Blue Sky, Red Sunset

Flare and Haruki led Marina and Fianna back to their encampment deeper in the island. No one was enthused by her appearance—an obvious outcome. No matter what honeyed words, apologies, or “truths” she dropped, there was no consoling the wounds of the affected.

Warren looked just about ready to lop her head off with his axe—if he still had it. He loved his axe so much that he’d refuse to shed blood with any others. Marina should have been thankful.

They went to the cove hiding the rest of the Redwing boats and sat themselves in a secluded corner, with only a few boxes and many jagged rocks to its name.

Flare stared at Marina, first thing.

“Explain yourself,” said Marina in a stern, strict tone.

“I…” Words seemed to have cowed Marina. “I’ve already said I intend to betray Lias. And I need your help to do it. I thought it would be important to you, since you’re an aggrieved party here, too.”

“Too?” Marina scrunched. “What do you mean, too? There’s only one aggressor here, and only one group of victims.”

“The deal was only to hand over the princess to Lias, then he pays you in earnest. That’s what it was supposed to be,” she said. “But a few days ago, I talked to him. Said he was altering the deal—with your lives and Haruki’s. So I came as fast as I could, to see if I could do something about it.”

“Obviously not,” Flare said with a click of the tongue.

“Yes. And I want to pay Lias back for altering his word.”

“That’s good, but we can’t help you right now.” Flare glanced at her fellow dwarves repairing the holes in the Legrassi ships. “As you can see, we’ve taken major losses. And then there’s me.” She gestured toward her eyepatch. “Look at me.”

“Besides,” Fianna interrupted with a cough. “What makes us think you won’t double cross us, too, oh false minister? Your reputation isn’t exactly stellar.”

“Fianna! I thought you were going to help me.”

Fianna shrugged. “Just saying.”

“You.” Flare shot a piercing gaze at Fianna. “What’s your story, elf?”

“I’m just here to see Her Royal Highness, Anemone. But seeing as you don’t have her, I’m willing to extend my hand up until I retrieve her. I don’t want to spend any more time around your kind than necessary."

“You leaf-lovers never change. You should be more like your princess. Nice, tolerant, and no resting bitch face.”

Fianna smiled her usual gentle smile, though her facetitiousness was obvious. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Ladies.” Haruki cleared his throat—and the air in the (figurative) room. “Enough. Arguing like this and obsessing over the specifics won’t change anything.” He then turned his attention to Marina in specific. “Marina. I appreciate you being forthcoming now, and I want to believe you’re not lying. But you still planned I and Anemone’s capture through the Redwings. You’ve made it hard for us—for me to trust you.”

Marina crossed her arms, now seemingly less repentant and more frustrated, running into three brick walls like this.

“I’m already asking for your help somewhere our goals align. What more do you need from me?”

Dredging up memories from endless boardroom meetings back in the office and the endless business-to-business dealings he had to sit through, an idea sparked to life in Haruki’s mind.

“You’re asking things from us,” he said in a frank but gentle tone. “And you think it’s okay just because our goals align. But that makes it sound like a selfish request, you know? Doesn’t give you much credence here. You could still stab us in the back.”

“H-Haruki, you too?” Marina rubbed her temples. “I’ve come all the way here, and—”

“Give us something.”

“What?”

“Surrender something. Information, knowledge, whatever,” he said, recalling how initially untrustworthy clients struck deals with his company. “You have to put something at stake—so that if you double-cross us, we’re going to bite you in the ass.”

Marina blinked. “Is that how it works?”

“You don’t know?” Fianna shrugged with a mocking smile. “Some foreign minister you are.”

“I’m not a real minister. I learned everything on the job,” Marina said, aggrieved.

“I know that. As if it couldn’t be clearer.”

“Why, you—”

Flare stamped her foot down. “Cut it out.” She stood up and began to pace, her sheathed blade clinking with every other step like a predator ready to pounce at the slightest move. “Haruki is right. What say you, de Alfons?”

Marina’s face flushed red. She was clearly embarrassed or grumpy. Probably both. She closed her eyes, racing thoughts visible through knitted brows.

“Your plane,” she said, opening her eyes and turning to Haruki. “We could use it—”

“Marina,” Haruki interrupted. “What did I say about—”

“—It’s out of fuel, isn’t it?”

“Oh.” Haruki blinked. “When did I ever say that?”

“Your plane runs on some sort of engine. I didn’t recognize at first, but thinking about it, it did bear similarities to modern Federacy engines. So it clearly runs on some fuel. And if you still had some, you would’ve chased Lias down for sure,” Marina explaned. “But you’re still here.”

Haruki’s eyes beaded, worried. “When did you get the chance to find all that out?”

“I’ve been peeking at your machine for longer than you might’ve thought.”

“That’s invasion of privacy.”

“Not the worst crime I’ve done to you.” Marina chuckled.

“Alright, fine,” Haruki huffed. “Now what? Knowing that doesn’t change anything.”

“But it does,” she gloated. “Because I know exactly how to get your engine back up and running.”

Haruki blinked twice. It was like watching someone get a Jeopardy question right twice in a row. “You do?”

“It’s simple. Not easy—but simple.” She gestured at Fianna. She, in response, stepped forward and produced a sack with an ominous, orange glow.

Flare squinted. “Is that—?”

Fianna opened the bag. Marina retrieved a shard of orange mineral from inside, only one of many. “Titanseye.”

“How do you have that?” Haruki asked.

“It’s a long story, but I’ll explain later. But I believe this thing can be a good substitute for that black, crude liquid in your plane. After all, if this thing can make our airships fly, does it not stand to reason it can do that same for your plane?”

“Okay, but my plane doesn’t accept crystal as fuel, obviously,” Haruki said flatly.

“We can work on the engine and convert it to accept Titanseye somehow.” She then shifted towards Flare. “But I don’t nearly have the required skills and dexterity to make these changes. That’s why—”

“Say no more,” Flare chimed with a smile. Silent but clear passion danced on her lips just from the idea of what she had to do. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

Haruki exhaled in relief, then beamed at Marina. “See?”

“Y-Yes,” Marina said, stuttering. Her face flushed red again. She must have felt shame getting out-diplomacy’d in her own game. “So I suppose we have a deal, then.”

“We’re all itching for the chance to kick Lias’ ass here,” he said. “Everyone just needed to know we can count on you.”

Fianna giggled, though it bore hints of mischief. “It could have been bad if you did not figure it out, false minister.”

“Can you call me by name, please?”

“No.”

Haruki cupped his chin and shot a glance at Marina, inquiries still itching to be heard.

“Marina. At the end of the day, I’m still doing this for Anemone. Kicking Lias’ ass is still pretty low on my ass. She’s my priority.”

“I’ve thought about that, yes,” she said. She paused, wanting to say something—but clearly chose not to do so, only giving him coy glances. “After all, I also came here with intentions beyond paying the bastard back.”

“Right. Whatever you say. So what’re your thoughts?”

Marina looked in the direction of the Inverted City floating in the sunset sky.

“Have you ever flown your plane past enemy defenses?”