Author's Note: Hello all! Sorry for the delay in posting the chapter. I am very busy working on other projects as well. I'll also be traveling around for quite some time, so please expect the chapters to be uploaded more sporadically in the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience. Are you enjoying the story so far? Who is your favorite character? I would want to hear from you! If you have any comments or critique, feel free to leave it at the bottom of the page. If you enjoyed the story, and want to see more, don't forget to leave a favorite as well! Your input is very important to you, and keep on reading!
CHAPTER 11: LOEMUND AND LAEGD
Across the still and icy waters lay the Sea-King's vessel. The massive longship had a curved hull and over twenty rowing benches, but no hands to row it. It seemed the waves themselves steered the great war-boat. With a single command from Loemund, the ship could have sailed in any direction, perhaps even into the eye of the wind.
Basch and Zargabaath, on their steeds, stayed their ground on the beach as the ship pulled up to the shore. The ice plates crackled and splintered as the boat's bow rushed forward. It glided into a stop a few moments later. Its keel had hit the shallow depths.
Now the King of the Sea and his right hand could be seen in full clarity. Up close they were much more terrifying, and their air decreed both fear and authority.
Loemund, the Sea-King, had frostbitten skin and sunken eyes the color of the winter sky. His head was adorned with four orange corals that twisted up into a gruesome crown. Loemund's armor was truly fit for a king. His chest plate was made of whalebones and imbued with dazzling aragonite. His appendicular armor pieces shone with the luster of oyster shells; they were as beautiful as they were shatterproof.
The king's devilish servant stood over eight feet. He was a beast-man of pure muscle, with the head of an anglerfish and the body of a bronze god. He wore leathers of thick kraken hide and boots made of elephant seals ribs. He held his menacing greatsword as if it were a scepter. He could command just as easily as he could kill.
"The Land-King has brought a great number of men," the anglerfish said from the forecastle.
"Ten thousand men, and more to come if this bloodshed does not cease."
"Only a great king can command such a great army. We have seen you march them down from your great land-city."
"It is not I who have charged them here. I serve Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, first of his name, ruler of the mighty Archadian Empire. He has arrived, and he wishes to parley before any more blood is spilled. My master is wise…as is yours, I pray."
The servant faced his lord. "My king, negotiations. The land-king wishes to speak to you."
The King of the Sea said nothing, only gestured a scooping motion with his crooked right hand. Anglerfish turned back to face the two judges. "My master has agreed to such talks. Bring the Land-King to the shore. Only he and Loemund shall speak. Now you must leave before my lord's patience is tested."
Gabranth and Zargabaath nodded, and rode back into the inner courtyards.
Emperor Larsa, Queen Ashe, and representatives from Dalmasca and Landis were crowding around the war table to plan their course of action. The outer courtyard had been lost to the Sea-King's army. They had a good grasp of the terrain, plus the soldiers had lost the resolve to pitch a skirmish there. The united armies, however, had the advantage of higher ground. There was only one drawbridge left to cross into the inner fortress, and it would be drawn up, making it impossible for the enemy to cross. However, leaving the drawbridge up would also mean cutting their passage to the mountain pass and ultimately depriving them of requisitions and reinforcements. The forests to the back of the tent city could have been an option, however, they were unexplored. Even the Landisians advised not to stray into the woods for strange monsters lurked between the trees.
"Your Excellency," Basch began, rushing into the tent. "Loemund has agreed to meet with you."
"Thank the gods," Larsa huffed. "Let us go."
"Wait," Ashe said, getting hold of Larsa's sleeve. "What about me?"
"We need you protected here, Queen Ashe. Loemund wishes to speak to me."
"Protection? You think me helpless!" Ashe seethed and yanked his arm furiously. "For the past week, all I've been doing is watching from the sidelines as my soldiers die. I will not stand idle as more Dalmascans fall! Larsa, you must heed me."
Larsa pulled himself away. "With all due respect, your grace, this Sea-King has, first and foremost, threatened my nation's sovereignty. Landis belongs to Archadian territory. Dalmasca has done us a great favor by offering her swords, but in all matters of law, I am the one who should address this problem."
"You would speak the law to one who believes he is above it?" Ashe rebutted. "Excellency, my ancestor King Raithwall is the very reason Loemund has returned. He wishes to take vengeance upon the dynast-king's descendants and reclaim his magickal helmet. He is my responsibility!"
"All the more reason you should not speak with him. Do you not understand? If Loemund can identify who you are, he will not rest until you are done. He will send all the forces of the sea to locate you and annihilate you. I cannot let that happen!"
"But I am queen!" Ashe raged.
"And I am emperor!" Larsa raised his voice and slammed his fist on the war table. The pieces on the board toppled over in fright.
A ravaged silence flew into the tent. The generals exchanged conflicted glances with the judge magisters. Ashe scowled at Larsa with a look that could have set anything on fire. The emperor stood his ground, clenching his teeth and fists. The two monarchs had a glaring match for a good ten seconds before Basch broke the tension.
"Queen Ashe, it is only for the best," the judge advised tenderly.
"Don't interrupt!" Ashe hissed. She turned back to Larsa. "You think yourself some scapegoat? If you would have yourself sacrificed upon the mount, so be it." She marched towards her generals and they turned their attention back to the war table. Erryl and Krjn tried their best to keep up with the queen's ramblings as she moved the pieces around indefinitely, but it was clear that all of them were still jarred from the argument.
Larsa shook his head. He marched out of the tent and his magisters followed behind him. "Ludicrous, that woman," he said under gritted teeth. "We must make haste before Queen Ashe takes any action. To the beach."
The three men took flight to the beach. The longship drew closer, and so did the Sea-King and his general. Emperor Larsa had never seen a pair so hideous, so capable of making his hairs stand on their ends. It had looked like they had come out of a horror novel. Out of the pits of hell itself. And he was to parley with them.
Now, Loemund walked out to the beak of the ship, where the bow ends and the bowsprit begins. He looked down upon them as a man looks down upon ants. He raised his left hand as if taking an oath, and then bowed lowly. "Land-King, I greet you." The voice was small, but sounded like nails grating down a chalkboard.
Emperor Larsa gave returned the gesture with a polite nod. "King Loemund." Larsa's steed swayed uneasily in its place. The man steadied the reins and hushed his steed with a kick of his boot. "Hoh!"
"You command an impressive army." A king of few words.
"As do you," Larsa replied. "Our battle will remain meaningless unless we understand each other. For what reason do you fight? Why do you command your hatred upon the innocent? We have done nothing."
"You have done everything. Many centuries ago, your great Land-King Raithwall held a battle in this very Fortress. He was a power-needy fool incapable of seeing beyond hume wants. In his greed, he stole Ran Vali, my helmet, and locked it away in the highest tower of this fortress. I must reclaim it and return peace and order to the world."
"Peace and order?" Larsa choked. "You would have those by means of war? How?"
"It is beyond a mortal's understanding."
"Then make us understand. We cannot negotiate unless you tell us your terms."
"I only ask for the helmet."
Basch moved over next to Emperor Larsa, so close that their chocobos pressed each other's beaks. "My lord, the Ran Vali is a great power. I have heard stories of it as a child. In Landisian mythology, the helmet manipulates all the waters of the Naldoa. If Loemund is to get his hands on it, he would have enough power to destroy the whole of Ivalice."
"You are a child of this land?" the anglerfish asked the judge magister.
"Yes, I was born and raised by the sea," Basch replied with an air of arrogance.
"And you tore open the sigil?"
Basch shut his mouth. He moved his chocobo away from his master as if it could have answered the question.
Anglerfish narrowed his beady eyes. The lamp hanging off the side of his head rocked to and fro as if it had a mind of its own. "King Loemund, there is another out there. It is not this land-king nor this general who lifted the fortress seal."
"I know. I have sensed it from the beginning," Loemund stated, folding his arms.
Larsa gulped. "King Loemund, we only ask for peace."
"That is not what you truly want. I see your heart, land-king. Once it was filled with purity and hope. You have grown thorns of greed and pride. All humes are the same. You would destroy the entire world to further your selfish ambition. I will protect it from your palms."
"And I am the villain? Am I the one who wishes to overrun the world with a beast army? Am I the one who purges innocent men, women and children for simply being human? The United Armies stand together. When you pointed your sword at my people, you pointed your sword at all of us."
"You speak but you do not think. I have wasted enough time with you, Land-King Larsa. No, it is not you I seek. I must find one that is worthy."
"Then who is?" Larsa pressed.
"Only the sea can decide," Loemund said with finality. He turned to his general and whispered something in the hole that made for Laegd's ear.
The king's servant nodded and moved his fish head up and down. "Yes, my lord. I understand," he murmured. Laegd faced the Archadians and boomed. "The talks are now over!"
"That is not how talks work," Basch spat. "Something must be agreed upon."
"OUT!" Loemund thundered in a voice that caused the ice plates to crack. A blast of energy rippled from within him and made the chocobos rear. The Archadians got hold of their steeds and laboriously restrained them.
"You would dare raise your voice at the emperor!" Basch growled, reaching from the hilt of his Tournesol.
Zargabaath spoke up. "Excellency, with all due respect, staying here would only make worse the situation. The Sea-King cannot be reasoned with."
Emperor Larsa nodded. He looked to Loemund, and gave him a final warning. "If you would have it this way, many of your men would die."
"We are already dead," Loemund said with lifeless eyes. "We died centuries ago, when the great Land-King stole the world and made us believe it was never ours."
The Sea-King's words chilled the emperor to the bones. No words could escape his lips. Larsa looked at the Sea-King one last time before turning his chocobo around. He rode away, and back into Fort Fylleborg. The judge magisters followed in his wake. The chocobos, distressed, rammed into each other unknowingly. Gabranth and Zargabaath grunted upon impact, and quickly pulled themselves aside. Useless, it was utterly useless trying to reason with Loemund.
The longship receded back into deeper waters. From under the hull crawled out green-gills. Sharkheads and eel-men trudged out of the water and marched onto the icy beach. As soon as they made landfall, the creatures broke out into a mad rush. With astonishing speed, they covered four hundred meters of the outer courtyard within two minutes.
"Foward!" Judge Gabranth thundered from the outer courtyard.
Five assaulting columns of Archadian infantry rushed forth to meet the beast army at the mouth of the inner courtyards. At the point of contact, there was a metallic shock. A clamor rose, and the great cries of soldiers eddied around the base of Fort Fylleborg.
The Dalmascan cavalry came swooping in again, this time in adjunct with Landisian scouts. In their fury for revenge, the Landisians lead the head of the wings and splintered off into three smaller groups. They rushed into the bitter melee, signing their lives to the hands of fate.
Emperor Larsa booted his steed with all his might, rushing past the advancing parties. He rounded about the back of the lines and his eyes scanned the area. At the sight of Queen Ashe, he rode up to her, and glided his chocobo to a stop. "The negotiations have failed. Loemund's just as mad as we expected him to be. It seems there is no alternative. We will have to fight," Larsa explained breathlessly.
Ashe did not answer. Her eyes were focused on the battle brewing ahead, but she was baring her teeth. A formidable silent treatment that drove the man mad. Larsa snarled and winged into the fray. No one seemed to be on his side today!
Larsa jumped off his steed. The emperor kept his sword and shield before him, striking anyone who would come into range. He was careful and attentive, his mind running through the hundreds of techniques and footwork that he had been taught. They were simply targets, the man told himself. It was all practice.
Two green-gills charged up to him and launched themselves at him. Larsa punched his sword right through one's shoulder and followed it up with a vicious slash. Joyeuse tore right down a green-gill's chest, and Larsa thought himself victorious. The success was short-lived. The second one rammed into the emperor and tackled him onto the ground. This one swiped its talons at his face. Larsa managed to block the flurry with his shield, and bashed his foe with swordbreaker. With a metallic clang, the green-gill fumbled back, and was killed by Judge Zargabaath.
"Laegd!" Loemund called, stomping his foot. "Join them."
"Yes, master," the anglerfish bowed lowly. His muscles clenched, and his lantern jolted straight up like an antenna. It began to swirl with a bright, yellow light—sucking in the mist that flurried overhead. With awesome power, the anglerfish launched himself a hundred feet into the air. Midflight, he brandished his great-sword. The general rained his steel down onto a Landisian rider, splicing the man and his chocobo in equal portions.
Basch saw the great feat. He jumped down from his chocobo, and the beast sped away. Curiously, he watched as the anglerfish battled three men at once. The infantry soldiers came at the general with their swords—Laegd was outnumbered three to one. The first soldier casted his sword on the war fish, attempting to strike him in the groin. Laegd deflected the blow with his great-sword and countered, heaving the weight of first soldier's blade onto the second soldier's arm. Their powers were turned against them. The second soldier was defenseless as his sword arm fell to the ground and a fountain of blood spurted out of his shoulder.
The judge magister ran before the enemy's blow and blocked it before the great-sword ended the life of another man. Now Basch was struggling against the burden of Laegd's downward strike. Tournesol was shrieking as the steel grated steel. Laegd pressed forward, using the entirety of his muscly armor to crush his foe. Basch felt the weight on an entire mountain collapse on him, but he continued to fight. He steeled himself and conjured energy from within him. "Gra...vi…ga!"
Three tendrils of the black and purple color dislodged from Basch's nape and struck Laegd. He was thrown back and pommeled onto the ground with a sensational force. The anglerfish felt himself beat in all directions. The floor turned into the ceiling, and then into a wall. Soldiers were rushing over him and under him. They were rippling all over. "Grah!" he growled, banishing the magick. He shook his head wildly, expelling the clouding illusion.
The judge magister flew forward and struck his foe. Un-deflected, Basch's blow landed just below Laegd's right nipple and tore his kraken leathers open. This roused the anglerfish. He pounced upon Basch and the two rumbled like lions fighting each other.
"I have seen your strength, son of Landis. I have seen you fight and win!" The needle-like teeth that jutted out of Laegd's maw came so close to Basch's helmet that it scratched it. "Never in hundreds of years have I seen such prowess!"
Basch wheeled sideways as Laegd's great-sword came crashing down. The judge scrambled to his feet and tensed himself for a second strike. But Laegd hopped backwards and rifled his great-sword, drawing it back like a spear. With godly strength he hurled the heavy blade at the judge. He hunkered down. A massive silver blur nicked Basch's helmet-horns as he dropped. One flew off and gave off an echoing ring inside his head. Like a tuning fork, it pinged.
Laegd's antenna moved around, swirling a gold color in its orb. Basch vaulted forward and tried to attack it, but the silver streak came swinging back at the corner of his eye. He instinctively dodged it. Laegd's greatsword flew back into his hand like a boomerang. The antenna drooped down into its lantern-like position.
"Good!" Laegd taunted. "Let loose your hatred! For your land! For your people!"
"Your life ends at my blade!" Basch roared, putting his sword close to his chest. "Ragh!" Tournesol flashed red. He vaulted forward and launched a flurry of strikes at Laegd. Each slash cut through the air and set it ablaze. Jagged splinters of fire pierced the anglerfish in all angles.
Laegd crumpled and fell to the ground. Basch leapt into the air to deliver the final blow, but just as Tournesol was about to pierce through the anglerfish's throat, he caught it. Fearlessly, Loemund's general grabbed the tip of the sword and curled up his meaty fingers to strangle the shock.
"What?" Basch said under his teeth.
"Enough, son of Landis, I have seen enough," Laegd said. His voice was loud and clear, as if he had never been hurt. "I surrender."
Basch's eyes widened as the enemy's open wounds healed themselves. Laegd's black blood ran back into his body. Stunned, the judge magister reeled back and withdrew his blade. "What sorcery is this?" he asked breathlessly.
The anglerfish got on one knee, placed both of his hands on the great-sword before him, and bowed before Basch as if paying homage to a lord. "I am Laegd, the great seaman."
Basch took an involuntary step back. "You are but a folk legend. My father told stories of you, and our ancestors that rode up the edge of the world."
"All those tales are true. I have sailed from the Beyond to reach Ivalice. Our ships found refuge on the shores of Landis. Upon the cliffs, we built this very fortress. We fought a great battle with King Raithwall against the King of the Sea. I was taken as a prisoner of war. Loemund twisted my features into a hideous creature, and I was beaten into servitude. I have been his right hand for a thousand years. Now, I pledge my allegiance to you."
"Why?"
"For I have found a greater purpose to serve," Laegd said, rising from his knee. "You, Judge Magister Gabranth—whose real name I shall not speak—are a true descendant of the seamen. Your strength and compassion have moved me into bondage. I shall be your sword and strike wherever you command."
"No," the judge cut in.
Laegd gave him a confused look.
"You shall be my equal," Basch exacted. "We shall fight for Landis, together."
