~*Cross the river: Chapter 4 -- Relevance*~

*Cross The River*
Chapter 4 - Relevance
Written by Rap's (RaptorJNB@aol.com)



Notes: HUZZAH!!! Another chapter! ^_^ So far it's just been talk talk talk talk talk. Sorry about that! Plus I've hadda' work around the potential politics of a freaked-out kingdom. Me hate politics. _

Oh well! Whatever!!! Hope you enjoy this chapter and (as always) Tell me where the trouble spots are. ^_^
Also, I have one original character in here of important note. Yes, I know everyone hates original characters, but he's not going to swamp the story or anything. The kid's name is Dakri, and he's Lavitz' best friend. I hope you don't mind his involvement. ^_^



*****


"Honestly now. There is no need for violence, Servi."

The tall blonde knight could beg to differ. His broad sword had unsheathed at an instant; and it's cold, killing metal now regarded the Emperor with obvious intention. Doel seemed unmoved, eyeing the well crafted blade with a quirk in his left brow. Deep, grayish eyes quietly moved from the sword, to Servi's intent, motionless features. The rage he found there could scathe even the most steadfast knight... but Doel remained something just short of amused.

"Tell that to the men that died at your hand! Disgrace... How DARE you show your face in-!" And Servi's thick, menacing voice was cut short as Noish abruptly lunged between the two men, regardless of his own safety should Doel have also drawn his sword. The dangerous twin swords of light and darkness hung at massive belt sheaths along Doel's side.

"Sir Servi, Doel is here of my allowance. Stand down."

Lavitz' father did no such thing. "You've neglected to inform me of this until NOW!? I will have no such monster in the presence of I and my family!" With an abrupt chop of his left arm, Servi barred Mai from walking closer. His wife had begun forwards to Noish...

"Stand DOWN Servi! I was trying to avoid this form of reaction!"

"Oh that makes a HELL of a lot of sense, doesn't it!? This is madness!"

Doel crossed his arms and briefly exchanged a few words with the unidentified knight. Servi understood now that he was a man under Doel's command. One of his soldiers. Gods above... had he known that before he would have slit the man's damned neck. The two nodded as if in some form of agreement, and the officer then moved behind Doel; back towards the stairs.

"Hold your place, foe." Servi all but dragged Noish out of his path, looking behind the emperor and towards his subservient."Neither of you have any place here. You'll be at the gallows come sundown!"

It was then that Doel threw back his head and let out a long, booming laugh. It continued even when Greham burst from the conference room and drew his sword in wide-eyed surprise. His weapon too came up in a flash of speed. Servi's able friend moved forwards, holding it to the emperor's neck as his chuckles subsided.

"Only you, Servi..." Doel smiled. "Such a foolish man..."

"Save it." Greham snarled. "What ass let this insolent son of a bitch into the damned castle!?!? Why wasn't he stopped!?"

"Kur?" Doel began, looking back towards the Sandoran knight that Servi had ordered still. "Explain to these eccentric soldiers of Basil why I've decided to pay a visit, eh? They wont listen to I or Noish, perhaps they'll hear you instead."

"You've no power here..." Mai started.

"I know that, Wench." And he caught Servi's dangerous glance. "Alexia left Servi with her crown, as I've heard. Quite an interesting development."

In the brief silence that followed, Kur straightened and walked back towards the tense group. Crisp blue eyes regarded Doel a moment, turning menacing as he swept them over both Servi and Greham. As Noish regained himself from Servi's rather rough handling; Kur nodded and spoke.

"His majesty Doel was brought to the castle Indels for two reasons. The first; that he wishes to pay his respects to the deceased queen Alexia, and second that he should be present at this conference by the decree of Minister Noish. It's simple, really."

"As simple as it is still wrong." Servi's eyes shot to regard Noish. "What demon possessed you to this? How could you allow such a thing?"

Noish narrowed his piercing eyes. "You forget that this is a family affair, Servi. It is not within my right to deny the emperor of Sandora such a request, and know well enough he would have demanded information regarding our meeting at a later date if not otherwise given presently. This is the most painless way to deal with the situation.

"Situation...." Greham grit his teeth and slowly lowered his sword from Doel's neck. "And how did Bale react to his presence?"

"They don't know I'm here, frankly. " Doel answered. "Now stop speaking of me in third person. I will be addressed directly, imp."

Greham began to raise his weapon yet again. "You'll be addressed alright. How is another matter."

Servi saw the first bit of warning behind Doel's eyes. That deadly, cold flash of metallic red that meant he was annoyed enough to become further irritated. And then violent. As much as the blonde knight seethed to admit it, Doel was an amazing fighter. They had crossed swords before on the battle field... and he would not lie to say the royalty could not best him. Servi had taken a deal of blows.

With the greatest of efforts, Servi's right arm began to lower, and his broad sword trembled in agitation, begging to be let fly. Mai, otherwise silent behind him, gently moved to his left as her husband stepped forwards and clasped Greham by his shoulder.

The raven haired knight looked shocked. "Servi-!!!"

"I know."

Greham felt his expression slip into some form of numb scowl, and withdrew his sword from Doel's neck with obvious hostility. Noish breathed a sigh - odd for one who rarely showed anxiety - and the Emperor lightly tugged at each cuff on his black sleeved attire.

"Well then. That settled..." he turned his gaze on Servi. "Where is my Nephew?"

"... I won't permit that, Doel."

"Yes, you will. He's MY family, afterall."

And Servi's eyes narrowed.

*****



Lavitz once again moved from his seat and tugged at the handle of the conference room door. Why had Greham locked it when he left? Why'd he look so pissed off... and WHY did he have to leave him alone in a room with...

"Sit DOWN boy!" One of the four nobles, still seated at the long cream-colored table, pointed at a chair and barked the order once more.

Lavitz turned to glare at him. "Something's wrong! Can't any of you unlock this thing?"

"They'll return shortly. Such discussions are not of our concern."

Lavitz continued to glare a good long minute, and then finally gave up before saying something colorful to the aristocratic freak-adults that had one; taken to calling him either 'boy' or 'lad'- and had two; chosen to ignore perhaps each one of his questions save for that last one. It was starting to aggravate him. As the small blonde tromped back to his chair and collapsed into it, Reese gave him a sympathetic smile and continued to regard the door from his place by the far wall.

Albert too, arms gently folded on his lap, watched the entrance curiously.

"You think so too, don't you? That something's wrong?"

It took everyone in the room a few moments to realize that Lavitz had addressed Albert. The nobles looked scandalized when, from across the long expanse of table, Albert turned his gaze from the door and answered.

"Yes. But then, nothing has seemed quite right these past few days."

"I really wish everyone wasn't so angry. I thought they'd be sad. About your mom..."

"Me too."

"Boy-" And one of the adults chopped a hand in Lavitz' direction. His old wrinkled face was turned down in a sharp disapproval; not that it wasn't hard enough to believe it could actually sag anymore then already evident. "Be silent. It's inappropriate for you to-"

"Will you just leave him alone?!" Albert snapped.

The man fell silent.

Albert slipped off the large chair at his back and dropped to the floor. In a few moments, he had walked quickly around the table and now stood directly next to one of the other men seated around it. Albert looked at him curiously. "You have a key to the adjoining room, don't you?" And he pointed without hesitation to a separate door; branched discreetly from the left arm of a short hallway connecting it to the conference room.

:"I... yes, sire, but why-?"

"Because that room has a door that leads out into the hallway. Give me the key."

"Sire-"

"Give me the key, Ruea. I want to know what's going on."

Lavitz smiled with the intent to accompany Albert, when a voice he didn't recognize suddenly cut into the apprehensive room. It was the oddest sound... laced with amusement and something colder then ice; but Lavitz didn't really freeze until he turned around to regard the door; which had finally opened.

"No need, Albert. Sorry to have kept this little get together on hold..."

Every noble in the room let out a startled gasp. Lavitz watched Albert turn around quietly; the expression over his face clearly shocked. It might have even been frightened to a point... but either way you looked at it; he knew exactly who had just entered the room. That was a bit more then the young blonde could say. When Lavitz moved to regard the tall, stern figure that entered, followed by his father...

Holy crap.

Emperor Doel?

He wouldn't have time to guess further. Servi took his shoulder quickly and knelt beside him.

"Lavitz- go with your mother. I'll see you soon."

"But dad-!"

"Not a word. Go, Lavitz."

That same hand gently moved under his arm, and half walked, half lifted him from the seat and into the awaiting grasp of his mother. A tense urgency had grown about both his parents... and it unnerved Lavitz to a point. A few words he couldn't hear echoed this way and that. Greham gave him a light smile; and the newcomer flashed a sharp look in his direction that sent chills down the base of his spine.

Once he and Mai had walked outside the conference room, the last thing Lavitz caught before leaving entirely was the expression over Albert's face. It was the closest thing he'd ever seen to numb, pained horror in the whole of his young life.

******



What was it... like nine by now? Ten?

Dakri was a plain boy, drawn and thin; with dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes. His frame supported no more then a worn white top and loose fighting trousers. Perfect attire for one such as he, who constantly trained as any son of a knight would train. With the sword. Granted, although he could shift from stance to stance and chop at a haughty pole of thick wood, practicing alone was rather frustrating when you didn't have another to spar with.

On to the question of the day; Where the hell was Lavitz?

They were supposed to meet just after noon in the square outside Lavitz' house. They *always* met there, rain or shine, and then would weave amongst pedestrians in their path to reach any assortment of destinations. Most of the time it was a long open field just behind his house, where the grass did not grow so high and the ocean rumbled endlessly against limestone rocks some half a mile eastward. Dakri would always carry his father's hand-me-down scabbard, and Lavitz his old but faithful broad sword. The items fit them well, despite that both of them were no older then 11. These weapons had been designed for smaller handlers.

Absently, Dakri let his left arm flash out, sword in hand, and skim the side of a barrel nearby; standing innocently on the street outside his home. Across the way was blondie's two story dwelling, and still no sign of a lantern or candle from inside. He'd checked back already twice today- and then again, with this being his third. Lavitz *never* missed practice. At least, not unless he had a good excuse or raging illness.

"Dak~riiiii!!!!" A voice called from above. It was his five year old sister Ouna, bending out over her windowsill to address him. Dakri leaned back and peered up at her.

"Sup, sis?"

"Seen Lavitz yet!?"

"Nope."

"I'm worried about him!" and light tangles of her curly blonde hair fell forwards as she shook her head madly. "My friend Iza' said she saw Lavitz an' his Ma' leave their house this morning, but I don't know more n' that. You think they're in twouble? Cau'se you know, they left with a knight an' all..."

So Dakri had heard. Besides, his sister only told him the same thing about four times that day. He scratched the back of his head and waved up at her.

"No way Lavitz is in trouble, sis. Forget about it and go to sleep."

"But I miss him!"

"He'll be home come morning, I bet. Now go to sleep, woman!"

She blinked. "You comin' up? Mom says she's tired of ya' stayin' out late n' all!"

Dakri smirked. "Well DAD says a knight gotta train, so I plan on training." A hint of dedication welled up in his voice at that. "Besides, it's only just after dusk. I'm going to head out back towards the prairie. You'll check once in awhile to see if Lavitz gets back, right now?"

She nodded. "uh-huh! Bring home a rabbit, Dakriiiiii!!! Mm' tired of pheasant!"

"'Kay!" And he waved his sword as she fell back into the soft yellow glow of candlelight that flickered inside her room. Dakri stared at her window a long moment, and then just as he was about to turn from the square altogether a pair of voices rose into the coming night. He perked in attention a moment, hearing footfalls nearby. Who....?

****



"I don't know, mother." And Lavitz absently rubbed his left arm, staring ahead solemnly as he and Mai walked quietly back towards their home. "I... I wish I could tell you I had an exact feeling. But I don't. I guess I don't know what to think."

Mai smiled at her son lightly. "I'm sorry. About all of this."

Green-grey eyes shot to her in confusion. "Why? Please don't be... everyone is already so upset..."

With a light sigh, Mai gently took the hand of her child and squeezed it lightly. " Just... for your having to see that. Lavitz, things are going to be rather different from now on. You understand that, don't you?"

He nodded into the cool night air. "Of course I do." And when she looked away from him with a slightly pained expression, Lavitz set a concerned frown upon his features and straightened. "And you don't have to worry, mom. I'll watch him for you. I know father is going to be busy, it's only right that I help."

"You've training and studies, Lavitz. It's not of your concern; this is both my and Servi's decision."

Lavitz stopped walking. Mai turned to face him under the lamp light.

"Mom... it's okay. Really."

She forced a smile.

Lavitz had gone from being ecstatic that morning, to simply confused, and now both sad AND confused, although the latter half of his mental state was slowly finding answers. It HAD been Emperor Doel who entered the conference room before. The goddamned KING of Sandora. The one that caused the war. Reflecting, Lavitz wondered to himself how he could have possibly acted so naive. Through ALL of this. He... He'd stumbled once already with the royalty. Had knocked the boy over, and then hadn't interacted with him in at all the sort of conduct his father would have approved of. He'd sat shocked and silent at the conference of which his father wanted them present. Listened. Was shocked again.

A knight should take things in stride, not sit gaping at words alone.

And after Doel had come, walking home with his mother, perhaps that was when the true gravity of what he had just heard and seen finally settled with him. It was... it was almost as if he had been bestowed an amazing privilege. To be in the presence of so many important figures.... and at the same time a complete stranger to the entire mess. Again, Lavitz asked himself silently;

~What the HELL was I doing there?~

A question of which Lavitz understood only upon learning that his father now held power of the crown. For the love of Soa, her demons, and her angels.... this was a change.

~But at least he's home. Greham now has control over the first knighthood. Dad gets to stay. He'll be here. With me.~


And Albert.

That was the 'second' most amazing part of the day. That little six year old... was going to be living with him.

The entire concept went completely over his grain of thinking. Of what his FATHER thought- and had yet overruled. Royalty couldn't.... they couldn't just.... and Lavitz blinked at his thoughts, trying to collect them. Royalty 'could not' simply leave his or her home to find another amongst commoners. And a commoner was what he, Lavitz, was. There was nothing wrong with that. It was simply his social role, and it... should not be violated by the presence of a higher class.

Lavitz closed his eyes. The hell would he do? How would he act? That stupid kid was going to throw his life, and his standards, for a loop across the Moon that never set. On top of it, Albert was *creepy.* Sometimes he could be cool, like when dealing with the nobles at the conference, and at others he was...

Well, yeah. Again. Creepy.

~And that's another thing. What the hell is the moongem and WHY did they put it inside him!?~

Just more questions he couldn't find answers to.

Lavitz had barely realized that he and his mother had been walking silently for a good few minutes now. Ahead, as they turned a corner in Bale's forthright design of walk and waterways, he could see the shadow of their house loom up against a now black sky. Lanterns replaced the forgotten daylight.

"Lavitz!! Hey!!! Your BACK, man!"

That- he hadn't expected. Lavitz looked up sharply, instantly recalling Dakri's voice. Sure enough, it was him. Deep brown hair falling in shaggy, unkempt strands- with a sword in hand and a smirk on his face. His characteristic expression fell quickly when he noticed Lavitz' own stern features.

"Dakri..." Mai began from aside him. "Child, whatever are you doing outside?"

"Practicin'" he explained easily, and slung his sword over one shoulder in an almost haphazard display. "It's nice to see your back, Mrs. Slambert. I and my sister were wondering what happened to you and Lavitz."

Mai nodded and smiled, forcing away her weary exterior for the cheerful expression that Bale knew her for. "You give Ouna my regards, alright?"

Dakri nodded and looked at Lavitz. He raised both brows quizzically.

The blonde gave a halfhearted smile.

******



"Ah." Doel said, leaning back in his chair. A bemused smirk fit itself smugly over his features. " I must say, bravo Sir Servi. You've handled yourself quite well so far."

Servi glared at him, and Doel continued.

Albert wondered why, if his uncle was addressing Servi, he still looked directly at him. Rather, he'd been doing so since arriving... and the royalty wouldn't say he wasn't unnerved, if not frightened, by Doel's presence. Doel had.... brought up to many memories. Older wounds that suddenly came up fresh and painful.

But in not finding any other way to handle himself, Albert only returned his uncle's intent gaze.

What else could he do?

Surely not give into to the enraged voice that shuddered beneath his mind. The wounded part of him that lay seething, hating and crying at all once; wanting nothing more then to make him stand, and demand that this.... murderer... (He's not...!) be removed from his home. To make his uncle leave, so he didn't have to see the past violently flash into his thoughts with every few breaths.

It hadn't taken Albert long to learn that concealing his emotions proved more beneficial then trying to deal with them on the spot. He didn't want to concern anyone that would actually care, or frighten himself with their demands. With Doel here... that defense was being slowly picked apart; The only that had kept him sane these past few months.

~Everything is all right. That's all you need to think, and then do as they say. That's all.~


But he couldn't... not with... not....

Albert abruptly closed his eyes and forced his head down.

The conference room had long since been removed of the nobles that had sat with them beforehand. Now, only Servi, Doel, Greham, Noish and Albert remained. Reese had left of his own accord, and Kur had been ordered to wait outside by Doel himself. All that carried on within the room this past half hour or so was an odd sort of exchange. Tense, but present, as Servi reluctantly conveyed information to the Emperor that was of the most harmless sort. Gods knew he didn't want Doel to learn any more then acceptable.

"And what do you think, Albert?"

Servi opened his mouth to protest, but then cut himself short as Albert instantly locked his gaze with that of his uncle; who had spoken. It was rather obvious to the blonde that this was a trial for him. That being present alone seemed more of an effort then he could bear.

"... What?" Albert managed. Softly.

Doel smirked. "You've been rather far away during this entire conversation. Tell me, Albert, what do you think of that precious little stone?"

Albert blinked. They'd been talking about the moongem? Last he remembered, Doel and Servi had been sparing with words alone. How long had he... just...

"Well, boy?" And Servi narrowed his eyes at the Emperor's sarcastic tone of voice, even knowing that Doel probably forced it to further aggravate his nerves. He *hated* this... having the murderous bastard in his presence, and yet being forced to bear his company if only because of Noish himself. Gods be damned...

Albert didn't answer, and instead looked away.

"Hmph." Doel replied to the silence. Stood. Almost instantly both Servi and Greham reached for their swords, but Doel just gave them an incredulous glance and smiled. He opened both arms peacefully, in a manner meant to show no intent. Then, he carefully extracted a small object from a pouch at his side and gave Servi an icy look.

"My, you knights jump to conclusions. Although I suppose you have reason, given events of the past." He straightened both arms and cocked a brow, pointedly trapping Servi with gaze alone. "I'm sure I've extended my visit already; but rest assured I will be at Alexia's funeral service tomorrow, so cope."

Noish, silent for the hour or so that this meeting had gone on, abruptly looked to both Servi and Greham for any sign of hostility. Although he found it; the emotion in both knights was being tightly contained. No doubt Doel also knew, and saw this.

If he was concerned, there was no indication, however. Doel approached Lavitz' father with a sudden air of complete sincerity, and opened his right palm.

Within, was the object he'd been holding. It was a beautiful jade pendant. Simple, refined, and attached only to a thin silver chain

Servi stared, confused, and Greham lifted a brow.

"This belonged to Alexia." Doel said quietly. Somberly- and without any trace of the amusement or sarcasm of before. "When I was wed, she gave it to Karina as a token of their friendship. As my wife is dead, and with Alexia having passed on, I ask that you give this to Albert."

For a long moment, the blonde regarded Doel in silent surprise. Of all the things he had expected Doel to come here for; this was not one of them. And to further add to his shock, something in Doel's tone. In his voice, posture and words.... *something* told him that this may have been the *only* real reason for his journey to the castle Indels.

Servi couldn't fathom that. Not from Doel.

But before he could ask questions, or wonder why Doel did not give Albert the necklace himself, Carlo's brother placed the object into his palm and closed it.

"Don't forget, Knight."

Servi swallowed back his confusion and nodded. "I won't."

******



"Lavitz, goddamn... you SUCK today!! What the HELL, man!?"

For the fifth time in their spar, Lavitz received a blow to his weapon that had sent him sprawling backwards and onto the grass beneath their feet. The blonde now shook his head, dusting off his shirt as Dakri crouched beside him.

"I'm preoccupied, I guess..." He said quietly.

"Preoccupied? It's like no one is even home in there..." And Dakri thumped him over the back of the head; to which Lavitz glared and stood. "I mean it, Lavitz. I haven't been able to best you in over four months, and suddenly it's like you can't even hold your sword right."

Lavitz quickly shook out his right arm, not answering a moment. Above, the moon glowed fiercely upon them, painting the surrounding landscape in a ghostly pale light. As far as night conditions went, these were ideal circumstances to practice under; and still Dakri was right. He wasn't much focusing on their spar at all, in truth. The only real reason he'd agreed to accompany Dakri to the prairie was more of an effort to forget on his part. Instead, the castle and his father laced each thrust of his sword. Lavitz couldn't shake the events of the day from his mind...

"Earth to Blondie. Come in- Blondie."

Lavitz blinked.

"Sorry..."

Dakri watched as his friend took a quick breath and then leaned back; positioned himself naturally into a fighting stance, with neck arrow straight and weapon held firm. Although he knew Lavitz expected him to do similar, the brown eyed youth only stabbed his own sword into the ground and knelt on it slightly. A troubled look flickered over his long features.

"Hey, look... if something is wrong- it's okay. We can do this tomorrow, you know?"

Lavitz relaxed his stance a small bit, but shook his head. "No, it's alright. I should have been here earlier, anyway."

"Yeah, but it's not like sin that you weren't. Somethin's got you all spooked up. What going on?"

Lavitz forced a smirk onto his face; a mocking, impish look that could both frighten, or infuriate the other kids in Bale. Dakri, however, was quite used to it. As his companion snorted and crossed his arms, the blonde breathed a short sigh into the cool night air. He wanted to tell Dakri... everything. At the same time, he knew he couldn't. Right now, he just needed to focus on this spar, and get all the damned questions in his head to shut up.

"Tch- so now Mr. 'spaced out knight boy' has turned back into 'kill the weak little brown haired kid' man." Dakri rolled his eyes. "Moodswings! Geez!!"

"Aw shut up, huh? I'll start trying..."

"You'd better, or tomorrow I'm gonna start telling everyone you've turned into a wuss."

"You would not!"

"Would too!"

"Your dead. You do know that, right?"

Dakri feigned surprise. "Oh me' gosh! Blondie's gonna kill me?!!?"

They were both laughing when metal connected with metal, and another joust began.

*****


Yadda yadda yadda! ^_^ 'kay then! I'm done another part! *does a raptor dance* I hope you guys are enjoying what I have so far, and I really apologize for not being able to get new chapters out quicker then I do. I'm simply always so busy... be it webwork, tests, school or college planning. _

Happiness to all! *huggles Albert and Lavitz*

Lavitz: ..... !?!?? She's doing this to ME NOW!?!??

Albert: .... well- your in the fanfiction too, you know. Why does everyone assume *I* am the only one that she'll annoy 24/7!??!

Rap's: Simple! Your cool and cute and HOT HOT HOT!! *pokes him* Do the stance, Albert!! the STANCE!!!

Albert: ....

Lavitz: .... Tch! Sucks to be you!


****