~~~===~~~
Chapter Five: Night Fall
~~~===~~~
"The Master is here." The last time I had heard those words, it was in the Sealed Cave, before Golbez wrenched my dark side into the open again. It had been years since then, since the disaster of Babil, and since I'd heard coherent words from the darkness within me. Now, it was back, and trying to surface again. I focused my will on keeping the monster under control, and watched the.airship?
I'd never seen anything like it - maybe the Lunar Whale compared, but even it wasn't as sleek and pure as this looked. Yet, despite the unblemished surface, the simple beauty of the vessel, I felt a great darkness deep within it, echoing to my own.
Whoever this 'Master' was, he was as great a threat as Golbez had ever been; that much I was sure of. A portion of the ship seemed to slide open between two large jeweled panels, revealing a speaking platform - and a dark warrior standing on it. Between the armor and the spear, I could see why Cecil would have mistaken him for me. He yelled down to us, and while his voice sounded easily as loud as Bahamut's, the smug tone in it eliminated any other resemblance.
"King Cecil! I have something you might be interested in," he started. "Your wench is in the brig of my ship, being cared for by my servants." I growled low in the back of my throat, and my dark side cheered me on as I released some of the hatred I'd bottled away inside of it. But it was nothing compared to the raw anger I felt from Cecil - everything he'd held back because of who I was, he was letting loose now as he drew Excalibur and shouted to the dark warrior.
"Let her go, or I swear I'll -"
"You'll what? Put away your knife, boy, and go play with the rest of the children." My anger faded as I realized what he was doing. And I knew that it would work all too well - Cecil had never taken kindly to being patronized or insulted. His pride was a part of his nature that not even becoming a paladin had erased.
"I'll show you what I can do with this 'knife,'" Cecil growled. "Release my wife, or I'll tear you and your ship apart."
"Tell you what - I'll make a deal with you. If you'll face me in single combat, then I'll release her." I grabbed Cecil's shoulder before he could respond.
"You're in no condition to face him now - you need time," I whispered loudly, hoping to get through to him.
"I won't let him hurt her any more than he has," he replied, still glowering at the dark warrior.
"Cecil, for all you know, he's killed her already. Find out if she's still alive before you agree to anything," I hissed, my own heart dropping as I realized that what I was telling him was all too true. Obviously Cecil understood me, though his eyes flashed in anger while he thought of a response to the warrior above him.
"Show her to me, first. Let me see that she's still alive and well."
"She is alive," the dark warrior replied. "And fairly well. I have cared for her far more gently than your brother did." Again the mocking tone. I vowed to myself that as soon as Rosa was safe, I would take his spear and shove it up his ass.
Then turn it sideways.
"Show her to me," Cecil repeated evenly.
"As you wish," the dark warrior said, making a gesture with his hand. Two broad beams of light came from the jewels beside his platform, meeting and forming an image in the sky above Castle Baron.
Figures the bastard would show the entire kingdom - assuming, of course, they hadn't already heard what he was saying. Now they knew what had happened to their Queen. And it wasn't pretty.
Whatever he had done to her, it had aged her from the way she looked. Her alabaster skin was now drawn tight against her face, where it had been smooth and flawless before. She only looked a little better than a body I'd found in the Sealed Cave, after the war - the bats had gotten to a dwarven explorer, and sucked the life out of him. Somebody had done much the same to Rosa - and Cecil and I both knew exactly who that somebody was.
All things considered, it was a good thing Callista hadn't given me my lance - I'd have put it through this bastard's gullet right then and there. For her part, she just watched, slightly concerned for the person she saw in the image, but plainly not caring more than she would for anyone else. Cecil, on the other hand, was livid.
"What did you do to her," he demanded.
"Nothing that she won't recover from, given time and proper care - I'll leave your family with the information, should you agree to my terms." Don't do it, Cecil, listen to what he's saying! He doesn't expect you to live through the battle, why the hell would he leave her alive after you were dead? The dark warrior continued to speak.
"Unless you're too much of a coward to face a single man in fair combat." I closed my eyes as Cecil responded the way I had known he would.
"Tomorrow at dawn we do battle. Make your peace with whatever twisted god spawned you."
***
A few hours later, I was sparring with Cecil, as I had for years before. He thought it was especially important that he practiced against an opponent who used a spear well tonight. Normally, I'd have agreed, except I thought it more important that he got some sleep. Especially as sloppy as he was tonight.
"Cecil," I said, after tripping him with my spear for the tenth time in as many rounds, "you need to get some rest. He'll slaughter you if you go out there like this tomorrow - hell, tomorrow you'll be even more tired."
"I can handle it, Kain," he said, closing his eyes and focusing his mind. "Esuna." As the mystical glow washed over him, I saw that some of the fatigue left him.
But not nearly enough. It would take a dozen of those spells to get him into fighting shape, at this rate.
"Cecil, let me take him tomorrow - at least let me try. I was Captain of the Guard, that makes me officially your Champion - you have the right to declare that I fight in your place." I shrank back from the look in Cecil's eyes when he glared at me in response.
"I can do this, Kain. Dammit, I can beat that bastard. The same way I beat him at Mount Ordeals - he's a dark knight, like I was, I can sense it."
"Cecil, if you're comparing your battle tomorrow with the battle you fought back then, you might as well be fighting Zeromus with a carving knife!"
"You know what I mean. I know how to fight a dark knight, Kain - just deal with the Dark Wave until he burns himself out, and handle his weapons the way I would handle any warrior's."
"What about his spells? From what I've heard, he uses magic like FuSoYa did -a hell of a lot of it!"
"I'll deal with it," Cecil said stubbornly, getting to his feet. "Now, are you going to help me practice, or should I have one of your guards help me instead?" I put the Holy Lance down.
"Feel free to try - I gave them specific orders that under no condition were they supposed to do anything to keep you from resting, once we were finished. As far as I'm concerned, we're finished. You know that you need some real sleep - even if you use your magic to stay aware for the fight, that means you'll be unable to heal yourself during the fight. And frankly, you'll need every advantage you can, especially your spells." Cecil scowled at me, but sat down and rested his head in his hands.
"I'd sleep if I could, Kain, but with her still in his hands - knowing what condition she's in -" I sat next to him, and put my arm around his shoulders.
"Cecil, if what he said is true, then she's in better shape than she was at Zot. I know that's the last thing you want to hear, but it's true. And you won't do her any good if you get killed tomorrow."
"Battle shouldn't be to the death."
"Do you really think he'll follow the rules? If he tries to kill you after the duel's over, I'll step in, but he might finish it before I get the chance. You have to consider that he doesn't care about the rules."
"He's a knight, Kain." I knew what he meant - all the orders of Sacred Knights, the paladins, the dark knights, the dragon knights, even an ancient order called rune knights, according to historical records, had followed a single code of conduct for such things. But I had a feeling that this knight didn't particularly care for honor.
"He may be. But you don't get a position like that, as evil as he is, by following the Sacred Code to the letter - or the spirit, for that matter."
"All right, Kain. If you can tell me how to get to sleep, then I'll take your advice."
"Take some of Rosa's medicine - if you need it, take a double dose. But no more - if that doesn't knock you out, I'll come in and do the job for you," I said, cracking a grin, but we both knew that it was a front.
"All right, Kain," he said, finally cracking a smile and chuckling slightly. "I'll get some sleep. You go harass your guards until you're sure they're up to par again." Cecil walked out, and I waited a few minutes before quietly going to make sure he really was asleep. Satisfied that he was doing what he'd said, I went to go take his suggestion - at the very least, I had to be sure they were ready for tomorrow..
~~~===~~~
I had felt her presence through the space between Mist and Baron when she first manifested her power. It had been centuries since I'd seen her - honestly, I had thought her long dead by the time the War of the Crystals began.
After all, only we Fiends survived that long, without lunarian blood or magical aid. But, then, if you thought about it, Callista had that aid.
We met when I had first fled from Zeromus, before I understood the idea of honor. I was seeking that understanding, when first I had met her.
I'd helped her then - now, it was time for her to help me.
That's what I'd been thinking while I searched for her, moving through the walls and seeking out rooms that she had visited. Sooner, or later, one of those rooms would be the one she was in, I hoped.
Just about when I was going to give up, I reached the meditation chambers of the Baronian Mage's Guild. I could sense her here, over the constant hum of mystical power. I moved out of the wall, staying invisible for a moment as I made sure she was the only one there - I should have known that none of the mages would be here this late, though. She was alone, sitting in the corner, meditating while I moved to the top of the stairs and materialized, better to avoid letting her know who I was too quickly. I changed my form to that of the 'Toroian messenger' I had been when I told Cecil what had happened with Edward. That done, I walked down to speak with the ancient warrior-woman.
"Lady Callista Fairwind?" Her eyes snapped open, and I kicked myself mentally for using her full title.
"Who told you to call me that? Who are you?"
"I was told your name and title by the Clerics of Toroia, I beg your forgiveness if I have offended," I explained hastily, bowing my head in what I hoped looked to be a proper display of sorrow and fear. "I am a messenger from that land, and friend to Kain Highwind." I had the distinct sensation that she saw through me as easily as she saw through the air between us, but she simply asked me a single question.
"What do you want?"
"With the events of this afternoon, I fear for my friend - I believe you are a friend of his as well, aren't you?"
"If you're going to try and talk me into helping Kain, Rubicant, the least you can do is be honest with me." I'd been right. Shrugging, I dropped the illusion, my clothing flaring to life as I added two feet to my height, the shortest I could turn myself and maintain my true form.
"Have it your way, Callista."
"Now, will you explain why the hell you're really here?" I sighed and rolled my eyes. She never did really trust me.
"I told you already - I'm afraid of what will happen on the morrow. If events transpire the way I have sensed they will, Cecil doesn't stand a chance." She shrugged as she stood from her meditation.
"What of it?" I growled mentally - she was as stubborn as ever.
"Listen to me, Lady Fairwind. We may have had our differences in the past -"
"You erased my memory," she snarled at me, "left me remembering pieces of who I am, who I was, but made it impossible to -"
"At your request," I interrupted quietly, and she stopped in the middle of her sentence. I fought the smug smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. People hated being told they were at fault for their own problems. Especially when it was true.
"Now, as I was saying. If Cecil is beaten tomorrow, who do you think will challenge Dragonheart to try and keep him from killing the paladin?" She though about that, and relaxed noticeably - at least I knew she wasn't going to try and take a piece out of my hide.
"All right, you have my attention."
"Good. If Rosa is rescued, then Cecil can back out of the duel. At the very least, Dragonheart - the dark knight - doesn't have any way to force him to lose. That means Kain stays out of it."
"Why do you care about the Dragoon, Rubicant?"
"I could ask you the same question. Let's just say that I have my reasons, and I'd rather not tell you, despite the fact you'd forget it by morning. What about you?"
"He saved my life, I saved his. He doesn't bother me about my.eccentricities.and he needed help. That's reason enough."
"I suppose. So, will you help me?"
"I'll help Kain. I'm just working with you to help him out." Definitely stubborn as ever. So be it.
"Very well. Are you ready for battle?"
"Hold on - what's the plan, first?"
"We enter the ship, find the cell that Rosa is being kept in, you get her out of the cell, we come back to the castle." She looked at me like I was insane. Who knows? Maybe I was.
"Oh, is that all? Well, in that case, I'm amazed you need my help at all - why don't you just burn a hole in the ship, melt through her cell, and carry her out that way?" I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm, and grumbled mentally.
"I'll have you know that the plan will work quite well. I plan on getting you in there the same way I got out - through the shell of the ship."
"Your magic?"
"Of course - the only way to get into that ship without Dragonheart knowing about it."
"Then work on your own. The last time you used your magic on me, you nearly destroyed my mind. I'm not going to come anywhere near your powers now."
"So be it," I almost snarled. "I'll handle this on my own." I turned, and started up the stairs, after taking on the appearance of the messenger again. Damned fool woman. I guess it's true. If you want something done right, you just have to do it yourself.
~~~===~~~
Cecil was in his bed, still wide-awake. He was heating the water for the medicine, his mind running over the events of the day. He'd found out that he was wrong about Kain again - fortunately, this time, it was for the best. And he'd found out who had Rosa. Unfortunately, this time, he wasn't sure he could save her.
Kain had been right - Cecil was in no condition to fight the dark knight the next day. Maybe in a week he'd be ready, but even that would be pushing his luck. Despite that, Cecil couldn't get to sleep to save his life. Literally, it seemed. Rosa'd been captured months ago, and since then he'd only slept when he passed out from exhaustion. He'd been too busy trying to find her. He could have turned the throne over to his seneschal for a while, but he couldn't justify leaving his kingdom like that, not when he was still able to rule.
Damn it, he was supposed to know what to do - he'd been supposed to know what to do when he was Captain of the Red Wings too. He had known, for years. Until he'd stolen the Crystal of Water, butchered most of Mysidia as a Dark Knight, he had known that he was supposed to obey the King without question. Then, even when he'd become a traitor to the kingdom that had raised him, that he now ruled, he had known that he could trust himself, and trust his comrades to tell him when they thought he was wrong. Not any more, though. When had he stopped knowing what to do?
When had he started doubting himself, and the people around him?
The whistle of the teapot drew the paladin-king out of his disturbed thoughts, and he prepared the sleeping medicine, drinking it quickly, grimacing at the bitter flavor. Then, he returned to bed, finally drifting off to sleep as the herbs worked their magic.
Meanwhile, on the giant airship just above the castle, Lord Dragonheart continued to practice for the battle the next day. He stood calmly, watching as a group of skeletons stacked plate upon plate of thick metal together, forming a wall nearly three feet thick before they left the practice area. The dark knight pointed the Spear of Mara at the wall, and focused his energy to the point of the unholy weapon.
"Damnation's Lance," he yelled, as the lance emitted a beam of black force, that struck the mythril wall and burned through, leaving a dark stain on the wall of the practice chamber. He smiled grimly as he put the spear up against the wall carefully, and patted its shaft in a friendly manner. Turning towards the door, he started to walk out of the room.
When he turned to walk down the hall, he paused for a moment.
"What is it, Valvalis?" The Fiend of Air materialized beside him, a concerned look on her face.
"We are concerned," she said, plainly referring to the three Fiends who served the warlord. "You obviously have the power and inclination to deal with problems like the paladin - why do you need the three of us?"
"I don't," Dragonheart answered simply. "However, having you to serve as generals will make the attacks on the rest of this world's cities, once the paladin is dead, much less time-consuming. With their 'greatest hero' dead, and his wife and friend annihilated, three of the five fools who saved this world before will have been crushed in a single day. I'm sure that Rubicant wasn't the only one of you four who understood the value of demoralizing your enemy?"
"Of course, Master Dragonheart," she said quickly.
"Good. Mist and Eblan will fall first, of course - those two are the most dangerous ones remaining. Then you'll level Mysidia, eliminate the mages there. After that, you take Fabul, Scarmiglione takes Toroia, and Caignazzo can eliminate Agart and Mythril Town. That should leave most of the upper world under my control, and the dwarves can be crushed once we've appropriated a ship that can go through the pit." Valvalis quietly listened to his plans, somewhat amazed by how well organized everything was. Zemus had planned to conquer the world, Golbez had nearly done so for him, but their plots were barely more than dreams and the power to make those dreams reality.
Dragonheart, on the other hand, seemed to know what he was doing.
"Master Dragonheart, with your leave, I'll go and explain this to my brothers," she said, bowing.
"First, Valvalis, go down to the prison level and give the returning prodigal a proper greeting, hmm? I suspect he's here to ensure my 'honorable' behavior tomorrow by rescuing the fair damsel." She smiled at him evilly, before bowing again.
"Yes, Master. Rubicant will never leave this ship again." With that, and a rush of wind, Valvalis was off to the prison level. Dragonheart smiled, and walked back to his bedchambers.
Tomorrow was going to be a very good day.
~~~===~~~
End of Chapter 5: Night Fall
~~~===~~~
Chapter Five: Night Fall
~~~===~~~
"The Master is here." The last time I had heard those words, it was in the Sealed Cave, before Golbez wrenched my dark side into the open again. It had been years since then, since the disaster of Babil, and since I'd heard coherent words from the darkness within me. Now, it was back, and trying to surface again. I focused my will on keeping the monster under control, and watched the.airship?
I'd never seen anything like it - maybe the Lunar Whale compared, but even it wasn't as sleek and pure as this looked. Yet, despite the unblemished surface, the simple beauty of the vessel, I felt a great darkness deep within it, echoing to my own.
Whoever this 'Master' was, he was as great a threat as Golbez had ever been; that much I was sure of. A portion of the ship seemed to slide open between two large jeweled panels, revealing a speaking platform - and a dark warrior standing on it. Between the armor and the spear, I could see why Cecil would have mistaken him for me. He yelled down to us, and while his voice sounded easily as loud as Bahamut's, the smug tone in it eliminated any other resemblance.
"King Cecil! I have something you might be interested in," he started. "Your wench is in the brig of my ship, being cared for by my servants." I growled low in the back of my throat, and my dark side cheered me on as I released some of the hatred I'd bottled away inside of it. But it was nothing compared to the raw anger I felt from Cecil - everything he'd held back because of who I was, he was letting loose now as he drew Excalibur and shouted to the dark warrior.
"Let her go, or I swear I'll -"
"You'll what? Put away your knife, boy, and go play with the rest of the children." My anger faded as I realized what he was doing. And I knew that it would work all too well - Cecil had never taken kindly to being patronized or insulted. His pride was a part of his nature that not even becoming a paladin had erased.
"I'll show you what I can do with this 'knife,'" Cecil growled. "Release my wife, or I'll tear you and your ship apart."
"Tell you what - I'll make a deal with you. If you'll face me in single combat, then I'll release her." I grabbed Cecil's shoulder before he could respond.
"You're in no condition to face him now - you need time," I whispered loudly, hoping to get through to him.
"I won't let him hurt her any more than he has," he replied, still glowering at the dark warrior.
"Cecil, for all you know, he's killed her already. Find out if she's still alive before you agree to anything," I hissed, my own heart dropping as I realized that what I was telling him was all too true. Obviously Cecil understood me, though his eyes flashed in anger while he thought of a response to the warrior above him.
"Show her to me, first. Let me see that she's still alive and well."
"She is alive," the dark warrior replied. "And fairly well. I have cared for her far more gently than your brother did." Again the mocking tone. I vowed to myself that as soon as Rosa was safe, I would take his spear and shove it up his ass.
Then turn it sideways.
"Show her to me," Cecil repeated evenly.
"As you wish," the dark warrior said, making a gesture with his hand. Two broad beams of light came from the jewels beside his platform, meeting and forming an image in the sky above Castle Baron.
Figures the bastard would show the entire kingdom - assuming, of course, they hadn't already heard what he was saying. Now they knew what had happened to their Queen. And it wasn't pretty.
Whatever he had done to her, it had aged her from the way she looked. Her alabaster skin was now drawn tight against her face, where it had been smooth and flawless before. She only looked a little better than a body I'd found in the Sealed Cave, after the war - the bats had gotten to a dwarven explorer, and sucked the life out of him. Somebody had done much the same to Rosa - and Cecil and I both knew exactly who that somebody was.
All things considered, it was a good thing Callista hadn't given me my lance - I'd have put it through this bastard's gullet right then and there. For her part, she just watched, slightly concerned for the person she saw in the image, but plainly not caring more than she would for anyone else. Cecil, on the other hand, was livid.
"What did you do to her," he demanded.
"Nothing that she won't recover from, given time and proper care - I'll leave your family with the information, should you agree to my terms." Don't do it, Cecil, listen to what he's saying! He doesn't expect you to live through the battle, why the hell would he leave her alive after you were dead? The dark warrior continued to speak.
"Unless you're too much of a coward to face a single man in fair combat." I closed my eyes as Cecil responded the way I had known he would.
"Tomorrow at dawn we do battle. Make your peace with whatever twisted god spawned you."
***
A few hours later, I was sparring with Cecil, as I had for years before. He thought it was especially important that he practiced against an opponent who used a spear well tonight. Normally, I'd have agreed, except I thought it more important that he got some sleep. Especially as sloppy as he was tonight.
"Cecil," I said, after tripping him with my spear for the tenth time in as many rounds, "you need to get some rest. He'll slaughter you if you go out there like this tomorrow - hell, tomorrow you'll be even more tired."
"I can handle it, Kain," he said, closing his eyes and focusing his mind. "Esuna." As the mystical glow washed over him, I saw that some of the fatigue left him.
But not nearly enough. It would take a dozen of those spells to get him into fighting shape, at this rate.
"Cecil, let me take him tomorrow - at least let me try. I was Captain of the Guard, that makes me officially your Champion - you have the right to declare that I fight in your place." I shrank back from the look in Cecil's eyes when he glared at me in response.
"I can do this, Kain. Dammit, I can beat that bastard. The same way I beat him at Mount Ordeals - he's a dark knight, like I was, I can sense it."
"Cecil, if you're comparing your battle tomorrow with the battle you fought back then, you might as well be fighting Zeromus with a carving knife!"
"You know what I mean. I know how to fight a dark knight, Kain - just deal with the Dark Wave until he burns himself out, and handle his weapons the way I would handle any warrior's."
"What about his spells? From what I've heard, he uses magic like FuSoYa did -a hell of a lot of it!"
"I'll deal with it," Cecil said stubbornly, getting to his feet. "Now, are you going to help me practice, or should I have one of your guards help me instead?" I put the Holy Lance down.
"Feel free to try - I gave them specific orders that under no condition were they supposed to do anything to keep you from resting, once we were finished. As far as I'm concerned, we're finished. You know that you need some real sleep - even if you use your magic to stay aware for the fight, that means you'll be unable to heal yourself during the fight. And frankly, you'll need every advantage you can, especially your spells." Cecil scowled at me, but sat down and rested his head in his hands.
"I'd sleep if I could, Kain, but with her still in his hands - knowing what condition she's in -" I sat next to him, and put my arm around his shoulders.
"Cecil, if what he said is true, then she's in better shape than she was at Zot. I know that's the last thing you want to hear, but it's true. And you won't do her any good if you get killed tomorrow."
"Battle shouldn't be to the death."
"Do you really think he'll follow the rules? If he tries to kill you after the duel's over, I'll step in, but he might finish it before I get the chance. You have to consider that he doesn't care about the rules."
"He's a knight, Kain." I knew what he meant - all the orders of Sacred Knights, the paladins, the dark knights, the dragon knights, even an ancient order called rune knights, according to historical records, had followed a single code of conduct for such things. But I had a feeling that this knight didn't particularly care for honor.
"He may be. But you don't get a position like that, as evil as he is, by following the Sacred Code to the letter - or the spirit, for that matter."
"All right, Kain. If you can tell me how to get to sleep, then I'll take your advice."
"Take some of Rosa's medicine - if you need it, take a double dose. But no more - if that doesn't knock you out, I'll come in and do the job for you," I said, cracking a grin, but we both knew that it was a front.
"All right, Kain," he said, finally cracking a smile and chuckling slightly. "I'll get some sleep. You go harass your guards until you're sure they're up to par again." Cecil walked out, and I waited a few minutes before quietly going to make sure he really was asleep. Satisfied that he was doing what he'd said, I went to go take his suggestion - at the very least, I had to be sure they were ready for tomorrow..
~~~===~~~
I had felt her presence through the space between Mist and Baron when she first manifested her power. It had been centuries since I'd seen her - honestly, I had thought her long dead by the time the War of the Crystals began.
After all, only we Fiends survived that long, without lunarian blood or magical aid. But, then, if you thought about it, Callista had that aid.
We met when I had first fled from Zeromus, before I understood the idea of honor. I was seeking that understanding, when first I had met her.
I'd helped her then - now, it was time for her to help me.
That's what I'd been thinking while I searched for her, moving through the walls and seeking out rooms that she had visited. Sooner, or later, one of those rooms would be the one she was in, I hoped.
Just about when I was going to give up, I reached the meditation chambers of the Baronian Mage's Guild. I could sense her here, over the constant hum of mystical power. I moved out of the wall, staying invisible for a moment as I made sure she was the only one there - I should have known that none of the mages would be here this late, though. She was alone, sitting in the corner, meditating while I moved to the top of the stairs and materialized, better to avoid letting her know who I was too quickly. I changed my form to that of the 'Toroian messenger' I had been when I told Cecil what had happened with Edward. That done, I walked down to speak with the ancient warrior-woman.
"Lady Callista Fairwind?" Her eyes snapped open, and I kicked myself mentally for using her full title.
"Who told you to call me that? Who are you?"
"I was told your name and title by the Clerics of Toroia, I beg your forgiveness if I have offended," I explained hastily, bowing my head in what I hoped looked to be a proper display of sorrow and fear. "I am a messenger from that land, and friend to Kain Highwind." I had the distinct sensation that she saw through me as easily as she saw through the air between us, but she simply asked me a single question.
"What do you want?"
"With the events of this afternoon, I fear for my friend - I believe you are a friend of his as well, aren't you?"
"If you're going to try and talk me into helping Kain, Rubicant, the least you can do is be honest with me." I'd been right. Shrugging, I dropped the illusion, my clothing flaring to life as I added two feet to my height, the shortest I could turn myself and maintain my true form.
"Have it your way, Callista."
"Now, will you explain why the hell you're really here?" I sighed and rolled my eyes. She never did really trust me.
"I told you already - I'm afraid of what will happen on the morrow. If events transpire the way I have sensed they will, Cecil doesn't stand a chance." She shrugged as she stood from her meditation.
"What of it?" I growled mentally - she was as stubborn as ever.
"Listen to me, Lady Fairwind. We may have had our differences in the past -"
"You erased my memory," she snarled at me, "left me remembering pieces of who I am, who I was, but made it impossible to -"
"At your request," I interrupted quietly, and she stopped in the middle of her sentence. I fought the smug smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. People hated being told they were at fault for their own problems. Especially when it was true.
"Now, as I was saying. If Cecil is beaten tomorrow, who do you think will challenge Dragonheart to try and keep him from killing the paladin?" She though about that, and relaxed noticeably - at least I knew she wasn't going to try and take a piece out of my hide.
"All right, you have my attention."
"Good. If Rosa is rescued, then Cecil can back out of the duel. At the very least, Dragonheart - the dark knight - doesn't have any way to force him to lose. That means Kain stays out of it."
"Why do you care about the Dragoon, Rubicant?"
"I could ask you the same question. Let's just say that I have my reasons, and I'd rather not tell you, despite the fact you'd forget it by morning. What about you?"
"He saved my life, I saved his. He doesn't bother me about my.eccentricities.and he needed help. That's reason enough."
"I suppose. So, will you help me?"
"I'll help Kain. I'm just working with you to help him out." Definitely stubborn as ever. So be it.
"Very well. Are you ready for battle?"
"Hold on - what's the plan, first?"
"We enter the ship, find the cell that Rosa is being kept in, you get her out of the cell, we come back to the castle." She looked at me like I was insane. Who knows? Maybe I was.
"Oh, is that all? Well, in that case, I'm amazed you need my help at all - why don't you just burn a hole in the ship, melt through her cell, and carry her out that way?" I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm, and grumbled mentally.
"I'll have you know that the plan will work quite well. I plan on getting you in there the same way I got out - through the shell of the ship."
"Your magic?"
"Of course - the only way to get into that ship without Dragonheart knowing about it."
"Then work on your own. The last time you used your magic on me, you nearly destroyed my mind. I'm not going to come anywhere near your powers now."
"So be it," I almost snarled. "I'll handle this on my own." I turned, and started up the stairs, after taking on the appearance of the messenger again. Damned fool woman. I guess it's true. If you want something done right, you just have to do it yourself.
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Cecil was in his bed, still wide-awake. He was heating the water for the medicine, his mind running over the events of the day. He'd found out that he was wrong about Kain again - fortunately, this time, it was for the best. And he'd found out who had Rosa. Unfortunately, this time, he wasn't sure he could save her.
Kain had been right - Cecil was in no condition to fight the dark knight the next day. Maybe in a week he'd be ready, but even that would be pushing his luck. Despite that, Cecil couldn't get to sleep to save his life. Literally, it seemed. Rosa'd been captured months ago, and since then he'd only slept when he passed out from exhaustion. He'd been too busy trying to find her. He could have turned the throne over to his seneschal for a while, but he couldn't justify leaving his kingdom like that, not when he was still able to rule.
Damn it, he was supposed to know what to do - he'd been supposed to know what to do when he was Captain of the Red Wings too. He had known, for years. Until he'd stolen the Crystal of Water, butchered most of Mysidia as a Dark Knight, he had known that he was supposed to obey the King without question. Then, even when he'd become a traitor to the kingdom that had raised him, that he now ruled, he had known that he could trust himself, and trust his comrades to tell him when they thought he was wrong. Not any more, though. When had he stopped knowing what to do?
When had he started doubting himself, and the people around him?
The whistle of the teapot drew the paladin-king out of his disturbed thoughts, and he prepared the sleeping medicine, drinking it quickly, grimacing at the bitter flavor. Then, he returned to bed, finally drifting off to sleep as the herbs worked their magic.
Meanwhile, on the giant airship just above the castle, Lord Dragonheart continued to practice for the battle the next day. He stood calmly, watching as a group of skeletons stacked plate upon plate of thick metal together, forming a wall nearly three feet thick before they left the practice area. The dark knight pointed the Spear of Mara at the wall, and focused his energy to the point of the unholy weapon.
"Damnation's Lance," he yelled, as the lance emitted a beam of black force, that struck the mythril wall and burned through, leaving a dark stain on the wall of the practice chamber. He smiled grimly as he put the spear up against the wall carefully, and patted its shaft in a friendly manner. Turning towards the door, he started to walk out of the room.
When he turned to walk down the hall, he paused for a moment.
"What is it, Valvalis?" The Fiend of Air materialized beside him, a concerned look on her face.
"We are concerned," she said, plainly referring to the three Fiends who served the warlord. "You obviously have the power and inclination to deal with problems like the paladin - why do you need the three of us?"
"I don't," Dragonheart answered simply. "However, having you to serve as generals will make the attacks on the rest of this world's cities, once the paladin is dead, much less time-consuming. With their 'greatest hero' dead, and his wife and friend annihilated, three of the five fools who saved this world before will have been crushed in a single day. I'm sure that Rubicant wasn't the only one of you four who understood the value of demoralizing your enemy?"
"Of course, Master Dragonheart," she said quickly.
"Good. Mist and Eblan will fall first, of course - those two are the most dangerous ones remaining. Then you'll level Mysidia, eliminate the mages there. After that, you take Fabul, Scarmiglione takes Toroia, and Caignazzo can eliminate Agart and Mythril Town. That should leave most of the upper world under my control, and the dwarves can be crushed once we've appropriated a ship that can go through the pit." Valvalis quietly listened to his plans, somewhat amazed by how well organized everything was. Zemus had planned to conquer the world, Golbez had nearly done so for him, but their plots were barely more than dreams and the power to make those dreams reality.
Dragonheart, on the other hand, seemed to know what he was doing.
"Master Dragonheart, with your leave, I'll go and explain this to my brothers," she said, bowing.
"First, Valvalis, go down to the prison level and give the returning prodigal a proper greeting, hmm? I suspect he's here to ensure my 'honorable' behavior tomorrow by rescuing the fair damsel." She smiled at him evilly, before bowing again.
"Yes, Master. Rubicant will never leave this ship again." With that, and a rush of wind, Valvalis was off to the prison level. Dragonheart smiled, and walked back to his bedchambers.
Tomorrow was going to be a very good day.
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End of Chapter 5: Night Fall
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