Re:Zero - The King of Pride

After Garfiel had departed, the two women sat on their beds, glowering at one another.

"So, Priscilla," Felt said in a honeyed voice. "I just wanted to give you my condolences."

Priscilla frowned, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"This must be just a terrible experience for you. You must miss the comforts of your mansion. Your servants waiting on you hand and foot, your fine clothing, your fine foods," Felt said in a tone of almost convincing sympathy.

"I miss them, dust rat," Priscilla snorted. "I do not require them. But if you prefer to imagine me as a pampered lady, so be it."

"Imagine you as a pampered lady?" Felt murmured, her voice growing brittle. "It doesn't take any imagination, Priscilla. I've watched you force your servants to massage your feet and peel your fruit for you. How much more pampered can you get?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised, little dust rat," Priscilla said in an amused voice. "For example, I know a slum girl that has based her entire life on chasing after worthier men. She uses their status and authority and she imagines that it's her own. That's a pampered lady."

Felt looked as if someone had just slapped her. " Excuse me ?! " She gasped. "Me pampered ?! I grew up in the fucking slums, you colossal tramp! "

"Yes, yes, very sad, I'm sure," Priscilla yawned dismissively. "Poor little dust rat who was rescued from her dire circumstances by the men who pitied her."

Felt ground her teeth. "You want to talk?! You've just a hooker in a nice dress! You got everything that you have by marrying rich men and watching them die!"

Priscilla 's eyes blazed but then her voice grew silky. "Oh my. You really are a stupid little dust rat, aren't you? Before I was twelve years old, I had already endured a civil war where all my siblings were trying to kill me. My own mother was gutted by an assassin's blade before my very eyes. I was exiled from Vollachia before the year was out with nothing but the clothes on my back and a single retainer who died a few months later.

"Now, I'm one of the most powerful nobles in Lagunica. I fought for everything I have with guile and skill. You on the other hand were adopted by the man who is not only likely to be the next king but one of the future richest men in the world as well and you are transparently courting someone who is arguably one of the greatest warriors in history. What have you accomplished, exactly? Aside from scampering after Reinhold van Astrea like a pathetic little fan-girl, of course."

Felt flinched.

Priscilla chuckled, her eyes narrowing as she sensed weakness. "Where is the Sword Saint by the way? Did he tire of you following him around like a lost, little puppy?"

"Reinhard is none of your business!" Felt snapped before she could stop herself.

Priscilla smirked. "Did he finally get it through to you that your little fantasy of being with the Sword Saint would remain forever a dream?" Priscilla said with false sympathy.

For the first time in many years, Felt found herself scrambling for a reply. "How- I-" Felt sputtered.

"Oh please, little girl," Priscilla yawned. "The entire court knew about it. We all saw you hanging on Sir Reinhard's every word. You couldn't have been less subtle if you'd stripped off all of your clothing during the last ball. Just a little girl, desperate to do anything she can to trap her man."

"That's not true! I was the one who told Red that we couldn't be together!" Felt blurted out.

Felt 's eyes widened and her face turned ashen at her own admission.

Priscilla laughed. "I see. So you do understand how the world works, after all. Good girl. You knew that a knight being with a worthless, little slum girl like you would have disgraced him. Or even had him disowned and stricken of his knighthood. I 'm glad that you know your place, dust rat: at the very bottom, holding up your betters. Don't worry. I'm sure that in time, Reinhard will forget all about you. He'll find someone far more appropriate to pair off with. Perhaps Subaru and I could help him by making a few introductions."

Felt 's face burned with both rage and humiliation. She opened her mouth, trying to fling a dozen different insults at Priscilla but the words all jumbled up in her throat.

For quite possibly the first time in her life, Felt found that she couldn 't say anything.

Priscilla gave her a victorious smirk and quickly laid down to take a nap.

Felt sat there in utter humiliation, her eyes watery but she refused to let the tears reach her cheeks.

What the hell is wrong with this town? This pub is maybe fifteen minutes from the inn but it took me a full two hours to find it! All of the streets in these slums twist and turn and none of them go where you 'd expect them to go! Hadn't the people who designed this place ever heard of a grid?

I can 't believe how many times I got lost.

…Maybe I won't mention that part to Felt.

Finally, Garfiel had found the 'pub.' It was a huge gazebo-like structure with a roof supported by pillars but no walls. Several city guards stood at posts around the place, watching the demi-humans with hard faces.

The tables and their accompanying benches were long, each capable of serving dozens of people. The food on offer looked bland, tasteless, and extremely cheap.

Garfiel was left with the uncomfortable impression that 'The Feeding Trough' was a very accurate name. This wasn't a place to go and have a few drinks with your friends or even a place to get a warm meal after a long day's work. This was a place where livestock was fed and watered at day's end so that they'd be able to work again the next morning.

Garfiel glanced at the grim soldiers standing guard. He studied them for a moment and then he entered the pub. He saw the soldiers take note of him but they didn 't interfere.

Not yet.

The center of the pub was occupied by enormous cauldrons and a large serving counter, behind which stood nearly a dozen chefs who frantically worked to prepare food for the dinner rush.

Garfiel walked up to the counter and waited patiently. It took several minutes before one of the cooks noticed him. "What do you want?" An older woman with white hair and curly sheep horns demanded.

"Uh, hey. Can I see a menu?" Garfiel asked politely.

The woman gave him an incredulous look. "We have turnip soup. Take it or leave it."

Garfiel made a face. "Amazing," He grumbled. "That was just what I wanted. I 'll take three bowls, please. To go."

"We don't do takeout," She said flatly. "If you want to take the food, you need to buy the bowls. That'll be a silver piece for everything."

A silver piece?! For three bowls of vegetable soup and some crockery?!

"Fine," Garfiel growled and let a silver coin fall onto the counter. "I'll take three soups."

"Watch how fast I move," She muttered, walking away.

The woman returned a few minutes later and laid three sealed gourds of soup on the counter. She didn 't say a word, just turned her back and resumed cooking.

Garfiel scooped up the three gourds in his large hands and, carrying them carefully, he headed back toward the inn.

By the time Garfiel returned to the inn, the afternoon was passing.

The innkeepers watched him closely as he walked in but they said nothing.

Garfiel returned to the room and found Priscilla napping while Felt sat on the bed. Her knees were pulled to her chest and she had a sick expression on her face.

Garfiel sighed. "Anybody hungry?"

Priscilla stretched with a yawn. "What did you find?" Priscilla asked, sitting up in bed.

"Soup," He answered.

"Soup?!" Priscilla said in exasperation. "You've been gone for hours and all you managed to find was soup?!"

Garfiel ignored her. "Alright. Well, I found the pub that you told me about, shrimp," Garfiel said to Felt, handing her a gourd. "But the cook told me that there were only two things on the menu."

Felt sighed. "What was the other thing?" Felt asked in a tired voice, unscrewing the top of the gourd and transforming it into a bowl.

Felt sniffed the soup with an expression of distaste.

"'Take it or leave it,'" Garfiel grumbled, handing another gourd to Priscilla.

Felt sighed. "Funny. Well, this will tide us over for a few hours. We'll need to head out to the pub to get dinner pretty soon, anyway."

Priscilla lifted the bowl to her lips and tasted it. She made a face. " Turnip soup, " She grumbled.

"Well, dinner should be better at least," Felt said in a resigned voice.

"Yeah. Hold that thought," Garfiel sighed as he tried to drink his soup.

Just before sunset, the trio sat in the pub wearing long, hooded robes. At Felt 's suggestion, they had arrived early so that they were able to secure one of the few four-person tables at the pub.

When the dinner rush arrived, Felt and Garfiel both stood up and made their way into the line while Priscilla waited impatiently at the table.

Felt and Garfiel stood silently in line and they noticed that few of the other patrons were talking very much either. The entire line seemed to be full of exhausted and beaten-down demi-humans.

Finally, Felt and Garfiel reached the counter.

Garfiel saw the same ram-horned woman that he had spoken to earlier standing there expectantly.

"We need three bowls please," Felt said in resignation as she saw that more turnip soup was the only thing on offer.

As the woman poured the bowls, Felt absently reached out to a row of sealed condiment jars that were close at hand to refill the shakers on the tables. Felt casually reached picked up a jar full of ground peppercorns and she turned the jar upside down and put it down.

The sheep woman watched Felt with narrowed eyes but she said nothing. She handed Felt a bowl of soup and two to Garfiel.

The pair then returned to the table where Priscilla was waiting.

"That's all you had to do?" Priscilla murmured, her voice having no trace of her usual bite.

Felt sipped her soup with a sour look on her face. "It's simple, it's easy to understand, and you can do it right under guards' noses."

"Hm. Turn over the jar and the resistance appears," Priscilla whispered, sipping her soup. "Sounds like a bad spy novel."

"I've read worse," Garfiel murmured. "So what do we do now?"

Felt shrugged. "We just wait-"

Felt stopped talking when a demi-human with black and gray-streaked hair and a mouth full of sharp teeth sat down at the table. He looked like a badger demi-human and he wore spectacles and a tattered waistcoat.

"Don't look at me, eat your soup!" The demi-human whispered sharply.

Felt 's eyes narrowed but she reluctantly took another sip. "Are you the man sent here to meet us?" She said, trying to feel out the stranger without giving too much away. She glanced at the watching guards. "I didn't think you'd come with all these guards around."

The stranger snorted. "The clear-skins are always too busy watching the forest to notice any trees," He said, sipping his soup and making a disgusted expression. "Alright. Now, I hate turnip soup and I have no intention of finishing this entire bowl so whatever it is that you want, let's hear it."

The trio shared a quick glance.

Felt took a deep breath. "We need to talk to Sphinx."

The stranger 's eyes narrowed and he gave Felt a hard look. "Why?"

"Does it matter?" Priscilla broke in.

"Yes!" The stranger snapped, "As a matter of fact it does, she's not a concierge!"

Priscilla scowled at him.

The stranger sipped a bit more of his soup and then winced at the flavor. "What's this all about anyway? We don't lend money and we don't help in whatever little disputes you have."

"Stop babbling and bring us to Sphinx," Priscilla demanded before Felt could answer.

"Priscilla!" Felt snapped.

The stranger 's eyes narrowed as he stared at Felt and Priscilla. "What is this? You're not even demi-humans! You may have red eyes but you two-"

"We've not what we appear to be," Garfiel interjected.

"I certainly hope not because you very much appear to be wasting my time," The stranger growled.

"We've been invited," Felt said, pulling a small piece of paper out of her pocket and handing it to him.

The stranger took the paper and read it, his face growing steadily more and more shocked.

The stranger looked up at Felt, his face a caricature of shocked disbelief.

Felt just shrugged.

The stranger scowled. "Tonight. Midnight at the scarecrow at the center of the cornfields outside of town. Follow the trail , " The stranger emphasized with a glare at Garfiel.

Then he got up and walked away without a backward glance, pausing only long enough to dump the rest of his uneaten soup into the trash.

"Well, that was easier than expected," Garfiel murmured.

"Yeah. Much easier. And that worries me," Felt muttered.

The trio sneaked back into the Diamond District. They gathered in an old lumber yard near the warehouse where they 'd hidden the carriage.

"Alright," Felt murmured. "Let's move quickly. We want to get out of here before they close the city gates tonight."

"Which won't be too much longer," Priscilla remarked. "Our best odds of getting out of town is to use the carriage and leave quickly."

"Agreed," Felt murmured. She turned to her companions. "You two wait here."

Priscilla looked affronted. "Why?" Priscilla demanded.

"Because neither of you knows how to sneak!" Felt snapped. Then she bolted away, her running footfalls making virtually no sound on the street.

Felt nearly flew to the warehouse and then pressed herself against the wall, she cautiously peeked around the corner.

In the alley, she saw at least six guards inspecting the carriage in puzzlement. It looked as though they wanted to investigate a potential crime scene but weren 't quite sure how to start.

Felt bit off a curse and raced back to her friends.

"Well?" Priscilla asked.

"Looks like we have a change of plans," Felt said grimly.

"Oh, how simply marvelous," Priscilla growled.

"What happened?" Garfiel asked.

"Half a dozen guards are in the alley, going over the carriage with a fine-toothed comb!" Felt said. "No idea if they've connected the carriage to Heikel or to us yet but we're not getting the carriage back."

"Half a dozen?" Garfiel said thoughtfully. "We could take them!"

"No, Garf!" Felt said in exasperation. "First of all, they all have whistles and we'd never be able to stop all of them from blowing them and bringing the entire guard down on us."

"And two," Priscilla added. "If they suspect that a carriage with Astrea markings might have been involved in something nefarious, they wouldn't let us leave unverified in any case."

"Yeah. So, no carriage for us tonight," Felt sighed.

"What are we going to do now, Felt?" Garfiel whispered.

Felt had a pained look on her face. "I'm thinking ! " She hissed.

Priscilla shook her head. "The gates will be closing any minute now. We'll never get out tonight. Let's go get a room at an inn in this district and we'll try again tomorrow," She gestured toward a nearby inn that stood beside the city wall.

"But our appointment was tonight!" Garfiel protested.

"Then we'll make one for tomorrow," Priscilla said sweetly.

"Oh, yeah! That's a great way to impress potential allies!" Garfiel scoffed.

"Both of you just shut up!" Felt snapped, her face screwed up in concentration.

Priscilla looked livid.

Felt paced back and forward around the lumber yard.

"Felt? You got an idea?" Garfiel asked.

"…Maybe," She admitted.

Felt went over to the pile of discarded lumber that lay around them, rummaging through it until she found a solid, wooden beam about fifteen feet long.

"Garf, help me," She ordered, struggling to lift the beam.

The demi-human walked over and hefted it easily with one hand. "Uh, what are we doing? " He asked in confusion.

"Help me put that here," Felt grumbled, guiding him to letting the beam hang suspended in the air on top of two old crates, a dozen feet apart.

"Now what?" Garfiel asked her while Priscilla just watched, looking bored.

"Step on it," Felt directed.

"Huh?!"

"Step on it!" She repeated. "I want to see if it can handle our weight!"

Garfiel looked baffled but he did as he was told and stepped up onto the beam. He only kept his balance for a second or two before dropping back down to the ground but he discovered that the beam held his weight without issue.

"Alright," Felt said with a grin. "I think I've got it. I think I've got an idea…"

"Garf, can you carry that beam by yourself?" Felt asked.

Garfiel slung it up on his shoulder. "Without any trouble," He flashed her a grin.

Priscilla rolled her eyes. "Splendid. Although, I feel like people may have a few questions about why we 're dragging a fifteen-foot pole through the streets," Priscilla muttered.

"We're not taking it through the streets!" Felt said at once. "We're going through the back alleys! And we're going to play lookout! I'll go in front, Priscilla you bring up the rear."

Priscilla looked annoyed.

Felt continued. "Keep a sharp lookout for anyone passing by. We're only going to cross streets when it's safe and absolutely no one is coming. We don 't want to be seen. "

"It is nighttime," Garfiel mused. "Most of these side streets are going to be pretty empty right now, anyway."

"Right. That's the plan, let's go!" Felt said, pushing ahead.

She raced into a nearby alley, scanned it, and then beckoned Garfiel to follow.

Garfiel agreeably trotted after her.

Priscilla rolled her eyes and followed behind, still keeping a wary eye open for anyone watching.

The trio sped through the back alleys unnoticed until they reached the outer wall.

"Alright, shrimp," Garfiel whispered. "Now what?"

Priscilla chuckled as she looked up at the stone wall that stretched high overhead. "I understand now," She murmured to Felt. "I must admit, this was actually fairly clever," She said.

"Only if it works," Felt replied.

"Somebody want to let me in on the plan?" Garfiel asked plaintively.

Felt ignored him. "Alright," She said, handing Garfiel some money out of her pouch, "Garf, I saw a hardware store across the street on our way over here. Run over and buy me a long, strong rope."

"A rope?" Garfiel echoed, sounding baffled.

"Now, Garf!" Felt snapped, as she pulled her gown out of her backpack and started to strip down.

Garfiel turned bright red.

Felt stopped changing long enough to glare at Garfiel. "I am not giving you a strip tease, fleabag! Get moving! "

Garfiel blinked and then raced out of the alley.

"This is a clever plan," Priscilla admitted, also getting changed. "But do you think that it will work?"

"I hope so," Felt muttered, "If not, we're in serious trouble."

Garfiel raced back to the alley and found that the girls were already dressed, much to his disappointment.

Garfiel handed Felt the rope. "Found it," He said laconically. "Now what? That pole is never going to reach the top of the wall."

"I know that," Felt said, handing him her backpack with his fancy clothes inside. "Now you get changed. Then tie the rope around the end of the pole."

Garfiel looked steadily more confused as the girls marched out of the alley. "Then what?" He called.

"Then wait for our signal," Felt shouted back.

The ladies entered the inn, trying their best to look calm and unhurried. The front of the building was a small pub and the innkeeper sat behind a bar where he was pouring drinks.

"Follow my lead," Felt whispered tightly to Priscilla.

Priscilla glared at her in annoyance but made no other objection.

"Excuse me, Master Innkeeper," Felt said sweetly with a polite curtsy. "But do you have room in this inn?"

The innkeeper blinked at the beautiful ladies. "Err," The innkeeper muttered. "We do, your ladyships but I'm afraid that our luxury suite has already been taken tonight and most of our other finest rooms beside," He said apologetically.

"Oh, dear!" Felt said, raising her hands to her checks in a helpless fluster. "But we simply must find lodgings, good innkeeper. We cannot sleep out on the streets!"

"No, ma'am, of course not," The innkeeper replied awkwardly.

Felt looked to be thinking hard for a moment. "What about the garret? Would that be available?"

The innkeeper blinked. "Er. Aye, it is but would ladies of quality such as yourselves-"

Felt gave a tinkle of laughter. "Ah, good innkeeper, my darling cousin and I are not such fainting flowers that we cannot endure a single night in a lower-class room. I assure you that we shall be fine."

The innkeeper chuckled. "Very well, ladies. That will be four silvers," The innkeeper held out his hand and Felt paid him.

"Wait. Lady Felicia? Countess?" A voice called.

Felt shut her eyes and counted to ten. She sensed her plan quickly collapsing around her.

Felt turned around and saw the same guard that they had spoken to upon entering the town this morning, sitting at the pub.

Felt put on a bright smile. "Oh! Look, cousin, it's that nice guard who helped us this morning!"

"I can see that, cousin," Priscilla grated.

The guard looked awkward. "Err… Lady Felicia, it turns out that the guard captain wasn't too happy with me for letting you pass. In fact, he sent out orders for all of us to find you so that you could be questioned."

Felt feigned a curious innocence. "Questioned? Whatever for? I thought that all we needed to do was to ask Lord Cottles to correct the paperwork?"

"Yes, my lady, that is true," The guard said awkwardly. "Do you know if the Lord did so?"

Felt put a stern look on her face. "We told him to, Master Guard, but it does not surprise me in the least that Lord Cottles was so boorish as to ignore us! My dear cousin 's engagement has been brought into sharp question by that brute!"

"I, err.." The guard muttered.

Priscilla gaped at Felt and sputtered indignantly.

Felt shook her head in dismay. "This man spoke of love everlasting to my darling cousin and then he dared to dally with her very own maid! Can you imagine the scandal?! My dear cousin has simply been ruined by this!"

The guard quickly glanced up in confusion at Priscilla 's iron visage. "Err… Of course," he said. "I'm very sorry, my ladies, but I'm afraid that I must ask you to come with me and speak with the captain. I'm sure that it won't take long to clear this matter up."

Felt had a sinking sensation of being trapped but she didn 't let it show on her face. She tried to sweeten her voice further. "Of course, we will be most happy to comply. Would you be averse to giving us a few minutes to freshen up before we depart? I fear that our journey through this hot and muggy city has simply ruined my hair. "

The guard mulled that over then nodded. "I… suppose that a few minutes will make no difference," He said finally.

"Thank you!" Felt beamed. She led Priscilla over to the stairs and started climbing. "When our footman arrives, Master Innkeeper, please send him up straight away! He simply must bring our clothes to the laundress as soon as possible."

"Yes, your ladyships!" The innkeeper called as they disappeared up the stairs.

Felt 's smile fell off her face immediately. "Of all the luck!" She hissed. "Where's that legendary good luck you keep mentioning?"

"My luck will get us out of this mess you've created, dust rat!"

"That's good because I'm running short on ideas," Felt grumbled.

"You do realize that we now have a time limit on our escape," Priscilla said flatly.

"Of course, I realize that! So hurry up and come on!" Felt started to race up the stairs.

The two women entered the garret, a surprisingly large attic at the peak of the building.

"The window," Felt said at once.

"It faces in the right direction at least," Priscilla murmured.

The two raced to the window and opened it. They could stare out at the city wall just a dozen feet away.

Felt nodded. "And the wall isn't much higher than us."

Felt 's eyes widened. "Hide! There's a guard!"

The women both ducked under the windowsill as a sentry walked by atop the wall, looking neither left nor right.

The pair peered out the window after he passed.

"There are sentries!" Priscilla said like a curse.

Felt snorted. "There are always sentries on the wall! We just need to count."

"Count?"

"How long before the sentries come back. We'll time how long it takes them to rotate and then we'll act when we have time," Felt explained.

Priscilla mulled that over and then nodded.

Felt leaned out the window. "Pst! Garf!"

Down in the alley, Garfiel was dressed in his footman outfit. He looked up in confusion.

Felt gestured for him to pass the pole up.

Garfiel grinned and lifted the pole.

The pole slid up along the inn 's back wall but it didn't reach.

"A little too short," Priscilla murmured.

"Shit! Maybe he can throw it," Felt said, grasping at straws.

"Don't be foolish," Priscilla said, climbing out the window.

Felt grabbed her. "What are you doing?! She gasped.

"Getting the pole!" Priscilla snapped. "Hold my ankles, please! I'm certain that my luck would allow me to survive this fall. But I, for one, do not intend to get splattered with mud and garbage in some back alley!"

Priscilla leaned out the window as Felt desperately held onto her ankles.

"You have a weird sense of priorities, Prissy!" Felt hissed, digging her heels into the floor to try and keep her footing.

"I've got it!" Priscilla hissed. "Here it comes!"

Felt watched as the beam 's tip slid through the window and started to extend toward the garret ceiling.

"Hang on!" Felt said. "I'm going to pull you back in!"

Priscilla grunted in acknowledgment.

Felt strained and heaved with all her might and she finally managed to pull Priscilla back inside the window with several more feet of pole coming with her.

Priscilla got her feet under her and keep pulling the pole in, seemingly lifting the heavy wooden shaft without much effort.

Felt glanced at her and decided that her efforts to help move the pole would be for naught so instead, she sped to the window.

Garfiel was staring up at them as Priscilla pulled in the last of the pole. Felt desperately started winding up the rope that hung dangling from the pole.

She looked down at Garfiel and gestured: 'Come up!'

Garfiel nodded and started to speed off.

Felt waved her arms to get his attention again.

Garfiel came to a stop, his face confused.

Felt tapped her closed mouth several times. 'Remember, you can't talk!' She mouthed.

Garfiel nodded quickly and raced out of the alley.

Felt finished gathering up the rope.

"We're running out of time," Priscilla whispered.

"We don't need much more time," Felt countered but her voice was on edge.

Felt 's eyes widened. "Another guard! Down!"

The two women dove below the windowsill as the guard walked by.

"That's two. Ten minutes between guards?" Priscilla murmured.

"I had almost twelve but let's use your count," Felt replied.

Garfiel sprang into the room and then slammed it shut behind him, his face looked trapped.

There came a knock at the door. "Uh, ladies?" The guard called uncertainly. "Are you nearly done in there?"

"Very nearly!" Felt called sweetly as Garfiel and Priscilla raced to slide the pole out the window and across the gap to the city wall. "We're just giving our dear footman a few things to take out for us!"

Felt ran to the window. "We're out of time," She hissed, putting the coiled-up rope under one arm. "We need to go now . "

The beam was narrow but Felt dashed across it and reached the wall safely.

She found a rampart on the wall and quickly tied the rope around it and began throwing the rope down to the other side.

"Oh, Gods," Garfiel whimpered, staring out the window, "Look at that drop."

"That beam is more than wide enough for you to cross safely," Priscilla snapped. "If you're feeling timid, let me remind you that your little friend just made the same crossing in high heels!"

Garfiel winced and then crept slowly across the beam.

Priscilla bit her tongue, fighting not to castigate the moronic slowpoke, lest he be startled and fall, or worse, move even slower , but Priscilla knew that they were running out of time. The guard at the door 's queries were becoming increasingly threatening.

Garfiel reached the other side and Priscilla raced after him.

Priscilla quickly pulled the beam over to their side to block pursuit from the inn.

"Alright, use the bandannas from yesterday to protect your hands when we slide down," Felt warned everyone.

Felt wrapped her bandanna around her hands and then slid down the rope, using her hands and her feet to slow her descent.

Priscilla followed just as quickly.

Garfiel came last, trying to restrain a cry of pain. He reached the ground and started, frantically blowing on his hands.

Felt rolled her eyes. "I warned you to use the bandanna, fleabag!" She hissed.

"I lost it!" He shot back. "Look, we have to move! I saw dozens of guards break into that attic room before I dropped!"

"That's lucky!" Felt said as they heard whistles echoing through the night.

"You're welcome," Priscilla snorted.

Felt shot her a look of annoyance. "Come on! Let's move fast!" She whispered as the trio sped away from the wall.

"Wait, how the hell is it lucky that a dozen guards already know about us?!" Garfiel demanded.

Priscilla sniffed as she ran. "Because it means that all the nearby guards are probably up there. That means that these men will need to get all the way back down the stairs and out of the inn before they can even open the gates to pursue us!" Priscilla snapped. "Not an easy task, considering how narrow and twisted those stairs were. They even started to blow their whistles from inside the garret. With any luck, more guards will be racing into the inn and up the stairs, crashing into and impeding the guards that are hurrying down. This will give a long head start. "

"Shrimp, what about the rope?" Garfiel whispered.

"What about it?" She panted.

"What are we going to do about it?! The guards might use it to come after us!"

"Yeah they will," Felt said easily. "So what?"

"So… don't we want to disguise our trail?" He asked as they reached the surrounding forest and got out of sight of the city.

The sound of whistles began to fade behind them as they entered the underbrush.

"Garf," Felt sighed, panting for breath. "Do you have any ideas how we could have taken that rope after we already went down it?"

"Well… it's a little too late now but I still think that it's a problem!"

"Garf, next time if you have any suggestions for how we could take that rope with us, please share. Because I have no idea how the hell we could have done that!" Felt said, gasping for breath. The trio skidded to a stop and listened closely for sounds of pursuit.

Felt nodded. "Alright. Catch your breath," Felt instructed. "Get into the bushes and change. We're not going to run too fast dressed up like this!"

The three slipped into the bushes and quickly changed their clothes.

"I don't have any ideas on how we could have gotten the rope!" Garfiel snapped in frustration. "But the bigger problem is that we have a whole city's worth of guards coming after us right now! Think about it, shrimp! We're about to go to a meeting with the Demi-Human Alliance! What happens if we show up at the meeting site and we have a whole legion of Abiate guards on our tail!"

Felt sighed as she emerged from the bushes in her normal clothes. "Then we have a problem!" Felt said flatly.

Garfiel stared at her. "Seriously, shrimp? That's all you 've got?!"

Felt seethed for a moment and took a deep breath. "Yes! Fleabag!" Felt almost shouted. "That is all that I 've got!" She snapped in his face. "Alright?! I don't have a plan! I don 't have this mess under control! I'm not fucking Subaru who always knows what he's doing and seems like he can conjure up freaking miracles as if he 's pulling a rabbit out of a hat! I'm just a sneak-thief from the slums! I am in way over my head and I am doing the absolute best that I fucking can right now! OK ?! " Felt demanded.

Garfiel stared at her wide-eyed. He looked very young when he nodded in agreement.

Felt rubbed her forehead and sighed. "Alright. Let's… Let's just keep going. We have an appointment out in the fields and we don't want to be late."

The trio ran off.

Later that night, the trio stood in a dark, empty field a good distance out of town. The middle of the cornfields was marked by a large, ugly scarecrow that stood in between a dozen different fields of planted corn and barley but stood nowhere near any of the actual crops. Its only possible purpose was to serve as a marker.

"Now what?" Priscilla muttered.

"I don't know," Felt admitted. "They told us to follow the trail but… I don't see any trail. We can go in any direction from here. Through the fields or around them."

Priscilla gave a sigh that sounded like a hiss. "So what now ? "

"I don't know, Prissy," Felt snapped. "Maybe we can just start walking and trust to your luck!"

"It's a better plan than anything that you've come up with so far, dust rat!" Priscilla said. "We can't just stand here all night!"

"Yeah. Please no," Garfiel muttered, covering his nose. "I want to get out of here as fast as possible."

Felt glanced at him in confusion. "What's wrong?" Felt asked.

"What do you mean, what's wrong?! This whole place fucking reeks!" Garfiel said.

For a moment, Priscilla and Felt shared an oddly non-hostile look.

"I don't smell anything," Priscilla said.

"Me neither," Felt agreed.

"Seriously?!" Garfiel asked incredulously, fanning his nose. He suddenly froze. "Wait a second. If I were a demi-human trying to hide a trail…"

"That's brilliant, fleabag!" Felt said excitedly. "Which way is it coming from?"

Garfiel gave a soft whimper and pointed off into the dark.

The trail led to a large cave up in the hills. The same badger demi-human that they 'd met earlier stood waiting outside, guarding a smoking brazier and glaring at the trio suspiciously.

"It sounds like you three stirred up a lot of trouble in town tonight," He growled.

Felt sighed. "We had to make our escape and we did the best we could, OK?"

The badger snorted and then tossed his head toward the cave. "In there," He muttered.

The trio started to move past him but he held up his hand. "Not you," He said to Priscilla in a tone of contempt. " You weren 't invited."

Priscilla 's face twisted into a cold mask of rage. "Listen to me, you mongrel. If you think-"

"Priscilla," Felt hissed to her. "Take a good look around us. He's not alone out here."

Priscilla frowned. She scanned the nearby area and her face darkened. Felt wasn 't sure how many of the watchers that she'd noticed had also been spotted by Priscilla but she clearly came up with a number higher than she'd prefer.

Priscilla stepped back and folded her arms across her chest with a scowl.

"We'll be right back," Felt murmured, fighting not to smile.

Felt and Garfiel descended into the cave. There were burning torches set along the wall every few feet but the cave was still dark and strangely … misty.

The pair walked down a winding passage where the cave opened up into an enormous labyrinth of twisting passages.

"Now which way do we go?" Garfiel muttered.

Felt shrugged. "I'm… guessing we follow the torches?" She said helplessly.

"Huh. Good idea."

The pair kept walking, following the torches for a good ten minutes. They reached a well-lit space in the cave, empty of everything except for a ring of torches set high on poles.

The pair cautiously entered the ring of torches.

"Stay where you are," A clear voice called out.

Felt and Garfiel came to a halt.

Felt looked around but since she was surrounded by burning torches, she couldn 't see much in the darkness outside.

"Where are you?" Felt called.

"Nearby. I have a rather distinctive appearance and, out of consideration to my step-sisters, I don't want you to see me," The voice belonged to a woman. It was smooth and bemused as if the speaker found the world in general to be an endless source of entertainment.

"You're Sphinx?" Felt yelled.

"That is one of my names. I have so many."

Felt and Garfiel shared a look. "Alright. We're here," She called out into the dark. "You've got the floor."

"You are looking for your master." It was not a question.

Felt made a face. "That is not the term that we 'd use!" She snapped and Garfiel growled in agreement. "But… yeah. We're looking for Subaru. Can you help us?"

"To some degree. I can't tell you precisely where your master is right now but I know where he journeys to. He seeks out a great treasure of the ancient world that he believes may have the power to cure his bride."

Felt inhaled sharply. "So… the elf… really is cursed? "

"Cursed is not the right term," The woman replied. "But yes. All memories of her were stolen from this world and Subaru Natsuki is on a quest to restore them. I know what talisman can undo the damage and I know where it is hidden. Your master likely journeys there even now."

"Likely?" Felt protested.

"Hm. It is the only logical solution. And I respect your master's logic. Beyond that, my eyes and ears in central Lagunica assure me that he and his bride are moving in that general direction."

Felt digested that. "And what do you want in exchange for this information?"

"Nothing."

Felt and Garfiel glanced at each other.

"Really?" Garfiel asked skeptically.

"I offer you this information freely as a gesture of goodwill," Sphinx said. "The next boon that your master asks of us on the other hand, will have a price…"

Garfiel looked confused.

Felt bent her head close to Garfiel. "In other words, she doesn't want anything from us , " Felt clarified in a whisper. "She wants something from Subaru."

Sphinx laughed although there was no possible way that she could have overheard this remark. "Very perceptive," Sphinx said to a startled Felt. "Well then, let's get on with it. Your master seeks an ancient talisman that rests on a flying island located in the west of our world…"

Garfiel and Felt stared at each other in shock. "A flying island?!" Garfiel asked incredulously.

"Yes."

"How the hell are we supposed to get up there?" Felt demanded.

"I'm sure that I don't know. Perhaps you should begin by finding your master and asking him what he intends."

Felt and Garfiel shared an annoyed look.

"Also," Sphinx continued, "I must warn you that your master is in great danger. I worry that he may be falling into a trap."

"A trap?!" Felt asked sharply. "What trap?! Whose trap?!"

Sphinx paused. "After centuries of silence, there's been a great deal of activity from the Witch Cult recently. Archbishops gathering, infiltrators and recruiters appearing in major population centers, cultists massing in large numbers…"

Felt swallowed hard and saw a similar look of concern on Garfiel 's face. "It sounds like they're getting ready for a war…" She said.

"The possibility has occurred to us," The woman admitted. "And we're ready to take advantage of the ensuing chaos if it should come to pass. But it doesn't make any sense! Why would the Witch Cult make such a move now of all times?"

Felt frowned. "What's so special about what's going on right now?"

"Beyond that," Sphinx ignored the question, "The world edges toward crisis. Recently, six hundred elite mercenaries journeyed in secret from all around the world to the Crimson Hills of Girali. Upon arrival, these mercenaries joined together to seize control of the city and took hostage the dozens of dignitaries from Kararagi and Vollachia who were there for an important trade summit. The city is now under military occupation. Officially, business continues in Girali and merchants come and go as they please while the dignitaries have been placed under 'protective custody.' However, no one is deceived. These dignitaries are hostages, proof against Kararagi or Vollachia moving against the mercenaries."

Felt digested that. "Who are these mercenaries?" She asked. "Why are they doing this?"

"Mercenaries do what they do because they have been paid to do it," Sphinx said in amusement.

Felt grunted in annoyance. "Fine. So who's paying them? "

"Ah. That is an interesting question. It seems that there is evidence that the funds to recruit these mercenaries came from the Dragon Kingdom of Lagunica. Also it appears this battalion of mercenaries from all around the world is being led by a Lagunican general and has strictly Lagunican senior officers. Regardless, the Kingdom assures anyone that bothers to ask that they have no idea what the general is doing and that he and the mercenaries are acting entirely on their own."

Garfiel snorted. "Nobody is going to believe that ! "

"Not necessarily, young Garf," Sphinx said smoothly. "While the Kararagi assembly of City States has denounced Lagunica it appears that the Vollachian Empire is less certain of their involvement. They have placed the onus on Kararagi to deal with the situation. Emperor Vincent of Vollachia is dealing with serious internal problems right now and a skirmish with the Dragon Kingdom is most unattractive. Perhaps he finds it easier to threaten Kararagi directly."

Garfiel digested that. "Does Kararagi have the strength to deal with these mercenaries?"

"Easily," Sphinx replied, putting extra weight on the world.

Garfiel frowned. "Why did you say it like that?"

"If Kararagi moves against that army," Felt said grimly, "Then the hostages are likely all going to die. Vollachia would almost have to respond in some way. If Vollachia really does blame Kararagi instead of Lagunica for this mess then Vollachia is likely to attack Kararagi."

"And something tells me that Kararagi doesn't have the strength to fight the Empire," Garfiel commented. "If Vollachia attacks, the Western nation will be crushed!"

"It's actually worse than you think, fleabag," Felt said grimly. "Kararagi is the merchant capital of the world. Any disruption in Kararagi trade and shipping would be an economic disaster for the whole continent! If Vollachia does attack or conquer Kararagi, then Lagunican and Gusteko would be drawn into the fighting to protect their interests.

"Lagunica would definitely take advantage of the chaos. Maybe it would try to make an alliance with Kararagi, despite having just royally fucked them over, or maybe they'd just go it alone. I don't know. But either way, we'd have three nations involved in a gigantic war and I doubt that Gusteko could stay out of it for very long. The entire continent could go up in flames."

Felt thought it over and then shook her head. "I don't get this, Sphinx!" She declared. "This mess… who's causing it? And why? Nobody benefits from the entire continent going to war! It would be bad for all the kingdoms. So who is scheming this? What could they possibly have to gain?"

"The Triumvirate must be trying to conjure up a war to distract from internal problems right now," Garfiel grumbled. "They must be hoping that if they start a war, everybody in the kingdom will come together for mutual protection and stop fighting and complaining about the end of the Royal Succession."

"An interesting point but no," Sphinx replied. "While I understand that the Triumvirate and much of the Royal Assembly would like a 'splendid little war' right now, I doubt that any of them have the appetite for a world-shattering catastrophe like this. In fact, my sources tell me that the Lagunicans are hard at work trying to persuade both Kararagi and Vollachia to wait. They're claiming that they've sent a special negotiator out there and that they are making great strides toward freeing the hostages. Lagunica appears to be confident that the situation could be resolved without bloodshed if all parties could only be patient for a few weeks."

"OK," Felt said. "Now I'm really confused."

"As am I," Sphinx admitted. "All that I am able to glean from the facts as presented is that Lagunica's interest in Girali is temporary and that they plan to give it back once that interest is satisfied."

"But… what do they want?" Garfiel asked.

"Also a very good question," Sphinx said. "I do not know. Only that Girali is currently the center for world affairs."

Felt 's face was grim. "That area is going to get pretty crowded," Felt grumbled. "I doubt that Subaru is expecting to run into an army out there. He might be caught by complete surprise."

"Shrimp, we've got to warn him!" Garfiel declared.

"I know that!" She snapped. "Don't worry! We'll warn him, fleabag! Pipe down!" She turned back to Sphinx. "Alright, I'm assuming that there's some sort of message to Subaru that you want us to pass along?"

Sphinx paused for a long moment. "Your master is a fugitive from the kingdom. The Sages' Council stopped playing games the instant that they sensed that he would win. They have resolved to destroy him. And now they seek to lure the other nations into assisting them. If Subaru Natsuki desires his throne, he will have to take it. We offer him our allegiance."

"You mean the Demi-Human Alliance," Garfiel asked.

"I mean the demi-humans. Our people have been second-class citizens for centuries despite our inherent superiority to the clear-skins. Humans on average possess barely any mana and no usable mutations. During the Demi-Human War, forty thousand demi-humans fought an army of two hundred thousand humans at the Battle of the Aihiya Swamp. And we won."

"Hate to bring up bad memories," Felt said flatly. "But you guys did end up losing the war."

"Thanks to the former Sword Saint," Sphinx's voice grew bitter. "If she hadn't joined the fight, by now Lagunica would be entirely in our hands and Gusteko would be next."

"So you're not looking for equality with humans," Garfiel grumbled. "You want to knock them down. Also, how the hell can you speak for all the demi-humans in the world? You sure as hell aren't speaking for me."

"Oh, Garf. I am so disappointed in you. I thought that after reading all those books I sent to the Sanctuary, you would have gained a broader perspective than that."

Garfiel 's eyes widened. "You sent all those books to the Sanctuary?! Why-"

"Let's focus here," Felt cut him. "Why are you so interested in helping Subaru?"

"The demi-humans have always had good relations with the witches. If the witches are returning then it sounds as if the Age of Men is now in its twilight. When the Sun rises, your Master will transform this entire world, whether we like it or not. And our people would like to ensure that they have a set at the King's table and are not forgotten when the spoils are tabulated. The Alliance has eyes and ears in every city on the continent. There are far more of us than your Master knows. We are an army, ready and waiting for the trumpet to be sounded again. If your Master calls for our aid… we will follow. Ask your Master to consider who else has held out the hand of friendship to him. Bid him to remember when he comes into his inheritance that it was we who first hailed him and offered him our allegiance.

"The human kingdoms do not recognize him and those who do revile him. They would burn this world to ashes before they see the Sun rise again. Our warriors will stand behind the king and we proved during the war that the strength of our people cannot be measured by numbers alone. Our most elite warriors have even been inducted into the secrets of the Old Kingdom. They have even agreed to Embrace the Iron at the king's command. I also place my own considerable talents and all my knowledge of the Old Kingdom at his disposal. Your master is ensnared in a web that stretches back centuries. I may be his only hope of breaking free."

"What are you talking about?" Felt demanded.

"You don't need to understand," Sphinx answered. "Just recite our message to him."

Felt fumed.

"Your master is in great danger," Sphinx said. "By chance or fate, he has acquired the greatest power in this world and beings beyond your imagining conspire to seize it from him."

"Does that list include you?" Felt asked bluntly.

"No. My ambition does not have such reach," She replied. "An Authority itself chooses those to whom it will bond. I know from firsthand experience how the power of the Authorities breaks and ruins the men and women foolish enough to try to claim them by trickery or by force. A true witch is born as such. Others who assume the role will be unhappy."

Felt frowned, trying to parse this statement.

"The greatest power in the world?" Garfiel echoed. "Does that mean that Subaru is stronger than the Archbishops? Stronger than Regulus?"

"Regulus is not nearly as powerful as you likely believe. He relies on one simple trick, albeit a very good one. The old witches would regard him as nothing more than an arrogant child, unaware of how much that he did not know."

Felt and Garfiel stared at each other, uncertain whether to be reassured or frightened by this.

"But yes," Sphinx continued, "Pride stands at the pinnacle of all Authorities. Unlike the others, Pride can not be satiated or quieted by answering its desires. Pride feeds on itself."

"Then does that mean that the Captain can use the thing for good?" Garfiel asked.

"Possibly. Pride is the most noble of all the Exousia. It is also by far the most perilous," Sphinx warned. "Pride is good. Until it becomes bad. And then it is more dangerous than all the other Authorities combined. I expect that you know what I mean. You yourselves have been touched by Pride."

Felt blinked, looking worried. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Haven't you sensed it? You are both shrouded in Pride's web to better service your master. When Subaru acts, others follow."

Garfiel scratched his head. "Yeah, he's a natural leader. What's your point?" Garfiel asked.

"A natural leader?" Sphinx asked mockingly. "Please. You both follow your master without question. Without hesitation. Against your instincts and sometimes even against your own good sense. You are not followers. You are puppets that dance at the end of strings spun by Pride."

Garfiel looked outraged.

Felt fumed. "Trust me, I question him regularly ! " Felt snapped. "Now, as much as I just love playing at riddles, I actually have things to do today. So can you tell us anything useful ? "

Sphinx paused for a moment and then continued, "Your friend isn't the first person in the past few millennia to be selected by his Authority but he's certainly the luckiest. The other six didn't survive their first month."

Felt went pale. "They were all murdered by the Witch Cult? "

"Murdered?" The woman asked mockingly. "No! Four of them died when their own pride, as well as one or two manipulators, urged them onto unwise and self-destructive courses. The rest perished in… accidents."

Felt digested that. "That's… quite a coincidence , " Felt muttered.

"Clever girl. You're not the only one who believes that this string of events was orchestrated by some specific hand. A hand that does not desire that there should be an heir to the Sun King's throne."

"To the what?" Felt asked.

"Are you talking about the Witch Cult?" Garfiel broke in. "Is it the Witch Cult that wants them all dead?"

"Hm. There were certain indications of their involvement," The woman admitted. "Although frankly, I believe that the Witch Cult and even the Archbishops themselves are only servants of this larger agenda, not its masters."

"Then who's pulling the strings?" Felt asked.

Sphinx didn 't answer.

"I don't get it," Garfiel murmured to Felt. "Why would the Witch Cult want to kill a witch?"

"Why indeed?" The woman said with vast amusement.

The torches all blew out at once and Garfiel and Felt were left standing alone in the dark silence.

"So that's what happened," Felt grumbled as the trio walked down the country road to the west, away from Abiate.

"She didn't tell you anything useful? For example, how we can get to Girali?" Priscilla snapped.

"No! After we spoke, she just vanished," Felt grumbled. "Apparently, we'll need to figure out the transportation issues ourselves."

"Too bad we already lost our carriage," Garfiel mourned.

"We're still in decent shape though, all things considered," Felt disagreed. "We now know where Subaru is headed and we should be able to get there without too much effort. If we keep walking down this road, we should be in Flanders in a day or two. That's a major trading hub. We shouldn't have much trouble finding a trader heading out west and buying a ride."

"Two days?" Priscilla grumbled.

Felt snorted. "Why don't you use that famous luck of yours to conjure up a ride," She grumbled.

A rumbling sound came from the road behind them.

Felt turned around.

A cart was approaching and the trio drew to one side of the road to let the driver pass. The dragon-drawn cart drew close and the driver reined in just in front of them.

The covered wagon 's driver platform was illuminated by a small lantern. The driver was a wolf demi-human, as tall as Garfiel but thin and lanky. He had a long wolf's snout and wore a blue robe that was open at the chest and revealed a large amount of matted, gray fur. The wolf had a sardonic expression on his face.

The demi-human looked down at them speculatively. "So. You folks looking for a ride?" He asked.

"Excuse me?" Felt asked in disbelief.

Priscilla looked smug.

Felt shot her an annoyed look. "No," She denied. "This is not happening. I 'm not seeing this."

The figure took a puff off a long and elaborately carved pipe. "I heard you three talking about heading toward Girali. I happen to be headed that way myself. Want a ride? The trip gets lonely for an old man and I miss good company on the road."

Felt 's eyes darkened. "You did not hear us talking about that all the way back there, " She said accusingly. "There is no possible way that you did."

"Yeah, guilty as charged," The driver admitted without a shred of shame. "I actually came out here looking for you."

"Oh?" Felt asked in a guarded voice.

Garfiel and Priscilla both slipped into fighting postures.

"My name's Koh," The demi-human replied. "A certain… special lady sent me out here with a message for 'Garfiel and Felt.' She said 'Don't try to go back to Abiate right now. They know who you are. They're tearing the place apart looking for you two and the search is spreading. The alarm has been sounded.'"

"How?!" Garfiel demanded. "I mean, we shouldn't have attracted that much attention in Abiate. How did they figure out who we were?"

Koh shrugged. "Well, I'm not sure who snitched but the Kingdom knows that you were there and they plan to find you. Sphinx wants me to get you out of the area as fast as possible. Both to help you guys get where you need to be and because as long as you 're around here, the kingdom 's attention on Abiate will make things more difficult for the Alliance. So, she asked me if I'd mind giving you a little ride."

"It's about time," Priscilla snorted, climbing up into the wagon.

Felt looked at Koh suspiciously. "And just where will you take us? " She murmured.

Koh smoked his pipe. "Well, I'd probably answer 'Anywhere you need to go until I hear differently from the Lady,'" Koh began, "But that doesn't really reassure you that I'm not some kind of double agent or just trying to lure you into a trap, does it? So how about instead I say, I'll bring you all to Girali and let you hook up with your master Subaru Natsuki and look for the treasure that he needs for his lady elf? Does that sound more like Sphinx briefed me?"

Felt stared hard at him. "What does Sphinx look like?" She challenged.

Koh chuckled. "She's an elf with pink hair. She's about this big-" He said, indicating a girl even smaller than Felt.

Felt 's eyes widened and Garfiel let out a gasp.

"-She has yellow eyes and her face has these weird… 'cracks' in it. But I doubt that you can verify that anyway. She's pretty careful about showing herself to strangers," Koh reflected, taking a puff off his pipe.

Felt and Garfiel looked at each other for a long moment and then Felt shrugged helplessly.

"How far is it to Girali?" Felt asked as they climbed up into the covered wagon.

"A ways," Koh said vaguely. "Besides, we need to stop off in a few places."

"Why?" Felt asked sharply as Garfiel slipped past her and into the back of the wagon.

Koh gave her an incredulous look. "Because I'm a merchant! I have deliveries to make. I don't just drive around picking up folks out of the kindliness of my own heart, you know. And being a revolutionary doesn't pay very well."

Felt made a face. "Silly me," She murmured as the wagon started moving again. "Do you want one of us to help drive?"

"Maybe tomorrow," Koh said indifferently. "But I slept for most of the day until Sphinx woke me up to give me my marching orders so I'm fine for now. Why not try to get some sleep?"

Felt nodded and slipped into the back of the wagon. Priscilla was already laying down on a pile of blankets, snoring quietly.

Garfiel sat against the side of the wagon and Felt sat down beside him.

"Leave it to Priscilla to fall asleep on all of the blankets," Garfiel muttered.

"Forget about her," Felt murmured. "What did you think about what Sphinx said?"

Garfiel thought for a moment and then shrugged. "I mean… I guess I believe her about Girali. She doesn 't seem to have any reason to lie that I can think of."

"Yeah, I agree. But I'm seriously worried about some of the stuff she said. Hey, how do you feel about Subaru's…" She stared hard at Priscilla, making sure that she was asleep, and then lowered her voice, "You-know-what."

Garfiel flashed a grin at her. "That's a very personal thing to ask, Felt," He twitted. "We're kind of trying to keep our relationship on the down-low."

"Garf, be serious," Felt complained. "How do you feel about Subaru having an… an Authority," She whispered.

Garfiel looked thoughtful. "Not sure that I really care that much, to be honest. Remember, I grew up in the Sanctuary. We heard all kinds of stories about Echidna, the Witch of Greed. She was the one who created the Sanctuary, you know. So we're a little more broad-minded about the Witches in those parts."

"Huh. I didn't know that," Felt murmured. "I was always taught that witches were pure evil but maybe that's not the full story. Was Echidna a good witch or a bad witch?"

Garfiel hesitated for a long time. "She was… She was a complicated witch, " He said slowly. "Honestly, I guess that's really the answer I'd give if you asked me that question about most people. I think that she tried to do good things for the most part. Sometimes she succeeded and sometimes she caused lots of trouble without intending to. And sometimes, she could be selfish and cruel and deliberately spread misery to the people that she hated and even the people who just happened to get in her way."

"Hm. Witches as people, huh?" Felt murmured thoughtfully. "Not avatars of unimaginable power but just people with all the usual accompanying baggage affecting their decisions and how they use their magic."

"Yeah. Honestly, a lot of the stories that I heard about Echidna from Grams while I was growing up reminded me of some of the Captain's speeches about power and how difficult it can be to use it wisely. Say, why are we talking about this anyway? Are you not OK with the Captain being a…" He trailed off.

Felt hesitated and then shrugged. "I… I don't know. I mean, I've heard all kinds of stories about the Witches and all the havoc they wreaked, up to and including trying to destroy the world. I always thought that they were monsters but I'm not dumb enough to ignore facts just because they contradict my beliefs. Subaru is one of the kindest people that I've ever met. If he's supposed to be a monster then the world could use more of them. So no, I guess I don't mind it. But I am worried about it. Sphinx said that people want to take his … You-know-what for themselves. That means that he's a big target right now and he's in an awful lot of danger. And now he's out there somewhere with nobody but the… elf to look out for him. And who knows what she 's trying to talk him into."

Garfiel nodded. "Right. We've got to get out there and find him. Fast."

Felt sighed and leaned her head against Garfiel 's shoulder. "I really miss the days when my life felt like it was under control, " She mourned.

Garfiel chuckled. "And when was that exactly?" Garfiel asked curiously.

Felt made a face. "I think it was the period of time between when I met Subaru and when I went to that damn Sanctuary."

"Hey! That 'damn Sanctuary' is my home!" Garfiel protested. "Well, it was before all you jerks got it destroyed anyway," He added sullenly.

Felt shook her head with a titter. "Leave it to Subaru. That man creates chaos wherever he goes…" She said with a laugh.

Garfiel chuckled. "But we love him for it," He said, lying back and preparing to go to sleep.

Felt thought for a moment. "Yeah, I guess we do," She sighed, laying down beside Garfiel.

They were quiet for a moment. "Hey, shrimp," Garfiel whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Did you hear what Koh said about Sphinx? What she looked like?"

"…Yeah," Felt said. "I'm guessing that we're thinking the same thing? Err… minus the yellow eyes and the 'cracks?'"

"Yeah…"

"…You said you thought you saw a second Ryuzu fleeing the Sanctuary, right?"

"…I did," Garfiel admitted. "But I'm… I'm pretty sure that this has nothing to do with that. That she has nothing to do with the Sanctuary, I mean. I feel like… maybe…" He trailed off.

Felt looked at him. "Maybe, what? You think that Ryuzu might have a sister or something that we never knew about?" Felt suggested.

Garfiel sighed. "I'm worried that might be the case. And I'm more worried about what that might mean. "

Felt frowned. "Garf, what's up? Why are you so worked up about this?"

Garfiel opened his mouth and then closed it again. He looked at Felt helplessly. "I… Well… I'm… I'm sorry, Felt," He said finally. "I can't really talk about this. It's not that I don't trust you! It's just… It's not exactly my secret to share, you know? " He said apologetically.

Felt waited a moment to see if he would change his mind and then slowly nodded. "Alright. That's fair. Just remember, fleabag, I'm always here if you want to talk."

"Thanks, shrimp," Garfiel murmured, sounding on the edge of sleep.

"And if you ever decide that you do need help," Felt added. "You don't have to tell me anything except what I need to do to help you out. Don't worry, ever since I met Subaru, I've gotten used to following instructions that I don't understand."

Garfiel chuckled. "Thanks, Shrimp."

Felt paused. "Say, Garf," She whispered. "What did you think about what Sphinx said about Subaru… influencing us? "

Garfiel glanced at her. "You don't really believe all that garbage do you? "

"I don't know," Felt admitted awkwardly. "I mean… I have noticed that I've been acting… well, kind of out of character ever since I met Subaru…"

"What? Like he put us under some kind of spell?" Garfiel asked skeptically. "That's bullshit!"

"Is it?" Felt replied. "I mean, if we were enchanted to follow him without question then we'd probably never even know."

"Shrimp," Garfiel said through a huge yawn. "I feel like this is the same sort of fuzzy thinking that got us into trouble when we applied it to the elf. Besides, if the Captain really could do some sort of mind control shit like that then I doubt that you and Red would have been able to confront him at the border at all!"

Felt winced.

"Sorry, shrimp," Garfiel apologized. "I didn't mean to reopen old wounds."

"It's fine, fleabag," Felt muttered. "Right now, we just need to find Subaru and figure out how to get out of this mess."

Garfiel didn 't reply. A moment later he started to snore.

The wagon creaked on into the dark night.