Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 43: Beggar's Gambit - Part 4

Knowing Neterion's face is too recognizable, especially now that the side of his face is stained with blood, Natalia arranges for them to stay in a pay-by-the-week room under an alias, securing a room with a window near a trellis on the outside for Neterion to sneak in. Once they're settled, Natalia begins to clean the blood off his face.

"You almost got carried away." Natalia scolds him.

"I got caught up in it." Neterion scoffs.

"Don't lie to me. I know that look you get when you're thinking of... him."

Neterion pauses, not flinching or wincing as she applies disinfectant to his scrape. "Just too familiar."

Natalia pets his head briefly before bandaging it. "Mordecai is fine."

"They nearly killed him, Natalia. Tessa is the only reason he's alive right now. That bastard is lucky he's in a town. Out in the desert, there's no law to save him. I can't lose another dad."

Natalia grimaces as she stands up from the only bed, goes to her pack for some food, and then heads to the small iron stove, where she puts logs into it.

"It's been a while since I've asked, but since it's been brought up, are you still hung up on going after that Urushian?"

Silent once again, the pause feels like hesitation in his response since she last asked. 

"Of course. I can't really back down after how long Mordecai has knocked my ass into the dirt to get as strong as I am. Nowadays, even if he was one of Latos' top men, he'd be getting up there in age."

Natalia lights the logs, brow furrowed, as she cooks some hekoska meat in a skillet. "Mind if I ask something?"

Neterion lets out his usual grunt of approval as he moves to sit on the windowsill to watch for any officers.

"Does it... really matter anymore?"

Neterion's tone sharpens, but his eyes stay on the street. "You saying our dad getting slaughtered by bloodthirsty barbarians in cold blood doesn't matter?"

"That's... not what I mean. He's an important man to Latos. Even though he's older, he's probably retired and cozy in that fortress of a city. It was hard enough for us in Urush; being in the Everlasting Expanse is the safest we've been since that day. Is it worth ruining our peace over a grudge?"

Neterion looks at her. "You know damn well it's more than just a grudge. Those Urushians destroyed our home and kept us as slaves. Mordecai and his friend were the only ones who gave a shit for us Colonial brats. Besides, if Mordecai manages to get that Prince on our side, that's a better chance of finding that bastard."

"Maybe. Maybe he won't join. What then?"

"Whose side are you on, Gnat?" Neterion starts to raise his voice; turning to stand up, he calls her that name to make a slight jab at her. "You should be just as pissed! Unless you don't give a shit about family!"

Natalia shoves a forkful of meat into his mouth. "I'm on the side where my stupid brother, who is the only blood I have left, doesn't just throw his life away!" Looking up at her, tears form, and she turns away to sit at the table, tossing down his plate of food before plopping herself down and digging in.

Neterion's expression softens as he chews his bite, then takes one more long look out the window before heading to the table. He eats his meal silently, giving Natalia a moment to cool down before he speaks again.

"I get it's been a long time, so maybe it doesn't bother you as much anymore. But I can't just let it go. Even by himself, Dad took care of us and did his best to spend time with both of us, being a soldier. He wasn't teaching you to fight like me, which is bullshit for you being a girl, but he still did his best. He was a good man, and I need to see this through, for Dad."

Natalia, finished with her meal, grips her fork so tightly that her hand trembles slightly. 

'Just let him go already... he isn't worth it.'

Neterion can't tell if she is upset about their father or at him. Placing his hand on hers, which doesn't have the fork, he squeezes her hand. "It'll be okay. I'll make sure nothing bad happens. I promise."

She pulls her hand away, picks up their plates, washes them in a small sink, and puts them back in their place. Then she walks to the bed and curls under the blanket, her back facing him.

Neterion grimaces. She always becomes so irate when they discuss their father, never having anything to say about him. He picks up Mordecai's scimitar, sticky from the beer that was spilled on it, and goes back to the window, watching the streets and glancing up toward the Sullivan mansion. 

"I wonder how Marlina and Elek are holding out," Neterion says to break the tense silence.

Natalia stays silent for a few moments. "I hope both she and Elek are doing all right."

Neterion begins to care for Mordecai's sword, oiling the layer forged, lustrous steel carefully to prevent rust, checking if those chumps didn't ruin it. 

"It's a big gamble, but Marlina is so innocent; it'll help her stay off the radar."

"We'll just have to wait and see, I guess." Natalia shrugs.

As things fall silent again, Neterion can soon hear Natalia's light snores.

It's not until the streets become sparse in the later hours that Neterion closes his eyes to rest for a little while.