Guess giant chapters aren't that popular hahaha. Though in some sort of weirdness Chapter 11's most popular days were the opposite of Chapter 10's most popular days. Just thought that was funny enough to share. As for this Chapter 12 here, an early release! My sleep schedule has changed, so I'd rather the Chapter be up three hours before the website switches to Sunday, than posting it five hours into Sunday.
Anyway, thanks to Presea for your review as usual.
Tales of Xillia and the Tales of Series are the copyright of Namco Bandai and whoever else owns the rights. I own nothing except for OCs that haven't appeared yet/ever.
Chapter 12: Whose Responsibility
Orda Palace was the center of Rashugal's government. From the throne room up four stories stood the lone throne that King Nachtigal sat upon, as he looked out over his city, his country and ruled. There was only a single wooden path to the palace, which Jude and so many others walked. It was the same wooden walkway that connected every part of Fennmont, but larger than any other, even larger than some of the individual plaza areas. Orda Palace itself was unmistakable, easily the largest building in Fennmont and possibly in all of Rieze Maxia. It was simply a combination of the home and lumen trees that made up every building in Fennmont, but on a far larger scale.
And he, a no name medical student only out for revenge was about to enter it like it was nothing. The massive open front door glowed with a yellow light from within, reaching all the way to the black-armored royal guards standing at attention in front. A stark contrast to the white-armored soldiers in the natural dark of Fennmont now escorting the prisoners and "important" people. He still didn't feel important. The royal guards parted before the welcomed group. Jude, Nadia, Gilland, the three prisoners and twice that number in white soldiers. Alvin had taken that doll off to another laboratory in that district, and Mink had vanished well before even then.
It made Jude even more nervous than he was. The adrenaline that his fight with Alvin started, and the rush that continued as he drew closer to getting the truth, was ebbing and he suddenly felt so very tired. He had only managed his victory against Alvin because of their rules of engagement, in real combat he had shown off how little he truly knew. That women had put him in his place so easily! If he had not blocked Alvin's arte as well, he probably would have lost, and everything here would not have transpired. Such an amazing coincidence bringing that letter to Mink, should he be thankful? He had explained this all to Gilland-and the others-as they traveled to the Palace. But Gilland simply told him to still come along.
Whatever he needed to think could wait, as they entered into Orda Palace and it's, small balcony? There was certainly enough to fit them, but he expected a grand entrance hall to await. Still, that aside, there was the scenery to take in. The very walls of Orda Palace glowed with the light of lumen trees, illuminated every single crack, and bathing them all in a soft, warm light. It truly was the spirit-lit seat of kings.
"This way," Gilland commanded-probably to Jude's tourist act-and he led them unto a spirit arte circle on the ground. A bright flash of light, and Jude was suddenly facing a door.
"Whoa," Jude reflexively noted. He took a look around, and below, they had just risen multiple stories in a single second!
"Lotus rings, the only transportation method fit for Orda Palace," Gilland proudly declared and glared at the old man, who looked away. "Let us see how silent you are when you are before the king." Gilland led them past the next door, and to exactly whom he had promised. The throne room of Rashugal was just as dark as the city would be without the lumen trees. The ceiling and walls jutted out far apart from the entrance, in a manner similar to how Jude first thought the entrance hall would be. At the furthest back was a giant glass window, overlooking the city, and just before that was the throne, only a single, simple thing, yet the man who sat upon it was anything but. King Nachtigal Il Fenn.
"So, Ilbert," the King said in a commanding voice, reaching their ears so far away with perfect clarity. "Here you are, dragged before me in chains, just as the people you set out to rescue were." The king stood from his throne and strode closer, his presence growing all the while. "Just as the whole of the traitors you support shall be." He was now close enough to look down on the old man. "Age has dulled your strategy Ilbert. Did you not think after you pulled such a similar maneuver at Fort Gandala I would not see through this attempt on my Lance?"
"I seem to believe," the old man said for the first time since they moved. "That Fort Gandala has fallen into Lord Cline's control." He stroked his beard with a pride unbecoming of a man in chains. "I would say that the strategic victory in this case belongs to me."
"The Fort and that upstart Sharil are irrelevant," Nachtigal clenched his fist with a commanding stance. "With you out of the way he will be unable to continue this war, he will falter, and he will fall. Just as so many who have gone against me have done in the past." The King ceased his action and let his arm fall back to his side. "That phony Maxwell of yours, shall be caught as well. Your best efforts are irrelevant and your life is mine to control. But," the king turned his back. "I am merciful, Ilbert. If you agree to serve me once again your transgressions can be overlooked; only the Sharils and Banyas need suffer the penalties for defying me again."
The old man simply shook his head. "My only Master is Lord Cline, there is no other."
"Let us see how dedicated you are when he is but a corpse," The king turned back around. "Gilland," he addressed the other man. "Who are these boys?" He asked about Jude and the other man in chains.
"The one who is bound was another ally of Maxwell," the man explained. "He has proven most, excitable, which required him being bound and gagged like this." As if by reflex the bound boy began fighting and struggling against his binds in complete futility. "As for the other, he is somewhat of a passer-by coming to our aid during this attack: Jude Mathis, a medical student registered at Talim. If it were not for his actions we might not have repelled it so easily."
Jude dipped his head and averted his eyes at the praise. He, he didn't do that much. He barely did anything at all in fact. He'd simply told them where the woman was running off too, they could have learned that just fine on their own as well.
"Oh?" the king simply replied in doubt.
Nadia laughed. "Dunno what he's talking about, but the shrimp here did all of nothing but be a hindrance." She leaned forward and glared at him. "Ain't that right?"
"I," Jude stammered out. "I don't, think I did much of anything." He honestly said, even if it meant agreeing with Nadia it was the truth.
"See?" Nadia leaned back and swayed from side to side. "Even the punk admits it himself."
Gilland however, shook his head to both of them. "Do not be so quick to dismiss him Lady Nadia." Her eyebrow twitched at that for some reason. "If this young lad had not arrived, the Maxwell might have simply attempted to strike you down and retreat to her companions and fight their way out. Without him, we would not know which direction to pursue her in the city."
Nadia just laughed. "That bitch couldn't finish me off when she had the power, ain't nothing resembling a chance she'd cut me down now." The girl in red cocked her head to the side and sneered. "And there's no place for her to go other than the trade district."
Gilland shook his head. "Perhaps the first is true, but she had any number of options to flee, including other labs and even the water routes."
"Enough," the King ordered and the two arguing shut up immediately. "Continue your little spat when Maxwell is captured. For now reacquaint that girl with a cell and allow the other two the new experience of one."
"I will only ask you this once Nachtigal," the old man said. "Step off this foolish path of sacrificing your own citizens and you may yet seek redemption."
The king glared at him, but fully turned. "Take them away." The soldiers saluted and began leading the captured trio outside.
"And these two, your Highness?" Gilland asked.
"Boy," the king said and turned back around. "Why did you chase after them?"
"I, I wanted to confront the person who killed my teacher," Jude timidly admitted. But, if that woman was right and that old man was saying, didn't this mean that the king had to be behind it? No, no, that couldn't be true.
"Interesting," the king narrowed his eyes, "the army could always use more capable young men."
"You'd make a great corpse creator," Nadia sneered at him.
"The, army?" Jude slowly answered, ignoring Nadia's remark. No, that wasn't him at all! The army was the exact last thing a medical student should be thinking of enlisting in. But, wasn't revenge as well? That was just, violence, he wasn't gonna kill her. He wasn't gonna kill her... "Justwannagohome." he whispered out without realizing it.
"What was that?" the king asked. "Speak up or do not speak at all."
"I just wanna go home," Jude was more afraid what would happen if he didn't say the truth.
Gilland surprisingly spoke up though. "A sentiment shared by many," a hint of it being true for him hung in his voice. "Where is your home student Mathis?"
"L-Leronde, past the blockade," Jude answered.
"I see," the army commander stroked his chin. "Your Highness, a suggestion, if you would hear me out?"
"Speak then." The King said, already getting clear with impatience.
"We have already detained some of the greatest threats to our, stability, and the Maxwell running about will be caught within no time." He repeated the information everyone already knew. "The Conductor was correct about the Fort, but with all of the largest concerns locked away, I believe we should reopen the seahaven and naval trade."
"What for?" Nachtigal indigently questioned.
"There are many options available once we have the ports reopened," Gilland answered. "And the Sharil faction would be too, timid in attacking unarmed trade ships."
The king stood silent before a smile crept unto his lips. "Yes, I see your point Gilland. And I suppose one of the first ships out should head to Leronde?"
"If that is what your Majesty wishes." The man bowed.
The king laughed, a loud, booming sound of joy. "Very well, send word to a single ship that they'll be receiving this boy as a passenger."
"At once your Highness."
That was all, so very confusing, Jude couldn't help but feel he was being used but. "I'm going home?"
"Rejoice boy," the king told him. "For however much time you can."
"Tch!" Nadia sneered. "Why's this not-a-doc get a reward for doing jack nothing while I'm locked in that lab sixteen hours a day."
"You're welcome to join him on his trip," Gilland stated.
"On second thought bring on the test tubes." Nadia immediately responded.
"I, thank you, so very much!" Jude exclaimed with all due honestly.
The king said nothing, simply striding away back to his throne. Gilland had some words, however simple they were. "You had best return and begin preparations." His eyes darted over to Nadia. "Both of you."
Nadia groaned, but Jude simply thanked him again. The three of them left, Gilland to summon a messenger to run ahead, while Jude and Nadia were to simply leave. Since there was only the one way actually out, they ended up leaving together.
Once they were back under Fennmont's night clime, the smile on Jude's face apparently angered Nadia as she spat out. "Stop grinnin' like an idiot. It makes you look dumber than usual."
"Shut up," Jude yelled at her. He was getting really fed up with her attitude now. "Just because I'm actually happy you feel the need to start insulting me again?"
"Yes, that's exactly it," she mocked him. "What do you have to be happy about, you're just another actor in their little play."
"What nonsense are you talking about now?" he shook his head with the question. Everything she said made his head hurt more and more.
"Oooooooooh?" she needlessly drew the word out. "You really don't believe they gave you this little 'trip home' out of the kindness of their hearts right?"
It did seem to come out of nowhere, but, he really didn't care as long as he got to go home, he realized. "Whatever reason they have I don't care," he admitted. "If I can get home I can just, I can just..." Clear his mind? Talk to his parents? See Leia? It was just, everything in Fennmont had been so stressful lately, between the war and what just happened, and his obnoxious traveling companion. She was obviously only here to mock him. That was probably the reason he wanted to see Leia, she was the complete opposite of the nasty piece of work pestering him.
"Don't even know why huh not-a-doc?" Nadia chuckled. "Oh well, it wasn't nice seeing you, but I'll make sure to dance on your grave once whatever they have planned gets you killed."
"What are you-no, no," Jude shook his head as a slight headache started to form. "Why are you even bothering acting like this? What does it even gain you?"
Nadia laughed. "Why do you think I do it, watching you suffer like this is damnably entertaining!" she actually stopped and doubled over in laughter.
"This isn't even suffering it's just extreme annoyance," Jude corrected her with a scowl. Seriously, how was she involved with any of this? Wait, that old man said something, that old man, Ilbert. Conductor, no wait the first one was important for now. "Travis right, Nadia Travis? That's one of the Six Ruling Houses isn't it?"
This stopped Nadia's laughter cold and she glared at him. "Say that name around me again and you won't even make it to the boat."
Jude didn't know if she was serious, but he believed she was crazy enough to do it anyway. So he shut his lips up on that right away. She kept silent after that, allowing Jude some time to think. First off was the second-closest issue. Ilbert? Someone did say Conductor, did that mean he was Rowen J. Ilbert the Conductor? Who helped shape modern Rashugal with his ingenious battle strategies? But what would drive a man of such caliber, as both the famed Conductor and a member of the Six Ruling Houses, to challenge the throne? All those rumors about the lab experiments swirled around his head. The only person he could ask was right next to him-he didn't dare risk it in front of the king. But she was a completely volatile threat and he, didn't have the strength to confront her. Not now anyway. From that time he linked their orbs he could feel the vast difference in experience. How strong was the woman who defeated her? Certainly strong enough to defeat him effortlessly as well. But all those soldiers proved too difficult. Would she be caught so easily? Would Jude be happy about that? He needed to ask her questions as well. So many questions needed answering.
"How long are you gonna follow me?" Nadia said with a state.
"Huh?" Jude stopped and looked around, he'd been following her back into the research district. He was too distracted by his thoughts to lead himself. "I'll stop here then," he curtly told her and turned around.
"Citizens of Fennmont!" a voice echoed into the night clime air. "This is your King, Nachtigal Il Fenn!"
"Where's that coming from?" Jude looked around.
Nadia just looked straight at one of the buildings, she knew exactly what it was. "What the hell are they using the emergency broadcast system for?"
Emergency broadcast system? But before Jude could even ask what exactly that was, the booming voice of King Nachtigal continued. "This day, the traitorous rebels led by Cline Sharil took over Fort Gandala!"
"The hell?" Nadia shot out in utter confusion. "Is he trying to panic the city?"
"But be at ease, for they shall not hold it long. That attack was but a cheap ploy, a distraction, for them to sneak into the city and destroy the weapon that will be their undoing. Their best, their brightest are right now rotting in jail cells, having failed in that mission. And how, you ask? How did these 'elites' of Shairlton fail? But by the hand of a simple boy!"
"Me!?" Jude shouted in confusion.
"Him!?" Nadia joined him in a confused shout.
"If even their greatest, strongest warriors are defeated but by a hardy youth, what can their armies, filled with naught but cowards, rebels, traitors do? Who cannot match us in honorable combat, who send their soldiers sneaking and crawling about like the rats they are, all defeated by a simple passing boy driven in by his convictions? And what are they before you, citizens of Fennmont? What are they to you, soldiers of Rashugal? You know the answer. They cannot best us, no matter how many attempts they make, no matter how many conniving plans they make. Fennmont, and Rashugal shall not fall to the likes of the cowards in House Sharil, House Ilbert, and House Banya! Rise strong my people, follow the lead of House Fenn, House Travis, and House Zumay against these festering sores those three paltry houses have revealed themselves as. Fennmont shall never fall! Not to traitors, not to the barbarians of Auj Oule, not to anyone!" After some time of silence, Jude concluded that the voice had finished.
Nadia had slowly been grinding her teeth as the speech went on, but as it ended she literally began shaking with anger. Against all the screaming of better judgement in his body, Jude asked how she was as softly as he could. "Are you alright?"
"Shut up," she kept, twitching and didn't even look at him. "Don't talk to me, don't look at me, don't even think about me or I'll flay you alive."
"Fine," he took a step back as a precaution, but she didn't make an attempt to move at all. She just stood there, seething. He had no idea what to do. He was really, really leaning towards just leaving. She'd been nothing but hostile and threatening this whole time after all, and it's what she wanted. He didn't even know what was so wrong that it upset her like this. Sure him being vaguely announced out like that was... odd, but it couldn't be because of that. Right? But, there was one thing he could do. But should he? He was really only going to get suffering out of this, the same time he always leapt into fights with bullies growing up. That just meant, he could deal with it. "Look, I know you hate me for, whatever nonsensical reason, but this whole bottling rage up isn't like you."
She froze, all her twitching and swaying stopped and she slowly craned her neck to look at him with a look of absolute confusion. She opened her mouth to speak a few times, but each time she shut it, unable to find the proper words to answer him. Eventually she settled on, "you're a complete moron," in an incredibly flat tone of voice. "I hate you? Bottling rage up isn't like me? What do you know about me?" she moved closer and twisted her head a bit as she spoke. "Well not-a-doc? Please tell me every little thing you know, because what I need right now is some self-righteous punk trying to lecture me on the finer points of being me. So slap on a red dress not-a-doc and start shooting fireballs everywhere, because I'm in the mood for pointers!"
This wasn't worth it in the least. "Whatever," he shook his head and turned around. "Forget I asked." He desperately wished he could.
"Oh, please teach me how to walk not-a-doc, teach me everything you know!" she started laughing uncontrollably.
Jude hung his head as he walked, her laughter following him for ages before the throngs of the trade district drowned it out. He had more important things to do than deal with her. He was going home, and as difficult as it was to deal with his dad, it was easier than dealing with her.
Milla waited for the others by Ivar's wyvern outside of Fennmont. This was to be their rendezvous point for a retreat in any case of success or failure, but she-and the wyvern-were the only ones here. She had escaped quickly enough that the sentries she passed didn't take notice, and she evaded any pursuers, and this avoided any further casualties. The others however, seemed to be late, or were stopped entirely. She could not risk heading back inside the lab, especially not after that boy wasted her time like that. She had barely managed to elude her seekers thanks to the time wasted on dissolving that boy's accusations.
She patted the wyvern's head and it purred in pleasure. If things did not proceed as planned, they were to reunite at the wyvern. If Ivar was detained, he would summon the monster with his beastcraft when it was possible to mount a rescue. From there, they would relay over to a Cline-faction naval ship off shore and take that back around to Sharilton. There were plenty of other plan's Rowen had advised them on, an annoying amount even, but for now this was the one that was relevant.
She was unaware of how much time she should wait until she mounted and came to the rescue of everyone inside the city. Only that after it started to rain did she mount the monster. It still did not occur for quite some time, but when it did she nearly fell out of the saddle from the sudden force. With great speed did the creature sail forth, over the wetlands around them, over the city walls and bridges-the gasps of the townsfolk passing by without a discernible word.
The wyvern flew faster and landed, its claws digging into the wood and dragging the both of them to a stop. Milla jumped off her mount, sword ready for battle and rescue and-there was none. The sentries that should have been guarding the three prisoners were all out unconscious on the ground already. Rowen, Elize and Ivar all stood without shackles starring at-"Alvin!" Milla shouted to the traitorous mercenary who just stood there with that sly grin plastered all over his face.
"The one and only," the traitor said and waved at her. "Cute trick with the wyvern here, bet they didn't see this one coming."
"What are you doing here!" she shouted at him with her sword pointed right at his head.
"Easy now," the man reached inside his coat and brought out, Teepo? Milla looked at Elize, she was missing her doll friend. "Just thought I'd give you all a little leg up on your daring escape." He tossed the doll back to his owner, who almost jumped to get him back.
"Teepo!" she screeched in happiness. But, he didn't respond. "What? Why aren't you talking? What's wrong with you?"
"One of the scientist-types pulled something out before tossing the spud in the trash," Alvin explained. "Creepy bastard up and vanished before I could get it back." Alvin narrowed his features in regret. "I'm sorry."
Elize looked at him in a mix of anger and confusion. "But you're the reason we got caught in the first place!"
"Whoa now, I was just trying to destroy the Lance in my own way," Alvin tried to explain. "If that soldier storm hadn't occurred I'd have been right there with you guys once all the witnesses were taking a black nap."
"And you really expect us to believe you?" Milla stated.
"Hey that's your choice," Alvin shrugged. "Just like it's your choice to stand around talking while waiting for Rashugal reinforcements to arrive."
He was right on that, they didn't have the time for this. "Let's get back," Milla commanded.
Ivar though had something to share. "About that Lady Milla," he nervously said. "When I explained the capabilities of my wyvern I may have, uh, in fact"-
-"Overestimated them?" Milla asummed his next words. "The four of us won't be able to fit will we?" She sighed at Ivar's idiocy costing them.
"That is," he looked around. "No, no we won't."
"Fool." Milla shook her head.
"Don't worry! I'll gladly be the one to stay behind and fight off your pursuers!" her handmaid declared. "They won't know what hit them." Her handmaid strode forth and hefted a closed fist in imagined triumph.
"You don't even have a weapon," Milla noted. Like with her previous incarceration, they'd been stripped of weapons.
Alvin waved at them. "Don't worry about that, I'll make sure he stays nice and safe."
"You're the reason for all of this in the first place!" Ivar yelled and violently pointed at him. "The only way things will be safe is if you're not here!"
"I'm sure fighting Rashugal's entire army alone would be the easier path." Alvin shrugged. Ivar didn't reply, but he shook his fists in anger.
"We don't have time for this," Milla concluded. "If you truly wish to stay behind Ivar..."
"Yes," her handmaid's anger faded and he nodded with resolve. "I must do whatever it takes to serve you Lady Milla, and if that means sacrificing myself like this it will be a worthy cause."
Fool. "Very well, Rowen, Elize saddle up," Milla commanded the traumatized girl and the silent old man.
"No!" Elize pleaded. "We have to get what they removed from Teepo!"
"Let me worry about that," Alvin volunteered. "Now get going."
"No!" Elize shook her head and looked ready to make a dash into the city, but Rowen gripped her tightly.
"Miss Elize, we must depart," he sorrowfully told her. "We will recover whatever it is they took from Teepo, but right now it is beyond our abilities."
"No!" she screamed again, and again, but each time her struggles against the old man's grip lessened and lessened, until she was so out of strength that Rowen had to carry her on board the wyvern.
Milla followed the two of them up, keeping an eye on Alvin as they did so. The wyvern gave a cry as the weight balance shifted too much. "Ivar, don't die." Milla commanded him. "I expect this to be an order you actually follow."
Ivar took a step back in surprise. "Don't worry," he said when he composed himself. "They'll learn what it is that makes a handmaid truly special." He placed his hand on his wyvern and the creature began to rise.
"I know," Alvin spoke. "That you won't believe this, but, sorry." The traitor closed his eyes and looked away as the wyvern rose into the air, and Ivar stood waving like an idiot.
She did not want to trust either man there, but she had no choice. She bit her lip as the wyvern flew back to the quag slower than it had arrived. Everything was just getting worse.
That handmaid of Milla's kept waving long after they'd gone. He was kinda thick-headed, but hell, who was Alvin to think anyone was thick-headed after what he just managed to pull? Things were only going to get more complicated from here on out.
The traitorous mercenary looked around. The guards had been intentionally delayed by him to give a little time for fond farewells, but their reaction time was seriously slow. He could only guess the wyvern run was causing panic in other parts of the city.
After enough waving, the handmaid dropped his hands and took up a pike from the soldiers Alvin had knocked out in order to free the others. "Can you even use that?" Alvin asked the handmaid.
"Handmaid's are trained in many types of weapon," he proudly boasted. It was also a horrible lie as he fumbled with getting the thing ready. He looked around to the nearest bridge and readied his weapon in that direction. "They won't take me without a fight this time!"
"Yes they will," Alvin moved in and knocked Ivar out just like all the soldiers strewn about. The surprise attack didn't even register on the handmaid's face before he joined the others on the ground. "Jeez," Alvin grunted with annoyance as he kicked the pike away. "You really do have the worst luck don't you?" At the Laforte Research Lab, Rowen had suggested their immediate surrender when the troops began to flood into the area. Ivar had attempted to resist that, but the old man pushed his buttons about Milla and got him to disarm. He still didn't take being shackled easily, and he even resisted when Alvin was freeing them. He had a feeling things were going to get even worse for the poor kid in the future.
With a sigh and a yawn, he stretched his back. He really needed a drink. Both to forget, and to remember. Presa was gonna be waiting back at the Inn after she'd escaped from the Lab, and she would definitely need to hear what he had to say now.
The sentries eventually came running on up(though first that hilariously hypocritical speech from Nachtigal rang out) and the stress of the day let them buy into Alvin's story. One of the unconscious guards coming too helped with that as well. So it didn't take him long to be up and on his way.
Along that way, he almost ran right back into good old Jude Mathis. Down in the dumps something fierce. "Hey there, strong young man," Alvin addressed him and threw his arm around his pal. "For someone who just got called out as a hero in a city-wide announcement you sure are miserable looking."
The kid looked up at him and put on a weak smile. "I was just, coming off an argument with Nadia."
Nadia? Oh, right that girl in the red. Man, if only he knew. "Well, don't let it get you down strong young man, you're a big hero now!" Alvin waved his free hand to paint a picture of the word "hero".
"I don't feel like a hero," the kid slumped a bit more. Guess being the hero of a country that was sacrificing its citizens would get anyone with a conscious down. And the kid certainly looked like someone who felt it was true. "But at least I get to go home."
"Home huh?" Alvin said. Yeah, going home was, something anyone could relate with. "So, where you from?"
"Leronde island, out past the blockade. I've been told with everyone attacking the lab all locked up, naval trade will be opened back up." Jude explained.
Alvin chuckled. Sly bastard. "Well, good for you kid, good for you, strong young man."
"I think I prefer Jude now," the kid answered.
"Gonna have to beat me in another fight to get me to change again."
This time Jude laughed. "Thanks, I, kinda needed that."
"No problem," Alvn withdrew his arm, they were in front of the inn now, and he had his own issues now. "Well this is my stop, got a lady friend waiting for me." Alvin walked up the steps, not concerned with Jude's reply offering a backwards wave to the kid before heading inside.
That refreshing atmosphere that could only be replicated in a bar engulfed him, and the familiar woman waiting at the familiar spot took all his attention. He slid back unto his stool and ordered the usual, getting the glass set post haste.
"Hear that announcement?" she asked.
"Yeah," Alvin replied. "What a load eh?"
She ignored the second half of his answer. "If Fort Gandala has been taken by the Sharil faction they may end up winning this civil war without intervention."
"Good news huh?"
Presa laughed a little. "Things are never that easy, or clear."
Just like between the two of them. "Well without the Lance ready nothing's stopping Cline from just marching his army in and getting a resounding welcome of King Sharil." Alvin took his first sip from the glass. The alcohol burned with flavor.
"Except for the Conductor being imprisoned."
"Too bad he's free as a wyvern."
She looked at him in understanding. "So, you set them free? Why?"
"Hey this is all better for you, you know," Alvin shrugged before his next sip. "Don't have to get your hands any dirtier."
"I do what I must."
"Yeah," Alvin took a mouthful of his drink, sending it halfway finished. "It'll take a while for your sylphjays to get back right?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Alvin sighed, he really didn't want to reveal this but, it was insurance. Yeah, that's what it was, he reassured himself. "Don't you know, a little birdie's info got leaked to the army. They're gonna be on the look-out for carrier-birds heading north and big scary wyverns in the Arklund Quag."
"You..." told them. Were the words only spoken in their minds.
"And hey, guess what, the first ship is about to be let on through the blockade to scenic Leronde."
"Why are you manipulating things like this?" she honestly asked him.
"Whatever move they're planning with that ship may be some sort of ace move," Alvin explained. He didn't know one damn thing about any plans, he was just talking and rambling now. "That kid-Jude? He'll be on it. Soldiers will be flooding into town from Fort Gandala, won't be long before either of us gets recognized. I have a pardon, you don't. Think about it." Alvin took a huge swig and downed the rest of his drink.
"I don't have a pardon because you told me to take a trip in the lab sewers," Presa reminded him of why she'd abandoned them in the lab.
"Maybe, maybe," Alvn watched the ice slowly melt.
After a period of silence, she relented with a sigh. "Getting everything I've learned would work better in person."
"Yeah," Alvin absently agreed.
"If this is a trap," she sternly declared. "Don't think you'll get away with it." She lifted her fine little self off her seat and left him, all alone.
"There's a lot of things I shouldn't be getting away with," Alvin sadly noted and watched his ice.
The wyvern carrying three passengers flew in staggered flight as it hopped between set locations before crashing unto the deck of the rendezvous ship. Its three passengers were quickly inspected before the ship weighed anchor and set back to Sapstrath Seahaven. It was night now, though emerging from Fennmont's night clime made it difficult to tell at first-only the assurances of the crew finally convinced them it was.
Elize was shown to her quarters, and despite suggestions otherwise, Milla remained on deck, staring at the horizon she had abandoned Ivar in. She had to keep moving forward, no matter what circumstances surrounded her. But still, losing him, and the Four made it more difficult, even Alvin before his betrayal. She clenched her fists at the thought of the traitor. She had no choice but to regret letting him get away for now, he was too skilled to be dealt with in such a short time frame even by the four of them.
"Thinking about Alvin?" Rowen spoke from behind.
"Yes," she nodded and faced the old man. "I have been suspicious of his activities and motives ever since our first encounter, but was unable to act on them before he could move first."
"I see," Rowen stroked his beard and stepped next to her against the ship rail. "Whom do you believe Alvin works for?"
"Rashugal obviously," Milla agreed but, well that had become obvious. "But who he works for is less important than if he stands in my way or not.
"You misunderstand," Rowen cuffed his hands behind his back, "During your sojourn into Sharilton before your capture, Alvin saved Lord Cline's life from an assassin placed by Nachtigal. He among us was fiercest in attempting to retrieve you from Fort Gandala."
"Your point?"
"Alvin is working many masters from many angles," Rowen got to the point. "The actions during that Lab come from a source he has been serving for a significant amount of time. Nachtigal does not forgive disloyalty, yet Deputy Chief of Staff Gilland was willing to overlook his past transgressions so easily. But if Alvin served them so loyally, why has he not simply taken more aggressive actions when you were at your most vulnerable? He either plays his own game, or plays one longer than any other."
"This talk of games is, irrelevant," Milla shook her head. "If he comes before us as an ally, so be it. If he is an enemy, he shall receive little mercy."
Rowen sighed. "Mercy, I feel is a trait that shall soon vanish from this world." The old man gripped the rail and leaned over the edge. "Destruction of the Lance of Kresnik was of vital importance, not just for the sake of your mission but to the war effort as well. Without the Lance we could have ensnared Fennmont and slowly taken it over by diplomacy, but with his greatest trump card still available Nachtigal can still control the populace."
"Without the key the Lance is useless," Milla reminded him.
"Indeed," Rowen answered. "But the creation of a second key will continue to drive Nachtigal's plans forward. He can simply bide his time until it is created."
"So just attack," Milla suggested. "You have an army."
"Were it so simple," Rowen painfully said. "Our goal is to depose Nachtigal and destroy the Lance of Kresnik. With Fort Gandala taken we will have pushed the loyalist army into Fennmont entirely and backed them against a corner. And when a man sees no way out from an encroaching enemy, they will swing and fight and struggle with all of their might."
Something seemed off. "You had several plans for us and this attack, surely you had back-ups for the whole war?" she asked.
"I do indeed," Rowen admitted. "But they are the back-ups for a reason." The man took a deep breath as he loosened his grip on the rails and placed his hands behind his back. "As much of an irony as it is, we are attempting to wage this war to save lives. If we can enact a plan of minimal death we will do so. Being unable to destroy the Lance will just increase further casualties."
Milla nodded. The reason she had traveled only with the Four was because she had absolute control on who lived or died that way. Without them, with only humans as support, things were becoming a good deal murkier and that was only with the small handful she had acquainted herself with. Moving armies of humans would be quite a task. She felt a new-found respect for the tribulations of both Cline and Rowen, and even Nachtigal however wrong the King was. Still, her mission was clear, the Lance was still a threat. "So," she looked at Rowen, "What's your next plan?"
"I need to rendezvous with Lord Cline before I can answer that fully," the old man stroked his beard. "But for now our options seem limited and poor."
Just like hers after she lost the Four. Forced into taking Alvin's help. Time and time again.
AN: And then everything was back to the way it was before this trip. Or is it? Ooooeeeeeooooo. This chapter didn't need much editing honestly. Whether it's my current lethargy or this was an actual good draft I can't say. The Emergency Broadcast System is pure fanon creation, but if they have security cameras why not a broadcasting system? I though. Anyway, Agria continues to be so amazing to write for. Not much to be said otherwise about this chapter.
OH WAIT YES THERE IS! When I learned Rowen was a member of the Six Ruling Houses I was all like. "Ohhhhh wow so many more things make sense now!" You can even find the Scroll of Ilbert first of them all haha. Anyone else surprised by that?
Anyway on more ridiculously long-term notes I've more-or-less finalized the ending to this in my head. Still need to get their on my outlines, but at least I have a plan. A vague, nonsensical plan.