The Starlight Lancer

Chapter 113: A Bitter Peace

"You do not have to love your neighbor, nor even like them, to co-exist with them."

—Endebarga Unidan, former Chidron of Midliore

Zaina stared at the ceiling of the medic's tent. Her leg was healing slowly but surely, but it was still too tender to put any weight on—so here she was, stuck recovering until Xyrthe came to retrieve her.

If she even comes. I'll bet she's halfway to Kaado.

Truth be told, she was bored. She'd spent the night in the medic tent at Sivanya's insistence. Earlier in the morning she was assured by Tog that Xyrthe had been 'contacted for extraction,' as she put it, so there was nothing to do but wait. She hadn't slept—the events of the day before kept her up.

Of course, she knew what was gnawing at her. The only person she wanted to talk to right now was Sivanya—she was the only one who'd be able to understand the strange feeling Zaina was experiencing; part optimism, part trepidation, and part dread.

She spent the morning staring at the fabric ceiling and thinking of what she wanted to say. There were so many things—firstly, Sivanya deserved the truth, and an apology for lying. But Zaina also wanted to confront her.

Unfortunately, all the wonderful words and phrases she'd come up with went out the window the moment Sivanya stepped in. Her eyes scanned the room, sorrowfully looking upon the wounded. They brightened a little when they fell upon Zaina.

Sivanya gave a half-grin, but there was something behind it—something mournful. She turned and waved someone else in—Xyrthe. Then they both walked over.

"Hello, Zaina," Sivanya said. "I'm glad to see you're awake."

"Didn't sleep," she replied. "How are you, Xyrthe? Did you find Gizmo?"

"He's back on the ship. You look like shit."

Sivanya frowned. "My apologies for that. Most of her wounds were my doing."

Xyrthe shrugged. "She could use the experience. All right, newbie. Whenever you're ready, I'm outside."

Zaina rolled her eyes—Xyrthe was dismissive as ever.

She's probably ready to get home. Kaado. Her home.

The enclave felt like more of a home to Zaina than Kaado—though perhaps that was because she'd been out and about on constant missions for the past few months. She hadn't spent more than a few nights in a row in her little domicile on the underside of Kaado's metal crust.

Once Xyrthe was gone, Zaina and Sivanya started at the same time.

"I—"

"I—"

Zaina waved a hand toward her. "Oh, you first."

"No, go ahead."

Zaina nodded. "I—first, I want to say I'm sorry that I had to lie to you. It wasn't what I wanted to do, and it makes me feel like a piece of shit."

Sivanya sighed. "I appreciate that. The apology, not the second part, mind you. Though I don't think you were done."

"No, there was more," Zaina said. "There are some things I didn't lie to you about. I really did get my mark from the Eldritch—and yes, my mark is real. It's not a tattoo."

"I wasn't aware one could be a lancer and a marked," Sivanya replied. "It's no excuse for questioning that part of your identity—the one part that turned out to be genuine. I'm such a fool."