Chapter Nineteen
"Wowzers!" Laudo exclaimed, his curly brown hair bouncing on his head. He tossed the well-read Alexandria Tribune onto the cluttered coffee table. Zidane was slumped on the couch, his eyes focused on the nearby fireplace that roared warmly that summer evening. Around him, all the soldiers sat in their lounge ware of loose white cotton shirts and tan pants. They passed decanters of brandy around, crackers and cheese, but Zidane didn't react to a thing. Beside him, Haagen reached forward, tilting the newspaper on the table. Fleetingly, Zidane's eyes met the large words that were bold and assaulting. The Queen of Alexandria is Finally Entertaining Suitors. Sir Liam Winters of Lindblum's Head Engineer Team Seen in the Castle. His nostrils flared and he looked back at the fire. Haagen cast a weary glance over Zidane as Laudo again grabbed the paper, clutching the literature tightly. "I just can't believe it! What a dramatic spin this is all taking. It's like a love story leapt right out of the binding of a book and landed in our lives!"
"It's not fair," Weimar furrowed his brow as he poured himself more brandy. "You can't compete with a guy like that. He's squeaky clean!"
"And taller than you," Mullenkedheim said behind a face full of bread.
"Like you even had a shot with the Queen," Kohel nearly rolled his eyes from where he leaned with his elbow on the fireplace mantle.
"If anyone had a shot, it was Zeke," Breireicht said, looking over the still and quiet Zidane. "But maybe the Queen isn't into soldiers. We're all seen as mindless buffoons, anyway, running around with swords. The Queen wanted someone smart, obviously. Someone confident and quick on their feet." Zidane gripped the arm of the leather couch. "Not to say that wasn't you, Zeke."
Weimar pressed his elbows to his knees, leaning his face across the table at Zidane. "Did you and the Queen really have somethin' going on, Zeke? Did you ever get to touch her? Or see her in robe?"
Zidane cast a glance to Weimar, shaking his head. "Nothing like that. It was all business."
"Then why are you acting like you just got dumped?!" Weimar held his arms out. "Something was going on behind those closed doors of the private study. Spill!"
"Leave him alone," Kohel said. "You'd feel the same way working so closely with her. You already do and you've never been within five feet of her."
"So, you're pretty sweet on her, huh?" Haagen looked towards his amber drink, giving it a swirl. "Being young and finding love sucks."
"It's not that," Zidane told him, now reaching for a tumbler and pouring from the decanter. His nerves grounded against ever fiber of his body. He sat back and rolled his shoulders in hopes of finding a release from the utter tightness. "He's not right for her."
Weimar howled with laughter, bumping shoulders against Mullenkedheim and sending crumbs down the man's shirt. "Oh, man, you are in love with her! Big time!" Weimar's eyes spun in all his triumphant giddiness. "Who are you to say that?! He's an engineer! He will be the co-designer of the Blue Rose when it's unveiled! He's tall, dark, and handsome! You are fooling yourself if you don't think that's a historic match right there. Admit it, Zeke. You love Queen Garnet."
Zidane thought the glass in his hand was going to explode. Weimar still snickered and sneered as he poured himself another healthy cup of brandy. Zidane looked at the fire again, watching the little flecks of embers dance away and lick up the fireplace. Weimar was right and wrong. Zeke didn't love Garnet. Zidane loved Garnet. His head throbbed over the dilemma of his identity crisis. It was hard being an entirely new person who didn't even know themselves. There was so much more to the situation they didn't know. And Zidane wondered if they even could understand; would they actually believe him? He glanced around at the soldiers surrounding him. All of their eyes were on him. He considered, briefly, if they'd even all survive should Astrid have her way and start a revolution.
"Sure, Weimar," Was all Zidane could manage to reply and he tensely drank his brandy.
"Oh, Zeke, I know just how you feel," Weimar lounged back against the couch, putting an arm along the back. "I thought I was in love with this noble lady from Treno. Always came into the teahouse I was busing at. She'd make eyes at me and I'd make eyes at her. This went on for days… until she finally complained to my boss I was awful at refilling her chardonnay in a timely fashion."
"Yeah, it's exactly like that," Zidane nodded.
"Gods, Weimar, you're such an oaf," Laudo sighed, laying the newspaper against his chest. "You're the comic relief of this story, you know that, right? It's the only purpose you serve."
"Hey, all I'm sayin' is if our wise friend Zeke here got sweet on the Queen, there's a good reason why," Weimar sat forward again. "Women like to send messages. Silent ones are their specialty. They drop all these little clues and hints and never say exactly what they mean. And what happens to us men? We guess wrong 'cause we aren't mind readers. I wouldn't doubt Queen Garnet was sending you some mixed messages. Maybe your hands accidentally touched at one point and she gave you this look… and in turn that gave you hope!"
"I'd shut up if I were you," Kohel told him from beside the fireplace. "I bet General Beatrix already knows you said that. You'll probably get your ass kicked in the morning."
"That's if he can even get out of bed tomorrow morning," Mullenkedheim laughed dryly with cheese in his mouth.
"What are you so worried about, Zeke?" Haagen asked, gently. "You spend the most time with the Queen, so undoubtedly, you care for her wellbeing at least. What is it about Sir Winters that makes you so unsettled?"
Zidane ran his thumb along the grooves of the glass tumbler. "I don't like the way he treats her. Like she's a porcelain doll."
"Dude-" Weimar piped up.
"Shush," Kohel shot towards him, his dark skin gleaming in the flickering shadows of the fire.
"We all know she's stronger than that," Zidane said. "It's not up to me, anyway. Just forget about it."
The soldiers were quiet for a beat and the cackling fire filled the room. Zidane tensely took a sip of his drink. The alcohol stung the back of his throat and with ease fell into his belly, igniting a warmth that emanated across his entire body. What did he know anymore? He like a flopping fish, forgotten on a dock. He was powerless to do anything, he thought. Ever since his return, he was only failing miserably. Why had he returned? Why hadn't he been buried beneath the collapsing Iifa Tree with Kuja? What made him so special, Gaia thought he was worth keeping? The questions rained down on him and he felt the waves of his mind rush against him. He had no answers, no comebacks. What was he supposed to do? How could he keep Garnet safe? And would everyone be ready when the streets started rumble? Astrid wasn't bluffing. He knew when she had her heart set on something, she never lost sight or focus. She had always wanted what she couldn't have.
"We know you'll do what's best for the wellbeing of the Queen," Haagen told him. Zidane could only feel foolish to hear such words.
He stood in the next moment, grabbing the decanter that was nearly empty. "Good night." He said, loosely dangling it at his side as he retired upstairs, to his broom closet quarters.
…
The milky moonlight was bright that night, but hazy, as the dense fog of the river wafted through the twisty garden. Steiner walked quickly, heading towards the far garden. Nearby, frogs croaked and the splashes of their lily pads could be heard. The owls hooted and the cicadas warmly chirped as Steiner came upon the budding hedges with velvety roses that were dewy and drooped in the warm humid night. The garden was absolutely still. The preparations for the memorial ceremony were poised and damp. A gold ribbon surrounded a bronze placard, built into the base of a rigid but exquisite handmade stone pillar. The rocks ranged between a sandy finish and moody dark brown. In the night time light, Steiner could distinctly make out Zidane's name etched across the metal plate. Steiner paused and looked around the large circular plaza, glancing fleetingly towards Queen Brahne's grave that had been dressed with fresh tulips. After a moment, he tilted his head back, letting out a series of low coos.
Through the haze of fog, boisterously feathered wings parted through the clouds and a majestic owl with a dark brown overcoat and a white belly flecked with creamy tans came to perch on a rock near the edge of the brick. Steiner rushed towards it, unlatching a leather collar from the owl. The animals beady yellow eyes came across Steiner and it waited patiently as the captain used string to secure a parchment to the strip of leather. Hurriedly, he put it around the owl's soft neck of downy.
"To Black Mage Village. With haste."
The owl lengthened it's neck and let out a long chirrup before Steiner felt the powerful gust of his wings. He ducked as the owl took flight, taking a wide circle above the platform and sailing out into the night. The majestic bird glided across the fog with ease, leaving a trail in it's wake and allowing the twinkling stars to be seen. It disappeared from sight shortly after and Steiner released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. A croaking toad had him again surveying his dark and lonely surroundings. Queen Brahne's tall and proud granite grave was wet and gleamed in the distorted moonlight. But Steiner's eyes were drawn towards the smaller plaque, situated behind Brahne's grave, against the edge of the plaza that bordered the rippling river. The freshly planted chrysanthemums and hollies made the bronze pop out and Steiner again only found himself staring at Zidane's dewy name. What was going to happen? Steiner was so unnerved by the unpredictable future. What would his child be like? How would his and Beatrix's relationship fare through it all? Was Zidane really right? Were they going to have to fight again? So many questions and absolutely no answers. Steiner lifted his eyes towards the towering castle, spotting Garnet's windows. They still glowed warmly. It seemed late for Garnet to be up. Steiner felt his insides constrict, however, as he recalled Zidane's panicked arrival at his quarters. And he felt a rising panic and anxiety rivet through him as he recalled the girl's words echoing through the hot and sticky bar.
After all the time that had elapsed, after everything Steiner had already endured for the sanctity of the throne and the security of the planet, would he have the energy to do it all again? Or would exhaustion and defeat finally triumph the captain? The nighttime orchestra around him suddenly flooded back in and Steiner blinked rapidly, looking towards the foggy sky again.
"Please, Master Vivi… I need you."
…
The morning of the memorial ceremony was met with an overcast sky that seemed rather fitting for the occasion. There wasn't a large gathering of people in the garden plaza, but just enough to make it intimate and meaningful. Eiko had her gleaming purple hair coiled atop her head in a tight braid. She wore a black velvet gown with light woolen gray accents on the hem and bell sleeves. Her mother had come dressed in the finest summer apparel and Eiko thought buttercup yellow was entirely inappropriate. But she did look nice with the blossoming garden as her backdrop. Eiko wandered forlornly around the garden plaza, not paying even the smallest inkling of attention to Queen Brahne's resting spot. For her, her mind was entirely drawn to the plaque that now confirmed her greatest nightmares and biggest disappointments. It had been nearly a year and a half but the young girl couldn't quite wrap her head around the idea that Zidane was truly gone. How could he be? She fought the same inner conflictions she had just moments after her grandfather's final breath. She thought, childishly, she'd never have to grapple those feelings again since her family had died. But the impact Zidane had left on her had proved otherwise. Eiko glanced around the plaza, some loose strands of her hair falling across her forehead. Her mother and the few friends she bought talked animatedly by the stairs leading towards the water. Regent Cid was patiently walking around on his own. He had been in deep concentration over the Blue Rose for days. He was eager to see Liam to discuss ideas with. Freya was polishing the edges of the memorial, brushing imaginary dirt from the moody mismatched rocks. She seemed quite tense in her movements, but overall proud of how her design had come to life for a dear old friend of wayward roads. Eiko folded her hands in front of her and paced a few more steps, her lacy flats scuffing against the finely washed monotone bricks.
The young lady of Lindblum briefly wondered where Garnet was. But she knew the Queen may have been in anguish at the thought of an event like this. Heavens knew Eiko didn't want this to happen. She was dismayed by the rather thin crowd. No Tantalus, not even Vivi. He seemed far too busy to travel at times. Quina, however, was present, working at a portable stew pot to serve coffee and banana bread to the few meager guests. Steiner and Beatrix had yet to appear, but they were quite busy running operations, Eiko reminded herself. She was not expecting, however, the bright red headed man to enter the plaza. Eiko blinked quickly, casting her eyes up at the tall and stoic figure of Amarant, who had dressed in black. Eiko took a few steps towards him as he pensively scanned the area.
"Amarant, you're here!" She couldn't help but exclaim.
His face was as stony as it always had been, but his eyes fell across the young girl in a different way. "It's only polite, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Eiko shook her head. "I… I just haven't seen you in awhile. Where have you been?"
"Just gettin' by," Amarant shrugged, glancing around the plaza. "So this is really it, huh?" He looked down at the small girl. "He's gone?"
"I don't know," Eiko shrugged meekly, looking around. "That's what everyone is saying."
"You're too young to recognize death," Amarant told her, heading towards where Freya stood, admiring and admonishing the dedication. Eiko was quick on his heels, though, her dress flaring behind her fast movement.
"That's not fair!" Eiko said with a pouty face as she came to walk beside Amarant's elbow. "You've been who knows where, while I have been here supporting our friends since the entire ordeal!"
"… We all have to do things on our own terms."
Eiko looked to him with electric blue eyes. "What has been so important to you?"
"A lot of things," He replied with his even, husky voice.
"Oh, like what?!"
"Greetings, Amarant," Freya looked over her shoulder as she pulled a handkerchief from the plaque. "I'm glad you could be here with us today."
"A pleasure," Amarant said, casting a side eye at the dismayed Lady Eiko. "Is this everyone?"
"I'm afraid so," Freya nodded as she tenderly folded her handkerchief. "Dagger should be along shortly, as well as Steiner and Beatrix. Then we can start."
"Seems a little light for a guy who didn't shy away from anyone," Amarant crossed his arms over his chest and Eiko let out an annoyed sigh from beside him. "I figured the whole town would be here."
"Dagger requested something small," Freya told him, checking over the flowers once more. She glanced fleetingly at the sky, wondering if the clouds would open up during the event. "She thought it seemed fitting."
"There she is!" Eiko's eyes lit up and she pointed across the plaza as she saw Dagger emerge from the garden. She was dressed in an olive green gown with gold embroideries that flourished the bodice. The skirt was a simple a-line, following Dagger's thin body. Her black hair had been braided into a fishtail, resting on her shoulder. Her arm was linked with Liam, who was stroking her fingers that rest on his arm. Liam had been speaking lowly to her, the buttons of his engineering coat glimmering in the rather colorless afternoon. Eiko was surprised to see Garnet laugh and smile. She knew, however, her mother was on cloud nine upon seeing Garnet and Liam bond. Eiko was quick to dart across the plaza. "Dagger!"
"Good afternoon, Eiko," Garnet said with a clear and melodious voice. "I'm glad you could join us this afternoon."
"Oh, come on, you know I wouldn't miss this for the world," Eiko shook her head. She paused and looked to Liam, whose face glowed with a giddiness. "Sir Liam, I didn't expect to find you here, too."
"I've been…" He paused for a moment and flashed Garnet a pearly smile, gingerly kissing the back of her hand. "Visiting Garnet this week." Garnet laughed coyly.
Eiko slowly furrowed her brow, watching as the couple grinned and bobbed against each other. "Dagger, can I talk to you?"
"I must go say hi to my mother, anyway," Liam said. He pressed his lips to Garnet's cheeks before brushing by. Eiko stared after him with intense blue eyes before she turned to Garnet, who, surprisingly, had rosy cheeks as she watched Liam go.
"Just what the heck is going on?" Eiko pressed her hands to her lips. "You showed up to Zidane's memorial with a boy of interest? I thought you didn't even like Liam!"
"Oh, Eiko," Garnet smiled, shaking her head. "You'll find as you get older, things are not so cut and dry. People can change, things can change. It's all part of the beauty of time." Eiko could only stare at Garnet as she shifted her attention to watching Liam, who patiently and politely shook and kissed all of Lady Hilda and his mother's entourages hands. Eiko kept her eyes on Garnet, pensively scanning her face and watching her body language. She seemed unusually loose for how stressed she had been in recent weeks. A light drizzle was beginning to come across everyone's skin and Garnet glanced up. "We should start the ceremony. We wouldn't want anyone catching a cold."
"But Steiner and Beatrix," Eiko told her.
"Oh, yes," Garnet nodded. "Perhaps you could go get them real quick, Eiko? Me and Liam will organize here."
"I'll go check their quarters," Eiko said, taking a few paces away. "Dagger, don't start without me."
Garnet turned towards her and grinned. Eiko paused, her dress sticking to her as it grew wet. She swore she saw something in Garnet's eyes. But perhaps it was only the garden reflecting off her irises. "I won't, Eiko." The young lady was slow to get her feet moving again as she went off in search through the twisty garden.
…
"Watch her closely," Zidane told Steiner and Beatrix as he met them on their walk. Beatrix had dressed in a large black peacoat that effectively swallowed her entire body. Steiner seemed dismayed as he felt the light mist come down. His armor had only just been polished a few days ago. Zidane's dark hair gleamed on his head as he held his helmet beneath his arm. "Seriously, look at her eyes. It's bizarre. And watch how she interacts with Liam."
Beatrix jammed her hands into her coat pockets, holding the front closed tightly. "I'm expecting nothing more than a heartbroken woman." She glanced to Zidane. "When is the last time you slept, Zidane? I'm starting to think you're overworking yourself."
"I'm being serious, Beatrix," Zidane huffed, furrowing his brow. "I know Dagger too well. She's not acting right."
"I've known Her Majesty since she was just a young child," Beatrix told him. "I'll be the judge of strange behavior."
"That's all I'm asking," Zidane shook his head. "Just keep an eye on her."
In the next moment, before anybody could speak, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps to the gray brick of the garden. Zidane nearly dropped his helmet as he fumbled to put it on straight over his face. He properly secured it, just in time to see Lady Eiko appear, looking both ways. When she laid eyes on the General and Captain, she hurried forward, holding her skirt up. "There you are! We're about to start the memorial. Dagger sent me to find you two."
Zidane took that moment to study the young girl. It was amazing just how much taller she'd grown in one year. She had barely been elbow height when he met her. Now, she was shooting up rapidly, like a weed, to nearly his shoulder. She was going to be a slender and lanky young lady. Eiko was slowly but surely losing the childish rosy cheeks and her cheekbones were becoming more pronounced, her lips filling out. She still carried her childlike energy, however, that was boundless in her leaps and jumps as she raced around the garden. She was more mindful of her posture, though, no longer slumping her shoulders. It was amazing what time could do, was all Zidane could think about.
"We're heading that way," Beatrix told her. "We should hurry, though, before the weather gets any worse."
Eiko only cast a fleeting glance over Zidane before nodding. "Let's go. Dagger's waiting!" And with that, she took off without even waiting for a word. Zidane watched as she bounded away and disappeared yet again. He pursed his lips and held a sigh in as Steiner looked to him.
"We'll see you in a bit." And tensely, Zidane watched them go as well, to celebrate a life that was never physically lost, but rather, mentally.
…
"… I thank you all for being here today," Garnet said from behind a dark mahogany podium. The small crowd stood together silently, their hands clasped and their eyes on the Queen. The light drizzle did not phase a soul. Several, in fact, found it very suiting. A silent, somewhat solemn rain, as if Gaia knew why they were gathered. Eiko thought the entire time, she'd only be staring at Zidane's gleaming, engraved name, but instead, she found herself intensely focused on Garnet. The way she languidly moved and pressed her lips together. Eiko couldn't help but twist her hands into fists. "Today, we gather to celebrate a life that we must sadly declare as extinguished. We held onto hope for quite some time. And it's with a heavy heart…" Garnet paused momentarily, touching her temple. A rush of blood came over her and died away just as quick. "Excuse me…" She cleared her throat as Liam watched her somewhat earnestly from the edge of the gathered crowd. Eiko felt her eyes narrowing. At the very back of the crowd, Steiner and Beatrix stood shoulder to shoulder as the rain pelted against the metal of Steiner's armor and the slick cotton of Beatrix's coat. And just behind them, a quiet and elusive Zidane watched Garnet longingly, pressed into the damp velvety leaves. "It is with a heavy heart and so much regret that I stand before you now and dedicate this plaque and beautiful garden, arranged by the selfless Lady Freya of Burmecia, to Zidane Tribal; the hero of prevailing peace." Garnet was somewhat lightheaded as she looked to the bronze plaque that glistened in the steady humid summer rain. A pulse ran against her temple and she tore her eyes away. Zidane watched her very intently until movement in the corner of his eyes drew his attention away.
Just beyond another tall hedge, Delta was watching with keen interest. He pursed his lips, casting one fleeting glance at the ceremony. He darted across the walk path, grabbing Delta's shoulder and dragging her back. She was caught off-guard and let out a yelp, her thick dark braids beating wildly against her arms. Her chocolate eyes pierced Zidane. If looks could kill, the young man considered he'd be on the ground that moment. He grabbed her arm tightly, pressing her silver bracer into her skin. "Pretty funny to find you snooping at a moment like this," Zidane told her stiffly.
"The same could be said of you," Delta shot back, straightening her shoulders. "Who attends their own memorial service?"
"You did something to the Queen," Zidane said, backing her against the bush. "Now you're here to check on your work."
"Like I wanted to miss your memorial service," Delta grinned. "I always had wanted to see a crowd send you off."
"Quit being snide," Zidane ground his teeth together. "This is serious, Delta. Whatever you and the Trixies are cooking up, you better think twice. I think you're all in a little over your head. This is going to fail. Miserably. And who knows, the next crowd might be sendin' you or one of your sister's off."
"You don't know shit, Zidane," Delta sneered. "You're just bluffing because you don't know what's going to happen. You're scared and I can see that. But don't worry." Fluidly, she came up to caress Zidane's cheek. He cringed away from it. "Pretty soon, you'll have nothing to worry about anymore. There's nothing you can do about it, either, Zidane. You don't know numbers. You don't know tactics. Hell, you don't even know where or how it will begin. From which direction. With who and why. You don't have a leg to stand on, Zidane."
"The Alexandria Castle is onto you," Zidane warned her. "They know something is going on. If you think any of your people are going to be able to just waltz through the gates, you're dead wrong, Delta."
"Gods, you're so dense," Delta shook from his arm and walked a few paces, her silver body armor gleaming in the rain. "That's why I'm here, just like you. I'm getting intel. I'm going under the radar. I'm here to understand. Felicia walks those halls and I patrol these gardens. Do you really think we're scared of General One-Eyed and Captain Nerves? And each and every one of these little soldiers have a weak spot- both in their mind and in the flawed armor they are equipped with. There's thirty-two soldiers in total to protect this castle. Do you think it was going to be just the three of us knocking on your door?"
"Just tell me what you did to the Queen," Zidane took a step towards her and instinctively, her hand went to the hilt of her sword. "How does drugging the Queen play a part in your mutiny!?"
"I know you're an idiot, but you have the street smarts," Delta said, looking to him with stony eyes. "If I tell you what it is, you'll discover something to reverse it."
"I'll find out what it is."
"Well then, this conversation is over," Delta began to walk away, her boots clicking to the wet cobblestone. "It was a lovely ceremony, by the way."
Zidane was silent and tense, his helmet dangling in his hand. The rain had picked up and thunked loudly against his head, almost deafening him. Delta was right. Zidane didn't know what was going to happen. He felt his nerves grinding up against his skin and he was stiff as he turned to peer around the hedge. Garnet was gone. A small crowd remained. Eiko knelt before the plaque, uncaring of the rain soaking her. Her head was tilted, her lips just barely moving as she pressed her clasped hands to her forehead. Zidane felt his heart droop in his heart and he pursed his lips together, furrowing his brow.
…
The bar was warm and quiet when Delta and Felicia arrived, dress in cotton tunics and form fitting pants. As usual, they found Astrid lounging on the ratty couch, drinking ale after ale and scribbling in a small pocket notebook. When she spied her sisters, she scrambled upright, sticking her brown and white flecked plume between the pages. Boris was quick to serve the girls as they seated themselves, glancing around the bar. The workday hadn't ended yet. Only the vagrants of the streets had crawled in with their meager gil found in drainage holes and alleyways. Astrid seemed rather eager and in high spirits that late afternoon.
"Hello, you two," Astrid greeted as they settled into their chairs. "I hope you have news from ground zero."
"Yeah…" Delta nodded, reaching for her drink. "The potion seems to be working, but…"
"But?"
"She needs to drink more."
"What? Why?" Astrid furrowed her brow, pausing from her ale. "You told me it would last a lifetime."
"It does, under normal pretenses," Delta told her, sighing and casting a weary glance around. "It works perfectly fine when giving it to the waitress at your favorite diner. Queen Garnet is under great despair and mourning. When she spoke about Zidane at the memorial, I saw her pause. For a moment, it broke, but it ultimately held up. Another drink of it will help suppress her grief with extreme adoration for Liam."
"Hmph, not so easily brainwashed, huh?" Astrid fell against the back of the couch, blowing a dark framer from her face. "Felicia, any news from inside?"
"There's a cheese cellar on the north side of the kitchen," She said, her long red hair falling over her shoulder. "It has an outside exit that's overlooked and never locked. A very exacting way in. The second floor balcony on the west side has a garden trellis that can support both me and Delta at the same time. General Beatrix is with child and, therefore, not supervising."
"Well that's all good news," Astrid nodded, drinking her golden ale. "Delta, get in contact with Liam. Have him meet me here."
"Yes, Astrid."
"How does everything go on your side?" Felicia asked, looking to the youngest sister.
"It gets better and better every evening," Astrid grinned. "We have over one hundred and twenty people who want a change. And none of them are afraid to work for it."
"And when do the gears start to churn?" Delta tilted her head. "Zidane's onto me, Astrid. We can't delay too much longer. He'll start putting the pieces together."
The mention of Zidane caused her heartbeat to stutter, which she found wildly annoying. She kept reminding herself she didn't care about him. But she supposed she still did. She was, at the very least, keenly interested in him. For a moment, she remembered the necklace in her pocket. "He won't have the time. We wait for the first cold night of fall, just a few more weeks, that's all."
"Why then?" Delta pursed her lips. "That's still another harvest moon away."
Astrid sat forward, pressing her elbows to her knees. "I know I can net more people into our cause. I want a revolution of a grand scale. One that will be the first page of every history book that's to be written. We will change all of them as we forever know it. Besides, I have one more plan up my sleeve."
"And that is?"
Astrid seemed excited and she smiled widely. "We've accumulated a fine number of street-dwellers; those with no homes. They sleep on the cobblestone, they eat from the bins. And they're the ones we use first."
"They're your pawns," Delta crossed her arms over her chest and bobbed her knee. "But what's so strategic about them?"
"Well, in the days leading up to the attack, it would be rather unsuspecting if a few vagrants wandered onto the castle guards and got a little belligerent about not wanting to leave," Astrid looked between her sister's. "An effort that will require multiple soldiers to help corral the situation. And they will never be aware that the street-dwellers are carrying the mumps and the flu."
"Biological warfare?" Astrid lifted her eyebrows. "Quite a way to start."
"With hopefully a large amount of ill and infected soldiers, it will make it easier to penetrate and overrun the castle," Astrid nodded.
"What about me and Felicia?" Delta furrowed her brow. "We could get infected, too."
"Oh, you'll be off the team by the time this happens," Astrid passively waved her hand. "At that point, we will only be hours away from beginning what we've worked so hard to build. We'll have much more important things to tend to. We'll have all our intel by then."
"Well," Felicia looked between her sisters before she raised her stein. "Here's to the first frost of autumn."
"Here, here!" Astrid howled loudly, clanking their drinks together with vigor.