The Black Rose

by mickrulz

Rose has miraculously survived the devastation of Melbu Frahma, only to find herself being pulled into a political rift that threatens to tear the world asunder. Rose now embarks on a new adventure, an adventure of love, betrayal, bloodshed and death.

25. Chapter 25: The Black Rose

Chapter 25: The Black Rose

Mercifully their second journey of travelling across the Evergreen Forest's dense thickets proved a lot more easier than the trio's first. Partially that had to do with the fact both their thicker clothing and the natural adaption to the cold their body's had began during their stay, but mainly it was to do with the fact that nature in all its capricious wisdom chose not to thrash them with snowstorms and blizzards this time around but instead with light snowfall as faint rays of sunlight that escaped through the thick clouds overhead. A slight but welcome rise in temperature came with the sun as well, what was once a bed of soft snow underneath that nearly sunk to the knee had thawed to one that only consumed the ankle. It was still hard to trek, especially since the density of the soft snow that melt like walking in quicksand never remained the same constant; sometimes you sunk to your calves, others it was so scarce you could see the greenery underneath. None the less the weather was favourable for travelling, and Rose planned to take full advantage of it while they could. No telling when it might take a dangerous turn.

"I've grown to quite like this setting" Zack said, starting one of his many rambling he was so prone to do during their longer expeditions. Rose, who was usually against such useless blabber found herself indulging in it at almost every opportunity. Not much, as was her nature her responses were usually only one or two words, but they were one or two words more than usual. As the days rolled by with nary of change in scenery (even the reclusive wildlife likely turned more withdrawn thanks to both the invading army and Zack's forced assault were few and far between) Rose's patience which was always seemingly infinite had dwindled to the tides of unescapable boredom. No dangerous creatures, soldiers or bandits, no perilous whether threatening to freeze them just a sheen of white snow and towering trees that looked identical no matter how far into the forest they trudged.

Rose shrugged in response. "One scenery is as good as any other really."

"What about you big fella?" Zack said, shooting a question towards Kongol. The giant only snorted curtly in response. Zack didn't think it possible but he had met someone less inclined towards conversation then even Rose. When not discussing something relating directly to their next objective or next battle you could mistake him for almost a mute.

Sighing, Zack attacked the partner a slightly more receptive to chatter, even if only a little.

"We've been walking for nearly a week now, how much longer you reckon we have till we clear the forest? We could have at least requested horses."

"A day or two longer perhaps? Maybe more I can't rightly say, even with the map Ramish provided for us detailing the easier passages towards Furnai. Horses wouldn't do us good either, not in the long run. With the thick snow and winding nature of the forest along with the many hidden outcroppings we could only move at a light trot and without the enough food and water to cater for three they'd fall to exhaustion within a two days if the animals didn't trip and break a leg."

"It just seems that when not fighting off hordes of enemies all we do is travel."

"You are a good ten thousand years too young to be complaining about such trivialities" Rose responded dryly. "If things stretch out longer then I hope, and there is always a good chance it will assuming we continue to evade death and capture, then we have much travelling in front of us to do as well."

Before their conversation could go any further the three of them were confronted by a kind of barricaded wall in the form of not the usual Evergreens that flourished into magnificent greenery only a meter or two from the base but by large drunk that spanned high into the air before tendrils both thick and thin perforated out from the main body giving life to a different kind of green coating. Elms or Oak trees perhaps at a guess, as many possible as only a few or few dozen, the way the roots and stems intertwined to create a vine like fence made it impossible to tell. It was eerily natural, and eerily obvious that it was also a form of protection.

The three stopped in front of the covered clearing that looked to span only a few yards in each direction, like the grove was somehow isolated from the rest of the forest by the lining trees that protected the parameter in a skewed kind of squared arc.

"All it's really missing is a keep out sign" Zack said in amazement. A dark shadow from within made it hard to peer into, only scant sunlight making its way through the overhead bushy leaves that were so laden it was as if it could collapse on itself and come crashing down.

Rose pondered this odd mark of nature in silence.

"Do we go in and take a look? It looks like a tight fit, but there are plenty of gaps to weave into." He then glanced at Kongol doubtfully, his enormous size meant he'd have to hack his way through.

"It's unrelated to our destination however..." Rose looked at and to the west, where the sounds of thunder reverberating audible in the distance. "It is getting towards sunset and the oncoming storm worries me a little."

"It would provide great cover" Zack agreed and took this as his cue to push between the vine like stems and move into the clearing.

"Wait!" Rose urged. "It could be a nest for a group of predatory animal like wolves, or worse yet a den for monsters, don't go sauntering in there like a fool."

Zack shrugged indifferently. "I can't hear anything."

Rose moved up and pushed him aside. "Stay here until I give the signal. The last thing we need is you getting injured by stray animals or monsters."

Not giving Zack time to respond she moved through the many layers of bark vines. The barrier was surprisingly thick and took some effort to wade through, but eventually the she reached where the clump of trees ceased and a wide span of openness took over. Not exposing herself entirely Rose moved as close as her cover would allow and sharpened her senses. She could see, hear, smell or hear nothing. After a few minutes elapsed she moved out of the cover of the trees ever so slowly.

Nothing.

Another scan offered her nothing different. Eventually deeming the grove safe she was ready to move back out to Zack and Kongol and give them the okay, but before she could even turn she heard rustling from the trees behind her. Right behind her.

Shit!

She didn't need to think, her body, urged by honed reflexes so sharp it was secondary in nature took a step forward, her form tightening as her right hand for her sword. In the split second it took for her to notice the sound her sword was already cleaving behind her in the direction of the sound.

She heard before she saw the thud as she identified Zack flat on his back, his eyes wide in shock.

"Woah!" he cried in dismay, the blade curving past what had not a second earlier been his neck.

Rose's expression turned to one of shock before one of anger.

"Are you a total fool!? I told you to stay put! Yet not only do you follow me, you follow me from behind! I would have taken your head off had you been a fraction slower!"

She had of course realised in the end it was Zack, that realisation being the only thing that gave her unconscious actions enough slow for Zack to avoid the slash, if only narrowly. But he took a big risk still by flanking her, once her body decided to move it was impossible for her to stop it in the space it took for her blade to find her target, whether it be friend or foe.

Sheathing her blade Rose extended a hand to help up a prone Zack who was still resting on his back, his face the look of one still processing how close he was to losing his head. Taking it with a absent minded kind of haziness, Zack used Rose's leverage to manoeuvre back to his feet.

"Spot anything of interest inside?" Zack asked, his face turning focused once more. Rose shook her head.

"Nothing that I can spot. Just a large circular grove with a rose patch in the middle. it's spacious enough even with the garden bed to set up a camp and camp fire, and the thick branches overhead provide encouraging cover as you surmised should a storm pass over."

Zack stepped forward and pushed into the grove ahead of her. Rose followed, entering a jagged kind of ring untouched by trees or other vegetation outside a small flower field made up primarily of roses. The clearing was as large as perhaps a small pavilion or church and was one of the few areas the trio had encountered so far that allowed the generous grow of substantial meadow like greenery from below. The giant branches that arced on top of the clearing, full of thick leaves and branches were like a ceiling indeed, prevented a good amount of snow from covering the earth beneath and killing all but the most stubborn of plant life forms.

What took Zack's attention and then her own as Zack drew her towards it was the small flower field. Roses dominated the field but lily's, orchids, even a daisy or two were spotted among others, which was quite the sight to see considering such flowers usually did not bloom in such harsh cold climates. Yet there was one flower in particular that caught both Rose and Zack's interest. Within the centre of the field was what appeared to be a very dark, almost black rose. Dark, curling petals embraced the inner filaments and sigma like a protective barrier, the head of the flower leaning slightly to one side atop a winding stem that appeared to have trouble holding high the weight of the top. The stem appeared to bare no thorns either, just a light green thin stalk that rose as high as perhaps a humans forearm.

"Am I actually looking at a Black Rose here? Such things are prominent in folk tales and legends, usually as omens, but never believed to actually exist."

Rose said nothing but moved to the edge of the flower bed and examined it closely.

"It's not quite black" Rose said after a few moments. "But a very deep red or maroon. Likely a rare mutation to create such a dark huge in the petals. In any event it looks more darker than it is due to the contrasting whites flecks of snow resting atop the flower. None the less this is a unusual almost peculiar occurrence, I have never seen a rose quite like this one."

Zack agreed. "If you believe folklore it is a sign of bad things to come. A warning of sorts if you will."

Rose appeared genuinely surprised at this, her face in one of her uncommon moments mirroring what she was feeling inside. "You are superstitious?"

Zack shrugged. "Not as much as some, but when you are presented with an eerie sign like this one it is rather hard to disregard."

Rose again turned her gaze upon the anomaly. While she was far from superstitious herself, had lived a life far too long to believe in such fallacies, she couldn't help but fear that bad things indeed waited them in the not so distant future. She had this feeling for a while now, had of course not put voice to this, but looking at this dark rose appeared ashen and burned, that feeling assaulted her tenfold.

"Let us set up camp." Her voice was more raspy then she would have liked, even Zack noticed it after giving her a sidelong questioning glance. "I'll go and get Kongol."

Disappearing into shrubbery once more Rose collected giant who was carrying the bulk of their camping supplies upon his broad back. Needless to say he could not fit through the gaps offered between the intersecting branched, so he was forced to cut his own path using his gargantuan axe. Also needless to say Kongol made quick work of it.

---

The chance to use some much needed cover turned out to be a wise one. The three scrambled to make camp preparations, a large fortified tent made out of various thick hides supported by iron rods the priority as they had little light left to work with and by the time they attempted to spark a small camp fire, rain and heavy winds greeted them in earnest. The trees provided some cover, generous really when you considered how open they would otherwise be, but rain still managed to lash them as well as squalls that dropped the temperature far below sub-zero levels. Thunder and lightning cracked around them as if a giant that even dwarfed Kongol was mashing a giant hammer. By this stage even a campfire was impossible to keep alight, all they could do was huddle amongst each other, draped in as much clothing and blankets they had on them.

Something loud, almost like a shriek pierced the thunderous atmosphere. That was a feat in and of itself considering the thunderclaps were damn near deafening. The cry didn't sound human or even animalistic, it sounded demonic.

Zack craned his face close to Rose so he wouldn't have to compete with the thrashing of the weather. "What in the hell is that!?"

Rose lowered her eyes and opened her senses. If she was a dog her ears would be curled back and her maw a snarl. She sensed danger, supernatural danger, and in weather like this that would freeze them if they ventured into it with their meagre clothes alone that was problematic to say the least.

Another ear-piercing screech.

Had Amika been present she would have thought it terrifyingly reminiscent of the fiends she and Earl had faced during that frightening night in the bowels of Eldrilen's Belt.

Kongol, who was only just able to squish into the otherwise accommodating tent stiffened, his white eyes darting from side to side. If Zack hadn't known him for the unafraid and ferocious warrior he was he would easily mistake such gestures for fear.

"What is it Kongol!?" Rose question, apparently the gestures didn't go unnoticed by her either. Thunder still crashed in the background resulting in the three resting travellers having to yell to compete with it.

Kongol looked around another time before another somehow phantasmal cry was unleashed. More followed, as if it were a warped, bone chilling imitation of a pack of wolves howling.

"Kongol not like. Not human or beast."

The deep almost trembling quality of the Giganto's voice meant he didn't have to yell, but the way he spoke like a small child would afraid of a large animal made Zack wish he did. If whatever these things are have even Kongol spooked, then they were all in some pretty deep shit.

"No more talking! We lay low, covered and still! If we're lucky they will pass us in peace!"

Another thunderclap followed by more shrieks. The two of them did as ordered, they covered themselves while laying flat, remaining still as they possible could.

The inhuman screams of the unknowns that sounded like cries of torment along with the violent storm continued to batter them for the rest of what would be a very long night.

---

Sunrise came and with it the end of the storm. The winds didn't completely vanish, but more importantly whatever it was that made those horrible sounds did. They hadn't noticed nor attacked their camp, although judging by how close the shrills were they must have been near, but perhaps just as importantly what they did do was deprive them of a good night of sleep and rest. Dangerous looking dark clouds still lingered, threatening to turn chaotic stopped them from using any more of the morning to catch up on much needed energy.

"We can rest once in Furni which shouldn't be more than a good day or two's walk" Rose said as they packed up the tent. Nothing was mentioned about the creatures of the night. It was as if to do so would summon them once more.

With preparations finished they were ready to leave the grove. It was then that Zack noticed something odd about the flower bed.

"Look" Zack said, catching Rose's attention. Rose set her gaze where Zack pointed and noticed the field had been decimated by the rampant winds in the heavy storm. Every flower had either been flattened or outright blown away. All but one: The Black Rose, which stood utterly untouched by the tempest that had wrecked everything else, in the exact same condition as the day before.

They both stared at the flower in silence for a time, before Zack broke it with his usual ridiculousness. Only in this case it really wasn't.

"Still don't believe this is an ill-omen now?" He said with a laugh, although his laugh lacked any real humour. Behind it lied the distinct sound of apprehension.

"Let us take leave. We have little time to waste." With that, Rose turned heel and helped Kongol with the last of the mornings preparations before exiting the grove with obvious eagerness. Zack could hardly blame her, he would be all too happy to see this grove, this flower and whatever fiends the area attracted (the idea that the monsters and the Black Rose weren't exclusive to one another occurred to both of them) well and truly behind them.

---

Rose's guesstimate appeared accurate as it so often was. Border-lining on another two days, the daylight began its decline towards high noon the trio reached the entrance of Furni. Rose and Kongol, who had both visited on previous occasions made no point of commenting on a town they had both already seen, but to Zack's wondrous eyes who expected nothing but a mere port town, it was truly a sight to behold.

"This is Furni!?" he asked stupidly. Rose and Kongol ignored him, their gaze intently set on the settlement that wasn't so much a port town but a town based around an actual port itself.

"It isn't in as bad shape as I imagined, but the scent of blood can still be smelled even from the entrance" Rose said.

Kongol only grunted in response. Unless there was fighting to still be done, he was not particularly interested it seemed. Given Ramish's earlier breakdown of the situation, that Sandora were only really watching from afar and had no intention of directly interfering, the chances were minimal that they would have to resort to any violence. Yet that didn't mean zero, so they would have to be on guard all the same.

Zack however was still staring at the town that was literally built from the shoreline and extended into the endless sea. The idea that people could actually live on the water and not merely around it was a foreign concept to him.

"We are merely passerby's, nothing more understand? Do not do anything to stand out" Rose ordered as she moved towards a descending road that would soon give way to the crystal blue water of the Illisia Bay. Zack glanced at Kongol and wondered how such a feat would be possible.

Furni was within the almost circular lagoon or river mouth was made up of lands from both the Death Frontier as well as Tiberoa that encompassed a few broken islands in-between. Sunset Island covered the southern part of the winding peninsula while a northern stretch, cut off from the Sunset Island was once called Prison Island, home to an jailed water Dragon along with many convicts that were incarcerated before, cut off from all civilization. Many underground caverns that worked as labyrinths lied under sea level, some which connected Furni and the lost islands to Fueno in Tiberoa, and while Rose had considered using this as a stealthy method of entry, the ever whimsical tides created an a constant risk of being flooded out, not to mention it was a maze even unknown to her. Getting lost without finding a way out was just as likely as getting washed out in a tidal current.

Furni itself was a town of evenly rowed buildings separated by rather large strip of ocean Zack observed as he began to wonder into it. Naturally the city wasn't large after all it could only make use of the shallow regions of the sea, perhaps spanning as far as fifty or a hundred or so meters from the shoreline, but what they couldn't achieve in length they made up in with density, giving it a true metropolis feel to a blueprint that by all rights shouldn't really exist. This was achieved through a truly unorthodox style he wouldn't have believed if it hadn't been seen.

I thought I'd seen it all with the already strange places I've already visited Zack reflected. But each settlement still managed to awe him in different ways. He didn't realise how sheltered, how ignorant he was before he started this journey until now.

The houses and buildings were dome like constructed, very open yet visible dual or even thrice layered. Yet most of the arched homes had no floor on the bottom level, the sea was their base as many extended to higher levels through stairs. The materials used themselves appeared thin almost to the point of frail, a mixture of plaster and clay moulds perhaps Zack would have to guess by looking (they all shared a beige theme in colour) but given the savage weather they had to deal with, even this far removed from the brutal centre, Zack thought that appearance was deceptive. Windows were mere oval gaps in the foundations replacing the orthodox use of panes and glass which in some cases extended to the ceiling where cover were replaced by open roofs (Zack also wondered if they could be covered to fight any rain). Other significant points of interest laid in the decorations of many of the houses, wooden signs and illustrations and marking not quite known to him were plentiful along with cultivated flora like flowers and vines and even small trees, as if to give a more natural vibe to the ocean city.

"Yet I see no obvious crossings to traverse this place" Zack said. They moved down a set of stone stairs, a small abode to their rear, yet only another small flight of stairs adorned by lush greenery within the open spaces provided on each side led to the water below that had no obvious signs of further travel. Unless they were supposed to swim that was, which given the scenery might be scarily possible.

"This is a place that holds a strong connection to the Water Goddess Illisa, which this ocean is named after" Rose began. "As such they consider bridges and the likes which grant passage over the water and not actually through it almost sacrilegious."

"So we have to swim after all!?" Zack cried in dismay.

Rose shook her head.

"By small canoes. You must travel atop the water, not over it, to gain the goddesses' favour. Or so they believe anyway, I would much prefer conventional travel myself."

"We need all the gods favour we can get" Kongol responded on a topic that was very un-Kongol like to do so.

Perhaps he takes things like this seriously? Zack wondered a little bemused.

"None the less the town appears strangely unharmed, at least structurally anyway" Zack said thoughtfully. "If they were wanting to destroy any escape methods, then wouldn't razing this town be ideal? It's like they went out of their way to leave it intact."

"Indeed' Rose agreed, glancing overhead. Gulls and vultures circled over head, dipping down hungrily from time to time. "Although it would seem the denizens were not spared such a fortunate fate. Again be on guard, this soon after being attack will leave many of the remaining villagers both suspicious and volatile."

As if her words summoned such a scenario, the river mouth leading deeper into the town that had so far been utterly undisturbed began to ripple with activity. The long yet somehow light to the point of fragile looking wooden boat-canoes which could hold no more than three smaller sized people began to wade towards them, three in total. The first two carried only two people, large, broader persons by the look, the last one carrying an extra. They paddled their way towards the entrance platform they all stood on, disembarked and moved to face them. By the look of the overtly hostile expressions plastered upon their ashen faces, Zack didn't think this was any kind of welcoming committee.

Local militia by the look Zack thought as he judged their scant protection in the form of thin cloth and frayed leather. Their weapons, clubs, knives and makeshift spears were no better.

No wonder they were so easily crushed by Sandora Zack thought with pity.

Seven in total marched towards them. Zack took a step forward, fetching Rose a pleading look. "I'd like this to not have to end in bloodshed. I'll handle this."

It was after all familiar territory. Even Fletz had its own local militia to deal with the backstreet wrong-doings the knights of Basil were too occupied to handle. To that end Zack had a lot of experience with such groups, after all where better to start when you're determined to right the wrongs of the world then your very own city streets?

One man, more a bear if you took into account his large almost seven foot size and hairy face wore some semblance of real chain armour and was armed with a proper weapon: A broad sword. Zack couldn't be sure but he thought if any of them had to be the leader, assuming they had one, it was him.

"And you three are?" the large male spoke, his tone unpleasant to say the least. Yet it was not Zack that his eyes rested upon but the man-mountain Kongol.

And who could blame him? He really is a sight to behold Zack agreed, even if it did make him feel insignificant by comparison.

"Just passing travellers who want only a short stay and no trouble."

Zack cast his glanced back to his two companions, looking for affirmation. As usual Kongol was a stone statue but Rose have a single nod, her eyes showing the slightest surprise at this latest display of rather refined diplomacy.

"Your business?" The man pressed.

"Passage across the sea."

"Why?"

Zack paused a moment. "Merchants. We offer our supplies to those in need across the world. Now that the threat of invasion is over we thought it wise to move onwards."

As Zack and Rose spoke about on their way Furni it would be best from now on, at least until they reached Basil to avoid using their real names. Rose and Kongol in particular held great weight, but their aim was to remain as inconspicuous as possible, and word to mouth spread fast. They could ill afford to create a ruckus with every town their encounter on their way towards their destination.

"Do you just?" The apparent leader of the militia said distrustfully.

"We have no reason to lie. I understand your town has come under attack recently. You have my condolence, and I understand your suspicion all too well. But we are not with Sandora, nor do we wish you harm. We only wish to go about our business peacefully, as you would yours."

"Be that as it may our town is in no condition to house or ferry strangers in its current state. You will have to find another way."

Rose took a step forward, perhaps to solve the problem her own way as she always did, but Zack held out a halting hand. He could still get through to them. These were not malicious men or enemy warriors but scared townsfolk trying to recover from a surprise invasion.

"Please, we only wish to help those in need, your town included. It may be hard, but trust us when we say we are on the same team here."

"There is nothing to offer. Our boats are either in ruin or under Sandorian control, our sailors nothing but stranded drunkards. Three suspicious people like yourselves would only stir the city into trouble, and we've had enough trouble in recent times." His face, or what you could see of it behind his bushy dark beard and brow turned melancholy.

Without any words to respond to the deep meaning behind the explanation, Rose pushed past Zack and faced them. She then removed a piece of parchment from one of her satchels, unravelled it and showed it to the militia.

The leaders expression turned to one of surprise and then reverence upon completion. "This is..."

"From the Queen herself" Rose said.

This was the first time Zack had seen or heard of such a scroll himself. He couldn't scry the contents but could guess them well enough.

"Then we have no choice" the man relented with a sigh. "If her Highness decrees your actions, then we can only obey as all good citizens should. You have my apologies for holding you up."

He returned the paper, which Rose rolled up and place back where she had drawn it from.

"What you seek however will still not be easy to attain, but we shall try. In the mean time we recommend you stop by the tavern and rent yourself a room. They aren't the greatest you'll ever find, but a bed and warm blankets is what you'll get and that should be enough for travelling merchants such as yourselves."

Rose nodded. "That is all we will need."

All previous doubt totally evaporated by e few sentences on a piece of parchment that may or may not have really been from the Queen at all (although the Queen's seal was impossible to forge and just about every citizen knew the look, however Zack was unaware of this), the half dozen or so self appointed armed forces bean to move back towards the rafts they had floated down on. Only the leader came to a slow and then an eventual stop, seemingly waiting for the rest of his comrades to separate themselves from him before turning back towards Rose.

"How is the Queen and the kingdom, if you should know such knowledge?" the bushy militiaman asked in a tone both soft yet full of worry. Zack thought it strange that the events of what took place in Deningrad had not spread to the rest of the nation, after all it was only one serious casualty of note besides a sea of frontline soldiers. But perhaps that was knowledge they didn't want yet public.

Rose regarded the man for a time before answering.

"The Queen and the palace is safe. Many soldiers died in the battle, chief among them lady Miranda who sacrificed herself heroically for her Queen."

The man said nothing, although his eyes clouded over in a mixture of both sadness and happiness.

However for mere travelling merchants such as us to know such information that the rest of the province does not will place undue suspicion on us once more. Although after seeing the mixture of relief and grief in his eyes, a visible weight clearly lifted from a man who only wished to protect his town and country, Zack didn't know if he could tell him otherwise either. In the end the citizens of a nation at war should know the outcome of such a battle, and it pleased him to know at least on some fundamental level that Rose shared the same belief.

Contrary to what Zack thought would follow, the man said nothing more on the subject. He walked to join his comrades before telling us he'd ferry back a couple of boats that would grant us passage to the tavern. Nothing more.

Once the company of city police moved their way back towards the heart of the Furni, the three were left to wait for the next round to be ferried across. Without much to do but kill time, Zack asked a question that had till now been bothering him.

"You never mentioned you had a letter from the Queen herself."

"It was amongst the supplies Ramish granted us at the palace. To be honest I didn't really think it'd come into any use so I didn't see the point in mentioning it" Rose said.

Zack frowned at this. "Whether significant or not that is for the future to decide, in the mean time I'd rather you not keep things from me, no matter how small or useless you may think it. last I checked we are still partners, even if only by virtue of ambition."

Zack cursed his choice of words. He had no intention of picking a fight with his partner, but the way he worded his thoughts would do just that.

"Nothing was stopping you from looking at the contents yourself. I cannot spoon feed you every bit of information we come across. Important information of course I'll share, but anything outside that is your concern if you wish to know every detail."

Zack felt liquid fury begin to run from his mind to his mouth.

"What I don't like is it is up to you that chooses what is vital and what is not. Should something you deem not important turn out to be so, it could be dangerous for us all."

His mind returned to the standoff they had had back in Sandorian outskirts, when she had drawn her blade against him.

Looks like I haven't moved past that as much as I'd believed.

But he didn't blame himself for that, how could he? The ally he was travelling with would just as soon cut him down then help him if she thought it more beneficial to her own goals. While this incident of withheld information may be a small one, he couldn't help but feel that this wasn't the first, nor would be the last time she'd do so. In the end she would indeed only tell him what was absolutely necessary and in that regard he was no different from a tool or pawn to be used, the same as Wen had done not a short time ago.

But I'm not stupid enough to make the same mistake twice he swore. It may suit you now, but there'll come a time where we'll be on even footing, perhaps even a time when I'll be the one using you. Don't think that I won't go to great lengths to achieve my own goals.

Deciding it was best to keep such thoughts within rather than voice them and create further problem, Zack remained silent, as did all three of them before their ferries returned, and their path forward once more clear.

---

The hustle and bustle of the dual-storied pub that greeted Zack reminded him fondly of the various taverns within Bale. Zack welcomed this long since felt familiarity eagerly, feeling for the first time in a long, long while that he wasn't so far removed from home after all. The active crowd that buzzed around the bar and various tables, the loud, almost gravitating call of both sailor and citizen sitting together while they told tales of times both past and recent over a few cheery ales (this kind of upbeat tempo surprised them all considering the town faced almost certain massacre. Perhaps the news of Deningrad's victory had already spread?).

Rose and Zack were able to share a single raft, while Kongol, due to his enormous size had one to himself. Even then him and Rose remained close for fear of the small wooden canoe either capsizing or crumbling entirely under his mammoth weight. Zack wasn't sure if the Giganto could swim, but the comical idea of the colossus flailing miserably as the water slowly engulfed him stole away into Zack's mind every time he wondered. In the end however the small boat would prove more durable than it looks, as it ferried them all across without any hassles.

"The inside is surprisingly larger than the outward appearance would suggest" Zack said as he took in the warm atmosphere, the air pungent with smells common to most taverns: Ale, smoke, pine and at least in this one's case, sea salt. An inviting scene indeed.

It was odd knowing that below them was not a floor but the sea, however that was easily forgotten as the mixed materials that seemed somehow hollow as their footsteps reverberated like they were in a cave and not an open kind of alcove like inn would block that view. The structures didn't quake nor quiver no matter how hard the waves crashed against the base, and Zack found himself once more wondering who exactly it was that decided to built a settlement atop the water, and how that person (or group of people) manage to harvest the necessary resources.

"It's getting late, we'll rest here for the night then observe some of the trade tomorrow. Once we find an opening we'll take it."

Zack, all too open to the idea, grinned roguishly. "Then would you care to share a drink or two?" The idea of an inebriated Rose was as comical as the one of a sinking Kongol.

"Of water perhaps, but none of the alcoholic kind. The last thing we need at this point is dulled senses or a wicked morning hang over."

Zack sighed in disappointment. "Does that mean I can't have any either?"

"I can't tell you what to do, but you'll get no mercy from me if you get yourself in trouble or wake up with any ill effects of too much drinking. We have a mission to do, remember that."

"Doesn't mean we can't kick back and enjoy a couple while we can. 'Specially when these times don't come often at all."

Rose shrugged. "Do what you will, just try to get a good night's sleep. That is also a commodity we won't be afforded often from here on out."

With that she began to move towards the middle of the circular room where a generously large, oval shaped bar was set up in the centre with a good amount of barmaids serving on all fronts for the ever growing patrons.

Zack watched her for a time, she was likely going to talk to the one in charge of getting their rooms organised, then he moved towards one of the very few tables not in use. He offered to drink with Kongol, but as expected he merely shook his head and stood as still as stone. Shrugging it off he took up a rather unstable stool. As if watched, like many potential customers were, one of the many wondering barmaids not forced to serve behind the central desk wondered towards him immediately.

"A drink?" She asked with a warm smile. She was older, old enough to be his mother were she still alive, but her eyes still showed an affectionate resonance most would have lost after one usually does when spending considerable amount of time looking after the drunk.

"Would be much appreciated" Zack said with an engaging smile of his own. She nodded and took off towards the middle of the pub.

She was back within a minute or two, a large mug of home brewed ale in hand which was quickly swapped out for a few silver coins. The woman took them gladly and disappeared amongst the roaring crowd.

It's been a while Zack thought as he took a rather large sip. It's not half bad. Not as goo of course as the brew in Bale or even that in Fletz, but it was nice enough to enjoy and the cold liquid soothed his parched throat like medicine.

Unfortunately, at least for him, the night wasn't going quite as trouble free as he would have liked. He hadn't emptied more than half of his mug before he spotted what appeared to be a bearded (and rather intoxicated) sailor given his hat and typical white and blue vest and pants, stagger over towards Rose who was drinking a glass of water in one of the dim corners of the pub.

this should be interesting Zack thought and he got up from his chair and moved towards the two for a close look. Not too close to be noticed, but close enough so he could be within earshot.

"New around here?" he said with an audible slur. He was gruff, unrefined and perhaps more importantly unclean, what was once probably a nice outfit now stained with both beer and body excretion.

Rose gave him a sidelong look before her gaze turned back to her glass of water. After that she wouldn't even acknowledge the sailor's existence.

The sailor drew a little closer.

"How about I buy you a drink a little less nicer eh? Something that'll make you a little more sociable."

Zack could hardly contain his laughter. This was going to be amusing indeed.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd remove yourself from my presence" Rose responded coldly. She still didn't lift her eyes to even regard the man hoping to coerce her into a drink.

The sailors face flickered for a moment, from enjoyment to one akin of anger or annoyance before the expression disappeared. This oaf was obviously prone to anger and violence when things didn't go his way, as many drunkards were. Still, he saw no reason for alarm, if he did try anything stupid, Rose would set him straight, and would do it quick.

But we are supposed to be trying to remain inconspicuous. Zack supposed he'd step in if need be, but at this point it would likely only result in the angering the sailor more. A sharp glare from Rose would probably be all it would take for the drunk to shrink away under its relentless pressure.

"I urge you to reconsider lass. We are rowdy to be sure, and even perhaps seemingly obnoxious, but times are hard, we are stranded men looking for a little company before we can do what we love to do, sail the seas. A drink or two can't hurt, surely?"

He said this with a lot more fluidity then any of his previous sentences, and it even sounded heartfelt, despite the fact if you judged from the flare on his face not a few moments ago this was clearly not genuine. But if Zack noticed this, then Rose did as well.

Finally Rose did lock eyes with the sailor. As expected, her eyes were as icy as the snow this continent was renewed for.

"I'd hate to have to repeat myself. Now go back to your crew and continue as you were."

This time when the sailors eyes blazed with indignant rage it did not disappear. Zack immediately stiffened at the prospect of the situation turning physical. It might be better for him to settle it after all, at least that way the gutsy marine would escape with only a few bruises, perhaps a tooth or two missing at most. If he were to try anything on Rose, he could expect to lose a whole lot more.

However the intervention of a certain Giganto would stop it from accumulating to anything further. Stepping behind the brazen fellow who wasn't willing to move away quietly, Kongol came to a stop with an emphatic stomp. When the sailor turned, he was met with the leering white eyes of a creature almost double his size.

Kongol didn't need to say a word. His intense stare said all that needed to be said: If he would not do as Rose asked, he would not be dealing with her but the bronze skinned giant that made him appear a mere child.

Try as he might to hide it, the sailor's face betrayed a very obvious expression of terror. Zack could hardly blame him, if Kongol ever turned those volatile eyes upon himself he would have the same reaction. Only very few people of this planet like Rose could stand face to face with such a immense being and not give in to fear.

As for the sailor, he finally did what he should have done the first time he was requested to do so and began to move away from the two towards the table he had come from. Zack hadn't noticed until now, but the pub had grown silent, all eyes on all three of them, partly he supposed because this drunkard was likely a repeat offender of such forceful desires, but most of it probably had to do with the fact that a beast that towered over ten feet had taken to the stage.

As the sailor slinked off, head bowed, face burning with humiliation, he turned to Rose a final time. The mug he had carried with him, full of ale, was tossed toward Rose, the contents sailing towards her like a liquid projectile. Rose appeared to anticipate this, or at least had some awareness it was coming in the last moment because she was able to jump back a step and avoid most of the airborne fluid. Most, but not all. Some of it splattered on her shoes and legs, drenching the single lavender stocking she wore on her left leg that covered to the top of her thigh.

Then the offender disappeared within the crowd, presumably (at least if he knew what was good for him) heading to the exit.

Rose looked down at her leaking legs and shoes with a distant kind of acknowledgment, shook her head then began to move towards the north-western end of the bar, where there was a staircase leading to the upper levels of the tavern.

Zack moved towards Kongol where they both exchanged a glance, then they both followed. They caught up to her by the time she reached the top of the stairs, where a narrow hallway greeted them, six doors on each partition that lead to one of the Inn's twelve rooms.

"Hey" Zack called, halting her advance. Rose turned slowly, as if doing so was a great effort.

"You all right?" He asked.

"Fine" she said. "It's not the first time I've been a part of bar foolery."

But Zack could detect a hint of serious dissatisfaction border lining outright offense. Was she that upset about being doused in a little liquor? Or was it something else?

"I'm heading into my room to clean up. Yours is on the other side of mine, Kongol's is to the left."

With that she moved inside her rented room and closed the door, leaving both Zack and Kongol standing in the hallway.

---

Rose didn't think it'd be enough to give Zack the not so subtle hint to leave her be, and true to form he came barging in after her.

Rose crossed the small space between the doorway and the single bed which was both small and rather worn (although it was certainly clean, thank goodness for small blessings) and sat on the edge facing the door. She immediately began to remove her well worn travelling shoes.

"Don't want to talk about it?" Zack said, breaking the silence of communication.

"There is nothing to talk about" Rose said, her tone waspish. The shoes removed, she began to remove the thin wrapping that covered her foot to avoid chafing which still often occurred during the longer parts of their journey.

"I find it hard to believe you'd be so visible shaken by something as small as a bit of ale, so there must be more to it."

I didn't think a time would come where I'd rue his recent sharpness Rose thought solemnly.

"I'd rather you drop it" she said with a softening tone. Her feet now bare now, if a little damp, she began to process of taking off the violet stocking, starting from her thigh and slipping it off down her doused leg and ankle. Her pale left leg now in plain view in a way that very few ever saw, Rose suddenly felt as naked as she did without her sword.

"Your leg..." Zack said a little surprised. Glancing at it herself she followed the deep gash that ran from the top of her calf to the bottom, only inches away from where the back of her ankle began. It was an unsightly scar to be sure, a slight reddish purple aggravation that jagged like a stretched snake. Despite Shirley's best efforts of recovery, this scar, one of the first of many she had suffered, would always remain. Although she was never one to worry about trifling matters like marred appearances, it was the meaning behind the scar that was truly ugly, not the unattractive blemish itself.

"A slashing wound" Zack deducted, studying the wound intently. Rose said nothing, only waited for the question she thought was surely ensure. For the second time that night Zack surprised her.

"Is that why you wear the cloth legging? To hide the scar?"

Rose, who was prepared for inquiry of how she got the scar, not why she covered it was momentarily taken aback. She let out a brief dry laugh, which visibly put Zack on edge. And why shouldn't it? How many times had she actually laughed in front of him?

"You think I'm the type to worry about such a thing?" she responded with a shake of her head. Granted she had revealed very little about herself during their travels, he should at least know this much.

"Not really, but you are a woman after all. I don't think it inconceivable that you'd worry about such an obvious disfigurement."

"I have left my femininity well and truly behind me. Were it not for my physical traits, you could hardly call me a woman at all."

Zack shrugged at this. "I don't really believe that. Eleven thousand years old or no, you must have some female megrims hidden beneath that shell of ruthlessness."

"I display plenty of other scars on my other leg, not to mention the rest of my body when not in armour. Why would I go through such an effort to conceal a single wound? I reiterate, how I appear to others worries me not at all."

Zack grew silent once more, taking this information in before his gaze fell upon the unique hosiery that looked somehow regal with its gold threaded trimmings that circled both ends.

"If what you say is true, then does the piece of clothing hold some kind of meaning to you? I can't really imagine you going through all the effort to wear it, especially during combat if it didn't."

"It does" Rose said, then realised how easily she fell into his trap and was telling him everything. Although trap wasn't really the right word, he didn't create this out of any real cunningness, it was just easy to be swept away by his naturally easy-going disposition. He really was more like Zeig in more ways than one.

Stop this foolishness, you cannot continue to compare the two she berated once more. Had she not already promised she'd stop such stupidity? Had she not learned by making the same mistake by comparing Dart to Zeig?

"I would like to hear the story of how such an item became so precious to you, although admittedly I can already kinda guess it must've been one of your comrades from the Dragon Campaign."

And why not? He had already seen and guessed most of which she had tried to hide and there was nothing left for it to tell him the story he wanted to hear. The quicker he found out the quicker he'd leave her in quiet anyhow.

"It was from a time I was both young and stupid. Drunk off of the power of the dragon that flowed through my body I made a mistake that not only gave me a grievous wound, but also cost the lives of many innocent people and put the entire campaign to usurp the Winglies in jeopardy."

"Dragonlust?" Zack asked almost knowingly.

Rose frowned, giving it some thought. "In a sense perhaps... But I think it more accurate to say I was drunk off my own lust and power, or at least power I thought I had. With every seemingly impossible victory, with every Wingly outpost and city we laid waste to, it fed our ever growing confidence. Mine peaked at the wrong time, and consequently it led to a mistake that not only put our entire group and army we were commanding in danger, but all of humanity's struggle."

Zack could offer no real response. He only nodded sympathetically, yet his eyes told her he wanted to hear more.

"Being a slave to the Winglies for many years created an almost inbred hatred for them. All people barring a select few who's benevolent soul transcended such emotions, people like Shirely, harboured such a feeling on one level or another. In any event such feelings are impossible to understand, you had to actually experience it firsthand to do so. None the less we managed to launch a decisive assault on one of their main cities in the Crystal Palace. Mind you the city around it was far different from what it is now, but it took even the Winglies by surprise. To attack the birth city that deemed whether their offspring were worthy of being raised was something so audacious that it was thought unimaginable. Our mission was simple, to take the city, either by killing all its citizens, razing it to the ground or forcing the Winglies to flee. After a titanic battle, the latter was what occurred, they fled the city, leaving it in our hands."

Rose paused a moment, her mind reliving the experience.

"As Dragoon Knights didn't always travel as a group, in fact it was more often that we headed our own human battalions all with different objectives. Once we attained control of the town, we were to cease fighting and regroup immediately, that was the always the decided plan. However in the heat of the moment, as I saw the Winglies flee like mice... I decided to change that objective and hunt down every one of them and crush them. I justified it in my mind by telling myself the less that survive, the less we have to deal with later, but in the end it was only to sate my own bloodlust."

Rose gave Zack a moment to comment or ask any question that he thought necessary to ask, and when none came she continued. It looked like he was going to wait until the tale was finished before speaking.

"I led my group of warriors outside the city on a hunt. The reason why we were to immediately regroup and fortify our position was because the escaping enemies were going to do the same. They would reform themselves and counterattack, after all they were not going to let one of their fabled birth cities fall into enemy hands so easily. As I continued to kill I ran into a large group of already reorganizing Winglies. They regrouped faster than I or any of us could ever think, as their group surpassed mine in numbers by a fair margin. It was almost like an ambush, and when the fighting began my battalion was quickly demolished. Were it not for Zeig's reinforcements, none of us would have survived."

Finally Zack did ask a question. "As far as I know, Winglies are attuned to magic. So how did you get a scar that implies the use of a human weapon?"

Rose let out a small chuckle, only this was devoid of humour and full of dark irony.

"Because the wound was from a human weapon. My own soldier gave me the wound."

Zack expressed shock at this. "What!? Your own man attacked you?"

Rose affirmed. "We were huddled in a tight space when the fighting began, made worse by the fact the Winglies, in an unorthodox fashion engaged us up close. Even though I was in my Dragoon form, I had to remain grounded otherwise airborne I'd make myself an obvious target for their ranged artillery. back to back, one of the frightened soldiers turned and lashed out at me out of reflex. It managed to slip by the gap in my leg armour and slash the unprotected side of calf." Another humourless laugh. "Do you know how small the chances are of a the weapon slashing my on just the right angle, in the just the right place at just the right time, not to mention both our placements, for the weapon to slip into the unguarded side of my leg and cut me that badly? Virtually non-existent. It was almost as if the gods themselves sought to punish my impudence."

"Even we must have gaps in our armour for mobility purposes" Zack agreed. "They are small gaps, but still large enough for a thin blade to slip through if slashed in the right place..."

"Always remember that even as a Dragoon Knight, you are far from invincible. The wound managed to not only to maim me but it would have killed me were it not for close by medical personal who managed to stop the haemorrhaging."

Zack flinched but added nothing.

"It severed numerous arteries and ligaments. Healing aided by magic repaired most of it, but even magic has its limits. I was not only sidelined for an extended time, but nearly crippled in the process. Many died, I nearly died and the Winglies were in danger of taking back the city we fought and sacrificed so much because I was foolish and made rash decisions that went against reason. This scar would forever be a reminder of that."

"But had you not crushed the survivors when you did, allowing them to recover may have been just as fatal if not more so. Even if your judgment was clouded by revenge, it may have still been the right decision."

"Were my slaughtered men the only consequence then you may have been right, I could have justified it even if my actions were all for the wrong reasons. But especially in a war, a seemingly small error can have dire consequences that ripple out like splash in water. The men I lost meant that the ones remaining after the battle were will ill numbered to defended from a certain counter-attack. We had to get reinforcements from our home land in Gloriano, west of Mille Seseau. It was an icy snow land even harsher than Mille Seseau, for even this continent has it's greenery, but against Winglies that could not only fly but harness mobile attack devices like the Tower of Flanvel which flew in the skies like a skewed monolithic canon, our base of operations was always under constant threat of annihilation. Thinning our eroding forces further to cover the loss of my mistake left many of the smaller forts around the mountain valleys that connected the two landmasses vulnerable and consequently decimated. In the end the death count extended far beyond the battle I participated, and I was solely responsible for it."

Rose took a moment to compose herself, the vivid memory of her failure creating a heat to boil within her full of contempt and self loathing. Once she swallowed it down like the urge to vomit she resumed once more, her deposition back to its stoic usualness.

"My leg to this day has never recovered one hundred percent, although many years of training have made the slight disadvantage basically non-existent. What small loss of mobility I earned I made up for by being more mobile with my other leg. But still I had to spend time in recovery, missing some upcoming important battles. It nearly killed me, not being able to help fight for the humanity I wished so desperately to save. Yet at some point, after Zeig had battled and found himself with a little downtime before his next, he managed to visit me. On one particular occasion he presented me with this cloth legging, fashion with a colour that matched the rest of my battle garments. It offered no protection, yet the light and thin quality of it meant it would not hinder me in battle either. He was trying to cheer me up I suppose, told me the less I have to look at my wound the better, so once I can I should put it on and never take it off. Of course I thought this foolish and didn't, at least not to begin with. But once he perished in the final battle I went back only to realise I had very little from him in the way of possession to remind me of his warmness and all the good things he did for me... I donned it immediately and removed it only when I had to."

Rose then sighed, realising she had spoke a whole lot more then she initially intended it. It felt like a damn confession of some kind, at least to her it did. They say it's better to talk about things that bother you, but after the experience Rose could honestly say she felt no better than before Zack entered the room.

"So that's why you got so upset it was soiled" Zack said thoughtfully.

"It'll only need a wash, if nothing more to get the reeking stench out, but it'll do no lasting damage. It's magically embodied so it won't tear nor fray. Like my previous existence it is almost ageless."

Rose turned introspective, and like a clam that had for a small time opened to expose the tender pearl underneath, she closed herself off, snapping shut as she so often did. Zack got the message immediately and began to walk towards the exit of the room.

"Thank you for sharing your tale. One time soon I'll share one of my own in compensation, although it'll be far less grand than any of yours." He flashed a smile to show the good nature of his jest, but given the unmoving, stone like look that greeted him, he made little success of it.

"Let us get some sleep, we will be up early tomorrow and who is to know what other problems will await us"

Zack agreed, bode her a goodnight then shut the door behind him. With that sound came a feeling of intense loneliness, like a raging fire that had suddenly been doused and what was left was a contrasting coldness. The feeling only lasted a moment, but it was a feeling so intense she had to quell the urge to get up and actually ask him to keep her company, even if just for a few minutes longer. But instead she did what she always did. She finished her nightly chores, turned off the lights and brooded well into the night until sleep would eventually claim her, where she would continue to brood within the depths of her unceasing nightmares.

---

Rose's sleep was short lived as it always was. She was up well before dawn, the moon still only half way through its descent before the sun would replace it on the other side of the horizon, and with not much else to do but a whole lot (too much really) of mulling things over, she decided to do the only thing that cleared her mind: She practiced her sword fighting. With both the tavern and the town totally silent, she was able to easily slip out and move towards the entrance where she took only her thick hide coat and rapier. After spending nearly two hours sparring with her shadow, managing to heat her body to the point of perspiration despite the cold, she returned to her room, bathed in the local and unoccupied bath house, then finally set her mind to what would and could lay ahead.

As the sun rose, it's shimmering light dazzling the clear blue ocean, there was a knock on the door. She expected it to be Zack, or Kongol if not, but she was surprised when she was instead met with the same grizzly aging man that questioned her the day before upon their arrival.

"You are Rose?" He questioned sternly. Rose didn't respond, but something in her face apparently betrayed her momentary recoil at being abruptly called her name by a man who should have no such knowledge of it.

"I see" he said with a nod. "So it is indeed true..."

Any thoughts at denial now fled her mind. She had made it painfully obvious and to do so would only make things more suspicious. All she could do now was either kill the man in hopes her identity died with him or hope that he would not make it common knowledge if he had not done so already. After a moments deliberation she chose the latter.

"I would ask you keep this to yourself" Rose requested although put no real expectation upon it.

The man nodded. "I had every intention of doing so. But I feel it prudent that you also know my name. I know you probably don't care, but none the less I'll feel a litte better about doing it. Skip is my name for what it's worth."

Skip was right about one thing, she had no concerned about the name he was given at birth, but she felt no need to voice this. Instead she remained silent and let him continue with his business.

"There is someone I would like you to meet. This person vouches for your intent but more importantly offers access across the sea. He is waiting at the docks across the jetty, I suggest you get your crew together and meet him as soon as possible." With that, the man named Skip promptly left, apparently lingering only as much as his business would dictate. That was fine, with this new revelation she had a lot more to think about. A possible trap or ambush for instance, as she can recall no person that would vouch for her intentions in a town such as this. The fact that all sea trade were being at least in some way monitored by Sandora also added to her concern even if what Skip said was true. In the end however think over it as much as she may, it was the only lead they currently had about a way out of Mille Seseau. A trap it may turn out to be, but in the end there was nothing more for it then to go for the ride and let happen what will happen. With that in mind, Rose moved to alert her other two companions about the situation at hand.

---

When Rose told Zack about the meeting with someone who was apparently willing to grant them passage across the sea, he too was met with a feeling of intense unease. Kongol said nothing when Rose explained her visit from one of the militia men, as always his area of expertise was in battle, and like a caged animal waiting to be unleashed he simply waited for the next chance to display his well honed battle prowess. The Giganto still nodded, affirming at least some level of understanding, but Zack wondered if any of the finer details mattered to him. In his mind it seemed that all that did matter was whether the state of affairs would turn into a bloodbath or not. None the less he was glad to have him close by, if for whatever reason things did turn violent, it was nice to know you had a giant wrecking ball as an ally close at hand.

As promised, they waited atop a giant, wooden-planked jetty that had a girth wide enough to accommodate at least ten Kongol's. It spanned off far past the odd layout of the town and into the Illisa Sea. Fragmenting off from the large pier on both sides at what appeared to be calculated intervals were small docking stations where ships of even larger sizes could pull into. There had to be at least close to a dozen docks that spanned off each side of the large wharf, and as the trio walked briskly across the never ending jetty, Zack was only now just grasping how large the shipping trade was for this town literally built around such a foundation.

The dense morning fog that was like a veiled shroud made it hard to gauge the total distance of the pier, but it had to be a few hundred meters at least, perhaps as long as a kilometre. The port itself was empty, no ships, no sailors or crewmen to found anywhere and this only added to the eerie atmosphere that had settled upon the them. Only the soft breaking of small waves as it brushed upon the beams that held the jetty aloft along with the distant cawing of gulls broke what would otherwise near silence.

"Did the guy actually mention where on this massive port we were to meet this mystery person?" Zack asked, no longer able to bear the silence. Nerves really were setting in now, even more so than usual. He guessed it had to do with the ambiance and thick fog which made an ambush all too plausible.

"No, but keep verbal communication to a minimum. What we cannot see we must hear, smell and feel" Rose said in a low, rough tone. He guessed that she was a wary as he was.

Even Kongol, whose footsteps you could hear a mile away moved with deliberate caution, remaining quite as possible while keeping one hand clasped over the handle of his massive battle axe that hung over his back and shoulders.

The three continued to move forward as quiet as possible for a time longer when eventually, as the haze of the new day began to lift, they spotted at least three figures standing idly ahead. They could not yet make out what or who they were, and as such they all stiffened at once, weapons at the ready.

As quiet as they may have been they were still loud enough for the group of unknown persons to detect them. As Zack, Rose and Kongol came to a stop, the group covered by the fog began to move towards them. Judging by their silhouettes they were very open, almost too open to be soldiers or trained mercenaries.

But that doesn't mean they aren't Zack thought cautiously.

When the unidentified faction came into view both Zack and Rose were shocked to find out they indeed knew who at least one of these people were.

"Paula!?" Zack said with open astonishment. The aging captain flashed a wry grin.

"Strange circumstances construct strange meetings" Paula said as he moved to offer Zack an open hand. Zack took it gladly and gave it a strong shake.

"You were the last person I expected to see here!" Zack said, happy to see a familiar face. Paula moved to repeat the same action to Rose, but instead of a greeting hand Paula was met with the hard steel of her rapier. Zack and the crewmen behind the captain all gasped at once.

"In case you forgotten Zack last time we met Paula was in leagues with Wen and his self-produce faction."

Comprehension then dawned on him. Shit! I had forgotten that in light of meeting a friendly face.

As Rose rested the tip of her weapon against the unprotected heart of the captain, Paula slowly raised his hands above his head.

"Listen Rose, I understand your distrust. But believe me when I say I had no idea."

"I care not whether or not you knew, what I care about is whether or not you are still one of his puppets. Know that if I sense any deceit in your claims I will cut you down where you stand."

The blaze of her stone eyes told them all that she was not bluffing in the slightest.

Paula braced himself uncomfortably under the threatening point of Rose's weapon but held out a halting hand to the comrades behind him that appeared ready to come to his aid. The three of them gave him a questioning look which he placated his crewmen's worries by giving them a stern nod.

"Officially I am under the influence of Sandora. Officially I am spearheading one of the main trade fleets between here and the continent of Serdio. Officially I have sworn fealty to said country and all its causes. However personally..." Paula moved his eyes from side to side as if to make sure no one else was watching or listening. "I would love nothing more than to see Sandora burn." The fire in the captains eyes told Zack at least that this was no lie. That fire was filled with both fury and regret. "So I say this with the utmost certainty when I claim that I will do anything to help you and your objectives."

The captain and Rose continued to lock eyes for a while longer, before Rose eventually withdrew her blade. Paula let out an audible sigh of relief. Zack could hardly blame him, when a woman like Rose held you at blade-point, you really did fear for your own life, that much he knew from experience.

"I suppose I'll have to believe you, at least for now" Rose said in a voice that was noncommittal.

"You have my thanks." Paula said and even bowed. "Once we heard that the one who would take Hytas' place as King was our leader himself, our faction grew outraged to say the least. With revenge on our minds for all those who were sacrificed, we launched an assault on Sandora in hopes of ending the conflict once and for all."

Paula's expression turned gloomy. "I ferried many across in an effort to attack not only from the front by from nearby beaches as well. In the end the siege didn't last more than a day, most of us were slaughtered like animals. Wen must have expected such an outcome as the army appeared ready, in a high state of alert."

"Silly indeed' Rose said. "Especially considering they would be in ever so vigilant after we escaped a short while before."

Paula nodded gravely. "Those not killed outright had the choice of serving the newly proclaimed King Wen once more or being executed on the spot. As you can see, begrudgingly, I chose the former."

Paula dropped his head in shame.

"It was not my finest moment, perhaps I am indeed a coward, but I did not want to die, not in vain like that as it would have been had I chosen to struggle."

Rose said nothing to this, but Zack felt a strong pang of sympathy.

"The point is you're alive, and because of that you can help us out where we would have otherwise had none" Zack said in an effort to console the captain.

Turning his mind back to business, the good captain nodded. "Skip informed me about your arrival. Although he didn't mention names, your descriptions were obvious enough." he regarded Kongol this time. "Yours in particular. It is good to see you again."

Kongol gave a grunt that was somehow not unfriendly.

"I'm due to do another cargo run from here across Serdio. I can ferry you across, however... it will be difficult. Sandora have set up many check points for thorough search of any cargo that comes and goes across the border. Very diligent are Imperial Empire at the moment."

"Can you sneak us through?" Zack asked.

Paula hesitated. "I can only try. If worst comes to worst I can try and hide you in one of the many shipping containers and hope they do not search over every nook and cranny as they have done in the past. Otherwise..."

"We will deal with them one way or the other" Rose intervened. Both Zack and Paula saw the murderous spark in her hard eyes, to which the captain protested immediately.

"Open hostility is not a recourse we can follow. You may be able to get away with it, if you can dock and continue to evade on land perhaps, however when Sandora learn of such a forced entry their gaze will fall upon me and my crew. I cannot endanger them in such an blatant manner, such treason will surely result in execution for all of us."

Zack concurred. "I'm all for doing what we can to free the slaved cities, but not at the expense of the few allies we have left. We will have to think of a way outside violence."

"Usually there is always the chance of bribery, however..." Paula trailed off for a moment, having trouble with the finish.

"With our wanted status for murdering their former King, no amount of money would allow us through" Rose finished. Paula nodded.

"Don't suppose pretending to be prisoners will do the trick?" Zack suggested without much hope.

"If you think you can escape with a fleet of Sandorian ships as escorts, be my guest" the captain replied.

"What about transforming and flying overhead?" Zack said, proposing his second idea. This time it was Rose who rejected it.

"Over such a large expanse of sea that would take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to traverse, even with the flying power of our Dragoons? Good luck maintaining the energy to overcome such an impossible feat."

Zack let out a grunt of exasperation. "We have the means right in front of us, there must be something we can do."

"What exactly is this plan of yours?" Paula inquired softly. Zack answered.

"One by one to free the cities under Sandora's grasp, also gaining a resistance force of our own. We're gonna hit Fletz first due to its distance so far from Sandora's natural hub, then move slowly inland, hoping to gather more willing soldiers as we go. Eventually the idea is to free Fletz, Basil along with any other towns under occupation and bring the war to Sandora's doorstep. Bereft of all their support, we might have a real chance at crushing them."

"It is certainly a long shot" Paula said with a dry grin. "Although inactive resistances are plentiful, Sandora's iron grip strikes fear into any who would go against them. It'll certainly take a monumental accomplishment to stir the masses into action."

"If the Dragon Campaign has taught me one thing" Rose began. "It is that the harder we are pushed and oppressed, the more dangerous we become. All that it requires is a spark, as Emperor Diaz was the spark that kindled the embers of our dying race in my time, we shall be the ones to do so now."

Zack was surprised at Rose's rather optimistic outlook towards a painting that was shaping up to be very, very bleak. Despite her nature to almost incessantly point out the cynical whenever possible, within her core there really did burn a belief that people as a whole can overcome adversity. It did Zack a world of good to hear it and warmed his heart wholly.

The veteran commander of more ships than even he could count nodded thoughtfully. "And it is now more than ever that we need such a reason. Something is going on here Rose, something big. Bigger than a mere struggle of land ownership I think. I don't know a whole lot, but there is an air of uncertainty, within Sandora as well as the endless sea I sail on. All is not what it seems, not on the inside or the outside. Most are just too scared to question it, and in that regard the people and soldiers of Sandora are just as much a victim and are in need of liberating than any other country. They have been lied to and manipulated, but what is more worrisome is that they are feared into believing it, even when the obvious is right there in plain sight to see. It takes a truly terrifying power to do that."

Zack hadn't thought much about the idea the Wen may not be the end game player they all thought he was, hadn't dared too, was too scared to think that someone or something even more sinister than his old comrade was pulling the strings from behind the scenes, but now more than ever before the idea flooded his mind and Zack found it impossible to quell.

Impossible. Wen is not the type to play second fiddle to anyone. It was a logical answer, but it didn't reassure him as much as he would have liked. What if Wen was only a red herring to distract them from an even greater force?

Rose voiced what Zack could only think in the corners of his mind.

"You don't think this is only Wen's doing?" she said, her tone impossibly flat as if she had considered this all along.

"It's hard to say" Paula stammered unsurely. "But no, I think that he is only a part of an even greater threat, a storm cloud in a cluster of an oncoming cyclone. This all feels like a lead up to the true finale, and I fear that conclusion will end with not one nation holding power, but in one dealing out destruction."

"We can only do what we can for the moment and work with what we know. What we do know is that even if Wen is only a pawn at worst, he is an important one. One that can give us the information we need if we can just get a hold of him. But to do that we need an army that rivals his."

"I believe in you, in all of you. You have saved us from the clutches of certain destruction once before, and I will trust you will do so again. To that end I will do my best to grant you passage to Fletz. It is a risk, but given your own resolves I speak for all of my crew when I say it is one we are all willing to take. We must all do our part in the end. I only hope the seas will find us a way to avoid the ever watchful eye of Sandora."

"This means certain treachery Paula, as you said earlier it'll mean certain death for your crew" Zack said, not at all happy with the decision. What frustrated him greater however was that he could think of no other alternative from being stranded in a far away river town where they could do nothing.

"Perhaps" the captain said thoughtfully. "Perhaps not. In the end what will be will, we can only play our part. You three are the only ones who can create a big enough shake to really stirs things up as it currently stands."

"We'll gladly accept the offer" Rose said abruptly. "We would like to leave as soon as we can."

"Are you serious? We'll be captured for sure! Did you forget the part where we're wanted and they have total control of the sea throughout Tiberoa and Serdio?"

His plea seemed to have fell on deaf ears. She was talking to the captain, her focus squarely on Paula.

"I don't have much to offer, only a rather small nameless cargo ship." The captain's bushy lips smiled ironically. "No luxurious ride on the Poseidon this time around."

"It'll suit us fine. Show us the way" Was Rose's only response. Paula glanced at Kongol who gave a stern nod, then at him. The captain's gaze lingered on him a few moments in a way that was somehow shrewd and knowing.

"You'd make a fine captain I think" he said gravely. "A captain must be ever vigilant, not only of the capricious seas that can turn from serene to volatile at seconds notice, but also the weight of his own responsibility. But sometimes, even in the face of adversity, a great captain will know that no matter the risk, the only way is forward."

Leaving Zack to mull over those words Paula and his crew led Rose and Kongol back down the jetty from where they had come from. After a few bemused seconds, Zack followed.

---

It didn't take them long at all to set sail, in fact the time it took to leave on one of the large harbours branching off Furni's giant jetty suggested that despite Paula's initial claim to the contrary, he and his crew were ready to ferry them all along. All he needed was to test their resolve, to make sure that the risk they all took was worth the outcome.

The cargo ship was far from large as the captain suggested, only a small freight under the ever imposing banner of Sandora. The ship was only as long as fifty meters from the stern to the rear, and even that was being generous, and was only four levels deep. The bottom consisted of the engine rooms along with the hull and other necessary compartments central to the mobility of the ship, while the bulk of the third deck was used to house most of (and what was considered most precious) of the cargo goods. The second was crew members rooms, kitchens and dining rooms while the top deck held any inexpensive cargo that couldn't fit below along with various level cranked cranes that appeared to be used to move the on board goods. Outside that everything else is what you'd expect of any normal ship, commercial or no, masts, sails, lookouts along with basic sea defences like cannons other projectile based equipment. But to Rose it was all superfluous, if it came down to a sea battle with anything else but a similar cargo ship, they would easily be overpowered by less ancient artillery.

As the ship set sail for the Tiberoan continent Rose, Zack and Kongol chose to explore the ship separately and at their own leisure. After a little exploring Rose grew tired of looking at one of the many boats she had seen in her time and retired to one of the deckhand cabins. As one would expect from a ship primarily made for delivery and not luxury, the cabins were small and cramped. Small rooms filled with two dual bunk-beds, one on the bottom one on top along with a small table and a cross between a desk and drawer where one could horde personal supplies was all that were afforded. This worried Rose not at all, in fact the almost claustrophobic nature of the room somehow put her at ease. Kongol would likely not fit and have to find elsewhere to sleep, so she would have to share with Zack, who was at the moment more inclined to enjoy the scenery outside. For now she leaned against the wooden supports of the dual layered beds and began to contemplate. What would they do when they hit Tiberoan waters?

No answer came to her. What they did from here on out could not really be planned out anyway, it was all on the fly. This did go against her nature of calculated carefulness, but the time for that was now over. The time to make a stand, no matter the risks, was now.

And so came a few days of relative peace and quiet. Navigating the Illisa Bay covered so much ground in comparison to making the continental journey on foot that Zack voiced it akin to the bad punch line of a bad joke. The broken Sunset Isles could be seen in the far distance to the north east, tropical islands that somehow resembled Rouge looked like a beautiful retreat when compared to the stark view of the endless desert of Death Frontier that stuck out from to the west as they looped towards Donau, a trip which would take them close to a week. The top deck view however could only be admired for a short couple of days before Paula insisted the three of them remain below deck as to avoid any unwanted surveillance, much to Zack's displeasure. He had spent most of his time on the top deck, but when that was no longer an option he could only sit around for so long before his endless restlessness drove him to do something more productive. He helped the crew in just about any way they would allow, he helped in the engine room, cleaned and even cooked when necessary. Zack really was, to Rose at least, like a small child with boundless amounts of energy.

Kongol meanwhile did what he always did when not fighting: He waited. Seeking solitude in one of the large container rooms on the lower levels, Kongol was once more struck by the modern architecture of human progression. He wasn't intelligent enough to understand it, even the Giganto understood this, but he was still sharp enough to admire it, admire it yet hate it. It was this kind of human industrial evolution that created the tools to annihilate his entire species. Indeed such machinery were things to be admired, but also feared.

The three only came into group contact twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. What they discussed of course were two things: What they were going to do once they hit Sandorian patrolled waters, and what they were going to do once they reached Tiberoa.

And so the process repeated without any real answer to either question and the days quickly evaporated like a puddle of water under a relentless sun. The weather proved kind during their tenure upon the seas and so within five days they breached the Tiberoan part of Illisa Bay. This was when things were going to get difficult. Sandora would surely have both checkpoints and scouts set across the border to observe any and all activity, shipping trade least of all. All they could hope for now was lax security, at least lax enough for them to remain hidden from any inspection.

Crew members promised to keep them posted as they hid within the crewmember's quarter. As thorough as Sandora were with checking precious cargo, they weren't necessarily as diligent when it came to combing through cabin rooms. Yet that didn't mean they wouldn't do so, and as such men were on hand to let them know to move locations at a seconds notice. Kongol could only fit through by bending on all fours, as awkward as it was, but for the time being it would have to do.

The three of them all held their proverbial breaths for the encounters to come.

---

It was to be thankful their breaths were held figuratively and not literally, because were that the case then they would be all well and truly dead. Seconds turned to minutes, then minutes to hours. Hourly updates were provided but so far they all came with the same message: All was clear.

No checkpoints or even a scour ship in sight, just open waters inviting them to sail ever closer. Dangerously inviting. Rather than take this as a stroke of luck, they all assumed it a stroke of ill fortune. Had a trap been set? Were they mere mice heading towards the distance cheese while a mousetrap lays underneath?

Until now the trio were greeted with twelve updates every hour on the hour. That was until recently, where enough time passed that is was sure to be at least two or three hours, perhaps as much as four. Still no word on what was happening over head.

"Can't be a battle can it? We'd hear that, surely" Zack muttered nervously.

Rose ignored him, her expression one of focused scrutiny. While unlikely, it was possible some kind of quiet, surprise attack was launched, especially when you factor in the enemy's recent acquisition of true blooded Winglies.

The door was then pushed open, and what followed was not one of the many deckhands but instead the captain himself. His face was a mixture of fear and weariness.

"bad bad news" he said with a strained tone. His ragged breathing suggested he must have made it to their cabin with all haste.

"What?" Rose said, instinctively turning rigid. She had a real bad feeling about this one.

"I can't be one hundred percent, and perhaps my worn eyes are failing me but there is a ship approaching us... a Sandorian ship to be precise."

"A scout!?" Zack said, wanting to know more. But guessing by the look of stricken dread in Paula's eyes, Rose thought it was a hell of a lot more than a single scout ship. Probably a fleet if the captain's shaken appearance was anything to go by.

"Not just any ship... his ship!' Paula finally said, the last two words almost a squeal.

"His?" Zack wondered, but Rose already knew who Paula was talking about and thought Zack did as well. All that was needed at this point was confirming.

"The largest and most revered battleship next to the Queen Fury, and it can only belong to one man" Paula said after an effort to calm himself. "The insignias... they are those of the King Eisenhower himself..."

Rose, Zack and Kongol all exchanged glanced.

"How close?" Rose asked.

"Very close. Too close."

"Show us" she said as she began to move towards the deck. All ideas of discretion were abandoned, if Wen was indeed on the ship and it wasn't just another ruse, they had a second chance to end it once and for all. Rose wasn't going to let him go a second time.