Feeling Heroic

"Here, here let me..."

Amanda rushed over, the moment she could, coming to collect Tracey, who now visibly hobbled toward the arena's exit.

She wrapped her arm around her from the left, supporting and holding Tracey up, and letting her dangle her intensely aching leg between them.

"When did this happen... I didn't see anyone..."

"Before the fight up here even started actually."

"I knew it... I should have stayed nearer."

Amanda was clearly upset and angry again, but there was nothing she could have done about it.

"You did all you could have, it was my mistake anyway."

A couple of legitimate guards supervised some attendees, who rushed into the stadium, going to check or remove the fallen, but before they passed, Tracey raised her still held sword, stopping them all in a slight puzzle.

"I command that all those I beat out there are never to kill anyone, ever again... got it."

The guards nodded strongly, and she dropped her thin blade to let them go on, do their duty and pass on her order.

And that settles one more regret I had...

Amanda helped her slowly walk away from it all, as they turned for the exit into the regular city instead of the locked away and wealthier part of Lockyer.

"I assume we're not going back to the Palace?"

Amanda asked softly.

"No we are not..."

There's no reason to now... unless we want to be murdered...

They reached the heavy metal bar gate, separating the differing parts of the city, and the guards there didn't hesitate to let anyone form that side through.

Shizuka appeared the moment they stepped past the solid gates, under her covering cloak, she emerged from the crowd, who didn't give these women much notice.

"Oh dear... We'll get you to that handsome healer, and he'll mend you up, okay?"

She glanced about and set off again, before shortly returning with a small hand wheeled cart.

"What's this for?"

Tracey asked, as Amanda helped her over.

"You Tracey... you're not planning on limping all the way out of here, are you?"

They were right; it would take a much longer time to get out of there if all she could do was hop along. So Tracey was assisted up and seated onto the top, while Amanda readied to take the load, but just before she did, her companions had more to say to one another.

"How'd it go?"

"Oh yeah, that went exactly as you predicted."

Amanda offered her open palm, and Shizuka slapped it lightly with a smile.

"What did? Wait, what did you two plot together?"

"You don't need to know that... not here or now anyway. Just sit back and recover from your hard work okay."

They shared a small grin between them again, but got moving, leaving Shizuka to escort from up ahead of them.

There was considerably less fanfare about, as Tracey was apparently recognised, as passer-bys gave her small waves, cheerful grins and even the odd word of praise Tracey's way, as she was wheeled out of the jumble of streets and lanes, that somehow felt a little brighter. Maybe it was her perspective, or her improved mood, since the war had been officially called off, like the kid Emperor had said he would do.

"I still can't believe he actually followed through with his promise he made to us."

Tracey turned her head back to Amanda, who didn't seem to have any difficulty managing the small cart with her on it.

"Yeah... he did, didn't he..."

"Do you think he'll honour his words... as in; for the long term?"

Tracey waved casually at a pair of children, who giggled as she passed by.

It's not a very dignified departure for anybody... but I'm fine with whatever doesn't need me walking or standing at the moment...

"If... he's still about... I think he understands well enough, especially after the crowd's reactions. He wouldn't be so foolish not to see the people hold you in such high regard."

Tracey looked forward, seeing Shizuka smile back at the two Humans.

"You still think change is coming to the Empire?"

"I do..."

Amanda sounded pretty certain, like she often did, while Tracey had a couple of lingering doubts.

"So what should we do now?"

Amanda asked her passenger.

"Huh?"

"After finding a proper transport, and seeing about your leg, of course."

Tracey certainly didn't have any pressing needs or commands anymore, and an ended war needed no leader or figurehead.

"I guess there will always be more to do. We need to go back south first; tell everyone the good news..."

There was that, and quickly too, if there they wanted to prevent any more needless suffering.

"...and then I say we stay as far away from here as possible."

Shizuka helped them negotiate a few small jutting stones in the road, to keep Tracey's ride smooth, and smiled some more at Tracey's idea - as did Amanda.

"That sounds perfectly heroic."

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