In Which Xanaria Forces Lupe's Hand

Over the next week Lupe prepared. She talked to her people, gathered ideas, picked the strike team, trained them and drilled them. She sorted out the ideal equipment set and had the chosen team practice with them until she was satisfied it would go smoothly. Everything was going perfectly. Xanaria was up and about before Justina would have thought possible. And apparently Lupe agreed, because that was when preparation hit a brick wall. She refused to set her plan into motion until she was convinced Xanaria was healed enough to make the trip.

One day Xanaria missed lunch. Justina noticed and made a sandwich and brought it to Xanaria's tent.

"Knock knock?"

"Justina? Come on in."

Pulling back the flap and stepping inside Justina paused. Xanaria was fully packed. Justina watched her tug on her boot.

"So, that's it then? We're going?"

Xanaria slung her pack over her shoulder. "If you wouldn't mind staying here and letting Lupe know what's happened before she panics too bad? I'm not made of straw, and I think Patience may have saved me from the worst of it, but I can't seem to convince her of that."

"Will do. Are you taking the route we planned?"

"I will be. See you soon?"

"We'll catch up. Take this with you." Justina handed over the sandwich. "And you better have packed extra socks!"

Xanaria hugged her, pulled up the hood of her cloak and slipped out.

With a sigh Justina steeled herself to go find Lupe. She was in the command tent carefully writing something. She looked up when Justina walked in.

"Hey, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." Justina had trouble meeting Lupe's eyes. "Just… Xanaria says she's going for a walk. So… she won't see you before your sentry shift tonight."

"Well. That'll give her a chance to cool off, I guess."

"Cool off?"

"Yeah, we had an argument about her risking her health."

"I see."

"I just don't want her to get hurt again. You understand right?"

"I… Yes. I understand. I'm not sure I agree, but I understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I don't know. I've never been good at articulating these things. Never mind. I should go… Do a thing…"

Justina fled. I hope that earns her the head start she needs. It wasn't even a lie. Quite. She is walking just not coming back here after.

That night Justina drank bitter black tea sitting on Xanaria's cot. She didn't know when Lupe would be done with her shift and she didn't know if she would come see Xanaria right away or if she would wait until breakfast. No chances. I will be awake when Lupe finds her gone. I told Xanaria I would keep her from panicking. She grimaced at her mug and went to make another cup.

When morning began to glow through the tent walls Justina gave in to the call of nature and was just returning when she saw Lupe burst from Xanaria's tent.

Damn it! Justina thought, catching the woman's arm as she rushed by.

Lupe was stronger than Justina by far, but stopped anyway. Justina could feel her trembling and her long ear was bolt upright and twitching.

"She isn't gone, she just decided she didn't want to wait anymore."

"You knew."

"Yes."

Lupe's lips were tight with anger. "And you didn't stop her?"

"I'm not her keeper. I'm her friend and this was the choice she made. I would have gone with her but she wanted me to make sure you wouldn't worry."

"There was never any Goddess Drowned chance of me not being worried!"

"I know, but I did what I could. Now, I'm going after her. This was your plan in the first place, are you going to join us?"

Lupes hands curled into fists and she swore. Justina dropped her arm, trying not to flinch. Lupe noticed and took a deep breath.

"Fine." She bit out. "I'll tell the others the plan is a go. We'll catch her on the road." Lupe stomped off.

She's just worried, Justina told herself, but she felt shaky and loose after the confrontation. God, how am I supposed to help a revolution if I can't even stand up to a woman on my own side? What'll I do if I meet that Baron of theirs, shit myself? All I bring to the table is the ability to read.

In a glum mood she went to help get the strike team moving.

Lupe decided to split the team. Conor and Belle, a pair of pickpockets, were all packed so they would come now. The rest would follow as soon as they had finished their preparations. Lupe didn't expect them to be more than half a day behind and she wanted to catch up to Xanaria if at all possible.

The bulk of the camp remained behind, and not having any horses, travel would all be on foot. The following party would have a couple mules for supplies but Lupe's group would be living out of their own packs.

Justina didn't dare complain. She had thought she was in shape from her months of biking, but between that she had been sitting at computer desks and then walking around Skipper's domain. She found herself gasping for breath long before Lupe even broke a sweat. She thought she was hiding it pretty well but after their lunch stop Justina found some of the heavier items from her packs had been redistributed among the others. No one said anything about it, so Justina didn't either, but she was quietly grateful.

When they made camp that first night Lupe sat down next to Justina as she ate her dinner. Justina nodded at her, acknowledging the other woman's presence before returning to her food.

"I wanted to apologize." Lupe began with a sigh. "It was completely inappropriate of me to yell at you the other day."

Justina shrugged. "You were scared," she said lightly, but she felt the anxiety in her belly loosen. "There's nothing to apologize for."

"But there is." Lupe's dark glossy eyes were steady on Justina's face. "You aren't one of my people and you don't owe me anything, but it's clear you went out of your way to give me as much peace of mind as you could. And I yelled at you for it."

"No ones at their best when they're scared, you're fine."

"Maybe, but I don't want to be the kind of person who yells at someone for passing on bad news. And failing that, I at least need to own up to it and apologize."

"Jesus, I already said we're good! Enough speeches, just be forgiven already."

That startled a laugh out of Lupe, who rose with a nod.

"Thank you. I am glad Xanaria has a friend like you."

And I see why they follow you. Justina thought watching her walk away. I don't know how you did it, but I feel surprisingly better.

Xanaria was breaking camp on the fourth morning when she heard feet behind her on the road. She wasn't concerned. This road was almost more of a trail and no one official used it. She looked up and saw Lupe followed by a couple of the chosen strike team members and Justina, who smiled and waved a little, already looking tired. Xanarias gut clenched. Will Lupe be mad I took off without her?

But when Lupe called out "Getting a late start, huh? We've been moving for the last hour!" Xanaria knew she was forgiven.

A slow grin spread over her face. "I had to give you slow pokes some sort of chance to catch up to me!"

"The others are right behind us, with the rest of our tools and supplies. It shouldn't take them too much longer."

Xanaria fell in with the group and felt a smile tugging at her lips. It feels good to be doing something real again.