Chapter 4 Sparrowhawk
-Lionel Castle-
Iron footsteps lead him towards the castle gate at last as the red emblem of Lionel came into his view with each step towards the castle. Just as he did it in Narredwen Monastery again it seemed as if he had brought the night with him as he looked up to see the black sky and the stars that kept it alight.
"Who goes there?!"
The marksmen shouted, his quiver of arrow targeting the cloaked figure as he neared the draw bridge. The shadowy figure now stood just outside the gates, his face hidden beneath the cowl of his black robe absorbing the torch lights.
"I, Master Sparrowhawk, has returned from my mission in Narredwen Monastery!"
His shout was answered with welcoming tones and gestures from the tower guards as they lowered the drawbridge.
"Sir Sparrowhawk, Duke Almion is expecting your report in his chambers."
Replied one of the guard captain. He looked to be about 20 or little more, a new recruit from the barracks. Not much older than the stranger they had here in Lionel, he thought as his mind wandered off to seeing the stranger yet again.
"Shall we, your excellency?"
The guard asked as he ushered the mage inside the tower where surely enough he will report his mission to the duke and the young guest surrounded by mystery. Little news ever got out about the honored guest residing in the castle as of now, not even Ertai himself knew too much about him, but one fact questioned it's validity over and over. In all his years of studying the archaic sorcery and the likes, he came across all but the greatest mystery yet unsolved by his long studies, time travel. News of such devices capable of time travel had been out for no longer than a week or so and tis a common news heard frequently at any tavern or soldier office. Besrodio Bunanza excavates time machine, if he remembered correctly written on the latest discoveries that has been announced before the king himself.
He entered the strategy room where the duke awaited. A man of his mid sixties, the duke had a hint of brown among his most grey sprouted beard indicating the luxurious brown they must have been 20 years ago. His figure was tall for an average man his age and his broad shoulders without any telling, told a tale of once a mighty knight who led Lionel many times in the frontlines rather than sitting back behind the walls and formulating strategy in the comforts and safety of his stronghold like the old count Dracalu did.
His duke did not amuse him as his eyes lingered to the young man seated right next to him. A handsome face the stranger had, and although the young man sprouted no beard, his built body and his weathered skin spoke for themselves of a true seasoned warrior. What intrigued him the most though wasn't the young man's physical appearance but his extended understanding and knowledge of the royal family and especially almost everything about the exiled prince Orinas from birth to knighthood.
Prince Orinas, how long has he suffered since the execution of his mother? 3 years he remembered. Delita spared Orinas perhaps out of kindness but he guessed otherwise, mayhaps a simple pleas of request from his queen, Ovelia. If it wasn't difficult to lose one's mother at a young age, it must have been a grueling task to be a witness to her death sentence at the very province of Lionel where she last breathed before taking one breath on the hangman's noose. It was here Delita assigned Orinas to live, or so they say. But in truth he intended to imprison Orinas in Lionel until one day Orinas as Delita hoped would grow into a common knight without knowing of his royal heritage. Delita ordered best mages including Ertai himself to erase all the memories Orinas carried within his mind but little did he realize, Ertai never had the thought to betray Orinas or his late father the true king and the same went for the duke of Lionel whom took care of Delita's mages in a quiet manner while reporting a false report to Delita. All this highly classified knowledge was as if common fact to the young man seated next to Duke Almion.
"Welcome Ertai, I congratulate you on the successful mission."
The duke began as he beckoned the dark mage to take seat across from him on the table. It was as large as a dining table but round, just enough to fit 13 men to sit around it, on it was a large map of Ivalice and some part of Ordalia and on top of the map were small figures each representing the factions of different knights. Various chess pieces were apparently used to represent the different factions, Knights all of different colors stood for 100 knights across the map, green for St. Konoe, white for Hokuten and black for Nanten. Bishops as the name held were used to similarly describe the church factions on different estates. Ertai saw his own piece, the black rook placed on top of where Narredwen Monastery should be and from there he was placed right on top of Lionel Castle where other various chess pieces were placed. The young man smiled at Ertai's return, his gaze of sapphire shaded eyes reminded him of prince Orinas back at his small mansion where by now if Ertai can remember the prince's time schedule, should be tutored by Alysander the alchemist with an unmatched understanding of herbology but has strange and confusing method of teaching. Ertai bowed before the young man.
"It is good to see your in good health your majesty, the prince. And to the duke also."
Prince Orinas was being tutored even as they held meeting in the strategy room where the three men, Ertai, Almion and Orinas discussed the plans they had for the kingdom of Ivalice and revenge Orinas sought for 23 years. Ertai still wondered at the odd situation where he knew Orinas to be away yet he stood no further than 5 steps away from him at the very moment. This prince who stood before him could either be a big illusion or an imposter he thought, but with the given knowledge especially ones regarding some of the most hidden secrets only known to highest royal bloodline, it was enough to prove him aristocracy but with a further understanding of his encounters with Almion and Ertai, both were more than enough convinced the identity of the young man now standing before them. After all, there were only three people who knew about the silent murders of Delita's mages over these years and the very three people sat facing each other.
"You there, fetch Master Ertai a handsome meal and a Gruzian Wine afresh from the cellar."
The maids hurriedly stormed out of the chambers and soon returned, serving the three.
When instructed to leave, they were dismissed swiftly before the men talked again.
"We heard news of your success at Narredwen, has the king's men identified you?"
"Yes, there has been an encounter and a inevitable one at that. I have been recognized by my brother, the pagan examiner and the King's man Egre Pen Rakshu but I have doubt that even Egre has the vague idea of which faction I belong to. King Delita will not make his move just yet."
His eyes wandered off to the fireplace ablaze with charred remains of his chicken dinner.
"The king is no fool, he'll conduct further investigation and send forth his spies to gather information of your whereabouts. I don't suppose it's safe to assume that the king will think you to be acting alone."
The duke spoke with hesitation, asking himself all the possibility. Interrupted by Ertai whom interjected.
"If Delita misleads himself to thinking so, I'm sure my blood brother will mention the idea to him, thus I believe it's never safe to assume you are safe from accusations if such came to that. What say you, your highness?"
Ertai asked the prince. The prince who had been listening intently until now spoke out his thoughts which Ertai must say he was quite impressed by the level of analysis and the plans prince Orinas came up with.
"I believe what Ertai said was right duke Almion, King Delita will no doubt be searching for Ertai with all spies he has among the entire Ivalice. The idea for Ertai to use another name has been so far a good strategy to cut off any spies stationed here in Lionel. For the time being, I think we are safe from Delita's suspicions unless he is informed of the Touten Knights present here in Lionel."
"Even if he attack us head on, Lionel's walls rumored to be impenetrable second to Igros."
Just as the discussion progressed on to Lionel's defenses, Grandmaster Guildus entered to join the men. He was by age not very older than Ertai himself but the auburn beard he has sprouted helped him to look more aged than the clean shaven Ertai. The metal armor clung to his built body made it possible for others in the room to recognize the owner of the heavy footsteps almost immediately except for Ertai whom hadn't met the man in person until today.
"Gentlemen, I present you Gaff Guildus, the current Grandmaster of the newly re-established Touten Knights."
Duke Almion ushered him in and bade him to take seat with them. An extra tray of food along with a goblet of wine brought in just as quick.
Unlike his well known father whom died in Lionel as a mercenary few years ago, Guildus was a more kind faced man, quite sophisticated and much like a man more suiting to the Advisor to the king, or maybe a young high priest in the making. A man most likely seen in the place of worship Ertai noted. Despite his monastic look about the Grandmaster, Guildus had excelled in the art of battle and did not shame his father's title as great general. What confused Ertai the most was how the son of Gafgarion had been brought up in Ordalia and became a general there until he was captured by Lionel forces and eventually the duke whom had one time fought alongside his father interviewed him before it was too late to save Guildus from the hangman's noose. The fortune worked towards Duke Almion's favor when Guildus had joined his crusade against Delita, the heir to the former leader of Touten raised past members and their sons to come willingly under Guildus' banner to reunited the disbanded Touten Knights which now merged forces with Lionel Knights.
"You've returned with more men Master Guildus?" asked the duke with a pleased expression floating on his face.
"Scores of the idle buggers! Men at arms, some veteran knights, and more archers than there are hairs on my arse. And, believe me," the Grandmaster roared with laughter, "my arse is hairy!"
It was interesting to observe the calm, priest resembling Guildus to speak such a rough language. Ertai concluded that it must run in the family of Gaffs to everyone's entertainment.
"Master Ertai, perhaps it is about time you tell us of the item you retrieved from Narredwen Monastery." The duke beckoned him to begin the story since all members now had gathered around the table.
A quick glance at the stone inside his hip pouch, he emptied the content on the desk with caution. Placing the Black Materia gently as not to disturb it's presence. "This I know is the Black Materia, the very one we have heard or read stories of since the publication of our historical backgrounds. It was known to have once been a relic of the ancients and the downfall of human race when one man had wielded it to summon forth mass destruction across the planet until a hero saved the world or so we are told, with the help of a White Materia. The records we found in the airship graveyard only provided us with facts and small knowledge on the magical properties of this item. But with my further studies I am hoping to harness this destructive chaos and tame it's power to serve our purposes." He told them part of his plan while the other half remained a secret between them.
"I don't like this idea of using that." Guildus protested, his eyes focusing on the black object glinting with malicious power. "It's too wild and untamable in my recognition."
"You are underestimating Master Ertai's ability then? Sir Gaff?" Orinas questioned the grandmaster.
"Other than relying on that evil to grant power, we should seek alliance with Ordalia's new crowned prince Yuri. I am certain that once we negotiate a peace between Lionel and Ordalia we can arrange allied forces against Delita if we take control of Zeltennia's walls that prevents Ordalians to advance no further."
"An excellent plan, your Excellency. But we would require greater force to overcome the Nanten Knights and we are at no position to afford any men unless we can guarantee our success against their superior numbers."
"What are the odds?"
"One to three mayhaps. I believe if we successfully persuade either Limberry or Riovanes We may just even the odds."
"Their relationship with the current king? I believe already that Marquis Lasanti of Limberry is in a neutral relationship with the king's forces, perhaps it is wise to send a messenger to negotiate alliance or if the worse, a neutral relationship between their forces and ours in the events that we stand against the King."
"You speak as if it will be a simple feat to persuade these lords to join our alliance. They will not rethink twice before dismissing our messenger. What convincing tool do we have to raise their arms against King Delita?" Grandmaster questioned the party with a face that clearly opposed the idea.
The party became a silenced mob until Ertai spoke from his long absence. "The Prince." He said.
"What man? Well?! Speak up!" the grandmaster yelled, impatient to hear the plans.
"We can use the past king's secret seal, the ring worn by your majesty." He turned to Orinas. "That way at least they will know, the prince is with us and we fight in his name. Or although it's risky, we can send Prince Orinas and a few contingent of men as our envoys to the lords. I will be present with the prince where he travels of course in his defense."
A sound of murmur around the crowd was soon hushed by the prince himself, he now stood facing the party, his face determined. "I will go with Ertai's plans. It may be risky but Delita doesn't have any knowledge of my existence here in Ivalice and his spies will not recognize me so the risk is reduced."
"But your majesty! If something happens to you..." the duke began his protest.
"I trust if dangerous encounters are met, I am sufficient to rely on Ertai's magic for any protection. Besides, I am also capable of close combat good sirs, so you can calm down about my safety." His face pulled a mischievous grin at the older worrisome faces.
"Then let my best knights be of escort. Your highness will be more safer with my boys rather than Ertai's magic tricks or his sleight of hands." Guildus gestured a joking gesture against the quiet mage who did his best to ignore his rude joke, awarding him with a long face when the table roared with laughter.
"You are displeased with my comment? Master Long Face?" he continued his assault on Ertai with more interesting jokes. "Don't worry Pen Rakshu! I meant no harm to your pride, in return I will award you with a tun of ale at the tavern tonight if you are keen to join my pleasant company." And he wondered if this man really was one of the fiercest man in the entourage. Yet it was to be observed his true abilities in frontlines when the time comes.
Author's Note
Well it's been such a long time and I've been having a writers block all year. That was long haha. Well anyway, here is the next little chapter. I bet you guys are wondering who is the villain in this story by now huh. It's abit confusing I know but I'm not going to reveal my whole plot until in later chapters. Sorry about the long wait though. After my final exams I'll make sure I get back to writing again lol.
Special thanks to Cat for being very supportive and for her praises. It really did magic on my writer's block. And another special thanks to heihachimishima for appreciating my work. Check my other works if you have the time Well, thanks for all the inspiring reviews. I'll write more often now because of your kind words readers!