Chapter Nine

Delita requested that Teta show him to his chamber next, and she escorted him to the largest suite of guest rooms in the manor. She promised to send maids immediately to draw him a hot bath and set out his lunch in his room. He looked weary from the long journey to find her.

After his meal, Delita told the serving girl to go and arrange for him a private audience with Algus. He was quickly brought to the sitting room of the squire who owned the home his sister had lived in all this time. A squire, honestly. Delita inwardly scoffed to himself. In three years, the bastard who had been obsessed with social climbing had not even managed to earn a knighthood through his service to Marquis Elmdor? How could his sister be fond of such a loser?

"I hope your journey here was not difficult, my lord?" Algus said to Delita as he entered the room.

"My journey was unremarkable," Delita replied. He looked over his former nemesis with disdain. The sneer of privilege that Algus had always worn at Igros was absent from his face now. Instead he looked nervous, jumpy. It was not quite what Delita had expected. He had imagined that Algus would be licking his boots, sucking up to him now that he had the power Algus had always so desperately desired. He had seen Algus act like a dog for lords Dycedarg and Zalbag, after all.

"Will you have a seat, my lord? Some wine?" Algus asked formally, as the silence stretched on between them. He self-consciously ran a hand through his golden-blond hair to slick it away from his face as Delita stared him down.

Finally, Delita said coldly, "Do not waste my time, squire. Let us get to the root of this. You have kept my sister alive and relatively well since last I saw you. But I recall what sort of person you are. I am certain that you wrote to me in hope of some great reward for doing this basic kindness for my kin. So out with it! What do you want from me? More land? A greater title?"

"I did not write to you seeking a reward."

Delita snorted. "Of course not. But my sister tells me she wishes to marry you."

"Yes," Algus averted his eyes from Delita's terrifying scowl, "I was making preparations for our marriage the very day I learned that you still lived. I happened to overhear a conversation in a tavern which involved your name."

"You must think me a fool!" Delita howled. "I shall never believe that you planned to marry her before you knew I was a duke! You must have set out to seduce her when you learned there was money and status to be had from a match with her! I do not know how you have tricked her so thoroughly, but I will not be blinded to your nature."

"My lord, Delita. I am unsure what I can say to convince you. Only, as her brother, you must love her dearly. Is it so impossible for you to believe that I do as well? After I have had three years to come to know her?"

"Oh, I am certain you are able to love her now, knowing the large dowry her husband must get from me!"

"I was planning to marry her with no dowry!" Algus exclaimed. His annoyance with Delita's scorn had finally outweighed his caution. "She and I have been happy together here! I wanted her for my wife!"

"Pretty lies," Delita scoffed.

"You wish to hear the truth from me?" Algus returned, "I hated to learn that you still lived! I knew you would steal her from me! But what could I do? Hide a duke's sister away from him forever? Hope neither of you ever learned the other still lived? I had no choice but to write to you."

Delita was surprised, not by the words, but by the emotion behind them. Algus, who had always been a shallow bastard, sounded like a man who was actually hurting.

"You were going to marry her with no dowry." Delita repeated, with a bit of a sarcastic bite.

"I am not lying to you, my lord." Algus said.

"Well, in that case," Delita said, after a pause to think, "I will make you two offers. You are free to choose either one."

Algus stared at him, wary.

Delita continued, "My first offer is thus: I will give you one hundred thousand gil as thanks for your safekeeping of my sister over these past years. And I believe you know I am now the chief advisor to Queen Ovelia? I will additionally arrange for her to make you a Knight."

Algus was stunned. That amount of money, combined with the sale of the manor, could buy him a small castle. And a knighthood would bring the prestige to the Sadalfas name that he had never managed to earn himself.

"However," Delita said, "tomorrow when I leave here, I will take Teta and your sister, Layla, along with me to live in Lesalia. I understand that Teta is fond of your sister and will wish to have her close when we go to court. I will arrange for Layla to have the best tutors in Lesalia, and to join Ovelia's ladies-in-waiting when she is old enough. You will not need to worry for her, she will have the finest life a young lady could hope for."

Algus' face was empty of emotion, though Delita examined him carefully for any reaction.

"Or," Delita added, "There is my second offer… In which I will allow you to marry Teta. In fact, I will travel to town myself, tomorrow, to see you wed immediately. But if you choose this, then you will have absolutely nothing else from me. Not a single gil. You will marry her with no dowry and no reward, as you claim you were willing to do before. And you and she will continue to live here, as squires."

Algus was still blank, unspeaking.

"Do not pretend it is a difficult decision, just for my benefit," Delita sneered. "We both know you want the first offer. Simply accept it, and we will begin making arrangements. You do not need to play the part of the lovesick boy any longer. And I must hurry to get back to Lesalia. The queen needs me."

It was Algus' turn to stare hard at Delita. He took in the fine silk tunic, the over-done gold accessories and jewelry. The haughtiness and arrogance on his handsome face. The slight look of disgust, like he could not wait to be finished speaking to a man as lowly as Algus.

"I choose your second offer, then, my lord." Algus said firmly.

Delita reeled. "You jest."

"I will be pleased to marry Teta tomorrow. I hardly dared hope for the chance."

"But—You understood me, correct? All you will get is her? No money, no title?"

"Yes, my lord," Algus drawled, fighting to keep his temper in check. He was at least beginning to enjoy the shocked look on Delita's formerly smug face.

Delita clenched his fists at his sides and tried to regain his regal composure. He could not believe his ears. He would not believe that Algus' intentions were true. There was surely some trick here, and he had not spotted it yet.

"Fine," Delita spat out, "Then we leave at midmorning tomorrow to reach the town. You will be married by the first priest we find. I will witness Teta's wedding, but I do not have unlimited time to waste here. You will tell her I have given my permission; I cannot bear to speak any longer on this foul topic. Of all the men my sister might have chosen..." Delita trailed off in disgust.

Algus strove to remain formal in the face of the duke's insults. "I hope to win your approval in time, my lord," he replied.

"One more thing, Algus," Delita said. Lightning fast, he swung around and smashed his fist into Algus' solar plexus. Algus crumpled to the floor, clutching his gut. His breath had been completely knocked out of him by the sucker punch. Delita followed with a vicious kick to the same area. Algus lay helplessly gasping, fighting to get even the smallest bit of air into his lungs.

"That is the least of what I owe you, for shooting your bolt at her at Fort Ziekden," Delita said imperiously. "I would do far worse, were it not for her request that I leave you unharmed." He turned and strode from the room.

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Delita enjoyed his dinner that night, with his sister and his men, in the formal dining chamber of the Sadalfas manor. He met Layla, the charming little girl his sister had practically adopted. Algus, of course, was also there, but Delita tried his best to pretend he was not. Teta was all smiles toward Delita over dinner, so he assumed Algus had at least had the dignity to not snitch to his sister that Delita had punched him earlier. He grudgingly admitted to himself that Algus had always been a tough soldier in battle; he was not one to whine about a small injury.

Delita had had a chance to speak privately with Sir Piers as well, and Piers reported that during the three days he had spent in the manor, Teta had seemed well-treated and happy. Surprisingly, Piers had actually enjoyed his morning hunting with Algus. Delita had hoped Piers might have some disparaging information about Algus' character, enough that he could cancel his sister's wedding to the man, but Piers instead said the lord of this manor was a pleasant fellow who ran his estate with care and attention to detail. Delita felt like he was living in some parallel universe. Algus? Pleasant?

When Algus rather shyly announced to the knights that he and Teta were to be wed tomorrow, Piers and the others cheered merrily and toasted to the happy pair. Delita only managed to raise his glass halfway up for the toast, while fighting the bitter expression that wanted to overtake his face.

That evening, well after he had bid goodnight to the men of his retinue, Delita heard a soft knock on the door of his guest chamber. He opened it to find Teta juggling two bottles of wine and two cups in her arms.

"How did you even knock on the door? With your forehead?" he asked with a chuckle, taking the bottles out of her hands.

"I used my elbow," Teta admitted, with a laugh of her own.

"What brings you here, Teta?"

"Algus told me you are not able to stay with us beyond tomorrow. If that is true, then you and I must fit three years' worth of chatter into one evening, I fear. I will not waste a minute of your visit!"

In a burst of happy affection, she hugged him again.

"My sweet sister," Delita said, dropping a kiss onto her hair. He was pleased that Teta had not yet spoken further to him of her impending wedding. He did not wish to think any longer about her marrying a man he hated.

Teta began to pick at the wax seal of one of the wine bottles. "There is still much I wish to ask you," Teta said. "You know, not enough news reaches us here, this far from the major cities."

"You will have me gossip like a woman, then," he smiled. "Anything for you, I suppose. What would you like to know?"

She poured into both of their cups and handed one to Delita. The guest chamber had only one chair, so she settled herself into a seated position on the floor. She was surprised when Delita ignored the chair and sat across from her on the floor, as well.

"I must admit, I am terribly curious whether you know anything of what happened to Alma and Ramza," Teta said. "They were good friends to me once. I have heard that the Church has named them as heretics; but still, I pray they are safe."

A faint smile touched his lips. "I must warn you to be careful on this subject. In private, you may always be honest with me, but when you speak to anyone else, you must not admit affection for either Alma or Ramza. The Church does indeed still hunt them, and they do not hesitate to name any known friends of Ramza as heretics, as well."

Teta's eyes widened. "I did not know that."

"The world is cruel, Teta. One wrong phrase to the wrong person can put your neck on the chopping block. But I am doing all that I can to make things better. Ah, and to answer your question, I have, in fact, seen Ramza a few times since we parted ways at Fort Ziekden."

"So, he lives!" Teta exclaimed.

"That I do not know. And everything I say to you here is confidential, you must not share it with anyone. Even as a duke, I could be put in danger if it became known that I was well-acquainted with a heretic."

"I would never betray your confidence, Delita. I hope you know that."

"You cannot even tell your husband-to-be. Gods, especially not him."

Teta rolled her eyes at him. "As you wish, brother. But, really, he is not so bad as you think."

Delita could not help diving back in to the argument. "Oh, truly? Has he yet told you his delightful views on commoners? I cannot quite grasp how any woman would wish to marry a man who believes she is an animal, based on her birth to commoners!"

Teta gave a long-suffering sigh. "Delita, I am well-aware of the types of things he used to say. But, you know, people grow up. They learn. He has faced as many difficulties during the war as any other man. We were all practically children the last time you knew him. Have you not changed in the past three years? I promise you, I have seen him gain some humility in the time I have lived here. I do not claim he is perfect, but he no longer rants about commoners. It would be rather strange if he did, since he is choosing to marry one!"

"I am still not at peace with this, Teta. You have always been too kind. I fear he is deceiving you in some way," Delita glowered.

Teta gave him a stubborn look to match his own. "Anyway," she said, "let us return to the subject at hand. Please. What do you know of Ramza? You said you are unsure if he lives?"

Delita nodded. "I last saw him only a few weeks before he disappeared for good. He was at prayer inside Zeltennia church. Can you believe that? A wanted heretic! Just casually praying in a church. He always was the bravest fool."

"Was Alma with him?"

"No. He claimed that Alma had been kidnapped by Lord Vormav Tingel. I do not know whether that part of his story, at least, was true. Ramza had some very strange tales to tell. He spoke of stones that turned men into monsters, and he claimed that Lord Vormav was one of these monsters. In truth, Teta, I worried that his mind was bent. He spoke with clarity, but some of the things he said were mad. He wanted my help to destroy the monster-men."

"Well," Teta said slowly, "If he still chose to pray to the gods, then perhaps he had not actually become evil. Perhaps it was a mistake that he was named a heretic."

"Oh, Teta," Delita laughed softly, "Ramza is not evil. It is the Church that is twisted and corrupt. They named Ramza a heretic because he disobeyed their officials, not because he actually did anything against the gods."

Teta stared at him in shock. She had never heard anyone speak a single word against the Church in her entire life.

"I assure you, Teta, I myself have performed far darker deeds to get where I am now. Far worse acts than anything Ramza ever did. Deeds I will never share with you, or with anyone else. Yet the Church applauds me, and supports my rise to power."

"I will never believe there is evil in you, Delita, no matter what you claim. War makes all men do terrible deeds. It does not speak to your true character."

"…Sometimes I wonder. I am not the same man as when I served the Beoulves."

"So, did Ramza find Lord Vormav, at least?"

"I believe he may have. I am sure you have heard that toward the end of the war, strange battles began to occur. Entire castles full of dead men, with no survivors to explain what happened. Some noblemen went missing, with no ransom notes, never to be seen again. You must be aware that the Lord of your region, the Marquis Elmdor, was one of these. His castle is now held by Ovelia, until she awards it to a new lord. No one knows what happened to Elmdor, and his heirs were found dead among the bodies in Limberry Castle. Frankly, Algus was lucky he was out in the field for Elmdor, or he would have been part of that carnage, I am sure. Oh, and Lord Vormav Tingel was another to go missing, not long after."

Teta nodded. "Yes, we heard about that as well."

"Vormav's son, Izlude, died in one of the strange slaughters. His daughter, Meliadoul, is one of the missing. One of my spies reported that he saw a man who matched Ramza's appearance, along with a team of traveling companions, at a nearby tavern shortly before Lord Vormav disappeared. It makes me wonder if Ramza had something to do with the disappearances. It is all inexplicable. Almost enough to make one believe Ramza's tales of powerful monsters. But, to my knowledge, no one has seen or heard from Ramza since Vormav's disappearance."

"And nothing of Alma, either?"

"Nothing at all. I expect they are both dead, Teta. Believe me, I am sorry to say it. But I have spies placed throughout the country, and I believe if either Ramza or Alma still lived, I would have heard something of it by now."

Teta was silent in thought for a moment. "Well," she said, "Those same spies never caught word of me living here. Perhaps Ramza and Alma are hidden out in the country, like me. Or perhaps they have left Ivalice altogether."

"I suppose it does not hurt to have hope," Delita said, though he sounded doubtful.

"Tell me," Teta said, "how is it that you have spies everywhere? I know you are a duke now, but I believe even Dycedarg did not have the money to pay a horde of spies when he was the duke in Igros."

Delita looked torn about how to answer for a moment. "Well… the crown pays for my spies, among other things."

"The crown?"

"Ovelia gives me whatever funds are needed, yes. Again, this is information I need you to keep to yourself. The jealous courtiers would be outraged to learn that fact."

"Delita, I think you have not been completely forthcoming with me about your relationship with the queen?" Teta queried, with raised eyebrows.

A small grin quirked at the corners of Delita's lips. "Perhaps I have not. But I shall say no more on the subject tonight."

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Now I'm estimating there will be two more chapters before this story is complete.