Author's Notes
Hi to everyone!^_^
I'm back, even sooner than expected.
Easter holydays are over, and even if I found a very little time to write while on vacancy, once came back I started working, and now the last chapter is finally ready.
I said last chapter because this will be the last numbered one. After this there will be the "Epilogue" and a brief "Extra"
Many thanks to all the ones that read and review this story!^^
See you soon!^_^
Cj Spencer
14
Probably Rocco's wish was to be buried in his ancestors' motherland near Naples; however, considering that both his parents were already dead and no one of his relatives lived there, the widow had ultimately made the decision to have him close to her and their daughter.
After the funeral, a small group of people followed the hearse till Sant'Anna's monumental graveyard, and once again were Rocco's former companions to carry the coffin on shoulder to its final rest place.
Everyone remained silent when the priest gave the final blessing; then, while the Silenzio was played one more time, and all soldiers present gave the final salute their comrade, the undertakers slowly lowered the coffin into the hole.
The widow and her daughter remained close to the tomb for a long time, crying and praying silently with an almost outstanding self-control that left Lunardi speechless. Just six years before that woman had already buried their second-born, killed by leukemia before reaching his sixth year of life, but even like this Flavio was unable to understand how could a human being face such tremendous pain without exploding.
All this did nothing but making his shame for himself grow even more, and the Captain was no more so sure that his sense of duty was enough to keep it at bay; right for this, from Pedersoli to Amato and the others, everyone felt a jolt and started sweating when they saw Lunardi fast-stepping toward the widow.
«Mrs. Rocco?»
She turned to him, and for a second no one spoke in the whole cemetery.
«Captain Flavio Lunardi, Folgore Airborne Division.» he respectfully saluted her. «I just want to tell you that your husband was a true hero. My squad and I owe him our lives. If we're here, it's just for his sacrifice.»
«He always said that he was ready to die if forced to choose between his life and someone else's. At least, he's been loyal to his heart till the end.» said the woman before turning to him with a sad but even lifted smile. «Thank you Captain.»
Lunardi saluted her again, then he silently turned back, stopping for a moment at Pedersoli's side.
«You did the right choice, Flavio. Otherwise, Rocco would've died for nothing.»
«You have power, General. Don't let this happen again.» then he left without waiting the others.
There was gala public crowds in front of the Gran Teatro la Fenice in Venice, ready to assist to one of the most announced and awaited operas of the year: the prima of "Aegisto", the new opera of one of the most celebrated musicians of the century, the Russian-Italian director Dimitri Vodnikov.
For the first time in history, the whole world was about to see a special opera based on historical events of the Special Region. For days and months, everyone speculated about the existence of this work, and even if the special event and its name had become public just a couple of weeks before, its particular plot had pursued journalists, reporters and opera lovers from all over the world to reach the city of the water for the prima.
And of course, everyone knew that an important contribution to that spectacular event came from Japan and former Prime Minister Motoi, whose last decision before resigning had been to share part of the Empire's ancient history and other less important information with the rest of the world. Probably, that opera was mainly just one more attempt by Italy to catch Japan's sympathies in the Special Region's affair, but the fact of seeing Minister Kano among the special guests, even accompanied by the official Imperial Ambassador on Japan, the young but skillful Sherry Tyueli, was enough for the other ambassadors present there to feel their blood boil for rage.
When the theatre's door were still closed, even the Prime Minister Rigamonti appeared on the scene, but this time, for everyone's surprise, he wasn't alone; at his side, surrounded like him by a strong defensive wall of bodyguards, there was a magnificent young woman with long black hair and a rich evening dress, that caught almost immediately paparazzi's flashes.
Rigamonti's lack of interest for other women since his wife's death was well known, not to mention that his endless loyalty to her memory was one of the many reasons for his being so well-considered by his people: that's why everyone immediately started speculating about his new partner's identity, but every attempt to approach the newcomers by journalists was immediately stopped by the bodyguards.
But the truth was that what all presents were desperately trying to approach or snap was nothing but a shell, an illusion under which someone completely different was hiding, right under their nose.
«Are you sure this will work?» Rigamonti asked
«Illusion spells are my innate talent since birth. I can show my true face only to whom I want.»
A few minutes later the doors opened, and the crowd started pouring into the theatre. While in the foyer, Rigamonti and Kanaria saw Kano approaching them, and the Prime Minister in particular broke in a cold sweat at the sight of the Imperial Ambassador at his side.
«Prime Minister Rigamonti.» Kano said with a smile.
«Minister Kano.»
«Let me introduce you Her Excellency Sherry Tyueli, Imperial Ambassador.»
«It's an honor to meet you, Ambassador.»
«Same for me, Sir. Minister Kano told me all you did to protect our peaceful relationships with Japan. I hope we'll be able to repay our debt as soon as possible.»
«I'm sure this occasion will come sooner or later. Please, enjoy your stay in our Country.»
Rigamonti felt a jolt along his spine when Kanaria and Sherry's eyes met, but once again everything went smoothly, and the little girl gently saluted the Vicequeen before pointing her attention elsewhere.
«I'm old enough to understand when I'm wrong.» Kano said with a smile, and offering his right hand to Rigamonti at the same time. «Motoi was right after all. Right now, Japan has a desperate needs for allies, and it would be stupid for me to refuse seeing what you're doing for us.»
Sergio seemed to hesitate, but in the end their hands clenched together.
«It's always a pleasure, Minister Kano.»
«Trust me, your help will not remain unrewarded.»
Ten minutes later, after a bit of time spent by silencing the journalists' questions about his new partner and saluting a couple of other foreign visitors, Rigamonti brought Kanaria to the Royal Box, where they took seat together with some other personalities, all of them well aware of the true identity of the Prime Minister's special guest.
«Sorry if I've not been able to stay with you in these days.» Rigamonti said while the rest of the crowd was still taking place «I hope you enjoyed your visit across Italy.»
«Yes. I found it quite… clarifying.»
«About what?»
«From what I've seen, Italy is a powerful country. Very powerful. Your territory is less than a tenth of our, but still both your military and economic power are simply outmatching for the Empire. Then, even admitting that the Empire has something you desire to have, what prevents you from taking it by force?»
«Do not underestimate your world, Your Grace. The Empire and your world have more to share with Italy than you think. But differently from Japan, we have no interest in taking them with force or by unequal treaties; because as leaders, we both know that things like this leave behind hate and resentment capable to lead to a new war. Maybe the pacific approach is not in the Empire's strings, but sometime it's the better choice to allow two powerful countries to become allies in the same path.»
«You already have plenty of mines of gold and stones in your administrated lands, and even some settlements to extract that strange oil. So, what kind of things has the Empire to offer that you don't possess already?»
«Knowledge.»
«Knowledge?»
«You noted already, right? Magic does not exist in this world. Its power would grant lot of benefits to my people.»
«I thought Earthlings were unable to control magic.»
«That's what we thought initially. But recently, a certain number of things have happened. One of our soldiers has developed magical powers merging with a fairy, and at the moment, his body shows no signs of reject. So, maybe it's just a matter of training. Lady Anthelea of Calibria suggests that with the proper training and the right materials, a small but still significant number of Earthlings may develop magic powers. Of course, apart for teachers, we would need even the said materials to demonstrate our theory. And unfortunately, there's nothing like this inside the RAI»
«Wait a minute. I know what you're thinking, and I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. The enthium's extraction and trading is strictly under the Imperial Household's direct control. There's no way I can sell it to you without the Emperor's authorization, even as temporary supreme leader of the North.»
«Maybe I have a solution for this. Actually, while occupied in creating our communication system, some of my man has casually found an abandoned mine in the depths of the Mountain Range. The site had been left due to a giant spiders' infestation, but we have everything we need to clean up the tunnels and make it safe.»
Kanaria had problems in accepting that the Italians had found that mine just by case, but the main problem was different.
«Even if that mine were to become usable again, my duty is to report it to Sadera immediately.»
«Of course. But even like this, we could find an agreement.»
«What kind of?»
«My technicians have made a preliminary estimate of the site. The mine is incredibly rich. Probably one of the biggest of the North. That's my offer: grant us extraction rights. We'll excavate the enthium in your place, but formally the site will be still under Imperial control. Of course, we'll pay you a rent to use the mine, diverting thirty percent of the excavated mineral to the Imperial cases every month. Considering the mine's potential and our superior excavation technology, doing like this the Empire will satisfy almost ten percent of its yearly demand for magic mineral from just that single mine.»
«I understand. Like this, everyone win.»
«Exactly. The Empire will have its mineral, same for Italy, and the abundance will prevent anyone from making questions.»
The lights of the theatre lowering stopped every other talk, and after the initial applause to the director and his orchestra, the opera finally begun.
Like usual, Master Vodnikov had been influenced greatly by Verdi for his latest work, with trumpets and oboes as main elements on many occasions and something calling back to Ernani and Attila.
About the plot, it was halfway between history and might, dedicated to one of the most known and fabled events of the late War of Ice and Snow.
The main hero was the Aegisto of the title, played by the famous tenor Achille DeCillis, the trustworthy second-in-command of Vyrianus Lyn Thymaria, ruler of Thymaria dominion and starter of the general uprising against the Empire that led to the War of Ice and Snow.
In the last days of the conflict, with their commander defeated and ultimately executed, Aegisto refused to lay down arms, and with the help of the few supporters left to him he started a plan to use the now captured Crown Princess Glera, magisterially played by the soprano Makoto Haseda, as a bait to assassinate Emperor Zibus, in a desperate attempt to make the flames of a dying revolt rise again.
However, Vyrianus' brother and new ruler of Thymaria Bariakko, the Irish baritone Ian O'Simmons, refused to take part to the assassination attempt, and instead he schemed to unveil the plan and kill all conspirators by himself, hoping like this to gain even more consideration in the Imperial Court. Aegisto and his supporters then were arrested and killed, with their leader condemned to be skinned alive, as it was common once for traitors.
But the princess and Aegisto had fallen in love meanwhile, at the point that the revolt's leader was ready to give up his plans to not risk her life further. Right for this, instead of rewarding Bariakko for having betrayed Aegisto posing as a friend just to make him reveal the plan, she pursued her father to sentence him to face the same horrible execution he had condemned her lover to for his hateful cowardice, subsequently dying by sadness while embracing Aegisto's skin during the dramatic finale.
However, the most spectacular moment of the whole play was certainly the chorus at the end of the second Act, "Ancora una volta, un colpo di spada" ("Once again a swordlash"). After having kidnapped Glera, Aegisto and his allies met in their hideout in Thymaria's outskirts, swearing on their own blood to accomplish their duty even at the cost of their life, proudly reaffirming that preferred to die instead of living as slaves.
The choir, ended with a solemn pray to Emroy and Hardy, was so powerful and full off passion that the whole theatre got up from seats, exploding into an endless applause that almost made walls tremble.
And in the end, when the curtain finally closed, different feelings flourished among the ones most touched by the story; because if at Sherry's eyes Emperor Zibus' benevolence in sparing Aegisto's companions was the better proof of the Empire's big heart and strong respect for honorable enemies, the hero's strong will to accomplish his duty to protect the North and its people, only partially mitigated by love, was for Kanaria the source of an important lesson: sometimes, a ruler's duty forces him to take drastic decisions, and serving people and serving the nation were not always the same.
Lunardi no more had a place to come back; because apart for his father and birthplace, that earthquake had taken away even his home, that rusty bunch of junk among Umbria's forests where he had hidden after ruining his life in the name of a silly ideal.
The High Command had offered him a place to stay in Foligno's military base, at least to spend that well deserved month of license with dignity waiting to find a new home, but for all that time Flavio did nothing but traveling from one end of Italy to the other, visiting the most important places of his life in search for something he didn't even know.
Once again, just a few days later having seen a nameless bastard buried with the name of his friend, he was on a graveyard, in front of another tomb, a true one this time.
This time, the authorities had been quite generous: General Erasmo Lunardi was buried with all honors, in a common grave together with his father, the partisan and national – yet unknown – hero Andrea Lunardi, one of the Gate's finders, with an angel with spread wings between the two headstones wielding a lance and a laurel crown.
He thought it was a bit funny: for years, Flavio had refused any contact with his father, refusing to listen when he had tried to warn him that what he was planning to do was foolish and destined to fail, and ultimately spitting over the hand he had offered him after having seen everything around him burn to the ashes of his madness.
How much times he had spent waiting for the moment to ask sorry, come back to him and settle everything: but now, it was no more possible. And this was nothing but one more burden to take for his already devastated heart.
He stayed still in front of that grave for a long time, surrounded by silence, in search for something to say. Suddenly, an almost imperceptible sound reached his well-trained soldier's ears, and a moment later the probably sole person capable to relief some of his emptiness and solitude appeared on his side.
«I knew I would've found you here.» Sadee said with a gentle smile. «You know what a mess you've created? Leaving like this, without a word. Everyone are searching you.»
Flavio didn't answer, then the Elven princess, after a brief moment, carefully put the bouquet she had taken with her on the grave.
«He was a good man. He helped me a lot when I found myself all alone, trapped in this unknown world. He's been like a father for me.»
«The last thing I said him was that I hated him, because he had refused to support me when I tried to unveil the truth about the gate. He had come to my house after dismissal to offer me support, but I kicked him out, saying that I no more wanted to see him again.»
Sadee turned to him, seeing tears on Flavio's cheeks for the first time after months.
«When they called me back, when you escaped… even then, the first thing I thought was that I could use this second chance to try to do what I thought it was right. And that's what I kept on thinking even later, even when I saw Rocco and the others die under my eyes. But in the end, when I finally had the occasion to do it…»
Flavio was barely able to keep his rage under control, but even like this he clenched fists so hard to pierce his skin with nails.
«I'm one of them, now. I lied to a widow that will pray forever over the tomb of someone else.»
Sadee knew better than others what the authorities were ready to do to keep their secrets, but at the same time she couldn't deny what the Italians were doing in the Special Region to keep so many innocents at safe. For a moment, Niwa's face came back to her mind.
«Miniter Rigamonti and his supporters' decisions are quite questionable sometimes, but even right now, their actions are saving thousands of innocents from Reich or the Empire's even worse behaviors. So please, I beg you, do not be too much enraged with them.»
However, even more than his being aware that now he too had become a pawn of the conspiracy, the hardest thing to accept was that now there was nothing more for him on Earth.
«I've lost everything, Sadee.» he said in discomfort. «Everything I had, all I was before all this… is gone.»
The princess's sudden and gentle embrace caught him completely unprepared, leaving him speechless and stunned.
«You have me, Flavio. I'll be always with you.»
All of a sudden, Lunardi's mind came back to those terrible days in the Plains, days spent praying both his God and the locals' that Sadee was safe, and not turned into some Reichian officer's war trophy or even worse. At this point he could no more deny his feelings.
«I love you, Sadee.»
«I love you too, Flavio.»
Both unable to stop an overwhelming passion kept secret for too long, Flavio and Sadee ran to the closest hotel, abandoning themselves to a night of love.
For years, Flavio had seen the elven princess first like a mother, then like a sister, but the more their apparent age became closer, the most that sense of admiration for her started turning into love, and soon it was the same for Sadee.
They made love for hours, both of them feeling like lone souls happy to have finally found someone to stay with, until they finally collapsed and fell asleep.
In the heart of the night, Sadee was awakened by a gentle touch on her naked side, something between a gentle caress and a small tickle.
«You know.» Flavio said «That night, on the roof… when Donzark was almost ready to kill me. I was wounded, forceless. For a moment, I thought… "what's the problem? Maybe, I should simply die here. All this hell will end." That's when I heard… a voice.»
«A voice?»
«It told me "get up!", and all of a sudden, the will to live came back to me, together with a new strength. I suddenly felt a wave of energy running in my veins, something I had never felt before.»
Hearing this, Sadee turned to him with stunned eyes.
«I knew it.» the elven princess said while caressing him. «You're in the good grace of the Gods.»
«The good grace… of the Gods!?» Lunardi said again in surprise
«Gods look at us like worms. But sometimes, someone catch their attention, because they know that he's destined to do great things. A God, or maybe more than one, has chosen you, Flavio. They want you to live, because there's something very important for all of us in your future.»
Everything was ready.
Once again, in Rigamonti's personal office, all things had been settled to make the sign of the first treaty between Italy and the Empire into an historic event. Photographs and cameramen waiting outside were ready to make photos and videos, carving in history the names both of Sergio Rigamonti and Kanaria Livia Egrestia as the most important and influent politicians of their age.
«Then, I think we've reached an agreement about everything.» Rigamonti said while Kanaria, Agrippa and Lisippo finished on reading the summary. «As clearly specified, these terms will become effective with the Northern Kingdom for now, and subsequently discussed again with the Imperial Senate once restored the order in the whole Empire.»
The Vicequeen however hesitated to put her seal on it, and judging from her eyes, Rigamonti started fearing that the little girl was probably something else to say.
«I'm sorry, Mister Rigamonti.» she said passing the papers to Lisippo. «But before proceeding further, there's one more thing I would like to discuss with you.»
Scoleri and Giovanardi looked each other worryingly, but not the Prime Minister; Sergio was not the kind of man ready to accept such unexpected surprises gently, especially thinking that he was this close to become the most victorious politician of the latest centuries, but this time, even considering the strange light in Kanaria's eyes, his reaction was unexpectedly calm.
«About what, Your Grace?»
«I want to be clear. This time, I will not speak as an Imperial emissary, but just as the Vicequeen of the North.»
Rigamonti's lips at that point moved into a strange smile, unlike Ivana.
«Of course. So?»
«When I went on search for the Green People, of course my first goal was to reach an agreement to protect the Empire from a hopeless war, or the North at least. But in truth, I didn't do it because I thought that it was useless to keep on fighting, but simply because I always thought that the real enemy was someone else. Someone much more dangerous than you or the Japanese to my eyes.
You know who I'm talking about, right?»
«Obviously.» the Prime Minister smiled. «Trust me, we're perfectly aware of the danger that Reich represents, not only for you but for your whole continent.»
«I tried to warn the Emperor countless times about Reich's threat, but they never answered my requests for help. The North has not enough power to defend by itself, and what happened to Tarvisium is even more dangerous than one can imagine.»
«What do you mean?»
«Labio was a trustworthy servant of the Emperor. He fought many battles for the glory of the Empire. But even he, at the end, let himself be tempted by Reich's power. If your previsions about an upcoming civil war are true, many other border lords might choose to do the same. My fear is that whenever Reich's power should keep on growing, or its forces should try to launch a second assault against us, the Empire could find itself completely unprepared to face them. Maybe they will never become so strong to threat the Midlands or the capital, but I fear the North wouldn't be so lucky.»
«Soon you won't have to worry about Reich anymore.» Rigamonti said. «We have already reached an agreement with Lady Anthelea to liberate Calibria and return it to its legitimate rulers. Probably the cities of the Northern Plains will not break their now sealed alliance with Reich, but the ones on South will be more than happy to get rive of them and restore their independence. But what matters is that with Calibria liberated, you will have nothing else to fear from Reich.»
«Calibria has already fallen once.» said Agrippa. «What makes you think that Reich will be no more able to capture it again?»
«Trust me, after our treatment Reich will need years to recover its army.» said Giovanardi
«Then why don't fire them away once and for all?» Lisippo asked
«We already discussed about this.» Ivana said. «Our Country refuses any form of aggressive war. The raid against Calibria will have the sole purpose of bring everything back to the original status quo, but nothing more.»
«My friend has right. And more than this, queen Anthelea will sign an alliance with us in exchange for our help in retaking her city. Reichians are ambitious, but after this they will be absolutely no more a threat for you.»
«As I said, words are just words, and sometimes blood ties are not enough to make someone trustable.» the Vicequeen replied with a very serious glance. «What should happen in case you should decide to leave?»
Rigamonti hesitated, almost caught unprepared in front of such unexpected distrust by the same girl he believed to have already in his hands.
«Do you know how much this whole operation is costing to us?» the Prime Minister answered, calmly but firmly «You really think that we would've done all this if our plan was just to stay in the Special Region for a brief time?» then he provocatively took the treaty in hand, showing it to Kanaria and his companions. «If our official relationships have to start like this, maybe I should rip this treaty apart right now.»
A strange silence suddenly fell over the room, with the two delegations looking each other in a completely different way than before.
«A good politician is a provident one.» Kanaria said. «Don't you think, Prime Minister? After all, being suspicious too is part of a ruler's duties»
«Well said.» Sergio said, wiping away in the blink of an eye all of that tension. «So, what's your offer?»
«I want your word. You must swear in front of your Gods that whenever Reich or anyone else should threat my people, I'll be able to count on you.»
«You have my words. As long as this treaty will exist, Italy will do everything in its power to protect the North.»
«Wait, Sir…» a strangely worried Scoleri tried to said, but Rigamonti immediately silenced her with just a wave of his hand
«But I want to be clear, this will be just a defensive alliance. We'll not go on war with Reich or anyone else for you.»
«There's one more thing. In order to make sure that even in case of something should happen to you or your mission I'll be still able to defend my people, I ask you to share part of your military technology with us.»
«This is out of question Your Grace, I'm sorry I can't. I'm sorry to say that you're not still culturally and scientifically ready to control our technology. Our world's history is clear when it says that every time a more advanced civilization has shared its knowledge with someone on a lower situation, the result was almost tragic.»
«Yes, I read about those pre-Columbian civilizations of your world. But anyway, I'm not asking for so much.»
«What!?»
«You said that just a small group of your soldiers have been enough to defend Calibria from Reich's whole army for months. Then, I think that just such kind of unit made of Imperial Soldiers should be enough to grant to the North the protection it needs.»
«So you want… a Falcon Unit?»
«Under my control. And once again, they'll fight only defensive battles. Grant me this, and I swear that I'll personally take care of training your future mages with my hands.»
Rigamonti reflected for a moment, then he asked his guests to be left free to discuss about the new offer with his advisors, moving with them into one of the room's corners.
«What do you think?»
«Please Sergio, don't tell me you're really thinking to accept.» Ivana said
«Why not?» Giovanardi answered. «It's just a bunch of rifles.»
«Today they're just rifles, but tomorrow? They could make other requests.»
«We need her, Ivana. She's the best mage we could hope to find.»
«And what about Lady Anthelea? She said she was ready to help us.»
«Did you forget? We need Anthelea for that other project with the Gate.» then Giovanardi turned to Rigamonti. «Prime Minister, that girl is the door to the Empire's magic knowledge.»
«We're playing with fire.» Ivana tried to protest once again. «If you give a pearl to a greedy woman, she will ask the whole necklace.»
The discussion continued for a bit of time, and in the end, all of them came back to the desk.
«So?» Kanaria asked
«We accept your offer. But at two conditions. First. We'll provide you weapons, but not the construction projects. In case of damages, there will be an Italian engineer to make repairs.»
«Granted. And the other one?»
«The unit will be commanded by an Italian officer. He will have an Imperial officer as his second-in-command, and both of them will have to approve the unit's deployment if case of necessity. Their judgment will be unquestionable, even for us.»
«I accept.» the Vicequeen answered after a brief reflection. «But I want to choose your officer myself.»
«Of course. Do you have someone in mind already?»
«Actually, yes.»
At that point, with no more issues on the table, time for signatures truly came.
Photographers and selected journalists were brought back inside, and some moments later a bevy of cameras immortalized the Italian Prime Minister Rigamonti and the Imperial Vicequeen Kanaria signing the International Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Italy and the Empire.
After that, both leaders made other photos in front of respective flags, amicably shaking hands while surrounded by their advisors.
Minister Scoleri's smile, however, was not as pure and honest as the others were. On contrary, something told her that someday everyone would have pitied that handshake.