“I know,” said Muffin. “Talk me through it.”
“What, you’re not going to complain?” I felt a bit surprised.
“No. With your Mind ability you obtained before, you have been able to remember an impressive number of options, and their point values. Your original plan wasn’t terrible based on your bizarre choices at your first Rank.”
I nodded. “I was going to invest in either energy blasts or a lot of durability. My armor helps a lot, but I can still get banged up. I used to trust my adomopathy to keep me alive, or be able to fight at least.”
“And now?” asked the rodent.
“Now I know that Eneus is up to the task, but I’m not. It also makes me nervous to rely on my equipment so much.”
“What else?” asked Muffin.
I made a face, slightly embarrassed. “I was jealous of Gina Chen, she could move so easily in the air, like a fish in water.” It felt weird and a little wrong to be talking about the dead woman, but my words were true.
Muffin nodded. “And you actually remembered some of the notes I gave you before, which abilities can strengthen other abilities.”
“Yes.” It felt strange not to be called a rothead by Muffin, and even be somewhat praised.
“Go on then,” she ordered. “What do you want to do now?”
I coughed. “Well, any decision I make would be a tradeoff, right? This time I have fourteen points.” I looked a question at her.
“That is correct, yes. It was in the information I gave you before.” The capybara gestured and a huge book appeared next to me.
I immediately opened the book, taking the opportunity that Muffin had wordlessly given me. Odds were I was right about what I was planning since I was not being yelled at, and the AI could read my mind.
After a few minutes of skimming all of the powers I could buy, how much they cost, and how they could work with each other, I nodded. “Yes, I was right. If I choose Vigor, Rank 2, it will make me heal even faster, and increase my endurance.”
“And why is that important?”
“Because I can use my endurance to help power my other abilities. I’ve noticed I can do that. The healing ability also doesn’t just fix cuts and breaks, it gives me energy when I really need it.”
Muffin didn’t respond, she just moved her paw in a “go on” motion.
I continued, “I want another rank of Flight, but since it’s rank 3, that will cost me five points.”
“That is a lot.”
“Yes, but it will work well with the next thing I want to buy.” I took a breath. “Elements and Energies: Air. It will cost me four points.”
“A risk,” said Muffin, her voice mild. “That won’t leave you with enough points for another rank in Vibration, now.”
“But it does actually give me more power with Vibration.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Not a lot, but another rank of Vigor, and the first rank of an Elements and Energies ability will help Vibration, especially since it is my main ability, right?”
“You are correct.” I could have been wrong, but Muffin’s eyes looked like they had softened.
I didn’t know what I was doing before, but I can learn, I thought. Out loud, I said, “Those choices together cost eleven points and would leave me with three points left to spend. I want to use them on a second rank of Speed, and a first rank of Spatial Awareness.”
“Why more Speed?”
“Because,” I said, “I have worked with Gwen Jones. She’s so strong, she makes me look weak as a baby, and I know there are people even stronger than her on Ludus. There will always be people stronger than me. I still remember that fight with Thod back at Benjamin’s farm. Betting on pure strength is a bad, bad plan. So far, I’ve survived through skill, endurance, and being unpredictable.”
“And a lot of luck,” added Muffin.
It stung to admit it, but I nodded. “Yeah, that too. But I can’t buy luck, so here I am.”
Muffin made a strange expression and looked like she was about to say something before shutting her mouth. After a shake of the head, she started again. “And?”
“Speed naturally pairs with Flight, and with Elements and Energies: Air. The description says it is something like an Air mage, but more specialized.”
“That is more or less accurate,” agreed Muffin. “So what about the Spatial Awareness?”
“I can’t aim worth a bucket of rotting fish guts,” I said. “This has been a problem for a while, but was less of one before I was orb-Bonded being hunted by the whole rotting world now. There are ways to get around it, but it’s still a weakness. Every enemy won’t be nice enough to have a friendly little swordfight with me.” The memory of Jialji shooting at me made me wince. I wished I hadn’t been so keyed up on adrenaline at the time, and had thrown away her air pistol. That thing was dangerous.
“That’s true.”
After a brief sigh, I explained further, “I also realize that if my natural aim is bad, it probably makes it harder for my adomopathy to do whatever it does.”
“Again, true, and that choice totals fourteen points.” Muffin held out a paw and touched her palm for each point. “You have said you want to purchase Flight (Rank 3, five points), Elements and Energies: Air (Rank 1, four points), Vigor (Rank 2, two points), Spatial Awareness (Rank 1, one point), and Speed (Rank 2, two points). Is this correct?”
“Yeah, that’s right,” I agreed. This was the third time I’d met with Muffin, and I’d expected her to repeat my choices.
“I have locked your decisions.” She hesitated. “For what it is worth, I am glad you did not kill yourself and end my existence.”
“Me too!” I couldn’t help but laugh. The edge of what she’d told me hadn’t escaped me, though. I knew it’d been a warning of sorts. My luck couldn’t last forever.
“Please lie back down in the bed. This will take some time, so you will be unconscious for a bit longer than your first two ranks took.”
With a nod, I complied, and felt relieved I wouldn’t be dismissed like before. Muffin had always liked to make me fall. Maybe she was coming around now? I could hope. Then I started thinking about the spirit stones I’d swallowed. Maybe I wouldn’t swallow more spirit stones than my body could handle ever again.
Yeah, that’s a good plan, I agreed with myself, and I slipped off into natural sleep.
***
I woke up with my cheek in a puddle of drool. Someone had put a blanket over me, but had left me on the floor of the carriage. When I sat up, I noticed that Enheduanna’s letter had been wedged under my hip.
Wow I need to pee, I thought, and groaned as I got up. The carriage wasn’t moving, but light outside made it clear it was late afternoon. As I opened the door, a number of notifications only I could see plastered themselves over my vision, and a massive wave of energy washed over my body, leaving me light headed for a second. “Wow,” I breathed. The useless notifications weren’t new but the head rush had been.
“Nora!” Jessica had caught sight of me and hurried over. I winced at her missing hand. She’d pinned the fabric of her uniform over it. “Nora’s up!” Jessica shouted. Someone must have heard her, because I heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the carriage.
“Captain Hazard,” I corrected. I spit and asked, “How long was I out? A few hours?”
“It’s been two days.”
“What!?”
“Yeah, we’re almost back to base.” Jessica gestured and I finally noticed we were actually in the Tolstey desert, traveling one of the roads to base that the Army kept secure.
“What?” I repeated.
“Enheduanna had a talk with us after you passed out.” She made a face. “I think I might be getting used to that woman, and this worries me. Anyway, she told us all that you might die, but I wasn’t worried.” She made an awkward face, but then bulldozed ahead in the special way that Jessica always did. “Have you figured out now that we don’t blame you for Gina dying?”
“Lieu
tenant Chen,” I absently corrected. I ignored her question, instead asking, “How much longer until we’re back at base?”
“We’re taking a break right now.” She made a face. “Well, obviously. Once we get moving again, it’ll be about two hours. We should get back right before dark.”
I blinked, looking down at my wrinkled, dirty uniform and the letter in my hand. “Well, shit.”
Promises
“I guess that’s it.” My bags packed, I’d also taken care of everything else that needed doing before leaving. The fact I was leaving the Army after three years still felt surreal. I couldn’t leave my room for the last time yet, though. Now was formation time, and I wanted to avoid seeing too many people when I left the Army for good. My orders had been very simple, releasing me from my duty, giving me a general discharge. All my effects were still mine, and I was free to go.
Enheduanna really hadn’t been joking when I’d spoken to her. Everyone in my old chain of command except for Rakles had been very obviously reserved when I’d met with them, controlling their fear. Rakles hadn’t been happy to see Enheduanna again. She later told me in private that she was glad I’d avoided punishment, even if I had to leave the Army for it.
That had made me feel conflicted. I still felt like I deserved punishment. Either way, I would never forget Lieutenant Chen. Even though I hadn’t known her very well, she’d been my responsibility, and her death had reminded me of that fateful day in Bittertown I’d witnessed an innocent girl murdered, and I’d had to kill a friend.
The note from Enheduanna sat on the bed, and with a few minutes to rot away before leaving, I took one last look. Like the strangely serious way she’d talked when I’d last seen her, the note was surprisingly coherent.
“Nora,
Your service to me is done, and now you are free. I promised you a spot at Mensk Academy and this has been granted. Chamberlain Simmons is your point of contact for everything involved with this. She is easy to find in the palace in Mensk.
For the other thing I promised, I—”
The note had a few lines that had been scribbled over here as the High Priestess had apparently been trying to decide what to say.
“The rules have changed. Now I cannot just give you a name or much information at all. To honor our agreement, what I can do is tell you that your mother is still alive, and meeting with her will probably set you on the path to find what you seek. You will—”
More crossed-out scribbles on the note, and the next line was underlined.
“I will also owe you a favor since I could not completely honor our bargain.
You will find your mother in the town of Staulip in Berber.
When I am able to, I will watch over you again, but you will be on your own for a while. You are free now, do what you want. Don’t lose that spear.
As one last word of warning, be alert. Things are changing, and Ludus may be heading for war. You have produced exceptional data, and it would be a shame to lose your contributions.
-Duanna”
With a shake of my head, I checked the time, then nodded. It was time to go—I pocketed the note and left. Most of my goodbyes had already been said, so I went straight up, flying to where I would say goodbye to my closest friends. I’d had to stay an extra day to sign back in all of the team’s equipment, but they’d waited for me, all but Gwen Jones. Like Benjamin, Jessica, and Christopher, she’d been given the opportunity to stay in the Army or leave, and Gwen had decided to stay. The night before, I’d actually had dinner with Gwen to say goodbye.
My eyes were growing misty, which could be a problem flying through the desert, so I angrily wiped my face with a hand.
I found my friends on a nearby plateau near one of the roads, a fairly safe place to camp. As I touched down, they all stood up. Benjamin wore standard traveling clothes, and it looked like he’d freshly shaved, but was sporting some stubble now. Christopher’s outfit was similar to Benjamin’s, just lighter. Jessica’s tunic and baggy capris were crisscrossed by her usual bandolier of wands. At some point she’d tailored her sleeve to neatly cover the stump of her hand, which had healed. She asked, “Nora, is everything okay?”
Of course everything was not okay, but I was fine for the moment, and while I was not a lieutenant anymore, I wasn’t going to be weak in front of my friends. “I’m fine,” I lied.
Jessica searched my eyes for a second, and I knew she could tell I was dancing with no feet, or “full of shit,” as my father used to say. Luckily, she nodded and said, “Okay. We can still talk with magic messenger birds in the future. You brought plenty of gold, right?”
I opened one of the pouches on my belt, showing her a few nuggets of the worthless metal. Gold was practically everywhere on Ludus. “Of course I did. So you and Chris are still heading to Teteth?”
“Yes, but we are going to Teretha again first.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of the capital?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, get rid of the judgement, Miss just-got-us-all-more-or-less fired.” Jessica placed her hand and her stump on her hips. “For the last three years I have barely been able to shop. I’ve been fucking chest-deep in monster guts and military bullshit, Nora.” She emphasized my name, probably reveling in the fact that we didn’t have rank anymore. I think Jessica had been the least affected by leaving the military. “Besides, I can still travel fast but Chris can’t. We need to buy a zebra.”
I knew that was not entirely accurate. She could have bought a zebra back at base, they were just a lot more expensive there, and she could use this trip as an excuse to shop. I said, “Sure, sure. Whatever.” I paused. “And you are still going to look up all the—” I didn’t know what to call monsters who wanted to become Adom.
“Adom applicants?”
“That works.”
“Yes.” Jessica frowned and held up a hand. “I’m not exactly weepy every hour but I’m still wrapping my mind around this. Plus, Chris and I have enough money to last a while. We also don’t even need masks since we have Duanna orbs.”
I made a face at that, acknowledging she was right. There had been a lot of violence after Dolos’ proclamation. Plenty of orb-Bonded were not warriors, just people trying to live a normal life. Opportunists had taken advantage of that. Most orb-Bonded who’d been assassinated had probably been killed in their sleep, so these days, wearing a mask probably meant someone was orb-Bonded, but nobody could be sure. On top of that, nobody would know a masked person’s rank, even if they were orb-Bonded.
Orb-Bonded hunters were definitely still out there, but the widespread use of masks, invented multiple places around the same time, had put a stop to the worst of the bloodshed. Of course, none of us had to deal with any of that, a fact I was incredibly grateful for.
“Well, be careful. If you manage to get yourself killed, I will kick your ass as soon as I meet you in death.”
“I already lost a hand.” Jessica chuckled. “I am not in a hurry to lose anything more.” Suddenly she looked me in the eyes, concerned. “Oh, I’m sorry, Nora. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s your hand,” I said gruffly. “You should be the one upset. But good, take care of yourself.”
Jessica bit her lip, and I could see tears beginning to well in her eyes. When I’d first met the other woman, I hadn’t known what to think of her. Now I knew she was as wild as two male neu-weasels during mating season in a hole, but also loyal to a fault, and sometimes surprisingly sharp. The shiner was definitely no dummy.
As I’d been talking to Jessica, I’d noticed Christopher silently watching. The slight, wise Filipino man was usually content to just watch social interactions, but I knew he barely ever missed anything. I ignored Jessica’s emotional reaction in case it triggered one of my own, instead walking to Chris and enveloping him in a hug.
It was hard to believe I’d ever had a crush on him. After years of friendship, now he felt like a brother. “Take care of her,” I whispered.
“Always,” he sa
id, and when I pulled away, I saw his smile. In some ways, Christopher had been the soul of my team, and Jessica had been the spirit. I was going to miss both of my friends with all my heart.
My own eyes began to grow misty, and I gruffly said, “Well, you two should get a move on. We have a lot of traveling to do.”
Jessica’s will eroded and tears began to stream down her face. She took a step forward. “I will miss you. Thank you so much for saving me in Berber, I will always owe you my life. You are smart, and strong, and a wonderful person, Nora. Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t ever get down on yourself, and—”
With another smile directed at me, Christopher gently took his fiancee by the shoulder, interrupting her word vomit, and turning her away. He put his arm around her, and I could see her shoulders shake as she slowly walked off with him, eventually putting on speed.
Benjamin and I watched them go until they were both small in the distance. He startled me when he spoke. “You’re crying too, you know. A lot.”
He’d assumed I didn’t know. It galled me to admit, but the man really could read me. I hastily snatched a cloth out from my pack and wiped my face, speaking as I did so. “So you are still going to Berber too?”
“Yes.”
“And I can’t change your mind?”
“No. And like I said, I know you are much faster than me. You can go by yourself. I am not making you travel with me.” As usual, his posture was normal, relaxed even, but I knew him as well as he knew me. I could sense the echoes of hurt underneath his words, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Dealing with the Army, with Enheduanna, all of that stuff was easy compared to feeling my way around relationships sometimes. It didn’t help that Benjamin really was a good man.
Gahhh! I mentally yelled. Part of me wanted to leave him behind, go off on my own, but he was still a friend, and I cared what happened to him. On top of that, I still felt responsible for everyone who’d been in my team. An image of Jessica’s hand and Gina Chen’s lifeless body flashed through my mind.
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