I'm baaaack. Sorry about that. First was writer's block, then NaNoWriMo destroyed my life, then PokéSuMo took me hostage, then I got a puppy (Beau the Basset Hound), then Christmas distracted me, but now I'm back and out of excuses.

Also: let the countdown begin! Including this one, there are three chapters left until Dezel and Rose reunite. :)


Sorey had said they'd be leaving Pendrago the next day, but they ended up waiting a full three days for Dezel to come back. Rose knew waiting wouldn't help anything—she knew he was long, long gone when he hadn't returned in the morning—but Sorey insisted.

Good and riddance were two words which perfectly described her feelings on the matter. What did Dezel think he was doing, anyway, just ditching them like that? Did he think they'd feel sorry for him? Like, Oh, poor Dezel, all on his lonesome, with not a soul in the world to care for him. Fuck him—he'd brought it on himself.

Sorey spent that entire first day hanging around the inn, eagerly anticipating Dezel's return. And whenever someone politely reminded him of his promise, he'd cheerfully deflect their concerns, saying something like, "We'll leave just as soon as Dezel arrives, he can't be long now," or, "I'm sure Dezel will be back soon. We can figure things out then." It was sick, the way he clung to false hope.

By the third day, he was a wreck—fidgety and restless, he paced around, only leaving the inn when coerced. "What if Dezel comes back while I'm gone?" he asked when Mikleo suggested they explore Pendrago some more. "Then we'll tie him down until you come back," was what Rose had wanted to say, but she'd kept her mouth shut.

During supper the last night, Lailah had tactfully reminded him that they needed to make haste. "After all, the Lord of Calamity won't stay in Aifread's Hunting Grounds forever." Her posture stiff, she watched him with a serious expression, her pale hands set primly on her lap.

He nodded. "When Dezel returns—"

"Sorey," Rose said. "He's gone. If he wanted to come back he would've by now, so let's just move on with it, okay?"

The way everyone stared at her, she wished she'd said nothing. Sorey was the worst, the way his cheerful mask slipped, revealing how anxious he really felt. He looked at her almost pityingly. "I'm sorry, Rose," he said quietly.

She'd wanted to snap, "Sorry for what?", but she'd stopped herself. Sorey didn't deserve her frustration. So she settled on, "I just think we have bigger things to worry about. Y'know, like the fate of the world?"

Sorey sighed. "I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right."

The others looked relived. Thanks, guys, for making me do all the dirty work. Really appreciate it.

She was still pissed at them, pissed that they'd known for months what Dezel had done, yet had acted like everything was ordinary. A small part of her wished Edna had never told her—she hated feeling ugly toward her friends. They'd only been trying to protect her, which didn't make it right, but still ... she had enough on her plate without confronting them about it.

So she didn't bring it up. Just stuffed it down with everything else.

Zaveid still hung around. The newness of his companionship paired with the suddenness of Dezel's parting made Zaveid almost feel like his replacement. But that only made the loss of Dezel more stark. His absence almost seemed more palpable, more real, than his presence had been. Rose hated it. She hated being more aware of him now than she'd everbeen while he was here.

The morning of their departure, Rose was the last one up. She splashed cold water from the washbasin over her face, though that didn't help her sickly pallor, nor the bags under her eyes. She ran her tongue over her chapped lips. Normally she'd agonize over such imperfections, but now ... she just didn't care that much.

She closed the door behind her. After five nights of warm beds, they'd be back to sleeping on the cold, hard ground, with only thin blankets and a dwindling campfire to keep them warm. Her entire life had been like that, but even so, after a period of luxury it would take some getting used to.

"Sorry for sleeping in," she said as she left the inn. Everyone else was waiting for her.

"That's all right—you need sleep," Sorey said. He hesitated, taking a look around the street. "I guess we'll have to leave Dezel behind."

Mikleo frowned. "I don't like the thought of facing Heldalf with only three Sub Lords, but I suppose it can't be helped."

"We've delayed far too long as it is," Edna said, setting her parasol on her shoulder. "There's no guarantee he'll still be in Aifread's Hunting Grounds. Not that there could ever be much of a guarantee, anyway, if we're going by his directions."

"Edna, that's just cold," Zaveid said. He was one of those guys who liked to stand with his hands in his pockets, thumbs sticking out, arms bent just so so that his biceps bulged. Not that Rose was complaining—just observing. Happily observing. "Here I am, trying to be helpful, and you just have to go and be all negative. What have I ever done to you, to deserve such treatment?"

"You want the full list, or just the abridged version?" Edna muttered.

He looked taken aback. "W-wait, you have a list?"

"Everyone," Sorey said. They snapped to attention. "We can't afford to wait any longer."

"Are you absolutely sure?" Lailah asked. "Dezel may have a difficult time finding us again, if he wishes to do so."

He nodded. "I'd prefer to have him with us, of course, but if it can't be helped ..." He grimaced.

"It's not your fault," Mikleo said. Rose got the impression it wasn't the first time he'd told Sorey this. "Stop beating yourself up for it."

"But—"

"He might not have much trouble finding us, anyway," Rose quickly said, impatient for this conversation to be over. "Wherever the Shepherd goes, there's always a buzz about him. So for anyone who doesn't have shit for brains, tracking us should be easy." Dezel was many things, but even she could admit an idiot wasn't one of them.

Sorey had that pinched look he always got whenever someone cursed. Lailah said, "She's right, Sorey. We should try to look at this from a positive angle."

Positive? Rose wasn't sure she regarded Dezel tracking them down as positive.

Sorey sighed. "All right. Let's go."

Finally, they were off. Rose never liked to stay in Pendrago for too long, since it was only a matter of time before someone recognized her as the late Prince Konan's fiancée. They probably suspected her of murdering him—they'd have to be stupid not to, really. She was the last person to be alone with him before his death, after all, and it wasn't like she didn't an obvious motive.

She hated to think of that day. The way Konan had changed in the last days of his life ... he'd never exactly been a saint, but he wasn't cruel. Her memories of that day were as stark as they'd ever been, but during the past few months they'd started to feel incomplete, like there was something she was missing. Now that she knew about malevolence and hellions, she had her suspicions about what had really been going on, but the only person she could ask was Dezel.

Fuck that.

Late in the afternoon, they reached a crossroads. Rose knew the area well—when she was a kid there was an inn at these crossroads, run by an old couple. The old man had kind brown eyes, and he'd always give Rose a honey cake whenever the Windriders stopped by. The woman would chide him for it, saying he'd spoil Rose's supper, a smile on her face all the while.

But they were both long gone now, and the inn was since abandoned. She and Sorey ate their lunch outside the dilapidated building—the air inside was stale and fusty, and besides, all the furniture had inexplicably been stolen—while the seraphim explored the place, unduly fascinated with it. Rose felt no such urge to explore inside those old familiar walls. Let the past stay in the past, or something like that.

It was just when they were setting off when Zaveid made his announcement. "Well," he said, "it looks like this is the end of the road for me."

"You're leaving?" Sorey asked, at the same time Edna asked, "You're dying?"

"Don't worry, dearest Edna, you can count on seeing me again," he said, grinning. "I'm merely departing from your company, for a time." Edna snorted.

"But why?" Mikleo asked.

"I've no desire to face the Lord of Calamity head-on. A big guy like him could trap me in malevolence, easy, and since I don't have a pure and stainless vessel like y'all do, I'd turn into a hellion just like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis.

"Isn't there anything we could do to help?" Sorey asked, turning to Lailah.

"Only with a Sub Lord pact," she said.

"And since you already have the maximum amount of pacts—one f'r each element, y'see—the only way to offer me a pact would be to annul one. Specifically, the one with a certain wind seraph."

No one said anything.

Eventually, Sorey said, "All right. If it can't be helped, then ... goodbye, Zaveid. May you have a safe journey."

"Hey, I'm the one who should be saying that! Facing Heldalf, head-on? You're getting too big for your britches, Sheps," Zaveid said with a laugh. Then his face took on a more serious look. "Seriously, though—watch yourself, kid. Take even one false step, and ..."

"I'll be careful," Sorey said. "I promise."

"See that you do," Zaveid said, nodding. "Eh, I don't know why I'm so worried. After all, you have your posse to keep you in line. Right, Rosie?"

"Huh?" Rose had only been half-listening to their conversation. "Oh, right, sure. Yeah. We'll keep him in line." She promptly shut her mouth, realizing she was rambling, all too aware of everyone's stares.

The sun was low in the sky. By Rose's estimation they had two, maybe three hours of sunlight left. Enough to get a halfway-decent amount of distance away from here, at least.

"See ya, Sheps. Lailah, Mickey-boy, Edna ... Rose."

She could only manage a strained smile when he reached her. "See you," she said. And more quietly, so no one else could hear: "Sorry for not being myself."

"Hey, hey, there's no need to apologize for something like that," he said. "Just make sure to take care of yourself, yeah?"

Usually, getting told that annoyed her—it wasn't like she wanted to suffer, so why wouldn't she take care of herself?—but coming from Zaveid, she strangely appreciated it. She wondered how much he really knew about what had happened. Probably everything.

"I will," she said.

He placed his hand upon her shoulder before moving on.

After that, they were all much more sedate. Their imminent clash with Heldalf loomed before them—they couldn't afford to look back on what they'd left behind. Or who.

She was glad Dezel hadn't come back, no matter if it complicated things. Now, all there was left to do was wonder when they'd cross paths with him again. Hopefully no time soon.


Don't worry; Zaveid will return in due time.

(Oh, and if the paragraph about the knights potentially recognizing Rose intrigued you? You should check out the one-shot I posted a few days ago. Just sayin'.)