Chapter 17 - Wing and Prayer

"Vesper, what are we going to do now?" Jibril inquired nervously. "Without Ruprecht, we're kind of in a hole for direct information."

Nicolaus shook his head, closing his third eye. "I don't understand what went wrong with him, Vesper. It seemed like the second he had contact with the Expellians, he went. haywire or something. Isn't there anything we can do? He knows too much!"

Vesper was sitting at a small table amidst the thrashed room they had chosen for this meeting. He folded his hands, shaking his head. "You worry about too much sometimes, Nicolaus. Ruprecht knows little of the truth, and that's how it's always been maintained. What he knows is only what we tell him. Though he gathers information, he does not intercept what we say."

"Why not?" Jibril inquired, glowing eyes watching Vesper intently.

The elder Wise Man was immune to the trio, having been set up as head over them. Vesper was cool, calculating, and never revealing while his counterpart, Decus, oversaw Berle, Marsilio, and Shigeo - the defense/assault team - and was hot-headed, temperamental, and off the walls at times. Vesper considered how to handle this best - certain bits of knowledge were not meant for everyone, and if it started getting around, it would be disastrous. Far more then what already had happened. "Because that's the way it is, each of you were trained differently to respond differently to things. He may be sharp of hearing and more apt to disguises, but his attention is more rapt on the 'outside' world. He is a seeker."

Jibril and Nicolaus turned this over in their minds. "You are right," Nicolaus conceded, opening his third eye again. We are different; it made us an unstoppable team. We found out something that was trying to be hidden."

"Which changed things dramatically," Vesper said, closing his eyes to wipe away memories. "It was for the better as it stands. Indalecio, I am sure, appreciates it still. You proved us with that one fateful action."

The other two nodded solemnly. "So, Vesper, what will we do now?"

"We wait - Indalecio has Shin making one grand assault on the Expellian's front lines of Lacour to break them once and for all. It does us no good to act until Shin has results or failures."

"Right. And maybe if we're lucky, Ruprecht will be one of the casualties!"

~*~

Ruprecht had found himself the subject of quite a few curious looks and even more scrutinizing stares from various people. He had finally sought solace on the terrace that overlooked the approach Shin normally took, a vista overlooking a large forest below that looked as though it had seen better days. The only people out there were two watches, far more interested in doing their jobs then to pay attention to one solitary man.

His hand reached up idly to finger the listening devices on his ears, adjusting them ever so slightly to be more receptive to faint sounds, such as footsteps. He leaned against the stone wall, staring out across the infinite green to the horizon.

'I wonder what Cyril is plotting now - I am almost certain he's got something painful in mind for me, but I'm more certain he's plotting misery for Ashton. Ashton. much as I do appreciate what you did, it may have been best for you not to be involved. My brother is vengeful. he stops at nothing to achieve his goals.'

That was not the only thing bothering him, but it was a very large concern. Cyril was powerful - much more so than he. The other concern was the disconcerting amounts he didn't know about the others. He only knew his brother's personality and methods, and little about his actual limits. Indalecio was an enigma to all - even Cyril probably knew little. The offensive trio of Berle, Shigeo, and Marsilio pretty much avoided the information side of the Wise Men, so he had little practical knowledge of them other than names and rough classifications of skills. Vesper was his superior - and remained so. Decus.

'That maniac would burn down a straw hut trying to kill a fly,' Ruprecht thought, but that was as far as it went, aside form knowing that Decus was also capable of intelligent - and deadly - thought, and always worked in tandem with Vesper. That left his cohorts - well, ex-cohorts - of Nicolaus and Jibril. Of them, he knew more than the others, but there was plenty he did not - such as what the full extend of their abilities were. The only thing he knew for certain was himself - and he wasn't all that sure in that, either.

'Why is it for all my knowledge of the outside, I have none of the inside?' he thought to himself, turning away from the cold wind blowing in from the north. The receivers on his ears tuned out the harsh cry of the wind, leaving him in relative peace - at least peace with the outside.

'I'm really hardly any use to them. I know too little of my own comrades to be effective, and what we need to take on them - we can't get. We're too far from it, and by then, it will be too late. I fear the fight for Expel will be for naught. We will lose this world and they will escape. And I do not think I can manage to take even half the group to Nede when they jump.'

Ruprecht frowned, his brow furrowing with the effort. 'This is supposing I survive long enough.' It wasn't a matter of something Expellian killing him that gave him that thought - it was his betrayal of nine of the most powerful beings in the universe - and he himself being one of -if not the - least part of the equation. Indalecio easily could be rid of him quickly, he as sure - or had a defined method to eradicate that would kill him with plenty of agony to contemplate why he had done it.

'Why I did it. why did I? I could have gone back, talked to Indalecio after Ashton saved me, told him I was only gaining their trust to get more information and knowledge. He probably would have believed me if I had gone then. I. doubt I would be accepted now. Not trusted as I had been.' He shook his head, amending that. 'If I ever was.'

He sighed, looking skyward. 'As Ashton saved me, I will try my best to save him the day Cyril tries to fight. Brother. I won't let you kill him, so long as I live. You gave me a new chance to think my life over, Ashton, and I am grateful. I only pray I have the time to sort it all out and make something of it.'

~*~

Ashton was resting outside near the gate into the fort at the frontlines, enjoying the blue sky and the faint winds that managed down into the courtyard. Nearby, Precis was playing with Bobot, and occasionally stopping play to work on the small machine more. She grabbed Bobot again, and skipped over to sit next to Ashton. She pulled out a few tools and started to work on Bobot more. "What a long day," Precis said, pulling out a bit of colorful wiring.

"Yeah," Ashton replied, still watching the sky. "All we can do is wait right now."

Precis nodded, and patted Gyoro on the head as he leaned over to watch her work, fascinated by all the colors and parts. Urunrun also leaned over to watch, though having a worse vantage point being on Ashton's left side, opposite Precis. "Do you think something will really happen?"

Ashton closed his eyes, breathing out slowly for a bit. "Probably. I. I am worried about you being there. The monsters are bound to be worse than anything roaming the plains."

Precis chuckled then, putting parts back in Bobot. "You shouldn't worry, I'm here to help too. Dias is here, and so's Rena and Ruprecht. And you - with Gyoro and Urunrun - you're here too. How can anything go wrong?"

Ashton chuckled slightly, a low pitch that was barely audible. "I know it won't sound well, but it seems out of place for a young girl like yourself to be fighting a war like this."

Precis finished reassembling Bobot and let the machine go, watching it run around and try a few new small tricks of its own. She pulled off her backpack and began tinkering with it - working on the large bending arm attached to it. "You're right, it doesn't, and my father would agree to a certain extent. But I'm also his little girl, and he loves me and wishes me safety and a long, healthy life. You don't get that in war, or so I've heard. But. it's just hard to sit by when everything's crashing down around you." A long moment of silence passed between them, and she finally built up the nerve to ask something, peering over the mallet end of the arm. "Ashton. where are you from?"

Both dragons perked up, sensing a definite change in Ashton's mood and posture as he sank lower to the ground. "Eluria," he breathed. "A glorious city that once was the heart of El. It was home to me until I turned sixteen - I then went out to travel the world, practicing my sword arts. Little did I know then that would be the last I'd see if it in its glory." His voice was a near-dead whisper, devoid of life like it had been so many times before.

Long moments of silence passed until Precis found voice to speak, trying not to cry at the thought of all that Ashton probably lost. "I'm sorry," she said at last. The two dragon's heads were bowed in respect, understanding the motional pain that Ashton felt at the losses. "I didn't know-"

"It's alright, Precis," he said, his vice gaining some life. "It's just hard to think about. This mission is somewhat personal now. I balked initially because I was upset at being possessed, but now I must avenge everyone. My family. friends. neighbors. All of them."

"Awk awk!" "Awroorooo~!"

Ashton reached up, a small smile on his face. "And I thank you both for the offers of assisting me in kicking some ass on my home turf."

Precis adjusted a screw, glad that the tension was over. "Say, Ashton, do you think Rena's recovered yet?"

"I don't know, but if something was wrong, Dias would have called for us."

~*~

Dias was sitting in a beat-up chair that looked as though someone had used it for sword practice a few times, leaning against the wall and looking over to the bed Rena was sleeping on. Her breathing was steady, and she wasn't running a temperature, but all the same he was worried. She had exerted herself in bringing back a dying man through her healing powers, and gone a bit too far after all. She seemed to be fine, but he was concerned all the same until her bright blue eyes were looking back at him and she was smiling.

'Rena. please, don't leave me here now. I need you more then ever. I've failed at everything if you die - and it's more than even that. It's more that family. It's always been more since before they died. And I was a fool to never say it to you. How could I?'

He was propped back casually, but his expression was as tense as when he had been in combat against Claude during the tournament. He had known Rena most of his life, and even when he was away, his thoughts strayed back to her. Many of his drawings - many of which he had discarded by now or hidden - were of Rena. Even when he was away, he only worried about her - above his own self. But he could not bear to go back, to face the questions - and the reminders. So he resumed his life training, and fighting bandits wherever they might have been, wishing her only the best.

Little could he have known they would cross paths the day we was after the bandits at Mars, and change things forever.

'You're a fool,' Dias thought to himself, 'you had so many chances, and you threw them all away. For what? So she could live a happy life? What does she have? She was worried about you, you idiot. And she has nothing still but troubles, and doubts. Conflicts of which I know I contribute to unwillingly.'

Dias picked up Hope of breeze from beside himself where it had been leaning against the wall. He examined the craftsmanship he had instilled upon the blade, wrought with fine lines of gems and metals, the grip pure and strong, inlaid with twin sapphires the same shade of blue as Rena's eyes. 'I forged this for you - for us, for the coming battles. Something to give me strength against the coming darkness. Something to relieve your fears and worries of the battle claiming me.'

He ran one finger along the center of the blade for while, feeling the subtle details engraved. 'Rena, if you should die now, I don't think could hold against even a simple Lizardaxe. My strength, my resolve. my reasons. would all be gone. I'm a fool for not telling you sooner. And I probably won't tell you now. How could I?'

He looked out the small window to the endless blue outside. 'Am I doomed to only cause pain?' He swung Hope through the air, a faint whistle the only sound it produced - a soft, almost hollow sound that sounded like a remorseful strain. 'And I cursed to never know happiness form my own folly and error? Am I so strong that I am weak to admitting I care?'

He closed his eyes, swallowing to dry his parched throat, feeling as though he had killed his own flesh and blood. 'I have only hurt you Rena. and I fear that I can only cause more pain, rather than bring you happiness. I am not at rest with myself - or this world. How can I provide what you need?' He swung the blade again, another strain wafting through the air. 'You would be better off with Claude, or anyone else other than me. but I am selfish enough to still want you all the same.'

He lowered the chair carefully standing. 'In the end, for all my strength I am weak. I can use a blade to kill man and beast and abomination, but my tongue is stilled and my heart wrenched by a mere woman, unable to admit my own feelings.'

He shook his head, taking a defensive stance with the blade. 'What do you fear, Dias? Rejection?' He swung the blade around, taking another defensive stance. 'Her wrath at your failing to tell her so long ago?' He swung again, taking a slightly more offensive pose. 'Or her pity?' He lunged, and then stepped back to a semi-defensive pose. 'Or do you fear. her love?' The blade snapped out, singing a sharp song and he froze mid- lunge to look down on the bed Rena was laying on, her eyes wide open looking at him.

His heart nearly froze, his mind just about reeled - but the training kept him from losing his cool. He licked his lips, recovering from the reverie of practice and thought, sheathing the blade as he knelt down beside her.

"What were you thinking of?" she asked, her voice still a bit weak from sleep. Her eyes were focused on him, becoming clearer with each moment as she came further form her sleep into the realm of consciousness.

He swallowed and steeled himself. "I was thinking of you. I was worried terribly about you, Rena. So much so I found no rest while waiting for you to wake. Because."

They looked at each other for long moments as Dias struggled with himself to say it. "Because of what?"

"Because I love you, Rena, more than anything, and you're the reason I continue on," he said, nearly rushing it. He was ready for whatever reaction she would have, all except one. And that was her reaching up to kiss him on the lips. Briefly, but it was something he had not expected. Her lips were soft as any wildflower, the kiss tender and sweet as any mead. His chest hurt, and he realized he had been holding his breath. He exhaled slowly, and laid a hand on her cheek.

"I'm glad you finally found the strength to say it," she said, smiling. "I knew it, I could tell by how you acted, your words, and actions. And you've proven that you are indeed the strongest man." She sat up, taking his hand into her own two small ones. "You don't know how long I'd wished for those words, how often I dreamed of it but knew you had to come to grips with yourself first. I'm sorry I worried you so much. I just had to do something-"

"Its alright, Rena" he whispered, putting a finger to her lips. It was like velvet and granite, her lips against his finger. "I'm fine. I was worried that it had taken too much from you. I should have known you would bounce back, like you always did." He was about to say more but a panicked call disturbed them.

"Everyone to the battle stations! The assault is coming!!"

Dias rose and whirled, going for the window even as Rena struggled to untangle herself from the blankets and get her shoes on. His eyes scanned the northern horizon, narrowed to mere slits as he saw what the watch had seen; a writhing, twisting mass of bodies approaching, a first wave closer, and behind that barely on the horizon, an even more massive wave of larger - and far more deadly - beasts, moving much slower. "They're throwing everything at us." he breathed, and felt Rena grab onto him as she looked out.

"This is it," she said. "They've finally come. And the Hope of Lacour is not ready."

"The Hope of Lacour may not be," Dias said, hugging her and sweeping her form her feet a moment, "but the Hope of Breeze is!" He set her down and drew his blade. "Will you back me up?"

"Of course Dias, as I have always done," she said. "Let's join the others and prepare for battle."

A moment later, they were out on the northern edge, perched along the wall that Ruprecht had been leaning on, everyone who was able to fight in any capacity arranged out here. Ruprecht shook his head, looking at Dias. "The initial quick wave will still be a challenge to fight off - the numbers are still greater then our own. We have only a day left, day and a half if we're lucky, before the others are in any range to strike. And Shin will be with them."

"This Shin, what is it?" Dias asked, gripping the Hope tightly. He was still watching the approaching maelstrom of bodies, but he was alert all the same to the conversation.

"Shin, a minor demon-like creature of Indalecio's doing. I'm not sure his exact nature, but he can command beasts with great skill, and lead mass numbers effectively. A cold, calculating creature who will stop at nothing to achieve his means and please his master." Ruprecht tapped his lance on the ground a few times. "Shin is powerful, probably more so then most of what he summons. He is a devil, almost literally, and equally deceitful. He will fly, and try to remain out of range, but if he hopes to land any blows, he will have to come in range of my spear."

"Or within Gyoro and Urunrun's breath," Ashton added, patting the dragons' affectionately. "We'll be ready for him. We can hold off these pitiful creatures."

Precis nodded. "Bobot can reach anything if needed, and I modified my punch for extra range!"

Rena nodded, cracking her gloved knuckles. "And I'll get a few licks in when I'm not tending to anyone's wounds. Everyone be alert. I've made sure I have a few provisions in case my mental strength runs low, but I'll need time to take them. I'll be providing cover for Dias and watching his back."

"I've got Ashton's back!" Precis said, Bobot bouncing over the tall swordsman.

Ruprecht chuckled. "I should be fine on my own."

"But two is always better then one," a male voice said from behind them. They turned to see the youth Rena had healed standing there with a long bow in hand and a sword at his side. "The name's Kheranth, but everyone just calls me Kher. I wouldn't have been so banged up earier if it hadn't been for the fact I was trying to save a few others. I am in debt to you, . ah."

"Rena," she offered. "And this is Dias, Ashton, Precis, and Ruprecht."

"Good to meet you all. Now, Ruprecht, would you mind if I provided a little cover for you?"

"Not at all," he said, tapping the lance on the ground. "Between the six of us, we have a fairly good position. If you see anyone faltering, back them up. All of you should - any weak spot will be jumped upon by Shin's command, and once they're in amongst us all hell will break loose."

"That's where we've failed before," Kher said, testing his bow. "One spot will always end up falling for some reason, and then we cannot patch it fast enough. If all the men here now - wounded and all - had been here all at once, instead of in lumps, we would not have suffered so badly."

"All we can do is try," Ashton said.

"All we will do, is make victory happen and hold out until the Lacour Hope is complete," Dias said. At the point nearest the buildings they could see the husk of the great cannon, and knew that was worthless until the rest came back with the stone. "Do not falter, do not question. Do not show weakness. They are mere beasts, and they will prey on that." Dias had raised his voice loud enough so that all could hear him then, and jumped onto the wall. "We are the only thing standing between them and the wounded, and the wives, children, and elderly back home. We cannot fail, we must hold until the Lacour Hope is functioning!"

A loud cheer rose from the gathered men, and a rally was made. Dias jumped down, looking at Rena. "That was great," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, but I can only hope I can live to my own word," he replied turning to face the oncoming swarm. 'I do not have doubts, but I do have concerns for everyone else here now. How many more must we lose?'

Ruprecht leaned on his lance, looking at the impending assault. 'Shin, may you be wise enough to stay clear of me. I shall wreak my vengeance upon you as thought you were my own brother who has sworn to kill me. I shall start with you. and end with the source of it all.'