Chapter 19: Future Home
It seemed like a long while until they could get some food. Most of the guests were affiliated with the government, Church, or military in some capacity, and knew of each other. They shook hands, blocking all exits, already getting to their purposes. Meanwhile, Tinnul's extended family flocked to the group that wore no uniforms.
Edie had her dress to talk about, and Jamie had his upcoming recruitment. Poor Larmie and Hajule listened to their opinions on, and on, and on, and on.
"What a delightful little family!" One lady in a wool blue dress said, pinching Jamie's cheek. "You and your sister must be the farmhands that the two of them work for. Does your father own a farm outside of Sina?"
"Yes," Jamie said, rubbing the spot where her fingers had pinched. "But we're hungry, so—"
"Oh, you are all so brave! We've heard stories of business owners and farmhands that get so little of the food they grow, as so much needs to spread so thin. I imagine you're punished if you even grasp the fruit and potatoes you make on your plots of land. Oh, you simply must meet my husband, Teiro Morton. He has connections in the military police and a great say in how much food people have. He may be able to portion your farm with more seed, enough to sustain the farmhands. But that all has to come from somewhere, and some region ends up complaining that they don't have enough to prosper. Not that anyone has enough to prosper nowadays, but that's how it goes." She pinched his cheek again and held out her hand to Edie, who took it and awkwardly squeezed it for a moment. "Your dress is absolutely beautiful, dear. A wonderfully authentic piece. I remember when those satins were all the rage. Someone in Wall Maria had put together a smoother blend that spread to the inner walls. Did your mother give it to you? Oh, she must've. There's no good vintage dressmakers anymore." The lady ran a finger on the hem of her dress. "The lady that made mine is hardly any good. She took three months and only has six clients, so you'd think she'd invest some of my money into a more comfortable outfit. You'd be wrong!" She laughed heartily and pinched a little of Edie's green satin. "Lovely, lovely blend. You'll be a star on the dance floor. It's Lady Eleanor Morton, if you're ever in need of good company or a decent husband. Have a lovely, lovely time, dear. We don't have weddings like this anymore."
Lady Morton strode over to a short, balding man, and linked arms with him; she pulled him toward the exit just as another family member filled her place. The lucky couple were nowhere to be found.
Jamie knelt a little and whispered, "If I don't get food, we're making a break for the nearest village."
Edie scrunched up her skirts. "I think I can run in this satin."
"You'd better. I've got one goal right now." He eyed the door and braced for the next guest. "We've only got a couple hours to be here, and we're wasting time listening to these old codgers talk about times long past. I don't give a rat's ass about genealogy and who's in line for the lordship of some place or another."
"Jamie!"
"What? It's not like Mother can hear me." He straightened his shoulders. "It's grown up talk."
She gave him a narrowed look. "Still. Do you think you'll get further by cursing?"
"Probably not. But I really don't give a rat's ass." He huffed and turned to the next guest, still bearing that glance. "We're hungry!"
But a new challenger had approached. "Are you?" A white and blue unicorn gleamed at eye level, with a familiar frame. Private Amile held out his arm to Edie, who took it, holding hands with Jamie. "Watch this." With wide strides, he led the lady and her brother through the center aisle, smiling and nodding at the stuffy family and military members. In half a minute, they broke through the doors and into golden hour sunlight. Edie squinted and relied on her guide, who swept to the far right at a round table in the corner. He pulled out a chair for her and shook hands with Jamie. "Presto."
Jamie gaped. "We've been trying to leave for forever!"
"Well, being an invisible policeman has its benefits. I'm not important enough for anyone to stop and talk to, and it follows that anyone I speak to isn't, either."
"But we were in the second row."
"You must be close to the groom, then. Congratulations, by the way. A very happy occasion." He patted his hand on the table. "Quite a turnout. Shall I get us some beverages? Sparkling juice for the gentleman, wine for the lady? They're got the stuff by Jexta."
Edie shook her head. "Just water, Amile. Thanks."
"Be right back."
Jamie sat, elbows on the table. Orange light showed dust floating around his head like a halo, mussed up more as he bounced. "So, what'd you think of your first new wedding?"
"Awfully fancy. I feel bad for Corini and Tinnul, but at least they're all having fun." She lifted her chin at a group of Garrison members, feasting on running red wine, laughing and throwing punches at the sun. "There'd better be fancy food to match all the frills."
"Or else." He found a cup of toothpicks in the center of the table and wedged one in his lip. "Now I really look like a farmer's son."
"Amile might want to show you off as a protégé." She smiled at the thought. "Definitely wear that when he does."
"Hey, the backwoods and underground ones are the fighters you really have to look out for."
The private returned, setting Jamie's drink down with a bit of weight and sweeping his arm around Edie to deliver her water. "There's exciting news from the capitol. One of the most elite circles is recruiting new members."
"What for?"
He shrugged. "No one knows, but it's definitely got ties to the Church. They're just letting military police even audition, but I've got a good chance, holding a rank and all. Apparently, the best fighters in the whole military police are a part of this squad, and one of the king's men leads the charge. It'd be a great honor to be accepted, not to mention a pay increase and guaranteed housing in the capital."
"I thought you didn't care about living in the capital."
"No, but with all the uncertainty around the walls, it'd be good to be closer to the inside. We'd make decisions regarding the health and safety of all of humanity. Isn't that just fascinating?"
Jamie furrowed his eyebrows. "Assuming there's really no one on the other side of the walls?"
"Hmm? Of course there aren't. How could anyone fight off the titans alone?"
Edie pinched his arm, and he snapped out of it. "Yeah, right. Silly me."
"Anyway, did you explore Wall Sina this morning?"
"No, we only went through the front gates and city."
"It's got fascinating architecture and art throughout. I can take you to see it sometime, if you want. If I get this promotion, I'll have more time off, just with missions and stuff."
"So, you'll be like a scout," Jamie butted in, "but for secret stuff."
"You probably shouldn't be talking about this," Edie mentioned. "Plus, I'm not looking to get involved in any underground government stuff."
"Well—yes, but you're good friends. We're close."
The siblings stared at him for a moment, only stopping when Edie said, "sure," in a light tone. "It would be nice to have an outing before you start training."
"Mother and father might be bummed that they couldn't come. Plus, we've got a lot of memories around the farm." He snapped. "Before I forget, we need to have dinner with Mr. Solway one of these days. He's been awfully busy with town repairs, and we haven't had a get-together in a minute."
"Sure. He might enjoy coming to our house, though. To get away from it all."
"Yeah." Jamie turned to the private, who still stood behind Edie. "The government didn't do much to fix the town, but Mr. Solway's hired two people for his shop and donated his own supplies to repair houses and roads. Who knew titans could smash through buildings, just to get to a snack?"
"That's nothing to take lightly," Amile chided. "Besides, the government has a lot to take care of with people losing their homes. It's not fair to put the blame on them because some houses got damaged."
"It's our home," Edie said with an even tone. "And many were destroyed."
He nodded slowly, swallowed, and lifted his eyes toward a group of commanders milling together. "Yes, well—ah, I'll see you both later. I've got to to some milling about of my own." He ducked his head and hurried away, ears red. Edie and Jamie kept chatting about the wedding.
Soon, the food came, and Jamie wasn't disappointed. They started with boiled potatoes and vegetables coated in salt and mountain spices, aside a rich soup, so different from the watered down vegetable soup common in their home. Next, the chefs brought baskets of bread. Others joined their table at this point but were deep in conversation. They were Garrison members, already quite wasted, and they weren't interested in Jamie's bottomless sparkling juice or baskets of bread. He starting wrapping rolls in napkins, disappearing to the bathrooms, then without the napkins. They'd snack for weeks, given the horses didn't find his wagon stash. Next, they brought meat—whole slabs of it. Jamie squeaked, too loud to go unnoticed, and cut his piece into huge chunks, chewing each for three minutes. Edie finished hers too quickly, but he wasn't gracious. He was just, and justice gave each person their own piece. This was not bottomless.
A whole hour passed, with desserts masking the speeches and beginning dances. They spotted Corini and Tinnul, who had been stuck to the wedding party's table, finally in the center, dancing together with strained smiles. Regardless, when the music ended, he caressed his bride's face and genuinely grinned as they kissed. Other couples took to the floor, following in similar patterns. They were most of the nobles and stuffy looking businesspeople; Edie spotted the lady from earlier, her name already forgotten.
They saw Hajule and Larmie on the floor, swaying and smiling. Edie watched them for a while, her heart swelling, but their son's eyes were on the door. That is, until a voice glided in from above.
"Enjoying the party?"
Jamie's eyes widened, and he stood out face the huge commander. He bowed four times, nodding through the whole gesture. "Hello Commander Erwin, sir! How are you, this party is very nice indeed! We got to eat meat for the first time in nearly a year and I don't think my sister has ever eaten it since her accident."
Edie gave him a look, then shook hands with the commander. "Good to see you again."
"You as well. Is your business still well?"
"It is. Larmie was able to find farmhands to cover the whole day, which was unheard of since Maria fell. There's certainly an element of stability floating around." Behind him, two more scouts stepped forward, both wearing long, unbuttoned green coats. "Hello, captain."
Commander Erwin turned, motioning to his colleagues. "You've met Captain Levi, and this is Captain Hange. She leads our research division, as well as her squad on missions."
"I've heard!" Jamie bowed to both of them in turn. "It's good to see you and then meet you!" His cheeks was redder than the sun-setting sky.
The new captain leaned forward, holding out one hand for a shake and adjusting her glasses with the other. "Oh, so you're the Edie that Levi won't shut up about!"
"Hange," he said in a warningful voice.
She must've been tone deaf. "I begged the commander to take me to meet you; trust me, I would've convinced you to join the scouts. It's a fascinating scenario that you took care of, and we don't see that kind of adeptness among usual residents." She stepped to the side and put an arm around Edie's shoulder. "So, do you have a theory as to how a titan got into the walls without anybody noticing?"
"Bad luck."
"But even luck needs a beginning. You know what they say, give the devils a foothold, and they'll take a mile. So what do you do when the devils get inside, and you haven't given them so much as an inch?" She rubbed her hands together. "All the walls were sealed and carefully monitored after the falling, but a community still gets attacked. It's a failure for multiple parts and a mystery that needs cracking."
"Someone might've kept one as a pet, you know, one of those eccentrics in the country," Jamie offered, his hands trembling with excitement. "They've got money coming out of their ears."
"And other place!" Hajule nearly shoved Edie aside and grabbed Jamie. "You'll be with us in half a year, is that right?"
"Soon as I'm done with training," he agreed.
She squealed and wriggled about. Edie noticed a bit of the same fidgetness about Jamie; they both must've caught a bug. "You can be on my squad. I'll show you all you need to know about fighting titans and finding what makes them tick."
"Alright!"
"Got any experience with a sword?"
"Yeah, there's this guy who comes to our farm pretty often and helps me practice. It's with a wooden one, but it's pretty light." Jamie cracked his knuckles. "I'll be glad to get the real thing in my hands, though."
"Absolutely." She jumped into the aisle, with the beginning streams of moonlight glinting on her glasses. "I've got my steel with my horse. With a little luck, we'll have you ready to slaughter a titan in an hour! Just like your sister."
"For the record, Captain Levi killed the titan."
Hange waved her hand. "He's got enough to his name. But a civilian—"
"There'll be plenty of time for training in future," Commander Erwin interrupted. "Let's not spoil the happy couple's day with this kind of talk. But speaking of recruitment, Jamie, I was hoping to acquire your assistance with a mission."
"Hmm? Yes, absolutely. What do I need to do?"
"Just be yourself. We're beginning our rounds of the guests. Unfortunately, since Wall Maria's falling, many in the government want to relocate most resources to the Garrison and Military Police, believing exploration to be beyond our goals now. However, aside from taking Wall Maria back, we need to increase the Scouts in order to explore beyond that wall again."
"I agree."
"Since you are already decided to join the Scouts, your say as a young person would be the affective evidence necessary to convince them. We have several elite officials to discuss with, ones who are less convinced in an office."
Jamie's eyes faded a bit, and he found his parents chatting near the exit. "Uh, well, my mother and father said we were leaving in a bit. I'm only staying fifteen minutes more."
Hange gasped again. "Your parents are here? How delightful! I'll convince them to let you stay with us. We can ride you back home, no matter how late it is. How much safer can you be, then with the Scouts?" With that, she marched toward the gate toward the unsuspecting couple.
Erwin smiled and looked back at Jamie. "Whether or not she convinces them, they'll be unintentionally listening for at least an hour." He held out his hand. "Shall we?"
The junior scout, eyes gleaming, followed to the first prey. Edie folded her hands in front of her and focused on the remaining guest. "Are you joining them?"
"I'm not an asset at these gatherings," the captain admitted. "But they're enjoyable."
"If you're privy to wine and dine."
"You didn't enjoy the meal?"
Edie shook her head. "The food was excellent, but I'm not in the habit of drinking alcohol, and Jamie's sparkling juice was far too sweet."
"There's hot tea and water, if you know who to ask."
"Who do you ask?"
He held out his arm, and she took it. They rounded the dance floor to the bar and ducked inside, where chefs bustled inside. The captain named the chef, and they talked for a few minutes, then he made a request. The two stepped outside with steaming mugs. "Chamomile and mint. It's lovely."
"You know your tea."
"It's common enough." She sipped tentatively. "How have things been for you?"
"Decent. We're leading another mission in Wall Maria to map where most titans are, which will help chart future expeditions."
"That sounds productive."
"Mm."
She tilted her head, eyes inquisitive. "Have you any family in—"
"Would you like to dance?"
Edie blinked. "Pardon me?"
"Would you dance with me?"
She pressed her lips together, looking for Larmie and Hajule. They'd finished talking to Hange (supposedly given their permission) and were just that much closer to the exit. She supposed three or four minutes wouldn't hurt. She looked back at the captain. "…yes."
He took her hand, wrapping his completely around hers, and led her to the floor. The musicians readied to start a new song, the melody Jamie had hummed a week earlier. She put one hand in his, and the other on his shoulder. Only a thin dress shirt separated his back from her palm. "Follow my lead."
"Only if you're leading well," she quipped, willing her stomach to calm.
The strings began, lightly at first, then growing in volume and speed. Her feet remembered and followed his.
"Your dress is breathtaking."
"Thank you. It's one of Hajule's, from when she was younger."
"The color is very reminiscent." His jacket brushed against her skirts, one for a moment, before hers slipped free. "We chose the green initially to blend in with our background."
"Camouflage."
"Yes."
"You would've thought your were a predator." She paused, spinning with one hand held high. "Or prey."
"It's easier to think of the titans as animals, intelligent or not." He pressed his hand on her back for a wide spin. "What's your opinion?"
"That I'd rather be talking about something else at a wedding reception." Her face swayed close to his, and a coy smile lit her eyes. "I'm no scout."
"You've got the mind of one. And the outfit."
"You think I could grapple in this dress?"
"You'd be the most stunning flier."
Edie smiled graciously, stepping back a few inches. "Well, being in the military isn't everyone's dream. Some people want to run a business in peace, or provide for their family. All is honorable, so long as it's truthful."
"That's a bit hypocrytic, don't you think?"
"Oh?"
She spun out, then in, her back to his chest. He leaned close to her ear. "As I recall, you don't intend to marry."
"Excuse me?"
"You're giving that private a different impression."
Edie pursed her lips, squeezing her hand too tight. "Amile has been nothing but forward with his intentions. He wants to help Jamie with his fighting, that's all. We're friends."
"Please. You're sitting with him at a wedding. If you were friends, you'd talk for a minute and part ways. Not to mention his relationship with Jamie."
"That's none of your business."
"Isn't it?"
"No. And you're no expert on social protocol at weddings."
He grimaced. "You'd be surprised how many of these we're invited to."
"Not really. It's all political, isn't it?" She let go of one hand for a moment to send her skirts flourishing, brushing against another couple. "No one can draw weapons, lest you ruin a happy bride's special day. Everyone's indebted to whoever paid for the food, so no branch has higher ground. It's not a conference, or a war meeting, so the moment conversation goes downhill, everyone goes back to wine and dine. It's a perfect spot to flaunt and weave."
Neither made eye contact. "The scouts don't have reason to flaunt."
"Then explain what your commander is doing with my little brother. He's not even a part of the military, yet he's already used as a pawn. That seems manipulative to me, but what would a farmhand know?"
His eyes narrowed. "No one thinks of you that way."
"Think what you want. But there's nothing going on between Private Amile and I."
"Fine if there is. Do what you want. I just don't appreciate being lied to."
"There's no lie. I'm not looking to get involved or tied down. Attachments slow a person down and lead to disappointment, which I know you've experienced." They swayed in a circle, faces close to one another and turned away. "It's easier to live with people neutrally, as coworkers, not making promises to love and let lie till death do us part. Why make a promise that can only end in misery?"
"So you plan to live alone."
"I have Larmie and Hajule to take care of, when Jamie gets famous or killed."
"When they die?"
"Then that'll be the end of me. I don't expect any more out of life here."
The captain pressed his lips together. "Either way is misery."
"Agreed."
"But with family, you don't have much choice."
"No." They held hands in the air, side by side now, smiling in a bit of jest. "So take care of my brother."
He met her eyes again. "I will."
The strings swelled once more, and they turned in a wide circle, then faced each other and bowed. But as other clapped for the musicians, who raised their hands in thanks, the two stood there. Other couples started talking, conversing lightly about the wondrous stars and beautiful candlelight, but Edie focused on his eyes. Try her hardest, she couldn't read them, whether there was childish hope, pessimism, or overconfidence. No word matched that gaze, nor the positive ones. He wasn't brimming with happiness or great plans. He wasn't looking away; he wasn't bothered by the possibility of stares. She tried to label his look as unfazed, but that wasn't it, either. It was something awfully, terribly, monstrously genuine. There it was—that terrible pain, but resolution, in the midst of it all.
He promised to take care of Jamie. Breath caught in her throat. Twice.
She jerked free, stepping a few feet away and blinking madly. "Thank you for the stimulating conversation, captain. I hope you have a wonderful evening and a successful campaign."
"Miss Cartwell—"
"Captain." She pushed away his hand. "Thank you for the tea. Good night."
