[Ridge]
"You're better off going straight to Eldmiss."
I open my eyes, "Excuse me?"
"You're excused, cutie." Tristan says happily. She tumbles down gracefully beside me so we're both lying on the floor of the cabin.
It's dark in here, but at least it's clean. After last night Sileena has all the Mercenaries, along with Kadeeth, clean everything up. Now we've split up between the boats again and everyone's tidying up and examining them for any damage caused by the storm. I figured it would be best if I stayed out of the way, since I can't really be of any help.
"Why are you in here?" I eye her suspiciously, "If you try anything..."
She gasps, "I'd never make a move on someone who's taken!"
"I meant if you try anything to harm me!" I look at her disgustedly, "And I'm not taken, where did you get that idea?"
"Where didn't I get it?" She asks, being surprisingly...normal. Yesterday when she climbed back on deck I thought she was gonna kill me. I knew she was gonna kill me. So did Sileena.
"What does that mean?" I insist.
She laughs, "Well if that note in your pocket is anything to go off, I'd think you belonged to Lady Glissa Lidsore. But if I consider your strangely protective friend that hates letting you out of his sight, I'd say he's obviously your lover. Then again, maybe you're into older guys, since you were able to charm that snake Viscount Morin-"
I reach over and slap my hand down over her mouth, trying not to retch, "I get it already, shut up. Wait, how did you know about the letter?"
"Hmm, oh, this?" I look at her only to see her holding up a familiar open envelope in my face, "Found it on the ground." She smirks.
"Fuck, you're a pickpocket now too?" I snatch the letter back, shoving it into my bag leaning against the wall to my right.
"So?" She asks.
I glance at her apprehensively as I lay back down, "So, what?" She rolls her eyes, smiling.
"I said you should sail straight to Eldmiss." She repeats her earlier statement.
"Why would we do that? We still have two more stops." I'm careful not to let any specific details slip.
"The Killian Knighthood Academy, and the Imperial Academy of Swordsmanship for Nobles." She clicks her tongue, "Not worth your time." Looks like it doesn't matter what information I omit, she somehow has access to it all. I wonder if Sileena told her?
"And why is that?" I sigh.
She hums, pretending to trace the patterns on the ceiling with her outstretched fingers, "Killian Academy has no funding, so no one there has a proper education, even in the basics. I met a guy from there once who couldn't even hold a sword properly. All of his friends were basically the same. If you're lucky you'd find maybe one guy talented enough to be of any use to you." She explains.
"Fine. What's wrong with the Imperial Academy though? They're funded by the Imperial family themselves." I point out. I'm trying to ignore how weird it is for her to be giving me advice. I kinda tried to drown her yesterday, but maybe a night of old beer drunk dancing was enough for her to forget.
Or she's lying and this is her idea to throw us off track and thwart our plans.
"Everyone who goes to the Imperial Academy are Nobles. Do you want a bunch of coddled assholes who are only there because mommy and daddy don't want to deal with them at home anymore?" I mean in theory she's right, but it's also ridiculous to pass up so many able bodied troops just because they're not particularly talented or motivated.
They're still people. They're bound to be more nuanced than Tristan seems to believe they are. I don't have enough experience in war strategy for this. Is it better to focus on numbers, or to have fewer people who are extremely powerful? Quantity or quality?
"Like I'd believe you." I scoff, adding, "Even if I did, you're reasoning doesn't justify completely skipping those stops. No matter how you look at it, that wouldn't help our cause."
"It would save you time." She says, blowing her bangs out of her face.
"Time for what? We're on a strict schedule, and we're doing fine." I wish I could leave on my own. I'm about ready to break myself more by dragging my injured body away from her. It's honestly more painful listening to her speak.
"Time to speak with other countries of course." She says casually. I almost shoot up off the ground, but a small part of my mind reminds me that's probably not a good idea.
"Other countries?" I cough out.
"Did you not read any of the Viscount's research?" She asks skeptically amused.
I try to relax my tensed up muscles, "I did. My party did. Sileena did. Cony did. Marquess Heidi did. Did you?" I already know the answer, but it doesn't hurt to clarify.
"Not all of it, but in more detail than any of you apparently." She smiles. What a nuisance.
The sarcasm takes over, "Y'know, it probably doesn't matter to you, but all of these documents you're reading are classified."
"National security is a joke in this place. Besides, my advice is what's gonna win you the war, or whatever's going on." She shrugs, "So really you should be thanking me."
I can't hit her in the face. Not because of a moral obligation or anything like that, but because it would hurt too much to reach that far right now. She laid down just out of reach. Smart girl.
I think if I ever get to attack Kadeeth, I want Tristan to be standing right next to him. I have two fists. I can take them both out in one blow.
"You think you can win against TWO different nations and their fully prepared armies and machines, with whatever measly army you scrounge from the remains of the Empire's Knights?" I hate logic as much as I hate redheads.
"So where would you propose I go?" I ask, trying to conceal my frustration.
"Dwecia and Nymour." What?
How does that make any sense?? I groan and roll over onto my side, ignoring the looter behind me. I can't deal right now. Nothing she says helps.
I need more sleep.