Chapter 5 The Beginning of a Journey

Irvine yawned as he sat at the inn, eyeing the pretty landlady. He might have a go... he followed her as she moved around the room and suddenly his eyes fell upon a familiar figure entering the inn. "Well Hyne, if it isn't Squall..." He muttered curiously. Squall wasn't the kind to wander - it was either the palace, the Queen's grave or the training citadel. Seeing him in the inn was a shock indeed. Getting up, he saw Squall notice him and he tipped his hat - a recent acquisition. "Funny seeing you here, Prince."

"I was looking for you," Squall said, frowning slightly. "I wanted to ask you something."

'Well here's not the place for it." Irvine eyed the inn, which was full of people. He led Squall outside into the street and they began walking towards the palace. Irvine scratched his head. "So, what is it?"

Squall was thinking of a way to say it... it would seem odd to the older Knight if he suddenly showed interest in a girl.

"Hi there handsome," An expertly painted woman came up to them, smiling widely. Irvine frowned. He wasn't in the mood for anything, but from the looks of it, she wasn't looking for a warm bed. "Why don't you and me go and visit the carnival, hmm?" She toyed with his long hair, and he distastefully snatched it away. "Excuse me lady, but - "

"Squall!!"

Squall turned around and saw Rinoa coming towards them; at least he thought it was Rinoa. Gone were the dresses and crown - this Rinoa wore a pale blue duster with black boots; just like a commoner, only brighter in color. Behind her, as calm as always came Quistis. Squall eyed Rinoa, and the girl grinned. "What do you think? Don't I look just like a normal girl?"

"You're as beautiful as ever, princess," Irvine bowed deeply, grinning. "Isn't she, Quistis?"

Quistis merely nodded. It was evident her thoughts were far away. But perhaps only Irvine and Squall noticed that, because Rinoa didn't. She tugged on Squall's jacket, smiling happily. "I saw a carnival in the square - do you think we can go? I've never been to a carnival; Quistis never let me."

"It's dangerous," Quistis protested calmly. "I have no guarantee of your safety."

"Not a problem there," Irvine said easily. "Why don't we?" he extended his arm to Quistis as Squall and Rinoa already went ahead. She graciously declined and walked beside him. Irvine sighed. "How many years has it been, Quistis? I see you've secured a good position for yourself."

"Thank you." She said flatly. "All in time, Sir Kinneas."

His eyes were shadowed. "So you still remember your vendetta?"

"I never forget. Nothing can make me forget."

"It's not good to dwell on the past, Quistis."

"Thank you, but a vendetta cannot be taken back." She stopped and turned to him. "I owe you my life for making me a Knight even though you knew of my intentions."

Irvine's eyes were hooded. "Maybe it's I who owe you, Quistis."

He walked silently beside her, but if only she knew what he was thinking...

He remembered -

The screams, the horrid stench of blood; the clash of metal as soldiers fought for the honor of their empire. What could an eight year old understand? He waited at the gate of their camp, waiting for his master to return. The sky was as red as the ground, but he had grown used to it. One however, was still new to war. The Prince.

He stood beside Irvine, pale as the moon and eyes filled with fear. But Irvine did not let him return to his tent, because King Loire had told him; "This is your calling, this is what you must endure." And he will take care of the King and the Prince.

"Why isn't Father back yet?" the prince asked fearfully. Irvine did not have the answer, but he refused to give the prince any further worries. "He'll come back. Don't worry."

"I want to find him!" Squall suddenly ran out of camp before Irvine could say another word. "Prince!"

Irvine ran through the broken houses, the dark streets, calling out his name. There were corpses every where; but Irvine wasn't bothered. His aim was finding Squall.

After a while of fruitless searching, he heard a scream and a loud crash - Squall's voice! Heart thumping, he rounded a corner and came upon a sorry sight.

Squall was crouched near a fallen beam, and he could see another boy with him, maybe a year older and crying as he tried to lift the beam. "Sis!!"

"My lord," Irvine tugged at Squall's sleeve. "We have to go!"

"Help me!" Squall cried. "She's trapped - she saved my life - "

Irvine saw a small figure under the beam and winced. Whoever it was, she was probably dead, judging by the lifeless look of her. "Let her go, my lord... she can't be saved - "

"She's gotta live! Sis!" The other boy cried in anguish. Squall refused to follow Irvine, but the older boy would not be daunted. "This is war, and you must understand!" Irvine finally cried in frustration. Squall stopped dead and turned pale.

"Now come," Irvine took Squall back to camp just in time to see the Esthar army return. They were as grim as the sky itself, and Irvine hurriedly attended to King Loire. Squall had retired to his tent and refused to come out; which was probably best, thought Irvine.

"Where's Squall?" King Loire asked as Irvine took off his armor. "Resting, my lord," Irvine replied. "He... was shocked."

King Loire sighed. 'He must get used to this situation... any good SeeD Knight must adapt to war."

"Will he be a Knight, sire?"

King Loire peered outside, to where his soldiers were mingling. "Raine wouldn't hear of it... but I think it would be best if he became a Knight. I have no other heir, Irvine. It may seem barbaric, but he must learn."

"Please rest." Irvine served him food and sat in a corner, thinking. "The Prince will need a Knight."

King Loire laughed. "Certainly not! I have a feeling he will be the best Knight Esthar has ever seen..."

And you're right, Irvine thought wryly as his thoughts returned to the present. What King Loire predicted came true, but what he didn't predict was that Squall would become a cold Knight. Growing up in a palace and thought to fight at such an early age had its toll on him, and Squall didn't like to mix. But he was generous, and fair, and the people were willing to overlook his incapability at socializing.

"Wow..." Rinoa said in awe as they came to the market square. The place was filled with people and stalls. There were colorful trinkets, food and the general atmosphere was jovial and cheery. They jostled through the crowd and came to a stage set in the middle of the square where a large sign proclaimed; "THE INVINCIBLE DINCHT!"

"Invincible?" Irvine said with interest as he tipped his hat. Squall said nothing. The crowd was making him confused. Rinoa was enjoying every moment of it though.

A stocky, well built man strode onto the stage, flicking his nose in disdain. "I'm the Great Dincht!" He hollered. "I've been around the world and fought with every body!" The applause that greeted this proclamation was deafening, not to mention the couple of boos.

"Phooey!" Rinoa shouted, laughing. "You look like you've never left your cot, you big baby!"

The Great Dincht swiveled around furiously, but anyone could see he was amused. "is that so, little lady? Care to try?" He flexed his muscles. Rinoa felt the hairs at the back of her neck rise and quickly grabbed Squall's arm. "No, but I dare you to fight my fiancé!"

Squall shot her en extremely odd look while Irvine doubled up in laugher. Quistis shook her head in disapproval. Where did she pick up such language, I wonder?

"This boy here?" The Great Dincht sneered. "Hell no, lady - he looks like a candidate for the dancin' parlor!"

The comment made Squall's eyes flash with anger. Forgetting his earlier thoughts, he swung himself up into the ring and the crowd cheered harder. The Prince, fighting hand-to-hand combat! What a show! Rinoa was shouting happily, jumping up and down while Irvine was too busy laughing to think. Quistis wasn't laughing, instead she was listening intently. The Dincht man had the advantage of being of better build, but Prince Leonhart was smaller, and more agile. Of strength she couldn't say, because the prince certainly was stronger than he looked.

Irvine wiped his eyes, still laughing when he felt a whoosh of air and his hat was whisked off his head. He whirled around furiously. "Hey!"

He caught a momentary glimpse of a hooded thief holding his hat and running for all's worth. "Hey, that's my hat!" He hollered and elbowed through the crowd. To his surprise Quistis followed suit. "What are you doing?!" He exclaimed.

"You won't be able to see her once you get through, but I can hear her footsteps," She said patiently as they burst through the crowd. "There!" Quistis pointed to an alley and they set off. Irvine let Quistis lead the way since she was the one who knew there the thief was. "A new one that was," he grumbled and look out his gun. They came out at the outskirts of the city, at the Great Salt Lake. 'Where is she?" Irvine asked furiously. Quistis did not answer, instead her whip snaked out to one of the trees that lined the lake and Irvine heard a yelp and a figure tumbled to the ground. But not before the hat sail gracefully to the surface of the lake. With a lunge Quistis threw her whip and caught the hat just before it touched water and snapped it back.

Meanwhile Irvine had caught the thief; surprises, surprises; a green-eyed girl was staring furiously at him. "Let me go, you big bully!"

"Look who's talking," he said calmly as he held her wrists behind her back. "You should know what Esthar punishment has in store for thieves."