CHAPTER ELEVEN: THICK AS THIEVES
The Neptune's Spire Inn was technically a reputable business. It rented out numerous rooms to travellers, traders, and even adventurers all year round. There was even a small restaurant that served food largely imported from Kazham. Aldo was the owner of the establishment and it probably brought in a lot of hard earned Gil, by Catherine's best guess. Despite this, there was far more to the building than just an inn.
Once Alain, Nokum-Akkum, and Renene had been dragged out the place by Captain Wolfgang and his soldiers, Aldo led them through a pair of double doors at the far end of the lobby. From there they walked along a wallpapered hallway that seemed to slightly descend, as if they were going into the basement. The next room was filled with Pirates and Ninjas, surrounded by exhibits showing off ancient pottery, paintings, and even weapons. It seemed to be a collection of some of the rarest things ever discovered that Aldo had managed to acquire through shady dealings. With no time to stop, they were led through another small hallway to a room at the end. Aldo called this his office and invited them in.
There were even more exhibits inside his office as well as numerous scrolls and a huge map of the world hung behind a long desk. Aldo removed the dagger he had wielded a short time ago from his tunic and placed it on a stand that seemed to fit it just right, before sitting down behind his desk and sighing.
"What arrre we going to do now?" Hanaa asked.
"Do you know where an Elvaan named Prishe is?" Brute asked, ignoring everyone else.
Aldo looked up, "Yes, I do. Prishe appeared here just yesterday, barged right in…not that much different to how your Red Mage friend did. She was shouting at the top of her lungs for a Hume named Greezo. I had not heard that name in a long time; in fact I had not even said it out loud since I escaped from Tavnazia as it burned. You see, Greezo was my father. Prishe claimed that he had told her that if she were ever in Jeuno and needed help, that she should seek him out."
Wait… Catherine thought to herself. Prishe knew Aldo's father, yet Aldo is at least in his mid twenties. Cid said something similar about her... She looks no older than a teenager, yet knows people from twenty years ago who were already adults back then. Is she even Elvaan? Like that boy that appeared…it is hard to tell. Her skin is paler than it should be, her hair is not a common colour, and she is far stronger than she should be… And these two know something about this.
"How can she have known your father?" Catherine asked.
"I do not know."
She turned to Ulmia and Brute, "But you two do!"
Ulmia shuffled nervously and said that she did not want to talk about it as it had nothing to do with their situation. Catherine did not want to push the issue aggressively, but if there was some danger behind Prishe's secret, then it would need to come out into the open sooner or later. Brute shook his head when she looked at him, a silent confirmation that he was still not willing to say anything either.
"Sir Aldo…" Ulmia gulped, "Can you tell us where Prishe is now?"
"She wanted me to find a way to get her back to Tavnazia as quickly as possible; she said something about unfinished business with a Wyrm. I agreed. In fact, I had already had one request put forward to me for another to go out there so it was easy to arrange. The airship I prepared will leave later today…but Prishe will not be on it."
They all exchanged glances.
"Forgive me for not getting to the point sooner. I gave Prishe a room to stay in for the night. Around midnight one of my men heard a subdued cry from her room and entered to investigate. I do not know what happened, or how, but I believe Prishe was attacked by someone. There were no signs of a struggle, or injuries, but she would not wake up. I took her to Doctor Monberaux's hospital in Upper Jeuno. Despite his friendship with Captain Wolfgang, he can be trusted."
Brute was furious and demanded to be shown to the hospital immediately. In an effort to calm him down, Aldo agreed and called one of his Ninjas forward to take the Galka and Ulmia to see Prishe. Catherine and the others stayed behind and did not speak until their guests were gone.
"I assure you that she is safe, I have two people watching the hospital," Aldo insisted.
"Don't mind the Galka; he's normally angrrrier than a plucked Yagudo."
Catherine got back to the matter at hand, "Prishe has been stricken by a magic spell?"
"No bruises, no marks, and no signs of a struggle suggest as much. She was breathing normally and did not seem in pain, although I did notice that her pupils were shifting around a lot behind her eyelids, like she was dreaming the whole time."
Thought Catherine did not learn any Black Magic spells, she was aware of how they worked. Spells which induced sleep like effects manifested in such a way that it was hard to tell if one had been used. The spells forced the victim to fall into a sleep, but after that left the person's mind to function as normal. They would dream and could be woken by anyone persistent enough. If Prishe was constantly dreaming and could not be woken, no matter her forcibly people tried, then there was more than Black Magic at work. Not even the mighty Shantotto of Windurst could induce a sleep so great that the person would not wake up.
Aldo could not suggest anything else for them to do other than to go to the hospital themselves and check on her condition, but warned them that beyond the walls of his inn they were not as safe from the Ducal Guard should Wolfgang decide not to honour their agreement. Catherine asked what could be done for Alain and the others and again he could not provide a good answer. He reassured her that he would have someone inside the palace try to find out what will happen to them and would send word as soon as he heard anything.
That was all that she could hope for in that moment. Alain seemed sure that it was safe to let them go, that the arrest warrants issued for all of them were just a means to an end to get him face to face with the woman controlling all of Jeuno. She silently prayed that this women, this Zilart, had good intentions.
-
Captain Wolfgang saluted as Nag'molada approached.
"The Thundaga VI is ready for departure."
Nag'molada frowned, "And what does that have to do with me? I am not travelling back on that airship filled with handouts for those people. Send it on its way. Now if there is nothing else Captain, I have things to do."
"Wait. How do you plan to return to Tavnazia? No other ships are leaving today."
"That is not your concern. I will travel there by my own means and in my own time. I do not agree with Esha'ntarl's assumption that the boy will return there just yet. We still have time and I will use it wisely. If, through some miraculous event, I am wrong and the boy does appear on Tavnazia then have your men attempt to detain him."
With that, Wolfgang stormed off. Nag'molada's proud gaze shifted to three small shadows standing at a door nearby.
"It's all going according to plan," he said smugly.
-
While Renene had never been in a prison before and was awe struck at every little detail, Alain found it irritatingly familiar. It was not so long ago that he had been held in a hidden cell in the Metalworks for giving Naji that scar he was so proud of. The Tarutaru Summoner hopped along by his side, holding Nokum-Akkums hand and forcing him to hop as well. At each side of them, and close behind, were armed Ducal Guard soldiers clad in their white plate with gold trim heavy armour. Their weapons had been confiscated and left at the entrance to the prison and now they were in one of the many cell blocks.
They passed cells filled with groups of people that had been arrested of all races and occupations. Alain suspected that the most common crimes in Jeuno were probably just petty theft and attempted smuggling of items through the ports. Every so often every city would have its more serious crimes, but they were few and far between. Whenever there was a serious crime, the home nation in which it happened could defer judgement to the Duchy, if it proved severe enough, in terms agreed in the alliance charter.
Alain recalled a case some years ago in Bastok, involving a handful of deaths at the hands of an Alchemist that had found a way to harness dead bomb cores and turn them into grenades. He had put the synthesis recipe forward to the Bastoken Military in the hopes of being contracted to mass produce them. For whatever reason, he was turned down and did not take it well. Soldiers turned up dead over the course of two weeks until he was eventually caught. The Vana'diel Tribune called it the Alchemists' Fire Murders and suggested in its article that since the victims were part of the military, that the accused would not get a fair trial. Bastok had no choice but to defer the case to Jeuno to quell such suggestions. Alain could not help thinking, knowing what he now did, that the accused probably did not get any fairer a trial there.
They were ordered to stop at the third set of cells they came to, there were about ten on each side of the thin damp smelling passage. The bars that made up the cells were probably reinforced metals that even Galka could not bend and the second they entered the building he knew that there was a magic dampener in place. All three of them were pushed into a cell three down on the right and the barred door was closed swiftly behind them.
"Hey, there's a Tarutaru living nextaru to us!" Renene exclaimed.
Alain looked over. There was a Tarutaru in the next cell sure enough, that was watching them intently. He wore a brown coloured aketon of some kind and a small red beret. The small figure stepped forwards to the bars separating their cells and placed one hand his chin and the other on his hip. He stood there in total silence in that pose, like he was pretending to be a statue. He peered at them while still holding his position and trying his best not to budge an inch.
"Well?" the Tarutaru questioned, trying not to move his mouth.
Renene walked up to the bars and took up a similar pose, clearly very amused by the bizarre neighbour. With an annoyed noise, the Tarutaru in the cell dropped his pose and called them fools. Nokum-Akkum leapt to their defence, telling the stranger to step closer to the bars again.
"Haven't you seen the wanted posters? Come on, they captured my best angle in that drawing! Have you three been living in some cave together for the past few years? Get lost in Gustav Tunnel? I'mworld famous. I am the Thief who stole Prince Pieuje's royal cap! I am the Thief who stole the infamous Naja Salaheem's precious mace!! I am the one who stole the Mayor of Selbina's clay tablets!!! No one can stand up to my Mimic and Disguise magic!"
The strange Tarutaru burst into a fit of laughter that brought back more memories of Alain's brief conversation with Shantotto. After calming himself down, the Thief introduced himself as Miledo-Shirado. It seemed to Alain that he had given up and just said his name because the Thief was so annoyed that they still did recognise him, rather than because any of them had actually asked what it was. Alain genuinely had never even heard about any of the crimes the Tarutaru was claiming to have committed and, after thinking back over the list that had been spouted at them, also noted that Miledo-Shirado did not speak with an accent or speech impediment like most Tarutaru.
A voice spoke from the cell across the way, "Miledo…I cannot speak for the two accompanying him, but believe me when I say that this dear boy is largely oblivious to most things going on around him."
Alain was speechless as he looked over in shock at someone who had been hiding in the shadows of the opposite cell, listening and watching them all. He recognised the person's voice instantly and seeing them confirmed it. An old Elvaan wearing worn green gear strolled forwards and tipped his cap.
"The Gentleman Thief…"
Miledo-Shirado jumped up and down, "So you've heard of an old has-been like him, but not of someone as famous as me?! This is an injustice! Guard! Come here and give these ignorant fools a lashing!"
Renene leant over to Nokum-Akkum, "He's almostaru as silly-willy as you."
So it seemed that the Gentleman Thief had escaped one prison only to end up in another. Alain was disappointed; he wanted to believe he had gotten through to the old Elvaan just a little. He had helped them; saved Samuel's life against Vessel, but still went back to stealing for the thrill and nothing more. Although curious how the Thief had gone from practically living on the Highwind to a prison, Alain refused to let himself be drawn into a conversation.
"This Hume doesn't like you," Miledo-Shirado grinned.
"Alas, I have wronged him in the past. Perhaps he believes that I have gone back to my old ways and learnt nothing from him. If he were to ask such a thing, I am inclined to reply with a question of my own…regarding a promise he made to me."
Alain thought back to the final conversation he had had with the Gentleman Thief. To be freed by him and to be able to go and help his friends in Delkfutt's Tower he had to promise not to raise his blade against a friend. It looked like the Elvaan was already assuming that he had broken that promise and since he was not able to meet his gaze, Alain had probably already confirmed it.
"I didn't break the promise!" he blurted out suddenly. "Rost was never my friend. Never. Not even for a second. He hurt Catherine, used her to draw me into a battle. Yes we fought each other and I wish I'd killed him!"
The Gentlemen Thief did not say anything and simply looked at him mournfully, judging his anger in silence. Alain cursed and turned away. Even speaking about what Rost did still made him furious. No matter the reason, it was unforgivable that he hurt Catherine. He calmed down, if he were to accidentally summon some of his power that his hatred brought on it might alert the guards and make things worse.
Nokum-Akkum plodded over to the cell bars, "Did you steal something again?"
"I attempted to steal something, yes," the Gentleman Thief replied. "It was not an item, but it was incredibly valuable. You see, I felt that it would be an injustice if I were not to repay the kind crew of your airship. I was forced to disappear after it was permanently grounded, your government did not want to risk problems with the other nations. I had heard rumours about the Archduke and his illness and knew them to be false. 'What better way to repay the kindness of those two,' I thought to myself, 'than if I were to find some of Jeuno's secrets and deliver them to your door'."
Nokum-Akkum was listening to the story intently with a hand over his mouth.
"Don't believe a word of it," Alain sniped. "He's making it up."
"Were you making thataru up Mr Thief?" Renene asked.
The Gentleman Thief shook his head.
"I tried to steal information, quite important information I would wager. Still you would doubt me, correct? Am I so dishonoured? Perhaps you would believe me if I were to give you just a piece of what I learned…"
He turned to face the Thief once more, with narrow eyes. This had to be some stupid trick, it just had to be. He had already been used once by the Elvaan to escape from prison he would not be that foolish again. Unwilling to even humour him for a bit of information, it was left to the awestruck Tarutarus to ask him to prove what he was saying was true.
"Well," he said with a stroke of his chin, "there was a huge airship in a hidden dock filled with at least twelve smaller ones, part of a fleet I'd say. Sigma XIII they were calling it. I had a look around on board, very impressive. There were two large cargo containers in there with some kind of creatures. They looked metal, I'd dare say, but seemed alive. I found the Captain's Quarters and looked around – that's where I was caught red handed…so to speak."
Renene turned to Nokum-Akkum, "Is he saying his hand is red?"
"No, he means he burntaru it and cried outaru, so they heard him and caughtaru him."
"Oh."
Was there any way that the Thief could have found out about Sigma XIII without actually seeing it? Its existence had not been made public; if it were then the Allied Nations would go into a blind panic. Alain could not help but wonder if this time it was the truth. At the very least it sounded like the Gentlemen Thief was snooping around the warships Jeuno was creating, but his purpose for being there was probably inaccurate. The Tribune or any other newspaper would probably buy information as explosive as that for a lot of Gil. That had to be it.
"Almost dinner time," Miledo-Shirado muttered.
"Shall we play a trick on today's guard?" The Gentlemen Thief asked in reply.
Renene's ears pricked up, "Whataru do you mean?"
"Oh, Miledo and I enjoy playing tricks on the guards. You see, the magic dampeners in place here don't affect certain abilities we have, like Camouflage. We would take turns randomly using it every so often when different guards were on their shifts. The blind panic some would get into thinking we had escaped was truly wonderful to watch. I would think we have tricked almost every single guard that does a shift here, but it might still work."
Renene was giggling ecstatically and urged them to play the trick on the guard bringing them their meal. The two thieves agreed to play it, but only if they stayed calm and did not ruin it. As the door at the end of the passage way creaked open both thieves vanished from sight. A stout Galka that could barely fit in between both rows of cells strode down and stopped outside their cell. He took a passing glance next door to them and then behind and grunted.
"I'm not stupid," the guard said and then turned to Alain. "You and your Tarutaru friends have been ordered to the palace immediately."
"Wait…just like that? That woman must not be wasting time…" he replied.
"I don't know why they want you, only that they do, so get over here. What a pity, we were just getting to know you as well. Follow me out the door at the end of the hall and don't try anything stupid, nothing gets by Unmoveable Mountain."
It seemed that the Zilart woman was truly ready for them and Alain was glad. Now he could get some answers for all his questions and he got away from the Gentleman Thief without ending up as an accomplice to an escape plan. Renene and Nokum-Akkum followed close behind and they were lead out of the prison.
-
"The door has closed…" Miledo-Shirado said.
"Indeed."
"So, what did you get? I stole that Summoner's hairpin while she was running around. I'll make a lock pick out of this in under a minute and be in the streets of Jeuno in five! Beat that, old man!"
The Gentleman Thief laughed, "Miledo, your sense of drama blinds you to simple old fashioned methods. I have the keys. I knew it would be that stout Galka during this shift, it has been the same every third day. All I needed was someone to distract the guard long enough to reach for his belt. He would never have been lured into a conversation with you because of how brash you are. It appears that I am in debt to Alain once more, whether he knows it or not."
"Go to hell! …Wait, give me the keys after you're done."
"Perhaps. What will you do if I let you out?"
"Humph, go find out what Luto is up to I guess. This is all her fault."
"Farewell then, Miledo-Shirado," the Gentleman Thief said.
"Same to you, old man. As thick as thieves…"
The old Elvaan smiled, "You're using the old motto I taught all my students?"
"Humph."
-
Catherine and Hanaa travelled through the streets of Jeuno without any more problems from the Ducal Guards. There were enough in the street to have arrested them if the order was given, but it looked like Captain Wolfgang was honouring his agreement with Aldo for the time being. They headed for the hospital in Upper Jeuno that they had already been to when Alain had reappeared. At the reception desk they found Doctor Monberaux. He recognised them both and bid them good afternoon.
"You don't seem surprrrised to see us…" Hanaa purred.
"Ah, yes, well those two that arrived just a short time ago said that you both might appear. They asked that I give them and their sick friend some privacy. I am afraid that you two will have to remain here until they decide otherwise. Would you like some Windurstrian tea?"
There was something about Prishe that Brute and Ulmia were desperately trying to keep hidden. It was already obvious that she was not the age she looked, but the reason behind that had to be the thing they were concealing. Yet since Prishe had been brought there long before they had even arrived in Jeuno, Doctor Monberaux had to have at least given a preliminary examination to try and discover a cause for the affliction.
On behalf of them both, Catherine accepted the offer of tea and both followed the Elvaan Doctor to a kitchen to the east of the building. While the water boiled, Catherine asked if he had had time to examine Prishe.
"Yes, although I cannot find any reason for her coma. It is very similar to the one your friends were in when they arrived, though that does not help matters since they seemed to come round on their own rather than as a result of any treatments."
Catherine rubbed her shoulder, "What I actually meant, Doctor Monberaux, was did anything seem…strange? We do not know Prishe very well, but we have heard things that are a little confusing to say the least. She claimed to know Aldo's father, who past away quite some time ago."
His face turned stern, "Patient and Doctor Confidentiality means that I can say nothing regarding a patient's condition unless you are family or a legal guardian of said patient. Now, then…how about that tea?"
She caught Hanaa glancing over at her with equal suspicion. Monberaux had gone from angrily citing a quote from the laws by which he practised straight back to being kind and offering them drinks. The doctor had discovered something about Prishe during his examination and was not willing to tell them what it was. In turn they accepted a glass and for a while nothing was said as all three took small sips of the flavoured green tea, but inwardly accusations were being thrown. Catherine respected the law, but how the doctor was reacting seemed more like the result of a threat from Brute than truly following the rules. It was like he wanted to tell them, or anyone, whatever he had found because of how amazing it was. She hoped Hanaa was reaching the same conclusions and was preparing to try and get the information out of him.
-
The grand palace in Ru'Lude Gardens was made from shining white marble that looked like it was polished every day. Unfortunately there was no time to look around at how the nobles and dignitaries lived as Alain, Nokum-Akkum, and Renene were frog marched into the palace and up a huge set of stairs. The room at the top guarded by two soldiers had been the chamber used for audiences with the Archduke. They were ordered inside and the doors were locked behind them.
Along a long carpeted hall were a few steps leading up to a throne, where Kam'lanuat had probably sat many times. Standing in front of the throne was the woman that had led the attack on Bahamut. To her side was another society member, or a Mammet, it was hard to tell at distance. At the base of the steps was a Hume he did not recognise.
The Hume was dressed in orange and black plate armour with intricate markings running down the front. Judging by the design of the markings, coupled with a Great Katana at his side, the person had to be a Samurai, but not one that was trained locally as they had no armour like that on the continent. His black hair was tied in a loop at the back of his head that was just visible over the top and he had a calm expression on a face that looked like it had seen a lot of battle despite his age.
"Alain, one of the six granted the title of Champion for defeating the Shadowlord once and for all…as per the goals of Kam'lanaut and his elder brother. Time is against us so let's do away with the formalities. My name is Esha'ntarl. This man next to me is Chief Scientist Kareh'ayollio."
"Leaving out the fact that you're both Zilart?" Alain retorted bitterly.
Esha'ntarl smiled, "Another formality to get out the way. There are more important things to discuss, Alain. You already know about the boy, but do you understand what his goal is? I thought not. Do you even know why Bahamut has been called?"
He shook his head.
"The boy is visiting crystals hidden in our land. He has successfully found three and drained them of their light, paving the way for the Emptiness to spread. He now goes to the fourth, hidden to the north, in the ancient ruins of Pso'xja. With each success he further damns the world. Show him the parchment, Kareh'ayollio."
The Chief Scientist of Jeuno slowly walked down the steps and outstretched a pale skinned arm holding an ancient looking book. Alain opened it at a marked page and tried to make sense of it. There was a sketch of a monster hanging over white buildings and to the right a page of text in some language he did not know. Underneath the writing a translation had been scrawled.
Long ago there was a child born who came seeking Bahamut, a pact was made with that boy, and now it was to be fulfilled. The light would be given to the crystals once more. Innocent blood spills onto the plains of Vana'diel. The world shudders as she is thrust into chaos and despair. Neither power nor destiny can bring an end to what has begun. However, through the storm of night, a star of glory shines bright. Through the howling of the beast the song rings clear. Shining star, echoing song you are our dreams and prayers.
"What is this?" he asked
"We are told that it should be read melodically, as if it were a song verse."
"Told by whom?"
Eash'ntarl pointed to the silent Samurai.
"My name is Tenzen. I translated that verse with assistance from… Your name is Alain, correct? I have travelled here from the Far East to help in any way I can. The Emptiness has all but destroyed my home; perhaps we can stop the same from happening to yours."
Alain gulped, "The Emptiness…what is it?"
"Nothing," was Tenzen's swift reply. "Nothing…in the worst possible sense. It spreads like a plague, darkening the land and killing all life. From the darkness left behind strange creatures appear that seem to feast on memories of the living. Those that have survived attacks from the beasts often cannot even remember their own name. The shadow of the Emptiness spreads when the light of the crystals fade. We must stop this boy from finishing his mission."
Alain looked back at the page of text and again at the drawing of a monster floating over a structure of some kind. Ulmia had mentioned a song and they had all heard Nag'molada singing something to Bahamut. Was this what he had been singing all along? Yet Esha'ntarl did not know its meaning until Tenzen had somehow translated it, so how did the envoy know? This reminded him of what Bahamut had called Nag'molada and this spurred his next question.
"What are the Kuluu? How are they connected to Bahamut?"
Esha'ntarl frowned, "Yet more formalities? Do you not realize that you must hurry to Pso'xja? The Kuluu are a race that served the needs of the Zilart. Long ago, the Kuluu made a pact with Bahamut in order to protect the Gates of Paradise. Though the gates were opened no one passed through, yet this was still enough to summon the Wyrm King. The details of this pact are not yet clear, but this is; Bahamut's method of saving Vana'diel is to kill every last one of the five dominant races using an army of dragons."
Renene and Nokum-Akkum cowered together behind his legs.
She continued, "Do not concern yourself with Bahamut or his army – we will deal with him once our fleet is complete. Find your companions, stock up on whatever you need, and go after that boy. Oh, and if you should run into Nag'molada, tell him that I am…eager to speak with him."