by Robert McKay
He was right. They had a lot of work ahead of them. She was glad it was Torch's job, and not her own, to explain to command how their war was over.
They were ushered into seats in the passenger compartment. Everyone was in a hurry to leave. The Leothen's excitement to return to their home world was catching. Woolly went up to take the pilot's seat, but Arryn settled in next to Beatrix.
"I thought you'd want to be up there," she said, waving to the cockpit.
"They have it handled," he said through a small smile. He was silent while they took off and broke out of the planet's atmosphere. When the ship leveled out, he picked up a conversation from a lifetime ago, as if they were still in the middle of it. "So, Moonage Daydream is the first in a series, you know."
They talked about books until they fell asleep, heads drooping in their chairs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
When they broke atmosphere at Arcata, the Leothen had been free of Anthrak for most of a day and it was obvious there would be a big adjustment period. Everywhere Beatrix looked, there was smoke billowing from Colarian grey buildings. Some of the fires had spread to original Leothen buildings and people were gathered, trying to quench the flames. The Leothen were reclaiming their planet, but things were getting messy.
Their ship landed in the same field they had departed from a few days ago. The evidence of their gunfight was everywhere. The house in the distance was reflecting the purple and orange sunrise.
"It's so beautiful," said Arryn. He'd been quiet and solemn since they'd woken a few hours before.
"You've probably seen it like that a thousand times, haven't you?" asked Beatrix.
The rest of their group disembarked, each of her friends giving her a significant look as they passed. Beatrix wasn't sure what they meant, but they gave her a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. They'd left her alone with Arryn, searching out places to rest. The plan was to catch up on sleep on Arcata, and then head back to Nedran air space.
"I have," said Arryn. "It never gets old."
Beatrix looked around, trying to see the place with a fresh perspective. Knowing that she wasn't a prisoner allowed her to see the forest and its orange-tinted leaves, the rolling hills, and the mountains in the distance. She was able to truly appreciate them for the first time. Arcata was a beautiful place. It reminded her of her childhood home. It was the first time she could remember thinking of home without an ache in her chest. The idea of leaving that kind of beauty for more confinement on a spaceship made her skin crawl. "I had an idea," she said, the words coming out before she realized she was speaking.
"Oh no," said Arryn, his grin finally returning.
Beatrix slugged him on the shoulder and then crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll just keep it to myself." She turned and followed after the others.
"Beatrix, wait," said Arryn, catching up to her in an instant. "I was only teasing. Please tell me."
Beatrix was shaking with laughter when she turned to meet his gaze. "You really are an easy mark. That's never going to get old."
"Never?" he said, one brow quirking up.
"Yeah. That was my idea." She looked away. "I thought I could stay here for a while. This place is going to need some real help, and someone to handle relations with Nedra." Beatrix turned her gaze down to the path, waiting for the rejection to come. She'd killed so many of his people. He had to know that. There was no way he would want her around. "Assuming I'd be welcome," she added.
"That would be acceptable," said Arryn, his tone unreadable. "On one condition." He'd gone back to looking grim.
Beatrix's excitement died as quickly as it had come. Their conversations about books seemed silly and inconsequential in the face of the task of reconstructing Arcata. He probably wanted her to stay away from him so that he could more easily concentrate on the task at hand. "What is it?" she asked glumly.
"That you stay in your old room, let me cook you breakfast every morning, and talk to me about the books you read the night before." He was laughing before he finished his last sentence.
She slugged him hard on the shoulder and he rubbed it idly, the grin never leaving his face. "You're awful," Beatrix growled.
"You're a pretty easy mark yourself," he said. "And you're right. It's never going to get old."
They entered the house together and gathered everyone in the kitchen. Between the two of them, they made a breakfast large enough to feed a small army and every scrap of it was eaten. It was a combined victory celebration and send-off party for the Nedrans who were leaving the next day. Everyone did their best to keep the mood light and jovial, and for the most part they succeeded.
Beatrix pulled Torch aside when there was a lull, and returned his engagement ring to him. "I told you that you'd give it to Madeleine yourself."
He took the ring and carefully slid it into his pocket. "I have to say that I doubted you on that one."
"Well, that'll teach you," retorted Beatrix. "I'm always right."
"So you're really going to stay here?" he asked.
"I am," she said, an unexpected smile spreading across her lips.
"Command isn't going to like that."
"I know, but I find that I don't really care what they like right now. We saved their asses. They owe us."
"That they do," said Torch, patting the pocket with his ring in it. "I may have to ask for a raise so I can upgrade this ring."
"Don't you dare," said Beatrix, fixing him with a glare. "Don't settle for anything less than a promotion to Major, but give her that ring. It's beautiful and has an amazing story that you'll tell your grandkids."
He shook his head and returned to his seat. Beatrix made another round of pancakes and everyone dutifully had one more, despite their protests of being full. The new Leothen remarked several times about the strange new food, but they ate twice as many as everyone else.
Her other friends made their rounds of goodbyes once she'd finished cooking. Hands and Gadget both hugged her awkwardly, promising to message her every day. She knew they wouldn't, but that they would always be her friends anyway.
"How long do you plan on staying here, anyway?" asked Hands.
"For once in my life, I don't have a plan," said Beatrix. "I'll stay until I have a good reason to leave."
"Good, because your plans always get you into trouble, and you've had enough of that for a lifetime."
"Don't I know it," agreed Beatrix.
Alice waved Beatrix off when she tried to give her a hug. "I'm not leaving with the rest of them tomorrow. I'll say goodbye when I'm actually leaving. I just wanted to thank you."
"I didn't do anything that you wouldn't have done," said Beatrix.
"It's not that," said Alice. She laid her hand on the pommel of the sword that still rested on her hip. "I wanted to thank you for taking me into the hive. It helped me remember something very important."
"About that," said Beatrix. "What's the story there?"
Alice looked into the distance, lost in memory. "I went on the most amazing adventure when I was a teenager." After a long pause, her focus returned. "I'd almost convinced myself that it wasn't real, but something about storming that hive with a sword in my hand brought it all back."
"Is that why you're staying here?"
Alice nodded. "I think I have somewhere else to go from here. I can't really explain it. It's just a feeling in my gut."
"Well, you're welcome to stay as long as you want. If Arryn has a problem with it, he can take it up with me."
"Thank you," said Alice, her eyes turning up to the ceiling. "But I don't think it will be long."
Alice walked away without looking at Beatrix again. "Such a peculiar woman," said Beatrix.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Alice left two weeks later on a ship that looked strangely like a white rabbit. She was ushered on board by a man dressed in flamboyant colors who gibbered like a mad man. He kept saying something about how they were very late. Beatrix barely got to wave a goodbye before the
ship took off. Alice, for her part, was grinning like she'd just been handed the keys to a kingdom rather than a peculiar looking sword.
Earlier that same day, Beatrix and Alice had gotten messages from the rest of their friends. The others had finally made it back to Nedra and been cleared to visit their families. Torch proposed, and of course, Madeleine said yes. All of them were promised big promotions if they stayed in the Fleet.
Alice wasn't having any of it, of course. She'd resigned her post just before leaving. That was probably the reason they had been accommodating enough to let Beatrix stay there with the new title Special Liaison to Arcata.
Since she was officially allowed to stay on Arcata, the Fleet had finally forwarded her possessions from the Harbinger. The ship, and her belongings, had survived the Colarian attack, though Harbinger wouldn't be in fighting shape any time soon. The packages mostly consisted of heavy books on Colarians that she no longer needed. There was only one small box that truly mattered. When she opened the box containing her father's urn and that battered paperback, hot tears poured down her cheeks. She set the urn on her dresser and started talking as if her father were there listening. She told him about everything that had happened to her since he'd died and it finally hit her how epic her journey had been. And it had all been for one reason.
"I did it, Papa. I finally avenged your death." Beatrix sighed heavily and wiped away her mostly dry tears. "You can be at peace now."
She sat for a while, trying to imagine what his response would be. When it finally came to her she laughed and did her best to impersonate her father's loving tone. "As long as you're happy, Bumble Bea, I will be at peace."
She hadn't realized how completely happy she was until that moment. The only thing that would make her happier was to finish the book that had been interrupted when she was fifteen. Beatrix picked up the book and looked at the cover for the first time in years. She had avoided thinking about it so much that she'd almost forgotten the title. It was written in a blood red font: Lost in the Woods.
It was an appropriately silly title for what she remembered as a deliciously campy horror book. Beatrix had other things to do, but she sat down and started reading and didn't look up again until she'd finished. Somehow it seemed like an entirely different novel. She remembered being fifteen and wishing someone would kill the ditzy main character half way through the book. This time though, she realized the heroine was only young and naive. By the end of the book she had overcome so much that Beatrix was happy she'd triumphed over the murderous family that stalked the woods. She could imagine her younger self rolling her eyes at how improbable it was for such a silly girl to have survived. That made Beatrix laugh for a long time. She probably wasn't much less silly when she marched into the Crown Fleet recruiting office with fake papers. What a difference some perspective made. She sat the book next to her father's urn and smiled.
***
That had been six months ago.
Today, in her liaison role, she was required to attend some sort of formal dinner for the swearing in of a new official. Arryn hadn't been very specific, and Beatrix hadn't pried for details. The Leothen loved their formal dinners and ceremonies. This was the fourth one she'd had to attend in as many weeks. She was sure it would be like the rest. Stuffy and boring. It was great to see the Leothen were putting their government back together, but sometimes a girl just wanted to stay home with a good book for the evening or go out and explore the new world. She'd barely seen anything of Arcata.
At least this dinner was being held at their house. It had been a great excuse for her and Arryn to finally do all the cleaning they'd promised to do. It had taken them two weeks to clean the place from top to bottom, but it had been worth it. The house was immaculate. It was nice to be able to flop down anywhere with a book and not choke on a cloud of dust.
Arryn, for his part, seemed glad just to have an excuse to do something physical. Most of his days were consumed with meetings. The more cleaning they did, the larger his smile grew. Of course, while they cleaned, they talked about books. Their relationship had grown comfortable over the months. He cooked breakfast every morning like he'd promised, and Beatrix cooked dinner. They spent breakfast talking about the books they'd read while sitting in the library the night before, each of them pretending the goodbye at the end of the night hadn't been awkward.
"People will be coming from all over Leothen for this dinner," said Arryn, taking a bite of his waffle. "It's even going to be broadcast."
He'd been filling her in on the details of the dinner over breakfast. It turned out that this dinner was an official coronation. The Leothen had elected a monarch and they would be crowned that evening. That meant it would be stuffier than usual, but at least marginally more interesting. "Do you know who won the election?"
"I have an idea." His smile was mischievous.
"And you're not going to tell me," said Beatrix, punching his shoulder. "You're such a tease."
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." He rubbed the spot she punched and pretended to wince. Beatrix knew it was fake, but she didn't let on. If she wanted to hurt him, she could, and he knew that too. "I know you hate these things as much as I do, so I've set up a couple of surprises to keep you interested."
Beatrix's stomach fluttered. "A couple?"
"Yes," he said cryptically.
"Arryn!" Beatrix swiped at his shoulder again, but this time he didn't take the hit. He caught her hand in his, wrapping it in what felt like velvet coated steel. It was gentle and teasing. The first time he'd done it, she'd pulled her hand back like she'd been bitten. This time though, she felt a smile spread across her face. "You know I'm not that patient."
Arryn stood and used his grip on her hand to pull Beatrix to her feet. "That's why I have one of them ready for you right now." He led her out of the kitchen and down the hall to her room, intertwining his fingers with hers.
Beatrix squeezed his hand and the fluttering in her stomach intensified so much she thought she might be sick. She wasn't sure whether it was the anticipation of the surprise, or the prolonged physical contact. When they reached the door, he let go of her hand so he could open it and gesture grandly.
Inside, there was a mass of yellow fabric spilling around a dress form. Beatrix gasped and rushed inside, eager to touch the satiny material. The bodice of the dress was form-fitting and would hug her curves. The bottom had a lot of volume and would flow around her beautifully. It was the most extravagant gown she'd ever seen. "It's perfect," she said when she remembered that Arryn was there.
He let out a long sigh. "I'm glad. I wasn't sure about the color. Blue was the only color I knew you liked. That's why I wanted to give it to you early. In case you hated it."
Beatrix studied Arryn closely. He was fidgeting, his eyes on his toes. He was nervous. It was the cutest thing she'd ever seen on such a big and powerful man. Without thinking, she closed the distance between them. She squeezed his arm gently, and when he looked up, she met his yellow gaze and gave him her brightest smile. "It's the loveliest dress I've ever seen." His eyes were still full of doubt. Beatrix squeezed his arm harder and stepped up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered. She spun away before seeing his reaction. "Now, make yourself scarce, so I can try it on."
Arryn turned on a heel and stalked out of the room. Beatrix caught what she thought was a glimpse of a smile when he peeked around the door as he shut it, but she couldn't be sure.
The rest of the day passed in slow motion. Beatrix couldn't sit still long enough to read a book. Large parts of the house were off limits because of all the party planning and other parts were blocked due to security measures. The most important men and women in Leothen society were attending the event and it was starting to make her nervous. She was glad Arryn hadn't told her how important the event was any sooner than he did. She could stare down enemy ships that outnumbered her five to one without batting an eye, but a room full of important people that expected her to re
present all of Nedra was another story.
By midafternoon, Beatrix found herself walking the grounds, trying to burn off some of the nervous energy. Normally, she would have gone to the kitchen to cook, but it was being used to prepare the feast for the coronation dinner, so they wouldn't let her near it. She rounded the pool and touched the newly reconstructed shed that had served as their cover when trying to escape. It didn't feel like the same place. She was about to turn away when a familiar voice called her name.
She stepped around the shed and found Woolly standing next to a Leothen ship designed to carry four people. It was a personal transport. They were used by the important people of Arcata to get around the planet when a commercial vehicle was inconvenient. This one looked wickedly fast.
"Come on," Woolly said, waving her over to the craft. "Arryn said you would need to go for a flight about now."
Beatrix didn't have to be told twice. In the space of a few seconds, she was in the cockpit and belted in. Woolly barely had time to get in before she was lifting off. She was forced back into the cushioned seat, and it was delightful. She angled the ship toward the mountains, putting the open prairie in front of them. It stretched for a hundred kilometers. She could really open up the throttle of the craft without worrying about obstacles, and still fly low enough to avoid other air traffic. Beatrix let out a howl of glee as she whipped around one of the few trees. "This is exactly what I needed."
Woolly cleared his throat. Beatrix had forgotten he was there. "He's in love with you, you know."
"What?" She'd heard what he said, but the words didn't make any sense. "Who's in love with me?"
"You can't possibly be that dense," groused Woolly. As it turned out, his personality hadn't changed much when he'd lost his leech. He was still taciturn, blunt, and unflinchingly loyal to Arryn. "He's been in love with you since the day you tried to kill yourself to save your friends."
Beatrix sputtered a few incomprehensible syllables and eased back on the throttle. "Arryn and I are just friends."
