Глава 10

Mm-hm, I told you. Our soldiers won't let us down.

They're her people.

Did our Messengers get in contact with her?

To be more precise, it was your Rhodes Island Messenger.

Dagda! Look, it's Dagda!

That tart...

Hm.

There among the crowd, Dagda sees them too.

She throws down the Sarkaz she's tussling with, and rushes through the passage made with no hesitation, arms reached out to her partners caked in grime.

I... I was so scared I'd be late.

No, you weren't.

No matter when you come back, we could never call you late.

Bastard, you... you stormed off just like that, remember? I didn't even get to beat you up!

Hm... you're still in time to do it now.

Ay, Vina, did you know she'd come back?

I knew.

I get you hid it from Indra. She'd never take help from nobles' mercenaries unless it was critical as this, end-of-the-line type.

Stop griping about me and let's get these idiots dealt with first!

I never stopped here!

Vina, I didn't finish... you could've at least given me a shout!

*sigh* You had me wondering if Dagda was off in some corner again even while we were being killed! I was all ready to take the Sarkaz down with me!

I'm sorry, Morgan...

This won't happen again. I swear.

Siege Group, fully assembled.

We just wait for the Doctor's lot to come back, and we can all get out of here together.

Everyone, we're back!

Amiya?

Fancy coming in from the sky, all of you...

We're touching down! Gangway, outta the way—

G—Grab the zipline! Don't crash into the train, it's our only means of escaping alive!

I've got the Doctor held, we're alright!

Safe landing!

We... We actually made it?

Rockrock—

Commander, is Rockrock alright? Everyone evacuated out?

We have more survivors than anticipated.

It's thanks to you, Feist, and everyone you brought in from Rhodes Island.

Hah... You see that, Old Bill?

I...

No, don't you faint on the job now! The battle's still not done!

If you can move, then come help me in the engine room!

There are still Sarkaz forces pursuing us.

There's nothing they can do, now.

Because we'll hold them off here.

Right, damned right.

Us, together.

Commander, the train's setting off—

All ready?

Amiya, we're getting on!

Alright!

Go!

Amiya?

Amiya, careful. The train's moving.

Amiya... what are you looking at?

I...

The Cautus girl does not reply to you. Her body is still. Even her breathing seems to have stopped.

You can tell she's shocked. She's never let emotions as unveiled and intense show before the operators. This moment is incomparable.

At the same time, the Sarkaz chasing the train all come to a halt.

They all turn their heads, looking in the same direction.

A Sarkaz enters the ruins.

All smoke seems to part at her feet, all sounds of fire suspended about her.

Only wind remains, growing stronger and fiercer.

The ash laden on the ground is blown about, some sticking to her attire, some smudging her pale hair. She seems not to mind at all, only silently gazing into a point of the ruins.

It seems to have once been part of the defense artillery. A jet-black fowlbeast is there now, perched atop the still-warm cannon mouth.

Most likely disturbed by the train picking up in speed, it shakes off its wings.

As if somewhat in response, the pale-haired Sarkaz turns around.

She should have no sight of who is aboard the train, but her expression is as if she has recognized who is looking at her.

Her face is so warm, yet her eyes are so filled with sorrow. The sorrow is so much; perhaps not all of it comes from her, but comes from the one who stares at her too.

Amiya, are you alright?

The Cautus girl finally comes back to reality.

She still doesn't give you a response, and you're in no rush for her to give one.

In one ear, you hear the calls of fowlbeasts. You see a flock of them out of the window flapping through the air, rushing into the gale ahead of you.

The train takes you rapidly from the station.

The city wall, the war, and that pale-haired figure, all are left far, far behind you.

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble.

Is that the remnants of cannon fire lingering in your brain, the train bumping against the railway, or thunder in those gloomy clouds gathering not far away?

The center of Londinium is right before you.

And all of you are riding into this storm.