Danger hidden in his eyes.
We should have seen it from far away.
Wearing such a thin disguise in the light of day,
he held the answer to our prayers.
Yet it was too good to be…
Proof before our eyes,
yet we could not see

"Play Minstrel Play"—Blackmore's Night

Mother Terra

Chapter VI

For the next three weeks, Goldwin and Aldous remained in Alexandria. They watched plays at Ruby's mini theater, drank in pubs, and remained in off-and-on contact with Zidane.

After Prince Hunter was in his crib, Zidane and Garnet decided to take a stroll through the courtyard. Although it was snowing again, Zidane and Garnet wanted to spend this time together before he left for Lindblum—to discuss international business with Regent Cid, and to spend the evening with his Tantalus brothers. While they were away, Zidane and Garnet asked Mikoto to keep an eye on their son in case he woke up. But they promised Mikoto that they would only be gone for half an hour.

The two walked arm-in-arm beneath the faint light of the moon, while the snow melted in their hair and on their coats.

"Something has been on my mind ever since this afternoon," Zidane said.

"What's that?"

"It's about Goldwin and Aldous."

"What about them?"

"I visited them today at their room in the inn."

"Yes?"

"They've been there for three weeks, and the only work I've ever known them to do is when they helped that fisherman out for one day…Where're they getting all this money? The cost of that room and food…it makes no sense."

Garnet smirked. "Maybe they're thieves, like you once were."

"Dagger, I'm being serious."

Garnet chuckled. "Yes, I know; and you're right, it doesn't make any sense. Did you ask them?"

"Yeah, kind of."

"Kind of? How do you 'kind of' ask a question? That's the same as asking a pregnant woman if she's 'kind of pregnant.' Either she is or she isn't."

"It's simple, you ask it, but you don't push it."

"So, what did you ask them?"

"I asked them how they've been able to afford this room for the last three weeks."

"And what did they tell you?"

"They told me that they had some money from Terra, and some money that they made in the Black Mage Village…Maybe I should ask Vivi or Mikoto what kind of work they did?"

"…Perhaps."

"But even then, I seriously doubt they could live in the inn for the three weeks. There's something more to this."

"I wouldn't worry about it. It's really none of your business. As a member of the royal family, you—and I—have much more important business to worry about. Goldwin and Aldous haven't committed any crimes, and they seem like good people. Therefore, I wouldn't worry about it."

Zidane sighed. "I guess you're right, Dagger."

Garnet smiled, and moved closer to Zidane.

Zidane noticed that she was shivering. "You're cold. Let's go back inside."


At the same time another conversation took place, although this one took place through radio communication.

"Nuri, are you there?" asked Goldwin.

"…Yeah, I'm here. What's going on?"

"We have news," answered Aldous.

"News…? I pray that it's good news?"

"Oh, it is!"

"Hmm, by the sound of your voice, Aldous, I'd say that it must be good news."

"Tomorrow," began Goldwin, "Zidane leaves for Lindblum. He won't return until the next day."

"Wonderful! Then tomorrow you'll strike!"

"Yes."

"Do you know what to do?"

"Yes."

"Then I have two questions to ask you."

"What're those?"

"First, when do you plan on striking? Second, if the Warp Stone does fail, what will you do?"

"We'll strike at ten in the morning—that's about an hour after Zidane leaves for Lindblum, though we'll make sure that we watch the Red Rose leave port.

"As for your second question, if the queen screams—and there's a good chance that she will—we'll use our magic to keep the guards at bay. Then we'll leap into the courtyard. From there, we can jump into the lake below and swim to safety."

"Hmm…how fast can you swim, Goldwin…? How about you, Aldous? The guards'll be shooting at you. I'm sure there're archers on the towers."

Goldwin and Aldous were silent.

"I thought as much," added Nuri.

Goldwin chuckled. "Such little faith you have, Nuri."

"Huh?"

"The lake houses the harbor, and we have enough magic in us to slow down the archers, while we secure a boat. I know stealing is wrong, but we'll leave the boat on a bank, so it can be recovered and returned to its owner. Like you said, you've got to be a little bit liberal sometimes."

"…Goldwin, you truly amaze me! I look for tomorrow to be a great success."


At nine the next morning, Goldwin and Aldous watched the Red Rose leave port. Goldwin turned to Aldous and nodded. "Now is the time."

"Wait! I have one important question."

"What's that?"

"How're we going to get the queen and the prince together?"

"Don't worry about that. That's just been made easier."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you later. Let's go."


Goldwin and Aldous crossed the moat and came to the Castle's large iron doors. When they arrived, a guard stopped them.

"Master Goldwin and Master Aldous, is it?"

Goldwin nodded. "It is."

"You come here occasionally to see Prince Zidane, do you not?"

"That's correct."

"I'm sorry, but His Highness left no more than an hour ago to Lindblum."

"We're aware of that, but we have important business here anyway."

"Could you please state your business?"

"Certainly. Last night the prince consort spoke to us in our lodgings. He said something to us that was very peculiar…very queer, you could say. We'd like to discuss this matter with the queen."

The guard nodded. "I understand, but I can't give you direct access to Her Majesty. Let me take you to Captain Steiner. He can take you to the queen."

"Thank you."


Goldwin and Aldous followed the guard through the royal hall. And when the guard approached Captain Steiner, she saluted him. "Captain, Master Goldwin and Master Aldous're here to speak with Her Majesty. They told me that it's important business that involves Prince Zidane."

"Thank you, soldier," Steiner replied, before he approached Goldwin and Aldous. "It's good to see you again, Master Goldwin and Master Aldous. At present time, the queen's busy with the prince. But, if this is an important message, I shall take you to her."

"It is," Goldwin said.

Steiner nodded. "Very well."


Steiner directed Goldwin and Aldous to the royal chamber and rapped on the door. "Your Majesty?"

"Yes, Steiner?"

"Master Goldwin and Master Aldous're here to see you."

"Me? What for?"

"They say that they have some important information on Zidane that they need to speak with you about."

"Very well, I just need to place Hunter on his rocking horse. Please let them in."

Steiner did as his queen requested. And when he completed his task, he saluted the queen, and exited the room.

With Steiner gone, Goldwin shot Aldous a look. A look that implied Aldous should move very close to the nursery door.

"Goldwin, Aldous, what is it about Zidane that you need to tell me?"

"Let's move over there please," Goldwin replied, while he motioned to the nursery. "I'd prefer to discuss this away from the door. Too many unwelcome ears could hear it."

Garnet nodded. "Alright."

And once they did so, Garnet asked again, "What's this about Zidane?"

Goldwin shot Aldous the same look and answered, "It has to do with our relationship to Zidane."

"…What do you mean?"

"Hi!" Hunter interjected. He climbed off his rocking horse, and toddled over to the three.

Garnet, Goldwin, and Aldous smiled.

"Would it be alright if I held him?" Aldous asked.

"If he lets you, sure!"

Aldous held out his arms to scoop up the child, and Hunter did not protest.

"Now," continued Goldwin, "as you remember the first time we met both you and Zidane we told you that we had defected from Nuri."

"…Yes?"

"Well…there were some mistakes in the story."

Garnet was becoming agitated. "What does any of this have to do with Zidane…! What mistakes are those?"

"Well, we did leave Nuri in the Black Mage Village—that's true. But we didn't defect from him. In fact, we're quite supportive of his plan."

Garnet's heart began to beat faster. She was alone with two people, who—obviously—were not friends. She did not have a weapon. There were no guards around her. And then she realized one of the men held her son. "Put my son down."

Aldous smirked.

Garnet's voice began to rise. "Please put him down."

Aldous continued to smirk, and with his free arm exposed a large knife. "Don't even think about calling the guards! One scream and baby boy's no more!"

Garnet quivered.

And by the change in Aldous' tone, and the large knife in his hand, Hunter became scared as well. "Mommy!" he cried, while he extended his arms for his mother.

"Damn it! I forgot that the child would cry!" said Goldwin.

"Please give me back my son," Garnet said, almost in a whisper. She fell to her knees and began to weep.

Goldwin exposed the collar. "Only if you let me put this collar on you."

Garnet did not hesitate. "I'll do anything to save my son. Please don't hurt him."

Goldwin smiled. "Good."

Goldwin put the collar on Garnet and turned to Aldous. "Return the prince to the queen."

Aldous lowered his knife, and did as Goldwin requested.

Garnet hastily took the child. Hunter was still crying, but Garnet pacified him by cooing him and massaging his hair. "It's okay, baby."

"Let's go," Goldwin said.

"Go where?"

Goldwin did not answer her. Instead, he motioned Aldous over to him. The two formed a semi-circle, with Garnet as the centerpiece. Goldwin removed the Warp Stone, threw a note to the floor, pushed the button…and vanished!

When the four re-manifested they were at the edge of the Black Mage Village. Nuri and the others were there as well.

"Ah," Nuri began, "you succeeded! Wonderful!"

Nuri turned to another genome. "If you would please."

The other genome nodded, and took Hunter from his mother's arms.

Once again, Hunter cried.

And so did Garnet. "No! My baby! Give me back my son! It's cold, and he's not dressed…"

Garnet's cries were cut off—and Hunter's increased—when he watched his mother receive a slap on the back of the head by Nuri.

"Shut up, you dumb bitch!"

Goldwin, Aldous, and the other genomes were stunned. This was a side of Nuri they had never seen.

"What're you looking at? Do you want this dumb bitch to arouse attention, and then have the entire community of black mages and genomes from Bran Bal after us? Use your fucking brain!"

The genomes stood with their mouths open.

Finally, Nuri sighed. "You have to be a little bit liberal sometimes."

While this took place, Garnet was considerable quiet. Some of it was out of fear for her son. But the other reason was that she was chanting. Trying to summon one of her eidolons.

"You can stop!" Nuri replied, once he realized what she was doing. "That collar around your neck prevents you from summoning your eidolons…Come then, it's time to go."

"Go where?"

"To your husband's homeland."