Chapter Ten- Home
Timmus was one of the men in the employ of the Blue Storm, and he and his wife both lived on the pastoral Pirate Isle. In the four months since the Valuans attacked, it's inhabitants had been diligently working on repairs. Today he could barely see any evidence that the Valuans had ever been there at all, and smiled, looking up into the sky. The gunner was on lookout for the next few hours, and was waiting for the Athersprite to return with more supplies.
When a ship appeared on the horizon, he was excited, right up until he took his skyglass and zoomed in to examine in. The large metal airship was nothing like the pirate skiff Dyne, Briggs and Landis had gone out in. It's design could only have originated from one country- Valua. He looked around the ship for any escorts, but it appeared that it was only a lone cruiser. This did little to ease his apprehension, for the Albatross II was still being built and wasn't ready for battle, and even a single cruiser could sit above and rain fire upon them again.
Turning his head, a glint of blue caught his eye on the gray and purple airship. He squinted, looking closer and finding a large roll of blue cloth flapping valiantly in the steady winds of it's acceleration. On the cloth was a single skull drawn with white ink, and Timmus gasped. That's the Captain's banner. What's he doing with that ship? I'd better go get Martha.
"Are you sure they'll recognize the banner, Dad?" Vyse asked, looking over from the bridge. Lawrence stood in front of him, stoically guiding the Delphinus forward in the mild winds of Mid Ocean.
Dyne nodded. "Positive. They'll want to know how we captured the pride of the Armada, but they won't try to shoot us. Now that I think about it, we don't have anything to shoot with on the island... the retrofit of our new sailboat is only about half completed." After Galcian's troops had destroyed the old Albatross, the Blue Rogues had quickly gotten to work building a duplicate but incorporating more modern designs.
"We're getting pretty close," David noted thoughtfully. "That little island off the main might be good for skiffs and shuttles, but the Delphinus doesn't have a prayer of fitting up there. I think we should either send one of our lifeboats over, or we could bring the entire ship alongside the main island and run lines across to secure us in."
"I would invite you to use the harbor, but our ship is already inside there," Briggs noted.
"Ah, it's nothing big. We can hover for a bit. Alright, Lawrence, bring us aside gently. Marco, David, why don't you help us with the lines?" The Valuan child and tall Vice Captain both agreed, joining Vyse, Aika and Fina out on the deck. He looked around and saw Enrique leaning over the railing. "Heh. Air sickness finally taking hold, huh?"
"Yeah," Aika replied. "Poor guy. He was fine the entire trip to Sailor's Island but when he stepped back aboard ship he was sick as all hell. There's nothing for it but to give him time, but he isn't presenting the most regal picture right now."
Dyne was not too surprised to find a crowd gathering on the surface of the island near the edge, as the metal airship shifted directions and began to slowly slide up next to the island. Lawrence, he had to admit, had great skill in the way he handed the large and powerful creation like it was nothing at all. He walked out onto the deck, looking down on the island. The group of people roared and greeted him, and he waved back with a smirk.
Enrique's flagship was nearly one-fifth the size of the entire island, and the way the ship came to a rest meant they would be climbing down the ramp from the elevated main deck to the waiting ground. Vyse wound up and tossed his rope, and the pirate crewmen in the crowd caught it and secured it to the ground. The other tossed over their lines and soon the ship was secured by a dozen strong cables to the floating island that many of them called home.
"Hey, where's the ramp?" Aika looked around. "We probably just can't use a huge wooden board like we did on the Little Jack... I wonder how this ship was built to let people get out." Lawrence pressed a set of buttons and the side of the ship shook. Reconfiguring slightly, a large purple plate of armor slid up and connected with the deck, being pushed down to the ground and forming a stable walkway. "Oh... cool."
The crew all came up onto the deck, and the Blue Storm personally led them across. Vyse's mother was waiting for them at the foot of the long metal pillar, looking up at all of them in surprise. When he was close enough she enveloped Vyse in an enormous motherly hug. "Welcome home," She cooed.
"Thanks, mom," He mumbled agonizedly, watching Belle and Aika giggle at his treatment. "Thought since we were in the neighborhood, we'd drop in any say hello to everyone."
Everyone crowded around to get a look at the new visitors and Vyse's friends. Mabel's was the first lone voice able to be heard above the din of the excited masses. "Hey, Captain, that's Enrique, the Prince!" All attention instantly shifted to the hunched-over blonde teenager, who blinked absently.
"What in Deep Sky's he doing here?" Patch the Deckhand demanded. "And what's with the ship? And Vyse? That can't be your ship, can it?" He pointed to the impressively waiting airship floating just behind them.
"Well, technically it's Enrique's, but he's letting us borrow it. Check out the Delphinus, the most advanced ship ever stolen from the Grand Fortress in the midst of a jailbreak. And this time we used the ship to punch a hole in the damn wall." He waved to his crew. "These are my associates, Lawrence, Belle, Marco, David, Pinata, and Polly."
Several people recognized the crew- someone came up to slap David on the back, an action he was not comfortable at all with, while Belle got a lot of attention from all the males until their wives' death glares became too much to bear, and Polly's cooking was universally known. Despite their hatred of all things Valuan, the inhabitants of the island quickly warmed to the ill Prince, well aware that it was by his hand fortune had smiled upon them.
Dyne nodded. "Everyone, come on, settle down a little bit. You'll all hear Vyse's story eventually. What a story it is, too. First, let's get the Athersprite back to dock- Briggs, handle that... Martha, stop hugging your son for a moment and go open the harbor for him... everyone, spread out for now! This island isn't big enough for all your crowding." The crowd slowly and reluctantly did begin to disperse.
"Hi, Vyse," Lyndsey said quietly, walking up to him with her two friends, the kids often seen playing around Pirate Island. "Welcome home." She bowed. "Your new friends look so impressive..."
"Yeah, and we had to pay an impressive fee for one of the sons of-" Aika was cut off by a well-placed elbow from David.
Vyse smiled. "Hey, Lyndsey. Long time no see, huh? It's good to be back home for a while. This is Marco and that's Pinata. These little boys are going to help us out on our mission."
"'Sup," Marco said gruffly, nodding to them and obviously enjoying the fact that he was slightly older and seemed very cool and intimidating to the Mid Ocean Kids.
"Salutations," Pinata noted next to him, waving his wrench in greeting and smiling widely. He seemed to make new people warm to him, and had soon made several new friends amongst the herd of little Blue Rogues. Both of them were taken soon enough from the rest of the crew to go play games, although Vyse was sure Marco was complaining about it under his breath.
"I hope Marco doesn't teach them, like, a thousand new ways to cuss," He said in reflection. "Helen and Briggs would both use my skull to make the new engine chamber for the Albatross II." He turned to his crew. "Anyway, you're all free to go wherever, socialize with people, and try to stay out of trouble. We'll be staying for the night here, and maybe a day or two more, so find some lodging with the people or you can bunk on ship, although I personally would love some solid ground. Basically, have fun and enjoy yourselves. Lawrence, you can wait aboard." This induced no retort from the stoic pirate but the simplest of gestures. Fina gasped as she saw the gesture.
Vyse now made it his job, along with Aika and Fina, to introduce the prince to everyone and tell their story as many times as possible in a given day. Working their way across the relatively small village, they got the greatest variety of reactions. Some barely believed the stories, others gained a profound respect for Vyse, and Grandma, the obstinate old lady who hadn't been moved from her house even during the Valuan assault on the island, nodded sagely and decided to give them some advice.
"Sonny, looks like you're a bit sick from the travel. Sleep on the shore for a while, and when you get your sky legs you'll be just fine. Until then, Moons help ya. And if you do decide to settle down with one of these girls, you should choose Aika. She's got some fire in her belly. Reminds me of me at her age." For about an hour after that, neither Aika nor Enrique's face returned to anything like their regular colors, and she kept glaring suspiciously at him, as if daring the future monarch to try anything. He was never foolish enough to do such a thing, anyway.
Polly entered Vyse's house, finding Dyne and Martha talking with David and Briggs. "Hey," She said simply. "Thanks for the hospitality, Dyne, Martha. I hope we're not imposing with our crew and ship."
"David said the same thing," Martha replied benevolently. "We told him not to worry, and same to you, Polly. We're glad to have you here. Did you know Vyse's birthday was last week? Apparently he and everyone else forgot about that in the general excitement of things. He's seventeen now, although he's been a true man for a while. We're gonna throw a huge feast for him."
"Feast, you say? You got the right woman for the job," The former tavern barkeep turned sailor smiled. This was going to be fun.
0-0
"Say, Enrique, you're pretty handy with a blade," Aika noted, nibbling on a piece of meat. It was summer season in Mid Ocean, and so the sun wasn't scheduled to set for almost an hour, but many of Pirate Island's inhabitants had already sat down for dinner. Dyne had brought over Vyse and his whole crew as guests, and while Lawrence wasn't one for conversation, Belle more than made up for it, chattering everyone's ears off until finally in a desperate bid for survival Vyse's mother put enough food into her to make the young girl take a nap. Everyone else had been enjoying a leisurely meal ever since, although Polly and Vyse's mother had gone out back several times to discuss and prepare something.
"I was taught swordsmanship at the Royal Academy in Valua," He replied. "It's a military complex northwest of the capitol, where those of high breeding and station are given the best education available. They gave me wealths of knowledge, which, in retrospect, was probably not wise. I was soon keenly aware of the evil deeds Valua permitted around the entire world, and began to grow discontented. You see the end result here."
"Awesome," Vyse nodded. "We didn't go to a school, obviously- but Dad and the whole crew pitched in to give us enough learning. We learned how to write and read a few years ago, and a lot of practical stuff like sailing and fighting."
Dyne shrugged. "I always knew you'd be a leader one day, Vyse. You come from good blood, in my unbiased opinion. A leader always needs a lot of knowledge so he can make good decisions. Even that old bat Teodora knows that- no offense, Enrique."
"None taken," Enrique replied with a small frown. "I'm well aware of the universal resentment my beloved mother stirs up in the hearts of... well, everyone. Even most of the royal court can't stand her overbearing attitude." He blinked. "Hm... I never heard before, Fina, but where did you get your education? I'm sure the Silvites place an emphasis on knowledge."
"Of course," The timid girl replied. "The Elders taught me and Ramirez everything they knew. We learned things that no island dweller could even dream of... for example... did you know that there is a land under the light of the Blue Moon?"
"There's land under the Blue Moon?" David echoed, shaking his head. "Wait, that's impossible. The Dark Rift is only barely in the fringes of the Blue Moon's domain, and it's the edge of the world. That's why Blue stones are some of the rarest to find these days. Me and Gilder went to school in Nasrad, by the way. That's how I met that brigand."
"The edge... of the world?" Fina blinked. It was her turn to be startled.
"Yeah," Marco said. "The world's flat, right? That's the only way we could all be on it- I heard from some soldiers we're all just on some giant board with air on either side of our world. My only education was on the streets!"
"Oh, my," She giggled. "But... the world is round."
"... Say what?" Aika blinked. "Round? Fina, are you trying to say the Silvites think the world is round? Come on, that's just not very good science."
"It's true," Fina objected. "We're so high up we can see the whole world, and it is a spherical shape, like Cupil. If you were to sail in any straight line, you would eventually return to your point of origin. The reason you all think the world is flat is likely because there are practical boundaries on both sides of your countries- the Silverstone Reefs to your west, and this Dark Rift to the east."
"Lord DeLoco's first force was told by the Ixa'takans before they were attacked of some strange objects sighted on the other side of the great Silverstone Reefs that nudge the western border of their continent," Enrique said thoughtfully. "He was intrigued by this possibility, but dismissed it as some strange lore. Either way, we don't have the power to break through and find out."
"What? So there really is a land to the east of Nasr? Fina, you've just revolutionized all civilized knowledge," Dyne said, stunned. "Assuming what you're saying is the truth. It's a little hard to accept."
"The land is known as Yafutoma, and sits on chains of islands under the gentle domain of Blue, of wind and water." Fina recited from what history lessons she had been given in her younger years. "The people of Yafutoma can harness Blue Moonstones for fuel, and can survive pressures we only dream of visiting. They were even capable of going to Deep Sky's surface in the Old World, although their technology must have been set back since then."
"They can go to Deep Sky?" Pinata whistled. "Wait, if they can do that, they can also go higher than we believe possible, correct? If that is the case, then we must visit these people and learn how they build such modern marvels. Maybe they'll tell me how to get to the Moons!"
Fina giggled. "I think it might be more challenging than that, Pinata. However, we still need to go to Yafutoma and retrieve the Blue Moon Crystal. That should be our next objective, after we find a base and complete the Delphinus's refits."
"What can you tell us about the people of Yafutoma?" Polly asked. "What kind of foods do they have over there? People with such plentiful access to water ought to be fine chefs."
"They eat sky and water fish," Fina replied. "And other varieties of food. They manipulate two small wooden sticks to pick up their foods, and their ships and soldiers are armed with plate male that looks like scales. Their Gigas is Bluheim, a flying machination that in Yafutoman lore is called the Blue Winds."
"Wait... they have scales and eat people with sticks?" Aika's imagination working in concert with her heavily overworked imagination had given her selective hearing. "What, are these Blue people monsters or something?"
"Aika, you're letting your mouth get ahead of your brain," Dyne chastised, and she fell quiet. "I've heard rumors of some people like that. Nothing solid, and a lot of crap flies through Blue Rogue grapevines. From what I hear, they're worse than Ixa'taka about cultural isolation, and are naturally suspicious of any foreigners. Maybe the Valuans have found them before. I wouldn't trust anyone if I thought they were all Valuan, that's for sure. No offense, Enrique."
"None taken," The prince replied.
"So, how are we going to get there?" Vyse asked. "Even if Arcadia is round, in practical terms where we can sail is largely a flat, uneven square. The Dark Rift and the Silverstone Reefs are both impassable. Those silver rocks are not normal stuff, not even the Moonstone Cannon could dent them, I bet. As for the Dark Rift... regular sky rifts are feared. Terror ain't the word for that enormous, deadly storm."
"Some time ago, during the Valua-Nasr War, our forces discovered a suitable location at the southern tip of Nasr's main continental mass and founded a supply station there. In time, it grew, and we were allowed to keep that small territory as part of the peace treaty when the war was finally ended in stalemate," Enrique told them. "It became a hub for sailors, and grew into a large city. Esperanza, which I'm told means 'hope' in Nasrian. If anyone would know how to pass the Dark Rift, I think it would be those people."
"Alright, we got a course now," Vyse nodded. "We stay here tomorrow, then the next day we head out in the morning. First we're going up to Crescent Isle, north of Nasr, and establishing our HQ in the abandoned island chains. The Valuans will never think we'd be crazy enough to camp not seventy leagues from their lands. After we're set up, we'll head due south, pass over Nasr and see what's going on, and get to Esperanza. Looks simple enough."
"Word is, Nasrad is being controlled by a puppet king propped up by the Valuans, who left a decent sized occupation force and Ramirez's Vice Captain, Baker, to command it's fleet. Fleet Admiral Karzhai's force is the main body of the Nasr Air Guard, and if it doesn't disintegrate from the inside when the news of Nasrad's hits it, then Baker's going to swing around, flank them, and take them out. Looks like Valua finally got their victory. Damn Valuans. No offense, Enrique."
"None taken. But... we face a problem, Vyse. The only way to reach frontier lands with an unfortified Delphinus is through the South Dannel. That's the whole point of why the last war failed miserably. We'll need to hazard it, and run the blockade that Baker is going to set up."
"Hm... then we don't have any choice," Vyse nodded. "Ok. Nasr is a week from here. When we get to the South Dannel, we'll just blow past their ships. Maybe they'll let us past in fear of hurting you. And if not... well, we have stolen a battle cruiser here. The best one in the Armada, even half-done."
Vyse's mother peeked in. "Oh, good, you've decided. I'm sorry you all couldn't stay longer, but we understand. Enrique, maybe you should double up with Vyse in his room."
"Sure," The blonde teenager replied.
"Will you be able to get up without a servant to wake you?" Aika teased. "Maybe Macho Man's snoring over there will help you stay awake." Fina giggled and Vyse fitted the girls with the appropriate murderous glare.
"Hey, I always do things without my servants to help," Enrique said indignantly, and everyone laughed in good humor. "Urg... you air pirates and your disrespect. Maybe I should have been like my half-wit half-brother." He took his neat hair and flicked it across his face, just so he could daintily push it back, and said in his best girly voice, "Dispose of them, guards. Get them, you fools. Clean this filth from my beloved Cygnus." He looked over at Fina. "Once I capture you, mommy will be sure to favor me over that coward Enrique." Everyone howled with laughter.
"Not... very princely," Marco breathed heavily. "I think Vyse and us are having a bad influence on you, Enrique." He grinned, seeming proud to be able to talk with the prince on such even terms, which in their homeland he would never be permitted to do without risking execution.
Fina blinked. "Yes... I used to be much more shy, but seeing my friends be so bold and brash have taught me things. Aika taught me many things in Nasrad," She continued happily. Vyse and Aika made alarmed eye contact.
"Yeah, it was nothing," Aika said, loudly and nervously.
Finishing their dinner, Enrique, who was still not feeling quite fine yet, retired early and took a mattress on the floor, finding it a hard adjustment from his usual stately quarters aboard the Delphinus. The rest of the crew began to filter out, thanking Vyse's parents for the good meal. Vyse sighed and leaned back, but looked over at Aika. "Hey, Aika, let's go up to Lookout Isle and watch the sunset."
Aika smiled. "Sure. It would be just like good old times, huh? Hey, Fina, want to come with us?"
"Alright," The Silvite nodded, and Cupil chirped. The three teenagers made their way onto the walkways ringing the newly rebuilt island and climbed their way up the new ladder. It was a long climb, even for the physically fit Blue Rogues, and Fina found it a bit taxing before she reached the small rock.
"Hey, at least they didn't hit Lookout Island," Vyse said, sitting down on the sturdy old bench. "Probably too small of a target for the bucket head gunners. Valuans aren't known for their accuracy." He sighed, watching the sky grow heavy with the bloody red tones of the setting sun's glory. No other objects blotted the vast skies of Mid Ocean, which seemed a nostalgic sight for the new captain and his two friends.
The redhead stared up into the cloudy air. "After all we've been through... this place hasn't changed at all. It seems like a completely different world. We've seen more places than anyone on the island ever has, and done things that'll get us in history books already. It seemed like so long ago that we sat up here with Fina the first night we had rescued her from Alfonso's ship."
Fina nodded in agreement. "So much has happened already, and we still have three more Crystals to liberate before the world will be safe from Teodora and Galcian..."
"Three? I thought there were six in total, one for each moon," Vyse asked, looking over to her.
She said, "Yes, there are, but the Silver Crystal is obviously in the hands of the Elders, and is safe and secure. My quest, effectively, is halfway done." Standing up, she bowed low to both of them, to their surprise. "Thank you so much for helping me all this time. Without your assistance I would have been killed or forced to help the Valuans. You are my best friends in the entire world, and the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my life."
Vyse and Aika exchanged a look. The redhead smiled and said, "Fina, sit down. You've been a help to us, as well. You're our friend, and we'd never abandon you. We're all going to see this through to the end, one way or another."
"Damn right," He agreed. "If you're correct in your theories, Fina, then there's a fair chunk of the world nobody's explored before. This I have to see." He gave her the thumbs-up and smiled. "Count on us, just like always."
"Vyse," A voice called for them. He looked over and found David, climbing up the ladder. When he had reached the top he stopped to catch his breath and managed to say, "Hell of a climb..." Before taking the last unoccupied space on the bench. His brown hair was, as usual, covering most of his face, but he had shed his blood-red cloak and jacket for a more practical maroon tunic.
"What's up?" Aika asked, leaning over to look at Gilder's Vice Captain.
"Figured now's good as any time to come up and talk with you all," He replied. "While we were at Sailors' Island I gathered a bit of info about the Nasr situation. Apparently, Vice Admiral Baker's force is smaller than we thought. He's only got a dozen Valuan ships and a few captured Nasr ones, and about five thousand troopers occupying Nasrad's rubble."
"And?" Vyse encouraged him. "This is good news, right? Less trouble if we try to pass the South Dannel and get to Crescent Isle?"
"Yeah, but that's not all. Word is that Fleet Admiral Karzhai took his forces out of the straight as soon as news came in. He acted quick enough where the Valuan forces couldn't even hit him, and now he's got a bunch of troops ready for action. Rumors say he's planning to make a fight of it for their homeland.
Now, Karzhai's fleet is bigger, but Baker's got those Spectres. Powerful cruisers, each one can take down two of it's Nasr equivalents. If we can get over to Nasr quickly, we might be able to lend a hand to them. With the firepower of the Delphinus, the enemy would have no chance to keep Nasrad. This would benefit us, by not only making a powerful ally in Karzhai, but we'd also get a nearby, massive supply base for our headquarters."
Fina blinked. "Oh, my... there's going to be another war?"
"Apparently," Aika nodded. "I like that idea, though. Valua's gone unchallenged long enough, I think it's time we blew some of their ego away."
"Agreed," Vyse smirked. "As much as I like being home and seeing the guys again, the wanderlust is starting to gnaw at me already. I can't just sit still after we sailed half the world over. Send out the world, we're headed for Nasrad at sundown tomorrow."
0-0
"Son, can you come down into the dock with me for a moment?" For most of the morning, Vyse had been hard at work, helping with the remaining reconstruction jobs and generally making himself busy across Pirate Isle. His crew was preparing to leave again, stocking the ship with supplies and getting it ready to fly. He looked over to Dyne and nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Sure, Dad," He replied, jogging over to him. "Well, what's up?" The older man did not reply, turning and walking into the well-lit tunnel which led into the inside of the almost hollow floating island. He followed quickly.
He was about to pass into the upper walkways when a wall of sound hit him. "Surprise!" A hundred voices declared as one, and he indeed was rather surprised. Gathered in front of him was a large crowd, including his friends and crew, and the men and women of the Blue Storm. Aika ran forwards, hugging him and smiling.
"Wh-wha?" He blinked, stunned.
"Think we'd let you forget, huh?" The redhead asked, smirking and landing a peck on his cheek which made him redden. "Happy belated birthday, Captain." Fina bowed to him and Enrique offered him a royal salute. Small strings of confetti began to rain down into the air, and Cupil caught and ate some as they came around, despite Fina's best efforts to stop him.
Vyse shook his head. "All of this... is for me?" He looked down. "Guys, really, you shouldn't have bothered, it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" Landis echoed from the crowd, shouldering through to the vanguard. "Listen to him. I miss the eight-year-old version of him that was so eager for his birthday he nearly wet himself." Everyone laughed. "Enjoy some time off, Vyse. That's why you're here, right?"
Dyne put a hand on his shoulder. "Son, you're seventeen years old, and already you're a notorious pirate of the skies. I couldn't be more proud if I tried."
"Dad..." The teenager faltered, looking away. "Really, I just..."
"We have food," Briggs interjected. Dead, direct, critical center hit. Vyse looked up with wide eyes at the wiry Vice Captain, who chuckled. "Lots of food. A feast, for everyone, but especially for you. Polly even helped." The matter was thus settled by Vyse's vice, the ingestion of dormant chemical energy, and he finally assented to having a celebration about himself. Those villagers who had taken part in the distraction above came down to join everyone else, and a massive table was put out on the lowest deck of the secret base. Moored to their left was the still forming wooden shape of the Albatross II, a fitting backdrop as Vyse began to assault the buffet with the others.
"Polly, me, and all the women were up most of the night making this enormous amount of fresh food," His mother said with a sigh, taking a seat. "It was worth it, though. I hope everyone enjoys it." The general concurrence from the participants was that they did, indeed, enjoy the excellent cooking. The cave echoed with the lively talk of the people, and festivities officially commenced.
"See? Even you, you noble, self-sacrificing hero, deserve a little worship, praise and food," Aika insisted, jabbing him with his spoon until he relented, laughing with a mouth full of food. Enrique was feeling much better on solid land, and although his eating method was extremely prim and conservative like Fina's, he still managed to whittle a sizable amount of food from the buffet on his own. Cupil just slid along the table, gobbling entire plates and making several different kinds of enemies rather quickly before he could be netted down. He morphed into a knife and got free, so Fina just gave him a Slipara spell and put his lights out for a few hours.
Marco smirked. "I helped with the balloons," He said, pointing to one in particular that was badly misspelled, but said: 'Happy Birthday Vyse'. Well, Vyse assumed that's what it said, although it more closely resembled the ancient Silvite lettering on the Sailors' Guild Main Branch on Sailors' Island. It's the thought that matters, after all.
David chuckled. "Yep. Eat up, drink up, etc etc. After we're all good and stuffed, we can get moving." He looked around. "Lawrence is probably already waiting aboard the Delphinus... the man truly earns his moniker."
So it went for an undetermined length of time, and for a while, Vyse was able to forget the weight of the world that rested squarely upon his young shoulders. As long as I don't end up in leaves, all's well.