The System Seas-Chapter 154: Epilogue
Tatric’s shack was the same as always, outside the plaque. Marco stood on the squeaking boards that made up the porch, laughing at it. Tatric would have thought it was stupid, he knew. Marco found it hard to care.
Here sits the abode of Tatric the dockmaster, who raised the temple hero. Having guided the system church from within, he corrected its ways and laid the path for the hero to defeat the great beast, settle the seas, and save our people.
Tatric would of course have pointed out that he had done none of those things, but Marco felt the plaque was closer to the truth than either of them thought when the new temple government put it up.
“I’ll never get why he didn’t rebuild this any better. It’s been falling down the first day he put it back up.”
Aethe appeared next to Marco. It had been a long time since he had been able to detect when she was coming. Everyone had their little talents, and besides arrows, this was hers. Marco could just about squint and see that she had aged over the years if he concentrated on it. He didn’t see any reason to, though.
“Did you all decide, after all?” Marco asked. “I mean about the sea, and all.”
“I know what you mean. Yes, everyone decided. And as I said before, it’s silly that you weren’t there.”
Marco turned and wrapped his wife up in his arms. She had never once betrayed him, so he could listen to her on things like this without any worry that she had his best interests in mind. Still, that didn’t always mean that he did.
“I just wanted them to be able to choose and announce it there without looking at me. Everyone knows this is my dream. I thought it would make it easier for people to say no.”
“Marco, you poor beautiful boatman.” Aethe nestled her head close. “Nobody worries that you wouldn’t accept it. Everyone will be fine. I promise. Now come on. It’s time to hear the results.”
Gulf Isle had grown a lot over the years, but having been there for most of the growth meant that none of it felt unnatural to Marco. The System Priests had been as good as he had hoped they might, freed of what they thought were necessary duties to kidnap and actually set loose to do good. On top of that, they had grown more powerful with every temple Marco had captured, and there had been plenty of time to do that.
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There might have been better islands than Gulf Isle somewhere, but Marco doubted it. Riv’s parents had even moved there, eventually, mostly because it was the first place
The Foolish Endeavor
tended to stop on trips home. Once installed in Marco’s hometown, they had built houses for all the couples and Elisa. She had never really found a reason to be a couple, which had surprised nobody at all besides her father, who found himself forced to think about it for the first time when he finally began to work on finding her a suitable suitor at the ripe age of forty. Mercifully, it didn’t take Elisa long to set him straight on her own long-set course, and her terrified would-be husband was freed to his own devices almost at once.
The meeting field was always the same. Marco walked in, nodding at all of his friends as he took to the center of the stage. Elisa was there, holding a notebook as always, this one he was sure filled with the decisions of everyone present. Really, there were twenty or thirty people who might go, all of whom he’d be glad to have along. Deep down, though, there were only ever four or five he could bring himself to actually need.
“Ready?” Elisa smiled at him.
“Ready.”
He sat down in his chair as Elisa started to work her way through the list. She, of course, was going. Aethe’s stance on never abandoning Marco had always been known. Riv and Jane’s daughter was an adult now, well installed in her life, and ready to be on her own. She smiled as their names were called on the yes list, then raised her eyebrows as her grandparents' names were also called.
In the end, there were ten people who had decided to leave safety for the unknown. Everyone had years, at least, to make that decision. Everyone knew what it meant, at least in terms of seeing this place again. This was the last time they’d see home.
It was the last of many parties Marco had seen on Gulf Isle. They ate, they drank, they danced, and they joked. Nobody went home to go to sleep. Everyone enjoyed every moment they had left before it was time to leave.
And then the sun came up, and that time arrived at last. The temples were nothing if not decisive, and the disturbances had started up a week ago. Elisa had calculated down to the minute when they’d have to leave, and that minute was there.
“Well, Captain?” Riv asked. “Are we ready?”
“I think we are, Chickenmaster Riv. Our poultries are in order?”
“As always.” Riv bowed, smiling. “As it ever will be.”
“Oh, shut up, you two.” Jane came forward. “This is serious.”
“I don’t know. I like a little fun. Although I don’t think he does know where he’s going. Do you, Elisa?”
“No chance at all. But we should at least check. Do you know where you are headed, Marco?”
Marco smelled the sea air and looked deep inside himself for any instructions from the system or temples. For once, they seemed to have no opinions on the matter.
Marco just shrugged, pointed the nose of the ship, and sailed on forever.
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Chapter 154: Epilogue
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