“So… The Avi we know, who is the chosen Herald of the Divine Empress, is a homunculus clone.”
“Yes.”
“And the real one, who is a woman now and goes by Andromeda, left the empire years ago and hasn’t been back since.”
“Yes.”
“And her parents have been putting secret bounties out for her return dead or alive.”
“Yeah.”
Jocaria pushed a coil of her curly black hair out of her face and scowled, “How long have you known all of this?”
“About a year.” Jaigra didn’t know where to look, but it definitely wasn’t in the eyes of both the Seraphs sitting across the campfire from her.
“And you didn’t think to tell anyone?” Jocaria was angry. She was furious. She was trying and failing to be somewhat reasonable about the situation, but every word out of Jaigra's mouth just made her angrier. She glanced at Tarthen to try and glean his reaction, but the Seraph's face was pressed into his hands.
“This is—— this is so hard to believe!” Tarthen muttered into his palms.
”How did you find out? No wait, how the fuck did this happen?”
That was a topic Jaigra had hoped to avoid. She swallowed hard, “Well, I uh... Huh.”
Jocaria just stared at her, “I’m waiting.” she said.
”She told me that she had been sneaking down to the lower districts and pretty much living a whole other life down there. Including using alchemy to transition into a woman and living in some bookstore with a bunch of anarchists.”
Tarthen looked up, ”Seriously? Avi?” Jocaria elbowed him, “I mean— Andromeda?”
Jaigra nodded, “Uh-huh.”
”That’s not everything. Keep talking.” Jocaria pressed.
Jaigra withered under the Seraph’s glare, “After she told me all of that, I went to her parents. At the time I’d hoped together we could talk some sense into her, but they shut me out. I didn’t hear anything from House Dharven for months. Then Avi pops up and says they’re good as new.”
”You didn’t ask any questions?” Jocaria was now both angry and exasperated. She stood up and started pacing around Jaigra’s makeshift camp to try and work off some of the ever-growing frustration.
Jaigra shook her head, “I was just happy they were talking to me again. For a while I thought they’d call off the betrothal.”
”That’s what you were worried about?” Jocaria shouted, her anger clearly boiling over. Jaigra said nothing and stared into the fire.
“What are we supposed to do about this?” Tarthen piped up.
”Yeah Vrath, what was your plan?” Jocaria sneered.
“I...“ Jaigra wasn’t sure anymore. She’d secured a hound stone and tracked Annie to this shithole town pinned between an irradiated wasteland and the edge of fucking nowhere. And for what? Of course Annie wouldn’t come back with her. Why would she? Now that she knew what they did to her, Jaigra couldn’t even believe she’d asked her to.
“I didn’t really have one.” she said.
”Boiling blood this is such a fucking mess!” Jocaria kicked up some sand and then whirled on Jaigra, “Where’d you get the hound stone? Who did you steal it from?”
”Avi gave it to me.” Jaigra’s voice was hollow.
”What?”
”Avi gave it to me,” Jaigra repeated, “They found out House Dharven had been putting out bounties on somebody named Andromeda Flynn for years. Said something about helping out the house and asked me to take the job. I would have never found Andromeda otherwise.”
”Oh Avi…” Tarthen said.
“It’s not Avi!” Jocaria snarled, “It’s some thing with Avi’s face! It’s an insult to the Empress that they’re trying to pass it off as her Herald!”
“They are passing it off,” Tarthen corrected her, “We wouldn’t even know if Jaigra hadn’t told us.”
Jocaria picked up her helmet and threw it at Jaigra. She raised an arm to shield herself and it bounced off her vambrace harmlessly. “Fuck you Vrath! Lords, if I was Andromeda I would have shot you by now!”
“You still can.” Jaigra said darkly.
”Stop it!” Tarthen stood up, “Both of you! This isn’t helping!”
Jocaria opened her mouth and closed it again, “Fine.” was all she said as she sat back down.
He looked at both of them, “What do we do about this? Neither of them can be the Herald like this! What will the Lords think when they find out? We need to find Andromeda!”
Jocaria pulled the hound sphere out. It shone in the firelight, casting shimmering amber hues in the glass, “Do we? She clearly doesn’t want to be found. It’s honestly a miracle she didn’t kill any of us. She still has her tattoos, she wouldn’t even need a needle.”
Jaigra said nothing. She’d revealed enough of Annie’s secrets.
"But she didn't!" Tarthen sounded excited, "So she doesn't want us dead, that's a good start right?"
Jaigra laughed. She couldn't help it. They were grasping at every straw they could find just like her. Andromeda didn't need any of them. Jaigra had though maybe she could save her after all this time as if that would change what had happened. It didn't. It couldn't. Annie had been forced to save herself, and she'd cast aside everything to do it.
"Pardon the interruption Seraphs, but I would like to speak with you in regards to your friend."
The trio turned towards the new voice. A man with a bushy brown mustache and goatee in a maroon vest and grey felt hat stood at the edge of the campsite. He tipped his hat towards the group and met each of their eyes, "You are familiar with the Stranger Andromeda Flynn, are you not?"
Jaigra moved her hand to her pistol as she rose to her feet, "Why? Who are you?"
"Oh! Forgive me, I got a bit ahead of myself," the man swept a hand in front of him and bowed theatrically, "In this town I'm known as Sheriff Jed."
"Sheriff? Didn't you hire the Stranger?" Tarthen asked.
"On paper I suppose I did, but my Deputy is actually the one who brought her here. Truthfully she's mostly been a nuisance I've tried to avoid." the Sheriff bared his teeth in a shark-like grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"Right..." Jaigra was uneasy. There was something wrong here. She drew her pistol, "What do you want?" Tarthen and Jocaria glanced at her and drew their own weapons. The Seraphs watched the Sheriff cautiously.
"I simply wish to know a bit more about the girl," Jed raised a hand towards them and displayed a dull metal ring around his finger, "And you are going to tell me everything." Grey threads erupted from the ring and encased the Seraphs. The last thing Jaigra saw as she collapsed was the Sheriff's boots strolling towards her. Then everything faded to grey.
