ONLY BORDER HORIZONS

In Rabanastre another day was coming to an end, and while the evening was slowly coming to the palace, the tense situation did not seem to be ending, but dragging itself slowly.

Ashe had spent the whole day locked in his rooms while Basch had preferred to go around the city and the desert to try to drive his demons away. But if being unhappy or feeling good was their choice ... only theirs.

Basch only felt so angry and did not want to let it go, he wanted answers and wanted to know where Ondine was ... and did not care what would happen, if it were necessary Basch would also use the strength to know of his Lady.

The captain had made a promise that inextricably links him to Ondine and whatever her fate had been, he would have followed her everywhere.

Ashe as Basch had also made a promise concerning her sister, a promise that could not be broken and she knew that this promise was even more important than the Restoration ceremony of her kingdom.

Ondine was all too important for her, for everyone ... and she would do anything to bring her back to her home.

Despite the strong emotions that Ashe felt, and the various contradictions, the princess had understood what she should have done, when her uncle in front of him and her sister had been found.

Larsa remained alone and Judge Zargabath, having learned of the latest news at the palace, found themselves talking about how to solve that complex situation.

"Your height is more complex than it seems." The judge insinuated a rather ambiguous phrase that immediately caught the boy's attention.

"What do you want to insinuate?" Larsa asked.

-Lord Larsa, you and I also got to know Lady Ondine, even under another name and appearance ... and was also well known the role she played with your father, and the absolute trust he enjoyed, before find out who she really was. It was not a mystery, in fact it was well known that Judge Gabranth cared about Lady Ondine. .. he was very involved if we can define it that way.

-I am also aware of it, I know what you are referring to, I will ask Gabranth better tomorrow. - Cut short the kid, just before leaving the court.

But while both Ashelia and Basch were wandering in their thoughts, the airship of the Marquis Ondore was coming to the airfield bringing with it a surprise.

It was now never late at night when the Marquis Ondore IV reached the palace, his arrival took everyone by surprise, Lady Ashe.

As soon as the princess received the news of her uncle's arrival, the princess immediately claimed to see him, but the latter felt for her long journey, he replied that he would answer all her questions the following morning, not before Ashelia received an answer from the latter.

-Your arrival uncle could not choose the best moment ... not even the worst of the guests would come with the oxen, in the middle of the night sneaking without notifying anyone. You so tied to our rules ... you let yourself be surprised as the worst of thieves ... it denotes a great lack of trust as well as respect ...- Ashe coldly pronounced these words, while he was taking his uncle back, the Marquis had not excuses well knew that such behavior was unacceptable and unqualified for one of their rank.

-My dear nephew, I had some difficulties before coming here, I know that this is not the way that suits a noble of our rank but I had good reasons. "Ondore justified.

-Justification that bears the name of my sister ... what center you, you have to give me so many explanations and I demand them now.-Ashelia thundered angrily making it difficult to refrain from not making a scene.

-Yes she. Ondine ... she has been there for a long time since the war ended and soon after she disappeared, Ondine remained in Bhujerba. You know that I could never answer you ... you know that you can not deny the truth, his will is law.

Ashelia, things for her do not work as for you, you are about to become a queen ... she has reigned since she came into the world ... you understand well her will and your father's. Things are very difficult to explain and there are things that you still completely ignore and explain them now and here would be impossible.- He let go the Marquis now never tired of all that affair, for the first time Ashelia saw the face of his uncle tired and sorry and for a moment he calms down.

-Good ... Uncle, you've been clear for now and I'll let you rest. But tomorrow as soon as the sun has risen, I want to talk to you, I want to know everything. Now you can go. "Ashe replied, a few minutes later, she ordered some servants to prepare an apartment for her uncle, while she headed for her rooms. That night seemed interminable, so long that both Ashelia and Basch did not sleep. , but at least Al-Cid took peace ... on the contrary he thought only when Amaya knew everything.

The prince's priority, once he knew of the Marquis's arrival, was to have him face to face with him, so he sneaked out of his apartment and went without being seen at the lodgings of the Marquis Ondore.

It was just 4 am when he had recently settled in his room the Marquis received the unexpected visit of the Rozar prince, when Ondore saw him almost made a strange grimace and was tempted not to let him in and to send him away, but Al-cid He could be very insistent.

-Aprite I have to talk to you- said the Rozariano prince as he knocked at the door of the Marquis's apartment, who rushed to open, recognizing his voice.

"You ..." Halim exclaimed.

-I should say it, Marquis ... let me in, you and I have to discuss some things. "You have failed in the covenant," the young prince exclaimed, while Halim urged himself to get in quickly and not to remain at the door.

"Come on ... I would not want there to be any trouble," he said, while Al-Cid said he would have other problems ... bigger than that.

-If I were you, I would not worry about them ... but Ondine ... she has priority. I bet you brought the two principles with you? - At the request of the Radzian Ondore breathless and it was his silence to speak.

-As I imagined ... your silence speaks for you. Are you an unconscious, so much does the "Family" count for you? Or allow two innocents to be entangled in something they do not center? -The huma is infuriated, but the marquis answered him in the same way.

-Ashelia has the right to know, for centuries the royal family Dalmasca watched over Ondine and her lineage. Raminas himself and as well as the order of the Knights of Dalmasca have the duty to watch over her ... Every heir to the throne knows of this covenant and Ashelia has the right, as the last descendant of royal blood and heir to the throne. - the governor of the island of Bhujerba became inflamed.

-Sciocco ... you are a fool. You and your rules and your traditions. Ondine is not just that, she's not something, "the Rozarian replies.

"But neither Huma is." She may have the appearance too, but she always remains something different, she has always been part of the B'nargin. "The Halim underlined, recalling when the royal family had taken care of the girl.

-It's not a huma !? So what are Rasler and Noah? I bet you took them with you ... you broke the "deal", I do not agree with all of this and I do not want to get involved in something you do not realize, "said Al-Cid before leaving the room , the Rozarian now knew what he had to do ... race against time.

The discussion between the Rozarian and the Marquis had lasted a long time, while Al-Cid stealthily came out of the Marquis's room to head toward his visibly irritated apartments, someone in the distance had seen him come out.

Zargabaath immediately recognizing the prince wonders why this strange meeting, held the news for himself, believing that this was not the right time to deal with such a thing.

Al-Cid along all the way he was walking along the endless corridors of the Dalmasco palace, to get to his room, he wondered what was the best thing to do if to warn Amaya or hold the game and see how the situation would evolve. .

The more the prince thought the more he came to the solution that it would be better to warn his friend, so he changed the street and instead of panting to his rooms he headed for the airfield to take his ship the Aurian.

He took the place of the controls and started the engines and as soon as he was ready he set off towards Bhujerba, he had to run even because on his side he had little time and there was the risk that the others could find out.

Al-Cid then left imprudently while his airship aimed at Bhujerba.

Ashelia was still awake in her room thinking that finally the next day he would receive from his uncle the answers he so desired and that the little he had told her was not enough.

Even Basch could not sleep his sleep was very agitated, so that the captain decided to go out and take a ride in the desert to get some air. Already he was reminded of the unusual escapes of Ondine in the middle of the night towards the oasis, he had surprised her many times to escape into the desert and many others had brought her back to the Palace, at other times he had held the game.

Basch had had so much concern for her and she could hardly stop trying something against him. He wondered what would happen when the Marquis would have come, if she too would have been with him.

Officially he was dead and she, however, as a widow was "lifted" from her position, was free to return to her place with the royal family of Dalmasca as the adoptive daughter of Raminas.

Basch could no longer serve her, unless there was a union between her and a member serving the imperial family, which would have been almost unheard of. Ondine had always been loved as much as Ashelia, even if in the eyes of all she had a less prestigious role; for all, in the end she was not a real member of the royal family even though Raminas had officially recognized her as his daughter.

The huma felt strangely calmer and serene, as he walked barefoot through the desert. He wondered if he would have any answers or if he would be able to face Ondore.

But because he had so many paranoias when he would soon have the answers he was looking for.

Towards the first light of the morning Captain Basch returned to the palace.

He had a simple brown cloak with a hood, which had protected him from the sand and the cold of the desert at night, under his cloak held a wide cream-colored linen shirt with long puffed sleeves, while he was visibly open on his chest in a long V-neck, held together by some laces left slow.

From above he wore an open bordeaux waistcoat while the brown trousers were of a high quality raw linen, around his calves he wore his classic leather sandals.

He walked on foot, holding in one hand the reins of a chocobo he had taken from the royal stables. In the uncontaminated silence of the building at the first light of dawn, Basch was preparing to return, how many memories were re-emerging in those moments.

For a while, the immensity of the Palace enveloped in silence gave it a certain and strange serenity that calmed its already tormented soul. Returning to his place the Chocobo, Basch hastened to reach his rooms, to remarry.

Slowly the Palace with the first light of dawn began to wake up, Ashelia despite the day of rest she had taken was not at all calm, she knew that in a few hours she would meet her uncle, but the same felt very nervous.

Meanwhile, Basch had regained a certain mastery of himself, while he still felt a certain anger, though veiled by his stoic being.

Towards breakfast time, Princess Ashe gave orders to her servants to prepare a sumptuous breakfast and to invite her Uncle Ondore to take part, she absolutely needed to see him.

He woke up quite tense, he knew that his niece would have demanded many explanations, while he was about to fix some things, a servant knocking at the door of his room.

"Distinguish your lordship, I get a message from Princess Ashe." Said the young servant, waiting for some reaction from the Marquis, while Halim silently peered at him expecting that sooner or later his niece would call him to talk to him.

-Well, what message is my beloved niece, Lady Ashe, want to send me? asked the Marquis.

-Lady Ashe wants to invite you to have breakfast with her, added that you reach her as soon as possible, she has some important things to ask you. - The servant related the message of the princess, the Marquis did not take long to respond to his nephew's request.

-Remember to my niece that I am happy to accept her invitation ... tell her that they reached her at once I have to fix some things.- The Marquis replied as the servant signaled that he had understood and hurried to leave the room to bring the message to his lady.

Leaving only the Marquis, he headed for the room of Karaii, a young nurse who took care of Rasler and Noah. The young woman in her twenties, tall with a robust but at the same time harmonious and well proportioned physique.

The woman had long straight blond hair gathered in a ponytail while wearing the typical Bhujerba garments. Once he arrived at his rooms, Ondore asked the young nurse how the two children were.

"So, my two little princes, how are they?" Asked the Marquis gently.

-Ovace Grace, the princes are well and are soothing. - answered the young huma.

-Very good Karaii, then prepare them, in a few minutes I would like to introduce them to Lady Ashe. As soon as I have talked to you I will tell you when to bring them to his presence until then I wish that no one should even just approach this room. I gave instructions to my personal guards to let only you and me enter the room, no one else should come in here, even if it were Princess Ashelia. Rasler and Noah are of fundamental importance and as their legal guardian and well that the two are not disturbed ... - The Marchese reported, while sitting on a chair examining some papers, resting on the table.

Within 20 minutes Karaii washed and prepared the two children according to the arrangements. Rasler was almost three years old, while his brother Noah had one, both children had blue eyes and blond hair, a sign that I had taken a lot from both of their fathers.

He had grown up and educated them, and realized that as the days went by, the two children took from both the parents, the extraordinary abilities of the mother and the esthetics of both fathers.

There was no day when the Marquis wondered who was really the father of the two if Basch or his brother the late murderer of Raminas, Ondore did not feel any feelings of hatred or hatred towards the two children, who instilled a little like if they were his children and not his grandchildren.

Halim adored them and knew he could do anything for them. Once the Marquis was ready and everyone went to see Lady Ashe nervously awaiting her uncle's arrival.

Along with Princess Ashelia there was also Basch, the young princess had insisted until he was also present, as Basch was directly involved in that affair.

Basch that morning he never expected to have been invited to have breakfast privately with Lady Ashe, but instill within and waiting for him and strangely felt comfortable.