Chapter Twenty-Two, Companions on the Prow

"So, how do you know the Lieutenant?"
"We bailed each other out of an encounter with a Frost Wyrm. I spent a week showing her around town and since then I've just followed her around."
"Why?"

The sea breeze was strong but she was still warm from the sun. It reminded her of summer in the mountains. Ishylde had let her flaxen hair out of its usual braid so she could enjoy the full experience. Some small voice in the back of her mind told her that being at the prow of the ship looking out across the rolling waves likely made her look quite beautiful. Alicea would have probably thought about that voice, but Ishylde was content to simply listen.
Zack had been following her around since he came aboard, although he hadn't actually worked up the nerve to talk to her until they'd left Marelle. She wasn't sure how old he was, but she felt older when she was around him. So she tolerated his small talk and his furtive glances, and enjoyed the little power she got from his attention.
But for once his question was actually valid. Why did she follow Alicea? Sure she was a solid warrior, and if her tactical advice both in the mountains and in Marelle was any indication she was also quite clever. But so was Hveglir, or Rhod, even Barret could form a decent plan if he had the time, and all were strong warriors, why did she follow Alicea when she'd never wanted to follow them?

When she were younger the response she'd have given would've been a simple 'because'. That wouldn't work now, and Zack was hardly as spell struck with Alicea as many of the warriors they'd commanded in Marelle. If anything he'd respond to that with some nonsense about how he was sure she could lead better. She had to answer somehow, he was begining to stare.
"I wanted an adventure, and she was on one."
"You know, WE could have an adventure. Just the two of us, some distant world with nothing to bother us, no war, no Ga-Vok, no bossy witch swinging her axes around telling us what to do."
"No, thank you. Besides we just left one of the planet's only spaceports, I doubt we'd have a chance to leave before we got to the Monastary anyways."
"Maybe you'll think about it?"
His eyes glimmered slightly as he made a desperate attempt to persuade her. She chose not to throw aside his affections just yet.
"Well, maybe."

He strode off gaily to the cabin, obviously thinking his efforts productive. She turned her thoughts back to the question. Why did she follow Alicea?