Chapter 81 - Two Rangers And A Mission

Two figures rode in the middle of the street, slowly making their way to the police station. A little behind them, three Iferes followed.

From time to time, Drake turned around on his saddle, to check Satre's companion. He couldn't help it. The Ifere was quite impressive, for those who knew what to look for.

Selyes, albeit ordinary-looking, were incredibly intelligent. Sure, the furry body and wagging tale didn't show that. The way it shook it's body every two steps to uselessly try to dry it's fur also didn't help. However, there was a distinct flash of intelligence in the multicolored eyes of the wind-type Ifere.

As if sensing Drake's gaze, the creature looked up, and after a moment bowed it's head in a disturbingly human greeting. Drake shuddered. The Ifere scared him. It would have scared him more if he hadn't known it was on his side.

"This is an incredible partner you have, Satre."

"Haha... Selyes is something else, isn't she? I met her in Leere Kingdom. She was just a cub back them, but she had already learned how to beg for food. I made the mistake of giving a piece of my lunch to her, and she just wouldn't stop following me."

The ranger's words were playfully angry, and there was no mistaking the affection in her eyes. Drake felt a smile appear on his face, but it faded away when he looked at the hands holding the reins of his mount.

After meeting Satre, he had given up on his bath, and decided to head straight for the police station. They both decided that he would cause a bigger impact if he entered it like he was, although Drake wasn't sure that was such a good idea.

He hanged on the thought for a moment before shrugging. If Higler and Satre were any indication, rangers had a flair for the dramatic. Maybe it had to do with the fact they risked their lives every day, so they liked to live life to it's fullest in their moments of respite. Heck, Drake too would feel the urge to show off and brag about kicking a general's ass if it weren't for the circumstances that led to it.

As they approached the police station, however, Drake forgot all that. Because of the rain, there were no cops outside. However, as soon as they entered the building, every head turned in their direction. They first focused on him, and were surprised. When their gazes drifted to Satre, though, they became shocked beyond belief.

Drake raised an eyebrow, and turned to the ranger. At some moment, she had put her badge on her chest, probably to avoid unnecessary questions. The bronze crown and the twelve gemstones shone brightly.

No one stopped them as they walked towards the police captain's office, dripping a wet trail behind them. Casually, Satre knocked on the door.

Moments later, after a lot of wheezing noises and irregular breaths, the fat captain opened. He stared wide-eyed at Drake, and then at the pin in Satre's chest, and nodded to himself.

"I think you would better come inside."

Rangers truly were legends. That was all Drake could think as he watched the captain completely ignore the fact he was drenched in blood, and fawn over Satre. He offered her tea, coffee, alcohol, and would have probably proceeded to suggest a foot massage if she didn't interrupt him.

"I'm doing quite all right, captain. The reason we've come here is Drake."

He had to stifle a laugh at the cop's disappointment. Satre was being polite, and maybe the captain didn't notice, but she was basically saying that if it wasn't for Drake, she wouldn't even have deigning herself to go talk to him.

When the man turned to him, however, Drake put on a serious face. He didn't have to fake it. Weakly, he gestured towards one of the maps the captain had on his walls.

"The farm... I don't know it's name, but it should be around here, twenty kilometers south of Calduk Farm. It was attacked."

"And?"

"And I got there too late to save them. Slaughtered the bastards who did it, though."

The cop looked at Drake, mouth slightly open, but then shook his head. There was something in Drake's eyes, something dark, that made him decide against pressing for details.

"Poor Svent. His daughter turned eleven earlier this year."

"I buried them. Under a big tree near the entrance. If anyone wants to recover the bodies..."

"No. Svent worked his whole life for that piece of land. He... They would like to rest there. I will send someone to collect the bodies of the attackers right away, though."

"I doubt that will be necessary."

"Hum?"

The captain looked at Satre, confused. Drake just petted Frainer, looking down to his knees. He knew the reason.

"Someone will have already taken the corpses, captain. It would be better for you not to know..."

"It was the army."

Satre practically hissed when Drake cut her off. For the first time, an annoyed... No, worried look took her face. He could understand why. Tensions were already high enough without soldiers killing civilians. However, if he was being honest, Drake didn't give a damn.

He had killed Menoraz soldiers, and he didn't regret it, neither did he wish to hide his actions. Why should he? He had also killed Lapidum troops, hadn't he? Many more, in fact. Not just Cleaners, but normal soldiers too. And...

Shaking his head, Drake noticed that he was once again sinking into the marsh of self-reproach and regret that were his thoughts later. So much that he had, in fact, completely missed the shocked expression the police captain gave him, and the first few words he stuttered. Kniivar had to poke him - lightly - with a claw for Drake to focus.

He glanced at Satre, and saw the ranger giving him a warning look. She wasn't threatening him, only telling him to be careful with what he was going to tell the cop, and how he said it. It could have a lasting impact on the man's career if he was caught listening to someone badmouth the army. Carefully choosing his words, Drake spoke.

"It was seven scum who didn't deserve the uniform they wore, captain. Bad apples, per se. They were taken care of and I already spoke with General Lilac. What Satre here meant to say is that since this could be an... Embarrassing spot on General Lilac's record, it is probable that she will take care of the cleanup."

The police officer nodded slowly. That made a lot more sense, even though the way Drake worded it was still strange. But he had seen his fair share of corrupt cops over the years, so he wasn't surprised there were some in the Menoraz Army.

"I will send someone anyway, just in case. But... You said you buried them, right?"

"The ones that mattered."

"Then I might wait a day or two. Just to be sure."

The three people nodded, and fell silent. The captain didn't know what to say, Satre was deep in thought, and Drake... Drake could very well spend the next week without saying a word, such was his mood.

Finally, after a few moments, Satre looked up, and nudged him. Drake raised an eyebrow, but got up and cleared his throat.

"All right, captain. That was what I had to say. Mostly. I will spend the night at the same hotel, if you need me."

"And I will be there too. But I would be delighted to talk to you later, chief."

"Wa- Of course! It would be my pleasure, Miss Satre! Anything for a ran... For you!"

This time Drake raised both eyebrows, but said nothing. After politely - and by that he meant grunting - saying goodbye, he walked out of the office. Cops still stared at him, some curious, others wary. Drake ignored them.

"I talked to... I should get his name, shouldn't I? Anyway, I talked to the cop like you wanted, Satre. Can I please take a bath now?"

He heard the ranger sneer as they stepped outside, and then chuckle. He knew he sounded like a child, but he was really tired, and he knew she knew that.

"Okay. But I would appreciate it if we could talk later. There are some details I would like to share with you, including why Ben sent me."

"Sure thing, mom."

Satre snorted, and Drake smiled. Even though there was a war going on... Even though they were both getting drenched by the rain... It was comfortable. Yes, that was the feeling Drake had. Not of safety or happiness. In fact, he was still very angry, but talking to Satre pushed those thoughts away. It took him a moment to realize why.

It wasn't that he liked Satre. Well, not liked liked, at least. It was the easygoing way she behaved around him, and how she didn't try to impose her position as a ranger over him. It was the fact she treated him like... Like one of her own. Like a fellow ranger, even though he wasn't. Glancing sideways at the woman and her partially missing ear, he was sure she was doing it on purpose, and felt he needed to thank her. So, instead, he poked her. Metaphorically.

"So, dinner with the police captain, hum? Never knew you fancied his type."

She glared at him, and held the stare with a deadpan expression that reminded him very clearly that they had known each other for all of five minutes. Then, when he looked away embarrassedly, she grinned.

"I don't. I'm not quite into men like him. Or men at all, if you catch my drift. But a police captain is a very useful source of information, if you know how to milk them... Ouch. Bad word choice."

Drake laughed, then shrugged. He already knew Satre wasn't being serious about being 'delighted' to dine with the cop, because when she had turned to him, she had grimaced. A lot. However, he was curious.

"What can he tell you that you don't know already? I mean, Ben found the city, hotel, and room I was staying in, and I never talked to him about any of that. Seems like pretty solid intel network for me."

"Huh! Don't ask me how he did it. He always had talent for this. Me? I usually find the enemy, and charge them. But using my rank as a ranger and some of my womanly charms can be helpful sometimes."

She winked at him, and Drake shuddered. But he understood what she meant. Rangers were quite literally legends. Whatever Satre wanted to know, he bet the police captain would tell her, especially if it was over a candlelight meal. And that reminded him he had something to tell her too.

He looked around warily, but there was not a single soul in sight. The rain muffled even one's own thoughts. The perfect place to disclose some sensitive information you didn't want anyone else to hear.

But Drake really wanted that bath, and he was sure that if he told Satre about that thing, he wouldn't get to have it. Sighing, he decided his own pleasure came first. It wasn't like it was too important anyway. At least he hoped it wasn't.

And, as Drake made this decision, he felt something. A fleeting thought at the back of his mind. He couldn't grasp it, but he felt like it was important. Something that had happened? No. Something that he had heard, then? Maybe. Something... His head snapped up, and he opened his eyes wide. An idea had just sprouted in his mind, and he couldn't shake it off. But it was impossible... Wasn't it?

// AUTHOR'S THOUGHTS //

Hey, everyone! It's been a long time! I have some news and warnings I must share with you guys, so please read them!

At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to write for just a week or so, but before I knew it, a month had passed, and I am very, very sorry. Unfortunately, for personal reasons too lengthy to explain here, this situation will continue. So, I made a compromise.

At first, I wanted to stock up on chapters, so I could resume the normal release schedule. Since that's not going to happen anytime soon, I decided that I will release the chapters as I write them. That way, while you won't have a fixed time to expect new chapters, at least you will have something to read, and it gives me some peace of mind.

I want to thank everyone who stuck with Iferes through this month-long hiatus, and even went out of their way to ask if I was doing all right. Thank you very much, and I will resume the normal release schedule as soon as I can. Meanwhile, please bear with inconsistent releases.