Don't Fall, part 7

FIC START!

Sakinah felt her shoulder being shaken a few times before she jolted awake. "Huh?" she asked, sitting up in a sudden jolt.

Kain's voice helped her find her bearings a little better. "Forgive me, Sakinah, but I must wake you. We have company," he said quietly. He helped her come to her feet, and she brushed the desert sand from her skirt and coat. The sun had come up since she fell asleep, and now it was extremely hot.

But there was no time to think about that. Men wearing an emblem of fire across their breastplates stood around them, staring at the wreckage and at the two travelers with not just curiosity, but some sort of judgement Sakinah could not justify.

"We come on behalf of King Edward of Damcyan to investigate this crash. Please state your name and origin," the man in charge of the soldiers staring them down.

Sakinah said, "I am Sakinah Skylar, Skyreader of Troia."

Kain closed his eyes for a moment. He knew this was coming ever since she told him about having survived Mysidia, but there was no way he could get out of this without being honest about his position. "I am Kain Highwind, First Dragoon of Baron and Captain of the Red Wings."

"Cap...tain?" Sakinah asked in disbelief. "Of... the... Red Wings?" Suddenly she was overcome a with rage and sadness that was almost too much to bear, even for their situation. How could the man that saved her life, the man that protected her, be a part of the military organization that destroyed her life?

"Can we discuss this privately, please?" Kain asked. "I know you have questions, but now is not the time."

She swallowed her rage better than either of them thought they would.

"Kain of Baron?" one man asked. "My brother is a Red Wing recruit! He wrote to tell me he'd be stationed in Troia for a while, so he was gonna miss my son's birthday this year."

Kain nodded. "Ahh, yes. Jurin told me once he was sad about having to be away from home so long, but that is the nature of the military. So, you come for King Edward then?"

"Aye," another replied. "He saw something crash, and... he feared it would be another meteorite..."

"The circumstances of the crash were unusual as well," Kain said, crossing his arms the way he always had when speaking seriously. "Will you be taking us to Damcyan castle, then? We will be more than happy to give you what supplies we have salvaged, as there is more food than we can carry. I would discuss the crash with King Edward so he can rest assured."

"No need to take you that far. You can find him in Kaipo today. Just head north and you'll find it."

Sakinah looked around, feeling how different the climate was as opposed to in the moist forested area around Troia. Here, sand was brushed around by the wind, and above not a single cloud stood in the way of the sun's harsh light falling upon the world below. She felt it hard to move her feet without falling into the sand just a bit.

The conversation with Damcyan's guards took what felt like forever to Sakinah. When it was over and things seemed to be peaceful, Kain faced forth and motioned for her to follow. She didn't want to go with him now! After walking a bit, and when they figured they were out of earshot from anyone else, Kain finally broke their silence.

"Before we step foot in Kaipo, you will ask your questions," he said. "I will answer every one of them honestly, but I will not have this come up again in the middle of more important affairs."

"Kain, you're really the captain of the Red Wings? You weren't lying about that?"

"I am."

She shook her head. "Then why did you steal the crystal from Mysidia-"

"I did not do that. There were two captains before I took this position. The one that stole the Water Crystal was a dark knight. I have been a dragoon my whole life." Kain explained. "I was only given this rank because my friends believed that having a rank would give me purpose, and having purpose meant I would not hide away for the rest of my life." He stopped walking before he noticed that Sakinah had stopped following him.

Her breaths were heavier as she spoke now. "The dark knight that let my father be slain. Does he still live?"

"Do not let yourself be consumed with thoughts of revenge, Sakinah. That dark knight is no longer with us," Kain said. "Your father would never wish of you to focus only on finding who killed him."

"Kain, I-"

"What is it, Sakinah?"

Sakinah blinked her eyes a few times. She found it hard to concentrate on anything. One foot in front of the other seemed damn near impossible. "I want to go home," she whispered before feeling all sensations in her body fade away. She staggered mid step, and Kain stepped closer to let her fall on him. "Suddenly, everything hurts."

Kain immediately noticed she was feverish. "...you have the Desert Fever," he said sternly. "This is bad. Good thing Edward is in Kaipo, as he has helped Cecil cure this exact same sickness before." He picked her up into his arms. "Hold on." He picked her up into his arms and tried to run, though the loose sand dunes made it damn near impossible.

It felt as if Kain had been walking for days before he found the cobblestone street of the town called the Desert Oasis around the world. He was dizzy, but he held up Sakinah with every ounce of strength he had.

"Oi there," a man said, running from inside the town. "All these years, and no one thinks to travel proper in these parts?"

"Do not shame me," Kain growled at the stranger. "My companion. She has taken the Desert Fever. I have been told King Edward of Damcyan is here now. I must see him."

The man nodded. "Help!" he shouted, calling over more of the townsfolk. "The lady has Desert Fever, and the knight says he has to speak with King Edward!"

Sakinah was taken from Kain's arms over to the inn, and the king who disguised himself as a bard even though the world was well aware of his disguise, filtered through the crowd.

Edward leaned down only to immediately recognize Kain. "Kain?! What happened?!"

"The girl traveling with me is from Troia. She has taken Desert Fever." Kain said before falling to his knees. "Our airship was attacked in the middle of the night-"

"Kain, that's enough. You have reached safety, there is no reason to feel so pressured." Edward said. He turned to the townspeople, revealing the man he had grown into over the adventures he'd been through previously. "Take him to the inn, too. I will pay for their beds."

"No..." Kain said when the men tried to carry him off. "...I need the Sand Ruby. Rest will come later."

Edward crossed his arms. "You can't save anyone in your condition. Stop being so stubborn. Here, I will help you." He reached down to help Kain to his feet. "Don't worry. Desert Fever is a common ailment here, and we have what we need on hand to cure it. After what happened with Rosa and Harley, it only made sense! She will be fine in a day or two." Kain leaned on Edward for a second. "Come in, we'll talk everything over, my friend."

"Will you send a letter to Baron?" Kain asked.

"Of course. Anything you need."