"You didn't tell me you had this stuff stashed back here," I practically cry, snatching up an entire cantaloupe as Reddas chuckles, scratching the back of his shining bald head.
"I told you I had some fresh produce from the local farms around Balfonheim," he reminds me, watching as I clutch the melon to my chest protectively, glaring daggers at Vaan's hungry eyes. I tug the knife in my boot from its sheathe and stab my way into the fruit, eagerly chowing down the second its cut in half. Vaan huffs, taking the other half and offering to split it with Fran and Penelo.
"You'd think we're starving her," Balthier comments smugly, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow as he watches me slice a piece of cantaloupe out of its shell and plop it into my mouth with a dramatic moan. Ashe returns the expression, struggling with a grimace.
"Quite sloppy for a princess, don't you think?" she comments. I spit a white seed out at her, rolling my eyes when she flinches and accidentally elbows Balthier's stomach. Reddas laughs heartily and sits atop an iron-buckled barrel, crossing his burly arms.
"She's just like her mother, I'll tell you that much."
"You knew her?" I ask, swallowing my mouthful of melon with a frown. "I can't say I'm surprised; everyone seems to know far more about my life than I do." Balthier sighs, rolling his eyes and leaning against the edge of the table in the center of the dining cabin. I scowl at him. "What?"
"You're right. Everyone seems to know innumerable details about your life—and yet somehow, no one—at least in Dalmasca—recognized you. I simply cannot understand it."
"She hid," Fran replies simply, raising the end of my long braid over my head.
"Give me that," I huff, snatching my hair away and turning back to Reddas. "How did you know her?"
"I knew of her," the pirate corrects, turning his eyes to the ceiling. "I was a mere training soldier in Archades when she first arrived. There was a case rising high in the ranks of the courts because of a merchant—a woman, actually, from Nalbina who was traveling Ivalice and rumored to have been scamming people with false treasures and trinkets. She certainly was a free spirit." He sighs, flashing a smile. "The case climbed all the way up to the Senate. The emperor, your father, was curious—naturally—and decided to meet with the woman himself. He wanted to understand how she'd successfully conned so many of his people."
"A good escape plan!" Vaan calls with a mouth full of fruit. I cringe at the saliva-diluted juice dribbling from his chin and turn back to Reddas. The pirate shakes his head, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"He knew the answer the minute he laid his eyes on her. It was her beauty—it had a gripping effect that left its viewers enchanted until she snapped her fingers and left them wallowing in their own self-pity at the mere thought of losing to her pretty face. I remember having quite the favor for her, myself, and I was only a boy! Emperor Gramis took quite a liking to her and had her held in the palace. She was nothing the people of Archades had ever seen before. Slender and strong, golden skin, honey brown eyes… she was a gorgeous creature, to be sure."
"I think he still has it for her," Vaan laughs and Reddas shakes his head, though his ears color just a touch.
"No, no. Nonsense. Anyway, this woman was quite the fighter and wouldn't fall for the Emperor without a good reason. But she was an incredibly intelligent woman, sharp as a whistle; her plan came quickly and easily. Once she had it set, she went through the motions, warming the Emperor's sheets when his wife was away and all that. She was held back by one small impediment for nearly a year. Lo and behold, after a mere year of living in the palace, she gave birth to her Ladyship Shera Castean Solidor."
"Go me," I huff, scooping another bite into my mouth. Balthier raises an eyebrow.
"You hardly did anything deserving of celebration."
"What do you mean?" I retort. "I escaped her—"
"Anyway," Penelo interrupts, urging Reddas to continue with his storytelling.
"There's not much left to tell," he admits with a gentle laugh. "A week later, she disappeared, and coincidentally, so did half of Archades' treasury."
"I can respect those roots," Balthier chuckles, glancing at his partner.
"And you never heard from her again?" I ask, frowning. Reddas shakes his head and I sigh, leaning my chin against my palm. "I wonder if she buried the treasure somewhere in Nalbina."
"That's what you're concerned with?" Ashe demands, raising an eyebrow. "From what Reddas said, you're practically a rebirth of your mother, and you have yet to bat an eye!"
"I used to hear the comparison a lot," I shrug, taking another bite of my melon half. "I don't see why it should matter now of all times. Besides, I find pleasure in treasure, not in seeking out the missing pieces of my messy past."
"Family creates important ties, no matter what happens after you've grown," Reddas comments. "You received your intelligence and strength from your mother—not to mention inherited most of her marvelous beauty. Balthier, for example, caught the free spirit and genius of his father."
"Yes, and let's hope I don't catch his future as well," Balthier grumbles bitterly, obviously unhappy with the comparison.
"Where'd Dern get his height and all his big muscles?" I ask, fighting a grin. Balthier scoffs as if the answer is all too obvious.
"His lack of brains, where else?"
"Come, now," I laugh. "He was an inventor!"
"He crafted one half-decent sky stone," he retorts, turning to Ashe. "Tomorrow morning, we take off at sunrise." I sigh, resting my temple against the heel of my hand. And now he's back to being incredibly serious. Damn. "Which means we should get some rest. Goodnight." He disappears behind the beaded curtain dividing the cabin in two. I stand, stretching, and rest a hand on Reddas's bare arm.
"Thank you," I say sincerely, earning a nod and heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Vaan asks, frowning as I start to leave. I shrug, feigning nonchalance.
"I'd like to sleep outside tonight."
The deck creaks under my feet, the ship rocking gently with the waves that lap at her sides. The anchor's chain pulls us back and forth slightly, keeping us perpendicular to the shore. I heave a sigh and lean forward against the lipped edge of the ship, staring out at where the ocean meets the starry sky in a stiff embrace.
The stories of the past… They always make me pensive, leave me wondering of what could've been. If my mother hadn't stepped into Archades. If she had been banned and that was simply it. If she had bothered to stay and love her own daughter. I shake my head, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. But that's too far back. Now, I have a vendetta against one brother and an alliance with another. I have a princess and her carnival crew. And I have my spirit, my strength, and my will. That's all I've needed until now—except for companionship, I suppose.
"A wonder that you left the chaos." I jump, startled, and turn to see Basch strolling up behind me. "That seems to be where you're always sure to be found."
"You're joking," I scoff. "That's Vaan's habitat."
"Yes, that must be why he's drawn to you," the knight muses. "You're the one who creates the calamity he so revels in."
"Think what you want, old man," I laugh, shaking my head and turning back to face the sea.
"Is something the matter?"
"No, I'm just exhausted."
"I see," he mutters, standing at my side and narrowing his eyes on the sky. "Just as I predicted, you and Balthier seem to be quite the match."
"Right," I huff, rolling my eyes. He arches an eyebrow.
"You don't think so?"
"I shouldn't have started all this," I murmur, kicking at the floorboards awkwardly. "We should be focusing on why we're here; it'll just end like all the others."
"And that is how?"
"You don't want to know," I offer a small, sad smile. Basch sighs, shaking his head.
"Of course you can't lose focus, that's a given, Shae. But… haven't you noticed?" He leans forward on his elbows, peering at me from the corners of his eyes. "Everything that's worth fighting for revolves around people. You can't live by isolating yourself."
"Yes, Father Basch," I laugh, nudging his arm playfully. He smiles, shaking his head.
"I'm serious—don't take me lightheartedly, Majesty."
"Don't call me that," I retort, pushing my hair out of my face. "I've got diluted royal blood, but that hardly means I'm a bloody damsel who requires every ounce of your respect."
"If you heed my words, I'll heed yours."
"You're fairly rude for a knight."
"What about my words has not held regard for your stature, Highness?"
"Basch!" I shove him, exasperated as he chuckles. "What's got you in such a good mood?"
"I'm not sure," he sighs, shaking his head, his blonde hair brushing over his shoulders gently. "Perhaps the escape from the death and destruction of the Empire, with all its bloodshed and apathy." Basch scratches at his beard, glancing up at me. "I suppose I understand why you and Balthier ran."
"The organized hustle and bustle were too much for me," I shrug, fighting a devilish smile. "I suppose my own chaos is where I belong."
"I was right, see?" Basch straightens, stretching his arms over his head. "Your mother—she sounds just like you."
"I'd never abandon my child to that man," I snap, taking a deep breath. "I don't understand. I received every piece of her except for her indifference. I can't leave people to suffer, even when they deserve it. I'm not nearly as selfish as a sky pirate should be."
"You're a thief with a heart of gold," Basch replies simply.
"Thief?" I scoff, looking over at him to see his blue eyes reflecting the twinkling light of the stars. "What have I stolen?"
"A few hearts," Basch mutters, his eyes flickering to mine as a slight smile tugs at the edges of his stern face. "And Balthier's mints."
"You're drunk, aren't you?" I accuse, laughing. He shakes his head.
"I've not had a drop of drink since we left Balfonheim. I only meant to wish you well."
"Well, thanks," I shrug. "But I don't need your words of wisdom. I've got some survival instincts on my side."
"Those have worked well enough," Basch nods. "Very well. I'll return to the cabin for the night."
"Goodnight."
I lean back against the sturdy ship and sink to the ground as Basch closes the door behind him firmly. Resting my forehead against my arms as they lie crossed over the tops of my knees, I heave a sigh. Why the hell's it matter now, Shera? You'll only see him out of your life at the first sign of danger—why bother? I huff, looking across the deck at the moon through bleary eyes. Because… I'm so tired of being alone.
The ground feels like its rocking back and forth beneath my feet as we trek from the sandy shores to the thick edge of the jungle. Reddas waves a final time before rowing himself back out to his ship. I take a deep breath of the humid, heavy air, brushing my hair out of my face and finding myself walking beside Vaan. The youth grins at me wearily, stretching his arms over his head.
"Sleep well out there?"
"Not exactly," I shrug, twisting a bit on my armored wrist. He nods, a small smile tugging on the corner of his lips.
"I can tell. You've got some bad dark circles."
"Gee, thanks," I scoff, rolling my eyes. "I just… I dunno, couldn't stop thinking about what might be next." I lower my voice, eying the back of the sky pirate that leads us, head held high and shoulders back. "Doctor Cid is a madman, and we all know how Balthier gets when his father's the main issue."
"Yeah," Vaan huffs, shaking head. "He's got some problems Fran's gotta fix. Not that you don't, though," he teases. "We're a group of problem-people."
"Probably why Vayne hates us so much," I mutter. The thief laughs.
"Well, one of us is trying to take over his reign of terror and the other is his traitor sister, so…" His voice trails off and he shrugs. "It's not hard to understand why he'd be after us."
"You're so wise, Vaan," I tease, nudging him with my elbow. He grins.
"You're too kind, Shae."
"Yeah, I know," I wink, frowning when we get past the sand and enter the thick, humid jungle for the third time since we started our quest to stop Vayne.
The jungle is just as dark as we remember it, though this time we're not attacked by an endless onslaught of panthers. Balthier leads the way, his steps hurried as he rushes to make up for the time we lost whilst resting up for the next leg of our journey. A rather short path leads us west. The rubbery jungle tears clear into a wood of towering trees the height and width of Archadia's buildings. Moss and ivy crawl over the ground, winding up tree trunks and lining the path. A heavy fog obscures our vision, making it difficult to see anything a few feet ahead of us.
It's not long before we're attacked by a cluster of small, angry creatures that swat at our legs with their little limbs and sticks. I almost feel bad killing them; they're pretty cute. Balthier doesn't hesitate once our small foes have been defeated, charging right back down the path. I sigh, pushing my spear into its place on my back and hugging my arms to myself. My body's still sore from my injuries in Balfonheim, but it's not terrible compared to the damp chill surrounding me. Penelo shudders, gripping her staff and pulling it closer to her small frame, sharply looking about as the lack of visual makes her anxious.
The fog thickens to the point that we can hardly see each other. The sound of wolves howling echoes all around, but I can't pinpoint its source, staring hard at the dull glint of Vaan's vest in an attempt to keep an eye on him. Balthier says something up ahead and Ashe replies, but it's all so muffled. They must be far, far ahead. Another round of howling sets off and I stop, turning around. It sounded so close, I was sure...
I'm thrown to the ground as two paws pummel into my back, claws digging into my skin as jaws snap down on the back of my neck, tearing into my flesh. I cry out, gritting my teeth and trying to turn over. A bark hits my ears and two more wolves come rushing in. Reaching back, I grab the first wolf's leg and jerk hard, earning a snap to the hand. I take the moment of distraction to stand, sprinting away.
The wolves jump at me, clamping their jagged teeth down on my arms, my legs, my clothes, trying their hardest to ground me again. Desperately, I pull my spear free and attack one of the wild dogs, only to have another pounce on my back, nails dragging down my back and tearing in long, jagged, bloody cuts. I summon up a fire spell, burning one wolf enough to push it back. My spear slices through the second's belly, blood pouring down onto the muddy ground when I jerk the weapon out and use the butt of the lance jab at the wolf on my back. The burned wolf jumps back in, gripping the end of my braid in his jaws and tugging hard. I clench my jaw, stumbling under the force of the pull. The wounded wolf snaps at my ankles and the first to attack sends me flying forward with another clamping bite.
My first instinct is to curl over, protecting my head with my arms as they're ripped to shreds. My mind is racing with all sorts of possibilities, like if I'll die or if I can fight my way out of this one. Teeth and claws alike pull at me, ripping me to ribbons. Hot blood spills across my skin and I bite my tongue, refusing to scream for help. I can get out of this on my own. I'm not weak. And then the first gunshot goes off, followed by four more. I leap to my feet, ready to fight back only become so unbelievably light headed that I stumble backward and land back on the ground, head spinning and my already limited vision wavering in and out.
"Dammit, Shae," a voice huffs, someone lifting me so that I'm sitting. I blink the blood out of my eyes and see Balthier scowling down at me. "Always ruining my travel plans."
"Sorry," I huff, wincing when his hand presses to a group of shredded holes in my back. "Where is everyone?"
"We paused to regroup and saw that you had disappeared," he replies, slowly pulling me to my feet, an arm looped under both of mine. "I told them to stay put. Otherwise, we'd all be separated." He steps forward I follow, though the movement is agonizing and I nearly faint just from that.
"Gods," I hiss, clutching my stinging side. "You couldn't have… brought them with you?"
"I preferred the moment of silence."
"You're a moron," I grit, taking another step. "If there… was ever a time I wanted… you to consider me a damsel in distress," I force, my breaths ragged and my knuckles white from gripping his shirt so hard. "It's now." Despite our circumstances, Balthier flashes a slight smile, letting go of me to give an extravagant bow.
"Of course, Majesty."
"Don't overdo it," I snap, throwing an arm around his neck and letting him lift me up into the air. "See? Much easier."
"On your part," Balthier mutters, navigating his way back through the fog. My head spins, throbbing with each step he takes. Blood turns his sleeves from white to crimson, my shirt having been soaked long ago. Must've looked like a good snack. "We're nearly there."
"Should've taken a potion," I mumble, closing my eyes in hopes that my mind's wavering will level out. I suppose, technically, it does.