Liberi Reader

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Amiya

We're only a few hours away from the sunrise Miss Ines stipulated.

Amiya

We need to hurry up the pace of our evacuation op.

'Trilby Asher'

Say, haven't you forgotten something even more important, Doctor of Rhodes Island?

There's the airship too.

'Trilby Asher'

Yes, we and Dublinn are starting from the same line again.

'Trilby Asher'

Which means, time is of the essence.

'Trilby Asher'

To forever abide by commitments is not solely what we ask of ourselves... but of those we make deals with, too.

'Trilby Asher'

You've finally made it. I almost got offed by that Redsteel Guard boy.

'Trilby Asher'

Her Grace is very dissatisfied with your indolence. Your methods are too tepid.

'Trilby Asher'

Or is it that you're coaxing Alexandrina? Playing on her sympathies?

'Trilby Asher'

That's a very grave accusation. I'm unconditionally loyal to Her Grace, that much is obvious, I'm just...

'Trilby Asher'

We'll review your excuses in hindsight. For now, though, there's no time.

......

'Trilby Asher'

Stay put, Rhodes Islanders.

Amiya

What are you doing?

'Trilby Asher'

Arts in black... Just as the fresh intel described.

'Trilby Asher'

You've kept it very well hidden, Rhodes Island. To think this Cautus is the Sarkaz's very Lord of Fiends.

'Trilby Asher'

Very interesting... Perhaps this is an issue that can't be solved without you.

'Trilby Asher'

Poet, to not have recognized this is a further failure of your duties.

'Trilby Asher'

By what means does Her Grace hope for me to remedy this?

'Trilby Asher'

While you were chatting with Dublinn, we've had the position of the airship's dock confirmed. It's... treacherous in there.

'Trilby Asher'

But our fresh intel tells us the 'Lord of Fiends' will have some way to handle it.

'Trilby Asher'

So, little Lord of Fiends, you'll cooperate with us, won't you.

Amiya

......

'Trilby Asher'

And what about that Windermere girl?

'Trilby Asher'

Forget trying to make up for things. The technology of the airship is our number one priority.

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Baird

Think we've notified about everyone we could find.

Baird

And that... caps off all we can do.

Siege

Amiya isn't back yet, and neither the Doctor nor Ines have been in touch.

Baird

Looks like somewhere's caught fire outside again.

Siege

That's—where the hotel is.

Baird

We'd better go take a look.

Delphine

*pant*... *pant*...

Baird

Delphine? What are you sprinting like that for?

Baird

—Where's that Rhodes Island lot?

Delphine

I'll lay this out straight. Listen up, Alexandrina Vina Victoria.

Delphine

Amiya and the Doctor got pushed by the 'Trilby Asher' into fulfilling that deal. They need to find the airship.

Delphine

Duke Wellington's army is on this plate already. Afraid Duke Caster's reinforcements are here too.

Delphine

They're all out to win the technology behind that Sarkaz airship. None of them will let their rivals have the advantage of getting it first.

Delphine

Norport's become the dukes' wrestling ring.

Cador

Hah. Surprising exactly no one.

Cador

What about that broadcast? You know, pushing the dukes into officially attacking this place—

Delphine

......

Delphine

Miss Ines says she'll do all she can to make it happen.

Cador

To what? What are you telling us?

Delphine

She says, she needs until sunrise.

Siege

Got it.

Siege

Assuming the dukes go with direct confrontation after all, how much time do we still have?

Delphine

As long as Miss Ines succeeds... the Duke of Windermere's high-speed warship should be approaching not long after the sun comes up.

Delphine

You've got a hell of a lot of people gathered here.

Baird

The people who aren't here probably already got the news. Anyone who does want to come with us'll keep with the procession.

Delphine

So I suggest before the Duke's warship officially encroaches, we continue to wait here.

Delphine

With the present circumstances... going out in the street's not a good idea.

Delphine

Doesn't matter if it's Wellington or Caster, they won't hold back against anyone they think's in the way.

Siege

No. We're best off leaving now.

Siege

The Sarkaz barracks around the barricade wall got ambushed. Odds are more than likely some duke's forces did it.

Siege

We should get as close as we can to the part of the wall that's thin on defenses, while it's still night.

Siege

More importantly... we need to let them all know, everyone still peeping out from behind their windows, that what we said was true.

Siege

This evacuation isn't some scheme to nab the last of their reserves. It's not some Sarkaz trap to wipe them out.

Siege

Reestablishing trust is a challenge, and the one and only way to do it—

Siege

Is for them to see real action.

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Hoederer

......

Royal Court Soldier

Here, the books you asked me for last time.

Royal Court Soldier

I had to spend an age searching in those Londinium libraries, not even knowing Victorian. Grabbed some poor Feline in the end to find your stuff.

Hoederer

Thank you.

Royal Court Soldier

Sometimes I see you writing and drawing in this blank book too.

Royal Court Soldier

You don't just read, you write your own stuff too?

Royal Court Soldier

I've never been to Kazdel, but I hear they've got a whole Sarkaz university underground there.

Royal Court Soldier

Are you a teacher there?

Hoederer

No, I'm just like you. Putting my life up for sale.

Royal Court Soldier

Are these books really that fun to read?

Hoederer

They all end fine enough, but similar events keep happening over and over.

Hoederer

All the authors can do is keep writing fine enough endings.

Hoederer

And I've gotten sick of it.

Royal Court Soldier

General Manfred made us lock you in here, but hasn't given any further orders since...

Royal Court Soldier

How did you offend him?

Hoederer

Maybe, he just thought jail would be more peaceful for me.

Hoederer

It's easier in here... to do whatever I'd actually like to do.

Royal Court Soldier

And that's reading?

Royal Court Soldier

You really are a boring guy, then.

Royal Court Soldier

I hear... us Sarkaz are going to get some real good news, real soon.

Royal Court Soldier

So good it'll stun the entire land!

Hoederer

It's just going to be another war.

Royal Court Soldier

Has anyone ever told you you're a drag to talk to?

Hoederer

Honestly, yeah.

Royal Court Soldier

Seriously... what a drag.

Royal Court Soldier

Alright, I'm changing shifts. You behave in here.

Royal Court Soldier

Don't forget, you promised to pay me for the books—

The Royal Court soldier's silhouette disappears with a wobble into the end of the prison corridor, and very soon, a different set of footsteps comes into earshot.

Hoederer waits.

But there is only quiet.

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Manfred

......

Royal Court Soldier

The crew are all aboard the airship now.

Manfred

Understood.

Manfred

Paprika.

Paprika

Urk... Here!

Manfred

Have you ever read a book called... A History of Wars of Sarkaz?

Paprika

No.

Manfred

You should. I have a copy in my drawer. You can take it.

Paprika

Is it a very fancy story?

Manfred

It is a history annals.

Paprika

You said that already...

Manfred

Then you shouldn't be asking that sort of question.

Manfred

I disapprove of near to every viewpoint expressed in it. The weakness, the grief, the crushing.

Manfred

But still, I recognize that it is a book whose pages are soaked in blood.

Paprika

How would the writer describe the war we're seeing right now?

Manfred

......

Manfred

I'm as curious as you.

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