(I wish but) I do not own Capcom, Breath of Fire or its characters. But for the most part the characters in this story and world are my own creation.

Chapter 12: An Unwanted Partner in Crime (1)

Evenson continued to walk around the heavily populated Freemont. Other than his hometown of Lavenia, Freemont was the second biggest Alliance force base within the area. Although the towns they inhabited were different, Evenson couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between the two bases. From the entrance into the base itself, to the looming military buildings that stood over the city, it was identical to the one in Lavenia.

"Things never change, do they father?" Evenson muttered irately to himself as he continued on.

From the shadow of his hooded cloak he watched his father's men and the towns folk go about with their daily lives. It gave him a twisted sense of power knowing he was right under his father's nose with him never being the wiser. Hell, a few moments ago he past a sergeant he once fought together with.

Walking along the bustling roads, Evenson resumed his search for the 'Cave of Syn' Maya spoke of. Taking note of a all the hagglers upon the road, he approached one "Excuse me," He spoke to a manalo selling wares "but could you tell me where I could find the 'Cave of Syn'?

The fish-man glanced up with a fake, pasted smile at the cloaked gentleman, ignoring his question "My good sir, you look like the fisherman type. I have just received a shipment of the brand new xy-4000 flying frogs with the lifelike swimming action only for a payment of 500 zenny..."

Evenson backed away from the merchant, shaking his head no. There had to be an easier way to find this spot. That was the fourth person in the last six minutes he talked to that tried to give him a sales pitch. Seeing that walking aimlessly around was getting him nowhere, Evenson decided to be bold and ask three guards laughing near the side of him.

"Excuse me," he asked gruffly, pulling his hood lower over his face, "Can one of you tell me where I can find the Cave of Syn."

All of the men left of their humorous conversation to glare at the person who interrupted their merriment. The huskiest of the stern face guards snorted and gave a small chuckle "You seem the type that would fit in with those drunks, but who am I to judge character. Just go to the end of this street, make a right and keep walking. You'll see it after a few minutes of walking. You couldn't miss it even if you tried."

Evenson roughly thanked the group of men, turning towards the direction the guard pointed. However, he was halted in his steps by the tight grip of the gruff sentinel who gave him directions.

"Don't I know you? You seem very familiar to me..." the guard voiced suspiciously tightening his grip as he began to pull the former guard closer. Evenson bowed low politely.

"I am a man without a country, dear sir. I tend to travel a lot. Maybe we had a drink together in a previous township." He replied calmly at the guard's question. The burly sentry nodded slowly in response as he loosened his grip on the ex-soldier's arm.

"Perhaps we did, stranger, however let's not make a habit of it. Go about your way." Evenson bowed once again, taking his advice and briskly walked away. He laughed to himself thinking how those three would kick themselves in the ass later when they found out they let a fugitive worth over 100,000 zenny slip through their hands

Yet he knew his actions just now were foolish. He vowed to himself he would not be so quick to involve his father's men in his current search. Walking down the street, Evenson continued on through the crowds of people turning right at the end of the block only to come to a somewhat deserted street. Moving on, he came out of the alleyway towards the run down, slummy quarters of the city and before him stood his destination.

It looked nothing like he expected it. There was no cave or rock formation of any kind. It was a small salon, which stood between two shabby vacant houses with bright yellow "For Sale" signs posted on their doors. The gorilla looking guard was correct when he said he couldn't miss it if he tried.

The brick layered hovel was slightly leaning towards one side. The wooden "Cave of Syn" sign, which sat on top of it, seemed as if it was about to topple over at any minute. The faded gold lettering it once had was peeling off to reveal splashes of muddy brown paint and silver inking. The remaining windows panes that weren't broken were filled with grime, smoke and dirt. The front entrance held two molding wooden swinging doors, one that hung off its hinges. Curse filled arguments, laughter, and loud drunken voices carried on the air as he strolled closer.

"This can't be the place Maya spoke of." Evenson murmured bewildered as he pushed the front door aside.

(2)Inside the smoked laced barroom, most of the undistinguished patrons were enjoying themselves for the moment by watching an ongoing drinking contest. A skinny highlander was downing her fifth mug of rye beer while her human rival was finishing his fourth. Many of the patrons were screaming out bets and cheers of encouragement as they the two continued on. Evenson shook his head in disgust as he walked over to the lopsided bar. A brown haired woman who looked to be about forty years old looked him over as she wiped a mug off with a dirty rag.

"What can I get ya'?" she asked him nonchalantly, her interest clearly not on the answer he was going to supply.

"I'll take a Grassland Gin. No Ice." He replied stiffly as he turned back to the mounting action of the contest. The Highlander was now up to her eighth mug of beer while her adversary was on his sixth. The barmaid slid his drink before him, "Grassland gin, six zenny."

Evenson turned towards the barmaid as his eyes landed on solitary figure sitting off to the side among the shadows. Although it was a darkened room he sat within, Evenson could see with no trouble the character was not a regular patron of the establishment. It was easy to guess seeing as to how the person was dressed in a crimson cloak made from red drake skin lined with rare White Nue fur.

"That cloak alone probably costs more than this bar." He muttered to himself as he continued to eye the loner. The barmaid took notice on his glance and motioned for Evenson lean closer.

"I've seen many crazy and weird things in my twenty-five years at this bar, but I've never seen someone drink all night and not once get up to go to the bathroom. Whatever it is would beat the hell out of those two morons over there drinking themselves under the table. The barmaid whispered, nodding her head as she began to wipe down the bar.

"Interesting," Evenson remarked as he downed his drink " I think I'll go and see what it is after a few more drinks, if you don't mind." The barmaid shrugged her shoulders at the proclamation

"Whatever you say, sir. Are you going to pay for that now or what?"" Evenson ordered two more gins and paid his tab. He then made his way over to the likeminded cloak figure.

The individual took a swig of beer from it mug as Evenson attempted to sit down at the same table. The individual pulled the chair over to its side with a swift tug of its gloved hand. Evenson raised his hand in submission, backing away a few feet.

"I'm waiting for someone and I just wanted to sit down, no offense." He explained.

"None taken." A soft voice replied, pushing the chair towards him with its foot.

Taken by surprise of the gentleness of the voice, he sat down leaning in closer, trying to get a glance of the face of this strange character. The person took another mouthful from the beer mug, draining the rest of the glass.

"Sometimes it's best not to know what lurks behind shadows." She answered, chuckling at his curiosity.

She lifted her gloved hands to pull down the hood of her cloak. A bolt of long red hair tumbled about her face, finally setting down in a smooth mass. Her bright ruby locks gave her catlike green eyes sensual glow. A broad smile settled upon her face as she watched his mouth drop from the shock. Some of the male patrons turned their attentions away from the continuing drinking contest to the beautiful woman sitting in their presence.

"I wasn't expecting to meet you here." She offered as she held out her gloved hand to shake his hand. Evenson gave her a ridiculing glance as he finished his gin, ignoring the gesture.

The young woman ignored his rudeness and continued on "Maya must keep a prior engagement, she sent me instead to help you on your quest. I am Juri Winlan."

"What do you mean by quest? What's the meaning of this? Where's Maya?" He questioned heatedly.

Juri held her hand up to stop his questioning, her face turning deadly serious. "Never question the intentions of the Daughters of Eva. The ways in which they move are not for the unsaved to know. Maya has her reasons for not showing. As for the quest, Maya has informed me that you owe her a favor of sorts.'

Evenson's head was spinning from the strong sprits he consumed "What in the hell are you talking about, lady! Where is she!"? Evenson voiced as he ran his hand down his face.

Juri leaned close to him, taking note that the barmaid was still watching them intensely. Not wanting any others to over hear the conversation she began to speak low to him.

"Enough! She asked me to meet with you to work together to order to stop the Blue Seed of legend. A girl some how has gained possession of a key that could end up destroying the world. Maya has charged us in stopping the beast."

Evenson shook his head incredulously; "You mean the old fairy tale about a dragon god destroying the world when good and evil becomes unbalanced? That's just a story mothers tell their children to keep them from acting up. Maya wants us to go on a journey to stop a myth? This is a joke, right?"

Juri shook her head, "It's no joke, the dragon of that prophecy is alive and walking the earth, growing stronger as we talk. We have to take the initiative just like Commander Kenneth says..."

"Commander Kenneth! You know my father?" He questioned taken aback, jumping up from his chair knocking it over from the swift action. He gained the unwanted attention of the bar patrons who more and more were becoming interested in the conversation before them. Hurriedly placing his hood back upon his head, Evenson turned to leave.

"I know who you are." Juri voiced low as she ran her slim finger over the rim of her mug. "It looks like you're in a tight predicament now doesn't it?"

Evenson stopped dead in his tracks but didn't turn around to face the red headed harpy. "If you walk out of that door without me, I'll call to the nearest soldier. But you don't want to do that, do you?

With his hands clenched tightly into fists, he turned back and sat down at the table. "How do you know my father?"

"I worked in the Red battalion as a spy for the Alliance Forces. Believe it or not, your father is trying to protect our world too."

"That bastard is a murderer..." Evenson growled low into chest.

"So are you. You were a soldier, were you not?" She retorted icily, her eyes drawing into slits.

She continued on, a sly smile grew upon her lips "I care not for your reasons for your desertion, although the reward money is tempting. Maya asked that I work with you and I will do her bidding. I am only here to make sure that you understand our mission."

She stood up and motioned Evenson to follow outside. "Since we must work together I guess I should explain some of my history to you. Come, I will clarify more as we walk." Many of the men in the bar made vulgar sexual comments or whistled as Juri walked by. A drunken horseman playing cards noticed her and grabbed her arm, pulling her close to him, sloshing his beer upon Evenson's worn boots.

"Hey there, where are you off too? Why don't you sit with me and dump this loser? We can get to know each other better." He slurred wasting more of his beer on Evenson's clothing. Juri smiled sweetly as she quickly took hold of his wrist and twisted it until the poor beast screamed in agony.

"Never grab a lady, sir. It's very rude." She loosely dropped his hand, continuing on in silence. A grim smile crept to Evenson's lips as he walked behind her, glancing at the horseman smugly.

Juri shielded her eyes as she walked into the sunlight and proceed on with her story. "When I was a child I lived in the Township of Winlan with my parents and my brother. When I was fifteen I had my wing day. On that day something horrible happened, something that ultimately killed my family."

Evenson turned towards her as they continued to walk within the alleyway "What did you do that would constitute the death of your family?" his mind flashed back to his own past causing him to shake his head to rid himself of the harsh memory.

She slowly her pace, taking hold of the tassels of her heavy cloak. "Do you know what kind of people live in Winlan, people of the wind clan. 'Angels' as the other clans call them."

She untied her cloak and let it fall to the ground and stretched her wings. One of her wings was a natural color, full of yellow tinted feathers. The other was a steam controlled man-made mecha wing. She reached behind her back and unhooked the metal and turned away from him. The side that she removed the machinery held a small protruding wing nub. Evenson was taken aback, astonishment spread across his face. She folded her other wing back into it resting position and placed the false back into position.

"A one winged angel." Evenson whispered breathlessly. "You sprouted only one wing."

"I was hidden away for one week after my wing day. Somehow, news of what happened spread throughout the town like wildfire and eventually reached our leader's ears. I was considered to be an omen sent by the gods. It was thought it would be best if I were sacrificed in order to cleanse the clan. The townspeople came to make me an offering to the gods but my family barricaded me inside the house. Someone tried to smoke us out but somehow the house caught fire." She paused to look at the sky.

Juri continued on "The fire killed my father and brother but somehow my mother and I survived. Yet my mother, in an attempt to shield me, from the fire, received burns all over her body. I fled Winlan, ending up near one of the Alliance force recruitment camps. I told the officers there my situation and they sent me to the Commander, who in turn sent me to the Daughter's of Eva. The Daughter's of Eva churches are a neutral entity so I received the churches protection. While I was seeking refuge I was tended to by one of the young sisters.

Evenson quickly put two and two together as he let out a long sigh "It was Maya, right? She was the one who tended to you. That's why you're here now, to repay the favor right?"

Juri nodded softly as she continued on "While I recovered, word was sent to the commander that I was still being prosecuted by my own people. He made an arrangement with the Daughters that would allow me to enter into his service for added protection, so I joined the force. While I was being trained I was sent to the metal smiths and this was made for me."

"The alliance took me in, fed me, and clothed me. I was treated as if I was normal. The Alliance helped me to forgot I was... different. It helped me to gain my self-respect." Evenson grunted bitterly as she went on with her story. "In return, I trained to be the best soldier under the Commander's command. When it is called for I go back to the Daughter's and offer my services." She finished.

"So, you're a mercenary for whoever will take you, is that it?" Evenson questioned, his eyes flashed with a cold glare. Juri placed her cloak around her shoulders again.

"No" She returned emotionlessly. "I do what is called of me. That is the purpose of a true soldier." the words caused Evenson's face to grimace.

"I remember hearing at one time you at one time use to believe the same ideals." She replied coolly. Evenson ran his hand through his hair whispering something nasty to himself.

"So what is the game plan? What is it that Maya wants us to do?" He questioned, gaining his composure.

Juri gave him a hard glance as she pulled a small crossbow from the side of her shapely leg.

"When we find the young woman, we will find the Blue seed. We are to kill the monster."

"And what of the woman?" Evenson continued as they finally came to a crowded street. Juri loaded a lead arrow into the shaft of the crossbow and aimed it towards a wooden barrel. Pulling the trigger, the dart shot through the air barely missing some walker bys and sunk into its intended target.

"As for the woman, the Daughter's of Eva have expressed that they would take personal enjoyment of dealing with her."

Author's notes

(1) Sorry that I took so long in fixing this chapter. The first chapter "unwanted partner" was the rough draft that I accidentally posted.

(2) Take note of the bar scenes. People are going to become more important later in the chapters.