Chapter 66 part 4

"Uh, I'm not sure I follow that logic," Ralph remarked, wondering if she'd elaborate for him so he could understand and the looks he was getting from his friends indicated that they were on the same page as Ralph currently.

Heanith shrugged. "Couldn't care less if you follow my thoughts or not, they're just how I think to begin with. The point is, is that I've decided to go against my better judgement and trust all of you, even if you all turn out to be thieves just wanting to steal my inventions. Again."

Ralph couldn't help but feel like she'd gotten the wrong end of the deal far too often in her life. Which made him wonder what would happen if they weren't good people and were in fact wanting to steal her inventions. How much in the wrong would that make them, given she'd already been used to it, even though she'd apparently gotten accustomed to that happening sometimes.

He quickly pushed those thoughts out of his mind. They weren't thieves and so he didn't need to worry about that. What mattered was doing what they could to not only help Heanith as well as see what they could do to win her trust.

After all, if she was an inventor, maybe she'd be interested in learning about some of the stuff from Earth that she could make. Or at least it could give her some ideas since they didn't know what she'd already been working on herself or any of that.

_

Jenn woke up on her own, a little surprised at how dark it was, though she did recall where she was as well s the fact that if she'd slept too late, that the others would have woken her up.

There was torchlight coming from the hole in the floor that the ladder she'd climbed to enter this building was. She didn't know who exactly was up, but she was at least interested in some conversation. If only to get a better feel for what was going on.

As she descended the ladder, Jenn could hear the wind blowing softly. The scene outside that building was so peaceful, Jenn could imagine it being from a movie towards the beginning or ending of it.

The young women who had escorted Jenn to the house were milling around, not paying her much mind, as if Jenn herself wasn't really there. Star was at the edge of the platform, her gaze completely focused on the sky.

"it's good of you to come out," Star said, her gaze never leaving the stars in the sky. "There's a few things we need to talk about. Much of it from the stars."

"Oh?" Jenn asked, walking over to her, idly curious as to what the stars had to say. "Are these the same stars from your world?"

Star sighed as if she wasn't sure how to answer that question. "Yes and no," she finally said. "Yes in the fact that I can see most of the stars that I've seen in my world, only they're in different locations including some that aren't supposed to be in the sky at the same time."

Jenn sat down next to Star, with about a foot or so to the edge of the platform. She wasn't going to sit on the edge of it. Not with how long of a drop that would be if she fell.

"What do they have to say?" Jenn asked, trying to make conversation. She supposed she could have tried changing the subject, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Only that tomorrow I need to meet with the one you don't want me to meet with. That you need to stop looking for another to be the Blue Rose. That you will have to accept being the Blue Rose or your people will suffer long before you're able to find what it is that you came here looking for," Star replied, each sentence feeling like a punch in her gut, making Jenn wish she hadn't asked in the first place. "Plus, if you leave in the next few days, you'll be able to make contact with someone who will be able to help speed up the friendship you'll need with the person I need to meet with. Only, it isn't vital that you meet up with that person."

Jenn felt like part of that was like something that could appear in her horoscope, but part of it also struck a little too close to home. Such as how she'd never told star that she didn't want her to meet with Versith. She'd been as accommodating as she could to the point where if they'd wanted to head towards where Versith lived, she wouldn't stop them. Then again, she didn't really let them know about anything outside of the village.

As such, she didn't really let them know that there was anything else to really see about it. Also, while it may have been a shot in the dark about there being a 'someone' Jenn didn't want the centaurs to meet, she'd already learned enough about Star to know that she didn't really take 'shots in the dark.' She somehow always hit her mark with certainty, regardless of anything else to consider.

"Do the stars tell you any names about who this person is?" Jenn asked, starting to wonder if maybe the centaurs looking at the stars was a kind of magic that they were able to work with themselves. That the stars themselves were their focus.

"Only that she was born under the Sword star, even though that's not a star anyone's supposed to be born under," Star mused, sounding a little pensive.

"Well, if this is a different world, maybe some stars have to fill other roles?" Jenn offered, not sure if that was true or not. It was just all she could think of to suggest.

"That is possible," Star mused. Then a moment later she shook her head and looked down at Jenn. "I'd love to study these stars more, but they let me know that when I meet with this person that you need as an ally, then I'll need to return to my own world. I, sadly, can't stay here as long as I'd like. My path draws me another way. Although, the world that you fled because of the winter on that world will be ready for you to move back there once you're back here from the meeting you need to make."

Jenn sighed. Again with the predictions. She'd probably be feeling annoyed if she didn't find herself already accepting what she was being told and already making plans, and excuses for Tchisa to make to send her there, as well as how to phrase letting Versith know about the centaurs without making it apparent that she'd known about them for a while and hadn't 'just run into them.' That she hadn't been trying to figure out how to keep her from being aware of them in the first place.

"Do the stars say when the best time to start out tomorrow would be?" Jenn asked, feeling like she was making a mistake even entertaining this idea. Although, she knew that if she didn't accompany the centaur, then Star would go on her own, regardless of what else occurred. Although, she was certain that Star would be fine since she'd somehow already learned the language that Jenn's people spoke, while the other centaurs were still struggling with it.

"No, they don't tell me things like that unless it's vital for a specific time. Otherwise it's up to you," Star answered as if she was talking about the weather.

Jenn nodded, not really expecting Star to give a time. Mostly because she had a feeling that Star would have already told her if the stars did mention anything like that. As it wasn't like Star to miss something like that.

Or at least Jenn hoped it wasn't.

_

Jenn wasn't sure what possessed her to have decided at leaving this early, as she knew that the centaurs would be fine with her and those assigned to accompany her to Pleonths. She wished that Embris was assigned, but instead Embris had been assigned to another patrol that was due to leave later that same day. Instead, Jenn got a number of young women and older women who looked like they could find it a problem to listen to orders given by one as young as Jenn was.

The sun hadn't even started to lighten up the sky yet and they'd gotten all the supplies they needed to go to Pleonths and back. It also didn't help matters that Jenn was the only one ready to fall asleep before they started out.

"Remember," Tchisa said to Jenn, as if she was giving her the final instructions on what to do. "We need to keep Versith from getting upset for not telling her immediately about the gate. What're you going to tell her about it?"

Jenn merely shrugged. She hadn't really thought about that, nor was she really in any condition to think things through very well. Especially since she wasn't even sure she could remember right off hand what it was that made her so worried about Versith from learning about the gate so close to the edge of the forest.

"Shouldn't I let Star do the talking?" Jenn mumbled, suddenly forgetting why she had wanted to leave so early.

Tchisa sighed. "Well, I can only hope that you won't be this tired when you get there."

Jenn nodded, like she understood a hidden meaning in her words. Jenn hoped that she wouldn't fall asleep on her own feet and embarrass herself, since she was pretty sure she'd be able to do that on her own without needing to be so tired. At least given how some of her ideas differed from the culture that her people were used to.

"Worry not, young one," Star said, startling Jenn as she hadn't heard them approach. "We'll be giving you humans a ride. You'll be able to rest as you ride."

Jenn didn't even question how Star knew what she was thinking about. Either Star was just really good at reading people or she'd already somehow known about this from the stars or whatever magic the centaurs use to 'read the stars.'

"That'll be nice," Jenn sighed, part of her not caring who heard.

"Sure we shouldn't let you take a nap first?" Tchisa asked, looking concerned. "You did say that this wasn't really a priority, so I can't say why you're so eager to get going right away on it, nor why you needed to stay up all night in order to get everything set up for this trip."

Jenn merely shook her head. "I'll explain everything once I understand it myself."

Tchisa's eyes flickered over to Star. "She said something to you, didn't she?" Tchisa asked, nodding even before she finished talking. "You were up with her when I came down, so what did she say?"

Jenn shook her head again. "I'll explain it when I get back," she said. "I hope I'll understand it by then. Otherwise I'm not sure when I can really tell you everything."

Tchisa sighed. "Yeah, she does say some pretty cryptic things, doesn't she?"

Jenn nodded as she yawned, unable to suppress it. "Sometimes I wonder if she'd be just as confused if we spoke to her like that," Jenn remarked.

"I understand you just fine," Star replied, apparently not catching Jenn's meaning, which she was happy about. Jenn wasn't sure she wanted to know how Star would react if she understood exactly what Jenn had been getting at.

"Don't worry about it," Tchisa told Jenn. "I'll be here with your next assignment when you get back."

Jenn nodded, snapping a salute, the way that Tchisa had come up with, though Jenn couldn't say that she really agreed with using both hands for the salute. Her left hand over her heart and her right hand at the small of her back.

Jenn heard the others move as they saluted Tchisa, who then returned that salute and Jenn nodded as she then struggled to climb onto Star's back for a minute before one of the young women with them assisted her by lifting her up by her legs until Jenn was able to just straddle the horse part of Star.

"Thanks," Jenn murmured as the young woman took up behind Jenn.

"Gotta make sure our captain doesn't take a spill," she said as she put her hands on Jenn's waist, nearly making her jump out of her skin.

She couldn't say why this woman's touch made her react that way, just that it felt like back when she'd first become friends with Beth and Beth was constantly putting her arm around her shoulders when she knew Jenn wasn't happy with her doing that.

"Okay," was all Jenn could get to come out. She wanted to say more, such as asking why she put her hands on Jenn's body there, but her mind wouldn't let her form the words. So, instead, Jenn merely leaned back against the young woman. Although, she did her best to ignore the softness of the woman's chest. Just so her mind wouldn't start pushing her to betray the trust that Alex had put in her.

Though as Jenn was about to let herself relax and try to go to sleep, a thought came to her. One that she knew at least tied into what Tchisa had asked her, though it was one that didn't matter about what this trip to see Versith would turn out. Instead it was about returning to the world where she had first started to create a home for her people.

"Oh, Tchisa," she said, pausing only to yawn again. "Star did mention that when I get back that we'd be able to return to the other world, the one where we'd started building a settlement but had to leave because winter was settling in there."

"Good to know, I'll let the Blue Rose know so we can start getting everything ready for that," Tchisa said, smiling broadly.

Jenn wasn't sure if it was because they'd be out of these cramped buildings or if it was because now Jenn would be able to show her what lands she had in mind to give her as part of their agreement.

With that, Jenn settled back again, this time falling asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes.

_

With the centaurs giving them a ride to Pleonths, they were able to make it after only travelling two and a half days. In fact, they'd arrived before the gates were closed, so they were able to enter, although the stares at the centaurs almost made Jenn wonder if they'd have had less traffic stop because of them if they'd been able to enter first thing in the morning.

As it is, she'd had her squad walk rather than ride the centaurs across the bridge even so as to try and draw less attention than they had to receive. Not that she could imagine getting any more attention than they were currently receiving at this point.

"I'll take the centaurs to meet with Versith," Jenn told those who had accompanied her. "Find an inn and I'll come find you afterwards."

"Uh, how will you know which inn?" one of the older women in the unit asked. "We won't be able to tell you which one it is."

Jenn waved her hand to try and shoo the topic away. "Don't worry. I'll be able to find you," she assured them, though her mind was already on with the meeting with Versith. As that was more pressing in her opinion. Especially with how she'd need to let her know about the gate in the forest. The gate that she'd been hoping to keep Versith from learning about.

Besides, with her magic, she was confident that she'd be able to find them even if she couldn't see. Although, that would make it a little more challenging. Which is partly why Jenn pushed that thought out of her mind before she really started entertaining it. She certainly didn't need to create more challenges for herself at this point.

Jenn quickly departed towards the castle, largely to avoid having an explanation demanded of her. She hoped that things wouldn't sour between her and those in the squad, since they'd gotten along quite well on the trip over. Even though she suspected part of it was the novelty of riding the centaurs and everyone being in high spirits because of it.

The sun was starting to set when she approached the gates to the castle, the guards yawning as their shift neared its end. Which is why Jenn supposed that they apparently didn't notice the centaurs when she approached.

"You're too late," the guard said without looking at Jenn. "The duchess has already heard the petitions for today."

"I'm sure she'll make time for these guests," Jenn said, drawing a surprised look from the guard. She was pretty sure the guard was used to people accepting what she said without really responding much rather than challenging what she'd said so directly.

The guard looked at Jenn like she'd just drawn her sword on her before looking at the individuals that she motioned towards. Where her jaw slowly slid open as her brain apparently needed to reboot. Not that Jenn blamed her. It was a surprise if they weren't prepared for it.

After a minute, Jenn spoke again, mostly to try and move things along rather than waiting for the guard to process everything she saw before her before actually doing anything. "So, are you going to send the duchess a messenger that she has… unique guests who would like to speak with her? Ones that she probably would want to see right away?"

The guard shifted her gaze to Jenn, as if she'd forgotten that Jenn was there in the first place. Then when she blinked her eyes, she seemed to return to her normal self. "Yes, of course," the guard said. "I'll send a messenger right away."

Jenn nodded, not caring that they hadn't been invited in. After all, it wasn't like they had any reason to expect to be invited inside. Especially since the guards couldn't be sure that this was some kind of trick.

So, while Jenn wished she could at least sit down somewhere, she remained standing. Just so that she wouldn't be giving a bad impression when they were allowed inside. Jenn had no doubt that the duchess would permit them in, if only to hear what this was about rather than dismissing them out of hand.