Forgotten Royalty

Chapter 4

Azier's hair whipped into her face as she raised a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light. It was a day like this when… Now, now Azier, you mustn't think of that. As you told the others, that is your past. You have no home now…

Still, she let her mind drift toward her homeland, which had been destroyed so many years ago. Her nurse had told her all about it, when her mother would be passed out drunk or stoned out of her mind. Both women worked as prostitutes, but her mother was the one who lost everything. Azier hardly thought of the woman who had given birth to her as her mother. Her mother's money went into her habits, while her nurse's money went into their food and protection.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Now was not the time for dwelling on the past. In fact, she had not thought about it in years. All the priests and followers of Kiltias said that it was not healthy that she did not mourn the passing of her beloved nurse and (much less beloved) mother. She had not shed a single tear when they died, and had yet to even hiccup out a sob once. Many feared that she would make herself darker in spirit, and advised her to speak to the Gran Kiltias. Usually she told people who urged her to talk to the old dreamer were thrown a dirty look and told to mind their own business.

Suddenly there was a deafening crash and the ground under her feet buckled. She looked toward the refugee camp and saw smoke billowing into the air. Hovering over the burning 'town' were a number of Imperial airships, all charging their weapons for a second blast. She looked toward the temple and thought that all looked to be alright and ran for the camp. There was a chance, if all the shouts and screams were any indication, that she could help the survivors with her own magical abilities.

An Imperial guard stepped in front of her as she ran. She heard him order her to stop and identify herself. She dimly heard herself speaking, then feeling the glittering rush that was magic in her blood as a gout of flame blasted the man away. She didn't look back as he tumbled down the face of the mountain, his thick armor clattering. She drew her spear and looked over her shoulder to see Vaan and the others, Larsa included, come running up behind her.

Even as the airships began to fly away, Azier knew that something was changed in the party. Larsa's grey eyes were shadowed, and the others were grim. She would ask about it later. Right now, there were people who needed help.

Jumping to the nearest pile of burning wreckage that had been a shelter, she called to anybody that may be inside to answer her. Her eyes widened when she heard a small voice answer her.

"In here!"

She dropped her weapon and charged in, immediately wishing that she knew a water spell. She thought to use an ice spell to try to put out the fire, but decided against it. The fire was too hot, and she might hit whoever had answered her.

"Where are you?"

"Here…"

She tore at burning wood, ignoring her blistering hands and smoking clothes. She tried to find the person. It sounded like a little boy. She could almost hear him clearly now. She made another swipe at the wreckage and saw a tuft of hair poking out from under a fallen beam.

Suddenly a pair of strong hands caught her around the waist and hauled her out of the inferno just a second before the ceiling fell.

"NOOO!!!"

She clawed at the hands, now there were others, reaching for her as she tried to go back in. She was sure she could hear other voices in there. If she could get loose, she could save them, like she couldn't save her mother or nurse.

She hit her knees and watched the camp burn around her while Basch and Penelo tried to get her to move. Finally the older man picked her up and ran toward the temple.

…Tonight was going to be a long night…