Drifters

Inti's Watcher

Peter sat on the floor next to Razan as Nop hopped onto the coffee table. Marie and Sophie took the couch as the raven ruffled her feathers, preparing to speak.

"This week," she announced, "we are taking everyone back to the middle of the Congo Jungle for a flag hunt!" A picture appeared on the wall of dense, dark green forest. "This time, group members will be separated and spread randomly throughout this area." The picture changed to a map. "You'll have four hours to collect as many flags as you can. For this contest, all your 'truces' will be official. If you find, and keep, a flag in your group's colors, you will receive four points. If you find and keep a flag belonging to a group you have a truce with, both you and the group it belongs to will receive two points. Keeping a flag which isn't yours, and which doesn't belong to a group you have a truce with, will gain you zero points. You are allowed to make a truce with up to three groups. Fighting is encouraged. As always, let us know by tonight if you're joining! Any questions?"

Peter had several questions, but looked at Marie to ask first.

"We will start out separated, but is there any penalty for all of us meeting up and traveling together during the contest?" she asked, frowning.

"None whatsoever," Nop answered cheerfully.

Marie nodded, looking at Razan. "Those communication devices you have; they show the direction the others are in, aye?"

He bowed. "Yes, Captain."

"But we only have three, since I… dropped one into the ocean," Sophie said, flinching slightly.

"We'll figure that out later," Marie decided, nodding to Peter, signalling for him to ask.

He cleared his throat. "What do the flags look like? What's their size?"

A brief flash, and a hand-sized piece of thick cloth with two stripes on it appeared on the table next to Nop. "Like this."

"How do we collect them?" Sophie asked. "Are we given a bag or something?"

"No, you will not be given any bag. Feel free to bring one with you, or find another way of keeping them on your person."

"How many flags are there for each group?" Razan asked.

"Twelve."

"What equipment are we given?" Peter asked.

Nop shook her head. "For this contest, none. You may bring whatever you think will help you. However, we do recommend taking water."

"Will the flags be on the ground, or in the trees, or elsewhere?" Sophie asked.

"Most will be on or near the ground."

"Good to know," Peter said, looking back at Marie. He was out of questions.

Marie glanced around at the group. "Right, then. We'll be joining. I assume we have to inform you who we're making truces with?"

"Yes, please," Nop said, bobbing.

She nodded, sitting back. "Who should we ask?"

"I believe making a truce with the Windwards would be a good idea," Razan said, his tone neutral.

"Strangely, I agree," Marie said with a smirk.

"Stars? Or the Wasps again," Sophie suggested.

Peter nervously cleared his throat. Before he could say anything, Marie grinned at him, then got to her feet.

"Very well; we'll ask the Windwards, Seabirds, and Stars if they have room for us. If not, we can see if the Foxes are available, then the Wasps. An asshole Antoni may be, but I'd just as soon not have Chimeg against us. Sophie, go ask Rani if they have a spot. Peter, I leave the Seabirds to you. I'll ask Ebba for a truce. Razan, go see if buying a single communication device is possible, or if we need a whole new set. We'll meet you in front of that room to confirm everything."

Peter said "Yes, Captain," along with everyone else, and they filed out the door.

At their usual hour for card-playing, Marie looked at her fairly worthless cards, then narrowed her eyes at Peter, trying to decide if he had a good hand or not.

He set two cards down with a sigh. "This hand has great potential."

"Same," Marie said, setting two cards on top of his.

Peter lifted half the deck, and she flipped the top card. It was a seven, which apparently made his hand much better than what it had been. Marie's hand was not improved.

They continued the game, only calling out numbers and scores. This round ended with Peter in the lead by twelve points. Not insurmountable odds, but nearing it.

As he shuffled, Sophie came into the area. She walked to the table and held out a brownie to Marie.

"Is this poisoned?" the thief asked.

Marie took it and broke it in half. It parted in the same way Ebba's brownies did. She started handing it back, then noticed an odd powder caked onto the bottom.

"It's drugged to the point you might need a hospital, but probably not directly poisoned," Marie said slowly. "Who gave it to you?"

Sophie frowned thoughtfully. "Antoni. He was very upset when I insisted I couldn't eat dessert without tea, and would have to eat it later."

"Did he tell you what was in it?" Peter asked.

"No, he said it was an apology for having insulted me last week."

Marie looked at the brownie. "So he tried to drug you without your knowledge."

Sophie shrugged. "Yes, but I suspected it had to have something in it, which is why I brought it to you." She hesitated. "May… I eat it?"

"No," Peter said, mildly horrified. "Drugs are dangerous."

"I wasn't-"

"No, girl," Marie told her. "If you truly want to, I'll get you a clean one. I don't know what this is laced with, so I don't trust it. Mixing things is never wise, taking things without knowing exactly what it is isn't wise, and taking things without knowing how much will kill you is, you may have guessed, unwise. You're not eating this."

"Yes, ma'am," Sophie said quietly.

"I'd say taking anything under any circumstances is unwise," Peter said.

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Marie almost pointed out he'd been taking painkillers daily since they'd arrived, but decided it wasn't worth it. Instead, she pushed herself to her feet. "Sophie, how good are you at acting like a damsel in distress?"

"I've never tried, but I'm quite good at looking repentant, and those are fairly similar, right?"

"Right." She smiled at Peter. "Apologies, but I must cut our game short. I forfeit." She touched Sophie's arm, starting towards the door, brownie still in her hand. "Let's go Fox hunting."

"Yes, Captain."

Sophie looked at Antoni with wide eyes, trying to appear heartbroken. "I trusted you…"

"No," Antoni said, feet flailing for purchase on the floor as Marie held him against a wall in the common area. "No, it's not laced with anything, that's just… flour! I spilled it on the counter this morning!"

"Prove it," Marie ordered, and suddenly released him.

Antoni dropped, collapsing to his knees. "Prove?"

"Aye, if there's nothing dangerous in this thing, you'll have no hesitation in eating it," Marie said, one eyebrow raised.

He went pale, glancing around at the growing crowd around them. "I- Well, that is- I don't-"

"So you did try to drug me," Sophie said, putting a tremor in her voice.

"No! Nonono, I just… made it for you! I don't want to eat something I made as a gift!"

"Oh?" Marie asked. "How did you make it? Describe the process."

Antoni stared blankly at her for a few seconds. "Well, when I say I made it, I mean I just… bought it. And put it on a plate."

"It doesn't look like the ones in the bakery," Sophie pointed out. "Those are much fluffier."

"I- I- I bought it from… someone."

Marie grinned, the look on her face murderous. "And who, pray tell, would that be?"

Antoni swallowed hard, his eyes flicking behind Sophie. She turned just as Ebba strolled through the crowd to put a hand on Marie's shoulder.

"Hello, dear, I believe I can answer that," the witch said.

"Oh, one of yours?" Marie asked, turning it over.

"Naturally, but I don't make a habit of enhancing them with opium powder."

"Opium?" Sophie asked, forgetting to be tragic.

"Antoni tried getting Sophie to eat it," Marie said casually.

Ebba smiled like a wolf, turning her attention to the man on his knees. "Antoni, don't tell me you tried drugging someone without their knowledge. Again."

The crowd behind them murmured as Antoni tried insisting that's not what happened. Sophie remembered she was supposed to be frail and innocent, and took a swooning half-step back.

To her surprise, Razan steadied her. He was standing next to Innoka, who looked about as angry as Marie.

Ebba put a hand on her hip. "Have you forgotten our deal from the last time that happened? I have a reputation to uphold, after all; I can't sell things to people who won't act responsibly."

Antoni stiffened, then broke out into apologetic pleas. He started to get up, but Marie put a boot on his shoulder and pushed him back down.

"Here's what will happen. You will never speak to me, my group, or anyone I happen to like again. If you do, I will tie you down and remove your fingers one by one before sawing your palms off at the wrist. I will use…" She pulled a knife off her belt, turning to Ebba. "What do you think, dear, this knife?"

"For the fingers, certainly, but I'd use a dagger for the wrists," the witch answered thoughtfully.

"Ah, push the tip straight down through the bones and wrench-"

"I get it!" Antoni snapped. "I'll leave you alone!" He glanced at Sophie. "All of you."

"Good," Marie growled, not putting the knife away.

Ebba knelt down to look him in the eye. "That's all she wants, but you made me a promise. You agreed, in front of the rostari, that you would never buy drugs from me and give them to other people again. And if you did…"

"I didn't!"

"But if you did, which the hawks here can confirm easily enough…"

A hawk appeared next to Sophie in a brief blue flash. It hopped closer to Antoni. "He did."

The witch grinned. "That's settled. So now you must…"

"You wouldn't make me-"

"Where the hell did you get that idea?" She glanced up. "Marie, he's being uncooperative."

Antoni scrambled back, trying to push himself through the wall. "I have to give her everything I own and leave!"

"Very good," Ebba said cheerfully, pushing herself up to her feet. "You have twenty-four hours, or you'll find out what a lethal overdose feels like." Not waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

Marie put the knife back on her belt and followed her, only pausing to glance at Innoka, then Razan. The crowd partially dispersed as Antoni got up and dusted himself off. The excitement was apparently over.

And then Innoka stepped forwards and slapped Antoni across the face. Razan almost followed, but stopped when Innoka shot him a furious look. She grabbed Antoni's shirt collar and dragged him off to their group area.

Sophie watched them, then turned to Razan as he cursed under his breath. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," he answered, sounding utterly resigned. "Did I hear Ebba correctly? He has to give you all his things and leave?"

"That's what I heard," Sophie said. "Not that I particularly want anything of his. Would you like his weapons?"

A smile flickered on his face. "That would piss him off, so I would be delighted to take them."

Sophie almost said that would be the first time in his life he'd be delighted about anything, but stopped herself. He looked… sad. Resigned. Like something bad was coming, and he couldn't stop it. She tried figuring out what about Antoni leaving would make him sad, and couldn't. Unless it somehow involved Innoka.

"Will… Innoka be leaving when Antoni leaves?" Sophie guessed uncertainly.

"I believe so."

"Does the whole group have to leave just because of him?" she asked, worried.

"No. She's leaving for reasons of her own." With a depressed sigh, he walked off.

Sophie almost followed him. He clearly wasn't happy, but she wasn't sure if there was anything she could do to help. Nothing she did could stop Innoka from leaving.

Deciding to leave them alone, she went to find Ebba and ask if she was really going to get everything of Antoni's.

Razan watched as Innoka paced back and forth in her room, ranting about… Honestly, he wasn't sure any more. The words were just washing over him, not bothering to enter his ears. They didn't matter.

Innoka was leaving. In two weeks.

Antoni was leaving before midnight, because Ebba had written a very specific contract about how he was allowed to use the things she sold him, and he'd knowingly broken it. The contract's wording, once translated into Japanese, had given Razan a new respect for the witch.

"Don't you think?" Innoka asked, suddenly turning to look at him.

He blinked out of his haze. "I'm sorry, I was distracted."

She rolled her eyes. "If you aren't listening, why are you here?" she snapped.

"Because-" He paused. That was an excellent question.

Innoka sat down next to him with a sigh. "Sorry. That was rude. I'm just… anxious. I've only been home once since I got here, to prove I wasn't dead, and I'm not sure how to explain where I've been. Who I've been with." She took his hand. "It would be easier for me if I returned with someone. My father wouldn't ask as many questions."

"He wouldn't ask you as many questions, possibly," Razan said slowly. "And not the same questions as he'd ask me if I went with you."

She moved closer to him. "There's no way I can convince you to come with me?"

Razan looked into her perfect golden eyes and wished he wasn't a coward. "No."

"Why not?"

Because this place had a very organized and unchanging schedule. Because he'd never met anyone he respected more than his captain. Because paper and writing supplies were insanely cheap. Because the only person who disliked him was about to leave. Because… he was happy. For once.

Leaving all that behind just for one person, going from this place into what might as well be a different world, replacing a clear future with one covered in darkness, would take more bravery than he'd ever had. Or perhaps it would take stupidity. Only a fine line separated the two, after all.

"I don't want to," he finally told Innoka.

She pulled away from him at that. "Seriously? That's all?"

"Yes."

"Razan, why are you here right now?"

"I wanted to know if you were truly leaving, and had no compelling reason to go after receiving the answer."

Innoka judged him for a few moments, then shook her head and laughed. "I'm going to miss you. Truly. I wish you'd come with me."

"I wish you'd stay," he countered, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. "I will truly miss you, too."

"We'll have to make the best of the time left, then," she decided, moving close to him again.

Razan slid an arm around her. "I agree."