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have nothing to say. I...I am guilty├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is he doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's protecting me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said, clearing his throat and saying ├óÔé¼┼ôI sentence you to dea-├óÔé¼┬Ø slowly. Joa stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôStop!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. Her voice echoed throughout the mostly silent courtroom. Everyone stared at her. Joa mounted up on the railing around the edge of the seats and jumped over the side and landed on the ground with a thump. She stood, somewhat unsteadily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you, young man?├óÔé¼┬Ø the priest asked, squinting at Joa.
Joa was wearing her hair back, but her breasts were small and her clothes baggy. It was understandable that people could mistake Joa for a man. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Dragoon Jonathan Wingates├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said loudly. There was a sudden sput of conversation in the crowd. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is dead├óÔé¼┬Ø the priestess said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI believe Dianna would recognize me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. Di was staring at her. Then she gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôIt IS him!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI swear by the goddess├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid Alexander Xue kiss you?├óÔé¼┬Ø the head Priest said, frowning mightily at Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI kissed him├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...my name is not Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø.
She pulled her shirt up and off and tossed it to the side. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Joana Wingates├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, glad that she had gotten her hands on a breast band. There was silence. Then she heard a very loud laugh. ├óÔé¼┼ôHA!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, standing up ├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest blinked, staring at Joa's semi-exposed anatomy. Di clapped her hands to her mouth, her face completely pink. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø The priest said, somewhat hurriedly ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are exonerated of charges. You are as normal as the rest of us. Guards let him go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Two guards walked out of the shadows around the center of the court and unlocked the manicals on Alex' wrists. He felt his wrists and looked at Joa, horror on his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôKill that woman├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The guards drew their swords. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shoved past the guards and stood in front of Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôThis woman has done NOTHING wrong!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôShe has saved my life more then once. She has survived being captured and raped by the silverbacks! I...I love her!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy didn't react with the jealousy she expected. Instead she felt immensely proud of Alex. There was silence in the crowd. Alex looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôWill no one else stand with me? Will no one else object!├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was no response. The head priest coughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNo matter how brave you're gesture, young Dragoon├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Then Steve stood up and jumped into the stadium floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôI stand with him├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI love her too├óÔé¼┬Ø. He stood next to Alex, facing the guards without a weapon.
The priest gaped at the silverback who was facing down his guards. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, running down the rows that surrounded the center of the court. He jumped to the floor and ran next to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's the best fighter I've ever seen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd a better fighter then I and my friends put together!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh you bastard!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary shouted from the back row ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't commit suicide without you're buddy!├óÔé¼┬Ø he ran into the center of the stadium and joined Josh. He looked at Alex, Josh and Joa and grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just like old times? Remember that bar?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest looked at the growing number of people that surrounded Joa. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll stand with him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, climbing slowly over the rail and walking sedately to them.
├óÔé¼┼ôI will stand with him├óÔé¼┬Ø Di said softly. The priest looked at her, shock writ plane over his face. Di walked and joined the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôI will stand with my master├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, joining the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would be a heartless son of a whore├óÔé¼┬Ø a familer voice said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I didn't stand with these youngsters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôL...Lord Garret?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, looking at the old man hobbling down the rows. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe one and only├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Garret said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think I'd miss the trial...of my daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're what!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa shouted. Garret smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're father was an evil man. I like to think that I was a good one and thats why you're mother spent more of her time with me├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Garret somehow managed to get onto the lower floor, helped by a retainer who was with him. The retainer handed Garret the cane he had used and Garret hobbled slowly to the group. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's the wife?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn the gutter├óÔé¼┬Ø Garret grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôShowed her for poisoning me├óÔé¼┬Ø. They all stood around Joa, who was looking very flustered. The Priest's mouth was hanging open, staring at the small crowd. Then one last person walked into the court. Colman didn't say anything. The others in the group stared at him, not exactly sure what he was doing there. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't stand a fag├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry. I was wrong├óÔé¼┬Ø. And that was that.
├óÔé¼┼ôT...This is unprecedented├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. The crowd was humming to itself, lots of whispered conversations moving through it. The guards looked at each other ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do?├óÔé¼┬Ø they asked. The Priest stared around the room. If he ordered them to attack it would be a blood bath. Many of the people in the crowd around the woman were popular with the soldiers and the people. The Priestesses Di was his personal friend. ├óÔé¼┼ôStand down├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ôStand down├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pointed at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me. You to├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex. The Priest turned around and walked out of the court, moving through one of the doors that ringed the place. The crowd erupted into raucous cheering. They saw it as a victory. The Priest snorted, wondering how many of them had thought through the implications of their cheers.
Alex sat down in the study, Joa right next to him. The Priest had taken off his robe and wore a simple tunic and pants underneath it. He suddenly looked like a tired old man, not some unstoppable, judgmental arbitrator. He sat down on the chair behind his desk and closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôHave been giving the Church heart attacks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôHave married an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Nipponese├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy has a name and Lucy's people have a name. She is a Nippon woman. Not an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice poisonous. Joa gaped at him. She had never heard Alex use a foreign name for a land. Even in the Southlands she had always called them the ├óÔé¼┼ôSouth Land├óÔé¼┬Ø in their language. Not their word for it, ├óÔé¼┼ôRossiya├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Priest coughed and said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou married an Eastlander├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, frowning mightily at Alex, who fumed back at her ├óÔé¼┼ôand are openly in love with her├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's forehead twitched slightly. Joa could tell he was getting uncontrollably angry. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is one thing to marry for political convenience. But you openly kiss you're wife in public. You, according to our surveillance records, have done...things that only Imperials do to one another. Oral pleasures, to put it bluntly├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...dare├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI dare? You protect its body, but we defend its very soul. We keep out sickness and rot. But we let you live├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's eyes widened as he realized that he was in the sights of the Death Hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe let you live because you're Marriage is necessary. But the Southlanders are losing. Soon we will have to worry far less about an alliance with the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said. He turned to Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you're a woman. That is a...corruption of man's most sacred field, the field of battle. You're existence is an abomination. You're a bastard child and you were violated by you're father at a young age, as he confessed when we...questioned him├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa's face drained of blood. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd recently you came back to LIFE which carries with it all the problems of resuming surveillance and tracking by the Librarians├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you done?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped. Both him and Joa were ready to kill the Priest for the insults he had delved out. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said ├óÔé¼┼ônow you two are bigger problems because...we can't kill you. You're little stunt in the court has seared you into the publics mind. More reports will get out then the Librarians can suppress. If we kill you the people will stop believing in the church. If we lose believe then we lose the Empire├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what are you going to do├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Priest crossed his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need a new diplomat to the Eastlands├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow would you like a more pay then you're pension. All you have to do is treat with you're own step-father and live in Nippon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex blinked. The Priest had used the right word.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest said to Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go back to the Southlands with you're...lover├óÔé¼┬Ø he seemed physically revolted by the idea of Joa being with a Southlander. You stop making trouble for us and you live out you're lives peacefully. Thats my offer├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was silence. Joa and Alex sat there, looking at the priest. Then Joa stood up. ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething has changed, today├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've learned something...you can never keep things out forever. No matter how much you try├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around and walked out of the room. Alex stood up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Priest asked, looking very annoyed at Joa's response. ├óÔé¼┼ôI say...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, running his hand through his goatee ├óÔé¼┼ôthat you can go to hell├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Epilogue:
A few months later and Alex was sitting at his table. Lucy cradled her son, gently rocking him from side to side. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is Jonathan doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, reading his newspaper. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's fine├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnything noteworthy in the news?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's struck another blow├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOn who?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, looking up. Then Jonathan tugged at her shirt and she sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeone wants more food├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, unbuttoning her shirt and letting Jonathan suckle to her nipple. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf Jonathan doesn't interrupt us again...what blow did who strike and against what?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis story got through the censor├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, turning the paper around.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Rose Knight strikes again├óÔé¼┬Ø was emblazoned on the top of the paper. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat means Joa has done it...again├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe sure has├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe sure has├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a comfortable silence between them. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo do you really think this will work├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her voice soft ├óÔé¼┼ôOr is she just hopelessly idealistic?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI think...she's both. Only idiots would try something like this. But only an idiot would think that they could succeed. And you can only succeed...if you think you can├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex folded up the newspaper and placed it on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope that Jonathan doesn't hog you for too long. I've got some new ideas for that new bath we got├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Priest read the latest reports from the front. Not many people knew there was a 'front' anymore, with peace declared in the Southlands. But the...the ideological terrorist, the so called ├óÔé¼┼ôRose Knight├óÔé¼┬Ø Was somehow getting her subversive message through the Librarian's censor. It had to be Di. But the Priest could never prove that Joa was the one behind all this. She was supposedly in a completely different country, raising some silverback brat. The thought of an Imperial woman with a silverback made the Priest sick. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He would save the Empire. He had to.
Joa watched Kerri run around the beach. Life was...pretty much perfect. She let the hammock slowly go back and forth in the summer breeze. This would be a winter breeze in the Reich...but she was so used to thinking in Southlander terms by now that she didn't even miss the Empire. Steve was inside, cooking up some meals. Kerri ran up to the hammock ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you new mommy├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, crawling into the hammock. Joa hugged her back ├óÔé¼┼ôI love you too, new daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Kerri giggled as Joa tickled her behind her ears. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey guys!├óÔé¼┬Ø Steve shouted from inside ├óÔé¼┼ôFood is ready├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't we eat out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a kid on my chest!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Steve walked out, hauling the huge pot he was cooking their stew with. He plopped it in the sand and ran back inside for bowels. He came back out, filled the bowels and handed them to Joa and Kerri. Joa slurped the hot soup down without waiting for Steve to get her a spoon. Kerri laughed and followed her new mother's example. Steve sighed, ears drooping comedicly as he held the two spoons he had run inside to get for his wife and daughter. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder, sometimes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout Alex...I wondered what he's doing now a days├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex sat down at his desk. He wondered what Joana was doing, now a days. He supposed she was happy, far away from everything that was happening in the Empire. Lucy was unaware of what he did in the study, late at night. She was happy, thinking that he just followed the 'Rose Knight' because he was interested in politics. She also thought the Rose Knight was Joa, writing in secret. Alex whetted his pen in the inkwell and put it to paper. Then he started to write:
├óÔé¼┼ôI am the Rose Knight. There are people who don't want you to hear this, who don't want you to know what I am going to tell you. Its going to be frightening. Its going to be hard. But we have to start. Now. The world is changing, and we...the citizens of the Empire have to change with it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
And THATS THE END OF OUR SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Last edited by Zoombie on 23 Aug 2006, 00:14, edited 1 time in total.
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Actually...no.
or at least no plans for sequels at this time. There's some things that MIGHT become a sequel, but I have no idea at this time, no.
Oh and yes I did write half the book in half the day. Or, more accurately, about a quarter and a half in a day. Its a ninety page book and I wrote...about...forty pages yesterday.
(PS: 90 pages = to about 200 when properly formatted and placed into paperback book page sizes)
or at least no plans for sequels at this time. There's some things that MIGHT become a sequel, but I have no idea at this time, no.
Oh and yes I did write half the book in half the day. Or, more accurately, about a quarter and a half in a day. Its a ninety page book and I wrote...about...forty pages yesterday.
(PS: 90 pages = to about 200 when properly formatted and placed into paperback book page sizes)
