act37side

She's real lucky she had friends like you there with her.

Morgan stares blankly ahead. She'd never considered that problem. Not even Indra herself had.

No, no, that ain't right. Why do I feel all funny hearing you say that? Though I gotta admit I'm not sure what's not right about what you said.

Hah, whatever you say. Anyway, if you ever get the chance, tell Siege I said sorry.

If you stick around you can tell her yourself.

My Glasgow Gang's long gone. Since you're coming back, it's only right that I head out.

Did Delphine not come back with you?

She's standing by Vina's side.

Hah, sounds like you lot had a squabble too. I heard about her mum from a broadcast... Doesn't matter who she might be, at least she's got some nerve.

Where you headed off to next?

Norport needs more hands to rebuild it, and the port's busy shuttling in goods from outside all day every day. Me and my crew are gonna keep an eye on it.

And then... And then I'll head into Central to bash in some merchant bastard's head—Err...

That's only a maybe. Norport's changed, Morgan.

The folks I know are gone, and the shops too. There's some new gang of brats that's popped up. Don't know their arse from their elbow yet they're still trying to fight for dominance...

Anyway, I'm giving the gym back to you lot.

Parliament talked a big game in that broadcast of theirs. I talked it over with some of the boys. We'll wait a spell, then head over to some other dukedom to see what's what.

We'll find a new turf.

A new turf, a new beginning. I'll need some time to forget a few things.

Morgan, was that Cador leaving just now?

Yep.

He came to say goodbye, and decided to hand this back to us while he was at it.

She pulls out a butterfly knife from her pocket. It's badly scratched, but the emblem of the Glasgow Gang can still be clearly seen.

Baird's butterfly knife. Hannah would recognize it anywhere. It was her who insisted on engraving that emblem once she beat Baird, after all.

Cador found it on the body of a cleaner... He couldn't find Baird herself, though.

I went there too.

All I found was some stuff on the wall I didn't get. It's almost all gone, what with all the rain. But I'm sure...

I'm sure she was there. I saw her handwriting.

'I hope so too'...

<i>'I hope so too.'</i>

<i>What did Baird hope for? We thought about it long and hard, but we were never able to make sense of it.</i>

<i>Her wishes had already been washed back into Norport's soil by the rain.</i>

<i>We decided not to dwell on it much longer.</i>

<i>We never could guess her last little secret.</i>

<i>She's definitely having a good laugh at us right now.</i>

I remember that whenever we went to the video shop, Baird hated weepy scenes about grieving the most.

Yeah. She never thought death was worth being all that sad for.

Pass the knife to me. I'll think of a way to hang it up on the wall.

Then I'll go get some drinks. To celebrate us coming home, and a toast to Baird!

Should we wait for Vina?

She ain't got the time to come.

But just in case—

Then we'll hold off right before we get completely pissed, Hannah.

Booze waits for no man.

<i>That day, without having to say a word on the matter, we all drank our drinks real slow.</i>

<i>We were waiting for one more person.</i>

<i>It seems there was a lot of chit-chat going on that day. Not that we remember any of it after the hangover.</i>

<i>All I remember is that Hannah and I got in a fight, and Dagda's brow got itself another scar. Why? None of us knew.</i>

<i>If Vina were there, it'll all be fine. She always stayed the most sober out of all of us, and she'd remember for us.</i>

<i>But she never showed up that day.</i>

I dragged the body back, Boss.

But... Will this really be okay? I mean, snatching away the corpse of a condemned criminal from right under Parliament's nose—

Did you really think you could take that away without some silent approval from above?

What of the Columbian?

He's not in the best of moods... Boss, do we really need <i>him</i> to carry these goods? What if—

Millscar says nothing. The mercenary sighs.

Alright, I get it. Look, Boss, I'm not trying to make you mad. But ever since Parliament made a move on us, everyone's been on edge.

It doesn't concern you lot.

I'll handle the Columbian.

Eliseo. I presume I don't need to introduce myself.

Millscar. I've heard about you.

Good, no need to waste words then. I need you to see this batch of goods out of Londinium safely.

You will, of course, receive payment. I can send this 'corpse' along with you.

Leave the city, and go as far away from it as you can.

Her name is Diane, Millscar.

Who she is isn't important to me.

What's important is that she doesn't show her face again in Londinium.

You call this payment? Making someone who just got home leave again?

Eliseo, you are well aware she cannot stay in the city. As far as everyone is concerned, she is dead. Hanged from the gallows.

Vina made a mistake. So long as this person is alive and within the city, sooner or later someone is going to use her as a knife to stab Vina in the back.

*sigh* She really must learn to be more decisive.

You know the condition of her infection better than I do, Eliseo. She doesn't have long.

You're welcome to refuse, of course. But I will still help Vina settle this matter. In my own way.

I know your story, Millscar. Or rather, Lady Allerdale Cumberland.

There's a lot of versions of it out there, but they all agree you really did fit with the title of 'Cumberland the Ever on High', once upon a time.

Fine, I'll get Diane out of here. I can take better care of her back in Columbia.

Happy?

You're a good man, Eliseo. She's lucky to have made a friend in you.

Get ready. You could be leaving at any time.

You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Did you ever think you'd turn out this way?

Why ask just me?

Countless heroes lived through the war. From the most radiant of them to those that none remember. I too am curious as to how they will change in the face of reality.

Lying down amidst the meadow, the soldier senses a slight itch. The cold wind blows at the stalks of grass, and their tips tickle her face.

Is this what the land of the dead is like? She opens her eyes and sees someone most unexpected.

Huh—Wha—?!

You're awake.

You—

It's me, Eliseo. You shouldn't just go off on your own to do dangerous stuff without a word, Diane.

I-I remember standing atop the gallows...

You're dead, at least to those who witnessed the execution.

Before we left, I asked the people at Rhodes Island to give you the once-over. It's not looking too good.

A lot of your major organs have already begun to crystallize. In other words, Originium is replacing those organs.

So... I'm not dead? Am I lucky or unlucky?

I'm not sure if the Speaker knew about this beforehand...

So it was Vina who let me go? That's rather foolish of her.

To tell you the truth, I really don't get some of you people. *sigh* Sorry, Diane. I'm afraid you can't go back to Londinium.

Only now does she realize they are no longer in Londinium. She sees the tell-tale giant tracks laid down by the nomadic city not too far off in the distance.

Just ahead of them, Sarkaz children run around in the meadow, waving at her as they pass.

Most displaced Sarkaz have lost the light in their eyes to confusion. They can go anywhere, but nowhere can they call home.

I'll be taking you to Columbia, Diane. I might be able to do more for you there.