Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Two (section)

===Back On Track===

The next morning, the group rendezvoused at the mess in the castle itself, to ascertain if Jake was ready for travel.  To the others’ relief, not only was Jake recovering well, but Remilia noted that Venus’ self-blame seemed to have dissipated.  Neither teen was quite themselves yet, but Jake was determined to move on.

After a quick meal – Jake wasn’t quite ready to pick his workout routine back up yet – they dispersed over the city, with the boys eager to see the ocean-side scenic overlook they had been planning to see the previous day, and the girls visiting the city’s highest terrace, where the upper crust shops and art galleries were.

Jake stood on the edge of the balcony and watched the world fall away from him.

They were atop a ledge over the sheer cliff that dropped down to the ocean below.  The red water looked like a sea of blood, stretching out to infinity.
“Hell of a view, all right,” Jake said.

Alex leaned on the railing and peered down.  “Yeah.  We’re at least four klicks up.”

“If you look close, you can see where the egress tunnels for the sluices are,” Jake said, pointing down to some discolored points on the water.

“Cool.  I wonder how acidic that water is?” Alex asked.

“Well, there are whales in it, so probably not very,” Jake said.

Alex sipped from his bottle of water and cast a glance over his friend.  Shorn hair on the back of his head aside, he looked no worse for wear.  “You need to sit down?”

“I do, actually,” Jake said.  He glanced over to where a group of Nocturneans were standing, taking in the view.  He ambled over to a seat and dropped in with a sigh.  Alex sat down next to him, passing him the water.  “Thanks.”

“Is it your head or your legs?” Alex asked.

“Neither, just tired.”  Jake took a sip and passed it back.  “I think I’ll chill here for a while.  You want to go do something else?”

Alex glanced down the street to where the city’s foot traffic moved under the terraced roads.  “The girls should be meeting us for lunch in ten minutes at a café up the terrace.  Want to take a cab?”

“I may have to,” Jake confessed.  He stuck his hand out and flagged a passing taxi.

As the vehicle slowed, Alex leaned over the driver’s side window.  “Orlaront’s café, please,” he said.

“Sure thing,” the driver said.  Jake eased into the vehicle and sat down, massaging his temples.  The car sped off.  “So, you folks not from around here?” the driver asked.

“Seems like everyone on the planet has either asked or assumed that since we got here,” Jake said wryly.

“We’re Terrans,” Alex said.  “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“Someone already picked a fight with us over it,” Jake added.

“Nah, your money’s silver.”  The driver deftly maneuvered them through the weaving traffic.  “You in town for business?”

“End of school road trip, actually,” Jake said.

“From Terra?  Brave of you.”

Jake shrugged.  “I have family here.”

“Ah.”  The driver pulled them over beside the modest café.  “Here we go.”

“Thanks for the ride, sir,” Jake said, heaving himself out as Alex paid him.

“No problem.  Enjoy your stay,” the driver said, pulling back into traffic.

Jake watched him go.  “People hereabouts can’t decide whether to be nice or ambivalent towards us,” he said under his breath.

Alex snorted.  “Just noticing that, are you?”

“It wasn’t this bad in Clymene or Aethonion,” Jake observed.  He opened the door and walked in, spotting Venus’ red eyes at the back of the room.  “Nobody tried to brain me there.”

“I’ll grant you that,” Alex said.

Venus saw the boys and waved them over.  Jake noted with relief that Venus’ eyes were back to their usual, healthy glow, and that she wasn’t wearing her sunglasses, having slung them in her collar.  She stood up and hugged him as Alex slid into his seat.  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Much better, thanks,” Jake said.  He looked around.  There wasn’t a soul in the place besides them.  “This place is vacant.”

“Good.  Privacy,” Venus said.


After lunch, the group split back up, with Venus heading up to the markets with Jake and Remilia as Alex and Freya went down to the cragfalls, about the only tourism destination in the city.  On the way, Jake paused as they walked past the bar where he had been attacked, only two days before.

“Would you guys give me a second?” he asked.  Venus and Remilia exchanged a look.

“You want to go back?” Remilia asked.

“Not looking for trouble.  I just kind of feel bad for scaring the shit out of the bartender like that,” Jake said.

“Well, I doubt he’s even there, but if you want to go, go,” Venus said.  “Take your time.”

“Thanks.”  Jake entered the place and found it deserted, save a few people who looked like regulars at the bar, and to his satisfaction, the bartender from before.

The barkeep saw him making his way over from the door and started.  “Lord Seager!  Sir, I owe you a sincere apology for before, that should never have happened.”

“Easy, man, easy, I’m fine,” Jake said.

The man grimaced in remorse.  “It was a disgrace to this establishment and to Skarokk.”

“It’s also over.  No hard feelings,” Jake said, extending his hand.  The bartender gratefully shook it.

“Thank you for your mercy, your Lordship, and for that of the Princess.  I’m in your debt.”

“Not really, you just did what you had to.  And the asshole responsible is contemplating eternity in the Castle dungeon, so I think it works out,” Jake said.  “Seriously, nobody’s blaming you.  I just stopped by to apologize for the whole mess.”

The bartender inclined his head in respect.  “Thank you, my Lord, that makes a difference to me.”

“Good.”  Jake nodded back.  “Goodbye.”

“Thanks for stopping in, your Lordship,” the barman called after him.