This is my first Fire Emblem fanfic, so I'm trying to keep the characters… well… in "character." Bastian's speech pattern is hard to imitate, though. Sheesh! Ok, enjoy this story; I hope I actually finish it.
"You're sure?"
"Absolutely, dearest Volke. Would I tell thee a lie about our common friend? Come now! I am above that!"
Volke stepped back out of surprise and slumped against the wall of Bastian's room. For the first time in a long time, the assassin felt his heart thump furiously. Could it be that the third member of the Fayre Trio was still alive? The mere thought shattered Volke's calm exterior. Bastian was still standing by the cherry-wood table, holding a tome and fiddling with some papers sprawled across the table.
"She's… alive?" the assassin gasped, tugging on his collar as if the temperature in the room had just skyrocketed.
Bastian put down his tome and nodded. "Yes, from what my sources have learned. However, there is a problem…"
Of course there is, Volke thought wryly, scrambling to his feet for fear that someone would come into the room. Bastian hadn't locked the door, and the assassin was worried that the count's vassals weren't as trustworthy as he'd made them out to be. It would ruin his reputation if someone were to find him stunned… something that Volke knew would be disastrous to his career.
"What's the problem?"
The count of Fayre sighed. "Our common friend is being held quite uncomfortably in the Cult's fortress atop the waves. I have already contacted them, but they will not lend me an ear until I can produce the artifacts we stole from them. And a payment for our friend's release has been asked of me, as well."
Volke straightened his jacket. "Hmmm… so you don't have the artifacts? Is that why you called me here so suddenly?"
"Yes, indeed that is the case. Because of the nature of the exchange, I couldn't call on anyone else. And I thought that you would enjoy having the honor of being the one to set our little dove free."
"Alright, I'll find them. Do you have the locations?"
"… No."
Volke slapped his face. "Then how do you expect me to find them?"
Bastian smiled. "You are the best at finding things that don't want to be found. At the present time, my hands are tied up in politics…"
"And yet you find time to meet with me. A rather odd schedule, Bastian."
"Well… I can't have dear Queen Elincia knowing about this. It would ruin her reputation with the nobles. So I can be of no aid to you."
"Hmph! Typical. But you've never once lied to me (or fallen behind on a payment), so I'll do this on my own. Should I know about where to make the exchange once I have the artifacts?"
The count picked up the papers he'd been fiddling with idly before and gave them to Volke. "The details are in here. I'm assuming that you can pay the ransom. When you've got our friend back, be sure to tell me. We've all got a lot of catching up to do."
The assassin flipped through the pages. "Of course. I should get started then."
With that, Volke slipped through the room and out a window into the night.
Please comment. Next section is a flashback. Woot!
