---~~~ C R Y O F O M E N S ~~~---
- Chapter 10 : The Wingly, The Emperor, and The Redhead -
Factoids:
-- Words between ~ signify mindspeech.
-- Words in italics signify your typical 'flashback' scenario or thoughts by the indicated character. Sometimes it's used for Emphasis too. ^_^
-- Words between * are being emphasized.
Notes:
-- X_X Damnit. I've been horrible on my deadlines as of recent. I'm really, really sorry about that, and I'll do my best to keep up from now on. I got ATTACKED by college work this time around. *a growl* - And my dad may move in. O_O *weirdness begins*
As always, your comments and suggestions are deeply appreciated. ^_^ *Will get to reviewing. WILL.* Also, I'm replaying LOD for like the 5th time looking for little aspects I can add here and there. XD Does anyone else obsess like that? ^_^
------ Chapter 11 will be published 9/14/03 unless something else decides to kick me in the ass. X_X Yeah, I know you're all rolling your eyes and going 'Yeah Right...' by now. *Runs away and cries*
Must... reestablish... update... reputation...
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Lloyd picked at his food. He was starving, actually... but he just couldn't bring himself to take a decent bite of the flamboyant meal before him. The prongs poked along slabs of tender meat, toyed with a starch or two, then clicked at the slide of his plate as he set the utensil down. Well then. Perhaps he'd be able to stomach something later, but at the moment? No, this wouldn't do at all. At least, Doel wasn't having any problem cleaning his plate.
The once-emperor of Sandora was sitting across from him at a long, rectangular dining table in a long, rectangular hall. The north end of the chamber was... basically one massive window; amber, late-morning light streaming across the white marble floors and polished architecture. Whomever built this place had fine tastes, that was for sure. Doel, who was nonchalantly swirling wine in a glass in his hand, seemed to bear them as well.
That or he was being obnoxious... which was quite likely, really. A broad black brow arched in his direction. Lloyd, in similar abode, lifted one in return.
"So."
The Wingly leaned back in his chair, one hand absently tracing over the silver patterns on the front of his traditional attire as if to assure himself he was real. After a few seconds had passed in silence...
"So..."
Doel smirked roughly, intelligent eyes roaming back to his plate as a fork lifted and the wine was set down. "You should eat something." He said bluntly, stabbing at another piece of meat and chewing it down. Lloyd snorted.
"It could be poisoned, you know. Easy to trust, aren't you?"
Doel didn't even pause, munching on another slab with a sort of amused demeanor. Nothing *ever* seemed to phase that man. " I don't see why a person would go through all the trouble of resurrecting someone just to kill them again, Wingly. Besides, you really should taste the wine. It's excellent."
"True enough, I suppose. But note that I don't drink."
"Sucks to be you." Doel replied with another sip.
Lloyd narrowed his eyes and smiled with a bit on an edge. Of all people to meet, Doel would be the one, eh? The events portrayed thus far hadn't shocked him as much as one might think. There had been the initial confused reaction and a groggy few hours spent trying to remember his name, but Lloyd eventually found the resolve to take stock of his situation and act upon it accordingly. He didn't know why he was here. He did know he could find the answers, given time.
If anything could be said for the man, Doel shared his sentiments. They were in the same boat, be it they enjoyed one another's company or not.
"This 'Atredius' fellow-" Lloyd began. "What do you make of him?"
Doel eyed him quietly, taking another bite.
"- Seems to me..." He continued, not waiting for an answer that wouldn't come. "- That he needs us. Bad or good, the intent is blatant. Think we'll have a choice?"
Again, no answer. Lloyd reached for a glass of water and took a slow swig of the cool fluid. At last, in some show of reaction, Doel shrugged his shoulders absently, folding powerful arms in thought. He was good at wearing masks, and a frighteningly able man. The question was; Where did Doel's thoughts lay? Past or Present? Like Lavitz, he had died early on in what would seem to be an affair now years old.
Lloyd closed his eyes.
Failure. Pain.
At the very least, the Dragoons had succeeded. Otherwise, there would have been no world to come back to. Sigh. Lloyd glanced at his fork and considered the meal again, but then was promptly distracted by a new, and booming voice to the room.
"Bwah hah HAH! Sorry I'm late!"
Atredius, their mysterious consort, had quiet literally BURST into the room. The doors to the dining hall were flung open, and in walked a man Doel and Lloyd had barely seen; strutting along without thought or consideration, it would seem, for his confused guests. Both men glanced at each other, steeled for a confrontation of some sort. Neither expected the redhead to hop upon a table ledge and grin.
Doel blinked. Lloyd tilted his head.
"Really now." Atredius began, observing them with a something that couldn't be placed. "You're looking at me like you expect I'm gonna' jump you!"
"Well, you jumped the table." Doel replied smoothly, calculating their host.
"I also provided the food on it, and the replicated clothing you're wearing now."
"Touché."
The Wingly of the trio drummed slender fingers on the ledge of his seat. Oh, they'd both seen Atredius before, of course. They both had no idea what he wanted, and no idea why he'd resurrected them, all the same. The ease, and overall friendly way he chose to interact with them was almost unnerving... but this morning, days after awakening from death, they'd been summoned for brunch at his invitation.
Lloyd expected the rather flamboyant Lord of the palace Aria would straighten matters out; or at least put up a decent fight if he so chose to escape. Much to his chagrin, the man was now leaning next to him with a fork raised.
"You gonna' eat that or what?"
Lloyd pushed his plate away, watching with incredulous distaste as Atredius prodded a potato and nibbled at it, looking perfectly thoughtful. "You really shouldn't waste food, you know." He began. "Besides, it's good!"
Lloyd fought down a stab of irritation. "Are you going to give us answers, or act ridiculous?"
Atredius peered over at Doel, noting a shaker by his hand. "Hey, could you pass the salt-?" -- And after a somewhat bemused emperor handed it over, the redhead made quick work of dashing up Lloyd's plate and continuing to chow down. Impatience was not the Wingly's virtue. On the contrary, he was an exceptionally patient man. However, given aspects of his situation considered, he was in no mood for antics like these.
Atredius squeaked in mild protest as one of Lloyd's hands flashed out and grabbed him by the neck.
"... I asked you a question."
Doel watched on nonchalantly, somewhat disappointed in Lloyd's behavior and somewhat surprised with his own. Funny- normally *he* would be the demanding party of any given scenario... but really, the gusto of fight and anger had been stripped from him for the time being. Let the world come crashing down, it wasn't as if he had something to live for. He was supposed to be dead, afterall, and perhaps would be soon. Guards, previously unnoticed, rushed the door at a moment's whim until Atredius raised a hand. Halting at once, they crept back out into the adjoining hall.
... That- was control.
A wary edge crept into Doel's black gaze, turning upon Atredius. Standing perhaps over six feet in height, he was dressed in an interesting black leather ensemble that consisted mainly of a laced-up-the-back halter top and breeches. With high boots sporting red ties, assorted bands strapped over his arms and a thin choker lining his neck... He really didn't seem more, in fact, than a rebellious young man of about... oh.. 25?
Crimson hair falling gingerly across his gaze, both Aria's Lord and Lloyd had fallen into silence. Violet eyes bore back into ruby depths. Neither moved.
"...This really isn't like you." Atredius started up. "A man like you would more often be amused, perhaps. You'd observe, you'd lay in wait, and you'd think before you acted."
Lloyd remained quiet for a long time, wafts of moonlight silver framing his features. Evaluating, calculating and realizing that a complete stranger had spoken a very real truth, his hand retracted and let go.
"... As was previously stated, touché, Atredius."
"Please, call me Atre'!"
"... Atre'."
"NOW then..." And Atredius straightened up, clapping his hands together. "Let's get down to business, shall we?" He walked around Doel, ruffling his hair as he passed, and cackled madly. As a very indignant emperor shot him a frightening look- smoothing down his hair- Lloyd sat back in his seat.
Atre' opened his arms.
"Now- where to begin!" A pause. "OH YEAH! First off, I'm a god. Er- ageless only, meaning I can die, but please don't stabbity stab me with forks or something because that will HURT and I will CRY. Secondly- You're here to save the world! Yay! Now, let's start in on why that's relevant..."
And oh, how the two just stared...
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
"... So you are suggesting that Lisa rule in my stead?"
Zoir glanced to his wife, lush figure backed by the golden sun abroad.
Destiny had dropped Sandra's appearance this evening, not that her 'husband' would notice the drastic change. He was, in fact, subject to the turbulent skill of her whispering illusions. To Zoir- everything was perfect. Everything was in place. His eyes would fill with the vision of a blonde maiden in elegant clothing, absently fluttering a fan to and fro beside her head. He would not see what she was. He would not see the taunt mauve body suit that clung like a second skin, nor the fitting white and red ribbons of cloth that crested her breasts and back; that fell between her thighs and arched over her hips. Eyes, icy blue, traveled over him in disgust. Hair, blonde pulled into a high ponytail, swayed briefly as she walked near. A single half skirt, also white, gave a dainty little ruffle around her waist as she kneeled before him and laughed in a vicious manner.
"You idiot bastard... So unaware. Blissful in your ignorance."
Zoir nodded, hearing something else entirely. Compliment or praise? Quite likely. He nodded his head, smiling, and took her hand.
"She's of age. You don't want to be concerned with that, right now. No need for military presence. Just Lisa. Serdio and Lisa."
Again Zoir nodded, and repeated those exact same words.
His daughter made a sound. A frightened, high-pitched protest that didn't manage to form words. Destiny quietly turned to look at where she'd dropped the darling little princess; hunched over on the floor by the locked throne-room doors. Half an apple from a bowl nearby had been shoved into her mouth earlier, when they'd first arrived. She just hadn't shut up on their way here; kicking and screaming as she was. Destiny tied her wrists and feet, then gave her a 'snack' so to say. Probably dislocated her jaw in the process, but it served its purpose well enough.
"He doesn't know you're here, dear girl. Stop trying."
Lisa thrashed once, hurting and furious.
"The guards didn't even see you come in. They can't hear any noise you'll make. It's useless. I am your master, now. You live my illusion, and you will serve your purpose well."
Zoir was nodding to himself again. "She's of age, yes. She'll give us what we want."
"And we want Serdio, yes, my love?"
"Yes. We can't jeopardize my political standing. We can't..." And he clenched a note in one palm; a declaration sent by messenger from Serdio some few hours ago. It read, from Emily, that Albert was awake and that everything was well. Destiny had, of course, tinkered with it just a smidgen. It's not that the Tiberoan government wouldn't discover on their own that Bale was now empty and the Dragoons and royalty vanished... but she was a nice woman. She helped it along.
Lisa turned her face into the carpet of the floor, tears squeezing past agonized blue eyes. Immediately she tried to halt them. No- that bitch wouldn't see her cry anymore. Was it her father that hurt the most? That he didn't know? That he... that he belonged, so entirely, to that demon? She curled into herself again, struggling vainly against her bonds. Lisa didn't notice when Destiny came beside her and reached out a hand. With something like a shriek, she was hauled to her knees by tousled pale-blonde hair.
"You'll make a good queen, dear. Don't you see what's happened? The Serdian council is gone. The knighthoods are gone- as they reside, near entirely, in Bale. Be proud of your stepmother. She's rendering a country completely defenseless, and is going to use you as her silk white veil."
Fingers danced lightly over Lisa's cheek, almost affectionate.
"No one will have time enough to react. The smoke and mirrors of politics will guide us through. By the time the fog clears, it will all be to late."
Smile. A hand ripped the fruit from Lisa's mouth in a single violent motion, leaving her to gag and cough in reflex.
"Tell me. Do you believe in Fate?"
And at the bluntness of the question, Lisa paused.
"You should, because we're leaving to meet him. Now."
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
Nothing had really seemed *wrong*, in effect, until the stench came. Although quiet, the eerie stillness of the landscape didn't seem threatening until an overwhelming smell of death was carried upwind. It had begun as a discomfort to the senses, and turned into a putrid bath. When at last the Runner's refused to trot another step, everyone knew something was terribly wrong.
"Its been like this for hours, now..." Albert said quietly. The young king fingered his canteen of water, perched on a grouping of small boulders at which his companions had chosen to rest. Hazel eyes scanned the horizon; over the grasslands that spread under a grey sky. There was forest in the distance, but no more than a few scattered tree's and rocks at their current location.
"Mn." And that from a concerned Dart, who was siting nearby. "The runners won't drink from the river, and refuse to move any farther. I don't like this."
A nod in reply. "- To quote most any book; 'the animals are the first to know.'"
"Thanks, Albert."
"You're welcome."
Dart chuckled a little, exchanging an exasperated look with his best friend as he handed over the canteen. With a sip or two he passed it back, laying down on the smooth stone beneath him to gaze skyward. Not a single bird or cloud, just an endless sea of slate colored space.
"Foreboding." The blonde echoed.
"Quite." - Came Marius' voice.
Albert tilted his head as Marius walked up to them, gingerly seating himself beside him and leaning forwards- hands draped over his knee's. After a pause, Albert again offered his canteen. Though Marius declined with a gentle: 'Save it...', his look was grateful. The three men sat in silence for a good minute or two.
"We should really get going. Runners or no Runners."
Either king nodded at Dart's quiet proclamation in perfect unison. Same habit, same motion. It almost made the divine dragoon laugh, and probably would have if the situation had been less... ominous, so to say.
"Where are the girls...?" Albert began, eyes straying to Dart's own.
"Shana is with Meru and Emily back by some of the tree's behind us. Just talking a little. Miranda was with them, then got up to scout the area a bit. I figure, if nothing else, it's probably good that they've all taken a bit of a rest. We needed it too, I suppose."
Marius nodded a little. "Miranda is quite a character."
"Ain't she, though?"
"Mn."
And speaking of the woman, her voice rose in the distance. "Dart!" She called, and then shouted the name again. Blue eyes flickering upwards, Dart came to his feet and stretched a little, trying to get a bearing on where Miranda's voice was coming from. Behind them, Emily, Meru and Shana all turned to look.
"Something going on, guys?" Meru quipped, eyeing for the Sacred Sister as well.
"Dart! I think you should come take a look at this!"
The renewed urgency in her voice directed Dart's sight just east, where Miranda was kneeling in the short grasses, obviously preoccupied with something on the ground. Albert and Marius both exchanged a look, moving to get up, but the blonde waved them down.
"Sa'lright, lemme see what she wants..."
A quick jog took Dart to his friend's side easily enough, sword clattering noisily as he went. Miranda, seeing he was on his way, backed up to her knee's and waited. Not moments later he was on the ground beside her, peering at once to the soil beneath them.
A blink.
"... So-? What's up?"
Miranda eyed him, features blunt and sharp. "Look."
"I AM, Miranda."
She shook her head. "Look close."
Dart's face twisted up in an incredulous way, but he did as instructed, panning the earth with his eyes. A hand swept out, brushing the grass to and fro. Nothing seemed out of place. As he scrutinized the area intently, a blank realization crept upon him. That stench- was stronger. No doubting it. Again he evaluated the ground, and again nothing seemed to catch his eyes, save for a spare root.
... Nnnn. But that wasn't a root.
"What in god's name...?" And Dart prodded at a small appendage that was only partially buried in the earth. It was the finger of a child. Further dug out, the dragoon revealed a ghastly, decomposing hand. He pulled back as another wave of the smell assaulted his nostrils.
Miranda was quiet. "I think we're walking on a very, very large grave, Dart. Something terrible happened here. There are some stones-" She pointed ahead of them. "A few yards that way. The framework of a house. Judging by the type, this was a village. Heavy on the implication of 'was', mind you. There's hardly a trace left."
Dart swallowed sharply, gaze still intent on the little hand in the soil below him. He did not have the stomach to dig further. Not right now.
"... Gods."
-- That from Marius, who- along with Albert and the girls, were now standing around them. Meru made a small sound, brows drawn. Shana stared silently and closed her eyes.
"... Do we have any idea what happened here? Anything at all?" Emily began.
"No." Dart stated, standing. "... Nothing. Let's just.. Concentrate on trying to get the Runners to move again. We have to go."
Albert shook his head in a sad affirmative, and one by one, they moved back towards the pack animals. Marius was the last to jar his legs into action, eyes quietly entranced by the morbid scene below him.
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
Lavitz still hadn't said a world since last they spoke. Rose again noticed this with some degree of worry, but then realized she could understand, all the same. Tired and unsure of their locality in the giant sprawling palace/city around them, the pair had hunkered down in a secluded part of a massive garden territory, and there slept the remainder of the night away. Two or three hours of rest was better than none at all, though when the morning came to pass, Lavitz had wanted to talk.
And so she told him everything she knew, and the knight had fallen into silence.
Now they were on the move again, having left the somewhat secure boundaries of the townsteads of Aria to enter the more formal, more grand part of its vast construction. Most of their progress occurred in the twilight hours of morning, deftly maneuvering across passages and chambers without being seen by the guardsmen. Only once, Lavitz had voiced a ginger; "Lloyd helped you? In the end?"
Rose had nodded.
Legs carrying her swiftly down the cool expanse of a long corridor, raven hair gave a flash in the late afternoon light. She pressed her back up against the wall nearest, peering into a nearby door-- then another across the hall. Clear enough, she motioned to Lavitz and continued on.
Her blonde companion stayed behind, raising a hand. "Rose- wait..."
"What is it?"
Gesturing her attention down the nearest hall, Rose noticed what Lavitz already had. Six guards were stationed outside a startling foyer entrance, chatting idly amongst themselves. Redwood doors, high and well crafted, stood out in stark apparel to the otherwise cold- if not well furnished area around them.
The knight seemed to have found his voice. "If the man we're looking for is anywhere, I'll take bets he's there."
Rose held a similar opinion. "Now-- we need a way in."
"Rooms like that usually have another entrance. Indels did." Lavitz began quietly. "Rose, I say we backtrack a little. Take one of the corridors we passed before and see if we can't come from the rear; it may not be as heavily guarded."
The two ducked away from the corner of the foyer hall as one of the guards perked, looking in their direction.
"Let's go." Rose agreed quietly.
There was, in fact, a far smaller entrance located wide around the tangle of passageways. It had taken a good twenty minutes to find; a meager amount of time next to the morning spent in sublime espionage. Their efforts, however, left them standing face to face with another of those redwood doors. The polished surface reflected tired but determined features, and not a single guard in sight.
"... It shouldn't be this easy."
Lavitz looked to Rose. "It's probably locked."
His heavy hand lifted, resting absently on the decorated knob. He could feel his companion tense up as he tried the handle, and with some degree of surprise he was not prepared to face... the lock hitched back, and the large slab of wood cracked open without a sound.
"... You're right. This is to easy. That guard I KO'd last night should have alerted the entire palace that a half naked man was on the loose by now."
"And for a place of this size, we've seen no more than twenty sentries to evade. Though this could explain why they haven't noticed we've fled the temples; they are either incredibly stupid or frighteningly clever."
Lavitz nodded to himself, swallowing hard. "... So. Do we enter?" And his eyes widened slightly as Rose took the initiative, batting his hand from the doorknob and walking it open herself. Obviously, there was only one option in her mind... and you never argue with an opinionated woman.
"Alright then."
The room they entered was, for all intents and purposes, not much different than the rest of this giant structure. The walls were the off-white of smoothed granite, well defined by an artisan's touch and elaborated further by either spanning windows or the high, vaulted ceilings. Cautiously beginning within, both companions were only stopped by the sight ahead. There, the room defined itself as a dining hall.
There-- sat a Wingly, an Emporor, and a Redhead.
Rose' arm flashed out, clasping a hand over Lavitz' mouth as he drew in a breath. Twisting violently, she dragged him behind the nearest column and held tight. As every muscle in his body became a solid conduit of battle lust, she didn't so much as question his reaction or her shock. Her mouth came to his ear, and she hissed a prompt command.
"Don't you dare..." The Dark dragoon demanded with venom. "Dont. You. Dare."
Lavitz only nodded quietly, palms clenched in rage.
Doel was bad.
Lloyd is worse.
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
"All things." Atredius was saying. "Have a predestined mandate as directed by Soa. I don't care if you do or don't believe in her; it's the truth whether you're prepared to accept that or not."
Doel hitched a brow. "I don't believe every word I breathe is the product of divine influence, Atredius."
The god smiled. "There's a difference between 'predestined mandate' and 'predestined will', Doel of Serdio. For example-- by the majority of Lore on endiness, Soa gave rise to the divine tree, and from this tree fell One Hundred and Eight fruits, eh? The last of the fruits was to become the God of Destruction, which would ultimately destroy the world so as to begin it anew. This was the mandate of Soa. Her chosen path for all life on Endiness. You, however... Humans and Winglys both... managed to override her ideals to reflect your own. Mainly- survival."
Atredius lifted a glass of water to his lips, sipping it down. "That was an act of pure will, unspoiled by forces higher than your own understanding."
Lloyd sat back in his seat, scanning the redhead over with cautious eyes. "And yet you say you're a god."
"I am." Atredius smiled brightly. "But let me finish before you start rattling me with questions. Don't expect it to make sense in one gulp-- it probably won't."
A nod.
"The Winglys managed to cheat Soa out of her plans once- by finding the God of Destruction and separating the Soul from the Flesh, thus creating the Moonchild. If the moonchild harbored the Soul, and that Soul attempted to return to the flesh, the God would be reborn and cause the end of the world. Luckily, the Black Monster took care of that, who was later revealed as Rose."
Doel rocked back in his seat. "We know this." Though he did not, in effect, know Rose had been the Black Monster. Brows furrowing, the emperor steeled himself to take whatever might be said in perfect stride. He could work out the details of his own surprise later on.
"Patience."
Blink.
"Shana-" Atredius continued, tilting his head slightly to look at the ceiling. "Was not an accident. She was not so lucky as to be the twin sister of Louvia, and to survive whereas her sibling did not. That-- was Soa's doing. Was HER intervention-- as to thwart Rose' efforts and let Mr. Frahma's ridiculous lust for power inevitably guide the events which killed Lloyd and sent the Dragoons off to fight him. I admit- I was surprised Dart and company managed to defeat him, and thus set back Soa yet AGAIN. Dragoons have never been capable of that in the past."
Here- came an obvious pause. Atredius immediately picked up on the way his guests seemed to shift; expressions changing into benign masks of curious confusion. Tugging at the cuff of one black glove, his violet eyes danced over the gathered company.
"... The divine tree has existed many, many times. Endiness, under many different names, has been destroyed just as many times. This is the FIRST time that a resistance has gathered that was forceful enough to stop Soa's musings and fight for their right to exist. That is why you are here; because for ONCE, we truly have a chance."
Silence.
"Would you like to digest that, or should I call for cocoa? Cocoa is good, you know." Grin. "Eh- And Rose, Lavitz, please join us. It'll spare my having to explain this all over again."
Atredius felt his mouth pull into a happy little smile as chairs screeched and shouts echoed. Well, as long as a fight didn't break out between the four, and they didn't decide to gang up on him and beat him with furniture, he would consider this progress. Standing up to intervene if need be, the redheaded god tossed his arms behind his head and sighed gently.
Rose and Lavitz stood on one end of the room- Doel and Lloyd on the other. Shock meets shock.
"So." Atre' waved. "About that cocoa..."
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~ end chapter ten ~