Caspen's firm and nimble fingers bandage my arm up. But a few moments ago I was a lifeless mess, and now my dearest friend is sitting beside me. How fast the gods do blow a new wind.
"So, you are Caspen then?" Balthier says to the boy.
"Indeed, you've told them about me then, eh Fidel?" Caspen smiles that familiar smile I've grown to love and ruffles my hair a little, not caring that it's wet with perspiration.
"They've been traveling with me, helping me find you." I say.
"I know." He says, giving my arm a final pat as the bandage is tied.
"Do you? How?" Says I, stunned. Caspen smiles and helps me to my feet.
"I work for the Lady Ashe of Dalmasca now. I joined on as a knight and serve her in the castle. Word got around that two of her old companions had been imprisoned here and along with that came word that the sky pirate Balthier and the viera Fran were to save them. Along with the two pirates traveled a girl by the name of Fidel." He beams at my questioning face.
"But how did you get wind of my name in all of this?" I ask, trying to make sense of it all.
"I have a friend in the pirating town. They saw you three together and reported it to me."
"You have friends in strange places." Balthier comments. "A government official befriending pirates isn't a common sight."
"The Lady Ashe is a little more compassionate to those who fly the skies," Caspen says, "no doubt your doing."
"It would appear so."
"But why are you here?" I ask, furthering my questions.
"The Lady Ashe sent me to collect your fellow sky pirates, claiming them friends of hers. Of course I was only too happy to oblige, and when I learned you would be arriving too, I was all the more happy to come. Lady Ashe says to invite you three back to the castle after we free your friends."
"That is a welcome thought." Sighs Balthier.
"Aye." Agrees Fran, with a nod.
"So, where are they?" I ask. "That Vaan guy and his friend."
"Down below, still locked up." Caspen says. We begin walking to the east door.
"So where are the bounty hunters?" Fran asks, "This place has ships everywhere, yet I see no hunters."
"I sent them away for a while." Caspen says with a wave of his hand, "Worry not on it." With a click, Caspen opens the door and I step through, staring down a long stair well that descends into the endless tower.
"I've got the door," Balthier says and Caspen nods in thanks before following me.
Third Person POV
Fran turns to Balthier, her eyes narrowed.
"Sense something, Fran?" He asks in an undertone so as to leave the two friends in a moments peace.
"Aye." Says the viera, looking down the staircase.
"Where?" Fran looks to Balthier, her eyes stony and glassed over slightly.
"It's not the tower." She says and descends after the two. Balthier stands for a moment, staring into the darkness shrouding the stair, and follows.
First person POV
"You know you don't have to be so formal, Caspen." I say teasingly. He smiles a shy smile.
"You know me and first impressions."
"I'm sure they'll like you however you are."
"But it's different now," He says turning to face me, eyes shimmering with that determined expression I know so well, "I'm a knight. I work under the Lady Ashe in restoring the hope and freedom we dreamed about. I can't always be the same kid who so acted reckless. Not when I'm dealing with world leaders."
"You've never been reckless. You're the most level headed guy I know. I'm the reckless one." I punch his arm playfully. "And Fran and Balthier aren't world leaders. They're accepting people." I smile, trying to comfort. "Relax."
"Yeah-" He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Just a lot of pressure."
"Don't worry," I say, linking arms with him, "you got me? Right?" I laugh a little and I absorb his smile like a plant soaks in the sun.
"That's right." We come to the end of the staircase. The hall in front of us is doused in a red light, jail cells lining the walls. Caspen and I wait for Fran and Balthier to reach the bottom of the stairs before going any further.
"I wasn't sure which cells your friends were in," Caspen says to the two of them. "they aren't the only two locked up in here."
"That's fine. Now, are all the cells here or are they scattered around?" Balthier asks. In response to his question, comes a surprised and hopeful voice.
"Balthier?!" Through one of the bars I see the face of a girl, maybe my age, staring hopefully down the corridor.
"Balthier?" Says a male voice from across the way. The boy who spoke comes up to the bars of his cells and peers down the cell hallway.
"Well, I don't think we'll have to look far." Balthier says with a slight smile. "Getting into trouble already are we?"
"So it is you!" Says the girl excitedly. "Come to rescue us?"
"No," Jokes Balthier. "I thought I'd just watch you."
"Oh come on, enough jokes. We've been in here for over a week!" Vaan complains.
"Hold your horses." Balthier says, shaking his head. "I come all this way and this is how I'm treated?"
"Is Fran here too?" Penelo hopefully asks.
"Here." Fran says coming to stand by Balthier.
"So, who are they?" Vaan nods in our, Caspen and I, direction.
"You're ticket out of here I presume?" Balthier looks at Caspen as he says this. Caspen nods and digs into a pouch at his metal covered body, removing a set of keys. He tosses them to Balthier who catches them with one hand.
"Don't think I'm letting you off lightly for this, Vaan. I can understand getting caught as a novice pirate, but with a woman at your side?" Balthier shakes his head as he unlocks Vaan's cell door.
"What do you mean 'novice pirate?'" Vaan says with folded arms. Balthier laughs a little and even Fran gives a small smile.
"Oh leave it Vaan." Penelo says. "You haven't even thanked them for saving us!"
"He'll be wishing he was still in here by the time I'm done with him." Balthier says, but in good heart. Balthier tosses Fran the keys to unlock Penelo as Vaan's door clicks open.
"And who are you calling a bad gentleman, anyway?" Vaan says as he leaves his prison. "A real gentleman would have let Penelo out first."
"You have me there." Balthier looks over at Penelo apologetically. "Sorry Miss Penelo."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm just glad you came for us. Aren't we Vaan?" She says forcefully.
"Yeah, of course we are." Vaan smiles at his old friend who smiles back, much like the way a father would look at a son. It touches something inside of me, something I miss dearly. The love of a parent.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Penelo says, indicating us.
"Right." Balthier says. "Fran, would you do the honors?" Fran inclines her head.
"They be Caspen, a knight of the Lady Ashe, and on his arm," I promptly notice I still hold Caspen's arm and shyly let go, "is his friend and our new companion Fidel. Fidel and Caspen these are Vaan and Penelo." We greet each other as all strangers do, a little nervous and shy, but welcome to one another's presence.
"So, how is it we're getting out of here?" Vaan asks.
"I've got a ship," Capsen says, "it'll take us back to the Lady Ashe. She wishes to see you all after so long."
"Balthier has a ship too." Penelo says.
"Indeed, but She'll be fine. And I might point out that you both have a ship as well." Balthier suddenly looks at the two with suspicion. "You didn't loose Her did you?"
"Well," starts Vaan, uncomfortable. Balthier groans and he just shakes his head in disbelief.
"You lost the ship already?"
"I know where it is!" Vaan weakly says.
"And how do you suppose to get it back then?"
"I could ask Ashe if she could get it back for us."
"Lady Ashe has much on her plate," Fran says, "and it would not be wise to get her mixed up in our affair. Her position is already in question for befriending a pirate, let alone aiding one." Vaan's shoulders droop at this.
"I suppose we'll have to steal the ship back then." Balthier's voice holds a lot of disappointment. "Thought you'd take better care of your things. Especially when their a gift."
"I'm sorry!" Vaan defensively snaps. "I got caught and I can't help what they do with my ship!"
"You can! Keep it somewhere where no one will find it! I told you that-" Balthier puts his head in a hand and shakes his head, obviously angry. "We'll talk about this more later. For now let's just leave this place."
"Right," Says Caspen awkwardly, "follow me. The ship's just outside."
"With the dragons?" I say, not hiding my resentment and fed up feeling about going back out there. Caspen laughs.
"Nay, there's always been another way in here. The front door is for those who don't know their way around here."
"Obviously," I say,
"Come on, I'll show you to the secret entrance and from there we can get on the ship. Rabanastre is not a long flight. We should arrive there within the hour."
"How I've waited to hear that." Balthier remarks, trying to calm himself a little.
"Me too," Penelo sighs. "I can't wait to see Ashe again. I wonder what it's like ruling an Empire?"
"Stressful," Balthier says, "being a judge was hard enough." I smile pleasantly, feeling a little out of place amongst these friends. Oh well, as long as I have Caspen everything should work out fine now. I'm not alone.