Глава 12

A-Alright!

Don't turn the ship, speed it up towards Norport Borough!

I have to find Delphine before the storm comes!

Red flares blossom under the clouds, and the distorted shadows return to their original state.

Impressive work, Ines.

It was going to be a simple test shot, not at our full power, but we have many other locations to choose for next time.

I do have to admit I have some tiny regrets.

But the Military Commission always has more than just a single plan.

Inform the Nachzehrer King, it's time to rouse the troops.

The storm will open a path for him.

Ines often says death is also a tool.

She would sometimes joke to Hoederer that she might be getting a little too used to playing dead.

But now, as she stands on death's door, Ines realizes that she feels calmer than she expected.

She closes her eyes.

A blaze abruptly bakes her face, along with an intense shockwave.

The unique smell of the explosives is well familiar to Ines.

Her lips curl up.

Dust and smoke from the explosion engulfs her with embers still retaining the heat of the flames.

These embers gather, dance, and weave together.

Sarkaz history is woven of embers, but occasionally, other things are knitted from the smoldering remains.

For example...

Ines falls head first into a cushiony cloud of smoke and dust.

A giant web of embers holds her aloft.

I never should've expected... that the two of them could come up with anything better.

Hey, Ines. Still alive and kicking?

That explosion was pretty tough, so don't blame me if any minor issues crop up.

Ah man, Hoederer. Let's just bury her.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm still alive for now.

Ugh. Killjoy.

So, did you like the fireworks I set off for you?

And guess what I secretly sewed into your clothes?

Wow! Who would've guessed? A tracking device!

Do you think I never noticed it?

Shoddy stitching, your darning skills are honestly embarrassing.

Grr. That was supposed to be a present for you, but well, I guess this way's fine too.

And these—

Don't you know how difficult it is to keep clothes clean and tidy on a battlefield?

And you still threw me into a ball of smoldering ashes?

You used to call my Arts embers.

Not in the mood for that now.

You're pretty seriously injured.

Better than being dead.

What?! Hoederer! You had Arts to cast all along? I thought you only knew how to chop at guys with your knife!

Embers? No wonder you're so unfazed whenever I throw a bomb at your face!

So, are you not afraid of getting shot?

I am.

Can you fling ashes at someone else's face?

No.

Is your permanently haggard scowl a side effect of your Arts?

Shut up.

...Heh.

How many years has it been since I've seen you in such a pathetic state, Ines?

Believe me, you'll never see me like this again.

Don't be too confident now, we might just bump into the Sanguinarch having a leisurely stroll on our way back.

W, can I ask you to swap your little hypothetical there?

What, did you develop feelings for those crusty old monsters of the Royal Court after hanging out with Manfred for so long?

Hey, you should be thanking me! If I didn't bump into you scuttling around on my way back, you might've gotten recaptured by your old besties!

Maybe I'll head back to prison so I can at least enjoy some peace and quiet without you.

Be my guest, I'll even do you a solid and report you to Theresis.

Where are we headed?

W's safehouse.

Fine, I can force myself to pretend we're going home.

And also—

...Thanks.

...I wanna go back.

What's taking her so long today? She injure her leg or something?

We gotta help her out, she'll be so grateful that we're bound to get a few bottles of decent beer out of it.

What'cha standing around for? Let's move!

Enough, Hannah! Norport's a sea of flames right now!

Baird's not dumb, she can keep herself safe.

She's dead.

What're you on about? Morgan, this is no time for a laugh—

I said! Baird's dead!

Didn't you see that butterfly knife? It was covered in blood!

Baird always kept that on her person, there's no mistaking it...

That knife, in someone else's hand, only means one thing...

I mean, it might be just a misunderstanding. Maybe she lost her knife or something.

She's got her careless moments too, right? Not like she never lost nuffin before.

Remember that one year when she accidentally lost our carton of eggs? We were supposed to have fried eggs that morning.

Sometimes she slips up, no big deal...

Hannah... McClaren is holding her knife.

Baird went back just to look for him.

He's deaf in both ears, so they probably...

Hah! They've been friends for years. You trying to scare me?

Baird probably just lent her knife to McClaren for a bit, nuffin wrong with that, right?

I...

I... I'll go ask him. He can tell us, it was just a...

Hannah.

Where's he? McClaren left Norport along with us, right? So he's definitely in the crowd.

We'll just ask him, this oughta be a misunderstanding...

McClaren—Where are you—

McCla—

Hannah, he can't hear you.

I—

I'll kill the bugger! He's dead! When I find him, I'll smash every single bone in his body!

Hannah! That's enough.

Vina! Did you already know about this? Bloody hell, why haven't you—

Why haven't I gone and smashed his skull in for Baird?! You think I don't want to?!

You think I don't want to?!

Because there's no meaning to it! Rubbing out a frightened deaf man makes no bloody sense at all!