They
released Starlight earlier today. She didn’t want to leave, though.
She said that she wants to make sure I’m okay. The doctor just told
her that I would be fine. She didn’t seem okay with that, but I
assured her that I was in good hands and told her to wait with Gladia
at the tavern and stick close to her until something can be arranged
for her. She pecked me on the cheek before setting off.
I
knew her going about this city alone was risky, but there was nothing
I could to ensure her safety. I only hope that that husky girl can
keep her safe until I can get out of here. I couldn’t dwell long on
Starlight’s safety, though, as I had an interesting visitor not
long after she left.
I
was deep in thought when a nurse came in and said I had a visitor.
“Who
is it?” I asked.
“He
says you don’t know him, but he needs a word with you. I told him
you would have to consent to speak with him, otherwise he has to
leave,” She answered, a nervous smile on her face. A sign she was
intimidated by my visitor. I nodded and she turned and told him to
come in.
“Can
you close the door?” my visitor, the General’s thug, asked.
“No,
sir,” the young nurse answered. “It’s—” the panther cut her
off.
“I
know it’s policy. I must speak privately with him, however,” he
said. “If necessary, you may sit by the door to supervise my visit.
That is,” he glowered at her, “if you swear to not speak of what
you hear.” The young bunny gulped, then nodded and closed the door
and took a seat on a stool that was by the door.
“I
see your shoulder isn’t bothering you,” I told him. He chuckled.
“I’ve
had worse,” he answered. “But let’s skip the pleasantries, yes?
I’ve little time, and should LeBaptiste find out I’m here,
instead of… ‘searching’ for that blue friend of ours, my cover
will be blown.”
“You
say that as if you know where she is,” I said, not hiding my
suspicion of him. He nodded.
“I
do, and I’m sure you would like to know yourself,” he sneered.
“But first, I need to know why you’re so protective of the girl.
What’s her value to you?”
“I
can’t try to keep my friends safe?” I asked in response. “Why
do you need to know, anyway? Who are you undercover for?”
“How
good are you at keeping secrets?” he asked.
“There’s
countless ones I’m taking to my grave,” I retorted. “Another
won’t hurt.” The feline chuckled.
“Tell
you what,” he laughed. “I’ll let you know once our friend
proves her worth to us, eh?” I glowered at him.
“What
are you getting at?” I asked.
“She
doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about to begin a revolution in
this dump,” the big cat answered. He chuckled again, seeing my
confused expression. “The preparation is already underway, thanks
to her. Of course,” his eyes darkened. “She’s only doing what
we need of her because she believes I’m going to kill you, the
husky bitch, and the Feral cunt otherwise.”
I
glanced over at the nurse when he said that. She was trembling, her
hands over her mouth as if she were afraid for her own life. I looked
back at the panther, and his expression hadn’t lightened any. “You
say that as if it’s a real threat,” I told him. He smirked.
“Let’s
just hope that she doesn’t mess up, then, shall we?” he chuckled
again. “I’d hate to have to break the pitiful bunny’s heart.
Her innocence is just so… adorable.” He laughed as he shifted his
weight back and crossed his arms. “Now, there is something I need
to ask of you.”
I
just glared at him and crossed my arms.
“Aside
from keeping this conversation strictly between us, I need you to
ensure that those two bitches she’s friends with don’t try to
interfere with our work on behalf of the bunny thief,” he said.
“While we can, to a degree, ensure the safety of the bunny, if
those other two get involved in any way, not only will our plan be
compromised, but they’d be in too great of danger for even you to
keep them safe.” His expression by now had softened into something
more of concern. “It may be best for those two to go back to where
they came from.”
I
nodded. “I was planning on having the three of them move to where
the husky is from, anyway. There’s nothing for any of them here,”
I told him. “Now, I need to ask you this. Why Amaka?” I looked
him dead in the eyes. “There’s plenty of young kids down on their
luck who do the same things as Amaka. They’re all in similar
situations, just slightly different stories. Why, out of all the
knaves here, did you have to pick her?”
He
smiled. “How many of them have the courage to try the impossible?”
He pulled a paper from his pouch. “And then, on top of that, put
their life on the line to make sure they succeed?” He handed me the
roll. He nodded as I began to unroll it. “You think any of those
other punks can steal that? You know what that is, yes?” I nodded.
It was a contract between General LeBaptiste, Jonah, and a few other
individuals. It was exactly what I had sent Amaka out to find a few
days ago. I rolled it up and gave it back to him.
“Furthermore,
how many of them would go through so much risk for the sake of their
friends? Most I know would turn their backs, but not this girl. While
yes, she’s naïve and innocent, she’s also gutsy and brave.” He
smiled as he continued. “Most importantly, though, she’s loyal
and loyalty is something hard to come by, especially since, as you
said, she’s been in hard times all her life. She’s been
backstabbed time and time again, and yet, she’s loyal to her
friends. It’s impossible to find someone better to rally around for
the much needed change in this city.”
“I
take it you haven’t told her this yet?” I asked. He shook his
head.
“No.
It’s too soon for her to know. I suspect, though, she’ll figure
it out before we tell her,” he said.
“When
will that be?” I asked.
“When
my boss feels like it,” the big cat answered. “Now, will you
keep those two outsiders out of the way?”
“It
depends,” I answered. “Which organization do you work for?” He
chuckled and shook his head.
“Not
yet. I’m sure the bunny will tell you once she knows,” the cat
glared again.
“Then
I can’t ensure that Starlight won’t get in the way. She’s going
to worry about Amaka like I am,” I told him. “And until I can
assure her that Amaka is safe, I ultimately won’t be able to stop
her from trying to find Amaka.” I glowered at him, this time. “And
I won’t assure her until I know for sure that Amaka is as safe as
possible.”
The
feline sighed and shook his head. “I can’t tell you precisely who
we are, but I can assure you we aren’t the Brotherhood.” I
sighed at that. That was my main concern.
There
are four organizations bent on changing the social order of
Maidenhelm. The Brotherhood, referring to the Brotherhood of Saint
Velom, is more of a terrorist organization than a revolutionary
order. This leaves Amaka to be getting involved with either the
Paradigm, the Order of Mast, or the People’s Guard. These are more
respectable and, while differing on tactics, these three at least
have more noble intentions than the Brotherhood.
I
nodded my assent to his request. “Fine, I’ll keep Starlight and
Gladia out of your way as best I can. Just please,” I added, “make
sure Amaka doesn’t get hurt.”
“Too
late,” the cat said. “The city guard managed to gash her leg real
bad chasing her.” I only shook my head and sighed. “We’ll patch
her up, though, so she’ll live.”
“I
guess she’s the supposed traitor I’ve heard about, then?” I
asked, confirming my suspicions from yesterday. He nodded.
“That’s
something the boss will use to test her mettle, no doubt,” he said.
“Unfortunately, he probably won’t wait for her leg to heal and
may, in fact, have her do something tonight.”
“And
that helps your cause how?” I asked, my voice becoming stern.
“Only
my boss knows,” he paused, “And I know better than to question
his methods.”
“And
what happens if her injury is too much?” I asked.
“Boss
won’t send help, and to keep appearances up, I won’t be able to
either,” the cat said. “Let’s hope that nothing happens to the
girl, yes?” I nodded. He began walking towards the door. “I’ll
keep you informed of her status as I can, yes?” he added as he
opened the door and left. The bunny nurse quickly stood and walked
out behind him. I had actually forgotten she was in here.
I’m
glad to know Amaka’s alive at least. Unfortunately, she’s not out
of danger. If anything, the danger is just getting started, and, for
the first time in her life, there’s no one to bail her out of it
but herself.
A
few hours later, Gladia and Starlight came by and visited. They
brought some sweetrolls for me, which I greatly appreciate, since
it’s much better tasting than the hospital fare. I explained to
them what I could of Amaka’s situation and told them not to seek
her out. I could see in Starlight’s eyes, though, that she had
every intention on doing exactly that. Gladia just nodded and said
that Johan had agreed to let them stay with him until they could
depart for Drayden’s Barrow. I then looked dead into Starlight’s
eyes and reiterated that they were not to search for Amaka, for their
own sakes as much as Amaka’s. I glared into Starlight’s eyes
until she said that she understood, or more accurately, a sharp,
forced “Fine”.
I
know that tone she used though. I just know that she’s still going
to try and find Amaka. There’s no amount of pleading with someone
with her determination. Once she sets her mind to a goal, she doesn’t
stop until she accomplishes it.
After
a brief silence, we talked a bit more about less serious matters.
It’s good to see Starlight smiling and laughing again. It already
seems like forever since I first brought her in, but I had already
begun to miss her smile and that laugh of hers. I guess time
sometimes drags when you and the ones you care for are in danger. And
to think that, in the case of Amaka, she’s only just getting
started, if that panther is to be believed.
