Empress Terrial makes one last effort to win Van, and Hitomi has a vision of him

Empress Terrial makes one last effort to win Van, and Hitomi has a vision of him. Meanwhile, a spy gets aboard the Crusade, what is his mission?

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The Crusade is anchored in a large clearing. Two Zieback ships are stationary in the air and a smaller ship is anchored nearby in the clearing. Crewmen are transferring the Empresses trunks and crates to the smaller ship. It's a hot day and as they are finishing the transfer, one of the crew from the crusade hears a sound coming from a nearby stand of trees. Deciding to take a look he walks into the trees. Nothing. As her turns to leave, he is grabbed from behind and pulled deeper into the shadows. He turns and is face to face with a doppelganger, with his own death.

The doppelganger holds his victim's head steady, and looking into his eyes. He opens his mouth, and draws the life force from him. He drops the shell that was once a man removes his clothes and dresses. He then turns to the hooded figure standing behind him. The figure nodes to the doppelganger, he is pleased.

Zinga: "Yes Lord Lawrence, I will be your eyes and ears. I will bring you the girl."

Zinga leaves the trees and resumes the task the crewman had been working on. The three now have a spy to take the place of the foolish Empress. She may have failed, but other opportunities have presented themselves.

Van stands outside waiting for them to finish. He wants to be away from here. He wants to begin his search for the dragon, and for Hitomi. Terrial approaches him. She doesn't want to fail; she will try one last time to get to the King.

Terrial: "Van have you come to see me off or to ask me to stay."

Van: "To stay?"

Terrial: "I know you find me attractive, you care for me I feel it. A marriage between our two countries would benefit us both."

Van: "I what?"

Terrial steps closer to Van looking into his dark eyes, she wraps her arms around him. Before Van can pull away she kisses him. Taken off guard Van just stands there letting the kiss continue.

Terrial: "Oh Van."

Van is about to push Terrial away, when she jumps back in alarm. The pendant around Vans neck is glowing brightly, pulling slightly to the side.

Terrial: "What's that, what's it doing?"

Van is still looking down; the glow is fading and the pendant swings back down to rest on his chest. They are getting closer to Hitomi, with the glow came a strong feeling of sadness, her sadness.

Van: "Good bye Empress. Have a safe journey."

The sun is shining on the fields surrounding the village.

Hitomi is sitting by the rocks, again she is thinking, that seems to be all she does lately is think and try to make sense of her situation. She keeps her thoughts from wandering to the village she was at last night. She is home sick. She misses her family, her mom. It seems she never gets to say good-bye, not even to Yukari and Amano. 'Will I ever go home again?' If I did find Van, maybe the pendant would help.

In her mind she pictures the pendant and concentrates on Van. Here me Van, I'm so sad. A vision starts to form in Hitomi's mind. "Van is standing outside the Crusade. He is wearing the pendant. She speaks to him with her mind, Please Van find me…this way. A woman steps up to Van 'I know you find me attractive, you care for me I can feel it.' Then they kiss. The vision fades and Hitomi is back in the village. She drops her head in her hands crying.

Hitomi: "Van, you didn't wait for me. You have someone else.

Hitomi refuses lunch saying the journey has tired her out. Nathen is aware though that something is bothering her. She keeps to herself since last night when she changed again. She only seemed happy when they first entered the village and spoke to the

children. The good mood didn't last long. News of her arrival spreads fast thru the village, along with the news of the village not far from here that was saved by a mighty green dragonmere. A great celebration is quickly planed for tonight. A large bonfire is set in the center of the village and women have begun cooking in preparation. Hitomi is being called a goddess; the people believe she must control the green dragon. Nathen is almost glad that Hitomi has shut herself off, for if she realized the commotion she has been causing she might flee.