The train arrived on schedule without any further incidents. Alice and her team relayed the details to Jacques and Alan, both of whom were deeply disturbed by the event. Kavi had given Alice a script for her to glance over earlier on the train. She bid everyone farewell as she left on horseback. Somehow she had already replaced her guitar.
Moments later, along with Lionel, they went with Jacques and Alan, who had private cars waiting for them to ride over to Septieme's tower. The drivers turned out to be a few from Carlotta's team, who assisted the men with the luggage. Alan rode with Oreldo, Martis and Stecchin, while Jacques went with Alice and Lionel in a separate vehicle.
The warm, moist air of the jungle took some getting used to, even with the windows rolled down. Within minutes, almost everyone was dabbing away at their foreheads and loosening ties.
Oreldo looked at Alan at one point and noted he wasn't sweating at all. Like a good guardian, he stared straight ahead, his eyes missing nothing.
Oreldo said, "Man, the air is so thick I can't breathe, but you seem cool as a cucumber! How do you do that?"
A look of irritation briefly crossed Alan's features, but after looking at Oreldo's expression, couldn't help smiling.
"Not to worry, sir," he said, "you'll get used to it soon enough."
"I hope so!" Oreldo replied, "A cold shower sounds really good right now!"
Alan turned around in his seat and looked at them all. Martis had removed his glasses after realizing it was futile to keep wiping them. Stecchin sighed and glanced at Alan. She gave him a sheepish grin, but her eyes were glazed over.
"Are you all right, Miss?" he asked her. He remembered her wearing that pretty burgundy dress from the other night. He had wanted to talk to her then, but couldn't think of a word to say, especially since she was flanked by the other two officers. It was as if they had been her chaperones, or even older brothers.
Bah, he thought, how foolish of me. It's not my place! He was so lost in thought he almost missed her answer.
"Oh, I'm fine, Mr. Alan," she said faintly, but he noticed she was more clammy than sweaty. He grabbed a canteen, dropped a salt tablet into it and held it out for her to take. She held up a hand in protest.
"No thanks," she said, but he thrust it toward her again.
"I'm afraid I must insist, Sergeant-Major," he replied softly, "the heat must be overwhelming for you. Please drink."
Taken aback by the contrast of his soft tone and brusque, formal manner, she complied. Moments later, she seemed to perk up. She shook her head, suddenly more alert.
"Oh goodness," she said with a nervous laugh, "I really didn't realize how thirsty I was! Thank you so much!"
Alan smiled and inclined his head, satisfied. Oreldo watched the whole scene and was increasingly uncomfortable, though he couldn't put this finger on why.
"Um, do you mind passing that canteen over here?" Martis asked, smiling. "I could use some, too!"
"Oh, of course, Lieutenant!" Stecchin replied, handing it to him.
Within minutes the canteen had made the rounds. Oreldo handed it back to Alan and clapped him hard on the shoulder.
"Thanks, man!" he said. "Good to know you're more than just a tough fighter! I think we owe you a beer or two!"
Alan coughed in response and fought to keep his composure, straightening his tie and clearing his throat. He tried to smile but didn't quite succeed. He took a breath and shook his head turning back. He knew the brash soldier meant well. "I…appreciate the gesture, sir, but I am forbidden to drink on the job."
Oreldo snorted. "Nah, I know that! I meant when you're off-duty! Like later tonight, after hours? Maybe you know a good pub or two?"
"I'm afraid I won't be…off-duty, as you say, until the mission is complete, sir."
Oreldo cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Aren't you finished when you drop us off?"
"No, sir."
Oreldo frowned and glanced at the others, who seemed puzzled as well. "What is your mission, exactly?" he asked in a much more serious tone.
Alan looked at him hard, gauging him. Oreldo was brash and rude, but far from stupid. Alan recalled he was part of the reason the riot at the ball didn't become a massacre.
"My mission is to chaperone, protect and serve," he said simply.
Stecchin was utterly bewildered. "Who, Mr. Alan?" she asked.
He turned back and looked at her, his expression a little softer.
"You," he said, "all of you, or as much as necessary, since you are soldiers to begin with. Her Highness ordered me to see to it that all of you remain safe from harm as long as you remain in Rodelia."
He said this to all of them, but his eyes never left Stecchin's, who blushed even more despite the heat.
"Gosh," she said, "that's awfully nice of her! I've never had a royal bodyguard before…seems almost over the top, don't you think?"
Martis nodded. "We're all trained to defend ourselves, Mr. Alan. Is it really necessary?"
Alan inclined his head again. "Whether it is or not remains to be seen. Regardless, that is my mission and I intend to carry it out. If you have any…objections to my presence, you must speak with Her Highness herself."
"Oh, it's nothing against you, man," Oreldo said quickly. "We're just not…used to the royal treatment, know what I mean?"
"Yes, sir," Alan said, turning back around to view the road, "I believe I do."
"Very well, then," Oreldo said. "After the mission, we'll take you out on the town and show you a good time, eh?"
He clapped Alan hard on the back again, which caused Alan to cough again.
Alan adjusted his spectacles and counted to ten. "I…I'm certain it will be a…an interesting experience."
"Speaking of protection," Oreldo said, his voice remaining casual and light, "where were you guys during the attack? I don't remember seeing either of you."
Alan sighed. Indeed, not only was Oreldo clever, he was painfully frank.
"My utter failure, it would seem," he lamented, conceding to Oreldo's unspoken comment. "We…were distracted. I had seen a figure outside near the engine. I had gone to investigate, thinking someone might hijack the train. Mr. Jacques went in the opposite direction, but was too late. By the time he got to where you were, the commotion was almost over. You probably missed him in the crowd."
Martis gasped. "That means there was more than just one paratrooper on the train! We'd better report that to the Lieutenant!"
"Oh, how awful!" Stecchin said, covering her mouth with her hands. "What if they got off the train with us? What if they saw where we're heading?"
Alan watched Stecchin's face crumple and set his jaw in fierce determination.
"Please do not alarm yourself, my lady," he said, "I will protect you. I have sworn it."
Stecchin looked up at him, wide-eyed as a deer in headlights. After a long moment, she seemed to come back to herself as she blushed and sat up straight.
Oreldo was not amused. "I'd say that was rather convenient," he said, his voice thick with contempt. "You'd better keep your head in the game this time, pal. You don't exactly have the greatest track record, if I recall. You didn't protect Marquis Paolo either when he needed it most, did you? Our Lieutenant ended up doing your job!"
"He has a point," Martis said quietly, wanting to intervene but was unsure how.
Alan gritted his teeth, infuriated by the insults. However, he knew Oreldo was only speaking the truth.
"I...guess I…no. I did deserve that," he said at last, clearing his throat once more. He eyed both Oreldo and Martis, taking a deep breath. "So I will do my utmost to prove you wrong, Sub-Lieutenants, and thus redeem my good name."
He turned back to Stecchin. "Please forgive my selfishness," he said to her, "but I specifically asked for this assignment. I don't seem to be doing a good job so far, am I?"
Stecchin smiled, blissfully unaware of the sudden abundance of testosterone in the cramped space.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll do your best, Mr. Alan!" she said. "I just hope we're not too much of a bother!"
Her chipper attitude was enough to diffuse everyone immediately.
Alan couldn't help but blush when he dared to say softly, "No, Sergeant-Major. You're not a bother at all."
In the other car, Alice rode with Lionel and Jacques. Jacques prattled on about the historical significance of various buildings they passed, local interests and so on, but she barely heard. Now that she was here, her thoughts remained focused on her objective, and the events that took place on the train. What was the deal Kavi made with Oreldo? Neither one volunteered any information, so she wondered if it was just a lie to cover up any indiscretions. Was the mysterious 906 paratrooper one of the passengers, or had he hitched a ride at one of the stops? If so, how had he known which room was hers? How did Kavi seem to know he'd be there?
Of course, eventually everything in her mind returned to Randel Oland. His sad eyes had been haunting her dreams as of late.
Are you here, Corporal? she thought. I'm coming. Wait for me. Please.
The back of her neck tingled and she relaxed. It was a sign. Whether or not it was a good sign remained to be seen.