86 LXXXVI. | 'Turn toward the needful...'

The police presence here wasn't as strong as the rest of Gray Rock, and Hector had ended up visiting this area frequently during his patrols. Just in the past three days, he'd thwarted two attempts at robbery, one at rape, and another at murder. At the moment, however, he wasn't here on patrol. Garovel had a different task for him now that the sun had risen.

The unmarked building on the featureless street corner had taken a while to find. He barely noticed the small sign by the front door. 'Free breakfast,' it said in thin letters.

He proceeded inside and found it just as rundown as the exterior, though the smell was slightly more welcoming. The very first chamber was a large refectory with a crowd of disheveled persons afoot. Hector had tried to match attire in order to blend in, but now that he got a good look at what they were wearing, he was starting to think he'd gone a bit overboard. Sure, none of them seemed to be wearing fresh clothes, but they weren't in rags like him. After silently consulting Garovel about it, he decided to pull off the most shredded pieces and trash them before he attracted too much attention. He kept his hat and ridiculous mustache, however.

There was a line for hot food at the counter, but Hector just took a seat at one of the empty tables. 'So now what do I do?' he asked.

'Just observe and listen,' said Garovel. 'The first step is establishing a presence. It'd be a little off-putting if you just walk up to them and start asking about their lives.'

Hector saw a few people eyeing him oddly. 'You really think this is going to work?'

'No idea. Could be a total waste of time.'

He shot the reaper a look. 'Garovel, what the hell? Are you serious?'

Garovel snickered and shrugged. 'Relax. Just think of it as getting more acquainted with your local community.'

'This "local community" is on the other side of the city.'

'Semantics.'

Alone at his table, Hector just tried to make himself comfortable. Despite all the people, the place remained fairly quiet, and no one seemed interested in approaching him. Garovel wandered around, eavesdropping on their hushed conversations.

'Let's see. These guys are talking about the food. Seems they're enjoying it. Over here, they're talking about the weather. Cold front coming in, apparently. Next, we've got a conversation about Madison Reach. This guy thinks she's super hot.'

'I don't even know who that is,' said Hector.

'Doesn't matter. Boring topic. Ah, these people are talking about you. Vigilante in Gray Rock. They're scared. That's too bad. What else we got? Hmm... Oh, here we go. This guy's talking about himself. His buddy just called him Frank. Sounds like Frank used to be a carpenter. Strange. You'd think that would be a pretty stable line of work. Maybe he got injured.'

Hector continued listening for a while longer. After an hour, he wasn't sure they'd made much progress. Most of these people were only here to eat breakfast after all, and that didn't exactly require them to volunteer their life stories to one another. He and Garovel departed for Warrenhold soon afterward.

It was a ways back, and after armoring up, Hector took the opportunity to practice with a couple different methods of transport. The first was a kind of self-propelled, one-seater train. Essentially, he just materialized an iron track with a chair on it and then pushed the chair along by adding metal from the backend. From there, he could lay more track as he went while simultaneously annihilating the metal behind him.

He thoroughly enjoyed traveling with this method, if only because it allowed him to sit down and basically float toward his destination like a magician; but in practice, he found it rather unwieldy to navigate around pedestrians and cars. He tried doing it over the tops of buildings instead, but that meant constantly materializing bridges, which were not only more complicated but also required support structures, and he couldn't very well create a metal column in the middle of a busy intersection. And apart from all of that, as a general means of travel, it was just slow. He hoped to improve on all of these things as his proficiency increased, but it seemed like that might take a while.

The second method of transport that Hector tried was a bit more haphazard. It consisted of launching himself into the air with iron platforms and then trying to break his fall instead of his body. He was often unsuccessful. On the plus side, super jumping over buildings was fun as hell, as was improvising ramps and slides and arching platforms to catch himself. It was just that the priorities, of course, were always to avoid endangering bystanders or destroying property, which ended up translating into an abundance of faceplants and pratfalls for Hector.

As he waited for his spine to realign and his arm to start bending the right way again, he let out a heavy groan and annihilated the twisty ramp he'd created for himself on the way down. Perhaps he'd made it a little too twisty. 'Garovel... I'd really like a new motorcycle now...'

The reaper snorted a laugh.

'Do I really have to wait until I get a license?' said Hector.

'It's for the best. Just bear with it for now. We'll find you a new bike soon.'

Hector grumbled and started walking. He'd made the ramp spit him out on the edge of a grassy park, and there were more than a few onlookers for his graceless landing. At least these people didn't look too scared of him. One kid even gave a big wave and shouted, "Yo, Darksteel!"

Hector smiled inside his helm and returned a more hesitant wave of his own.

Garovel was still up high and didn't notice, probably looking elsewhere in case of fresh trouble that might have needed their attention. 'On the bright side, this is really good practice. Maybe you can't tell, but I've seen you improving each day. In fact, I think you should keep traveling like this even after you get a new bike and just have the motorcycle in reserve for long trips.'

'Ugh...'

'Trust me. The less reliant you are on technology, the better.'

He knew Garovel had a point. And training wasn't supposed to be easy, anyway.

Eventually, they made it back home, and Hector was ready to help out the reconstruction crew again, but when he made his way through the dilapidated front gate and up the main path, he spotted a cluster of unfamiliar vehicles.

They were all news vans, he realized. 'Oh... fuck!'

'Wow, look at 'em all,' said Garovel. 'I guess it was only a matter of time until people found out that Warrenhold has a new owner.'

'Shit shit shit shit.'

'Relax, they haven't spotted you yet. And hey, at least they're not too scared to ask you for an interview.'

'Agh...'

'Y'know, you could just go up and talk to them.'

'Fuck no!'

'C'mon, it's only a few cameras and potentially millions of people watching your every move.'

'Fuck you!'

'Alright, alright,' laughed Garovel. 'Then just treat the cameras the same way you treat guns.'

'That... that's a good idea.'

'Of course it is. My ideas are always good.'

Hector shifted his grip on the rucksack over his shoulder. He'd brought it with him today in order to hold a change of clothes along with the hat and mustache he'd been wearing earlier. He took a deep breath and started toward the central building's front entrance.

As soon as they noticed him approaching, the reporters crowded around and stuck microphones up to his helm, asking so many simultaneous questions that he couldn't hear any single one clearly.

When he clapped iron around their cameras, everyone went abruptly quiet. To their credit, however, that wasn't enough to deter them for very long.

"Mr. Goffe, why have you come to Gray Rock?"

"He's a lord now, you idiot. Lord Goffe, what do you have to say to the people who still believe you are a criminal?"

"Can you give us your personal accounting of the events of the Calman High Massacre?"

"Imbecile! Don't ask him that!"

"Lord Goffe, what is the nature of your relationship with the royal family?"

'Y'know, you could just tell them to get off your land,' said Garovel.

Hector considered that, even opened his mouth to do so, but unsurprisingly, he struggled to say anything at all. After a few more moments of listening to their bickering noise, he decided to just push through and go inside. He annihilated the metal around their cameras right before he closed the tall door behind him and barricaded it with a wall of iron. He could still hear their muffled shouts from the other side.

'That wasn't so bad,' said Garovel.

Hector destroyed his helm and rubbed his face.

The repairs to this old antechamber had come along nicely. It was mainly just simple wood and stone, but Hector didn't think anything fancier would have suited him. He was mildly surprised to find no one immediately around.

'Hmm,' said Garovel, his skull twitching to the side. 'It seems those weren't our only guests. Prince Meriwether is here.'

'What? What's he doing here? And why would he show up unannounced?'

'And there's someone else... someone I can't quite... Oh, wait, no. That's Lynn.'

Hector froze up.

'Her weird aura is like a fog. I can't pinpoint her location. I just know that she's around here somewhere. She's probably with the prince, though. I doubt she'd be wandering around on her--' Garovel stared at him. 'Hector? You okay there, buddy?'

'Lynn's really here? Why would she--? Agh... You're sure?'

'Mmhmm.'

He could feel himself already beginning to panic. He started pacing between the room's pair of wide staircases. 'What do I do? Oh no, oh fuck...'

'Alright, Hector, what's going on? Is this gonna be a constant thing with you and Lynn?'

'Uh... mgh...'

'Oh, c'mon. Don't start this hesitation-business with me again. We're past that, aren't we? Just tell me.'

'Ah... ergh...'

'Do you want me to guess? We could turn it into a game. Quack if your problem with her involves a duck-billed platypus in some way.'

'Garovel, what the--?'

'Ponies! She told you she hates ponies, and now you don't think you can be friends with her anymore! I'm right, aren't I?! Man, I'm good at this!'

'You're an asshole...'

'Hector. Obviously, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. And since you're about to go talk to her, now might be a good time to ask me for advice. Unless you'd rather handle it on your own, that is.'

'Y-you... I... ugh. Y-you can't tell anyone. Ever.'

'Okay.'

'I mean it, Garovel. You can't. If you do... I'll... fucking... I don't know--just don't!'

'Alright, geez. What, do you have a crush on her or something?'

Hector's brain decided to stop letting him form words. His face flushed red, and he had to avert his eyes.

For a moment, the reaper just stared at him awkwardly. 'Oh.' Another beat passed. 'Seriously?'

Rather than answering, Hector merely leaned on the nearest wall for support.

'Huh,' said Garovel. 'Um. Okay. I'm guessing you don't intend to tell her how you feel.'

'Of course not. Are you kidding me?'

'That's fine, then. If you don't plan on confessing, then there's really nothing to be freaking out about, is there?'

Hector squinted and scratched his forehead.

'Just remain calm and collected. She's not going to figure it out unless you tell her, and it's not like I'm going to tell her, either. Your secret is perfectly safe. Just remember, you've dealt with many high-pressure situations before. You can handle a normal conversation with Lynn.'

'Uh... you're not gonna try to convince me to confess? That's what everyone says to do, isn't it? Don't drag things out, 'cuz it just gets... er... more painful over time or some shit like that?'

'Well. Ideally, you would do that as soon as possible and see what happens, but--and you can correct me if I'm wrong about this--but I suspect that a physical relationship with someone would be a very big deal for you. It's a big deal for most people, obviously; I'm just saying it'd be even more so for you.'

'Er...'

'Because you're just such a special snowflake, Hector.'

'Fuck you...'

The reaper laughed again. 'You understand what I'm saying, though, right? You're very young, and so is she. And given your social difficulties, I wouldn't want you to rush into anything. You can if you want to, though. Just let me know, and I'll advise you as best I can in that regard.'

'Y-you're talking like I don't even have to worry about being rejected...'

'Oh, rejection would make things so much simpler. Hector, if she rejected you, yes, it would suck, but then you could move on and stop worrying about your feelings for her, because you'd know that nothing could ever come of them.'

'Eh... I don't think it'd be that easy for me, Garovel...'

'I think you'd be surprised. Rejection is very straightforward. No one likes it, but it's way less complicated than acceptance.'

'...I didn't realize you were such an expert on romance,' said Hector. 'Do you even... I mean... do reapers even... er...?'

'No. We lose all sexual desires when we lose our bodies. And personally, I'm glad, because that shit sucked. Thank you, biology.'

'So in other words... you don't really know what you're talking about.'

'Hey, I had my share of relationships while I was alive.'

'Yeah, back when clubbing someone over the head and dragging them into a cave was considered a first date.'

'First of all, that's historically inaccurate. The Lyzakks were not cavemen. And secondly, what you're describing is basically rape, which I have never approved of, thank you very much.'

'Well, that's good to know.'

'Would you just listen to my advice? I'm old and wise, dammit.'

'I don't think an old and wise person would need to say that.'

'Hmm. Maybe I can convince you with an impression, then. HEY, EVERYONE, I'M THE DARKSTEEL SOLDIER. I'M SUPER SHY AND MODEST, BUT LOOK AT ALL THE SHIT I'M STILL MANAGING TO GIVE MY REAPER. AREN'T I AWESOME? How was that? Pretty accurate, right?'

And maybe it was the way Garovel had phrased it, or maybe it was just the big dumb voice the reaper had used, but Hector broke down into a fit of laughter. It hit him so suddenly and so strongly that he had to lean against the wall again in order to stop himself from doubling over onto the floor. He tried to keep his voice down, but that only seemed to make it even funnier.

Garovel couldn't help absorbing a few chuckles via proxy. 'Wow, that really got you, didn't it? I've never seen you laugh this hard before.'

Slowly, Hector composed himself. He thought he was okay, but as he looked at Garovel again, he found the laughter creeping back into his lungs.

"What's so funny?" came Lynn's voice.

Hector turned and saw her standing there in the eastern doorway. His body tried to freeze up on him again, but a lingering cluster of amused rumbles prevented it. "It's--ah-ha... i-it's nothing. G-Garovel was just... aha--being Garovel..."

Lynn just leaned against the doorframe and folded her arms. She had a new eye patch, Hector realized. This one was white like her cloak, and it made the bronzy flesh tones of her face stand out all the more. And with her deeply black hair, her Intarian heritage had never been more apparent.

Hector was losing his humor now as he very successfully tried not to stare at her.

'Ask her what brings her here,' Garovel told him.

"Uh... w-what brings you to Warrenhold?"

"Her Highness gave me a mission and told me to ask you for your assistance."

"Oh." He cleared his throat. "What kind of mission?"

"I'm escorting Prince Meriwether to Sair. He and I both have business there. His is more urgent than mine, though."

'Sair?' said Garovel. 'Hmm.'

"What do you... er, why do you need my help?"

"You'd be my backup," she said. "Sair is a little unstable right now, so Her Highness said I should take someone else along if possible. But Roman is out of the country, and if I took Harper, then there wouldn't be anyone in Sescoria capable of guarding the Queen. That leaves you. So here I am."

"Ah... you could have just called."

"And give you the chance to run away from me again? I don't think so."

Hector winced. He'd hoped she'd forgotten about that.

"Why did you run away? It's been bothering me."

'Garovel, help...'

'Tell her you had a poop-related emergency.'

Hector's eyes widened, and he rubbed his forehead in order to hide his expression. 'Are you fucking kidding?! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!'

'Is it stupid? Or is it genius?'

'It's stupid!'

'Well, phrase it more diplomatically, then. Don't say you almost shat yourself. Say you had an upset stomach.'

'You--!'

'Quickly now. She's waiting for an answer.'

He grit his teeth. "I... uh... I had... ah..."

She stepped a little closer. "You...?"

"I... I had an upset stomach, so... I kinda... uh... needed to leave." He chanced a look, but he couldn't tell if she was buying it or not.

"Are you lying to me?" said Lynn with a narrowing eye.

He was all in now. "N-no..."

"Because at the time, it seemed like you were trying to avoid my question."

"Er... I was just... embarrassed. I still am, actually, so... p-please stop asking me about it..."

'Ooh, that's good. Nice touch.'

"Fine," she said. "Then what was the answer to my question before? You were about to say something before suddenly telling me it was nothing and then leaving."

"Uh..."

'You don't remember,' said Garovel.

"I don't remember," said Hector.

Lynn looked annoyed with him. But after a moment, she relented. "Well, whatever. I guess it doesn't matter."

Hector would have breathed a huge sigh of relief if she hadn't still been watching.

"So do you want to come to Sair with us?" she asked. "It's not a royal order, if that's what you were thinking. I'm sure I can protect the prince on my own just fine."

Hector hesitated again and glanced at Garovel for another assist.

'Ask for more information first. I'd like to know what the Prince's urgent business is before we commit to an impromptu trip out of the country.'

That seemed incredibly obvious now, and Hector wasn't sure why he'd needed Garovel to explain it to him. "Can you tell me about, um... more about why you're going to Sair? It's kind of sudden, isn't it?"

"We're going to meet the Sandlords. Prince Meriwether's wife happens to be one of them. She recently returned to Sair on her own at her family's request, and now Her Highness is sending the Prince as an ambassador to assess the situation there. And to negotiate something, I think. I didn't follow everything she told him. She talked to him for a long time."

"Huh. I, uh--I see. And you said... you have your own business in Sair, too?"

"Yeah, I'm going to meet a man named Haqq Najir. He's a Sandlord, too, and a friend of Harper's." Lynn held up her left hand, the one wearing the bone gauntlet beneath her dark gray gloves. "I talked to him over the phone the other day, and he said he would tell me how to unlock the full potential of this thing if I pay him a visit."

"Full potential?" said Hector. "Oh, so... you're going there to get stronger?"

"That's the hope."

'What do you think, Hector?' said Garovel. 'Want to go with them?'

Hector turned away from Lynn and rubbed his neck as he eyed the opposite doorway. 'I really DON'T, actually.'

'Why not?'

'Because it means I'd... I'd have to be around... her.'

'But I thought you really liked her.'

'Yeah! That's why I don't wanna be near her!'

'I'm not sure you understand what "like" means, Hector.'

'Ergh, I need an excuse to stay here...'

'Sure, Hector. It's no big deal. The woman you care about is venturing into a volatile country where she'll probably face all kinds of danger. There are bound to be many innocent people there in need of help, as well. And this Haqq Najir fellow probably has all sorts of useful information. Not to mention that you'd be helping your country and that the Queen requested it. But y'know, just forget all that. It's obviously more important that we stay here so that you can... help some construction workers do their jobs slightly faster.'

'I... I stopped a murder the other day...'

'And that was very good, Hector. Gold star for you.'

He looked at Garovel, then back at Lynn. '...Dammit.'