Honeymoon

[Backo]

To betray her own nation and spy for the Gallic crown? Eliza didn't like that idea one bit but it wasn't like she had any better alternative. The Maltese girl had to play along, for now at least. Maybe eventually she could find a way out of this treacherous deal she was about to accept if she played her cards right. Of course each thing had it's own time and right now her main priority was securing her physical freedom from the Gallic Royal Navy, further schemes had to wait. What the Commandant was ready to offer in terms of bargain intelligence sounded good enough to convince the National Council to at least consider hearing Eliza out on what she had to say about her unfortunate failure to bring them back her blonde wife. After a few more momentarily considerations of this troublesome situation she was in, the Maltese captive nodded and prepared to sign the document. The ensign's concern about having to make it look more convincing didn't make agreeing any easier but it was also a price she was also willing to pay for her freedom and perhaps Enma's as well. 'Roughened up' as he put it still sounded better than dying of cardamine withdrawal in her cell or worse - waiting for old age to take care of that in case her captors actually understood the condition Outcasts were put in physiologically.

"To say I have much choice would be an illusion, Commandant. If this is the price I have to pay for my redemption than so be it."

There was bitterness in her tone but she signed her name underneath the document anyways before pushing it back along with the pen to the interrogator and her assistant. The deed was done. She was now not only a traitor to Loyola but perhaps Malta as a whole as well. But as she protested out loud - it wasn't like there was much choice on her side in the matter. If only she was as versed in the political games as her blonde counterpart was she could even play this deal to her own advantage. Maybe that's why they wanted her and not Enma for the job? Thinking of Enma was irritating, difficult, bringing mixed feelings into Eliza's head which was already in a messy state. The girl puffed in annoyance from her lack of internal zen.

"So now that I've sold my name away, how do we proceed? Actually if I may have one last request before being sent off - could I at least see Enma one last time? I know it sounds silly and hypocritical considering I was going to trade her to the National Council of Malta but I at least want to say goodbye when we part ways."

It wasn't too much to ask for the captive thought. Part of her wished they'd grant her this wish, another wished they wouldn't. What could she say anyways that would matter? Or maybe this was again part of her conscience that wanted to punish her for what she intended to do but failed nonetheless. She wasn't sure. Though at this very moment nothing felt really certain to her. Her mind, her life, everything was now a big mess, bigger than what it was before all this started. Why did she have to cross the line? Were things really that bad to warrant this crazy and unsuccessful endeavor? Just more questions that made her mind a bigger mess instead of putting things in order.

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Republic of the Sword and Sun