A small laugh accompanied the reckoning with Sable's words.
"Tell me about it," Zael said.
This certainly wasn't no ideal situation. Not at all. Zael figured it was shame on him for not doing this sooner, for figuring to go after Kimble
before he held Yuna hostage. He should have known. Maybe
Vel Anir and Gilram's Rogues could easily forget about him, think him truly dead after Vel Kastula, but not Kimble; he should have known Kimble would at least look into it.
But he listened to Yuna. He
stayed. Stayed in
Elbion because not only was she right, but he also wanted that promise of a new life in the north.
Yet the south called to him, like fate or something. It pulled him back in because this was the one thing he wasn't done with.
You can't start a new life without ending the one you had.
At length Zael said,
"I'm not worried about the Guard versus Stenn; so long as that idea of yours works and the Anirian Commander listens, the Guard'll crush Stenn in a straight fight. I'm not worried about Kimble not showin either; he found me in Elbion after he thought I was dead, he'll come check after this battle once he finds out how it went."
Now Zael matched Sable's earlier grim tone.
"What I am worried about is you followin after us. Shit, the longer way we gotta go, the more chance there is of you gettin spotted. You might lose track of us. Who knows what might happen." Zael tossed up his hands and let them clap back down onto his knees.
"Anythin you can think of for that? Some kinda card-up-the-sleeve that'll make that part easier for you?"
Zael might have something in Elbion—namely Gier or Herrim. They might be able to help with some kind of magic trick or two. But time was not on their side, and chances were a trip to Elbion might cost Yuna another finger...or worse.
Sable Pembroke