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Note: English is not my native language, and I lack beta/proofreader, therefore expect mistakes and wonky grammar.
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Part II
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"You look like something took a bite out of you."
It was not an uncommon sight. The bloodied Scion passing across the town square, from the aetheryte to the inn. The people of Morh Dona, and the locals at the Rising Stones were used to it, to the point they didn't even ask what happened, merely offered greetings and wishes for a swift recovery. After all, if the Warrior of Light returned in one piece, then all was well.
"It tried." Apart from an assortment of scratches, bruises, and at least one cracked rib, which, luckily for her, had not perforated anything vital, she had a nasty gash across her ribcage where the beast's claws had torn right through the leather armour. It was shallow but wide, and it still oozed, slicking her tattered leathers red.
Barehanded as she was, she clenched and un-clenched her fist, forcing out the ache and the numbness through sheer will. The remains of her weapon-s were left lying broken on the battlefield. She was shedding them the way some might shed accessories in some of those more dubious houses in the Mist. At this point, she really should consider investing in something more durable. A minor grimace pulled at her face – will she even have time to do so? "Is the bath free?" Kebhut asked instead.
"It is. And our medical supplies have been restocked, thanks to yours truly." Tataru dropped into a modest bow. The raen nodded, having every intention to clean all the toxins infesting her body, as well as bind all that needed binding. She needed sleep, if she could manage it, to put some distance between herself and the hollow bleakness that had settled in the aftermath of the 'hunt'.
A polite cough tore her out of her stupor.
"And before I forget-" something the ever-vigilant secretary never did, "there's a message for you from Bozja."
Now? It has been a fortnight... or more... She'd need to count the creatures killed to be sure. There was a big one every few days. "Cid?" Someone did try to reach her on the linkperal but the static was horrid. And there were teeth the size of her leg involved.
"No. Mikoto was her name, I believe. She managed to sound both frantic and curt at the same time."
She blew out a small sigh. "I'll see what it is about in a few."
"Oh! And a news you're likely to enjoy! There's a whole caravan of merchants from Ilsabard stopping here in Morh Dona. I thought you'd appreciate to take a look at their wares." The gleeful expression on lalafell's face was unmistakable. If it didn't involve the latest gossip it was-..."The 'Sirensong Sea' sold for quite a penny. To think I had to intervene with couple of zealous customers who simply would not give up on the purchase." She chuckled, clearly enjoying the memory. Tataru had the sort of charismatic polish that came with being listened to, by a sizable number of people, over many years. Small wonder that, given a choice, Estinien would sooner have another go at Nidhogg and all of his brood than spend any time around the lalafell spy-turned-secretary. "You simply must make more soon. We'll be out of stock in no time." The chipper lalafell clapped her hands together, eyes so bright one could clearly see the mark for gil in them.
A dreadful prospect, yes.
"When I'm not being eaten by primals, Tataru."
"You're quite right. You need to be well-rested and in good health or it simply will not turn out proper! And do take a look at the market! I made sure to explain to the merchants how disappointed the Warrior of Light would be should she miss chancing a look at their goods."
Tail sagging, the raen sighed.
"I look forward to seeing all your hard work pay-off in earnest!"
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Terncliff, some few days later...
She stepped onto the metal flooring of the airship dock. It hasn't been that long since her last visit – at least she believed it wasn't, but things kept happening at a pace that made her feel like it had been a long while. Raen's gaze went to the pylons, calculating the odds, but she's not likely to have the time even for that. It wasn't why she came all the way here, she thought clenching the large package in her hands, and her small, personal bag heavy with illicit market goods.
She had only briefly busied herself in the hangar, having a small discussion with Biggs and Wedge. She took in a deep breath, mentally going over the list of tasks set before her before she could-...
When a scream bellowed right next to her, making her tilt her head to the side in most comical of fashion, and was loud to have every onlooker stare in sudden state of shock, if not came running to see what the matter was. It was followed by a shaky, strangled "Y-your horn..." It left the local hero momentarily baffled, mostly because it was done in her face, and had her look at the wide and frightened eyes of the Black Wolf's only surviving child. "It's gone!"
"They-..."
"I should get Valdeaulin!"
With her free hand and an iron grip Kebhut halted the girl, before she could run off. "...-grow back."
Allie, who despite being younger than her still somehow managed to be taller, tried to break free of her, looking away with traces of panic in her expression. "Yes but-!" she shook her head fervently, seemingly to be at a loss of words.
A shadow fell over them, perfectly encompassing her and bloating out the sunny day.
"Allie. That is enough," a grunt of a reply and she heard him step closer, his footsteps quiet on the stone floor. "You can be certain that the Warrior of Light had sustained far more grievous injuries in the course of her life. I can tell you, this is not the first time a horn was broken."
Allie pursed her lips, as if that would drive off the cold feeling she was trying to work through. "I was surprised..." she started still clearly uncomfortable, but she cleared her throat and gave her a small smile. "Father didn't mention you were coming. Will you be staying with us?"
Kebhut nodded, mildly distracted. She hadn't really bothered to keep up with all the reports of goings on in the former provinces, but she did take a note that Severa and Valdeaulin were nowhere in sight. If Allie was allowed to roam around, then she was not considered a prisoner of war – and subsequently, neither was Gaius. That he was still carrying Heirsbane was proof enough. It wasn't that long ago that the Weapons have caused much devastation, but perhaps the locals valued Gaius' contribution enough to leave his family be.
It was either that or else they were, at the very least, given the appearance of freedom.
"There are still rooms in the apartment building. I'll-... I'll go ask Severa if she can get a key," she said it with such urgency before she sprinted off past Gaius, as if something was both snapping at her heels and breathing down her neck, and offering but a simple, quick wave back.
Even as she shifted the bulky package under one arm, Kebhut gave the girl one long, curious stare. She hadn't seen so much bottled up fear in a long while.
"Forgive her," a voice, curt, polite and namely that of her father, spoke from above. "She had witnessed many such injuries during her time in the VIIth. It is all too easy for her to imagine how losing all awareness on one side would feel like." Finally, he looked over at her. Beneath the scales on her right cheek as well as across the cheekbone, was a massive bruise. It had almost faded away, but the evidence of it was clear. Caused by the impact of the blow, he believed. "If I may ask, was it from a battle with the telophoroi?"
Briefly, she looked up at him, face hidden by the unpleasant glare of the sun. His towering height both absurd and only made that much more obvious this close. "It wasn't."
She turned to look at the hangar, merely standing there and not responding, and once more the silence stretched on. It could be a cause for frustration, even for someone who had spent a lifetime in the military. Gaius' glance bounced around the scene. "I will say, it is a surprise to see you here after the Weapons program has been dealt with. Any particular reason?"
"Making rounds," Kebhut spoke after a moment, dragging her back from her introspection and her sole focus on the package she was carrying. "And this. For Cid."
"Then I'm afraid you have just missed him. There is a field testing involving new systems, I believe. I cannot say when he shall be back."
Her eyes returned and locked to the hangar, the departing airship and the great blue expanse beyond, narrowed, as if she was contemplating if she could drag the inventor back by sheer will.
"I'm certain that someone at Irnonworks would gladly pass it on to him," Gaius considered, his stare unwavering, even as she looked on into the distance. As if that would somehow force her to focus on whoever was talking to her.
She let out a small hum and finally, turned back to him, eyes still distant, not really bothering with his presence. "It is for Cid. Not Nero."
A pause – as he couldn't really argue with that particular point and all that it entailed – and then he remarked. "Is that" he gestured at the package, nestled protectively in her arms, "also in your job description?"
"There is nothing else for me to do." A blunt answer as he was ever going to get.
"Trully? It is hard to believe that there is nothing for a hero of war to do during this reprieve... other than take a position of a postmoogle..." He trailed in infuriatingly dulcet tones — the sort one used on an especially bull-headed and unreasonable child. "But I suppose you were ever the sort to generously offer you help to others."
Her head snapped up sharply, lips pressed into a thin line and with a glare directed at him, and it pulled a silent chuckle out of him. Emotion. It was quite an achievement on his part, even as the impulse to tell him off vied with the slow, somnolent indifference brought on by familiar patterns – a practiced track she walked before.
There was a moment of punctuated silence which fell between them, until it was interrupted by Severa slinking closer, informing her that, since the inn was full, she could take up residence in one of the vacant apartment buildings. They're all still furnished, since after both the deadly epidemic a decade ago and Garlean treatment of the locals, it was still people that the town lacked.
With the key and a 'thank you' exchanged, the two former enemies were left alone once more.
"If you're that worried that someone might seal it," Gaius considered, his stare unwavering. it was unquestioningly something of a mocking tone as he watched her shift the package, "you can safely leave it in your room until his return. Come. I will show you to the building in use."
It didn't seem she would offer him a reply and he took a few steps forward.
"Chipped."
He turned to her with a questioning look in his eyes. "Pardon?"
"The Praetorium," she spoke softly as she walked past him, steps too silent even on metal and stone below her feet. "It was chipped, not broken."
His gaze cut into her, his expression was beyond that of a surprise, golden eyes going wide before narrowing. And for some reason – she took a great satisfaction in that.
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