Chapter 21

The Light in Darkness

After getting much clapping on the back and grateful handshakes from his guild members Samaroh finally managed to separate himself from his sister and retire for the night. Valkron grinned at this behaviour. There was more than met the eye with the priest, after all.

The news of the guild's success with Merseitzdeitz had spread even faster than it had with Repherion. The next day Valkron had to see to a crowd of approximately two hundred eager mercenaries. Eventually he ended up taking in only twenty, because he had reached the limit.

"Don't worry, come back here when we've got a lot more powerful," he called out to the departing remainder of the party.

"I'm getting somewhat worried," said Iruna, watching as their new members entered Repherion. "People are coming here to join our guild, but how many are doing it for the sake of sincerity?"

"If you haven't heard, Iruna, I kicked out four last night for abandoning us during the guild war," said the knight. "I know the twenty new recruits because we were hired together once, for some kind of military mission in Morroc. But everyone comes in as a probationary member; if they can't prove themselves after two WoE sessions, they're out. If they joined the Raulus for the sake of having a guild so's they can show off, they're out. I'm not having that kind of tripe in my guild."

After a few minutes Iruna said, "You've thought this out well."

"Not so well, yet," confessed Valkron. "I'm more concerned with who's coming into the council, apart from Aramithar, Kushana, Nalini and Kala."

"Those two are so inseparable you just had to include them in, did you?"

"They're skilled warriors, that's why. They proved themselves right in front of me, remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

There was a short silence. Then:

"What happened when you expelled them?"

"Oh, the usual. The pleading, the anger, the begging, yada yada yada...I didn't listen to them, though."

"That's not very nice."

"They left us at the mercy of the Guardians! Who's worse, me or them?"

"Fine, fine."

Valkron sat down. "Either way I still have nothing to do at the Chivalry. It's not that I want to go, but I have a job to do."

"And why don't you want to go, Valkron?" asked Iruna.

"Hm? Because I don't want to see people like Inigo or Kuroihi. I'm sure they're baring their teeth at me by now, but I don't give a damn." Valkron shook his head. "What would I give to have people behave like Enriel."

"If the world was the same it would be dull," said Iruna quietly.

The knight stared at her for a few minutes before sighing and turning away. "You're not exactly helping much, Iruna. See you later."

The crusader watched him go in surprise.

Valkron did return to the Chivalry later on, although he did almost nothing there. There was no work for him - only a few reports from the knights under him. He read them and then signed them off before pushing them aside.

After a while he realised he had been staring at the marble ceiling above him. He had all his armour off, wearing just his brown shirt and trousers. There was no need for them today.

But what was he to do? Valkron hated lazing around. It was a favourite pastime for most of the young knights - so well-loved that it would have been their job if there was such a position in the Chivalry. But he didn't like sitting around doing nothing. It brought back bad memories, for a start.

He looked around the room. No, there wasn't anything he had left unfinished. Valkron, by far, was a very organized man and liked to keep his office tidy. The only thing that wasn't tidy was his desk, but that wasn't surprising. In terms of Chivalry tidiness his was probably the cleanest.

The knight shook his head vigorously. He was getting old; such trivial things at this time were easily distracting him. He had to look for something to do.

Valkron looked around the room again, and this time his eyes fell on a box on the shelf nearby. It wasn't very large - if he had sandwiched it between the books on the same shelf no one would have been able to tell the difference.

He got up from his seat and went over to it. He was wearing no gloves; as he picked up the box he could feel the coolness of its smooth leather covering. There was a small clasp on one side of the box.

Valkron stared at its unmarked surface for a very long time. Then, very quietly, he went back to his desk with it and opened it. Drawing out a piece of fresh parchment from it, he laid it down on the table and picked up his quill. As he dipped it into the inkwell on his desk and got rid of the excess ink, he stared at the parchment.

Everything has an ending.

He settled down, his quill poised over the paper. Up till now he had never realised how hard it was to write a letter, especially because he didn't know the recipient too well.

However, he'd been putting the writing off for a very long time. For someone so organized, he had looked at it and thought, Not today, somewhat guiltily.

But it had to be done. Even though it hurt him.

Valkron sighed, and began to write.

Raven visited Scarlet Palace again that day. Adiemus had sent off most of his guild members so that they could take a break before returning for the next guild war, so the grounds were emptier than usual. He looked around its forlorn courtyard before continuing on.

The crusader was in a small garden overlooking the lake. Raven found him sitting on one of the ironwrought benches, puffing on his pipe and looking out across the clear green waters.

"You know, smoking's bad for your health," said the rogue.

Adiemus looked at him. "I know. It's a vice I'm not proud of, but I can't stop straight away, can't I?"

"You could try."

The crusader only sighed. Raven shook his head and sat down next to him.

After a while, he said, "Did you get it?"

"Get what?" said the crusader.

"You know what it is."

"No, I don't."

"Don't muck about with me, Adiemus," said the rogue. "I know you did. Every guild did."

"Then the answer is already pretty obvious, isn't it?" retorted Adiemus.

There was a pause. Then Raven said, "Going?"

Adiemus did not answer for some time. When he did, his voice was quieter than before. "Yes."

"Really? Not fibbing me there, are you?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I have to go." Adiemus blew a smoke ring and watched it expand and disappear. "It's my job. You wouldn't understand."

"I guessed you'd say that," said Raven, leaning back in his seat.

There was another pause, only broken by the sound of the birds singing in the forest across the lake. Then Adiemus said, "Are you going?"

"What? And see his face?"

"Are you going?"

Raven kept quiet. After a few minutes he said, "Yeah."

"Thought you didn't want to see his face."

"What I want is none of your business."

The next pause was getting longer, and more awkward. Adiemus was clearly aware of that, when he asked, "Why are you going, then?"

"Because you are, and you should have someone to go along with you."

"Not for the sake of the event?"

"No." Raven turned away. "I'll never forgive him. I figured you wouldn't, either."

"I make no one my enemy, even for those who consider me as one of theirs." Adiemus pulled on his pipe. "He has done nothing wrong to me."

"He took your castle, and the only thing you had to remind you of your past life!"

"At least he didn't take my life."

"You wouldn't be here to say that if he did."

"All the better. I'd be resting elsewhere, and in a lot more peace than I would be down here."

The silence was thick.

"You didn't actually mean that, did you?"

"I did."

Raven looked at Adiemus. For the first time since he had seen the crusader he realised that the man looked tired and sad, and he understood just then that whatever he thought Adiemus was going through a lot more than he showed.

For some time they sat there, listening to nothing but the birds singing in the forest. Then Adiemus said, "Aren't you supposed to do be doing something, Raven? With your guild?"

Raven opened his mouth, and then caught the crusader's expression. He shut his mouth. Then he opened it again to say, "Yeah, sure. I'll get going, if you don't mind. See you."

When he got up Adiemus said nothing. He did not look around as Raven exited from the garden.

"I don't get you," said Valkron.

Raven sighed. "You know, I really don't want to go into details."

They were sitting in the pavilion that separated two practice courts. As rookie knights trained on both sides, Valkron had simply occupied the table in the pavilion. There were people serving them tea; Raven had wondered exactly how much authority and respect Valkron actually received.

"I know," said Valkron. "Adiemus tells me a lot of things."

"How long have you known him for?"

"Oh, years. We met at the Battle of Al'Zahur a long time back. After that we kept meeting each other, and saving each others' necks. He knows me, I know him." Valkron took a draught from his cup.

"But do you know why he's acting like this?" Raven hadn't touched his tea; he was far too worried.

"In my experience, Adiemus has always blamed himself for mistakes he made. I don't know why. He told me the biggest mistake of his life was marrying Alya's mother."

"Yeah, I know that," said Raven. "But right now he seems to be under a lot of pressure, and I don't think he'll tell me."

"If he won't tell you then he won't for me either." Valkron looked down at the table. "He considers you as much of a friend as he considers me."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Raven looked into his teacup. "Then if he's not telling me anything...?"

"Then there's nothing you can do about it except wait it out." Valkron picked up his teacup, but this time looked at Raven. "What's been happening?"

"Hm? Oh. You'll find out, soon enough."

"If you're not going to tell me you might as well drink your tea and relax." Valkron sat back in his chair, as two rookies struggled to gain the upper hand in their tussle. "Sometimes you think too much about others, Raven. We'll find out, eventually."

Vineis stood in the courtyard of Hohenschwangau, gazing at the sky. Most of the time he studied in his room, but today he was outside for a breath of fresh air.

He was also outside for another reason.

"Vineis!"

The wizard looked away from the sky. He barely had time to spread his arms before someone ran into them.

"You're a bit upset, Alya," he said softly, looking into the face of the sage.

She sighed and buried her face into his shoulder. "I feel like I've done something terribly wrong."

"What is it?"

"I let down my father." Vineis felt her grip on his arms tighten. "I wish I didn't have to, but I don't want to leave you, Vineis."

"You did what you wanted for your life," said the wizard gently. "What did Adiemus say?"

"He didn't scold me." Alya looked up at Vineis. "But the way he spoke..."

"Did he shout?"

"No, it was more like this soft, sad voice." Alya laid her head back onto his shoulder. "I feel so guilty, I know I've let him down. My mother broke his heart once, and now I'm doing the same."

Vineis kept quiet, but he pulled Alya closer to him and stroked her hair. Then he said, "Adiemus didn't stop you, though. He knew you made up your mind. I wish I had a father like that."

Alya looked into his face, but the wizard was staring off into the air.

"So what are we going to do?"

"Do?" Vineis looked down at her. "Well, everything's ready. Are you?"

Alya smiled, despite herself. "Of course."

The wizard laughed. "When do you want it?"

"As soon as possible." Alya hugged him. "I don't want to think about anything else."

"All right, Alya," he said. "All right."

From somewhere in the shadows Sheuth watched the two unblinkingly. Beside him Lucius leaned against the wall, his eyes closed.

"Not going to do anything about them?" said the assassin.

"No, why should I?" replied Sheuth, his golden brown eyes glinting in the darkness. "Vineis is happy. I want him to be that way."

"You cannot hide him from the truth forever, Sheuth," said Lucius.

"Indeed. But when the Black Cross has achieved what it has always wanted, I will tell him. You don't have to worry. I'm always standing with him."

Lucius looked sideways at Sheuth. He had done this many times before - standing in the darkness, spying on Vineis, along with Sheuth or other people the rogue assigned to do the job.

"I still do not think this right."

"What do you think is not right?" asked the rogue, looking at him.

"This." Lucius jerked a thumb at the scene before them. "Spying on Vineis. He deserves his privacy, and this is his life."

"I want to make sure he stays fine," said Sheuth, going back to watching. "That's all. He'll understand."

Lucius sighed. "I am going to look for Naobi. If you wish to stand here and watch, do so. Just do not expect me to return."

Sheuth did not reply. Lucius walked off into the shadows, as silent as only an assassin could be.

But he was thinking deeply. There was only one question he sought to find the answer to.

What does Sheuth want from Vineis?

That night the main body of the Raulus guild took the evening off and lounged around in the newly built dining hall. It was indeed vast, but it had to be. Repherion was what Adiemus called their 'flagship castle'. Whatever that had meant - because Adiemus forgot to explain - Valkron had already set Repherion as the castle where everyone would congregate for important meetings and the like.

"So how's Merseitzdeitz?" Valkron asked Nocturne. The hunter had been assigned to collect reports from the second castle every alternative day.

"Interesting, and not bad," replied Nocturne. "The economy of the castle is doing well. They've got a merchant doing it."

"They've got a what?"

"Don't worry. He's one of those veteran merchants who don't ever want to become blacksmiths for the money, y'know?"

"Oh, that would be Albrecht," said Valkron. "Yes, he'd be the type to do that, wouldn't he?"

Iruna looked down the table at where Emeth was sitting. The wizard had not been talking much to anyone recently. The others had seen him working on devising papers, so no one had dared to bother him. Now the wizard was silently scribbling notes into tagged folders and referring to a large number of books.

"Valkron," she said, looking away from the wizard, "you did say our placement was coming today, did you?"

"Yes, why?"

"Why isn't she here?"

Valkron looked around. "Nocturne?"

"Don't ask me, I was on duty in Merseitzdeitz today."

The knight looked to his other side. "Kushana?"

"Saw no one fitting your description. A blue haird swordswoman with small angel wings behind her ears, right? No."

Valkron and Samaroh looked at each other. Emeth had looked up from his work. The entire table that the main body occupied was silent.

"Okay." The knight got to his feet. "I'm going to look for her."

"What do you mean?"

"She was supposed to have arrived here in the afternoon, with her teacher. I know for a fact she doesn't want to come here. I'm going."

"Hey, I'll come with you," said Nocturne. "I want something to do."

Valkron shrugged. "That's up to you."

Nocturne slung his quiver of arrows over his shoulder and picked up his hunter's bow as Valkron tightened his sword girdle.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Kushana, as they began to leave. "This is Britoniah we're talking about, you know. Who knows what you might encounter out there?"

"Who knows what she might encounter out there?" said Valkron.

"How can you be so sure that she's here already?"

"Because when I was in Prontera today I saw her teacher taking her to Geffen." Valkron adjusted his visor. "I followed them there, and then I got called off on some business. By the time I returned they weren't there."

"But you can't be that sure," persisted the crusader, as Valkron headed for the dining hall door. "What other evidence, apart from you seeing them, is going to prove that she's actually in Geffen and not still in Izlude? For all you know, you could have seen someone else!"

There was a distant scream from outside. Considering the castle walls were thick to discourage wizards and alchemists from blasting the wall apart, this was a pretty impressive sound.

"Yep, she's around," said Valkron, not looking at Iruna.

Valkron had been right from the first guess. Niki-Haru had to go with her teacher to Geffen. Once they were there, her teacher had turned to her.

"All right, we've got to ask directions to Britoniah, wherever that is." The teacher had looked around. "I wonder who shall we ask? The Magic Academy may be a good place to start."

"I can make my way there," Niku-Haru had said defiantly. "It's okay. Repherion won't be that difficult to find, if it's a guild castle."

Her teacher had given her a look. "Are you sure, Niki?"

"Positive." The girl had nodded very firmly.

"All right then. Tell Valkron I send my regards to him!"

In fact she had not wanted to go to Repherion at all. She wanted to head down to Comodo and enjoy the nightly fireworks. But when she went to the Kafra some time after she had waited for her teacher to go, she found out that the money she had was not enough.

So she had wandered around the city. People had been kind enough to give her food, but as it grew dark they began to return to their homes and she was left out on the deserted streets. Geffen was not a place where you wanted to stay after dark, being right next door to Glast Heim and the Orc Village everyone feared and gossiped about.

She tried to get a room for the night at the Gatekeepers' Inn, but the price there was beyond what she had. The innkeeper politely, but firmly, shooed her out as the clock in the tavern struck eleven, and she was left out on the streets.

Finally she knocked on the door of the Magic Academy, and was answered by a green-haired wizard whose face no one could see because of his floppy, pointed hat and his hair.

"Yes?" he asked "May I help you?"

"Where's Britoniah?" she asked.

"Hmm...southwest of Geffen. If you're planning to go there I advise you not to go alone. Britoniah is the only castle area with monsters."

By now Niki-Haru was wishing that she had not told her teacher to go. Repherion seemed more like her home now, even if she hated it. But she thanked the wizard anyway and set off to look for it.

She was sure she had walked the right way. But eventually she found herself surrounded by trees, trees, and even mroe trees. Apart from the full moon lighting her way it was completely dark.

Niki-Haru was scared. When she was young her mother had told her stories about the moon and its mysterious, sinister power. "Don't ever go out at night, and especially not on a full moon night."

Now it was too late.

She wandered through the forest, desperately seeking the lights of the guild castles or even their great shadow. She had no way to go. She was lost.

Suddenly the bushes rustled. Niku-Haru jumped, and then quickly drew her sword. She watched the bushes warily.

After a few minutes a fabre squirmed out from the undergrowth and crawled off, leaving a weak trail of slime shining in the moonlight. Niki-Haru sighed, lowering her sword. It was just a stupid fabre--

And then a group of kobolds wielding axes had burst out of the bushes. Upon seeing her they charged at her, waving their axes.

Valkron mounted his peco, and Nocturne hopped on nimbly behind him.

"Holding on tight, Nocturne?" he asked.

"You bet."

The knight dug his heels into his peco's side. The bird honked and jerked forward, causing Nocturne to hit the knight's back face first. He muttered a quick apology; Valkron waved it off.

They rode out of Britoniah at full speed, before they came to a stop.

"Nocturne, you've got better senses than me. Try and locate anything moving."

The hunter slipped off and knelt down on the ground. He put his ear to the soil.

After a few minutes he got to his feet. "There's what sounds like a mob of monsters to the east of Britoniah. I'll take a guess at kobolds, but I'm not too sure."

"You've got good hearing," said Valkron, as Nocturne hopped back on.

"Yeah, well, I did live in the forest for a very long time."

Valkron spurred his peco forward. The bird, sensing the urgency in the air, thudded through the undergrowth in the direction his master had pointed out to him.

The branches and twigs whipped at them, but Valkron quite calmly slipped his visor over his eyes. Nocturne had bent over so that his face was not in the range of the trees. As the peco charged through the undergrowth he sank increasingly, until Valkron brought the peco to a stop so suddenly he jerked upright and nearly toppled backwards off the peco.

Niki-Haru was keeping her sword upright as she faced the group of advancing kobolds, but she was shaking. Valkron got off the peco and looked up.

"Damn moon," Nocturne heard him mutter.

He looked back at the hunter. "Nocturne, go and distract them. I'll get her, and then we can scoot without anyone getting hurt."

The hunter was wise enough not to protest. He quickly disappeared into the undergrowth. Valkron waited in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment--

There was a blur of white. Something sped between the kobolds and Niki-Haru; the girl screamed and dropped her sword. The kobolds were momentarily distracted by the blur, but they quickly refocused on her and advanced, growling in anticipation of a meal.

That was when the trap exploded beneath their feet.

Valkron leapt through the smoke and dived for the girl. She was cowering by now, and when he touched her she shrieked a little.

"Put down you sword! You'll hurt someone with that!"

The swordswoman quickly sheathed her sword; it must have been automatic, because no brain could have reacted that quickly. Valkron swept her into his arms and ran back before the kobolds had time to recover.

"Nocturne!" he shouted.

The hunter appeared next to the peco, breathless. "Here!"

"Let's get back to Britoniah," said the knight. "Before they realise what's happened. Come on!"

Valkron lifted the girl and put her squarely on the back of his peco. He had swung his leg over the saddle and was adjusting himself when Nocturne said a bad word. The knight turned around in his seat.

The kobolds were yapping angrily. They had seen their prey disappear from their eyes, only to find it - and two more - behind them. Now they were growling, their red eyes glinting in the moonlight, at the three of them.

"Nocturne!"

The hunter leapt on and held tight. Niki-Haru was right in front of Valkron, but she was wise enough to bend her head so that he would not be hindered.

The peco charged forward, head down but beak purposefully held forward to crash through the trees. Valkron and Nocturne had to keep their heads below the peco's head level, but this was not easy.

"Are they following us!" Valkron shouted, as the peco thudded through a clearing.

Nocturne looked behind. "You bet!"

"Keep them off!"

Niki-Haru turned her head slightly to see the hunter shift in his seat so that he was facing the other way. He quickly fitted an arrow into his bow and aimed. This was not as easy as it sounds, because the peco was running so hard the three of them were being jolted every next second.

But he did not aim at them. He aimed into the air. Niki-Haru heard the chord ring out as he fired; it was followed by a whistling sound. Kobolds yelped in pain as a whole shower of arrows rained down on them. Nocturne did this twice more, before he drew two arrows from his quiver.

Two kobolds leapt out of the crowd, brandishing their axes at the peco. They misjudged their jump; they went too high, up to Nocturne's eye level. The hunter aimed his arrows at them. Niki-Haru was sure that they squeaked in terror before he fired; the arrows hit them in the eye.

But there were more, and they kept coming. Nocturne was firing only when he saw the need to. Once or twice she saw him concentrate his energy into the arrow he was about to fire; the kobolds that were hit flew into the air. But they didn't stop coming.

"Valkron! Get him to run faster!"

"I can't, you idiot! We're too heavy!"

The peco honked as if in agreement. Niki-Haru felt Valkron lean forward, and she heard him whisper to the bird, "Come on, Evlor, you can get us there. We're almost there."

The bird ran on, and so did the kobolds. Valkron could see the passage into Britoniah just ahead. He put one hand on the bird's neck, and Niki-Haru felt the peco speed up.

Nocturne shouted, "They're still following! I'm running out of arrows!"

"Forget it!" shoutd Valkron. "We're almost there!"

They thundered into Britoniah with about forty kobolds at their heels. The blue dogs yowled; they were far from home, but this was a meal that would last them days! They could not afford to lose so much food!

And then, as Valkron drew closer to Repherion, he saw a sparkling light ahead. It was like a beacon held high, cutting through the night like a beam of hope.

It was, in fact, Emeth.

Valkron knew what the wizard was going to do. Emeth's eyes were glowing - somehow the effects of being used as a tool by Argath had never worn off. He spurred his peco to go faster, but the bird honked desperately. It was getting tired.

"No, Evlor, come on," Niki-Haru heard him say. "You've got both of us out of worse situations. We're nearly there."

"They're coming closer!" shouted Nocturne.

The peco was tiring. Even Valkron could feel it. He did not attempt to spur the bird on any longer. They were barely a few metres away from Emeth now.

The light from the wizard's staff made the kobolds hesitate. That was when the peco charged through the gates of Repherion, thundering past Emeth. The kobolds barked angrily and charged forward, a little blue furry army, when the wizard aimed his staff at them.

There was an explosion. Valkron looked back just in time to see the earth in front of Emeth erupt into massive spikes, throwing up kobolds. Seconds later a large pillar of fire crashed down onto the kobolds. When the smoke and dust settled all that was left were a few kobolds running off into the forests.

Valkron nearly fell off his peco as he dismounted; Emeth caught him by the arm just in time. Nocturne slid off the peco's back and got Niki-Haru down.

"Thanks, Emeth," said the knight.

Emeth shrugged. In the moonlight he looked even more gaunt and haggard. "Iruna asked me to keep a lookout for you. I could hear the kobolds from a mile off."

"It's thanks to you both then. Now, could you take her," Valkron gently shooed Niki-Haru over to him, "to Hlin? I'm sure she could find a room for the little girl. Oh, and add her to the register."

"You want to sign her up for the guild?" asked Emeth, looking puzzled. Behind him Niki-haru had an expression of horror on her face.

"Yeah. Just do it, no complaints from her or you."

As Emeth took the enraged Niki-Haru into Repherion, Valkron turned to Nocturne. "You go on in, I'm going to lead Evlor to his stable before I turn in."

The next morning Valkron was abruptly woken by a banging on the door. Muttering a few bad words under his breath he got out of his bed and made his way to the door. After a few tries he finally managed to find the door handle.

"What is it?" was the first thing he said when the door opened.

Hlin was taken aback. She had never seen her employer in such a state before. However, the Kafra Corp trained its employees to not to be surprised at any situation, so she barely showed her surprise.

"A letter, sir," she said, holding out an envelope. "It looks like an invitation."

Valkron took it from her, muttering, "I'll be damned if I get awoken just for a damned invitation. It had better be goo--"

His voice died away in his throat. He stared.

To the leader of the Raulus guild,

You, and the guild members you choose to accompany you, are invited to witness the exchange of vows between Vineis and Alya in matrimony, scheduled to be held at Prontera Church on the Day of the Sun, at 9.00 in the morning.

Yours sincerely,

The Black Cross.