Out on the Line
Chapter Ten: The Hope of Spira
Lucca was a place likened unto High Roll, the city never slept. The ports bustled by day and the taverns thrived at night. Usually the arrival of the prince would herald a parade and a celebration, but Quatre hadn't come to Lucca to be adored or to party. Serious business brought him to this place; the future of his country.
Ifrit had made port during the night. Balthier woke the prince pulling the curtains in his cabin open. Bright light blinded the half awake prince for a moment. "Good morning to you Balthier."
"Time to rise and shine majesty. The Wobegone has arrived."
Quatre sat up quick. "They're here!?"
Balthier smiled at the excited prince. "They'll be coming aboard any time now. You want to be ready don't you?"
He certainly couldn't greet his fiancé in his pajamas. Quatre hurried out of bed. "You should have woke me sooner Balthier."
"I thought you could use the beauty sleep." He chuckled watching his ward race around to get dressed.
"Has there been contact with Trump Card?"
Nodding Balthier answered, "His entourage will be accompanying us to Bevelle."
"Are their state rooms ready? Have Miss Cherry's handmaidens been informed she's coming aboard?" Why didn't I check on this last night!? he panicked.
"Everything is fine Quatre, relax. It's a beautiful day, the sailing back to Bevelle will be pleasant, and you'll have plenty of time to speak with Candy alone."
Quatre fixed his sleeves. "You shouldn't speak of Miss Cherry so familiarly," he scolded trying to bury his nervous feelings.
"If you say so master Quatre," he teased back. "Well then, whenever your highness is ready."
The prince was rushing as it was. "I'll be just a moment." Quatre used the mirror to straighten his sash unaware of just how much his life was about to change. He had to look the proper gentleman when he saw her again. Content with his appearance Quatre stepped back away from his dresser. "Alright Balthier let's go."
Gigas stepped onto dry land with the sleeping prisoner in his arms and the wind sighed.
Luffy was at the bow again, watching and waiting for Lucca. Sanji and Zoro were on deck too this morning, the others browsed books in Robin's room. The captain was overtired, he couldn't sleep without his sweetie and the dreams he had when he dozed off were fucked up. Luffy saw strange places in his dreams, scary looking places. Sometimes Candy was there, sometimes not but the wind was always blowing.
He was half asleep and sagged over the rail when he heard it. A voice too ethereal to be real. Here… A cold chill tickled its way up Luffy's back and he straightened coming more awake. "Huh?"
Sanji exhaled. "I didn't say anything Luffy. You nodding off or what?"
"Nodding…." The wind picked up enough for a moment to knock his hat back. Luffy closed his eyes. I heard something. I felt… "I dunno maybe," he grumbled. His friends thought him crazy enough as it was. He wasn't about to tell Sanji he was hearing voices in his head.
The cook was worried about Luffy; he was about done seeing the poor bastard beat himself up so. "Take a nap Luffy. We may need your strength when we reach Lucca."
"We're close, I just know it."
"Lucca can't be much further," it was fact not feeling. They had been chasing Candy for days; her ship would stop first. "You ought to lie down till we get there."
Luffy sat on the deck and braced his back against the rail. He adjusted his hat tipping it down over his eyes. I'm so damn tired. He wouldn't bother trying to catch forty winks in his bed. Luffy had weird dreams in the dark. "Kick me if ya see something."
"Miss Cherry," Quatre gasped bringing his fingers up to cover his lips. She was unconscious. "What happened to her?"
Trump Card calmly stepped forward. "A touch of Grand Line fever I'm afraid," Card lied. "Not to worry prince Quatre, she'll recover herself in no time."
Balthier got that uneasy feeling in his stomach again looking at the princess to be. Something didn't look right about this. "We should get the lady to her room at once then," he couldn't help but take charge. Balthier motioned to the ladies in waiting. "Show that man the way."
A flock of women surrounded Gigas. "This way if you please sir."
The prince's guardian stared hard at Candy as she was being carried away. She's not wearing any rings. He snapped his head back around to face Trump Card. Pony Race joined his nakama wearing a sober look this morning. "Grand Line fever, that is unfortunate."
"How long has she been sick?" Quatre demanded.
Card continued the ruse. "She was in the hospital for a few days but when the worst of it was over her doctors gave us the okay to set sail. Candy herself insisted from her sickbed that we make haste to you highness."
Quatre blinked at Card stunned. "She did?"
He bowed to hide his eyes from the heir's attendant. "Yes, she was looking forward to the gardens of Saint Bevelle."
Candy was… Quatre swallowed hard. He waved a hand at the captain. "Set sail for Bevelle at once!" he commanded. If she wanted Bevelle Quatre would make it so. The crew scurried to their posts and Balthier stepped closer.
Balthier let his demeanor reveal nothing. "Perhaps we should adjourn to the lounge. I'd hate to be in their way."
Card nodded in agreement. He hid his great relief that they were leaving Lucca so soon. Even if the Mugiwara pirates were chasing them, the Ifrit would be long gone before they got here. "Highness."
Quatre turned taking note of the way Balthier looked at him. He knows something that I do not. I missed something. "This way gentlemen."
Luffy was out so Sanji gave Ussop's goggles a try. At first he saw nothing but the sea then suddenly a break in the horizon. He zoomed in on the spot, it was getting bigger as they sailed ever closer. Sanji waited until he was sure and then said, "I think we have an island here."
Zoro squinted to see. "Is it Spira?"
"One would assume so. Go get Nami marimo."
The swordsman rolled his eyes and went to interrupt the reading going on below deck. Nami and Ussop both returned to the bow with him a few minutes later. Ussop took his goggles and focused in on the mass the pose was pointing at. He caught the glint of light off glass, the lighthouse in the harbor.
"This log pose is pointing right at it," Nami showed the others.
"It must be Lucca. There's a harbor," Ussop added.
Sanji looked down at Luffy. He kicked him a little to wake him. "Oi Luffy, we're coming up on Lucca."
"Candy?" Luffy mumbled sleep fuzzy.
"Get up Luffy, we found Spira."
The prince gave the hand maids plenty of time to see to Miss Cherry. Quatre was patient as Ifrit took to the open waters again. He and Balthier sat with Candy's guardians drinking aromatic coffee and making pleasant conversation. After his third cup the prince got up. "Excuse me for a moment. I'd like to see that Miss Cherry has been attended to." Quatre hurried out before Card could offer to join him.
He hurried to her room to check in on her worrying about the look in Balthier's eyes. I missed something! Quatre went into Candy's room and one of her attendants came to him at once. "How is she?"
"The big man that brought my lady down here said she caught Grand Line fever on the expedition she injured herself on."
Quatre had heard that tune as well. Candy hurt herself rock climbing; her shoulder and a foot. He stepped past the hand maid and went to Candy's bedside. He laid a hand across her brow, there was no fever. Quatre took one of her hands to see if they were cold and that is when he noticed. Cherry Candy was without the Edelbrock bracelets. His mouth fell open in surprise.
"Master Quatre?"
When? When did Candy separate from Edelbrock? The prince studied her sleeping face. Is that why she's like this now? Its no Grand Line fever, she's suffering because the stones have been taken away from her. That's what Balthier noticed damnit. The Edelbrock stones, where are they?
His highness looked lost in thought. "Master Quatre?" Fifi repeated.
Reluctantly he tore his eyes away from his sleeping beauty. "What?"
"Are you alright sir? If you'll pardon me saying so, but you have a strange look about you. Is something wrong with the lady Candy?"
"No, I am just concerned for her well being." He sighed heavily. Eventually she would wake up and when she did Candy could tell Quatre everything that had happened. He looked down at her again. Don't worry Candy; you're in good hands now. "Please come for me right away if she wakes up."
Fifi bowed, Quatre lifted Candy's hand to his lips and kissed it. "Pleasant dreams Miss Cherry." Satisfied he had been a gentleman the prince stepped back out into the hall. Such a deep sleep. It must be because of Edelbrock. Why is she without her stones? Why is Trump Card lying about her illness? What else has he lied about?
Quatre started back up the hall slowly. He wanted to hear what Balthier thought about all of this. There would be time to speak privately after they disembarked in Bevelle. Quatre wondered how long Candy would sleep. He was getting the feeling the story she had to tell would not match up with what Trump Card and Pony Race and father had been feeding him. He was worried about his bride.
Whatever Candy tells me, I'll believe her. Quatre knew she would tell him the truth. He prayed she would wake soon.
Ussop scanned the ships looking for the Wobegone. He found the ship and lucky enough the spot next to them was empty. "There, to port Nami!" Ussop shouted and pointed. "It's their ship! You can bring us in right next to her!"
Nami saw where Ussop wanted them to go. It was an easy enough thing to guide Thousand Sunny to berth beside the kidnapper's ship. All hands were turned out on deck helping out and getting ready for a fight. The navigator kept an eye on the other ships around them. More good luck, the garrison was on the far side of the harbor. They should have time to reclaim Candy and leave before the fight got too big. Better that they try not to involve civilian ships in their conflict.
Before long the sounds of a busy market started to make its way to those at Sunny's bow. There were only four sailor's topside aboard the Wobegone and not one of them was watching the sea. Luffy didn't have to wait for his nakama so he didn't. He stretched his right arm back and let the punch fly. The captain knocked out two of the four before his feet even touched the deck.
Luffy was first aboard the Wobegone. He punched an old timer in the face and grabbed the last man standing by the front of his shirt. "Where's Cherry Candy?"
It's the devil! "Mu…mugiwara?!"
"I asked you where is she?!" Luffy lifted the guy off his feet. Sanji and Zoro hit the deck somewhere behind him. He shook the pirate impatiently. "Where is Candy?"
"That woman right? The little blonde?" It was too frightening to look into the eyes of the Diablo. "They took her with them when they left this morning mate. Card, Race and Gigas."
"Where did they take her?" Sanji was disappointed he wasn't beating someone up.
Luffy shook the pirate again. "Where are they?"
"They make sail for Bevelle aboard the flagship Ifrit." The pirate wriggled. His shirt was starting to choke him.
"Flagship?" the cook exhaled. "What are you talking about flagship?"
I never shoulda signed on this ship. He squirmed some more unable to speak. Finally Mugiwara threw him to the deck. The evil pirates surrounded him and Buck assumed the position of prayer to beg for his life. "Ifrit is King Rathwal's ship. The flagship of Spira's royal navy."
Zoro lifted a brow. "Did you say navy?"
"Yes, Spira has its own military aside from the garrisons here."
"So Candy is on the Ifrit," Luffy could care less about the rest.
"The king came to meet Candy?" Zoro growled threateningly. He wanted all the information this gutless turd would confess.
Buck shook his head. "No it was the prince in command of Ifrit."
Prince? Luffy straightened. "That damn guy ne?
Sanji didn't like the sounds of that either. "So Candy chwan has already been turned over to the corrupt bastard has she? How long ago did the Ifrit depart ne you kidnapping bastard?" he sneered.
"Early this morning, perhaps five hours or so ago. She'll be to Bevelle in a few hours." He just had to add, "I don't know nothing about no kidnapping! Please don't kill me!"
"I say we kill em all Luffy, everyone on board," Zoro had to voice his opinion.
"Scum that stole our nakama away and did god know what to her," Sanji pressed.
"Nobody did nothin to that girl! Big Gigas minded over her. They kept her locked up in a room on account she was sick! Only time we even saw her was when she was comin and going! Ya can't kill us for that!"
It was like a weight lifted off of Luffy's chest. These guys were just the grunts; they didn't know anything about Candy at all. They didn't have to die, but a good beating was still in order. "We should teach these guys a lesson about kidnapping other people's nakama."
"A swift kick in the ass might educate them more quickly," Sanji pitched his cigarette overboard. "Let's pound these chumps and go after Candy."
Buck rolled his eyes up to the kid in the straw hat. The last thing he saw was el Diablo swing a punch.
They throttled Cards small crew and left Lucca behind them at once. Nami knew exactly how to navigate their way up the coast to Bevelle. She had spent hours studying the geography of Spira preparing for this. She ordered them to full sail and steered the Thousand Sunny straight into the wind. Nami gathered her nakama around her on deck. "We can't pull into the harbor at Bevelle, it's a restricted port guarded by royal navy and marines. We're aiming for a cove down the coast. We'll hide the ship there and make our way to Bevelle. By the time we get there Candy chan will be somewhere inside the palace. We'll slip in and get her out."
"I'll kick every ass I see until I find her," Luffy huffed. The thought of his sweetie tucked away in the prince's castle angered him. He couldn't get what Sanji said about him being a sleaze out of his head. The prince had even come down here himself on his fancy fart ship to spirit Candy away. She was helpless in that guys clutches.
Nami frowned at the captain. "They have a military base and marines in Bevelle Luffy. We can't just go on a rampage. There's no need to draw the citizenry into our fight, if we even have to fight."
"I'm gonna find Trump Card and kick his ass!"
"We find Candy chan first!" Nami argued. "You can do what you have to after we've got Candy back safely but getting our hands on her must come first. She'll be in one of the bedrooms on the second level; it's where the guests the king receives stay in the palace."
"Aint that where Trump Card will be too then?" Luffy pounded a hand into his fist.
"Him, Pony Race and that big man Gigas that assisted in Candy chwan's kidnapping." Sanji lit up a fresh cigarette. "That doesn't count the palace guards either."
Luffy stepped forward. "It doesn't matter how many people stand between us and Candy. We're getting her out of there!"
"A little planning might not be so bad Luffy. After we rescue Candy chwan we must escape." Sanji frowned some at his captain. "You're too short tempered right now, you aren't thinking things through."
"I wanna hurry up and get Candy away from that damn prince and beat the shit outta the guys that took her! I'm gonna kill Trump Card and anyone else that knows about Candy's stones!"
Sanji had suspected Luffy would come to this conclusion; he had been hanging around marimo too long. Nami and Ussop however startled a little. "Take it easy Luffy," Ussop tried. "It would probably be better to get in and out quietly."
The captain fixed crazy eyes on his nakama. Nami stepped closer to Ussop. "Trump Card shot you in the back. Nami was terrorized and Candy was taken against her will. I'm not going to let that guy get away with doing that shit to my nakama. He's sold her off to the king of Spira, trying to get her to marry some fucking prince asshole guy! I'm the one who is gonna marry Candy; me and only me. When I see that prince fucker I'm gonna beat his ass too! It's all his fault Candy was kidnapped to begin with!"
Nami swallowed hard. Beating up a prince wasn't usually a good idea but this guy is a real creep. "Let's concentrate on getting Candy out of there first. Even after we get her Kai bracelets back on she might not be in any condition to fight. We have to take that into consideration Luffy. We can't drag her into dangerous battles still half asleep."
"I will protect Candy. I'll get her out of there no matter who gets in my way."
The cook stepped in. "We should designate one of us now to carry chwan while the rest of us clear the path."
"No we should split up to find her," Zoro argued. "Spread out and we'll find her faster."
"And you'll get lost you damn marimo!"
"That's enough!" Luffy was too cranky to listen to petty arguments. "We'll all get to the second level and find Candy."
Zoro wasn't satisfied. "We should sneak attack at night."
"We should slip in quietly and as soon as possible to rescue Candy chwan," Sanji bit down on his cigarette and glared at the swordsman. "The most important thing is to get Candy chwan away from that devious prince right away. He's a threat to her virtue."
Aint no virtue left love cook. Zoro returned Sanji's frown. His talk about the prince made the captain twitchy. "We'll get her out of there before something like that happens."
"Then I guess we can't wait until after dark then can we!"
Nami didn't want to hear their bickering any more then Luffy did. "We'll arrive around sun down anyway. We slip in, find Candy and get out of there. We'll have to get back to the ship before it's found too. I wouldn't want to leave Sunny for any longer then a day. Spira's navy would find her."
Luffy was grateful Nami could always remain sensible in crisis situations. Her plan sounded good, but Luffy still meant to smash anyone that got in his way. "We'll find a weak spot and get inside the palace. If we have to split up to find her, do it. Grab Candy and go."
"And don't let anyone stop us," Zoro just had to add.
Damn right Luffy thought and adjusted his hat. Trump Card, I'm coming for you.
Prince Quatre and company arrived by carriage in the early afternoon. Cherry Candy was taken up to her room and attended to by the king's personal physician. Quatre escort Trump Card and his nakama to an audience with his father. The elder gentlemen exchanged pleasantries and Quatre started backing out. "If you don't mind father I'd like to freshen up and check on Miss Cherry."
Rathewal chuckled. "He has always been so taken with her," he nodded at Card. "When I told Quatre it was time to wed it was her he wanted."
"A smart match," Card was accommodating to the king. "Master Alucard always thought so."
The king nodded. "The people of Spira will celebrate this wedding and rejoice when I become a grandfather."
Trump Card suspected he was dealing with a cursed lot. He couldn't care less about the kings tragic past; the old man had buried two sons and a daughter along with his wife, he just wanted Rathwal's money. He wanted a title to match his wealth. "I couldn't agree with you more majesty."
Balthier knew when Quatre was trying to escape just as he knew when his father started in on a guilt trip. It was defiantly time to go. "Allow me to escort you master Quatre," Balthier saved his ward. "I'll have him presentable for dinner with your guest's majesty." Balthier smiled and the king chuckled again. He hurried Quatre out into the hall. Still smiling Balthier closed the door behind them. He sighed tiredly. "I've had about as much of that man as I can stand."
"Trump Card is lieing to us about Miss Cherry. Edelbrock is missing."
"Yes I know." Balthier started them for the stairs.
"Her condition," Quatre frowned.
He kept walking. Balthier wanted a good look at her himself. "Her connection with the stones must have been recently severed. Damn I didn't have more time to investigate their ship."
"Their ship?"
"I'd like to know where they've been. I'd like a better look at those rock climbing injuries of Candy's as well."
Quatre felt something flutter in his stomach. "You don't think Trump Card was the one that removed the Edelbrock bracelets do you?"
"Injured and unconscious suggests she put up a struggle." The back stairs were finally in sight. "Edelbrock missing suggests someone that knew her weakness exploited it. Someone who knew enough to bypass her taijutsu and remove the source of her strength, someone who knew Candy well."
It never ceased to amaze him how much clearer Balthier could see things than he could. "If it was Card that did this to her, why? I thought he was looking after her now."
"I'm not so sure things are as Card says. All we really know is that Candy left High Roll with the Mugiwara pirates, kidnapped after master Alucard was murdered. Card rescued her from those pirates and they've made their way here."
The prince felt his heart skip a beat. He was seeing a bigger picture. "Balthier, do you think Trump Card kidnapped Candy himself, recently?"
"That would explaine this unnatural sleep that has her and the missing bracelets. She's in a very subdued state right now."
"Why would he do such a thing?"
Balthier took a deep breath and started climbing stairs. "The Mugiwara pirates are dangerous to her health I'm sure. They're a tough lot of guys. Regardless of how Candy got here or who brought her, it was the right thing to do. Here she'll be safe from any villain that may be preying upon her. Pirates or old executors, it doesn't matter now. Candy is in our hands Quatre, we'll protect her."
"What about my father? Does he suspect Card of treachery too?"
Known all along is my guess. His king cared more about Quatre having an heir then he did about the young man himself. The prince had insisted Candy be his bride, the king made it happen. "Let's see to the lady Candy," Balthier didn't want Quatre going into another fit. "When she wakes there will be no more hiding the truth. I'm very interested in what she has to say."
"If I find out she's been abused in any way…!" Quatre had to hurry to keep up with Balthier. "If they've deliberately harmed her to bring her to me…! If my father knew about this and kept it from me…!"
"Take it easy Quatre. At least Candy is safely with us now. We can keep the questionable characters away until we have the truth."
Outside of Miss Candy's room Balthier engaged the doctor in conversation. Quatre went in to check on his bride to be. Her attendants bowed to the prince and moved away from her bed. Quatre went to his sleeping beauty. Her maidens had seen to her properly as had the doctor Ipa. Candy's wounds were cleanly bandaged, Quatre could tell because her clothes had been changed. The future princess was dressed in a long silky white nightgown and a bluer then midnight lace trimmed robe. Miss Cherry's attendants had just finished brushing her hair and were about to tuck her in.
He couldn't help but step over to the woman in bed. Quatre studied her bandaged shoulder and then her sleeping face. What has been done to you my dear Miss Cherry? He took one cool hand and rubbed the spot where a ring should rest. "Has she shown any signs of life yet?"
"I'm sorry prince, she just sleeps." Fifi was still on duty.
"Does she at least dream? A mumble, anything?" He knew the maid would say no before he even finished asking the question. It's a sleep like death but she will wake soon! "I want to be kept informed of Miss Cherry's condition. Should there be any change, any time of the day or night you are to inform me at once."
"As you wish highness," Fifi bowed again.
Quatre looked down at the feminine hand in his own. He could still remember holding her hand as they danced in the great ballroom at La Palacia. Candy had laughed when Quatre stepped on her feet and not once did she complain about his sweating palms. She had such a lively happy nature. I do hope that hasn't changed. The prince sat down beside his lovely. He rested her hand over the other on her middle. Even in this cursed sleep she still looked beautiful. It's been two years… he reached up and brushed the hair away from her face. "She's lovely."
Fifi agreed. The prince had found himself a real cutie. "Congratulations to you master Quatre. You and the lady make an adorable couple if you don't mind me saying so."
He blinked at the maid feeling his cheeks warm up. The thoughts and feelings of his people were often reflected in the eyes of his servants. The prince knew all of Spira was eager to see him marry and have a son. Spira relied on their king, Quatre was expected to be a good one; expected to prove it. An adorable couple. "Thank you."
"We're excited to have a princess amongst us again sir. I think a lady is just what this palace needs; that and the laughter of children. Don't you agree highness?" Fifi giggled. She missed Princess Ashley god rest her soul but Fifi was ready to be of service to a lady again. She couldn't wait for the prince to start a family. Fifi had always loved tending to Queen Anna Maria and the children.
"Children would be wonderful," it was pretty much an automatic response. His people expected him to have a large family, like his father. But not like father, not so unlucky.
"Your wedding makes us all so happy, Spira wishes you and the lady Candy all the happiness in the world. I'm sure you'll be most blessed."
Quatre nodded at the maid. Most blessed loosely translated into about six kids. He tried to smile at her, his palms began to sweat. "Thank you senora."
Fifi peeked around to make sure the other maid looked like she wasn't listening. She tiptoed closer to the prince. "Just between you and me highness, my lady has perfect child bearing hips. She's have no trouble nursing a babe either."
She's talking about Miss Cherry's… He couldn't help where his eyes went, he just didn't want to look at the busy maid anymore. He looked down at Candy, at the way the pale silk conformed to every curve of her body. His cheeks felt hotter, his hands sweatier. He swallowed hard staring at Candy. "I'm sure she's… quite capable." Quatre cleared his throat and got to his feet. He moved away from the bed and went to the window for a look out at the sky.
"Can I fetch you something master Quatre? Tea perhaps?"
I could see… "Tea would be nice thank you." He stared out at the cloudless blue. Quatre heard the maid go out; Balthier's voice was louder with the door open. It muffled again when the door closed. He could hear the other maid knitting behind him.
The door opened again and Balthier stepped in. He looked at the maid. "I need a moment with the prince if you don't mind honey."
She giggled at the valiant Sir Balthier and set her knitting aside. "I'll just be out the door if you have need of me." She smiled at Balthier as she went out.
Quatre turned to Balthier. "What did the doctor say?"
Balthier moved in towards his prince. "They didn't look like abrasions, more like puncture wounds. An entry and exit on her shoulder and foot."
"Puncture?"
"She was shot Quatre." That was a bitch seeing as how Trump Card was some sort of an ace gunman. "The shot to her shoulder disabled her arm, rendered her unable to fight."
Panic welled up in his stomach. "Trump Card shot Miss Cherry?! W-why would he do such a thing?"
The answer had only partially reviled itself to Balthier. "Obviously they had a fight, about what I don't know, but it was recent. Those wounds are still fresh and the state she's in." Balthier stepped over to the woman to see for himself. "Candy likely received those wounds at the same time her bracelets were removed. It would appear that she fought Trump Card and lost."
"Fought him why?" Candy fighting, Candy being shot was too ugly an image to bear. "What could possibly bring them to this?"
He looked at the sleeping Candy. "We're going to have to wait for her to tell us I think."
"Why don't we just ask Card, right in front of my father?"
"Quatre." Does he suspect King Rathwal? "Let's not draw any unnecessary attention to Candy. If Card finds out that we suspect something it could put her in danger. If that man has already done this much to her do you really think he'd hesitate to kill her?"
His mouth fell open. Kill?! "You think…."
"I think if there is a snake in the grass a little time will smoke him out. For now we must play along as if all is well."
"We must protect Miss Cherry!" Quatre's heart beat faster.
"Trump Card will know something is up should we put a guard in here. You'll stay. I'll make excuses for you at dinner, tell them you're too love struck to leave my lady's side. Your father will be thrilled."
The prince straightened at Balthier's assignment. "I'll watch over her Balthier. I'll insist she and I be left alone. Father will love that too but it should also keep Card out of here."
It was better Quatre not face his father just yet. Balthier suspected an ignoble deal had been made by his king and Trump Card. If the prince knew his father had Candy brought here by any means necessary it would squash what little relationship the young man had with his father. "I'll check in on you periodically. Send one of the maids for me if Candy wake's up. I'll be at Rathwal's table." Balthier left before too much could show in his eyes. He refused to be the final straw between father and son. No, that will be our princess in there. If she's come to us through foul play, if King Rathwal has ignored that neigh ordered that! By all the gods you'll lose your son old man.
None of this would be happening if the queen were still alive. She brought order to the chaos until she died. Anna Maria suffered neither a thief nor a devious man around her. To see the king drinking wine with the likes of Trump Card made Balthier's stomach hurt. Just how far was the daft old man willing to go to see Quatre wed? Far enough to hurt someone? Was his lineage more important then the love of his only child? "Sad," Balthier sighed. Sometimes it was rough when kingdom had to come first.
Quatre sat at the edge of Candy's bed watching her sleep. Unconsciously he rubbed at the stone under his shirt sleeve. "Don't worry Miss Cherry, whatever has happened your ordeal is all over. I'll take care of you now. I will protect you, with my very life if need be. I won't let you be hurt anymore and those that hurt you will pay for what they have done." He sighed and leaned closer to the sleeping woman. "I'm truly sorry for your suffering Candy. Won't you wake up and tell me what happened to you?"
He quit fussing over his stone and took her hand. Quatre bowed his head like a penitent man. He tried to quiet himself inside, tried to reach the calm place where he could feel his power. Please, if there is anything we can do for Candy, help her. Patiently Quatre waited for his stone to respond. After long moments of nothing happening he realized nothing would. He could not share his strength with her without her wearing the Edelbrock bracelets. He sighed again miserable. "I'm so sorry Candy, please come back to us soon."
Sanji kicked over a few trees, Zoro hacked away some limbs and Ussop did an outstanding job of camouflaging Sunny in with the cove. The pirates stealthily made their way up the coast to the city of Bevelle. It seemed to rise out of the forest like a great beast. It was old architecture of the Czar's; tall gold laced buildings glistened in the setting sun. "Sugee," Nami gasped.
Luffy looked for the biggest, fanciest building, it had to be the royal palace. "Where are they keeping Candy?"
Nami and Ussop both scanned the landscape. "That's St Bevelle aint it," Ussop pointed and addressed the women of the group.
Robin squinted at the peaks of a large temple structure. "Yes, I believe it is."
"Then the palace is that way, it's behind that big church!" Nami felt excited relief rush in. "Come on, let's check it out."