Summer Jams 4: Viclya - Part II

“What are children doing here?” The thin man on the ground didn’t hide his confusion.   The other man looked just as confused and before they could ask any more questions, Maeve moved.

“Less talk!  More stab!” Maeve jumped forward, almost over Ava and her cousins, in order to put herself between them.  The two men on the floor saw her coming with a dagger and scrambled to get away.

“Hold it, little girl!  What are you doing?” one of the men gasped.

“Get back or I’ll stab you!” Maeve said, expertly playing with the dagger in her hands.  “You wouldn’t be the first person I’ve stabbed!”

Ava furrowed her brows.  “Who else did you stab?”

“Ava, shut up and get to our boat!” Maeve said, keeping herself firmly rooted in the space between the rocks and the three thieves.

“You’re just going to let her threaten us?” the woman asked, dumfounded that the two men were almost cowering back against the barrels.

Maeve narrowed her eyes and darted forward, taking a quick swipe, and cutting the woman across the arm.  The woman screamed.

“That was a shallow cut!” Mateo called out as he dragged Ava out.  Marco pulled Riri out with them.

“You said you wouldn’t stab us if we stayed back!” the woman yelled at Maeve.

“That wasn’t a stab, that was a cut!’ Maeve retorted.  “Learn the difference!”

“Uneducated sea slug!” Marco added before he ran into the tunnel.

Ava stumbled across the gravel and shell ground, trying to keep up with her older cousin.  They could see the bright light coming from the cave open.

“Let’s get the boat ready and as soon as Maeve comes out, we’ll go!”  Mateo said.

“But what about the treasure?” Ava gasped.

“Not now, Ava!” the twins chided her and she scowled.

“We can tell my sister and the Countess later!” Riri told her in a frantic voice.  “They’ll be able to help us!  What’s important is that we have to leave-”  The color drained from Riri’s face and he leaned back, pulling Marco to a stop.

Ahead of her, Mateo stumbled to a stop and Ava ran into him.  She turned towards him and then followed his horrified gaze.

“Hello, children.”  A middle-aged man was standing by the entrance of the cave, blocking the way between them and their exit.

“Marco!  Mateo!  Get the boat-”  Maeve’s voice came to a halt behind them as she rushed out.  Her eyes were wide and she quickly got in front of them holding her dagger up.   “Get out of the way, old man!”

The man sneered and reached to his side, pulling out a saber.  “Who are you?  What are you doing here?”

“Dad!”  The three thieves spilled out of the tunnel and Ava could only huddle closer to her cousins.  Maeve tried to keep them behind her, looking back and forth from the old man with the saber to the thieves on the other side.  “They know what we’re doing!”

“I knew there must’ve been someone else in the cave when I saw that boat floating away,” the man snorted.

Riri took a sharp breath.  “Our boat floated away?”  He craned his neck and Ava followed.  How could they just notice it?  The boat they’d sailed and paddled there wasn’t where they left it.  In fact, it was a dot on the horizon.

“They untied our boat!” Maeve almost shrieked.  Her eyes narrowed.  “I’m telling you right now to leave or let us go!”

“Or what?” the man said with an angry laugh.  “You’ll stab us?  Little girl, I’ve been stabbed more years than you’ve been alive.”

“Then I’ll stab you a few more to add more years to my life!” Maeve snapped.  Ava nodded.  “Now move!”

“Oh, I don’t think so...I’ve seen you children around,” the old man said as his eyes narrowed and he looked them up and down.

“Child trafficker!” Marco shouted.  He reached down and grabbed a handful of sand.  “Stay back or I’ll throw this in your face!”

The man only tossed his head back and laughed, making the other adults behind them burst into laughter as well.

“Child, you don’t know who you’re dealing with.  But I do.  I’ve seen you around with guards and nannies.  I don’t know how you got away from them, but it’s obvious they’re not with you now if you’re this defensive.”

“Guards and nannies?” the big man said from behind them.  “Then, they’re rich kids!”

“Dad, what if we exchange them for money?  Lots of money!”  The thin one looked excited and the woman with them nodded energetically.

Ava snorted.  “You want to ransom us?  Do you know who we are?  Do you know who our family is?”

“Ava, shut up....” Maeve said in a low voice.

“No, they have to know.  If they know, they’ll be afraid!” Ava said. “We’re O’Tuaghs and Gueveras!  Except him, but he’s under our care, so pretend he’s an O’Tuagh, as well!”   She pointed to Riri who slapped his face and ran a hand down.

Marco and Mateo grimaced.  “I knew I should’ve kept covering her mouth...” Mateo muttered.

“Children of marches!  Even better!”  The ‘dad’ of the group looked even more excited than earlier.  “Everyone knows that marches are the wealthiest!  They’ll pay well for your lives!”

“Is that so?” a voice said behind him  “Because I can tell you for a fact that the last time someone tried to ransom a descent of a march, they ended up dead.”

“Cousin Tori!” Ava cried out.

The old man whirled around, but before he could defend himself or attack, Uncle Andy slammed his fist into his face, sending the old man sliding back and hitting the cave wall with a pained groan.  His body bounced upon impact and even Ava winced.

“Grab them!” The big man from the tunnel shouted, but no one touched the children.  Ava turned around and found Cousin Kasen pinning the thin man to the floor, Ewan grappling and slamming the big man on the ground, and Prince Piers holding a sword up to the woman’s neck.

“Your Imperial Highness!  We have it from here!” Suddenly, a half dozen men in white and gray uniforms poured into the cave.  The embroidery on their shirts and hats identified them as members of the Cosora Delta’s coast guard.

“Where did you come from?” the big man choked out a cry as he struggled on the ground beneath Ewan’s firm grip.

“The blow hole in the center chamber,” Ewan said.

“You jumped in?”  The twins were stunned and staring at him with awe.  “The blow hole is so high!”

Ewan grinned.  “It’s not too difficult when you’re with a crystal master.”  He looked towards Cousin Tori.

“I’m still recovering, but I’m strong enough to make steps,” she said in a calm voice.

“How did you know we were here?”  Ava broke free from Mateo’s grip and went to hug her big cousin.

“We were following you.  This was supposed to be a treasure hunt for you, but we saw another boat come in,” Cousin Tori told her as she stroked the top of Ava’s head.

“I told you it was suspicious!”  Robi looked in from around the corner and Ava pointed at him accusingly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Watching the show.”

“Your cousin invited him when we were coming out,” Uncle Andy said.  He looked at his two nieces, unimpressed.  “I can’t believe you two fell for it.”

“The prospects were enticing!” Maeve insisted, crossing her arms with defiance.

“You didn’t even plan an exit in case something went wrong,” Uncle Andy told them.

“Well, where were we supposed to go?  Our boat floated away!” Maeve said, pointing out towards the sea.

“Whose fault was that?” Mateo stomped his foot.  “You said you tied it securely on to the rock!”

“I thought I did!  Maybe they cut it loose!” Maeve said.

“No, there was no boat tied nearby,” the thin thief piped as his wrists were tied together behind his back.

Maeve flushed and Uncle Andy looked at her.  “I’m going to tell your mom.”

“Do not tell my mom!”

Uncle Andy sneered.  “Fine, but if your boat was gone, why couldn’t you just commandeer theirs?”

The children were quiet for a moment.  It was true that it was an option and none of them realized it until now.  Maeve barely held back a swear as Mateo and Marco let out mirroring groans.

“Uncle,” Ava said in as firm a voice as she could manage.  “That’s stealing.”

She could feel her cousins and Riri staring at her.  Maeve rolled her eyes.  “I don’t want to hear that from you, loot-happy pirate treasure thief.”

Ava choked out an affronted gasp.  “They stole it first!”

“There is nothing to steal,” Cousin Tori said, cutting through her complaint.  “There is no treasure.”

“What?” The entire cave, including the thieves, seemed to freeze and go quiet at once.  Several pairs of eyes looked at Cousin Tori and Ava’s was among them.  The thieves looked shocked, Maeve was confused, and Ava felt a surge of disappointment.

Cousin Tori stood with her hip jutted out as she crossed her arms and raised a brow.  “The barrels don’t have any treasure.  They’re props to an interactive activity I’m working on.”

“Props?” Marco choked out, as if betrayed.  “As in...not real?”

“Well, they’re real barrels,” Cousin Tori replied.  “It’s just that they’re weighed down with rocks at the bottom.”

“But..but it sounded like there was liquid inside!” one of the thieves said with confusion.

“It’s made of two barrels,” Lady Ilyana replied.

“That’s enough from them,” Cousin Kasen said with a firm look on his face.  “Take them to the holding cells on Embarkation Island.”

“You can keep them together,” Cousin Tori said.  “We’ll follow in a bit.”  She stepped to the side as the coast guard officers escorted the four people on to their ship.

Ava couldn’t help but look at the coast guard boat, as the Cosora Delta vessels had all been turned into crystal-powered units that didn’t have sails.  They were faster than sail boats and the controls were more sophisticated.  She really wanted to try one, but was told they were expensive and ‘not children’s toys’.

She sneered when they told her.  Sooner or later, she’d get her hands on one.  In fact, after being on For Whom the Sun Rises, that’s the kind of ship she wanted as a personal ship.

The realization that she had yet to have her own personal ship slammed into her and she scowled.  Since this entire debacle was just one of Cousin Tori’s activities, then the loot she was going to get wasn’t real at all.  All her effort - for nothing!

“Robi, did you tell them we came here?” Maeve asked their cousin, who appeared calm.

Robi shook his head.  “No, Auntie Tori set this up.  Fifi took a nap, and Auntie asked me if I wanted to see you all struggling to open the barrels.”

He was there, meaning he did want to come watch them struggle.

“How do you open it?” Riri asked.  “They said that if you hit it, it will flash a light into your eyes and blind you.”

The corner of Cousin Tori’s lips curled up.  She looked back at Ava, but not at her eyes.  Ava looked down and realized she was staring at the compass crystal hanging from her neck.  Ava’s eyes went wide.

“The compass?”

“The crystals on top of the barrel lids are sister crystals with the one around your neck,” Cousin Tori said.  “The compass will always point to the concentration of sister crystals.  That’s why it led you here.”

“But how do we use this to open the lids?” Ava asked as she lifted the small metal piece and turned it in her hands.

“Let’s go inside and take a look.”  Cousin Tori beckoned for them to follow her and she led them through the narrow tunnel into the back room.  She cocked her head as she saw the fallen barrel.

“Do we need to push it up?” Ewan asked.  Cousin Tori nodded and Ewan and an imperial knight with them lifted the barrel back.  Ewan drew his head back, surprised.  “It’s not as heavy as I thought.”

“All the weight is concentrated on the bottom,” Cousin Tori said.  She knelt down beside the barrel.  “From here to here, there are stones weighing it down.  Like Ilyana said there are two layers.  Between the outer layer and the inner layer is sea water, which makes it sound as if wine is inside.”  She knocked on the barrel to make her point.

“The compass crystal fits into the grooves of the crystals on top of the lid,” Lady Ilyana said.  “Try it.”

Ava lifted the chain from around her neck and looked it over.  How could she get the crystal out of the compass?  Her face twisted with concentration as she tried to fumble it out.

“Give it to me,” Maeve said before snatching it from her hands.

“Hey!”

“You’re going to break it!” Maeve insisted.  Ava grumbled.

“I’m not....”

“Twist the top off,” Cousin Tori said.  “Then unscrew the parts and remove the crystal.”

Maeve did as instructed and got the crystal out.  She walked to the closest barrel and carefully placed the crystal into a larger piece on the lid of the barrel.  As soon as it was in place, it turned a quarter way counterclockwise.  It began to glow and several clicks were heard.  Maeve jumped back at once.

“What is that?” she gasped.

“The lid is held in place by metal pins connected to crystal.  It will automatically turn, like a key, and retract the metal pins,” Lady Ilyana told them.  “Now you can lift up the lid.”

“The crystal does that by itself?” Cousin Kasen said with some surprise.  He looked towards Cousin Tori.

“That’s amazing, Auntie...did you program the crystal yourself?” Robi asked with wide, awestruck eyes as he looked at his aunt.

Cousin Tori nodded.  “Yes, but I had help from my masters.”

The lids could now be lifted by gripping the crystal at the top like a handle.  They came off with ease and inside, it was obvious that there was an inner barrel.  At the top was a pile of metal coins, but they were just unmarked disks that had been roughed up.

“I don’t get it,” Ava said.  “We win and open the lids, and all there is are pieces of metal?”

Cousin Tori rolled her eyes.  “Dig through the coins.”

With each child at a barrel, they each began to rummage through the coins.  Ava scrunched her face.  “I don’t see anything.”

“You don’t see anything different in the pile?” Uncle Andy asked.

“Just metal and a crystal....”

“A crystal!”  Robi whirled around from his barrel and picked up a crystal the same shape and size as the one that was on the compass.  He put the lid back on and placed the crystal on to the larger piece on top of the lid.  It began to glow, but this time, it glowed yellow.  His eyes widened and he looked back at his aunt.  “Now what?”

“What does the treasure map say?” Lady Ilyana asked.  Robi looked around and found the map on the floor.  He rushed over to pick it up as one by one, the other children found the crystals and placed them on the lids.

Robi rushed to his father for assistance with the map.  Cousin Kasen looked down at the map and furrowed his brows.  “It looks like you’ve already followed all the clues on the front...what about the back?”

“The back is just a map of the delta,” Mateo replied.

Still, Robi filled the paper over.  It really was just a map of the delta, but he squinted.  “Why would there be a map of the delta, but you didn’t use it?  You  just followed the clues.”

He looked concentrated as he brought the paper on top of his barrel lid to put it down. As soon as he did, the light shined through the paper and he gasped.

“What is it?” Riri asked from the barrel next to his.

“There are words!  Words were hidden in the map!  You can’t tell because the land is colored, but when you shine a light through, you can read it!”

“What does it say!?  What does it say?” Ava nearly leapt on top of him to get a good look.

“You’ve reached the treasure.  To spend your treasure immediately, press your crystal to the barrel crystal and hold until the barrel crystal dims.”  Robi pushed the map away and placed his wrist crystal against the lid.  Both crystals glowed upon contact and Robi held it there until the glowing stopped.  He lifted his crystal and beamed.

Ava rushed back to her barrel and repeated the process.  “How much do we get?” she asked, giddy.

“Ten silver coins.”

“Ooh...that’s not bad....” the children said to themselves.  It was far less than the piles of gold treasure Ava expected, but at least she got something out of it.

“Tori, that’s a bit much for a prize per person, isn’t it?” Lady Ilyana whispered.

“It’s just for them since they’re testing it,” Cousin Tori said.  “Regular games will have enough for a meal voucher.”

Once the children had finished loading their crystals, they were ushered out and back into the cave.  Prince Piers was talking to the coast guard head and looked over.

“Your boat will be towed back to the grotto,” he said.  “Do you want to go with it or back with us?”

“Back with you,” the children chorused at once.

“All right, then everyone get on the boat,” Cousin Tori said with a tired sigh.  “Let’s get back to the mainland before Fiona wakes up.  She’ll be upset if we’re not there.”

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

The tent was warm, but not sweltering thanks to carefully placed crystals that circulated and cooled the air.  It made taking daytime naps comfortable despite the heat and noise outside.

Fiona rolled over and immediately wrinkled her face.  It was hot and soft and smelled like freesia mist.

“Alexander....”  Her little voice was muffled by the fur of the cat and she jerked her head back scowling in the dim back bedchamber of her aunt’s tent.  She looked at the mass of gray that was sprawled beside her on his side.

“Nyaow....” The cat gave her a lazy answer and lifted his tail once.

Fiona grumbled and sat up.  She looked around and furrowed her brows.  “Nanny?” she called out.  No one answered. She frowned and scooted to the edge of the bed.  “Auntie Tori?  Daddy?  Robi?” Fiona paused and listened, but there was still no answer.  She drew her head back.  “Uncle Piers?”

“Nyaow....”  Alexander stood up and lazily walked towards the wall of the tent where some Old Sulfae was written.

“Oh, right...silence charm....”  Fiona got off the bed and put on her sandals, then gathered the cat that was as big as she was and half dragged him out of the room.  She looked around the main room and found that it was empty.  She wrinkled her nose again and continued to the entrance.

Her aunt’s tent always had imperial knights guarding.  She pushed aside the heavy flap and looked around.  Along with the two imperial knights, who were just outside her door, there were two more Guevera knights who followed their family from Presidio to guard them.

The imperial knights were more familiar with the place, and she knew these particular ones, so she approached them first.

“Sir Lloyd, Sir Dassler, do you know where Auntie is?” Fiona asked as she looked from one man to the other.

“Good afternoon, Young Miss,” Sir Lloyd said with a small nod as Sir Dassler gave her a smile.  “The Countess is observing an activity she’s been planning right now.  His Imperial Highness and some friends and Lord Kasen joined her.  Young Master Robert and Training Commander Reystrom also joined.”

Fiona gasped.   Her eyes crinkled up and she squeezed the cat.  “I’ve been abandoned....”

“No!  No!”  Sir Lloyd and Sir Dassler immediately paled and tried to reassure her.  “It was not expected that the Young Miss would wake from her nap so early.”

“Young Miss, Lord Kasen said that they will return within the hour,” one of the Guevera told her in a calm voice.  “However, if you are bored, we can take you to the Promenade.”

Fiona thought for a moment and wrinkled her nose.  She’d walked up and down that Promenade so many times already, everyone knew her by name.  Or at least called her “Young Miss Fifi”.

Fiona knit her brows together and looked down.  She’d rather go to Rois.  Rois was more interesting than the mainland, as there were many more things to eat and see, but she was little.  Every time she went, someone was holding her hand or carrying her because they were afraid she’d get lost in the crowd.

Daddy said she couldn’t go by herself yet.  She scrunched her face.  But what if she got permission for the knights to take her?

“Hold on!”  She darted back into the tent and let Alexander go.  “Alexander, I’m going to take us to Rois!”

“Nyaow?”

“What?  You don’t believe me?”  Fiona scoffed and grabbed her comcry from the bedside table.  She brought it out.  “Call Kasen de Guevera.”  She held up her comcry and waited.  It flashed three times, but no one answered.  She wrinkled her nose.  “Maybe Daddy is busy...Call Victoria de Guevera.”

There was still no answer and the knights exchanged looks.  “Young Miss, perhaps my lord and lady have their hands full and cannot answer their comcry right now.”

Fiona huffed.  She called her nanny and Robi, but no one answered.  “What’s going on?” She frowned.  “I really have been abandoned....”

“Non-sense, Young Miss.  They are just very busy-”

“Call Piers du Soleil.” The imperial knights nearly bulged their eyes out as the little girl called the Crown Prince as if it were nothing.  Before either one could figure out a way to discourage the child from doing so, the comcry stopped pulsing and lit up.

“Yes, Fifi?”

Sir Lloyd nearly stumbled back as he heard the Crown Prince’s voice come from the little girl’s comcry.

“Uncle Piers, I can’t reach Daddy or Auntie Tori.”

“They are a bit busy right now with the project your auntie is working on,” Uncle Piers replied.  “We will return in an hour.”

Fiona frowned, upset.  “Where did you go?  Why did you go without me?”

“It was time for your nap,” Uncle Piers told her.  “If you are bored, have the knights take you to Rois.”

Fiona almost pumped her fist in triumph.  She looked at the knights around her and beamed.  “Okay, Uncle Piers!  I’ll see you later, I love you, bye-bye!”  Uncle Piers gave her a small hum in return and she looked back at the knights.  “Hehe...you heard him, right?”

Sir Lloyd released a heavy breath.  He touched a crystal in his ear.  “This is Lloyd.  Requesting an imperial knight to assist with escorting Young Miss Guevera to Ile des Rois.”  He paused and squinted as he touched the crystal again.  “No, it’s not an emergency-”

“I’m kind of hungry!” Fiona piped.

“But it is urgent,” Sir Lloyd continued.  “We are at the Countess’ tent.”  He nodded and looked at Fiona.  “Young Miss, it will be a few minutes and Sir Wagner will escort you and your knights.  He has a pass.”

She looked at the knights, satisfied with the arrangement.  She could go for another tapioca drink.  Daddy limited her to one every other day and she already had one.  But Daddy wasn’t there.

“Hehe...I can’t wait.”

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

Tori narrowed her eyes as the four thieves were placed into a cell in holding on Embarkation Island.  The mainland didn’t have any sort of holding facility for criminals and there weren’t many; usually just petty thieves like the ones the children stumbled upon today.

They would be locked up on holding for less than a week then made to do hard manual labor for a duration of time, depending on the offense, then they’d be kicked out of the delta and banned.

More violent offenders were also reported to their home government and then sentenced again in accordance with the laws of that town or city.  Usually, the larger the city, the stricter and more costly the punishment.  These thieves would eventually go back to Horizon.

“The Cosora Delta will one day need a larger facility for criminals,” Piers said as they listened to the four thieves arguing amongst themselves.

“We’re looking at an island to place a holding facility.  There is a good-sized island on the river,” Tori replied.  “The holding area on Embarkation Island wasn’t meant for criminals.”

Piers didn’t reply immediately.  “Island of Sighs.”

“What?”

“A thirty-minute walk up the river is a large island before the bend.  It was considered to be used for one of the bridges, but other locations along the river were considered better,” Piers said.

“Hmm...” She doubted they’d need it for hardened criminals, but she supposed seeing a fantasy version of Alcatraz would also be an effective deterrent.  “I’ll bring it up with the council.”  She looked towards one of the officers.  “Complete their paperwork and assign them to quadrant five, reservoir labor.”

“Yes, my lady.”  She turned around with Piers and headed out of the holding facility.

A boat was waiting for them to take them back to the mainland, but Tori changed the destination.  “Rois,” she said.  She sent Piers a small glare.  “Why did you let her go there by herself?”

“She was not by herself, she had two Guevera knights and Sir Wagner.”

“Fifi is going to buy another tapioca drink and she’s had too many already,” Tori replied.

“Tapioca drinks are delicious.”

“You can’t spoil her like this,” Tori said as the boat began to move.  She rubbed her forehead.

“Fifi has restraint.”

“Fifi is five.”  Tori almost threw her arms up.  “You shouldn’t get used to spoiling them.”

“I am not spoiling them.”

“Who sends them money and allows them to wander around?”

“They are escorted.  And I have money.”  Piers looked away.  Tori’s eyes bore into him.  He drew his lips inward and seemed to be trying to figure out what to say to placate her.  After a few moments, he seemed to perk up.  “Tori.”

“What.”

“I will not spoil our children.”

She continued to stare at him, unmoved.  “It’s far too early for that, Piers.”  She turned her head away.  “Far too early.”

He nodded in agreement and looked ahead of them.  “Four years.  After you graduate.”

“No.”

“Six?”

“No.”

“Ten is too much.  I will be an old man.”

“You’ll be thirty-two, Piers.  That’s not old.”

“What if I become unattractive?”

Tori turned to look at him incredulously.  “Why would you think that matters?” Piers shifted his eyes away.

“You like beauty.”

Tori slowly shook her head.  “Where is Axton when you need him....?”  She was quiet the rest of the way to Rois, but Piers tried to hold her hand.  She didn’t brush him off, but didn’t reciprocate either.  Piers appeared to take it as a win and happily held her hand.

When they reached Rois, it was easy to find her brother.  They’d found Fiona sitting on a high stool, halfway through a cup of her milk tea and a reed straw still in her mouth. On the stool next to her was Alexander eating chicken from a plate.

“What did I tell you about drinking too much?” Kasen said with a frown.

Fiona’s eyes shifted to the side, a bit guilty.  Tori knew she must’ve suckered the knights into getting her a drink.  Fiona saw them coming and gasped.

“Auntie Tori!  Uncle Piers!”  She slid off her stool easily and hopped down.  She took two steps before turning around and snatching her drink from the table, eyeing her father as if he’d steal it from her, then ran towards Piers and Tori.  She went to hide behind Piers. “Uncle Piers, tell Daddy that you let me come here and that I can drink.”

“Don’t go to him as if he’s your backer!” Kasen said, exasperated.

“Senior, I suggested the knights take her to Rois-

“Shut up, Piers.”  Kasen shot him a glare and Piers clamped his mouth shut.  It didn’t matter that Piers was the Crown Prince.  Kasen had already created a shadow in Pier’s mind.  He looked down at Fiona.

“Your father is too powerful.”

“Next time, I will tell my grandma,” Fiona said, acknowledging that she’d need to escalate.

“Fiona.”

“Coming, Daddy!”  The little girl rushed to her father and rubbed against his leg, smiling.  Robert shook his head, almost ashamed.

Tori sighed and at Piers.  “What do you want for dinner?”

Piers seemed to look at the crowd of yelling children, the stern nannies, and exasperated Kasen.

His eyes narrowed. “To be alone.”

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

She didn’t leave the delta much the rest of the summer.  Piers was only able to spend the weekends with her, and even then, it wasn’t every weekend.  Tori had gone back to Horizon a few times to prepare some things, check on her properties, and run errands with the children and her friends, but for the most part, she’d spent her time ‘relaxing’ at the delta.

At least she called it relaxing.  Ilyana and the others said she was still working.

“Yes, but working on my ownterms,” Tori had tried to argue.  No one bought it.

It was her last weekend at the delta before she returned to Horizon to start Université.  

She wasn’t nervous, as she’d familiarized herself with the campus and the faculty she’d be studying under.  Princess Vivian had dragged her around to make sure everyone knew who she was.

It was embarrassing, as the Princess wasn’t even in Tori’s school of study, but useful.

Piers gave the server their order and requested a white wine for dinner.  It was a very relaxing end to her summer.

Piers finally had a chance to have dinner with her alone, albeit it was at the top of Henrik’s restaurant, in an outdoor space overlooking the plaza that was designated for pairs.  They weren’t alone on the floor, but the tables were spaced apart and each table had their own server on standby.

Their friends were eating dinner downstairs and their visitors had tearfully left a few days earlier.  Despite being ‘bored’, the children were reluctant to leave and wanted to come back during their breaks or, at the very least, next summer.

Tori had told them it depended on their studies.  Ava had looked wounded by this while Riri cheered.  He was Ilyana’s little brother; his studies reflected that.

Aiden and Ezvan were already staying at Tori’s flat for the weekend in preparation to enter Lycée.

Tori sighed.  “That reminds me....”  Her comcry was on the table and she slid her finger across.  Piers fed her some locally caught shrimp ceviche that was their appetizer.  As she chewed, she listened for a voice to answer.  It didn’t take long.

“Good evening, Countess.”  If this had been a few months ago, or perhaps that time last year, the voice would’ve been hesitant, confused, if not a bit cautious.  It didn’t carry the same confidence and energy it had years ago, when she first met him, but it was much better than last summer.

“Guthry, are you ready for your final year?” Tori asked after she swallowed her ceviche and leaned back against her chair.

“Yes, I’m moving in tomorrow.”  Dimitri let out an embarrassed, helpless laugh.  “I didn’t think I’d wear a student guide sash again.”

Tori smiled a bit.  “I remember that you were ranked fifth in your class at the end of the last school year, therefore, you’d likely be a student guide.  I was a bit concerned that you’d refuse.”

“Why would I refuse....”  As he said it, his voice trailed off.  He seemed to understand his own reaction to things at the time.  “I see...”

“I’m glad you didn’t.  You deserve a chance to do good,” Tori told him.

“Thank you, Countess.”

“That being said, my cousin is going to start Lycée this year.  He and Ezvan, the heir to the Fekete Duchy.  I’ve introduced them to a few underclassmen, but it never hurts for there to be more people looking out for them,” Tori said.  “I’d appreciate your guidance.”

She heard him chuckle.  “My lady, why would my guidance be necessary if you’re attending Université the next school over?”

“I’m not there to loom over Aiden daily,” Tori replied.  “They’re both excellent young men and tested in as academic students.  Aiden will only stay for two years before transferring to the Naval Academy, as is customary for an O’Tuagh.”

“An O’Tuagh?  Aiden...that’s Marquess O’Tuagh’s son and heir.”  Dimitri’s voice became more formal, as if realizing the importance of his new underclassmen.  “In case I’ve forgotten how they look like, have them ask for me. If there is any guidance I can give, I will give it.”

“Thanks,” Tori said.  She glanced across the second-floor dining area of Sapphire-by-the-Sea.  A familiar couple was toasting two glasses of pink-tinted wine over candlelight.  “Also, why are your parents here and you’re not?”

Dimitri let out a heavy sigh.  “Father has been busy with the Chamber and the proposals returned from His Imperial Highness.  He and Mother have been wanting to come all summer.  There was a bit of a lull before the next sessions, so they booked whatever room they could find.  There was only one.”

“You could’ve called me.  I could’ve arranged for you to at least have a tent,” Tori said.

“I needed to prepare for my last year, so I’m short on time.  I appreciate the thought, though, my lady.”

“Then, how is your project?”

“It’s moving smoothly and the next few years of the annual operating plan are set to start in the fall.  I don’t expect there to be any more problems.”

“Excellent.  Try to get your project finished and submitted right after the winter break.  Then you can focus the rest of the year for the Université entrance exam,” Tori told him.  “I’ve spoken to Ilyana, and she said for a small fee, she is willing to share her notes.”

Dimitri paused.  “A small fee?  How much?”

“Depends on her mood.”  Tori finished the conversation and ended the call.  Next to her, Piers poured wine into her glass.  Before she could reach out and take it, another hand came out from the side and plucked it from the table.  Tori’s eyes widened and she followed the offending hand to a silver-haired young man.

The wine was gone in an instant.  “I really needed that.”  Gideon let out a tired sigh as he put the glass back on to the table.

Tori stared at the empty glass with her mouth agape.  “What the fu-”

“New glass.”  Piers lifted his hand to the server standing at the ready.  He then turned towards his brother and the embarrassed Fabian standing behind Gideon, a few steps away, as if he weren’t with them.  Piers glared at Gideon.  “What are you doing here?”

“I saw Zisos and Alvere downstairs and they said you were up here.  I just arrived and wanted to come greet you,” Gideon replied, as if it were obvious.  He put his hands on his waist and looked around.  “Who do we go to for more chairs?  I’m famished.”

Tori grabbed Piers hand before he could crush the cup in it.  She shot Gideon a frown.  “Everyone else is eating downstairs, why aren’t you?”

“Can’t I come and eat with my brother?” Gideon said, puffing out his chest.  “I haven’t seen him all summer and before I set out on my tour, I wanted to see him.  Who knows when I’ll come home next.”

“Or if,” Tori heard Piers mutter under his breath.  She rolled her eyes.

“You just arrived tonight and couldn’t wait until morning?” Tori frowned.  “Where are you staying?  I was not notified of your arrival.  Are you going directly to Horizon?”

Gideon sneered.  “I knew you’d say that!  I booked rooms for myself and Fabian ahead of time.  We’re going back to Horizon tomorrow night.  Isn’t that right, Fabian?”  He turned around.  “Fabian?”

The other young man had vanished.  Fabian had slowly inched back towards the door before going downstairs.

Tori stared at Gideon’s sunbaked face as it tinted with color. “You can’t join us up here,” she said.

Gideon frowned.  “Why not?”

“Have you not yet learned to observe your surroundings?” Piers asked with a bit of irritation in his voice.  At that clue, Gideon turned around in place.  He seemed to scan over the crowds.  At first, he didn’t seem to notice a difference, then his face reddened.  Piers seemed satisfied that he had become enlightened.  “Do you understand now?”

“Is this...is this only for couples?” Gideon asked.

“Yes.”

Gideon looked stunned and then turned back to face them.  “Then why are you two here?”

Tori blinked slowly and mentally counted down from ten.  Piers' stoic face hardened.  “Leave now.”

“But I’m hungry-”

“Go downstairs and order whatever you want.  I will pay for it!”  Piers pushed his seat back and shot up, making Gideon jump back before scurrying away.

“We’ll talk later, Piers!”  He slipped past them and another wine glass replaced the one he’d swiped from Tori.  Piers returned to his seat, his brows knit and his lips downturned.

“Did you know he was coming back?” Tori asked.

“Not today.”

“If he’s going on his tour, that’s several months at sea.  Did he already finish his Blue Crescent?” Tori asked.  Piers nodded.

“He called to inform me and our parents,” Piers replied as he poured her more wine.  “It will be a patrol along our coastal borders going north, then south to our territories.  They’ll come back into the gulf and do another turn before his next leave.”

Tori was quiet and nodded to herself.  “Is Fabian going with him?”

“Yes, Fabian has adapted well.  You can call your cousin, Eili.  She will inform you of their progress.  Mother keeps up to date on their abilities,” Piers told her.  “They will be assigned under Captain Andrew O’Tuagh.”

Tori nodded, satisfied.  “Andy is an excellent captain.  It will be a good experience for them to be in his crew.  How long is Gideon here for?”

“He will stay two weeks, then he must go back to King’s Harbor to report.”  Piers took a sip of his own wine.  “If he asks to borrow your ship so he can return faster and remain here longer-”

“No.”

“That is what I assumed.”

Tori snorted and looked towards the ocean.  “The last time I had a relatively serious talk with your brother, it was at Moss Hill about Hart.  Do you think he’ll want to find out more?”

“No,” Piers said.  “Gideon is an idiot, but he has a clear line between his likes and dislikes.  Because of Hart, he was nearly killed and the empire nearly invaded from within.  Regardless of whether she was tricked or coerced, Hart had a large part in assisting Rosiek with his goals. To Gideon, it is unforgivable.”

Tori took a deep breath.  Gideon may not have wanted to know what happened to Hart after finding out her sentence, but Tori did.  The last time she went to Horizon, Kasen accompanied her to speak to the asylum facility where Alessa was still held.

There hadn’t been a breakthrough and Alessa still insisted that she was being wrongly held and that Tori was the mastermind who wanted to destroy the empire.  She kept trying to ‘warn’ the staff.

Unfortunately for her, she was considered a traitor and no one believed her.

According to the staff, she had one visitor every week.  At first, Tori thought it was the former Baron Hart, but it was Tom Fields.  The love interest that Tori had the least interaction with, both in this life and in the original game, was the one who stuck it out with Alessa.

He seemed to believe that Alessa was having a psychotic episode and that nothing she said was factual, but Tori wouldn't put it past him to have his doubts.  But, the man was a part time worker in one of the farms outside the city.  He wasn’t making much, just enough to eat and afford renting a room.

Tori had someone inquire about Tom’s brother.  The Fields family should’ve known Alessa since she was a child and Tori thought that they’d have good feelings towards her.  Instead, there was bitterness.

The Fields blamed Alessa for enchanting Tom and leading him astray.  Tori thought it was Tom’s fault for going so far for Alessa as there were plenty of chances to make a break, but her opinion didn’t matter.  Tom’s brother who was working in the delta had tried to dissuade Tom from visiting a traitor, for fear that it would incriminate the family.

Tom obviously refused if he continued to visit Alessa weekly.  He couldn’t go into her room, he could only look at her through the small window on her door and offer some kind words, but no matter how unnecessary it was, Tom came without fail.

Tori applauded his dedication, but knew that if he kept this up, his life wouldn’t go anywhere.  Then again, perhaps Tom didn’t plan to have his life go anywhere.  Perhaps being with Alessa was his life.  Out of all the love interests, he loved her first.

Probably the most genuinely, as well.

“Hart’s father can no longer have children.  He has been sent to Sur to do labor,” Piers said.  “His daughter was going to be sent, but she was deemed unfit.”

That was what Tori heard as well.  The staff at the facility said that Alessa was prone to violence; trying to grab staff members, throwing things, and screaming.  Tori also didn’t think she had the capacity to understand that she was being punished.  Until then, the facility would wait to give her the medicine that would end the Hart bloodline completely.

Tori had told Montan and Constantine about the situation. Montan also had a clear distinction between love and hate, and while he didn’t have any comments on Alessa’s fate, he agreed with the sentencing.

Constantine wasn’t sure how to feel about it and wasn’t sure if the life that awaited Alessa was better than death.  He decided it wasn’t his place and that everyone should be responsible for their actions.

“If I ever lose my mind and endanger the empire, don’t involve my family,” Tori said as she looked out towards the sunset.  The light crystals around them had begun to illuminate as the last bit of sunlight faded.  “I will bear the responsibility on my own.”

A warm hand took over hers.  “You would not ruin the empire.”

“Not on purpose,” Tori said.  “I can only control so much.”  She gave him a slight smile and squeezed his hand.  “I’m only saying.  If something is my fault, I will bear it by myself.”

Piers’ eyes were fixed on her hand holding his.  “I would not let you bear it alone.  If I cannot help you bear it, then I will fix it so you will not have to.”

Her eyes moved over to his face and studied the contours of it in the setting sun.  Her chest tightened a bit.  “You’re going to fix it?”  Familiar words.

Piers nodded.  “Every time.” He seemed to swear it.  “For you, I will fix it.”

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

A.N. - Whoo!  We've reached thend of Summer Jams 4.  Next are the Love Interest One-Shots.  If I missed someone's NPC, please let me know! That being said, if you're still with me here, happy June!