Глава 13

The floral patterns on that towel were too crude. A garden like this suits him better.

I'm done questioning everyone that came out from the workshop.

The Sarkaz who died in the underground warehouse... the one who rode the motorbike.

He was murdered, by a few Infected Victorians.

They were driven out of their homes by the Sarkaz. Some of them lost their loved ones too, so they felt rightfully furious, and I, uh, calmed them down a little.

What's the plan?

Back in Ursus, everyone used to think it was through the power of unity that Reunion managed to fight together with the patrol units, taxmen and mine guards.

That wasn't the case. We simply had no other choice left to break the knife pointed at our throats.

Reunion used to act on our enmity, but our targets of hate have both become increasingly vague and broad.

The Infected have no homeland... no identity, no bloodline. We can't just carry on with just a provocative slogan.

We need to set clearer guidelines and principles.

Guard and I... discussed about this before.

He said to ignore the Infected in positions of power, because they still enjoy exploiting others with their authority and see disease as only a tool.

And that we should also grant the same kind of liberation to any oppressed people, and not just our sick brethren. Because they can fight alongside us, and we'll need their strength to put up a fight.

Chernobog has taught us enough.

He was always thinking so much about this, I thought...

I thought he could really take us to achieve some great feats.

He will, even if he's dead. He merely died when he was still seen as insignificant and deplorable.

What about those murderers?

People who violently vent their grievances unprovoked cannot join us. It was war that turned them to brutality, even if they were just Victorians before.

If we let this slide... what will happen to our group next?

Ursine, Columbian, Victorian, Leithanian. Feline, Perro, Liberi, Caprinae, Sarkaz.

Power should be distinctly directed towards a common goal than become cracks of resentment that give others a chance to dismantle us from within.

Buldrokkas'tee and Ursus should have taught us this lesson.

They will be banished.

They will have to find their own paths by themselves.

Reunion will make sure of it.

I understand.

I'll relay that to everyone, and... I'll handle those murderers too.

...Talulah. There's an Infected I used to know, who comes from a eminent lineage and held a distinguished position.

But she threw it all away, in her quest for 'fairness'.

You know her.

Everyone here has heard of your ideas. Reunion's earliest vision, exaggerated, distorted.

But what we want is not a nomadic city for the infected.

What we want is to send a message to all the aristocrats, and oppressors, those trying to divide, suppress, and eliminate us—

The blade they so despise hangs high above their necks.

Our goodbyes... have already been said. This isn't the first, nor will it be the last.

Let's go. Our work in Victoria isn't done yet.

Since our scrap with Ulšulah, they've tightened defenses around that cave. W and her bombs helped us get out once, but that may not work a second time.

We haven't been able to get close again. But I'm sure the 'drifting bones' haven't returned yet.

That is, I was sure until we all had the same dream.

The ash-bleached city engulfed in flames, the shattered walls, the charred corpses piled in every corner.

The city did not leave with the dream until we opened our eyes.

The flames trampled every settlement, every clan.

The place we called Kazdel no longer exists, only fire and ruin remain.

The despairing giant knelt down and wept.

(In ancient Sarkaz) The King of Sarkaz is dead.

(In ancient Sarkaz) The King killed the King.

(In ancient Sarkaz) Why? This should not be...

(In ancient Sarkaz) Our city, Kazdel...

(In ancient Sarkaz) This would be a curse! A curse engraved upon the crown...

(In ancient Sarkaz) This would be... the beginning of the end of all...

That Feranmut has returned.

Tomorrow morning, the attack begins.

Siege and her Exemplars will be responsible for the perimeter. Us, the Rhodes rabbit and the Banshee have to get deep into that waystation.

Where's that old bitch Kal'tsit? She's sending us off on this suicide mission without making so much as a cameo appearance?

Her injuries have not yet healed. Ascalon will look after her and the Doctor. They will stay behind.

Rhodes Island recently came under Confessarius attack, they were trying to take the bunny's crown.

Hmph, the crown.

Hoederer... you didn't tell the Victorians the truth.

If your plan works, and we go back to Kazdel, what are you gonna do?

Even your new Victorian friends are probably not gonna be okay with you bundling 'war criminals' in with 'Sarkaz caught up in the war'.

Don't tell me you vowed to bring the Sarkaz home but never thought through this little problem?

Like, are you gonna head off to teach a class on 'historical reflections' to this bunch of grunts dragged off the battlefield? In that Kazdel basement university?

No.

Maybe I'll start a literacy class there. Make sure future Sarkaz have fewer illiterates like W here.

Huh?

Do my ears deceive me? Did Hoederer actually make a joke out of Ines's words? On such a serious topic?

What happened? Did sucking up to General Manfred teach you a little emotional intelligence?

Hmph...

'War's over, back to Kazdel.' Real funny, we're actually fantasizing about this stuff here.

We're mercs, and that's all we're ever gonna be.

You're such a lovely Caprinae, Ines, maybe you could run off to Leithanien and become a governess for some hoity toity nobles in a big, tall tower.

You could teach... Let me think... how to keep your hair nice and silky in a war zone? How's that sound?

Not interested.

What are you daydreaming about? The battle's about to start.

No, I just...

Ines's gaze shifts down to my feet ever so slightly.

She's looking at my shadow again. What is it showing?

I don't know myself. I'm rarely so... calm before an op.

Calm gives me a chance to think about all sorts of things.

A few trivial things.

I remember you said you wanted to open a shop in Kazdel.

Because I didn't have a place to fence stolen goods at the time.

...Oh yeah.

How about we use the first round of tuition from my literacy class for your startup capital?

I doubt that class is gonna earn you much.

On the other hand, kidnapping a Leithanian governess could fetch a decent ransom. Gotta be at least as much as ten merc heads.

Let's talk about it when we make it home for real.

Yeah.

Your mental state has me worrying if you can really handle this mission.

Did those illusions or the Arts Circles drive you mad?

Maybe they did.

In this moment of extreme calm, some tendrils of unease irritate my heart, causing hesitation.

Amidst my own surprising thoughts, I find the reason for my anxiety.

I'm worried they won't accept me. Because of my...

Some of my ideas.

But I have to speak. The arrow is nocked.

Pay no attention to this mopey idiot.

Time waits for no man. Once we stake the Vampire and behead Theresis, then you two can head on back to Kazdel and talk over all the interior decorating plans for your love nest.