Reveiwer Responses,

InuKratosStan: A novel and a game writer have to have different skills, I probably can't write a good game but I can write a good story, so I'll stick to what I do here. There's a few Kratos, a little Colette, and a lot of searching for a potion. E-mail me if you want some lessons in writing 'K

Serrated Darkness: I hate "game guilde" novilizations too! This is more of a fluff chapter, not too balanced, but don't worry by the time they leave PalmaCosta there will be a little bit of everything that's gone on.

Eevetta: Thanks, and here it is!

Fallen Star Angel: This is shorter and less balanced, hopefully it's still good.

Melody of Shadow: Well PalmaCosta looks like it's going to be three chapters (makes Izoold seem short huh?). Thanks for the info on the Sword Dancers, it'll help me alot later on.

To my readers

Surprised, trying to pump out as much as I can and Shards wont suffer any lack of updating till time's up. Fixed Kratos' age reference with this chap. will fix up older mentions latter on, the 'hidden' part of Lloyd's oath is hinted at in the chapel, OC hope he's not a Gary Stu material, and for a lot of material would you believe I'm going to have to have even more chapters just to cover PalmaCosta... Looks like all they did was get the potion (sweat drop) Oh well... BTW CatlingColette.. it's a nick name.

Kasan Soulblade

PalmaCosta

Chapter 10

It was a race between Raine and Noishe on who could get off the boat fastest. Noishe won, having the benefit of four legs and Genis won five pieces of gald. Grumbling a little Lloyd paid up, and the group got off of Max's boat. Before anyone could say anything Raine and Noishe decided that the race to get off of Max's boat should turn into the race to see who could get into shore first. They charged through a mess of people, annoying customer and shop keeper alike with there mad dash.

"Man what's up with them?" Lloyd muttered, watching the huge ships alongside them have massive crates pulled out by way of rope and pulley. He watched boats loaded up with goods and others have them lowered, he was gawking, he knew it, and hardly cared. Sailing looked like you had to be really strong to do it, and though it looked really tough, but it seemed worth it. He smiled recalling the strange grey fish -dolphins Genis had called them- that had swam by them, there smiles and eyes seemed knowing, as if they knew the greatest joke and if only they could talk... Lloyd had dared to go to the edge despite Raine and Kratos' protests, and just by the thinnest streak of luck managed to pet one of them. It was like petting something wet, warm, yet not exactly slimy yet kind of slimy, it was hard to explain. For his efforts he'd gotten a face full of water and the thing had swam off chuckling. Later that night, for it had taken a few days and nights to reach PalmaCosta, he had woken to Kratos stepping over his bed roll. Through partially closed eyes he saw the mercenary kneel down by the edge of the boat, one of the grey dolphins popped out of the water sending a spray of mist up with a hiss. Kratos had chuckled, and petted the creature, then fished something out of his pocket.

"An offering, may the Lady of Mist grant us safe passage across her realm... And a snack."

There was the sound of teeth snapping on something, a fish probably, and then he caught a glimpse of wood, he thought it might be a ring, then it was gone, given to the weird fish thing. There was a chitter, a loud splash and Kratos staggered back sputtering, in parting the dolphin had decided to slap it's tail against the ocean and soak the mercenary. There was a chuckle from the creature, a kind of squeek chirp, then nothing more.

You so like animals. Lloyd thought to himself as the mercenary easily got off the boat. Legs feeling a bit weird he managed to not fall flat on his face, though it was a near thing. Colette wasn't so lucky.

"That' was fun!" Genis chirped. "And fascinating, being on a boat certainly helped me figure out how they work, now that I better understand I could..."

"Genis you're Raine side is showing." Lloyd said, rubbing his head and telling himself that his legs would stop feeling all weak and twichy in a little bit. "Though the boat thing was cool."

"It was fun, lots of fun don't you think so Mr. Kratos!" Colette chirped after Lloyd had helped her to her feet.

"It was... memorable." Was all the man said.

OK fine don't use words we can't understand. Seeing the expressions of comprehension on Colette and Genis' faces he winced. OK fine that only I don't get. He was in a bit of a bad mood, not the same kind of bad mood the professor had been in, nor had because he been sick like Noishe. It annoyed him that he hadn't figured out how the boat worked, he'd been paying attention because he had wanted to learn but he hadn't picked anything up about sailing. Shoving his frustration down he told himself he would not let it spoil exploring a new town, and perhaps see an old friend who lived here.

"So where too?" Lloyd asked, eyes going every which way as he tried to absorb everything that was going around him and was having a bit of a hard time. This place was so noisy, there was movement, color, everywhere, and the smells. Fish was the nicest of the smells and there were other not so nice smells hanging about the harbor. He felt like his nose was going to fall off, his ears were going to curl up with a whimper, and his head was going to split. Iselia had never been this loud, neither had Triet, this place was so huge it loomed over him and was making him feel small. He took Colette's hand in his own, and they shared a look of understanding. So she didn't like the large and noisiness of this place too.

Kratos gave them a glance, said nothing, but he too understood, having once been in there position long ago.

"There's an inn nearby, I suggest we book rooms and make our plans from there, once we locate Ms. Sage of course."

"Alright!" Genis was all smiles, not effected bu the noise or largeness of the city and that annoyed Lloyd just a bit. "You know there's a university there, it's the biggest one in Sylvarant."

"I'm aware," Was it Lloyd's imagination or did Kratos sound annoyed. "You've mentioned it before."

"About twenty times now Genis!" Colette chirped.

"Oh I did?" Genis was all but bouncing in place in his eagerness, and Lloyd had a sinking feeling that if they let him lead they would be going straight to the university place. "Well not only is it the biggest it's helped produce some of the greatest works of..."

"You have said that too." Kratos snapped, so Genis' endless talk about the university was actually getting to Kratos. Lloyd tried not to laugh at that, he would have figured nothing got to the mercenary.

"And it specializes in..."

"Mana research, theory, scientific research, theological studies, etcetera." Kratos was all but dragging Genis down the dock. "You have mentioned that as well, and you are staying in my sight until we reunite you with your sister, and no exploring or wandering off."

"But..."

Kratos tightened his grip on the elf's arm and Genis wisely fell silent.

"She better not have run off far for your sake, if I hear one more breath about this university I swear I shall..."

"Hey since we're here why don't we take the 'entrance exam' thing that you have to do at the university." Lloyd said with a grin. He was going to flunk it if he took it, he knew that, but the opportunity to get under the mercenary's skin was just too tempting.

Kratos' glare could have killed him, and Lloyd smiled innocently back.

"Isn't the school right by the chapel, Tylor said it was didn't he?" Colette frowned. "I don't remember because he said it a long time ago... But we should go to the school, I bet Raine would love to go there too, it'll be so much fun!"

"Yeah, let's go!" Genis began to run off, and so enthusiastic at the prospects of seeing the school and maybe even taking the exams he made the mercenary stagger, and all but dragged the man down the docks and to the street. Still holding Colette's hand in his own Lloyd raced to catch up, Colette keeping pace with a fast skip.

Xxx xxx xxx xxx

A corner and a trip, it's all it took, and there was a large man with a red tunic glaring daggers at Colette. The poor child she doesn't deserve this, doesn't deserve to be treated so harshly. Raine stiffened, glared just a s fiercely as her pupil, and agreed completely when Lloyd growled "Appease my anger... do you know just how stupid that sounds?"

"Enough," A woman in a dull orange dress whispered, grabbing the rash swordsman's arm. "Let's not get into a fight over this, let's have them just replace it."

"Replace? That's it?" Both red clad youths were giving each other hate filled looks and without that young woman's steadying hand on the youth in red he probably would have drawn his sword and started fighting Lloyd right in the middle of the street. Raine felt a touch of pride in the fact that while Lloyd obviously was angry he was not pushing things, while he probably wanted to whip this specimen of flawed humanity from the earth he was not doing so.

"That's all we'll do." Raine said in an ice flecked tone, and the young adults lead by there childish swordsman glared daggers at her. "It's against the law to draw weapons in this part of PalmaCosta," She pointed out with a very open show of smugness. "All we have to do is call for the city guardsman and you wont be getting your potion, just a trip to the nearest prison cell."

"You wont tell no one about..."

"Enough!" Snapped a girl in white, she would have been pretty save the lines of anger around her face. "Fighting would be unseemly and would attract attention, we agree to your terms."

"I'm sorry..." Colette, the poor girl sounded so scared but so genuinely apologetic. Raine gently took her hand, that gesture seemed enough, seemed to reinforce Lloyd's words that it was OK and make the enraged man's words fad into there true insignificance.

"Sorry, I'll make you..."

"You will do nothing." Kratos' voice was a whisper, he did not draw his blade, but radiated pure malice. Braver people then these would have shivered and drawn back under such a tone. "You will do nothing."

But you will die, that's what the tone promised, if you dare hurt her you will die. For the first time Raine wasn't unnerved by the man, she genuinely scared of him. When he spoke like that, in that tone, he sounded like he could kill you just with a thought. That his thought, his will, would be then end of all thoughts, of all life. Colette dropped her gaze, shivered, and Raine put her arms around her pupil to warm her from the cold bitting hate that Kratos held like a weapon pointed at these four fools.

"Chosen." It was a command, and one none dare disobey. The four jerked at the title, as if with guilt, yes there was guilt but no shame. Frowning Raine wondered, worried and wondered about many problems all at once. Colette started to slip out of Raine's embrace to join the mercenary, and looked surprise when Raine did not relent her grip. Still having an arm draped around those pale shoulders the teacher went with her student. In this mess of uncertainty there was one thing that Raine was sure of, she would leave none of her students alone with this man, she dared not. Kratos Aurion may have earned the children's trust but this show had just as firmly broke all the comfort that Raine had gathered about this man. She could trust him with there lives, she would not like it, but she could. She however could not trust him with the welfare of her charges outside a crisis, outside of combat, because when someone could speak like that...

Though the sun shined above her, though there was little odds of her ever going on a boat yet again, Raine shivered. And wondered for not the first time who Kratos Aurion was, and who was she to trust him?

Xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Yo, shrimp!" The red clad man wearing a mismatch of steel armor and clothes ran up to him as they walked down the street. Lloyd paused, waited, and against his better judgement let the jerk catch up. Swallowing a large number of words in dwarvish that could have made him live off soap for twenty years or more Lloyd glared at the swordsman.

"What do you want?" Lloyd growled, keeping an eye on the others so he knew where they were going.

"Next time we meet, your mine, got that?" He'd heard more terrorfying threats from that blue haired Desian in the ranch, Hell Ivan was more creative then this guy. Rolling off the insult and the threat Lloyd turned. A hand fell on his shoulder spun him around. "Are you so stupid you don't understand a threat little boy?"

Wrinkling his nose under the foul breath Lloyd said nothing, only glared at the person who threatened him, he'd not give the satisfaction of an answer. He couldn't see the others and having been on the brunt end of enough of Ivan's threats he knew how bullies worked, they got their prey alone and had there way. They had two faces, the mask of kindness and sympathy, and the drool rimmed grin of animal pleasure as they made the hits fall home.

"Let go."

"The old man's not going to be there forever to watch over you, and when he's gone you better watch your back."

When with a smirk on his lips the man turned, a swagger to his step. And why shouldn't he be arrogent? He'd won, Lloyd had lost, Lloyd had given ground and not fought back. Disgusted with himself, he ran to catch up with the others.

"Problems?" Was all Kratos said, seeing his expression and perhaps understanding.

"Lloyd, is something the matter?" Raine too voiced her concern, a belated echo of the mercenary.

"No, it's fine... I'm alright."

Genis met his gaze and he understood, and also understood how "un alright" things were. They both knew that with Ivan, and knew it in a way that neither of the adults could. The faint tingle that traced the spine and the slight clenching of the belly that marked all such close cuts with Ivan in Iselia, Lloyd and Genis might make light of the mayor's son's influence over them both with Raine and the other adults, but never with themselves.

Xxx xxx xxx xxx

"This place looks friendly!" Colette chirped, smiling at the flowers in the window and the pink draperies.

"It looks like it's ran by women," Kratos sighed. "It's bad enough how they shop I tremble to think how they run stores."

"Would you like women to merely sit and wait for prospective husbands to come around? Is that there only purpose because if that's your outlook on the world you would be the most ignorant, foolish, and may I mention dead man in the world."

Kratos said nothing, only scanned the sign, muttered something that sounded like 'typical', and went to the door. He froze at the sight inside, but was firmly pushed in by Raine, who perhaps thought that there was some memento to feminism inside that was making the man freeze up. Smiling, just wanting to see what else was in the pretty shop Colette followed her mentor, and it was just Genis and Lloyd.

"If it's a evil store and they have ribbons, perfume, and clothes..." Lloyd began, but there were more then warnings between them in there unspoken code between them.

"I throw down a smoke spell and we bolt."

"And then we keep very far away from Raine and Colette, we play sick or stay with Kratos so that they don't drag us here after to make us... like in..."

There were not words for the horror of last time, so as words forsook them they in turn abandoned words and stepped into the flower wreathed door way with dread that was all too quick confirmed, not by the merchandise, but the three Desian's inside.

"No,"

"What did you say little girl?" Hissed one of the men in his trademark black uniform. His helmet was off, laid out on the table between him and the human woman before him. The three other black clad men were wearing slick black uniforms with same dyed leather over the cloth, the were openly admiring some of the merchandise.

"I think little girl I'll take this."

"You wont unless you want to meet this!" The girl lifted what looked like a club. She brought it down on the helmet on the table, steel crunched and she gave the men a fierce look. "It'll be you next if you put your paws on anything of my Mom's! So you can either pay like everyone else and pay the normal price or you can leave right now." Looking at the Desian who was now the owner of a ruined helmet Genis felt something in his gut clench. The points on the man's ears were small, barely noticeable, he had slightly prominent bones all along his face, ever so slight slant to his eyes, but for all intents could have passed as a human.

His voice was pure venom and Lloyd tensed up and grab his swords. Genis gripped his kendama, words of power forming behind his lips so that he could leap in the way of the Desian if he struck down the woman.

"I told you the price I was willing to take your filthy gels for now take it!"

"I said no, I will not sell you gels at that price. I offered you a fair price, pay as much as everyone else or don't by you filthy Desian."

"You're a gutsy one aren't you little girl?" He reached across to touch her, wisely the woman took a step back, and lifted the club menacingly. "Very gutsy, it'd be fun to have you at the ranch... Shame we exceeded the kill quote, but who knows, Lord Magnius might decide to lift that little exception and cut off that pretty..." He thrust his hand out, caught the girls chocolate brown locks in his fingers and forced her head down against the wooden table. "Little head... Hell I might just do it now, executions are so much more fun to carry out then to watch after.. Urk!"

While pinned the girl had not been idle, she snatched up a plate and firmly brought it against her assailant's skull. It shattered on impact, and holding one of the jagged edges like a knife she swung and drew a thin line of blood across the Desian's face.

Tears in her eyes, face scrunched up in defiance she glared at the half elf, who was wisely taking a few steps back.

"Forget it, we'll exceed the quota. We need permission to put the people in this hovel in their place."

"You hear that?" The Desian growled, whipping the stream of blood off, and in the effort merely smeared it about. "We'll be back, and your actions will lead to a massacre, how's that make you feel human scum."

"Try it, we have an army and Dorr will defeat you!"

"I'll take you up on that little girl." He hesitated, then rubbing his fingers together, the fingers that had held the girls hair he smiled. "And if not, there's always next year isn't there?" Laughing the black clad man bowed mockingly, snatched his helmet, and still running his digits together, left the store. Muttering amongst themselves the Desian's paid no heed to anyone else, stepping around them all like they were like everyone else they'd seen in PalmaCosta. Whipping off a bit of sweat Genis let go of his kendama, and Lloyd hesitantly relaxed.

"Chocolat? Is something the matter?" Came a age worn voice from the stairs.

"Nothing Mom!" Quickly the girl picked up the bits of plate and tossed them in a basket that was under the counter. "Just some pushy customers!"

"Pushy?" Genis muttered to himself awed by the young human's strength. "If you call that pushy I hate to see hostile!"

Grinning at him, green eyes sparkling with humor she winked at him then put a finger to her lips, telling them all to not talk about the Desian's he guessed. A woman, not old but sporting a hand fill of streaks of silver in her brown hair, came down the stairs and smiled at them. Her face... Genis stopped breathing, he knew those soft blue eyes and that kind smile! He'd seen it for almost a year framed in steel, age worn hands reached through bars to gently ruffle his hair in comfort with the loneliness got so bad he cried...

He almost said it, almost said the name, and suddenly he had to leave to get out. Claws, hands, they were getting confused in his mind.

"Are you alright little one?" The voice was different, smoother, he focused on that to keep from bolting.

He felt Raine's eyes on him, and he forced himself to straighten, to smile though he didn't quite feel it on the inside.

"I'm fine."

"I am Cocao, and this is my daughter Chocolat, who is dabbling in lying and doing a poor job of it."

"Moooom! I was not... I mean..." The young woman flushed, tugged on the hem of her skirt. "I handled it so it's no big deal."

"Handled what?" An eyebrow went up, a silent challenge that all parents could issue to there children and cow them in all without words.

"I'm... going to be late for work Mom, I'll see you later!"

The woman who had stood up to Desian's, who had almost lost her life in the store and did not flinch, ran from the wraith of her Mom. Genis understood that, he'd rather face monsters over a mad Raine any day. Cocao eyes were following her daughter, giving her a gentled version of the Death Glare, and for now the younger woman was getting away but years of having that glare on him told Genis that Cocolat was not going to get away forever.

"Well," Cocao sighed. "I can't say I'm sorry for what you've seen since I don't know what it was she has done." She bent and picked up a shard of bloody plate and slowly put it down. "I imagine that it was upsetting however, but please, relax, we have the chairs out for a reason." Those eyes crinkled up as she smiled that too familiar smile. "Have a look around and if there isn't something that you see that takes your fancy well I might have some of it in the shed... and if it's not there then I can tell you where to go."

Xxx xxx xxx

"Chosen, a word with you." Kratos whispered, wondering why he sounded so mad Colette joined him.

"Yes, Mr. Kratos?" She smiled at him, he didn't smile back, but he never really smiled as far as she could tell.

"Why did you cut me off when I was going to say you were the Chosen? Do you understand that if we do not get a discount on this damned potion and we have to pay for it with our own gald we wont be buying anything else such as food for example, for a long time?"

"If... if the potions means so much that they make it really expensive it has to be expensive for a reason."

Kratos rose an eyebrow and Colette wondered what he was trying to say by doing that.

"Your point being?" He said at last, sounding very annoyed. He sounded even more annoyed then the Mayor when she tripped once and made the Mayor fall over into a puddle.

"If it's expensive then that means it cost a lot right?" The mercenary frowned, he looked very scary when he frowned. "It would be stealing if we took it."

"Chosen..." The black clad man sighed. "While morals are a good thing in this world there are times when you must be pra-"

"You're not just steeling from one person but everyone." She said firmly, cutting the man off and telling herself not to tremble when he stared at her with his mirror eyes that saw everything but gave nothing. "Th..the people who make it, and make the glass it's put in, if you don't buy it you steal from all of them too... And I don't want to hurt those people just because it's easier then buying it."

"You surprise me Chosen, I thought that those of your station were taught to merely accept all that was offered for the regeneration. To have a conviction that runs counter to that you are trained to believe... I am surprised. If you believe in this so strongly we shall try it your way for a time."

Seeing Raine come out of the shop with an angry look on her face Colette understood that the potion was no more cheaper there then it had been three shops ago. But there were a lot more shops in PalmaCosta, a lot more then there were in Iselia and Triet put together, one of them had to have PalmaPotion on sale. So she'd just wait, because if you were doing something good for someone else, in the end it always worked out. So she'd just wait for it to work out!

Looking at the Professor's mad scary face Colette hoped that the wait wouldn't be too long.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Man why can't we go to that shop!" Lloyd was firmly being dragged away from the weapon's shop by an annoyed Raine.

"Lloyd, no!" She tapped him sharply on the nose with two fingers in the exact same gesture you use to scold a puppy. "They wont have a potion there so we aren't going there!"

"But..."

"Not now!" Raine snapped, there were very strong overtures of 'come' and 'heel' in her voice.

"Yes Professor..." rubbing the bridge of his nose the young man sighed. "It's still not fair."

"Don't worry Lloyd, we'll find it soon!" Colette promised, her cheer and hope never seemed to flag even in this trying time of endless shopping, but then she was a carefree soul who would have found little to complain about during a natural disaster like say a hurricane.

"Perhaps it would be best to break up into two groups, I could take Lloyd to the weapons' store, purchase other suplies, while you three look for..."

"Will you leave your 'client' alone in a city that none of the rest of us have traveled through?"

Kratos frowned, that comment had come too fast to Ms. Sage's lips. Something was wrong, whether it was his foolish show of honesty in Izoold, or something else he had said or done, she seemed hesitant to leave him alone with any of the children for any length of time. He stared at the teacher, showing nothing of his thoughts saying nothing of his insight. At last he nodded, for now he would agree to this, attempt to win back what trust he had lost for a short span. If he didn't it honestly didn't matter, she wasn't the one he was to protect. Earning and keeping her trust would make things easier, but it was not crucial, there were only two -no one- who's trust he must earn, the rest of them didn't mean anything to his goal. He must remember that, never forget.

"As you will."

xxx xxx xxx

Raine was mad again, she was yelling this time. Shivering Colette drew back, found a quiet little corner with a large dusty barrel and sat. Her feet were hurting, the cobblestones seemed so hard compared to the dusty roads and grassy fields they had walked through so far. Seeing Lloyd's concerned look she smiled, tried to make nothing of it. Genis wasn't aware of anything, having found a large book on one of the shelves he was curled up with it, for just a little bit forgetting the world. Kratos stood, or rather leaned against the wall eyes closed, arms crossed, he was keeping his promise and not saying anything about her being Chosen. She wished he would open his eyes so she could smile her thanks at him, but Colette had a feeling he wouldn't understand that she had more then one type of smile. Lloyd did though, he once said that she had a language of smiles and she had told him he was really good at reading them. He'd blushed, scuffed his boot, and muttered something under his breath that she hadn't caught and she'd changed subjects because he seemed so uncomfortable. He read, like all the other times, the strain around her lips and knew that something was wrong. Seeing the adults were busy he joined her on the barrel, it was a tight squeeze but Colette didn't mind because she put a arm around Lloyd to keep her balance. He didn't seem to mind either, and so they sat and rested while Raine yelled, Genis read, and Kratos napped. She wondered, with just a twing of worry about Noishe. Was he OK, the city guards had not liked him walking around town, had siad he was disturbing order, so they had taken him away and said that once they found a place where they could keep him that they'd let him go. Poor Noishe he must have been so bored where ever he was, she hoped he was comfortable. Blinking Colette stiffened in Lloyd's grasp, she couldn't have heard that just now could she?

"Lloyd," She whispered, not wanting to bother Kratos who was sleeping standing up less then ten steps away. "Do you hear that?"

"Bells?" Lloyd's eyes lit up. "You don't think-?"

"It has to be!" She slid off of the barrel aching feet forgotten. "Let's go see!"

"See what?" Kratos had opened an eye and was staring at them. If Colette had a language of smiles Kratos had a language of stares and long looks. It made him scary sometimes because he never smiled, he never laughed, he just looked and saw and thought things that she wondered if any of them would understand.

"Can we go outside Mr. Kratos, please, just for a little bit?" Colette begged, her hands were clasped together in front of her and she smiled her widest most hopeful smile.

"Fine," He ran a hand through his hair then in a very nice act opened the door for them. He thoughtfully closed the door behind them, maybe acidently closing himself out of the shop, but then perhaps it wasn't quite so accidental, he seemed a little less grouchy now that he wasn't in the same room with a mad Raine

"What's this?" Kratos smiled as a group of shrieking children swarmed the street and carried with them a wave of laughter. Merchants, mercenary, and travelers were pressed against the facades of the buildings by the chearful mob of twenty very young children ran about calling out for a tiger. They ran around looking under signs and in one youngster's case under rocks, they scampered around and lifted cloaks much to the mortification of wealthy men and were firmly scolded to keep from bothering the ladies in a simular manner. "It looks like they are searching for something."

"Can't you hear them..." Lloyd rolled his eyes and ribbed the mercenary "They're looking for a tiger, sheesh, I thought you were smart Kratos."

Kratos looked about to say something cutting when a small hand tugged on one edge of his cloak.

"Excuse me... but have you seen a tiger mister?"

"A tiger? No I haven't seen a fierce great cat at all."

"Not a kitty, a tiger!" The dark eyed girl protested, giving the adult a look that siad she thought he was being aweful thick.

Lloyd chuckled at Kratos' expression, he wasn't taking that child's annoyence very well. He looked even more surprised when the girl lifted his cloak and looked undernieth, not finding her tiger she went off with the group of children that were gathering in the center of the street. Colette giggled, Kratos looked so silly when he was blushing!

Suddenly a length of rope with small little pouches tied all along it's length that stuck out every which way appeared. It was drapped over the edge of the short roof that jutted out from the shop, all the buildings had those little roofs, only one had the rope that was all but an inch in front of Kratos' face. The pouches were all died black, the tail itself was covered in flaking orange paint. Two boots adorned with bells sporting black stripes joined the tail, they jingled, proving to be the source of the sound they heard earlier.

"Yes tigers are rather fearsome beasts, quite rare too if I understand it." Came a conversational voice that drifted from someone who was on the roof. "Please, you seem distressed by all this take a chocolate from the tail in compensation."

"Can we all have one?" Colette asked.

"Of course Catling why do you ask you can alw..." There was a strangled note and the tail and boots disappeared. Ten fingers gripped the edge of the roof and a head wreathed in flame hued hair appeared. "Catling!"

"Father Tylor!" Colette smiled and waved, she wished he'd come down so she could hug him.

"You're a priest?" Kratos gapped at the man who smiled back.

"Yes, and those highest in my order after my nomination made it policy never to consume the holy wine ever again for tasting purposes, at least that's what they tell me."

"Tylor, why'd you pull the tail away?" Lloyd whined, spoting him Tylor's emrald green eyes nearly doubled in size.

"Lloyd! Is that you! You never mentioned that you'd grown so huge, sweet Martel you're as tall as I am now!"

"Nay you're still taller."

"Phht like H..." He coughed. "Umm you know... Aye me we have a problem now..." With whoops and cheers the children were spotting him and about ready to charge the shop. "Catling, I'll need half an hour to shake of my tail's tail, if you can could you meet me at the main chapel in the plaza then?"

"Of course!" Colette chirped.

"Right then, I'll see you then. If any guards men wielding my bane come could you... give them wrong directions?"

"No problem Tylor." Lloyd promised, having done so often enough in Iselia. "Roundabout?"

"You have yet to lose your touch. Till later then!" The jingles wandered off and the children pointing and laughing chased after there tiger, who was trying to shimmy down a gutter. He was ambushed, his tail pecked at by little hands, and with a few well timed 'pounces' where he gently spun a child around managed to create enough confusion to break free and make a break for it. His tail's tail was right behind him the tiger jingled down the streets, white robes now filthy from his illegal roof climb flapped about him.

Kratos stared, strangled and then turned on them both.

"He knew you, both of you?"

"He was a priest in Iselia when we were little" Colette told Kratos, wondering if he was angry.

"Remember the time I got the tail off!" Lloyd chuckled. "Man I was a demon at that game."

"Yeah that was funny... though Tylor hopped about real funny after."

"That's because his pants came off, he tied the tail to his belt and lost both of them."

"I remember! Remember the time he stuck the tail on Noshy!"

"Yeah, Nosihe ate all the candy..."

As Colette and Lloyd told their Tylor stories Kratos did not show any scorn, but strangely an interest. He listened to them talk, eyes going every which way seeing everything like he always did, but on the corner of his lips was an ever so slight curl. Something too small to be a smile on anyone else, but for Kratos it was probabl a real normal sized smile. Happy to see him happy, happy to see Lloyd happy, and to see Tylor and know she'd see him agian later Colette was all around happy. Even when Raine came out of the shop asking them where they had been in an angry voice it didn't do anything to make Colette any less happy.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"So he was a teacher?" Kratos frowned as they stood side by side back to the shop, eyes facing the world. Raine, Genis, and Colette were inside yet another shop and Lloyd had a sinking feeling that half of the town was shops, Kratos' adament refusal to enter another building was echoed by Lloyd so the men got to wait outside while Raine continued to look. "As well as a priest... it seems unlikely..."

"He's a good priest!" Lloyd snapped, hopping to the defense of his friend without a thought.

"He just does not seem... normal for a priest."

"Oh.. well he isn't, he isn't like Marche, the guy who replaced him. He was kind of like Phardia actually."

Kratos rose an eyebrow at him and Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"I'm understanding you even when you don't talk, scary. OK despite how old Phardia is she used to do stuff like Tylor did for a long time. She'd tell stories and lead the children in games and stuff. At least that's what Dad told me. Anyways Tylor came when I was four and he'd do games like this all the time, used to say that if he just preached we'd be bouncing off the walls so we shoudl do something about that energy and if we gave the old grey beards more grey good for us."

Kratos' lips twitched just the slightest, it was as close to a real not bitter laugh he'd yet see from the mercenary.

"That's an interesting way to handle things."

"Yeah, he's really cool like that." Lloyd smiled. "He liked my stories, Phardia, Marche, they didn't like them and wouldn't listen so I learned to stop telling them, but Tylor liked them a lot. He was the only priest who really didn't try to force me to join the Martel church, all the others were trying and kept at it so I just stopped going to church and stuff when I was little so they'd leave me alone." Lloyd leaned against the wooden wall of the store, staring out into the street but seeing another dusty road flanked by large green trees. Swallowing his homesickness the swordsman remembered all the pranks and games Tylor would play with the children. "He once tied the tail to the Mayor and told him he was getting a little on the large side, he claimed the tail could fix that. I've never seen the Mayor run so fast in my life, it was great!" Lloyd sighed. "They made him leave after I turned eight. Colette said the angels told Marche to come to Iselia but it wasn't them... Tylor told me the truth when he thought I was old enough to understand. They don't like him, the higher up preists because he isn't 'proper' so they keep him here where they can keep an eye on him."

"Why doesn't he leave if he finds it unbearable?" Kratos asked, sliding his hand over the hilt of his sword.

"He's a person first, a priest second, but that second is still a big thing to him. That's what he said to me when I asked him. Anyways after he left I wrote him, keep writing him... That's how he knew me and Colette right off, because I'd draw him pictures and write long letters every chance I can."

"If your drawing is as good as your carving then you must be quite an artist."

"Hee.. I'm not that good..." Lloyd blushed, ran a hand through his hair.

Kratos only favored him with a long look, and it was one of the one's he couldn't read yet. Shrugging it off Lloyd stared at the flow of people, though he was at ease his eyes were moving here and there, looking for something that felt wrong, out of place, more "Kratos Training" is Genis called it.

"I'm glad that you had a good childhood Lloyd."

"Hmm what's that?"

"Nothing." Kratos was focusing on the people around them, frowning Lloyd spared a glance in the shop to see Raine trying yet again to get a store keeper to bring down the price of the potion. "It is not important..."

"So, what was it like when you were little?"

Katos snorted, favored Lloyd with an amused look.

"I barely remember being young, those times are long behind me."

"Knowing you I bet it is, you're what fifty something?"

"Twenty eight." Kratos sounded a bit offended and Lloyd laughed.

"That old, you're ancient!" At Kratos' glare of death Lloyd chuckled. "Oh come on, you act way too serious to be just twenty eight."

"Meaning I don't act inmature like certian swordsmen?"

"Hey, I didn't go that far with you sheesh who'd of guessed old men like you would be so sensative about there age."

"I'll remember that when this old man is whiping the floor with you next sparing match."

"You had to say that didn't you?"

Lloyd nearly lost his jaw when Kratos laughed, a laugh that was not touched by bitterness.

"Yes Lloyd, I did."

Having no counter Lloyd only rolled his eyes and joined in with a laugh of his own.

Xxx xxx xxx

Kratos wondered how in bloody hell these people 'received' there potion. The members of this Regeneration journey certainly wouldn't be paying for it anytime soon. It was three shops later and they had found the prices going up insteed of down, his patience was completely spent, ad even Colette and Lloyd wre showing signs of exhastion and frusteration.

"There is no way we can afford the potion, even if we pooled all of our gald together." He said curtly.

"It can't be that bad." Lloyd protested. "How much is it here?"

Kratos named the price and Lloyd forgot to breath for a long moment.

"Now what?" Raine sighed.

They all stood, the merchants of on the street trying to coax them with calls of what wonders there stalls possessed, but if they were honestly going to be buying that potion they best learn how to live off of air and forget about eating, sleeping in inns, and taking other normal comforts for several years.

"Father Tylor might be able to help us, he asked him to come and we are nearby the temple, at least that's what everyone else is saying." Colette offered. "He always knew what to do before he left Iselia maybe he can help us here."

"That's a great idea Colette! Come on!" Taking her hand in his own Lloyd ran down the street then turned to his friends waiting for them to catch up.

"We've tried everything else." Raine sighed. "Let's see if this Tylor person can help us."

Xxx xxx xxx

"Scuze me!" Lloyd dashed up to the nearest white robed priest. "I'm looking for a Tylor Aruu-valen Sancrest can you tell me where he is?" Blinking in surprise at the red clad boy's lack of formality the priest made a slight gesture in the direction of a knot of children and went back to his reading. "Thanks!"

The man ignored Lloyd's words and went back to his book, oblivious to the world and noting the boy only as a heart beats distraction.

Pounding up the steps of the temple, taking them two at a time, Lloyd far outstripped Colette and was first to see the priest. Silver robes with a small lumpy hat on his head, he'd traded his old black tiger cloak and tail for a green casscot. He looked up, saw Lloyd, and the children he had been teaching turned as well. Blinking for a moment, then rubbing his eyes, the middle aged man with fiery red hair stood and a smile cut through his pale beardless face.

"My Goddess Lloyd, is that really you? I still can hardly believe it." The children all around him looked up and stared at the young man in such outlandish garb. "My you have grown!"

"You think I've grown you should see Noishe, he makes me look like a little kid." He said as he embraced the man who had been like an older brother to him. He blinked back the tears in his eyes, and knew that Tylor was doing the same.

"Lad... I can't breath..."

"Oh sorry..." Lloyd let the priest go, and the children around him giggled. Strangers, travelers running up to Tylor and embracing him, weren't all that uncommen since he was a man who had been nearly everywhere in the world on his pilgrimages and had made a large number of friends in his travels. Lloyd felt a small hand tug at his ribbon that dangled around his neck and he shook his head much to the delight of the children around him who laughed as the fabric tickled them.

"I'd have to see it to believe it." Tylor replied once there was enough air in him to do so. "I was just telling this pack of youngsters all about you, one of my favorite stories as a matter of fact is how you fell asleep standing during a sermon..."

"Father!" Lloyd flushed. "I only did that once..."

The children laughed as Lloyd hung his head and scuffed a boot.

"Actually," Tylor chuckled. "I was telling them that story of yours about Syhin and Aska, and as you would put it, turning it into a sermon." At Lloyd's rolled eyes Tylor laughed. "It comes with this my Son, saddly it's not all tiger hunts you know, I have to play the role from time to time." Tylor shook one of the green lengths of fabric that hung from around his neck. Tylor stood, arms outstretched in an offer. "It is so good to see you again..."

Lloyd feeling like a little kid again he went into that embrase and hugged his old teacher, being careful this time to not hug as tight.

"Colette, Catling!" Tylor smiled, let Lloyd go, and was half tackled half hugged by Sylvarant's Chosen. "My you have grown into a beautiful young lady and you have been taking notes from Noishe I see."

As Colette and Tylor talked, slipping into that language that Lloyd didn't understand he looked at the massive pillars that held up the building's slopped roof. There were large statues on either side, feline guardians with bristling manes, and they guarded the large oaken doors gilded with what he though might be gold. Holy symbols, people with wings were frozen on that wood bowing to some sort of flower that stood without stem or root in the center of a sun. There were twenty two steps he had climbed up, happiness had blured them down to none existence, and now that he thought of it his leg ached from the run. Still the slight pain did nothing to bother him, it was good to see Colette so happy, and he had a feeling that the talk between the priest and Colette was not serious, it sounded almost like baby talk to his inexperienced ears. Seeing Raine, Genis and Kratos down below he waved to them. They came, being weirdly heistant, what was there problem it wasn't like Tylor was going to bite them or something...

"Lloyd, is this Tylor?" Raine asked.

"Yeah, he was the teacher before you came..."

"You must be Ms. Raine Sage, Lloyd has told me so much about you!" Tylor siad, switching back to the normal language so that they'd all understand him. "I hear you have managed to tame some of those Iselian wildlings! Goddess above should I kneel at your feet and praise the fact that you managed to get Lloyd to actually go to school? It is a merrical of the most highest order to get him to come to any type of lessoning." Tylor reached out and ruffled Lloyd's hair. "Heavens know that without Noishe literally dragging him and plunking him into that desk of his every day he'd never have come when I was teaching."

Spotting the young elf hiding behind his sister Tylor grinned.

"And you must be Genis Sage, well met young man, Lloyd has been no less descriptive of you and your great mental prowess in his letters. Before you go you must let me write you a note of recomendation to the Dean of the college in your name. That way you wont have any problems going in to take the entrence exams..." Tylor blinked at Kratos, his warm smile though did not faulter an iota. "And you good sir are the man I shocked by my strange behaviour it seems. Do you have a name by any chance?"

"Kratos Aurion your holiness." Kratos managed a sketchy bow.

"Of stuff that." Tylor snapped, sounding a bit annoyed. "I'm no more holy then these old paving stones, though I do think that I am starting to rival them in age."

Kratos actually chuckled at that.

"I doubt that sir, unless you are going on the age three thousand, which I think was the time this city was built."

"Hmmm I'm not that old though this one." Tylor ribbed Lloyd. "Certainly carried on like I was the most anchient thing in the universe."

"Father!" Lloyd protested, face turning hotter.

"Just teasing, you weren't that bad... but very close to it. Now decisions decisions... I'm supposed to be watching this pack of imps until thier parents return." The 'imps' laughed at that. "But oh to chat with someone about something non-religious for five minuetes..."

"Professor, Noishe's whistle, we can call him and he can play with the kids! Would that help Tylor?"

"Lloyd wonderful, it is only times like this when your wits move so fast." Tylor patted his old student on the shoulder, ignoring the loud protest that his wits moved fast all the time.

"Hopefuly he can get to us from where he is.." Raine said as she blew on the whistle. All around her the children were a chorus of questions and anticipation, having taught long enough she encouraged them to be patient in a matter that made them all the more eager for the surprise but kept them quiet.

"Father Tylor... umm about Noishe..." Lloyd coughed. "He went through another growth spurt that lasted for well three years or so... So he's really big now."

"Nonesence my lad he couldn't have gotten..." Spoting the huge silver and green blurr taking the stairs four at a time Tylor paled. "Sweet Goddess, Lloyd hold this." Lloyd took Tylor's hat. "Catling... if you would?" Colette took the cascot. "You old dog there you are!"

Noishe skid to a stop then seeing Tylor his ears perked up. He then took the steps eight at a time, and they could see his eyes squint up in happiness.

"Ah me, this is going to hurt I think... You old rouge what in Heaven's name have you been eating growth potions day in and day out! Get over here you mutt!"

Noishe pounced on Taylor throwing him back three feet. Laughing the priest ruffled Noishe's fur, not caring for the moment that he was sprawled out on the stones that served as a floor to the temple.

"No, no stealing, those were for you younging-lings!" Noishe pulled a candy from Tylor's pocket and wolfed it down despite the priests vocal protests. "Alright you mutt, you asked for it!" Using his brawn the priest managed to turn Noishe over. "Alright, now for reinfocrements... Don't worry younglings he's big but he had one weakness, he's ticklish, right... here." Tylor poked at Noishe's paws. "And here.. and here..." Gasping Noishe tried to run, but several children had swarmed him and began to tickle. "Now when he tells you to stop little ones you best stop, because if you don't he wont give you any rides."

"Like a horsy?" Chirped a boy.

"Yes, just like a horse." Lloyd grinned, ruffled the child's hair. "Just do as he says and you can all get rides."

Chuckling Tylor lead them to the empty chapel, keeping an ear trained at the partial open door. Insides more angels looked down upon them. There eyes were brooding, there faces filled with what was supposed to be holy rapture Lloyd presumed. In his opinion they looked really weird, happy but sad at the same time.

"All the priests seems so different here then how you were in Iselia." Lloyd said, thinking of the priest that he had talk to to get directions. He sat down on a bench, absently crossing his legs.

"More stuffy you mean?" Tylor sat, his robes pooled around him. "Most of them are sticklers for formality that's why they stuck me with the younglings. I wont go all formal rigamaroll on them and I let them talk, something that a lot of the older priests wont do. Please," Tylor swung his legs so they rested on the bench, in response to the look of outrage on Raine's face at Lloyd's behavior. "I'm no formal priest and boot prints can be washed off by the accolites. Take a seat, make yourselves at my home away from home. Now news news news, I must be informed, last you wrote me was during the autumn festival and I ache to know everything that's happened since then."

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"A shame my Brothers died due to the Desian's actions, but this occurence is not uncommen... it does little to help the pain though." Tylor sighed. "And so now it begins. I am sorry that this has happened to you Colette and under such tragic circumstance. And do not say this is my purpose you know my feelings on that kind of talk and I will argue with you about it."

Colette only looked uncomfortable

"Aye my child, I am sorry to upset you, farther proof I have far too much fire in me to be a good priest."

"No.. don't say that Tylor.. you are a good priest, the best priest ever."

"I doubt that little one..." Tylor smiled, though his face was sad. "Now if what I heard is true then I owe you, Kratos, a great deal of thanks. It is a relief to see them both safe and I know you will continue to keep them both well."

Kratos nodded, having offered nothing during the conversation but a brooding stare. Lloyd could easily imagine the mercenary up there on that ceiling with those firece looking armed angels that glared down at those who dared look up. He wondered if the painting up there was supposed to scare people into not looking up at the sky, because if he had seen that day in and out when he was little Lloyd had a feeling he'd be really scared of the sky.

"Not one for talk is he?" Tylor said to Genis, still writing on a piece of paper in his hand. He was using a copy of the book of Martel in a most questionable of ways, as a desk. "How do you spell your first name again?"

While Genis gave him the proper spelling Raine looked over the young human's shoulder and gasped in shock. He was keeping his word, and from what she could make of the leter he was writing the priest was piling praise on Genis in such a way the college would not turn him out.

"There we go, thank you young man, and best of luck with your aplication." Tylor handed the boy the letter. "Keep an eye on Lloyd for me, you look to be one of those mature types, and he needs lots and lots of those around him."

"Hey!"

"My Son, how many times have I told you yelling in a chapel is not appropriate?"

"More then I can count." Lloyd flushed. "Sorry Father Tylor."

"Now then, I can not believe the audicy of those travelers, making you pay for there own foolishness. While I can not honestly give you enough gald to cover that bit of PalmaPotion what I can do is subsitute... if you can keep a little secret that is?"

"We can, if it keeps gald in our pouches." Kratos said before Colette could protest.

"Good." The chapel was empty, it was a huge room filled with angels and off to either side were doors, doors that from Tylor's letters lead to the personal quarters of the priests who lived in the chapel. None of the other holy men were present, the bulk of them were off to bless the army and the others were on pilgramiges, despite that Tylor slinked to his room like a thief and came out a few moments holding a bottle that had a very familier purple liquid inside.

"Palma Potion, but priests..."

"Shh!" Tylor pointed to the ceiling. "I'm already on bad footing with them Ms. Sage let's not make it worse. It's only half full but put some water in it, give it a good shaking and I bet those travelers wont be able to tell the difference. Now then if I can borrow the swordsmen for a bit I'll go with you and we'll pay back those... men in full." Tylor sighed. "I hate not being able to properly curse sometimes, ah well, shall we be off?"

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"You have it, what the hell took you guys so long." Growled the man in red, his face almost matching his shirt.

"Do not try my patience." Kratos snarled, handing over the bottle.

"Or wha- ya gunna try to hurt us shadow boy wiht your freaky friend in red?"

"Easy..." Tylor murmurred, holding both Lloyd and Kratos' fore arms.

"What's the priest here for?"

"To represent the honesty in these men's souls, for no man of any honor would lie in the presence of a priest of Martel. Please good sir's and young miss have they not paid you in full? Is this not an honest exchange? We are greatly sorry that such a thing has come to pass while these younglings were on an errand for me."

The group of roughs flinch.

"And since you have forced them to pay for this potion I certainly hope you know that thier honor has greatly cost the church much in way of her coffers. And while it would be easy to play the blame game such a thing is not the way of Martel, they are making a penince in way of pilgramige and you younglings will as well."

"What'ya mean by that white coat?" Snarled the leader in his red tunic.

"All houses of Salvation will know you right down to the last detail, I've sent messangers with descriptions on the road an hour ago and well... 'A multitude of humble duties shall befall those who so hold to honor and through these tasks they shall gain true enlightenment'"

Lloyd snickured at the other groups leaders expresion and Tylor pinched his arm,

"What that means my brothers in humanity is that you shall have to work to gain entry at any house of salvation... Oh but do not thank me, it is only my place to guild those already on the path of enlightenment to higher levels and fully reach understanding of the Goddess and become one of her exhulted." Tylor's grin was vicious.

"You son of a..." The leader drew his sword, and gasped in shock as Kratos calmly pulled his blade from it's sheath and pressed it to his neck in less time then it took to blink.

"You were saying something?" The mercenary whispered.

"I.. I was sayin' nothin' nothin' at all..."

"Good, keep it that way..."

"Come on..." The girl in white hissed. "We have what we need, let's go."

"I'll remember you guys..." The leader growled as he left, his eyes promising pay back. "And I wont forget this."

"Poor benighted souls.." Tylor shook his head in mock pity. "Martel guard them, from monsters, thier own stupidity, and certain monosylibic mercenarys."

Lloyd laughed. "Thanks so much Tylor, it means a lot."

"My pleasure.. oh and before you go." Tylor waved a hand and muttered something in that wierd language he and Colette had been talking in. "There! You are both absolved from lieing, telling partial truths, and from feeling violent urges for a week... now let's head back before I think of other sins to safe guard you from and make both of your lives boring."

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Tylor grinned waved them too the chapel, and said he had buisness elsewhere, but it was Lloyd he saw the truth. He saw the white haired priest in the shadows of the pillars, saw the glare, and knew that Tylor was probably avoiding punishement. Sighing at the sight of Marche, Lloyd ignored Kratos' curious look and pointedly ignored how the elderly priest went in with them. Marche seemed intent to ignore Lloyd as well, and caught between the two tense people Kratos caressed the hilt of his blade on reflex. When Colette smiled, went up to Marche and bowed to the old man and went through the formal ritual of greeting Lloyd hung back in the shadows, took a seat at a pew as far away from the others he could be and still hear what was said. In short he took the seat Kratos was eyeing.

"Ah there you are young one, will you come and recieve my blessing?" Marche of course knew the answer, but for some reason he always asked.

"No thanks." Lloyd did not meet those pale blue eyes, did not look at Raine to see her anger at his lack of manners, did not look at Colette to see her hurt. If it didn't mean anything to him, if his stories weren't that important he'd have accepted the blessing just to make Colette happy. Marche would try to pressure him into making a oath to the Goddess, to give up his stories, his non-human Dad, as he had tried all the other times, and Lloyd wasn't going to go along with that that.

"I see you haven't changed Lloyd, I shall pray to the Goddess that you see the error of your ways."

Lloyd only shrugged, and stared at the armed angels, they seemed less hostile then Raine was right now so he'd look at them.

"Lloyd you should be more polite to your elders-" Raine began.

"He was being polite, he get's worse if you force him in my company for some reason." Father Marche smiled slightly. "It is a matter of intamecy, he wants all around him to make a home in his heart, and it is my duty as a priest of the Goddess to make my heart a home for the Goddess. I could not oblidge to his wishes and remain a proper vessle of my Goddess' faith. Add to the fact I replaced Tylor when he proved to be inadequite for his post... he has not forgiven me for that."

Lloyd stood, eyes blazing, swallowing his words of anger he turned and began to walk to the door.

"He isn't a bad priest, he's not empty like the rest of you." Lloyd growled, forced the doors open and slammed them shut behind him.

Marche only smiled, it was a slight habbitual gesture that did not reach his eyes.

"I shall pray that he sees, that the temptations of sensation and passion fall from him and he comes to the light of the Goddess."

There was a bit of motion by the door, it opened, closed, and Kratos Aurion abandoned the priest. Left the old man to speak his words to the Chosen and elf siblings who were by far a more receptive audience.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Let me guess in one word of less, Marche." Tylor said, finding a very angry Lloyd pacing one of the docks that ran by the chapel. "I saw your mercenary friend, he's looking for you by my guess."

"He can look all he wants..." Lloyd snapped, then realizing what he said flushed. "Damn it Marche really pisses me off and I don't mean to get mad at you or Kratos but I am!"

"I understand." Tylor smiled. "He has a way of hitting all my sore spots in a heartbeat, add that he's my superior... Do you want an ear?"

"No... Thanks but no..."

"Alright then." Tylor sighed, "Well I'm going to bring my timeless remidy for Marche by in a bit, hopefully it'll help us both. Till then." Jingling, because he never took off his bell boots, Tylor walked back to the main land, probably planning to go in the temple and jingle through the chapel just to annoy Marche. He'd done it often enough when the two priests had to work side by side in Iselia for a few months.

Humming a jig, tapping his heels together every few steps to make the most racket possible. A few people he knew either rolled there eyes at the town's lunitic or smiled and waved knowing he wasn't as crazy as he seemed. A quick search turned up the mercenary fast enough, he was going the wrong way so Tylor gave him some directions and then went back to the temple. Smiling as the man clad in shadow hued clothes began to walk onto the docks Tylor decided to add his secret weapon to his boots. Tieing on the dangling strings a number of small rocks he clattered and jingled into the chapel, and the look of anger on Marche's face was worth even Catling's stare.