Next page on the 26th

Sorry, guys. Need some time. Thanks for reading, though, as always.

Page 4099

Hmm. Hector allowed a beat to pass before asking his next question. "If you really don't remember Roman, then why is it you, of all people, who is showing up here now?"

The little captain paused. "Okay, I do remember him. I was just curious to see how he'd react."

"I hate this kid," said Roman.

"But also," Erickson went on with a light laugh, "Atreya has been a very quiet little country until recently. We don't have any personnel around here who've had dealings with you folks. Except me, apparently, even though I barely qualify."

Roman gave an audible sniff. "And perhaps you guys are also a bit leery about the fact that you kinda-sorta refused to help us?"

Bartholomew made no response.

Roman kept going. "Sure, Harper came to our aid, being the great guy that he is, but that was only after Kohzek turned us down. If Harper didn't have his own special status within the Vanguard, then I get the feeling that he wouldn't have been allowed to help us, either."

Hector knew a bit about that. Apparently, Harper Norez's rank of lieutenant general was somewhat symbolic in nature. While the man didn't have to take orders from anyone below the rank of general, he also didn't carry any actual authority of his own.

And so Bartholomew's rank of regional captain didn't necessarily mean he was less "powerful" than Harper. In fact, if the kid's influence within the Vanguard was taken into account, he might well be more powerful.

This was certainly no low-ranking officer who'd been sent to talk to them.

With all of that in mind, however, Hector did not want to add to the negative tone that Roman was setting up for them. "Whatever the case may be," he chose to say, "we're still thankful to the Vanguard for Mr. Norez's help. How is he, by the way? Do you know?"

"Making waves in Melmoore, last I heard. But he tends to travel quite a bit. That intel is outdated by now, I'm sure."

"As long as he's safe," said Hector. "The war has had me worried about him."

A brief silence arrived as Bartholmew seemed to be eyeing Hector up.

And Hector used the opportunity to do the same. The kid's aura was something else. Difficult to read. It was frankly unlike anything Hector had encountered before, which made him wonder in a background thought process if the childish body might be playing a role there, too.

Page 4098

It was a child, Hector saw--or at least, it was someone with the appearance of one. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen such a young-looking servant, but it was obvious from that question and from the way he carried himself that this was someone of considerable experience.

Or just a lot of confidence.

Hector knew a thing or two about keeping up appearances like that.

Before Hector could respond, however, Roman stepped up first. "Is that the young Captain Erickson I spy?"

The boy looked at Roman, but there was no light of recognition in his eyes, doubtless because of the iron plate armor in the way.

Roman threw a look toward Hector, who felt a bit reluctant but still obliged the unspoken request and dematerialized it for him.

For a few beats, the kid just stood there, staring at Roman. "...Sorry, I still don't know who you are."

"Oh, come on. I was with the Queen of Atreya when you met with her. Harper Norez was there. We were asking you for assistance. Or, rather, we were asking your reaper, I suppose."

The young captain put a hand to his chin and squinted. "...Are you sure that was you?"

Roman's hands flailed a bit with exasperation. "The nerve of this kid. Yes, it was me! Your reaper's name is Kohzek, isn't it?"

That skeptical expression didn't change, but after a moment, he did say, "Alright, I guess you must be telling the truth."

Roman looked back toward Hector for support. "Even after saying that, he obviously still doesn't remember me, does he?"

Hector took the cue to step forward, too. "I mean, you do make a hobby out of being as forgettable as possible, don't you?"

"Hey, man, that's different. Whose side are you on here?"

"A prescient question," said the Vanguardian boy.

Now that Roman had identified the kid for him, Hector knew a bit about who he was dealing with here. He'd heard the tales from Roman and Lynn about their adventures in trying to secure assistance in retaking Atreya from the Abolish saboteurs.

This was Bartholomew Erickson, a regional captain of the Vanguard.

Which, given the incredible size of Intar, seemed like quite the coincidental encounter. Too coincidental, in fact, making it highly suspect that Bartholomew would truly not remember Roman. Was the kid just messing with him, Hector wondered?

"You know who I am?" asked Hector.

"The Lord Darksteel of Atreya," said Bartholomew.