Chapter 187: Friends With Secrets

Leaning back, Rachel swapped her focus to the general. "...To make this brief, I’m willing to help Arthur if it gets us closer to Ireland and negotiating to get to the World Tree.

"As for Charlemagne’s prediction on the Crystal, if it is correct, I don’t think I’ll be ready in two days to fly to Montana and fight. So, calling in your other teams that I know you’ve been gathering might be good. Maybe I will be ready in three to four days, but I want to be sure of it by doing a Quest with Anthony and Barbara, whoever’s turn it is. Thoughts?"

Tom looked at Arthur, fingers intertwined and deep in thought about everything the pair had added to the discussion. He sighed and rubbed between his eyes.

"Hopefully, Montana will be handled by the time you are ready, but if not, then you’re in reserve. Why would the Crystal open on the day Congress and the Senate are supposed to debate about this private military option... None of this can be a coincidence. Dammit. I feel like we’re dancing to someone’s tune."

Charlemagne chuckled, waving his hand. "Oh, don’t mind me," he said at everyone’s stare. "I’m just thinking about some ’Black’ humor, General. I’m sure you get the irony in your statement."

The bald military man snorted and ran his hand over his head. "Black... Fable... You’re far more informed than you first let on, Ambassador. As for your question, Rachel, Fable is an already established PMC, like Blackwater or the UK’s G4S, only far less publicized; they like to keep a low profile, and... shockingly, many of their operatives changed during The Oscillation. It’s being investigated." He leveled a suspicious look at the dark-haired Frenchman. "You wouldn’t happen to have more to add to that conversation?"

Sipping his wine, the man shook his head. "I believe we know roughly the same on that topic, General. Mmm. Perhaps there are Scarlet Hand ties there, but it is distant if that is the case. That being said, I can’t leave Jeanne here for more than a few more days before we return to France; we’re in the calm before the storm. How much longer until the UK and Ireland are at war, Arthur?"

Rachel almost choked on her water, and Nia was the one to speak out.

"What?! War? Fiona is worried enough about her family in Ireland!" the bunny growled, ears bowing. "Is that why she can’t get in contact with them?"

Arthur ran his fingers through his blond locks. "I’d like to know where you’re getting your intelligence from. How can you be sure that war is imminent? We can’t get information in or out; it’s radio silence inside, and an invisible barrier has surrounded the entire country, transporting people and anything else that comes into contact with it to a random location around its borders."

"A country-wide Crystal?" Rachel asked.

"No," the king instantly responded. "So, you don’t have all the information... It doesn’t have the dome or colors. No, this is something else that Merlin says is magical in nature... and powerful. He compared it to the likes of the World Tree in London. We can’t be sure what is happening on the inside, but after the Montana incident is concluded, the President has agreed to offer the US’s support in the matter."

Hands meeting in her lap, Rachel slowly nodded. "That... does align with my promise to help Fiona reach her family... but I can’t tell her that, or it may spark her to panic and try to fly there herself, which... may actually be possible for her. Ugh." She caught Jeanne’s look of disapproval, yet the saint didn’t voice it.

"In any case, this is all good to know, but I need to focus my mind on the immediate. And, Jeanne, I will tell Fiona enough," she said, surprising herself at the declaration; it could have been [Lunar Pride] flipping on her since she would beat the tar out of someone who kept that kind of info from her if the roles were reversed.

The blonde’s tight features softened. "I am enjoying our company together already. What about the ichor? I will need to sustain its properties during the transfer."

"Sure," Rachel shrugged. "I mean, if you include the healing of Nike, it’s actually more favoring me... So... does this mean we all have somewhat of an alliance?"

Arthur glanced at the falling sands, half gone inside the hourglass. "There are other things I wish to discuss... holes I want to be filled, such as your interest in our World Tree, but you’ve already proven yourself a target and great adversary against the Scarlet Hand."

He gestured to the Frenchman across from him. "As Charlemagne said, you... somehow unconsciously caused a huge breach in the organization that left Merlin baffled since he’s tried to penetrate the group without much success for quite some time. I don’t see why we shouldn’t help each other dismantle it. Friends with secrets," he said, extending his arm across the table.

Rachel grinned and shook his hand. "To the misfortune of our enemies. I think we’ve found some common ground. Now, what should I eat on the UK taxpayer’s dime?" she asked with a dark chuckle, not wanting to pass up the opportunity to live a little more lavishly as she studied the quite expensive menu. "There are so many options to choose from."

A frown creased her lips as a jabbing string of misfortune struck her. "...Nia, do not order the clams. For some reason, the entire place might blow up if you do."

"A little extreme," Jeanne chortled. "I suppose I will stay away from them as well. Does this mean that I am free to join you for the next day or two?"

Rachel scratched her left ear and set down her menu with a heavy sigh. "I’ll need to get Scarlet’s permission, but I don’t think it will be that hard. Welcome to Omen, well... temporarily."

Nia chuckled, returning to the menu. "And if the organization actually existed."

The blonde showed a radiant smile. "Thanks for having me."

Rachel’s guard spiked as Nia’s face suddenly went white upon flipping the page, catching all of their attention. "What is it?" she asked, scooting over to see what was written on the leather booklet with Jeanne.

Nia gulped and pointed at the menu. "Major... why is there a dish named Rabbit Foot Stew? Don’t tell me they actually... eat rabbits?!"

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Rachel doubled over at her outfit’s serious and searching eyes. "Yes, Nia! Yes, we eat rabbits!"

"...Savages... I’ve lost my appetite," she mumbled with an audible sniff, closing the book. "Would you just chop off... Never mind..."

Smiles came from the others at the lighter topic—well, at least it was lighter to them—and a few other topics came up, like the horned rabbits in legend. Rachel figured Nia was about to ask if they’d chop off Moongmor’s or Mei’s feet for a stew. Her outfit had a lot to learn about their world still.