Chapter 9 – Walk in the Moonlight
"Where to?" asked the caravan leader.
"Nanohana," the man said curtly.
"Walking or riding?"
"Both."
The caravan leader hesitated. He remembered the army officer who stopped by - looking for a suspicious young man and woman.
"How many?"
"Three. Me and my cousins."
It had been a pair the officer was looking for. The caravan leader pushed the papers at the man and had him make his mark. "We leave in fifteen minutes, Mr..ah," – he read the signed paper – "Toto."
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On the way to Nanohana…
The old caravan routes were busy, especially at night when the cold temperature of the desert made the long sedate journey more comfortable. Vivi had quietly procured a camel from the stables for their transportation, insisting that no one would miss 'Eyelash' until it was too late. This time tomorrow he, Vivi, and Eric would be in Nanohana.
"Would you like some of my water?" Eric asked, beaming up at Vivi. He wasn't paying attention to the road and almost fell.
Kohza pulled the hood further over his eyes so he wouldn't witness how pathetic his friend had become.
Eric had joined the rebellion early and been one of Kohza's trusted advisers. He'd fought against bandits in the deserts and ridden at the head of the charge on Alubana. Rebels throughout the country recognized him on sight from his top hat and from his no-nonsense mien.
And now Eric was a complete, blithering idiot.
Kohza had shown up at the decided upon meeting point with Vivi in tow. He'd expected Eric to take up vocal protest about Vivi accompanying them to Nanohana and had counted on his friend immediately seeing the idiocy in allowing a princess to tag along on business that required discretion and care. Instead, Eric had struggled to find a voice to speak with and when he managed to stammer the words out, it had been an embarrassed, enthusiastic welcome.
What was it about royalty that turned fine intelligent men into slavering peons? Kohza wondered darkly. He tried to give his friend some credit though. Some respect for the royal family was still left in Eric.
It hadn't been beaten out of him like it had been for Kohza. Literally beaten out of him…
Vivi began guiding the camel out of the caravan line. "It's someone else's turn to ride," Vivi declared.
"No, no, Pri" – Eric saw the dark look Kohza gave him – "I mean, Vivi. You should ride the entire way."
"That's not fair to you two." The camel obediently lay in the sand so that Vivi could dismount. She offered the reins to them. "Please."
The camel grunted loudly. Vivi glared at the animal. "When you joined the Spot Bill Duck Brigade you agreed to certain conduct."
The camel grunted again.
"Any rider, Eyelash. Not just me," Vivi said firmly. She looked at them anxiously. "Hurry up and get on before he changes his mind."
"Go on, Eric," Kohza ordered. His friend began to protest, but Vivi was already handing him the reins.
"And don't make any trouble," she said fiercely as Eric took his seat in the saddle.
The young man was startled. "I would never, ever, make – "
"I didn't mean you," Vivi said quickly. "I know that you would never be trouble."
Eric was relieved. "I would hate for you to think that I – "
"We're being left behind," Kohza said impatiently.
They rejoined the caravan.
Vivi begin humming to herself, keeping step to the rhythm of the song. She sang the words in her heart.
"You're in a good mood," Kohza observed.
"It's like I can take a full breath again now that I'm out of the palace. I haven't been in one place for so long in a long time." She pulled her hood back and stared at the sky. "Even the moon seems more beautiful out here in the desert."
Kohza wasn't looking at the moon – or where he was going. He stumbled in the treacherous sand.
Vivi had his arm and steadied him. She blurted the questions one after another. "Are you tired? Is it your injuries? Do you need a rest?"
Eric had seen him stagger. "Kohza, take my place – "
"No!" Kohza forced himself to relax. "I'm fine. I'm not tired."
He grabbed Vivi's hood and pulled it over her head again. "Are you trying to get recognized? Someone might see you like that. Don't make me remind you again."
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Kohza looked to the horizon, willing for Nanohana to appear.
Is it your injuries? she had asked. He only wished.
Damn the moonlight.
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A/N: Eric is from OP: Blue. He's one of Kohza's advisers during the rebellion. He usually wears a top hat and coat with tails. The fact that he's a Vivi fanboy is my fiction not Oda's. : )