Thine Brother’s Keeper pt.4

(Part 1 can be found here.)

“I don’t know.”

“What sort of answer is that? ‘I don’t know’?” His voice is raised, and there’s a fire underneath. She knows that tone well, she’s heard it a thousand times. Terrifying to most, but oddly comforting to her. “You’re a conjurer of the Twelveswood, how can you possibly—”

“Captain!” The voice snaps, young but full of presence all the same. The disappointment and admonishment in his voice is something she’s all too familiar with as well. “She has multiple fractures, deep scars, and significant damage to her right eye. That she’s even alive to be tended to is in no small part a miracle, much of which we likely owe to Brother, here.”

“‘Brother’?” He asks, confused.

“Admittedly, most of what she was saying was not in the common tongue, but yes, that’s what she called him. Brother—”

Rosetta awakes with a start, racing to catch her breath, then groaning from the pain. She clutches her head as she looks around the room, the back of her neck throbbing. A Sage looks at her with raised brows. “Welcome back to the realm of the living.” He says, continuing to wield his milprieves to heal the dragoon.

“How—ungh,” Even with the Sage’s aetherial tools knitting her back together, Rosetta’s head throbs and the hand of a young Elezen woman she doesn’t know gently holds her to the bed. “How long was I out?”

“Long enough.” A gruff voice answers from the corner of the room, taking a step forward. Standing at a little under 8 feet tall the Kojin strikes an imposing figure, even without his red mask and bandanas, marking him as a Kojin of the Red. The others regard him nervously before looking back to Rosetta.

“How did you even get into the city?” Rosetta asks, her face scrunched in confusion as much as it is in pain.

“Yes, well, the Sekiseigumi are curious about that as well.” The Sage turns a wary eye to the Kojin before looking back to Rosetta. “While there is a peace with the Red Kojin, that bargain is tenuous at best, Captain,” She winces, hearing her title used to address her, “and I think it might not be a wise choice for an officer of the Twin Adder to—“

Rosetta rolls her eye and sits up in the bed, brushing past the young lady who is clearly dressed as a representative of Gridania, muck like the Sage. Neither are in full military garb of course, Kugane has ever strived to strike a neutral pose in global affairs, even with the fate of the star at stake. The attire leans more diplomatic corps than anything else. Cracking her neck she looks past the sage to the Kojin, “What the Adder thinks is ‘wise‘ hasn’t ever found purchase with me,” she shoots a quick glare to healer before standing. “Or how the star works.”

He squares up to Rosetta with a “Hrmph,” of disapproval. It’s his subbordinate, a private first class with the three small stripes on her lapel, clears her throat.

“Commander, perhaps we should…” The young Elezen trails off, trying to not look to intently at the Hyur officer.

Caught between wanting to put a mouthy officer in her place, and taking the out, the sage hesitates for a long moment, unflinching, before finally speaking. “Yes. We’ve wasted enough time here, methinks. We should get to more important duties.” Without looking at his subordinate he asks, “Shall we?” before turning to leave.

Rosetta shakes her head, but when the private salutes her, Rosetta returns the gestures. “Godspeed.”

“Thank you Captain Ne—“

“Don’t,” Rosetta cuts her off with a raised hand and a shake of her head, “just don’t.” She gives the highlander a curious look before nodding and taking off after her commanding officer. “So, I take it at least a day?” Rosetta asks turning with her arms open to embrace her friend.

He embraces her in return, holding her tight with a satisfied moan, before pulling away to say “Two, hence my entry into the city.”

“But you got caught?” Rosetta teases.

“As ever,” He smiles, “stealth is neither of our strong suits.”

Feigning offense, Rosetta lurches back, “Matzugi! You wound me.” They both chuckle. “Before I ask you about the boy…” She gestures to Matzugi’s red garb.

He nods, understanding her concern. “Fear not, I have not aligned myself with my former breathren. But appearing as one of their number does have its uses from time to time, especially now.”

“Especially now?” Rosetta asks, urging him to continue.

“Something is afoot, Rosetta. There is a new player in the criminal underworld of Othard, and I fear the assault on you is only the beginning.”

Rosetta shrugs, screwing her mouth to the side. “C’mon, people are always trying to kill me.”

Matzugi stands firm, his head shaking slowly with a grave sound in his voice. “My friend, of what I speak has the potential to plunge Othard and Hingashi both into chaos and war… And your friend’s brother is at the very heart of all of it.”

Rosetta looks at him for a moment, seeing the seriousness in his eyes, and hearing the weight of his voice. “She’s not even paying me…” She mutters to herself with a shake of her head. Matzugi raises his head back and tilts it slightly. “Never mind. Start from the beginning.”