Chapter Nine
The afternoon meeting was held in the royal council chamber, formal in contrast to the cosiness of the previous evening. Millerna looked healthier than might have been expected, and seemed very alert and focused. Everyone sat around a circular table, and it felt very businesslike. Serena was there again, and Gadeth with her. Van was annoyed by that; Serena had already said her piece last night and Gadeth had nothing to do with this. He was just a sergeant. However, when he looked at Cid, flanked by his monks, he realised the couple might be there in their capacity as supporters, servants of the Asturian crown. It made him wish he had brought someone with him; even Meruru would have been backup. Another way in which he was at a disadvantage.
'Having considered everything we've heard together,' Millerna said straight away, 'I wish to propose that we send a joint expedition to Zaibach with the aim of establishing, if not a military occupation, a caretaker government. We can help the people of Zaibach to rebuild their society and at the same time benefit from their technology. I believe this is a responsible course of action for the security of our own countries and for the wellbeing of Zaibach. We can expand our alliance from three nations to four, with a mutual interest in one another's success. And I propose that we do this as soon as possible, before the situation has a chance to deteriorate further.'
'I agree,' Cid said. 'If we can help them at the same time as making ourselves stronger, that will be the best for everyone.'
'It's up to you, Van,' said Allen. They all looked at him; even Brother Arctu suspended his prayers and lifted his watery eyes to regard him. I'm outnumbered.
'Well, it's not as though I have a better idea,' he began. 'I agree something has to be done, and while I'm not sure this is the thing to do, I'll go along with it. I agree to make an equal contribution of Fanelian resources to the expedition.'
'Thank you, Van,' said Millerna. 'From all of us.'
'You're welcome,' he said. That was all they needed. It's their thing.
'What remains now,' Allen said, 'is to decide who will go. I would volunteer, but I feel my place now is with Millerna. Besides, I think there is someone whose experience fits her better for such a mission - Serena, you should go.'
'Experience of Zaibach, yes,' Serena said. 'Experience of leading Asturian forces, squat. I can't help feeling that, although I passed the tests, I've been playing at being a knight. You've been giving me an easy start, not asking me to do anything too hard.'
'Exactly,' Allen said. 'That's why, now you have settled in, you need a challenge. If you are serious about this, you will see that. And you have told me many times that you are. Perhaps I have shown you some special consideration, because you're my sister and I had it in my power to pave the way for you, but because you are my sister, I would expect you to show honour and courage.'
'I just don't know if you should trust me with something so important. You're not saying I would be in charge, are you?'
'Not in sole charge,' Millerna said, 'because this is a joint venture. You would be the representative of the Asturian Crown, working together with representatives of Freid and Fanelia.'
'Also,' Allen said, 'I believe Gadeth will want to go with you.'
'Damn straight,' said Gadeth. He was smiling.
'Did you know about this?' Serena demanded of him.
'I didn't know what was going to happen,' he said, 'but I knew what would be the plan if everyone said yes.'
'Thank you for keeping it from me.'
'The Boss only told me about it half an hour ago,' he said. 'It's not like I've been sitting on it.'
'The question now,' said Allen with a little smile, 'is only whether he can accept his wife being his commanding officer.'
'I don't think he'll have any problems adjusting to that,' said Serena primly. 'He knows how to do as he's told.'
'I'm not touching that one,' Gadeth said, raising his hands innocently. It was strange to have a joke with the Boss again; it might mean things were improving.
'Oh, stop teasing her,' Millerna said. 'We trust both of you. Your service to the Crown in this matter will be gratefully remembered.'
'I have a presentative too,' Cid said. 'I want to send Brother Arctu and Brother Ailo. That's part of why I brought them, so they would know everything that was going on from the start. Brother Arctu understands how people think, and his prayers will work for us. And Brother Ailo is trained in martial arts as well as diplomacy.'
'When one fails, try the other,' Brother Ailo said with a self-deprecating smile. 'I would consider it an honour to serve alongside Asturia's knights. For a long time the monks of my order protected the secret of Atlantis. If we are not to become redundant in the new world, we must make ourselves useful in new ways.'
'And you, Van? Who will you send to represent the Crown of Fanelia?' Millerna asked.
'The Crown of Fanelia will represent itself,' Van said. 'I'll go.' The decision had come to him just in the last couple of minutes, but he knew absolutely it was what he wanted to do. There was a general stir around the table; it felt good to make them sit up and take notice like that.
'Are you sure that's wise?' Millerna asked. 'To place yourself in danger again? Your people need you.'
'I'll be serving my people better by personally dealing with the situation,' he told her. 'I still have strong doubts about this. I want to be there myself to try to make things come out right. Fanelia is recovering well and I have helpers I can trust to mind the store for me.'
'Well, none of us can tell you no,' Millerna began. She looked doubtful.
'I think it's very brave of you,' Cid said. 'I would go if I was old enough.'
'The choice is made,' said Brother Arctu, startling them all. He had a reedy, gentle voice. 'A new star is rising,' he said. He folded his hands quietly, letting his prayer beads rest in his lap, and closed his eyes.
'He's getting positively gabby,' said Ailo. 'That's twice in a fortnight. What has passed today is very important.'
'In that case,' Allen said, 'troops will be selected, preparations will be made, and a convoy will go to Zaibach. Let us all hope and pray for the best.'
Van had to go back to Fanelia first, of course. Serena saw him to the airfield, just as she had met him on arrival, the dutiful knight. The airship was not quite ready for Van to board when they got there, so they stood around by the carriage and waited, looking around aimlessly so as not to look at each other. It was another bright, cold day, and it was windy up on the hillside. Serena's cold was still not gone and she kept trying to cough quietly, not to be noticed.
'You'd better try to get rid of that before we set off,' Van said at last. He was getting tired of the rather piteous coughing.
'I'm sure I'll be better in a couple of days,' she said. 'I might spend a day in bed now this is settled. Rest up ready.' She blew her nose yet again. 'I don't think it will really impress anyone if the Asturian Crown Representative has a constant sniffle. But I think it will make a big impression that the King of Fanelia is coming in person.' She tucked the handkerchief away and looked sidelong at Van, then turned to face him. 'You know what? I don't particularly like you.'
'Oh?'
'It's rather a relief to realise it. I had this idea that I had a duty to make friends with you, because of what Dilandau did to you, to prove that I was different and make everything right. I do like people to like me. But you know what? I don't care if you don't like me, because I don't like you. That's a really comfortable feeling.' She smiled.
Van wasn't sure what to say. 'Well, good for you.'
'I'm hoping that now we have that mutual understanding, we can work together without too much friction. All right? We both believe this mission is important, even if we have different angles on the situation. Let's just do our best together.' She held out her hand. It was such a cheery, confident gesture.
'You're really, really weird. You do know that, don't you?' But he took her hand, and shook it.
'Best enemies,' she said.
'I suppose so.'
'Van-sama?' said the airship captain, approaching them. 'We're ready for you to board.'
'See you later,' said Serena.
'Yeah see you.'
'Are you going to take Escaflowne?' Meruru asked. She was standing over Van with her fists on her hips while he packed his duffel bag.
'Of course not,' said Van. 'We're not going there to conquer them. That's been done. Escaflowne is resting and I hope it never has to wake again in my lifetime. Pass me those socks from the drawer, will you?'
Meruru picked up the socks very huffily and slapped them into Van's waiting hand. 'It's going to be far too dangerous. You should let someone else go. Send Argus. Or Remy. You can't risk yourself like this.'
'I won't feel right unless I go and see about this myself,' Van said. 'Argus and Remy are good men but they're not me and they won't know what I want done every step of the way. And as for the danger, I've been in danger before. That's not a reason not to go.' He patted her shoulder. 'You can see that, Meruru.'
To his great surprise, she threw her arms round his neck and leaned against him, hiding her face in his shoulder. It wasn't the usual impetuous Meruru hug. She was very still, except for a slight trembling. Her voice was muffled when she spoke, but he could still understand her.
'What about because I just don't want you to go? Is that a good reason?'
'Meruru' He stroked her hair, trying to think what to say to make it easy for her. 'I'm relying on you to keep everything going here while I'm gone. I know you can do it. I sometimes think you're twice as tough as I am.'
'That just isn't true,' she said. 'You're so brave, and you've been through such terrible things, and I don't want you to any more. I want you to stay at home with me and be happy.'
'I am happy when I'm with you I'm doing this for you, and everyone in Fanelia, so in the future I can just stay here and take care of you all.'
'So you'll go away into a country where God knows what could happen, for everyone in Fanelia, but you won't stay here for me? I've been trying so hard for you. Do you know how long it took just to get people to pay attention when I gave instructions? I don't like it. People make fun of me when they think I can't hear. I'm doing it for you, because I love you.' She still kept her face pressed against his shirt.
'Meruru it's not the same thing. I'm going because I love you too, silly.'
She raised her head and looked him in the face. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she was not going to cry, not yet. 'But you wouldn't ever kiss me, would you?'
A flurry of possible replies passed through Van's head: but you're younger than me, but we've known each other forever and it would be too weird, but I've never kissed anyone, even Hitomi. Hitomi. Maybe maybe I should try. It would make more sense. It might help me forget her. And if it would make Meruru happy
'Of course I will,' he said, and ducked his head down, a little awkwardly, and kissed her on the mouth. He could feel how much it startled her - her arms stiffened and she made a little 'nk' sound in her throat, almost a protest. Neither of them had their eyes closed, Meruru because she hadn't been expecting a kiss, Van because he wasn't sure he could get the kiss on target if he wasn't looking, and it was unnerving to have such a close view of one another's faces. He put one hand to her cheek, to the soft peachfur texture of her face, reminding himself she was cute, she was pretty, she loved him, it was really all right. He realised he wasn't sure how you finished a kiss, at what point you could stop pressing your lips against the girl's without it being too quick or too long. It must have been five full seconds. Was it all right to stop? He needed to breathe.
Meruru drew back first, so he didn't have to decide. She was blushing. Neither of them could speak yet. Meruru lowered her arms, stepped back from him a little, unwilling to meet his eyes now.
'I think you ought to go,' she said, and ran out of the room.
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