Author's Notes

Just want to give a big thank you to my lovely readers. You're reviews are always a big pick-me-up! I managed to churn out another chapter seems as I'm all the way in the middle of countryside looking after a friend's dogs (all five of them!) who are keeping me warm whilst I write.

Disclaimer

I don't own FFXII. I do own Edie, my OC.

16-06-11

Just a warning...

It's summer and thanks to my work load, work is increasing and I don't have as much spare time. But please don't worry, I won't leave you guys hanging. I still keep typing away whenever I find a spare moment.

Also, just to answer some questions that have been brought up in reviews for this chapter- yes it still will have a romance theme weaved through it at some point. The thing is I really needed for Edie to establish relationships with the cast and, more importantly, with Basch. I never wanted it to come out of the blue because, let's face it, neither Basch or Edie start off their journey with the gang looking for love so it will take them a little bit more time to see otherwise. Right now I'm mainly focusing on ways to 'shove' them together, hence their new student/mentor relationship.

Have a good summer!

Chapter XXI: Skin and Bones

Basch's annoyance quickly faded as his features once more set into that usual passive mask he had come accustom to sporting. I understood his exasperation, I really did. Here he was already enduring the wearisome task of being a human shield to a princess who still stubbornly believed his was accountable for the fall of not only her kingdom, but her beloveds. The last thing this selfless knight needed was to be bullied into training me, a complete and utter novice in combat. As the contentedness from my conquest faded, guilt swirled in my stomach. I made a promise, not only to myself but to Basch, that I wouldn't lark about and squander his efforts in training me. I was going to be the ideal pupil so he wouldn't regret the time he spent training me.

We kept our persistent pace and before long the catwalks once more touched sturdier grounds. We descended and began trekking on the dry land. Fran, who was to the middle of our group once more paused. This time her ears pricked and twitched as if the unknown noise was irritating them.

"More hardships for us to endure?" Balthier asked, wearily crossing his arms over his chest.

"A Moogle, to the west. There is a Urutan-Yensa with him, though I believe peril he is not in." She stated quietly, her ears still deciphering the distant sounds.

"Should we go check it out?" Vaan stepped forward. Everyone's eyes fell upon Ashe, waiting for her answer.

"It would prove wise, Highness. This Moogle may know of a way to keep the Urutan at bay." Vossler suggested to her.

"Very well. Onwards." She agreed.

We soon came across the Moogle in a small bay which overlooked the tranquil flow of the Sandsea. Fran had been right. A Urutan was with him, though there was nothing aggressive or threatening about his behaviour. Upon seeing us, he quickly muttered something in a foreign tongue to the Moogle and scuttle past us.

"What d'ya think all that was about?" Vaan asked as he turned to watch the fleeing creature.

"Best we go enquire." Balthier said and sauntered off towards the Moogle. We followed.

"Did you see that Urutan-Yensa just now, Kupo?"

"Yeah, why'd he run off?" Vaan asked.

"They're usually a violent lot but this one wanted help. The Urutan-Yensa are all up in a panic about a creature on the Nam-Yensa Sandsea. Their bloody enemy, it seems. One of them was asking for help... an Urutan-Yensa asking for help! Whatever it is, it's got to be bad, Kupo." He eyed our group for a moment or two and added, "You look pretty strong. Maybe you could have a swing at the thing, Kupo? It's supposed to be something like a giant tortoise. He said he'd found some treasure of the Sandsea, too. Why, you might be able to claim that as a reward if you're successful, Kupo."

"Treasure you say? Perhaps we should lend our brawn for such a bounty." Balthier said.

I could believe he could be so easily sold on the idea at the mere mentioning of treasure. That was twice now.

"But why help them? They haven't been very welcoming." I said.

"You are right. We have not the time for the problems of these inhospitable sand dwellers. We move onwards and let them deal with their own affairs." Ashe agreed.

I smiled. It made a change that someone actually agreed with me.

"Though that may be the truth, our means are growing sparse and perhaps if we did aid them in their plight, they may be more forthcoming." Vossler suggested. "What say you?" There was a pause in the discussion as Ashe mulled over the matter.

"Then we best be swift and if such a foe is too much for us, we abandon this cause. There is no use in wasting our lives over such issue."

"To the Nam-Yensa we head then." Penelo said. Though I was positive that cheery tone she used had been selected to hide her nerves. I wasn't really sure how a tortoise like creature could be seen as a deadly foe but in Ivalice pretty much anything goes.

"You okay?" I asked her once we had said our farewells to the Moogle and set off once more.

"Yeah.. it's just I remember a tale about the Urutan-Yensa Eater. Parents tell it to their children in hopes they will be good. They say that if a child misbehaves too often, a Urutan will come and take you away and offer you up to the horrible monster so that it will stop feeding off their tribes. I remember I couldn't sleep for weeks after I had been told that. Silly, huh?"

"Of course not! You were just a kid. Of course you were going to be scared by a story like that."

"What about you? Do you still not remember anything of your past, your childhood?"

A newer, stronger surge of guilt swelled within me. I was still keeping up this terrible lie. A part of me wanted nothing more than to confess the truth, that I was from another world, but every time it was roused I would hastily silence it. I just couldn't tell her, not now maybe not ever. The group already thought I was strange and useless enough as it was. If I started spinning stories about how I was from another dimension they would probably abandon me on the spot. After all, nobody needs a crazy person travelling with them, less of all Princess Ashe.

"Nope still blank... I wonder if it will ever come back."

"It will. I'm sure of it. All we have to do is try and find Kaiser, right?"

Kaiser. My thoughts of him had also been pushed to the murky depths of my head. Lately, I had been too preoccupied in fighting for my life and travelling that he had almost been forgotten. I wonder were in Ivalice he had gotten to? Was he even still alive? I shuddered and quickly pushed the pesky string of questions once more to the back of my mind. I had to focus on the now in order to save us both.

"Yeah. We'll find him." I said with a nod. Penelo smiled in response.

After an afternoon of hiking we stopped at the mouth of the Nam-Yensa. The sun was hanging low in the now orange tinged sky and as it ebbed away so did our energy. We decided it would be best to make camp and prepare ourselves for tomorrow when we would find and fight the dreaded Urutan-Yensa Eater.

Basch stayed true to his word and after we had both eaten, my training began.

"Splendid! A bit of after-supper entertainment is just what we need to brighten our spirits." I heard Balthier proclaim loud enough for me to hear. My grip tightened on my spear.

"There's always the part of target dummy, I'm sure the Leading Man could fill that role well enough." I spat back over my shoulder.

"At times such as these he stands back and allows the lesser roles to partake in the limelight."

"How generous of you!" I rolled my eyes to accompany my sarcastic comment.

"What can I say? I am a man of the people."

Oh yeah, Balthier is Ivalice's answer to Robin Hood!

I was about to retort when I noticed Basch was stood waiting, his arms folded across his chest. I quickly rearranged my mindset and muttered an apology at my newly acquired mentor.

"We begin with the rudiments. Exhibit how you would hold your weapon in an en guard stance." I shrugged and altered my position somewhat. My legs were at hip's width and both hands held my spear. "A weak stance. It will do you no good." I looked down wondering what I was doing wrong. "Amend you posture. Bare your weight on strong legs yet do not seize them straight. Straighten your back and strengthen the abdomen. Widen the breadth in which you have gripped the spear."

I complied and reorganized myself into a stronger stance. I was rewarded with a grunt of approval. "Put this to memory. Shift from a natural stance to that of an en guard." I fell back into a regular posture and then quickly shifted into my newly learnt stance, all the while under Basch's scrutiny. He shook his head in disapproval and tapped my stomach. "You must hold your abdomen strong. It is a fighter's core, where force expels from. It matters not if you have succeeded to hold your limbs well, if your core is weak the fight you will lose." I tightened my stomach. "Again." I quickly repeated the exercise.

It took me over an hour before I could rapidly and easily fall into a battle basic stance. Even though it was a somewhat simple exercise, I was drained. However, there was little time for rest as Basch was keen to move onto the next lesson.

"You are to strike at me as you would a foe." He ordered.

I nodded and swung my spear at him. He effortlessly blocked it with his forearm. I had put all my strength behind that attack and even though his leather gauntlet probably absorbed some of the blow, he was totally unfazed. If the roles had been reversed, I would have been jumping up and down, howling in pain and clutching my arm. He shook his head once more in disapproval at my execution. "Look upon your hands. They have strayed from their initial position. For a simple attack to have might, you must hold your weapon steadily. Again."

I repeated it over and over again and each time the same thing happened. My hands would shift closer together. Despite Basch's patience I was growing more and more irritated with myself. I couldn't believe I was stupid enough not to be able to break this bad habit I had acquired. Tired with the same result, Basch decide to bind my hands to the spear in hope it would be easier for me to learn. Despite looking like a dunce, it was successful and I could focus on how to use my core when attacking. After countless repetitions of striking at thin air and heeding much of Basch's instructions, I soon managed to perform a simple strike. Basch unbound my hands and I surprisingly, my hands didn't stray from their position.

"Inexperienced you may be, yet you have a want to learn. Perhaps this won't be the discouraging challenge I had anticipated."

"Great! So we make this a regular thing, you train me when we stop to rest." I grinned.

He nodded and said,

"Though rest is as important as your tuition. You must not exhaust yourself."

"Right!"

With my first lesson over and feeling content with the progress I made (little was better than nothing) I rejoined the group around the campfire. It was now dark and the moonlight traced the outlines of the rigs and walkways in the distance, making their structure look skeletal and all the more eerie. We soon decided guard watches and went to sleep. I had the early morning watch with Fran.

I was woken from a deep and dreamless sleep by Fran gently shaking my shoulder. I pulled myself up from the sleeping bag, which was fashioned from hyena hide and wolf fur. The desert air was still bitterly cold, making leaving my little cocoon even more of a challenge. I pluck up my spear and trudged over to join Fran. She was sat on a weathered rock, her crimson eyes scanning the skies.

"Can I make some coffee?" I whispered as I slumped down beside her.

"Too much noise it would make. Take water until morning." She handed me her flask.

Water wasn't going to wake my sluggish mind. I think I must have left half of it in the land of nod. I gazed out at the Sandsea, its quicksand like surface flowed calmly. Above it swirled a thick stream of fog. I hadn't really noticed it in the harsh daylight yet its flow wove along the catwalks stretching up from the sand. It too was flowing serenely, those otherworldly colours churning leisurely as it rolled by.

"What is it you look upon with such wonder?" Although Fran's voice was soft it still made me jump. I had been so enthralled by the haze that I had forgotten she was sat at my side.

"The Sandsea." I lied.

I didn't look at her, though I could feel her eyes upon me, surveying me. There was something about Fran that gave me the impression that she could sense a lie. "The Mist. You can see it, can you not?" This did provoke me to look at her. My widened eyes must have answered her question. "Hume eyes are blind to the Mist. How can it be that you can see it?"

"I-I don't know."

I really didn't.

Morning slowly rolled round. The inky black sky was soon awash with a pale pink as the sun lazily rose to lend us its heat. As soon as everyone was awake, I quickly went about brewing some coffee. I was going to need a lot of it today. My body ached all over from the constant hiking and I don't think my training sessions had help much either. Every muscle in my being was wound so tight that it felt as if they snap if I exerted myself. I slurped back two tin cups full of the stuff and immediately felt somewhat better. We packed away our make-shift camp and once again set off for yet another day in the harsh heat of the Sandsea.

There was another tradesman travelling by chocobo not far from where we had spent the night. We used what little gil we had left to once more purchase magicks, potions and upgrade our armour or weapons. Penelo requested to buy a silver device that looked somewhat like a large clasp on a keychain. She didn't really explain why. I was loaded up with a few more magick licenses, they were mainly spells to help cure aliments caused by poisons, venom and other nasty things some foes favoured to use. We also traded some of the hide and scales we had harvest from some of our kills. These fetched a suitable amount of gil and even a few flasks of water. Afterwards, it was back to our seemingly never-ending hike.

The Nam-Yensa was a slightly different terrain. There were no rigs blotting the scenery, instead there were a few rickety wooden bridges that could be used to cross the Sandsea. There were more cliffs and craggy mounts here as well as vegetation. The Urutan-Yensa were still a threat and would often swarm around our group, their arrows raining down on us all the while. Even crossing the bridges proved hazardous due to their piranha-like steeds being able to attacks us from the Sandsea that churned below.

After most of the morning battling our way across the Nam-Yensa Sandsea, a strange thing occurred. Two Urutan-Yensa took off across the sands upon our approach.

"How peculiar. Why would they flee instead of stand and fight us?" Ashe said, watching the crab-like creatures scuttle off.

"They flee not." Fran said, her eyes set to the horizon. "They go to lend their arms to their brethren. The Urutan-Yensa Eater is near."

We quickly set off after them, dashing along the fine sands. As we cleared a small sand dune, there below us, near to the shore of the Sansea was the mighty Urutan-Yensa Eatern. This was no mere tortoise. It was huge, the size of a fully grown male elephant with a shell that looked impenetrable. A small group of Urutan-Yensa surrounded the beast yet their arrows and spears did little harm. Every now and then, its great head would lunge forward and out of its shell. Its powerful beak would snap up a Urutan and devour it in the blink of an eye. How the hell were we going to slay this thing?

"Make for its legs. If we can topple it, victory will be swift!" Vosslor shouted as we torn through the sands towards our foe.

"Be wary of its head!" Fran readied her bow.

We fell in line with the remaining Urutan, who were too busy with their relentless assault to acknowledge us. Despite the new spear skills I had learnt, I decided it was probably best to stick to magick. Getting too close to the Urutan-Eater seemed hazardous as it would whip round in a flash and snap up a Urutan-Yensa. Basch, Vosslor and Ashe were brave enough to slash at its sturdy legs with their swords.

Vaan dashed over to lend a hand when suddenly, the great turtle whirled around. A few heart stopping moments slowly crawled by as those of us in the back line watched as the Urutan-Eater's mighty head darted out of its shell, its jaws snapping at Vaan. He quickly tried to dodge, yet the monster was just as quick as he. It seized his little, metal waistcoat and with a flick of its head, whipped the boy up into the air. Vaan had been lucky he had been quick enough to move otherwise the Urutan-Eater would have scoffed him down. Vaan landed with a thud, yet he didn't land on the dry, sandy ground. He was sprawled out on top of the beast's dense shell.

"Vaan!" Penelo gasped. She moved to run to his aid yet Balthier quickly seized her wrist and yanked her back.

"Panic not. The creature cannot reach him, he will be safe. I'd start conjuring magicks and quick if you wish to save him." Penelo looked over at Vaan, who was now on his feet and attempting to hack at the Urutan-Eater's shell. She gave a brisk nod and Balthier released her wrist. I also conjured up every black magick I had learnt so far in order to help.

"This is doing no good!" Penelo growled in frustration, her eyes glued to Vaan.

"Then perhaps you would care to offer up a better tactic?" Balthier questioned as he nimbly reloaded his pistol.

"I- I don't have one.." She stammered.

"Look!" Fran pointed.

A Urutan-Yensa was stood in front of the mouth of its shell, yet even before he could draw an arrow from his quiver, The Urutan-Eater lunged forward and snapped him up. "It senses when a foe is at its front. If we can entice it to reveal its head, Vaan can attack it from above."

"Sounds like a good enough strategy. Well then, my dear, you'd best be off to entice our formidable foe out of its shell." Balthier said to Penelo.

"What? No!" I stepped forward. "It's too dangerous! What happens if that thing eats her?"

"Then you are willing to go in her place?"

"Erm..."

"She is swifter than you, she will manage well." Fran reassured me.

I sighed heavily to show my backing down. Penelo darted off towards the killer turtle and now it was I who had my eyes glue on her. She drew her dagger and shouted up to Vaan, telling him our new tactic. He nodded and she positioned herself in front of the Urutan-Eater. It happily took the bait and its hefty head lunged out of its shell once more. Penelo artfully outmanoeuvred its attack with the grace of a swan. Vaan jumped down, bringing his sword upon its leathery neck. The beast's high-pieced screech confirmed than Vaan had been quick enough to damage it. Enraged further, it flung Vaan aside. He hit the ground with a loud thump. The others saw this as an opportune moment to topple the Urutan-Eater. Vosslor rattled off a string of deadly blows and the creature's leg soon buckled. It roared again.

"Vaan!" I heard Penelo shout. She was by his side and he was still sprawled out on the sand, not moving.

I hissed a curse and took off towards them.

"Is he okay?"

"The blow must have caused him to lose consciousness." She said as she helped prop his head up.

I quickly rummaged around in my medic kit. I soon found what I was looking for. There was a potion brewed from the feathers of a phoenix, it helps bring people round from unconsciousness quicker and replenish their spent energy. There was an earth shattering rumble as the rest of the group had managed to finally upturn the Urutan-Eater. With its soft belly now exposed, it wouldn't take long to slay it. I uncorked the bottle and handed it to Penelo. She carefully cupped Vaan's head and poured the Phoenix Down past Vaan's lips. We waited with baited breath to see if it would take effect. I quickly looked Vaan over. He had some cuts and bruises, not to mention a nasty red mark where the neckline of his waistcoat had bit into his skin when the monster had up heaved him. He soon awoke with a groan.

"Vaan? Are you alright?" Penelo asked.

He blinked hard a few times as if the sunlight irritated his eyes or perhaps he was trying to piece things together to try and explain why he was on his back.

"Argh! M-my leg!" He quickly sat up and clutched at his thigh. "I can't move it!" He hissed through gritted teeth. He must have broken it when he was thrown across the sand like a ragdoll.

I closed my eyes and focused on healing his broken limb with magicks.

"Any better?" I asked once the spell had been cast.

"Much better." He sighed. "The Urutan-Yensa Eater!" He gasped when he finally remembered we were indeed in the middle of a battle.

A shrill wail answered his worries. Our heads whipped round to see the once great beast motionlessly lying on its side. Its belly had been riddled with gashes, bullet holes and arrows. The blood than leaked from these wounds was slowly staining the sand a dark brown.

"It's dead..." Penelo said as we continued to take in the grizzly scene before us. We got up and quickly trekked over to the others. They all looked exhausted.

"We head back to the Moogle, with a scrap of shell as proof." Ashe said. She handed me the sizable chunk of shell and I stored it in the medic kit.

I couldn't believe we now had to travel all the way back, it was going to take hours. I huffed and trudge on alongside Vaan and Penelo, who were equally as disenchanted.

We pushed onwards and late into the afternoon we finally came across the bay once more. The Moogle and the Urutan-Yensa were there, they were deep in conversation speaking in that strange tongue that must have been the Urutan's language.

"You killed the wild scourge of the Sandsea, Kupo?" He gasped as we approached. I quickly yanked the shell fragment out of the medic kit and showed it to him. "Amazing!"

"It was a cinch!" Grinned Vaan.

"Well of course it was for you, you were unconscious for most of the bloody battle." I muttered.

"Now I do believe payment is due. This treasure you spoke of will do." Balthier stepped forward, hand outstretched.

The Urutan-Yensa went to reach for his pouch. The mild breeze that had been keeping the muggy heat at bay suddenly intensified into a mighty whirl. It caused the sand to be cast about the air in a cloud. Yet just as we were going to seek cover, it rapidly died down once more. Once the sand settled it revealed that there was a gathering of Urutan-Yensas, their fish-like steeds and even a bigger, stronger looking creature, who was clearly their leader. The Moogle gasped and staggered back to join our group.

"Kupo! A gathering of the Urutan-Yensa! A truly rare occurrence!" He was practically hoping from foot to foot in excitement.

We all watched as the Urutan Queen singled out the Urutan that had been speaking to the Moogle. She chattered at him in and the two were quickly drawn into a discussion. The Moogle listened with twitching ears. "Kupo? Kupo-po? Wait, what's happening, Kupo?"

"What are they saying?" Vaan asked.

"Wait! No! They're going to execute him!" He dashed forward and pushed his way through the crowd of Urutans until he was in front of their leader. "Don't do this! The creature would still be at large if it weren't for his plea for help, Kupo!" Shockingly, the Urutan Queen spoke, and she did so in our tongue.

"You shame us by seeking aid outside the tribe! Urutan-Yensa are lords and masters of the sea, we seek the aid of none!" She spat at her minion, who quickly chattered something back to her. "Your words are the howling of the sand to my ears! I condemn you to dust!" With that the poor little Urutan was incinerated by a blast of fast forming flames. From where I stood I could smell the charred remains and the scorched earth. The Moogle gasped.

"Wh-Wh-What have you done, Kupo?" He stammered as he watched the ashes of the Urutan be blown away by the desert breeze. "You bring him back!"

"Those who sully our name will be punished, be they foeman or kin. They must pay the honour-price. There can be no forgiveness! I would destroy you, too... but I am merciful. Better you live to tell the world that the Urutan are not to be taken lightly. Now, leave!" With her warning said, she scuttled off, her fellow Urutans quickly scurrying after her.

Once they had gone the Moogle approached us.

"That rogue Urutan... He wouldn't have been happy back with his clan, I'm sure of it, Kupo." Something caught his eye and he turned. A beautiful, purple flower was not far off from where we stood. Strange, I didn't remember that being there before. "That flower...It's rare to see one blooming in the Sandsea, Kupo. Maybe the treasure that he found was this?"

"A flower? Hardly the treasure I had hoped for." Balthier sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Fran paced her way over the sand and plucked it from the ground.

"It bears Eksir berries." She informed upon her return. "They may come in good use."

"True. They say that there is a type of Avion that takes much disliking to Eksir berries. Apparently, it's deadly to them." The Moogle informed.

I was given the berries to store in my bag. We gave the Moogle the Urutan-Eater's shell as a thank you and once more set off.

With daylight quickly fading, we set up camp in pretty much the same spot as before, at the mouth of the Nam-Yensa. Basch and I trained, whilst Penelo was cooking our evening meal. Today's lesson was a basic defence stance. It went pretty much like my other lessons. It would take me countless attempts before I finally grasped it. Once I had, Basch suddenly went to strike me with a sun-bleached piece of driftwood. I brought my spear up to block it.

"Hey!" I hotly shouted.

"Attacks never have a forewarning." He said. I guess he did have a point, still the unexpectedness of it had shocked me. "Your gallantry should never be allowed to falter in battle. If you allow that, you will pay with your life." I guess it wasn't just fancy moves I needed to learn, I needed to learn to control my nerves also.

He struck again and this time I managed to intercept it better. I quickly shifted from my defensive stance and instigated an attack. He still effortlessly blocked it, but his nod of approval spurred me on. We engaged in this basic sparing until Penelo beckoned us to come eat. At the end of the night, I was exhausted, heavy-eyed but deeply content that I was making some progress.