Enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lowtown, under Rabanastre
Year 706 of the Old Valendian Calendar
Reina's face. Glittering green eyes and chocolate-brown hair, the sweetest, most gentle, most innocent smile. Gone forever. Gone because he wasn't there…
The phantoms of the past slowly dissolved into an aching, uncomfortable reality. Balthier forced his eyes open, ignoring the throb in the back of his skull. Around him, the walls were just as broken down and rotted as that section of Lowtown he and Vaan had been crawling through. The room was small, with an empty doorway on one side that opened into a narrow passageway. He was still under Rabanastre.
Balthier shook his head, trying to get his senses back in tune. He was leaning back against… Vaan? The two of them were tied together back-to-back in the center of the room; hardly a comfortable position. Balthier found his ankles tied, too, so tightly he was losing feeling in his feet. Vaan was still out cold, slumping so his weight pulled on Balthier. Balthier tried to yank his arms from the encircling ropes, but they were secure. Letting out a sigh, he pondered his next course of action.
"Vaan!" No one seemed to be in the vicinity, so Balthier didn't bother to keep his voice down. "Vaan, wake up!"
Vaan stirred, lifting his head with a moan. He studied the room groggily for a moment, then let out a gasp when he realized he was tied up.
"Balthier?" Vaan glanced over his shoulder at his fellow prisoner. "Wait, what happened? Where are we?"
"I don't know exactly where we are," Balthier replied, "though it looks like we're still in that decrepit tunnel system. As for what happened, we were careless and we got caught."
"You mean… by those same guys who kidnapped Fran?" Vaan's eyes widened. "But… what are they gonna do with us?"
"Who knows?" Balthier said. "Seems like they've left us here for now. Maybe we're just supposed to rot down here."
Vaan let out groan, tipping his head back.
"It was a stupid dream, wasn't it?" he said.
"What?" Balthier said, eyebrows furrowed. He didn't even understand what Vaan meant, much less what it had to do with them rotting in an underground tunnel network.
"Being a sky pirate," Vaan continued. "It was stupid. Now I'm gonna die and all I've ever done is dream stupid dreams."
Balthier let out a sigh. "You're not dead yet, are you?" The moment they left his mouth, Balthier remembered that those were the same words Zecht had said to him, when he left for the front two years before. Not dead yet, still a chance to make a difference… I really threw out that opportunity when I ran away, he thought bitterly.
"But I'm right, right?" Vaan said.
"That being a sky pirate is a terrible thing to want? Well, yes, you are," Balthier replied. He fought to keep his own anger out of his voice. "Being a coward is hardly enviable."
"What?" Vaan craned his neck to glance over his shoulder at Balthier. "But… But you're plenty brave, Balthier. I mean, you saved me back in the dungeon, from those Seeqs. And you saved Ashe up on the Leviathan, too."
Balthier let out a scoff. "I suppose so. But reckless, battlefield courage is hardly in short supply. It takes a different kind of courage to take responsibility for your actions. Or… lack of them. To stick around. To do what it takes to make a difference."
"I guess that's what I wanted," Vaan said. "To run away. Not worry about the Empire, or what it's doing to Dalmasca. It'd be so easy."
"Running away's a hard mistake to fix. Trust me, I know." Balthier let out a sigh. The images of his father and Reina swirled in his mind, taunting his failure. "I still don't know if it's even possible."
Vaan was silent for a long moment. "Balthier-" he started, but was cut off as a figure entered the room through the empty doorway. It was girl in the hood, the one who'd somehow taken out Vaan single-handed. She still had her hood up, and it kept her face swathed in eerie shadows. She carried Vaan's sword in one hand and Balthier's rifle in the other. Her own sword was in its sheath at her side, just poking out from beneath the cloak. As she entered the room, she froze. Balthier assumed she was staring at the two captives, but her eyes were invisible beneath the hood.
"You're awake," she said at last, then turned and set the two weapons against the wall.
"Who are you people?" Balthier said. He had a chance for answers, albeit a small one, and he wasn't letting it go to waste. "What did you do with Fran?"
The girl stared at Balthier for a few moments before answering.
"You are prisoners. Prisoners do not ask questions." Then she knelt down next to Balthier and Vaan's weapons and just sat there. Evidently, she didn't think her captives would escape.
"Hey, just who are you?" Vaan asked after a few moments. Balthier agreed with that question; the little girl, creepy though she was, didn't seem old enough or strong enough to make it as the mysterious assassin type.
"Prisoners do not ask questions," the girl repeated. She drew her cloak over her arms like she was cold, then sat there motionless. Vaan sighed.
"I don't think she's gonna tell us anything," he whispered to Balthier.
"No," Balthier replied.
They all sat there in silence. Whenever Balthier or Vaan tried to get out of their bonds, or even moved too much, the girl would just say, "prisoners will remain still," in that chilly, robotic voice of hers. After several minutes, a man in the same blue tunic and brown cloak appeared in the doorway. He definitely wasn't the same one that apprehended Balthier; while that voice had clearly belonged to a grown man, this guy looked only a few years older than Vaan. Even so young, he looked more at home as a creepy assassin than the girl.
"Cara," he called, and the girl stood. She walked to face him at the doorway, throwing off her hood. Her back was to the bound captives, so Balthier still couldn't see anything but her black hair.
"Ceg. What is it?" the girl, Cara, said.
"The target's escaped," the guy, Ceg, replied. "Everyone else is already there, but Zanthe wants your help. The prisoners shouldn't be a problem. It's not like we care about them, anyway."
"Understood," Cara said, nodding. She walked past Ceg into the hallway, then stopped. "Ceg?" she said, without looking back. Some emotion creeped into her voice. "Is this… Is this-"
"It's our mission," Ceg said before she could finish. "You know that. We have our orders." He didn't look too sure, though. "Come on, Cara. We both know you'll be more use out there in the action than just guarding prisoners." Cara nodded, and Ceg moved to join her. They were just about to depart when Balthier called out.
"What's wrong? A little indigestion?" he said. "Assault, kidnapping, and various other misdemeanors not settling well with you?"
Ceg gave Balthier a glare. "Quiet."
"Why?" Balthier replied. "I might prick your conscience?"
"I said quiet," Ceg repeated, then led Cara off down the hallway and out of sight.
"So… what now?" Vaan asked. Balthier sighed, then scanned the room. Vaan was closest to the wall where Ceg had conveniently left the weapons unguarded.
"Can you reach your sword with your feet?" Balthier asked. "We can use that to cut these ropes."
"I'll try," Vaan replied. He stretched out, sliding his feet forward and consequently dragging Balthier backward. He would be very glad when he was no longer stuck to the kid. After a few tries, Vaan shook his head.
"No good," he said.
"Wonderful," Balthier said with a sigh "What now, I wonder?"
"Uh, hey, Balthier, about before…" Vaan started.
"Ah, sorry," Balthier said. That little heart-to-heart wasn't something he'd planned, and certainly wasn't something he wanted to continue. "That… wasn't all meant for you."
"Oh, yeah. I just-" Vaan cut off as a new figure entered the room. He certainly wasn't one of those assassins; this man held a long gleaming sword, dressed in the outfit of the Dalmascan guard, and had crisp black hair and a short beard. He fixed Balthier with the most unfriendly glare.
"Vossler?" Balthier said, eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll have you know," Vossler said, ignoring Balthier's question, "I don't take kindly to those who kidnap my princess."
"I see," Balthier replied, a twinge of worry in his gut. "So that sword has my name on it?"
"Oh, in blood," Vossler replied. "But not now. Her Highness would never forgive me."
"You found Ashe?" Vaan said, eyes wide. "What are you doing in Rabanastre, anyway?"
"Story time later," Vossler said. "For now-"
"You put that sword to a more humane use than revenge and get these ropes off us?" Balthier finished for him. He hoped that was what Vossler was going to say.
"Hmph." Vossler knelt down next to them and roughly sawed away at the ropes that bound Balthier and Vaan together.
"I hope you're grateful for this," Vossler said as he worked. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Lady Ashe's incessant pleading. Also know I'm not letting you off the hook for what you did to her."
"I haven't done anything to her," Balthier said. With his hands free at last, he bent forward to untie his ankles.
"You stole her away in the night," Vossler said, rising.
"True," Balthier said, standing also. "But only because she asked."
Vossler let out a scoff. "Really? You're so benevolent you'd do whatever the princess wants, just because she asks? With nothing in it for you? No, I know your type, pirate. Anything for a piece of gil."
Balthier rolled his eyes, hiding his offence at Vossler's doubt of his character. "I'm not going to hand her over to the imperials, if that's what you're saying. No, Princess Ashe has kindly offered to let me have whatever other treasures we find in Raithwall's Tomb while we look for the Dawn Shard. Payment and service. No underhanded deeds."
Vossler's eyes narrowed. "All I'm saying is, stay away from her, pirate."
"Um, hey, I- I don't want to interrupt, but…" Vaan broke in.
"But what?" Balthier said, turning his gaze from Vossler's death glare to Vaan.
"Shouldn't we go find Fran?" Vaan said. "You know, before those guys do?"
"Yes, we should," Balthier replied. "Only, I'm not quite sure-"
"There's an entrance to the waterway in these tunnels," Vossler cut in. "Your Viera's down there. I know a shortcut. Follow me."
Vossler turned and started down the hallway.
"You sure know your way around," Balthier said as he followed. Vaan came along behind.
"The resistance sometimes these tunnels," Vossler replied. "Not often, but they've made a good escape route once or twice. It's easy to lose pursuers down here."
"I see." Balthier nodded. "Now, why don't you tell us what you're doing here?"
Vossler let out a sigh. "Basch and I left Bhujerba as soon as we realized Ashe was missing. We got the aerodrome attendants to tell us what direction your ship went and figured you were headed for Rabanastre. We met up with others at the resistance base then started the search. Basch, me, and few others found the princess back in Lowtown, and she told us what happened. I told her to forget about you people, but, well… Ashe is Ashe. I only came because she'd have gone herself otherwise."
Balthier let out a chuckle. Yes, that did sound like Ashe. "So where is the princess now?"
"I sent her back to base with the others," Vossler replied. "I-" He broke off, freezing. "Wait, listen."
The sound of crackling flames pulsed a moment, along with gasps and cries of terror, then dropped away. A mighty crash of steel-on-steel followed, and more shouts.
"In here," Vossler said, pushing open a door to the right. Beyond it was a narrow stairway, leading straight down into the Garamsythe Waterway, Rabanastre's expansive sewer system. The stairs emptied onto a high ledge, part of the maintenance passages that crisscrossed the waterway. On that platform, a battle was taking place.
Four of the cloaked assassins battle against Fran and… Ashe? Apparently, even Vossler going in her place wasn't good enough for the princess.
"What? No…" Vossler's face twisted in shock and disappointment. "That stupid girl…"
Below, Fran jumped back from one attacker, dangerously close to the edge. She raised both hands and shoved the assailant back with a stream of fire. The man tumbled backward, then struggled to put out the flames clinging to his cloak. Ashe dueled with another cloaked man, the sounds of their swords echoing up through the passages. The man thrust his sword at her, but she dodged, using the opening to lay a vicious slash on his shoulder. The man stumbled back and crashed into the wall, agony plain on his face. Balthier briefly wondered when Ashe had picked up a sword. One cloaked figure left the fight to tend to the fallen man, while Fran released another fire spell that blew back the other two. Balthier didn't see that Ceg character or the little girl among their ranks; it seemed they beat them to the battle.
"Shall we go lend the ladies a hand?" Balthier said, turning to Vossler. Vossler let out a scoff, then charged down the stairway. Balthier smirked and followed.
Balthier, Vaan, and Vossler charged into the fray, and with Fran and Ashe, they now outnumbered the attackers. Vossler brought his sword down mercilessly on one man still downed by Fran's blast of fire, who narrowly dodged the deadly strike. The second of the two scrambled to his feet, but Balthier leveled a shot that grazed his arm, and he flattened back to the ground. Vaan was locked in combat with the guy who'd been tending the wounded man, and Ashe quickly joined him.
"We're outnumbered!" the man Vossler fought with shouted, jumping back from the engagement. "All units, withdraw!"
The man dueling Ashe and Vaan gave Vaan a hard kick in stomach, then used the created opening to sprint for the stairway. The other two made a dash for the injured man, one attacking Vaan and Ashe while the other hauled the wounded man to his feet. Then they made for the stairs, disappearing up them. No one made any attempt to chase.
"Princess Ashe!" It was Vossler who spoke. He rounded on Ashe with a disproving glare. "What on Ivalice are you doing here?!"
"I… I wanted to help," Ashe replied, meeting Vossler gaze with glittering eyes. "I don't need you always protecting me. Besides, Fran and I were winning even before you arrived!"
Vossler sighed, shaking his head. "Highness, you can't keep being so hare-brained!" Vossler went on to reprove Ashe more, but Balthier stopped listening. There was an important conversation to be had.
"Fran," Balthier said, walking up to his partner. "Are you alright?"
Fran nodded. "Yes."
"Good," Balthier said. "Now I need to know what's going on. Feel like sharing?"
Fran was silent for a long moment, refusing to meet Balthier's gaze. "Soon," she said at last.
Balthier let out a sigh. "Sorry, Fran; not this time. I need you tell me now. Who were those people? What did they want with you? And while we're at it, why don't you tell me what you know about nethicite, too?" Maybe that last one was a bit presumptuous, but Balthier was fed up with Fran's mysteriousness. He needed answers.
Fran let out a heavy sigh. Her brown eyes, usually so devoid of emotion, glazed with heaviness and melancholy.
"They're called the Red Fangs," Fran said. "Those people. They're a scientific organization. They mainly work with other laboratories, retrieving dangerous or difficult to obtain specimens. However, they do some work of their own. They want me…" The glint of painful memories flashed across Fran's eyes. She closed them, sighed, and continued. "In my wanderings, after I left my home, I stumbled over one of their groups. They brought me back to their base, and… I was a test subject there for about five years."
Balthier was silent. Having lived in a laboratory for a good many years, he knew test rats didn't exactly have a cushy, carefree life, no matter how rare and precious they were. Knowing exactly what sorts of experiments a myst-conducting Viera would be put through didn't create a very pleasant picture, either. Balthier knew Fran wouldn't appreciate his pity, but if she wanted it, it was readily available.
"A few months before I met you," Fran continued, "the Red Fangs made a deal with Draklor Laboratories, about… about the nethicite. They brought it to the base for testing, and… and something else. There was something within the stone, some-"
"Some sort of… myst creature?" Balthier finished. The image of that ghost from Nabudis swirled in his mind, as clear as day. And if Fran knew about it, that meant there was no way he'd imagined it.
At Balthier's words, Fran snapped to attention, fixing him with her penetrating stare. Some emotion hid behind her eyes, but it hid well enough Balthier couldn't decern it.
"So?" Balthier said after a few painful moments under Fran's searchlight. "What happened?"
"They used me to free… it. Whatever it was," Fran said, breaking away her gaze. "It worked. After that, they made a deal to send me to Draklor, and I was stored at Nalbina until payment could be arranged. And then…"
"And then I got in the way," Balthier finished for her. "And they want you back now?"
Fran nodded. "I assume."
"Because Archadia has more nethicite," Balthier thought aloud. Everything was fell into place, now. "But why you? Wouldn't it be easier to find some other unsuspecting Viera?"
"Have you ever seen another? My kind rarely walk beyond the borders of our forests." Fran said. "And besides, they've probably been tracking me these past two years."
"And that's why you decided to come with me?" Balthier said. "It'd be easier to avoid them from the air?"
Fran nodded slowly. "Yes, partly."
There was silence between them for several long moments. Balthier vaguely heard Vaan, Ashe, and Vossler talking a little distance away, but his attention was on Fran. She didn't meet his eyes, and hers glittered with unease. Spilling out a story of distant, painful past was difficult, Balthier knew that well enough. He didn't blame her for her discomfort.
"So, was that it?" Balthier asked after a few moments.
"What?" Fran asked, turning back to him.
"'Not yet?' Down in the Barheim Passage?"
"Oh." Fran looked away again. She stared at the ground, as if debating what to say. "No," she said at last. "No, it wasn't."
"What?" That wasn't the response Balthier expected. "What else is there? Fran?"
Fran shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I… I should never have said anything."
Balthier wasn't even sure how to respond to that. "But… What could possibly be that important? And if it is so important, why won't you just tell me?"
Fran shook her head again. Emotions flickered in her usually cool eyes, trickling into her voice despite her obvious attempts to hide it. "No, I don't… I can't…" Fran broke off, taking a deep breath to collect herself and lock away those emotions Balthier had gotten so close to identifying. "We have a job to do, don't we?" Fran said. "We should head back to the aerodrome and get going." And with that, Fran turned and walked towards the staircase, bringing their conversation to an abrupt end.
"Fran! Wait!" Balthier called after her, loud enough all the others ceased their talking. Fran paused briefly at his call, then continued up the staircase without looking back. Balthier had known Fran for two years, and nothing like this ever surfaced, yet now… Fran was one of the only people Balthier trusted, yet now it seemed she hid something important. Certainly, Balthier had secrets of his own, and he couldn't blame her for keeping things to herself, but…That look in Fran's eyes down in the passageway, full of concern and almost fear… What could it possibly be Fran felt she had to tell him, and yet, when it came down to it, couldn't?
"Is… is everything alright?" Vaan said, breaking the awkward silence that filled the room. Balthier let out a long sigh. The answer to Vaan's question seemed even more complicated now than it had been a few minutes before.
"It looks like we're leaving," Balthier said, deciding not to answer Vaan. "Come on, everyone; let's go."
…
Back at the plaza in Lowtown, Vossler stopped the party.
"Look, we need to talk," he said. "Highness-"
"I'm going to Jagd Yensa," Ashe said, face set.
"And I can see nothing will stop you," Vossler said with a sigh. His shoulders slumped and looked oddly tired. "All I ask is that you let me accompany you. I am not letting you go alone with a bunch of sky pirates." Vossler sent Balthier one of his burning glares at that last word. Balthier just ignored it. His mind was spinning too much with Fran's mysteries and the journey ahead to let Vossler rile him up.
"So… you won't try and stop me?" Ashe said, eyes wide in astonishment.
"But like I said, I'm coming, too," Vossler said. "I need to make sure things can run without me at the resistance first, and then we'll leave." Vossler turned his gaze to Balthier. "And you will not leave without me. Understood?"
"Oh, don't worry," Balthier said, rolling his eyes. "We'll wait until you're good and ready."
Vossler glared at him a little longer, then turned back to Ashe. "We'll meet up in front of the aerodrome, alright?"
Ashe nodded. "Yes. We'll be there. Oh…" She turned to Balthier. "I mean, if-"
"Yes, yes, we'll all be there," Balthier said. "Now, I'd like to leave before dark, so I suggest you go and get your business done, Vossler."
"Fine," Vossler turned to leave, then briefly set his hand on Ashe shoulder. "I'll see you soon, princess." Then he walked off, disappearing into the foot traffic of Lowtown. Ashe stared after him a few moments, obviously surprised. Balthier chuckled at the sight, then turned to Vaan.
"So, will you finally go home?" he said.
"Well…" Vaan began.
"No, no, no," Balthier said, shaking his head and stifling a groan. "Vaan, you are not coming, so save your breath."
"Just hear me out!" Vaan said. "I want to help the princess. I want to help free Dalmasca. We've lived under the imperial's fist for years, and now I can do something about it. I don't want to turn a blind eye, and I don't want to run away."
If the kid was smart enough to use Balthier's own rhetoric against him, then that had to count for something. Besides, it was a good argument…
"Fine," Balthier said after a few moments. It wasn't easy to admit defeat to the kid. "If you can pull your own weight and not get underfoot, then…" Balthier paused to let out a sigh. "You can come."
"Really?" Vaan's eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn't expected it to be that easy. "I will! I mean… I'll be a big help! I won't let you down!"
"Good," Balthier said. "And I will hold you to that." Balthier turned to address Ashe and Fran as well. "Come on then; let's all get to the aerodrome and wait for Vossler."
"Oh, wait!" Vaan said. "Penelo and Kytes and everyone are all waiting for me. I need to go tell them I'm leaving. I'll try and be quick!"
Balthier sighed. "Just meet us at the aerodrome and don't keep us waiting, alright?"
"Okay. I'll see you all soon!" Then Vaan dashed off, disappearing around the street corner.
"Either of you have any pressing tasks to accomplish?" Balthier said to his two remaining companions.
"No," Ashe said. Fran said nothing at all.
"Then come on," Balthier said. "Let's get up to the aerodrome and wait."
…
Outside the aerodrome, Balthier, Ashe, and Fran waited for the rest of their party to assemble. The sun, high in the sky, beat down mercilessly, and Balthier noted with displeasure it was already noon. They wouldn't make it very far into Jagd Yensa that day.
Finding a shady spot in the overhang of the aerodrome's wide entrance, the three of them waited for a while. Balthier guessed about half an hour from the sun's movement. No one spoke. Ashe sat on the sandy ground, locked away in her own world of nervous excitement. Balthier found a spot to lean against the wall, and Fran stood as still as a statue, watching people walk in and out of the aerodrome. Occasionally, she'd glance over at Balthier, quickly, but with enough of that penetrating gaze of hers to make Balthier's skin crawl. He wanted to talk to her again, to maybe get some idea of what she was hiding and what it had to do with him, but he decided not to. Not so soon, and not with Ashe listening. So the three of them sat there in silence, Fran as cold as a stone, Ashe anxiously watching the road for their expected arrivals, and Balthier pondering Fran and what she was hiding, and just how important it really was. Maybe it was nothing. But something told Balthier it wasn't.
"I'm here!" Vaan's voice announced the arrive of one of their expected companions.
"Vaan!" Balthier welcomed a break of the stifling silence. He pushed off from the wall to greet Vaan. "Good to see you. That leaves just Vossler. I can't imagine he'll be much longer. Everyone ready to leave?"
Fran nodded slowly, and Ashe didn't reply. She still sat on the ground just under the overhang's shade, legs folded under her, staring away into the sky. Her eyes glittered with a wistful, far-away look, seeming bluer for the blue sky overhead. Apparently, she wasn't listening.
"Princess? Can you hear me?" Balthier said. He managed to keep the edge of frustration out of his voice.
"What? Oh, yes." Ashe stood, nodding. "I'm ready."
"Good." Balthier turned back to the others. "We'll-"
"WAIT!" A voice called. Racing across the street came Penelo, short blond pigtails flying out behind her. She came to a stop just in front of Vaan, then doubled over, leaning on her knees and gasping for breath.
"Vaan, you can't… can't… You can't go…" she wheezed out.
"Penelo, I have to," Vaan said. "I told you why!"
Penelo shook her head. "No, I mean… you can't go… without me." She sucked in a deep breath and straightened, wiping the sweat from her forehead with one arm. She looked like she'd run a marathon.
"Penelo, it's dangerous out there!" Vaan said.
"I know," Penelo replied. "But I can't let you go without me. I… I… Oh, Vaan, don't leave me here!" Penelo's voice fell to a desperate plea.
"I… Well, it's really up to Balthier," Vaan said, turning to Balthier.
"Oh, oh please let me come!" Penelo said, turning desperate brown eyes to Balthier. "Please, Mr. Balthier, sir! I can take care of myself. I won't get in the way! And… and I'll make sure Vaan behaves himself!"
"Hey!" Vaan said. "I don't get into trouble! …much."
Balthier let out a chuckle. "Well, if it means I don't have to do that, then… fine. Come along. You do know how to use a weapon, don't you, Penelo?"
"Uh… I can… dance with a staff," Penelo said with a nervous half-smile.
Balthier let out a sigh. "Oh, dear."
"Are we all ready?" Vossler's voice entered the conversation. He emerged from the stream of people entering and exiting the aerodrome. His gaze fell on Penelo, and a frown crossed his face. "Who's this?"
"This is my little sister, Penelo," Vaan said. "She'd part of our crew."
"Really?" Vossler said, arching an eyebrow at Balthier.
"It seems that way," Balthier said with a sigh.
"Highness, are you ready to go?" Vossler said, turning to Ashe. She nodded. "Good," Vossler continued. "I left Basch with full charge of the Rabanastran resistance, and Hasta to help him. She's not happy you took her sword, you know."
Ashe glanced down at the sword hanging by her side, then back at Vossler with a guilty, almost pathetic smile. "Well… She has others, right?"
Vossler sighed. "Oh, come on." He moved towards the aerodrome door. "We should be leaving."
"Yes, we should," Balthier said. He didn't know why, but Vossler being the one to declare their departure annoyed him greatly. "If we wait any longer, we might as well wait until tomorrow." He set off towards the door, the others following.
Once inside the aerodrome, they headed for Strahl's hanger. Balthier had a few questions for Vossler, so he quickened his stride to catch up with him.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked.
"About what?" Vossler said, barely glancing back at Balthier. Balthier came up next to him to put them on more even terms.
"This whole quest," Balthier continued. "According to Ashe, you were quite determined to keep her safe and sound back in Bhujerba. Only now, you're just gung-ho about flying her into mortal peril. It didn't take much to convince you either. So, what changed?"
"Nothing at all," Vossler said, a little to quickly. "And even if it had, resistance affairs are none of your concern, pirate. Now, before we leave, I want you to know one thing:" Vossler threw a searing glare in Balthier's direction. "You are only here because the princess wants you, and because I think a bigger party will be easier to get through jagd with. You are cannon fodder, monster food, just another target to keep the princess safe. I don't care if you or any of your friends live or die. I only want Her Highness alive and well. Have I made myself clear?"
Vossler didn't like Balthier. Balthier already knew that already; he'd said it so many times it was really starting to get on Balthier's nerves.
"You care about no one but Ashe, for whom you care extensively," Balthier replied. "Yes, I think you stated that clearly. But like you said, the princess wants us here. Doesn't keeping her happy mean keeping us alive?"
Vossler gave Balthier another stinging glare. "Stay away from her, pirate. I've said that, haven't I? And I mean it."
Vossler strode ahead, and Balthier simply stopped and stared after him, wondering that had come from. It occurred to Balthier that he'd be crossing the whole Yensa Sandsea with that man and his unwarranted hatred. Really, Balthier couldn't believe what a party he'd gathered up: the stubborn-as-a-mule princess, her fiery bodyguard, the naive kid and his sister, and a long-term friend he no longer felt he could trust. Their journey would be… interesting, at least.