Chapter 4

At her entrance everyone had gone silent. Some of the guards were looking like she'd come back from the dead, she noted in interest as she stepped forward into the square.

"Why all the surrrprised looks? Didn't Rezor tell y'all I'd be back by morning?" Phe asked again, her Windurstain accent coming out slightly. Her smile faded as her question was met with an even heavier silence and she noticed the stunned looks on Ralen's, Loyiont's and Imalda Guards second-in-command's faces.

Suddenly nervous, Phe shifted her stance. She wasn't a big fan of surprises inside towns as a rule and got nervous when townies got silent- it usually meant someone was going to try an arrest her for some reason or other- usually political. "Oooooh Kaaaayy, starting to get a little freaked here. Someone explain to me what in all the hells is going on. Use small words please, I'm a bit sleepy."

The Lt. Commander snapped out of his stunned daze first, and began to explain. "My lady," He began, stepping forward. "Forgive us for looking as if you were a ghost. None of us expected to see you still fit and whole this morning." He came up to her, hand outstretched as if to touch her and see if she was real.

Instinctively, still unsure of what was going on, she backed up a step. The shocked faces were really starting to set her instincts on edge. This kept up she'd be jumping like a Dragoon at the first sign of danger.

Ralen took up the explanation. "No one in living memory, tale or song has survived a night outside of town in the Empire and lived to tell about it. All that is ever left of them are pieces of their clothing or maybe a weapon. They become part of the Undead Swarm, bid by their unholy mistresses to kill the living and feed on them." He took a deep breath, letting it out shakily. "Imalda's fields are plagued with these creatures after dark. Rezor let you leave, knowing that you planned on remaining outside after dark, without warning of the dangers. He fully expected you to not survive the night."

Blue eyes stared up into brown as she digested Ralen's words. "Huh," Phe mused. "Mistresses? Hume girl looking thing with a snake tail? About as tall as a Galka and carries a bow or a staff?"

Loyiont nodded, finally finding his voice. "The Lamia. They have a nest about three days sail away, the Arrapago Reef. Locally its just known as the Lamia's Reef." The healer looked sharply at her as her question registered. "You saw one? Your not injured or bleeding?"

Judging the latter question as too inane to warrant a reply, she answered the former. "Two actually, they up behind me while I was looking for something in my gobbiebag."

The second in command (what was his name again?) and the rest of what she assumed was supposed to be a search party had circled in around Loyiont, anxious to hear every word of what was promising to be a tale to tell at the pub. Her ears twitched slightly as she effortlessly picked up the muttered:

"Two??!!"

"Oh my sweet goddess Altana...."

"Two? No way she defeated two at once!"

"She's standing there isn't she, clear as day!"

"Two??!!"

"Inconceivable! No one can survive outside the town after sunset!"

"Ah, quit your bitching. She obviously won, she's carrying a Lamia bow. Pay up."

"Two??!!"

Biting back what promised to be a fit of giggles, Phe managed to continue after a brief pause with only the slightest hint of amusement in her tone, "They weren't too much of a problem. I just slept one and dealt with the other first. Not much to tell really. One was a some sort of ranger and the other a black mage. " She shrugged, "After that I just went on to the ruins that Captain Rezor had been good enough to direct me too."

"Excuse me, Lady Pheonic" The second in command, I really need to learn his name, this is gonna bug me until I do.... she thought absently, spoke up. "That bow...there have been stories about it since my great- grandfather was a boy. How did you come across it?"

Hefting the bow, now that there was light enough to see, Phe examined it critically. It was made of a rich glossy material she couldn't name. Knowing what type of creature had carried it she wouldn't be surprised if it was hume bone, but she didn't think so. It just didn't feel right. A re-curve bow, it had a pull strong enough to have her gritting her teeth when she drew it. It'd been years since she'd last picked up a bow and she could feel the neglect in muscles that were seldom exercised. "Gorgeous isn't it? Well anyway, its a bit silly how I got this- I said how one of the snake-freaks was a ranger right? Well- "

"Lamia," Loyiont corrected automatically. "They're called Lamia"

"Right, them." She shrugged. "I found it after the fight.

"So you killed her?" One of the guards asked in disbelief only to wish he'd kept his mouth shut as irritated blue eyes suddenly fastened on his face. She simply looked at him, didn't make a move towards him just simply looked at him as if waiting to see if he had anything else to add worthy of response. Swallowing a little, the guard decided that questioning further her might not be in his better interests.

She held his gaze for another moment before turning to the crowd at large. With a slight jerk of her shoulders, she answered, "She was certainly making a good effort at dying. She was on the ground, bleeding out from all the twitching she was doing. Tripped over the bow, so I picked it up and decided to keep it. "

Ralen, having decided that she was on her last reserves of energy (or should be anyway after being up all night with no sleep the previous day) stepped forward before anyone could ask her another question. "A tale that will get all of you free beers for the next few weeks to be sure," He said to the crowd. "But now I'm afraid I must insist on the Lady Pheonic getting some rest. Like us, she's had no sleep this night."

Turning to her, he gestured towards the keep. "Come my lady, lets get you too your bed. Before you decide to set fire to one of my guards for asking stupid questions."

Smiling slightly, she took his offered arm. "Thank you my lord, I could use some breakfast."

Loyiont started to go after them, but stopped after no more then a step. The adventurer was obviously uninjured. She hadn't been favoring any particular side or holding any injured limb, so despite being a bit dusty she seemed to have survived her night outside the walls quite well.

Instead of heading towards the keep, he started off towards his house and practice, but not before he heard Pheonic add, "Why would I want to set fire to him? Do you know how long it takes to get the smell of smoke and charred flesh out of armor?"

Laughing at her remark, Loyiont shook his head before hurrying off to find his own breakfast. Yes, she was definitely unhurt. He only hoped the town could survive the rest of her visit.

******

The mid-morning sun was streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze making the sun-lit dust motes visible as Ralen passed by. Only two guards stood outside his former Captain's quarters, the rest of the hallway was empty. In the time it had taken him to see Pheonic delivered into the hands of his chiding housekeeper; the men, who on any other day would busy with daily tasks and errands, had apparently decided that being busy somewhere other than the barracks would be a good idea.

He returned the guards salute and nodded at the door. "Any trouble?"

"None, m'lord" The senior guard on duty responded respectfully. Ralen nodded, "Thank you Guardsmen Fedan, I'd like to speak with him."

"Aye, m'lord." Fedan snapped to attention and saluted before rapping his knuckles on the heavy wooden door. "Lord Ralen wishes to speak with you." Fedan announced through the door, before nodding to his fellow guard, who took a heavy key out from under his sword belt and unlocked the door. Both guards stepped back from the door, hands on weapons as Ralen opened the door.

Ralen nodded approvingly, he'd been concerned that loyalty to their former Captain might get in the way of their duty to Imalda and him. "Thank you, I'll call if I need you for anything." He told the guards. Guardsman Fedan looked as if he wanted to protest, but after a moment bowed in acquiescence to his lord. Ralen gave him a brief smile before stepping past the doorway.

Drapes covered the windows, blocking the sun. Ralen paused, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom. After a moment he could make out the figure sprawled on a chaise by the fireplace. A decanter of wine was perched on the table next to him with another lying empty on the floor.

"So." Rezor said from his sprawl. "The almighty lord of Imalda has come to announce my fate. Search didn't take long, must have found her remains as soon as you stepped out the gates."

"You're drunk." Ralen said evenly, coming to stand in front of him. Rezor looked up mockingly. "Not much else to do waiting for you to decided my fate. So what will it be old friend? The hangmen or the axe? Don't leave me waiting, its impolite." Despite being obviously in his cups, he spoke clearly.

Goaded, Ralen snapped. "You think this is easy for me? I've known you from almost before we could walk and now look at you!" He gestured at the bottles, disgust plain on his face. "You're a disgrace to Imalda!"

Rezor growled menacingly, "Don't talk to me about disgrace, my lord. We both know that if that cat hadn't seduced you, there'd have been no tears shed by anyone else at her disappearance. So,I'm to blame for your guilt and a disgrace to Imalda, am I? Maybe you should look in the mirror first, Ralen. Hypocrisy doesn't suit you."

Ralen simply stood there, stone-faced and silent at the abuse. He'd been right, he thought distantly, looking at the bloodshot and heavy eyed former captain. He didn't know this man. He didn't know when, but the man he'd known for a lifetime had changed and become a stranger. The thought was painful, but at the same time he didn't regret what he was about to do.

They looked at each other, silently. Drunken belligerence filling one set of eyes, resolve in the other. Standing there, facing off against a lifetime of memories embodied in a wasted body Ralen felt a tiny bubble of hilarity rise. If a seer had told him even two weeks before that he'd be standing here now he'd have called them a liar to their face.

"You're right" Ralen said finally. Rezor blinked. He'd been spoiling for a fight, but Ralen's agreeable tone stripped away the righteous anger he'd worked up over the long night. "You're right." Ralen said again. "Lady Pheonic is the reason why I'm standing here listening to your sorry drunken ass." He turned to the fireplace, looked down at the still glowing log in it. "The search didn't find anything."

Rezor had sat up at his first words only to now fall back into his previous slump. "So that's it? After all my service to you. You're just going to have me executed to soothe your own guilty conscious."

Ralen kicked the log, making sparks shoot up the chimeny.
. "The search never took place." He turned to face the now puzzled Rezor. "She came back."

"[i]What??[/i] Rezor sat straight up, shocked. Ralen nodded grimly. "At dawn, carrying a Lamia made bow taller than she is. " Stunned, Rezor just stared at his lord. Ralen looked away for a moment before looking once more at the former captain. "So, no. I'm not going to order you to face Crown Justice."

"What are you going to do with me then?" Rezor spat out. "Don't do me any favors, Ralen."

"Favors?" Ralen laughed mirthlessly. "No, don't fear. I doubt you'll consider your sentence a favor. Calen is my new Captain. By rights, these are his quarters; but he has decided to remain in his current ones for the time being." He continued somberly. "For your actions, your deliberate attempt to cause harm to an innocent and a guest of my house, you are stripped of all rank, privileges and pension. Imalda no longer has need of your services. At dawn tomorrow you will be escorted to the gates and allowed to make your way as you see fit."

"So that's it?" Rezor stared at Ralen, lips white in shock. "Not execution but banishment? Exile?" He laughed bitterly. "So be it then. Enjoy your pretty little whore. Hope she's worth the price you seem so willing to pay."

Ralen had to clench his fists to keep from lunging forward and choking the life out of him before turning away and going to the door. Still laughing, Rezor watched him go.

"Oh, one more thing." Ralen turned back, hand on the door knob. "She sends her thanks for the directions and map. Apparently she found the ruins quite fascinating."

Laughter was suddenly the furthest thing from his mind as Rezor stared at the now closed door. He heard the key turn, locking him in once more and wondered bitterly if he could get drunk enough to forget the bitter irony of having the person you sent out to die thank you for it.

********

Three days later

Three days after Rezor had been escorted to Imalda's gates, Loyiont found the reason for his friend's exile in the Library. He'd never been as close as Rezor had been to Ralen perhaps; but they'd been good friends. Always there for each other, and now that he was gone Loyiont was finding it hard to adjust.

Maybe it was his chosen profession or the mage training, he didn't really know, but he'd always been able to see his childhood pals more clearly. He'd been quietly observing the changes in both Ralen and Rezor for a long time. Seen Ralen grow from a honest and faithful young boy into a honest Lord and loyal friend. Rezor, from a determined and driven boy into a determined and ruthless soldier as the years went on. A ruthlessness that partnered with a growing paranoia had damned the good captain when a half-drowned and badly concussed Mithra had washed up on Dawn Beach.

Despite his friend's exile, Loyiont couldn't find it in himself to blame the youthful Mithra. She had done nothing, overt or subtle, to set off Rezor's paranoia and considering the way she had easily survived a night outside Loyiont had to admire her restraint when she had learned that Rezor had never expected her to return the next morning. She seemed to have taken that information in stride, shrugging it off as if it was something to be expected. A curious reaction to be sure. Most people in his experience would be demanding blood in the same circumstances.

He was right about one thing though, Loyiont admitted, thoughtfully. She's never really given a reason why she's wanted to come here in the first place. I'd have thought the capital would've suited her better.

Sitting in a Galka sized high-backed arm chair that had been pulled up to a nearby window where the afternoon sun was streaming through, Pheonic was absorbed in a dusty tome on the region's history. Well, sitting didn't really describe her position correctly, Loyiont noted amused. Lounging, or perhaps sprawling might be closer. The chair dwarfed her slim build but she obviously didn't care that her feet met air if she sat upright. Which she wasn't.

Loyiont's mother would have fainted dead away at seeing a proper young lady laying across the chair with her head propped on one arm rest, legs spread with one foot dangling over the other armrest while its twin was hanging in mid-air. Especially since on good breeze or sudden movement and her undergarments would be exposed to view. Shaking his head in silent laughter, Loyiont crossed the room to her position.

"Well, you look comfortable."

Phe looked up and smiled, she'd heard the physician enter the room and pause before heading over to her sun filled corner. "I am," She laughed. "Galka sized chairs are the easiest to get comfortable in."

"And Mithra designed ones?" He asked humorously while grabbing a nearby chair to sit in. Laughing Phe replied, "Oh Mithra ones are the best, but can't really find any good ones outside of Windurst or Khazam and Galka sized ones do just as well, although Elvaan made ones are pretty good too. Hume or Taru though? Ones a footstool and the other's only good for firewood."

"I'll keep that in mind." He smiled in return before looking out the window. It was a glorious day, the gardens were in full bloom and the scents of summer were heavy in the air. It was a friendly silence, neither saw any reason to break it with mundane concerns as they sat there, one watching the world while the other studied its history. With a shake, Loyiont brought himself back to reality. He hadn't sought out Pheonic to sit next to her while she read. "I apologize for disturbing your studies, but I had a few concerns."

"Hmmm, whats that?" She asked absently, turning a page and frowned as she reached the end of the passage she was reading. Softly growling she closed the book with more force that would've earned her a good scold from Tosuka-Porika and looked up at Loyiont.

"Oh nothing serious, m'lady." He assured her. "Just a few questions that I think you can answer."

"Oh?" She asked, suspicious despite his easy smile. He nodded, more serious now. "Rezor was a good friend of mine for years and what he did was unquestionably wrong." He began quietly, sorrow for his lost friend clear in his voice. "But, I can't help but wonder if he was right about a few things."

Pheonic was a product of her generation and like many of her fellow Adventurers she couldn't help feel a deep seated bitterness over the difference between how townsfolk treated adventurers and how they treated their neighbors. Always good enough to search a decaying temple for some hidden treasure but never good enough to rest somewhere safely behind town walls without question.

She'd known this was coming. Loyiont had been careful not to voice his thoughts, but she'd been able to tell. She'd seen the questions and the slight wondering disdain that nearly all townies had in his eyes whenever she saw him looking at her.

Suddenly tired of all of it, she sat up and focused serious eyes on the healer. "I bet I can guess," She spoke lightly enough but a razor edge sharp in her voice. "How did I manage to survive what is apparently a 3 day sail when my ship went down during the storm? Why am I poking around Imalda's old records? Why am I'm still here despite being quite healed now for over a week?" She waited a beat. "Accurate?"

"Lethally," He replied, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. "Now its none of my business-"

"You're right," She snapped. "Its not." Her eyes glinted a moment before she continued more calmly. "It's not your business, Rezor's or even Ralen's. However," She went on thoughtfully, looking out the window. "I do know how curiosity can eat at you." Looking back at the quietly watching healer she smiled in a lightening change of mood. "So, what do you want to hear?"

"The truth." Loyiont leaned back, eyebrow raised. She shook her head mournfully, "Well, of course- but which truth? A believable one? One that won't get you strange looks or whispers whenever your back is turned? Or perhaps one that's only slightly strange but won't get you locked up in a padded cell?" Swinging her legs down from the armrest, she stood up only to begin stalking back and forth in front of his chair with a rapid fire change of emotions. "My word is apparently not good enough anymore I see. I tell you that I don't remember anything after getting washed overboard but that's no, that won't do. No way someone could end up washed up on your perfect beach after an incredibly bad storm because the only ship sighted in the area was a three day sail away! So, of course I had to use some sort of unknown and possibly suspect means to get here!"

"Pheonic, calm yourself." Loyiont advised, taken aback by her sudden vehemence. "I'm not doubting your word, but you must admit there are unanswered questions about your arrival- and yes, why you've been spending the past three days immured in the library."

"Ha- by your very questions you're doubting my word." She returned accusingly. "No, healer. You have questions, fine. But don't try to say its because 'you trust my word' when we both know the opposite."

She came to a stop in front of him, meeting his gaze steadily. "So, here's the thing. I could tell you that for months now I've been plagued by visions of the Dawn Maidens and the celestial avatars telling me to seek out and find some mystical relic of the Zilarts that had to be found and returned to the Wyrmking before all of Vana'diel is shoved into a war worse than the Crystal War my parents fought."

"I could say that when travel opened up here I came to search the ruins and since Imalda has one of the oldest libraries on the continent and a set of ancient ruins that predate even the Windurst Confederacy it seemed like a good place to start. "

"I could tell you that I somehow managed to escape the storm and the ship after is wrecked on the shoals by calling on magic I shouldn't even be able to with my current declared job- but that'd be too unbelievable of course." She finished sardonically. "Such things just don't happen, even too adventurers."

"That does seem a bit implausible," Loyiont agreed, "There's no need to be so upset, Pheonic. I understand you're anger. I'd be upset as well after what Rezor did to you." He dismissed her outburst with a wave of his hand. "But please, you can trust me. I'm not looking to arrest you or lock you in a cell. I just want to know what has you so driven."

Pheonic snorted, looking over her shoulder at him. "I'm not upset about that little stunt. I've dealt with his type before. That was no more than a smudge on my armor. What I am pissed at is the same questions over and over again. If I knew how I managed to get here I'd tell you- but I don't. Things were fine one minute- dolphins were racing beside us, some strange green waddling birds had leapt up onto the deck and the next the sky was covered in clouds and the worst thunderstorm in my life blew up- " She shook her head, looking down at her feet. "The captain asked me to go to the hold for safety, and I went."

She paused, looking up at the ceiling in an effort to regain control of her voice. She'd lost many friends and companions over the years but the suddenness of the crew's deaths would stay with her for a long time. "I was down there for what seemed like days, but was probably only a few hours when the first mate came to get me. Those scows aren't exactly built for fierce weather and it'd started taking on water. The captain had been injured while trying to access the damage to the hull, and the officer knew I have some healing magic."

"So you went to help." Loyiont prompted gently as she paused again. Sucking in a deep breath, she nodded. "Yea, I helped. I did what I could for the captain and took care of the worst of the injuries. Things seemed to be okay, I was able to take a knee and get my breath back at any rate. I remember-" She looked out the window not seeing the view as she continued the story, one that, if she wanted to be honest she had been avoiding talking about. "I remember the first mate coming to me then and explaining that they'd sighted something named Azhu Tarif right before the worst of the storm hit and that the captain believed that we'd been blown off course in the storm. After that-" She shook her head as sudden remembered pain cracked through her skull. "After that- lightening struck the rear mast and it came down right where we were standing. "

"Next thing I know I'm waking up in bed feeling like I'd just been trampled by a herd of chocobos and

being questioned like a wanted criminal." She continued bitterly, speaking over the healer as he excitedly tried to interrupt her. "Oh and why Imalda?" She snorted again. "I've been studying Alchemy off and on for years. The Guild Master in Bastok mentioned that some of the oldest methods could be found here in the Empire a few years ago to me. When he heard I was heading over here, he gave me the names of a few books that had details of old recipes and techniques. He also told me about Imalda's library and that it had one of the oldest collections of Alchemist diaries and journals in the Empire. "

Recovering from his shock at her butchering the name of the famed Black Coffin- a ship that the Empire had defeated in naval battle generations before- he'd barely heard the rest of her story. Sightings of the Ashu Talif were rare, but were almost always accompanied by reports of sudden bad weather. It seemed the unfortunate ship she'd been sailing on had run a foul of the legendary pirate ghost ship of Prince Luzaf.

"Ashu Talif."

"What?" She looked at Loyiont, who was looking a bit pale.

"Ashy Talif," he repeated. "What your first mate said they'd sighted before the storm hit- its a pirate ship that-" He stopped as Phe began to shake her head. " No. No pirate ship would've targeted that ship- they'd have known better than to attack one of Tensh- I mean, the ship I was sailing on. We were flying under the colors of one of the wealthiest companies in Jueno- one that takes a very tough stance on anyone attacking their ships."

"As true as that probably is in the Midlands," Loyiont pointed out. "You weren't in the Midlands but in Aht Urghan waters. At any rate, the Ashu Talif is better known as the Black Coffin, the personal flagship of Admiral Luzaf. He was killed in a naval battle against the Empire a few hundred years ago."

"So you're saying we saw a ghost ship." She summarized not sounding too surprised by the Loyiont's revelation. Loyiont nodded eagerly, as the Black Coffin had been a favorite bedtime story of his and he'd studied it's history extensively when he'd gone on to university. "Exactly, and while that's enough to get you a free round at the pub- its also the explanation for the abnormal storm you experienced, and possibly the reason why you alone survived."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows at him this time. "Do tell."

"The Ashu Talif is always sighted right before bad weather. Usually, its heavy fog so thick you can almost stand on it and a deep chill that some say is cold as the grave. Sometimes, however, the Ashu Talif is sighted right before a raging thunderstorm. One very similar to the one some surviving naval records describe happening during the final battle with the Black Coffin." He grinned at the look on her face. "Admiral Luzaf, for all that he was a rebel, was also famed for disliking the killing of innocents. He was a dangerous enemy to the Empire right enough, but he never attacked civilians if he could help it. Its been said since then that whenever his ship is sighted during a storm, only those that are black hearted need fear his wrath."

"My guess, and its only a guess," Loyiont allowed. "Is that Luzaf spared your life and sent you here in doing so. Its possible that other survivors from the crew and passengers might have also been spared. There are many small towns and shores throughout the islands that they could've ended up on."

"Could y-" Phe had to take a deep breath to clear her throat of its sudden coating of tears. She would not cry damn it! "Could you send word and see if there's been a sudden amount of shipwrecked patients?"

"Of course," He nodded, relieved that his confrontation with the volatile mage had gone so well- and at the surprising bonus of that he'd also been able to confirm one of his pet theories. One that was going to score him a published article to the University's quarterly journal without a doubt. A confirmed sighting from someone who had no foreknowledge of the legend with was as rare as a sack of Imperial gold and just as valuable.

She nodded at the look of understanding on his face. "Thank you." He stood, nodding again at her. "I'll send the messages out right away and leave you to your books then. If there's nothing else you need, my lady?"

"No, thank you." He bowed slightly and left her standing by her pile of books. Phe sat down, letting out an explosive breath in relief. She sat back in the chair, out of habit kicking her legs over the arm as she considered what had just happened.

It'd been luck more than anything that had diverted the healer's attention away from her initial outburst, she knew. She had the regrettable tendency to blurt things out when her temper was raging, more than one Black Mage had caught the edge of that temper during training. While she'd managed to learn to control it, the situation she currently found herself in had strained her nerves more and more as the days went on and it'd just snapped when he'd started his little interrogation.

Yes, she'd definitely been lucky that Loyiont had been so easily distracted by the mention of the Ashu Talif. She'd thought the first mate was referring to a town at the time and hadn't thought it held any significance before Loyiont's question had brought it to mind. Thunderstorm spawning ghost-pirate ship huh? Well, that's not something you hear every day, but it apparently seems more acceptable to these people than the actual truth did!