Chapter 26

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Author notes: I'd like to thank rosedragoon and Sakura's Sonata for their constant reviews. It always gives that bit more motivation so thanks guys

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The Sandorian battleship was truly a sight to behold. It had to be nearly twice the size in both length width and mass. The sea before it rippled aside it, as if no more then peasants moving aside for their king or queen. It was armed with large turrets, the turrets and resting abreast the deck while the cannons were stationed over the side of each level of the boat. Rose guessed there were at least three levels, possibly four. Its towering stature was almost upon them before they could even hope to try and flee, and Rose could spot many soldiers scurrying around the deck, looking somewhat alarmed, at least that's what it looked like. Its large black sails fluttered with the wind, only further imposing its already impressive magnitude. It almost resembled a wayward pirate ship, a bigger version of the ghost ship they encountered on the Queen Fury a while back.

But the vessel suddenly came to a halt, only a few yards away. It bobbed idly, almost threateningly as a kind of standoffish silence began to seep in.

"Now what?" Zack asked as they peered from behind a large container of cargo.

"We wait" she responded coolly, although her hand instinctively dropped towards her sword. More time passed, and even Rose began to question what the hell was going on. As if to beckon the call in her mind, someone left the Sandorian boat by air, and slowly hovered there way down towards their cargo ship, the dazzling blood in the sinking sunset made it impossible for even Rose to verify who or what it was. But that didn't last long, and as soon as Rose could make out who the mysterious flying person was, she drew her blade.

The green robed male descended swiftly, a loud thump echoed as his steel boots impacted the wooden floor, his translucent dragoon like wings fading. One sleeve of his robe flapped freely with the wind, while he used his one and now only hand to wave a courteous greeting.

Rose wasted no time. She darted out from behind the cargo box as fast as she could, dashing towards her enemy with cat like speed. She knew that this would be a rare chance, a rare mistake, and she planned to capitalize on it. When she was only a few meters from her foe, she made a quick sideway slash, aimed at his midsection. But her green opponent was just as quick, and with a silky smooth ease that Rose thought was ungodly, he pulled out the Dragon Buster and intercepted her intended slice, their blades echoing with a screeching clash.

"Long time no see" the blonde haired man greeted, his face smiling with fake sincerity. Rose glowered at him, then pushed her blade forward, causing her adversary to take a step back. Rose then jumped a few feet backwards herself, gaining strategic space between herself and her enemy.

"Wen!" Zack cried angrily as he began to run towards Rose's side. Rose signaled him back without taking her eyes of Wen, her stare analytical and anticipating.

"I come here not to fight; our fight is not to be settled until later. Rather, I come bearing a message, and a trade, a fair one I might add" Wen spoke with complete calmness. Zack noted he had not seen anyone act as calm and collected when facing Rose as Wen did during there short time together. Then again, Wen possessed powers that could potentially outmatch Rose, and with that kind of power who wouldn't be calm?

"I care not for your deals or messengers. Only one thing will transpire, and that is your death. Your arrogance and overconfidence is your downfall, and you coming here alone has mistakenly given me the perfect opportunity to finish you" Rose replied curtly, reading herself for another charge.

When Wen opened his mouth, Rose didn't think he could say anything that could deter her determination to kill him right there and then, let alone stop her in her tracks. Yet the next sentence that was spoken did freeze her, and she felt her resolve begin to diminish.

"We have Dart alive, albeit in our custody. How much longer he lives however, is now in your hands he enlightened. When he saw Rose's stance begin to falter, his arrogant smile began to resurface.

"Good, good. I gave a very strict order that if I do no return alive, then young Dart will suffer an untimely death." Wen took special care as to linger on the death part. Rose felt her blood begin to burn, and she wanted nothing more then to trust her cold blade into his even colder heart. Yet she could feel, more then she could tell that he was not bluffing.

"You want us to hand over the spirits in exchange for Dart's life, correct?" Rose said after a few moments. Wen began to beam, his eyes glowing with excitement.

"You are as sharp as you are beautiful" Wen remarked, bowing slightly.

"Cut it with the fake flattery. Although you may return alive, I can still send you back without a tongue in your mouth." But although she made such threats, Wen knew as well as she did they were empty, and that he once again had them by the proverbial balls.

Wen simply laughed merrily. "I have arranged a meeting spot of us, to make the trade. There you can be assured that Dart is safe, and very much alive. There, you will hand us over the Dragoon Spirits, and we will hand over your last remaining comrade. I'm sure it goes without saying that if you refuse, we will kill him" Wen elaborated, his facing unnervingly upbeat.

Rose didn't say anything, only waited for him to continue. Zack and Kongol by this stage had joined Rose, both weapons drawn. But they had also heard the conversation, and knew as well as Rose did they were stranded if they regarded Dart's life.

"Where shall we meet?" Rose prompted after Wen remained silent, waving his Dragon Buster absently. Wen cocked his head up, his short golden hair moving with the wind.

"There is a small abandoned outpost that lays between Kazas and Hoax, to the north a little" Wen spoke, his face looking thoughtful. He then went into his rope, pulled out a small piece of paper then began to scribble on it with a marker of some sort.

"Here" he spoke after he finished, rolling the piece of paper up and throwing it towards Rose.

"It's a rough indication of where we will meet. Make it midday, the day after the next" he commanded. Rose looked at the parchment, and it was a map of Serdio and between Hoax and Kazas, just as Wen said, he pointed out the area of where they were to meet in the form of a small red circle. Rose then took her eyes off the map and quickly back onto him.

"Well then, I'll see you in three days" he almost chanted. As he turned his back to leave, he quickly pivoted around, surveying the ship. His eyes flickered as they examined, finally resting on Paula.

"You" he signaled, extending his arm and pointer finger. Paula straitened, apparently startled by the sudden attention he received. "Come here" he spoke in a low voice, although he still maintained his dignified smile. Whether it was just a façade he liked to keep up or he found this entire situation pleasing was unknown to her.

Paula cleared his throat, and began to slowly walk towards the king. Rose didn't like where it was going, and although he wore an almost believable smile, she could read something entirely different in his eyes, especially that flash that erupted from his eyes not moments ago. As the captain drew close to her she shot out her hand and jerked him back by the fabric of clothing on his arm.

"Stay right here" she breathed. "At least if you value your life." Paula didn't have to be told twice, and he slowly drifted behind Rose and Zack, fidgeting with himself uneasily.

Wen didn't appear at all shaken by the event, although his smile did wane. And once again Rose noted that dangerous flash that almost makes him look like a madman, although a madman he may very well be. It was a flicker of hatred, contempt and revulsion, the true emotions he harbored behind the fake diplomatic mask upholds up she surmised.

"Well, that's fine" he continued, although his voice hinted vexation. "I'll leave you with one final message." And with that, he dipped his hand into his small sachet and pulled out a handful of black coloured hair locks and held them out over his head, as if it were some sort of trophy.

Rose examined the hair for a few moments, and then she realized exactly just where the hair came from. Zack at first was left confused, not able to recognize the fine hair movements that Rose's keen eye took in that allowed her to distinguish it from others, but his gut told him who it was from.

Wen then slowly released his grip, and the hair fluttered away in small strands with the wind current, and Rose plucks a few locks as it passed her with her free hand.

"I'll see you soon my dear rivals" he almost sneered, and then his Wingly wings manifested. He hovered for a few seconds, eyeing them one last time, before he turn away back to the large battle ship that towered over them.

When he had disappeared from sight, the boat instantly turned and went back the way it came, towards Serdian land, to Kazas no doubt. Everyone, Paula in particular felt a wave of relief at their departure.

Zack examined the large brown hair Rose had in her hand, and then asked weakly "Is that Amika's hair?"

Rose nodded, confirming his earlier suspicion.

"Then… she's dead?" he questioned, the dry frailty not leaving his tone.

"Yes" Rose replied sternly. At that revelation, Zack slammed the butt of his spear against the floorboard below, radiating a loud thumping sound.

"But I did notice one thing. He lost his right hand, perhaps even half of his arm if we are lucky" Rose pointed out. "It would appear that she went down fighting." Zack looked at her, and thought it was completely understandable. Amika being defiant even in the face of death somehow suited her.

Paula then interrupted their conversation.

"I must thank you Rose." He thanked with profuse fondness. "He meant to kill me, didn't he?" he asked after.

"By the look in his yes I'd say yes, he did" she responded bluntly. Paula nodded and thanked her once again. "Anything you need, just tell me" he offered, regretting he could not be more of assistance. Rose shrugged, as if to expect nothing less, then resumed her attention to the map in her other hand.

"Actually, there is one thing you can do for us" Rose informed as she studied the map. Paula's eyebrow shot up, his face lifting. "What is it?"

"I need you to drop us off around this coast" Rose instructed, pointing to the map then showing Paula. The captain nodded as he stared at the area Rose had pointed to. It was a beach area, not too far from Hoax.

"You are to meet Wen at the red marker, right?" the captain recounted. Rose nodded, as if it appeared all too obvious. "Well it's still a fair ways north east of where you want to be dropped off. I can cake you closer if you prefer."

Rose shook her head softly. "I'm not sure if Dart really is alive, but either way I sense a trap. I'd like to walk the distance, to get to know the environment, plan possible escape routes and possible hiding places or ambushes" Rose went on. Paula considered her idea for a moment, and decided it was a wise one and offered no further protest.

"So we got three days to waste off then?" Zack ejected.

"Well, it'll still take at least a day to get to Serdian land. A day and a half if the tide is unfriendly" Paula notified.

"And by there time we to the spot we're to meet Wen and actually prepare, there won't be all that much time left" Rose added soon after. Zack smiled, and then turned to Paula.

"Sounds like we have a plan, so what are you waiting for captain?" Paula tipped his hat, and then ran back into the steering room, yelling to his crew as he went.

When Paula was out of sight, Rose turned towards the front of the ship, which was curved into a V. She leaned her head over the edge, keeping steady by placing her hands on the steel railing that sat aloft. She smelled the salty sea and felt the whipping winds, her hair blowing freely. Zack soon joined her, staring out into the deep blue sea.

"What do you make of this?" Zack asked. Instead of giving her knowledgeable report of the situation though, she turned to him and asked "What do you make of it?" Zack tiled his head thoughtfully.

"I think it's just another devious tactic devised by Wen to attain the spirits. I don't think he plans to leave us alive either." Rose nodded at him, then turned back out towards the endless sea. Zack was about to prompted her to answer his question, and then again realized why she asked him and just how much he had grown, just by being in her presence.

"What ever it is" Rose started, not looking at him. "I need to start treating you as an adult. From now on I need you to take care of yourself, make your own judgments and your own actions based on those judgments" Rose expressed.

"Yeah I know" he responded solemnly. "I don't want to be a liability anymore. I don't want to be babysitted. From now on, you look out for you and I'll look out for me. And when we can, we will each other."

Rose rather admired his maturation, and hoped to the gods above he was ready for the trials ahead. But above that, hoped Zack was ready to be tossed back into the world on his own, like a mother stops feeding a child and leaves him to feed himself.

The next day was spent in the same fashion the others had been on the boat. The tides were a little rough, but they were still able to make it on land in relative short time. The cargo ship pulled up on the beach, and Zack had much pleasure laughing when the crew was too busy arguing about when to brake and they left it too late, causing the large ship to crash against the sand loudly. Paula reprimanded them both thoroughly, and the entire crew had to manually wedge the ship off the sand and back into the water.

"Sorry about that" Paula apologized embarrassed. Rose didn't say anything, but Zack waved it off, snickering as he heard the same two crewmen argue again about who messed up.

"Dammit, if I hear one more word out of the two of you you'll both be left here, stranded on this bay!' Paula cried angrily. They both gulped, and remained silent.

"Well, I best get this cargo run back to Fletz" Paula said a little sadly.

"Will you be alright?' Zack asked. The captain smiled and nodded. "They don't call me the great captain for nothing!" he exclaimed. They call you the great captain? Zack mimed to himself a little skeptic.

"I wish you luck on your adventures" Paula spoke, saluting them. Zack waved and the captain began towards the ladder that was used to shuffle them and his crew off the boat safely. "I'll have none of you're heroic antics of jumping" he had said. "Nope, last thing we need is one of you to sustain a broken leg."

The trio remained on the beach until the boat began to drip out of sight. Rose then pulled out the map and examined it once again. They all then took off into the direction the map indicated, walking at a brisk pace.

As Rose went, she carefully examined her surroundings, looking for anything that would be worth noting. On this occasion, Zack was doing the same, remaining relatively quiet. Remembering what Rose had told him on the boat, he decided he'd start by mapping out his own environmental landmarks of interest. Rose had stated on many occasions that the difference between winning and losing can easily come down to how well you know the surrounding environment. Knowing was always a key factor in winning. And so the three set off, towards their latest, and hopefully final encounter with Wen.

On the Sandorian battleship, Wen returned to his private quarters. The small room that housed nothing more then a desk and a few draws remained quiet until a small knocked sounded at the door.

"Come in" he hummed. The door opened, and a blonde figure approached. It was the same one who Wen had been talking to in the Evergreen Forest.

"Are the preparations complete? He asked. Wen nodded. "They'll be there, in three days as you instructed. The blonde man nodded, tracing his hand over his red bandanna.

"So you're really going to reveal your identity eh?" Wen commented slyly.

"They won't live much longer, hopefully not even long enough to comprehend what that revelation will be" he answered coldly.

"I know you don't need to be told this, but don't underestimate her. She did you in last time remember?" Dart looked at him narrowly, as if he was about to hit the man who had just uttered those apparently offending words.

"I suggest you watch your tongue, and I am fully aware of what she is capable of. Just make sure you keep the plan intact" the young red clothed man spat.

"My apologies, I didn't mean it to be disrespectful, only diligent" Wen defended. Dart still glared at him with a look of resentment.

"To them I am still the defenseless imprisoned Dart, and that's how it must stay. When you take me out to them, make sure they suspect nothing" he reminded with a certain edge in his voice.

"Don't worry Dart, everything will work out fine." Wen replied with a smile. Or should I call you, Melbu Frahma?"