Chapter Ten
Nam-Yensa
Archedes
Royal City of Arcadia
Gabranth stalked down the well furnished hallways of the royal palace, his steps quick and sharp as he approached the office of the Emperor. After he received word of Larsa's exploits in Bhujerba and the princess' escape from the Leviathan Gabranth had deemed it necessary to take a ship back to Archedes immediately to see the Emperor.
Vayne was already fulfilling his duties as the Consul while Larsa was finally back in Imperial custody for the time being. Gabranth had received word that the princess and his brother were heading to the Westersand. He would stop them once and for all there. The Judge entered the throne room and stood before the ailing man reverently. The Emperor smiled sadly at the Judge and beckoned him closer.
"I see that you have news for me Gabranth." The Emperor murmured harshly.
"I thought it best to tell you in person my lord about the princess and the party she travels with." Gabranth answered.
"Yes, she travels with your brother now I hear." Solidor glanced at the Judge. "What of the Dusk Shard?"
"It is aboard the Shiva for experimentation." Gabranth replied.
"So Ghis does not yet trust Vayne enough to hand over the Shard." Solidor sighed heavily.
"Shall I take the Dusk Shard to your son?" the Judge suggested.
"No...let Ghis find out whatever he can. In time Doctor Cid will have the stone." Solidor winced as he mentioned the man. "Everything has been troubling me as of late."
"Sire?" Gabranth murmured.
"Vayne may be Consul but the Senate wish to have a younger heir to the throne. They want someone they can easily control." Solidor rubbed his aching head.
"They want Larsa to succeed you?" Gabranth muttered.
"You must protect him Gabranth. Larsa may become many things but he can never become like his brother who strikes without mercy." The Emperor implored.
"So I shall be his blade." The Judge nodded.
"I know you lack compassion Gabranth but Larsa must never lose sight of that." Solidor answered. "An Emperor must have compassion and mercy when the time calls for it."
"Yes my lord." Gabranth bowed before him. "I shall cut own anyone who opposes you."
"Even your own brother?" the Emperor raised an eyebrow. "When we invaded your homeland your brother joined the knights of Rabanastre to fight against use."
"Then he is the enemy." Gabranth answered. There was conviction in his voice that chilled Solidor.
"Families torn apart by this war...I've seen enough of it." He shook his head. "My sons and your own brother."
"I serve the Empire loyally." Gabranth cut in. "I shall do as you ask."
"I do not wish to see my sons at war again." Solidor whispered then a harsh coughing fit racked through his body.
"Shall I fetch a doctor my lord?" Gabranth asked when the Emperor calmed down.
"No..." he shook his head. "But this illness will claim me soon. Please Gabranth, protect Larsa and find the princess. Perhaps I can end this war for both our sakes. Please leave me now."
"Yes my lord." Gabranth bowed then left the room. He made his way back to the hanger bay when something caught his eye.
"Don't get in his way." A voice warned just as something slammed into Gabranth's back sending him flying across the platform.
"What?!" the Judge tried to get up when something sharp poked his chest. He glared up to see a tall red headed man holding a spear and...wings? The man had red wings extending from his back.
"Listen to me...leave your brother to aid the princess." The red head warned him. "Do not get in his way."
"What are you?" Gabranth hissed in rage.
"Do as I say and I won't have a reason to finish the job." He pressed the spear tip deeper into the armour. "Leave Basch alone to help the others."
"Stop!" Gabranth yelled when the red head spread his wings. "Who are you?" he demanded harshly.
"My name is Llyud." The red head answered. Before the Judge could stop him he spread his wings and took off from the platform leaving Gabranth to stare after the strange creature and think about that warning.
Nam-Yensa Border
When morning broke across the Sandsea the group of travellers were already getting ready to cross through the border. Vossler and Ashe took the lead while Balthier and Fran picked up different weaponry from the merchant for close battles. The viera settled on a dagger while Balthier took a pole. Next to a gun he preferred this type of weapon. Vaan walked alongside a solemn looking Basch who had not spoken a word since waking up. Vaan frowned at the man but he too refused to say anything, partly because of the dream he had and partly because he wasn't sure how to say anything in a situation like this.
For now he would concern himself with getting to the tomb which was a half a day's journey across the Nam-Yensa. This section of the Sandsea was shorter that the Ogir-Yensa but no less treacherous. As Ashe led them out of the small clearing she made directly for the sank bank that had wooden bridges built across the golden liquid. As a child she had been told the story of Raithwall's Tomb and how to get there but she never once thought that she would be making the trip. She had long ago memorized the route that they would need to take across the Sandsea towards the Valley of the Dead.
Once they left the border region the group made their way across the now scorching hot desert and towards a small oasis. There were several Uratan-Yensa here as well as vicious little monsters that resembled tomatoes. After cutting through them the group came to the bridge that connected to the next bank with a drilling station placed there. There was only this station and one other around here somewhere. The Nam-Yensa was mostly comprised of the harsh desert landscape as well as several rocky areas making it nearly impossible to drill for oil here.
Like the others the station was abandoned with the exception of some humanoid creatures looking for items to scavenge. Vaan remained silent throughout their trek across the desert, his blue eyes fixed on the west where the tomb was located. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been there before. A nagging memory was clouding his mind, images and shapes were floating before his eyes but he couldn't make them out. It wasn't just the Shard...there was something else there too.
The farther he walked through this region the more he was convinced that he had come here before his imprisonment in the royal palace vault. That part of his life was still a blue but after he had that bizarre dream last night things were becoming a little clearer to him. The Dynast-King knew about the Shards of that he was sure and he could see an image of the man so distinctly in his mind right now...it was almost like he had actually met the legendary king himself at one point.
Vaan shook his head to clear away the thoughts; he was beginning to become agitated with the thoughts plaguing him this way. Soon the group crossed the now silent drilling platform and walked onto smooth sand once more. They passed by a large cave mouth where even the Uratan-Yensa avoided contact. Vossler had heard rumours that the cave system around here was in fact the Zertian Caverns, a vast underground network of tunnels and flowing sand but no one had lasted long enough to bring back a good enough detailed description of what lay in there.
They passed by the cave mouth and moved onto the next part of the desert which was now boiling hot under the noon sun. They had spent the morning walking across the Nam-Yensa but with the heat it was becoming a little unbearable. At least when they walked across the Ogir-Yensa the drilling stations provided some sort of shade from the glaring sunlight. Vossler, Ashe and Basch were used to the harshness of the desert as they had spent some time in the youth training out in the Westersand and the Eastersand when the Saurians were no longer around.
Fran didn't how if she was showing discomfort as she walked alongside her sulking partner. Balthier really hated crossing landscapes like this. Sand got everywhere and it was a nightmare to wash out of clothing. Not to mention his skin would burn and tending to blisters was the last thing he wanted to be doing on this trip. Come to think of it why exactly had he agreed to this little outing? Oh right, his fetish for shiny objects. The pirate glanced at the silent blond but he didn't allow his concern to show on his face.
He wondered why both Vaan and Basch were both eerily silent this morning. Granted Basch wasn't much of a talker to begin with but the man usually spoke sense and he offered his opinion when he thought that it would count. Balthier had to wonder what was wrong with both of them. Soon they reached a section of the desert that gave way to a valley of rocks. It was past noon already but they had made excellent tie crossing the harsh desert especially in that kind of heat.
Because his flesh was immune to magick and weaponry Vaan didn't notice the change in temperature. However he did notice that the former knight was staring at him a lot as if trying to glance into his thoughts. He squirmed a little under the penetrating gaze but said nothing about it. They were so close to the tomb now; he was one step closer to finding the Shard that would take him to the next one. As Vaan followed the others into the valley he had to wonder if the tomb would hold some sort of clue to his own past.
Ashe felt her heart pounding with anticipation and a little fear as she crossed into the Valley of the Dead and on towards the tomb of her legendary ancestor. She had always wanted to see the tomb of Raithwall, to look upon the resting place of the great king but it had been built out here for a reason, to be protected. It sickened her to think that pirates would desecrate the tomb for a few jewels and to make a deal with two Sky Pirates was not becoming of a princess but she could see no other way.
She would keep her word though and give them the treasure but only after she had the Dawn Shard in her hand. The group walked straight ahead through the jagged rocky pathway that now provided shade from the sun but the path itself was hard to traverse across. It took them an hour to get through but eventually they came upon the entrance to the final resting place of the Dynast-King.
The rocks opened to reveal a smooth desert floor with pillars of stone lining either side of the valley floor. It clearly looked like a place of worship but it was the tomb itself that was indeed amazing to look upon, an edifice that had to be seen at least once in your lifetime. The tomb had been carved out of black rock and it gave the place the look of a large machine. The tomb had been built at the back of the valley floor, leaving the space in between to be filled with any groups of people who came to see this place and worship the tomb of their long dead king. A statue of the Dynast-King had been carved at the top of the black tomb.
In one hand he held a sword and in the other a sphere that was most likely the Shard. A flight of steps lead up to the entrance to the ancient structure where Vaan could make out the glint of an orange crystal. So that was how people got here instead of going through the Sandsea. At least not if they ever needed to come back it would just be a simple matter of using a teleportation crystal. The moment the group stepped out of the shade something from above screamed and flew overhead. A large shadow was seen flying across the tomb until the source of the shadow landed at the entrance to the structure.
Ashe had a feeling that this would happen. Raithwall's Tomb had to be protected against all manner of invaders and thieves. The creature before her now was a giant gird with white feathers and a long tail. Before coming into the valley the merchant they had gotten supplies from had mentioned that a giant Avon had been seen flying around the valley near the tomb.
They would have to kill the beast to past through. Raithwall had been a paragon of strength and wisdom so in a way this was a test of strength to see if they were worthy enough to enter his resting place. Ashe refused to be deterred by the Avon now glaring at the assembled people on the valley floor.
Balthier and Fran brought up their long range weaponry while Basch and Vossler conserved their magick strength. Ashe had charged directly for the winged beast and used her sword to slice into its exposed chest. Letting out a shriek of pain it took off from the valley floor but remained hovering over the group of intruders. Basch and Vossler immediately used Fire and Thunder spells on the Avon while Balthier and Fran stayed back at a safe distance and fire their arrows and bullets at the beast.
The Avon flapped its wings viciously to create a sudden gust of wind that tore through the valley towards the group. Ashe, Basch and Vossler took the full force of the attack when they were thrown across the floor. Fran healed whoever was weakest while Balthier drew the Avon's attention away from the wounded.
When the bird came at him he ran through the pillars, inwardly smiling when the creature slammed into some of them in its attempts to reach him. Fran managed to heal the others as best she could before aiming at the Avon and firing off three arrows in quick succession. Balthier ducked against the staircase just in time for the Avon to crash against the rock.
Ashe joined Basch and Vossler in projecting black magick spells that distracted the creature from Fran. Balthier took careful aim and when the Avon flew low towards Ashe and the others he fired at its exposed head and neck. Blood splattered the floor and a nearby pillar and the dying screams of the bird echoed throughout the valley. It fell to the ground in a heap and was soon taking its final breaths in a pool of is own blood.
"That was quite the workout." Balthier muttered when he walked back to the others.
"Is everyone alright?" Basch asked. Vossler and Ashe nodded.
"Where is Vaan?" Fran looked around. The boy was nowhere to be found.
"Where did he go?" Vossler questioned the others.
"Oh great..." Balthier hissed. He should've ordered Vaan to stop in one place.
"I think he went into the tomb." Basch answered. It was the most logical conclusion.
"Then he is going after the Dusk Shard." Ashe sound with more than a little irritation in her voice.
"We need to stop him." Vossler said firmly.
"Look, fighting an Avon was fine but fighting Vaan would be next to suicide." Balthier stated.
"You saw him fight Vossler." Basch murmured. "Vaan will not be as easy as the Avon."
"But he cannot take the Shard!" Ashe yelled. She was almost seeing red.
"Look, I'll talk to him when we catch up. Let's go in there and find him before he gets to wherever the Shard is being kept." Balthier cut in sharply.
"You're right." Basch nodded and Vossler had to agree.
"What can we expect in the tomb Lady Ashe?" Fran asked the seething princess.
"There are traps of course to keep out thieves as well as creatures affected with the Mist. At least that was what I read in the old documents." She replied.
"The Royal Family knows the story of the tomb and Raithwall's Legacy." Vossler supplied. "It is their heritage."
"The Dusk Shard will be the proof of my bloodline. In the story only Raithwall could use the stones an access their true power." Ashe approached the staircase.
"And you want to use this power to fight against the Empire." Balthier finished for her.
"It is my right." She snapped.
"But there are four stones correct?" Basch interrupted. The group stopped when they reached the top of the staircase only to find a strange looking device shaped like a diamond.
"Yes and the legends say that once the four are joined they will create the Holy Light." Ashe turned to the others sharply. "Could that be what Vaan is seeking?"
"What exactly is the Holy Light?" Balthier asked.
"Most of the old documents are long gone now but from what I remember the four Shards combined will create a light that will cleanse all evil in its path." Ashe recited from memory.
"But Vaan is driven by a primal urge to find the stones. He may not know about the Holy Light." Basch pointed out.
"Either that or he's a first rate actor." Balthier muttered darkly. "We need to find him."
"Agreed." Ashe nodded. The group gathered around the stone and pressed their hands against the glowing surface to be teleported into the tomb.
This chapter is a little shorter than the others but I wanted to get the Sandsea thing done before starting a new section. Next up is the tomb and the chase for the Shard begins. Review and feed my muse.