In the course of an adventure, many things happen. Lives are changed for either better or worse with each action. Treasures, hidden from view are found; days deemed lost are won; Evil feared absolute is defeated. But even better, tales thought forgotten are told.

The small sideways glances seem insignificant when weighed against fighting hand to hand with the enemy. It's easy to forget an offhand comment when shouting over the din of war. Looking back, it all adds up to a chance that was never taken.

I suppose that now, since you and I are a bit more comfortable writing to each other (and since I know that a certain Judge has stopped reading our correspondence) I shall drop our code and use proper names.

So Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, here is my next chapter:

We found ourselves on the Phon Coast, at the hunters' camp. Basch said it would be best to stay for the night and recuperate from the journey. He knew the road ahead would be hard and unforgiving. Balthier was inclined to agree, not because of weariness, but the coast would give him an opportunity to have a bath.

I don't know if you have ever been there, but its one of the most beautiful places in Ivalice. The skies are always blue, the sun bright and hot. I had never seen the sea before and I wanted to stay there forever. Vaan suggested we go exploring, to see what the coasts caves were like. I told him I had had enough of caves and wanted to go to the water. We ran down to the shoreline and pulled off our boots. The water was cool and it was quite a relief from being on our feet for days on end. The sea air was salty and heavy; on every breeze, it was like swallowing a spoonful of stew. Vaan and I ran out into the waves, laughing at how cold the water was. The camp was situated in a small cove, I guess, so the waves weren't huge, but just sort of lapped against the shore.

For a while, we just stood there, looking out over the horizon. I asked Vaan if he ever thought we would be doing this. Naturally, he thought I meant standing in water up to our chests. That's Vaan for you. I said "No, I meant seeing the, the world, being so far from home." He said "Well, we're sky pirates now. Where ever we are is home."

I suppose that's true, isn't it? Of course, at the time, I thought there was some kind of official sky pirate ceremony. Like Balthier had to sign off on some document, or we had to recite some pledge or something. If your laughing, Larsa, it's okay…Vaan did too.

After we were good and wrinkly, we went back to the beach. It was getting to be dusk at that point and the wind was beginning to change. The campers invited us over to share the fire with them. A big Seeq had brought down some kind of huge fish and was frying it on a flat stone in the middle. It was ugly looking, with eyes the size of your fist. Well, Basch's fist, anyway. He held one of the eyes in his hand to compare. (You should ask him about it!) Ashe sat away from the rest of the campers. I guess she was still untrusting of people she didn't know, but whenever anyone directed the conversation to her, she joined in. Fran wasn't there for this part. I guess she was off doing something else. I didn't really notice until she came back later, after night had fallen. Balthier on the hand was fitting in well with the other hunters. You'll have to excuse this brief impropriety, when I mention that he had taken his shirt and vest off, after washing them in the surf. I have to mention it, because it is important later. Anyway, he's having a grand time, drinking and carousing and what not.

The hunters swapped stories of hunts, each trying to top the last. One man, from Balfonhiem (I think) told us he had slain some ferocious beast that was terrorizing the miners in Bhujerba. As soon as he started going into detail, Vaan looked at me and said "no he didn't, we did!" Well, the camper next to me heard him and told him to speak up. Vaan stood up and proclaimed, "No you didn't! We did!" The campers were surprised. First of all, because the story had been interrupted; but secondly, because I had the snake's fang Basch yanked out of its maw as proof. Basch confirmed it and he told the story of what really happened. The hunter was so embarrassed he was found out.

The Chief hunter (or head hunter, if you like) gave Vaan a pat on the back and declared that he and the rest of us were officially hunters of the Phon Coast. I laughed and said "See, Vaan? An official ceremony!"

After some time (and some drunken singing and dancing) we let the fire die down and we prepared to bed down for the night. Ashe, Fran, and I slept away from the men, mostly because over the course of this adventure, we had discovered that Basch snores like a wounded Seeq, (Don't tell him I told you!), but also it was protocol for new arrivals to the camp to stand one of the night watches. Balthier volunteered for the first watch, but not without "sending the girls to bed." Ashe shot him a look and looked as if she wanted to say something back, but changed her mind. Fran was quiet, as usual.

I wanted to stay up and asked if I could help with the watch. One of the hunters said I was too little. Balthier said I was one of the strongest and bravest too-littles he had met. I got to stay.

Now that was and adventure in itself. Now remember that e's still shirtless and climbing around the dunes in the dark. We get our assignment from the chief hunter and we have to start our watch for two hours. Even though most of the capers were going to sleep, it was noisy, with waves coming up crashing into the shores. It was almost pitch black; no moon, stars, anything. It was strange. There were only the small fires of the watch, one on either side of the actual camp and then another two up near the pass where we came. Balthier and I were stationed there. I have to admit, I was a little scared being up there. You could hear the "local fauna" as Balthier called them, shrieking and howling in the darkness.

Now, it was at this point Balthier remembered his shirt was still on the beach below. He told me to stay put and he'd go retrieve it. I said I'd go get it for him, but he was adamant about it and mumbled about "dune flies" and "delicate skin" or something.

So there I was, in the dark. By myself. I could see him leave only about paces. I knew it was a little bit of a walk, but he was trotting along, I hoped. They had put us here since it was a fairly close proximity to the beach, plus easier to run down hill than across loose sand, and presumably safer. I stayed near the fire, with my eyes on the beach.

And then, I heard this horrible noise behind me. I couldn't turn around. My sword was in my hand, so I used the flat side as a mirror, to see what it was. A huge wolf was standing there, growling and baring it's teeth. I couldn't tell how far away it was, but I knew I had to do something.

I turned around as quickly as I could and ran toward it. I caught the wolf in the side and it yelped and leaped backward. Again, it snarled at me and began to move slowly. I called for Balthier, but I had no idea if he heard me. I had to do this myself. I remembered I had a rust knot in my pouch, so I threw it at the wolf. I must have hit it because it stumbled back. When it was stunned for a little, so I ran up and swung at it again. This time I hit it just below the head and took its head off. I scared myself. I had never done something like that before.

It was then, when it was in the final throes of death, that Balthier came bounding up the dune. I must've looked a bit ragged, to say the least. He seemed a bit concerned, but no moreso than his usual aloof demeanor. I don't know why, but I think I just stood there and cried. He came up to me, tried to comfort me without getting blood on his clean shirt. That handkerchief- remember the one I showed you?- came out of his cuff.

"You certainly are a brave too-little, aren't you?" he said. We didn't really speak after that. When the next watch came to relieve us; we headed back down to our group. It was colder on the beach, but the dunes were serving as a windbreak.

Balthier said I was going to be fine and fell asleep right way. I couldn't. I just stared at the clouds all night. I tried to figure out why this was bothering me. Our journey to this point had been full of fighting, so why was this so hard?

Larsa, I hope this doesn't make you think I'm weird or something. It was just something that needed to come out and be told. I hope that you can share some of your past with me. I'll leave you to get back to affairs of state now.

Please tell Basch that Vaan and I say hello and we miss him.

Your spoony bard,

Penelo