"So a group of slavers swept through this village and captured every inhabitant?" said Magda incredulously the next morning when Xanth explained the circumstances surrounding the mysterious meeting.
"Yes," he answered gravely, "this fellow was the only one to escape and now he's asking the Council for help in tracking them down."
"And what did they say?" asked Rastan nervously.
"They said that they would send immediate help and deliver the rest of the village from the slavers' clutches," answered Felix. He was frowning as well, a strange expression on his perpetually cheerful face.
"Well that's great!" exclaimed Rastan. "Why do you all look so gloomy?"
"There's something fishy about that creature," replied Rook thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if we should trust him. Greasy type in purple sky pirate greatcoat…looked rather silly if you ask me."
"Pur-purple?" stammered Rastan, suddenly frightened. "He had a purple greatcoat?"
"Why, yes," said Xanth kindly. "Do you know him?"
"N-no, I just think that purple is a strange color for a sky pirate." Xanth drew back and stared at her for a moment.
"C'mon Xanth, we better get ready. I'm pushing off in an hour and I know that you're leaving thirty minutes after that to go see old Parsimmon. See you all in a few days, if all goes well."
"Wait, Rook, I have to talk to you. Come on." Perplexed, Rook stared after his wife, who was walking determinedly back towards the bedroom. He shot a puzzled look at Xanth and then shrugged and followed her into the room.
"Rook, you can't go on that expedition." Said Rastan firmly when they were alone. "I'm not going to let you."
"You don't have to get fussy now that we're married," said Rook with a grin leaning in for a kiss. Rastan put both hands on his chest and pushed him away.
"I'm not kidding. You can't go on this mission."
"I don't have a choice, dear." Said Rook, now thoroughly confused. "I'm the Captain of the Freeglade Lancers, I can't send my men and not be at their head!"
"Rook," pleaded Rastan, tears in her eyes, "don't go. Don't leave me here alone so soon after our marriage. This is a trap, I know it."
Rook looked worried. "Rastan," he took a deep breath, "Rastan, I believe you. I really do. But I have to go. The Council has reached the decision by a large majority. Xanth, Cowlquape, and I were the only ones to vote against helping these people. The last thing I want to do is leave you, even for a few hours, but I must do as I am told. Don't worry. I'll never abandon you. I'll be back very soon, love." He bent down and kissed her lovingly before grabbing his bag and walking out the door, Rastan behind him wringing her hands.
She followed him to the Ironwood stands but didn't say another word. Her eyes were dry and her fists clenched as she watched the Freeglade Lancers rally and set out, Rook Barkwater at their head.
Rastan stood there for a long time in the tall grass, her skirt clenched tightly in her fists. The wind began picking up and it grew cold. Still, she stood, immobile, until Felix cam up behind her as the sun was setting.
"Rastan, Rook wouldn't let me let you stand here all night," he said gently, draping a warm blanket over her shoulders. She remained mute, staring ahead blindly. Felix tried again: "If you're going to have a baby you must start thinking about it, and that means taking care of yourself. Now let's go in."
He urged her gently forward and this time she began to walk mechanically as though in a trance.
They walked in silence to the dining hall and sat down for dinner. Rastan hardly ate anything and refused to engage in small talk with Felix. He soon gave up and sent her to bed after only a half an hour.
Back in the room she shared with Rook, Rastan double and triple locked the door before changing into her pajamas. She lay on her bed for a long time after, staring at the ceiling and reflecting on her life. It was many hours before she fell asleep.
When she woke up, Rastan lay happily in bed for a minute, staring at the ceiling. She turned to speak to Rook and as she noticed he was not next to her all of the previous days' events came rushing back. Rook's departure, the sky pirate with the purple coat…
Rastan shivered. She had put her past behind her when she first met Rook but it seemed as though it was coming back to haunt her. The mysterious sky pirate brought back memories she never wanted to explore again.
She slipped out of bed and dressed quickly. Locking the door securely behind her, Rastan scurried down to breakfast, which she ate hurriedly, and then proceeded to the Gardens of Light where she worked as a nurse.
"We have a new patient today, Rastan," called the secretary cheerfully as Rastan walked by. "Room 213. He's got a strange skin condition that we've never seen before and we're hoping you'll know what to do."
"I'll be right there," promised Rastan. She walked down the corridor, turning down hallways until she stood before the door of room 213. Rastan bustled in fixing her notes, not paying much attention to the identity of the patient. When she looked up, the first thing she noticed was the sky pirate uniform neatly hung in the closet. The second thing she saw was a purple coat.