Chapter 44 Escape from Gasara
Wataru couldn’t summon up the strength to meet with Kee Keema right after talking to Meena. I’ll do it later, he thought. Thankfully, there were other things to keep him busy.
In the area around Gasara, there were several smaller towns that helped facilitate local trade. Refugees from these places were arriving daily at the town’s gates. Wataru, along with his fellow Highlanders, had his hands full with all the incoming traffic.
“If all this confusion continues much longer, then I’d gladly give myself up as the Halnera sacrifice just to get back a little peace and quiet,” one of the refugees said with a sideways glance at his exhausted wife. He led a small child by the hand. The simple lodgings that had been set up for refugees had only the barest necessities, yet still, many were glad to be able to bathe and eat a proper meal after four days on the road.
“You don’t have much longer to wait. Halnera will soon be over,” Wataru told them.
The man nodded slowly. “I hope so…” he said with a sigh. “You get to wondering if they really need a sacrifice. I’d think the Goddess in all her power would be able to make a Great Barrier of Light by herself. I started thinking that maybe the Goddess’s intent with this whole Halnera thing lies elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?”
“Yep. Look how we struggle and tremble just hearing that one of us is to be chosen as a sacrifice. We’re so weak. And in the end, all we care about is our own hides. That’s why there’s all this chaos. And of course, some people have tried to make a profit off it. Some have even used the confusion as a cover to do away with people they don’t like. It’s all greed, and it runs deep. Ugly stuff. That’s why the Goddess has to shake us up a little bit every now and then. She wants to remind us of our weakness, and our ugliness. She wants to make sure that we don’t fall any more in love with ourselves than we already are. That’s why she started this whole Halnera thing—at least that’s what I think.”
The thought hadn’t occurred to Wataru.
“Wouldn’t that make the Goddess a little harsh toward her own people?”
“Harsh? You bet. But, I figure she has to be strict. If she was nice all the time, nothing would ever get fixed. Words are empty. You can pass the greatest teachings of the sages down, but if all they see is prosperity day in and day out, they’ll forget what the words mean. People are forgetful creatures, you see. That’s why at least once every thousand years the Goddess has to come down and give us a jolt—something to remind us of what the teachings really mean.”
They spent so much time talking that it was late into the afternoon by the time Wataru could take a break from the refugee camps. The man’s heavy questions weighted down his already laden heart, and his feet trudged across the ground as he walked back toward the branch office.
Then he noticed something odd. People were gathered out in front of their houses and talking in hushed voices. What’s going on?
Just then Wataru turned a corner and ran into the doctor from the hospital. His medicine bag was tucked under one arm, and he was speaking with some of the townspeople. Wataru called out to him, but the man was so engrossed in his conversation he didn’t even notice.
“Hello there! Has something happened?”
“Oh, it’s you!” the doctor said, blinking eyes half-buried under thick brows. “You mean you don’t know?”
“I see people standing around…”
Everyone, including the doctor, looked at him in surprise. “You’re a Highlander, aren’t you? How can you say you don’t know! Gasara has been surrounded by a company of the Knights of Stengel for the past hour!”
Wataru gaped. “Surrounded—what’s this all about? Didn’t the guards do anything?”
“What was there to do? They saw a company of the Knights of Stengel approaching from across the grasslands, and they thought maybe they were coming for supplies or just to visit. The next thing you know, they had us all surrounded.”
“The town gate is closed,” the doctor said. “No one is getting out or coming in.”
“I’ve been with the refugees this whole time.”
“Aye,” said one of the townspeople, “and the Knights of Stengel move fast—faster than the wind. That group is quiet as a snake ready to strike.”
“I need to get back to the branch!” Wataru made to run off, when the doctor grabbed his collar from behind. “Wait. You might want to see how things develop first.”
“What do you mean?”
“Captain Ronmel came in with some of his men. They went into the branch office. Whatever business they have is in there.”
Wataru’s eyes opened wide. “You mean they’re chasing a criminal or something?”
The doctor shook his head. “Remember when the four high branch chiefs sent out orders to the Highlanders without the approval of the Senate? Word is that Captain Ronmel’s business here has something to do with that.”
With a start, Wataru remembered the dangerous tension that had passed between Captain Ronmel’s troops and the Highlanders in front of the Lourdes observatory. And Captain Ronmel’s words: if the branch chiefs and the Highlanders get on the bad side of the Senate, then one day the Knights of Stengel and the Highlanders might stand on opposite ends of the sword.
So what Captain Ronmel feared had come to pass.
“Apparently, the captain has come for none other than Kutz herself,” the doctor said. “Someone in the Senate wants her detained and sent to the capital. Not sure what the matter could be…”
Wataru knew. The assassination plot. Word must have leaked from somewhere, and someone in the Senate caught wind of it. There would be those in the Senate who didn’t favor the idea of the emperor in the north suffering a sudden demise.
Kutz said it had been her plan. That made her the ringleader. If she’s arrested, she’ll be tried for sure. Where was High Chief Gil in all this? And the three who were supposed to go north with her?
“I don’t care what they say she’s done. They can’t come in here and take the chief away,” one of the townspeople said, snorting loudly. “Those Knights of Stengel are just the Senate’s lapdogs. Who can trust them? And they’re all ankha too. You can bet they don’t think too highly of us beastkin.”
Several others standing around agreed. One waved his fist. “If anyone is going to put those Knights in their place, it’s got to be us!”
The doctor’s ears flattened against his head. “I’m sure the government and the Knights know how you all feel. That’s why they have us surrounded. It we strike back unthinkingly, I fear something terrible may happen.”
“Then you’d just have us stand here and watch them take Kutz off without a fight?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Well then?!”
Wataru slipped away before the argument grew even more heated.
He ran until he reached the front gate. It was closed and barred, as the doctor had said. Knights were stationed outside, and a notice of some kind had been posted in plain sight. Probably a warrant for Kutz’s arrest. A local beastkin was loudly arguing with one of the Knights. Across the street, a small child was crying as he clung to his mother’s skirt hem.
A darbaba cart was parked off the road by the gate—perhaps stalled by the arrival of the Knights. The waterkin driver was upset with the situation and was locked in a debate with another of the guards. Wataru hid behind the large wheels of the cart and listened to their exchange.
“Like I said, I have nothing against the Knights at all. But you have to understand I’ve got a shipment of the best shulshu here. You ever eaten one? Freshly killed, they make one of most delectable meals to be had, but freshness is everything. Every minute I stand here waiting the value of my cargo drops.”
“We’ll open the gates as soon as we’re done, you have my word. We don’t mean to hinder business in Gasara any longer than we have to. Please, be patient.”
“That’s all fine and well, but my shulshu are rotting here.”
“If you have a problem with it, talk to your branch. We’re following government orders here, that’s all. If your branch chief goes along with us, we’ll be out of here in no time.”
So they were after Kutz. Where is she? I’ll have to sneak into the branch and take a look for myself. Wataru’s hand went to the hilt of his sword.
A double circle of onlookers stood in front of the branch. The outer ring seemed to be mostly residents. The inner ring consisted of five Knights of Stengel, standing in a formation in front of the door.
Trone must be inside. Wataru thought a moment, then went around to the back of the building. All the windows were firmly shut. The window to Wataru’s room on the second floor, which he had left open that morning, was closed too. Even the shutters had been locked.
Wataru returned to the front of the branch. He mingled with the crowd, waiting for an opportunity to enter the building. Everyone was talking and shouting and demanding answers. It was noisy.
All at once, the Knights moved to the side and the door to the branch opened. A voice was heard from inside. One of the guards nodded in acknowledgment.
Wataru made sure no one was looking and drew his sword. Quickly he made the sign to create the invisible barrier. Once obscured, he slipped through the crowd and past the Knights.
“Hrm?” A Knight grunted. “What was that?” He looked down at his feet, but Wataru had already made his way inside.
Trone was sitting calmly at Kutz’s desk in the center of the room. There were two Knights by his side. Directly in front of the desk stood Captain Ronmel.
It appeared the other Highlanders had managed to duck out of sight in the nick of time. Wataru could see no one else. Either that, or they’ve already been taken away.
“I’ll ask you one more time,” Captain Ronmel was saying to Trone. Wataru had heard the Captain’s voice many times before, but never had it sounded so ominous, so full of threat.
Trone, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. He leaned back in his chair, fixing his glasses on his nose, looking perfectly relaxed.
“Where is Branch Chief Kutz? We know she hasn’t left the town.”
“I’m sure she’s around somewhere. Wish I knew. I’m not her bodyguard, you know.”
“Even if you don’t tell us, you won’t be doing her any good. We’ll find her sooner or later and take her in.”
“Then I suggest you get busy! Sorry I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
“If we start searching the town, it will upset the residents more than they already are. I would think you’d want to avoid that from happening. Cooperate.” Captain Ronmel’s eyes burned with a cold blue intensity. Like Trone, he seemed at ease—like he was ready to wait for days to get the answer he wanted. Still, Wataru thought he detected a hint of weariness in his demeanor. There were shadows under his eyes.
“We know you are the sub-chief at the branch here, responsible for keeping order when Kutz is away. I wouldn’t think Kutz would wish to create any needless commotion here in Gasara.”
“Oh, I think I know exactly what the chief would wish—and I certainly don’t need you to tell me.” Trone’s words were sharp and to the point. Though he was still leaning back in his chair, his eyes flashed. “I’m still not sure I understand why exactly the chief has to be brought in to the Senate. It sounds like a case of unwarranted arrest to me.”
The young Knight standing to Trone’s right suddenly beat his fist on the desk. Documents scattered and a pen clattered noisily to the floor. “We have a warrant right here!” The Knight’s eyes burned through the gap between his helmet and breastplate. Captain Ronmel lifted his hand to stay the Knight, his eyes never leaving Trone’s face.
“I’ve lived a few years myself, and I’ve never seen an arrest warrant from the USN before…” Trone began picking his nose. A long nail extended from one round furry finger and began deftly probing one of his nostrils. “Nor had I ever heard of anything like this treason law it talks about. How can I be sure this warrant is the real deal? Could have been faked.”
Captain Ronmel’s eyes took on a dangerous gleam. “Very interesting. So you claim our warrant is a forgery?”
“I’m just saying it wouldn’t surprise me, coming from the likes of you,” Trone said, revealing the fangs on one side of his mouth as he chuckled. “I’m sure your keepers in the Senate feed you well. A well-trained dog will do anything his master says. Why, you’d walk through a sea of nightsoil to get a bone if your master said fetch.”
Trone would’ve continued if the young Knight standing by the desk didn’t suddenly lash out at him with his fist. At least he didn’t draw his sword, Wataru thought. The other Knight standing guard quickly moved to stop him, and another ran in from outside. Immediately a great brawl started, rowdy enough to shake the building. Wataru slid across the floor past Trone’s feet and hid under the desk.
Wataru was breathing hard with the effort required to keep the barrier up. He let it fade. Clasping his mouth with both hands, trying not to make a sound, he breathed with both shoulders heaving.
When the shouting and yelling and punching had died down, Wataru saw Trone’s feet lifting off the floor. There was a heavy slam above his head. They must have pushed him onto the desk.
“You’re welcome to your ridiculous delusions…” he heard Captain Ronmel talking, his voice calm, as if nothing had happened. “But we have sworn our allegiance to the Senate, and we act with their full authority.”
“Oh? I wonder about that,” came Trone’s reply, undaunted, even if his face was pressed to the desk.
“Not only did the four high branch chiefs not heed the Senate’s admonition and send their Highlanders out without authority, but we know they planned terrorist activities against the Northern Empire. High Chief Gil is already in our custody. We are currently interrogating the Highlanders who were with him about this plot to assassinate Gama Agrilius VII. You’ve been caught red-handed, Trone.”
Captain Ronmel’s voice cracked with emotion for the first time. Wataru hunched down beneath the desk. So High Chief Gil had been arrested.
It was over. At least Kutz was still free. Hopefully we can keep her that way.
“You’ve known Kutz a long time,” Captain Ronmel said. “So you must know her past. You know that I was also once a Highlander, one of her trusted partners. An incident drew us apart, but I always had the highest respect for her work, and I do not wish to see her unfairly treated. More than anything, if she plans these acts against our country’s best interest, I will have her stopped.”
Trone was silent. Wataru could hear his ragged breathing.
“Tell me, where is she? I want to help her. If she does not surrender herself now, she will be marked as a traitor. She’ll be hounded wherever she goes in Vision. Do you really want to put her in that position?”
Kutz and Captain Ronmel. Lovers forever, but always a step apart. Wataru felt a stab of pain in his chest, though his breathing had finally become more regular.
Trone sighed softly. “I’m pretty sure Kutz doesn’t want your help, not anymore.”
Wataru heard the clatter of Captain Ronmel’s armor.
“I don’t know how it was in the past, but you and Kutz see different things from different places now. Your hopes, your ideals—everything you hold important, you hold alone. Kutz knows this. It looks like you don’t.”
Trone muttered something about men being like that, before continuing, “Looks like the cowards down at the Senate are clucking and fretting about these powered boat designs reaching the North. They want to form some sort of peace treaty before the North can attack, is that it? You know the Senate is filled with sympathizers, even I can see what it is they’d do. So, what exactly are they planning to offer the North in exchange for peace? You can’t say you don’t know what the emperor is doing up there. It’s bloodshed—worse, genocide. Beastkin are made to work like slaves, ripped away from their homes in the light of day. And you’re happy with all this?”
“We are trying…” Captain Ronmel began, but Trone cut him off. “Then again, I suppose you wouldn’t care so much. No matter what the beastkin in the south have to face, it won’t affect the Knights of Stengel, will it? You’re not here to protect the south. You’re here to protect yourselves, the ankha.”
“You are wrong!”
“Am I? Look at Lyris! Your buddy Captain Zaidek is rolling out his own brand of empire in that town under the auspices of keeping the peace—all in your precious government’s name.”
There was a brief pause, and Captain Ronmel said, surprisingly calm, “I am not Zaidek.”
“Oh? A lapdog is a lapdog from where I sit.”
“No. I’m no sympathizer with the causes of the Northern Empire. Nor would I care to raise my sword in defense of their ideals. If our Senate truly intends to allow the ideologies of the North to creep into our lands in exchange for peace, I would not accept it. I would resist it with every fiber of my being. Sometimes, even dogs turn against their masters. We do have a will of our own, you see.”
Trone was silent. It appeared that Captain Ronmel was waiting for his answer. The tension in the air was palpable, even under the desk where Wataru was hiding.
When Trone spoke next his voice was hoarse. “Even if we got our peace from the North and had to give nothing in exchange, I wouldn’t fancy being their allies. They have enslaved my people and tossed their corpses away like garbage. If peace means friendship with their sort, I choose war. I choose to fight, and fight until there is no one left. That’s something more important to me than my own life. Something more important to all us Highlanders. I wonder if you Knights have it?”
“So you mean to say that, for this thing which you hold dearer than life, you planned to assassinate the emperor? Was that your true objective? To me, it looks like you are engaged in nothing more than base revenge.”
Trone growled but did not reply.
“Arrest this man,” Captain Ronmel ordered his men. “Throw him in the cell here. We’ll let him cool off a little bit.”
“What about Kutz?” one of the men asked.
“We’ll split into three and search the town. If any of the residents get in our way, arrest them for hampering a public official. Our reinforcements should be arriving soon. We’ll use this branch office as our temporary headquarters. We must find Kutz by nightfall and take her to the capital.”
His man shouted a reply and dragged Trone out of the office. Now Wataru knew everything there was to know, except for where Kutz was hiding. Still, even though he was no longer keeping up the barrier around him, everything he had heard left him depleted. Northern sympathizers in the government…the strife between the dominant ankha and the minority beastkin. The Knights of Stengel, defenders of the United Southern Nations, and most of them ankha, at odds with the homegrown Highlanders organization.
Wataru began to have doubts, until his mind was racing, and he shivered. I can’t let them arrest Kutz. We have to go north together. Wataru didn’t know who was right anymore, Kutz or Captain Ronmel. It seemed like deciding between the two of them had such great consequences it was too much to bear. That was why he needed to see the truth for himself. He had to go north.
Knights were busily entering and leaving the office. Wataru drew the barrier of invisibility around himself once again, crept out from beneath the desk, and walking sideways along the wall, headed for the main entrance.
Captain Ronmel stood directly to the side of the desk. He had spread out a map of the town and was giving directions to a man. His eyes were on the map alone. Wataru could see deep lines etched in the side of his face.
Only a few more steps to the door. No one can see me. Wataru nearly stepped into a Knight who came running in through the door. He missed me. I’m okay.
“Captain! Word from the reinforcements!”
The Knight handed a communication to the captain. Captain Ronmel took it and looked up.
His blue eyes fixed on Wataru. Their eyes met. How? How can he see me?
The next instant, the captain had moved across the room in a few steps and held the tip of his sword pointed against Wataru’s throat. The way he moved was like magic. Only a soft breeze blew against Wataru’s face—he didn’t even hear the captain’s armor clink.
“I thought I sensed something strange before. Now I see what it was.” He wasn’t smiling.
Wataru looked down at his own body. In his surprise, the barrier had come undone.
“C-Captain…”
“When did you learn enveiling magic? Is this another of the Traveler’s powers?”
“This is called enveiling magic? I had no idea.” Wataru tried a timid smile. “Could you see me? Or could you somehow sense me, even though you couldn’t see me? That’s amazing.”
The captain did not smile. The tip of the sword was still held at Wataru’s throat. “You work for Kutz. Where is she?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t even know all this was going on.”
“Then you’re an idiot.”
“I know.”
Captain Ronmel called over his shoulder to one of his men. “This boy is a Highlander. He needs to be interrogated. Throw him in with the other one.”
“Yes, sir,” one of the Knights said, his steel boots clanging on the floor as he approached. Now I’m under arrest. So much for my plans.
Then, Wataru thought he heard a voice calling from somewhere—it’s coming from inside my head.
—Wataru.
—You have three gemstones. You have a new power.
—Say the words. Azlo, lom, lom. Spirit of the wind, blow through time, carry me faster than light itself.
“Than light itself…” Wataru echoed.
“What?” The Knight stopped.
“Carry me faster than light itself!”
Captain Ronmel, a short distance away, turned to look.
—Get ready!
“Fly!” At the moment he said the word, Wataru felt his body disappear. Suddenly, the world around him filled with light.
He was flying. Dancing up into the air. He left the surprised shouts of the Knights far below and rose up through the light. He gripped the sword hilt tightly in his hands. Climbing, climbing, up to the sky.
Then, the next instant, he shot across the blue sky as though fired from a cannon.
“Waaaah!”
His body floated, then suddenly stopped. He could see his surroundings once more. He was flying, in the air above Gasara. No, he was floating. Wait, I’m falling…
“Aaaaah!”
He hadn’t been that high, after all. He hit something hard, landing on his behind. Sparks shot through his skull. “Where am I?”
He was on top of the roof of a store on the eastern edge of town that he’d visited many times. He was lying on the red tiled roof. One of the tiles was cracked in two where he had landed.
The people walking on the street below gaped and looked at Wataru. Some were even pointing. The owner of the store came barreling out into the street. “What was that?”
So the third power of the sword was something like teleportation. It felt a bit like he imagined what going warp speed felt like. But he hadn’t gone that far, and it seemed pretty dangerous to boot.
—Sorry, Wataru.
It was the voice from the gemstone.
—You’re not strong enough to control it yet, it seems.
“No, this is fine, this is great, I got out of there!”
Wataru stood on the roof. Several Knights of Stengel had noticed Wataru and were approaching him. What do I do now?
“Oy, Wataru! Oy! Oy!” It was Kee Keema. He was running toward Wataru from behind the Knights. “What are you doing up there? Have you heard what’s happened?”
“I know!” Wataru said, cupping his hands to his mouth to shout over the crowd. “Look out, Kee Keema! They’ll catch you!”
“Huh? What are these guys doing here?” Kee Keema ran on, bowling through a cluster of Knights, knocking two of them off to the side into the wall of a nearby building.
“H-hey! That’s hindering a public official!”
“What do you mean? I’m a Highlander!”
“Then you’re even more guilty! You’re under arrest!”
“Run!” Wataru drew the wyrmflute from his pocket. Looking up into the sky he blew it as hard as he could. Jozo! Jozo, come quick!
A red speck winked into existence in the sky far above. Wataru faced it, waving his hands, jumping up and down on the roof, shouting at the top of his lungs. “Kutz! Kutz! Come out! We’re getting out of here! We’ll ride out on my dragon! Where are you?”
Kee Keema clambered up to the top of the roof. Several Knights came running from the nearby crossroads. At the head of a large group rounding the corner was Captain Ronmel. “Apprehend that boy!”
Suddenly Wataru was cast in shadow. Jozo was directly overhead. “You called, Wataru?”
“I did! Get me out of here!”
The gale from Jozo’s wings was almost enough to knock him off the roof entirely. Kee Keema held Wataru up, and both of them climbed onto the dragon’s back.
The great gust of wind shot down the streets, swirling around the Knights. The townspeople were cradling their heads and screaming. It was chaos.
“Kutz!” Wataru shouted out into the city streets. “Jozo, fly low over the city! We have to find Kutz!”
“Right. What’s with all the people, anyway? Is it some kind of festival?”
“Yeah, you might say that!”
Jozo spread his wings and began to glide over the rooftops of Gasara. They could still hear the screams from the townspeople, but now some of them sounded more like shouts of excitement.
“Look, a dragon!” A small boy leaned out of the window of one house, waving his hand. “Mom! Look, look! It’s a dragon, a real dragon, just like in the books!”
Jozo flapped his wings in greeting and sent another blast of wind, knocking over several Knights in pursuit. A stack of barrels sitting by the side of the road collapsed, taking the rest of the Knights with them.
“Kutz, where are you?!”
They flew past a darbaba, its eyes wide with surprise. The driver fell off his cart.
“Wataru!”
It was Kutz, leaning out of the second-story window of a house across the street. Wataru looked over and she nodded, and began climbing up to the roof.
“It’s Kutz! There she is!”
The Knights were getting closer. The nearest group was already inside the house—sticking their heads out of the windows, following after Kutz.
“Persistent, aren’t you!” Kutz had one hand on the roof, and hanging from the edge, she drew her whip with her other hand. There was a black glimmer and a crack. One of the Knights screamed and fell from the window down to the ground below.
“Jozo, let’s pick her up!”
With one flap of his wings, the dragon was over the house. Kutz hoisted herself onto the roof and ran toward them. Several Knights sprang to the roof behind her, fighting against the gale force winds coming from Jozo. Kutz lashed out with her whip, but the air currents were so strong, she could barely aim it.
“Jozo, breathe on them!”
“You sure?!”
“I’m sure! I give you special permission!”
Jozo took a deep breath, then spat a ball of flame across the roof. The Knights scattered like leaves. Kutz took her chance and leapt astride Jozo’s back. “You singed my hair!” She was laughing.
“Let’s go!”
Jozo lifted straight into the air and faced upward. Wataru clung to his neck as tightly as he could.
“Wataru, wait! Take me too!”
It was Meena. Wataru looked to see the lithe kitkin unbelievably springing from rooftop to rooftop, coming toward them.
“How dare you try to leave me behind!” She shouted, making a large jump from two roofs away. She flipped in midair, landing right on the edge of their roof. Suddenly, a Knight’s hand reached up from the window below, grabbing her ankle.
“Eek! Didn’t anyone ever teach you it’s rude to grab a lady’s leg?” Meena pulled something from her pocket, throwing it down at the top of the roof.
There was a loud series of cracks and the smell of gunpowder. Fireworks went off all around her. Since when did she have those? The Knight caught one of the blasts in the face. He immediately let go of her foot and covered his face with his hands.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” Meena shouted, jumping up to sit by Wataru’s side. “Fly, Jozo! Fly as high as you can go!”
Jozo whirled up into the air. The town of Gasara, with its people screaming with exhilaration, and Knights standing dumbfounded, dropped away beneath them. Even as they took higher to the sky, Wataru still thought he could feel Captain Ronmel’s eyes on him.
“Didn’t I say I’d go anywhere with you, Wataru?” Meena grinned, wiping ash from the fireworks off her nose. “Still, you shouldn’t have tried to leave without me.”
“I…”
“You may say you’re worried about us, but we’re worried about you too. What would we do if you went off to some unknown place to die all by yourself? How would we feel? We can’t just stand around while you go off and brave dangers. That’s why we’re going with you, no matter what lies ahead.”
Wataru looked silently at Meena, then up into Kee Keema’s broad face. The waterkin nodded. “I don’t know what you two’ve been talking about, but I agree with what the little missus says.”
“Everything all patched up?” Kutz asked. “Then let’s go. You came at just the right time—I couldn’t stand hiding in that cellar a second longer. I was just about to come storming out of there. Did you see the look on Boris’s face? Priceless!”
Wataru smiled. Meena and Kutz—two incredible women. He hunched over, clinging to Jozo’s wings as the cool wind whipped over them and they rose higher into the skies over Gasara.