Глава 12

A few friends of mine taught me this silly game...

No, never mind.

Go on, Banshee. We're more interested than you suppose.

But—you may have to wait a moment. Some bothersome work has come a-knocking.

Not here, that is, but I'm afraid we'll need to divert a little attention.

What do you mean... not there?

I mean it's not there, for god's sakes!

The comms post isn't there! There's nothing there! Someone's made off with it!

Was it the Dublinn forces?

Afraid it was long before that. Judging from how thick the dust was, someone must've been eyeing it when Norport was just setting course away from Londinium.

The Redsteel Guard captain would never genuinely be fooled by us. He'd be very quick to realize the projected message was never sent.

But at the very least, we're back at the same starting line. We have a renewed opportunity to go for the gold.

First there was you for the Duke of Caster, now there's Dublinn's spectre force...

You've all secretly infiltrated to get onto this plate, which means, you want to keep up Norport's surface appearances.

Without any way to force the dukes' main armies into mobilizing, our plan's dead in the water.

Never try that excuse again, Delphine.

As long as your duke mother learns you're still here, she'll find some way to save you, won't she.

I can't guarantee...

Admitting you get along with your mother is nothing to be ashamed of.

Do you have an idea, Ines?

What a pain in the ass.

Looks like you can do it.

...I really hate that part of you.

But alright. I can try.

I need high elevation. Don't get your hopes up.

Miss Ines, how much time will your idea need?

Until sunup.

Tell Siege and her city friends to get ready.

May I wish you all godspeed, and I look forward to you choosing the Sunset Street Hotel again.

I've spent some wonderful times here, and gotten to know some very fine people.

Norport is a lovely, thriving place. Don't let it be reduced to memories and rubble like this.

We promise, sir.

There'll come an end to the conspiracy and dispute.

There's... a person I truly, truly miss, who once told me...

That perhaps, one day... everyone on this vast land can fall into peaceful slumber.

*sigh* There's a back-breaker. This hotel's even messier than it was before.

People who don't do their own cleaning never know how difficult it is to maintain a bit of order.

Percival! Percival!

Where's she run off to now...

Fine, go and leave this old codger by himself for a bit.

The age-riddled hotel owner finds an equally age-riddled armchair, and opts to find a comfortable position before sitting down.

So that... Cautus girl, she's the King of Sarkaz?

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with all this change. Even I'm a little shocked by it.

Change... change. Maybe I've been slacking on that sort of change myself.

Change isn't progress, after all.

Alright, about time I bid farewell to this old friend. To tell the truth... I really did love this place.

*sigh*... Two more months you should've kept this up, Colbert. Who would've imagined, after two months of the Sarkaz army in the city, an old devil would go from cleaner to hotel owner.

I just can't wrap my head around it.

The elderly Sarkaz stands up, and scans over the grand lobby of the public house. Every single article in here is near and dear to him.

That Ines Caprinae says war doesn't do metaphor.

Well, then. Let's restore its original looks.

Upon a finely woven rug that's seen more political players and aristocrats than anyone could know, the elderly Sarkaz drops a lighter lit aflame.

And swiftly, the fires rage high.

The... The soldiers here, were they all killed?

Is the enemy here?! If I'd found this earlier...

Their families will receive compensation payouts. If they have families.

We have to be on guard...

No.

Do you look like that... because you already knew about this?

You... This was part of your plan too...

It was per Military Commission of Kazdel arrangements.

Sacrifice is unavoidable, mercenary. I thought your captain would have taught you this long ago.

You're a general! And they're your soldiers!

Yes. I am a general, and this is my work.

Be it our enemies or ourselves, I must cast each and every life into this gaping maw we call war—

And pray it spits out the best ending we could wish for.

That is all I can achieve in my position.

You—

Hence why I came; I came to give this all my full attention. To look over every pale, young face here.

I must remind myself that this was a decision I made.

I will not say this is the price the Sarkaz must pay, mercenary.

The Victorians killed them, but it was I that let them be killed by the Victorians.

Why do you have to do it this way?

To light a fire.

Light a fire that will extend across this great land.

And we... the Sarkaz, can find a place for ourselves, the room for us to exist, only on such a divided land.

Mercenary, you must learn to familiarize yourself with it.

Be familiar with it. Hate it. And finally, accept it.

Because this is the only way.

A bright blaze flames high from the lockdown zone, an old building fiercely burning.

Another... accident?

No. That is the first flame.

Mercenary, come with me. We must return to the airship.

Our guests have already taken their seats.

We're only a few hours away from the sunrise Miss Ines stipulated.

We need to hurry up the pace of our evacuation op.

Say, haven't you forgotten something even more important, Doctor of Rhodes Island?

There's the airship too.

Yes, we and Dublinn are starting from the same line again.

Which means, time is of the essence.

To forever abide by commitments is not solely what we ask of ourselves... but of those we make deals with, too.

You've finally made it. I almost got offed by that Redsteel Guard boy.

Her Grace is very dissatisfied with your indolence. Your methods are too tepid.

Or is it that you're coaxing Alexandrina? Playing on her sympathies?

That's a very grave accusation. I'm unconditionally loyal to Her Grace, that much is obvious, I'm just...

We'll review your excuses in hindsight. For now, though, there's no time.

Stay put, Rhodes Islanders.

What are you doing?

Arts in black... Just as the fresh intel described.

You've kept it very well hidden, Rhodes Island. To think this Cautus is the Sarkaz's very Lord of Fiends.