This story belongs to me and my creative mind. However, many of the characters, names, and places all belong to their respective companies, so don't yell at me for copyright infringements! Remember, Italics represent a person's thoughts or the telling of past events.
Enjoy...
:A Moment of Discord:
Part Three: Courier of Deceit
"An honor to meet with you, Duke Highguard." Gordan offered a hand to the broad shouldered nobleman.
Oberon Highguard accepted the gesture with a firm grip. "I'm glad that you were available to come on such short notice. No doubt my message was motivation enough, though."
Gordan chuckled politely. "One could hardly refuse a chance to make such a deal, we being little more that overglorified merchants. All men would hurry to a meeting if it meant a chance to earn their day's labor."
"Truly." He knelt before Illis and kissed her hand briefly. "I'm surprised that you are as dedicated to your work with a wife as lovely as her."
Gordan felt a blush tint his cheeks. "It is a struggle to work, yet my heart knows where I place all my devotion."
"Please, let's retire to the gaming halls. I must introduce you to my wife and children."
From the outskirts of the manor's property, the only space large enough to accommodate the floating bulk of the Diamond Blackjack, the three took quick strides to the walls. Passing through a small access gate, they entered a lush garden filled with flowers, arranged bushes, and a crushed stone walkway. Birds chirped in the early evening sunlight, the hues of the sunset spilling across the world to give it a majestic feeling.
"It's beautiful." Illis commented.
"It is only the fall, milady, and is only a shadow of what springtime lends the place. You must come again when the gardens are in their prime."
"I will."
The trio walked across the garden to a door, passing through the length of the house to a large and spacious den. Arranged with several pieces of padded furniture and deep colors, it emanated a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Oberon led them to a central table, pulling aside seats for the both of them. He clapped his hands, and a servant came out with a decanter of chilled wine, which the guests accepted graciously.
"Selinas, come and bring our children!" He called.
From a separate hall, his wife and their two offspring entered the room. The three were dressed in casual attire, but still evident of money and taste. Gordan was mildly surprised to see that his son and daughter were both adults in their own rights. Duke Oberon appeared barely a day older than he was, well fit and without a trace of gray in his hair.
"Gordan, my wife Selinas of Basil."
Gordan took her hand and kissed it lightly. "An honor to meet you, milady."
"You as well, my good sir." She smiled warmly.
"This is my son, Roymond Highguard, a Captain for our local militia and master-at-arms for the guard in the manor."
Gordan accepted a firm grip from the youth, sharply dressed in what were apparently fatigues for training. He bore closely cropped brown hair and the starting of a goatee, making him look older than he seemed.
"And, of course, my daughter Flaure, sub-commander of the militia."
She offered her hand, which Gordan took with a surprise at her strong hold. She was also dressed in casual apparel for a soldier, although she also donned a stark white cloak over her shoulders. Something about her name itched at his memory, but he put it aside as they all sat at the oaken table. Oberon took a healthy taste of wine, then folded his hands on the table and gathered himself.
"Let me officially welcome you to Kohlingen, Gordan. I hope that you've had an enjoyable trip so far?"
"It has been a most unique experience. I do not get much time to travel, and this is a most welcome break from the routines in Lindblum. The fact that I can see more than a few kilometers distance is a drastic change of pace for me."
"Yes, your city within a castle is very crowded, although it must make for simple living. Here I must travel far in order to get anywhere."
Gordan chuckled politely. "Hopefully we can arrange something to solve that problem for you."
"Indeed. Let us get to the matter of business then." Oberon leaned back, getting comfortable. "Obviously I've called you here to discuss the possibility of having an Airship make for my personal use. What concerns me primarily is the time it will take to construct this craft, and the specific details that I wish to see added to it."
"Gestahl Industries exists solely as a manufacturer of Airship parts and equipment. My own Airship, the Diamond Blackjack, was hand designed and a completely unique project out of any craft yet made. In essence, all we accommodate are original designs. You will not find a common model such as a Mortani or Freighter among our ranks, but one of a kind models such as the Falcon, Great Whale, and partly for the Prima Vista II. Whatever necessities you feel this Airship to have, we shall accommodate to the best of our ability."
"Quite good!" He clapped his hands, and another servant came with a small stack of papers. Oberon picked up the top parchment and slid it to Gordan. "I may not be an engineer at heart, but I have a general concept of construction methods for ocean-going vessels. If you could look this over, it is a general idea as to the appearance of the Airship I wish to have made."
The nobleman looked it over, eyes flicking to important areas such as engine locations, pilot's cabin, and aerodynamic features. "I see you wish this to have a feel much like a standard ship of the sea."
"Yes. The decks are to be specifically designed for the different passengers on board. The lower deck will be reserved for my family, while the upper two are for crew members and operations staff."
"Typically an Airship is designed in the opposite manner. To explain, it is a simple matter of balance, weight distribution, and stress management that recommends that the heavy engines and machinery to be placed below. This way the design is bottom-heavy, making for a stabilized flight. Also, in the event of grounding the Airship for maintenance, it places less pressure on the lower deck and less of a chance of a fracture in the hull."
Oberon nodded throughout the explanation, trying his best to absorb the information. "I merely want to eliminate the need to ascend flights of stairs to get to our rooms each trip."
"We can design ramps or a temporary dock to alleviate this problem. With some alterations to the plan, we can even install a rising platform in the center of the hull to eliminate the need for stairs completely."
"Truly?"
Gordan nodded. "With the advent of the steam engine, a necessity since the mist engine is now unable to work, motors have become smaller and more powerful. Even a veil power drive can do this, although it is only operable in flight or with good wind. A lift mounted in the center will not impede much on the appearance or functionality of the Airship." He pointed to a part of the paper. "Also I have my concerns with the location of the pilot's cabin. Generally, it is wiser to have it mounted as high and close to the front as possible. This allows for a greater field of view, approximately two hundred seventy degrees sight rather than one hundred eighty."
"I see."
"No need to be discouraged! If you wish, I can take you on a tour of the Blackjack and give you a visual explanation of what I mean. I also have my master engineers with me, so together we can make an approximate model of your Airship."
"That would be generous of you."
"Merely another of my standards, Duke Oberon. I do not wish to lead you into anything you do not understand."
The Duke drummed his fingers together. "How about the payment, then? I wish to have a clear idea of the cost this will incur."
"I can say right away that this will be a large class Airship, with four primary engines and six support motors, approximately eight thousand square feet of space, capacity for seventy passengers and occupancy for twenty five. I will make an estimate of about eight million Gil base cost. Additional incursions such as furniture, decorative themes and the stocking of various materials will be separate to this. I will have a secretary personally assigned to your project, this way we can keep a quick track of the money put into it."
"That seems awfully expensive." Selinas spoke up.
Gordan smiled to reassure the woman. "I will say again that eight million is an estimate, not a set price. After we meet with the engineers and get permanent details in place, then we can review the costs and come up with a real price for this Airship. This cost alone will give you a functional Airship, that by these notes your husband has provided, will make it among the largest flying crafts in the skies."
"It won't be long? This planning?" Oberon asked.
"It will take some time, but it is all necessary to make sure we get it done right. All you need provide are the dimensions for the rooms you want, any additional spaces, and we can fit in the rest."
"And these plans will work?"
"If we were to make it as is, then it would work just fine. I must commend you for planning ahead, as this will cut a lot of time out in the first stages."
"How long will this take? Completing the Airship, I mean." Selinas posed.
"The construction of my Blackjack took a little under a year, and our previous project, the Brigand, took ten months to complete. I would assume a year's time before your Airship will be flightworthy."
Oberon smiled and nodded, satisfied. "A year won't be much, we've waited long enough for this. Let's put business aside for the night and talk casually, I wish to get further aquatinted with your family."
"As do I..."
> > >
"So are you going to tell me what your plan is?" Flaure asked her father.
Oberon, sitting in a plush leather chair, regarded his daughter from the top of an aging tome. His ebony colored eyes glared at her, and she returned it with equal force. There had been little love between them, only fading farther away as Flaure got older and less tolerant of being looked down upon.
"Are you still upset that it will take almost a year to get your precious flying machine?"
"No."
"Then what is it? You can't hide your anger from me, and you have most certainly been angry since you turned in for the night."
He sighed like gravel, closing the book and setting it on a side table. Standing, he collected his thoughts and looked outside to the sky. Stars sparkled by the thousands in the heavenly reaches, the moon a waning crescent among the sparse clouds.
"Neither the cost nor the time worries me, child. My master of coin tells me that the Highguard name encompassed the worth of this city and over one hundred million Gil. Eight million is nothing to throw on a revolution that will make me master of billions in gil. I will make Regent Fabool suffer greatly. He, goaded on by his father during the Mist Wars, led the attacks that devastated this city." He regarded her from the corner of an eye. "Do you know that this manor and our town lay upon the burnt ashes of the old Kohlingen? We sleep, eat, and live atop the corpses of thousands slaughtered in a pointless war."
Flaure crossed her arms. "And this is supposed to make me feel vengeful towards the Regent?"
He spun on her, eyes livid. "If that doesn't then you must be mad or without honor! We were a minor family during the war, and when the city was leveled, I escaped by luck and hope! A boy barely into his teenage years, and I was homeless and friendless. It was because I stuck by this town, worked with the survivors and made myself take responsibility for everyone, that we enjoy this lifestyle. By the time I was fifteen this city looked to me as their savior and leader, and I-"
"I don't need a lecture on your life, father!" Flaure snapped. "I know that we earned all this from your toil and labor. Was that taste of power not enough for you? Is that why you work so hard to press everyone into your debt? So they look on you as a savior and as a leader?"
"I do this for the people of Kohlingen."
"Which one? This one or the one populated by ghosts?"
He ground his teeth together in anger. "Leave. I won't have my own daughter insult me this openly!"
"Tell me what your plan is and I will go."
Oberon paused a moment, jaws working between curses or a reply to her question. He chose the latter. "Lindblum was hardest struck on the day the mist faded. Since then, they have been working overtime to fix their Airships and make them independent of mist engines. This has put a serious dent in their economy, one that will take a decade to recover from. Their Aerial Divisions are most weak now, one a fourth of their power in the skies. Like everyone says, the Viltgance make the Grand Castle impossible to attack, overwhelm, or lay siege to."
"I know this."
"If ever there was a time to strike Lindblum, this is the time! They are weak, crippled, and so busy with their internal problems they will never see another massing at their gates. If we can eliminate the Viltgances before they are airborne, we can rob the Regency of almost their entire defensive power."
"With one Airship?"
Oberon chuckled. "I have something to level the playing field."
"Which is?"
"I'll let you discover that answer with your own wits, child. There is one person in this city who can give you the answer, if you know where to look."
Flaure frowned. "And the soldiers and knights?"
The Duke grinned. "You're the expert of hand-to-hand combat, Flaure, you tell me what those pointy-helmeted men can do against the Nanten elite."
Flaure let a hint of a smile crack her lips. The city guards were pathetic in strength and appearance. The security teams might pose a threat, their skill honed against the wild monsters on the plateau. Then there were the Regulators, an elite squad of monster hunters separate from the Regency. Memories of her encounter with one of its members made her body shiver in anticipation when they clashed during the Festival of the Hunt. If he was still there, then the battles would be all the sweeter. Flaure hated nothing more than dueling with a weaker opponent.
"They will fall like leaves to a storm."
The Author Speaks!
Hello again, and my apologies for the chapter mixup. I was attempting to update a chapter to correct some errors and quickedit apparently went and screwed it up. For whatever reason, however, the errors weren't fixed, so don't be stunned if the author notes have terrible grammer. Other than that, I've been sick with a fever of sorts, so don't be surprised if the next chapter comes a little late while I recuperate. I also apologize for the lack of much action in this chapter, but I felt it was necessary to have a long conversation with the new characters so you can get a feel for who they are.
-J.L.Dexter, I'm sure that this chapter will make that hint of malevolence seem rather like a brick to the face worth of it. Just wait, though, the next chapter will really send the idea across to you.
-Breeze of Summoners, a pleasent surprise to see you back once again! As to your question, X-Zone is a spell used in Final Fantasy V and also VI, one that sucks the target into the void of an alternate dimension. Since FFIX has elements from several of its predecessors, I figure adding some more in won't hurt too much. Keep an eye out, you'll spot a lot of thesereferences throughout the story and the previous.X-Zone feels like a spell that sends you to a place only described as 'Here There Be Dragons'.