Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [248]
“There’s been an emergency summons,” Meena said, a serious look in her eyes. “The Highlanders have new orders to help rein in the disturbances that are spreading through the south.”
Wataru nodded. His eyes met with Captain Ronmel’s.
“Right. Let’s go!”
Chapter 33 The Fugitive
The Highlanders had gathered outside the gates to the National Observatory. Wataru’s group hurriedly arrived to find that there were far more assembled than before. The faces of the Highlanders still on duty looked serious and drawn.
“Your attention, please,” said a hefty voice from the center of the gathering. A giant waterkin was addressing the crowd using a wooden crate as a podium. He wore a round shield on his back and a curved sword at his waist. Though his body was covered with armor-like scales, he was wearing a boiledleather breastplate.
“My name is Boré Kim Nan, chief of the branch here in Lourdes,” he said in a voice strong and clear. “First, I would like to thank you for coming here to help us with the protection of our town—now designated a first-priority security zone by the USN government. Thankfully, the worst has yet to befall us here in town and in the Observatory. Save one small incident a short while ago, disaster has been averted. This is thanks to your vigilance.”
Most of the Highlanders were tall and Wataru found himself surrounded by an impenetrable wall of bodies. Thankfully, Kee Keema was there. He grabbed both Wataru and Meena and hoisted them atop his shoulders. Now that they could see, Wataru spotted Captain Ronmel coming down from the front entrance to the observatory. He was wearing his armor, and held his helm cradled under one arm. Wataru watched him walk down the front observatory steps and cut across the courtyard to stand a short distance away from the gathering of Highlanders.
As soon as he stopped, five or six Knights in armor came around the side of the observatory, a train of udais trailing behind them. Once they were acknowledged by their captain, they saluted, after which they stood at ease.
One of the udais had a heavy-looking hempen bag slung over its saddle. That’s no ordinary baggage. Wataru could clearly see the shape of a shoulder and a head wrapped up in the bag. It was the body of the beastkin who fell from the tower, Gyu Titus. They were probably going to deliver him to the branch office here in Lourdes.
“In this time of emergency, the branches have received an urgent request,” Boré Kim Nan announced, taking a folded document from beneath his breastplate. “This comes not from the USN but directly from our branch chiefs. It is an order to chase down and capture a fugitive criminal. This criminal has stolen sensitive materials that could affect the fate of the entire United Southern Nations. Our latest information is that he has passed over the border from Nacht into Arikita. We think it a good possibility that he could turn up here in Lourdes.”
Murmurs ran through the crowd, and one voice piped up, “Is he alone?”
“To the best of our knowledge, yes,” Boré Kim Nan replied. “His name and age are both unknown, but we do know he is an ankha.”
“Where’s he from?”
“That too is uncertain. We have a drawing of his face that I’ll hand out to you all shortly.”
“Even if he’s here in Arikita, this is a big place. Don’t we have any other leads?” Others in the crowd murmured their agreement.
Boré Kim Nan nodded gravely. “The fugitive seeks passage to the empire in the north.”
This latest revelation drew shouts of surprise from the crowd.
“Then he’ll be heading for a port town.”
“Hataya or Dakla—maybe even Sonn.”
“We’ll have to close the roads soon, or he’ll slip through.”
Just then, a woman’s shrill voice shot like an arrow through the crowd. “Is he a spy for the emperor?”
“We do not know for certain, though it seems likely.”
The murmuring grew even louder. Wataru saw fists clench and firewyrm bands sway, making the crowd look for a moment like a field of red flowers caught by a sudden wind.
“All of you, listen,” said Boré Kim Nan. The crowd fell silent, quelled less by his authoritative