And we continue. This chapter takes us to what happened just after the Parade, and solves the "mystery of disappearing icicle-induced punctures".

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Part 7 – The Cold Night Air

It was long after midnight when Seifer finally got up from the bedside where he'd spend the last five hours. Five hours in which Squall Leonheart had fought for his life after getting run through the chest by a giant icicle. Giant icicles…. The idea would have been ludicrous if he hadn't seen it happen before his very eyes.

"That's the second time in two weeks that I end up saving your ass after you fucked up in a fight, Leonheart," he said out loud. But like the first time, Squall remained silent and motionless. Which was just as well. After balancing on the verge of permanent death for so long, the boy was as exhausted as Seifer's stock of healing potions.

"Damn her. She nearly blew it all," he spat at the recollection of his Sorceress' final blow to her SeeD attackers. "And you! I thought I'd taught you better than to just stand there when there's a bunch of big sharp objects flying your way!"

But a look at Squall's pale face made him realise how close his carefully cultivated plan had come to shattering. And how close he'd come to losing the one person he cared about.

"Ah, forget it," he sighed, making a dismissive gesture.

He grabbed the last clean towel from the bedside table and started to wipe the blood off his hands while taking a few steps to stretch his stiff legs. Unsurprisingly, playing nurse wasn't much of a cool down after battle.

Striding round the room like this, trying to take his mind off the evening's disastrous events, he noticed that it was actually quite large, and elaborately decorated, just like the rest of the Palace. Well worth a closer look, even if he'd had other things in his mind when he'd dubbed this room an impromptu hospital ward.

One wall was all stained glass windows with long curtains, while the others were covered by floor-to-ceiling dark wooden panelling sporting various mirrors. Opposite the door was the bed where Squall lay: a magnificent four-poster. The delicate embroidery on the sheets was pretty smudged up with blood, but, looking in the mirror closest to the bed and seeing a lean figure standing in the door opening behind him, he decided that that was really someone else's problem. He had bigger things to worry about.

"He lives?"

It wasn't a question. Not really. But Seifer tried to ignore the obvious displeasure and replied casually.

"Yeah, I don't think he'll chicken out anymore. But he'll be out like a light for a while."

In the mirror, he could see her approaching him. And then he felt the sharp sting of a knife pressing a little too hard against his skin of his back. Involuntarily, he straightened up.

"You should do well to show a little more respect, my Knight," she said gravely. "You have pushed your luck as it is."

The sting disappeared, and he saw her reflection withdrawing her hand from his back and sucking briefly on one of her long nails. So much for the knife-theory...

"Yes, my Lady. I understand."

She walked past him and stopped to look at the prone form on the bed. "Good. Now could you explain to me why you just spend half the night saving the life of a worthless SeeD, while you should have been attending to your Sorceress? I'm sure you noticed he and his men made an attempt on my life."

He had known this question would come, but he hadn't had time yet to prepare an answer. Telling the truth about Squall's significance was out of the question until he knew for sure if this woman was his Matron, or if she was someone else entirely. But he wasn't sure yet, and she wanted an answer now.

"Well?" she demanded impatiently.

Remembering the icicles, he just started off, hoping it would at least sound sensible.

"He's valuable, my Lady. He is… not just any SeeD, but the leader of this mission. He'll know who is behind the attempt on our life and what their back-up plan is."

She smirked viciously. "My dear Knight, the attack was ordered by elements in this country's government that do not agree with my presence. I do not need him to tell me that. And as a mere soldier, he will not have any information on whatever else these elements, or Garden itself, are planning."

"But you do not know that for sure," he exclaimed, almost desperately.

The smirk disappeared instantly. "Are you doubting me, my Knight?"

Her look spelled 'icicles'. A swarm of 'em.

Seifer shook his head, winning a few heartbeats to come up with something sensible.

"No, my Lady. I'm only saying that he may know more than you expect him to. It would be a… waste to throw this opportunity away if that should be the case."

"I see. And you deemed that reason enough to save his worthless life despite that fact that I had as good as finished the task I had set you to do in the first place?"

He bowed his head and looked away, praying it would look as if he was ashamed, all the while feverishly thinking of a way of out the grave he'd dug himself.

"I…I failed you, my Lady," he started hesitantly. "But I couldn't… I couldn't…" Think, Almasy, Think!

She snorted, placing her hands in her sides.

"You… couldn't?" Her growing disdain for him was evident in every syllable. He had to win her trust, and he had to do it now.

"I couldn't just stand by while you, in your desire to destroy the SeeD, also destroyed the only chance I have of finding out about their plans and thus protecting you all the better!" he exclaimed. "That was why I didn't finish the SeeD off in the first place. They might prove useful!"

Silence rang loud after his outburst. Sorceress Edea pursed her lips and nodded slowly.

"Your point is valid, although I believe your faith in the SeeD's knowledge will prove unjustified." She stepped away from the four-poster, closing the distance between them with a few strides. "But I will give you the benefit of the doubt," she purred in his face, stroking his jawline with her longer fingers. "As to give you a chance to prove that my faith in you is not unjustified."

He tried, and failed, to ignore the ominous nail that trailed down his cheek, almost drawing blood again.

"You are too generous, my Lady. But I will prove to you that my only interest is for your safety and well-being."

"Then do not fail me again, my Knight. However, I know that you are just a boy, and that there are many things you still need to learn. So I will forgive you that this time you were not strong enough to kill the people you grew up with."

He couldn't prevent his shock reaching his face and eyes. His Sorceress only smiled warmly at the incredulous and horrified look on his face.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. Of course I know about that. This is the one who brought you up, after all."

Seifer opened his mouth to retort, but she placed a finger on his lips and hushed him.

"My Knight, love makes weak. It may not be what you were taught, but it is a fact that you will soon discover for yourself. For love, you hold back and do not strike a killing blow to those who were once close to you. But remember that they are SeeD, and may therefore not be allowed to live lest they try to kill me first. So every time you do not finish them off, you only postpone the inevitable."

He drew breath to speak, but her finger pressed firmly against his lips.

"And they won't even be grateful for your mercy, my Knight. For to all ends and purposes, you are their enemy now, are you not? You serve the Sorceress they seek to destroy, and as such they will expect nor appreciate kindness from you."

She gave him another smile before, suddenly, all warmth drained from her face, and hate was evident in her eyes as she continued.

"Yet if you still wish to show them mercy, then don't prolong their suffering. Or your own, for I will not tolerate such disobedience again!"

To stress her warning, she scratched her nail over his lips and then withdrew a pace.

He licked his lips, tasting the blood.

Her point was poignantly clear to him. He was in this for the long haul, and she was in no hurry to show him any more mercy than she had President Deling, who had been unceremoniously killed at the start of the parade. He was quickly running out of other options than just playing the part he had let her pin him in.

"I assure you, my Lady, that I hold no love for him," he gestured to Squall's unmoving form," or any other of these people. My loyalty lies with you and you alone."

A cruel smile spread on her lips, and for a moment he feared she had detected the faint tremor in his voice. But instead of exercising her threats for intolerance, she walked to the doorway.

"Good. You may prove worthy after all. Now, transport this SeeD and his comrades to the D-District Prison in the desert. If what you say is true, then I have no doubt that they will gladly tell us all they know. I expect that as a soldier, you, too, know that everyone talks under the strain of torture." She paused just outside the door, and narrowed her eyes at him. "Everyone."

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