Author's Note: I combined the windmill battle with Zeakden. I wanted to get through the early stages of the story quickly, so I can focus on the more convoluted parts. Delita gets some badass speeches in this chapter. This is going to be a real short chapter.

Chapter Four: And I Ran Away…

When the three cadets returned to Igros Castle, they expected praise for the completion of their mission. But what they found instead was turmoil.

Zalbag met them at the gates, informing them of a dastardly scheme hatched by Wiegraff. The last of the Death Corps' sub-lieutenants, Golagros, raided Igros Castle with a small company of soldiers. In an attempt on Dycedarg's life, they struck down more than a dozen Hokuten Knights. Dycedarg and Zalbag fought them off, but not without a price. For Dycedarg had been horribly wounded and lay crippled for the next fortnight and, even worse, Teta had been abducted as a hostage to aid in Golagros' escape.

"They mistakenly believed she was a Beoulve," Zalbag told the cadets in tight, saddened tones. Like Ramza, he regarded the Hyrals as his own siblings. The loss of sweet, innocent Teta was a terrible blow to him. "But you have my word that we will save her."

Delita heard these words, but they did not touch him. He stormed out of the castle, buckling on his bloodstained sword and grabbing a fresh chocobo from the stables. Ramza caught up to him and forcefully pulled him out of the saddle. "Wait, Delita! Let's not rush into this blindly!" the blonde noble pleaded. But he was repulsed, for Delita shoved him to the side.

But Ramza would not be put back. "Stop, Delita—you'll be killed if you go now. Zalbag said he'll save her!"

"She's my sister, Ramza!" Delita roared. "I can't sit back and wait for someone else to rescue her! She's all I have, everything I love and cherish! I won't sit back—not while my blood is in the hands of the Death Corps!"

"I know how you feel, Delita," Ramza said mournfully. "I'd fall apart if something happened to Alma. But you've always been the smarter of the two of us. Use your head!" He smiled suddenly and grabbed the reins of a nearby chocobo. "If you're going to go wage war on Wiegraff, then you need to bring along some help."

Delita's eyes misted with unshed tears. "Ramza…." He coughed self-consciously. "I guess I was foolish; I can't go anywhere without you, can I?"

The two friends urged their mounts toward the gate, only to find Algus waiting for them. The Limberrian stood with arms crossed, as imperious as any nobleman.

Delita pointedly ignored him as he made his way through the gates. But Algus was not so easily put off. "He won't save Teta, you know," he said simply.

"What do you mean?" Delita demanded.

"Dycedarg," Algus answered. "He's a nobleman, a politician. He knows the score. It would be stupid to send a division out to save one common girl. The mission is paramount above that; they'll wipe out the Death Corps, and probably your sister as well. Not that it matters. She's just a commoner."

That was the last straw. Delita hopped off his mount, grabbed Algus by the collar, and railed on him. Each blow sent a shock of pain through his knuckles, but he was oblivious to it. All he cared about was crushing that snide grin off Algus' lips. With a final, powerful blow, Delita sent the Limberrian sprawling. The aristocratic face was torn apart and left a scarred and bleeding mass.

But Algus was still smiling. "You see? You're just an animal like that Miluda. You have no class, you have no honor. You called me punk—it is you who are the punk, Delita!"

"Shut up!" Delita shouted.

"Algus, that's enough!" Ramza added, his anger joining with his friend's. "You're not welcome here anymore. Get out!"

Algus got to his feet slowly, emphasizing that he was leaving of his own accord. "Fine. I can tell when I'm not welcome. By the way, check out Fort Zeakden, the last of the Death Corps strongholds. I overheard your brothers talking about an assault there. They also mentioned that was where Golagros was heading. You'll probably find the common girl there as well."

The two friends mounted their chocobos and sped off down the road.

Fort Zeakden, like the Fortress of Thieves, used to be a warrior outpost. Like its sister fortress, Zeakden fell into disrepair during the Hundred Years' War and passed into different hands over the years. Now all that was left of the mighty stronghold was the keep proper, for its walls had long since crumbled into useless rocks.

It was here, in this dismal domain, that Golagros nervously paced the highest towers of the keep. He eyed the girl he captured and the stacks of gunpowder against the wall. It had been a desperate plan, retreating to Zeakden in order to lure the Hokuten into a death trap. Hopefully, the remaining Death Corps leaders could escape their own trap before it consumed them all.

Then the door opened and Wiegraff entered. The two men shared a quick embrace, as befits fellow warriors. "I'm glad you returned safely," Golagros said. "After what I heard about Miluda…" he quickly ended that line of discussion, seeing the pain on his leader's face.

"Her sacrifice will not be in vain," Wiegraff said. He looked at the girl. "Wait…this is no Beoulve. The Beoulve child is a blonde. Who are you, girl?"

"T-Teta," she answered quietly. "I'm…I'm just a servant."

"A commoner?" Wiegraff said in wonder. He slapped his forehead. "Damn!" Golagros seemed to make for an apology, but Wiegraff stopped him. "No matter. It is forgivable; the circumstances were beyond your control, Golagros. Regardless, the Hokuten are already on the move. They will be here soon. Our plan is already underway. Soon, victory will be ours as we send the foul Hokuten to a fiery grave."

Wiegraff looked out the window, eagerly awaiting the march of the Hokuten Knights. Instead, he saw two youths marching toward him. He recognized them as the cadets who attacked the cellar. "What? What are they doing here? Where are the Hokuten?"

"An advance scouting party?" Golagros suggested.

"Perhaps, but would the Hokuten send mere children? No matter. Alert the guards, Golagros."

When Ramza and Delita reached Fort Zeakden, they found it in arms. But that was fine with them; it was not stealth they were after. It was not battle, either. All they wanted was Teta.

So the two cadets dismounted and boldly marched up the drawbridge, their hands far away from their swords despite the deadly glares they received from the enemy.

Wiegraff, curious about this unusual occurrence, appeared at the battlements with Golagros. He called down, "What is this, Hokuten pup?"

Delita returned, "My name is Delita Hyral. I come before you not as a soldier, but as a brother. You have a girl named Teta, a common-born child like yourself, who is my sister! Return her to me, I beg of you!"

Wiegraff, intrigued by this turn of events, signaled to Golagros, who brought the girl forward. Upon seeing her brother, Teta cried, "Brother!"

"Teta!" Delita was overjoyed that she was unharmed. He turned his attention to Wiegraff. "Please, release her to me—she is not a part of this!"

"I understand well the pain you must be going through, Hyral," said Wiegraff solemnly. "I myself have lost a sister."

Delita hung his head. "I know. I was there when she died." Seeing the surprise on the Death Corps leader's face, he said, "I fought her twice, and she told me all of your motives and your plans. I did not agree with her methods, but your dream, Wiegraff—I can believe in that dream as well! Wiegraff, you sister did not die in vain. But she was horribly and dishonorably murdered by a man I once called an ally, a man of Limberry. Know you this, Wiegraff: had it been in my power to do so, Miluda would be at your side right now, and she would implore you to return my sister to me."

Moved by his words, Wiegraff found himself believing in this charismatic young warrior. "I sense the truth in your words, Hyral. Wait a moment, and your sister will be—" Suddenly, two crossbow bolts fired out of the distance, stabbing Wiegraff in the shoulder and Golagros in the chest.

A third bolt flew, striking Teta in the throat. Time stood still.

"TETA!" Delita cried in shock. He and Ramza turned at the archer. To their shock, they saw Algus, the spent bow in his hands. Beside him was a troop of Hokuten Knights.

"Algus!" Ramza cried. "What the hell are you doing? Why did you shoot Teta?"

Algus shrugged. "She was in the way. Your brother, Dycedarg, gave me the chance to prove my worthiness as a knight. He told me, 'Defeat the Death Corps at any cost.' Any cost, Ramza, means that I am fully within my rights to do as I please. Now, stand aside like a good boy and let me win victory over these peasants."

But Algus had barely finished his declaration when Delita slashed at him. The crossbow shattered. "Monster!" Delita cried with tears streaming down his cheeks. "Bastard! Murderer! I'll kill you, Algus! You're head is mine!" With a thunderous blow, Delita Hyral plunged his blade into Algus' black heart.

"Delita," Ramza warned, "the Hokuten! Watch out, they're attacking!" But Delita held his ground, even against so many skillful opponents. But preoccupied as he was, blinded by rage and anguish as he was, it fell on Ramza to see divine the plot that Wiegraff and Golagros were hatching. He saw the two men enter the keep, saw Golagros with a wooden keg, saw the lieutenant die from blood loss, his blood mingling with a fine black powder that spilled out of the barrel….

"Gunpowder," Ramza whispered in realization.

And then, all was white and fire.