... those of native blood may hold no office or position of authority within these lands.
— The True and Complete Laws of Gepaul
Linsan sat on a chair next to Brook's head, holding her friend's hand as Brook slept. Even though the healers said that Brook would survive, Linsan couldn't help but worry every time a whimper of pain escaped Brook's lips or she trembled.
Miska sat on the opposite side, her head rested on Brook's pillow as she stretched out across two chairs. Pillows and blankets spilled out underneath her from her attempts to make herself comfortable. Occasionally her eyes would open, focus on Brook, before she closed them again.
“Miska?” Brook's voice was broken and hoarse.
Miska pushed herself up on her elbow. She wore a silk shift, the only outfit of hers that one of the offended nurses at the hospital would accept. Her dark tattoos were visible underneath the fabric and they shifted with each of her movements. “Hey, Princess.”
Brook gave a pain-filled smile. “Hello, Beautiful.”
“I'm so glad to see you again. I missed you,” said the woman who never left Brook's side.
“Did we win?”
Miska gestured to Linsan, who had stood up to lean against the bed.
Linsan reached out and rested her hand on Brook's leg. “We won.”
They had more than won, but she didn't want to overwhelming Brook. It had been a day since the fight and too many things had happened in rapid succession that left her in shock.
“Palisis?”
Wiping the sudden tears, Linsan nodded. She reached down for the battered case next to her and lifted it up. “I got it back. Lord Xasnal was furious that I ruined his commission… and his house.”
Brook gave her an incredulous look. “You put a priceless violin in… that travel case?”
“Well, I can't really afford a real one yet and it needed something besides the bag those asses were keeping it in. My other Sterlig is back in my room. I wasn't going to have Palisis unprotected and I don't want it from my sight.”
Brook rolled her eyes. “What about the other damage? Didn't we set everything on fire?”
“The hall was completely destroyed and condemned. Lord Xasnal was furious but Tilbin broke the rules of hospitality first by attacking. There was no question about that, so Sopenar is stating a claim for their criminal trials.”
“Damn the Couple, they survived?”
Miska nodded but there was a bitterness. “But there is no chance they are going to ever be free men. Most likely they are going to have everything they own taken away, including the villages and their lands.”
With a whimper, Brook turned to her. “What about your family? They'll lose everything.”
“They have been stealing our lives for long than I have been on this earth. Nothing is going to change that. But, Linsan got a—”
“We got a patron!” Linsan couldn't hold it back. She hopped for a moment. “A real patronage.”
“It's only for a year,” Miska said.
“A year to start. But it's generous! Enough for nice apartments here and all the pretty dresses you ever want. And we can make trips home if we want. And Junith is going to come with me!”
Miska stroked Brook's hair. “Though, you might not want to return home. Your family has been sending nasty messages across the banking networks. I don't know what they said, but it is clear they are furious at you.”
Brook coughed and then clutched her stomach. “I deserve it. I stole my sister's Glasscoaster.”
“Yeah… she mentioned that five or six times. At least until the messages were stopped off when your entire family was banned from the network. Oh, and you cut off their money.” Miska kissed Brook. “Don't worry, they won't know you are here until the news gets back to your home.”
Brook groaned. She slumped back into her pillow.
Miska kissed her forehead.
Giving Linsan a hard look, Brook asked, “What do you mean 'us?'”
“For the patronage?” At Brook's nod, Linsan smiled. “We work together well and Lord Rugar wants us to stay together. It would be concerts, plays, and shows.”
Miska stroked Brook's hair. “It also means a lot of pretty dresses for all of us.”
Brook looked up at her, her eyes shimmering.
“And you'll get to mingle with high society. I heard you've already made some ripples of your own. A few ladies might have made some subtle overtures.”
Brook blinked. “You're mine.”
“Of course. You also owe me.”
“W-What?”
At Brook's confused look, Miska grinned. “I get a royal servant for a week, remember? Anything I want.”
Brook giggled and then winced. “O-Ouch.”
“Just because you got stabbed by your own father doesn't let you get out of obligations.” Miska grinned and ran her thumb along Brook's cheek.
“I know! Just don't make me laugh!”
Miska crawled onto the bed and pressed her body to Brook's. “No laughter, but you don't get to escape me.”
Brook leaned back. “I'm caught by my obligations, they are a chain around my neck.” Then she lifted her head. “Yes, I know that's from a play.”
Linsan shrugged and kept her mouth shut.
“And your mother was in it.”
It took more effort not to smirk.
Brook's face suddenly fell. “What about Dad… Dukan?”
“He ran away,” Miska said in a dead-panned voice.
Linsan snapped at the blatant lie. “Mis!”
Brook whimpered.
Miska rolled her eyes and kissed Brook's lips. “What I meant to say was that he tried to run away on boat but completely forgot that the guards in town are more than adept at hunting him down. He's currently in prison awaiting his trial for murder, destruction of a national treasure, abuse of the Ralonix Network, and theft of a couple million cuks.”
“National treasure?”
Linsan felt a pang in her heart. “The Sterlig Valley. Mayforn turned on everyone and said he had proof that Dukan and Tilbin had conspired to burn the valley to artificially increase the prices of the Sterlig instruments. He's been selling them off over the years, that is why… why….” Her throat caught.
“My family's riches,” Brook said, her eyes starting to shimmer. “He's been stealing from your family. Everything… about us was because of what he did to you?”
Linsan sat on the bed. She caught Brook's hand. “I'm sorry.”
Brook wiped tears from her eyes. “No, I'd rather someone be honest with me. It hurts more but then I won't be living a lie.”
She gave Linsan a smile and squeezed her hand. “I'm sorry.”
“You didn't know. None of us did.”
“I'm still sorry.”
There was a long silence.
Miska spoke up suddenly. “If we get an apartment, can I share a room with Brook?”
Brook jumped and looked at her in surprise.
Blushing, Miska pulled her hand back but Brook caught it to pin it down. “What do you mean?”
“I really like you, Princess. I would like very much to be in your arms as soon and as frequently as possible. If we have a patronage, we could afford a place and I would be able to sleep in a real bed.”
Brook paled. She looked at Linsan. “M-Maybe? If Linsan is okay with it?”
Linsan stood up. “As I told you before, you will always be my friend and I would be your lover until you find someone more worthy of the role. You've found your champion now, so I can happily go back to being merely your best friend for the rest of your life and leave you in the hands of your lover.”
Brook's eyes watered for a moment. “That's a line, isn't it?”
“I think so.” Linsan grinned broadly. “But it isn't from a play. At least not yet, I'm going to try my hand at writing one just so I can say it is.”
Then she left to give Brook and Miska some privacy.