The Second Carpenter

XLV

XLV_I_Away_From_Home

Remember how Autumn Falls in its entirety burnt to the ground and the ruling democratic kingdom was overtaken? Remember that ship on which Violet and Bluemoon escaped to the sea? That ship was actually not very big. But it still had several cabins, in one of which Violet and Norhan had been speaking for a while now.

"And are you sure," said Violet, "are you absolutely, irrefutably sure that things will go as planned?"

"They should," said Norhan, "I don't think there's any other way. Let's . . . let's not talk about that."

"Do you know what will happen to me?"

"I don't know what will happen to you. I don't know what will happen to me. I don't know the details."

"How many ships were there?"

"Only two. This one and the one I took with Bluemoon prior to joining you."

"Only us? Is there a reason why all my friens are abroad?"

"I saved everyone I could."

"You were trying to bribe me, weren't you?"

"I thought you might need a reason to fight . . ."

"You're pathetic, Norhan. And a terrible liar."

Of course, Violet's refusal to believe Norhan's motive came from a simple logical comparison between himself and Bluemoon. Bluemoon had lost all of her friends other than Violet. Violet had only lost his parents. He had lost his Kiyla colleagues too, but he did not really care for them. Hence Violet had come to the conclusion that each warrior was given their appropriate stimulus. About Bluemoon, Norhan probably had been right, and had chosen the best method to instill Wist within her; about Violet, however, he had done something unnecessary, for he would have fought regardless.

"You must be overjoyed, no?" said Norhan, "With me no longer a professor, I'm no longer socially superior to you."

"Overjoyed?" Violet raised his head, moving his eyes from the maps on the table to Norhan, not putting on any particular expression, "Overjoyed that my parents are dead and my city burnt? Because of a social instruction that means nothing to me? I'll treat you how I believe you deserve to be treated regardless of your social status. And I never insult anyone; no matter how frank I am. If you want to get offended by honesty, that's your choice. You're the superior kiyla, and I respect your power; but your superior power doesn't make you ethically superior; unless you're just like the outlandish force that is trying to consume our world, which you probably are, but your standards aren't my concern. The fact that I don't like your personality hasn't changed; but if you need me in the mission of saving the world, then I'll fight by your side. I'd placed my hope on the vastness of the world after the annihilation of my city; but no hope without a world, right? I'll join the others now; whether you excuse me or not."

Violet left the cabin and entered the one where Mirda, Shara, Mina and Ned had been drinking. He noticed that everyone other than Shara was having trouble maintaining their balance, even though the sea was calm. He sat next to Shara. "It's unlike you to restrain yourself."

"I needed to be sane tonight."

"Ah, look at that bitch, sitting there all sober thinking she's better than me," said Mirda "even though I always get better grades, and more girl confess to me even though she's the tomboy . . ."

"Don't forget the fact that you have bigger tits." Shara said with an expressionless face. Mirda did not seem to hear her. "I can't believe she's doing this to me." Shara whispered to Violet, "She knows . . . If anything, I should be the one saying things like that right now . . . She knows that I . . . She knows, and still . . ."