Chapter 13

Enri sat in Sabin's lap and let his father steer his favorite chocabo, whom he had named Crackers. "It'll be nice to see how Edgar is doing... haven't seen him in such a long time." He turned to Selena. "And who knows? With all of his tinkering with his inventions, he may have come up with a cure for your mute state, Selena."

Selena smiled at the thought, the hope that she would one day be able to actually talk to her children. "I bet Mommy has the prettiest voice in the world," Enri said, petting Crackers. "Yeah, I'll bet on that too," Sabin replied. He looked at Luca. "You've been awfully quiet. Something wrong?"

Luca shook her head. "No, I was just wondering what Leah looks like now. She said she has a baby sister now, and that her name is Fasha. That's funny... Fasha Figaro." Sabin blanched. "Fasha? I bet Edgar named her; he always liked strange names. Leah's mother did a good job with hers, it's a good name, and I suppose Edgar didn't completely botch up Gerad either... it's okay."

Enri growled at Luca. "Leah writes to me, not you! You just peek at the letters when they come in the mail!" Luca stuck her tongue out at him. "Yeah? So what?" Enri mumbled something under his breath and petted Crackers some more. "Stupid and ugly big sister..."

"Ugly? You little brat! Wait until we get off at Figaro; then I'll get you!"

"Waaah! You hear this abuse, Daddy?"

"You started it!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Ugly!"

"Midget."

"Waaah! I oughta' Blitz ya'! I'll kick your butt."

Sabin glared at the pair of them. "Stop it," he snapped. "The one day I'm going to visit my brother on good terms, you two start fighting! I want you two to behave, or else!" Luca snorted. "Or you'll do what?" Selena signed to him and smiled. "Well, your mother has just given me permission to hang you by your ankles from the chimney of our house. Y'know, there's supposed to be a blizzard next week..."

Luca gulped and shut up, and Enri started to wail. "Waaaaah! Don't wanna hang by my feet on the chimuney-thingey! Don't wanna!" Sabin covered his eyes with a hand. "I think I just made things worse..."

"Hey! Is that Figaro?" Enri immediately stopped his crying and pointed to the castle. "Wha-a-a-at? You were faking?"Sabin yelled at him. "Uh... yeah... heh heh..."

"I'll deal with you later..."

Luca turned on her chocabo."Dad! There's someone out there, over there!" She pointed to Lok, waving madly from Johann's shoulder. "It's Lok! And some old guy... and somebody else..." Sabin turned Crackers and placed Enri on his mother's chocabo. "You stay here, I'll check it out. Refugees on Figaroan land is my business after all. I suppose lost desert travelers is on my bill too."

"Hey! Uncle Sabin! What's up?" Lok squirmed around on Johann shoulder.

"Nothing. We were heading for Figaro, that's all. Who are these two?"

Lok grinned. "This is Johann-Christian Fleetblade, the greatest warrior in the world, but he'll want you to call him Johann. And that is-"

"My name is Musicaa. I'll do my own introductions, thank you," he said quietly. He turned to Sabin, obviously interested in him. "You... you are Sabin Figaro, aren't you?" Sabin nodded. Musicaa's eyes lit up. "Then you are the one I needed to see! You... I must see King Edgar, and you... We must talk... alone. You and I can talk here!" he sounded rushed and excited, and Johann gave Lok a confused look. "Musicaa's never shown this much interest in anything since we started traveling together. I suppose Sabin is what he intended to find," he whispered to Lok.

"Musicaa... is it? I don't know if Edgar will have the time to see you today..."

Musicaa shook his head, the cloth covering his mouth slipping a bit. "No, no! That's alright! It is you I need to see, more than the King! But we must talk in private! And is... Enri with you?"

Sabin took a surprised step backwards. "Enri... nobody knows about Enri yet!"

Musicaa looked flushed and embarrassed. "Oh, oh yes, of course, but I know about him... because he's my..." he gave Sabin a pleading look. "Please! We must speak in private! I cannot reveal my secret to many, but only to you, and the King! Please!"

Sabin looked at Johann and Lok. "You two, my wife is waiting with our chocabos a little farther ahead. Take Crackers here, and go to them. I can walk back to the castle from here." Johann nodded to him and dumped Lok on Crackers. He mounted Crackers and they rode towards Selena, Luca, and Enri.

"Now, Musicaa, we have time to talk."
Musicaa nodded vigorously. "Yes! There is much I must tell you! Many secrets, and a long story indeed... my story... and the story of my family, and you and the King are part of it!"