5th Interlude: The Battle of Zest's Gate

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"Triston, the fairies and the rest of your families are on a ship bound for Vertraute in Lorinth. They'll stay there for a couple of days, then they'll move to another safehouse. As for the Emperor, the official story is that he died in his sleep of old age, so as not to further destabilize the government during the war. But behind doors, Arthur and the Moneymakers are making out your recent efforts to prop up Edward as a political leader to be the groundwork of a coup d'état."

"But we weren't even there to kill the Emperor!" Anne protests.

"Doesn't matter. Many people suspect it's not the truth, but they can't or won't do anything to stop Arthur's grab for power. Not while we're at war with almost everybody else."

Anne gawks at Ingeburg in disbelief while Marcus sits down in a chair and sighs. As for Edward, he hasn't moved an inch ever since he heard what his half-brother did. With cold eyes, he simply stares at the ISA agent, absorbing everything she says with meticulous diligence.

Samantha:

"Right now, I'm more worried about all the Imperials in Zest's Gate," the agent continues. "We should leave before they receive their new orders."

Posts : 3529 Join date : 2017-05-16

"Where will we go then? Surely not Lorinth? May is already in exile from there." A hint of bitterness can be heard there.

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"It may actually be safer for the rest of us there," Ingeburg says. "Arthur has recanted the deal the Emperor made with Lorinth, proclaiming that the Little Islands will always belong to the Imperial Throne; that's why their forces pulled back from Zest's Gate."

Marcus facepalms and mutters, "What an idiot," under his breath.

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Samantha glances at May. She'll have to process that later. "Dammit! Bloody bull in a bell tower! And what about the science team? Arthur could foul that up next."

Posts : 3812 Join date : 2017-05-16

Nick, squeezes Anne's hand.

Posts : 3529 Join date : 2017-05-16

May clearly doesn't agree with Ingeburg's assessment but is content to let Sam change the subject. She shrugs and goes back to drinking.

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"From what I heard, Arthur is actually attempting to divert more resources towards the Shield Project. The Enemy must have him running scared. The generals even agreed to support his ascension to the throne if it meant that they could continue the construction of the Shield. That's at least one thing we don't need to worry about."

Ingeburg looks plenty worried.

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Sam takes a deep breath. Contains the storm. "We can worry about it after we meet the boys in Lorinth."

Posts : 3812 Join date : 2017-05-16

Nick nods.

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

Once Marcus has confirmed that everyone is in agreement, he looks at the white mage and tells her, "Anne, please inform the captain of our new destination and that we should sail off immediately."

"Yes, sir," she responds before leaving the cabin.

Meanwhile, Ingeburg rummages through her knapsack and pulls something out of it. "Your Highness," she says, looking at Edward. "I thought you might want this."

She then gives him an orb, one that appears more active than when it was first created.

"It was your father's," she continues.

The prince takes the magical artifact and stares at it for a few seconds before he says, "Thank you, Springer."

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Samantha touches Edward's hand.

"May, you never told me that you were in exile. What happened?"

Posts : 3529 Join date : 2017-05-16

"May punch people wrong while drinking all the wine."

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

"Um, surely there is more to it than that?"

Posts : 3529 Join date : 2017-05-16

"No, it just like May say." By way of further explanation she pitches her voice low like an exaggerated old man, clearly doing an impression of someone from her past. "'Cultivating your ki is about purifying your body, mind, and spirit! What you do with alcohol is an abomination!'"

Switching back to her own voice, she harrumphs and says, "Is May's body. May know best way to cultivate ki for May. Rather than accept that and have to compete with May's new teachings, they instead chose exile, and kicked May out. Made May promise not to teach drunken boxing to any Lorinthians."

You guys can tell she's left some stuff out. Whether or not you want to ask is up to you.

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"It might have been a blessing in disguise," Jacob says in a forlorn tone. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have met you."

"I agree," Edward adds while pocketing his father's orb.

"I'll say the same," Marcus remarks.

The squad members feel the ship beginning to move.

Posts : 3529 Join date : 2017-05-16

"Oh. Well. Maybe you have point." May is pleased that her friends feel that way about her and tries to hide her burning cheeks behind a swig of wine.

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

"We'll always glad to have you with us, Punchy." Samantha then looks back at Ingeburg. "Is Lorinth the only safe place for us to hide?"

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"No," the woman answers. "But on such short notice, after what Arthur just did, it seemed like the safest choice. We'll first regroup with the others and evaluate our options."

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

"Good. Was there anything else?" she asks. Having to acknowledge a new 'business as usual', as per their defeat at the hands of Arthur, returns her to a state of agitation.

Posts : 5014 Join date : 2007-01-26

"Not at the moment."

The door opens and Anne enters the room again.

"Let's call it a day for now," Marcus says with a sigh. "Let's first make sure no one is following us, then we'll speak some more about what exactly happened on Medial. Just... rest for now."

The squad members agree with this plan. Jacob lands on May's shoulder and cuddles to her while Anne stays close to Nick. As for Edward, he seems particularly somber and holds his wife's hand in his. They exit the cabin together.

» Act 4: The Rescue - The aftermath of the battle
» 3rd Interlude
» 1st Interlude: Shadowstep
» 2nd Interlude: The Conspiracy
» 6th Interlude: Happy Memories