5. What a Night!
Legault entered The Hideout – yes he liked that name, it was unremarkable, yet struck fear within the hearts of men, or at least it would when Legault was finished with his business – to a most unusual sight.
Matthew and Alexia sat on opposite sides of the long Nordic table, laughing and drinking, and obviously flustered from some recent event. Legault chuckled at the obviousness of it, for he knew that 'event' well.
"Alas, you did not think to wait for me Matty, you know how I oh' so dearly love drinking, particularly with good company" Legault smiled and sat down at the end of the table in a large royal-looking chair and poured himself a glass of the clear alcohol Matthew and Alexia seemed to be enjoying, and he chuckled when he realised that it was just water.
"Umm… Legault, would you care to explain why you are covered in blood," Matthew smiled and added sarcastically "or did the tomatoes beat you up again?"
Legault sighed and thanked Matthew for his impeccable sense of humour, deciding to use the joke as an excuse to go and get changed and he silently berated himself for forgetting what he had just done.
"Ah, you know how the tomatoes are Matty, they hate me" Legault smiled and left the room.
"You're a funny man Matthew," Alexia smirked, "I like 'em funny."
"Obviously" Matthew said with playful sincerity, making Alexia slap him on the arm.
They stopped their playful banter when Legault re-entered the room wearing the same clothes, except they were jet-black and he now donned a white beret, a most unusual style for Legault, always being a man that was heard and not seen.
"My friends let us go out tonight and celebrate our little troupes' newfound business take-off." Legault proclaim enthusiastically, so enthusiastically that Matthew had not the heart to dampen the moment by asking how Legault being covered in blood had to do with their groups business 'take-off'. Matthew shuddered visible; he knew the answer to that question and was hoping that Legault had a damn good excuse.
"Then we shouldn't waste anymore time," Matthew said in a tone that was hopefully cheerful "The night is getting late, and a full house makes celebration all the more fun."
Matthew and Alexia got ready – which for thieves meant re-dressed and equipped themselves – and ushered Legault out the door.
"To the McGuile Inn" Matthew exclaimed and when Alexia turned to him he signalled for her to go along with what he was saying.
"And a night of fun for all" Alexia added as cheerfully as possible, doing well to cover up her confusion at Matthew's proclamation.
"You cannot be serious Hector- I mean 'Milord', Legault was nothing but a nice man from when I joined with you and Lord Eliwood, and from what Lyndis told me he was a nice man from when he joined with you at Dragon's Gate." Nino was still shaken by everything Hector just told her, and still not sure what to reply, as he'd asked her to come with him as he went to go confront Legault.
"I don't think this is the Legault we once knew, remember after the fight with Nergal he stole a sword from Lyndis and ran away with Jaffar. They are both important to you as Jaffar is your friend and that blade was wielded by Lloyd."
Seeing that Nino still wasn't totally convinced he decided to appeal to her sensitive, violence-hating side. "Also, from what I saw I have reason to believe that Legault committed a crime in my city, as Lord of Ostia, I am within my right to punish those who commit crimes, if you come along you will have a say in whatever I do to Legault." Hector smiled inwardly as he saw Nino finally give in.
"Lead the way Milord" Nino said, and as they strolled off under the moonlight, Hector couldn't help but notice that the little mage he once knew had certainly grown into a young and beautiful sage.
Legault spun on them as soon as he realised that the McGuile Inn was in fact empty and abandoned.
"What is the meaning of this Matty" Legault said with a smile that was betrayed by the rage in his eyes, "What do you intend to do – to try to do –to me? I'll warn you now that I beat you cleanly last time it came to blows, and I don't remember even having to draw sword, or blood".
"I'd like to know why you did it? What did those two boys do to you, and what did you think you would gain?" Matthew held up the card with even more rage in his eyes then Legault, "A free ticket to a brothel? You make me sick" Matthew then spat at Legault's feet.
"Whatever wickedness has tainted the good in Legault's heart? I don't really care, I intend to beat it out of you" Matthew said honestly, the rage disappearing from his eyes.
Matthew flipped his daggers out of their concealed sheaths and sent then spinning into the air, then skilfully caught them so one was pointing upwards and one pointing downwards. Legault simply ran at Matthew, drawing out the scimitar he had stolen known as the Regal Blade.
Alexia cried out at them not to continue, honestly scared for her newfound love, but realising too, that Matthew obviously knew what he was doing to so initiate a fight-to-the-death. She shuddered at that notion, surely it would not come to that, would it?
Legault tripped and fell hard to the floor as Matthew moved to the side, leaving his foot sticking out. Before Matthew could put a dagger in his back, Legault rolled away and leaped to his feet, once again charging at Matthew. Matthew was truly confused by Legault's all-or-nothing attacks, but wasn't silly enough to doubt Legault even a bit.
Matthew side-stepped again hoping that Legault would not make the same mistake again and hoping that he would pursue. Matthew smiled inwardly as Legault did indeed stop before he fell over. Legault swung his Blade out at Matthew, aiming for his hips, but Matthew used his daggers – with them still in the one up, one down hold – as a lock and caught Legault's arm holding the Regal Blade.
The lock, Legault realised, had his arm in a vice, and no squirming was going to release it. Knowing that, Legault started to run around the perimeter of Matthew's form and though it hurt tremendously, Matthew did release his lock on Legault's arm, but unfortunately for Legault, Matthew stole the Regal Blade from Legault's grip so he could undo the lock he had on Legault's arm.
Legault realised that unless he could reclaim his weapon, or at least find a makeshift weapon (which in the deserted Inn was highly unlikely), he was definitely up shit creek (without a boat let alone a paddle Legault chuckled dryly to himself).
"Where exactly are we going Milord" Nino asked, her voice softened by the fact she was out of breath from trying to keep up with Hector.
"To a man who is well known around Ostia as a popular information trafficker," Hector said in his trademark rough voice "and please, call me Hector" he added before turning and continuing his hurried walk towards his destination.
Nino sighed as she once again had to jog quickly to catch-up (and keep-up) with Hector, feeling angry that the man was showing no sympathy for her shorter and less muscular legs.
But how could she be angry at this man? Nino thought. Soon after the final battle with Nergal – and only a day after Legault and Jaffar ran off into the night – Nino was pondering what she was going to do with her life, and even before that, how was she going to feed and cloth herself. Hector had provided the solution to that problem, and so far had set her on her way to having a better life then she had ever imagined.
Having showed her proficiency in the art of Anima magic, Hector had informed her of the magic school in Ostia, where mages and shamans were trained to army standard, and told her that, on his word, they would except her into their school.
So a week later, having said their good-byes to Eliwood and Lyn (which Nino still giggled at, knowing that Hector and Lyndis had done a little more then just say good-bye), Nino and Hector had left for Ostia, where Nino would begin her – formal – training, and Hector would take up his role as Marquess Ostia in the stead of his newly deceased uncle, Lord Uther, who had unfortunately never sired an heir.
Nino had to swerve quickly to avoid a pole that seemingly came out of nowhere and then swerve back again to follow Hector into the small alleyway he had entered.
Nino watched as Hector stood nervously near a tiny doorway, then looked around to check no-one saw them and grabbed Nino and together they rushed through the doorway.
It was surprisingly dark considering they were near an open doorway, so Nino snapped her fingers and uttered a command word and they were suddenly bathed in light that was radiating from Nino's hand where there was a tiny, flickering flame.
Hector signalled for her to stay close to him and they started to make their way through what appeared to be some sort of labyrinth. Then, out of nowhere, two ruffians appeared, wielding large axes.
"Ya might want to leave now," one of them said, holding up his finely polished axe to accentuate the point, "Ya ain't suppose' to be here, and I ain't to be letting ya stay either".
Just as the last word left his mouth, his head was missing a mouth and its ears and nose and all the other parts of a head, as it had been lopped from his shoulders by Hectors equally large, and far more dangerous axe called Armads, a legendary weapon wielded by one of the eight heroes in The Scouring a millennia ago.
The other ruffian, seeing how easily his comrade was dispatched, turned tail and ran, accompanied by a loud chortle from Hector. "Ha! He should be glad he wasn't fried alive by your Elfire spell" Hector joked, smiling at Nino. Nino returned the smile, thinking how almost anyone meeting Hector for the first time seemed to have to fight him, if you could call getting your head chopped off a fight.
They continued their way through the labyrinth, finding it a lot easier to navigate considering they were able to pace the screaming and running ruffian. Sure enough, within a few minutes they came out into a huge hall, the only downside being the fifty or so equally large and imposing ruffians standing around, talking and eating.
Seeing the two intruders enter they all drew forth their crude weapons and moved towards the intruders, making hilariously outrageous attempts to scare Nino and Hector off by making funny faces and rude gestures. Unfortunately for them, Hector, being the crowned Marquess Ostia, took it as quite an insult, throwing him into a battle rage.
As Hector chopped away with abandon, Nino proved once again that timing and strategy always wins the day. She noticed that these obviously inexperienced ruffians were all moving in close to Hector, making it easy for him to swing his formidable Armads around and be guaranteed that he would score a few hits. Also, it made Nino's magic attacks more effective because she could aim a spell with a large radius at the group – after first having putting a resistance spell on Hector – and injure or kill dozens of them at a time. Soon enough the battle was over and Hector, being the experienced war veteran he was, checked all the charred and maimed bodies for trinkets or items of value.
Hector didn't get to finish his scouring, as about ten seconds later, a man wearing a jet-black tuxedo with girlish frills on the ends walked into the room, escorted by a fairly short yet very lean woman, holding a powerful-looking staff and a jewelled dagger in her other hand, which made Nino assume she was a sorceress of some kind – which had Nino intrigued being a powerful Sage(ss) herself.
"What is it with uninvited guests and killing all my guards?" Ames said loudly, extreme annoyance in his voice "Is it too much to ask to knock before inviting yourself in for certain do-"
Ames was cut short as he realised who his 'uninvited guest' was. He straightened himself and took a breath before continue his brisk walk to stand before Hector.
"You have information that I need Ames," Hector said confidently "I will leave with it one way or another". Hector's supreme confidence was obviously put-on (not that Hector wasn't confident) but Nino understood that was the only way you could speak to criminals as the Lord of Ostia.
"I do believe that is a bold statement considering you are outnumbered, and I assure you out powered, in this situation." Ames motioned for the sorceress to come and stand beside him, as if to accentuate the point. Hector wasn't fazed in the least; and for once neither was Nino, for both knew each others' tremendous skill.
"I need to know about a newcomer to Ostia; an evil-doer which I intend to punish, yet I know not where he is in Ostia or where he intends to go". Ames seemed slightly off-balance from Hector's to-the-point request, but Nino had a second notion that Ames might indeed know something about Legault's appearance in Ostia.
Nino and Hector nearly fell over upon hearing Ames simple reply: "Follow us", he said, motioning for the sorceress to lead the way.
They led Nino and Hector down three long hallways all lined with blue glowing magic torches. They went down a few flights of stairs into a large room where there were at least five barred cells and each of the cells stank of urine. Nino gasped quietly, realising that Ames must have himself caught Legault.
When Hector and Nino laid eyes on Jaffar – it was obviously him, because of his trademark, black-as-night clothing – Hector had to stand in front of Nino and put his hand over her mouth to stop her crying out and spoiling Hector's new plan.
Legault dived out the door as Matthew swung the Regal Blade at Legault's head, causing the Blade to get lodged in the wood of the doorframe. Matthew quickly improvised, jumping atop the stuck Blade, using it as a springboard to launch himself in the air, high over Legault's head.
Legault looked up just in time to see Matthew plummet towards his head, his arms extended with daggers leading. Legault knew he had no time to jump out of the way, unless Matthew made a serious error with his aim.
Alexia stared on miraculously as Matthew jumped high into the air over Legault, and came not so gracefully crashing down to the side of Legault – because just as Matthew aimed himself at Legault, the sun rose from it's nightly slumber, temporarily blinding Matthew.