16

Sebastian was glad that Vittorio had regained consciousness before he departed for Kante. But he was not quite prepared for the shock of seeing his former mentor so transformed.

In Sebastian’s mind, Vittorio was the perfect picture of masculine poise. Large, imposing, and dignified. And even in the darkest depths of despair when he’d lost much of his decorum, the man had still seemed strong, virile, and capable in a way Sebastian didn’t think he could ever match.

Yet the man he now saw before him was none of those things. Vittorio seemed to have aged in a shockingly short amount of time. His hair and proud mustache were shot through with gray. His eyes were watery and seemed weak, as though his vision had suffered damage. He had lost a great deal of weight, so that his once proud, rosy cheeks were now gaunt and sunken. His formerly strong hands looked frail and delicate as they lay upon the blanket tucked up to his armpits. Both his arms and legs were still in splints, and the apothecary had said that even when they finally healed, he would likely be unable to walk without the aid of crutches and leg braces.

Sebastian wondered if he should feel some satisfaction that the man who had been responsible for his father’s death had been reduced to this. But he didn’t. He had been pondering for weeks now why it was so difficult for him to completely put Vittorio behind him like the empress had suggested. Perhaps it was because so much of his own self-worth had been built on the assurances of this man. Now that the man had been brought low, and his assurances rendered questionable at best, Sebastian felt that what little firm ground he’d managed to set beneath himself had been rendered unstable. Possibly even illusory.

He had come to see if there remained any vestige of the man in whom he’d put so much faith. But the person who looked back at him now seemed almost a stranger.

“Ah, there you are, my boy. So good of you to visit.”

Even his voice sounded feeble. Quavering.

“It’s, uh, good to see you so alert, sir.”

“Now, now, Sebastian, you mustn’t call me sir any longer.” Vittorio gently chided him. “You’ll have to get used to the idea that I’m not your superior officer now.”

Sebastian sighed. “Truthfully, I’m not sure what I should call you.”

“How about Franko?” Vittorio suggested. “That would please me greatly.”

“If that’s what you prefer.” The idea actually made Sebastian uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to hurt the man’s feelings. “Are you… okay? Is there anything you need?”

Vittorio shook his head. “Don’t worry about me. Her Majesty has generously offered me a menial position in the palace staff once I have fully recovered.”

“Oh. That’s wonderful.”

“I just hope I won’t be too much of a burden.”

After an awkward pause, Sebastian said, “I was sorry to hear that… you know, that you may not make a full recovery.” It seemed insufficient, but he didn’t know what else to say.

But Vittorio didn’t seem troubled in the least. “Don’t be, my boy. Nothing in this world is free. Not even miracles.”

“Is that what you think it was, then? God spared your life?”

A strange gleam came into Vittorio’s eyes. “Whether it was God who spared me, I cannot say. But it was most certainly a miracle.”

Sebastian didn’t quite know what to make of that, and wondered if perhaps there had been some damage to Vittorio’s mind as well.

“And what about you, Captain?” asked Vittorio. “Have you been given your next assignment?”

“Yes, I’ve been assigned to General Barone’s battalion. We will be reinforcing the main force in Kante and rebuilding the town they currently occupy as a new base of operations.”

“Rewarding work, no doubt. I look forward to hearing about your experiences when you return.”

Then he let out a long, unrestrained yawn.

“My apologies,” he said when he was finished. “The potions they have me drinking make me quite sleepy. I appreciate your visit, but I fear I must get some rest.”

“Please don’t let me keep you,” said Sebastian. “And take care of yourself… Franko.”

“You, too, Sebastian.” Vittorio was already beginning to sidle down in his bed as though better positioning himself for sleep.

Not knowing what else to do, and feeling his lack of salute keenly, Sebastian left.

He was on his way to bid farewell to his mother when he came across Zaniolo in the hallway.

“Ah, Captain!” the general said cheerfully. “Ready to deploy with Old Barone, are you?”

“Yes, sir,” said Sebastian. “We depart tomorrow.”

“Excellent. I think you’ll find his leadership style a pleasant change from the rather stern approach to which you’re accustomed.”

“I look forward to it,” said Sebastian. “By the way, sir, have you seen Rykov? I asked General Barone if he would be joining our battalion, but he hadn’t even heard of him.”

“Oh, that’s right. I meant to tell you. A few days ago Rykov requested a leave of absence to settle some family business back in Izmoroz.”

“Really?” Sebastian couldn’t hide his look of surprise.

Zaniolo grinned. “I know. It’s hard to imagine that hulking brute having a family, but I suppose everyone must.”

“No, I just thought… well, since he is my aide-de-camp…”

“Come now, Portinari. The very idea that a mere captain needs an aide-de-camp is absurd. He was more like an overgrown babysitter.”

“Oh.” Sebastian felt his cheeks redden. “I hadn’t realized…”

“Mind you, it was understandable that Vittorio assigned someone to look out for you, considering how shockingly green you were when you first arrived in Gogoleth.” He gave Sebastian a reproachful look. “But I think you’ve outgrown such things, don’t you?”

“Y-yes, sir. Of course. Thank you for explaining it to me.”

“No trouble, my boy. I’m glad you understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make a report to the empress on some developments in the north.”

“Concerning Izmoroz?” Sebastian knew he probably wasn’t entitled to the information, but couldn’t help himself.

Zaniolo paused for a moment, as if deciding something, then shrugged. “Concerning your sister, actually.”

“Sonya?”

“She does have a rather… distinctive look, as you know, and I’ve received several reported sightings of her at various imperial hostels on the Advent Road, heading south.”

“Toward Aureum? Why on earth would she come here?”

“I was hoping you might answer that question,” said Zaniolo. “The Uaine have been most diligent in rooting out my network of informants, unfortunately, so we know very little of what’s going on in Izmoroz at the moment.”

Sebastian shook his head. “I haven’t the faintest idea. She’s never had any interest in Aureum, and loves Izmoroz with an almost zealous passion. I would think the only way she’d leave is if she was forced out.”

“Hmm.” Zaniolo considered that for a moment. “But why come to Aureum? If she was forced to leave Izmoroz, one would think she’d rather flee to her allies, the Uaine.”

“Unless it was the Uaine who kicked her out,” said Sebastian.

Zaniolo seemed surprised. “Is your sister really that fickle in her allegiances?”

“No, she’s just that difficult to get along with.”

“I see. Well, I thank you for the insight. I’m sure the empress appreciates it as well. Good luck to you in Kante.”

Sebastian saluted. “Thank you, sir.”

As Sebastian continued on to his mother’s room, he wondered what Sonya might do once she got to Aureum. Would she try to find him and his mother again? Would she come all the way to Magna Alto for another misguided rescue attempt? At this point, he wasn’t sure if he would put anything past her. That last time he’d seen her, with gleaming animal eyes, jagged teeth, and a face streaked in blood, she’d seemed half mad.

He knocked quietly on his mother’s door.

“Please come in,” she said, aloof and stern.

He opened the door. “Hello, Mother.”

Her expression softened, and her voice warmed. “Ah, my darling. Come to say goodbye before your next grand adventure?”

“I have.”

The empress had kindly moved his mother to a larger suite, since she would be staying at the palace for the foreseeable future. She was seated on a sofa, sipping tea. A porcelain teapot sat on a table in front of her.

Sebastian sat down across from her and helped himself to one of the small cookies that always came with the tray and that his mother never ate.

She gave him a speculative look. “Are you nervous, my darling?”

“About my assignment? No, the empress has made it clear that my primary purpose is to help rebuild a war-torn town. That will be a welcome change from being ordered to kill my sister. Although speaking of her, Zaniolo just told me that Sonya might be on her way to Aureum.”

She gazed at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she closed her eyes and sighed.

“That’s how I feel,” Sebastian said wryly. “You don’t think she’d come looking for us again, do you?”

“Sebastian, I gave up trying to figure out your sister’s motives long ago. I advise you to do the same. Frankly, I don’t even think she knows why she does things sometimes.”