Section Three: The Tears of a Dragon
"Milady?"
"Yes?!" Fara demanded, turning to face Marie, one had on her hip, the other holding her sword. She had returned to wearing her swordfighter's outfit, and had been spending the majority of her free time practicing maneuvers. What was now keeping her going was that she was leaving soon, going on a quest with Fox and his group. It was something more enjoyable to think about then Prince Albrecht's arrival.
Marie stepped back. "Prince Albrecht will be arriving soon, and I just thought you should clean up and be ready to receive him. He is very eager to meet you, and the time when he first meets you will be most important."
"Why does everyone think he's so wonderful?" Fara asked bluntly, sheathing her sword and crossing her arms.
"He is a very handsome and caring Prince, milady! It would truly be a wonderful arrangement for you if…"
"Don't talk to me about that understand?!" Fara curled her hands into fists, storming by Marie and returning to her quarters.
'Milady Fara.'
'Fox!' She almost blurted it aloud, she was so glad for the mental contact.
'Yes. Will you be able to accompany us in two weeks?'
'That is the only thing that keeps me happy now is that I get to accompany you.' She replied, sitting on a bench by the window. 'I have been practicing several times daily since I got your letter… I don't wish to be a burden on this trip.'
'You're never a burden, milady.' His mental voice was tender, and she felt phantom fingers brush along her cheek, gentle, loving. 'But I worry what your father will think…'
'I don't care anymore! He's arranging me to be married!'
For a moment, silence, then feelings reached her, a sort-of agonized worry. Then Fox said, 'So you told me. Heironeous help me, Fara… if I could legally court you, I would, but…'
'I know. When will I see you?'
'The ball. No sooner, and I am very sorry. I'm trying to get things settled with the rest of my party… we will be a rather large group this time. Ten people including us.'
'A bit of a caravan.'
'Yes. I will see you at the ball, milady. Until then…' He bowed mentally, then his presence was gone from her mind.
Fara sighed, a bit depressed, looking at herself in the mirror in her room. The new dress fit well, and was very complimenting and dignified. She hated it.
Fighting the urge to smash the mirror, she turned from it, looking at Marie.
"You look ravishing, Milady!" Marie exclaimed, hands pressed together happily. "Oh this is such a joyous time…"
"No. It isn't." Fara spat scornfully. "You speak as if I am already engaged."
"Well, Milady, if the arrangement…"
"I want to marry for love." She said in a harsh voice.
"Milady, I'm sure you could love this prince! I have heard many good tales of him."
"We all have." Fara sighed, folding her arms around herself and fighting the urge to weep in utter frustration.
"Now come! I'm sure he is waiting for you now!"
Fara entered the room slowly, taking her time to notice who was in the room. Her parents of course, and King Albrecht, and a younger man standing near a window she supposed was Prince Albrecht.
"Ah!" Her father stood with a smile, walking over to her. "King Albrecht, if I may formally present my daughter…"
"We've met." Albrecht kissed her hand, bowing.
"A pleasure to meet you again." Fara forced the smile, watching the prince turn from the window and stride over.
He was handsome, no doubting that, and did have a rather kind face. She could see why many of the ladies of the court spoke in hushed tones of him, though she had never done so. He didn't interest her.
"Princess Fara, may I present my son, Titus Albrecht."
"A pleasure." Titus bowed low, taking her hand and kissing it. "I was very eager to meet you, milady Fara. You are well spoken of."
"You flatter me." Fara forced another smile.
"Ah but I must!" Titus smiled, straightening and spreading his hands. "After all what else can one do when in the company of such a beautiful lady?"
She forced another smile, wishing to Pelor that she wasn't standing there, that this wasn't happening, and knew that it was.
The group fell into conversation, and Fara walked over to the window, staring out, cupping her two hands around her pendant of Pelor. After several moments Titus joined her.
"You seemed troubled, milady." He said quietly, watching her face.
"I have my reasons." She replied, just as quietly.
"They are discussing arranging our marriage, milady. Do you not want to discuss it with them?"
"No. No I do not."
"You are trusting of your parents."
"No. No I am not."
He stared at her, then said very quietly, "Why do you not want to marry me, Fara? I know we have just met, but I feel we could be very happy."
"May I be blunt, Titus?"
"You may."
She turned to face him, and said in a voice near a whisper. "I don't love you, Titus. And I don't feel as you do." With this she walked briskly away from the window, aiming to leave the room.
"Wait, my daughter. We still have much to discuss…" Started her father.
She stopped and turned to face him, her face suddenly filled with melancholy rage. "There is nothing to discuss, father. You have already arranged it. You already decided my life for me." And with that she was gone, practically running down the hall.
Titus was shocked, looking to his father with a stunned look on his face.
"I'm very sorry, King Albrecht. She has been very moody of recent." Said Fara's mother with a sigh.
"I suppose she is allowed, this is a major change in her life…" King Albrecht finally said.
"May I try to speak to her?" Titus asked, sounding a bit numb.
"What did she say to you son?"
"I, I asked her why she would not have me. And she said she did not love me."
The three majesties exchanged a look.
"I will have a discussion with our daughter." The Queen said finally. "You may talk to her afterward, Titus."
Once in her quarters, Fara slammed the door closed and practically ripped out of the dress, returning to the simple swordfighter's clothing she enjoyed wearing, then sank down on the edge of her bed and began to whimper to herself, now knowing it was going to be a very long two weeks indeed.
There was a knock at her door, then it opened. "Daughter?"
"Yes mother?" She snapped over her shoulder.
"Why are you being so bitter?" The Queen came into the room, closing the door and sitting down beside her child.
"I don't love him mother. I could never love him. Yet you seek to arrange me with him. I have good reasons to be bitter." She replied, not facing her mother.
"You are young, child. You can hardly know what love is…"
She turned to face her mother. "How do you know that?"
They stared at each other, and the Queen gasped. "Oh, oh my…"
"Yes." Fara turned away.
"Who?"
"I'm not sure if it matters. You do know him, mother, and he is a man of honor. I love him. I have since before the war ended." She turned away.
"You've got to let him go, child. You must. We have already begun the arrangements… Titus is a very nice boy. I do not see why you are so cruel to him."
"I don't love him, mother." She hugged herself. "And the idea of marrying someone I have no feelings for makes me ill."
The Queen looked at her daughter, and grew resigned. "I can infer this to mean that he who you love is not a Prince."
"No. No, mother, he is not."
"Of common blood mayhaps?"
She hesitated. "I don't think so…"
"A Knight then. You have fallen in love with one of your father's Knights." The Queen concluded. "Fara, such a relationship… We cannot bide that, and you know that."
"And you would damn me to eternal unhappiness rather then see me marry out of royalty." Was the cold reply.
"Daughter that is not it at all…!"
"Yes it is." Fara was clutching her pendant in one hand, feeling the jagged sun-rays press into her fingers and palm. "You know it is! You wish the marriage not only for how good it seems but for the formal connection you would then have with King Albrecht! And I say no mother! I cannot marry Titus! I would rather die then marry one who I do not love!" She ended this on a shout, feeling light-headed from worry and anger, feeling heat emanate from the pendant she clutched, as if it sympathized.
The Queen reeled. "Now see here, you cannot speak to me in such a manner!"
Fara wasn't listening, having stood and retreated to her window. 'I'll run away. That's what I'll do, I'll run. I'll go to Falco's tavern… and he can get me to Fox without my parents knowing…' While this panicked line of thought ran through her head, she failed to notice that her pendant had made a click noise until she lowered her hand, and stared at the two disks of gold in her palm.
She snatched up the pendant and looked at it. The front and back had come off, and suddenly she was looking at a diamond, held in the center of the open space by a spider web of gold. She brushed a finger over the diamond, and it felt warm to her, living under her finger.
"What is this?" Her mother had stood, looking at the pendant. "That is a dragon tear diamond, daughter!"
She allowed the pendant to fall to her chest, allowing the warmth of the diamond to spread through her chest. "Yes, I realized so. Please mother, just leave me alone. It is hard enough without you. Please."
Her mother left, now feeling very uneasy about the arrangement.
Fara looked at the pendant again, and it sparkled as if it had noticed her looking. She had gotten the pendant when she was eight, for a holiday. Her mother had told her it was an heirloom, and she thought that it would be better for her to have it. Thinking back, she knew that many of the family heirlooms were made by sorcerers, though many had lost power now… Perhaps this was one of them?
Dragon Tear diamonds were rare, she knew, and what few existed in the world were almost always being used for artifacts or were hidden away in treasure hoards. The fact that the pendant she had had for many years had one inside it was both surprising and not. She held it up, looking at it, and the diamond flashed a million colors.
There was a rather timid tap at the door, startling her out of her reverie. "Yes?" She called over her shoulder, dropping the pendant so it was hidden under her shirt.
"May I come in, milady?"
"Yes, Titus. I don't see why not."
The door cracked open, and Titus slipped in. "It feels a bit odd, speaking to you in your quarters, with no chaperone…"
"I'm quite able to protect myself. I doubt anyone will be concerned." She replied, voice flat.
He looked over her clothing. "You swordfight, milady?"
"Yes. I am actually rather decent at it, though I wish for more advanced training. I am much more comfortable in an outfit such as this then in the dresses I must wear." She sat in one of the carved chairs, rubbing one of her temples. "I'm sorry I was so harsh earlier. It is my nature to be blunt."
"No, that is all right… I think I can understand." He stood nervously, then finally drew a chair up to sit across from her. "I too wish to marry for love, milady… that is why I came as soon as I was able…"
"Call me Fara. You want to marry for love, yet do not protest this arrangement?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "That seems rather odd to me."
"Well, I… As said that is why I came so soon." He spread his hands. "Our parents seem very eager and approving of this arrangement, and I supposed that perhaps, if we met as soon as possible, there could be some feelings…"
She looked at him then looked away. "I'm sorry Titus. I don't think that's possible."
"Why not?" Disappointment flickered across his face.
"Because my heart already belongs to someone else."
Titus was stunned. "Someone else? Another prince?"
"No. It's probably better that you don't know who it is." She sighed slowly, leaning back and tilting her head back. "And if things go smoothly, after the ball I shall be gone."
"Gone? Gone to where?"
"I'm not sure… but I am going on a quest."
There was a very long moment of silence, then Titus said, "I'm not going to give up."
"Give up? On what, pray tell?" She brought her gaze back to him.
"On you, on our arrangement. You are beautiful, you have a fire I have not seen in any other. You may love another, Fara, but that doesn't mean you can't love me as well." He stood, reaching out a hand and brushing it along her cheek. "Think about it, please. I beg you." Then he was gone, closing the door behind him.
Fox sighed, looking out the window at the rising sun, wishing that he was at his cabin. Sleeping in a city always made him uncomfortable; there was too much noise, too much action. But he said his prayers as if he wasn't in Falco's inn, going through his morning routine. Only then did he leave his room, swords at his side.
Because it was harvest, the town was busy, and he made his way slowly through the crowd to Peppy's house. Peppy, who had a sixth sense for visitors, opened the door as he got to it.
"I thought since you have a habit of rising early, I should get into the habit of doing the same." Said Peppy as he closed the door. "Katt and Slippy stayed up a good portion of the night, trying to find out more on the Staff of Lazarus…"
"Remind me to tell them they need their sleep." Fox sighed, accepting a cup of tea and sitting in Peppy's den.
"I don't think they've had any luck thus far. Falco's looking as well, since he has more contacts then our magic users do. Seems everyone has heard of Lazarus, and a good many have heard of his Staff, but no one has a thought as to where it is." Peppy sank into a chair with a long sigh. "Priestess Rita is trading messages with her Temple; apparently her friends there are looking up information as well…"
"With some hope, one of our group will find something." Fox shook his head. "The northern wasteland is a several-month ride, as are the mountains to the west, and the ride is a hard one…"
Peppy held up a hand, standing and going to his door again. A few moments later, he returned leading Julian.
"Are you going to continue my training here?" Julian asked as he sat.
Fox sighed. "I may have to, at least for the next few days. Does that bother you?"
"A bit."
"Good. Bothers me as well." Fox watched as Julian set several large rolls of paper on the table between them. "Maps?"
"Yes. I spoke with my father, and he gave me these. They're of foreign regions—the orient, the mountains to the west, portions of the great desert and the east. He too has heard of the Staff, but he wasn't sure about where it fell too."
Peppy, opening the maps and looking at them, said, "If we do not find information, this could take months, even years…"
"And we might not have that long." Fox finished with a sigh. "I thank you Julian."
"No, thank you. I'm glad to help in any way I can."
Fox looked to Peppy. "Have you an empty room we could use as a training room for now?"
"Yes I do." Peppy stood, and the two younger men followed him.
Falco sighed, looking up at the sky. It was partly cloudy today, stray beams of sunlight coming down onto the fields around him, little or no chance of rain. The harvest went on around him. Normally he would never have come out this far away from town voluntarily, but he had business.
He dismounted, tying his horse to a post alongside the road, and drew his sword, holding it the sky. Lightning cracked, then threw itself skyward.
"Yes?"
"Terribly sorry to bother you, but I need some help."
The booming voice that emanated from the sky around him laughed. "With what, Guild Thief? Do you need to be rescued?"
Dragon humor. Falco sighed. "No. I need information. The balance of the world has been disturbed, and my friends and I are setting out soon to try to correct it. The only thing we have found to help correct it is the Staff of Lazarus, but we are not sure where it is."
"We too have noticed this shift in the balance. So you're asking me if I know where said staff is."
"Yes I am."
A long pause, then another voice joined the first. "The Lazarus Staff was cast down for a reason."
"The God using it was misusing it."
"More true then not, but the last use damaged it, Thief."
"Damaged it? How badly?"
"No one knows. The staff became volatile, uncontrollable. It was created to be a neutral judge and restore balance, but after its last use it started following an agenda of its own. The God in question recognized the trouble and cast it down, sealed it in time."
"The staff had its own agenda? For good or for evil?"
"It wasn't allowed enough time to prove either way."
"We will find a way to repair it. We need to know where it is, or we need to know another way to correct the balance."
Silence again, besides low rumblings Falco took to be mumbles in Draconic. "You are right in this; there may be no other way. But you cannot go directly to the temple the Staff is held in."
"Can you at least impart to me where to go on the first leg of the journey?"
"Yes. There is a church in the Northern Wastes. Go there. You will need what you find there, and you will know then where to go next."
"I thank you."
"Our pleasure."
Falco sheathed the sword, smiling grandly at the staring peasants as he did so, then swung back into his saddle and quickly rode to town.
"The Northern Wastelands." Fox said, spreading out maps across the large wooden table, sighing.
"I'm not going to question information given by a dragon, but I feel dubious. Why can't we go directly to the temple that holds the Staff?" Asked Bill, looking at the maps.
"Perhaps this concerns the fact that we need something to open the temple with." Said Rita thoughtfully. "Though I have not been able to find out exactly what we need to do so…"
"You're not alone." Katt said, resting her chin on the table and rubbing her eyes. "Slippy and I weren't able to find anything of use…" She said this around a yawn.
"Has anyone ever been to the Northern Wastelands?" Falco asked, looking at the maps.
"My travels were greatly eastwardly and southerly." Said Peppy, shaking his head.
"I have." Said Julian.
"And I! And I!" Said Alan, bouncing up and passing drinks around. "Drink this and be merry good chaps!"
"I'll be merry when we have this whole thing figured out." Muttered Katt.
"The Wasteland is aptly named, it's very nearly barren, a land of rocks and sand." Said Julian, tapping a map. "But there are a few rivers going through it, and there are some nomadic tribes that make their home there… My father trades with them every now and then, but they are a rather primitive and wild people to our standards."
"But not dangerous?"
"There are plenty of other things there that are dangerous."
This made the group fall silent.
"Perhaps we should invest in a few wagons for this trip." Slippy suggested. "It is a very long ride to the Wasteland, and the Gods only know how far to the church…"
"Perhaps. Look into prices, would you please?" Fox said, rubbing his eyes.
"All right."
"I am returning to my cabin tomorrow. If you find out anything, notify me as soon as you can, all right?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good."
Time passed swiftly, and Fox's group gathered supplies and information as quickly as they could. Fox delegated some jobs to some people; for example he asked that Peppy and Bill try to arrange supplies, while Katt, Slippy, and Falco concentrate on information and planning. Rita stayed in contact with her temple, and Alan made himself useful when he could, and made himself annoying when he couldn't.
"I'm uneasy about this ball." Julian remarked to Fox, eagerly delving into dinner, which was venison. "I am not sure if I know enough…"
"You know more then I do, quite probably." Fox replied, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "And if I'm not mistaken, tomorrow we see about clothes, correct?"
"That is what Laucian said, but is not Elven fashion a bit different then human fashion?"
"A good bit different, but they keep up on human fashion as well. I have no doubt that we will make quite an entrance." He smiled to himself.
"Perhaps you will…"
"They will assume you are a Knight, or an advanced trainee. Do not be surprised if princesses ask you to dance, Julian. As long as you refrain from saying you're currently a guard, they won't know any better."
Julian looked at Fox. "And what do they assume you are?"
Fox, taking a drink from his glass, grinned. "I am a Knight; therefore, I have quite the hard time finding peace of mind…" His face suddenly fell as he set the glass down. "Which, to be quite honest, I hate. I have no wish to be part of 'high society.' I like it where I am." He made a gesture to encompass the woods and his cabin. "This is all I want or need."
"A few months ago, I don't think I would have understood that…"
"Do you now?"
He considered. "Actually yes I do. I rather like it out here."
"Good."
Fara sighed, sitting in the alcove of one of her windows, staring out over the city. The sun was setting; and stray beams of light came through her window, lighting her room and making her pendant glow. The last week and few days had been hard for her. Titus had pursued her as he said he would, courting her any spare chance he got, even interrupting her morning prayers at once point (though her sword at his throat warned him from ever attempting that again). She wasn't sure why he was so firm and insistent in this, finally supposing that perhaps he already felt more then friendship for her…
That in itself was a horrifying thought, but she banished it by thinking about the upcoming ball. Fox was going to be there, apparently bringing his trainee as well, and she had heard via letters that Falco and Katt were also coming (though her parents had been careful not to invite them). Peppy might come, and Alan might appear, though she was sure the last's arrival would be a bit of a fiasco. In any effect, she would get to see Fox, and would get to hear the fine details of their quest.
Osiris flew in one of her other windows, did a loop of the room, and landed on her shoulder, dropping a rose into her hand. She had to smile, even if it didn't have a note, and lightly kissed the bird on its beak before it left. Osiris cooed at this mark of attention, sending the motion in a burst of information to Fox, even if Fara didn't know he had, then winged out the window.
There was a tap on her door, then Titus slipped in.
"Yes?" Fara asked tiredly, looking at him.
"Do you make a habit of sitting in the dark?" He asked, turning up one of the lamps and walking over.
"No." She looked back out the window, watching the sun fade over the horizon. "Sunsets are better watched without other lights."
"More then true I suppose. I watch one every now and then." He looked over her shoulder, watching the sky turn dark and bright diamond-dust stars scatter across it.
"I did some calculations on that once…"
"Oh? On what?"
"Well, there are 364 sunsets in one year, give or take, correct?"
"Yes…"
"And say I might live until I'm seventy-five or eighty… let's just say seventy-five. That would mean that I would have been able to watch twenty-seven thousand, three hundred sunsets, and as many sunrises." She stared out. "I thought that maybe I should watch more."
"It is rather interesting, the day's last shout before night takes over..."
"Mm." She fingered her pendant absently, feeling the warmth against her chest that it radiated. She wasn't sure if the stone was enchanted, but she had felt more focused whenever she attempted to use her powers as a visionary. Sitting there, she finally deciphered the feeling she had first felt when discussions had rose of her being arranged. It wasn't that Titus was evil, no; it was that if she didn't go on this upcoming quest… She frowned, concentrating on the feelings. Perhaps she was important somehow. She just knew she had to go.
"You are quite contrary to any princess I have ever met, do you know?"
"How so?"
"Most princesses would be horrified at the idea of speaking to a young man unchaperoned in the dark." He chuckled softly. "But I suppose that's one of the things I like about you…"
She shrugged. "Never cared much for my ladies-in-waiting. I'd much rather have my privacy."
"If I may ask, why do you incessantly practice with your sword? Why did you learn to fight in the first place?" He cocked his head to one side, watching her face carefully.
"Self defense, mostly. It's saved my life, so my father let me pursue it. I enjoy it much more then I ever enjoyed needlepoint or any other hobby I'm supposed to practice."
"I too swordfight. The tourneys where I usually compete in jousting also include sword fighting, so I enjoy being able to participate in two events."
"I always thought that would be interesting to learn to do, but father's knights would never teach me to joust, so…"
"A woman jousting?" He laughed, then fell silence at her cold look. "I apologize."
"You should." She replied coldly. "Now, if you please, I would like to retire."
He nodded and left, wondering where she had gotten the rose, but knowing it would better for him if he did not ask.
Fox sighed, looking out over the ballroom floor, then presenting his card to the well-dressed servant that stood there and proceeding down the short stairwell. He heard his name called out behind him, but ignored it, easily greeting those that acknowledged him. The clothes he wore were fine, and, he had noticed, brought out his Elven heritage more then a bit, making him seem a bit more exotic then he really was. What he wore was also a bit stiff, but he had taken time before arriving to try to remedy that, and the outfit didn't impede his movement. His swords hung at his side as usual, more for decorative purposes then anything.
"Ah, McCloud! It had been quite a time since we last spoke." The King made his way over, smiling.
Fox bowed easily. "Yes, I know, and I apologize, Milord. I have been preoccupied."
"So I have heard. Come, I would like someone to meet you." The King led Fox through the crowd, which parted for him, and another Lord joined them. "King Albrecht, I'm sure you have heard much of Sir McCloud?"
"A great deal, yes." Albrecht looked at Fox with surprise, not expecting someone so young, but when he looked an experienced warrior looked back calmly.
"McCloud, this is King Albrecht. He and I have spoken of you a few times not long ago…"
Fox repeated his bow. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, your eminence."
Albrecht smiled, rather pleased. "And a pleasure to meet you, young Sir!"
"Albrecht was rather curious as to how you became allies with the Jack of Tears…" The King started.
"Yes, truly curious." Albrecht smiled again, accepting a fresh wine glass as Queen Phoenix joined them. "I have heard tales of the Jack, and few of them are pleasant…"
"A good many of the tales are true, but the Jack is not vicious or kind." Fox replied after a moment's thought. "He is impulsive, but he sees logic well, and I offered him land in return for his assistance… a great many apologies to your Majesty." He added, looking at the King. "He did not know I acted as I had, but in the end, it was for everyone's good. Without the help of the Jack, I have doubts that we still could have won the war."
"Interesting thought… tell me, is the Bayou evil?"
"Yes, it is saturated with evil, King Albrecht. But that does not mean that all of its denizens are evil."
The small group was silent for a moment, and Fox seized that time to say a polite farewell and leave their presence.
Fara sighed, standing in a small group of other ladies of the court, watching the moving crowd. The other ladies were talking quietly among themselves and giggling, watching the younger lords and princes. They were quite approving of Titus, and oddly jealous of her for her arrangement. She had almost told them that if they really wanted him, they could have him, but she had stilled her tongue.
After many long minutes of trying to tune out the gossip, she saw who she was looking for as he saw her, and he smiled, easily striding over. "Sir McCloud."
"Milady Phoenix." Fox bowed, taking her hand and kissing it.
The ladies watched this and tittered among each other, looking at his fine clothes, wondering if he was an elf of sorts, but he gave them no answers to their silent questions as he stood.
"Would you like to dance, milady?"
"I would love to dance."
Titus stared around the ball, searching for Fara, but to no avail, finally approaching the ladies and asking them. They replied politely, and he was able to locate Fara on the dance floor, with a young man he didn't recognize as a prince. As he walked over, he tried to place the young man with young lords he had heard of, finally wondering if perhaps he was a representative of the Elves. "Milady Fara." He said simply when he reached them.
"Titus." She responded, saw the look Titus was giving Fox, and hurriedly introduced them. "Titus, this is Sir Fox McCloud. Sir McCloud, this is Prince Titus Albrecht."
They nodded to each other. Titus eyed Fox, who looked back defiantly, then turned to Fara. "Perhaps you would be interested in dancing with me, milady?"
"No, I do not think so; Sir McCloud and I were discussing something of minor importance."
There was another pause, then he continued, looking at Fox. "Please forgive me for saying so, but aren't you rather young for a Knight?"
"I'm sure you are also considered one, Prince Titus."
"I have never heard of a McCloud family that is considered lords…"
"Perhaps because there is none."
He stared. "Then how are you a Knight, Sir McCloud?" He emphasized the 'sir,' feeling jealousy rise in his chest, beginning to draw information together.
"I rescued this young lady and led reinforcements to aid the war." Was the easy reply. "Also, my father was a Knight, Prince Titus, but that does not make us Lords."
Fara watched this uneasily, fighting the urge to lean into Fox's side, wrap an arm around him, but she kept her hands folded. She could see the jealously and anger in Titus' eyes, and could feel that something was going to happen.
"So this is who you spoke of?" Titus looked at her, anger coming into his voice. "A knight? Not proper certainly, your parents would never allow it…"
"I do not know what you are talking about." She replied stiffly.
"You know you do. And I'm sure you do as well." This was directed at Fox. "Are you really willing to dishonor this young lady for your own happiness, 'Sir' McCloud?"
Fox was silent, then said, "I agree with Princess Fara, I do not know what you are talking about, but your words themselves threaten to dishonor me."
"Your very presence threatens to dishonor me!" Titus spat in reply, one hand hovering over the sword that hung at his hip.
Fara stepped between them. "Now, stop this! Stop this at once!" She ordered, well aware those around them had stopped what they had been doing and were watching this exchange with interest. "It is not necessary!"
"I know this." Fox replied coolly.
"It's very well necessary, Milady." Said Titus in a cutting voice. "Very well necessary…"
"What is the meaning of this?" The King demanded, walking over. "What is the meaning of this disruption?"
"Perhaps they would like to explain." Titus looked at the pair.
"We did nothing, father. We were waltzing, and Titus scorned Sir McCloud." Fara replied quietly.
"Is this true?" The King looked at Titus.
"I have reasons." Titus replied heavily. "Do you joust, 'Sir' McCloud?"
"No, I do not. I am aware of the rule system, but I have never jousted, and probably will never. It fails to interest me."
A little ripple went through the watching crowd. Almost all princes and knights jousted, it was almost expected.
"Then what does interest you, 'Sir' McCloud?"
"I practice various oriental arts of self defense, as well as sword fighting."
"A duel then." Titus looked to the King. "With your permission, Milord?"
"A duel? For what?" Asked the King and Fox as one.
"For our honor, Sir McCloud. You have claimed to be dishonored by what I have said, so fight for your honor."
"This is unnecessary." Fox shook his head. "I have no wish to fight you, Titus."
"Yes, but it might help settle the matter." Said King Albrecht, looking to King Phoenix.
"I do not see why not." King Phoenix looked to Fox.
"If I must, I must, but I do this under protest, Milord."
"All right. We shall hold this in a training room. The ball will continue, but any wishing to watch may." This was announced to the whole of the ball.
'Why is he so angry with me?' Fox asked as he walked down the corridor, following King Phoenix, who was talking actively to King Albrecht.
'He is jealous of you.' Fara replied.
Fox didn't reply.
"I don't suggest using that sword."
Titus stared at Fox. "What are you talking about? I have had this sword for the last few years. I always practice with it. It is one of the best made…"
"For decoration purposes." Fox ended, crossing his arms, eyeing the blade from five or so feet away. "It is well balanced, but the blade has a flaw. I suggest asking for a replacement."
"I do believe you are merely afraid of any advantage I might have." Titus said grandly, twirling his sword into a silver blur. "This is much lighter then your broadsword…"
"I am not using my broadsword." As he spoke, Fox had detached that weapon from his belt and had turned it in to the King on open palms.
"Then, what…" Started Titus, then he slid to a halt as Fox calmly and slowly drew his Katana.
The blue glow filled the training room, flickering over the faces of those watching, reflecting off Titus' blade. Fox did not hold the blade up, rather let his arm relax, holding the sword loosely but comfortably.
"Is that oriental?"
"Yes. The King said we could use what weapon we pleased. I shall use this. And again, I suggest you do not use that sword…"
"I suggest you do not know what you are talking about." Albrecht sheathed his sword and bowed.
Fox did the same, then quickly redrew his sword as Albrecht seized that moment and attacked.
Albrecht's form was right, but he was not expecting Fox to be so fast and to be so skilled. Two minor moves later, and the blade of the Katana slashed right through his sword blade like it was wood. The last half of the sword flew away, clattering to the stone floor and skidding to a halt. The crowd watching gasped, and Fox stepped back, returning to his relaxed pose.
"I suggest that I do know what I'm talking about, Prince Titus." Fox said coldly.
Fara muffled a snicker, watching this now with an air of amusement.
"I also suggest that you do not dishonor a Knight, whatever age or form they may be in."
"Especially one who defeated Andross' Army, and almost single-handedly defeated Andross himself." Said a new voice, and Falco stepped from the circle of people, smiling. "Evening, Sir McCloud."
"Guild Leader Lombardi." Fox returned with a smile.
The crowd, sensing that the action was already over, had already begun drifting away, returning to the ballroom, talking to each other, awed comments about how easily Titus' sword had been cut in half. Fox ignored them.
"Perhaps we should also return to the ball?" Fox asked, sheathing his sword.
"Yes indeed." Falco agreed, and they followed the crowd, Fara pacing them, leaving Titus to stand in shock for several moments before finally following, leaving his sheath and ruined sword behind him.
It was several hours later before Fox and Fara escaped to the courtyard, and he was able to continue their discussion. She listened raptly as he explained, and it was a while before he was done.
"The Northern Wastes." She sighed, rubbing her chin. "That will be a hard journey…"
"Yes, but we have prepared, so we should be able to traverse it without too much trouble." Fox sighed. "You seem eager to go on this quest, Milady."
"I am. I have every wish to be. I always dreamed of doing so, Fox, and it lets me escape from my life, as well as spend some time with you, which is a rare occasion."
"Yes I know, and I wish it could be otherwise. Perhaps after his quest we can better arrange visits…"
"That reminds me, I wanted to ask you." She pulled out her pendant, taking it off and showing him.
"Dragon's Tear diamond." He immediately said, taking it and holding it up. "Interesting. Inside your pendant of Pelor?"
"Yes… I think it has an enchantment, but I'm not certain."
"In a pendant of Pelor, I highly doubt that such an enchantment could be harmful." He handed it back to her. "It does seem magicked, but I cannot say how. You might ask Slippy, before we leave."
"I might just do that." She put the pendant back on, glad somehow when she did.
There was silence for moment, besides the distant-seeming ball. Fara's hand found Fox's, and he laced his fingers over hers to hold it there.
"Even if they happily allow me on this quest, my parents will expect me to marry when I return, Fox." She finally said.
"More then likely, yes, but there is a chance that the circumstances may change. This quest may very well take months. Perhaps afterward they will allow you to pursue a life as a warrior."
She laughed a bit bitterly, looking away. "I can never see that happening…"
"Did you see yourself getting spirited away by Andross? Or helping me defeat him?" He lifted a hand and gently turned her gaze back to him. "You cannot say that so soon, milady. You do not know what your fate holds for you."
She closed her eyes. "I know what my parents would have it hold for me."
"But they may not choose your fate for you."
Silence again, but it was a companionable silence, comfortable enough in each other's presence that words were not always needed.
"So we leave tomorrow?" She asked as they stood at the same time, returning to the ball.
"Final preparations are tomorrow. We leave two days from now. Could you meet us at Falco's tavern shortly after noon?"
"Yes, I should be able to."
"Good." He squeezed her hand, letting go when others could see them.
