Hi there! Real life has blocked my writing time a bit, but I've got a short(ish) chapter ready. I've got a long weekend so I hope to have plenty of time to relax and write. Without further ado, let's continue, shall we?
There was nothing worse than being stuck in a rainstorm in the middle of the ocean. Well, except for having been scorned by the crystal and the Six and imprisoned by one's own brother, Ardyn supposed. He ruthlessly tamped down those memories. He didn't want to think about his brother, Aiden-oh wait, "Somnus", Ardyn thought derisively. Leave it to his brother to assume a new name in addition his title as the Founder King, thinking "King Aiden Lucis Caleum" didn't have a "powerful enough" ring to it. Well, at least his brother's "Kingly" name was different enough from Ardyn's. And Ardyn had also assumed a new name, well surname, after taking his title as "The Accursed".
Ardyn's nose twitched as the fat drops of rain travelled over the brim of his fedora to tickle his nose. He hunched over the wheel of the boat, relying on his cloaks to keep him dry the best he could. They wouldn't do much, but he could at least pretend.
He glanced down at Iris. At least she was immune from the rain at the moment. She was also immune to the lightning that was striking in the distance. Lightning couldn't do anything to stone. However, if they ended up in a shipwreck as a result, and she ended up at the bottom of the sea, that was a different problem. He would handle that if he had to. For now, he just had to make his way to Niflheim and hope that as he approached Ifrit's domain that the air would clear up.
Ardyn's hands clenched on the wheel of the boat. He tended to have a knack for being able to suffer fools—as well as for keeping his true opinions of idiots to himself, under a veil of oily condescension. Even when he hated a person's guts. Ifrit was testing his limits though. How dare he bring up his brother, and dredge up things long past?
Ifrit's single-minded fixation on Iris was, confusing as well. Why did he want her? Ardyn scanned the stone statue at his feet once more, sizing her up to gauge what could attract a God. He saw nothing. She was just, a normal young woman, albeit one who was turned to stone at the moment. He searched his memories of what intelligence he had gained of her during his "reign" of Insomnia during the darkness. He had heard she was a, "strong hunter", but he had yet to see her in action in a fight. Despite what he had heard about her fighting prowess, there was no way she could hold her own in a fight against a God.
Her novelty had to be in the fact that she had successfully escaped Ifrit. Someone like him, who hated humans so much, and saw himself as so superior, would have found it galling that a petty human could run from him and get away with it. He undoubtedly wanted her to pay for that with everything she had. If Ardyn were a more caring man, he would feel pity for Miss Iris Amiticia. He felt no pity—just, annoyance in her that she was foolish enough to cross a God, and annoyance at Ifrit for wasting his time on such a non-entity.
Ardyn had to keep his eye on the prize. Ifrit would grant him his immortality back—at this point, Ardyn didn't think Ifrit would go back on his word. However, he couldn't fathom Ifrit's reasons for doing it. And Ardyn didn't like when he couldn't discern the motives of others. What was Ifrit getting out of Ardyn being immortal again? Ardyn didn't know, but he'd be a fool to pass it up, especially if he just had to give up Iris in return.
How ironic, Ardyn thought dryly. He had been, relieved, when Noct had released him from his immortal coil. He had finally been granted his freedom and peace, just to end up in an eternal moldy prison at the end. He was imprisoned everywhere he went, in life, forced into immortality, and given no choice but to watch empires come and go; in death, stuffed in a prison cell. Well, if he had to pick his prison, he'd rather be immortal again. At least, he had a whole world as his playground, and not one tiny stone cell.
And all he had to do was play ball with Ifrit…a being who could not be trusted and had immeasurable power. He was tasting some of that power now. The incessant rain stopped as though hitting a switch. The air warmed up, instantly becoming so dry that his eyes burned. He could see the barren rocky cliffs of Niflheim on the horizon. He was in Ifrit's domain now. And he would have to bow and scrape to his new Emperor, at least for now.
"No clue where to land this thingy," Cid grumbled to his passengers. What he was seeing out the window of the airship was not prepossessing. Altissia was, cramped. There was no other word for it. The pastel stucco buildings were placed right on top of each other, with only narrow pedestrian alleys to get around them. The wider spaces were taken up by canals.
"No courtyards," Ignis asked. He had had quite the run of the city when hurrying to rescue Noct ten years ago. He remembered having had to cross a bunch.
"How about I land in that market square," Cid countered sarcastically. "There's only a hundred or so people down there to crush."
"Woah! You're not serious, right," copilot Prompto ventured.
Cid merely snorted in disgust at Prompto's idiocy.
"Claustra's palazzo has one, I think," Luna ventured, shivering in Noctis's coat. He had given it to her to help keep her warm amid the invading rain, but it had not helped much.
Aranea rose and scanned the panorama below. "That should be the palazzo there," she pointed. "The rear courtyard looks big enough, wouldn't you say?"
"Looks it," Cid conceded. "But how do you think Her Royal Bitch would feel if we just plopped down in her backyard?"
"Woah," Prompto interjected at Cid's comment.
"Well, that's what she is. I calls' em likes I sees' em," was Cid's response.
"In order to keep the peace, I think we need to cut back on stuff like that. Can you handle that, Cid," Noctis asked pleasantly, but with an edge to it that implied Cid had better be able to.
"Shore, I can," Cid replied promptly. "Welp, here goes. Here's hopin' they don't shoot us on sight."
Cid lowered the cumbersome ship to the grassy space, interspersed with cobblestone paths, grottoes, and benches. It was much harder to land now than it had been near Cape Caem. The absence of a roof on the craft caused too much wind buffeting, and made it much more difficult to control the direction and descent.
Still, Cindy had had to inherit her vehicle wizardry from somewhere. Cid maneuvered the craft with an expertise that stunned the whole ship, not to mention the guards below. Rather than shoot at them, the guards just stared up, open-mouthed as the black craft lumbered to a shuddering stop in the middle of the green.
Luna, Noctis, and Cor were ready at the hatch to greet the guards and announce this as an official visit.
"Her Eminence figured it was you," was the lead guard's greeting. "Come this way, please," he ordered to the entire team.
"Er, I'm not really dressed for the upper crust," Cid conceded. "I'll stay here if ya don't mind."
The guard sized the old man up, taking in his tattered loungewear. Then he glanced to Cindy, noting her short shorts and unzipped jacket. His extended glance down her low-cut top caused Prompto to step between them. "Is there a problem," he asked the guard, affably enough, but with a protective edge that made everyone look at Prompto more closely.
"Er, nothing," the guard replied, flustered. "However, I don't think she is properly, attired, to see Her Eminence as well."
"No arguments here," Cindy replied. "Ma friend Holly and I will cool our heels right here with Cid."
"I, think that would be wise," the guard replied. "Come with me, the rest of you."
Prompto, Ignis, Gladio, Noctis, Luna, Cor, Lux, and Aranea followed the guard down the ornate baroque hallways to be led into Claustra's office.
"I was wondering when you would get here," was her cool greeting.
"You, knew we were coming," Prompto blustered out in surprise.
She merely rose a gray eyebrow. "Seeing as the Oracle's brother arrived in town, I figured you would be close behind."
"You have seen Ravus," Luna spoke up. "Is he ok?"
"Ask him yourself," Claustra countered, peering over their shoulders.
They all turned as one to see Ravus striding through the doorway. "Ravus," Luna exclaimed, running up to give him a hug. Then she drew back a bit, taking in his new clothes. "What are you wearing?"
He simply sniffed. "As to that, I could ask you the same question."
Luna ruefully looked down to her tee shirt and sweatpants combo, now covered with Noctis's jacket. "You're right. I, just, haven't seen you, dressed down before. I mean, not since we were kids."
"Get me replacement armor, and I will wear it," Ravus countered, terminating the conversation.
"Thank you for ordering about my servants and guards, by the way," Claustra chided him in the way of greeting. "However, I suppose in the wake of Iris and Izunia's abrupt departure, somebody had to. You are to be commended for your quick action."
Ravus rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I, did not mean to overstep. I, merely thought a rapid investigation was in order, and your retinue happened to be there."
Claustra waved his apology away. "No need, it was necessary."
"So, they were here," Gladio demanded. "How was Iris? Was she, ok? How long ago did you see them?"
"Iris was fine when I saw her. She didn't like Ardyn, but then, who does? But she seemed to be, tolerating him. Since we only know they left sometime during the night, I cannot say how far behind them you are. However, the last confirmed sighting of them was about 20 hours ago."
Gladio growled in frustration. "So, they could be anywhere by now," he replied despondently.
"Based on what you said, she is not with him against her will," Ignis spoke up.
Claustra pondered a moment. "I would say she was neither willing nor unwilling to be in his presence. She didn't want to be with him, but knew that in order to lead Ifrit here to Leviathan, she needed to be here."
"So, she set herself up as bait," Luna asked sharply.
"Yes. However, she soon saw the 'shortsightedness' of that plan."
"What do you mean," Noctis asked warily.
"Surely you've noticed that ever since Leviathan battled Ifrit in Insomnia, the presence of sea monsters has increased. It is because of Leviathan's 'weakened' state, that the creatures are rising up to plague the oceans. Do you really think she can keep them at bay and deal with Ifrit at the same time?"
"You, may have a point," Prompto replied. "I mean, we saw the Vesperpool recently. It looked pretty bad."
"She does have a point. Leviathan confided that much to me as well," Ravus replied.
Everyone, even Claustra, turned to look at him. "The fact that she was willing to speak to a non-Oracle indicates that there is something serious afoot," Claustra ventured.
Ravus proceeded to tell everyone what Leviathan had told him.
"So, Ramuh has been killed too," Cor replied sharply.
"I think that explains the presence of the Zu that we saw," Noctis replied, body tense.
"It, was an air monster," Lux spoke up for the first time.
"That is, a valid title for it, yes," Ignis replied pensively.
Gladio smashed his fist on his palm. "Why the hell would Ardyn carry Iris off at a time like this? Where the hell would they be going?"
"That son of a bitch is taking her to Ifrit," Aranea replied, just as angrily. "I bet he thinks he will be saved from the carnage if he sucks up to that bastard. He's willing to sacrifice Iris for his own gain!" She seemed ready to begin another curse-filled tirade against Ardyn, except in front of a foreign dignitary this time. Ignis merely put his arm around Aranea to soothe her. It worked, and she briefly leaned her head into his shoulder to calm herself.
"We are agreed that he is taking her to him," Ravus bit out. "Except, where is that?"
"I, do not know," Claustra conceded. "However, our guards did find this letter addressed to the 'Chosen King of Lucis' in Izunia's room."
"What," Ravus demanded. "When did they find this? Why didn't you give it over?"
"They found it while you were searching Iris's room. And by the time I received it, you were already rushing to the harbor. I deemed it prudent to hold it for its chosen recipient," Claustra replied smoothly.
"Indeed, while I was being extorted by one of your 'esteemed' gondoliers! You didn't give it over to me since I'm not the Chosen King," Ravus countered bitterly.
"Believe what you will. I cannot persuade you one way or the other," Claustra replied, handing the envelope to Noctis.
He scanned the letter, and his jaw clenched.
Dear, His Royal Highness, King Noctis Lucis Caleum, known as Noct to his friends,
There was once a fiend named Ifrit
Whose dreams of vengeance were never complete
He traveled to the west
Thinking he was the best
With Miss Iris at his side, he will be replete.
'Warm' Regards, His (Former) Royal Highness, Ardyn Lucis Caleum, known as Ardyn Izunia to his enemies
P.S. Noct, seriously, get thee to Cartanica, unless you want something dire to befall Iris.
"That cheeky bastard," Ravus spat out after Noctis read out the letter to everyone.
Prompto gaped, then glanced worriedly back at Claustra. She appeared impassive.
"Why would he tell us where he's going," Aranea spoke up. "It has to be a trap."
"Could he, be on our side," Lux spoke up, tentatively.
Aranea opened her mouth to contradict him in no uncertain terms.
"You could be correct, Lux," Ignis cut in, but then gave a glance to Aranea to indicate he did not disagree with her. "However, his motives are, cloudy to say the least. It is difficult to ascertain at this point whether he is assisting us or trapping us."
"He's notorious for doing stuff like this," Noctis commented.
"But it's not like we are going to leave Iris with him," Cor interjected, getting everyone back on point.
"Damn straight," Gladio replied. "I will go alone if I have to."
"No, you won't," Cor countered. "I am going with you even if nobody else does."
"What kind of idiots do you think we are, Gladio," Noctis added. "You bet your ass we're all going."
"But, will our airship get us there," Prompto asked in concern.
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door, and one of the guards came in nervously. "Um, apologies Your Eminence. However, the, guests in the courtyard have asked if they may borrow a welding torch and, have asked for some scrap metal from old ships. What should I do, madam?"
Claustra smirked, then strode to the window. The others followed suit to see Cindy on the roof of the airship in the courtyard below, measuring the width of the roof hole with her arms. It was evident they wanted to do something about the airship's roof.
"Give them whatever they ask for," Claustra ordered. "And also make sure food and drink are offered, as well as a restroom."
Then she looked to her other guests. "While your companions perform their repairs, would you care to dine with me? Hopefully you will have a working ship by the time you are done eating."
"Er, thanks," Noctis replied. "However, a quick sandwich will do fine for us."
"Nonsense," Claustra replied brightly. "Royals and their companions deserve better than that! Besides, no proper Altissian meal is served without six courses."
"Woah! No way we can eat that mu-," Lux began, just to be forestalled by Luna's interjection.
"It would be an honor, Your Eminence," she replied smoothly. "However, even if we are mid-meal, if the ship is fixed, we will have to depart."
Claustra nodded. "Of course. Please come this way."
There! I have addressed the Aiden/Somnus issue to the best of my ability ;-) Retconning at its finest, but the story is at least cannon compliant in that regard again. Thanks to everyone who pointed that out previously. Also thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed. Till next time and happy Labor Day to my fellow Americans.
