Chapter 9: The Passenger

Matt woke up shortly after sunrise. The fire had long died, and Karana was still sound asleep. Matt could sense that the bind spell he had cast on her had worn off during the night, and was almost surprised that she hadn't tried to escape. He began scattering the ashes of the firepit as she woke up shortly thereafter. After a quick breakfast, they packed up and mounted their chocobo and carried on.

Karana had, of necessity, sat in front of Matt on the chocobo with his arms around her, holding the reins. While initially uncomfortable at such close quarters, they eventually grew accustomed to it, assisted by what became a relatively pleasant ride. Not only was the weather much calmer, but after a few hours of awkward silence, the ice was finally broken by Karana's questions about the Crag of Mea as they passed it. Afterwards, conversation between them came fairly easily, so long as Matt didn't try to pry into Karana's past. Mostly it was her curiosity, as Matt answered her seemingly inexhaustible questions about the wonders that he had seen and the adventures he had been on. Little by little it became clear to him that she was not native to any center of civilization that he was personally familiar with. But he couldn't discern anymore, as she never talked about any of her own experiences beyond the past few years living on the streets of Windurst.

Matt tried his best to stay pleasant and answer her questions thoroughly, but a sense of apprehension was slowly growing. The last time a child of mysterious origins had started making dramatic appearances in Vana'diel, it had heralded the advent of the emptiness and the awakening of Promathia, the twilight god, and he couldn't help but wonder what stigma this young girl might carry with her. But then, Matt reflected, he was a pale, creepy, weird-looking kid, whereas Karana seems to be just a good kid fallen on tough times. Still, this turn of events warranted further investigation.

First he wanted to make sure his suspicions about her origins are correct. Originally he had planned to ride the chocobo to Mhaura and catch a ferry to Selbina. They would have had to brave the blistering Valkurm Dunes on foot, but it would have made for an overall shorter trip. Instead he decided to take the scenic route to Jeuno first, where he could talk to the only two people he could think of that might recognize Karana's accent…

****

Later that morning, the passenger from Mhaura stood inside the administration room of Heavens Tower, awaiting an audience with Semih Lafihna. Earlier, he had awoken completely sober but hung over, laying on a hard stone floor next to a sleeping chocobo. Sadly it wasn't the rudest awakening he had ever experienced. Regardless, he quickly assessed the situation and remembered what had happened. He was traveling to Windurst when a sandstorm so great that he was unable to property navigate a proper path arose, forcing him into this tower for refuge. The storm lasted well into the night, and he fell asleep waiting for it to pass.

Heih Porhiaap and Taby Canatahey had questioned him when he had arrived at Leviathan Gate, but the signed invitation by the Patriarch Protectors overruled any hesitation they may have had regarding the admittance of this strange figure. He wanted to take care of his business immediately, but he hadn't changed or washed since the beginning of his travels, and considering the purpose and hopeful outcome of this visit, felt he needed to clean himself up. And so he first went to the Residential Area and checked into a rent-a-room.

After cleaning, shaving, and changing, he had immediately headed to the administration room of Heavens Tower, where now he stood impatiently tapping his foot while Kupipi fetched the Sybil Guard, who had just returned with the Star Sibyl to Windurst earlier that morning, around the same time as his arrival. What should have been a quick trip up to the upper storey had turned into a nearly forty-five minute wait. He tried his best to conceal his impatience as Semih Lafihna finally came down the stairs and greeted him, with Kupipi following behind.

"Greetings, Ishmael1," Semih began in common, "It has been what… three years?"

"Semih Lafihna," Ishmael said bowing, his excitement and impatience readily apparent in his voice, "Yes, three long years. I was all too happy to receive your summons. Please bring Athaliah2 to me."

Semih's eyes lowered apologetically, "I'm sorry Ishmael. But she is no longer here."

Ishmael froze in surprise, his eyes widening, "But… your summons… you said you had finally found her?"

"Yes, we finally found her last week, and had immediately dispatched a letter to you. But it seems as of early this morning, she has left us."

Frustration tinged Ishmael's voice, "She left you? Where did she go? How did this happen?"

"I was not informed of the details, but an investigation has been launched. No one knows where she is, and considering she eluded us for three years, we're not likely to find out anytime soon."

Anger blazing in his eyes, his voice began to rise and shake, startling Kupipi and the others present, "Who is responsible for this? I have been waiting three years to hear this news and you lost her? You let her escape? Who let this happen? Who was in charge?"

Semih stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. Bowing apologetically, she said, "I do apologize for this. But please remain calm-"

"Don't tell me to remain calm!" Ishmael shouted, his booming voice echoing eerily throughout the room. "Tell me what is going on, who let this happen?"

"We do not disclose information in regards to our own personnel. Being that this matter was in my jurisdiction, I take full responsibility for this."

"So be it," Ishmael growled as he reached under his coat and brandished his rapier.

Without missing a beat or losing the cool in her eyes, Semih raised her bow and drew an arrow, nocking it and pointing it right between Ishmael's eyes all in one swift motion, as Kupipi and Rakano-Marukano let out a frightened yelp and hid under their desk. A subtle shuffle heard around the room alerted Ishmael that Semih's was not the only arrow pointed at him.

"The blame of your understandable anger falls upon us," Semih said smoothly, "so we make allowances for it now3. But know that under any other circumstances, any who dare draw a weapon in the home of the Star Sibyl would already be drowning in their own blood."

Ishmael glanced around the room. His sharp eyesight counted at least three other arrows pointed at him, by those whose presence he had not even noticed until just now. Slowly he sheathed his rapier and glared at Semih, who lowered her bow and arrow, but did not put them away.

Forcing himself to calm down, Ishmael said in a voice shaking with anger, "What is the status of this… 'investigation'?"

"The head of the investigation has not yet reported in. But you will be informed immediately if anything is discovered"

Ishmael seethed in frustration, then spun on his heel and stalked out of the administration room and out of Heavens Tower. Semih glanced around and dismissed the guards in the shadows. Kupipi and Rakano-Marukano cautiously came up out of their hiding places.

"Who was that?" Rakano-Marukano asked.

Semih stared after Ishmael, making sure he leaves the building, "He came here three years ago. I think he visited Bastok and San d'Oria as well."

"What does he want?"

Semih's gaze fell to the ground, recalling the past.

"He's looking for his daughter."

1 Son of Abram and Haggar. No underlying significance to this choice; just wanted a mid-eastern sounding name, and picked one out of the Bible as usual.

2 The Ephraimite queen-by-marriage of Judah who tried to have everyone of the royal bloodline killed when her husband, the true ruler of Judah, was assassinated.

3 A reference to Dragons of Summer Flame by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.