Making Monsters

Vaan and Basch, walked silently beside each other. They both watched Fran carefully, as the Viera strutted along as fast as they did. Vaan was amazed, that after crumpling like a paper doll, she was able to stand; let a lone walk, without aid. Viera had endurance far greater than Humes did, but this seemed to go even beyond her species' limit. She walked as if she was driven by a force that would not let her stop until she had finished her task.

Vaan was sure that Fran must have been exhausted; for her usual mocha skin, was much paler than its normal hue. Still, the glint in her eyes, said if anyone were to voice a complaint, the words would fall upon deaf ears. The deadpan look on her features, said nothing of the physical strain she must have had to put into taking another step. Vaan was past disbelief, now he just walked in awe of her incredible will power.

The three of them were the only ones left, of the original five that had set out to the Lhusu mines. Vaan felt odd, like something was missing, and only a hollow shadow of its memory remained. Balthier's voice that would fill the silence was gone now. Vaan had not known the silver-tongued sky pirate long, but he had immediately liked him. Balthier's habitual use of sarcasm, and more often than not charm, had always been there it seemed. Vaan never could have imagined how much he could miss it.

There was not a word that Balthier said that seemed out of place; And Vaan had always envied the fact that Balthier was never nervous or hesitant. Balthier was intelligent and thoughtful, where he always felt like the sidekick, the one who was crude and was always doing something stupid.

Thinking about it, it felt almost unnatural not to hear the lilting, mocking, and smooth voice that had always broken the silence. Now, there was nothing, to ward off darker thoughts and fears, as if Balthier's cocky attitude was the candles that kept the dark at bay. The thoughts that he had were bad enough, but now they were doubled.

It was as if a cold cement wall separated and encased the three of them, as they walked down the under repaired streets of the sky city, Bhujerba. Nothing broached the ominous and brooding silence of their washed-out march, their feet hitting the cruelly hard earth, with weary clatters. Saying something would have been awkward. As they either, brooded over possible schemes to free their friend, or could not even contemplate the entirely horrid matter.

Vaan walked, with a troubled expression on his face, as he concentrated, not noting much of his surroundings. His feet crunched over the cobbles, as he was deep in thought.

Occasionally, passers-by would stare at the three of them, speculating over the exotic looking Fran. Viera were not known to travel, even beyond their forest home. Rarely did one trek the streets of Bhujerba, especially with two Hume males as her companions. Vaan felt that he knew as little about Viera, as the pedestrians did. Fran took no notice of the open mouthed, dazzled stares she had accorded, as they walked swiftly by, occasionally flicking an ear in annoyance.

Vaan had never really spoken to a Viera, before Fran, and what she did say was not well detailed, and only curtly said. Vaan wondered if all Viera were like this. She looked very young, but he wasn't quite sure that she was. Her eyes were too old, and he had heard a rumor that Viera led very long lives.

As the trio left the mines farther and farther behind, Vaan could no longer keep up the mental strain, no matter how hard he tried to think of something, his thoughts scattered at the smallest sound. All he could think about was of earlier; How Balthier had disappeared into the darkness, and the screams that had later echoed down the chilly, dark tunnels.

So, as the party turned down Cloudborne Row, he couldn't help but to once more voice his doubts aloud. "Where are we going?" Vaan asked, with a curious look to Fran. The Viera continued to walk ahead of him, an ear turned in his direction. Vaan got no answer, and really didn't expect one from her; but twenty questions seemed a good way to pass the time; till they got wherever they were going.

Vaan stopped feeling tired, he stared, blinking into the late afternoon sunlight; people milled about, watching with some interest, the strangers in their midst. Some whispering behind concealing hands, or some of the bolder, took to pointing at the three of them, while gossiping excitedly to their companions.

The sky was quiet to Vaan, a world away from the noise of the Bhujerban Street. He wished fiercely to be up in that endless blue heaven, he loved the thrill flying gave him. However, to his disappointment there were no airships zooming about for him to see, as there should have been. The imperials had ordered all of the local air traffic halted; he missed the sound of Glossair engines soaring through the sky above his head.

Vaan looked at Basch; the fair-haired night had stopped walking also, but was staring at something farther down the street; rather than the bare skies. "Basch—", Vaan blurted, too late.

The captain froze, and immediately looked Vaan straight in the eyes. His face was calm, but his eyes were seething with fury. Basch voice lowered his voice to a growl, "I would appreciate if you stopped calling me that, Vaan."

Vaan took a step back; his eyes open wide at the slip. "S-sorry, I –I didn't mean—,"

"The Cloudborne tavern is before us, it will hide us from prying eyes; should we go in." Vaan jerked around from his staring contest with Basch, to see Fran standing there waiting with a passive expression. He stood there confounded for a second, Fran's voice not even registering in his head.

"Wha—," Vaan squinted his eyes trying to think. Basch looked at him dubiously.

"I think Fran means we found where we were going Vaan." Vaan stared at the captain a little dully; he found that he could not think to clearly.

"O-ok!" said Vaan finally catching on, he felt like hitting himself in the head for his idiocy. Fran stared at him, her head cocking her, an eyebrow arched skeptically. Other than this, her face was clear.

Vaan looked down the street to the Tavern she indicated. The wooden sign swinging above the door had a mug and bottle of ale, the universal symbol that all establishments like it used. Beneath this was a puffy white cloud that read, 'Cloudborne Inn and Tavern'.

Vaan stared at it for a second and looked to Basch, "Guess it's as good as any." He shrugged, hesitantly.

Basch nodded his head, in approval, "Tis a suitable place for our purpose and relatively far from Ondore's estate without it being in the slums. This is a tavern where clans-people meet, so there is apt to be little Imperial influence here." Basch folded his arms and sighed, "We'll need to start searching soon, if we don't find Balthier and Lamont, I fear I may not be able to do what I must."

His voice was brisk, like making plans for a battle; he talked straight to the point, in a way Vaan found easy to follow. Maybe this really was a battle; trying to find their friends again, Basch never seemed to dally over something once his mind was made; he must have already been moving ahead, plotting out their next course of action.

Basch strolled over to the tavern, Vaan continued to stand where he was, and what did Basch mean exactly? Was he planning to confront the Marquis, the announcer of his execution. Vaan wondered what Basch intended when he spoke of doing something he must. Fran nodded her head accepting their decision and began to saunter casually after Basch.

Vaan blinked snapping out of his thoughts and rushed after them. He caught up to the two of them as they came before the Tavern's door. Near the entrance stood a man, dressed in the garb of a Parijanah—one of the cities extraordinary guides; they were always chocked full of information, or rumors; anything and everything. They often picked up some astonishing stories, and Vaan supposed that they must write it all down in their books they carried. Why else did they have them except to store tidbits of news?

This man was no exception, in his hand rested a large green leather bound book. He, through the many other people in the street, was watching the three of them with an intent curiosity from behind half-moon spectacles. The man—Parijanah stepped kindly, in front of Vaan bowing his head politely.

"Svagatam Bhadra, May I be of assistance to you?" the man's voice was streaked lightly with a Bhujerban accent. Vaan saw Basch about to say no, but then the guide said quickly, "I have news of the most excellent rumor. Would Bhadra like to hear?" Vaan withdrew his hand from the door handle, the guide catching his attention. The Parijanah's face was pointed, as he looked quizzically down at the three, his hazel eyes seemingly continually passed over basch's face; not paying the much out of place Fran a single lick of attention.

"Uuu… sure" said Vaan uncertainly, he cast his companions a wary glance. He didn't really want to hear, and by the look his companions gave him, they weren't that interested either. The Parijanah smiled pleasantly, despite their looks and nodded.

Vaan didn't want the three of them to appear suspicious, and he couldn't just walk away from the man after he said yes; so, they were caught. He felt uneasy as the guide stared at Basch so intently, and why did he ignore Fran so? It would have seemed the Viera was out of place, but Basch? Surely, the guide didn't suspect his identity.

The Parijanah began to speak, "Strange yes, but I have come across the most curious of rumors. It seems word has spread that," now the guide covered his mouth with his hand and looked around. "That raksas, monster, of a man; the king-slayer, still breaths the air!" The Bhujerban spat the word 'king-slayer' with utter venom and hatred, as he breathed angrily and excitedly at them. "Should I ever meet that monster, I cannot begin to describe what I would do to he who betrayed his own, in such a fashion! On the eve of peace, he murdered his own king, and betrayed what he was sworn to protect, disgusting, is it not?

The parijanah stopped for breath, getting his voice under control. He sighed and closed his eyes, "How the man escaped death, I find hard to believe, as I have said, it is only a rumor and should not be held by much sway. Still, this raises many a question that would have interesting answers indeed. Now," The parijanah touched his hand forehead to his head in salute, "if you'll excuse me, Bhadra."