Author's Note: Just a little thing about this chapter. If you've read the FFXI Chronicles, you know I don't like to swear, so use fake swear words throughout the story. This time I tried something different (for the character of Norg at least). He does swear, but just not in English. Taking an idea from TV show Firefly, whenever he swears it's in Chinese. The excuse is that Chinese is the 'ancient tongue' here, but I didn't want to make up a language and had a good list of Chinese curses from Firefly (as well as some non-curse phrases). I don't actually speak the language, but hopefully it's accurate enough. He does actually say stuff in those quotes, sometimes it's quite bad, and sometimes it's not. I'm basically using it as an excuse not to swear, because I think it sounds out of place in the light hearted fantasy stories I write. That and I love Firefly and think it works really well in that.

Oh, and the fact that Norg is the name of a place in FFXI I am perfectly aware of, believe me, it's not coincidence a character is named it too.

CHAPTER 4

ARRIVAL

"You hear that?" Olose suddenly snapped to Norg. The tall elvaan stopped dead in his tracks and listened, his sensitive elvaan ears picking up the sounds of approaching creatures.

"Beastmen." He stated. "Ta ma duh!" He added, yelling in a foreign language Olose didn't recognise. "What the hell are our patrols playing at?" He snapped. "We're the strongest kingdom ever created, yet we still allow those hwoon dahn beastmen near our city! I'm going to have serious words with our commanders when I get back."

"That is the ancient tongue." Arcadia observed. "You know how to speak it?"

"Yeah, learnt it back when I was young." Norg said casually, before pausing. "Oh gos se, you understood, didn't you?" Arcadia nodded. "I apologise. I didn't mean to be so offensive. That's why I swear in a language nobody knows."

"Why? What did he say?" Olose asked, feeling left out.

"He said you look like a girl." Arcadia teased. Norg laughed.

"I'm sure he did." Olose grumbled. "Now what about the beastmen?"

"Sounds like they're coming to get us." Norg observed.

"Let's see how well the elvaans train their warriors, then." Olose smiled.

"I count four, incoming." Norg pointed to four charging orcs, running between the trees towards the three travellers on the old path.

"Arcadia, stay here." Olose ordered. Arcadia nodded sheepishly, having frozen with fear at the charging creatures. Olose held out his hands and growled in an animalistic way. "This is where the fun begins!"

"Hand to hand?" Norg smirked. "No match for elvaan martial arts." Norg leapt into a fighting stance, holding one fist up to guard his head and one to guard his lower body, dancing on his feet to keep nimble. The orcs closed in and the two warriors attacked.

The first orc lunged with its spear at Olose. Olose swung to the side, clawing the spear away in a large swing. The orc brought it back around and Olose ducked under it, coming up and grabbing the arm of the orc. He spun around behind the beast, twisting the arm and breaking it. The orc howled in pain as he spun it around and strangled the creature with its own arm.

Norg faced another that swung in with a short sword. He sprang backwards down onto the floor, and let out a powerful kick upwards, hitting the hand of the orc and sending the blade flying. In an instant he was back on his feet and sent two precise strikes with his hand, snapping into the neck and the nose of the orc, shattering it. The orc staggered back and he delivered a powerful kick to its chest, knocking it to the floor. He leapt down on top of it and twisted its head, snapping its neck.

Olose spotted an orc running towards the girl left on the path.

"ARCADIA!" He screamed, bolting after it on all fours like a wolf. He leapt through the air, tacking the orc and the two tumbled to the ground. The mighty beast lifted him up and threw him back before charging him. Olose charged the orc and the two clashed, hitting each other and pushing against each other. The orc was much larger, but Olose's lycanthrope strength began to shine through as he pushed the beast back, letting out a roar as he did. The orc stumbled back and Olose snapped his hands together, like claws, his sharpened fingernails slamming into the orc's face and ripping through it. He pulled back, tearing its face to pieces. The orc screamed, dropping down to its knees. He let out a powerful kick, hitting the orc's head and crumpling it. It did not get back up.

The last orc and run in attacking Norg. It stabbed with its spear and Norg leapt backwards, managing a backflip to land safely away. The orc charged him but he had already picked up the spear of the orc he had defeated previously. He dove into a front roll, levelling the spear along the ground and tripping up the orc. It crashed to the floor as he turned around and impaled it on the spear. It screamed in agony before stopping, dead.

Olose and Norg span to face each other.

"Some pretty impressive moves there." Olose grinned.

"I'm a monk." Norg looked more serious. "I'm an expert hand to hand fighter. But just what the hell are you?"

"I grew up in the wild, learnt to fight all on my own." Olose explained. Arcadia watched, repulsed by the blood she was seeing and feeling quite ill.

"Don't lie to me, Olose." Norg warned. "You met the strength of an orc. You don't look like a galka, so care to explain that one?"

"Maybe he was just a pushover orc?" Olose suggested.

"Chur ni-duh." Norg grumbled to himself.

"I wish you'd stop doing that." Olose muttered.

"Doing what?" Norg asked casually as they walked over to join Arcadia.
"Saying things in a language I don't understand." Olose explained.

"Well, I used to get in trouble for being too vulgar, so it's better when people can't understand what I'm saying." Norg laughed. "Beside, you never know when being able to speak in the ancient tongue may come in useful."

"It's ancient." Olose pointed out. "That means nobody speaks it anymore. How could it possibly be useful?"

"Maybe we should make sure Lady Arcadia is okay instead of arguing." Norg suggested. Olose sighed.

"I guess you're right." He agreed. "You okay?" He asked to Arcadia, who was stood looking pale and frightened.

"I-I-I-" She tried to say. "No." She finally said instead. Olose let her fall into his arms, and turned her away from the orcish bodies. "I am not cut out for this." She said softly.

"It's okay. We're nearly to San d'Oria now." Olose told her.

"I should never have attempted this alone." She stated, trying to get a hold of herself.

"You aren't alone anymore." Olose said gently. "Remember that." She smiled slightly.

"Sorry." She stated. "Blood makes me feel rather ill." She straightened herself out yet again, as if trying to fit back into the way she felt she should be behaving.

"Understandable." Norg nodded. "You aren't used to it. It's a perfectly normal reaction." She smiled warmly at Norg.

"Thanks." She managed to say.

"Perhaps we should just get to San d'Oria." Olose stated. "It's getting dark, and judging by the shifts in temperature we have another storm coming."

"Another storm?" Arcadia repeated nervously.

"San d'Oria is close." Norg stated. "Which is why I'd like to know how beastmen got so near to the city." The elvaan added in a grumble.

The city soon loomed into view, a tremendous work of stone on the horizon. The proud walls stood high, fresh and powerful looking. The city had only rapidly expanded recently, and the mighty outer walls were a new construction to repel any invaders as San d'Oria spread outwards in its influence. Windurst had recently become withdrawn from the world, feeling guilt for introducing the techniques of magic to the world and as a result San d'Oria had been able to expand outwards into the most powerful nation in the land. The city had expanded greatly as a result, and now stood proudly before the three weary travellers. Two elvaan guards snapped to attention.

"Lieutenant." Nodded one guard. "Got yourself a pet?" Olose smirked at them.

"Watch it. I bite." He warned.

"These two are alright." Norg stated. "This here is Lady Arcadia De Lily. High up hume. Respectable. Likeable. Has friends here." Norg knew he would have to justify allowing humes into the elvaan city, so set about doing so. He turned to Olose. "Urm, this guy is-" He paused. "You know what, just let 'em in."

"It's at times like this I wish I knew how to speak ancient." Olose grumbled.

The three wondered into the streets of San d'Oria and stood for a moment, taking in the calm and peaceful streets. Norg grumbled something in ancient to himself.

"The storm must of knocked down our banner." He sighed to Arcadia, pointing to a place where two strings hung. "That should be the symbol of our nation."

"It is very strange here." Arcadia commented, looking up and down the streets. "No stalls. No people. No auctions."

"Ha. None of that happens here in San d'Oria. We're elvaan. We're above the petty acts of humes." He laughed. "We stick to more respectable trading than shouting and yelling in the streets." Arcadia tried to ignore the insult. It was a matter of fact to Norg.

"I am supposed to be meeting Lord Tarrak." She stated. "My family are good friends of his."

"Lord Tarrak?" Norg asked. "I can show you to his manor." He paused. "Olose. Take this gold and swing by a clothiers. You can't wonder around the city dressed like that." He stopped to examine him. "I don't know what's worse, the animal skin or the brown jacket." Olose smirked.

"I like the jacket." He said in response.

"It does not look good." Arcadia stated, smiling slightly.

"See? She agrees with me." Norg taunted.

"Yeah, I guess it doesn't suit me." Olose admitted. There was a pause. "I guess this is goodbye then." Arcadia smiled much more warmly.

"Thank you. For everything, Olose." She said kindly. "I would never have made it without you."

"Nor I without you." Olose smiled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Norg asked with a laugh.

"I have no idea." Olose admitted. "Just thought it sounded poetic." Arcadia let out a small laugh. "Makes more sense than your ancient crap anyway."

"Ancient gos se." Norg corrected. "Gos se means crap."

"I'll remember that." Olose smiled. "Well, goodbye. Thanks." He turned and walked away, forcing himself to snap without looking back. Arcadia watched him go sadly. She had hoped he would have stayed, or at least arranged to meet again.

"Goodbye Olose." She whispered. She let out a heavy sigh. "I hope Lord Tarrak has a change of clothes for me in his manor." She groaned to try and change the subject. "I'm muddy and worn down, and I'm supposed to be the daughter of a lord."

"Appearances don't always make the person." Norg smiled. Arcadia watched Olose wondering down the street.
"They really don't, do they?" She whispered.

Arcadia was sat alone some time later in the large room Lord Tarrak had provided for her. She was sufficiently cleaned up, now dressed in a tight red dress and wearing new red shoes, having redone her hair and make-up and looking fresh and new, having even enjoyed a bath on behalf of the elvaan. Despite the hospitality she was offered, she somehow felt empty. She missed Olose. He was so strange, but there was something so likeable about him. She held in her hand a small bottle of perfume, and she sprayed it lightly onto her neck. She was already wearing plenty, but she couldn't put it down. It reminded her of everything Olose had said, all of his comments about it. She couldn't stop thinking about him.

"I figured you'd still wear that stuff." Came a voice from the doorway. Arcadia jumped and spun around. Someone was leant against the doorframe, trying to look casual. He had fairly long black hair, but cut just above his shoulders, cleanly shaven and wearing a neat brown shirt and tan trousers. A scruffy brown jacket rested on his shoulders. Deep brown eyes looked at Arcadia.
"Olose." She whispered in surprise.

"Made you easy to find, at least." He told her. She smiled warmly. "Can track that scent from across town."

"You look different." She stated, feeling a bit uncomfortable with him talking about her smell so changing the subject.

"I got a hair cut." He smiled.

"You kept the jacket though." She observed.

"Yeah, it kinda grew on me. Couldn't find a better one, at least." He told her, walking into the room.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned. Olose paused.

"I don't know." He admitted with a shrug. "It just didn't seem right leaving you on your own." He paused awkwardly. "Besides, I figure you have to head back to Tavnazia soon. Not gonna trust these elvaan to escort you, are ya?" She laughed.

"Some of them are very nice." She told Olose.

"As nice as me?" He smirked. She stood up.

"Is there any way I can answer that question without implying something?" She laughed. There was a pause. "I really appreciate it. I think I may need the escort home. I was really useless."

"Don't worry." Olose said warmly.

"I have actually been thinking about that." Arcadia said, slipping into a more official tone. "If I am to continue travelling, I will need a body guard, or an escort. You seem to have no job. Would you like the place?" Olose smiled.

"I would require three days off each month." He pointed out, trying to mimic her upper class accent. She laughed.

"Of course." She smiled.
"Then I'd love too." Olose grinned, finally feeling a purpose in his life and an excuse to leave the woods and his past life behind.

Lycan Woods read the title of the book Norg had opened.

Lycan Woods, once home to the last surviving werewolves of the world. The elvaan armies sent out warriors to wipe them out by order of the King during San d'Oria's initial expansion. Using silver weaponry, the last of the werewolves were wiped out and their evil curse was finally destroyed. It was a major victory for the elvaans, and gained massive support for the nation from all sides.

Recent reports suggest that a werewolf, or maybe more than one, survived and still prowl the woods. A village there was totally destroyed. It is therefore the sworn duty of any warrior of San d'Oria to eliminate this surviving werewolf if he is ever located, or as many as have survived to complete the work of the warriors from so long ago.

Norg slammed the book shut and looked up in shock.

"Lao-tyen, boo." He whispered. The book was one of many that covered the history of certain areas for the armies of San d'Oria. He knew what he had to do. He reached for his equipment and left the barracks, heading for the home of Lord Tarrak.

Olose was sat in the large drawing room with both Arcadia and Tarrak. Tarrak smiled.

"So, I hear you performed some great heroics." Tarrak said to Olose. Olose laughed.

"A few." He admitted.

"Not bad for a hume." Tarrak grinned. "Of course, nothing compared to an elvaan."

"Of course." Olose smiled sarcastically. "Although, of course, I did help take down beastmen that were worryingly close to the city."

"Ever since I retired, my boy." Laughed Tarrak. "You see, my son hasn't finished his training yet, and I am no longer able to fight. Without a Loneheart in the army, the entire nation is falling to bits."

"Loneheart?" Olose questioned.

"My family line." Laughed Tarrak. "I am Lord Tarrak Loneheart." Olose nodded as he understood. "So, what do you plan to do while staying in San d'Oria?"

"Haven't really thought about it." Olose admitted.

"There is the elvaan ball tomorrow night." Arcadia put in. "I am expected to attend, but have no one to go with." Olose turned to her, looking confused.

"I think that was an invitation." Laughed Tarrak. Olose looked shocked.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Olose asked. "I'm just a scruffy unimportant hume after all."

"I am certain it is a good idea." Arcadia told him. Olose's face became a smile.

"I'm not. But count me in anyway." Olose decided. "Sounds like a good chance to annoy a few elvaans anyway." Tarrak laughed at his joke, the two had been exchanging jabs at each other for most of the evening. There suddenly came an urgent knocking. Olose rose to go to the door. "Let my servant get that." Tarrak said with a wave of his hand. The door burst open before anybody could react and Norg bolted in, spotting Arcadia but missing Olose.

"Arcadia!" He cried. "I have some urgent news!".