He felt fair warning had to be given.
“Cool,” said Dale, and did not look dismayed by this information at all. “I was hoping you’d stop by.”
Elliot did not see why that would be. He considered the matter, and considered Dale, sitting on his bed and looking rumpled, happy, and extremely handsome. He decided it did not matter.
“Dale,” Elliot said winningly. “Dale Wavechaser. Like I know another Dale.”
Dale did what Dale usually did around Elliot: smile, but look puzzled. It was a lot more goodwill than Elliot was used to.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Elliot added, coaxingly. “Considering this new information about Luke. You have heard the news about Luke?”
“Yeah.” There was a sudden flash in Dale’s eyes, like light striking a mirror. “I was thinking you might come by.”
“Oh?” said Elliot, lost again.
“I mean, I was hoping you’d—want to talk to me about this,” said Dale. “This—news about Luke changes things.”
“Yes!” said Elliot. “Yes, it does!”
Dale hesitated. “Of course I still really like Luke. But you and I have so much in common.”
“Sure, if you say so,” said Elliot. “Now, here’s the plan. Luke is a romantic, and I had several intricate schemes worked out in which you two seemed to gradually and naturally come together.” He made a gesture indicating how Luke and Dale would have slowly mutually discovered the treasure of love. Dale stared in what appeared to be horrified fascination. “However, Luke is in need of immediate cheering up and an ego boost, so I think you should get together right away. I’m going to arrange it. Follow my lead.”
He became enthused as he talked, and paced around Dale’s little cabin. There were no books in it at all, which he found unsettling, but such things did not matter to Luke.
“What?” said Dale.
“I’d really like to get this done quickly, so I may not be as subtle as I usually am.”
“Oh my God,” said Dale.
Elliot beamed, nodded, and clasped Dale’s shoulder in what he hoped was a gesture of manly agreement.
“And if you woo Luke fast, you can definitely come on our trip to make an alliance with the harpies,” he promised. “You should try to come. It will be a historic occasion.”
“That’s true,” Dale said. “It would look pretty impressive to commanders, to have been on the harpies expedition.”
Dale had no appreciation for history in the making, but Elliot decided to forgive him for that.
“Absolutely,”
“Oh, but, Elliot, I don’t know about this—you being unsubtle business, or—”
“You wound me with your lack of faith. Trust me! Trust me. Good night. Good talk,” Elliot said. “I’m so pleased you’re seeing things my way, Dale.”
Elliot did not confine himself to bothering Dale. He also dedicated himself to bothering Commander Woodsinger, who had written to Celaeno, the leader of the nest that Rachel said Luke’s biological father had belonged to.
“Good morning, good to see you, just here to show normal military-style respect for you as a cadet to his commander,” said Elliot every morning, poking his head around the door. “Did you hear back yet? I like your haircut, by the way.”
Commander Woodsinger had cropped her wiry black curls very close. It was extremely military, but it suited her.
“Please do not comment on my appearance or inquire as to my private correspondence, Cadet.”
“You’re right,” Elliot said. “I shouldn’t. Only it was reported to me—”
“By one of your spies?” the commander asked.
“No, no,” said Elliot. “Not spies. People I have terrorized into doing my bidding and watching other people and places for me. You pay spies. Anyway, a little bird told me—”
Commander Woodsinger sighed. “Celaeno has professed herself eager to meet Luke, and willing to allow a troop from the Border guard to accompany him, and discuss the possibility of an alliance that might be drawn up between our people.”
“Ohhhh,” said Elliot, deeply pleased. “Sounds like you could use someone from the council course along.”
“That would not be standard.”
“But you don’t live by the man’s rules!”
“I live by the law of the land,” said Commander Woodsinger.
“Well, this wouldn’t be against the law,” said Elliot. “Obviously. I have the greatest respect for the law, or whatever. This would just be you, in the wisdom of your command, making an exception to standard practises. For the good of the treaty and your cadets.”
Commander Woodsinger sighed again, this time more pointedly. Elliot could almost feel his curls blow back. “I do realize how vital this treaty could be, Cadet,” she said. “I intend to lead this mission myself.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else to lead our mission, Commander.”
“And I have not said you are permitted to come!”
“I understand that, you’re thinking about it,” said Elliot. “I have faith you will consider the matter from every angle and arrive to the right decision. Which is, to be clear, that you should let me go with you.”
He looked around the tower room. It had not changed much since he was thirteen. Commander Woodsinger did not have an eye for home decoration. There were the same stone walls, and the same large desk, only with less paper on it, and no candle too close to the parchment.
And there was a commander behind the desk he respected. He had not really understood what command meant, four years ago.
“Cadet Schafer, since you mentioned my personal appearance, do you know why I got this haircut?” Commander Woodsinger inquired. “It was so that, when faced with your rank insubordination, I would be able to resist the urge to tear my hair out in handfuls.”
“Aw, Commander!” said Elliot. “You were thinking of me over the summer. I’m touched.”
“Get out of my office,” the commander told him. “Get out.”
“So you’re saying you’ll think about letting me come along?” Elliot inquired. “So I’ll leave you to think about it.”
“Out!”
Elliot paused, trying to find the absolute right thing to say to her. This was so difficult, because it was not just about peace treaties. Because it was about Luke. Elliot could not say I have to come because he needs me, because that would be absurd. It was obvious to anyone that Luke did not.
“Even if the treaty was not vital,” he said at last. “I have to go.”
The commander was silent. He saluted her and went out the door and down the steps of the tower to collect his latest harpy book. He was learning a lot about harpies, but he wished he had started years earlier. Now he only had days, and he had to make a perfect compendium on harpy culture for Luke, so that Luke would understand, and he would not mess the treaty up, and he would not be angry and afraid anymore.