Imperatrix Fallen: Alith's Cradle

XXXII

"No, I never intended for all this to happen... it just did. Roth had his plan, and it seemed... feasible. I knew nothing in advance, but he promised me something, and he kept his word. Despite everything, he kept it."

Excerpt from an interview with Cisa Lethera, by Rola Mantis.

The tavern was dimly lit, with only a blonde patron seated at the bar and a separated table full of drunkards to accompany the slow night. In a couple of hours, sunlight would peek through the windows. The owner had begun washing dishes behind the counter, a subtle hint to the customers that closing time was near.

"Took me a while to find you," Makia said, leaning heavily against the bar with her back to it.

"That was the idea..."

Blanca responded without looking at him, taking a sip of a clear drink. The bartender glanced at Makia, who signaled for a glass of whatever Blanca was having.

"This isn't the place for royalty. How do they sell alcohol to an underage girl?"

"The same way they'll sell it to you. All they care about here is if you can pay your tab at the end of the night. That's why I come. It's not a place for my troop of fools to find me, or for my 'sister' to try and track me down."

"Hmm."

"What do you want?"

"I'm not interested in your drinking habits, your problems with your sister, or your useless troop."

"Then what the hell do you want?"

"I thought Valeria or Rola might know what's going on..."

The bartender placed the drink in front of Makia, who took a sip and grimaced at its strength.

"About what?" Blanca asked.

"When I was on the other side, someone was looking for me—probably wanted me dead, more than usual. And they were looking for you too."

"That... is interesting. How do you know Valeria doesn't know? Did you talk to her?"

"A friend told me. By chance, do you have any idea why someone might want you dead? I'm... trying to figure out what the hell is going on."

"No, not a clue."

"Damn..."

"Can I ask you a question now?"

"Go ahead."

"What's the other side like?"

"It's like a giant cavern, pretty cold. The people there are just like the ones here. They lived in this world once, long ago. There's no day or night, just an endless state of waiting, as if their world isn't real and they're hoping to return to this one. The relationships among the inhabitants are strange—violence is everywhere, and the rulers only enjoy the spectacle. My time there was mostly spent scavenging for food in the trash and avoiding those who wanted us dead. I'm grateful for the solitude of those days."

"Wow... I'm impressed."

"By what part?"

"That you answered so well, hahaha."

Makia raised her glass for a toast, and Blanca responded with a faint smile. They both drank, their eyes locking for a moment.

"We're alone in this crazy world, kid," Blanca said.