I walk into Meria with a specific plan in mind, to board a ship and disembark at Port-Odo to look for clues as well as make sure Leomi is fine. I don't regret leaving but I do regret leaving her even though we shared a silent goodbye.

I sent her a gust of wind that she returned with a jay. Neither remains with us but I trust she needs no more than the ring I put on her finger. I have to because that is all I can do for her at this moment.

It isn't that I want freedom more than I want Leomi, although I crave it as much as I crave her. It isn't that giving up my freedom would make me unhappy, because if there is one thing I believe in, it is that Leomi Lance would make me happy no matter what.

One of my reasons is sickeningly related to Suxen's philosophy, Jessica Elizabeth Vil Freepath would no longer be herself if she wasn't free. Ironically, Leomi would be the unhappy one in these circumstances despite getting exactly what she wants and she has warned me as much multiple times in telling me she needs to be challenged.

Her sadness would be my despair. So, in the end, I had to leave her to keep us both happy. Liz scoffs at the thought. I smile because my sister's right, I left so easily, relatively easily, because the future calls to me. Liz scoffs again and I scowl.

I respected Vikiana, as she did, that's all it was and it's why I'll slaughter them all. People are staring, sister. Shit, were we arguing out loud? I freeze but then quickly realize Liz used this to change the subject.

Still, she is right in saying that people are staring. I think back and recall the abnormal silence in the guardhouse as I entered the city. I thought it had to do with me making a name for myself. Or because you supposedly survived my ambush.

I spend the morning gathering information and restraining Liz from lashing out at my findings. Leomi, well the Council, gave out a decree forbidding me from leaving Izla Meria during the next month for my own safety. I also find out that messengers left the city by horse to relay the decree the minute after I entered.

This effectively makes it impossible for me to catch up to Leomi on the mainland... if I follow the decree. Grace protested and made sure it was known all I have to do is seek out a Justicier to argue on my behalf, but I'm not the kind of person that would do this. Liz makes a mean grin.

I'm not going to start a fight, Liz. Why not? You're Freepath and they're blocking it. If they try to, that'll be them blocking me, but I'm not going to barge into the keep.

Oddly, Leomi's move causes us to feel as much anger as sweetness. There is no better feeling than asserting your freedom when it is challenged and I've no doubt she knows so more than I do considering her desire to restrain me. There is also fear for what we've done motivating her.

Still, kitten's overstepped. Of course she did, we left her in the middle of her throes of whether to keep us close or send us away, what choice did we leave her? She had to do handle us and grieve Viki, but we'll have to pay her back. Of course, Lance would be disappointed if we didn't.

--- --- ---

It takes me the afternoon to find Ruth's ship and prepare to sneak aboard, mostly so that she doesn't get in trouble and to avoid having to put down city guards or Hospitaliers doing their jobs. Although, there aren't many white and light blue tunics in Meria lately.

I glance at the horizon and find the dusk light satisfying enough. I put on a long dark cape I bought for some copper to hide my armor and added a stick of wood with a pair of spare knickers to make it seem like I have a left shoulder.

It won't trick anyone in daylight but it'll suffice not to appear like myself from afar or even close by with the hood. I walk out of an alley onto the docks only to run directly into a patrol of city guards that turns a corner ten seconds later.

I blink. They blink. I swear inside at their lack of chain-mails and relaxed gait, making it impossible for me to distinguish them from the regular people. The officer, sergeant or something, stares at the scar on my face and then turns away to quickly head off.

“Fuck, Freepath?!” One of the guards swears.

I turn a cold glare his way, finding the man already silenced by three pairs of hands on his mouth. His squad-mates grab his shoulders and drag him away from me by walking back while the office makes an awkward salute before scampering off as well.

You suck at this. Shut up, Liz. I head out at double-pace towards the galley because half the dockworkers noticed the commotion. As I approach, a tall woman with blond hair and a tricorne on her head appears on the bridge, glancing down at me from the taffrail.

“Wh'r ya?” Ruth lazily throws out.

“Just a bird that needs a ride to the mainland, heard you have a nice nest up there.” I reply, feeling rather uncomfortable because she clearly kept an ear on the docks to react so quickly.

“You do chores?” She asks.

“You pay good coin?” I question back.

“Eh.” Ruth shrugs. “So-so.”

--- --- ---

After leaving Meria with the tide, I spend a very uncomfortable day and a half at sea before getting rid of my coat and lower my hood. My action causes some commotion among the rough sailors who I can never quite forget all seem to carry weapons.

Not Ruth though, she remains unfazed about my name and that unsettles me. Still, the fact I accomplished my chores in the kitchen as an aide without a complaint means the awkwardness towards my identity as Jessica Freepath doesn't last long. In fact...

“So, Duchess Lance, huh.” A cook aide mentions.

... they're getting too comfortable. The kid is as thin as a straw and so tall his eyes come up to my eyebrows. Clack. I slice a potato in half with one quick flick of my wrist, causing the kid that's probably a couple of years older than me to jump a bit.

The kid doesn't speak another word until the end of the shift. It suits me fine as the standoffish attitude is natural at the start. I keep repeating this to myself so as not to stress out too much from being on water surrounded by threats.

After my meal, I head out the door and onto the upper deck. I run into a huge muscular man with a curled lip that spells no good. I know the type, I grew up with several of his kind of all ages around me. This one has long messy black hair and a beard of the same kind but he's no different from the more kept villagers.

“'eard you tap 'dat Noble. 'zit true?” He asks.

“I tapped a lot of Nobles, usually with sharp objects.” I deadpan.

“You'z dat Freepat' bush-munc'er.” He utters with, I imagine, a stupid look on his face, but it's hard to tell from his normal expression.

As if telling me who I am would help me understand what he means, as if I hadn't to begin with. Then again, there was no bush to munch so... I can't help but chuckle, causing him to scowl yet still await my answer.

“And you're the ship's idiot, I guess.” I reply blandly.

“Y' think ya better t'an me?!” He explodes angrily.

“Short timer segment there, don't ya think?” I ask rhetorically.

I take a step to head off but he moves to block my way. Too close. I see a red flash, like a splash of blood. Liz strikes at his throat with the edge of our hand while I swipe his left knee with my right foot at the exact angle to make it bend.

“Khuh!” He chokes on his words.

His body twists as he falls while bringing his hands to his windpipe with eyes growing wide and veiny. Liz snags the front of his stained white shirt. She starts dragging him across the deck to star-port without bothering to strengthen herself.

My chest tightens under the effort that also stretches the hole in my back. It causes the stiff coarse flesh to send a wave of pain that makes my brain twinkle. I grin in delight to be alive as Liz digs her feet in and propels the huge sailor at the taffrail.

He impacts it hard and what little air he could gather in his lungs is expelled all at once. The hand that was reaching for the weapon at his waist drops. I hear stomps and

“Hold it righ't 'ere!” Ruth bellows.

“Captain.” I reply with a calm voice as Liz grabs the back of the sailor's neck to push him further overboard. “This one blocked my path. I'm showing him how unwise that is.” I explain, implicitly acknowledging her authority.

“You struck first, sailor! I don't give two shits about your name or reputation.” Ruth utters somberly. “This is my ship and you'll follow my rules!”

“That will change if those rules prevent me from responding to a challenge.” Liz replies with an amused chuckle.

I sigh internally but don't intervene because I don't disagree and I'm not about to lie down. Elizabeth jerks the sailor backward and throws him back on the deck. He sprawls and rolls a couple of times before snapping to his feet with raised fists.

“You challenging my authority, sailor?” Ruth asks with a voice that could freeze the Lake's flames.

I ignore the idiot to turn my gaze to the captain who seems to be boiling in anger towards me. This is your fault. You agreed not two seconds ago. Still do but I'm not the one who challenged her authority.

Shlink. Shlink. Shlink. Multiple sounds of metal sliding on metal reach my ears, telling me that the sailors have drawn their weapons in reaction to Ruth's anger. I internally admire her influence on the crew but, ironically, find them rather aggressive.

“The thought hadn't crossed my mind.” I calmly reply.

“But now, with these weapons pointing at me... a girl's gotta wonder, you know?” Elizabeth utters teasingly.

“Lay down or I'll put you down, girl!” Ruth growls the last word from the bottom of her throat, clearly using the word in the same way one would towards a rabid dog.

A red hue spreading at the edges of our field of view. Our heartbeat accelerates in reaction to being surrounded by several dozen armed humans and almost instinctively shape a Moebisus loop in our skull.

I don't even bother to shape a specific air construct, I directly call on the fifty portions of flow I've stored in my body these past few days and the twenty-eight in my reserve with full confidence I seize control of our surroundings with a snap of my fingers.

“Rules don't bother me if they're reasonable.” I speak up.

“You struck me!” The sailor I hit rather lightly protests, making me chuckle.

“I didn't knee your balls into your throat, consider yourself reasoned with.” Liz utters with a grin.

“I'm starting to think the story you and Vil are real sisters has merit.” Ruth utters somberly.

She closes her fist and raises it. Shlink. Shlink. Shlink. More weapons are drawn. Well then, I guess I'll just temporarily borrow the ship you gave her, sister. I raise my hand as Ruth slowly opens her fist with a grim expression, seeming unwilling to act first.

“Hold on! Hold on!” Rowland's loud call snaps me to attention.

I close my fist and send streams of golden flow to permeate the air all around me, locking it down to the point I may run out of air if I hold this for too long. I run my gaze around while secure in the knowledge I can't be easily struck down.

Rowland is climbing up from the rowing deck but he was likely in the cargo hold at the very bottom. Behind him are Nahl and Uhla, all three of these Hospitaliers are wearing awkward expressions.

“Oh, this does not bode well for any of you.” I utter with a dark tone.

“Captain Ruth, you agreed to transport us all to Meiridin.” Rowland speaks up.

“I did, that makes her your problem.” Ruth says with a grunt. “You might be the client but my rules are higher than the Emperor's on this ship. Another breach and I'm throwing all involved overboard.”

“Please, I could break this ship in half by sneezing.” I snide.

“That won't be necessary.” Rowland assures despite having no basis to do so.

Ruth's gaze swipes past me as turns around, not deigning to answer me. I shrug and lay my palm on one of the two broadswords at my waist while my eyes turn to the sailor. The burly man turns away and moves away.

My expressing my ability to shatter the galley is a symptom of my very real fear of what to do if the hull snaps, especially surrounded by people who have the appearance of low-lives.

I don't exactly fear water, I could swim and fight in it, what scares me is ending up absorbing sea water. There is naught enjoyable about the suffocating feeling of having liquid in the lungs, of having every survival instinct flare at once in a disorganized panic that is very difficult to control.

I throw the three a glare but don't feel the desire or need to interact with them now. I ignore them to head back into the structure under the bridge holding the kitchen, supplies, and beds for the cooks.

I spend the rest of that day alone, 'lazying' in my bunk while working on my mastery of the kinetic construct. It is all we can do with the rage burning in our chest. Leomi played us.

She couldn't stop herself but could control the outcome of her emotions and impulses. It no doubt helped her deal with her grief to ensure we would end up here.

To manipulate us in such a way we would seek freedom instead of remaining by her side, near the danger. Yet, she evidently could not completely let us go because we risk ourselves all the time.

Lance knew she couldn't control her resentment for long so she channeled it into something productive. Because she loves us. Because she would hurt us if we didn't leave but couldn't let us go anymore.

In her place, I would rather be hurt first as well. If not for our confrontation, I would never have left her. I would have consoled her. Despite this situation being her doing, to a degree, Leomi is more than likely angry at us for leaving. Good, what she did makes me furious.

--- --- ---

Days pass on the sea. I rarely stepped out of the cabin or even out of my bunk in my resting hours. Rowland, Nahl, and Uhla all try to speak to me but I never respond.

I complete my chores like everyone else except I spend my time training and experimenting with my excess flow while keeping a healthy twenty portions stored in each of my three weapons.

A couple of sailors fall for the construct traps I set around my bunk and have their bones broken, sometimes when I'm gone, sometimes not. Luckily, they don't go whining to Ruth so she leaves me in peace and I can work on more important things. I can hardly wait to ditch these three. I maintain that throwing them overboard is a valid option.

I arrange my ideas for the future as well as it helps take my mind off the huge expanse of water present under me. I plan to find clues on Vikiana's killer, track down my brother, and likely deal with Sykus.

Rowland, Nahl, and Uhla have long faces every time I see them but that's no skin off my back. Oddly, while the former and latter seem regretful, the one who has the hardest time dealing with my cold shoulder is Nahl.

They're lucky I'm ignoring them rather than lashing out as Liz would if she took herself out of hibernation. I'm not a bear. That's questionable. We chuckle together and swipe out hand at a candle, extinguishing it with barely even a thought.

--- --- ---

Ruth waves me off as I disembark on a coast close to Meiridin, seeming quite relieved I'm off her ship. I can't truly blame her, I was on edge the entire time and mustn't have been fun to have around even though I barely even poked my nose out.

I go straight north in the wilderness instead of going straight for Meiridin to lose the three chain balls as well as to avoid using the same gate of arrival as they do, which would make me easier to track down.

Then, I arc three-quarters of the way around the capital and to enter through the eastern gate that gives out on the outskirts which very much resemble the slums that surrounded the Institute.

--- --- ---

I kick at the door which snaps in half with the top flying off the hinges to crash inside. Two women and a man rise with startled trembling hands on the hilts of their swords.

These three have no crests or sigils on their clothes or weapons but I know they work for Cenwalh because they're positioned in the same block as the mansion the pregnant women I freed from Suxen live in.

I spotted them after scrutinizing the area for a pair of days and asking discreet off-handed questions towards just about everyone I see, quickly figuring out that these people took lodging in this house a week before the pregnant women did.

“Make one move and I'll cut your wrists off.” Liz promises.