sleach

That's lightning fast!

Don't get too excited. I think, based on what they said, the convoy's run into a little issue over there? They say they can't get a precise pin on our position. Something must be funny with the signal...

That's fine, I'll head up to the plate in a sec to look. Might find some boosters.

Thank you so much. Another thing, we need to stand a flag in the middle of the camp to serve as a marker. That plus the locator will make it convenient for the convoy to accurately orientate once they're approaching.

A flag? It's not a tricky problem, is it? We can just tear some bright cloth and hoist it up.

We need a design, at least.

If you want a design, you may as well grab one of the old county banners from up on the plate.

What? You're not going to treat yourself as one of County Hillock, are you?

Hmph, could use your barracks boys' ensign as well. Might find one of those on the plate too.

Enough... I never want to see that bloody thing for the rest of my life.

Fine... you come up with something, then.

Janie, do you have any ideas?

I'm not sure myself. We'd have to see what everyone thinks.

Hmph. Here's what everyone thinks: whatever you think, that's best.

Yeah... I'm in agreement.

Sorry, Acton, for making you do sewing work with me at such a late hour.

That's fine. As long as you don't find me too clumsy.

*sigh*...

Not still worrying over the flag there, are you? You look vexed.

I went all around the camp today asking about the flag, but people all seemed to have the same response ready when I did. They want me to decide.

It's true. Everyone's always had faith in your decisions.

It just makes it harder. I need to come up with a proposal that'll satisfy everyone, or else I'll let you all down for trusting in me.

Janie, you know, even if you turned out a blank white flag, none of us would object.

All this time, you've been busy like mad for us, leading us onto the plate and into the forest to find food while the sun's not even up.

You barely rest even when you make it back to camp, what with a million sorts of things needing your handling.

I think, fundamentally, everyone's left this flag to you so that you can catch your breath, take your time sewing and properly unwind.

Really...?

Really. If you kept wracking yourself over this flag, well, that would never do.

...Thank you.

I'll leave the rest of it to you, then, Janie. And I think you've earned an early sleep.

The candlelight's... a little dim. I'll open the window wider, let the moons come in easier.

Oh! Acton, do you hear that singing?

Eh?

It might not be too clear with how the wind's picked up. Listen, carefully.

Oh, I hear it. Where's it coming from?

I don't know...

A lone, tender song floats through the breeze, trembling and shaking, but having caught it, they begin, unconsciously, to sing along with it.

And the singing gradually rises, and the wind fades. Until, in every corner of the camp, hovers the song.

♪ Far in a blink are we from the roses, lilies and stardust all eaten away ♪

♪ And so's though we were a pair of white fowls, sitting atop of the breaks of the waves ♪

It's Máire... I heard her murmuring while I was tending to her.

It's beautiful.

*yawn*... I need my sleep, what's going on out here? Noise and all...

Deaglán! Come over here, quick!

What happened?!

It's Janie! It's Janie!

Eh...?

Squeezing through the crowd, the man looks to the clearing in the camp.

There, meeting the morning dew and biting winds as she faces a flagpole, stands the figure of a girl tall and straight in respect.

Her dress is in order, not a hair out of place, and she holds in her hands a rolled-up flag.

♪ If only we were a pair of white feathers, roaming free on the breaks of the waves ♪

♪ Time would farewell us to be forgotten, and never would either we sorrow again ♪

♪ Far in a blink are we from the roses, lilies and stardust all eaten away ♪

♪ And so's though we were a pair of white fowls, sitting atop of the breaks of the waves ♪

Following in the girl's song and her hoisting of the halyard, the flag ascends slowly to the sky, where the wind unfurls it.

A pair of white fowlbeasts soar upon it.

...Are all these people here to see me bear the standard? I'd better not slip up...

No, I need to triple-check after all.

Banner's brand new, no wrinkles, good. My clothes are prim and tidy, good. And my saber and boots... Alright, all polished clean, that's fine too.

Oh, right, my hair too! Oh, good, good, it's still neat.

The wind was gusting so hard just now... I wouldn't want to mess it up right here, not when I spent all of yesterday treating my hair. That would've been such a waste.

Now begins the flag-raising ceremony! All units, attention!

Phew...

Flag, forth!

Marching through the square, she feels the gaze of every soul in the crowd concentrate on her, and straightens her back even higher in response.

Hooking the ensign to the halyard, pinching a corner of the flag, she begins to await the signal.

Three, two, one, and the sound of drums finally quells. Quickly she throws the fly to the air, allowing it to unfurl in the wind of the morn. Thereupon, she hears applause behind her last and last.

Taking a deep breath, she pulls her posture tighter, straighter, but cannot help but let a smile slip from the corner of her mouth.

Wil, that's seven crates of pharmaceuticals total, all here.

Thank you so much for running this trip, Janie... but it's funny, we paid for twelve at the caravan.

No, I know... they turned their entire hold upside down looking, but this seven's all they found, none more than that. And, well... they're not wanting to refund you the surplus money.

But didn't we get the price settled all early this morning?

They lost a lot of freight coming here cutting through a combat zone, so they're insisting on ratcheting their prices up to cover the damages.

But, Janie, we don't have much funds left.

Have resupplies from the landship still not made it?

No... We haven't even had an update on them for the longest while now. Janie, you know, with all the turmoil at Londinium, you don't think the landship got...

Wil, stay with me. You said it yourself, times are turbulent. Odds are something's just held them up.

So, then... what do we do now?

It's best we keep the patients' needs put first. Having these seven crates is better than none, and no matter how expensive, we've got no choice but to accept. Anything else... we'll have to make what savings we can.

We can't just save our way out of this forever... All we've got left in the basement's some sprouting potatoes.

I'll keep thinking of what I can once we get back this evening. It's almost time I saw Mrs. Sheila—her chimney's blocked, I need to take a look at that.

Do that. I'll head back to the office for now, then.

Miss Saileach, Miss Saileach!

Mrs. Sheila, what did you come out here for? Your health is... Let me help you back in.

The wind's going so hard today, best we take a seat inside. You were off leaving the moment you pulled out of the chimney—I didn't even get the chance to thank you proper.

Oh, it's—it's alright, I can't really stay long, there's people sick at the office.

Weather's been nipping lately—are you and Wil bundling up well enough? I've got a few dresses here you two could wear—they're getting on a bit, I know, but they're good nice ones.

Thank you, I appreciate it, Mrs. Sheila. Still, Vouivre don't catch colds that easily.

Ah! None of that, you can still wear it even if it's not to keep warm. Your clothes right now are getting to be patchwork with those repairs, and I've never seen you wear a thing else. Don't you go anywhere, now, I'll run back in and fetch them for you...

R—Really, it's fine! I'll be out of your hair as soon as, Miss!

(Hushed) Da, look at that lady, her hair's so pretty...

(Hushed) Pah. Cloistered, that's what you call types like her. Can't live without her daily haircare...

On, now, Ema, stop gawking. Move, move. It's almost time for the hairdresser's.

Da, can we not go...?

What?

Pleaaase, Da, I—I want it like that lady, not so so long, just down to my shoulders.

Ema, don't you let her influence you! It's a massive company what sent her down—she's not here to live our ruddy life.

Your ma's sick and I'm looking after her for love-long and a half—when am I going to find the time to sort your hair if you let it grow out?!

...But I... I—I really really don't want a buzzcut...

For god's sakes, budge it! You don't want me to hit you now, do you, Ema?