-_- Okay. That is the last time I try to promise anything this summer. I
did end up being pretty busy this week, actually. Monday I visited with one
of my best friends before she leaves for Ethiopia for the rest of the summer.
Saw "Spy Game" with her and I recommend that movie to any one who can hold
their breath through the "f" word. It utterly rocks! Tuesday, I finally showed
Mononoke-Hime (just see it!) to my brother and then went to my normal Tuesday
night youth group (which I'm actually not a member of anymore, but they let
me visit anyway). Wednesday I went to the new Internation Spy Museum (too
cool!) with some old friends who are moving to Kazakhstan. Spent the night
at their house, helped take care of their many little siblings (there are
9 of them now o.O), and watched the Wedding Singer (only see that if you
really like the 80s and/or Adam Sandler) and Princess Bride (see that as
many times as you want! n_n). Thursday I got home late, but not too late
for my mom to give me an early birthday present: The Fellowship of the Ring
on DVD! So we watched the extras disc(a must see for any movie fan). Then
on Friday, I spent too much time pic hunting and not enough time writing
and then my parents took me out to dinner! Whee! Then, I go to church service
on Saturday, as usual, and I wrote some of the chapter, then watched LotR(I
have gone on about this movie before, haven't I? *sings about elves again*)!!!
Man, I love not having the baby brothers around. n_n
Well, they're back now. So here's your chapter! And it's actually normal length for once!
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iriai no kane tsuki kanete hitorimushi
{The bell of sunset, [it] has already been sounded, tiger moth.}
(a haiku by Issa, translated by myself)
Five days had passed since the incident of Alexandria, and the temperature of the boardroom continued to rise with the discussions that took place within it. Eiko was content to watch them argue with the projection of Mikoto from a two-way communicator that Yuki had provided. The governess of New Bran Bal had avoided coming to Lindblum under the weak excuse that the distance was troublesome. Eiko suspected that not only did Mikoto not trust the Gaian leaders but that she also did not trust her own people. And, perhaps, with good reason, Eiko thought.
At the time that the genomes had received souls, the Terran people had been extinct for some five thousand years. It was only natural for them to pick the handmaiden of Garland, Mikoto, to become their leader, for she was the only one who new anything of what had happened after the first failed assimilation. But that was nearly twenty years ago. The Terrans had adapted to the new situations and some of them may have been keen on getting a new governor, for Mikoto—as was, although to a lesser extent, Zidane—was not truly a Terran. It was thoroughly possible that Terrans with these sentiments might have organized the whole incident, knowing how Mikoto would react, and thus inspiring their fellows to select a new governor.
But that was just one theory of a thousand. Eiko absently picked at the scab of a cut she had received on the night that Ark had attacked. Mikoto was no fool. She would know as well as Eiko did, that when it came down to it, the summoner could only control the actions of Lindblum and then only to a certain extent. Each of these nobles merely had small provinces in the land of Alexandria, and Burmecia, and even Lindblum. However, their small armies pooled together could become a formidable force, especially if Tabito was being truthful and some of them actually did have hidden reserves of warships. New Bran Bal would be on its own, in the ever more likely chance that such hostile actions should take place. The citizens of Lindblum still tasted the bitterness that Brahne had left them, a taste that had been thoroughly refreshed by the onslaught of Ark only about two weeks ago. They would be completely unwilling to assist Alexandria and those who supported her.
No, it will not be much longer now, Eiko knew in her heart. The greed factor had weighed in heavily over the confusion and uncertainty. Many nobles could see profiting greatly by means of overthrowing the royal family. And they would persist no matter how many times Mikoto called them on it.
"Your impatience could quite possibly cost Alexandria its only hope, Count de Granville," the Governess of New Bran Bal remarked flatly. "Why are you so ready to dispose of the heir to the throne? He's far more valuable alive."
"There is no value in a Prince that has committed the crimes he's guilty of," replied the Count, who had been most decidedly been out for blood since the first meeting.
"Guilty?" she echoed. "When nothing has been proven? No harm will come of waiting and seeing, Count de Granville. It is not as if I'd let him escape somewhere before things have been cleared up. If it proves necessary, we will be able to judge him soon enough." Ah, but if we wait too long, perhaps the crown prince will be proven innocent, and none of the nobles will get the power they're after, thought Eiko, as she wondered how she might accuse someone of having such thoughts.
"You say you don't trust us, but how can we trust you?" Erkette la Salle chimed in. "And when the princess is still running free, how much longer can you restrain the prince? Or have you a strange means of containing him?" Mikoto by this point, was looking somewhere off the screen. "Lady Mikoto?" the noblewoman's voice sharpened. "Were you paying attention to what I've said?"
"My apologies, Lady la Salle," Mikoto bowed her head as she turned back to her audience. "The prince was relating that he can personally account for Raven on the night of the queen's disappearance to my advisors. It caught my attention."
"That is old news," Eiko spoke up, seizing the opportunity to reinforce that Alexandria and Lindblum had still been on somewhat friendly terms even after the eidolon's attack. "It was included in the letter that followed the princess's arrest. Tabito's opinion stated that while he did not put such actions past Raven, he also did not see how she might have accomplished it."
"Well, I have read no such letter," Mikoto replied. "And seeing that we have little concern for Raven, since she is not in our custody, it is news to me." Eiko did not appreciate Mikoto's jab, but she could not blame her for it. That Raven was unaccounted for only worsened the issue. But now the issue had been raised that if Lindblum was unable to keep its prisoners in their cells, Mikoto had every right to keep the crown prince in her custody.
"I assure you that we are doing everything in our power to find her," Eiko said slowly. The assemblage of nobles were glancing back and forth between the two leaders, eager to determine if they were hearing correctly. Had a tension really risen between the two women who had done nothing but try to cooperate with each other?
"So what does the prince have to say on his sister's behalf?" Lord Shido Mart interrupted. "You two seem to be communicating with him on a regular basis, while we haven't heard from him since before the incident."
"Tabito-sama," Mikoto called to the side, immediately complying with the request. "I believe you are wanted to answer some questions." She faded from view as the Crown Prince of Alexandria stepped up to the screen. He looked burdened but poised, Eiko noted. He took a paced glance about himself before he nodded to the assemblage. He was less a fool than his aunt, Eiko knew, and his mind was much like a steel trap. He would take careful note of who said what and when, and perhaps he might see something that she and Mikoto had missed. At least, Eiko hoped he would. But then there was audience that he would have to deal with, led by the bloodthirsty Count de Granville, the slanderous Lady la Salle, and the word-twisting Lord Mart. He might not get far at all.
"What questions have you for me, Lord Mart?" Tabito asked, his eyes settling upon the nobleman. "I would think you would know what happened at Raven's arrest better than I would." Too brusque an approach, Eiko winced. If you want him to say anything you need to be subtler than that!
"I am quite clear on what happened there," he replied, suddenly sounding a lot more laid back. "Although I'll report for everyone else's benefit that you did not demonstrate any control you might have had over your sister."
"Perhaps you demonstrated that she responds fastest to force, which I am generally unwilling to use," Tabito bit back. "In my experience she generally responds best to gentle reasoning, which I'll admit, takes longer."
"Are you attempting to accuse me of something?" Shido raised one heavy eyebrow.
"Perhaps," Tabito repeated, his gaze never slipping from the nobleman.
"Then perhaps you'd best be clear about it," the nobleman seemed amused now.
"I am accusing you of unnecessary manslaughter," Tabito replied, his ever-steady glare practically boring holes through the lord. For the first time during these meetings, Shido Mart shifted uncomfortably. Eiko sighed. Tabito was meek, as crown princes went, and generally quiet and composed, but it seemed that he had finally had enough. He was not interested in the subtle games at the moment. No, he had words for these people, and they would hear them.
"You have much nerve," sneered Count Frederick de Granville, "to make accusations after all you have done."
"What can you honestly say I have done?" Tabito's sharp gaze darted over to him.
"Well, avoiding the points still held in question by some," Frederick said slowly, "it is rather obvious that you abandoned your country when the tide turned."
"I sent request for help to Lindblum immediately," Tabito replied, turning to look at Eiko. "Honestly, would you have come?" His face was only slightly more passionate than Mikoto's but the violet eyes held a lethal fire within them.
"It proved difficult to get my forces on the move without definite proof of the situation at hand," she said simply.
"But it was over before your scouts arrived," Tabito finished. "How can you blame me for turning to someone else for help then?"
"We can blame you because Hoosick says you attacked first," Erkette la Salle stated harshly.
"I attacked?" Tabito echoed. "With what?"
"Cannons, Hoosick says," she finished. Everyone leaned forward in their seats. Eiko clenched her hands tightly around the material of her skirt. The Alexandrian royal family was not supposed to have firearms in their possession, and her scouts had found two cannons in the south tower of the castle.
"We have two cannons in the south tower," Tabito admitted without so much as twitching. "They've been there for as long as I remember to be used as a last resort defense only. I used them as such, but they proved completely useless in the end. I left my eleven-year-old brother there to place a barrier around the castle while I got help."
"It failed," Shido said flatly.
"Yes, it failed," Tabito frowned, "and much worse than it should have. Can you tell me why?"
"Because you were double-dealing," Erkette muttered against everyone else's silence.
"Are you referring to the actions of Lance Steiner, Lady la Salle?" the prince called out, missing nothing. "I assure you that he left Alexandria against my orders."
"Your orders sent him here, your highness," she replied haughtily.
"So he says," Tabito nodded angrily. "But ask any of the Knights of Pluto. They know otherwise."
"Tabito…" Eiko sighed. His gaze whipped back to her.
"But they're dead, right?" he finished for her. "All eight of them. And the entirety of the Alexandrian guard completely obliterated, are they not? My younger brother is dead; how do you people explain that?!" In the silence that followed, Mikoto appeared behind the crown prince and whispered into his ear. His scowl deepened, but he bowed to her and left the screen. Eiko had to admit: it was far more powerful to hear the story from the one who had experienced the episode than to hear Mikoto say "Tabito said this happened." However, she truly doubted that it would affect any of the nobles. Their minds were set.
~~~~~
"I have confirmed that rowboat is now nowhere in sight,"
the boson said as he walked over to where Seraphim Shade was reading a book.
"Finally," the mage snorted, and turned a page. "What sort of idiot would follow us this far out to sea in a rowboat?"
"The sort that we should have destroyed," the boson replied as he turned to leave.
"He doesn't need our help," Seraphim laughed.
The rowboat in question was floundering far from shore and its passengers were constantly being pelted by the waves. One was lying on his back mumbling about dead arms. The other was jumping up and down and complaining that they had lost the ship they were trailing.
"Look," Ashley suddenly pointed behind them. "Let's catch a ride with them!" Roy sat up and looked behind them. A larger, far-faster sail-ship was nearly on top of them. "Ahoy! Ahoy!" Ashley shouted as she jumped up and down, waving her arms. Something flew through the air and landed in the center of the rowboat. After staring at it for a moment, Roy realized it was a canteen and grabbed it and began drinking greedily.
"Go back to shore!" called a one-eyed woman from the deck of the ship. "Leave the capture of this criminal to us, the police!"
"No!" Ashley called back. "If I'm not the one to save Tabito, he'll never fall in love with me!"
"What are you talking about?" Beatrix, for that's who it was, called back. "Tabito is in New Bran Bal!"
"He is?!"
"Yes!" The ship then sailed out of earshot and into the distance. Roy continued to drink water while Ashley seemed to think for a second.
"All right then!" she said. "On to New Bran Bal!"
"Mpshth?" replied Roy, as he spilled water all over himself.
~~~~~
"That could have gone a lot better," Mikoto sighed.
"My apologies, Oba-san," Tabito sighed as well. "I should not have lost my temper."
"It's quite alright," she replied.
"But it isn't," he shook his head then placed it in his hands. Zeru was pacing back and forth; Geomo was seated next to the prince and kicking at the floor; and Ketto was seated a little further off and picking absently at his sleeve.
"Well, it seems Alexandria has finally said its piece," she continued thoughtfully.
"Hardly," Tabito muttered, then added, "but I'll honor any decision you've made."
"Good," she replied, "because I have decided to put you off the case. It's time for New Bran Bal to make decisions as New Bran Bal alone."
"Of course," Tabito stood up, as if he had expected this to happen. All three advisors turned to look at him. "Should I just go back to Mishikai then?"
"Yes," Mikoto replied. "We shall call you if we need you."
"All right then," he bowed respectfully to all of them, "I shall take my leave of you."
"Would you like a ride?" Geomo offered.
"No," Tabito replied as he strode out of the room, "I prefer to walk." A calm expression he may have had on his face as he traversed the halls of the capitol, but inwardly he was seething. They didn't care. The rich men simply did not care. His life had completely crashed down around him, and the Alexandrian government was slowly crumbling with it. But all the nobles could think about was how to profit from this. Their justice was simply determined by how many more coins could go into their pockets.
Tabito glanced at the hoshina Danan sculpted into the walls of the front hall of the capitol as he walked by. One of the ancient gods caught his eye and received a second look. Portrayed behind the long-forgotten deity was a huge, winged horse. How odd, noted Tabito as the image slid into the back of his busy mind and he continued on his way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Man.... whatever happened to my cliffhangers?! Oh yeah... we're still in part two. Stupid part two. -_- However, Part three is on the horizon! It shouldn't be too many more chapters now...
And in case you're wondering, there are a total of 4 parts to this story. Kinda like a 4 disc game, you know? Bleh, enough of the author's notes. Too many author's notes this chapter. Go review already.
Well, they're back now. So here's your chapter! And it's actually normal length for once!
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iriai no kane tsuki kanete hitorimushi
{The bell of sunset, [it] has already been sounded, tiger moth.}
(a haiku by Issa, translated by myself)
Five days had passed since the incident of Alexandria, and the temperature of the boardroom continued to rise with the discussions that took place within it. Eiko was content to watch them argue with the projection of Mikoto from a two-way communicator that Yuki had provided. The governess of New Bran Bal had avoided coming to Lindblum under the weak excuse that the distance was troublesome. Eiko suspected that not only did Mikoto not trust the Gaian leaders but that she also did not trust her own people. And, perhaps, with good reason, Eiko thought.
At the time that the genomes had received souls, the Terran people had been extinct for some five thousand years. It was only natural for them to pick the handmaiden of Garland, Mikoto, to become their leader, for she was the only one who new anything of what had happened after the first failed assimilation. But that was nearly twenty years ago. The Terrans had adapted to the new situations and some of them may have been keen on getting a new governor, for Mikoto—as was, although to a lesser extent, Zidane—was not truly a Terran. It was thoroughly possible that Terrans with these sentiments might have organized the whole incident, knowing how Mikoto would react, and thus inspiring their fellows to select a new governor.
But that was just one theory of a thousand. Eiko absently picked at the scab of a cut she had received on the night that Ark had attacked. Mikoto was no fool. She would know as well as Eiko did, that when it came down to it, the summoner could only control the actions of Lindblum and then only to a certain extent. Each of these nobles merely had small provinces in the land of Alexandria, and Burmecia, and even Lindblum. However, their small armies pooled together could become a formidable force, especially if Tabito was being truthful and some of them actually did have hidden reserves of warships. New Bran Bal would be on its own, in the ever more likely chance that such hostile actions should take place. The citizens of Lindblum still tasted the bitterness that Brahne had left them, a taste that had been thoroughly refreshed by the onslaught of Ark only about two weeks ago. They would be completely unwilling to assist Alexandria and those who supported her.
No, it will not be much longer now, Eiko knew in her heart. The greed factor had weighed in heavily over the confusion and uncertainty. Many nobles could see profiting greatly by means of overthrowing the royal family. And they would persist no matter how many times Mikoto called them on it.
"Your impatience could quite possibly cost Alexandria its only hope, Count de Granville," the Governess of New Bran Bal remarked flatly. "Why are you so ready to dispose of the heir to the throne? He's far more valuable alive."
"There is no value in a Prince that has committed the crimes he's guilty of," replied the Count, who had been most decidedly been out for blood since the first meeting.
"Guilty?" she echoed. "When nothing has been proven? No harm will come of waiting and seeing, Count de Granville. It is not as if I'd let him escape somewhere before things have been cleared up. If it proves necessary, we will be able to judge him soon enough." Ah, but if we wait too long, perhaps the crown prince will be proven innocent, and none of the nobles will get the power they're after, thought Eiko, as she wondered how she might accuse someone of having such thoughts.
"You say you don't trust us, but how can we trust you?" Erkette la Salle chimed in. "And when the princess is still running free, how much longer can you restrain the prince? Or have you a strange means of containing him?" Mikoto by this point, was looking somewhere off the screen. "Lady Mikoto?" the noblewoman's voice sharpened. "Were you paying attention to what I've said?"
"My apologies, Lady la Salle," Mikoto bowed her head as she turned back to her audience. "The prince was relating that he can personally account for Raven on the night of the queen's disappearance to my advisors. It caught my attention."
"That is old news," Eiko spoke up, seizing the opportunity to reinforce that Alexandria and Lindblum had still been on somewhat friendly terms even after the eidolon's attack. "It was included in the letter that followed the princess's arrest. Tabito's opinion stated that while he did not put such actions past Raven, he also did not see how she might have accomplished it."
"Well, I have read no such letter," Mikoto replied. "And seeing that we have little concern for Raven, since she is not in our custody, it is news to me." Eiko did not appreciate Mikoto's jab, but she could not blame her for it. That Raven was unaccounted for only worsened the issue. But now the issue had been raised that if Lindblum was unable to keep its prisoners in their cells, Mikoto had every right to keep the crown prince in her custody.
"I assure you that we are doing everything in our power to find her," Eiko said slowly. The assemblage of nobles were glancing back and forth between the two leaders, eager to determine if they were hearing correctly. Had a tension really risen between the two women who had done nothing but try to cooperate with each other?
"So what does the prince have to say on his sister's behalf?" Lord Shido Mart interrupted. "You two seem to be communicating with him on a regular basis, while we haven't heard from him since before the incident."
"Tabito-sama," Mikoto called to the side, immediately complying with the request. "I believe you are wanted to answer some questions." She faded from view as the Crown Prince of Alexandria stepped up to the screen. He looked burdened but poised, Eiko noted. He took a paced glance about himself before he nodded to the assemblage. He was less a fool than his aunt, Eiko knew, and his mind was much like a steel trap. He would take careful note of who said what and when, and perhaps he might see something that she and Mikoto had missed. At least, Eiko hoped he would. But then there was audience that he would have to deal with, led by the bloodthirsty Count de Granville, the slanderous Lady la Salle, and the word-twisting Lord Mart. He might not get far at all.
"What questions have you for me, Lord Mart?" Tabito asked, his eyes settling upon the nobleman. "I would think you would know what happened at Raven's arrest better than I would." Too brusque an approach, Eiko winced. If you want him to say anything you need to be subtler than that!
"I am quite clear on what happened there," he replied, suddenly sounding a lot more laid back. "Although I'll report for everyone else's benefit that you did not demonstrate any control you might have had over your sister."
"Perhaps you demonstrated that she responds fastest to force, which I am generally unwilling to use," Tabito bit back. "In my experience she generally responds best to gentle reasoning, which I'll admit, takes longer."
"Are you attempting to accuse me of something?" Shido raised one heavy eyebrow.
"Perhaps," Tabito repeated, his gaze never slipping from the nobleman.
"Then perhaps you'd best be clear about it," the nobleman seemed amused now.
"I am accusing you of unnecessary manslaughter," Tabito replied, his ever-steady glare practically boring holes through the lord. For the first time during these meetings, Shido Mart shifted uncomfortably. Eiko sighed. Tabito was meek, as crown princes went, and generally quiet and composed, but it seemed that he had finally had enough. He was not interested in the subtle games at the moment. No, he had words for these people, and they would hear them.
"You have much nerve," sneered Count Frederick de Granville, "to make accusations after all you have done."
"What can you honestly say I have done?" Tabito's sharp gaze darted over to him.
"Well, avoiding the points still held in question by some," Frederick said slowly, "it is rather obvious that you abandoned your country when the tide turned."
"I sent request for help to Lindblum immediately," Tabito replied, turning to look at Eiko. "Honestly, would you have come?" His face was only slightly more passionate than Mikoto's but the violet eyes held a lethal fire within them.
"It proved difficult to get my forces on the move without definite proof of the situation at hand," she said simply.
"But it was over before your scouts arrived," Tabito finished. "How can you blame me for turning to someone else for help then?"
"We can blame you because Hoosick says you attacked first," Erkette la Salle stated harshly.
"I attacked?" Tabito echoed. "With what?"
"Cannons, Hoosick says," she finished. Everyone leaned forward in their seats. Eiko clenched her hands tightly around the material of her skirt. The Alexandrian royal family was not supposed to have firearms in their possession, and her scouts had found two cannons in the south tower of the castle.
"We have two cannons in the south tower," Tabito admitted without so much as twitching. "They've been there for as long as I remember to be used as a last resort defense only. I used them as such, but they proved completely useless in the end. I left my eleven-year-old brother there to place a barrier around the castle while I got help."
"It failed," Shido said flatly.
"Yes, it failed," Tabito frowned, "and much worse than it should have. Can you tell me why?"
"Because you were double-dealing," Erkette muttered against everyone else's silence.
"Are you referring to the actions of Lance Steiner, Lady la Salle?" the prince called out, missing nothing. "I assure you that he left Alexandria against my orders."
"Your orders sent him here, your highness," she replied haughtily.
"So he says," Tabito nodded angrily. "But ask any of the Knights of Pluto. They know otherwise."
"Tabito…" Eiko sighed. His gaze whipped back to her.
"But they're dead, right?" he finished for her. "All eight of them. And the entirety of the Alexandrian guard completely obliterated, are they not? My younger brother is dead; how do you people explain that?!" In the silence that followed, Mikoto appeared behind the crown prince and whispered into his ear. His scowl deepened, but he bowed to her and left the screen. Eiko had to admit: it was far more powerful to hear the story from the one who had experienced the episode than to hear Mikoto say "Tabito said this happened." However, she truly doubted that it would affect any of the nobles. Their minds were set.
"Finally," the mage snorted, and turned a page. "What sort of idiot would follow us this far out to sea in a rowboat?"
"The sort that we should have destroyed," the boson replied as he turned to leave.
"He doesn't need our help," Seraphim laughed.
The rowboat in question was floundering far from shore and its passengers were constantly being pelted by the waves. One was lying on his back mumbling about dead arms. The other was jumping up and down and complaining that they had lost the ship they were trailing.
"Look," Ashley suddenly pointed behind them. "Let's catch a ride with them!" Roy sat up and looked behind them. A larger, far-faster sail-ship was nearly on top of them. "Ahoy! Ahoy!" Ashley shouted as she jumped up and down, waving her arms. Something flew through the air and landed in the center of the rowboat. After staring at it for a moment, Roy realized it was a canteen and grabbed it and began drinking greedily.
"Go back to shore!" called a one-eyed woman from the deck of the ship. "Leave the capture of this criminal to us, the police!"
"No!" Ashley called back. "If I'm not the one to save Tabito, he'll never fall in love with me!"
"What are you talking about?" Beatrix, for that's who it was, called back. "Tabito is in New Bran Bal!"
"He is?!"
"Yes!" The ship then sailed out of earshot and into the distance. Roy continued to drink water while Ashley seemed to think for a second.
"All right then!" she said. "On to New Bran Bal!"
"Mpshth?" replied Roy, as he spilled water all over himself.
"My apologies, Oba-san," Tabito sighed as well. "I should not have lost my temper."
"It's quite alright," she replied.
"But it isn't," he shook his head then placed it in his hands. Zeru was pacing back and forth; Geomo was seated next to the prince and kicking at the floor; and Ketto was seated a little further off and picking absently at his sleeve.
"Well, it seems Alexandria has finally said its piece," she continued thoughtfully.
"Hardly," Tabito muttered, then added, "but I'll honor any decision you've made."
"Good," she replied, "because I have decided to put you off the case. It's time for New Bran Bal to make decisions as New Bran Bal alone."
"Of course," Tabito stood up, as if he had expected this to happen. All three advisors turned to look at him. "Should I just go back to Mishikai then?"
"Yes," Mikoto replied. "We shall call you if we need you."
"All right then," he bowed respectfully to all of them, "I shall take my leave of you."
"Would you like a ride?" Geomo offered.
"No," Tabito replied as he strode out of the room, "I prefer to walk." A calm expression he may have had on his face as he traversed the halls of the capitol, but inwardly he was seething. They didn't care. The rich men simply did not care. His life had completely crashed down around him, and the Alexandrian government was slowly crumbling with it. But all the nobles could think about was how to profit from this. Their justice was simply determined by how many more coins could go into their pockets.
Tabito glanced at the hoshina Danan sculpted into the walls of the front hall of the capitol as he walked by. One of the ancient gods caught his eye and received a second look. Portrayed behind the long-forgotten deity was a huge, winged horse. How odd, noted Tabito as the image slid into the back of his busy mind and he continued on his way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Man.... whatever happened to my cliffhangers?! Oh yeah... we're still in part two. Stupid part two. -_- However, Part three is on the horizon! It shouldn't be too many more chapters now...
And in case you're wondering, there are a total of 4 parts to this story. Kinda like a 4 disc game, you know? Bleh, enough of the author's notes. Too many author's notes this chapter. Go review already.