Chapter Four:

Early the next day Nami and Zidane said their goodbyes. Though he didn't say anything about their talk the night before, something in his eyes felt like a reminder to Kie. They were serious and slightly grim, but only when he talked to Kie and only for a second.

"You'll come to visit me again right father?" Nami's voice came out muffled by her fathers traveling tunic as they hugged one last time.

"If I can, I'll try my hardest. I'll tell mommy you love her and miss her."

"I love you too father!" Nami reminded him.

Zidane smiled. "Maybe Dagger might come to see you next, you never know. Kie I'll see you soon."

"I wish I could go with him when he picks up letters," Nami said sulkily.

"I know you do. I wish you could to. All the same, I'll see you soon too. I love you." With that Zidane was out the door, into the pouring rain. Nami stood at the doorway and watched him go with Kie behind her.

"I hate goodbyes," Nami sighed.

"He'll be back before you know it."

"Yea," Nami said slowly. Turning to him she asked, "Where have you been these past days?"

"I've been working, around the house," Kie said uneasily. He didn't want to tell her that he had really been avoiding them.

"I hadn't seen you at all. It was weird being separated wasn't it?"

"Yea, it was."

"Next time they visit, I'm not letting you out of my sight. You missed the funniest thing. Father and Freya were pretend wrestling and-"

Kie nodded as Nami told the story but his mind was elsewhere. Kie wasn't going to let Nami out of his sight either. Something is going to happen Kie, I can feel it. I'm worried. Zidane's words rang in his ears, making him tense up. What was going to happen?

"Kie? What's wrong?" Nami suddenly said, catching his attention again.

"What?" he asked, startled.

"You're tense. What's going on?"

Kie looked down at her innocent and earnest face and sighed inwardly. What evil could possible so heartless as to put such a wonderful person in harms way. "Oh, nothing. There's nothing wrong. I just didn't sleep well last night that's all. Chilly," he said simply.

"Oh, alright," Nami said, not at all convinced. "Do you want me to let you take a nap?"

"No I'm perfectly fine, really. Go on with your story."

The next day Nami was reading to Kie by the fireplace out of a storybook she had brought from Alexadnria. She often read out of this book as she said it reminded her of home. Suddenly Freya appeared and addressed them.

"Nami, Kie. I have something to tell you."

Nami closed the book and looked up at her host expectantly. "What is it Freya?"

"We're going on a holiday. Just you two, Fratley, me and few other people. It's very low key. We're going to Cleyra, only for a few days."

"Cleyra! Really?" Nami exclaimed.

"Yes, and we're leaving today so you'd better go pack Nami. You too Kie."

"Oh yes! Of coarse." With that Nami bolted up to her room, but Kie remained with Freya.

"Why are we going to Cleyra?"

"Zidane said it would be nice for Nami to get a vacation from all this rain."

"Is that the only reason?" he probed.

"You'd better hurry up Kie. We'll be leaving soon," Freya said dodging his question. He sighed and went on his way. How was he supposed to help when no one would tell him what was going on?

A few hours later they were on their way. For the first time in a long time Kie looked up and saw the sun gleaming high overhead. The ground was covered with sweeping plains that stretched out before them for miles. They traveled by horse since it was such a small trip, and there was only need for one carriage.

The trip was a short one and they reached Cleyra soon. Kie gasped at the huge sand tornado that rose around the city, blocking their entry. At the base of the whirlwind of sand stood a man. He was obviously Cleyran, judging by his cloths and his face.

Freya approached him as he said, "Freya. We've been expecting you."

"Thank you Daga. Have you been waiting long?"

"No not at all," Daga said with a smile. Without warning (and to the shock of Kie) the whirlwind suddenly settled right before his eyes. Daga turned and began striding up a narrow pathway as if he did this everyday.

"Kie, did you see that!" Nami whispered excitedly. "It just disappeared."

Kie nodded speechlessly as he followed the others up the trial. They were heading up to the biggest tree Kie had ever seen. It's trunk twisted and turned and bulged out to accommodate what looked like houses, shops, terraces, and other building of the like. Its branches rose high overhead, swaying in the wind and glittering in the sun.

"I've never seen anything like it," Nami said from behind him.

"It's magnificent," Kie agreed. Freya looked at them both and smiled slightly.

Suddenly their guide stopped and turned to them. "You're horses and things will be taken care of. Freya, you and your party are welcome to make your way through Cleyra. There is a reservation for three rooms at the inn."

"Thank you Daga. You didn't have to do all this."

"For what you did for us, it's nothing," he said with a smile. "I'll leave you now."

Nami came up behind Kie and gripped his arm saying, "It's it wonderful. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life. It's so calm."

Kie nodded, but frowned. He had a bad feeling about this place. A very bad feeling.