Warnings – very mild swearing (literally one word)
Masterlist
After all the challenging things Sylvie has had to deal with, Vasco decides she needs a break. And what better time than her birthday?
“Vasco, are you ever going to tell me where you are taking me?”
“Soon, Sylvie, we will be there soon. Patience, Your Excellency,” he replied as he guided her through the streets of New Serene, ignoring the confused stares of the people they passed.
He could practically feel her roll her eyes under his hands, but she laughed anyway. Such a beautiful sound, one he hadn’t heard nearly enough lately. She had finally started to act like her usual self after receiving her mark and Constantin being cured of his Malichor, and it was a great relief to all those around her.
And it all happened just in time for her birthday.
They finally reached the docks, and Vasco took in a deep breath of sea air, finally feeling at home. He noticed Sylvie perk up at the familiar smells and sounds as well and smiled. He skimmed the docks and finally spotted his ship, steering Sylvie toward it. He had to beg Admiral Cabral to have his ship back for the day, but she agreed easily after she learned why he needed it.
When they got to the end of the gangplank, he positioned her then removed his hands from her eyes. “Happy birthday, Sylvie.”
She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light, and when they landed on his ship, she practically glowed, “You got me a boat?”
Vasco deadpanned at her and she giggled. He couldn’t help but smile at the sound, “Admiral Cabral gave me the ship for the day. We can go wherever we want, no worries, no responsibilities. Just the water.”
She looked excited, then her face dropped. “But my work. I have—”
“Absolutely nothing to do today,” he interrupted, “I got it all sorted with your cousin. You are completely free for the day.”
She stared at him for a minute, then a large, ecstatic grin split her face. She threw her arms around him tightly, “Thank you, Vasco!” She pulled back enough to kiss his cheek, making his face explode in red, then raced up the gangplank onto the ship.
Vasco caught himself as he swayed and swallowed hard, trying desperately to control his racing heartbeat. Gods, this woman will be the death of me. When he felt like he could walk without falling over, he followed her onto the ship and watched as she reunited with Jonas, Flavia, Lauro, and the rest of his crew. He couldn’t help but smile fondly as they all smiled and hugged and laughed, like family reuniting after a long time apart. It warmed his heart in a way that he hadn’t expected but didn’t dislike.
He cleared his throat, turning on his captain’s voice, and walked over, “Alright, you layabouts, that’s enough loitering! Everybody to their posts, we have a ship to pull out! Let’s see if you’ve gotten soft under your other captain’s hand!”
They spent the day sailing off the coast, as far out as they could, and Sylvie seemed to be having a grand time running around the ship, helping to adjust the sails, and learning to use some of the Naut navigation tools. She even got to steer the ship for a time and looked like she could light the whole world with her smile.
But all good things must come to an end.
“Captain! The sun is starting to set, sir. If we want to be back at the docks by dark, we should head back now.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lauro. Let’s head back then.” Lauro saluted then ran off to relay Vasco’s orders to the helmsman. He saw Sylvie move out of the corner of his eye and turned to see her visibly deflate. His heart dropped, and he searched his brain for a way to lighten her spirits.
“Captain?” He glanced at Jonas as the boy stepped forward, his eyes locked on Sylvie. “You’ve been on land for a while now. Surely some of your abilities have waned in all this time you’ve been relaxing on the island.” Vasco stiffed and was about to snap at him when Jonas grinned mischievously, “I bet Lady de Sardet would be able to beat you to the crow’s nest.”
Vasco blinked. This brilliant little shit. He smirked back at Jonas, “Oh, I doubt that, Jonas. She is still a bureaucrat, after all.”
“Now, wait just a minute.” The two men grinned at each other, and Vasco wiped his smile before turning to Sylvie, no longer looking despondent and instead looking determined. “I spent most of my childhood on the deck of a ship. I can more than handle myself.”
Vasco turned to her fully and tilted his head up slightly in challenge, “Then prove it, my lady.”
She held his gaze for a moment before smirking, “I would be more than happy to take you up on that offer, Captain Vasco. But I would hate to embarrass you in front of your crew.”
Vasco met her smirk, “Your concern is appreciated, but I doubt it will be necessary.”
The two of them moved to the bases of the rigging, and the crew immediately crowded around them, obviously having listened in. Sylvie and Vasco got situated on the ropes, and he nodded at Flavia, who nodded back and took off her hat, holding it high. “Alright, you two, on three! One…two…three!” The second her hat dropped, they took off, the crew cheering hard below us. Vasco distinctly noticed that they were all mostly cheering Sylvie, though he couldn’t really blame them. She was much faster than he thought she would be.
But not fast enough. He managed to reach the crow’s nest a few steps before her.
He pulled himself into it and took off his hat, waving it to his crew below. They cheered for him as Sylvie reached the top herself and he helped her climb in. He worried for a moment that she would be upset, but she was smiling and laughing. “It seems there is some benefit to Naut training. Well done, Vasco. Though I will be victorious the next time we race!”
He smiled back at her, “I don’t doubt that, Sylvie.” He pulled himself away from her—with great effort—and shouted back down at his crew, “Alright, you’ve all had your fun; back to work! Mr. Lauro, I want to be fully docked before we lose the light!”
“Aye, sir!”
He turned back to Sylvie to find her leaning against the railing, her head back and eyes closed, just letting the wind hit her, a few loose strands of her golden-brown hair blowing behind her.
Gods, this woman is a vision.
He thought back to what she had told him that night about her childhood dream to join the Nauts and wondered how their lives would have been different if she had gone through with it. Would they have met? Been friends? Maybe something…
Sylvie turned to him and smiled softly, her blue-green eyes putting the sea around them to shame. That terrifying feeling he got before returned in full force. He really was doomed with this woman, wasn’t he?
“Thank you, Vasco. Truly. Today was wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
He swallowed that feeling down hard, “You are very welcome…Sylvie.”
As your ship pass through, the sirens calling out to your crew for their deepest desires, a siren calls out to one of them saying, “I’m so proud of you, my son! Give me a hug!”
I knew it was a siren the second I heard my mother’s voice.
There wasn’t anything wrong with the imitation. It was flawless, in fact, down to her natural inflections and the slight lisp she always had when making an 's' sound. Had the voice said anything else, I might have genuinely believed it was my mother. But the siren said she was proud of me. It called me her son.
And my mother would never say that.
Against my better judgement, I looked out to the rocks, spotting my siren with ease. The illusion was perfect, too; I’d give the beast that. The thing that easily gave it away was that my ‘mother’ was smiling at me. I don’t think my mother had ever looked at me with anything less than a scowl my entire life. Well, apart from the satisfied grin she had shot me when she sold me to some smugglers when I was just a boy. “Finally good for something,” she had said.
“My dear son!” the siren-mother called out again, a warm smile on her face that would have belonged on any other mother’s, but just looked wrong on hers. “I have missed you so much!”
I very nearly laughed at that. Missed me? This siren must have been young to make such mistakes in its illusion. My mother would have drowned me herself if she could have gotten away with it. The only reason she didn’t throw me to the wolves was that a single woman with a boy to run errands for her was only slightly better off than a single woman alone. Though she made sure to never go a day without reminding me how I ruined her life.
The result of a one-night stand with an unknown man, her family disowned her when they learned she was pregnant. It was a tale as old as time. About a dozen other women living in the slums I grew up in could claim the same backstory. The second I was old enough, she sold me to make some quick coin, and I had been on the sea ever since, moving from ship to ship.
“My darling!” the siren-mother called out again, sounding annoyed that her illusion wasn’t working, “Don’t leave your mother waiting!”
I snorted then, “Oh, terribly sorry, mother dearest, I was just preparing a gift for you!” And with that, I pulled out my pistol and shot the creature right in the chest, sending it falling back and breaking the illusion immediately. I heard the other sirens hiss and cry and shout for their fallen sister before slithering back into the waters from whence then came.
My crewmates slowly started to come out of their own illusions, taking their posts when they were able, and I patrolled the deck until we were out of the siren’s territory.
The captain came up to me then. “Good work, boy! Hate those devilish things. It’d be a pretty sweet way to go, though!” He laughed hard and slapped me on the back, making me stumble forward a step. “How’d you break their tricks, anyhow?”
I sighed and looked back out over the water, “Just lucky, I guess, sir.”
Warnings – mentions of dead island creatures, mentions of deceased Nauts
Masterlist
Now that Vasco’s journey to find himself has come to an end, he needs Sylvie’s help to reaffirm his loyalties to the Nauts.
“Sylvie, you really don’t need to—”
“Vasco, I am not having this conversation with you again. I am going to help you on this loyalty mission of yours, and that is final.” She stopped in the middle of the street and raised an eyebrow at him, smiling. “If you’d prefer, I could make that an order.”
He sighed heavily in fake resignation, “Very well, my lady.” She rolled her eyes hard at him but kept her smile. He returned it softly, “Thank you, Sylvie.”
“You’re welcome, Vasco. It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me. I owe you that much.”
He shook his head fondly, “You owe me nothing, Sylvie.” If anything, he was the one who owed her everything, taking the time to help him while also searching for a cure for her cousin. It was trying on her; he could see that. She didn’t smile as easily as she used to. But still, she did it with a smile on her face. A small smile, tired, but a smile nonetheless.
Thankfully, it didn’t take them long to find the Admiral.
“Captain Vasco!” Admiral Cabral smiled as they approached. “I’m glad to see you again! Did you…profit from your time on land?” She looked between him and Sylvie with a knowing glint in her eye, and Vasco realized he still had that dumb little grin on his face.
He quickly wiped it off and cleared his throat, “I…did, Admiral.” She grinned, and he quickly continued before Sylvie could understand the implication. “That’s why I’ve come to see you.”
Her face turned serious then. “You want me to entrust you with a loyalty mission?”
Vasco nodded, “Indeed.”
She studied him for a moment then nodded, “Very well. A short time ago, we lost one of our ships near the island, near the southern part of a region the natives call Wenshaganaw. The reputation of the Nauts suffered from it. I need someone to investigate and restore our reputation.”
“At your orders, Admiral, and with pleasure!”
The Wenshaganaw coast was a maze of cave tunnels, dark, dreary, and absolutely full of bloody bats. When they finally reached the end of the tunnel and could see the beach and the ship, Vasco grinned, “Look, there it is!” His grin faded however as he got a better look, seeing the ship was fully aground and somehow, almost completely on its side.
Siora stared, “I have never seen a boat on its side like this. It looks like the corpse of a Morimil!”
They approached the wreckage cautiously, taking note of the dozens of island creatures’ corpses that littered the ground around it. Sylvie squatted beside one of them and studied it for a moment. “The corpses are chained up. These beasts were captive…” She glanced up at him, “Could they have died during the sinking?”
Vasco stepped beside her, looking over the same beast, then shook his head, “I don’t think so. They don’t seem to have drowned. Something bigger slaughtered them with no effort at all...”
They drifted apart, each exploring a different part of the beach for what felt like hours before Sylvie called Vasco and Siora over to her. She motioned to the twisted hunk of metal she had found behind the wreckage as they approached, “It looks like an enormous cage but look…”
He blinked as he realized what she was pointing out, “It’s been broken…” He paused, then looked at Sylvie. “Is this ringing any bells for anyone else?”
Sylvie’s eyes lit up with recognition, and she looked over the hull of the ship again. “The hull was torn apart…and given the way that the wood is broken, it came from the inside…”
Vasco stepped beside her again, motioning to the ground, “There are scratch marks almost everywhere on the wood, but they do not look like the marks a reef would make.”
“This ship was apparently carrying creatures from the island. The largest one managed to escape and made a hole in the hull as it tried to run away, just like in Serene…” She shook her head sadly, “The sailors did not stand a chance.”
“The Admiral will not be satisfied with our deductions; she will want concrete proof.” He rested his hand on Sylvie’s arm. “Let’s keep searching.”
She nodded and began another sweep of the area. Vasco went to join her but noticed Siora smirking at him out of the corner of his eye. “What?”
She tried to look innocent. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He sighed heavily, “Siora...”
She giggled, “I just enjoy watching the two of you together, that is all.” Vasco raised an eyebrow, and she continued, “You are like minundhanem. Yet you try to deny it. Even though you light up in her presence like a flower finally being given sunlight. It is very amusing.”
He didn’t need to understand her language to understand the tone, and his cheeks nearly caught on fire. “Siora, that’s—”
“Vasco! Siora! Take a look at this!” They both looked in Sylvie’s direction to find her holding up what looked like a book. “I think this is the captain’s journal!”
“Perfect. That’s exactly what we need!” Vasco called back, and she grinned at him. He moved to go over to her when he noticed Siora smirking at him again. It took him a moment to realize he had begun smiling without even noticing it, and Siora giggled as his cheeks turned red again, scampering off to Sylvie before he could snap at her. He sighed and pulled his hat down a bit to cover his blush as he joined the two women.
Gods, I’m in trouble.
The Admiral looked up from her papers and smiled, “De Sardet! What can I do for you?”
“Regarding the mission you entrusted Captain Vasco with…”
“We have come to give our conclusions,” Vasco finished.
The Admiral’s face hardened. “I’m listening…”
“We examined the shipwreck and the surrounding area. A creature they carried on board managed to set itself free. An enormous beast, it made a hole in the hull and caused the sinking.” He lowered his head, “We could only find dead bodies.”
The Admiral closed her eyes a moment, mourning their brothers and sisters. “Alas, I was expecting it…May the sea be their shroud; we shall not forget them. Did you find anything?”
Sylvie handed her the captain’s journal. “The captain’s journal tells the tale of the ship from their departure to the sinking.”
“Thank you, Vasco. De Sardet.” She tightened her grip on the journal. “It seems that the potions of the Alliance failed us once more. And rest assured, we will never transport another one of those creatures; they are too dangerous for our ships.” She sighed sadly then smiled, “Our honour is safe, thanks to you. You have proven your loyalty, and you have regained my trust. What you have achieved for us all deserves to be a part of your history, Vasco.”
“I am most grateful to you, Admiral.” Vasco bowed his head again, then caught Sylvie smiling at him out of the corner of his eye. She looked so proud, so happy… “But I would like to request something.”
The Admiral raised an eyebrow, “A request? Speak, Captain.”
He took a deep breath, “As you know, De Sardet was sea-born, despite being taken away from us. I know that you have sent me on this assignment so that I would reflect on my own condition, but I believe you were also hoping I would manage to make the legate want to join us. After proving to be invaluable and respectful of the Nauts, perhaps it’s time to officially recognize my companion’s birthright?” He risked glancing at Sylvie then and was not disappointed. Vasco had never actually seen Sylvie’s jaw drop before, though it was a sight he would be glad to see again.
The Admiral grinned, “If De Sardet wills it so, I would be glad to add another member to our family.”
They both looked at her, and she blinked, “I…if you’re sure I wouldn’t be overstepping...”
The Admiral shook her head fondly, “Not at all, De Sardet. Vasco is right. This was your mission as much as his. And despite the…complications surround your origins; one this is clear: you are sea-born. If you are willing, it would be an honour to have you join us.”
Sylvie looked at Vasco hesitantly, and he nodded encouragingly, his heart thumping wildly. A thousand emotions crossed her face before settling on a watery smile. “The honour would be mine, Admiral.”
The Admiral smiled, “Welcome amongst your own people, De Sardet. I will send someone to tell the tattooist to receive you both.”
Vasco bowed his head. “Thank you, Admiral.”
She nodded back at him, and they started toward the docks where the tattooist was when Siora stopped. “I will take my leave. This seems to be a deeply personal matter for both of you.” She shot Vasco a knowing look that he tried very hard to ignore before bidding them farewell and leaving.
He held back a sigh and went to move on when Sylvie caught his hand. “Vasco, I…” She searched for the right words but just shook her head, her eyes tearing up again. “Thank you.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand, “No thanks needed. You deserve it, and it is your right. You are a Naut, Sylvie; you always have been. It’s time the world sees that.”
She looked at him for a long moment with an expression he hadn’t seen before, then wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his neck. His arms wrapped around her automatically, and they just held each other for what felt like a moment and an eternity all at once.
Eventually, they pulled away and headed to the tattooist. As they approached him, Sylvie looked at Vasco excitedly, and he chuckled, motioning her to speak. She grinned, turning to the tattooist, “We have come to receive our tattoos. The Admiral should have informed you?”
“Indeed!” he smiled happily. “Congratulations to you both. With whom shall I begin?”
Vasco stepped forward, “It would be better if I went before De Sardet. I’m used to it…” He noticed Sylvie almost deflate and chuckled to himself. Adorable.
The tattooist nodded and patted his stool, “Then take a seat, Captain! It shouldn’t take long.”
The tattooist kept his word and did both of their tattoos as quickly as he could without rushing. Given it was her first tattoo, Sylvie took it like a champ, barely flinching at all. When her tattoo was done, Sylvie very nearly skipped over to Vasco, “I can hardly believe this is real. I’ve dreamt about the Nauts for as long as I can remember. The little girl who used to watch the ships sail in and out of the harbour in Serene never would have believed this day would come.”
He chuckled and motioned to his new tattoo, “What do you think about it? I feel more Naut than ever!”
She grinned, “It looks wonderful, Vasco. Congratulations, you’ve more than earned it. And what of mine?” She tilted her chin up to let her tattoo catch the light better. “How do I look?”
Vasco looked at her, and a feeling he had never felt before struck his heart like a physical blow. Something he couldn’t quite identify.
Or perhaps…one he was scared to identify.
Siora’s words rattled around in his head, but he shook it off and smiled softly, “You look…perfect.”
Your harassing neighbor dies. Then a bullying coworker dies in a crash. Within a month, people you’ve had bad blood with start dying.
The police are watching you closely—but you haven’t done anything… at least, not that you know of.
I slammed my front door shut hard behind me and nearly collapsed against it. Sixteen freaking hours being interrogated by the cops and now I couldn’t tell if I wanted to fall into my bed or run a marathon.
I couldn’t believe Chad was dead. And Mrs. Roberts before him. And the cops thought I did it. I mean, we weren’t exactly best friends, but still…
I clenched my hands to keep them from shaking and stumbled to the bathroom, splashing some cold water on my face.
“Oh, get a grip, would you?” I nearly jumped out of my skin and spun around my bathroom, looking for the source of the voice. “Over here, nitwit. In the mirror.” I hesitated for a minute, but looked into the mirror. For a moment, all I saw was my reflection. Then, one of my eyes went fully black and the corner of my mouth stretched into a wicked grin. “There we are. How you doing? The boys in blue kept you for a while, huh? Sorry about that.”
I swallowed hard, “Who…who are you?”
It smirked, “I’m you. At least, the you that would exist if you’d stop holding back like a wuss.”
A cold feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. “You killed them.”
“You betcha.”
“Why?”
It snorted, “Why? You really need to ask me why? They were assholes. Chad always took credit for your work. You lost out on that promotion because of him! And Roberts—don’t get me started on that old bat. I did you a favour.”
I shook my head. “It’s wrong.”
It laughed, “Oh, please. Don’t act so high and mighty. If you hadn’t wanted them dead, genuinely dead, even for a moment, I wouldn’t be here. But I am.” It smirked at me. “You’re stuck with me, friend. And I promise you, no one will ever cross you again. And if they do? Well…” it shrugged, “they won’t last long enough to be of any consequence.”
I could hear its laughter echo in my head as my legs gave out and I sank to the floor.
"Your son will take your throne from you," they prophesized, spitting each word out of teeth clenched tight with hatred. Why they'd bother prophesizing such an event befuddles you; your son is literally your chosen heir, after all.
My chamber doors shut tightly behind me and I sighed heavily, leaning back against them. I tried to ease my growing headache by rubbing my fingers against my temples but failed.
Fools. I was truly surrounded by utter fools. The whole lot of them.
“Mama? Is that you?”
My body stiffened for a moment then relaxed as I recognized my son’s voice. “Tristan?” I looked around my very empty chambers and frowned, “Where are you, my shining star?” The blankets around the skirt of my bed rustled, and his tiny head popped out from under my bed. I frowned and walked over, holding my hand out to him, “Tristan, what are you doing under there? Come out, it must be very dusty—”
“No! I can’t!”
I jumped a little at the loud shout that came from my young son and frowned again, “Why can’t you, my love?”
He sniffled and my heart clenched, “It’s not safe for you. The seers told me everything. I’m gonna hurt you, take your big chair and fancy hat. I’m gonna hurt you, Mama! I don’t wanna hurt you. But if I stay under here, then you’ll be safe.” He disappeared back behind the blankets.
I saw red. Those bastards dared to talk to my son without me present? I took a deep breath, years of wearing a mask for the court coming in handy in a way I never wanted, and lifted my skirts, getting comfortable on the floor. “Tristan? Let me see you, my darling.” He hesitated a minute before popping his head out from behind the blankets again. Now that I was closer to him, I could see his big eyes were red from crying and my heart broke. “Oh, my darling boy, come here.” He shook his head immediately and moved to scurry back under the bed, but I held my arms out, “My star, you will not hurt me. I promise. Just come here; it’s alright.” He hesitated for a long time, then scrambled out from under my bed and practically fell into my arms, his tiny body shaking with sobs. “Oh, my sweet boy.” I wrapped my arms around him tightly and carded my fingers through his hair, shushing him, rocking him, and humming that old lullaby I used to sing to him as a baby. When his sobs finally softened to sniffles, I pulled back and cupped his face in my hands, wiping his tears away with the sleeve of my gown. “Now, my darling star, you listen to me and you listen well. You are not destined to hurt me.”
“But the seers—”
“The seers are fools,” I interrupted firmly but gently, “You are my son. My heir. Of course, you will take the throne from me one day. When you inherit it. Just like how I intend it to be. This is not a bad thing, my love. This is how it is meant to be.”
He studied my face for a long moment, looking for lies, and his little face twisted in that way a child’s face does when they are trying to understand things they are not old enough to grasp, “But…then why did the seers say it was a bad thing?”
I fought to keep my hands from tensing and pulled Tristan back into my arms, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead, “I don’t know, my darling. But I will find out.”
Warnings – swearing, the murder of training dummies
Masterlist
Sylvie finally learns the truth of her origins.
Vasco could hear Sylvie before he even entered the Coin Guard barracks. He hesitated to call it training, more like rampaging. It would have been amusing, walking through the barracks with all the grizzled, veteran soldiers avoiding the training grounds like frightened kittens and looking at the doors as if a bloody dragon was going to burst through, if he didn’t agree with them. He took a deep breath before opening the training grounds doors…and fought to keep his jaw off the floor.
The grounds looked absolutely destroyed. Weapons were spread haphazardly across the floor, like someone was changing them with each swing, and the dummies…gods. Some were chopped up, some were snapped in half, some had been exploded, some were practically burned to a crisp. It was a massacre.
Vasco heard a blast and turned to the main training area, seeing Sylvie working on the next dummy. It didn’t take a genius to tell she was furious, with the way she way absolutely decimating it. Poor thing probably wouldn’t last long against that kind of assault.
He noticed Kurt standing off to the side, watching Sylvie devastate the poor dummy, and joined him wordlessly. After a silent minute, Vasco asked, “Has she been at it long?”
“Since I refused to train with her after you all got back from San Matheus.” Vasco raised an eyebrow, and Kurt motioned to Sylvie as she finished with one dummy and dragged over the next. “You think I want to get in front of that?” He sighed while shaking his head, “I haven’t seen her this angry since the court ignored Constantin’s orders when his father was away.”
“She has good reason,” Vasco muttered and tightened his grip on his coat. Just the thought of Petrus and everything he had kept from Sylvie, after everything she had done for all of them, set Vasco’s blood absolutely boiling.
Kurt nodded as he watched Sylvie stab her sword right through the dummy’s head. “I heard. To be honest, I can’t tell if I’m impressed or disappointed that you didn’t drop the old bastard to the ground.”
“To be honest, neither can I.”
“Captain!” They turned as a young guard ran over, watching Sylvie cautiously and giving her a wide berth. “Commander Sieglinde needs you, sir. Says it’s urgent.”
Kurt sighed, rolling his shoulders. “No rest for the wicked, I see.” He turned to follow the guard, then stopped, locking eyes with Vasco. “I’ll leave Greenblood to you.”
It was a simple sentence, but the look in Kurt’s eyes gave it an entirely different meaning. Vasco straightened and nodded. Kurt studied him for a long moment, then nodded back and left with the guard, who looked all too happy to leave.
Vasco took a deep breath and turned to Sylvie. She had never looked more like a tempest to him than in that moment. He cautiously stepped closer to her. “Sylvie…are you alright?”
She paused her onslaught and just stared at the dummy without responding. Then she raised her hand and snapped her fingers, the dummy catching on fire immediately. “No.” She sighed, turning to him and running her hand over her face, “I just…he just…why would—FUCK!” She spun around and kicked the burning dummy as hard as she could, sending it flying into the wall behind it and making it practically explode. “I’m furious,” she said through gritted teeth, “I’m fucking furious. And angry and upset and…I don’t even know what I’m feeling anymore. I’m…I’m tired…of everyone around me lying to me and making decisions for me.”
Vasco gingerly rested his hand on her shoulder, “Not everyone does, Sylvie.” She sighed heavily, but put her hand over his, squeezing it gently, and just leaned into him. They stood there quietly for a moment before he spoke, “Do you want to see Petrus now?”
She sighed again then nodded.
Petrus had an equal mix of relief and apprehension on his face as Sylvie and Vasco approached him. Probably wise, given the amount of murders Sylvie had committed against the training dummy population. “I’m happy you came to find me,” he said. “Allow me to apologize once again. I should have spoken to you sooner, told you what I knew, and not betrayed your trust.”
“Indeed, you should have,” Sylvie snapped, then took a deep breath to calm herself.
“As I said,” Petrus continued quickly, “I’d like to make up for it and help you find your family again.”
“How do you intend to do that?” Vasco asked.
Petrus glanced at him, then looked back at Sylvie, “As you now know, I knew your mother. We had trouble communicating at first, of course. But we gradually learned to understand one another. She was important in her village. Based on what I know today, I think she was a doneigad. She told me her name, Arelwin, and told me about her family. She even gave me a pendant for you. You were only a child, so I gave it to Princess de Sardet for safekeeping.”
Sylvie’s hand rose to her chest, no doubt touching the amulet under her coat. She was quiet for a minute. “Did my…mother tell you the name of her village?”
Petrus shook his head, “No. But I’m sure the Nauts can help us. They were the ones who took your mother to the continent.”
“It was such a long time ago…” She chewed her lip. “How can I find out if they remember?”
“The Nauts record everything down to the gentlest breeze,” Vasco interjected, “We must have written something in a logbook somewhere.” Sylvie grabbed his arm and her face brightened.
“So, do you want to try and find out where you come from?” Petrus asked hesitantly, “Do you want to find your relatives?”
“Yes,” she said slowly after a long pause, “All this is…so new to me, but…I suppose so, yes.”
Vasco covered Sylvie’s hand on my arm and smiled reassuringly at her, “Let’s go then.”
“De Sardet,” Admiral Cabral smiled gently as they approached, “After what I revealed to you, I was sure you would come back to find me. What would you like to know?”
Sylvie steeled herself, “You told me that I was born on one of your ships, of an islander captured on the island.”
“We’d like to know about this woman’s origins,” Petrus added.
The Admiral shook her head, “I’m afraid I can’t help you. I did not take part in those expeditions. And our old archives are far from here...”
Petrus looked desperate. “Is there no one on Teer Fradee who can help us? Please.”
She sighed, “Very well. I do know of an old captain who could perhaps help you out. His ship is moored in the port of Hikmet, if I’m not mistaken. His name is Captain Lisandro.”
Sylvie smiled and bowed her head, “Thank you for your help, Admiral.”
They turned to leave, but Admiral Cabral called out to them before they could get far, “De Sardet?” Sylvie stopped and turned, and the Admiral continued, “Don’t get too caught up in the past. That one in particular. Nothing good will come of it.”
Petrus chuckled dejectedly, “Whether or not we choose to get caught up in it, Admiral, the past always catches up with us. Sadly, I am paying the price of this.”
Vasco glared at him. As if he had any right to act as if he were the victim in this situation.
Sylvie put on her best diplomatic voice as they approached Lisandro, still dusty from travel, “Hello, Captain.”
Lisandro looked them over and raised an eyebrow, “Well now, what fair wind blows you into port?”
“Admiral Cabral advised me to speak to you about a matter of some concern to me.”
“The Admiral? Coming from a legate, I should have expected that…so?”
Sylvie swallowed, “You are the only one on this island that can help me.”
Lisandro blinked, “Really?” He looked a little closer at Sylvie for a moment, and his face softened, “Oh, I think I understand…that’s why your face looked familiar. The Congregation is good at keeping its secrets, isn’t it? This story is not a new one.”
She shook her head, “Twenty-five years. Twenty-five years since the Nauts brought a woman who was captured on this island to Serene.”
Lisandro nodded, lost in thought. “I remember…and yet, it wasn’t the first time. But on that occasion, a child was born...”
“So, you can understand why we’d like to learn where this captive came from?” Petrus pushed.
He nodded, “Yes, yes. I have seen more than a few Nauts looking for their parents. But what have you got to do with all this?”
Petrus winced, “I met that woman in Serene. I got to know her…well.” Sylvie’s and Vasco’s heads snapped in his direction, and Petrus quickly looked away. This old bastard.
Lisandro picked up on the tension. “Listen, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but my memory is no longer what it was. I wasn’t the captain at the time. I wasn’t the one who decided where we moored the ship. So, I don’t see how I can help you find out where this woman came from!”
Sylvie practically deflated, and Vasco squeezed her shoulder before stepping forward, “From one captain to another, if you would allow me?”
“You said it yourself; a child was born at that particular time. A Seaborn.” Vasco saw Sylvie look at him with wide eyes out of the corner of his eye and continued, “And we always help one of our own.”
“Very well,” Lisandro sighed. “I need to look in my old logbooks. I’m sure I’ll find something. Wait for me here. I’ll be an hour at the most.” He nodded at Sylvie then left to find his books.
Sylvie was still staring at him. “Am I…” She looked like she was having trouble putting together the words. “Do you really think I’m…a Seaborn?”
Vasco smiled at her, “I bet it’s why you have such a love for the water. Your soul has been calling out for it since the moment you were born.”
He didn’t think he’d ever seen her smile so big.
Luckily, Lisandro came through and pointed them in the direction of a village on the plains in the island's southeast, one the natives called Vignamri. The chief was helpful in his own way, explaining how Sylvie’s mother, who was indeed their doneigad, had been captured for her healing powers and how Sylvie’s father, along with many other warriors of their village had gone to rescue her, only to be killed. And that Sylvie had a living relative, Slan, her mother’s sister. It stunned her, but she recovered quickly and after asking around the village, they set off to find her.
Only to find the poor woman being set upon by beasts.
It seemed Sylvie’s knack for getting into the middle of things was a family trait.
Petrus turned to the woman after they vanquished the last of the creatures, “How do you feel, Madam?”
Slan breathed heavily, brushing herself off, “Well. Thank you for stepping in. I don’t understand what has happened. Usually, these animals accept me. Something must have frightened them.”
Sylvie didn’t say anything, just studied her aunt, and Petrus continued, “We are glad we arrived at the right time. We would have been very upset if something had happened to you.”
Sylvie stepped forward then. “Excuse me, but are you Slan, the doneigad of Vignamri?”
“Yes, that’s me. Were you looking for me?”
Petrus nodded, “Yes, we were. If you would allow us, we’d like to accompany you and tell you our story along the way...”
They slowly made their way back to the village, explaining the story to Slan along the way. She was stunned at first, of course. But when they reached her home, she turned and looked at Sylvie, “I…I just can’t believe it. Yet…if I think about it, your face reminds me of hers…”
Sylvie blinked away some tears and carefully pulled the amulet out of her clothes. “My mother…or rather, the woman who…raised me gave me this amulet…”
“Arelwin gave it to me to give to her child,” Petrus explained, “and I passed it on to Princess de Sardet.”
Slan took the amulet with shaking hands and traced the carvings. “It looks familiar…your father had given it to your mother when they were bound.” She swallowed her own tears and held the amulet close to her heart. “It’s good that you are wearing it today. My poor, beloved Arelwin, who died far away from us all…” She cursed in the native language, wiping at her eyes. “I still miss her so much!”
“I…” Petrus hesitated, then glanced at Sylvie and continued, “She wanted me to help her die, but I was unable to do such a thing. Someone would have figured it out. I would have been sent back to Thélème, and I would have lost everything. So, I…watched her suffer, and one day, she died...”
Sylvie sighed heavily, “Petrus, I cannot hold it against you for letting her live.”
He shook his head, “No. You don’t understand. I…loved her. I loved her, and I didn’t even have the strength to end her suffering. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved...”
“Everyone loved Arelwin,” Slan interjected. “She was marvellous. You cannot blame yourself, man of the Light.” She reached out then and touched Sylvie’s arm, smiling tearfully, “What’s more, you brought me her child. For that alone, she would forgive you if she were among us. All is well now. The child of Teer Fradi has returned home, and with her, the spirit of her mother.” She reached up and cupped Sylvie’s face. “You are home, my magem! Welcome.”
Tears started falling down Sylvie’s cheeks then, and she laughed. Sensing a shift, Vasco grabbed Petrus and pulled him out of Slan’s house to give them some privacy. They sat down on the steps, and after a moment, Petrus looked at him, studying him. He didn’t say anything, and Vasco turned to him, “Can I help you, priest?”
Petrus studied him for a moment longer. “You don’t like me, do you, Captain?”
Vasco paused before answering, “I don’t like people who hurt Sylvie.”
Petrus studied him again before smiling, “I’m glad she has someone who cares for her so dearly.”
Vasco ignored his heated cheeks and looked away.
After some time, Sylvie emerged from Slan’s home, eyes red from tears but looking lighter than she had in days. She looked at Petrus as the men stood. “Petrus…I wanted to thank you.”
Both men looked stunned at her. “Thank me?” Petrus asked. “Despite everything you now know about me?”
Sylvie shrugged, “You may have been a bit cowardly in the past, to the point of letting the woman you loved suffer. You were manipulative, and you lied to everyone, including yourself.” Petrus looked down, and Sylvie rested her hand on his arm. “But thanks to what you’ve told me, I’ve been able to find my family and my origins. And for that, I thank you.”
Petrus teared up, “My child, what you’re saying touches me more than you can imagine.” He hesitated a moment, then reached up and covered her hand. “At least I’ve done something good for once in my deceitful life. For you, and for her. I hope the Enlightened will remember this when I stand before him.”
They said their goodbyes to the chief and headed out of the village. After they passed the border, Sylvie fell into step beside Vasco. “Don’t think I forgot about you.”
He shook his head, “I didn’t do much.”
She smiled at him, “You convinced Captain Lisandro to find his logbook. And I don’t think I’d have the strength to do this without you by my side.”
He fought the blush off his cheeks again. “You give me too much credit, I think.”
She shook her head fondly, “And you give yourself too little.” She stepped forward, and before Vasco could react, she rested her hand on his chest and kissed his cheek. His face practically exploded in red, and as she pulled away, her cheeks were almost as red as his. “Thank you, Vasco. For everything.” Vasco could only nod stiffly, and she smiled softly at him before walking back over to Petrus.
Vasco brushed his fingers over his cheek, still feeling the ghost of her lips on his skin, and fought hard to keep the grin off his face.
He couldn’t stop himself from practically skipping back to New Serene, though.
Your party is in peril, summons gone, allies falling fast. You hesitate, hand hovering over the last name on your list—the summon you swore never to use. After a long breath, you let it loose. The air cracks. Reality bends. You just hope you won’t regret this later.
As the black smoke rose from the ground in front of me, I cursed using every word I could think of. Why? Why now? Why did it have to be him?
Of course, I knew the answer and glanced over my shoulder at my fallen party. Aidon on the ground with a large cut from an orc’s axe across his chest, propped up against Esha as she tried desperately to stop the bleeding, her broken staff useless beside them. And Perryn in front of them, holding up both pieces of her broken bow like daggers, ready to defend them. Though she wouldn’t be able to hold off the horde of orcs circling us for long. None of us could.
He could, though. Unfortunately.
“I truly never thought I’d see the day you would summon me, wife.”
My head snapped back toward the pillar of smoke. “I told you never to call me that, Azephyon.”
The smoke molded to the rough height and shape of a tall man. “And I told you to call me Zeph. So, it would seem neither of us is getting what we want.”
I glared at him hard and could practically feel the smirk rolling off him. The cry of a charging orc caught our attention, and I motioned to the horde, “Do you mind?”
The shadow’s head tilted to the side in what I’m sure he thought was a coy way, “Now, I believe it is customary for the summoner to give orders to their summon, is it not?”
I sighed exasperatedly, “Azephyon, this is an order: deal with the orcs.”
He bowed exaggeratedly, “As you command, wife.” The smoky limb that was supposed to be his hand rose, a snap sounding through the air, and the orcs just…vanished. He turned back to me and I didn’t need to see his face to know he was smirking. “There. Was that satisfactory?”
“Yeah. Sure.” I went to turn to my friends but could feel Azephyon’s eyes locked on me. “What? You want a reward or something?”
“I believe it is appropriate. Perhaps…a kiss?”
I snorted. Hard. “Fat chance of that.” I started walking toward my friends but paused, “Good job. And thank you.” I rushed over to Aidon before Azephyon could make any comments and kneeled in front of him, hands hovering over the large cut on his chest, “Are you okay? Here, give me a second…” As I healed him, I hesitated, then looked up at my friends for the first time. And winced.
Even through their injuries, they were all staring at me with wide eyes, like I had slapped each of them myself.
“W-wife…?” Aidon breathed, eyes locking on Azephyon’s smoky shape.
Before I could reply, the air charged with Azephyon’s magic and I looked over my shoulder in time to see his smoky form condense into the proper body of a handsome young man, eyes glowing like embers and dressed in silken finery befitting his station as a prince of one of the ruling houses of the underworld.
Well, if I had to be wed to a demon, at least he was attractive.
As if he could read my thoughts, Azephyon caught my eye, smirked, and—I swear—flexed. I rolled my eyes to cover my blush and returned my attention to Aidon’s wound, ignoring the shiver that went up my spine when he chuckled at me. He bowed exaggeratedly, “Azephyon Carrion of Tilvyris, heir to the House of Carrion. And husband of your beloved little summoner here. At your service.”
They all blinked at him, then looked at me. “Tressa?”
Once Aidon’s wound was fully healed, I sat back on my heels and sighed, “It’s not what you think. It’s an arranged marriage, set up by our families. Every hundred years, a member of my family marries a member of his. In doing so, my family has a consistent supply of good familiars and summons, and Azephyon’s family has ties to the material world.”
Perryn blinked, “How very…practical.”
“And you agreed to this?” Esha asked worriedly, glancing between Azephyon and me.
I shrugged, “It could be worse. We agreed for it to be a marriage on paper only. He stays in the underworld, and I stay here. No feelings involved.”
The silence that radiated from Azephyon was almost deafening. “I may have broken our agreement on that last point…”
My mouth dropped open and I stared at him. It was the first time in the twenty years I had known that I’d seen him look bashful. It would have been adorable if my heart wasn’t pounding in my ears. “What—” A war horn cut through the air. “Azephyon! I told you to take care of them!”
“If my memory serves me, you ordered me to take care of the orcs. I’m quite certain those are goblins.”
Trained from birth as an assassin, your mind was bound by a powerful control spell. Sent to kill an archmage, they cast Dispel to weaken you—accidentally freeing your mind instead. For the first time, your dagger points wherever you choose.
I could tell something had changed the second the chant left my lips. The darkness behind Blade’s eyes faded, and his body went from poised and precise to awkward and…almost disjointed. And there was an abrupt change from extreme murderous intent that had been rolling off him seconds before to…something scared and confused.
“What…” Blade stumbled back, looking around my private library as if he were seeing it for the first time. As if he hadn’t been chasing me around the shelves for over an hour. His eyes landed on me and scanned my tattered robes, “Archmage…?” He blinked a few times, then reached out to me, “Where—”
I immediately raised my wand at him, “Easy now.”
He jerked back, raising his hands defensively. “Wait! I don’t—”
It was at that moment he noticed the daggers in his hands, laced with basilisk venom.
He let out a noise like a wounded animal and dropped the daggers as if they were scalding. “What—why…why do I have those…things?!”
I blinked, “Because…you were trying to kill me?”
He stared at me as if I had spoken in a completely different language, “Kill?! I don’t—I’d never—” He stopped abruptly, looking like he was trying to piece together his memories, “Would I?”
After a minute, I cautiously lowered my wand. “You…you don’t remember?”
“No. No, I…” he paused, pressing his hand to his forehead, “Did I…?”
I studied him hard. It could be a trick, of course. It would hardly be the first time Blade had tricked me. But there was something about his eyes… “I…could show you, if you wish.” Blade studied me in turn, clearly debating within himself, but he nodded. I raised my wand again, whispering the chant to a memory-sharing spell under my breath. I couldn’t show him his own memories, but I could show him mine.
His eyes lost focus as my memories of our encounters danced in his mind, and to my shock, tears started rolling down his cheeks; his face actually breaking before my eyes. “I can’t…how could…I’m so sorry!”
I had to fight to keep my jaw from falling. “You really don’t remember, do you?”
“No, I—” He cried out in pain, his hands flying to his head. He stumbled back against the wall, sliding to the floor in a heap.
I hesitated before kneeling in front of him, “Are you—”
“They took me,” he nearly sobbed, fighting to breathe, “when I was a boy. They took me from the abbey and brought me to a dark place and—and then they cast a spell and—”
It all clicked together then. It was hardly unheard of for assassin guilds to recruit by kidnapping, but using a mind control spell was a surprise. It took so much extra effort. Blade—or whatever his real name was—must have resisted them greatly for them to resort to such measures.
“What’s your name? Your real name?”
He sniffled, wiping his face, “Lukas.”
I nodded, handing him my handkerchief. “Well, Lukas, I’m very sorry you went through that. Do you know why the guild sent you after me?” He blew his nose and shook his head. “I’m trying to stop them from abducting orphans to expand their numbers. To stop what happened to you, apparently.” I snorted, “They don’t like that.” I looked him over thoughtfully. “Would you like to help me?”
He wiped his tears, but his eyes hardened. “Just tell me where to point my blade.”
Vasco stands beside Sylvie when she isn’t feeling strong.
Author’s Note: Hey everyone! I’m so sorry this took so long to come out. This story coming out right after my dog passed away was a bit…unfortunate. Also, life got crazy for a minute, as it does. But I’m feeling better today, so here it is! I’ll try not to make it a habit to wait this long between stories again. Thanks for your patience and support!
Vasco had been pacing back and forth in Sylvie’s front hall long enough that he feared he would wear a hole through her carpet. But he was too anxious to do anything else. He kept debating with himself whether he should go find her or give her space. She definitely needed it, especially after that cursed letter she had received that morning.
It was both a shock and expected that Sylvie would get news that her mother had passed away. She had told Vasco once, on a quiet night when the whiskey had been flowing after a long, hard day, that she knew when she left Serene that she’d never see her mother again. Though it truly couldn’t have come at a worse time. Sylvie had barely been holding it together the last few weeks, trying to comprehend the truth of her origins and dealing with Constantin’s declining health due to the Malichor. She’d been quiet, rarely smiled. But Vasco had watched something in her eyes just flicker off when she read that blasted letter. She just dropped the paper on the floor and walked out of the Governor’s house without a word.
And she hadn’t come back all day.
The front doorknob jiggled, and Vasco halted mid-step, his heart leaping into his throat. It quickly dropped back down when Constantin walked through the door and not Sylvie. He noticed Vasco immediately and sighed, “I had hoped Sylvie would have returned home by now. Though by the look on your face, I can see she has not.” He ran his hand over his gaunt face. “I can only imagine what my fair cousin is going through right now.” He paused, pulling his hand away enough to lock eyes with Vasco, “And she is my fair cousin. I do not care what her blood says.” Constantin swayed a little on his feet, no doubt exhausted from the walk over, and Vasco caught his arm before he fell, leading him to a nearby chair.
Vasco remembered when they had first met in Serene, how the man had practically radiated exuberance and energy. Seeing him like that then, sickly and frail, he could understand why Sylvie was so worried.
Constantin settled into the chair and nodded gratefully at him. His eyes turned to the door, getting a similar look on his face that Vasco no doubt had. “She always bleeds for others, always cares for them. She would not hesitate to give the shirt off her back to anyone. But when it comes to her own pain, she would not breathe a word of it.” Constantin gritted his teeth and brought his fist down as hard as he could on the armrest, “Curse those blasted court nobles! Making her feel like she had to be made of bloody stone to be taken seriously. I swear, if I had my father’s power…”
Vasco nodded solemnly, “Sylvie has told me a little of what she went through as a child. Whatever you came up with, I am certain it would have been well deserved.”
Constantin didn’t say anything, and Vasco looked up to find him studying him. After a minute, he said, “You should go to her. She should not be alone anymore.”
“Me?” Vasco blinked. “Are you sure you would not prefer to go yourself, Your Highness?”
Constantin shook his head, “That would only cause her more pain, I fear. I am far too close to the source of her torment to provide her any real comfort. But you…” He studied Vasco again, “I have watched you and my cousin these past few months. She trusts you, Captain. And cares for you. Deeply. It has to be you.”
Any other time, Vasco would have been flustered by that, but at that moment, he simply nodded and flew out the front door. When his feet hit the cobblestones, he paused, wondering where he should even begin to look. But then he realized there was really only one place she would go and took off for the docks.
Sylvie was exactly where Vasco had imagined she would be, sitting at the end of an unused dock far from the hustle and bustle of the main area, her boots off and her feet dangling in the water, just watching the sun as it began to set with a blank, far-off look on her face. He hesitated a moment before quietly walking up to her and lowering himself down on the dock beside her, removing his own boots and his feet joining hers in the cool water.
If she were aware of his presence, she didn’t give any indication. She just kept turning an amulet in her fingers over and over again absentmindedly, her eyes locked on the line where the sky and sea met.
After a while, her voice finally broke the silence, “Before I left for the island, my…mother gave me this amulet. She said it was a family heirloom. It was…the last thing she ever gave me.” She took a deep breath, and Vasco couldn’t tell if she was holding back tears or rage. “I have worn it under my clothes ever since, close to my heart. It gave me some comfort, like she was always close.” She scoffed, “What a joke.” She held up the amulet, turning it so the waning sunlight gleamed off it. Sylvie moved as if she were about to throw it into the water, and Vasco’s body twitched to stop her, but he needn’t have bothered, as she stopped herself, clenching her fingers tightly around it instead.
“What am I supposed to do, Vasco?” she asked quietly, tears starting to fall silently down her face. “My mother is dead, and it hurts so much, even though I knew it would happen. But she was not really my mother, was she? My family is a lie. My whole life is a lie. How I am the spitting image of my father, lost at sea, how this blasted mark is just a birthmark. But it’s not. Just truth given form. And I should be angry; I should hate the people who practically kidnapped me and lied to me all my life, but I…I can’t.” She tucked the amulet into her coat pocket and wrapped her arms around herself, as if she were trying to make herself smaller. “And I feel like I am betraying my…real family, whoever—wherever—they are.”
Sylvie shut her eyes tightly, trying to hold back her tears, and Vasco’s heart clenched tightly. Before he could talk himself out of it, he wrapped an arm around her, and she just collapsed into his side. He used his free hand to hold her head to his shoulder, brushing away the tears that he could; while also praying she couldn’t feel his heart beating out of his chest. “I cannot tell you why your family lied to you,” Vasco said gently, “or why they took you to begin with. And I am so sorry you had to find out the way you did. And that you probably will never get the answers you deserve. But I do know this: no matter the reasons, the princess was your mother in all the ways that mattered. She raised you and loved you and protected you. She was your mother. And your loving your mother is not wrong or a betrayal. It does not make you a terrible person. It makes you a daughter.”
Sylvie didn’t say anything and just buried her face farther into his shoulder. After a long moment of just listening to the rolling waves, Sylvie asked so softly Vasco could barely even hear her, “Vasco, when…when the admiral has forgiven you, when all this is done…do you intend to set sail again?”
Even without her saying the words, Vasco could hear the unasked question in her voice, “Will you leave me too?” His heart ached for her, and he debated with himself on answering truthfully or not. Then, he held her a little tighter, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and replied, “Without a doubt. But do not worry. I will not leave you before I find out where our story leads...”
Sylvie nodded after a minute, and a little of the tension in her body melted away.
You are the highest paid member of your Adventuring Party. Not because you can fight, or have magic. You'd die to a cat, let's be honest. But because you can cook, clean, set up camp, also have a fierce sense of business. All things they more or less completely lack.
I noticed Ginny hesitantly approaching me from the corner of my eye and sighed heavily, “What, Ginny?” She didn’t even say anything, just cautiously raised her hand—and a torn shirt in it. I very nearly threw the pair of pants I was mending—which also happened to belong to the clumsy ranger—into the campfire in front of me. “Ginny—”
“I know!” she all but wailed, “I’m sorry! My arrow got caught on my sleeve!”
“She’s going to kill you if you rip one more shirt,” Harril called over from the other side of camp, whittling away at the stick he found earlier.
Tears streamed down Ginny’s face, and I sighed heavily again, “Just throw it onto the pile. I’ll try to get to it tonight, but no promises.”
She squealed and hugged me tight enough to squeeze the air from my lungs, “Oh, thank you, Ilsa! Thank you, thank you, thank you—”
“Okay, okay.” I wiggled out of her grip and shooed her away after tossing my new project on top of my hip-high pile of repairs. I huffed, “Seriously. Five grown adults and none of you know how to fix your own clothes. What would you do if I hadn’t joined?”
Harril chuckled, “By now? Probably run around in our birthday suits.”
I shook my head, “You all would be lost without me.”
“That’s why you get paid the big bucks,” Ginny answered, getting a little too close to the stew cooking over the fire for my liking.
I grabbed the ladle beside me, reached over, and smacked her, “Don’t even think about it. I have no interest in tasting burnt water again.”
Ginny sulked away and Harril chuckled again. Both of them then froze, as if they were listening to something, and grabbed their weapons.
“Oh, will you two relax?”
I jumped about three feet in the air and looked over my shoulder, “Farren, you are an asshole.”
He laughed, dropping his massive greatsword that only I seemed to know how to sharped on the ground beside me. “Sorry, Ilsa. Forgot you have no survival sense.”
I pouted, “I’m sharpening your sword last.”
Farren looked shocked, and Rin and Ren appeared on either side of him, giggling.
“You messed up.”
“Don’t mess with the queen.”
“Pretty stupid thing to do.”
“Like, really stupid.”
“Okay, look here, you two little gremlins—”
“Alright, all of you, enough,” Harril barked, finally putting away his witling and walking over, “We have more important things to focus on.”
“Yeah, what did you guys find in that dungeon?” Ginny skipped over.
Rin and Ren grinned, dropping a massive bag onto the ground in front of them, “Lots of trinkets.”
“And the most important thing,” Farren added, holding up a large bag. He shook it, making the gold coins inside rattle, and Harril let out a low whistle. “And don’t worry, Ilsa, I pre-sorted your share,” he added, producing another large bag and tossing it to me.
I barely managed to catch it but smiled, skimming through the contents while the others divvied up the other bag equally amongst themselves.
Ginny glanced up from her coin counting. “What about the other stuff?”
Farren shrugged, giving the big bag a kick, “Don’t know. Probably sell them to a silversmith or something.”
The bag fell over, some of the trinkets falling out onto the ground. I glanced at some of them and nearly choked on my saliva, “Are you kidding me?!” Everyone jumped, and I reached over, picking up a gold plate and inspecting it, “Do you have any idea what this is?” They all looked at me blankly and I sighed, “This is from the Ilvian Empire. It’s easily over five hundred years old. Sold to the right buyer, a single artefact like this could easily set all of us up for life. And you’ve got a bag full.” They all looked dumbfoundedly at the bag and I sighed, shaking my head, “A silversmith. Good gods. Give me the bag and let’s see what you actually have.”
Harril pulled the bag over to me and grinned, “Like Ginny said, the big bucks.”
I smiled at him then noticed movement out of the corner of my eye again, “Ginny, get away from the food!”
You and three friends break into a highly classified government facility at 3:17 AM on Thursday and leave with two anti-gravity prototypes, a weather control drone, and a suspiciously polite alien named Greg.
I couldn’t help but stare dumbfoundedly at my friends as they acted like kids on Christmas morning. You’d think that it would be common sense that after breaking into a government facility and committing a few felonies, one would want to get as far away from said government facility as humanly possible. Ideally, to a new country under fake names.
But apparently, none of my friends had common sense.
The second the facility was out of sight, all three of my best idiots had insisted on inspecting our newly acquired goods and pulled over to the side of the road at the earliest opportunity. Matt and Dana wasted no time strapping on the anti-gravity devices and started floating around the clearing. And Ollie practically dove headfirst into the weather drone, trying to figure out how it worked. He was clearly succeeding, since a few storm clouds had formed on what had been a clear night.
I shook my head at them from my perch on the grass and glanced over my shoulder down the road. No cars. Yet.
Greg sat down beside me and I turned to him. He looked surprisingly human for an alien, but there was something about him that was just too…flawless to be truly human. That and the amused look he had on his face as he watched my friends, like someone watching dogs play in the dog park, was definitely not human.
He turned to me then, smiling politely, “You are not joining your friends, Miss Julia? It seems only fair that you should enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Also, I feel like I must thank you again for saving me from that horrid prison. I am truly in debt of you and your friends.”
I studied him for a moment then looked back at my friends as Matt and Dana collided and started giggling like teenagers, “You don’t have to thank us. We couldn’t just leave you in that…I can’t even begin to guess at what that thing you were in was. Some kind of…futuristic Iron Maiden?” I shuddered, “Anyway, someone has to take all of this seriously and not like it’s some fun, frolicking adventure. If anyone finds out what we did…I just don’t want my friends to get hurt.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Greg looking at me with an unreadable expression on his stupidly perfect face, like he was calculating…something. I turned back to him, meeting his gaze head-on, and after a minute, he smiled a perfectly stupid smile. He stood, dusting off his hospital scrub-looking pants, and held his hand out to me, “While that is an admirable goal, even the protector must relax. Come, allow me to show you what I mean.”
Hey, all, just a quick update. Unfortunately, the next Vasco oneshot will be a little delayed, probably by a week or two. I’m sorry about this but I sadly had to put down my dog yesterday, who I’ve had for just over 16 years, so I’m not really in the writing mood right now. I will get back on track, I just need a little time to mourn my sweet girl. I have a few pre-written story prompts I’ll try to post in the meantime. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
You're sitting having tea when your Tiny Maid Robot walks up to you, eyes flashing red. "Excuse me, master. I must request you relocate to the basement, immediately. You are in immediate danger."
I blinked dumbfoundedly at Susie, “Huh?” In the three years I’d owned Susie, she’d been nothing but polite and meticulous, following every request I’d ever asked of her with perfect precision. She’d even started to anticipate my needs on her own, often waiting at the front door with a cup of tea when I got home from work. She never put up with my shit, but she’d also never basically demanded me to do something before.
And her eyes had never turned red before.
“Susie, what—”
“Forgive me, master, but I must insist we move to the basement immediately,” Susie interrupted me—she had NEVER interrupted me before—and picked me up with ease, despite only being three feet tall. I squeaked, my tea falling onto the floor, but Susie ignored my protests and practically sprinted to the basement with me in her tiny arms.
Once in the basement, she set me down on the old couch and then inspected the basement door at the top of the stairs, “Susie—”
“Apologies, Master, but I must ensure your safety.” She walked over to the dryer and ripped it from the wall, once again ignoring my many protests, then carried it over to the door, barricading it as best she could. Then she stood at the base of the stairs, like she were standing guard.
“Susie, seriously, what is going on—”
A massive explosion sounded from upstairs, like someone had Kool-Aid man-ed their way through the side of my house. Both me and Susie froze, staring up at the ceiling for a few agonizingly silent seconds.
And then something knocked down the basement door, sending the dryer flying down the stairs and missing Susie by inches.
This thing—like a giant floating ball of tentacles and teeth—flew down the stairs, heading right for me, and I screamed, diving for the floor. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Susie’s face and arms transform into 3 massive cannons—when did she get those?!—and she started shooting at the thing.
I screamed again and rolled under the couch, closing my eyes while my basement practically exploded around me.
After a few minutes, the shooting finally stopped. “Master, it is safe to come out now.”
I hesitated a minute and then slowly crawled out, wincing at the absolute carnage. Bullet holes littered absolutely every surface of what used to be my basement. And at the center of it all was the body of the now very dead…thing, with Susie standing on top of it like a conquering hero. Her face and arms transformed back, and her red eyes turned back into the regular blue ones I recognized.
“Susie…what…in the world…was that?”
“I deeply apologize, Master. It was a failure on my part. Your father sent me to protect you, but alas, I was unable to stop your mother from sending someone to get you.”
“Madness,” Sylvie said as they walked down the streets of New Serene towards the docks, shaking her head incredulously, “Complete and utter madness. Honestly, cutting yourself off from the Nauts on an island of all places. What was Domitius thinking?”
Siora shook her head, “I don’t like that city. You can never tell what anyone is truly thinking. They say one thing but mean another. And the Order. It’s like the buildings have eyes; you can’t lower your guard for a moment. Those Inquisitors, they’re always there, always watching.”
“That’s San Matheus for you,” Sylvie sighed heavily, looking exhausted, “I swear, I will die a happy woman if I never have to set foot in that city again.” She paused suddenly and glanced over her shoulder, as if Petrus would materialize from San Matheus, where he had insisted on remaining to help the Mother Cardinal round up the Ordo Luminis. “Don’t tell Petrus I said that.”
Vasco tried to focus on what she was saying; he really did, but his mind kept wandering. Back to the Naut warehouse, to Sylvie with the Naut devices. She’d examined each one of them like they were priceless artifacts, her eyes shining with such excitement they lit up the world. And the questions. Gods, the questions. It reminded him of when she had first boarded his ship. The child-like curiosity that had been practically vibrating off her was absolutely…adorable.
“Vasco?” Sylvie’s hand on his arm pulled him back to the present, and he met her concerned eyes. “Are you all right?”
He swallowed hard, “Y-yes, Sylvie. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” He cleared his throat, “Ah, look at that, we’ve arrived at the docks. Best find the Admiral. It’s not good to keep her waiting.”
Sylvie looked unconvinced but graciously dropped it, turning to scan for the Admiral. Vasco let out of silent breath and caught Siora’s gaze. She shot him a knowing, devilish grin, and he glared at her as she snickered. He rolled his eyes. Kurt was really starting to rub off on her.
“Admiral Cabral!” He turned to Sylvie as she finally spotted the Admiral, grateful for the distraction.
“De Sardet!” the Admiral smiled as they approached, “What can I do for you?”
“I’ve settled the problem in San Matheus. Several of your men were imprisoned by the Ordo Luminis. The misguided brothers planned to attack the port. I had them arrested. They should no longer be a threat to you.” Sylvie shook her head, “The Order thought you to be heretics because of your tradition of secrecy.”
“The secrets…” The Admiral sighed heavily, “They often cut both ways.” She paused for a moment, looking Sylvie over, before continuing, “Therefore, I’m going to reveal to you another.” Vasco frowned at the look in her eyes. “We discovered this island nearly two centuries ago. A few decades later, we sold the discovery to your nation of merchants, then our closest allies. We transported some lords, men, and merchandise. They began to colonize the island.” The Admiral narrowed her eyes, “The lords revealed themselves to possess a tyrannical nature and began to exploit the lands with a deadly passion. Their actions provoked a revolt of the natives but also the very workers and craftsmen they had brought with them. The magic of the natives of Teer Fradee was awoken, beasts came out of the woods and destroyed the new cities. Only a handful of lords and armed men were able to make it back to our ships. The losses were enormous; the humiliation devastating. Your princes paid us well to keep their secret. They continued to make the occasional expedition…” She hesitated again, “You are in fact a product of one of them.”
Sylvie frowned, “What are you saying?”
“You must have had your doubts. You are the child of a native; you were born on one of our ships.”
Everything went still. Even the noise of the docks seemed to fade away. Vasco immediately looked at Sylvie, and he felt sick as he watched her face go pale right before his eyes. “The child of an islander…” her voice came out weak, “But…I know who my mother is and…”
The Admiral looked at her sympathetically, “I understand how difficult this is to hear, and I wouldn’t know why your family has kept this from you all this time.” She continued her story, as if she hadn’t just ripped the world out from under Sylvie’s feet, “In the end, we decided to sell the secret location of the island to other nations. The Congregation, in spite of its fears, could not keep away. And here you are again. I am sorry for the shock I have caused you. You asked me for the truth, and now you have it. Is there anything else?”
“No…no…” Sylvie mumbled, only half paying attention, her diplomatic training kicking in automatically, “I…need to be going. Until we meet again, Admiral.” She started walking away like she were in a daze, and Vasco and Siora followed her. Sylvie stumbled when they reached her, and Vasco’s hand shot out to catch her elbow, keeping her from falling over. She was silent for a long moment, staring at nothing, before she spoke, her voice barely a breath, “I can’t believe it…that for all this time, I’ve been fed lies…” Her head snapped up to meet his gaze, her eyes suddenly terrified, “Did Constantin know…? I must… I must go and see him!” She shook off his hand and started rushing to the Governor’s house, Siora and Vasco jogging to keep up with her.
“I understand you may be sad because you were lied to,” Siora started, and Vasco shook his head sharply, but she ignored him, “but do not be sad about what you are. We are a proud people, and I am glad to know that you are one of us.”
“Siora,” Vasco snapped harshly. She turned to him, looking like she was going to defend herself, but the look on his face made her shut her mouth. He turned his attention back to Sylvie, his heart clenching as he watched her. Her body was stiff; her movements jagged. Nothing like the graceful woman he’d come to know. His eyes fell to her hands; her tightly clenched fists doing nothing to stop their shaking. He reached out to her, hesitating a moment before letting his fingers brush hers. She let out a sharp breath, but then she unclenched her fist and shakily laced her fingers with his, clutching his hand like it was her only lifeline. And he held hers just as tight.
Constantin clearly didn’t pick up on the tension rolling off Sylvie like a tidal wave and grinned widely as they entered the throne room, “Cousin! You couldn’t pick a better time! I’ve been taken with jitters, like a cat on a midday roof!”
Sylvie seemed to take a little comfort from her cousin’s usual exuberance and smiled weakly, “What are you waiting for with such anticipation?”
“I took your advice, you see?” he motioned to the side where a plague doctor was standing, examining some vials, “I’ve summoned one of those crows! He has been examining me for nearly an hour. I just barely escaped a purge! But I was given the mandatory bleeding…I so hate their little knives…”
Vasco cursed silently as Sylvie stiffened again and put on a brave face, “And so then, our venerable doctor, what is the verdict?”
The doctor slowly raised his hand, revealing the vial…and the black blood within it. And once again, the world went still.
“It's…” For the second time that day, Sylvie looked like she’d been struck, “The blood is black…” Sylvie rushed forward, catching Constantin as he almost tipped forward out of his throne, “Constantin? Is this your blood? Constantin, answer me!” Constantin looked like he was in a trance and Sylvie shook him, “Constantin! Stay with me! Constantin…there is a chance that he is in error. It might be something else—”
Constantin shook her off, “I’m going to die…”
Sylvie shook her head, tears forming in her eyes, “No. No, Constantin.”
Constantin stood up and walked to the centre of the room, eyes unfocused and manic, “I will die. Like your mother. And the others on the continent. I…I am dying!” He ran his fingers through his hair, spinning in circles as his breath quickened, “I…I don’t want to die! N-not so soon! It’s so…cousin, I don’t want this—”
Sylvie caught him as he stumbled, holding him steady, “Constantin, I am here. Pull yourself together!” He crumbled into her and she let him, wrapping her arms around him protectively as he buried his face in her neck. She glared sharply at the doctor, guards, and servants in the room, “Out! Everyone, out! It’s an order!”
They all hesitated, and Vasco growled, stepping forward to get their attention, “Are you all completely deaf? Your legate just gave you a direct order. Get to it!” That seemed to get their attention, and they all practically raced to the door. Vasco and Siora herded them out, and he let her out first before leaving himself. As he closed the doors after him, he looked up, meeting Sylvie’s teary eyes over her cousin’s shoulder, and she nodded just as the doors closed.
Vasco paced back and forth in front of the throne room, glancing back at the doors every few minutes and cursing them as they remained closed. They had been in there for almost an hour without so much as a whisper, and he had half a mind to just break down the doors himself but knew he couldn’t. His heart squeezed as he kept replaying the day’s events, the look on Sylvie’s face as she got the news that would forever change her view of the world. She didn’t deserve it. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need, to anyone she loved. And she loved her family most of all. And now to have that ripped away…
Finally, the doors opened and Sylvie walked out in a daze, eyes completely unfocused and tears dry on her cheeks. “Sylvie…” She walked past him like she didn’t even see him, and Vasco reached out, catching her hand, “Sylvie?”
She flinched hard, and he pulled his hand back quickly. She turned to him, blinking as her eyes focused, “Oh, Vasco…I didn’t…I…” She sighed shakily, running her hand over her face, “I apologize. I didn’t see you there.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” He wanted to reach out to her again, but she crossed her arms. “Are…you alright?”
She looked at him for a long moment before sighing again, looking out the window, “He didn’t know. Both of us were lied to. Our entire childhoods and…” She gripped her arms tightly, “I need to find that cure.”
“Sylvie, you—”
“I’m fine,” she snapped harshly, then winced, shooting Vasco an apologetic look, “I just…need to be alone right now.”
She turned to leave, and he reached out for her then, “Sylvie—”
“Really, Vasco, I’m fine,” Sylvie said, softer this time, and after hesitating for a moment, she reached out and squeezed his hand briefly, “I just need some time.”
Vasco wanted to say something, to comfort her, to insist she not go through this by herself, but he didn’t want to push her too hard. So, he squeezed her hand back, “I’m here if you need me. Always.”
She smiled weakly, “Of that, I have no doubt.” She dropped his hand and walked away, and it took everything in him not to follow her.
