Well, in recompense for waiting so long on the last chapter, here's the next one. Looking forward to comments.

Chapter Ten

The flight to Bhujerba was long enough.

While Vaan talked with Ivalice and Zack, the young man was very interested in the stories of battles that Zack was able to share, Basch found a moment to take Balthier to the side for that talk that he needed to have.

"I have been informed that your actions in the tunnels were not entirely in seriousness." He kept his manner stern.

Balthier kept his eyes on the control panel in front of him as he flew the Strahl, but he still shook his head in disbelief. "Oh, they would have been, had her attention not been firmly fixed on another target." He couldn't quite keep out the bite of frustration out of his voice.

Basch surprised him by sighing. "So I have also been informed."

The sky pirate blinked several times. "Who finally told you? Vaan's too clueless and she would not have confessed . . ." He paused. "Ahh, that friend of hers. So now you know for whose benefit that little show was arranged. So what is the purpose of this little confrontation?" He lifted a curious eyebrow and glanced at Basch from the corner of his eye. "Warning me away from her? I assure you, her attention does not waver."

Basch shook his head. "No, part of the information I received was a warning that you might one day pursue her in earnest. I wished to know how likely it is that such a day might come."

Balthier closed his mouth firmly to keep his jaw from dropping all the way to the floor. Was this some sort of convoluted trap? What in the seven skies did this dishonored knight want with asking that sort of a question? As it was he lifted that curious eyebrow a little further. "Oh? Seeing what sort of competition there is? Trust me, she's focused. It would take a very determined man indeed to distract her."

The knight persisted. "Are you that determined a man?"

Balthier actually turned his head to look at Basch's intent expression. "What is your purpose? All you have to do is reach your hand out and she'll fall into your grasp without any effort whatsoever. You almost make me think that you want the challenge for her."

Basch sighed sadly. "Her friend said that she has been alone too long. She is not as she seems, or so he tells me. She is in need of someone and it appears that we two are the choices at hand. I have a duty that might very well prevent my claiming what she offers. However, I cannot allow a friend of mine to become the victim of one who is interested in only a momentary dalliance."

The sky pirate narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment. "What precisely are you offering?"

Basch took a deep breath. "That I would welcome a rival were that determined man to be a rival in earnest. Above all else she is my friend, and has remained loyal to that friendship. I cannot do less than that for her." He leaned back. "I will make no move to accept or reject her desires so long as my duty lies between us. I do not know how long that will be. A rival would put that time to good use, were he determined and sincere."

Then the knight stood and left the cockpit to return to where the others were still discussing battles and adventures.

--- --- ---

They arrived in the Bhujerba Aerodrome to see Imperial soldiers. Basch grunted in anger. Balthier stood beside him. "Easy."

The soldiers were searching for someone, and they couldn't find him.

Balthier spoke in a low voice, "You're a dead man. Don't forget it. And no names." The last was directed as much at Vaan as at Basch.

"Of course." Basch understood.

Zack glanced at Ivalice curiously. She shrugged at him. "It's complicated," she murmured. "Ya know how Shinra wasn't too happy with us after Nibelheim?"

He nodded in understanding. "I see."

---

They stepped out of the Aerodrome into sunlight. "The Lhusu Mines are just up ahead." Balthier told them. "Though I do hear there's not much left there these days."

Just then a voice spoke up, a voice that caused Ivalice to freeze still, her eyes widening with shock and surprise. "You're on your way to the Mines?" The group turned to look at the well-dressed fourteen-year-old boy who hopped down from the bridge wall and walked over to them. Basch was surprised to see that Ivalice was actually trembling. Zack looked at her and then at the boy and chuckled softly. "Then please," the boy said, "allow me to accompany you. I've an errand to attend to there."

Basch looked from Ivalice, who had not yet turned to look at the boy, to the boy himself, who seemed to be trying not to look at her, and then he looked up to meet Zack's gaze and then he looked back at the boy. "What manner of errand?"

The boy looked at all of them. "What errand? I might ask the same of you."

Balthier took the hint. "Right. Come on, then."

Vaan was surprised. "What?"

The boy nodded. "Excellent."

"Do me a favor," Balthier continued, "and stay where I can keep an eye on you? Should be less trouble that way."

"For us both." The boy replied.

Vaan looked him over. "So what's your name?"

Ivalice slowly turned around. "He's called Lamont." There were tears in her eyes that were mirrored in the boy. "He – he's my brother." She seemed to be trying very hard to maintain composure. She smiled at Lamont. "You've grown."

He tried to smile back. "It has been two years, Sister. I have been told that it happens to everyone my age."

She opened her arms and he ran into them. "I have missed you, Nii-chan." She hugged him close and then let him go.

Zack smiled at the boy. "You're very lucky to have her for a sister. I've known her a long time."

Lamont looked up at Zack and tilted his head to the side. "You know my sister?"

Zack nodded. "Yeah, she and I go way back."

Vaan nodded to himself. "Don't worry." He put a friendly hand on the boy's shoulder, "I don't know what's in that mine, Lamont, but you're in good hands." He smiled. "Right, Basch?"

The adults looked surprised and Basch groaned but Lamont seemed to take it in stride as they set out and Vaan introduced the rest of them, all by name.

---

It didn't take long at all to reach the entrance to the Lhusu Mines, reported by Balthier to be one of the richest in Ivalice. Basch believed that it would be under Imperial guard but, according to Lamont, the Imperial Army wasn't allowed in Bhujerba except with special leave.

They had only just entered the mine when an Imperial inspection party approached the exit. A Judge walked with another nobleman of Bhujerba. Lamont identified him as Marquis Ondore. Ondore was diverting magicite to Vayne through secret channels, but he wasn't very happy about it.

Lamont speculated that his famed neutrality had slipped a bit in favor of the Empire. Balthier pointed out the persistent rumors that Ondore was supplying the Resistance. Lamont was skeptical of the rumors.

Ivalice spoke up. "He's walking a very narrow path. The Empire killed his friend. He cannot forgive them. But he cannot fight them; Bhujerba would be smashed like an annoying fly. He cannot cooperate with the Empire; seeming too friendly would arouse suspicion. But he has to cooperate. So he does what he has to do to protect his people and shows just enough resentment to forestall suspicion, but not enough to be annoying and a target for military action."

Balthier sighed. "I don't know which of you I'm more curious about. Your insight or his information. Who did you say you were again?" The question was only half-rhetorical. Basch's comment about Ivalice being other than what she seemed had his curiosity up as much as her other attributes had his curiosity going in other directions, and he had yet to find a way to begin breaking through her fixation on her Captain.

Vaan was impatient. "What difference does it make? We have to find Penelo."

Now Lamont was curious. "And Penelo is your . . ."

"She's a friend." Vaan told him. "She was kidnapped and taken here."

Ivalice put a hand on Lamont's shoulder. "She's also my friend, and has been for two full years while I lived with the other war orphans in Rabanastre."

Lamont was thoughtful as they continued into the mine.