Thanks to everyone who continues to read this story, please take the extra few seconds necessary to put in your comments and reviews. They really do help. Buckbeak, thanks for the nitpick about Rachel, I fixed it for this update. About Sabin's "oversaturation," I hope I kept the focus more spread out here, let me know if I was successful. On the rest of your comments, that's for them being positive.
Everyone else, please give me your thoughts, compliments, or concerns so I can address them as well. For now, thank you, and enjoy.
When Figaro Castle rose from the desert sands, the six members of the heroic team were the first outside to escape the walls. The two days of travel had been tense, as they all tried to avoid one another to try and prevent more angry words from being spoken or aspersions from being cast.
It took less than an hour for the party to gather their weapons and supplies and start out from the castle. King Edgar had left instructions with Chancellor Paulus and the General of Figaro's army to return the castle back to the Figaro Desert. Then the group set out.
The desert to the southeast of Kohlingen was fairly small, at least compared to the Figaro Desert, and had been left unnamed since the War of the Magi. Most people of the northern continents who even knew that it existed simply called it "the western desert." Within four hours of marching, the group moved out of the sands and brown rock of the desert and into the grasslands that bordered it.
Gau and Sabin had scouted ahead, and by the time the others caught up, the two of them had already prepared a campsite with a warm fire. Sabin had the younger boy laughing at some joke as the rest of them arrived. A large animal, already unrecognizable from being thoroughly skinned was roasting over the fire, giving Locke, Edgar, Celes, and Cyan plenty of time to relax before Sabin began carving.
After another delicious meal, this time without Celes' normal biting comments at Sabin doing the cooking, they drew straws for the evening watch. Edgar and Locke drew for first watch, and settled themselves around the fire while the others fell asleep.
An hour later, Edgar broached a subject that had been bothering him for a while.
"Listen, Locke, about what I said to Celes the other day, I…"
Locke waved it off with a slight grin. "Forget about it. I know that trusting an Imperial general has got to be hard for everyone, especially you and Cyan. I just… I just wish you'd spoken to me about it first."
"That's another thing," agreed Edgar, nodding seriously, "Are you sure you're going to be okay going into Kohlingen? I mean, you haven't been there in years."
Locke swallowed hard. "Is this what you said to Celes?" he asked quietly.
"I just said it was complicated," replied the Figaran king, "You asked me never to tell anyone about Rachel. I just send the funds to Kohlingen, after that, well, only you know what happens to that money."
Locke was silent for a long time, staring into the fire. "You ever regret being friends with me?" he wanted to know.
Edgar's reply was a chuckle. "Every day of my life. Especially when we were younger and getting underfoot. I can't remember how many times Matron switched me after you and your dad would leave. Heh, she always did like Sabin best."
"What if I got you…"
"Don't say it, don't think it!" interrupted Edgar with a snarl, "What happened to Rachel was not your fault and if you keep going like this I swear by the Ancients I'll have Matron switch you! And don't think she'd be afraid of it either. When she threatens me like that, I still believe her."
Locke finally lifted his eyes from the fire and met his friend's steady, sky-blue gaze. They had been the best of friends since they were kids, and age hadn't dulled that relationship. There were few people Locke truly counted as a friend, but he was glad that Edgar was among them.
"Thanks Ed," he said quietly, "Ancients know I needed a bit of a reality check. I can't guarantee how I'll be once we get inside the town, but I'll do my best."
"That's all I can I ask of you, thief," replied Edgar, grinning.
"Treasure hunter, always a bloody treasure hunter."
The rest of the night passed uneventfully, and an hour after dawn the group was already on their way. With Sabin and Gau scouting ahead most of the time, the journey was mostly silent, but quick-moving. By the time the sun was fully above the treetops, they had already reached Kohlingen.
The largest town west of the Beldeth Mountains and north of Jidoor, Kohlingen still managed to maintain that casual, laid-back atmosphere so often found in smaller towns and villages. The streets were wide and clean, with flower and vegetable gardens outside nearly every home. Even many of the stores that they passed had flower beds with bright multitudes of colors. Closer to the center of town, a gurgling creek neatly divided the town, with several small, quaint bridges across it. Children were playing and splashing each other in the knee-deep water.
"So this doth be Kohlingen?" commented Cyan with an approving nod, "Peaceful, I feel."
A good place to raise a child, he thought, his eyes suddenly moist as the pain of his son's death stabbed his heart. Will the pain never cease? Will I never be free of the heartbreak?
"How you doing, Locke?" asked Edgar, turning to his old friend. But he looked around in shock. "Locke?"
The young treasure hunter was suddenly nowhere to be seen!
"Locke!" cried Celes is surprise and concern, "Bloody Ancients! Where is he?"
Edgar nodded knowingly. "I think I know where he is. Brother, you, Cyan, and Gau should try to find information on Terra. Celes and I will go back and gather Locke."
"Meet here at the creek in an hour," ordered Sabin. He understood that there was something going on that wasn't being shared with the rest of them, but he wouldn't pry. When Locke was ready to tell them, he would. He watched his older brother and Celes disappear back into the crowds, then turned to his other friends.
"We should split up," he suggested, "Cyan, take Gau with you. I'll check the cafés and the inns. Between our three groups, someone should find out something."
"I agree with thee, Sir Sabin," said the knight, "Come Sir Gau, let us explore."
With his shoulders square and chin high, Cyan led the younger boy into the crowds, while Sabin turned in a different direction.
In spite of his approval for the loveliness of the town, it all seemed too whimsical for Cyan. He missed the solid stone ramparts of Doma Castle, the sturdy stone and brick homes of the city. When he looked around, Cyan could almost imagine a gust of wind blowing over several homes.
Very pretty, yet impractical, his strategic mind assessed. It was a lucky thing Kohlingen was militarily insignificant. Cyan doubted he would need more than twenty knights to take the town if he had to. But then he remembered with melancholy that there were no more Doman knights. No more of the men that he had trained to be loyal to King Gareth. No one else who would join him in his kingdom's battle cry, "Doma eterna."
"Waroo! Waroo! Gau like pretty flowers!" said the boy excitedly, "Think Miss Terra like flowers when we see her?"
"I am certain that Lady Terra would love flowers, Sir Gau," replied Cyan with a gentle smile, "But first, we must find our friend. That, Sir Gau, doest be far more challenging."
"Oh."
Gau's mood seemed to dwindle a bit as he realized just how difficult their search might be.
With his eyes downcast, Gau missed the girl who was running around with her arms out. Going too fast to stop, the girl crashed headlong into him.
"Waroo!" he cried in alarm.
Cyan stared down at the scene in amusement, as the little girl crawled off of Gau, her apologies forming one long sentence.
"Raena!" cried a voice, one that was soon followed by a woman about Edgar's age. She was clearly the girl's mother, the shared the same facial features. "I thought I told you to stop running around like that!"
Cyan smirked. She scolded like a mother, too.
"But Mommy, I was playing ghost-lady," whined the girl.
"Milady, please! A moment!" he cried, then knelt down next to the girl, "What do you mean, a 'ghost-lady'?"
The little girl, Raena, looked confused, as though everybody knew about it. "A ghost came here a few days ago. She was all pretty, pink skin and glowing eyes. Like crystals that I see on rich people! Her hair was so pretty, it kept moving up and down and side to side, even when there wasn't any wind! Everyone else was frightened," she said this part with a bit of smug pride, "but I wasn't! She was so pretty, I knew she wouldn't hurt me."
Cyan turned to the girl's mother. "Fair maiden, didst thou see this ghost as well?"
"Did I!" asked the woman incredulously, "Half the flaming town saw that creature! We thought the War of Magi had come again. Then as quickly as this thing arrived, it took off."
"What direction? Where was thee heading?" he asked desperately.
"South," replied the woman, "towards Jidoor."
With one last glance between Cyan and Gau, the woman dragged her daughter away from the two of them.
"Where be Jidoor, Cyan?" asked the boy.
Cyan shook his head uncertainly. "I do not know for certain, Sir Gau. I know it doth be one of the wealthiest cities of the world. I am certain that our friends shalt know of where thou city is. Come, we shalt find them."
Gau followed along happily, jumping and skipping as he went. They knew how to follow Miss Terra. Gau couldn't wait to tell Mr. Thou!
Sabin had gone through two cafes, one bar, and a nearly empty inn, gathering bits and pieces of the story about Terra's arrival in Kohlingen. Few men were willing to speak about her, which Sabin found odd. The people of this town had never been a suspicious folk before, not in the three or four visits he'd made with Master Duncan, at least.
He passed through the halls of one inn, looking for anyone that would help him with further information. Apparently, Terra's appearance had convinced the small Town Council, what little there was, that a new War of the Magi was upon them. Sabin shook his head ruefully. If there was a new Great War, half the planet would be gone by now.
As he passed by one of the rooms, Sabin heard something from other side of the door. Pausing to listen closer, he could hear the moans of someone in pain. Thinking there might be something he could do, Sabin pushed open the door.
"Hello?" he said cautiously.
A sound halfway between a growl and a roar erupted from the far side of the bed, and the man who lay there suddenly sprang into action, his arm snapping like a whip.
Sabin barely heard the cry of "Baram!" But with speed born from his training, Sabin slid back behind the door, and felt three distinct impacts into the door. The razor-sharp point of some instrument poked through the nearly four inches of solid oak wood. He knew instantly who it was. Only one other person alive besides himself could move with that kind of viperish speed.
"You keep that up and your talent for hospitality will be come legendary, Kojiro," he called through the door, "If you wanted me to leave you could have just said so."
"Come in, Ironhand."
Sabin slowly pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Interceptor was at the foot of the bed, on his feet and wary. Shadow sat on the edge of the bed, facing away. His facemask and cowl had been donned quickly, but his chest and back were bare. Sabin took a moment to examine the scars on the ninja's back. One of them, made by a sword blade no doubt, looked to have been about an inch from severing his heart. Shadow was a fortunate man.
Spying a pitcher of water on the table, Sabin poured a glass and brought it over to the bed. Interceptor began growling menacingly.
"It's all right, Interceptor," said Shadow, "Sabin is a friend."
The massive dog instantly became more at ease and laid on the floor restfully, though it kept its eyes on the martial arts master. The ninja took the proffered water from Sabin and turned away to take a long swallow.
"I didn't think you allowed yourself the luxury of friends, Kojiro," commented Sabin.
Interceptor lifted his head with a questioning growl.
"Except you, Interceptor," Sabin quickly said to the dog, which promptly lowered its head, making a contented sound.
Burn me but that bloody dog's smart.
"I don't, Ironhand," came the ninja's easy reply, "but to Interceptor, there are only current allies, such as you are now, and potential enemies."
"That would be everybody else, wouldn't it?" said the martial arts master with a grin, his ocean blue eyes sparkling with humor.
"Indeed it would be," agreed Shadow as he slipped a black shirt over his head and began tightening his belt. "I presume you finally made your way back to Narshe?"
"We did, Cyan and I both," explained Sabin, "We had to take a small detour around Mobliz where we found a youth named Gau. He came with us to Narshe. We fought against Kefka once again. He was leading an Imperial force to capture the Esper that was found in the mines."
Shadow nodded slowly, his gray eyes totally unreadable. "I had heard rumors of the sort. I didn't think it was possible for a creature of power to be found by those northern peasants."
"They're good people," said Sabin, bristling slightly in defense of Narshe, "Unfortunately, something happened to one of our number. Terra, the woman I told you about. She changed into… something."
"A creature of pale skin and crystal eyes?" suggested Shadow, "With hair that seemed to move even when there's no wind?"
"You saw her!" cried Sabin, "Where? When?"
Shadow continued to calmly don his weapons. Though Sabin had been watching closely, he hadn't seen the ninja store away any of his shuriken. He grinned, knowing that he'd probably missed it. Shadow was too bloody stealthy for his own good.
"She came through Kohlingen less than a week ago," explained Shadow as he fitted his blades across his back and against his right thigh, "Burn me, but for a few minutes I thought these villagers were right, and a new War of the Magi was upon us. Your lady friend nearly scorched the ground where she landed."
"We have to find her, Shadow," insisted Sabin, "She may be the key to winning this war against Gestahl's Empire. We have her on our side, and also a girl, Celes, she was one of the Empire's generals."
Shadow turned his unreadable gray eyes on Sabin. "Do you truly believe that your small group can overthrow an Empire as powerful as Gestahl's? He turned Vector into the world's greatest fortress, he repelled the Urthmen, destroyed Doma, and seems to have Figaro on the run."
Sabin nodded his understanding. Those were some of the same doubts that had been plaguing him since first joining Terra and his brother in the Sabil Mountains.
"You don't think having two people capable of wielding magic will be enough, do you?" he asked.
The ninja laughed, but there was no humor or amusement in his voice when he spoke. "What do you think Terra's true memories are? Do you think she might be a willing ally of Gestahl's if her memories return? And how do you know that Celes is genuinely on your side?"
"I trust her," replied Sabin confidently, "I'll trust them both with my life."
Sabin couldn't explain how he knew that. He couldn't possibly explain why. But his training in the mysteries of the lifestream had given him ways to look at people, new ways to believe he could trust or not trust someone. When he was Terra, he had felt only the best intentions, a desire to what was right. Celes was cold to everyone, as though she had ice in her veins, but he had sensed beneath that frosty exterior was a wellspring of warm emotions that were straining for release.
"So, let's assume, for the moment, that both women are genuine," suggested Shadow, "Having both of them on the side of the Returners is pure luck. It will take more than that to defeat Gestahl."
"I prefer to think that luck has little to do with anything," retorted Sabin, "I like to think we make our own choices in this world. We decide our own fate, our own futures."
Shadow laughed again, this time there was genuine, if cold, amusement in his words. "Faith leads to your own doom, Ironhand. If you continue to rely on such faith, we'll never get anywhere, will we?"
"We?" repeated Sabin with a grin, "Does this mean you'll be joining us then?"
Shadow turned to the martial artist with a raised eyebrow. Silently he finished readying his gear.
"I might be persuaded to help you," he said slowly, "but I don't do it for free, you understand."
Sabin grinned. This was the Shadow he'd come to think of as a friend. "Of course, we all have expenses."
"Mine are a bit greater than most. You see Interceptor has to eat as well."
"Well we can't allow such a noble creature to starve, now can we?"
"Not at all," agreed Shadow, "But I wouldn't want more than is needed to keep Interceptor fed."
"That would just be greedy."
"So I think, that, oh 3000 gold crowns should suffice for my services."
"Such a small sum," said Sabin smirking, he could just imagine Edgar's face when he learned of this deal, his brother always had been tight-fisted with his money, "I was afraid you would try to extort money from me."
As Shadow walked up to him he spoke quietly. "Why extort when you'll give me the money anyway."
The ninja continued out the door, followed immediately by Interceptor. Sabin could almost imagine the dog was amused by the exchange. Laughing heartily, the martial artist followed them out the door.
Edgar was going to kill him for sure.
Celes followed the Figaran king through the town, hoping that Locke was in no danger. Edgar didn't seem worried about him, but the king was concerned. He led the two of them over to the western side of the town, where the homes had become slightly smaller, but still just as lovely with their flower and herb gardens.
Finally, Edgar brought them to a stop in front of a burned-out wreck of a home that looked like it had been abandoned for a decade. What parts of the wooden front that weren't burned were rotting, the front door and shutters on the windows were hanging half off their hinges.
Carefully, he began to climb the front porch steps and slid into the house. Celes drew her sword and followed him in.
The inside also looked like a fire had gone through it, and their footsteps kicked up dust and ash.
"Locke!" called Edgar, "Locke are you here!"
Celes' pale eyes swept back and forth, alert for any kind movement. Finally, she could contain her curiosity no longer.
"Tell me where we are, Edgar," she ordered, but her voice was tight and breathless, not at all how she'd intended to speak to him.
"This was Rachel's house," he replied quietly.
She managed to bite back her next question, which was, who was Rachel? But the low tone of his voice, the sadness that seemed to be hidden away, made her hesitate. Celes felt her throat tighten.
"Who was she?" she asked quietly, "Why would Locke be here?"
Edgar eyed her with a look she hadn't seen on him before. It was a regretful look, like he was about to do something he didn't want to, but knew he had to. Finally, he sighed.
"Remember what I told you about becoming attached to Locke?" he asked.
Celes nodded gruffly. "You said he had a complicated past."
"Rachel… is the complication," said Edgar.
It didn't make any sense to Celes. Edgar had said this was Rachel's house. So she was gone, and judging from the state of the house, was probably dead as well. And as much as she felt her insides tighten whenever she thought of the treasure hunter, if the girl was dead, then how could she continue to affect his life?
"Locke is going to kill me," said Edgar quietly, "If he's not here, then there's only one other place he'd go to. Someplace that he doesn't think I know about. Celes… I think you deserve to know the truth about those complications I mentioned. Ancients burn me. Follow me."
Edgar strode purposefully out of the house and instantly began to head north. Ten minutes later, he led Celes to another house. This one looked to be in fairly good repair, except that the gardens around it looked untended, filled with weeds while the flowers looked well on their way to the graveyard.
"Edgar," said Celes nervously, "where are we? What is this place?"
The king sighed. "This is Locke's house."
Celes gasped, but Edgar was already walking up the stairs to the door. Before he could knock however, the door suddenly opened. An old man in tattered green and brown robes stood on the other side, wisps of gray hair sticking out at every possible angle. Celes wrinkled her nose as she caught some unpleasant odor, like all the wrong herbs being mixed together.
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Edgar graciously, "I came here looking for my friend, Locke. Has he come here?"
The old man looked at the two of them strangely for a moment, especially Edgar.
"You have the sound of Figaro, on your tongue, boy," said the old man in a scratchy voice, "Just like them messengers that come every month with Locke's payment."
"The money comes to you!" said Edgar in shock.
"Well of course it does!" the old man shot back, "Locke's little project downstairs doesn't come cheap! Or easy. But I've managed to make it work for the last eight years, and as long as the money keeps flowing… I'll keep working."
"We have to speak to Locke," insisted Celes.
The old man shrugged. "It's his secret. He wants to keep it. Let him. I got work to do."
Without another word, the old man pushed his way past the two younger heroes and into the streets. Edgar and Celes both looked at each other, took a deep breath, and went in.
The house was rather ordinary, with very few comforts or signs that Locke had ever lived here. There was a thin layer of dust on the furniture and tables, as though he hadn't gotten around to cleaning the place in months. Off to the left of the main hallway, a door was half open, leading down into a basement.
As they descended the stairs, Celes' eyes widened in amazement. She'd caught the smell of fresh flowers! Roses, unless she was mistaken.
Locke was standing over the bed in the center of the room. There were bouquets of flowers strewn about, and more than enough oil lamps to give the room a bright glow. Laying on the bed was a girl who couldn't be much older than Celes herself. The girl had pale skin, with hair so black that when the light shone on it the right way it seemed violet. Celes could almost imagine the girl was sleeping peacefully from the slight smile on her features.
"Locke…" whispered Celes.
The treasure hunter spun around with terrific speed, drawing his knife as he did so. Celes stared at him in shock and anger, and as soon as Locke realized who it was, he put away his knife. Unfortunately his look of surprise turned to anger.
"Why'd you bring her here, Edgar?" he demanded, "Burn you, why'd you follow me!"
"You disappeared on us," Edgar shot back, "We were worried about you."
"Oh, is that right?" sneered Locke, "You want to show Celes what a wreck I am? Want to make sure you can get her to yourself?"
"Locke!" roared Celes.
"She deserves to know the truth!" yelled Edgar, pushing Celes' objection to the side, "Burn you, but so do I! I see a nearly empty house and a dead girl who I presume to be Rachel, and find out that this is what my money has been going towards. I want to know what's going on Locke. We both deserve to know. We're your friends, Locke. Don't shoulder whatever burden you have alone."
"I failed her," said Locke, his voice breaking as he turned back to the bed, staring longingly at the girl's face, "Rachel and I were partners in treasure hunting. I'd always drag her around on the wildest chases. We fell in love, we were going to be married."
Celes went very still at that, but said nothing as Locke continued.
"We went into some caves not far from here," he explained, "There was an accident, and she saved my life. She lost her memory, completely. Total amnesia, didn't remember a thing. Didn't even remember me. Her father… well, he hated me from the day he met me. This was the excuse of a lifetime for him to get me out of Rachel's life. Wouldn't even let me tell her we going to be married. I left Kohlingen, that's when I first began to work with the Returners, even before I became really active."
Locke paused in his monologue, obviously trying to summon up the strength to go on. Celes felt so terrible, but she wondered why. She didn't care about this girl, as far as she was concerned Rachel was dead. So why did Locke's tears make her throat constrict and her heart beat strangely?
"While I was gone, I learned that the Empire had send a few patrols into the region, trying to get a foothold in the Beldeth Mountains. Some people here in Kohlingen protested the Empire using their town for a base, not wanting to have anything to do with Gestahl or the Empire. The commander, he… he ordered his men to raid the town and burn a few homes. Rachel was killed in the raid. I found out later that… that her memory came back, just before she died. A friend told me, that the last thing she said was my name, and that she loved me."
Locke was silent for several moments, his shoulders shaking slightly as he cried. Celes had to restrain herself from going over and comforting him. She wanted to, but her training and discipline had been too deeply ingrained. Comforting him would have acknowledged his weakness, and she didn't want to see Locke as weak.
Although Edgar was also affected by Locke's tale, he wasn't finished. He knew that Rachel had died in the attack, but Locke had never told him how she'd regained her memory. That still didn't explain what she was doing laying on the bed, looking as if she might awaken from a nap at any moment.
"So why does Rachel look like she's still alive?" he asked quietly.
Locke steadied himself before speaking again. "Once I learned what happened, I instantly went in search of an old healer. The guy you must have seen on your way in. There'd always been rumors and tales about him going around Kohlingen. A mad herbalist they said, who claimed he could prevent people from dying. He was my only chance to save her. I found him and convinced him to keep Rachel alive for a very large sum."
"That's what my money goes to every month," surmised Edgar, "his payment and cost of whatever it is he's using."
"You mean, you mean that old man, he kept her alive?" gasped Celes, "How?"
Locke shook his head. "I don't know how he does it. But he's said that as long as he keeps using his herbal infusions and whatever magic he may or may not have, Rachel will sleep like this forever. Now that I know magic is real, there might be a way to bring her back. I have to try… I have to find out for certain."
Edgar nodded his understanding. If he'd had a way to save either of his parents, he doubtlessly would have done exactly the same as Locke. With a look of sympathy he walked up to his oldest friend and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, old friend," he said quietly, "there's nothing more to be done here. Let's go find Terra."
Locke nodded, drying his eyes with his sleeve. Slowly, mechanically, he allowed Edgar to lead him to the stairs.
Edgar turned to see Celes still standing in the basement, staring at Rachel's body. "Hey Celes, are you coming or not?"
"I'll be right with you," she replied without turning around.
Celes waited as she heard Edgar and Locke make it up the stairs and go outside. Slowly, she approached Rachel's body. She was a pretty girl, Celes admitted, in a simple, country-girl sort of way.
Edgar said it was complicated, the thought, then gave an unlady-like snort, Complicated? This puts complicated about ten feet below the surface! Edgar made it sound like some cruel joke back in Narshe!
As she looked at Rachel, she remembered little comments Locke had made when they'd met and been on their journey together to Narshe. "I won't leave you behind," he'd said. Celes realized he thought that he'd left Rachel behind.
Locke… did you help me only to make up for past mistakes? she wondered, Don't I…
Celes couldn't make herself finish the thought. The cold emptiness in her heart had begun to melt when she was around Locke, but now she let it return full-strength. If she was nothing but a reason to make up for his past, then so be it. She wouldn't let her heart soften again.
But as she climbed the stairs, Celes wondered why that thought saddened her.
Cyan and Gau had returned to the bridge by the creek much earlier. Cyan had looked on as the boy had joined the other children in splashing each other. Gau was laughing just as hard as the others as they got each other soaked in the creek's clean waters.
The older knight watched with a sense of amused contentment. Gau was a good young boy, one he was sure would grow up into a good man.
Owain would have liked him, thought Cyan, then instantly regretted it as he felt his heart clench.
He turned away from the happy scene and spotted Edgar, Celes, and Locke making their way over. He could see that Locke's eyes were red and bleary, and there was a certain stiffness in the gait of all three of them. Cyan couldn't help but wonder what had gone on in their absence.
"Sir Gau, our friends hath arrived," he called down to the boy.
"Waroo! Gau come!" cried the boy, who suddenly leapt out of the creek and scampered up the embankment, shaking off the excess water just as the other three arrived.
"King Edgar, we hath found that Lady Terra doest be making her way south, towards Jidoor," explained Cyan.
Edgar nodded thoughtfully. "Jidoor, huh? That might be a week's journey on foot. Maybe more."
"We have to find her," insisted Locke, "We have to help her with her memory."
The Figaran turn turned to his friend with a look of exasperation. "I didn't say we wouldn't go! I was just commenting that it will be a bit long of a journey. Now, where's my brother?"
"Right here," said a new voice.
Edgar smiled at his brother, then his look dropped to astonishment at the creature who stood behind him.
"Bloody Ancients!" he cried.
"Shadow!" yelled Locke, who hurled his knife at the black-clad fiend without hesitation.
Sabin's hand moved to catch the weapon, but Shadow was slightly faster.
"Burn you, Kojiro, I had that!" insisted Sabin.
"This will simply have to be a lesson for you to move faster, Ironhand," said Shadow smugly, "Two points to me."
"Two?" repeated Sabin, "No way, I would have had that. One point."
"Take the two points, and Interceptor eats a third less than you'd planned," said Sabin with a smug grin, then quickly looked down at the black dog, who was looking at him, "No offense, Interceptor, but you'll eat well, and Shadow can't afford for you to get fat and lazy. You need to stay in trim fighting form."
Shadow's gray eyes darted between Sabin, Interceptor, and the knife in his hands. Once they flicked over to the others who were watching in confusion. Finally, he thrust the knife back towards Locke, who took the weapon back carefully.
"Two points, and a third less," agreed Shadow.
Sabin seemed disappointed. "Why did I know you'd choose that?"
"Sabin," breathed Edgar, "do you know who this is?"
The martial arts master seemed somewhat confused by the hesitation and fear in everyone. "Of course, this is Shadow, last surviving member of the Kojiro clan and assassin supreme. He's agreed to help us for 2000 gold crowns."
"What!" cried Edgar.
"Sir Shadow," greeted Cyan, "it is good to see that art doing well since our parting."
Celes carefully eyed the assassin that she had heard so much about while a member of the Empire. It was rumored that Gestahl had hired the ninja twice. His gray eyes were cold and hard, the only part of his face that she could see. Looking down at the gigantic dog at his side, the creature stared back at her and growled menacingly.
"Sabin," said Locke, "Cyan and Gau found out that Terra was last seen heading south, towards Jidoor."
The martial artists nodded thoughtfully. "Jidoor. That's about a week's journey on foot if we keep close to the Beldeth Mountains. I know a few paths that should be easy enough for the rest of you. We can probably make it in under a week."
"My gold, Ironhand?" Shadow reminded him.
Sabin grinned. "I leave money to my brother. After all, he's the rich king."
Edgar grumbled at his brother's retreating back. It just wasn't bloody fair!
The seven of them made good time on their journey south from Kohlingen. This despite the unusually warm, early summer sun that would beat down on them for hours at a time. Locke, Celes, and Cyan had it the worst in their heavier armor and being unused to such heat. Even Edgar, whose castle lay in the middle of the Figaro Desert, was used to the castle's mechanized cooling systems. Gau was used to the heat of the Veldt, but the much more humid air had him panting. Only Sabin and Shadow seemed unaffected by the heat.
Sabin, Shadow, and Gau would often spend hours away from the others as they scouted ahead. With Sabin and Gau's superior wilderness skills, they were able to forge a path that avoided detrimental obstacles and even the majority of the monsters in the area. Sabin knew where the worst of them were as they skirted the western edge of the Beldeth Mountains.
Edgar and Locke spent much of their time reminiscing about their youth, when Locke was an uncommon but welcome visitor to Figaro Castle with his father. Frank Cole had provided King Andris with some service in the days before the Urthmen Wars that made him forever welcome. Their talks and laughter at the antics of their younger days pulled Locke out of the melancholy that had afflicted him in Kohlingen.
Unfortunately, Cyan's distrust of Celes lay bare on the surface. He constantly watched the young former general, ready for any sign of treachery. Celes, for her part, felt the Doman knight's glares and suspicions, but did her best to ignore it. On occasion, she would walk with Locke, asking more about his past, or listening to his and Edgar's tales. Once she even requested to go scouting with Sabin, just to escape those eyes, at least temporarily.
At night, no one asked for Shadow to take watch at all. Aside from Sabin, the rest were uncomfortable around the secretive ninja. Even Cyan, once he had heard several of the stories about Shadow, began to lose some of the trust he had given since meeting the ninja outside Doma. Thus, Sabin and Shadow always to their night watches together, continuing to share tales of their training and sharing some of their lessons with each other.
Thus their journey remained a rather quiet one as they finally approached the rising city of Jidoor five days later.
"Where we go?" asked Gau as they reached the city limits. Before them was a dirty, squalid shanty-town, where the inhabitants scurried from one shadow to another, and beady eyes watched everything around them.
"This be Jidoor, Sir Gau," answered Cyan, "many doth said it be one of the wealthiest cities of our world."
Celes raised an eyebrow in amusement as she looked down her nose at a trio of youths who scampered out of her way. "Perhaps the city has fallen on bad times, recently," she suggested mockingly.
"We're only in the slums," answered Shadow quietly, "the higher one goes up this hill, the richer the people. When the ground begins to rise there will be an abrupt change. You'll know it when you see it."
Sabin nodded in understanding. He'd been to Jidoor with Master Duncan before, he knew the peculiarities of its inhabitants.
They all kept a hand on their weapons as they watched the bustling streets and the much darker alleys around them. On the main street going towards the center of the city things were slightly better, as merchant caravans traversed the road alongside the rogues of the slums.
Before long, they found themselves passing a high wall, the gateway over the street was heavily guarded. The soldiers wore gleaming plate armor, with polished shields and immaculate banners hanging from their spears.
"They've got a thing for being clean, don't they?" commented Locke.
"It separates Jidoor from the slums, thief," replied Shadow a bit snidely. He spoke quickly, cutting off anything Locke might have said. "Jidoor is a city of extremes. There are the rich and then there are the poor. There is no middle ground. Nor do Jidoorans believe in charity. If a man was meant to have money, he would have the means to earn it. On the other hand, Jidoorans do love to spend money in frivolous ways. The more money one spends, the more they must have available to spend. It is a dangerous cycle they are in. One misstep and a family can end up in the slums."
"You have to understand, Locke," added Sabin, "the people of Jidoor have such a preoccupation with prestige and status that locals call the slums 'Jadar,' because they don't want the city's name of Jidoor to be sullied by the squalor we just came through."
"Bloody idiots," muttered the rogue.
Edgar kept silent, but he agreed with Locke. His father had begun programs to help the poor of Figaro and Edgar himself had expanded on them. Now he could proudly say that Figaro had virtually no slums or poor. Everyone lived with a roof over their head and food on the table.
Everyone looked around as the guards let them pass the gate, after a generous bribe, perhaps to prove they had money. The city had been built to accommodate some of the world's wealthiest merchants and finest artisans, so now in the city proper, it resulted in a virtual metropolis of beautiful and exotic architecture, wide avenues, and small parks that were often situated around a beautiful flowing fountain of water.
Shadow had been right. As they ascended the gentle hill, they found the homes became grander and more opulent. Some were surrounded by small parks, virtually country manors with the amount of space they occupied. The number of people on foot diminished and more were being carried in palanquins, some open and some with gauzy curtains drawn closed.
They kept walking until the road split in two directions, with perhaps the most beautiful fountain they'd seen yet cascading in the center of the intersection. One road went higher up the hill to the right, where even grander manors were visible, the other road veered off to the left revealing more modest homes. Modest by Jidooran standards, at least.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Locke.
As they stood about, looking around uncertainly, a woman in an expensive, gem-studded gown came over to them. The dress hung off her shoulders, the fringes were heavily embroidered in gold thread, and the v-necked front was cut so low that a great deal of her breasts could be seen. Jidooran women were not renowned for their modesty. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
As she approached, Cyan felt himself going red and quickly turned away from her.
"Welcome to Jidoor, noble traders," she greeted, "On behalf of Lord Owzer, I would like to invite you to the Opera House for the performance of a lifetime. I'm certain you were looking forward to actually meeting the wondrous Maria, but I must apologize. She has been unwell recently and has had difficulty traveling. But we have received assurances that she will be performing at the Opera House."
The rest of them looked back and forth at each other. Locke and Edgar had heard of the singer Maria. She was said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world with a wondrous voice that could enchant monsters.
Locke began to stumble over his tongue, unable to keep his eyes from wandering, but Edgar quickly stepped in, flashing the woman a winning smile. The woman swallowed hard as she blushed.
"Please forgive my friends. They are eager to see Maria, but I think my eyes have found another exquisite beauty," he said smoothly, causing the woman's blush to deepen, "but we are also on the search for a friend of ours. We had heard she had come south, perhaps you saw her? She would have looked strange, with crystalline eyes, her body hidden by a glow of pinkish light – "
"You know about that thing!" gasped the woman as she nearly dropped her handbag, "Are you from Kohlingen?"
"We hath indeed come from there, fair maiden," answered Cyan, "Have thou seen our friend?"
"All of Jidoor saw it!" said the woman quickly, "It shot across the sky like shooting star, trailing a beam of light behind it. We thought the bloody sky was beginning to fall. It looked like the bloody thing had come from Kohlingen, but when a messenger returned from there he informed us that their whole little town had come to a stop when it appeared. But you say it was a young woman? Well, whatever she, or it was, it's not here anymore. It took off towards Zozo."
Only Celes, who had turned away from the jabbering woman, noticed Sabin's face go tight and his sharp intake of breath. The massive warrior had shown fear at nothing since she'd met him. Why could the mention of Zozo take his breath away?
"Then Zozo is where we'll go," declared Locke firmly.
"Are you bloody lunatics!" cried the woman.
Very quickly a tall, broad-shouldered man came up behind the woman and put a protective arm around her, glaring at the group until he saw Sabin. Then his eyes dropped for a fraction of a moment.
"Honey, all you all right? What got you so excited? Are these people bothering you?" he asked.
"These people say they're going to go off to Zozo to search for that creature we saw the other night," she explained.
"You must all be bloody fools," said the man, "Zozo is a town of thieves and rogues, not a place for decent people."
"We have to go," insisted Sabin, his voice tight.
The man sighed and then shrugged. "Well, you fools may just be in luck. I happen to run a chocobo stable on the southern slopes. They'll outrun just about anything that can threaten you within the Beldeth Mountains. I'll be willing to rent them out to you, but I've trained them to return home if anyone tries to take them into Zozo. Just a little safety measure against those brigands."
"How much?" asked Locke, eager to get going.
"For all seven of you?" wondered the man, "Call it 1500 gold. That should cover all the expenses."
"Burn you, thief," muttered Edgar.
"Treasure hunter, Ed," growled Locke.
"Not you," sighed the Figaran king, "him."
Locke suddenly realized what Edgar had meant, but he wisely decided to keep his mouth shut. As the wealthiest member of their group, they had silently agreed to let Edgar handle their money. He began grumbling as the man led them towards his stables, and he didn't stop even after he had passed over the right amount of gold.
Celes tried to mount one of the chocobos, but the avian creature seemed very skittish, pounding its feet into the ground and scampering a few feet away whenever the blond woman approached.
"Burn you, you stupid animal," she growled, "get over here."
In the stall next to her, Sabin shook his head. He swung around, walking past a red-faced Celes. He gently but firmly grabbed the reins and pulled the chocobo's head down towards him.
"Quiet. Quiet, shh," he whispered, staring deeply into the giant bird's eyes. After only a few moments, it was completely docile. Sabin turned to Celes and gave her a small grin. "She should be all right now."
Sabin held the bird while Celes got into the saddle. Then she looked down at the warrior.
"Are you all right, Sabin?" she asked.
He smiled weakly. If Celes didn't know better, she'd think he looked sick.
"I'm fine," answered Sabin, "Get going or we'll fall behind."
Without another word he turned back into his own stall and mounted up.
"Ancients I beg you," he whispered, "please say that Master Duncan was wrong for once. Hear me, I beg you."
His eyes grew hard, and then he hurried to catch up with the others.