(A/N: I know, I know, I haven't posted in a freaking long time, but I've been really busy. You think summer's going to be a relaxing time for you, then you get hit with a million things. sigh anyway, let's cut the sappy crap and skip to the story. Reviews are at the end, so we can satisfy those impatient people who want their story now, so here it is. Enjoy! )

Part 17: Momentary Crossroads

"Here?"

Saturos shook his head as Felix pointed to the outcropping of rock near the top of the cliffs of Silk Road. "No, the larger one a little to the right."

Felix frowned as he squinted up into the morning sun behind the cliffs. "That's too big for me to move, Saturos."

Saturos smiled slightly. "I don't want you to move it Felix. Just give it enough of a shake to collapse it in, that's all."

Felix turned around, looking at Saturos. "But won't that seal off the road?"

"I thought that was the idea," Alex chuckled, stepping up to Saturos. He motioned with his head to the east. "I found some spots I would be able to shatter with ice. Of course, it would need be done before Felix begins his part."

Saturos looked back to the outcropping above. "His part won't take long," he murmured as he walked toward Felix. He stopped short as Jenna darted in front of him, studying the rock in front of them. He groaned, grabbing her by the collar and thrusting her deeper into the path near where Menardi stood. "Jenna, if I have told you once, I have told you one hundred times; stay over there! We don't know how big this quake will be."

Jenna frowned at him momentarily, then stuck out her tongue at him, darting behind Menardi as he stepped toward her threateningly. Alex grinned and grabbed Saturos's arm. "Let her be. We don't have much time."

Saturos made a face, then turned back to Felix, walking toward him. He glanced around. "Where's Kraden?"

"Finishing some calculations," Felix said, glancing down the path. "He shouldn't be long now."

Just as Felix had finished speaking, Kraden came into view again, the other three men starting in his directions. Kraden held his spectacles and a fountain pen of his own design in one hand. In the other hand, he held a sheet of paper with numbers scattered next to sketches of arches and calculations of various distances. Both his sleeves were rolled up, leaving his fair-skinned arms lobster red from sun and covered in dirt and dust.

"What have you learned?" Saturos asked.

"Well," Kraden said with a glance upwards, then motioning with his spectacles to the page. "If we time the cave-in appropriately, we could seal off the entire passage, Altin and all."

"Why can't we just bring it all down at once?" Felix asked with a confused frown. "Saturos could send up some shots of fire, I could start a bit of a quake--"

Kraden grinned. "I hardly believe you are up to that, my boy. These stones have withstood several quakes in their time. I hardly think you would ever phase them. Besides, we might not be able to hit the passage into Altin."

"Are we certain we want to shut that off?" Saturos murmured. "That isn't exactly fair for some of the merchants--"

"Merchants?" Alex laughed. "We are busy trying to light the beacons to save Weyard from complete destruction and you worry about the merchants?"

"He does have a point, Master Alexim," Kraden said, chewing the end of his pen before scribbling a correction. "Some poor families depend on that money. Otherwise they starve."

Alex sighed. "However," he argued. "It would be nigh impossible to close the passage without sealing both roads to Xian and Altin."

"Nigh impossible," Kraden said thoughtfully. "But not completely. Follow me."

"I spotted this when I was first scouring the landscape," Kraden told them, pointing at an arch hovering several meters above the their heads. "If you look, those stones around the base don't seem quite as stable as they should. If Alex were to shatter a few points . . . here and here," he said, motioning to two spots on either side of the canyon wall. "Then Felix wouldn't have to exert himself quite so much as to bring the arch d--"

Saturos grabbed Jenna again, this time around the waist, throwing her over one shoulder and carrying her--kicking and shouting--back to Menardi as the others began their work. "Jenna," he growled, shaking her roughly after setting her down. "If I have to tell you one more time--"

"I just wanted to see the arch!" she snapped back, slapping him away before reaching down and smoothing her skirt.

Saturos waved a finger in front of Menardi's face. "Keep an eye on her."

"I'm a warrior, not a sentry," Menardi snarled quietly at him.

"For now," Saturos shot back, losing his patience. "You are a sentry." When he saw Menardi's face, he sighed. "Look, bind her wrists and ankles if you must. Just make sure she is not in our way."

Menardi's face soured. "If you are so concerned--"

"I'm not concerned," Saturos said. "Felix is."

"Then why doesn't he watch her?" she demanded.

"Felix is helping us!" Saturos hissed at her. He sighed. "Menardi, this won't take long at all. Just . . ." He fell silent as he saw a young woman, perhaps just older than Felix, round the corner, halting at the sight of them. She had pale lavender hair and cool cobalt eyes. One pink hand was press over her mouth as she caught sight of them. Saturos stepped past Menardi toward the woman, a little worried by her presence. "Can I help you?" he asked sharply, not in the mood for complications.

"No," the woman said hurriedly. She pressed her hands to her knees and bowed slightly. "I apologize, I . . ." She eyed the ground and flushed. "I thought you might be someone else."

Saturos was about to dismiss her, but Jenna cut in. "Are you expecting someone?"

The woman's eyes lit up. "Yes," she said, smiling slightly. "Perhaps you have come across them in your travels." She glanced at Saturos. "You are travelers, no?"

"Yes," Menardi answered before Saturos's temper replied.

"They are traveling in a group," the woman murmured as Kraden shouted orders to Alex. "There are perhaps four of them. They are all quite young . . . but . . ." She frowned, trying to see past Saturos. "Is there something wrong back th--"

"Nothing," Saturos answered, sidestepping in front of her. His red eyes focused on her, daring her to ask him again.

She swallowed, wringing her hands together. "I'm sorry. They--the group I'm waiting for, that is--there is one girl and three boys. One of the boys is quite small, much younger than the other boys or the girl."

"Do these people have names?" Saturos asked irritably, Menardi shooting him a cold glance.

"Yes," the woman said a little more quietly. "They are led by a boy named Isaac."

Saturos and Menardi exchanged a sudden glance as Jenna's face lit up. Menardi suddenly turned, grabbing Jenna's arm and taking her a short distance away, Jenna arguing quietly, trying to break free from Menardi.

Saturos looked cooly back at the woman. "Never heard of him."

The woman's face fell. "Oh . . . I had hoped--"

"Like that?"

"Just like! Ready, Felix? And . . ."

Saturos turned around, looking up at the arch, which began to tremble slightly. Cracks began to appear in it as the canyon slowly murmured a dull roar. Chips began to rain from the walls as Saturos was suddenly jostled. He stepped backward for balance, catching a momentary glimpse as the woman bolted past him.

He cursed, rushing after her. She had nearly reach the place where the other men stood when Saturos grabbed her, pulling her back just as a large stone landed where she had just been. Her hand slipped from Saturos's, causing her to land on the ground, staring up in horror as the stone fell in great chunks to the ground, only missing in the small circle where the three men stood. Felix's body was tense, his entire being bristling with energy and light. Kraden had put his sleeve over his mouth, and Alex watched in complete amusement as the canyon fell in around them.

Finally the rumbling stopped, stones scattered about at their feet, the passage entirely done. Kraden began to laugh, clapping his hands together excitedly. "Well done, boy! I suppose I underestimated you! Now . . ."

Saturos ignored the conversation and congratulations, turning to the woman and extending his hand, helping her to her feet. Immediately, she rushed across the ground to the wall of solid rock before her, feeling it frantically.

"Oh, no," Menardi murmured, coming back over, Jenna not far off, coughing from the dust.

"'Oh, no' indeed," Saturos grumbled. "Make sure Jenna doesn't speak to her. The last thing we need is for those brats to get any information on where we are headed."

"Don't talk long," Menardi said quietly. "The longer we stay, the more this woman will know."

"I know," Saturos murmured, starting back toward the other three men that were now staring confusedly at the woman by the wall, frantically feeling it for some sort of seam.

Alex frowned at Saturos, motioning with his head. "Who is she?"

"I don't know," Saturos murmured. "But if we aren't careful, she'll be trouble. Make sure we have everything we need. I'll handle this."

He stepped toward the woman who turned to him, her eyes wide and watering. "What have you done?"

"The Altin path is still open," Saturos said curtly. "Whoever you are waiting for will arrive after a few days time."

The woman shook her head. "Altin has been flooded. The mines are filled to the brim with water! There is no path into Xian!"

Saturos couldn't help but smile slightly at the news. "Well, either they will have to wait for the mines to drain, or return north and wait for the bridge to Kalay to be rebuilt." He shrugged and began away. "Either way, I assure you they will find their way west toward--"

"Why do you smile so when you speak of such things?" the woman asked quietly, a strange sort of fear in her eyes. Saturos bristled slightly. It was the same fear he'd seen in the eyes of the people of Vale.

He clenched his teeth together, trying to control himself. "What is your name, good lady?"

"Hama," the woman said curtly. "Master Hama of the Xian Temple--"

"Well, Master Hama," Saturos said in quiet malice. "I have a message for you to give Isaac: he needs to turn back before this becomes more complicated than it already is."

The woman's eyes changed, she stared at him knowingly. "You already know I cannot give him the message."

"Then give it to that small slight boy you are waiting for," Saturos said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I can read people as easily as you can, Master Hama--"

"But can you read minds?" the woman said quietly. She stared in a cool steady way that began to unnerve him. "You are called Saturos. You come from the land of the Northern Wilds."

"No more wild than any others I have encountered here on this continent," he growled as she walked past him, staring at Felix as he began to put his vest back on, tying his travel cloak around his neck again.

She tilted her head up, still watching him. "So this is Felix of Vale."

Saturos frowned at her, suddenly becoming irritable and pushing past her. "I don't have time for th--"

"I have a message for the boy, Master Saturos," the woman said.

He stopped short, not turning to her.

The woman stepped close enough that Saturos could hear her speaking quietly. "I know what you carry with you, Master Saturos," she said softly. "But those stones will create a much heavier burden upon this Felix than they will upon you, no matter how long you travel. You cannot protect him from it for much longer."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Saturos snapped quietly, looking over his shoulder at her.

She paused, taking in a deep breath, almost as though conversing with herself. "I am not allowed to say more," she murmured, still watching Felix. She suddenly smiled slightly, looking at Saturos again. "You may be the leader of this group, Master Saturos, but the core responsibility goes to the boy."

Saturos said nothing, merely began to walk back to where the others had assembled. Alex looked at him worriedly as Felix finished slipping on his pack. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Saturos murmured.

"There is a desert up ahead, Saturos," Kraden said as they started out of the canyon. "Perhaps we should rest the day and travel by night--"

"Alex can provide us with water and Menardi and I can control the heat," Saturos said. "It won't be a rough journey. I don't want anyone resting until we've reached the other side of the desert. Once we've passed that, it should be well past nightfall. We'll make camp, and tomorrow, we'll head for Kalay."

"Do we need to stop at the temple for anything?" asked Menardi.

Saturos shook his head. "No."

"What about that woman?" Alex said, motioning to the one standing at the wall.

Saturos paused, glancing back at Master Hama. "She won't cause us any trouble."

Saturos laughed as Felix gratefully plopped down on one of several beds of down feathers and cotton sheets, sighing as he dropped his sack on the floor beside him. "Civilization at last!" he laughed, kicking his boots off.

"Just out of curiosity, whose brilliant idea was it to take the desert route?" Alex asked, taking a seat on the edge of a bed as Saturos began the careful process of taking off his armor, still as bright and polished as it had been when they left Fuchin Temple.

Kraden set the tall walking stick he'd broken off a tree while they'd passed through the Mogall Forest against the wall by the door. He shook his head, laughing quietly as he hung his medicine pouch on a small hook driven into the wall. "If I remember Alex, it was you who suggested this route." Kraden continued as Alex suddenly stiffened, "Something about coming this way often with your grandfather and that young maiden-friend of yours."

"Mia," Alex said quietly. He stared at the ground for a long while, rubbed his fingers together. "Yes, I remember now."

Saturos watch Alex for a long moment before finally murmuring, "Well, we should be able to rest here for a few days before we start again on the trade route out toward Tolb--."

"I don't think that would be a good idea," Alex said as he examined his fingernails.

Saturos sighed as he pulled the breastplate off over his head, dropping it with a loud clank on his bed. "It figures. What's wrong with the plan this time--"

"Oh, stop acting like it's such a burden every time I suggest another plan," Alex growled. "Besides, my ideas are usually good ones."

"That's because they're the only ones you ever accept," Saturos muttered darkly as he turned his back on the man and began unclasping his bracers. Menardi gave him a wary look, but Saturos paid her no heed.

Alex's face soured. 'That isn't true."

"Oh," Saturos laughed dryly, rounding on him. "And I suppose using up all your energy so you had to drag me- half dead, might I add-- down to Bilbin was a good idea?"

Alex stared at Saturos in shock. "What?" he gasped.

"You heard me--"

"How dare you even begin to-- I saved your life back there, you ungrateful--!"

"Nearly killed me, more like--"

"Both of you stop this!" Menardi gasped, stepping between them and pushing them away from each other. She looked at each in turn until Alex finally shook his head. He gave a rueful laugh and turned away, sitting back down on the corner of his bed and pulling his bag up toward him, grabbing for a book. Saturos glared at Menardi momentarily before sighing and turning away. Menardi sighed, looking at the two who refused to return her glance.

"You both are acting like children . . ." When she saw Alex reading, she walked over and grabbed the book from his hands. He glared at her, but didn't open his mouth in objection. Menardi glanced back and forth between the two. "I think that everyone here needs to calm down. The last thing we need is people fighting with each other. If we start fighting with each other, we'll never be able to accomplish anything." She motioned north with her hand. "So we've lit one beacon. That isn't much of an accomplishment. We still have three more to go. This wasn't going to be an easy trip in the first place, and it won't get any easier if people don't try at least a little to get along."

Saturos scoffed and narrowed his eyes. "Why are you looking at me?"

"I'm looking at both of you," Menardi said. "It doesn't matter if only one of us has a problem. We're a group. It becomes everyone's problem."

"I don't have a problem," Alex said curtly. His eyes shot to the Proxinian. "Do you, Saturos?"

"No," Saturos said, trying to calm himself. "I suppose I don't."

Menardi looked at Saturos warily, but he only sighed and shook his head, beginning to remove his armor. Menardi let out a long breath in exasperation, walking over to the bed as Saturos spoke again, reluctantly. "So tell me, Alex, what was this suggestion you had?"

"I don't think it is a good idea for us to travel so slowly, taking the longer less urban routes," Alex replied. "If Isaac is as hot on our trail as Kraden's calculations say he is--"

"But we sealed off Silk Road," Saturos said, sitting on the edge of his bed, facing Alex. "That will put them off a good four . . . five days even. And with the flooding . . ."

"We don't know how long they'll be set back, Saturos," Alex said softly. "We saw how resourceful they've become. Besides, they have Mia with them now."

"I doubt that one girl, even an Adept, can make that much of a difference," Saturos said.

Alex shook his head. "You forget. She's a Water Adept, and the Mercury Beacon has been lit--"

"But the further away she gets from it, the weaker she will be," Saturos said. "Last time, the lighthouse drained my power. It wasn't the girl, nor was it Isaac or any of his companions." Saturos leaned back, sighed thoughtfully. "When we confront them again, there won't be any lighthouse to save them . . ."

Alex stared at Saturos for a long moment. He shut his eyes, motioning slightly with his hands. "Please, just listen to my suggestion before you jump to conclusions."

Saturos sighed, clenching his jaw momentarily for patience sake, then murmured, "I apologize. Please, continue."

Alex sighed. "I think our best course of action would be to use a little of the gold Master Nyunpa gave us and purchase tickets to cross to Tolbi on ship."

"A ship?" Jenna gasped excitedly, hurrying to the bed and shaking Felix. "We get to go on a ship?"

"I haven't been on a ship since I was a young boy," Kraden murmured, looking at Saturos. "It would be pleasant, I think, to go again."

"I was hoping to save as much as possible for supplies in Tolbi," Saturos said cooly.

"You forget," Alex said. "It's nearly time for Collosso. The shipmasters often lower their prices in order to get more people to take their ships."

"Still," Saturos murmured. "It is more money than I would rather spend."

Alex glanced around the room as the others began to drift away into afternoon naps or down to the lobby, the markets of Kalay below. He carefully started across the room as Saturos began to examine a bracer. He breathed a bit of hot air against it, steaming the surface as Alex leaned against the wall behind him, watching him rub it away with the bottom of his shirt.

"Saturos," he said, hardly lifting his head to meet his gaze. "Everyone is tired. I am, you are, Felix, Menardi . . . Jenna and Kraden aren't used to this sort of travel. If Isaac and his group were to catch up with us . . . I do not believe we could hold them off."

Saturos sighed, grabbing for the next bracer. "We will do fine."

"Saturos, I am no fool," Alex said, walking over to him. "You are still healing."

"I'm fine," Saturos repeated again, a little irritably, staring at the piece of armor in his hand.

With a single finger, Alex reached out and jabbed Saturos lightly in the ribs. Saturos took in a gasp of air, grabbing at the spot and doubling over. He took in several deep breaths to recover, then looked up at the Imilian man. He sighed, and went back to his armor.

"Saturos," Alex murmured, leaning against the wall.

"I'll be fine--"

"Stop saying that," Alex growled lightly. "You will not be fine, not yet. We cannot afford to lose anyone on this journey," he said, cutting in. "Everyone here is important. If anything had happened to me, we would not have lit the Mercury Lighthouse. If anything were to happen to Felix, would not be able to access the Venus Lighthouse. If anything happens to you--"

"Nothing is going to happen to me," Saturos growled softly, rubbing his side.

Alex groaned, leaning his head back against the wall. His folded his hands behind his back, pinning them between himself and the wall. "Don't you think it would be a better idea not to go looking for trouble?"

Saturos shook his head, sitting down on the bed. After a moment, he laughed half-heartedly. "Have you always been this paranoid?"

"I'm not being paranoid, Saturos," Alex sighed. "I'm being careful."

"We don't need to be careful," Saturos said back. "Cautious, yes, but you forget; the only opposition we have is four children--"

"They are nearly the same age as Felix," Alex shot back. "Do you not believe Felix would be a worthy foe--"

"You know that isn't what I'm talking about," Saturos sighed. "Besides, Felix has trained with us in Prox. He could easily outman any of those infants."

"Alright, then," Alex said. "Since I clearly can't make a point from this direction, let's try another, shall we? What if something were to happen to another of us? Menardi for example?"

Saturos chuckled. "Trust me, Menardi can take care of herself. As can you and Felix. And as for Jenna, well, Felix watches her like a hawk. Besides she's proven to be quite the little spitfire herself--"

"And Kraden?" Alex said. "Do you honestly think he could match his own in a battle?"

Saturos paused. "We'll watch over him. He'll be fine."

"Not in a large battle," Alex growled, slamming an open palm against the wall. "Saturos, we cannot afford to lose anyone! How much longer much I impress this to you? Not only that, but we will need you to be at your maximum potential by the time we reach the lighthouse. Otherwise, how can we even expect to pass the trials there in?"

Saturos swallowed, refusing to look up at Alex.

The Mercury Adept continued to stare. "Saturos, you know I'm right."

Saturos took in a deep breath through his nose. "I know."

Alex let out a long sigh of relief, smiling slightly. "Good." He chuckled. "You know, you can be as stubborn as a mule when you wish to be."

"As can you," Saturos shot back with a slight smile. He shrugged slightly, sighed. "I suppose we'll just leave tomorrow for the docks."

"A good plan," Alex said. "Much better than the one you'd had before."

"Stop rubbing it in," Saturos chuckled as Alex crossed the room, lying out on his bed, basking in the sunlight, and closing his eyes for a nap.

Felix handed the vendor his gold, taking the two large pieces of violet fruit, handing one to Jenna, keeping the other to himself.

"I never thought that places could be so big," Jenna murmured as Felix sauntered down through the bazaar, filled with foreign perfumes and oils, brightly colored pots and plants, small animals in cages for sale, and foods neither he nor she had seen in all of their travels thus far.

"What do you mean?" Felix asked, taking a large bite of the plum.

Jenna shrugged, turning the fruit over in her hands, staring at the tender surface. "I don't know. I guess . . ." She sighed. "I guess I just thought there wasn't anything else outside of Vale, you know? Like it was the only thing that was."

Felix glanced at her. "I remember feeling that way."

"After the flood?" Jenna said quietly.

Felix took in a deep breath as though to speak, but looked at his fruit and took another bite instead.

Jenna shook her head, slipping the fruit into the bag slung over her shoulder. "If you don't want to talk about it, you can just tell me, okay? Just . . . don't pretend like I'm not here."

"I'm not ignoring you," Felix murmured before he swallowed.

"Then why won't you talk about what happened to you?" Jenna asked. "All this time we've been together again, and you haven't said a word of what happened while you were gone. You won't tell me anything about Mom or Dad. You just . . ." She shook her head. "You're so quiet. That wasn't the Felix I remember."

"I'm not the Felix you remember, Jenna," Felix said quietly. "I'm different."

"Well, if you're different, I want to know how," Jenna said, getting frustrated.

"Well, maybe I don't want to talk about it," Felix muttered, quickening his pace.

Jenna groaned, trying to keep up with her older brother. "Felix . . . Felix, slow down!"

Felix refused to stop, pushing through the crowd, past the vendors. Jenna broke into a jog, but her brother was fast, and his legs nearly twice as long as hers. She lost sight of him near a cart selling fish, looking through the crowd of brightly colored fabrics for the plain green tunic of her brother.

She cursed, kicked the dirt, and started back along the path of the vast bazaar. She wandered for an hour or so before she finally caught up with Felix again. He was sitting at a fountain near the north-end of the town, brooding, as he almost always was when Jenna was with him. He nearly seemed startled when she took a seat next to him.

"Hey," she murmured.

He hardly whispered his response.

Jenna glanced down at her boots, her feet that dangled over the edge. She tapped them against one another, shaking off dust which gathered in thick clouds into the air about them. Glancing at Felix, she weakly asked, "Felix . . . what just happened back there?"

"What do you mean?" Felix said.

She shrugged. "I just . . ." She looked again at her boots. "Every time I want to talk to you about . . . these last few years or . . . Mom and Dad, you just . . ." She looked up at him, sighing. "Shut me out."

"Nothing important has happened," Felix lied quickly, turning from her.

Jenna shut her eyes. She let out a sharp breath, turning away from him. "Alright . . ."

Felix drew images in the water with a finger, gloves folded neatly on his lap. He drew a line, then a star, then a house, then . . . "Jenna," he said quietly. "I'll tell you someday, just . . ." Felix sighed and flicked the water off his fingers. "I don't want to talk about it now."

"I understand," Jenna said, shrugging him off.

Felix made a slight face, sensed her displeasure. He scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully, feeling the slight chain there. He paused, glanced at his sister. "Hey . . ." He pulled it off over his head, folded the chain in his free hand. He held it out to her, chuckling lightly to himself. "You dropped something."

Jenna looked at it, smiled sadly as he moved to drop it into her hand. She shook her head. "Keep it," she murmured.

"Jenna," Felix admonished, but she pushed his fingers to cover it.

"I want my brother to give it back," she said, staring at his hand, the tan much deeper than her own. "Keep it until you're ready to be my brother again."

"Jenna," Felix said. "I . . . I am your brother."

"No," she sighed, wincing. "Not yet. Just . . . keep it for now. Besides," she shrugged, leaning back slightly, supported by her hands. "It used to bring me luck . . ." She chuckled. "Gods know you need it more than I do."

Felix smiled slightly. "Thanks."

Jenna shrugged.

Felix stared at her for a while, slipping on the necklace and tucking it back under his tunic. He glanced back down at the water, dipping his entire hand in and then lifting it out, dropping the water from his palm. He glanced at the water, then at his sister, and smiled.

Jenna gasped as the cold water hit her on the side of her face. She turned slowly from the shock of ice, looking at her brother horrified as he began to laugh. "Felix . . ."

"What?" Felix laughed, looking at her with a broad grin. "Wha--ah, come on, it was a joke! Jenna--"

Jenna suddenly burst into her own grin, driving both her hands against the water, bringing up small waves against her brother who began to run. She chased him around the fountain, both throwing handfuls of water at each other.

Kraden stood on the roof of the inn, staring out as the sun began to set, dying the sky a vibrant red-orange, smeared with pinks and violets all around, as though fairies-- in their dancing-- had tumbled an artist's paints and raced their footprints along the clouds.

"Good evening, Master Sage."

Kraden glanced over his shoulder, looking at Saturos who was standing at the doorway, staring thoughtfully at the sky. Kraden smiled slightly and turned back to his thoughts. "Hello, Saturos."

Saturos shook his head as he started across the rooftop toward the elderly man. "Astounding, isn't it?"

"Quite," Kraden nodded, falling back into silence.

Saturos smiled slightly to himself. "Would you rather be alone?"

"No," Kraden said, starting to the three-legged stool propped against the short walls that surrounded them. He sat with a groan of age and said, "No, I enjoy having someone to speak to, or ramble to as Jenna puts it."

Saturos smiled. He glanced over his shoulder at the man. "You looked worried a moment ago. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, fine, fine," Kraden quickly assured him with a wave of his hand, a wrinkled glove. "I was just . . . remembering things."

"Would I be intruding if I asked what?" Saturos ventured.

Kraden smiled warmly. "Not at all. However, if you don't want to hear the . . . crazed ramblings of an old man, I suggest you run. I sometimes tend to carry on, even if I don't mean to--"

"I don't think you are," Saturos said.

Kraden chuckled. "Are what? Crazed or old? If you don't think I'm crazed, perhaps you don't know me as well as you should. If you don't think me old, well . . . perhaps your eyesight is worse than mine, Master Saturos."

Saturos smiled. "Perhaps, but I don't mind listening to your ramblings. I find them insightful."

"I am old, Master Saturos," Kraden said, shaking his head. "But not wise. Not yet, I think."

"Either way, I'd be glad to listen," Saturos said, sitting on the edge of the wall.

Kraden took in a deep breath through his nose. "Well, it wasn't much, just . . ." He smiled tiredly. "Thinking."

"About what?" asked Saturos.

Kraden shrugged. "I was very young, but I do believe I passed through Kalay when I was enlisted to Lord Babi's services. However, I passed through Kalay many times in my youth, so that may be all it is."

"How young were you?" Saturos asked.

Kraden thought a moment. "I can't say. Old enough to remember, but young enough to forget the details."

"This... Lord Babi," Saturos murmured, staring out at the sunset. "Is he still the ruler of Tolbi?"

Kraden nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes . . . Has been as long as I can remember."

"So he was young when he summoned you?" Saturos said, glancing at Kraden.

The old man slowly shook his head, not looking at Saturos. "No... no, that was the strange thing. He was an old man... Perhaps as old as I am now..."

Saturos frowned. "And he is still ruling?"

Kraden nodded.

Saturos looked back to the sky. "He must be ancient, then... Quite frail, I'd imagine."

"Not particularly," Kraden said quietly. "No, he seems as healthy as I am."

Saturos turned back to Kraden. "How old is he?"

Kraden shrugged. "I can't say. But he must be considerably older than I."

"Then how is he still in good health?" Saturos gasped. "Let alone living?"

Kraden shrugged. "Who can say? Perhaps he is just blessed by the gods." He looked at Saturos and grinned slightly. "Perhaps he made some pact with the demons."

Saturos chuckled slightly. "Perhaps." He shifted his weight. "You have been in Lord Babi's service for your entire life?"

"Nearly," Kraden murmured. "Just nearly." Kraden fell silently again, shrugging embarrassedly. "At any rate, those were my thoughts." Kraden grimaced slightly as he shifted his weight, smiling at Saturos. "I apologize. That wasn't very insightful at all, was--?"

"Do you think there may be trouble?" Saturos asked. "As we pass through Tolbi?"

"What?" Kraden asked.

"This Lord Babi," Saturos murmured. "Will he be angry that you are traveling with strangers instead of returning to his service?"

Kraden shrugged. "Well, I'm not certain. I don't believe so. After all, I have accomplished what I was sent to do by Lord Babi. If any sort of trouble does arise, I will simply have to tell him that I must continue traveling with you and your companions."

"So, do we dare go speak with Lord Babi?" asked Saturos, staring at the ground as he cleaned his fingernails with his thumbnail.

Kraden's mouth twitched. "No. It would be best to keep a low profile. If Isaac and the others were to come back through and ask for our whereabouts, they might be given to them. More importantly, if they report you as robbers, kidnappers, even murderers as," Kraden quickly added when Saturos'sface lit up with anger, "Isaac may think you to be, then..." Kraden shook his head. "No, it would be better to stay in the shadows."

"How far behind us do you think they are?" Saturos asked.

Kraden smiled tiredly. "My specialty is alchemy, Master Saturos. Not geography and most certainly not tracking." He scratched at the scraggly beard under his chin. "Well, assuming they were one day behind us when we left Bilbin. They don't have as an experienced Water Adept to help them cross the Kolima Bridge since it was abandoned when we reached it. It's suicide to try to swim that current, so to find someone to help them may take an extra three days back-track to Bilbin, and then to the bridge. Master Nyunpa said he would stop Isaac for a while, but he didn't say how long. Perhaps they will stay two days at most, which puts them back one more day . . . The Mogall Forest was growing trees the size of towers as though they were weeds, so by the time Isaac and his companions arrive, it will be twice the trial it was when we passed through. And now with Silk Road sealed, it will be a good week's journey through the mines in Altin, but only if that rumor about the flooding was true." Kraden sighed. "But either way, Master Saturos, I do have to agree with what Alex said earlier. It would be wise to rest for a time. It is nearly the Collosso festival, and I believe it would be safe enough to spend, perhaps, a week. According to my calculations, that would still give us a four or perhaps five day lead. Even if we stay only through the competitions it would allow us to regain our strength enough."

"True," Saturos sighed. "And if anything did happen, it would be too crowded for any action to take place."

"Not necessarily," Kraden said. "Not if Isaac is as keen on catching you as he may be."

Saturos leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I would regret it if it did. The last thing I want is for people that aren't involved to be injured, let alone killed."

"I believe any of us would feel the same way," Kraden said quietly.

Saturos lifted his chin. "However, I will do whatever is necessary to light the beacons, even if it does come to that."

Kraden nodded sadly, glanced up. The sky had begun to darken and his bones felt older than they had that morning. He sighed as he stood, letting out another groan of age. "I do believe it is time for me to turn in, Master Saturos." He smiled. "Perhaps our next chat will be a little more . . . enlightening?"

"I feel enlightened already," Saturos chuckled as the old man left, closing the door to the summer's night behind him. Saturos sighed, staring out at the same sky he had earlier. The mountains were black against the sky the color of light through a cobalt bottle, quickly cooling and thickening with clouds. There would be a storm that night.

"Are you alright?"

Saturos looked up, seeing Menardi standing in the doorway, changed into the pair of trousers she wore under her skirt. He smiled at her. "Thinking."

She smiled faintly. "What about?"

Saturos sighed, looking back at the sky. "Tolbi. Do we really want to stop there?"

"What did Kraden say?" she asked.

Saturos shrugged. "He thinks it's safe enough. Me . . . well . . ." He looked back at her, wincing a slight smile in her direction. "I've learned to be pessimistic."

Menardi sighed. "Just because things have happened in the past--"

"It isn't so much that . . . it's . . ." Saturos rubbed his hands together, tilting his head back and staring at the sky, suddenly darker than it had been a moment before. "I don't know anymore."

Menardi crossed to him, beginning to rub his shoulders. "Don't think about it so much," she said. "If you analyze everything so much, your head will explode."

"Right now that doesn't sound a terrible fate," Saturos chuckled sadly.

Menardi's hands stopped. "Saturos, you need to stop worrying so much."

Silence hung in the moment between them.

Saturos shook his head, worked his jaw in a slow steady circle. "I can't do that."

"Saturos--"

"Menardi, I lost all my men that first time we went to Sol Sanctum," Saturos said, standing and stepping away from her touch. He stared out at the sky. "I'm not going to lose anyone else . . . I refuse to lose anyone else."

Menardi stared at him worriedly. "You think it will come to bloodshed--"

"Do you?" Saturos asked.

Menardi swallowed. "I don't--"

"But what if it does?" Saturos said. "That's why I'm so worried, that's why we cannot afford to take unnesseccary stops. I don't want torisk lives. Alex think I don't care; he thinks I'm hurrying everyone along and we'll be too weak to battle later. I hope to avoid those battles altogether." He sighed, letting out a bitter laugh. "I don't even want to kill that Isaac-boy. He's done nothing to me but what he thought was right."

"If they only knew," Menardi said quietly.

Saturos hung his head. "Well... we know. And that's all that matters right now. It's our responsibility to do this. If we fail, then..."

"Then someone else from Prox would be sent to complete our task, and the quest would go on without us," Menardi said softly. "Saturos, we can only do the best we can do. We are not Gods."

"No," Saturos said quietly. "And I know that. It's just..." He sighed. "Think of who they'd have to send out. Puelle? Leaving the others without a chieftain? What about Agatio? The other warriors? They have mothers. Fathers, husbands, wives, children. Even Karst, Menardi, think about it . . ."

Menardi shook her head. "No, Karst won't be involved with this; sh-she can't." Menardi made a face. "She's too young."

"If we failwill her agematter anymore?" Saturos said. "You see, we can't afford to fail."

"Why are you always so concerned with what will happen if we fail?" Menardi asked softly, stepping away from him angrily. "You always talk about it. Always push us. It's like . . . you're expecting us to fail, so you're trying to prevent it."

"Maybe that's what it is," Saturos said softly. He groaned and turned to her "I don't know. All I know is I'm not going to give up easily." His jaw clenched tightly, his red eyes suddenly lit with the strange carnivore fire Menardi recognized from before. "I do not want to fight, Menardi, butI will do what I must... I will even kill Isaac if he get in my way, Menardi. I'll kill him, his little friend, Hammet's boy . . . I'll even kill that Mia-girl if it comes to that."

A sharp voice rose from the stairwell. "It won't come to that."

Menardi and Saturos turned to see Alex, staring at Saturos strangely. His aqua eyes narrowed. "It is getting late. We need rest for the trip tomorrow."

Saturos nodded, then turned away from him again. "We're coming."

Alex glanced at Menardi, then slipped away. She started for the door, stopping and facing him again. "Saturos . . . do you really think it will come to that?"

The slow rumble of the closing bazaar and the quiet wind in the streets.

"I don't know . . ." He looked at her again, stony faced and troubled. He looked back at the sky, heard her soft footsteps moving toward the door. "Menardi . . ." he murmured

"Mm?"

"It isn't just those in Prox I worry for."

Menardi smiled sadly. "I know, Saturos."

Saturos sighed. "Promise me you'll be safe . . . that you won't take needless risks . . ."

Menardi was quiet. "Saturos, you know I wouldn't ever intentionally put this mission in jeopardy."

Saturos took a deep breath in through his nose. "I know." He sighed. "Good night, Menardi."

"Good night," she murmured, and shut the door behind her.

(A/N: Okay, sorry. I lied. The computer's being odd and I'm unable to access the reviews. I remember a couple so I'll definitely write back to them.

Water Adept 17? I hope that was right. I am so-o sorry if you though I was angry! No, no, I'm not angry at all! I just have some really weird issues with the Piers:Mia thing that aren't really explainable. If I ever get this story finished, I have an idea for a fic that could explain that, but for now, let's say he's . . . too old for her. That might give away some of the plot for the story, but if not, all the better! But no, I'm NOT angry at you!

Nintendo Gamer: (I think was the one. BLUSH Okay, before I ever make assumptions about anyone's gender again, I will make sure my assumptions are correct. Apologies! Forgiveness! ;;

Okay, I think that wraps up this one. Yes, it was really short, but I'm trying to hurry and post it. BTW, on the plus side, the next post should be fairly soon. It's one I've been thinking about for a long time. It will make up for this one being so short because it should be rather long. It'll nearly cover all of Collosso, so, stay tuned! . . . PLEASE!)