Author's note: sorry for the delay, I have been recovering from frostbite in my hands. I would like to remind you not to wear open-fingered gloves when delivering papers for a friend you owe many favors for when it's 10 degrees out and the wind's blowing at 20 mph! (LOL!)

Chapter 4: A New Beginning

Upon waking up the next morning, Chris, Lenna, Rustus, Sirena, and Ken all greet eachother in the castle entrance room before setting out. They have planned to buy supplies for their journey, so they set out for the Ostian marketplace.

Each sets off in a different direction. Well, actually, Chris and Lenna are still walking together, but that's beside the point.

Rustus was placed in charge of getting swords and lances, and he was not exactly the best suited for the job, because he was a little weaker, strengthwise, than Chris or Ken. But, nonetheless, it was his job. So, he had to do it.

Suddenly he came across a small crowd. They seemed to be circling someone as they were mugged.

"Please, not my Hammerne! Leave me alone!" cried a shrill voiced young lady.

The thugs simply laughed, looking at their helpless prey with interest. "Well, not only do we have a cleric, but a pretty one as well. We could fetch a pretty penny for this one."

As he reaches for her, Rustus goes berserk, as though the cleric had just used a Berserk staff on him. "Leave her alone! If you want a fight, I will gladly oblige you. But be warned, I am a veteran warrior."

Rustus reaches for Justice. The brigands draw their axes, but are swiftly silenced by the cleric's Sleep staff. Still, a couple of them were unaffected, and Rustus stll had to fight them. One swings his axe, which sinks into a cart of straw after Rustus dodges it. Then the other tries to sweep him off his feet with the dull side of his axe, but he is unable to hit, as Rustus dodges it, then swings Justice "Mineuchi" (1) style at his hand. It connects with his target, causing the brigand to numbly drop his weapon.

"We surrender. Let's get out of here!" says the two brigands, leaving their axes, and comrades, behind.

The cleric stands in shock, unable to accept the fact that a minor thief just defended her... with a katana, no less.

"Wow." she whispers.

Rustus looks at her, but is shocked... by her beauty. At a slight loss of words, he says "Um... we should get out... you know before they wake up."

The cleric smiles as they start walking toward a tent with swords. "Good idea. By the way, who are you?"

"The name's Rustus. Despite my despicable appearance, I can be nice."

She smiled. "Obviously. My name's Rachelle. I came to buy supplies. I'm heading in to Pherae to see my mother.

Rustus looked at her, as though she just said something he needed to hear. "Well, Rachelle, we share a common destination. I am heading there on... umm... actually I'm not allowed to say why, but yes, we are both heading to Pherae."

Rachelle smiles. "Do you mind if I accompany you?"

Rustus, despite the fact that he dislikes disappointing people, frowns. "I'm afraid I cannot allow that. Yet I do not like the thought of you going alone. You may come with me to see what my comrades think. But for now I must purchase weapons for the trip."

He pays for two Iron Swords and one Steel Sword. He had thought about buying a Silver one or perhaps a Killing Edge, but they were a little on the expensive side.

Suddenly, the merchant raises his head. His mustache was unmistakably similar to a picture of the merchant from the Battle of Dragon's Gate. (2) "Hey, wait." he says. Rustus approaches him, Rachelle still at his side. "I saw what you did for her... and I like men of valor. Please, take this Killing Edge, it's on the house."

Rustus is stunned. "I can't take that. It's too much. You're losing about 1300 gold on that."

The merchant smiles. "No, it's yours. You remind me of the stories my grandpa passed down from his family about the great battles fought here in Ostia. About how one fought to save another. Please... just take it."

Rustus, pleased to her that he gave an old man a memory, finally accepts it. However, realizing he cannot hold too much more, he gives a sword to Rachelle, even though she cannot use it.

"I have one last stop to make before we have to go back to the crew. Is that OK with you, Rachelle?" Rustus asks to his new companion.

Rachelle smiles. "Of course it's OK with me. I feel stronger with you, so let's go!"

Chris and Lenna were placed in charge of obtaining medical supplies. However, even though they grew up here in Ostia, they still had no idea where the medical supplies were located...

"I wish Lord Reginald was assigned to us, we wouldn't need to look for the dratted supplies!" said Lenna.

Chris looks at his companion. "I do too, but he's needed here as you know, so we have to make do. At least with our gold we can get plenty of supplies."

Suddenly a hollow voice barks out. "Give us your money or you will pay!"

And laughter ensues. Lenna recognized the voice immediately. "Linus, you may quit that now."

Suddenly a short man with his hair braided in the back and a headband over his forehead, wearing red armor and a scarf with his signature axes thrown over his shoulders stepped forward.

"Dang it! I can never pull off that one on you guys." Linus steps out of the shadows.

Chris looks at him. "You got tall, man! But you're still a novice axewielder!"

Linus looks his usual stone face at him. "But I'm still better than you, Mr. Couldn't-Pull-A-Little-Girl-Off-Of-A-Cliff-When-She-Could-Plummet-To-Her-Doom!"

Lenna laughs. "That might be true, but I like him anyway!"

She throws her arms around Chris, whose face immediately turns a shade of crimson I feel no human should reach.

Linus takes a look at the scene and laughs. Then he asks. "So what you two doing besides having a lovefest every night?"

Lenna took a look at her friend and said "We're getting medical supplies for a trip to Pherae. King's orders."

Linus smiled. "Mind if I come with? Someone's gotta keep you two under control.

Chris looks at the pirate and says. "Sure, we could use the help. But I don't appreciate anyone trying to come between me and my friend here, so don't even try it."

The three of them laugh, then Lenna asks "Do you know where the medical supplies are sold?"

Linus laughs. "You two amaze me to no end! Follow me."

On the other side of the marketplace, Ken was trying to find the axe vendor, but was having trouble getting there because of his habit of wooing the ladies he sees along the way. That is until he sees a merchant being attacked by brigands.

"Give us the axes and we may spare your life!" yells one of the fiends.

The merchant was well aware that they were going to kill him anyway, but he reaches for a stepladder to reach his axes anyway.

At this point, Ken was passing by, and heard the commotion. He looked in and saw the brigands. He draws a sword from his backpack. "What in blazes is going on!"

The brigands turn their attention to Ken, whose sword is held in a defensive stance.

"Let's crush him!" says one of the brigands.

The five brigands all surround him, although one could attack from a distance with his Hand Axe. However, Ken's blade found its mark every time. Then, as the hand axe is thrown, it hits his side, slashing a gaping wound in its place. As soon as that happens, Ken falls over, his blade sent rolling. He reached for another one nearby, but when he gripped this blade, he felt an energy flow through him. He simply swung it in the direction of the brigand and he falls, dead as a coffin nail. (3)

But that's not all, as soon as he hits the ground, Ken feels the wound at his side melt away...

The merchant was pleased. "Thank you for saving me. As a token of my gratitude, that Runesword in your hand... it's on me. I owe you my life."

Ken was flattered. "Thanks much, but I'm here to buy axes. This will help me on my journey."

The merchant gave a chuckle as he reached for his stepladder again.

Do what you do best.

That is what the rest of them said for Sirena to do.. So, back in her room she was, with a small fire burning in the center of the room.

She was chanting, in hopes of being visited by another spirit. And what she got was...

Suddenly the smoke parted. A man, dressed in tan and blue appeared. He had a headband on his head with a purple cloak on his back. On his belt were a pair of daggers, although what kind was a mystery.

"Mysterious chanter of spirits, please listen." it says. "I am Legault, the thief once known as the Hurricane. I come to warn you. The woods between Ostia and Pherae are crawling with bandits. Excersise extreme caution when traveling them. But if you must go, there will be aid. There is a small tribe living in there. If you can befriend them, they will help you. But if you take so much as a single axe into combat, they will not help you. Their leader, if you protect them, may give you something useful. But it will be dangerous, so if you feel this path is the way, be careful."

And the fire goes out.

But with the information gathered by her séance, she could warn the others...

But she will not be able to help them in that battle... all she knows how to use is axes, and a single axe will make it so that they cannot recieve aid.

With the information gathered by her chanting, she sets off to find the others.

It was approaching the hottest part of the day, and the crew had gathered near Ostia's main gate. Rustus had a question for them.

"Ok, this young lady wishes to go with us. Can she go?"

Chris's answer was intantaneous. "Absolutely not. She will be a burden."

Lenna, however saw that she had staves with her. "So, you're a cleric, aren't you?"

Rachelle looks at her and smiles. "Yes, that I am. But I'm not the greatest, yet."

Lenna smiles. "I say she can go. Healing powers are amazing."

Sirena looks at her. Then she asks "Are you willing to risk your life to get where you're going?"

Rachelle takes one quick glance at her and says "What kind of question is that? Of course!"

Sirena then looks at Rustus. "I approve."

Ken, being his usual self, glances her way. "My, what beauty has Rustus brought before me. And a healer too. My what an angel she is. I consent."

Linus, however had one thing to say. "Why do you want to go with us?"

Rachelle takes one look at her and says, simply, "We share a common destination. I wish to go to Pherae to see my mother. She sent me a message and she said she has something for me."

Unable to resist, he had to consent. Linus then became lost in his own thoughts. (4)

"Well," Said Rustus, looking at Chris. "I'm afraid majority rules out. Rachelle, welcome to the group.

Notes

1: Mineuchi is an attack attained on Final Fantasy 5 gained by the Samurai job. It swings the blade's dull side to stun enemies.

2: Yes, Merlinus has a descendant too! And he finally made his way to Ostia!

3: I say dead as a coffin nail instead of a door nail because it makes more sense. The last nail that is driven in life is that of the coffin.

4: Linus is remembering his own mother, how she fought to save him many years ago, and gave her life to ensure his own safety.