Dreaming of Vana'diel: Reforging Destiny

by BearstarSeraph

With Lilisette as their inspiration, two orphans, the famous Galka Adventurer simply called "the Sage" and his best friend the Mithra White Mage Bearstar, go back in time to the Crystal War to save their parents' lives. But chaos ensues, and lives are destroyed and lost as history tries to correct this mistake at every turn. Must they sacrifice their parents for victory and peace?

10. Ch7: Will-o'-Whispers and Silent Prayers

Chapter 7: Will-o'-Whispers and Silent Prayers

The thinnest wisps of dawn slowly begin to light the clouds from underneath although there is no light yet on the horizon. An elderly Elvaan priest dressed in full blue robes and hood piously walks with head down and arms folded within his sleeves making his way to deliver Lightsday service and communion to the faithful.

The priest for no apparent reason stops in his tracks. He stands still for a time then takes his hands out of his sleeves and pulls his hood back to the shock of onlookers. He cups his hands behind is long ears and closes his eyes to concentrate. He then runs off in the wrong direction for the chapel, making his way with his head still uncovered through the dawn crowd and soldiers.

He comes to a secluded section of Mines, now mostly abandoned save the Galkan slums due to the war. He crouches behind a corner careful not to be seen. His ears have not tricked him. A large flock of song birds is gathered on almost every surface chirping an unnatural song. There are two Mithras there. One, a Ranger, is sitting on a crate playing a traditional woodland two-chambered flute that sounds hollow like a spring breeze through budded branches and the other, dressed in Bison leathers, is dancing and singing within the flock of birds. The dance he recognizes, but is unfamiliar with the lyrics, but it is a hymn to Altana, no question about it.

Suddenly the mining dust so near the ground overtakes his nose and the birds scatter.

The dancer draws her daggers, "Who's there! Show yourself!"

The priest comes out of the shadows arms raised. He is surprised at the fear and hate in the dancer's eyes thinking the sight of an old priest would calm their nerves. The Ranger runs up to the dancer, places her hand on her shoulder and whispers in her ear.

The Mithra sheathes her daggers, then points at the priest. "Approach!" she commands.

The priest keeping his arms raised walks up to the duo. He puts his hands together in the Altanan blessing, symbolizing the Goddess's wings, above his head. "Peace be with you. I am Father Ermenegilde."

The Ranger steps forward returning the hand sign. "And peace be with you Holy Father! I am B…" she fakes coughs to cover herself, "Forgive me, I am Mizar."

The dancer now steps in front of the Ranger and raises right her arm in a protecting motion. "And I am Major Viki of the Copperheads," she glares at Father Ermenegilde.

The priest can see Mizar mouth the word "sorry" to Major Viki though it is so soft even an Elvaan can't hear it.

"Well since the ceremony has been unexpectedly cut short," Bearstar's smile is unable to mask the nervousness in her voice, "We should be getting ready for the day's battle." She hurriedly walks past Father Ermenegilde pulling her hat down masking her face with her hands. He can hear her start to run away as soon as she passes him.

Major Viki turns her back, glances hostilely behind her at the priest, then starts to walk back towards the crates.

"Pardon me for asking, but that was your Dawn Drawing ceremony wasn't it, yet the lyrics were in praise of Altana?"

Major Viki turns and glares, "How do you know of it?"

"Out of all the pilgrimages I am bound to undertake, I have always looked forward to my journeys to Mea the most because it brings me to Windurst. I know our nations are traditionally at war with each other but I have truly fallen in love with her and her peoples."

There is an honesty in his voice that Major Viki cannot deny. "I'm surprised that a priest as yourself has been allowed to grow old in your robes Father with those views." Major Viki points her index and middle fingers on both hands and puts them behind her head. Then she motions them up over her head bringing them to her brow.

The priest puts both his palms on his head. He feels nothing but his thinning hair, "Oh, how unsightly of me," he says pulling his hood back over his head, "Thank you for pointing it out. I would have never noticed."

Major Viki allows herself to smile softly but she is still on her guard to his surprise. He thinks for a moment about the situation.

"You and your companion conceal your faith in Altana from the world do you? That is why you hide deep in the shadows instead of welcoming the coming day in the light?"

Major Viki stands emotionless in front of him.

"There is no need to be afraid or concerned. I know the situation well, you and your friend are as safe as in the confession booth."

"I'm glad to hear it… for your sake. I'm sure you are aware of the situation we are facing at the moment."

Father Ermenegilde raises his hands pleadingly, bracing for a violent response, "If you mean the situation with the heretic, yes I know of it."

Major Viki bares her fangs and growls softly.

"Yes, yes I know but what they did was a truly barbaric act, unfit for such holy men," he continues.

Major Viki drops her shoulders slightly, "Just because some are quick to drop their guard don't think for a minute that I am one of those."

Major Viki studies her opponent. "You seem disturbed about something Father, but not about this?" Major Viki asks.

"Yes, you are quite observant. I just came from praying for a young knight's soul." He sighs, "His is one of those deaths that tests your faith."

"May I ask who it was?"

"It was a young Temple Squire named Gwenael."

Major Viki eyes bug out in shock. "A Squire Gwenael? A boy barely twenty with scarlet hair the color of the dawn and green eyes lusher than the new spring growth?"

"Yes! You knew him?"

Major Viki puts her face in her hands distraught. "Yes, he was a kind Elvaan," she lowers her hands, "and I don't say that lightly."

"What do you mean?"

"Before we came to Bastok my girls and I were in San d'Oria, we were treated so cruelly there. The Temple Knights wouldn't let us even talk our own language let alone pray. We were always under surveillance and harassed."

"That is the Temple's duty I'm afraid. Religious dogma is the law in San d'Oria. Even the royal family is not above the control of the Papsque. May I add that it is no different than how your Star Sybil stands above the Ministries and Mercenaries of Windurst."

"Don't compare her to them!" she says angrily, "The Star Sybil is kind, noble and just. She is not as brutish as your knights."

"I'm sure she is as remarkable woman to be mistaken for Altana Herself… No offence if that is where your faith lies child." he adds hurriedly.

Major Viki gives a sad smirk. "He would always say that to us, 'No offence if that is where your faith lies.' He was kind to us and very curious."

"That he was… that he was." He tries to choke back his tears. "As unpriestly as it sounds I pray that the Tyrian Wolves bring justice to young Gwenael's death," he laments.

"Tyrian? I'm not familiar with the word?" asks Major Viki.

"The Tyrian Wolves are the unit of Temple Knights here in Bastok. He was a member."

"I know that much, I meant the word itself. I assume it's a color from how other units are named."

"Oh, yes, Tyrian is the proper name for the common tongue's royal purple."

"I see." Major Viki clasps her hands together and closes her eyes, "Altana, I know praying for violence is improper and immoral, but the Elvaan Gwenael was a good and loyal servant. Please let a purple wolf bite the murder's head off." She opens her eyes and looks at the priest smiling.

"You have a very terse vocabulary, child. But well phrased," he says smiling back.

"I'm afraid our meeting must end here. We must not be seen together, not until I discover the truth of what transpired in San d'Oria."

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"A good friend has been sentenced to death after an argument between only us Mithra over Altana. I pray for that person sake that her words moved one of my girls to question an Elvaan out of faith instead of…" Major Viki pauses searching for the right words. She raises her hands and puts them over her heart, "…out… of ulterior motives."

Father Ermenegilde smiles and nods in sympathy, "Of course, and I will pray for that individual as well."

They exchange salutes. Major Viki turns and walks back towards the crates. She kneels down and emerges with a large bundle wrapped in blankets. As she turns, he is surprised to see a teddy fall from the blankets. Major Viki looks around not knowing what to do at first, then she carefully kneels down with her eyes focused on the bundle and feels around until she touches the teddy. She tucks in into the blankets and as she stands a little tail comes loose from the cloth folds. Father Ermenegilde smiles as he watches Major Viki leave first.

After waiting for a time, Father Ermenegilde steps out of the shadows. After his eyes recover from the shock, he sees the glowing colors. "Sweet Mercy I'm going to be late for service!" He folds his arms piously within his sleeves, and trying to do so respectably, runs off.

The clocks chime twelve-thirty, and Drogo has spent the entire morning under a shady tree reading a book. His wagon is next to him with a few other books and some well worn-out toys matching the state of his wagon. The elite of Markets coming home in their Lightsday best turn their noses up at the dirty little Galka in their midst.

Slowly the Hume children begin to trickle in, but many don't come. Mostly the wealthier kids whose families can afford to enforce obedience to the Sabbath day. Drogo feels a slight breeze on his face, takes a break from his pages and looks up at the leaves rustling gently. "Humes sure are funny," he thinks, "The rich deride the poor for not keeping faith, but they are the ones forcing the poor to work without rest."

"Doggie!" the excited shrill of his favorite toddler pulls him from his thoughts.

He shuts his book, quickly puts it aside, and runs up waving.

"Hey Gamesage!" Ceddie shouts running up. "Did you remember your toys?" he says as they come face to face.

Drogo nods and leads them to the tree where the eleven other children have gathered, all Port families. The more older children, about Ceddie's age, are flipping through the books looking for pictures while the younger ones are trying to figure out what the toys used to be so they know how to play with them. One boy is peering through a small metal ring with a rope attached treaded though a solid medal wheel.

"What's this thingy?" he asks as they come up.

"Be careful! I made that for Star," he says taking it.

"But what is it?"

Drogo leans down, "Stand back everyone." He puts the hoop over one of his legs and straightens out the rope and puts the wheel at the end. He then starts kicking his foot and the gizmo starts to spin around. As the rope comes around he lifts his foot over the rope and kicks it around again going faster and faster.

"Oh! I want one! I want one!"

Everyone looks up and Drogo lets the doohickey spin out. Star comes running up.

"Good! I made it for you." Drogo reaches down and takes it off his foot. "Happy belated birthday," he hands it to her.

"What's belated?" she asks.

"Belated means late, you say it when you give a present after the person's real birthday. It's like an apology."

"You don't have to say sorry. You tried to give me a bookie at me party."

"Speaking of books," a girl says, "There aren't any pictures in these."

"Yeah, and there are big words I don't know," says another.

A small boy comes up holding a toy, "What's this thingy?"

"You didn't bring very good stuff," a boy complains standing up from the wagon.

"Yeah! I thought you said you had good stuff. This stuff is trash," another says standing up.

Drogo looks at the ground, "I just brought what I thought would be fun."

"Well they're not," the first boy says.

"You have a weird sense of fun," the other says.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Star shouts, "This thingy is lots of fun!" She holds up her skipping toy.

"Yeah, but there's only one!" one of the boys shouts.

The oldest of the children, one of the few rich ones, puts her book down and runs in between, "Hey now no fighting!"

"This marble even has a crack in it," says the first boy.

"No be careful!" he runs over and takes it from him, "This one's my favorite."

"Why? It's garbage," he snaps.

Drogo holds it up to the sun and twists it around, "Just because no one wants it doesn't mean it's garbage." He suddenly smiles, "There we go look at this."

The boy looks up into the light, "Hey there's a picture of something in it!"

All the children gather and take turns.

"It's a bolt!"

"It's a chimney!"

"It's a sail!"

"It's a feather!" Star says on her turn.

Drogo holds the marble up to where he can see it, "Yes I think it's a feather too."

"Gamesage do you have any other toys and books?" another girl asks.

"Yeah I have lots of books, and I still haven't given away any of the new toys I have to the other Galka kids."

"You give your toys away?" Ceddie asks.

"You must have lots of toys!" Icie squeals clapping her hands. She tugs on Drogo arms pogo-ing up and down, "Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

"Yeah Gamesage, where do you live?" Ceddie asks.

Drogo stutters, "I…live… by myself …in… in Mines."

"You have your own room? That's not fair! I have to share mine with my brother," a boy whines.

"No I live by myself," Drogo explains, "I don't just have my own room, I'm completely alone."

"Don't you have a mommy or daddy?" a small girl asks.

Drogo shakes his, "No…" but his tone picks up as he smiles, "but I have a Zbigniew. That's kinda like a daddy. But he's a soldier so he lives at the barracks."

A small boy looks at the ground, "My uncle had to leave home for the war." He starts to sniffle.

The oldest girl goes to hug him, "It's ok Billy."

"Are you guys really sure you wanna go to my place?" Drogo asks nervously.

"Yeah why?" Ceddie asks.

Drogo races through his mind trying to find the words for the fear of his neighbors' reactions to seeing Humes in the depths of the slums, even if they are children.

"There are spiders," he says finally trying to scare them. "Great big ones!" Drogo extends his arms as far as they will go exaggerating their size.

One little girl starts to cry and hides in one of the older girls' skirts.

"I'm not scared of spiders!" says Icie proudly, "I'll squish em!" Then stomps her foot.

"Yeah why would we be scared of silly spiders," a boy mocks.

Drogo in despair walks over to his wagon and kneels down placing his hand underneath.

"What are you doing?" asks Star.

Drogo closes his eyes and grips the hilt of his short sword, stolen from an Elvaan, hidden in the undercarriage of the wagon. He runs different scenarios through his mind over and over again.

"Gamesage?" Ceddie asks.

Drogo lets go of the sword and stands up. "I'll take you, but you'll need to be quiet and fast, but once we hit the alleyway we'll be safe."

Drogo carefully leads his small troupe through the filthy streets of the slums. The other children are completely overwhelmed by the sights and sounds…and smells… of the slums. They carefully watch where they step trying to avoid the open sewers running in the drainage ditch in the middle of the narrow alleyway as they stare at the decrepit old buildings with their facades cracked and tumbling off.

Word spreads quickly of the Hume invasion and adults pull their playing children from the streets. Angry glares greet them from windows and doors. The children only turn in circles completely confused not knowing how to respond to this alien world. Drogo is stone faced, searching the onlookers, ready to pull his sword from his wagon if need be.

Up ahead of them, Drogo can see a burly Galka come out of a door and lean against the wall arms crossed. Drogo readies himself. As they near the Galka says something not in the common tongue. Drogo responds in kind. The Hume children just stand helplessly as they talk. They can tell from the tone that it is a heated conversation but nothing else. Star, on the other hand, raises her right hand in front of her and closes her eyes.

The conversation turns into an argument, "(I knew you had foreign tastes but to bring Humes here shows a severe lack of judgment.)"

"(I can handle myself well enough,)" responds Drogo.

"(You may be able to handle yourself but what about your Hume friends?)"

Star takes her toy and begins to spin the metal wheel like a flail. She walks up behind Drogo, "I can take care of myself just fine if you wanna try it."

Both the Galka and Drogo jump back completely startled giving a short scream.

"You understand what we're saying?" Drogo asks.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" she asks surprised.

The Galka recovers and yells at Drogo, "(You taught this girl our tongue!)"

"(I did no such thing!)"

"He's right! Drogo didn't teach me nothin'!" Star says.

Other Galkas begin to gather and circle the kids. Drogo searches the crowd and goes for his sword, but before he can pull it out…

"(What is the meaning of this!)" shouts a voice far to high to even be a Galkan child.

Someone jumps off a second story causeway into the middle of the cowering kids.

"Ah! You're a Jeuno official!" shouts one of the Galkas in the common tongue.

A woman stands before them in a Blessed set with a Noble's Tunic. A simple helm hides her face so only her tail proves she's a Mithra. She puts her hands on her hips fingering the handles of her twin maces.

"(I said what is the meaning of this!)" she continues in Galkan, "(Are you so morally deprived that you will mug even children?)"

Star closes her eyes again as if listening to something. Then she smiles, "I know you! You're Mommy's friend that I can't hear!"

"You have connections with the Archduke?" the first Galka asks.

"(Yes they do,)" says the arbiter. "(Now I hope all of you understand the consequences of slighting Jeuno?)" she mocks arrogantly. The Mithra waves them off, "(Now shoo! All of you! And I recommend you remember this encounter!)"

The Galkas disperse leaving the children alone in the streets.

"Are you kids alright?" the Mithra asks.

Drogo is a little wobbly, "(Thank you)" he mumbles.

"What was that about!" the eldest girl shouts hugging one of the smaller children clinging to her skirt.

The Mithra turns to her, "Some people have no scruples. They probably saw all these nice things in your wagon and thought children would be easy pickings."

Suddenly there is a loud clank.

Everyone looks and sees that Drogo's sword has come loose from under the wagon. The smaller children cling even tighter. Ceddie pulls his little sister back, being too young to understand what just happened.

"You don't have to worry anymore," the arbiter says, "I'll escort you where ever you are going."

"Those nine lives of yours are going to run out one of these days you know."

Everyone looks up and sees a large Galka with spiked brown hair in Darksteel Cuirass set and Iron Visor on the upper deck where she had jumped from.

The Mithra waves, "Hey Wagwei you're late to the party as always!"

He shakes his head in disgust, "Just stay there, I'll find some steps."

Everyone is walking briskly through the alleyways now.

"And my brother says these clothes aren't worth the millions of gil. Ha! I'll lecture him when we get back," Bearstar thinks as she struts proudly walking with the children.

They all gather around Wagwei asking a million questions.

"What's it like in Jeuno?"

"Is it true that they have buildings taller than mountains?"

"Is the entire city really built on bridges rising up from the bottom of the ocean?"

Bearstar laughs as poor Wagwei stumbles with the words.

Drogo stops with his wagon, "Ok this is my street."

Everyone turns to see a deserted street with a fishing net draped over the railings of the upper deck tied to the ground as a barrier, but one side is hanging loose. The upper decks are also sealed off with crates. There is a sign on the net written in two languages, the common tongue reads "Danger! Do Not Enter."

Drogo lifts up the net and goes underneath, "Come on it's this way."

"Oh you have got to be kidding me…" the oldest girl says.

"Don't worry no one comes back this way," Drogo says, "It's safer than staying out there."

"Ok everyone under the net," the girl says pushing the children to hurry them underneath. She looks back when the grownups don't follow, "Wait aren't you coming with us?"

Bearstar shakes her head, "Sorry, but this is as far as we go. But don't worry. The last Galkan king ordered this street closed. No one would disobey him," she giggles, "Except Drogo of course."

Wagwei sighs, "Your both crazy you know that?"

"Wait the Galkas have a king?" the girl asks.

Wagwei looks up, "It's more of a ceremonial role since we came to Bastok," he explains, "We recognize the President and the Senate of course, but the Tales Keeper as the name translates is chosen by Altana Herself so we also follow him as a religious leader nowadays instead of a political one."

Bearstar points at the children walking away, "You better hurry or you'll lose them."

The girl turns and sees them getting further away. "Thank you for saving us," she says running after them.

Wagwei turns to Bearstar. "That was as dangerous as hell you know that!"

"What? The impersonating an arbiter? We'll be fine. Lots of Adventures wear the Jeuno Blues."

He shakes his head, "No I mean being around the little you, with that weird power you have."

"You don't have to worry about that. I said so myself, 'You're Mommy's friend that I can't hear' or did you miss that?"

"That doesn't make sense, have you found away to block others with the same gift?"

Bearstar shakes her head, "No, but the explanations quite simple. How can someone read their own mind? But come on we must find Sir Gumbah…" She taps her helmet a few times, "… It's Elder Gumbah…It's Elder Gumbah here."

"You're only delaying the inevitable, if you even doing anything at all."

"We have to try. The History books have gone blank. We must do everything we can to ensure his safety. We have to protect the Tales Keeper."

Wagwei nods and they run off together.

The children make their way through the dusty cobweb infested street watching Drogo strolling confidently in front of him humming a song. They turn a corner and are now are completely out of sight in an area isolated from the rest of Mines. The children look around in amazement.

It's like a chutes and ladders board with ropes and slides everywhere. The cobwebs are gone and everything is as clean as it can hope to get. There are broken containers filled with flowering weeds scattered through the streets trying to make it look better. They look up and see something just peeking up above the roof lines. They look into the various rooms on the bottom floor and see piles of junk.

"What's all this?" Ceddie asks.

"I'm a scavenger. I use the lower rooms to organize and store the things I sell," Drogo answers proudly. "I live in the upper floor though. Everything upstairs I keep for myself."

"Hey why is this wall all wet?" Star asks.

He looks and sees Icie splashing in a puddle where water seeps from a crack in the wall.

"Oh, not again!" Drogo drops his wagon's handle and runs into a nearby room.

The other kids follow and discover it's a stairwell. They come to the upper floor and climb a pile of rubble with steps shaped into it up to the roofs.

They discover an extensive rooftop garden full of edible desert plants. There are also animals, like chickens and rahabs in makeshift cages. As they search for Drogo, the eldest looks down into a collapsed room. As the other children come over she shoos them away, "Come on he's not down there let's go this way." She glances down one more time into a bloody slaughterhouse before she runs off herself hand over her mouth and nose.

On the opposite end of the roofs they find Drogo climbing back up onto the roofs. They peer over the edge into an entire set collapsed rooms. The first room is only down to the second floor but the next two are completely down to the ground. They are filled with water.

"Everything's all right. The rain's just overtopped the basin. There are no cracks in the seal," he says relieved.

"Gamesage what is all of this?" Ceddie asks.

"This is my home," he says proudly.

"I know that, but you said you live alone?"

"I do."

"But who made all these things?" the oldest girl asks.

"Everything here is mine. I made everything myself."

"Even the garden and the animals and…" she looks at the younger children, "…and that place where you do things with the animals?"

"Everything here is mine," he says again proudly, "I do everything myself. My animals, my gardens, all my things in storage, my home. I sell what I find. I give toys and the food I can't eat away. I use the money to buy medicine for sick people. I do everything myself." He looks at the ground, "But with the war… everything goes to the war. There's nothing to buy."

"You don't have to do everything yourself anymore. We're all here now!" Star says, "I'll come here every day!" She turns to the others, "You'll all come to right!"

"I play here! I play here!" Icie shouts jumping up and down.

"I'll come too," says Ceddie.

The oldest girl looks on helplessly as the other children all concur. Drogo and the oldest girl both look at each other, the only ones understanding what the consequences could be.

"You don't have to worry," Star says suddenly. "We can do it. Just like we did before after my birthday."

Drogo sighs, "Fine. But do not come here looking for me. I must lead you here. I don't want you getting lost in the slums, you got it!"

Cheers, clapping and hugging go through the younger kids.

The oldest girl hides her face in her hands, "I got a bad feeling about this."

The happiness lasts another four days. The Galkas are puzzled at how nearly thirty Hume children could up and disappear in the slums but remembering the warning of the arbiter they hide from sight when the children appear in the mornings and evenings. Then a six year old girl from a wealthy merchant family picks some of the flowers for her mother.

"Oh what were you thinking bringing these Goddess awful weeds into this house!"

Her daughter cries as she throws them away, "But I picked them for you, Momma!"

"These are not flowers! These are trash!"

"But Gamesage said they are pretty flowers!" she wails.

Her father puts the newspaper down from reading in his favorite plush chair and takes his pipe from his mouth, "Gamesage? Don't tell me that you play with that Galka boy?"

She nods quietly sniffling.

Her mother throws her hands in the air disgusted, "Oh! No wonder you've been misbehaving! You've probably even been playing with those ruffians from Port too!" She points at the daughter, "At least some good can come of this. You better tell us where you picked these so we can punish the gardener properly young lady!"

"Gamesage doesn't have a gardener or any other servants! He does everything himself and his home is even bigger than ours!"

Her father folds his newspaper placing it on the side table and leans forward, "And what do you mean by that?"

She turns to her father, "Gamesage is so rich he owns an entire street not just a little house like ours. He even has it roped off with a "Do Not Enter" sign to keep people from trespassing. And he has so many wonderful things you wouldn't believe."

"And what does he have exactly?" asks the mother.

"He has lots of flowers and a big veggie garden, and pet bunnies and chickens. And his rooms are full of so many things. They look like trash but he says they are wonderful treasures worth a lot of money."

Her father smirks odiously, "What's worth a lot of money?"

"He as rooms full of pieces of rusty metal, and broken wood but what is really great is all the toys he has and all the ropes to climb and swing on."

"And you just believed him when he said that?" he asks.

She shakes her head, "No, no one believed him but then he went and got a box to show us and it was full of money! Even more than what's in my piggy bank."

"And what does this box look like?"

"It looks like the box you keep your cigars in Papa."

Her father stands up, "Well then, I think it is close enough to supper that you should be getting cleaned up." He calls over the maid standing at the door, "Martha, come here and prepare my daughter for supper."

"Yes, my Lord." The maid takes the little girl and disappears.

"James you come her as well."

The male servant comes over and bows, "Yes my lord."

"I need you to carefully empty out one of my cigar boxes and bring the box here to the parlor."

"But honey why?" the mother asks perplexed.

"It's elementary my dear. How are we to know how much money was stolen from us if we do not know the size of the container the coins were in?"

She starts to clap her hands excitedly and they both laugh.

"Right away my lord," the servant leaves the room.

"But darling what about our daughter? Won't she warn the rat?" muses her mother.

Her father smiles, "I think she's about to take a bad fall."

"Good idea! If she is capable of playing with vermin then we need to correct our error and bestow upon her the propriety of her station. I'll hold her down so we don't accidently mar her face. A blemish would detract from her bride price."

After carefully unpacking the cigars from a box, the servant sighs dejectedly. He looks around to make sure he's completely alone. Then he punches the wall, "Those monsters!" he thinks, "Are they really planning to kill a child!"

The next day Drogo comes to the gathering point. "Where is Clementine?" he asks.

"The butler said she isn't feeling well," answers one of the other rich kids, "He said she won't be playing with us for awhile."

"Awe, that's too bad," Drogo says, "We'll have to get her a present to make her feel better."

"We were already talking about that," says the oldest girl, "I'll be giving her some of my old toys since…" she hesitates, "well since her parents probably won't let her keep some of the toys you have."

Drogo nods understanding.

"Actually if someone could pass this to her, that would be nice." He hands the oldest girl a small bundle. It rattles like glass. She unwraps and finds about a baker's dozen of glass roses of all colors and mixtures. All the girls gather round when they see her hold up a pendant by its string.

"Oh Gamesage! Where did you find these in the garbage?" one says putting her necklace.

He shakes his head, "I only found the glass. I made those from broken marbles."

"What? How? There's no way you could make a fire that hot? My family has a glass factory," the oldest says girl.

"No but I can make one hot enough to make it soft."

"But about all the tools our workers use?"

"Bricks and a metal box, old ceramics from the Alchemy Guild, broken tweezers, leather scrapes and old gloves. You Humes always like shiny things, like blackbirds." Drogo scowls, "You have no idea what you really have," he says with some emotion in his voice.

She hugs the smelly little Galka boy, "I'm sorry. I'll never take trash for granted again."

Drogo closes his eyes and swallows hard recognizing the patronization in her voice.

"Ok then charge!" shouts Star running off.

"Bunnies!" Icie runs off after her.

In the slums, Star turns around and stares back the way they came. She holds her hand out and begins walking like if she was "it" in a game of blind man's bluff. She stops and stares at a wall, "Hello. Have you come to play with us?"

"Star what are you doing? We need to hurry, it's not safe here." The oldest girl grabs Star by her shoulders and pulls her away. She waves good bye at the wall.

"How did she know we were here?" whispers a Galkan voice.

"I don't know. All our buffs are still up," says a second.

"Should we continue or report back?" asks a third.

"And tell them what we got caught by a kitten?" retorts a fourth.

"We keep going," says a fifth, "We need something to bring back."

The Galka informants continue to follow the children. To their horror, they witness them going underneath the ropes. One tries to call out but is grabbed over the mouth. "I know, I know. But we need to report this," says the fifth voice.

"And why didn't you follow them further?" the Hume handler asks angrily.

"That section of the slums was ordered abandoned by the Tales Keeper. We will not disobey him," they all answer stubbornly.

"Why was it ordered abandoned?" asks the Hume military officer taking the report.

"We don't know," an informant says, "It was before our time."

"But you're well over hundred?" the handler says.

He shakes his head, "The order was given by the Tales Keeper before Sir Raogrimm. I don't know whether the reason has survived the generations. I have never heard it. All anyone knows is that we are forbidden to enter."

"And no one has ever entered even out of curiosity?" the Hume officer asks surprised.

Another Galka shakes his head, "We are not ruled by the waffling passions of the moment as you Humes are. The Tales Keepers are hand selected by Altana Herself. We would not disobey them no more than we would disobey Her. That boy has committed an evil sacrilege entering that area. I can't even imagine what punishment to give him. It's as if someone dropped a stone and instead of falling down it flew up in the sky!"

"Is that the conclusion of your report?" the officer asks annoyed.

"Yes that is all we have," says one of the Galkas.

"Then you are all dismissed."

After they leave their handler turns to the officer, "My apologies sir. Galkas can be such a superstitious breed."

"There is no need to apologize. They have given us all we need." He turns to another soldier in the room, "Make preparations to scout the area tonight so we can move in tomorrow to make the arrest and seize the stolen goods."

"Yes sir!" He salutes and leaves.

"But Sir, shouldn't we first find why that area was abandoned in the first place?" the handler asks.

"I see no need," he says, "It was probably abandoned for structural issues."

"I doubt that," the handler says, "You don't know the Galkas like I do. They'd live under a rock if they had to. They sleep piled one on top the other in rooms smaller than a closet in the slums. They would never abandon an entire street like that without a very compelling reason."

"If they'd rather sleep under rocks then they better go back to deserts of Zepwell where they belong for all I care." He waves him out of the room, "You are dismissed! Leave at once."

The next day while the kids are playing, Ceddie kicks the ball into a door. It squeaks open and rolls inside. A girl runs to get it. She runs back out screaming. The others run to see.

Suddenly the slums fill with the sounds of screaming children. The Galkas rush to find the source of the screaming. They gather hopelessly at the ropes when they realize the direction of the screams, unwilling to enter.

Finally they witness the children come running down the street, the older ones carrying the smaller, "Murder! Murder! Murder!"

Drogo stands in the room staring at the Hume bodies. He's crying, but not in fear. "You really did it this time!" he screams. He starts punching the part of the wall in shadow. "You did it! You really did it! It's over! Everything!"

"He says they were going to hurt you."

He turns and sees Star behind him, "What did you say?"

"Your murdered friend, he says they were going to hurt you. He was protecting you."

"How do you know?" Star walks in and holds her hand out into the shadow, "I can talk to him while awake. He says you can only hear him in your dreams."

Drogo stares at her crying, "If you can really talk to him while awake, tell me his real name. So I know you're not fibbing."

Star leans in and whispers in his ear.

Drogo nods. Star steps back.

"So they were trying to hurt me last night?" he asks again.

Star nods, "Yes that's what he said."

Drogo kicks the boot of one of the Hume bodies bitterly. "Can you ask him what they were doing for me?"

Star nods and puts her hands against the wall. "He says we can move to another room away from the bodies. He'll walk through the wall meet us in the next room."

The sun crosses into early afternoon. Zelig has abandoned his unit and is racing desperately through the slums. He runs a corner and slams into an old Hume man knocking him over.

"Father!" a younger man shouts and he and several other Humes gather around them.

"I'm so sorry!" Zelig says helping him up. He gets a good look at him. "Wait! You're the head of the Smithing Guild! What are you doing here?"

"I'm trying to save a valued costumer," he says brushing himself off.

"Sir, the way to the roof tops is over here," points his son.

"Why are you heading to the roofs?" Zelig asks.

"The soldiers have blocked the streets. We can't get to Drogo any other way."

Zelig joins them running across the roofs.

"So your Drogo's new father?" asks one of the Humes.

Zelig nods.

"That's good to hear," the Guild Master says, "That boy needs someone to care for him."

"How do you know him?" Zelig asks.

"That boy is one of our best scavengers," the Guild Master says, "Been so for nearly a decade."

"Your boy stumbled on a gold mine," starts his son, "There's an abandoned Tenshodo dock hidden under those rooms. Flooding and corrosion has ruined most of the machines there from normal use but the metal is worth a small fortune."

"And we have paid him well for it," the Guild Master says. "If those soldiers find any of that money there's no saving his life but unfortunately it's already too late to save him."

"What do you mean Father?"

"Even if proven innocent as he is, he's blacklisted now. Any chance for an honest life here is over. It's too bad. He's a smart boy. I was bragging about him to Cid the other day."

Suddenly they see an old Galka trying to lift another one onto the roofs in front of them. Zelig and the other Humes help Werei lift Gumbah onto the roofs.

"Elders what are you doing here?" Zelig asks.

"We need to get to those soldiers but the crowds are too thick," Gumbah pants out of breath.

They join the race. "You surprise me Zelig," Elder Werei says, "You've always been a model for the community."

"And what about you two, you're our Elders for Altana's sake."

"A little sign like that isn't enough to stop two rambunctious young lads like we were in our youth, huh Gumbah?" He looks over at his childhood friend.

Gumbah nods unable to speak he's panting so hard.

Werei looks ahead of them at the stark line the mountain is casting over the slums, "We need to hurry and warn the soldiers before that shadow reaches them or it's all over."

"What do you mean?" the Guild Master asks, "My men and I have been there on multiple occasions for over a decade now and have never encountered any trouble."

Werei and Gumbah look at him completely startled.

"Drogo told me it likes him," Zelig explains, "It probably doesn't attack people Drogo considers friends. I can't imagine Drogo bringing the children here otherwise."

"What are you talking about?" the son asks.

"Oh no. We're not going to make it in time." Werei cups his hands around his mouth and starts screaming. The Humes grimace in terror, then start waving frantically and screaming as well.

Down in the streets, Drogo and Star, now filthy with soot, are both tied up being interrogated by the officer. Behind them soldiers are ransacking his home. Broken flowerpots are everywhere as soldiers throw them out of the way. Wagons are being loaded with his collections of scrap metal and other belongings. They even strip his garden clean and struggle with the unruly animals. On any other occasion the sight of Bastok's finest frantically chasing chickens and bunnies would be hilarious, but not today.

Drogo is wailing face red with tears, "Why are you doing this? You're supposed to be protecting us!"

The officer from before takes his helmet off and wipes his face clean on this blistering day. "I'm growing tired of your games! Now tell us were you hide the money you little rat!" he demands.

"I didn't steal anything! You're the ones stealing!" he bawls.

"Oh really then how does a boy come across such abundance? Who are your accomplices!"

"I live alone," he screams "Everything is mine. I'm a scavenger. I've never stolen anything honest!"

"Even if you didn't steal that family's money, Hording is a more serious crime. It is stealing from the state in this crisis of war and can carry death."

Poor Drogo starts to scream even louder.

"You're running out of time!" Star shouts over Drogo. "He doesn't like you being here and hurting Drogo! The suns almost behind the mountain! You need to leave or he'll kill you like he did the others!"

The officer turns to Star, "You can't scare us with you imaginary friend stories girl. We've already cleared and secured the area."

The sun begins to hide its shining face behind the peaks casting its long silhouette over the slums. "Ah finally! It's starting to cool down," he says rejoicing.

"That's not a good thing you need to go!" Star screams.

"Hey sir!" a soldier shouts from the roofs.

"What is it?" he calls back up.

"There's a Galka soldier and what appears to be some Hume and Galka civilians running across the roofs in this direction! They are screaming something but we can't make it out!"

"Galkas coming in here?" he thinks.

Suddenly the temperature goes from a cooling breeze to a bone chilling snap in an instant. What looks like black smoke rolls out like a drifting fog out of all the doors and windows choking the entire area. The soldiers' breath turns to steam as they cough.

Panicked screams begin to come from the rooftop garden. One yells "Put me down! Put Me Down!" Then the officer gets his first glimpse of the assailant.

The dark figure of a towering Galka appears at the edge of the roofs dangling the soldier by his foot. "Don't put me Down! Don't Put Me Down!" he switches. The Galka callously drops him to his death.

"Everyone after that rat! I want him dead!" the officer orders. The soldiers start to rush to the roofs.

"You can't kill him!" Star shouts, "You need to run away!"

"And why is that little girl?" he asks completely annoyed.

"Because he's already dead!"

He turns when he hears the sounds and clanking weapons and scattered screams. The dark Galka is hovering midair above them surveying the scene. The officer too drops his sword in terror and takes a few steps back. The Fomor then raises its arms calling the miasma to him. It coalesces and materializes into two great swords in either hand. It begins to descend.

"Full retreat!" the officer yells.

At the entrance where the fishing net once was, the Galka soldiers who refused to enter are on crowd patrol keeping the large group of angry civilians that have gathered away. Word of Drogo's hiding spot has spread quickly.

Words fly in Galkan.

"(Drogo would never steal anything! He's a good boy!)" screams one Galka.

"(I can't believe he would enter the forbidden ground)," moans another.

"(I can)," chuckles the Galka next to him.

As the shadow falls across them, they can hear screaming from back the street. Then soldiers begin rounding the corner screaming. The bellowing miasmic cloud soon appears chasing after them.

"Fomor! Fomor!" they yell running up.

The crowd panics and begins to flee, trampling others underfoot unfortunate enough to trip.

Chaos ensues.

It takes about a half hour for things to come back under control. As the officer plans their next move a commotion stirs through the soldiers. They part like the sea revealing the Mythril Musketeers walking towards him.

"Captain Klara!" he salutes.

She hands him a paper, "Orders from President Prien. You are to cede jurisdiction of this incident to the Mythril Musketeers and withdraw your men."

Screams of "Unhand me at once!" can be heard back in the crowd.

A group of Galkan soldiers carry a Mithra warrior kicking and screaming hands bound behind her back. They toss her to the ground and salute, "Sir we caught this Mithra trespassing the perimeter."

She makes her way to her knees, "I am Major Viki Sayma of the Copperheads! I demand custody of my daughter! Release her to me at once!"

Captain Klara turns to the officer, "What is this about a Mithra child?"

He looks at the ground, "There was a girl we arrested with the suspect… but they were lost to the Fomor."

"You abandoned children in your retreat!" Volker yells.

Major Viki starts to cry.

"You have our deepest condolences Major," Captain Klara says.

Major Viki looks up at her, "I want no condolences. I want my right to vengeance."

"I am truly sorry but we cannot let you interfere with our mission," Zeid says.

Major Viki comes to her feet, "I am a Pythoness. I come from one of the finest families in the Motherland. You will need my talents against this undead."

"What is a Pythoness? Is that like an exorcist?" asks Volker.

Major Viki turns to him, "If that is the word in your language for those you put the unruly spirits into their proper rest, then yes I am an exorcist."

Captain Klara takes her sword and cuts her ropes, "You can assist us, but you must obey my commands."

Major Viki rubs her sore wrists and nods.

As they talk, another ruckus starts near the entrance. When they arrive, the officer starts to cry. The lost men, including the man dropped from the roof are walking towards them. The children, Zelig, the Elders, and the men from the Smithing Guild are with them.

"Brother!" shouts the man who fell waving his arms.

"Mommy!" shouts Star.

Captain Klara orders a briefing, "How did you survive?"

The men begin to talk about waking up to witness a beautiful angel standing before them. Some claim to have witnessed Altana Herself.

While they are giving their statements Star takes something out of her pocket, "Mommy look what I found."

She gives her some burnt paper and some others folded into a sealed container filled with something heavy. She sniffs them, "These smell like gunpowder."

Captain Klara comes over to them shaking her head after they leave with their unit. "Other than claims of the supernatural, they have no useful information."

Major Viki stands up, "Captain, my daughter found these on the battlefield. They smell like gunpowder."

When Major Viki hands them to her one goes off with a loud pop. Sparkling wings form on Captain's Klara's back.

"Mommy! She's an angel!" Star tugs on her arm excited.

"No she's not," Drogo says, "Those are Angelwing fireworks."

"Looks like they were actually saved by a female White Mage with a sense of humor," Volker says.

Gumbah and Werei glance at each other and Zelig chuckles.

Star begins grabbing at the fireworks in Captain Klara's hands, "I wanna try! I wanna try! I wanna be an angel too!"

"Sorry little girl," Zeid says pushing her away, "But you can't play with those. They are needed for evidence."

Star starts throwing a hissy fit, kicking, punching and whining.

Major Viki tries to calm her down. "We can find you some different ones to try sweetie," she says kneeling down, "And besides you don't need simple toys like that to show everyone you're an angel. You already have wings you just can't see them yet."

This calms her down.

"When I become a real angel I'll come back and show you my pretty new wings. Ok Mommy?"

Major Viki nods trying not to cry.

"And what do your presents here mean?" Captain Klara asks the others as her wings fade.

"We came to warn them of the Fomor but we we're barred from the area," Werei begins, "We then climbed on the roofs hoping to reach them that way but we were too late."

Gumbah nods.

"And what of you soldier?" she turns to Zelig, "You are not part of that unit."

Zelig pulls Drogo over to him, "This boy is my child. When I heard of this I ran here and also ended up on the roofs."

"Did your commanding officer give you leave Private?" she asks.

Zelig stutters, "No…No Ma'am…"

"No matter your good intentions you will need to be disciplined for abandoning your unit soldier," Captain Klara says.

"I understand fully," Zelig answers hanging his head.

"And what of you? You're all from the Smithing Guild I am correct?"

"Yes we are," starts the Guild Master, "This boy here works for our guild. And we pay him well for his fine work. We were frightened that if his wage was discovered that it might be mistaken for the stolen money. Captain I will give you all of our records and receipts. Every coin in this boy's possession is completely accounted for, down to the last penny."

"Drogo did you every show anyone your money against what we told you?" his son asks.

"I just showed my friends when they didn't believe me that my stuff was worth money. They called everything I had worthless trash."

"Do you play with children from the Markets families?"

Drogo nods, "Yep. I play with a bunch of them."

"Were any of them missing from today?" he continues.

"One girl named Clementine was. The butler said she's really sick and can't play but her neighbor said she said she fell. Their bedrooms are across from each other and they talk though their windows. He said she was crying really bad and was all bruised up."

Hearing this, the Guild Master turns to Captain Klara, "I bet if you check that address you'll discover that they were the ones who reported the robbery. Who else would know that this young man had anything to his name?"

"We will have to look into both your receipts and this counter accusation." She turns to Drogo, "But before that you must show us your savings. The report said no money was found in the search."

Drogo shakes his head, "No I can't let you in there. It's in the Fomor's secret room and he's not in a good mood right now."

"A secret room?" Zeid asks.

Drogo nods, "Blue Iceberg was a Tenshodo smuggler. There's a secret room that they used back then but it was abandoned after he was murdered centuries ago. There's nothing down there now but what I keep."

Star tugs on her mother's arm, "I know you said pirates are bad Mommy but he was a good pirate. He and his lady friend saved an old man from being killed when some bad men came to steal his nice bag."

"A bag?" she asks.

"It was pretty Mommy! It was white with a picture of a mountain on it, and it had…"

All the grown Galkas bump into each other rushing to cover her mouth. Gumbah and Werei rub their heads after bagging them together.

"I take it there is some significance to this bag?" Captain Klara asks.

Gumbah, Werei, Zelig, and Zeid all glance at each other for some time not knowing what to say.

Finally Gumbah sighs and starts talking, "The bag is used during our rebirth. The old Galka must have been on his way to the mountains for his final journey when he was mugged. They must have been Humes. No Galka would ever do such a thing."

"Yes they were Hume soldiers," Drogo says. "He showed me in a dream how he died," he points to Star, "But Star can talk to him when she's wake, he showed her too."

"Mommy I told him about you and how you help dead people find what they are looking for and he said he wants you to help him," she says, "He's looking for the lady friend. She was beat up and dragged off by the bad men."

Major Viki turns to Captain Klara, "Looks like we may have a peaceful solution to this Fomor. If we can settle things, he may pass on his own or weaken enough that is will take little effort to help him on his way."

"No," Captain Klara orders, "I would risk laying our arms down to this creature until we understand why the Fomor is violent towards some people and not others."

"It was me," Drogo says, "I was the one. That's why he protects me and won't hurt anyone I like."

"But he lived and died in Port?" Zelig says.

Drogo looks up at him and shakes his head, "No it was the one before last."

All the Galkas grimace in fear and rage. Zelig punches a wall, "Damn them! It was no robbery it was an assassination!"

"Why do you say that?" demands Captain Klara.

"He was our Great Enfranchiser," Zeid laments.

"What does that big word mean?" Drogo asks.

Zelig turns from the wall and puts his hands on his shoulders lovingly, "It means that he had many friends. Just like I know you will too."

Drogo nods grinning.

"Talking will get us nowhere," Captain Klara says. She turns to the men from the Smithing Guild, "Go prepare you papers for examination and be ready to turn them over. Leave us to the Fomor."

They nod and leave.

She next turns to Drogo, "Can you ensure our safety with this undead child?"

Drogo nods, "Yes, as long as you don't do anything to provoke him while you're with me."

She turns to Major Viki, "And this route is the safest in your expertise?"

Major Viki nods as well, "Yes, it will take some added time but it will be the least dangerous option. And since it is not aggressive under normal circumstances, there is no dire need for more risky maneuvers."

"Then let us proceed," she orders, "Take us to it child."

"Ok he's this way!" Star shouts running off. They all follow her.

They round the corner into what is left of Drogo's home. All his belongings are scattered though the street. What had some value is gathered into the now broken wagons and everything else is shattered over the ground. Rahabs and chickens are running wild, many huddled around the wilting plants munching away.

Drogo wails and grabs the nearest adult, which is Volker.

Gumbah chases some chickens away and picks up a clump of dead flowers, "You took a lot of pride in your home didn't you? It's rare to see such care in the slums."

"We're rebuilding this place," Zelig says, "stone by stone, flower by flower. It will be just as beautiful as before."

"A roof top garden and pen was a good idea," Werei says, "We can do so much here for the community."

"Drogo said he always gives things away," Star says, "Even his toys!"

"Take us to the Fomor children," commands Captain Klara.

"He died over here!" Star runs into a stairwell, "Mr. Iceberg! I brought Mommy and friends! Don't hurt them please! They good people!"

The Fomor greets them at the top of the stairs, still holding its two great swords. It scans the new intruders and stares at little Drogo holding Volker's hand. The swords dissolve back into miasma, then it too evaporates into the shadows. Five doors down a black arm peaks out a door beckoning them to enter.

They come inside. It is slightly larger than most of the rooms. There is a pile of straw with a blanket on top. They are covered in a layer of dust.

"This isn't your room?" Zelig asks.

Drogo scratches his nose, "When I first came here I made a bed for him not knowing…" he says embarrassed.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Major Viki says, "I'm sure he appreciated the gesture."

"I see nothing out of the ordinary here," says Captain Klara. "Where is the passage?"

Drogo points towards the right corner, "The entrance is hidden by those two large stones in the floor. They can be lifted up."

"I can't see any disruption in the floor. How did you discover it?" Volker asks.

"Blue Iceberg showed me a long time ago. He hides down there and comes up through the floor."

Major Viki walks into the center of the room and clasps her hands together in prayer, "Restless spirit, please reveal to me the desires that cause you to wander so I may help your find your peace."

A thin wisp of miasma extrudes from between the stones and encircles her eyes like a blind fold.

"Are you alright Major!" Captain Klara shouts.

"I'm fine," she says holding her arms out, "He's showing me his world. Please move out of the way if I approach I can no longer see you."

She begins to walk the room, maneuvering around nonexistent furniture. She moves her hand along a straight line about chin level on her then examines her fingers. Major Viki shakes her hand trying to remove something. Then something catches her eye and walks over to the pile of straw staring at the wall. She removes her hair tie and repulls her hair high gathering the loose ends then retwists it into place.

"What are you seeing?" Volker asks.

"I'm seeing that he wasn't much for dusting in life for one," she jokes.

"Please be serious Major and report to us you observations," Captain Klara commands.

Major Viki is witnessing a modestly furnished room. A simple bed covers the hidden passage. There is a small table and two chairs serving more as an eating nook than even an informal dining area. There is a cabinet and a free standing full length mirror and a folding tray being used as a portable desk.

Major Viki twitches her left ear and turns towards the door.

"What is it?" Zeid asks.

"I hear laughter."

The modest light shows it's mid afternoon. A smaller than average Galka with black spiked hair dressed in dusty Worker Tunica garb comes into the room with a fully cloaked figure too thin to be one of his brethren. He goes to light the lamps then closes the heavy drapes over the doorway, "Ok, we're safe now."

"Good. I'm getting sweaty in this heavy thing," the cloak figure says in a high voice.

She lowers her hood revealing a young woman with shimmering black hair and large brown eyes. She brushes her hair behind her ears uncovering large ruby earrings encircled with diamonds.

The Galka walks behind her and takes her cloak as she unties it. He walks over to the nook and carefully lays it over the chairs giving Major Viki an unobstructed view.

The young woman's hair reaches well past her lower back. Although straight at first, it begins to wave then curl about midway down her back. She turns around. Her clothes are fine woven and brightly dyed.

"She's beautiful," Major Viki adds.

The woman rushes over and surprises the Galka turning around by wrapping her arms around him and puts her lips to his. After the initial shock, he closes his eyes and hugs her. They kiss passionately for a time then she pulls back and playfully licks the tip of his nose. They both giggle.

All the Galkas but Zelig react repugnantly to the news. Although Zelig is notably surprised, he is not so repulsed.

He lifts her up and spins her around laughing.

"Hey put me down," she giggles.

He puts her down, "I thought of you every night."

"I missed you as well," she says, "I take it your first raid went well since you've come back to me…"

He puts his finger to her lips, "Don't call me that. I have a new nickname now."

"Oh really?" she asks.

He takes a few steps back holds his arms out proudly. "I am the Blue Iceberg," he boasts.

"The Blue Iceberg you say?" she laughs, "Then I'll have to see if I can melt you down to size then."

She begins to loosen his coat buttons. He stops her.

"Before we get to that, I have a surprise for you," he whispers.

Major Viki instinctively moves out of the way as he walks over to the bed and pulls a trunk from underneath. He opens it and takes a small box from it.

"I took this instead of my pay from the raid," he says standing up. "Now close your eyes and no peeking."

She closes her eyes but she tries to peek when she hears the clasp on the box release.

"I said no peeking," he puts his hand over her eyes.

"Awe, you're no fun tonight," she sticks out her tongue.

She smiles and giggles when she feels him taking her earrings and necklace off and hears him put them on his cabinet. The new earrings he inserts feel heavy on her ears and the pressure from the new necklace stretches from her neck and shoulders to well past her bosom. He guides her to his mirror.

"Ok open your eyes," he whispers in her right ear.

She opens her eyes and gasps. The weight she feels is well over a hundred diamonds of all sizes set in sterling mythril arranged in a sunburst pattern. She stares in the mirror silently for a time.

"Wow you're actually speechless. I better mark this on my calendar," he jokes.

She only slowly raises her hand and fingers the necklace.

"Are you alright?" he asks now concerned.

"What ship did you attack that carried things like these?"

"We had a run-in with a San d'Orian ship. It was carrying nothing special. Finding those was a total shock."

She turns to him, "How many died?"

He shakes his head, "No one. They gave up immediately." He chuckles, "They actually had storm damage and lost their main mast. Never thought I'd see a ship so thankful to be found by pirates."

"Were there anything else like these?"

"Yes, there were lots of jewels hidden in various boxes and barrels we confiscated as payment for the rescue. But these were the most beautiful. I couldn't bear the thought of them being broken up for sale. So I begged for them saying I knew a customer that would take it whole."

She turns back to the mirror. He can see her almost on the brink of tears. He puts his hands on her shoulders, "What's wrong?"

"Where was the ship headed?" she asks closing her eyes.

"We took her to the Tavnazian current so they would drift with the tide to shore. We couldn't very well dock at the Royal Protectorate."

She smirks softly, "It's rare that pirates and smugglers are more virtuous that legitimate merchants. I bet these are blood diamonds from the wars." She turns back around, "Were there any family seals among the boxes?"

Blue Iceberg nods, "Please keep this between us."

She nods.

He gives her back her cloak. He moves his bed and lifts the stones. They go beneath.

"Spirit, I cannot follow you," Major Viki half shouts. She then spins in circles acting completely disoriented. Then she takes a deep breath and sits down.

"What's happening?" Zeid says.

"He's taking me below. I dare not walk anymore."

The ruckus stops in the smuggler's den as Blue Iceberg leads a cloaked figure down the steps. A man walks up to them, "Iceberg what is this! How dare you bring someone here."

Iceberg lifts the clocked figure gently down the last few steps, "This is the customer I mentioned. Where's the chest that had the necklace in it? The one with the family crest. There's worry about its previous owner."

"You still shouldn't have brought him here. We could have taken a rubbing of the crest."

"Do pirates always fear a gracile woman so much?"

The men jump back surprised at the meek feminine voice.

He turns around to the other men, "Bring the box and find a clean chair. We have a lady in our presents so watch your mouths!"

Everyone drops what they are doing and rush around. Someone has the presents of mind to grab a broom and clean the floor in front of her feet. Others quickly follow and out of a scene from Palm Sunday they make a path to the chair they bring.

The man takes his hat off and bows, "This way my lady."

"Why thank you," she says extending her hand to be led.

He gets a good look at her hands. He is surprised at how perfect they are. Pure with neatly manicured nails, he wonders if they have ever even seen a single paper cut in all her years.

She stands there frozen for a time hand extended. Then Iceberg walks forward and takes it, "Forgive them. They are not well versed in courtly manners." He leads her to the chair and seats her.

"We found the box Boss!" a young man says rounding a corner. As he says it three men come carrying it over. They lay it at her feet.

She gasps covering her mouth with her right hand.

Major Viki starts to panic.

"The spider's not real Mommy," Star says worried.

"It's no spider! I know that mark. Oh what an evil house!"

The cloaked woman looks up from the box, "Do you know whom this insignia identifies? You might as well have stolen from the San d'Orian king himself."

"I am well aware of it my lady," the boss says, "That's why I was shocked that Iceberg was so insistent on keeping it whole."

She turns to look at him, "Do you not know?"

Iceberg shrugs, "I know they're a powerful house. That's why I thought of you. This doesn't outstrip even your family's means does it?"

She fingers the necklace still around her neck, "No. These are well within our means." She turns back to the boss, "Iceberg said that you rescued the ship carrying this after its mast had sheared off. There's only one thing on Vana'diel that has that kind of strength. She had come from the Southlands didn't she? From the diamond wars?"

"I do not know, but that logic would hold," the boss confesses, "Are you superstitious about it?"

She shakes her head, "No. You came to these by saving a life, not by taking. That in of itself would have broken any curse they would carry."

"If you still feel nervous, we are making arrangements to have the gems blessed as a safeguard. We can include the diamonds if you wish."

She nods, "Very well then. Let it be done. But on one condition."

"And what is that?"

She starts to weep, "My parents have gotten special permission to proceed with my arranged marriage even though he's half my age, but I've been with another man for nearly three years now. As unholy as it may be, a Tenshodo Chaplin is still a Chaplin is he not?" She looks back up at him, "I will give you everything your heart desires, just get me out of here."

The boss jumps backwards startled, "You're Josephine Wallace an't ya?"

A panic goes through the men as she drops her hood.

"Iceberg are you mad! She's Senator Corley Wallace's daughter!" shouts one of the workers.

Josephine stands abruptly and begins to shout with authority as if lecturing unruly servants or children, "And who do you think has been your salvation! The source that has rescued you again and again, warning you of spies and raids! It's been me the whole time! The doting daughter silently doing needlepoint at her father's feet! All I ask is for you to save me in return! I refuse to marry that nine year old boy! I am determined to end up in the sea one way or another! Whether there is a boat under my feet when I step off the dock is up to you!"

Josephine collapses. Iceberg grabs her before she soils her dress and carries her in his arms. She clings to his neck and trembles uncontrollably.

"If you jump, I'll follow you," he whispers in her ear.

He turns to his boss, "We have to help her. She's one of us. I would have never have let her down here otherwise."

"Do you have any idea what will happen to us if we do this?"

"Nothing that wouldn't have happened to us anyway if she hadn't been sending us word these past few years!"

"Why are you being so stubborn!" shouts another worker, "You can't possibly be that dumb!"

"Wait," starts the boss raising his hand to make them stop heckling. "You've known about this the whole time? Everything?"

Iceberg nods. "How? You're just a common laborer."

"Until I took my walk to the warehouses nearly three years ago," Iceberg retorts.

"Then you are her messenger?"

"One of them, yes." He takes a deep breath.

The boss sighs and shakes his head, "Your plea isn't just over the forced marriage is it? This marriage takes you out of a position that is beneficial to the Tenshodo? Logic would hold a woman of your position wouldn't abandon her post so readily after all your sacrifices. The lower classes are more monogamous than those who preach it. Such a thing should be of no concern otherwise."

She sits back down with a thud. "It's over," she says exhausted.

"Please," she looks up from the ground, "I'm no free loader. I will willingly decimate my manicure with whatever task the Tenshodo gives me. I've been your loyal wench for years. Protect me like you would any other pirate and smuggler."

Iceberg walks behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders, the earrings blanketing much of his large hands.

"And what of your lover?" the boss asks.

"He will follow me to Norg when he is able," she answers, "He is far more to me than just a simple messenger."

The boss shakes his head again and sighs, "Next ship leaves in three nights. Be here by sunset."

She jumps up squealing and hugs Iceberg. Everyone looks away. She pulls back and looks into his eyes, "There's no need for a ring. These are more than enough," she whispers.

Major Viki stands up again and looks around the room, the miasma ring still around her eyes.

"What is it?" Captain Klara asks.

"I'm in the room again." She sees a travel chest on the bed, "I think it's the three days later. The sun is gone and there are packed bags."

A familiar cloaked figure runs into the room followed by Blue Iceberg. "I'm surprised you have no bags," he says.

"I have all I need." She drops her hood revealing the diamonds.

He nods and walks to the bed. She turns and follows him with her eyes. Josephine watches him lift the bags from the bed, "I've never seen bags like that before."

"Goblin tailors," Iceberg says pulling the bed away from the wall. He lifts the stones.

Soldiers pour out of the hole. Blue Iceberg tips over the bed blocking the way and joins Josephine in the dash out the door. As they run around the corner more soldiers are waiting. They turn back, the sound of broken wood comes from his room and the other soldiers trip over each other yelling as they shove each other through the door. The two look below thinking of jumping down but a mix of soldiers and Tenshodo workers are below them. Josey puts her hands over her mouth.

"Josey up the roof," Iceberg says sternly.

"No I'm not leaving you!" she shouts.

Iceberg lifts her up and tries to force her onto the roofs.

"Blue-bug? Blue-bug!" she begins to shout suddenly finding her feet left dangling barely able to hold onto the roof.

She listens to him scream for a few moments before a legion of hands reach up her skirt and grab her legs. The grimace of rage lasts only a moment at the humiliation of being fondled as she starts to scream and kick. Her fingers give way and she plummets. Josephine finds herself upside down staring at the ground. Her skirt falls over her face as the soldiers holding on to one leg try to pull her up. The look of rage returns.

"How dare you!" she screams. She plants her foot into the face of one poor soul throwing him back into the wall grasping his broken nose.

Josephine is finally pulled over the railing. To her horror she sees some of the Tenshodo men she had meet three days prior among the soldiers freely. In her moment of realization to what is really happening takes hold, the soldiers manage to overcome her thrashing. But before the can bind her like Blue Iceberg, a Ninja raises his katana.

"Behind!" Josephine screams. She head butts the soldier holding her and dashes forward. Blue Iceberg manages to turn his neck around in spite the ropes and witness Josephine jumps on the Ninja's back kicking and clawing.

He screams and hits his knees.

She spits his ear on the ground and picks up his katana. Before the soldiers can restrain her again she plunges it through the Ninja's neck severing everything spine forward. Josephine then holding it like a kitchen blade finishes the job, like chopping vegetables for soup.

A man wearing a cape alongside his armor comes up the stairs and surveys the scene. He points at a body wrapped in Blue Iceberg's now blood soaked curtains.

"Explain this casualty in a routine raid!" he barks at the soldiers.

"Police Chief Wallace Sir!" a soldier stands up from kneeling next to Josephine, "This woman here killed one of the Ninja's assisting in the arrest." He hands him her jewelry, "She had these in her possession."

He is shocked at their beauty. "I don't remember any reports of something of this caliber being stolen." He looks at the blood soaked woman, "Their proper owners will be thankful that at least they are not damaged."

Chief Wallace kneels down to examine her, "You're scrappier than you look," he says.

"Thank you, but you'd be surprised at what the women in your kitchens are capable of Cedric" she says back.

Chief Wallace is so surprised he falls backwards on his behind. "Water and washcloth! Now!" he orders trembling.

Chief Wallace carefully cleans her face. "Baby si…" his voice trails off.

"Ah, so you survived…" a voice comes from behind.

"Senator!" shout several soldiers as everyone rushes to stand and salute. "I had a kidnapping and murder story ready for the press but I see some revisions to the scrip are in order."

"What do you mean Father!" Chief Cedric says spinning around.

"Why the kidnapping and murder of your sister at the hands of the Tenshodo of course," Senator Wallace says coldly. "The public outrage over it would have been a fine tool for the election."

He kneels down and grips his daughter's chin, "But here you are safe and sound, no matter, as the only son the Gutenberg fortune will pass to us whether you bear fruit or not."

Josephine wrenches her chin from his hand and glares at him.

He laughs as he stands.

"Ah, I remember you." Senator Wallace walks over and gently kicks Blue Iceberg to grab his attention. "You're the rat that pulls my daughter's rickshaw, Tiny Mouse."

"My name's Blue Iceberg!" he shouts back.

Everyone laughs.

"Iceberg you say!" starts the Senator, "If I didn't know your kind was a race of eunuchs I'd think you were compensating for something!"

"Sir here is the man you asked for," a soldier says coming up the stairs. More soldiers come escorting Iceberg's dock boss.

"Ah, yes. I'd like to thank you for your cooperation in this matter."

"What did you do!" Iceberg shouts.

"You promised…" Josephine starts to cry.

His boss looks away, "In exchange for our lives we have turned over everyone named Jacob working for us in the city."

"And a fine work you did," the Senator says, "I wasn't expecting so many at the execution."

"Execution!" shouts the deck boss.

"Yes, did you honestly think I would allow public trials to reveal my daughter's loss virginity to a pirate! The ink was already dried on their death sentences when you turned them over."

The deck boss hits his knees in grief, "My brother…" he moans.

"Well for most of them at least, needed to write up a few more when so many came. Never new Jacob was such a popular name in the underclass."

Now Iceberg hangs his head and starts to cry along with Josephine, "No… Altana… all those innocent people."

Cedric looks back and forth between Josephine and Blue Iceberg. He turns green around the gills.

Suddenly there is a commotion down below. Everyone looks over the banister and sees a sickly looking Galka being dragged without struggling across the way. He is pulled up the steps and thrown at the Wallaces' feet. At closer inspection it is clear that he is extremely old, his strength long since left his now thin and frail frame.

"Elder!" Iceberg struggles to stand but is quickly put down.

"Sir!" salutes a soldier, "We found this Galka trying to leave the area with a suspicious bag." He hands over to the Senator an old but well preserved white leather bag, elaborately engraved and colorfully beaded. "In spite its initial expensive appearance it contained nothing but children's clothes and a few stone knick-knacks." He hands Chief Cedric a small statue of the Goddess. It glows softly.

"What type of stone is this?" he thinks out loud.

"Get your filthy hands off of those! They're sacred!" Iceberg shouts still struggling.

"Calm yourself boy," the old Galka whispers.

Iceberg obeys.

"Sacred you say?" the Senator takes the statue from his son's hands, looks at it for a few seconds and chucks it over the side railing callously. It shatters on the ground below.

"You're on your way to find a quiet place to die like a good soulless beast?" he asks patronizingly.

"Yes…yes my Lord…" the old Galka stutters prostrating himself in total submission, "May I… beg your pardon… your Excellency… I have lingered too long as it is…I humbly ask your leave…"

In spite his spindly frame his voice still has a strength he tries to hide, one emanating from an unending pit.

This does not go unnoticed.

"Show me your face mine-mule," orders Senator Wallace.

"My…Lord… I no worthy of gazing upon your face." In spite his best efforts his articulation gives him away again.

"Soldier raise him!" he orders.

One grabs him by the hair and pulls him up to his knees.

His face is ghastly thin with pronounced cheekbones and hollowed eye sockets making his eyes literally emerge from darken caves instead of the illusion of his youth. Maimed like an old boxer, there is a prominent gash across his left eye resembling a cat's favorite scratching corner. The culmination of many thousands upon thousands of razor cuts to bleed out swollen black eyes over a long life.

"Drogo the Wise Tongue…" Chief Cedric says in total shock.

Elder Drogo turns and smiles, "Good to see you to young Cedric. It's been many years."

He only stares at the unrecognizable specter before him.

"Death steals the strength and too often the wisdom of us all. Remember this meeting well young Hume."

The Senator enraged balls is fist and strikes Elder Drogo with the back of his right hand. His ghastly frame falls over like a blade a grass in the wind.

"Elder!" Iceberg shouts again.

Everyone watches what happens next.

As if remembering their former prowess, his muscles bulge with a forgotten strength. Elder Drogo lifts himself off the floor and kneels again respectfully in front of the Senator, but not in submission. His back is straight, shoulders back and square. Full of grace and dignity he turns his face to the left, "If it so pleases your Excellency, strike at me again."

"Father…"

"There's no need young Chief, your father Corley and myself have much to catch up on these last twenty years."

"Now that's the rat I remember," begins the Senator, "The rat that cost my father the Presidency."

"Your father lost it himself. And besides, isn't his wife your father's cousin? Doesn't seem to me your family as lost any public standing at all."

"If you hadn't used your serpent's tongue on the legislature and changed the voting laws then my family would be ruling Bastok like the kings of San d'Oria."

"Even Kings are not above the people, the many civil wars ripping that country apart are more than enough proof of this. Giving voice to the people gives this country the peace that has been denied so long to the other nations. Democracy may indeed be a constant war, but a war of words not weapons."

"Yes I remember… You're Weaponless War. Even your acts of submission only mock Hume superiority. Tempting us to corrupt the sacred palms of our right hands, the very symbol of freedom and equality, with the rotting flesh of the lowly and the beasts."

"Before I mentioned it most Humes did not even know the origins of shaking hands."

"Don't lecture me rat! Even so most of us knew you were trying to make a dropped stone fly up when we saw it."

Senator Wallace pulls out his sword. He holds it up for all to see, "This blade has been in my family for generations, even before one of my ancestors was murdered by one of you rats." He lowers his sword and begins to walk over.

"No!" Blue Iceberg shouts as he struggles.

He breaks free only briefly. It takes time for the ensuing smoke to clear revealing Blue Iceberg laying face down in a growing pool of blood.

Josephine tries to scream something but Cedric puts his hands over her mouth, "No sister. I won't give Father the excuse he needs," he whispers as he pinches her on the neck knocking her cold.

"Child!" Elder Drogo shouts as the soldiers behind him reload their guns.

"Don't worry so much about him, when there is so much to come."

The elderly Galka looks up at the Senator.

He places the blade against his cheek. He laughs maniacally, "You honestly think you've improved the lives of you race? The right to vote is one thing," he raises his fist in the air, "the will to vote is another." He lowers his hand and moves the tip of the sword under his chin. "And the will can be so easily crushed now can it?"

Elder Drogo's eyes turn to fear, but not for himself.

"Good, I see you understand your error in judgment. To bad, even if I wasn't about to kill you, you wouldn't live to see all the misery you are about to cause your kind. Your servitude has only just begun Galka, now die by the blade of our martyred President!"

Blue Iceberg, still conscious, witnesses the sword plunge deep into Elder Drogo.

Senator Wallace kicks Elder Drogo's dying frame off the sword instead of pulling it out.

"Oh sweet mercy!" gasps Major Viki putting her hands over her mouth. She starts to cry and runs over. She reaches for the dying Galkas but her hands only pass straight through the mirage.

"Major Viki?" Zelig asks.

She begins to frantically feel around like a frightened blind person. She feels something tangible and lunges towards it. Instead of feeling a leg or torso she encounters a face. The skin is oily and dirty to the touch. She puts her second hand on this trembling person's head. Her fingers go through holes in a cloth bonnet encountering stiff greasy hair.

Major Viki drags little Drogo close, "Oh baby! Oh baby!" She kisses him then buried her head in his young broad shoulders. She glances up and watches the Senator and the soldiers leave laughing and gloating. Only Chief Cedric Wallace glances back carrying the unconscious Josephine. The Tenshodo that are present solemnly step over the dying bodies and disappear into the miasma.

Unexpectedly, Blue Iceberg begins to move. Holding his stomach tight he inches painfully forward. Major Viki watches him crawl through her and Drogo and turns around to see him finally reach his Elder.

He takes his earring off and puts it on Elder Drogo's ear. He opens his eyes and begins to cough violently. He moans and looks around completely disoriented.

"I wouldn't move too much yet," Blue Iceberg says meekly with all his strength, "A simple reraise earring can only do so much."

Elder Drogo rolls over to see a pale young Galka struggling to stay conscious. He reaches for his ear.

"Don't bother… that… that was the last charge."

"You stupid boy," says the Elder, "I was already on my way to my death."

"…Then… I saved the life of a child yet to be born…" Blue Iceberg struggles to breath.

Elder Drogo reaches over and unbuttons his shirt. He sees an iron vest over his vital organs but his abdomen is not so lucky. He places his arm overtop Blue Iceberg's and holds his bloody hand clinging to his stomach.

They both know he's bleeding to death from the inside.

He takes his other hand and stokes the young man's hair, "Now don't you be joining the undead now. You've done nothing in this life to deserve such a curse. Please just let the fear and anger go."

"Yes I have," Blue Iceberg whispers.

Elder Drogo shakes his head, "No. No. The will of Altana is the will of Love herself. I've known for years about you two kids. The burden of sin belongs to others, not you two."

"Where is she?" he coughs and begins to wheeze.

Then nothing.

The miasma fades to black then evaporates from around Major Viki's eyes, bloodshot and red. Her checks are soaked. "I have seen so many deaths…" she mutters, "…but none so horrid." She punches the ground, "You people… and this city…"

Suddenly Gumbah grabs his arm grimacing and hits his knees. He starts to cough then passes out. When he opens his eyes, he sees Major Viki over his hands on his chest murmuring a curing spell.

"Where…where am I?" He looks around.

"You're in a back alleyway in Mines. We were investigating a report of a Fomor when you lost consciousness," Volker says.

Gumbah tries to sit up.

"You shouldn't be moving yet," Major Viki says trying to push him down.

He waves her off and shuffles to lean against the wall. He looks at everyone's concerned faces, the Galkas there are distressed. Zeid simply looks away. Werei is on the brink of tears.

Gumbah smiles up at his old friend, "Look, I know what you're thinking. Under the circumstances I don't blame you, but I'm fine, really. I just haven't had a chance to eat yet, that's all."

Everyone believes him and calms down but Werei knows better. Gumbah had been so hungry he had given him part of his own lunch.

"Everyone please go on ahead," Gumbah asks, "Once I get my feet back under me I'll catch up."

"Very well then," Captain Klara says, "We'll proceed and give our report."

Volker nods, "And I'll personally track down some rations for you Elder Gumbah, even if it's my own."

"Thank you Volker," Werei says, "I'll stay here with him and will make are way to the Metalworks as soon as he is able."

"I'll stay here as well," Major Viki says.

"Me too," adds Zelig.

"Oh oh! Me three! Me three!" jumps Star.

Drogo simply nods.

Captain Klara turns and walks away, "Alright everyone, let's go."

Everyone walks off but Zeid lingers looking at Gumbah on the ground. Then he finally turns and walks away.

Werei watches him leave, then when they are alone he turns and looks down at his friend, "You may be able to fool the others but Zeid is a smart man, we both know the time for your Journey is near."

Star turns to Gumbah, "Are you going somewhere Mr. Gumbah?"

Drogo panics, "No! No! You can't leave us! We need you!"

Gumbah reaches over and puts his hand on the young boy's shoulder, "Don't worry child, Altana isn't going to take me yet. Not until peace comes to Bastok."

Star looks down at her feet, realizing what "Altana isn't going to take me yet" means. Then she looks up smiling and looks Gumbah straight in the eyes, "Altana is gonna take me too soon, what games do you like so we can play together?" she asks excitedly.

Gumbah and Werei both turn to Major Viki shocked looking for an explanation.

Major Viki looks at the ground, her face says everything.

Star starts hopping up and down excitedly, "Oh oh! Do you like hopscotch, and double Dutch, and and and tag, and and hide and go seek, and…"

As Star keeps rattling off any game she can think of, Drogo sulks over and hugs Zelig's legs sniffling. Werei kneels down and gently rubs his back.

"Elder Gumbah can't die," the boy mumbles, "He's everything Altana stands for. She can't take him away."

"Death comes to all of us, little one. Both Good and Bad, both Enlightened and Beastmen alike. It's one of the only thinks that binds all of us together. But just think, soon you'll have a new play mate…"

As Werei tries to comfort Drogo, a memory from many months ago flashes through Zelig's mind. He looks at Gumbah sitting on the ground smiling at the now uncontrollably hyper Star with Major Viki next to him. Drogo feels Zelig's legs buckle and lets go looking up at his face.

The birds throughout Mines suddenly flutter into the sky as Zelig's laugh echoes through the deserted streets.

With Gumbah now able to stand, everyone begins to walk towards Markets. Star skips happily next to her mother thoroughly satisfied in finding a new playmate for the afterlife. Drogo waddles solemnly next to Werei, and Zelig walks next to Gumbah.

"Is the babe truly that funny or is it my coming death what amuses you so?" he asks him.

Zelig looks at him shocked at first, "What? …Oh the laughing."

Zelig looks at the ground, he thinks for a long time trying to find the right words.

As they come to the Archway at the edge of the bridge to Markets he finds them. "No I was just thinking about something a good friend once told me." He puts his hand on Gumbah's shoulder and they stop walking for a moment.

Gumbah searches his long time friend's face trying to find what joy could possibly over power his grief.

"You will live to see peace Gumbah. I know you will." Zelig takes his hand off Gumbah and begins to walk forward and disappears into the shadow of the arch.

Gumbah only looks up at the sun. After seeing some birds fly across it in silhouette he closes his eyes, "Altana…" he prays in his head, "Please delay my Journey until my work is done. Please help me bring true peace to your children."

An unexpected tug on his arm snaps him from his thoughts and Gumbah looks down to see Star holding his hand. When he didn't cross the bridge with them she ran back for him.

"Come on Mr. Gumbah, let's go!" she says giggling.

Gumbah can't help but smile back and holding hands, they walk into the shadow of the archway out of sight.