*** Author's Notes***
I'm beginning to take night school, so the level of quality is going to go down almost proportionately with the speed of turnout. Meaning, expect the story begin to stutter and get longer in-between updates for the next few months.
Revision: Mainly format, but some text has been altered.
***Author's Notes***
Chapter 02-06 "Turmoil" v.1.1 (Chapter Two: The Manipulator and the Subservient, Scene 06)
***
The stop was truly insignificant. Agrias couldn't relax as she was concerned about the princess' security, right up until Ovelia herself ordered her to sit down and eat with everyone. The dining table was too small, so the farmer invited them onto his porch. Everyone on the farm took a break from the midday sun.
The knights had to remove their gloves in order to eat properly, and Alicia and Lavian sat next to each other on the left side of the porch, eagerly taking advantage of the reprieve, quickly finishing the hearty -though humble, meal of soup and bread.
Agrias allowed herself to relax, to enjoy the meal. Not because she was being lax in her duty, but even she had to admit that these farmers were all but giving their house over to them, and if anything, being in their hospitality meant they were under their protection, which was a thought that almost made her snort as she sampled her own meal -even as she noticed an escudo hung on the wall. Truth be told, she was grateful that they stopped. The heat in Lionel would've been oppressive in their armor and protective clothing, but it also suited the few fertile patches of land here. (To think, Goland's always frozen over, and that's less than a week's march away,) Agrias thought.
(Plus,) she admitted, (it is a hot meal). Allowing Ovelia some of her own personal space -as much as a guard could allow, Agrias contented to let the princess learn to eat soup in the peasantry fashion. Imitating Ramza, whom Ovelia invited to sit over by the two of them, Ovelia took a slice of the loaf she was given and dipped it into the lentil soup, squeezing the bread lightly so that the soup would be soaked in when she loosened her grip.
The grace at which Ovelia tried to eat the soaked section of the bread almost caused Agrias to smirk; emphasis on 'tried.' She did not fail, but it did look humorous as Ovelia tried to avoid the dripping soup coming down from the bread. (Which is why I don't wear white), Agrias thought. Falling into bad habit, Agrias inhaled her own portions, and she waited discreetly for everyone else to finish. To her surprise, Ramza already was, and he excused himself to talk with their host, which Agrias appreciated. She was uneasy in dealing with the general citizenry, and in fact, she was curious as to why an ex-noble like Ramza would be so carefree around the peasantry. (Well, he has been on his own he says. . .) she rationalized.
Agrias thought back for a moment on her own heritage as she suppressed a belch, which would've been unforgivable, after all, she was a woman and in the presence of a princess. Her family wasn't quite noble, but they were well off to begin with. A few more successful generations, and they might become a noble line. (Or. . .) Agrias' mind told her, (it might end after you. . .) The soup almost turned wholly bitter in her mouth.
On her father's side was a hereditary priesthood, where her mother's clan traditionally entered the military of Lesalia, even if it was just in the purser's role. Agrias had grown up both as a military and a religious girl, never having any doubt in what she would be, especially since what she knew she would become was something she aspired to be. (So much better than being married off to some rich old noble fool) Agrias reflected, glancing over at Ramza. Somehow, the security in her life was something she enjoyed, even if its shortcomings were apparent at times, but Agrias was grateful nonetheless. She was all too aware of the alternative.
***
Talking to the farmer turned out to be rather interesting from Ramza. The man had taken him aside onto the side of the porch opposite the eating knights, and addressed him bluntly. Ramza noticed the man looking down at his boots. "Are you Hokuten." The tone was rhetorical.
Within Ramza went back to the internal debate of the boots' utility versus their affinity for being recognized. "For the longest time in my life."
"Still young," the farmer commented, nodding appreciatively, and Ramza realized his tone as being sympathetic. "I forgot; they start you off as chillun'." He paused and brought up something else he just thought about, even as Ramza and the farmer noted Agrias staring at them sidelong. "How come you're not with them still?" he asked. "Unless you're incompetent or corrupt, they don't let y'go. . ."
"It wasn't a question of honor. . ." Ramza said slowly, "but of truth and what I thought was right."
The farmer shook his head. "What's the diffrence 'tween honor and what y'just mentioned? If that's how you see it, then 'honor' is nothing more than pride."
Ramza nodded, conceding his point. "I didn't know anymore, so. . . I ran away."
"But you still use a sword?" the farmer asked, scratching his slightly protruding stomach. The man was fit from farm work, but the good diet he enjoyed as well as approaching middle-age contributed to his unsightly waist, or in other words, his beer belly.
"Its who I am. . ."
"That's a sad existence lad," the farmer told him sadly. "Even if you just till the earth, its still something, something outside of violence." The farmer glanced over at Agrias and changed the subject. "Well, how else can I help y'all? I take it you're headed towards Zaland?"
"Yes sir," Ramza replied, "is there anything we should know?" he asked in curiosity.
Shrugging, the farmer remarked, "Tame as it could be out here. . . except in the city." That caught Agrias' attention, but she did not leave Ovelia's side. As if to bait her into coming there and joining the conversation -as she should have, the farmer went on. "You heard there's no crime in Lionel?" he asked, clucking as he shook his head. "There's no little crime, yes, but that's because there's something else bigger than highway robbery."
Ramza thought for a moment, and spoke loudly enough for Agrias and Ovelia to overhear. "What do you mean?"
"'Call themselves a 'trading company'," the farmer quipped, displaying the provincial drawl in his voice. "Anyway, its just hearsay 'mong us farm folk." All that was missing was the conspiratorial wink.
***
There was not much else to say. The man was a good host, accommodating them and asking no real questions, a fact for which Agrias was grateful for and suspicious. Taking another look at the man, and remembering what she had seen in his house, Agrias let the issue go. The man had been a soldier. Through and through, and he did little to hide it. The scarred escudo above the humble hearth displayed the crest of a volunteer army corps, one from Lionel, in fact. Agrias dismissed it at the time, thinking, (he bought the farm?) which she found darkly amusing.
The man had good instincts, Agrias conceded, to know not to inquire but still render aid. As the sun's path began to show an apogee, it was time to leave. Thought of giving the man monetary compensation had crossed her mind, but she decided against it. It'd almost be a slight towards his hospitality, something to be given, not to be bought. Also, Agrias knew that to give the man information would possibly endanger him and his household, so, against what she wanted to do, Agrias settled for telling the man her gratitude.
"We. . ." she began slowly, "we thank you for all your help." Again, there wasn't much to say.
Smiling knowingly, the man nodded lightly. "Anyone is welcome at my hearth. . . one more thing, that young man over there, there's something that I wish to give 'im, if its too late to give to his pa," he finished, his tone even, his accent becoming more apparent.
Now it was complicated. Just as the man would not ask questions, nor would he answer them. (Small world. . .) Agrias thought cynically. (So he knew Ramza's father. . .)
"Simmons, bring out 'Windfall'," he called out. Again, the awkward boy came out, this time from the small stable behind the stone farmhouse, leading an adolescent Black Chocobo, with its characteristic, purple down, more slender build, and wider wings. "Before you say anything," the farmer told Ramza, "he is a windfall, an extra chocobo, plus the black ones are no good for farming, law says he'll have to be destroyed soon as he's big 'nuff," he continued. "Also, if y'are who y'are, you'd know how ta 'ride' a Black 'Cobo properly."
The implication in the man's statement wanted to make Agrias ask questions, but she quelled them, thinking back to her resolution the previous night and the man's character. (Ramza, cavalry?) Agrias wondered. (No, he was just a noble. . . of course he'd know how to ride) she concluded.
Gingerly, Ramza approached Windfall, who seemed blasé at what was going on around him. Sharing an odd look, with Simmons, the purple bird eyed its new master placatingly, as if to subdue he who would dominate him. Almost as an insult, the bird dismissed the boy, affording him the same respect as the adolescent Simmons.
"Don't say nothin', boy," the farmer told him. "Pardon if it's a ghost you'd rather not run into again, but it's a debt I have to pay back," the man told him, already refusing Ramza's own hesitation.
Surprising everyone, Ramza simply nodded, "I understand. I won't forget this. . ."
"Your kind never does," the man concluded. "Settle your debts, but don't dig yourself into anymore, y'hear?"
***
"Mr. Ruglia," Ovelia asked, "That farmer. . . could you explain?" she began, asking what Agrias wanted to but resolved herself not to inquire.
In turn Ramza -still walking the chocobo he had been given as a gift, turned back. "I am afraid I cannot, Princess Ovelia. The farmer was a soldier during the war and had known my father during then. I have never met him before today. . ." he answered the unspoken question. "I could not refuse his gift," Ramza told her, feeling caught between birth and his current company, both consequences of his noble heritage.
"Oh," Ovelia said, confused herself at Ramza's lack of information. That thread of conversation died there, as Ovelia was not interested in the war, and especially in light of what might happen if she were not taken to safety within the next few days. Initially, a search would begin, and naturally, accusations would be declared. In that level of credibility in the noble arena, credibility is the most valuable coin. Once fined, it cannot be reimbursed.
***
They were almost at the gates of Zaland -one of many, in fact. During the war, this was a fortified position, the last defense-line before invaders from the south would sweep into Lesalia, the heart of Ivalice, from the Lionel Peninsula. The extra defenses before the gates were long since removed, but the telltale postholes and ditches left testament to what had stood before. Now it was only a plain stone wall, quite easy to scale in fact, with an unguarded gate that was left open; even the city's wall had been stripped of stone to rebuild and expand the community. Peace had come to Lionel, where death and glory were one and the same, priceless and senseless all in one.
"What do you plan to do with Windfall, Ramza?" Alicia asked. "Do you plan to start using him right away?"
"Maybe to carry part of the load," Ramza told her. He didn't elaborate seeing as Ovelia herself was riding upon Boco, but his statement was clear to the mount-less knights: there was no use to ride upon the animal when he would still keep the same pace as the group.
Agrias had planned that they would in fact, not have a scout, as that would arouse further suspicion. Not knowing to take the farmer's word for what it might be, she still worried about highwaymen, but figured that a lone figure on Chocobo would not be worth the time for all the effort they would have to expend on running down a mounted scout. Everyone would remain within the main group. Unlike merchant convoys, there was only one 'juicy' target: the cloaked figure that was Ovelia incognito. With Lionel's reputation, kidnapping an obvious VIP would be persecuted with maximum prejudice.
Plus, the obvious reason: he did not yet tame Windfall. Domesticated the black chocobo was, Ramza had not had a chance to see for himself how the bird would perform under him. It was a task that would take days, if it didn't extend into weeks and months. Unlike plain chocobo, who were used as a strong mounts and secondary healers, black chocobo were more fragile, but able to carry a human in limited flight because of its lighter, more aerodyne mass and larger wings. The plain chocobo preferred to use its beak and talons; black chocobo preferred to hock out a ball of magical energy, avoiding contact if it can.
"Another mouth to feed," Alicia quipped, but it was she who was holding a bag of grain to feed Windfall, who eagerly took to the two female knights. Her happy demeanor belied her cynic statement.
"We'll be resupplying at Zaland," Agrias told them. "We have enough money to accommodate basic needs for at least a month." Times past had told her the importance of inventory and the management of resources.
"Wonder what if that farmer was right about the city," Alicia said, ignoring the glare her superior was giving her for mentioning such a thing out loud.
Wordlessly, Agrias noticed Ramza indiscreetly equipping a bow, placing his quiver swung low besides his waist. Even Boco had noticed, evidenced by his gate being unsteady for a small distance.
***
They had arrived at Zaland Fort City, almost at least. The city had been built on top of a natural fortification, and as high up as they already were, they still had to ascend up an earthen ramp perpendicular to the low wall. As they reached the base of the incline, another young man appeared at the crest of the gateway. Wearing oversized blue work pants that reached up above his waist with a yellow long-sleeved shirt, he looked haggard. Agrias observed him and came with a swift conclusion: prey. Where Ramza had the disturbing taint about him, the boy up above was scared. But, even prey, backed to a corner could lash out.
Yelling could be heard from just within the fort city's reduced walls. It became quickly apparent: it was a fight, and the boy was outnumbered. Intinctively, Agrias had Boco crouch to the ground and she covered the princess with her shield, sword, and body as the Holy Knight had Boco lean up against the earthen ramp for further cover. The reason, an arrow had just flown over the gateway, missing the young man up above.
"An argument?" Agrias remarked rhetorically, even if her voice was directed to Ramza. "Someone's after that young man. . ." Within, she was angry. Caught in an altercation, the chances of them being hurt was slim, but they were still pinned down. To venture out from beyond the base of the ramp would be to expose themselves to stray arrows, whilst they did not know what was within the city walls. For all they knew, it could be the Lionel authorities.
It was Ramza who decided what they would do. "He'll be killed if we don't do something!" he cried out, kneeling besides Agrias, his eagerness warm anxiety, not cool calculation. "Let's help!" he urged her.
Agrias did not want to get involved. They did not know what the argument was about, and again, she did not who the others were. (I'd rather not have to explain why the Royal Guard had to fight the local soldiers. . .) she considered. Still, Ramza was her conscience at that point, and she knew he would scale the walls himself, alone, without her.
Taking a look at Princess Ovelia, anxious herself, kneeling on the ground, with Boco guarding her with his bulk, his left wing draped protectively atop her, Agrias made a decision.
She followed him.
Ovelia nodded at her, and it relieved her guilt somewhat, that the princess was authorizing her to help. It wasn't a direct order, but it was approval. 'Go' Ovelia mouthed, and Agrias ran after Ramza, even as he was making his way up the ramp. Feeling angry at herself, Agrias noticed that Alicia and Lavian had not hesitated to follow the boy, even as they lagged behind him, Lavian covering Alicia as the two made for the gateway. Pained, Agrias dismissed their allegiance to him, as if it was a dereliction of duty.
(Was it?) Agrias asked herself. (Yes!) her sense of duty cried out to her, angry at her for choosing to follow Ramza.
Ramza had already knocked an arrow into his bow, and as an armored knight, bareheaded, climbed upon the short wall to pursue the young man trapped above, Ramza loosed the projectile, piercing the man's torso armor just below the armpit, high on his torso. That did not stop the man, who angrily tore the arrow out and called back into the city.
Now whoever was within knew of their interference.
Still, the knight did not have the chance to jump off the wall -Windfall struck. Taking cue from Ramza, the black chocobo took the knight as his foe. Racing aside his new master, the purple chocobo extended its neck forwards, swept its wings forward and out and hocked out a ball of reddish- black energy, inscribed in runes, at Ramza's target. The man's armor visibly warped and scorched as the man was knocked off the wall, back into the city.
Agrias was reminded why the Black Chocobo would've been destroyed if it had remained on the farmstead. Focusing on Ramza as she ran after him, frantic, Agrias cast a protection spell. "Precious light," she addressed him, her voice growing confused, "be our armor to protect us. . ." she trailed off, before raising her voice. "Protect!"
Only Ramza was affected, as a pale aura began to emanate from him. He gave her a look as he nodded curtly, before he made for the point on the wall he where he had shot the knight. Before he began to scale the wall, he unhitched his quiver and dropped his bow; they would only get in the way.
The sharp crack that came from the young man they were fighting to save caused Agrias to start, jolting her. She saw a small wisp of smoke come from the end of the object he held, what she had assumed to be a small club. The scream from a woman that followed the loud sound caused Agrias to wonder what it was. Two more arrows came over the wall, this time, deliberate shots. Fortunately, none landed anywhere near them, as the archers were probing the outside.
True to their experience, Alicia and Lavian kept silent, not shouting out, refusing to give away their position as they loped past Ramza, who began to scale the low wall, and Windfall easily hopped up onto the wall and let out another 'Choco Ball' at an unseen opponent.
Ramza faced back before he lifted himself up the battlements of the wall, gazing back at her. Even from that distance, he held her gaze. Then, he was gone, over the wall, immediately leaping down into Zaland, out of her sight. Agrias understood. She would stay here, to protect the princess, to not commit the same mistake she had before, where it had been her indignation and inability to control Gafgarion, who must have lured her out of the monastery, that had cost her the princess and lead up to where they were now.
Still, as her knights and her Ramza went into battle, she felt guilt and regret for not being able to follow them in. (Its my responsibility) she repeated to herself, and she stood there, shield braced, readying herself for any more incoming fire. The princess was covered by Boco and the baggage chocobo, and she was on hand to respond in case anyone came from behind.
Agrias worried for what was behind that wall, and what she knew she was condemning her companions to face without her.
A fear that was realized when she saw a portion of the air in the city transform and a bolt of lightning come down from the ethereal storm cloud. Ramza's scream followed immediately afterwards.
Automatically, Agrias started forwards before she got a hold of herself. Kneeling on the ground, Agrias began to hyperventilate as she kept herself from rushing to Ramza. To him, to his aid, to his life. All she could do was stay there, fulfilling her duty to her princess, holding back her tears.
***
Still conscious, Ramza held his mouth slack after the scream that had ripped itself from him upon being hit with the bolt spell. Now he could see what he had jumped into. The knight he and Windfall had struck was down, and Ramza noticed that he could smell freshly cooked meat. . . human meat. Also, a female archer was down on the ground besides a cluster of crates stacked against a house, dead or unconscious, a wisp of smoke coming from her abdomen as she lay there on the ground, facing the sky.
Yet, remaining where two more knights, both coming after him, two wizards, both standing by another house, and on a rooftop, was another female archer. And there Ramza was, facing them all. One more spell or so, Ramza knew, and he'd be down, and the second wizard was casting a spell. Ramza knew he was dancing on the razor's edge.
Ramza had committed a grave mistake, he gambled, and though he didn't lose, he hadn't quite won. The dice continued to roll, and ducking his head, Ramza charged the second wizard, ignoring the two knights who closed in on him.
***
Agrias felt for him, trying to find his presence on the battlefield, abandoning her sight as the sense she depended on. She did not feel him. However, she felt another spell being cast by a second person, and sensing what it was targeting, Agrias began her own spell, praying for who she thought her target was. "Silent light," she whispered, her conviction returning, "shield from evil. . ." she prayed. . . "Shell!" She prayed. . .
***
Ramza felt another aura surround him, blanketing him in another layer of light. He paid little heed as he felt it do no damage to him -at least no pain he could feel yet as he closed distance with the second wizard. It was a race between himself and the wizard. Who could run faster than the other could cast. Ramza won, even as one of the knights tried to engage him. That knight missed, while Ramza struck on the fly and laidd open a portion of the chain mail the man wore. As Ramza intended, and the wizard feared, the spell came down upon them all.
***
Agrias watched the flash of azure behind the wall as the wizard unleashed his ice spell upon Ramza. She kept from wincing as the sound of a the massive crystal of ice shattering tore through the air. Not knowing if her own spell had been cast in time, she held her breath, wondering why she heard two screams, not one, and neither of them Ramza's. Slowly, she began to hope. (Alicia. . . Lavian,) Agrias thought, (I leave him to you.)
***
Ramza wondered why he was not struck down. He had made a suicidial end-run against the wizard targeting him, running the man down even as he continued to cast, his fellow wizard, still recharging running away, and the second knight protecting the mage. When the wizard cast the spell, he had cast it upon Ramza. But, since Ramza brought himself close the wizard, it affected them all, including the knight protecting said caster.
The dice had been rolled, and Ramza came out ahead by one; intending to take the wizard and the knight protecting that mage when the spell cast upon him would hit, Ramza did not expect to be standing. The other wizard had run away, heading for the protection of the last living knight on his side.
The second wizard slew himself with his own spell. As mages trained themselves to be more sensitive to the magical arts and in faith, so were they made more susceptible.
The knight fared little better, already wounded, and he too, fell, his face gashed open by a razor of ice.
On Windfall's side, he had engaged the other archer
Ramza realized. Agrias had saved him. He recognized the aura bestowed upon him to be what it was, a pair of protective spells cast upon him. Not allowing himself to stay there, halt, and start to shake in relief, Ramza headed for the running wizard, hoping to cut him down before the final enemy knight could challenge Ramza.
The young man on the gateway shot him first. In another loud blast, Ramza saw the wizard be knocked forwards as the mage's robed back was perforated by some kind of projectile, tearing itself through him. The smoldering wound of the downed man let Ramza know how the first archer had been slain.
The kid had shot him, somehow, with some kind of device.
Ramza made a mistake. He ignored the final archer. He felt his left bicep flare in pain before it went numb, the arrow going through his arm, missing bone, but tearing through flesh. His grip in that hand disappeared, and he held his mithril sword only in his right now. Ramza couldn't even tell himself that it wasn't fatal as he engaged the final knight with only one arm, and an archer to support that opponent.
Yet, there was hope. Alicia and Lavian had finally passed through the gate, and were sprinting towards him.
***
Agrias looked up from where she stood at the edge of the earthen ramp, from where she had taken a look back to check on Ovelia, still nestled protectively by the bulk of two chocobo. Alert, she kept her station standing as a strongpoint should the forces within be turned back, knowing that if the battle went against them, there would be no retreat for those within the walls. Angry at herself for what kept her here, away from supporting him, but most of all, angry at Ramza for what he was doing to her; what he made her feel, and how it tore away at her mind. Irrationality was something she couldn't help, and truth to be told, she had very good reasons for feeling that way.
***
The battle was over. Once the first wizard was slain, the balance had been tipped onto Ramza's favor. When Alicia and Lavian entered the fracas, the former hurriedly shoved Ramza away from the melee while Lavian engaged the other knight. It was no contest between a fresh warrior and one who had seen the rest of his team slain, sapping his will to fight. Seizing the moment when Ramza fell back for medical attention -his wounded arm would have rendered him useless, and already Ramza was beginning to feel the pain grow more intense as the shock began to wear off- the final knight ran.
It was for a good reason. On the rooftops, several more archers had appeared, followed swiftly on the ground by three squads of four squires, each of them lead by a knight. A final group of several mages followed; two wizards in their robes, a time mage in his conical hat, and something feared on the battlefield, a mage dressed in a green mantle with a headband sprouting a horn: a summoner.
Ramza was still conscious, the pain was great, but the adrenaline, testosterone, and endorphins he had built up kept him wired, alert, observant. Turning to look up at the likewise agitated young man at the top of the gateway, Ramza called out to him. "Are you all right?"
Ramza almost screamed as Alicia tightened her grip on his arm as she pulled the arrow through his arm, and he could have sworn that he felt the arrow's fletching brush his torn flesh within. Giving her a pained look, Ramza saw exasperation in her eyes.
***
Agrias sheathed her sword as she spotted the armed group approaching Princess Ovelia and the chocobos at the bottom of the ramp; they came from the countryside. For a good reason, they bore the standard of Lionel, and Agrias recognized their banner: they were Count Draclau's own soldiers. Taking a breath, Agrias approached them, still wearing her shield, wondering how she was going to explain the situation.
On the whole, she was relieved. The results of the battle within the battle still unknown, yet contact with the Lionel authority had been made, even if it was in an awkward fashion -an understatement to say the least.
***
It was almost surreal for Agrias, even as she suffered adrenaline letdown as much as Alicia and Lavian. Approaching her, a man wearing a thick weather-beaten leather vest with a tartan-less kilt -a skirt- hailed, "Who breaks the peace?" he inquired, his voice even and calm.
The fact that the man didn't bother to accent any authority, challenge, or superiority told Agrias of his mettle. Automatically, she had gauged the apparent leader of the approaching group The man was a geomancer, one of the skilled knights who used the earth itself as a weapon. With him were three squires, two archers, and a lone thief. A detachment ; reinforcements or replacements between the Lionel billets, Agrias surmised.
"I am Agrias Oaks, Knight of St. Konoe," she announced, raising her voice to make herself heard clearly.
The man paused in his step before continuing onwards. "May I ask what the royal guard is doing here?" There was apprehension in him, as he was responding to the incoming fight, and the possible implication of the presence of royalty was one that caused him to think fast.
"Seeking refuge in the Count Draclau," Ovelia announced, standing high, making herself visible from the two chocobo who sheltered her.
Immediately, the geomancer stopped, and slowly, he knelt onto his right knee, bowing his head. Taking his cue, the other Lionel soldiers also kneeled.
"Sir," Ovelia addressed the geomancer as she curiously bade him to rise, "we need your help," she stated simply. "My guards are involved. . ." Wordlessly, the Lionel soldiers nodded, rose, and began a quick march, marching around where Agrias stood before the princess, and up the incline.
Agrias allowed herself to feel some relief. While she would not trust any of those soldiers with Ovelia's personal safety, the geomancer seemed to believe in her authority. Finally, they had made first contact with Lionel authorities. "There was an altercation. . ." Agrias began, talking to the geomancer leading the soldiers.
Briefly, she wondered -worried- about Ramza. She could trust her soldiers to take care of themselves, and from the sounds she had heard, the brunt of the fighting was already over, the battle lasting less than a minute. But Ramza. . . a minute of excitement, sense of roused justice, sensibilities, and anger. It reminded her of what she had come to call 'the bad old days', adding to the feeling that she was helpless in protecting that which she cherished.
***
***Author's Notes***
I started to struggle on some parts of this. Again, it was at the battle sequences. Its just not what I want to do. They take up so much volume and effort, but have little to no true meaning, nothing to add to the story.
Pointing this out again, Agrias' feelings are beginning to conflict. Duty to the princess isn't everything to Agrias, but she must behave as if it was. This mindset of hers will be a source of danger, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
As to the new characters, Windfall and the geomancer. Don't think about them. Ramza needs a ride or at the least, a baggage animal, this is him. Plus, it made a brief highlight of his upbringing as on of the nobility.
The final segments where Ovelia convinced the Lionel soldiers so easily. The geomancer recognized her (who else would a St. Konoe knight protect?) and he picked up on her nuance. A fight involving her guards at the very least meant an indirect threat to Royalty, and Draclau is a ROYALIST (Loyal to the Crown). Act fast, or act not at all is a maxim that might fit this situation.
***Reader's Response Corner***
Thank you all for your support, especially you, Minka-chan. I'm happy that this story entertains you. . .
. . . and causes you to do silly things ^_^.
Sorry everyone, for the upcoming froth and turbulence concerning the writing process.
Also, to the guy who voiced some concerns. No offense, but they were very nebulous and general, could you become more specific?
-Thanks for pointing out the typo errors. I really do need to proofread.
***
I'm beginning to take night school, so the level of quality is going to go down almost proportionately with the speed of turnout. Meaning, expect the story begin to stutter and get longer in-between updates for the next few months.
Revision: Mainly format, but some text has been altered.
***Author's Notes***
Chapter 02-06 "Turmoil" v.1.1 (Chapter Two: The Manipulator and the Subservient, Scene 06)
***
The stop was truly insignificant. Agrias couldn't relax as she was concerned about the princess' security, right up until Ovelia herself ordered her to sit down and eat with everyone. The dining table was too small, so the farmer invited them onto his porch. Everyone on the farm took a break from the midday sun.
The knights had to remove their gloves in order to eat properly, and Alicia and Lavian sat next to each other on the left side of the porch, eagerly taking advantage of the reprieve, quickly finishing the hearty -though humble, meal of soup and bread.
Agrias allowed herself to relax, to enjoy the meal. Not because she was being lax in her duty, but even she had to admit that these farmers were all but giving their house over to them, and if anything, being in their hospitality meant they were under their protection, which was a thought that almost made her snort as she sampled her own meal -even as she noticed an escudo hung on the wall. Truth be told, she was grateful that they stopped. The heat in Lionel would've been oppressive in their armor and protective clothing, but it also suited the few fertile patches of land here. (To think, Goland's always frozen over, and that's less than a week's march away,) Agrias thought.
(Plus,) she admitted, (it is a hot meal). Allowing Ovelia some of her own personal space -as much as a guard could allow, Agrias contented to let the princess learn to eat soup in the peasantry fashion. Imitating Ramza, whom Ovelia invited to sit over by the two of them, Ovelia took a slice of the loaf she was given and dipped it into the lentil soup, squeezing the bread lightly so that the soup would be soaked in when she loosened her grip.
The grace at which Ovelia tried to eat the soaked section of the bread almost caused Agrias to smirk; emphasis on 'tried.' She did not fail, but it did look humorous as Ovelia tried to avoid the dripping soup coming down from the bread. (Which is why I don't wear white), Agrias thought. Falling into bad habit, Agrias inhaled her own portions, and she waited discreetly for everyone else to finish. To her surprise, Ramza already was, and he excused himself to talk with their host, which Agrias appreciated. She was uneasy in dealing with the general citizenry, and in fact, she was curious as to why an ex-noble like Ramza would be so carefree around the peasantry. (Well, he has been on his own he says. . .) she rationalized.
Agrias thought back for a moment on her own heritage as she suppressed a belch, which would've been unforgivable, after all, she was a woman and in the presence of a princess. Her family wasn't quite noble, but they were well off to begin with. A few more successful generations, and they might become a noble line. (Or. . .) Agrias' mind told her, (it might end after you. . .) The soup almost turned wholly bitter in her mouth.
On her father's side was a hereditary priesthood, where her mother's clan traditionally entered the military of Lesalia, even if it was just in the purser's role. Agrias had grown up both as a military and a religious girl, never having any doubt in what she would be, especially since what she knew she would become was something she aspired to be. (So much better than being married off to some rich old noble fool) Agrias reflected, glancing over at Ramza. Somehow, the security in her life was something she enjoyed, even if its shortcomings were apparent at times, but Agrias was grateful nonetheless. She was all too aware of the alternative.
***
Talking to the farmer turned out to be rather interesting from Ramza. The man had taken him aside onto the side of the porch opposite the eating knights, and addressed him bluntly. Ramza noticed the man looking down at his boots. "Are you Hokuten." The tone was rhetorical.
Within Ramza went back to the internal debate of the boots' utility versus their affinity for being recognized. "For the longest time in my life."
"Still young," the farmer commented, nodding appreciatively, and Ramza realized his tone as being sympathetic. "I forgot; they start you off as chillun'." He paused and brought up something else he just thought about, even as Ramza and the farmer noted Agrias staring at them sidelong. "How come you're not with them still?" he asked. "Unless you're incompetent or corrupt, they don't let y'go. . ."
"It wasn't a question of honor. . ." Ramza said slowly, "but of truth and what I thought was right."
The farmer shook his head. "What's the diffrence 'tween honor and what y'just mentioned? If that's how you see it, then 'honor' is nothing more than pride."
Ramza nodded, conceding his point. "I didn't know anymore, so. . . I ran away."
"But you still use a sword?" the farmer asked, scratching his slightly protruding stomach. The man was fit from farm work, but the good diet he enjoyed as well as approaching middle-age contributed to his unsightly waist, or in other words, his beer belly.
"Its who I am. . ."
"That's a sad existence lad," the farmer told him sadly. "Even if you just till the earth, its still something, something outside of violence." The farmer glanced over at Agrias and changed the subject. "Well, how else can I help y'all? I take it you're headed towards Zaland?"
"Yes sir," Ramza replied, "is there anything we should know?" he asked in curiosity.
Shrugging, the farmer remarked, "Tame as it could be out here. . . except in the city." That caught Agrias' attention, but she did not leave Ovelia's side. As if to bait her into coming there and joining the conversation -as she should have, the farmer went on. "You heard there's no crime in Lionel?" he asked, clucking as he shook his head. "There's no little crime, yes, but that's because there's something else bigger than highway robbery."
Ramza thought for a moment, and spoke loudly enough for Agrias and Ovelia to overhear. "What do you mean?"
"'Call themselves a 'trading company'," the farmer quipped, displaying the provincial drawl in his voice. "Anyway, its just hearsay 'mong us farm folk." All that was missing was the conspiratorial wink.
***
There was not much else to say. The man was a good host, accommodating them and asking no real questions, a fact for which Agrias was grateful for and suspicious. Taking another look at the man, and remembering what she had seen in his house, Agrias let the issue go. The man had been a soldier. Through and through, and he did little to hide it. The scarred escudo above the humble hearth displayed the crest of a volunteer army corps, one from Lionel, in fact. Agrias dismissed it at the time, thinking, (he bought the farm?) which she found darkly amusing.
The man had good instincts, Agrias conceded, to know not to inquire but still render aid. As the sun's path began to show an apogee, it was time to leave. Thought of giving the man monetary compensation had crossed her mind, but she decided against it. It'd almost be a slight towards his hospitality, something to be given, not to be bought. Also, Agrias knew that to give the man information would possibly endanger him and his household, so, against what she wanted to do, Agrias settled for telling the man her gratitude.
"We. . ." she began slowly, "we thank you for all your help." Again, there wasn't much to say.
Smiling knowingly, the man nodded lightly. "Anyone is welcome at my hearth. . . one more thing, that young man over there, there's something that I wish to give 'im, if its too late to give to his pa," he finished, his tone even, his accent becoming more apparent.
Now it was complicated. Just as the man would not ask questions, nor would he answer them. (Small world. . .) Agrias thought cynically. (So he knew Ramza's father. . .)
"Simmons, bring out 'Windfall'," he called out. Again, the awkward boy came out, this time from the small stable behind the stone farmhouse, leading an adolescent Black Chocobo, with its characteristic, purple down, more slender build, and wider wings. "Before you say anything," the farmer told Ramza, "he is a windfall, an extra chocobo, plus the black ones are no good for farming, law says he'll have to be destroyed soon as he's big 'nuff," he continued. "Also, if y'are who y'are, you'd know how ta 'ride' a Black 'Cobo properly."
The implication in the man's statement wanted to make Agrias ask questions, but she quelled them, thinking back to her resolution the previous night and the man's character. (Ramza, cavalry?) Agrias wondered. (No, he was just a noble. . . of course he'd know how to ride) she concluded.
Gingerly, Ramza approached Windfall, who seemed blasé at what was going on around him. Sharing an odd look, with Simmons, the purple bird eyed its new master placatingly, as if to subdue he who would dominate him. Almost as an insult, the bird dismissed the boy, affording him the same respect as the adolescent Simmons.
"Don't say nothin', boy," the farmer told him. "Pardon if it's a ghost you'd rather not run into again, but it's a debt I have to pay back," the man told him, already refusing Ramza's own hesitation.
Surprising everyone, Ramza simply nodded, "I understand. I won't forget this. . ."
"Your kind never does," the man concluded. "Settle your debts, but don't dig yourself into anymore, y'hear?"
***
"Mr. Ruglia," Ovelia asked, "That farmer. . . could you explain?" she began, asking what Agrias wanted to but resolved herself not to inquire.
In turn Ramza -still walking the chocobo he had been given as a gift, turned back. "I am afraid I cannot, Princess Ovelia. The farmer was a soldier during the war and had known my father during then. I have never met him before today. . ." he answered the unspoken question. "I could not refuse his gift," Ramza told her, feeling caught between birth and his current company, both consequences of his noble heritage.
"Oh," Ovelia said, confused herself at Ramza's lack of information. That thread of conversation died there, as Ovelia was not interested in the war, and especially in light of what might happen if she were not taken to safety within the next few days. Initially, a search would begin, and naturally, accusations would be declared. In that level of credibility in the noble arena, credibility is the most valuable coin. Once fined, it cannot be reimbursed.
***
They were almost at the gates of Zaland -one of many, in fact. During the war, this was a fortified position, the last defense-line before invaders from the south would sweep into Lesalia, the heart of Ivalice, from the Lionel Peninsula. The extra defenses before the gates were long since removed, but the telltale postholes and ditches left testament to what had stood before. Now it was only a plain stone wall, quite easy to scale in fact, with an unguarded gate that was left open; even the city's wall had been stripped of stone to rebuild and expand the community. Peace had come to Lionel, where death and glory were one and the same, priceless and senseless all in one.
"What do you plan to do with Windfall, Ramza?" Alicia asked. "Do you plan to start using him right away?"
"Maybe to carry part of the load," Ramza told her. He didn't elaborate seeing as Ovelia herself was riding upon Boco, but his statement was clear to the mount-less knights: there was no use to ride upon the animal when he would still keep the same pace as the group.
Agrias had planned that they would in fact, not have a scout, as that would arouse further suspicion. Not knowing to take the farmer's word for what it might be, she still worried about highwaymen, but figured that a lone figure on Chocobo would not be worth the time for all the effort they would have to expend on running down a mounted scout. Everyone would remain within the main group. Unlike merchant convoys, there was only one 'juicy' target: the cloaked figure that was Ovelia incognito. With Lionel's reputation, kidnapping an obvious VIP would be persecuted with maximum prejudice.
Plus, the obvious reason: he did not yet tame Windfall. Domesticated the black chocobo was, Ramza had not had a chance to see for himself how the bird would perform under him. It was a task that would take days, if it didn't extend into weeks and months. Unlike plain chocobo, who were used as a strong mounts and secondary healers, black chocobo were more fragile, but able to carry a human in limited flight because of its lighter, more aerodyne mass and larger wings. The plain chocobo preferred to use its beak and talons; black chocobo preferred to hock out a ball of magical energy, avoiding contact if it can.
"Another mouth to feed," Alicia quipped, but it was she who was holding a bag of grain to feed Windfall, who eagerly took to the two female knights. Her happy demeanor belied her cynic statement.
"We'll be resupplying at Zaland," Agrias told them. "We have enough money to accommodate basic needs for at least a month." Times past had told her the importance of inventory and the management of resources.
"Wonder what if that farmer was right about the city," Alicia said, ignoring the glare her superior was giving her for mentioning such a thing out loud.
Wordlessly, Agrias noticed Ramza indiscreetly equipping a bow, placing his quiver swung low besides his waist. Even Boco had noticed, evidenced by his gate being unsteady for a small distance.
***
They had arrived at Zaland Fort City, almost at least. The city had been built on top of a natural fortification, and as high up as they already were, they still had to ascend up an earthen ramp perpendicular to the low wall. As they reached the base of the incline, another young man appeared at the crest of the gateway. Wearing oversized blue work pants that reached up above his waist with a yellow long-sleeved shirt, he looked haggard. Agrias observed him and came with a swift conclusion: prey. Where Ramza had the disturbing taint about him, the boy up above was scared. But, even prey, backed to a corner could lash out.
Yelling could be heard from just within the fort city's reduced walls. It became quickly apparent: it was a fight, and the boy was outnumbered. Intinctively, Agrias had Boco crouch to the ground and she covered the princess with her shield, sword, and body as the Holy Knight had Boco lean up against the earthen ramp for further cover. The reason, an arrow had just flown over the gateway, missing the young man up above.
"An argument?" Agrias remarked rhetorically, even if her voice was directed to Ramza. "Someone's after that young man. . ." Within, she was angry. Caught in an altercation, the chances of them being hurt was slim, but they were still pinned down. To venture out from beyond the base of the ramp would be to expose themselves to stray arrows, whilst they did not know what was within the city walls. For all they knew, it could be the Lionel authorities.
It was Ramza who decided what they would do. "He'll be killed if we don't do something!" he cried out, kneeling besides Agrias, his eagerness warm anxiety, not cool calculation. "Let's help!" he urged her.
Agrias did not want to get involved. They did not know what the argument was about, and again, she did not who the others were. (I'd rather not have to explain why the Royal Guard had to fight the local soldiers. . .) she considered. Still, Ramza was her conscience at that point, and she knew he would scale the walls himself, alone, without her.
Taking a look at Princess Ovelia, anxious herself, kneeling on the ground, with Boco guarding her with his bulk, his left wing draped protectively atop her, Agrias made a decision.
She followed him.
Ovelia nodded at her, and it relieved her guilt somewhat, that the princess was authorizing her to help. It wasn't a direct order, but it was approval. 'Go' Ovelia mouthed, and Agrias ran after Ramza, even as he was making his way up the ramp. Feeling angry at herself, Agrias noticed that Alicia and Lavian had not hesitated to follow the boy, even as they lagged behind him, Lavian covering Alicia as the two made for the gateway. Pained, Agrias dismissed their allegiance to him, as if it was a dereliction of duty.
(Was it?) Agrias asked herself. (Yes!) her sense of duty cried out to her, angry at her for choosing to follow Ramza.
Ramza had already knocked an arrow into his bow, and as an armored knight, bareheaded, climbed upon the short wall to pursue the young man trapped above, Ramza loosed the projectile, piercing the man's torso armor just below the armpit, high on his torso. That did not stop the man, who angrily tore the arrow out and called back into the city.
Now whoever was within knew of their interference.
Still, the knight did not have the chance to jump off the wall -Windfall struck. Taking cue from Ramza, the black chocobo took the knight as his foe. Racing aside his new master, the purple chocobo extended its neck forwards, swept its wings forward and out and hocked out a ball of reddish- black energy, inscribed in runes, at Ramza's target. The man's armor visibly warped and scorched as the man was knocked off the wall, back into the city.
Agrias was reminded why the Black Chocobo would've been destroyed if it had remained on the farmstead. Focusing on Ramza as she ran after him, frantic, Agrias cast a protection spell. "Precious light," she addressed him, her voice growing confused, "be our armor to protect us. . ." she trailed off, before raising her voice. "Protect!"
Only Ramza was affected, as a pale aura began to emanate from him. He gave her a look as he nodded curtly, before he made for the point on the wall he where he had shot the knight. Before he began to scale the wall, he unhitched his quiver and dropped his bow; they would only get in the way.
The sharp crack that came from the young man they were fighting to save caused Agrias to start, jolting her. She saw a small wisp of smoke come from the end of the object he held, what she had assumed to be a small club. The scream from a woman that followed the loud sound caused Agrias to wonder what it was. Two more arrows came over the wall, this time, deliberate shots. Fortunately, none landed anywhere near them, as the archers were probing the outside.
True to their experience, Alicia and Lavian kept silent, not shouting out, refusing to give away their position as they loped past Ramza, who began to scale the low wall, and Windfall easily hopped up onto the wall and let out another 'Choco Ball' at an unseen opponent.
Ramza faced back before he lifted himself up the battlements of the wall, gazing back at her. Even from that distance, he held her gaze. Then, he was gone, over the wall, immediately leaping down into Zaland, out of her sight. Agrias understood. She would stay here, to protect the princess, to not commit the same mistake she had before, where it had been her indignation and inability to control Gafgarion, who must have lured her out of the monastery, that had cost her the princess and lead up to where they were now.
Still, as her knights and her Ramza went into battle, she felt guilt and regret for not being able to follow them in. (Its my responsibility) she repeated to herself, and she stood there, shield braced, readying herself for any more incoming fire. The princess was covered by Boco and the baggage chocobo, and she was on hand to respond in case anyone came from behind.
Agrias worried for what was behind that wall, and what she knew she was condemning her companions to face without her.
A fear that was realized when she saw a portion of the air in the city transform and a bolt of lightning come down from the ethereal storm cloud. Ramza's scream followed immediately afterwards.
Automatically, Agrias started forwards before she got a hold of herself. Kneeling on the ground, Agrias began to hyperventilate as she kept herself from rushing to Ramza. To him, to his aid, to his life. All she could do was stay there, fulfilling her duty to her princess, holding back her tears.
***
Still conscious, Ramza held his mouth slack after the scream that had ripped itself from him upon being hit with the bolt spell. Now he could see what he had jumped into. The knight he and Windfall had struck was down, and Ramza noticed that he could smell freshly cooked meat. . . human meat. Also, a female archer was down on the ground besides a cluster of crates stacked against a house, dead or unconscious, a wisp of smoke coming from her abdomen as she lay there on the ground, facing the sky.
Yet, remaining where two more knights, both coming after him, two wizards, both standing by another house, and on a rooftop, was another female archer. And there Ramza was, facing them all. One more spell or so, Ramza knew, and he'd be down, and the second wizard was casting a spell. Ramza knew he was dancing on the razor's edge.
Ramza had committed a grave mistake, he gambled, and though he didn't lose, he hadn't quite won. The dice continued to roll, and ducking his head, Ramza charged the second wizard, ignoring the two knights who closed in on him.
***
Agrias felt for him, trying to find his presence on the battlefield, abandoning her sight as the sense she depended on. She did not feel him. However, she felt another spell being cast by a second person, and sensing what it was targeting, Agrias began her own spell, praying for who she thought her target was. "Silent light," she whispered, her conviction returning, "shield from evil. . ." she prayed. . . "Shell!" She prayed. . .
***
Ramza felt another aura surround him, blanketing him in another layer of light. He paid little heed as he felt it do no damage to him -at least no pain he could feel yet as he closed distance with the second wizard. It was a race between himself and the wizard. Who could run faster than the other could cast. Ramza won, even as one of the knights tried to engage him. That knight missed, while Ramza struck on the fly and laidd open a portion of the chain mail the man wore. As Ramza intended, and the wizard feared, the spell came down upon them all.
***
Agrias watched the flash of azure behind the wall as the wizard unleashed his ice spell upon Ramza. She kept from wincing as the sound of a the massive crystal of ice shattering tore through the air. Not knowing if her own spell had been cast in time, she held her breath, wondering why she heard two screams, not one, and neither of them Ramza's. Slowly, she began to hope. (Alicia. . . Lavian,) Agrias thought, (I leave him to you.)
***
Ramza wondered why he was not struck down. He had made a suicidial end-run against the wizard targeting him, running the man down even as he continued to cast, his fellow wizard, still recharging running away, and the second knight protecting the mage. When the wizard cast the spell, he had cast it upon Ramza. But, since Ramza brought himself close the wizard, it affected them all, including the knight protecting said caster.
The dice had been rolled, and Ramza came out ahead by one; intending to take the wizard and the knight protecting that mage when the spell cast upon him would hit, Ramza did not expect to be standing. The other wizard had run away, heading for the protection of the last living knight on his side.
The second wizard slew himself with his own spell. As mages trained themselves to be more sensitive to the magical arts and in faith, so were they made more susceptible.
The knight fared little better, already wounded, and he too, fell, his face gashed open by a razor of ice.
On Windfall's side, he had engaged the other archer
Ramza realized. Agrias had saved him. He recognized the aura bestowed upon him to be what it was, a pair of protective spells cast upon him. Not allowing himself to stay there, halt, and start to shake in relief, Ramza headed for the running wizard, hoping to cut him down before the final enemy knight could challenge Ramza.
The young man on the gateway shot him first. In another loud blast, Ramza saw the wizard be knocked forwards as the mage's robed back was perforated by some kind of projectile, tearing itself through him. The smoldering wound of the downed man let Ramza know how the first archer had been slain.
The kid had shot him, somehow, with some kind of device.
Ramza made a mistake. He ignored the final archer. He felt his left bicep flare in pain before it went numb, the arrow going through his arm, missing bone, but tearing through flesh. His grip in that hand disappeared, and he held his mithril sword only in his right now. Ramza couldn't even tell himself that it wasn't fatal as he engaged the final knight with only one arm, and an archer to support that opponent.
Yet, there was hope. Alicia and Lavian had finally passed through the gate, and were sprinting towards him.
***
Agrias looked up from where she stood at the edge of the earthen ramp, from where she had taken a look back to check on Ovelia, still nestled protectively by the bulk of two chocobo. Alert, she kept her station standing as a strongpoint should the forces within be turned back, knowing that if the battle went against them, there would be no retreat for those within the walls. Angry at herself for what kept her here, away from supporting him, but most of all, angry at Ramza for what he was doing to her; what he made her feel, and how it tore away at her mind. Irrationality was something she couldn't help, and truth to be told, she had very good reasons for feeling that way.
***
The battle was over. Once the first wizard was slain, the balance had been tipped onto Ramza's favor. When Alicia and Lavian entered the fracas, the former hurriedly shoved Ramza away from the melee while Lavian engaged the other knight. It was no contest between a fresh warrior and one who had seen the rest of his team slain, sapping his will to fight. Seizing the moment when Ramza fell back for medical attention -his wounded arm would have rendered him useless, and already Ramza was beginning to feel the pain grow more intense as the shock began to wear off- the final knight ran.
It was for a good reason. On the rooftops, several more archers had appeared, followed swiftly on the ground by three squads of four squires, each of them lead by a knight. A final group of several mages followed; two wizards in their robes, a time mage in his conical hat, and something feared on the battlefield, a mage dressed in a green mantle with a headband sprouting a horn: a summoner.
Ramza was still conscious, the pain was great, but the adrenaline, testosterone, and endorphins he had built up kept him wired, alert, observant. Turning to look up at the likewise agitated young man at the top of the gateway, Ramza called out to him. "Are you all right?"
Ramza almost screamed as Alicia tightened her grip on his arm as she pulled the arrow through his arm, and he could have sworn that he felt the arrow's fletching brush his torn flesh within. Giving her a pained look, Ramza saw exasperation in her eyes.
***
Agrias sheathed her sword as she spotted the armed group approaching Princess Ovelia and the chocobos at the bottom of the ramp; they came from the countryside. For a good reason, they bore the standard of Lionel, and Agrias recognized their banner: they were Count Draclau's own soldiers. Taking a breath, Agrias approached them, still wearing her shield, wondering how she was going to explain the situation.
On the whole, she was relieved. The results of the battle within the battle still unknown, yet contact with the Lionel authority had been made, even if it was in an awkward fashion -an understatement to say the least.
***
It was almost surreal for Agrias, even as she suffered adrenaline letdown as much as Alicia and Lavian. Approaching her, a man wearing a thick weather-beaten leather vest with a tartan-less kilt -a skirt- hailed, "Who breaks the peace?" he inquired, his voice even and calm.
The fact that the man didn't bother to accent any authority, challenge, or superiority told Agrias of his mettle. Automatically, she had gauged the apparent leader of the approaching group The man was a geomancer, one of the skilled knights who used the earth itself as a weapon. With him were three squires, two archers, and a lone thief. A detachment ; reinforcements or replacements between the Lionel billets, Agrias surmised.
"I am Agrias Oaks, Knight of St. Konoe," she announced, raising her voice to make herself heard clearly.
The man paused in his step before continuing onwards. "May I ask what the royal guard is doing here?" There was apprehension in him, as he was responding to the incoming fight, and the possible implication of the presence of royalty was one that caused him to think fast.
"Seeking refuge in the Count Draclau," Ovelia announced, standing high, making herself visible from the two chocobo who sheltered her.
Immediately, the geomancer stopped, and slowly, he knelt onto his right knee, bowing his head. Taking his cue, the other Lionel soldiers also kneeled.
"Sir," Ovelia addressed the geomancer as she curiously bade him to rise, "we need your help," she stated simply. "My guards are involved. . ." Wordlessly, the Lionel soldiers nodded, rose, and began a quick march, marching around where Agrias stood before the princess, and up the incline.
Agrias allowed herself to feel some relief. While she would not trust any of those soldiers with Ovelia's personal safety, the geomancer seemed to believe in her authority. Finally, they had made first contact with Lionel authorities. "There was an altercation. . ." Agrias began, talking to the geomancer leading the soldiers.
Briefly, she wondered -worried- about Ramza. She could trust her soldiers to take care of themselves, and from the sounds she had heard, the brunt of the fighting was already over, the battle lasting less than a minute. But Ramza. . . a minute of excitement, sense of roused justice, sensibilities, and anger. It reminded her of what she had come to call 'the bad old days', adding to the feeling that she was helpless in protecting that which she cherished.
***
***Author's Notes***
I started to struggle on some parts of this. Again, it was at the battle sequences. Its just not what I want to do. They take up so much volume and effort, but have little to no true meaning, nothing to add to the story.
Pointing this out again, Agrias' feelings are beginning to conflict. Duty to the princess isn't everything to Agrias, but she must behave as if it was. This mindset of hers will be a source of danger, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
As to the new characters, Windfall and the geomancer. Don't think about them. Ramza needs a ride or at the least, a baggage animal, this is him. Plus, it made a brief highlight of his upbringing as on of the nobility.
The final segments where Ovelia convinced the Lionel soldiers so easily. The geomancer recognized her (who else would a St. Konoe knight protect?) and he picked up on her nuance. A fight involving her guards at the very least meant an indirect threat to Royalty, and Draclau is a ROYALIST (Loyal to the Crown). Act fast, or act not at all is a maxim that might fit this situation.
***Reader's Response Corner***
Thank you all for your support, especially you, Minka-chan. I'm happy that this story entertains you. . .
. . . and causes you to do silly things ^_^.
Sorry everyone, for the upcoming froth and turbulence concerning the writing process.
Also, to the guy who voiced some concerns. No offense, but they were very nebulous and general, could you become more specific?
-Thanks for pointing out the typo errors. I really do need to proofread.
***