Just as Jint expected, the Baucbiruch arrived at the Countdom of Hyde three days later.
In the meantime, Trample-Blitz Squadron 1 was busy with bringing matters related to the exercise to a close. The starpilots were swamped analyzing all of the information, while the NCCs were occupied running checks on the ships. It was Star Forces tradition to cut loose in any post-combat feast, and the post-feast clean-up was perhaps the most vital of all of the copious things to do. With that, too, over and done with, Trample-Blitz Squadron 1 was returning to the imperial capital, thereby switching places with the Baucbiruch.
Before transferring to the Baucbiruch, Jint paid a visit to the captain’s quarters to offer Sobash some parting greetings. If he’d wanted to, he could’ve gotten Sobash to see him off at the point of transfer, but he figured the man didn’t have the time for a leisurely chat.
“We’ll miss you,” said Sobash. “Vanguard Ecryua included.”
“Her, too?”
“She did seem awfully taken with your cat. If you leave now without giving them an opportunity to reunite, she might be a little sad. Not that I ever truly understand what’s going through that woman’s head.”
“Ah, I see.” A wry smile. “Dyaho is on the Baucbiruch. He has a litter now, and one of the kittens looks just like him, so it’s obvious who he’ll be going to. The other kittens are really cute, too, though, so if you’re interested, I’d actually be thankful if you could take one of them off my hands.”
“I’m afraid I don’t find the prospect of bringing a cat into a warzone particularly admirable. We head into battle knowing what we’re getting into, but it’s rather rare for a cat to understand just what sort of sorry state of affairs it’s been dragged to.”
“Ah, right, sorry,” he apologized. While this particular voyage hadn’t been to an actual field of battle, his proverbial ledger was stained by a prior bringing-a-cat-into-war offense. And he’d been told off by Lafier in much the same way.
“Oh, there’s no need to apologize. I also love doing things the people around me are unamused by.”
“I mean, I didn’t bring a cat onboard just to grate on people’s nerves...”
“I will say that if Vanguard Ecryua takes responsibility, I won’t object.”
“Understood. I’ll try asking her later.” Then something dawned on him. “Are you not interested in them, Mr. Sobash?”
“Interested in cats, you mean?” Sobash shook his head. “I have a great deal of interest, but I’ve decided not to raise any.”
“...Ah. Why is that?”
“It’s a long story. Let’s save it for another time,” said Sobash, changing the subject. “In any case, it will be a slight load off not to get glared at by Fïac Lartnér any longer.”
“Glared at? By Fïac Lartnér?”
“Yes, that’s right. You haven’t noticed her glaring at me occasionally?”
“Nope. Not at all,” he replied diffidently. “Did something happen?”
“I wager it’s because I’ve become a ship commander.”
“This raid ship’s?”
Sobash nodded.
“Is it... envy?” Jint blinked.
“Saying I’m envied by Her Highness the Royal Princess may come across as my ego inflating, but, well, I don’t know how else to put it. It’s not me, specifically, she’s jealous of, of course. It’s all Caubh-class ship commanders. Though perhaps ‘envy’ isn’t quite the right assessment after all,” he corrected himself. “In all likelihood, she simply can’t grasp why she isn’t a Caubh-class ship commander herself.”
“Now that you mention it, that may just be the case.”
Sobash’s words did ring some bells. Lafier was exceptionally averse to voicing anything that might resemble what she’d deem an idle complaint, but it was apparent through her attitude that she felt her being aboard this ship as a mere passenger was nonsensical.
Am I holding her in place? He shuddered at the thought. There was no way that was true. A prideful royal princess like her, committing herself to a set of circumstances she didn’t care for, while not obligated to? The thought wouldn’t even cross her mind.
“When all is said and done, Her Highness is caught in a love triangle.”
“A love triangle!?” That was an opinion of consequence.
“In short,” said Sobash, smiling, “she doesn’t know whether to choose you, or the Star Forces.”
“Ah.” Jint nodded, not sure how to feel about this. “I guess I should feel honored?”
“I would feel very honored if I were in your shoes, but to each their own.” Sobash sipped his tea. “Especially since your rival in love is the Star Forces. You have no chance of winning, but you’re putting up a strong showing just by hanging in there.”
“Are all Abhs like that?”
“Huh?” Sobash looked slightly mystified. “I’m not talking about Abhs. I’m talking about Abliars.”
“So that’s not necessarily true among most Abhs, then?”
Sobash’s expression turned yet more puzzled. “Just think about your own case. From where I’m standing, you aren’t the type to prioritize military matters over your crush.”
“Well, you’ve got me there.” Once again, Jint had ended up forgetting he himself was technically Abh.
“At any rate, I wish you the best. And I hope your star fief becomes stable,” smiled Sobash. “Let us meet again on the battlefield, Lonh. That is, if I live to see that day.”
If I’m still alive, let’s meet again — Jint used to employ that turn of phrase all the time when he was on Delktu. But in that context, it was just tongue-in-cheek hyperbole. On Delktu, people Jint and his friends’ age didn’t usually die. In war, however, that phrase reflected a fact of life. Descending from a world where the specter of death was ever present, to a world where that phrase was bandied about as a joke, Jint had felt a tad conscience-stricken.
“Let’s,” he replied, doing his best not to let his innermost thoughts leak out. “Best of luck in battle.”
Jint hadn’t needed to seek Ecryua out. He bumped into her on his way to his quarters.
“Are you leaving?” asked Ecryua, expressionless as usual.
“Yep,” Jint nodded. “It’d be great if we could meet again someday.”
“Great for who?” said Ecryua.
Jint needed a beat to bounce back from that, after which he asked her whether she’d like to adopt a kitten.
“I don’t want to raise a cat,” she replied immediately. “It’s more fun to look after other people’s cats.”
“Gotcha. Oh well,” he said, surrendering just like that.