Morning's light hits the back of my eyelids. I can feel the muscles on my face contract and scrunch up at the unwelcome heat on my eyes. I roll over in the tiny and rather smelly bed I sleep in, and press my face down hard into the soft pillow, caught in between the dream and real world. From outside my little bubble I call a mind, I here something bang against the wall.
"Get up!" Shouts a voice. I can here laughter too. "Come on sleepy head, it's late!" Then I feel an icy cold arctic blast hit me, and I'm sitting up spluttering. I look around wildly and notice that I'm covered in icy sea water. My eyes focus on the one who hit me with the frost bitten liquid. It was the woman from last night. She was laughing and had one hand on her waist while the other clutched a bucket.
"What are you waiting for? A special invite to get out of bed?" Chuckles another pirate.
"And you might want to hang out in the sun for a bit. You know, dry out them clothes!" Another one says through laughs.
"And don't you even think of going back to bed. If you do, out come the big guns!" Chortles the woman. The three pirates in the doorway leave. I look shakily up and down at my self. I'm completely soaked and so is my bed. With shivering bones, I clamber out of cot and stand in the nearest patch of sunlight, trying to get warm.
The house is really cold when you've been doused in water fresh from the tundra itself. My chilled hands take a bit of my one and only shirt and begin to wring it out, letting the water splash upon the wooden floor. I hear the door behind me click open. Fwoom! I stagger over a bit as a large baggy thing suddenly cascades down over my head.
"Better dry yourself off," It's Balthier's voice. I tug at the thing on my head and find it's a towel, "the festival is starting up and everyone's been waiting on you."
"You didn't have to wait!" I say agitatedly. I begin to quickly dry myself off with the towel he flung at me, rubbing a little too hard on the soaked skin and clothes.
"Well, too late now. And don't dry off too fast, you'll get wrinkles in those nice clothes Fran gave you." He smirks and leaves, shutting the door behind him. With angry hands I begin to rub my head furiously, trying to get every last bit of the sea out of my hair.
I walk down the stairs, finally dry, or at least semi-dry. Everyone is piled around a large round table in the center of the kitchen which smells of eggs and toast. Someone stands at a stove in the far off corner, cooking away while everyone else sits around talking. A few of them look up as I enter the room.
"Might want ta' do something about that hair-" One pirate says and large smile grows over his lips.
"What yah say then?" Says the female pirate. "Another soak in the sea water to tame that beast on your head?" She laughs.
"Oh, leave her alone." Rikkin says smiling at me and my tangle of hair.
"How can she go out looking like that?" The woman continues to tease.
"Oh, just drop it!" I say agitatedly. "I don't care how my hair looks."
"Someone's mad in the morning." Says the pirate cooking at the stove in a singsong voice.
"Well, this is a new facet of your personality." Balthier says interestedly.
"Here," Fran says and pushes a comb into my hands. "bathroom is that door near the fireplace."
"Thanks." I say and walk off with the comb.
"Aw come on Fran!" I hear a pirate say as I leave. "Ruinin' our fun like that!"
"Come on guys, she's not a toy-" Rikkin starts.
"Not a pirate neither!"
I shut the bathroom door behind me with snap. It's and old and wooden thing jutting out of the house. A small wooden basin for bathing sits in back of me and by the looks of it, it hasn't been used in ages. A toilet lurks in a small corner of the bathroom and on the wall opposite is a large sink with a cracked mirror hanging above it.
I walk over to the mirror and look at my reflection. It is indeed laughable and crazy, like I'm sort of wild animal to be put on show. It'll take more than just a combing to fix this mess. I put down the hair brush and try to turn on the water. Nothing happens. Great. And then I get an idea. I turn to the bathtub and see no faucet to start the water running. Just as I thought, but I think I can spend a little MP on drawing up a bath if I use my magics right. I open the door a crack and call outside.
"I'm taking a bath, alright?! You guys head off to the festival without me. I'll meet up with you later!"
"Good luck getting water in that thing, girlie!" Shouts a pirate from the table
"Yeah, that thing don't work!" I snap the door shut and roll up my sleeves. I wait a few moments while magic flows around in my body, building up and growing stronger. A little prematurely so it's not a powerful attack, I aim a jet of water into the bathtub. I do this again so the tub is about half full. Then with the same technique I begin to summon fire, but at the last moment I stick my hands into the water. The bath begins to steam. Take that!
With a satisfied smile I undress and open a window a little to let the steam out of the room. I hang my clothes out the window to air them out a bit before climbing into the bath, making as much splashing and noise as I possibly could.
Maybe half an hour later I climb out of the bath, feeling clean and presentable. I comb out my hair and put my clothes back on after drying off. Opening the door, I see I'm alone in the house. Everyone left already, like I had told them. I walk over to the kitchen table and see some eggs laid out for me. Next to them is a note.
Don't eat the eggs. Cooky doesn't know they're bad. Here's some change for you to get a better breakfast. We'll be at the port side of town when you want to meet up.
-Balthier
I pocket the gil Balthier left on the note and walk over to the sink with the plate of eggs in my hands. After leaving the tainted breakfast in the sink, I head out.
Hardly outside the front door, I have to duck down as a gun shot goes off somewhere. I here laughter all around and straighten up. The gun of course wasn't aimed at me but at a barrel of ale which spills the liquid onto the ground.
All around me was a vast array of laughter, sword fighting, story telling, booths of food, ships flying over head in what I think were races, dueling with guns, and an assortment of other festivities. I buy myself some bread and eat as I walk along down the wooden planks of the town. I spy a drinking contest a little ways away. It's only around noon and already people are getting drunk out of their minds.
I decide to ask around the townsfolk and see if any of them had seen or heard of Caspen and the strange men. But where to start? I decide the local bar was as good a place as any, but I'd have to find someone who wasn't out of it. I open the door and enter the dimly lit and people packed bar. I can hardly move without almost tripping over someone. I make my way to the bar. Bartenders hear everything, right? I'll start off with him and see what he says. Feeling a little nervous and out of place, I take a seat.
"What'll it be?" Says a bear of a man. A thick and stringy bottle brush like beard fell past his chin, and his nose was like a hawks, and his eyes glinted with the glory of all the money he was raking in. A spotted and stained apron was tied steadfastly around his waist which was large and rounded.
"No drink, but I would like to ask you a few questions. I'm looking for someone and I thought you, a bartender with as sharp of ears as I've ever seen, may be able to help me." I try to add a little spark in my eyes. Being flirty and pretentious isn't something I do naturally.
"Well miss," Says the bartender in quieter and cleverer tones, "These ears do pick up a few things now and then. Just who was this folk you want ta' find?"
"The boy I seek who goes by the name of Caspen. His hair is very fine and brown, eyes a light blue. He's serious and about 18 in age. When he was here I believe he dressed in blackish green armor and was flagged by a few people. Think you've seen him?" The bartender pauses, obviously trying to recall any faces that might fit the one I described.
"Aye," He said after a few seconds. "I heard them talking amongst themselves at my bar about five nights ago. Strange folk they was. Slipped money to a few folk, not sure why though. I'd be careful if I was you. Hunting them down may be dangerous for a young lass."
"Did you happen to hear where they were headed?" I press on, hoping that he'd have the answer.
"Indeed I did, girl. They was headed west of Rabanastre I believe, but more than that I don't know."
West? It was vague, but at least I had a direction. "Thank you for your time. You've been of great help." I push a few of Balthier's coins to the man who takes them and promptly winks at me.
"Come again, miss." I leave the bar, suddenly feeling anxious to leave this town and get journeying again. although, Rabanastre was a long way off, and the west was a huge place. The journey would take a long while on foot. With a sigh, I head to off to find the port, wondering about how I was going to get out of this god forsaken town.
My feet carry me to the southern edge of the town where ships, sky and sea born, come to port. I can see a small crowd of people gathered around, and as I got closer I heard someone calling out.
"And it's about time you got a crew!" Shouts a pirate with ale in hand. The crowd cheers and I shyly creep up, wedging myself in between people to get a closer look at who's talking. A pirate whom I've never seen before has dragged Balthier into the center of the crowd. Fran lurks behind the two, looking a little fed up.
"I've told you many times before, Gizmo, I don't need a crew. To be honest I find them a pain to deal with." The crowd boos.
"Oh come on there chum! How many notorious pirates such as yourself don't got a crew to back them up? Your ship can hold one of a fair size. How about it folks? Who wouldn't want to be part of this man's plundering crew?" The crowd screams in delight.
"I said no." Balthier says flatly and begins to walk away. Gizmo jumps in front of the poor pirate and blocks his escape.
"Three people! Come on, only three!"
"No is no! I'm not taking on anyone."
"But what about Vaan!" Shouts a lady from the crowd. "You took him on! And his friend!" The crowd nods and calls out in agreement.
"I never took them on! I gave them a ship and that's all. Come on Fran, let's get out of here." Balthier tries to escape again but the crowd closes in.
"One person then! One is all I ask. The best pirate in this crowd here! A fight to the death!" The crowd claps and cheers.
"Fight! Fight!" They chant.
"The crowd wants a show, Balthier. You've never disappointed yet!" Gizmo says lightly, urging him on. Balthier sighs in exasperation.
"Fine! One crew member, but don't kill anyone. I don't want a maimed person helping on my ship." More applause and whopping comes from this. Someone even wolf whistles making a few people giggle.
"Now, what pirate thinks they're brave and strong enough to plunder with the pirate king himself?" Gizmo says daringly to the crowd. "Which one of you is man enough-"
"Or woman enough!" Cries a lady from the crowd. People laugh heartily at this.
"Or woman enough," Gizmo adds, "to join this crew?" A few people stick their hands in the air and I look to each. None of them look strong or stout of character enough to be on Balthier's crew. They all appear weak kneed and feeble. The pirate woman from Rikkin's base caught me eye in the crowd. Our eyes locked for a moment and a wide grin spread over her face.
"I vote that urchin there!" She cries to the crowd, pointing to me. The crowd turns to look at me, small and delicate, standing oddly in the midst of all these dirty sky pirates.
"That one?" Says a man, eyeing me up.
"Her? She doesn't look like she could even lift a sword!" Jeers a woman in back.
"No way a hen like her could contribute to Balthier's crew!" The taunts go on.
"I want to see how pirate she is." Says the pirate woman, her voice commanding and powerful, powerful enough to quell the rambunctious crowd.
"Why not?" Says Gizmo. "Get her a sword and let her fight. Now who will challenge this girl here? Anyone?" I choke, hardly daring to believe that I had been selected to fight. A sword was pressed upon me and I took it in hand, trying hard not to let my shaking show. Who were they kidding? I didn't want to be on Balthier's crew! I have a job to do thank you very much! I'm not even that good with a sword to begin with.
A man stepped out of the crowd. "Give me a sword." He said extending one hand. His long black hair fell to his shoulders and his eyes were an arrogant gray. A red headband was wrapped up in his hair, and his clothes were tattered and smelled of musty sea water. "I will fight and beat this girl. Who will carry her wounded body away from here?" He shouts to the crowd. People laugh at this.
"I'll do it for free even!" Shouts a man. I feel disgusted. Now I had to fight and win. My pride was on the line. And maybe winning was the only way to prove myself to these people, gain me some sort of a name. I moved through the crowd into the center of the circle and raise the iron blade.
"I warn you girl," Says the arrogant man. "I am one of the best sword fighters in this town. I don't loose, especially to a girl." I feel my blood bubble at his sexist words, but say nothing to defend myself. We'll see who's taunting who by the end of this.
"No rules in this battle," Gizmo says, "use whatever you got on you. Whether it be magic or grenade. But don't kill." The arrogant boy's smile broadens at this. "Impress our pirate king. And Eros, be nice to the lady." The crowd chuckles, but darkly. They want a good fight.
"Ready?" I prepare myself for my opening attack, just like Caspen taught me. "Steady." I focused on my breathing, cooling the nerves inside of me.
"Go!"
My feet glide forward, and I pull the sword across my body as I propel myself over the boarded dock. Eros has his sword held high above his head as he races forward. As we draw in close, I raise my sworded arm upward to block his attack and swing my left foot upward. My booted foot meets him painfully in between the legs. Eros doubles over and drops his sword in agony. He falls forward onto the ground, shaking with pain.
"You horrible wench!" He cries out in an embarrassed fury. "What did you do that for?" I smile cheekily, turning on a little charm.
"He said we could use anything we got." I say innocently. The crowd laughs a bit.
"And of course your first instinct is to go for the crotch!" He snaps. I can see the red anger rising in his face. I snicker.
"Anything to get that smirk off your hideous face." I say coolly and the crowd gasps a little, a few people tittering with laughter. Not many people talked to him this way as it seemed.
"What did you say?!" He barked at me.
"Anything to wipe that pompous," I add emphasis and feeling to my words, "snide, arrogant, and haughty grin from that ugly mass of filth you call a face." Now I've got him right where I want him. I knew from the start I couldn't win, but with his balance now seriously messed up and a rage burning through him, his judgment and skill would be off. Just like Caspen taught me.
"Screw the match! You're dead girl!" He staggers to his feet, obviously still in considerable pain. I hit him with all the strength I had in me after all. I wouldn't be surprised if I broke something.
He lumbers forward, swing the heavy sword wildly at me. I step easily out of the way and slash at his back leg. He yelps in pain and I can feel him start to crumble. I aim for the next leg and scrape the iron along his back ankle. If I wanted to, I could easily lob off a leg or an arm, but I don't want to maim him. Just hurt his pride. Again he swings his massive sword, and I duck and this time kick him square in the chest. He staggers backwards and I kick again making him fall onto his butt. I jab at his throat with the sword.
"You don't stand a prayer right now," I say. "I've won."
"Not true!" He yells and swings the sword at me, getting to his feet. He moves forwards and tries to hit me with an attack from above his head. I slide out of the way and strike him a few times in the chest. I drop my sword onto the dock and decide to use my hands and feet rather then the lumbering blade. I felt so much more graceful and agile with my body. The sword was an unnecessary addition to an already well carved weapon.
The iron moves at me again, and this time I kick the boy's feet out from under him as I duck down. His feet fly up and he topples over the side of the dock, falling into the ocean below. The crowd bursts into applause and I stand up.
"Well, there it is folks!" Shouts Gizmo. "This young lass has beaten the one and only Eros! Would somebody mind helping him out of the water? I don't think he'll be able to swim very well." The crowd laughs and a few people sportingly run off to help Eros. "Now, is there anyone who thinks they can beat this young girl?" No one comes forward.
"Just seeing Eros's face was enough for me!" Cries a woman up front. People nod and applaud in agreement.
"So, is that it then? No more takers?" Gizmo looks around at the crowd. "Alright! It seems we have our winner!" To thunderous whooping and applause I'm brought up to stand by Balthier and Fran.
"Well," Balthier says while cocking and eyebrow, "imagine that?" He smiles. "Seems you can't shake us off."
"I'd think it would be the other way around." I say.
The crowd begins to break apart, people talking excitedly amongst themselves. Fran, Balthier, and I begin to walk.
"You don't have to take me anywhere else." I begin. "I've found out where Caspen is headed and plan to go off in search of him."
"So, I see you've made good use of your time then." Balthier says. "Where did he wander to?"
"West of Rabanastre is all I know, but I plan on searching the area all over."
"We're headed in that direction as well." Fran says. "A deal is a deal after all."
"Fran is right. You won that battle and it's only fair you get some reward. We shall fly you west and allow you to travel with us. That is if you don't mind helping to save our friend?"
"No, I don't mind." I sigh thankfully inside. I didn't want to ride a Chocobo or walk the entire way.
"Now my question is," Balthier starts in, "is how you learned to fight so dirty? It made me wince just watching." I start laughing, suddenly feeling very light hearted.