Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [301]
So it’s not me they need, it’s my dragon. The truth had tasted a little bitter in Wataru’s mouth. But what Kutz said last night on the watchtower was right. I have to chase Mitsuru down.
Wataru quickly got dressed, pulled the wyrmflute out from beneath his pillow, and hid it in a pocket. He was lucky it hadn’t broken the first time he used it. He figured he would get only one more chance.
“Be ready to leave at any time,” Kutz had warned him. “Ever since our fugitive got away, the four high chiefs in the south have been in secret deliberations. If they give the word to go ahead with the assassination, High Chief Gil will come here with the orders.”
It could be today, it could be tomorrow, but in any case, it wouldn’t be long. And then they would leave.
“Who are the other members?”
“Right now, there are me and three others—all volunteers—so one of us from each of the four countries: Nacht, Bog, Arikita, and Sasaya.”
“So I’m like an extra?”
“Quite a powerful extra! The other three will be coming with High Chief Gil. They’re a skilled team. Something to look forward to.”
So they would be five. A small team of elites. It sounded good.
“Incidentally, I’ll be the leader,” Kutz said with a winning smile. “It was my idea in the first place, after all. I’ll have direction and responsibility. Are we clear?”
“Clear. And, well, I understand we can’t talk about this mission, but…”
“Trone knows about it. He is deputy here. I couldn’t hide it from him. He knows that I’ll be taking you as well. And I’m sure you’ll want to tell Kee Keema and Meena. But I don’t want anyone else hearing about it. Got it?”
Wataru nodded. He got it.
As far as preparing for the journey, Wataru had little in the way of belongings. All he needed was the Brave’s Sword at his side. Wataru left his room, fastening the sword belt tightly around his waist.
He went in to the branch office to find Trone casually looking over some official-looking documents. The beastkin looked up. “Awake at last, eh? You like your sleep. Go get some breakfast,” he said, casual as ever, showing no trace of knowing about Wataru’s secret mission.
Wataru ate a late breakfast at a nearby inn, and thought. The food tasted dry on his tongue. How to explain what he was about to do to Meena and Kee Keema?
I can’t take them with me, it’s too dangerous. Kee Keema’s strong and Meena is quick, but we aren’t going to fight a pack of gimblewolves. Wataru didn’t want to involve them in any more trouble than he had already. If he told them the truth, he was sure they would want to come with him. They wouldn’t back down. So, I have to lie. But what do I say? I don’t need their help anymore? I don’t like them anymore, so could they please leave? Can’t really do that.
“If you can’t tell them, I could always tell them for you,” Kutz had offered. “As branch chief I can order the two of them to stay here. There will still be trouble enough with Halnera going on. Gasara seems to have avoided the brunt of it, but branches in other towns are at their wit’s end. They’ll have plenty of work to do here.”
Even if Kutz did tell them for him, there would still be one problem. No matter what the outcome of this mission, once he went to the north, it was unlikely Wataru would ever come back.
Wataru had no idea what lay in store for him. Would Mitsuru reach the Tower of Destiny first? Or would he somehow beat Mitsuru to the Tower, get the Goddess to change his fate, and go home? Their strategy might even fail. Wataru could die alone somewhere.
No matter what happened, the only certain thing was that he wouldn’t be seeing his two friends again. That meant, no matter how he did it, he had to say goodbye to them himself. He had to tell them how much their friendship meant, how much he’d grown to trust and rely on them. How much he didn’t want to leave them behind.
Wataru had no idea what to say.
He was sitting, absentmindedly chewing on a piece of bread, when the innkeeper called out to him from the kitchen. “Not eating well today, are