Twin Duty
Chapter 1
Baralai tried not to be bored. The fact of the matter is, this trip was boring.
After the girls had defeated Vegnagun, there hadn't been much conflict left
to speak of. Granted, the Youth League and his faction, New Yevon, had been
still squabbling, (he still remembered the speech he had to deliver in Kilika in
a few weeks,) it had been a quiet affair for the most part.
People ridicule me because I have faith, he thought idly. Faith and duty for
what one needs to do. It had been his utmost thought during his carriage
ride through Spira, the reason he went on his diplomatic mission. He still
didn't quite get what was so important about the Ronso anyway, but he was
determined to understand by the end of this week. What did one of my
advisers call them? Big man cats, I think it was. As insulting and racist as
it was, he smiled at the thought, and wondered idly if this Kimahri would be
receptive to a scratch behind the ears. He would negotate a new truce that Spira
sorely needed with these warriors, and maybe a truce with the Youth League
when they realized that with the Ronso behind them, perhaps New Yevon
had the best vision after all.
If the carriage ride didn't put him to sleep, that is.
* * * *
Kimarhi wanted to smack Garik silly. Ever since Yuna beat Garik, Kimarhi thought,
Garik act like small cub who lost candy. Kimarhi let his hand tighten on his spear,
listening to the other Ronso get to the point.
"Kimarhi weak," Garik snarled for what was perhaps the third time in the hour.
"Elder let human come to land, to take land. Elder foolish. Kimarhi fool."
"Ronso have no place to hide," Kimarhi countered, snarling at last. Kimarhi may
have patience, he thought, but this is beyond Elder duty. "Kimahri pay attention
to Spira. More travellers come by day when fiends are not so big numbers.
Sphere hunters, too. If Ronso be strong, Ronso look outside of mountain.
Garik bitter since Yuna beat Garik, stop war with Guado."
"Guado kill Ronso," Garik shouted, "We kill Guado!"
"Guado dead soon either way," Kimahri said levelly, "and Kimahri will not see Ronso
die same death. Leave Kimahri and growl to mountain about how unfair
Kimahri is."
Garik snarled, but Kimahri paid it no heed. To be honest, Kimahri didn't trust
New Yevon messenger either, but they had wanted to meet, Elder to Elder. Kimahri
knew it was the best chance for Ronso. He needed the Ronso as much as the Ronso
needed him. Now was the time to act to preserve Ronso after Seymour almost destroyed
them, and now was the time to see if New Yevon any better than old Yevon.
* * * *
"We're here," said the carriage master. "Right after the Calm Lands. Snowy after
this point, mountainous too, hope you have your winter gear, Master Baralai."
"Yevon thanks you," Baralai said, saluting. He heard, once more, the protest of
his captain that rode alongside as he started on the trail.
No escort would be necessary for this trip, he planned to meet the elder of the Ronso warrior to warrior, and to scale the mountain like High Summoner Yuna did.
He was grateful for his coat as the temperature seemed to drop dozens of degrees
as he went. He hummed the Hymn of the Faith softly under his breath, remembering
his training to keep moving in cold areas like this, which included oftentimes, one's
mouth.
* * * *
Kimahri listened as he waited on mountain. The spirits of the mountain, always
there, always watching, the true patrons of Gagazet told him that the man from
New Yevon was coming. And when he got there, Kimahri planned to be there
to greet him.
Chapter 1
Baralai tried not to be bored. The fact of the matter is, this trip was boring.
After the girls had defeated Vegnagun, there hadn't been much conflict left
to speak of. Granted, the Youth League and his faction, New Yevon, had been
still squabbling, (he still remembered the speech he had to deliver in Kilika in
a few weeks,) it had been a quiet affair for the most part.
People ridicule me because I have faith, he thought idly. Faith and duty for
what one needs to do. It had been his utmost thought during his carriage
ride through Spira, the reason he went on his diplomatic mission. He still
didn't quite get what was so important about the Ronso anyway, but he was
determined to understand by the end of this week. What did one of my
advisers call them? Big man cats, I think it was. As insulting and racist as
it was, he smiled at the thought, and wondered idly if this Kimahri would be
receptive to a scratch behind the ears. He would negotate a new truce that Spira
sorely needed with these warriors, and maybe a truce with the Youth League
when they realized that with the Ronso behind them, perhaps New Yevon
had the best vision after all.
If the carriage ride didn't put him to sleep, that is.
* * * *
Kimarhi wanted to smack Garik silly. Ever since Yuna beat Garik, Kimarhi thought,
Garik act like small cub who lost candy. Kimarhi let his hand tighten on his spear,
listening to the other Ronso get to the point.
"Kimarhi weak," Garik snarled for what was perhaps the third time in the hour.
"Elder let human come to land, to take land. Elder foolish. Kimarhi fool."
"Ronso have no place to hide," Kimarhi countered, snarling at last. Kimarhi may
have patience, he thought, but this is beyond Elder duty. "Kimahri pay attention
to Spira. More travellers come by day when fiends are not so big numbers.
Sphere hunters, too. If Ronso be strong, Ronso look outside of mountain.
Garik bitter since Yuna beat Garik, stop war with Guado."
"Guado kill Ronso," Garik shouted, "We kill Guado!"
"Guado dead soon either way," Kimahri said levelly, "and Kimahri will not see Ronso
die same death. Leave Kimahri and growl to mountain about how unfair
Kimahri is."
Garik snarled, but Kimahri paid it no heed. To be honest, Kimahri didn't trust
New Yevon messenger either, but they had wanted to meet, Elder to Elder. Kimahri
knew it was the best chance for Ronso. He needed the Ronso as much as the Ronso
needed him. Now was the time to act to preserve Ronso after Seymour almost destroyed
them, and now was the time to see if New Yevon any better than old Yevon.
* * * *
"We're here," said the carriage master. "Right after the Calm Lands. Snowy after
this point, mountainous too, hope you have your winter gear, Master Baralai."
"Yevon thanks you," Baralai said, saluting. He heard, once more, the protest of
his captain that rode alongside as he started on the trail.
No escort would be necessary for this trip, he planned to meet the elder of the Ronso warrior to warrior, and to scale the mountain like High Summoner Yuna did.
He was grateful for his coat as the temperature seemed to drop dozens of degrees
as he went. He hummed the Hymn of the Faith softly under his breath, remembering
his training to keep moving in cold areas like this, which included oftentimes, one's
mouth.
* * * *
Kimahri listened as he waited on mountain. The spirits of the mountain, always
there, always watching, the true patrons of Gagazet told him that the man from
New Yevon was coming. And when he got there, Kimahri planned to be there
to greet him.