A leader's burden 2

A day before the fated day, Sasarai was in the Harmonia court. He bowed in front of the High Priest Hikusaak as the other Bishops stood tall against the wall. As if they were almost like statues. Putting on his usual calm and caring face, Sasarai asked kindly, "What do you wish my Lord?"

"The True Wind rune." The Priest said bluntly.

"The one that was given to 'him'." Sasarai sleepily nodded. "Has it been found?"

"Yes, the council of Zexen had obtained it after the Elemental wars. The council has offered it as a present to form an Alliance, they want to become first class citizens. Sasarai, I want you to assign a small unit to retrieve it."

Sasarai bowed to his leader. "I will my Lord."

"You are dismissed."

Sasarai nodded and bowed once more and then turned to leave the room. He knew just the right people for this particular job.

Moments later, Sasarai came to Caleria with Dios to find his small unit. He entered the bar where Queen and Joker were kicking back a few drinks. Geddoe, as usual was sitting at the bar table by himself. He preferred to be alone with his thoughts then talking to others. Sasarai sighed and went up to the tall dark haired man.

"Do you think this is wise?" Dios asked. "After all, they did go against our army during the elemental wars."

"Yes, but they're the best mercenaries around." Sasarai shrugged.

"Wouldn't it be better if you and I just went. Do we really need them?" Dios titled his head as he looked at the crew kicking back their drinks.

Sasarai shook his head. "Perhaps we could, but we have more important things to do now that we lost Le Buque. We'll assign them knowing we hired the best." Sasarai walked towards the leader of the pack, Geddoe. Who was sleepily looking at his empty cup. "Mind if we join you?" Sasarai asked.

Geddoe didn't even bother to look at him, he merely waved his hand over the empty chairs beside him. Sasarai and Dios nodded and took the seats. "So what do I owe the honors of seeing the High Priest again." he asked dryly.

Sasarai smiled softly at him. "We have an assignment for you."

"What is it?"

"The Zexen council has offered us the true Wind rune that was obtained after the Elemental wars. I want you to obtain the item and report back to the holy country Harmonia."

Sasarai stared at Geddoe who still didn't change his position. It was hard to tell what the man was thinking since he face rarely changes.

"And the payment?"

"50,000,000 potches sound fair?" Sasarai asked curiously.

Geddoe blinked and sighed. "The rune must be very important if Hikusaak wants it that badly."

"So you'll take the job then?"

Geddoe nodded. "I guess. I'll gather my group to leave." Geddoe got up from his seat and looked at Queen and Joker. They both gave him a serious nod and got up from their table, then followed him out of the bar.

Dios watched them in awe while Sasarai had his cool calm mask on. "My, they really do get down to business." Dios said shaking his head.

"Its expected." Sasarai smiled. "They are the best."

Outside of the Calerina hotel, everyone gathered around Geddoe. Jacques and Alia were shopping around the market when they were suddenly called by Queen. Ace joined them after he was done with some paper work at the head quarters.

"So what's going on?" Queen asked with a curiosity in her eyes. "What did the Bishop want?"

The group eagerly went around their leader with open ears and anxious eyes staring at him. Geddoe held a seldom sigh. "We were assigned to obtain the True Wind rune."

"The True Wind rune?" Joker frowned.

"Didn't that belong to that boy Luc?" Ace asked looking at everyone else for some response.

Geddoe nodded after a moment of silence. "The Zexen council has it."

"So then they must of taken it after the war." Joker growled coldly.

"So it was stolen from Luc's corpse." Alia held a bitter face and looked towards the ground.

Ace shook his head and looked back at Geddoe. "So what did you say Boss?"

"I took the offer. The mission pays a large amount." Geddoe shrugged.

Everyone looked at each other then nodded. Queen then walked forward towards Geddoe. "Well if that's what you think is best, we'll do it."

"Lets go then. The sooner we get it, the sooner we're paid." Geddoe walked past them and headed out of Caleria.

Once again, Geddoe and his band of mercenaries were off towards another mission.

They cut through the grasslands and passed through Zexen's forest at ease. As they entered Vine del Zexen, Ace took a deep breath and sighed. "Here we are. Vine del Zexen, again." Ace's lips curved into a smile as he savored the peaceful scene in his home town.

Alia turned her head from side to side. "It's a lot more peaceful then the last time we were here." As Alia looked around, she saw one of the knights glaring at her. "But the place still stinks of iron-heads."

Queen lightly pushed Alia forward. "Come on, we have work to do."

The others followed quietly after Alia and Queen. They arrived at the front of the Zexen Council. The Council members were sitting around the round table and looking at Geddoe with judging eye.

"You're the one who Harmonia sent?" one of the members asked.

Geddoe glared at them with a cold stare that snap their spine. "And what of it."

"Uhm, nothing. I didn't mean any disrespect." The man could feel the sweat running down his face as he was shaking in his chair. "Please have a seat."

Geddoe looked at the empty chair and place himself in it. He folded his arms and leaned back slightly. "The Bishop said you had a special gift for Harmonia."

The council men nodded at each other. "Yes, but we want to negotiate our terms." The council member took a hard gulp as his looked at Geddoe's unemotional face. From reports of the elemental wars, Geddoe was strong enough to destroy the council building without a second thought. "We recently sent a messenger to report our new terms to Harmonia. I'm sorry, but if you would be so kind to wait until tomorrow to pick up the item we would be grateful."

Geddoe sleepily looked around the room and then at the Council member across from him. "If we have to waste time staying here, then I want you to pay for our accommodations here."

"Yes, of course." The man nodded in a stiff motion. "You will be our guests while you're here."

"Fine." Geddoe got up from his seat and headed for the door. "Send a messenger when you're done negotiating." Geddoe closed the door behind him and could still hear the council men talking. Some of them called him a barbarian. The others called him a monster. Geddoe smiled slightly and then left the building to report back to the others. Ace and Joker were arguing about who good Joker's skill were. They all turned to Geddoe as he approached them.

"So how did it go Boss?" Ace asked tilting his head. "Where is the rune?"

"We need to stay her for tonight until the new terms from Harmonia have been approved." Geddoe gave no reaction to the annoyed looks on his group.

"Who do they think they are." Queen frowned. "If they ask too much, then Hamronia will surely go to war just for that rune."

"It can't be helped." Joker threw his hands in the air and shrugged. "Lets just stay at the lodge for today and wait. At least I can get a few drinks while we're here."

Queen nodded to the suggestion. "Better then standing and doing nothing I guess. I'll join."

"Hey can I get a soda then?" Alia asked excitedly.

"Is that all you guys can think about?" Ace lectured and pointing his finger at Queen and Joker. "No wonder you're both losing your touch."

"Like you're completely innocent." Joker pointed back. "You usually spend our well earned cash on the prettiest thing you see."

"Hey I don't do that anymore." Ace frowned. "Besides it can get lonely on our missions sometimes, so it might be nice to have someone to think about during our journeys."

"Oh brother." Queen smirked.

Geddoe quietly smiled as his friends fought.

Later that night, Geddoe was in his room where the rest of his group were still drinking downstairs. Ace also left earlier for unknown reasons, so Geddoe was to himself for the time being. He enjoyed having a peaceful evening to himself. He never liked to talk since he always said what was on his mind without thinking. Geddoe began to remember the time he was with Hikaru and Wyatts. How Hikaru inspired the lives of many during the war against Harmonia. Even though Geddoe and Wyatts had the true rune as well, Hikaru had light that would give the hopeless hope. Geddoe then thought about Chris and Hugo, how both of them were similar to his old friends. "You two would have been proud to see them." Geddoe closed his eye and let the sound of the ocean take him away.

Out of nowhere, a clanging noise disturbed his restful thinking. It was the sound of the soldiers running. Geddoe went downstairs to see what the noise was about. It couldn't be another attack, could it? When Geddoe arrived downstairs, Queen, Joker, Alia, and Jacques were waiting for him.

"We heard some noise outside, what do you suppose it is?" Queen frowned.

"They're probably chasing someone again." Alia shook her head, remembering the time Hugo told her the story of what happened when he first came to Zexen. "If it was a something important they would of set the alarm."

Joker shook his head. "Ace isn't here yet so it might be possible that he got himself into trouble."

Queen smirked at the comment. "That's not surprising knowing him."

"Should we check to see if he needs our help?" Joker asked Geddoe.

Geddoe nodded at them. "We might as well. We should find out the reason why they're chasing him." Geddoe and his party went outside to follow the running soldiers. They could hear the soldiers yelling for someone to stop. The voices started to become louder, then they suddenly stopped. When Geddoe arrived, he only found soldiers who were now sleeping.

Queen kneeled down to one of them. "I didn't know Ace was good at wind magic."

Joker shook his head. "I don't think he is. We'll ask him when we find him."

Everyone nodded at each other and continued to chase after the soldiers.

Two soldiers met up with each other and both saluted. Then they started to exchange information.

"Did you find the thief?"

They nodded. "He went into one of the alleys. We had just surround him."

"Good, lets go then. We won't let him escape with the Wind rune."

After the soldiers left. Geddoe and the others came out of the alley where they were listening to the conversation.

"The Wind rune!?" Queen frowned at the complicated thought of Ace stealing such a valuable item. "Why would he steal that."

"Do you think Ace took it?" Alia had a worried look on her face.

Queen shook her head. "I doubt it. That wouldn't make sense."

"Lets go then." Joker suggest.

They began to run towards the alley the soldiers were talking about, when they came about mid-way of the destination, Alia crashed into someone. Alia rubbed her sore butt and snarled at the man she ran into. "Watch it." Alia barked at him.

"Hey, you ran into me." Ace pointed back.

Everyone gasped as they all looked at Ace. "Ace, what are you doing?"

Ace looked at everyone with a confused look. "What did I do?"

Queen glared at him, "Didn't you steal the wind rune?"

Ace's eyes were in shot wide open and his mouth dropped open. Waving his hands in front of him and said, "No, why would I do something that dangerous."

Joker bent over with his hands on his hip and asked, "Then where were you all this time."

Ace started to laugh nervously. "Uh that's a secret." Ace rubbed his head nervously. Suddenly he realized something and jumped to his feet. "Wait, is that why the soldiers are running around right now?"

"Yes." Joker nodded. "It appears that they have corned him in the alley near the rune shop."

"Then lets go." Ace said excitedly, he started to run when suddenly there was a bird's cry. Ace stopped in his tracks as the bird continue to squall. They all looked up and saw a Griffon flying away.

Everyone's mouth, except Geddoe, dropped. Geddoe's eye narrowed as he began to understand what was going on. Everyone shook their heads and couldn't believe it. They all ran towards the exit of Vine del Zexen and continue to chase the Griffon. Just as they were on the outskirts of the city, Geddoe raised his hand to stop the group.

"Wait." he said in a cold hard voice.

Everyone turned to their leader. "What is it?"

"We should go to Brass castle." Geddoe pointed out.

"Brass castle?" Alia titled her head and then look forward to Brass castle. "Why there?"

"If the thief is who I think it is, then he wouldn't risk having his beloved pet shot down in the air."

"You think its Hugo." Alia knew it had to be Hugo. She didn't know anyone else that could control a Griffon.

"I see. If he went over Brass castle, it would risk Fubar getting shot from the sky." Ace looked up at the sky and then ahead to Brass castle. "But if Hugo isn't riding him, they'll think he's just another griffon."

Alia shook her head. "Why would Hugo steal the rune in the first place though?"

Geddoe gave a straight forward nod and a gesture saying, "Lets go."

Geddoe and his group snuck into the city and waited to see if there were anymore guards around. One of the soldiers said that the two boys disappeared in the kitchen. They must of slipped by them somehow. The soldiers continue to search the castle for the thieves. After eavesdropping the soldiers, Geddoe and the group came out of hiding.

"Two?" Jacques said quietly. "Could the sergeant be the other man behind this?"

"It couldn't be." Queen shook head and then put a hand on her hip. "The man said boys. The sergeant doesn't look that young to me."

"I know where they went." Geddoe frowned and started to go into the forest near the castle.

His party followed him into the woods, wondering what Geddoe was up to. They could still hear the soldiers running around Brass castle looking for the boys. When the group reached the other side of the entrance to Brass castle, Geddoe had stopped at the door under the bridge of the entrance. Geddoe then put his hand on the door and leaned close enough to hear the voices inside.

"Who's in there?" Queen asked as she stared at the door. "Is it Hugo?"

"We'll see." Geddoe turned the knob and opened the door to find Chris, Hugo and another boy. Geddoe gasped as the appearance of the boy, he reminded him too much of someone long ago.