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:

Chapter Three: Strain

"What do you mean that we're prisoners here?" Illis asked.

The nobleman, briefly tasting his herbal tea, looked at the woman with little more than an inkling of sympathy. In all reality, he blamed her husband and his stubborn hold on the old world for her situation. He set the cup on the saucer, then folded his hands on the tabletop. Her appearance was very ladylike for a change, and he had trouble pinning any anger to her. Wife to his enemy, perhaps, but she was still noble and deserved respect.

"It's as simple as that, milady." Oberon replied. "You and your sons will be staying here while Gordan works to complete my Airship."

"But...we agreed to make it for you! Why keep us here?"

"Because your husband doesn't approve of my intents for it. As such, he needed a little motivation to make sure it's finished on schedule."

Illis looked conflicted, lips quivering as her mind raced. "What are you making him do?"

"Simply constructing an Airship, milady, nothing more. Since you probably don't know, I have made modifications to the model so it can be mounted with weapons."

"Weapons?"

"Yes, cannons so that I can strike at that damn Regent from on high! He suspects nothing, and will be able to do nothing once my craft is complete."

Illis regarded Oberon with a sense of dread. Somehow she knew he was hiding something from his attitude during the past days, and the rumors around Lindblum added to that. Now, it seemed that all was true with this man. He was a power-hungry nobleman seeking revenge against the Regency for the Mist Wars forty years back. He was a nobleman seeking to shatter the three great nations back into the morass of states and territories that made up society in the old days.

She glared daggers at him. "You cannot do this."

"I have, Illis, and I will continue to do so until my demands are met."

"I won't let you do this!" She slammed her hands onto the table, standing. "I won't let you keep my sons prisoner here."

Oberon stood as well. "Do consider that you are completely in my control, milady. You will find no sympathetic ear in this manor, and even should you escape, there is nowhere for you to go. Burdened with two children, your odds of surviving the wilderness are quite slim."

Illis bared her teeth in a malicious grin. "Don't underestimate me, Oberon."

"And don't underestimate me, either." He clapped his hands, and the door of the study opened to let enter two guards. "Please take Miss Illis to her room."

"You can't...!"

"Know this!" He barked, cutting her argument off. "I will keep you in your suite, Illis, and with the freedom to traverse the guest hall and the outer gardens. The more you struggle, the worse those keepings will become. Simply live here as a guest and you'll enjoy the same luxuries as I."

"A bird in a gilded cage, then?"

"Yes, but it is gilded after all, and that is no reason for disapproval." He turned and walked to a bookcase, seeking a heavy tome to read. "Have a pleasant afternoon. I'll send a servant for you at sunfall to sup with me."

The hirelings led Illis out of the study, her expression twisted in a mask of fear and anger. Her inner voice fumed, wanting to take up his challenge and flee back to Gordan's side. That voice was silenced quickly by the fear that seized her heart regarding her sons. She couldn't do anything that would bring them into danger, not her own innocent flesh and blood. One of the men tugged at her arm to take her, but she wrenched the limb back. He tried again, but Illis stepped back and glared at him.

"I can walk on my own."

"Don't be gettin' all huffy, missie, yer not in the position to boss me around." He sneered.

"Lead, then."

The second man, silent in her defiance, stepped up and slapped her face with the back of his leathery hand. The pain stung and shocked her, hand reaching up instinctively to feel out the hurt. Her eyes betrayed fear, and the man gave a throaty chuckle.

"Don't think we'll be nice like the Duke is, miss, 'cause he don't see everything here. You might take a fall if you don't watch yer tongue."

She forced her hand down, eyeing him with all the muster she had. Neither were worthy of seeing her weak, not when she needed all her strength to keep from sinking into a depression. She was strong, a proven warrior, born of Ulura and heir to white magics rare to the world. Her battles took her from monsters to assassins, and never did she allow her fear to rule. This would be like any other trial, and one that she would win. She would have to win. Was there any other alternative when her children were in danger of harm?

"Well then, milady, would it please you to come with us?" The first man bowed, lips loud with sarcasm.

Illis walked down the hall to her suite, not bothering a response to his insults.

'Don't get cocky, Illis, you can't take risks like you used to. Play it safe, an opportunity will arrive eventually...'

> > >

The November Wind, bearing only a slight semblance to any seagoing vessel in the world, was also as steady as one in the open sky. The thrum of the engines could be felt on every surface, the Airship itself swaying back and forth as it passed through crosswinds and other currents. It was hardly enough to be a nuisance, but to a man who had never flown, each little motion seemed to spell their doom. The occupants were mostly relaxed save the Burmecian knights, the students and teacher all still and looking around in wonder and fear. Fedrich was well, albeit nervous inside. His companion looked as if he could sleep as easy here as on a goose feather mattress on land.

Macky chuckled, a smug grin on his face. "Unbelievable..."

Fedrich gave his old acquaintance a odd look. The Macky he remembered was a stocky man, dressed in common pants and a shirt with his hair in snarls. Now he was in royal blue finery and had his hair closely cropped, body thinner and paler from time indoors. It was a radical difference, and one that Fedrich had to remind himself of each time he glanced the councilman. "What?"

"Us. You a Dragon Knight, me a negotiator for the Regent. Well, you were bound for something big in the knighthood, but me? Honestly, I don't even remember how they figured me for this. Sure, I can talk people around a while, but discussing politics and the fates of society? I didn't think I had it in me."

"Well, you were always busy in those meetings back then. I guess it isn't all that different, is it?"

"Not really, I suppose. I just...don't see how arguing about patrols and salaries is the same as taxes and laws. Except for the arguing and shouting, of course."

A grin creased Fedrich's lips. "So how long have you been working as an Inquisitor?"

"Oh, something like a year and a half, I think."

"Do you like it?"

"It sure pays a lot better. Other 'n that, it's pretty easy. So far all I've been doing is work at the castle. The few times I've been given a person to negotiate with were little things, qualms about importing goods and other waste."

"That's good."

"So what about you, Fed? How's life back home, you and Ruthy?"

Fedrich was quiet a moment, considering exactly how his life was going. He had been happy at first, reunited with his family and friends after many months. The feeling lingered as he delved back into his normal routines, but the memories of Ruthy and his destined role in the coming war always lurked in the back of his mind. The anxiety, the waiting for this war to start, it had slowly consumed his thoughts until he was hardly able to keep track of the time. That was when he went to the registrar and enlisted into the Knighthood, determined to the upkeep of his body for the coming crisis. Fierce trials and obstacles barely slowed his advancement in the soldiery, earning a Sergeant's rank when the North Gate was assaulted. That skirmish, his famous rallying cry on the plains, nearly broke him. He considered it payment, living through the night after sacrificing his happiness for so many months to do this thing.

"We're doing fine." Fedrich opted to leave out the troubles they had concerning her being human in a Burmecian city. He didn't want to worry Macky about her, she had grown used to the looks long ago.

"How's the city?"

"It looks a lot better. People are working on it day and night, even the people who survived Cleyra. I guess it took a disaster to finally reunite our two people."

"I heard. I'm sorry 'bout that."

"It's okay."

After the fight, after recovery and healing, he heard of the destruction of the great tree Cleyra by a monstrous lance of flame. He witnessed the disappearance of the Mist from the land, then its sudden return a scant few weeks later and again its retreat from the air. He only heard that the Mist was gone because the Alexandrian princess had killed the thing that made it. The Regent had taken his aerial fleet far to the north to help her, yet only a few of his vessels returned. Apparently the Mist disappeared around the Airships, and without it they had no power to keep aloft and fell into the ocean.

"So how is Ruthy doing, anyway? She sends so many letters you could make a dictionary out of 'em."

"She's been okay. Her play isn't doing so well, but she's happy. I think staying here a while will do her a lot of good. She misses her sister and everyone. I think she even misses all the noise in Lindblum, all you can hear back home is rain."

"Well, that's an odd idea."

"She just needs time among humans for a change. Burmecia hardly gets any visitors, and she doesn't have many friends."

"She must be smitten with you to put up with that."

Fedrich blushed lightly, glad for his storm gray fur. "Yeah."

"So have you two...oh wait, nevermind."

"What?"

"It's nothing, forget it. It was a stupid question."

"Come on, what is it?"

Macky gave him a look, and somehow it communicated exactly what didn't need to be said in public. Fedrich's eyes glanced around nervously, seeing Diamante chatting with his students on the opposite row of chairs. Winston, however, had an eye looking his way. His expression told that he was also aware of the awkward question. He of anyone else showed the most disdain to the union between burman and human. Fedrich sucked in air between his teeth and sighed. "Right..."

"Anyway! So what's the business with your King sendin' you here?"

"It's just a gesture of kindness to the Regent. King Hiryuu is tired of sticking to conservative ways, so he's trying to build better relations with the other nations. Since we got word of this revolt being more than rumor, he sent us here to help."

"Izzat so? Well, can't argue with having a familiar face around."

"Yeah. So any idea what you need to do about this Duke Peradin?"

Macky let his expression settle from racy smiles, preferring a neutral frown. "Duke Jon Peradin has always been a shaky ally to the Regent. He's the first to argue against new laws, and the population tends to do the same. I dunno what set him off this time, but he's adamant about defying the Regent."

"Huh..."

"I don't know the guy personally, but he's got to be a reasonable sort. Hopefully all it'll take it some blunt truth to get him back in order. I don't want to end up getting on the wrong end of someone's sword 'cause he doesn't want to reason with me."

"What kind of strength does he have?"

"He's got the city patrols loyal to him, plus his own merry band of soldiers to protect his manor. Anything else is just a guess."

Fedrich turned the information over in his head. He was confidant that any opposition he encountered would be easy to deal with, but he wasn't sure about his allies. Diamante was certainly a better match against any common fighter, but his students might not be prepared. None of the three had fought against an opponent determined to kill or die. It would certainly be a running of the gauntlet with them if worse came to worse. "Nothing serious there?"

Macky chuckled. "He's got nothin' on you, Fed, even back when you were a gangly kid fresh with the Regulators. Hell, looking at you tells me he's gonna want to play nice soon as we land."

Fedrich shared the smile. "I hope so..."

The Airship made the rest of the flight in good speed, passing low across the great inlet and landing just outside the town walls. From the sky, Coral Cove seemed as normal a fishing community as any on the world, the coast covered in stone seawalls and bristling with ships of the trade. The houses were all of sun bleached stone, topped with ornate shingles like the scales of a fish. Marine decorations, and a strangely large number of rusted anchors, littered the walls of the homes to reinforce the feel of a people connected with the sea. Fedrich felt a strange familiarity in the sight of a city rooted in its culture. It reminded him greatly of Burmecia and the ties to history the very walls spoke of.

The November Wind hovered carefully above the ground, lowering ramps to deposit the luggage and materials the Inquisitor and his men took with them. Crewmembers carefully arranged them a safe distance from the windy engines, the knights taking a brief check of the environs to ensure a safe arrival. The Duke wasn't outright violent to the Regent, but none of the men put treachery or rogue actions below him and his protectors.

"You got everything?" Macky yelled over the din of the engines to his friend.

"I do!" Fedrich looked at his charges. "You all have your things?"

Diamante and the students all shouted affirmatives, and the small number of Lindblum knights were comfortable with their own armor and small personal effects. Certain that they had all their supplies, Macky yelled back instructions to the crewman nearest to him. The ramps slid back into the Airship, and with a deepening roar of the engines, it rose into the sky and began the trip back to the Grand Castle above them.

"Well! Alright, hearing seems back to normal." Macky dusted off his pants and coat, not bothering to deal with his mussed hair without a mirror.

"So where do we go now, sir Inquisitor?" Diamante pointed towards a gate in the city walls. "The men at arms coming from the city seem eager to meet with us."

Macky looked at the coming escort with disdain. "Well, we are guests of the Duke, so I guess he's making nice with us. Don't talk unless you need to, I'll be the one they're interested in."

They waited patiently as the dozen men on horseback came to their location. Fedrich was curious at the leggy beasts, since chocobos were more common for riding. A horse couldn't match their endurance, but old habits die hard in human cities. They kept a safe distance from them, only their leader dismounting and removing his metal helmet. Windswept hair and an old, tanned face met the group, and he saluted in military fashion to the Inquisitor.

"Welcome to Coral Cove, gents. My name is Captain Hawina, I've been given the task of seein' you safely to the Duke's residence."

"I thank you for the warm welcome." Macky nodded, offering a hand.

Hawina took it, eyeing Fedrich and the soldiers around him. "Odd bunch you're with, eh?"

"My Burmecian friends are here as a gift from their King, and I prefer it if you don't call them odd."

"Sorry 'bout that, we don't get many outsiders here."

'Outsiders...' Fedrich frowned at the term. While it wasn't explicit in meaning, he still felt the barb strike home. Even in the modern world there was still fear and hatred of other races like his own. Hundreds of years and it hadn't been weeded out from the mind. This, Fedrich mused, was one of the better mysteries of society that he pondered during his time in Lindblum.

"Well, let's make our way in, then. I'm sure your Duke is eager to talk."

"I wouldn't expect it." Hawina commented, giving Macky an honest look. "Frankly, Sir, I don't care much for the Regent or his rubbish. We've done fine without him, and the less I've got people lookin' at me with taxes in mind, the happier I am."

"Then I hope your Duke is prepared to deal with those consequences." Macky didn't mind the clear statement of defiance, only giving the Captain a brief look to reinforce his words.

"Right. Follow me, if you please."

The Captain took the reigns of his horse and walked with the group, his men riding back to the gates and removing gawking citizens from the entrance. Fedrich studied the walls, seeing them several feet higher than a man's reach. It wasn't a wall to offer protection from attack or siege, but something to define the split between the city and the wilderness. He recalled how monsters in the Mist would terrorize towns, so a cheap wall would be enough to ward them away. Now it looked odd in a peaceful land devoid of aggressive monsters.

The peace, however, was treading on dangerous grounds.

> > >

Ruthy stood in the square, staring at the double doors of the Regulator's Hall. Memories of her time here, the pain and joy infused with the sight of the old building and it's off-white painted walls, were floating clear through her eyes. Her teenage life was attached to this place, a physical link to her past that filled her thoughts. Gerick and the patrols, Gordan and Illis, Fedrich and the Festival of the Hunt, they all felt tantalizingly real at the moment.

She took several steps, hesitated at the door with its rusty hinges, then knocked.

A little boy pulled the door open a crack, eyes wide as he gaped at her. "Y-yes?"

Ruthy smiled to put the child at ease. "Hello there. I'm looking for a man named Gerick. Is he here?"

"Gewick?" The child repeated.

"He is...was the leader of the Regulators. Is he here?"

At this the child seemed comfortable, shaking his head. "Nope. Mista Setter is the leader now."

"Well, can I see Mister Setter?"

"Nope. He is on the patrols now."

The redhead sighed in frustration. Two days and she was still without any sign of her friends or family. No one seemed to know where Gordan and Illis had gone to, or wouldn't speak of it to her. When she checked her old house out of a strange wish to see how it was, a Qu had moved in and asked her for frogs. Now, on her second full day of looking, she was getting irritated at her luck.

"Alright, just one more question. Do you know where Gerick went?"

A shake of the head. "Uh-uh."

She smiled again. "Okay, thank you for helping me."

The child grinned, happy to be praised. "You're welcome." He closed the door thereafter.

Ruthy turned from the door, gritting her teeth in anger. 'Dammit! Why can't I find anyone here? I know Gerick still works for the Regulators, and Gordan didn't say a thing about traveling! Where is everybody?'

The redhead stalked away from the square, heading for a terminal to catch an Aircab for the Business District. So far she had checked every last place that they could have been at. The only one left was Corban at the Hide shop where they sold their goods at after a patrol. His shack was near Hunter's Gate, so another twenty minute walk was ahead of her. The shoes she wore did little to ease the ache in her feet from so much walking.

'I must be out of shape, sitting at home all day. This wouldn't bother me at all when we were still living here...'

She pressed on despite the pain, content to at least get some decent exercise if anything was to be accomplished. The midday crowds were rushing with their daily chores, children running in gaggles and adults chatting in spare time. The Airships inside the great walls of Lindblum provided a backdrop of humming, a gentle din that felt like a salve to her heart and soul. Closing her eyes a moment, everything felt right as it was when she left to stay with Fedrich. She could almost believe that she was walking with everyone to another day of patrols, working in her safe routine and without a care in the world. Eyes open, she could tell how different the world was. No one was walking with her, and Fedrich's presence was absent from her side.

'I guess you really can't go back...you can only cherish the memories...'

Pushing through the usual crowds of people around the terminal, she boarded an Aircab for the Business District and stared at the view of the Grand Castle. She felt at peace, surrounded by humanity, no one judging her for being human, no anger or resentment. At the least, she smiled at the sun that lent warmth to all the land. Living in Burmecia for so long had left her with pale as snow skin. Ruthy almost relished the chance that she would get sunburnt, tanned and given a memory of her time under the sun. The craft landed in the ground terminal, door open and people departing the cabin.

Ruthy again waded through the human tides that overwhelmed the terminal, surfacing in the streets and the flow of people moving up and down the great avenue. Her steps drew her to the Hunter's Gate, close to where the thickest number of businesses sat and the most exotic of goods were sold. After passing by numerous carts, ignoring the calls for a moments time, she found the right alleyway to Corban's old hideaway. The darkness in the close confines opened to a private square, the illuminated sign in front of his shop still alight. The inside was the same as ever, chests of material pushed against the walls and the large oak table in the middle.

"Afternoon, how can I be of help to you?" A youngish voice called from behind a wall.

"Corban?" Ruthy didn't recognize this voice, it was far too smooth to be the old man's.

"Nah, I'm his son, Ginnis." The owner of the voice came into the room, short frame and all muscles. "Well well, milady, you're a rare sight for these eyes!"

Ruthy got straight to the point. "What happened to Corban?"

Ginnis hesitated, his lips pressed tight. "The old man took a nasty one durin' the attacks. He couldn't work, so I came to keep his business going."

"Is he here?"

Ginnis again paused, glancing back. "What's your name, miss?"

"Ruthy Killjoy. I was with the Regulators about four years ago."

"Huh." Ginnis turned to the back of the store. "Hey, old man! There's a miss named Ruthy Killjoy here! You know her?"

"Ruthy? Now there's a name I 'aven't heard in ages." The voice sounded like gravel, and Ruthy knew it had to be him. "Send her on back, kid."

Ginnis nodded, looking back at Ruthy. He leaned in to whisper to her. "He looks bad, so try to be nice, right?"

"Of course." She walked past the large table, anxious as she went by an invisible barrier. Beyond here was unfamiliar territory, and she looked around like a curious child. Passing by a wall that separated the front from the back, she saw a table and several chairs underneath the glow of oil lamps and a dusty dark window. Someone was sitting in the far chair, skin pallid and a hand clutching a large wood tankard.

"Hey now, if it ain't my favorite redhead." The man chuckled quietly. "You've grown a tad, little lady."

"Corban?" Ruthy stared despite herself. The Corban she knew was a broad shouldered man thick with muscles and had a grin atop his face natural as the sun. Now he was so much thinner, skin pale from lack of light and his physique wasted like an old man. She looked away, hoping she didn't offend him. "What happened to you?"

"Got inta a mess with one o' those demons, girl, back when Alexandria attacked. Tried 'ta burn me like a side 'a steak, but I got the bugger. Problem was I wasn't quick enough 'ta avoid this."

"I'm sorry..."

"No need to be sorry, little miss." He sat up straighter, revealing layers of scars on his face and a pale, sightless eye. "So what brings you 'ere?"

"I've been looking for Gerick all over this city, but I can't find him anywhere. He's not at the Hall or at his favorite bars, I...I don't know where else to go. Have you seen him?"

Corban sighed, mumbling to himself. "Ol' Gerick's been here."

Ruthy lit up, clasping her hands. "When?"

"Was 'bout three months ago, and miss, I tell you he's never looked so bad. Somethin's got the guy shaken up, miss, like someone's dancin' all over his grave. I heard he was jest helpin' new kids in the Regulators get tip-top before they go out."

Ruthy felt her hands tremble at the news. Her letters to him had always been replied to in a timely matter, and he wrote of decent times and little trouble. Somehow it didn't surprise her if they were lies to keep her from worrying. Gerick had always kept his troubles to himself, never letting anything hold him back from the patrol. Now it sounded like that determined effort had put him on his last legs.

"Where is he?"

"I dunno. The Security guys ought 'ta know since he works with 'em, too."

Ruthy smiled, stepped forward and gave the ailing man a brief hug. "Thank you Corban, you're a true friend."

He returned it weakly, smiling. "You just keep livin' right, miss, I'll be here if you ever need help."

"Thanks again, Corban! Goodbye." She turned and hurried from the shop, giving a passing farewell to Ginnis as he counted through lists of goods. Outside she jogged into the crowds and made for the Aircab terminal, finally with hope that she would find her age old friend. Her plight became all the more desperate, her friends and family missing and troubled. She prayed silently that Gerick could explain everything to her once he was found.

The Author Speaks!

Again, chuggling along as usual. This chapter really starts defining the individual tasks that our heroes will end up working against, so expect subplots to criss and cross with one another. Look hard enough and you might see a common thread of the main story in there as well. I'll also start mirroring these chapter updates on my badly outdated website next update, so if this place ever goes on the fritz, you can keep up with me there. Papermadness dot com, so you know.

And J.L. Dexter, I'm neither drunk nor crazy when I imbibe, just very very very talkative.