Chapter 3-Destination: Raem
"Are we there yet?"
"And where, Balthier, would you be implying is 'there'?"
"I don't know…wherever we're going."
"Oh, please."
Fran and Balthier had been walking for two days through the barren Estersand, surrounded by cliffs and cacti.
"Do you sense any mist like a town nearby?" Balthier inquired. He had been whining a lot lately, since they had left the safety of their sleeping spot that morning.
"No…nothing that would be as big as a town. There is a pocket over there, but it doesn't seem to be more than four or five people." Fran pointed towards a small blur in the distance that had been getting bigger ever since they passed through the Rekaim Pass.
And so, our unlucky heroes trudged on through the sand; Fran in her 3 inch stilettos (how does she do that), and Balthier constantly having to stop them to get sand out of his shoes. They walked for another hour or so, until the town was nearly on top of them.
"It looks like there are only three huts up ahead. That's disappointing; I was hoping for a hot bath and a nice meal."
"Do I not provide you with enough food, Balthier?" Fran prodded at Balthier's shoulder with her elbow as she teased him lightly.
"It's not that, it's just that you don't provide us with enough food. You have an appetite twice mine, Fran. We need our supplies replenished."
The scream of a man could be heard as Fran casually strutted into the small village and notified them that it was just her companion. The town was small, yes, but bigger than three huts. There were seven buildings in all. Three were houses, one was an inn, one was abandoned, and two were shops. In addition, there were a few tents and stands dotting the empty spots in the main street.
"Oh, dear, where is Balthier?" Fran mocked shock as she looked around, exaggerating her movements greatly.
Balthier waddled awkwardly into the town, seeming to be in some sort of pain.
"That was uncalled for, Fran. I don't appreciate your near-prevention of me ever having children."
"Oh, there you are. I don't know what you're talking about, Balthier." Fran smiled, putting on a nice ruse for Balthier as she walked off towards the shops.
"Wait, Fran!" Balthier walked awkwardly after her, catching up just as she reached the shop.
"It seems there is a weapons and armor shop, and a general store." Fran observed.
"I don't suppose we need the weapons or armor. I'm fine if you are." Balthier approached the general store and opened the door to walk in.
"Yes, we had better save our money. After all, we will need enough food for three people seeing as how I eat enough for two." Fran pointed out in a mocking tone as she brushed past Balthier, assuming he had opened the door for her.
"You're welcome, ma'am." Balthier replied to Fran's non-existent statement of thanks.
"Oh, chivalry requires no thanks, Balthier." Fran smiled sweetly as she entered the store and began gathering the materials they would need to make it to Dalmasca.
Balthier entered the store and was greeted by a wave of heat coming from the hearth in the center of the far wall. He walked over to the counter and looked behind it. Seeing nobody, he assumed this was not so populous a town that they need to be here all the time. He shrugged and joined Fran in her shopping.
Before they had so much as peered at a potion, the door burst open and they were both threatened by a lean woman with her sword drawn.
"What business have you in my shop!?" she demanded.
"Isn't it obvious? We're here to purchase goods from you, assuming you sell these things. Assuming you know what a customer is, I trust that you realize our motive for occupying your shop."
The woman's look changed from that of chagrin to mixed joy and abashment. "I'm sorry…it's just been so long since we have had visitors in Raem. I assumed you were here to rob me."
"Well, we're not. We were hoping to buy a few items and be on our way." Fran turned back around and began browsing the various curative items once more.
The woman sighed heavily and put her weapon away. "Good, I need customers. As I said, it's not often that travelers pass through Raem. The only way to get into the Estersand from the North is through uninhabited territory. Only those brave enough to travel to or from there ever visit."
"I see. So, you must not get much business here then." Balthier was helping Fran dust off the bottles of potion, which had gathered a thick layer of soil in their dormancy.
"Not really. Oh, I'm sorry. I was so rude to you, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Sandrine."
"Nice to meet you Sandrine." Fran held up a bag of goods to her. "We would like to purchase these and be on our way if you would like."
"Oh…well…okay. The next town is at least a two day walk…are you sure you won't stay the night in Raem?" Sandrine seemed disheartened by Fran's sudden hurry.
"We have managed until now, and will continue to do so. Thank you for your offer, though." Fran took the items to the counter and waited patiently.
"Oh, Fran, don't be such a stiff. We can stay the night. It's already afternoon, so we won't lose that much walking time. Plus, I'm exhausted. It's about time I had a nice warm bed to sleep in during these chilly desert nights." Balthier's sudden joviality spread to Sandrine as she hurried to the counter to take Fran's payment.
"Oh, thank you, sir. That will be 1300 gil, please." Sandrine took the payment and put it in the cash box, then pointed out the door. "The inn is two doors down. You can't miss it; it has a big painted sign outside. Thanks again!"
Balthier walked out the door first, and soon found himself face down in the sand; Fran had tripped him.
"You fool! Do you automatically trust everybody you meet!? Especially those that start off your relationship by threatening to kill you?" Fran seemed rather disappointed in Balthier, but nonetheless walked towards the orange sign labeled 'INN.'
"You shouldn't talk. Do you remember when we first met? In the Golmore Jungle?" Balthier was referring to the time when he met Fran wandering in the jungle, and outcast of the Eruyt Village. She had threatened to kill him if he did not leave the sacred forest, but he did not heed her warning.
"That was different." Fran seemed rather terse as she walked into the inn. When she reached the front desk and rang the bell, she gasped at who came out.
Sandrine walked out of the back room and assumed the position of hotel manager behind the desk. She even had a little nametag pinned to her shirt that read 'Sandrine-General Manager.'
"You…but…since when…" Balthier could not find the words to speak his question as to how Sandrine could be the manager of the store and the inn.
"A nice little monopoly you have going on here, eh?" Fran cracked a small smile.
"Yes, well, being such a small town, employees for all of the facilities are scarcely needed. Had you entered the weapons shop or the rest house, you would have found I work there as well." Sandrine grinned as she spoke.
Fran sighed and put on a nearly-contemptuous voice. "Well, ma'am, I would like a room for two please. Separate beds, if you have them. Oh, and we would like dinner and bathing facilities as well."
"That can be arranged. Right this way, miss." Sandrine led the two down a hall to the right that contained three rooms of varying sizes. They chose the largest room, and dropped their stuff off.
"Now, about dinner. Do you mind the house specialty?"
"Which is?" Fran seemed skeptical.
"My own recipe: Cactoid-Lobo Casserole."
"Sounds…delicious." Balthier interjected.
"I can bring it to your room. The bath is in the back, just past the desk, second door on the left. There are towels there already."
Balthier and Fran thanked Sandrine as they entered their room. They pulled out all of their stuff and beat the sand out of it, then laid it out on the bed. It was surprising how little they salvaged from the Strahl.
"She seems nice, eh?" Balthier suddenly asked.
"She is alright. A little eccentric, but alright nonetheless."
"True. Do you want to bathe first?"
"Whatever you want works for me. I think I shall go to the stream that runs behind this building and wash our clothing."
"Alright, then, I'll go take a bath first."
Balthier walked out of the room and headed for the bath, leaving Fran alone to carry all of the clothes out to the stream.
"So like a man." she muttered, and carried them off.
After washing up (both clothes and self), Fran and Balthier returned to their room to find dinner awaiting them. It was, surprisingly, very good. They both enjoyed it and asked for more when Sandrine checked on them. After finishing their stew, they talked with each other for a while about what to do next. It was decided that they would leave early in the morning towards Dalmasca once more, much to Balthier's chagrin.
Sandrine came to check up on the two just as they had decided it was time to go to sleep. She brought them extra blankets and offered them a warning.
"When you are walking through the desert ahead, beware the wyrms that may appear out of the sand. Encountering one will mean certain death."
"We'll try to be careful." Balthier muttered sarcastically, practically oozing ego.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sandrine." Fran added.
"You are very welcome. Good night." Sandrine closed the door, leaving Balthier and Fran, once more, to their own devices.
"Well, Balthier, it's time to go to sleep. Get as much as you can in that bed, it may be the last one you sleep in for a while."
"I know, and that's what scares me."