Chapter 46, Trouble in Paradise

The next morning, Fran was gone. They called out into the dark of the forest and looked everywhere for her trail but they found neither sight nor sound of her.

"Why would she leave?" Penelo said frantically sorting through the baggage.

"She said something about the jungle not letting us through because of her." Larsa piped up. "Maybe she left so we could pass through."

"And a lot of good it's done us." Grumbled Ashe, pushing against the still present barrier.

"Maybe she'll come back." Vaan suggested. "I mean she came back before."

"Afraid not." Balthier said solemnly. "She would only leave after coming this far if she had something to do here. My guess she is sorting out some kind of business here."

"We could have helped her." Penelo said sadly.

The pirate shook his head. "Fran is simply like that, it's her nature. Whatever she's doing, she's doing it alone."

The Grand Courthouse of Archadia was the headquarters for the Ordo Imperious Sentio, despite being a commonly used building by nobility and public alike it was as grand as a cathedral overflowing with decoration and riches. Of course nobody tried to steal any of it, to do so under the nose of the judge magisters would be suicide. It was in essence a very fancy barracks, judges scurried left and right with clearly important business. Not important enough however that they didn't have time to bow to a certain two judges walking down the corridor.

"The senate may play at intrigue," Judge magister Bergan chuckled softly. "But lord Vayne will not be brought down so easily, the entire army waits upon his orders from the military council down to the rank and file."

Bergan was the judge magister of the army and like all who came before his was considered the single most powerful judge on the battlefield. His armour was gold and bronze with a huge feathered helmet and a high spiked collar. Even without the armour Bergan was a huge man, and when clad in battle dress he gave exactly the right impression to his enemies. Glossy and immense.

His companion was judge magister Zargabaath, the admiral of the Archadian sky fleet which was considered by many to be Archadia's greatest military force. His stature was smaller than Bergan though the same could be said of any man in the building, he was thin and willowy and his armour reflected that. Simple silver with markings in the black and red of Archadia and a helmet shaped like the prow of a sky ship with two long horns curling down from each side. "My dear Bergan." He said. "Has it ever occurred to you that the reason the army is at Vayne's beck and call is because you are?"

"What better blade to strike down the enemies of the empire." Bergan retorted proudly.

"Your honour reminds me of Zecht, two years since." The two knights turned to see judge magister Drace step out of the shadows. As the admiral of the navy Drace stood as the only female judge magister ever, her armour seemed normal enough for a judge except the enormous metal skirt she looked to be wearing. As if she'd tried to adapt a ball gown for war. Her helmet was tall and round with odd baulballs on the side as opposed to the usual horns.

"And what's the problem with that?" Bergan growled.

Drace shrugged and strode past them. "Gone without a trace since Nabudis."

Bergan strode after her drawing himself up to his full considerable height. "I will not have you malign Judge Zecht," He thundered. "He was a noble warrior."

"No one denies that." Drace said coolly, tightening her bracers.

"Then maybe you think his trust in Lord Vayne misplaced?"

At last Drace turned around to face him. "Vayne took two of his brother's lives, he is ruthless beyond contempt." She said quietly.

If she could knock that helmet off his arrogant head, she was sure Bergan would be grinning. "Ruthless you say?" He rumbled. "Would he were more so. He gives traitors no quarter be they of his own blood, how fitting for one who would bear the burden of the Empire."

He strode off chuckling to himself leaving Drace staring at the floor. "But could we bear him?" She sighed. "Zargabaath, what of you?" She asked. "Surely you do not believe his brothers were traitors?"

The elderly judge strode over to her side. "So found his Excellency lord Gramis. You would do well to mind your tongue Drace, that matter is long past. If you work to undo the Senate then you'll end up like Ghis."

"Ghis did what he did for his own reasons, he got what he deserved"

"Maybe so but we must be more careful of Princess Ashelia's little group none the less."

Drace seemed about to retort when judge magister Gabranth appeared round the corner.

"Your honours." He said politely. "A summons. Lord Vayne has arrived at the palace."

Zargabaath bowed low to both and glided serenely away but Drace stayed behind. She and Gabranth had always been able to see eye to eye since he was first inducted two years ago. If anyone could be made to understand it was him.

"I hear word from the Emperor." Gabaranth told her quietly. "Lord Larsa goes to Bur Omisace to enlist the help of the Gran Kiltias in stopping the insurgents."

"It would certainly stop the Dalmascan section of the resistance, I'm not sure if it would be enough to deter Ondore but even a slight disruption of his forces may be welcome."

Gabranth nodded. "With the insurgents deterred the Rozarrian invasion will be delayed and we will have bought much needed time to prepare our defences, just as his Excellency would have hoped."

Drace took a quick look left and right, then removed her helmet. Shaking her short silver hair and taking a few breaths of fresh air. "No matter the result I am pleased with the young lords progress, I can already see the stunned faces of those mud witted senators. The fools think that a child Emperor's strings will be easy to pull from the shadows but they will soon learn that Lord Larsa is no puppet.

Gabranth nodded. "Yes, the senate would be most pleased with a puppet for an emperor."

"Something bothers you?"

"Recall Drace, how the senate despises and fears Vayne's ability? When they realise that Larsa is no lamb to be shepherded, they will bear their teeth and devour him."

Drace's brow furrowed. "You're right, I will speak on this matter with his Excellency at once. Gabranth, it falls to us to protect Lord Larsa. Are we agreed?"

"Aye."

"Aaaarrgh! Why won't this jungle let us through?" Bellowed Ashe, ignoring questionable looks from the group.

They had been travelling through the jungle all day looking for alternative routes but whenever they thought they were on to something another of those barriers rained on their parade. Fran was still nowhere to be found and tempers were running high.

"Why don't we just head back out the way we came and take our chances with the airships?" Vaan sighed as he sat down making sure his seat would not try to eat him.

"If we did that then Fran wouldn't know where to find us." Basch said wearily dumping his pack for the fourth time that day.

"So what." Vaan grumbled. "She left easily enough."

"Now I think we ought to calm down." Larsa said nervously. "We'll never know what to do if we're angry and confused."

"Who's confused!" Ashe snapped, pummelling the barrier with her fists.

"I just think that maybe we could find a solution if we were a little calmer." The young lord was rather taken aback by this side of Ashe he's never seen before.

"Well you seem fairly calm." She shot, steadily advancing on him. "Do you see any other way out of this?"

"W...well not as such but..." He stammered, gingerly backing away.

"Then I see no reason for me to calm down do you?"

"Actually princess I would be careful of..." Balthier began but Ashe rounded on him.

"If you even start to give me advice I'll..." But no one will ever know what Ashe would have done because at that moment something beneath the leaf litter snapped, a net sprang out of the foliage and she disappeared up into the canopy.

"Highness!" Roared Basch but she was the least of his worries.

As the net came to a stop some twenty feet above the path the canopy of trees shifted allowing daylight to filter through and for a fraction of a second the clearing was lit up like a thunderclap. And there they were. Eyes wide, ears flat, bows drawn. Viera, in the darkness of the jungle around them.

Everywhere!

Phew... My fingers are aching but it was worth it. Firstly for the third time in a row you can expect a speedy update, secondly I apologise to Ahsoka I know you're dying to see her but the next chapter will also be kinda Franless. But I can promise two or three Fran centred chapters after that.