"Feeling better?" Logan asked, following five minutes during which he watched the Elf search for meaning in the crumbs on his plate.

"I guess," Kurt got to his feet, rinsed the plate in the sink, and headed back towards Tikad's suite. He was obviously not in any particular hurry to get there.

When they entered, there were a number of reactions. Tikad stared. Erti started saying something about grand master plans and the impact of the divine on the mundane. Amara took it as a matter of course. Malkus launched into a tirade.

"What's this mushy garbage you left me?" he demanded. "'Sail on'? What is that?"

"A good-bye note?" Kurt said. "I thought I wouldn't see you again. How did you get here?"

"Gee, I dunno, I usually like t'drive when I - the boat, lad! Have yeh forgotten already?" The sailor's violent gestures were truly something to be afraid of.

"No, I mean how did you find me?" Kurt pressed.

"Goodness, yeh forget quicker'n a schoolboy on summer break," Malkus said impatiently. "Y'spend fifty years lookin' fer things, y'learn how t'find them. Now, it seems there's a bit of a disagreement here."

"Yeah," Kurt said dejectedly. "That sort of thing seems to be following me lately."

"Now," Malkus thoughtfully paced in a single circle. "This gentleman," he indicated Erti, "says y'told him that the princess had insulted yeh."

"A stupid, thoughtless thing to say," Kurt sighed. "I regretted it in a hurry."

"He took offense at this," Malkus continued, "out of his great respect fer yeh, the Messenger to his people."

"But I'm not a-" Kurt protested.

"Be that as it may," Malkus interrupted. "Never trample on th' beliefs of others. I've seen it happen. Leads to a lotta really ugly smitin'.

"Princess!" he took a few steps toward Amara. "Do ya agree that yeh mighta said some unkind things to our mutual friend?"

"I won't deny it," Amara sniffed. "He *is* an uncultured peasant."

Erti made an angry gesture and attempted to find some appropriately self-righteous words.

"Considerin' all that," Malkus concluded. "I reckon this whole problem could be solved if Her Highness would simply apologize to the boy."

"I will not!" Amara said instantly.

"Really, it's okay," Kurt said. "I really don't mind if-"

"Apologize!" Erti roared.

"I'll do no such thing!" Amara snapped.

"Amara," Tikad said. "Apologize to...him, and let's be done with it. Having our country overrun by a thousand soldiers is of no benefit to anyone."

"Fine," Amara said, and barely changed her tone as she addressed her peer. "I apologize, Kurt," she said. "It was wrong for me to insult you simply because you are a filthy Gypsy."

"Eine schlampig Zigeuner?"

"Precisely."

**********

Kurt swung one leg on either side of the high windowsill. "How did you *do* that?" he asked after a while.

"Do what?" Malkus asked back.

"Get them to stop fighting," Kurt said. "I tried it, and they wouldn't listen to me."

"Bystander's advantage," Malkus answered. "People like third parties. Think they've got all the answers, just on account of bein' unbiased."

"Is that all?" Kurt looked at him in amazement.

"And experience," the sailor shrugged. "People fight everywhere. I try t'clear things up, but they're usually at it again by the next time I pass through. Guess that's just the way of the world."

"Well, thanks for coming back for me," Kurt looked out at the trees and the ocean beyond.

"I didn't come fer *you*," Malkus replied. "I just came."

"But you said-"

"People say lotsa things. Most of it's trash."

They studied each other for a while. "I ain't int'rested in ya, kid," Malkus said when the silence grew too long. "I dunno why y'think I *like* ya. Y'just happened t'cross my path."

"You haven't tried to kill me yet," Kurt shrugged. "That's always a plus."

"What's with yeh an' the screamin' an' the killin'?"

"You know how some people have friendly faces?" Kurt looked out the window again. "My face tends to bring unfriendly people."

"Whatever y'say," Malkus shrugged. "If yer quite done bein' angsty at me, I'll go back t'the boat and 'sail on'."

"Yeah," Kurt sighed. "I'm done."

**********

"You *know* that thing?" Tikad asked in disbelief.

"I go to school with him," Amara said disdainfully.

"As soon as you're done at that Institute..." the king started again.

"You'll bring me home for a proper education," Amara finished. "Yes. I know."

"Well, you'd best be going," Tikad turned to his desk. "You're not needed here anymore."

Amara looked at her father's back for a moment, then swept into the hallway. "Let's go," she ordered as she strode past Kurt and Malkus. "Back to the jet," she said to Logan, who was leaning against the wall a bit farther down. He shifted his balance over his feet and followed her. The peasant never made any noise when he walked, so Amara had no idea whether he was coming or not. A princess never looked backwards, so she just kept going until she reached the clearing where they'd left the plane. There she stopped and waited for Logan to open the door with the security code.

He approached with the peasant, swiped a card, pressed a few buttons, and turned the handle.
Amara climbed in and settled into a seat, smoothing her skirt around her. Kurt picked a seat in the back and instantly fell asleep.

Logan fired up the jet, and soon Amara's home was no more than a speck in an endless ocean of blue.