Section Three: A Team Formed
Fox propped his elbows on the bar and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, tail curling over his hip. He had removed his armor at the room he was using at Peppy's, and was back in his woodsman's outfit. He still wore the swords, though.
The night was a lively one in the tavern, the crowd loud and happy. He ignored them, deep in thought.
Falco took a spot beside him, elbowing aside a drunk and glancing at him. "Bad news from the King, eh?"
Fox said nothing.
After a moment, Falco moved his hand down casually and pulled a knife from a hip holster, inching it closer to cut the belt loop that the katana hung on. Seconds later, his wrist was firmly held by Fox's hand. He hadn't even seen Fox's hand move. "Fast reflexes."
"Very. Try taking that again, and you might find yourself missing that hand."
"Fine, I get it." He tried to wretch his hand free, but Fox's grip was iron. "Could you possibly let me go?"
Fox did. Falco muttered to himself, rubbing his wrist.
"What happened with the King?" He asked again, eyeing Fox.
"That is not your business."
"True." Peppy took the spot on Fox's other side. "But it can't be good."
Fox was silent, rubbing his chin again. "His Majesty scorned me." He finally said.
"No!" Falco stared. "Why would he do that?"
"He said I was a mercenary, and unlike my father, I had no honor. At all." A slight growl came into Fox's voice, then disappeared. "In one respect, he is wrong. I am not a mercenary."
"Mercenary?" Shouted a drunken voice. A heavyset bear staggered up. "You're a mercenary?"
"No." Fox said bluntly. "I am not."
"Then what are you? A deserter?" The bear wobbled, pointing at the broadsword on his hip, voice raised to a near-shout. "That's a Knight's sword!"
"It was my father's." He replied.
"I think you're lying."
Fox very calmly wrapped his hand around the hilt of the katana and partly drew it. The sword's glow filled the area around him with an unearthly light. He narrowed his eyes, silently warning his assaulter.
"Oh, my God." The bear staggered back.
Fox calmly sheathed the sword and turned back to the bar.
"I grabbed us a table." Chirped Slippy, holding two overfilled mugs in each hand. "Come on."
"All right." Peppy nodded, and the three standing at the bar followed him back to the corner table and sat. Fox took the seat in the corner itself, so he could keep watch over the entire tavern.
"So what are you planning to do now?" Peppy looked at him.
"I'm haven't decided yet." Fox said after several moments, fingertips pressed together.
Falco knocked back the entire contents of the mug in front of him in one gulp. "What are your choices? You can't join any part of the King's army now. What are you going to do?"
He didn't reply.
"Evening, Lombardi." Trilled a voice.
"Ah, Elspeth!" Falco grinned as a willowy figure approached. One of the barmaids, she was curvy, the sort of body that seemed to be made to hold. "Evening."
"Interesting crowd you're sitting with." She purred, trailing her fingertips along his shoulder and down to his collarbone as she stepped up next to him. His feathers rose in response. "Good evening, Sir Hare, Sir Toad…" She trailed off and raised an eyebrow at Fox, who hadn't moved from his former position, still sitting leaned back, fingertips pressed together. "Who's your friend?"
"McCloud. Fox McCloud." Falco replied, smile faltering a bit.
"Not a local, obviously." She tilted her head, long dark hair cascading down.
"No, not a local. Lives out in the forest, far as I know." He shrugged.
"Ah. Country lad." She looked like she would have walked up to Fox and given him the same treatment as Falco, but couldn't get to him where he was sitting. "What brings him here?"
"The war, fair maiden." Fox replied simply.
"Fair maiden?" She purred happily.
Falco all-out scowled at Fox, who just looked back at him, then looked past him. He inhaled suddenly, hands lowering to his sword hilts.
Falco turned. A trio of people he didn't know had entered the tavern, and he knew just by looking at them that he'd be better off not messing with them. The one in lead was an early-twenties wolf with an eye patch. He was followed by a reptilian about Falco's age, and a stocky middle-aged pig. All had the dress and attitude of mercenaries.
"Someone you know?" Falco turned back to Fox.
"One of them for certain." He replied softly. "Correct, Peppy?"
Peppy had been looking at the trio since they had come in. "Yes. Correct." His gaze turned harsh and angry. "And the wolf looks very familiar as well."
"Yes indeed." Fox stood and walked around the table, heading towards the trio. "Evening."
The entire tavern had become wary when the trio had walked in. Now it quieted down even more, watching the lone fox and the trio.
"Evening. May we be of some assistance, or are you just trying to be polite?" The wolf inquired, holding a glass of deep red wine in one hand.
Fox replied by turning to the pig. "God ye good eve, Sir Dengar."
"How do you know me?" The pig blinked his small eyes.
"You don't remember me, do you? I was a good bit younger when we last met."
The pig looked at him, then smiled and leaned back. "Ah I remember you now! You're McCloud's son. Yes, I remember…" The smile faltered. "But what precisely do you remember about me?"
"Only as a child would remember." Fox shrugged gracefully, though the look in his eyes was cold and angry.
"He isn't the only one who remembers you either." Peppy joined Fox. "Good evening, Pigma. Been a little while, hasn't it?" His gaze remained harsh, anger flaring behind his eyes.
"We don't want any trouble here, gentlemen." Said the bartender, looking at them.
"No, no trouble." Fox replied, eyes on Pigma. "None at all. I somehow feel I know you as well." He turned to the wolf, tilting his head slightly. "Did we not train together for a short time?"
"Actually, I do believe we did. Wolf O'Donnel." The wolf shook hands with Fox.
"Then I do remember you. I believe we sparred sometimes, did we not?"
"Yes indeed. And I recall that you were quite an exceptional fighter."
"That was then. This is now." Fox shrugged again. "And my father, who was assisting to train both of us, is dead."
Wolf didn't react, then just turned back to the bar. Pigma glanced away.
Peppy and Fox returned to their table, and talk started back up in the tavern. Even as the pair walked away, the trio paid for their drinks and left.
"What was that all about?" Asked Falco, looking from Fox to Peppy and back again.
"Pigma Dengar used to fight beside Fox's father and myself." Peppy replied.
"He was a Knight?"
"Yes."
"Any particular reason why both of you hate him?"
"He's the whole reason that Fox's father is dead, Lombardi."
Fox was back in his former position, gaze distant…and deeply thoughtful. After a moment, he stood and left.
Falco turned to Peppy. "How did Fox's father die?"
Peppy sighed. "It's a long and tragic tale, I'm afraid."
"Tell me."
"I'm curious also. My father told me he was a well-known Knight that died in the crusades." Said Slippy.
"Not quite. It was a little over a year ago. James, Pigma, and I were all knights, crusading together. We were on the return with our group when James was killed."
"Killed? How?"
Peppy closed his eyes. "Executed."
"Dear God! Why?" Slippy blanched.
"James had disagreed with the raiding of local villages and talked to our commander. They had an argument over it. The next morning, our commander is dead in his tent of poisoning.
I don't only use swords. I also use compound long bows, and I had gotten in the habit of soaking the arrowheads in a heart-stopping poison I had learned about in the East. When I woke up, the belt pouch I kept the poison in was gone, and James was being interrogated in the middle of camp, on his knees and hands tied behind his back.
The whole camp had known he had had an argument with our commander, but what stunned me was that Pigma was the first to say that James was guilty! Not only that, I also caught some of the blame, because it had been my poison used. But James had been accused of the act, and the message came here to the King that he had murdered his commander. The order went back, and he was executed on the spot." Pain choked Peppy's voice.
"Oh, my God." Falco murmured.
"That isn't the worst of it. Only two days later, it was discovered that the one who had truly done it was Pigma himself. He fled before any action could be taken against him, leaving me fallen from grace and James wrongfully executed. As far as the King is concerned, James is still guilty, as well as I."
"So James McCloud died dishonored."
"Yes. I was told I was free to go once we had returned, and I took Fox his father's belongings, and asked if he would be wanting to live in my house. He refused, and until a short time ago I didn't see him again."
"He didn't recognize you?"
"Yes indeed. I almost didn't recognize him. He's grown a bit since I took him his father's belongings." Peppy sighed. "He might act so completely calm… but somehow, I don't think he truly is. There's a lot of anger under that act. I could see it when he was talking to Pigma."
"He wants revenge?"
"He might. But his code prevents him showing it. He's trained himself to never loose self-control, but his…. Hmm, Makoto prevents it."
"His what?" Slippy blinked.
"Makoto. Sense of justice. He knows what happened with his father is wrong, but until a solution presents itself, he's going to wait." Peppy rubbed his chin. "His father told me once that an impatient hunter chases, and a good hunter waits. I think this is what Fox is thinking now."
The table was silent for several minutes.
"What do you think his next move will be?" Falco asked.
Peppy stood. "I think I should go back to my house and catch him before he leaves."
Fox sighed, crouching on his toes and rubbing his eyes. He had packed up what he had brought, and was back in armor. He wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing, but he had something he had to do, and the King had denied him all other ways.
"Leaving?"
He had heard Peppy take the place in the doorway. He also knew, by footsteps and breathing, that Slippy and Falco were with him. "Yes." He stood.
"Wouldn't it be best to leave in the morning?"
"I don't see a reason to wait. I have all I need."
Fox stood, and the two looked at each other for several moments. Fox was reserved, but Peppy saw a light in his eyes, an eagerness. He wanted to get away from the town and on the road. It was clear he had some sort of path to follow… a path, Peppy mused, that he probably shouldn't take on alone.
"Yes, but we do not."
"'We'?"
"Yes. We." Falco leaned in. "This town is too wary of me, so I might as well accompany you. Now's as good a time as any to travel."
"I too would like to accompany you, Sir McCloud." Slippy spoke up.
"Four is too many." Fox turned away. "Too many for what I'm trying to do."
"You're trying to clear your father's name, aren't you?" Peppy said softly.
"Yes." Fox turned back. "And to do that, I have to bring Pigma Dengar to justice."
"That isn't all you want to do."
"No." He looked out the window. "There is a princess, I believe, that could be in need of a rescue. I intend to provide that rescue."
"Wait, wait. We're discussing going deep into Andross' territory." Falco said, then grinned. "Now I am definitely not being left out of this." Slippy nodded agreement.
"It would be best if you didn't go alone Fox." Peppy said gently as Fox turned away restlessly. "We all have our strong points, which are even stronger when together. Groups are safer for travel, and we will be traveling great distances, I believe."
"Yes…. Yes we are." He sighed, turning back. "Fine, then. We leave in the morning."
Fox sighed, leading his horse through town. It was just past dawn, and the town was just waking up now. He himself had everything he needed, though he was considering picking up more arrows for his bow, even if he could just as easily make them given the time.
Falco appeared, carrying fully loaded saddlebags over his shoulder. Seeing Fox, he fell in step. "Slippy's getting his horse."
"Hmm."
"You really don't like that we're going with you, do you?"
Fox shrugged. "I was hoping to take this on alone. I'm trying to make a name for myself, after all."
"You're going to need help, and don't deny it." Peppy appeared, leading a mare and a gelding. He tossed the reins of the gelding to Falco, who nodded and flopped his saddlebags across the back of the saddle, lacing them in. Slippy joined them, also leading a gelding, already loaded for travel.
"So?"
Fox mounted up, and the rest followed his lead.
The entire town watched them leave, Fox leading them. There was an obvious sense of purpose in the small group, that they were following a path.
"You do know what the King does to vigilantes, right?" Falco remarked.
Fox did his partial smile, though there was no humor in it. "I've got something I need to do, with, or without, the King's permission."
He chuckled softly. "Well, then. Lead the way."
Fox oriented off the sun and led them along one of the main roads, seeming quite sure of himself. The other three shared glances.
"How do you know where to go?" Slippy asked, urging his horse forward to pace Fox.
"I have a theory." He replied. "On just how and why the Princess disappeared."
"All right, enlighten us." Falco nudged his horse up to pace on the other side of Fox.
"When I heard about the kidnapping, my immediate thought was that Andross was behind it. Most of the town seemed to have the same thought, but no one could say how." Fox kept his eyes on the road while he spoke. "My thought was that a group of Andross' soldiers or supporters came within a few miles of the town, then sent a familiar in. Once the familiar had the Princess in eyesight, they used some sort of spell to teleport her."
"Makes good sense, but why did you know which way to go?"
"Because they'd still have to go back to territory held by Andross. Which is the direction we're heading in now."
Falco and Slippy shared a glance.
The rest of the day's travel was in silence. The trio traveling with Fox didn't say much to him, not surprised at his assurance in the direction they were going. He only stopped once, at a fork in the road, the more-traveled one heading for a city, and the much-less traveled one heading for the forest.
Fox dismounted and crouched just at the fork, frowning at the ground and sweeping a hand over the trampled dirt.
Falco dismounted and crouched next to him. "And?"
"Have any heavy mounted soldiers left town the last two or three days?"
He thought about that. "No, I'd have known if they have."
"Hmm." Fox stood. "Then they're heading for the forest."
"How can you tell we're not following woodsmen such as yourself?"
Fox sighed and crouched back down, indicating partial-circle horse tracks. "These were made by iron horseshoes within the last three days… closer to two days in fact. Woodsmen don't use iron horseshoes, including myself, because they're so heavy and noisy. Also, by the depth of the prints and make of the shoes, I'd say these were made by war horses, mounted soldiers." He rubbed his chin, looking more carefully. "But some of these are more fresh, not eight hours old."
"Meaning what?"
Fox slowly raised his gaze, looking at the forest. "Dengar. And O'Donnel." He stood and swung back into the saddle. Falco followed. "It'll be sunset in an hour. I say we go to the edge of the forest and camp there, leave in early morning."
The others agreed.
Fox crouched on the perimeter of the camp, then leapt to his feet and spun, drawing the glowing katana and expertly performing a series of complicated moves. The sword left glowing haloes around him, steamers of light that faded more and more slowly as the sun set.
Falco watched him, stoking the fire with a stick absently. "What would it take for you to teach me?" He asked Fox bluntly.
"Your respect, and Peppy loaning you his broadsword." Fox replied, twirling the sword into a disk of light.
The avian's eyes remained riveted to the oriental blade. "I can't use that?"
"No." Fox sheathed the sword, eyes narrowing. "It requires different handling, an entirely different teaching then a broadsword. I'd also need two. I can't teach you to use a katana while I use a broadsword. Besides, no one but family blood can handle this sword."
"Tradition?"
His eyes glowed softly, and Falco swore later that it hadn't been firelight, but something else. "Magic."
"I'm glad to know that swordsmanship isn't the only thing your father taught you." Peppy rose his head and smiled a bit. "We don't have enough light this evening to combat train. I suggest first light tomorrow."
Falco nodded, watching Fox blur through hand-to-hand combat moves. "You know magic?"
"Some." Was the soft reply.
"What can you do?"
"Depends." Fox crouched on his heels by the fire. "On the number of spells I do in one day."
Slippy looked up. He was sitting cross-legged by the fire, reading from a worn tome that was journeying with him. Fox needed only to glance at it to tell it was magical in nature. "I know. I've studied some spells over and over to relearn them."
"I don't always need do that." Fox rubbed his chin. "I'm quarter-Elven."
"Quarter?" Falco echoed.
"James McCloud was half Elven." Peppy yawned widely; he was older and the day's travel had taken its toll.
"Doesn't seem very significant."
Fox's reply was in fluent Elven, then, smiling at Falco's utterly baffled look, said goodnight.
Peppy yawned and sat up. The first rays of light were just spreading over the horizon, and the fire had already been coaxed into a cooking fire. Falco was still flat out on his bedroll, but Slippy was beginning to stir. Fox was nowhere in sight.
After several moments, he emerged from the treeline, and crouched beside the fire. He nodded to Peppy, tail curling across his hip. "Morning."
"How long have you been up?"
"A while." Fox shrugged the question off. "Oh, and being you're a vegetarian, I thought you might enjoy these." He pulled a double-handful of wild strawberries from his pack, followed by an apple.
"Thoughtful of you." Peppy smiled and accepted the food, watching Fox prepare a meal for the rest of them. "You don't have to do that, you know. One of us could have."
"I was first up." He snapped his hand down and grabbed Falco's wrist. "The next time you try to steal that, I won't hesitate, and you'll be missing that hand."
Falco laughed and snapped to his feet, stretching. "You must have eyes in the back of your head, friend."
"So it's said." He rubbed his chin, staring into the fire. "Do you still wish to learn how to handle a broadsword?"
"Yes indeed."
Peppy handed his sword to Falco, and the two walked a distance away from camp as Peppy took over the job of cooking their morning meal. Fox rolled his shoulders, twisting from his waist back and forth as he did.
"How long have you been training?" Falco watched him pull his broadsword and do some warm-up moves.
"I started learning Bushido when I learned to read and write. I started learning combat when I was ten."
"And your father was a half-elf."
"Yes, while it isn't a well-known fact. When he was home, friends of his would visit. They helped teach me to use magic."
"I'm not even going to ask to try to learn that. I can't read very well."
"Mm." He eyed Falco, eyed how the avian held the sword. "Do you even know how to use a broadsword?"
"To me all swords are the same, and share one simple rule—the pointed end goes into the other man." And with that began to do semi-fancy maneuvers, making the blade flash.
Fox flicked his wrist, and Peppy's broadsword flew across the clearing and sank into the ground. "This is going to take a little more effort then I predicted."
A soft, tinkling laugh filled the air. Both froze, looking around.
"Aye, aye, I agree, sir fox!" Called a voice.
"Show yourself!" Falco called.
"Hah! If you cannot see me, why should I?" Challenged the voice, coming from another direction then before. "You cannot see the forest for the trees, sir thief!"
Fox made a gesture for Falco to remain silent, slowly looking around then focusing on a grove of trees. "He may not be able to, but I can, mademoiselle elf."
A trill of pleasure echoed through the air, and a delicate feline appeared, crouched on a branch, wearing loose robes and a cloak. Her hair was loose around her face, one lock coming down in a braid. "You flatter me, sir fox!"
"But of course. How else would I treat a lovely lady such as yourself?"
She trilled again, leaping lightly to the ground, then started speaking in Elven. Fox cocked his head to one side, listening, as Falco looked more and more confused.
When the Elven feline finished, Falco looked at Fox. "What did she say?"
Fox just smiled and strolled back to the camp, gesturing for Falco to follow. Falco wasn't surprised when the elf also followed.
"I see we have acquired a guest." Peppy stood and bowed. "Sir Peppy Hare, formerly of his Majesty's Knights of the Crusades. And you would be, young lady?"
"Sorceress Katt Monroe."
"Sorceress?" Slippy hurriedly stood and bowed.
"Yes." She sat by the fire, looking with interest at the venison cooking. "I thought I would escort you through the forest. There are some… beings here that might take kindly to your presence."
"Drows?" Fox asked, slicing the venison and passing her a serving.
Katt looked uncomfortable. "Perhaps. Perhaps not."
"Ah."
"That's no answer." Falco muttered.
"It's all the answer I need." Fox told him. "We break camp as soon as we're done eating. We've got a distance to travel." He turned to Katt. "Have you a mount?"
She shifted. "I don't need one."
"A woman. You're allowing a woman to travel with us." Falco muttered darkly to Fox as they rode down the path, which seemed more and more less worn as time passed.
"She is an Elven sorceress, Falco. I respect her." Fox glanced up at the trees. He knew that the newest member of the group was using them to move easily through the forest. "Besides, I know forests, but she knows THIS part of the forest. And I know that this forest is enchanted."
"It is?"
"Yes. You can't feel it can you?" Fox sighed, urging his horse onward.
They stopped a few hours later to water their horses. It was only then that Katt appeared, sitting by the stream. Fox walked up to her, and she glanced up.
"A few more hours travel and we'll be out of what's considered my territory."
"Then?"
"Then I'm only vaguely familiar with the road we'll be following. And it will be more dangerous." She stared into the distance. "There are far more deadly creatures then I in this forest."
"Dragons?" Falco asked, snapping his head up.
"It's not the dragons that worry me." She replied, standing.
"Then what?"
She sighed and didn't reply.
"Tell us."
"You wouldn't know of the creatures I talk about. You're a city dweller, and thus, it is all you know." She looked at Fox. "We better move on."
He didn't ask, only nodded.
"I don't get it. What's she talking about that is more dangerous then a dragon?" Falco muttered.
"Not all dragons are dangerous." Fox replied, eyes trained straight ahead. "My father spoke of a gold dragon that saved his life once."
"I can vouch for that." Peppy said. "And as for Drows… A Drow, Falco, is a dark Elf."
"Evil?"
"No. Not necessarily. Not all of them. Of course, we could just as easily say that about our own race, now couldn't we?" He tossed his hand. "Drows normally live underground. In fact, it is very odd for one to come to the surface. But if one does…" He let the sentence die a natural death.
Falco sighed, wishing he had a clue as to what was going on.
"Milady Katt?" Fox paused, drawing his horse to a stop.
"Yes?" She appeared in front of him.
"Am I right in thinking that there is a town a few days travel from here?"
"Yes, but a small one. This road passes right through it." She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear absently. "Once we get out of the forest, the main road rejoins this one."
"Hmm." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So any traveling on this road would have to meet travelers on the main road eventually, including soldiers."
"In concept. And have to pass through the village." She half-closed her eyes, thinking. "The last time I journeyed this way, there were no offshoots of the road until a half-day's travel past the town."
"So they wouldn't have a choice unless they leave the road."
"Now that that's established, why does it matter?" Falco asked.
Fox looked at him. "We're chasing a war party, Lombardi. A war party that is going to pass through a small village, which I assume is not guarded, because it's still a long distance from the boarder."
Falco's eyes widened. "My god…. Are you saying…"
"No not necessarily. They may just pass through and not hurt a soul." Fox rubbed his chin again. "What I'm saying is that if they pass through, someone will be able to tell us that they did. And then we'll know for sure we're on the right track."
"Well, looks like no one burned the town down." Falco remarked, glancing at Fox, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"That was worse case scenario, Lombardi." Was the chill reply. "Besides, there has been other damage done. Watch how they look at us."
Falco frowned, watching the villagers, and saw what Fox was talking about. The villagers glanced at them and hurriedly went about their business. "They seem like they're scared of us."
Katt, who was now riding a semi-wild stallion of some draft ancestry, also took a good look around. "Of course, we're not exactly the normal traveling party."
"Even so." Fox glanced around. "I say we stop to collect some information and keep moving. We aren't welcome here."
"If it's information you want, leave that to me." Falco replied. "That's one of my expertises."
Fox wove a hand, and Falco split from the group.
"Looks like you were right, Fox. Not only did O'Donnel's party pass through here, so did a military party, and they're not a few hours ride ahead of us." Falco reported when the group gathered an hour or so later. "Looks like someone might beat us to O'Donnel. They were riding hard, according to those I talked to."
"Hmm. A military party?"
"Yeah. Elite guards mounted and a few knights." He shook his head. "No way O'Donnel can stand up to that."
"Actually, O'Donnel has a better chance then the task force." Was the bland reply. "You forget that I trained with him. Let's move out. I would rather be traveling then unwelcome in a town."
"I agree." Peppy nodded. "None here will even say why they are scared."
"I know." Katt suddenly said. "O'Donnel threatened them. Said if they didn't keep their mouths shut, he'd demolish the town."
"How do you know that, pray tell? Even the informers I talked to didn't say that." Falco looked at her.
She smiled a bit. "I'm an elf. I saw it in their eyes, Lombardi."
"In that case I don't want to know. Let's go."
"I don't get it. If they're in front of us, how did you tell their tracks from O'Donnel's before we entered the forest?" Slippy asked.
"They weren't ahead of us then. They left after us." Fox replied. "They're riding faster and took the main road, so they passed us."
"I still say they're going to catch O'Donnel before us." Falco grumbled.
"Even if the Princess is safe, you forget that there are other things I have to do."
"Why can't you two just get along?" Slippy grumbled.
"We have far different beliefs."
"Indeed." Falco agreed. "Main one being is he's honor-bound and the only honor I have is among thieves."
"That doesn't mean I don't respect you, Lombardi." Fox looked at him. "This group is well-rounded, and even thief's honor is better then none. You do have skills that you lend to the group that I'm thankful for. I would, however, be a little more trusting if you would quit trying to steal my Katana."
Falco laughed out loud.