Chapter 2: Newly Acquainted

Alma did not see Izlude again until early evening the next day. As his 'guest' she was given a new dress to wear and allowed limited freedom to wander about Riovanes Castle under the supervision of a knight assigned by Izlude to watch her, probably to make sure she didn't try to escape. Not that Alma considered it for the time being since she knew she wasn't in any real danger from her abductor. During the day, she allowed her guard, a young red-haired man about her age, to give her a tour of the castle, or at least part of it, for there were certain areas that were off limits to her as well as the castle staff. Though polite and courteous, the knight seemed shy and aloof as he showed her the kitchen, courtyard, hallways, library, and training grounds. While certainly livable, Riovanes was by no means extravagant for it was more of a military base where nobles and high-ranking military officials met to discuss battle strategies and negotiate treaties. With the current war, it was also a place bustling with activity as soldiers gathered to train and merchants brought in weapons and supplies to sell and trade. Throughout the day, Alma saw people coming and going to and fro and were she not being watched, it would have been no trouble for her to disappear into the crowd of people and make her escape.

Of course, her abductor knew that too, hence the nearby guardsman watching her every move; Izlude was no fool. Though she was perfectly safe and unharmed, Alma could not help but feel guilty knowing that her brother was out there somewhere worried sick about her and fearing the worse while she was in fact living comfortably within the boundaries of the castle, residing in lovely guest room instead of rotting away in a filthy dungeon. Alma wished there was a way for her to let Ramza know she was all right but it would have been difficult to bribe someone to bring him a letter since she was being watched so closely, even if she did know where he was which she didn't. If there was anyone who could give her any information about Ramza, it would be Izlude himself since the knight blade was assigned to obtain the Germonik Scriptures and Holy Stones from her brother. The question is would he tell her if there was another confrontation between Ramza and himself? Alma was left to ponder the matter until early evening.

While she was allowed to wander about the castle grounds during the day, Alma was returned and confined to her room once more by sundown. When her guard led her back to her room, he politely wished her a good night before leaving; as soon as the door was closed, she heard a click on the other side and turning the knob confirmed her suspicion that the door was locked. She wasn't surprised, it was to be expected. Resigning herself to her confinement once more, Alma turned back from the door and looked around her room where she found another dress laid out on the bed for her and dinner set on the table. This time, it was roasted deer, freshly baked bread, salad, and fruits. Upon picking up the scent, Alma felt her stomach growled as she realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast with the exception of a fruit bar she and her guard had shared a little earlier that day. As she approached the table, she noticed that it was set up for two people. Did that mean her 'host' would be joining her for dinner?

As if in answer to her unspoken question, Alma heard a knock at her door after she changed into her new dress. As soon as she gave her permission to enter, she heard a click as the door was unlocked and opened and Izlude came inside; he was out of his armor and clad in a grey dress shirt, black pants and knee-high boots. The young man looked like he was dressed for a date and as embarrassing as it was for Alma to admit it, she liked the look. Like before, he made a gentlemanly bow to demonstrate his noble upbringing before greeting her.

"Good evening, Lady Alma, I hope this evening finds you well?"

Alma curtsied before her abductor whom she now preferred to think of as her host. "Yes, I am doing very well. Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Izlude."

He smiled at her "Just Izlude will do. There is no need for formalities when we're alone. Would you allow me the honor of joining you for dinner?"

Alma's face brightened "Of course, I would love having you; I just hate eating alone. The knight you had taking care of me today was such boring company; he barely said a word all day. Maybe he just doesn't like me."

Izlude threw back his head and laughed "Oh, don't mind Justin. He's very shy but he's a good man; he just needs to get used to you, that's all." He purposely neglected to mention that Justin was the only one of his knights he trusted not to take advantage of Alma. With her loveliness, it would be difficult for most men to resist.

"I see. In any case, please have a seat; we should eat before the food grows cold."

"Yes, I agree."

As they sat down to eat, Alma poured both of them a glass of wine as she asked Izlude how his day went. If he was going to have dinner with her every night like this for the rest of her stay, it would be the perfect opportunity to get information out of him, particularly information about Ramza and his whereabouts. She was sure whatever Izlude told her would be more accurate than the rumors she heard among the other inhabitants and travelers at Riovanes. As much as Alma wanted to know about her brother, she had to avoid mentioning Ramza directly as she did not want Izlude to become suspicious. If she could somehow get him to trust her, there was a chance she might learn what the Glabados Church and Knights Templar planned to do with the Holy Stones and Germonik Scriptures, information she was sure would be of great use to Ramza. Perhaps being brought here can be advantageous if she can learn anything that would help her brother and get him off the hook for heresy.

"So how was your day, Izlude? Did anything happen today?" Alma asked casually as if they were family or close friends instead of enemies on opposing sides of a civil war.

"Not much; things have quieted down a bit since the incident at Orbonne. I heard from my father and fellow knights that a truce is being considered due to difficulties on both sides. Of course, Larg and Goltana would only turn to it as a last resort, stubborn as they are. I personally think they are both fools for pursing this war; they certainly aren't making themselves popular with their knights or people back home."

Alma couldn't agree more. "And what about you, Izlude? What are you fighting for? What's your end in all this?"

"Me? I guess you can say I'm fighting to put an end to this senseless war. I think neither Larg nor Goltana are fit to be king since they care more about their power then their people."

Alma found herself intrigued at his answer. Which brought her to her next question: "As a knight blade, you technically fight for the church. Can you tell me how it came to be?"

Izlude looked at his guest curiously. He expected her to ask such questions to make polite conversation but found that she was genuinely interested in knowing how he became a knight and what he was fighting for.

"Well, I was born into a noble family who has served the Glabados Church for generations. My father was a Knight Templar so I became one too. I didn't really have a desire to be anything else and it was the only way I knew."

Alma stared at him in wide-eyed wonder. "I agree with you on Larg and Goltana but have you ever stopped to think if the church is totally in the right either?"

Her question caught Izlude completely off guard; did he just hear her right? Though somewhat naïve, the Beoulve girl was surprisingly perceptive and insightful beyond her years. "Wh…what do you mean, Alma? Of course I believe in the church and high confessor! I've been a devout follower of Saint Ajora's teachings all my life. I did not expect to hear that from someone like you, who've spent most of your life at a monastery of the Glabados Church."

"True, but it's not that different from you following your father's footsteps in becoming a Knight Templar. Just as my brother was sent to Gariland Academy to learn the ways of knighthood, I studied at Orbonne to become a cleric so that I could assist him should a time come when we must battle side by side, just as our mother had done for our father."

Izlude raised an eyebrow in interest. He had heard about the legendary Balbanas Beoulve, what knight hadn't? The man was one of the greatest knights in Ivalice history. He also knew about Dycedarg and Zalbag Beoulve, great commanders in their own right, but very little about Ramza and Alma except that they were the children of Balbanas's second wife.

"Your mother" he began "Where is she now?"

Alma looked down sadly for a moment before answering "She passed away when my brother and I were ten. Father met her when he visited Orbonne where she was studying to be a cleric after the death of his first wife, Dycedarg's and Zalbag's mother."

Izlude's expression softened. "I'm sorry" He apologized "I didn't mean to bring up sad memories for you."

Alma shook her head. "No, it's all right, I don't mind. What about you, Izlude? What are your parents like? Do you have any siblings of your own?"

Izlude was surprised at how quickly the conversation was becoming personal and how he didn't mind it at all. He was normally a very private person and did not like discussing details about his family with his friends or fellow knights yet it was strange how he had no problem confiding in Alma, someone who was supposed to be his enemy.

"My mother also passed away when I was very young" he answered "I have only one sibling, a sister four years my senior named Meliadoul. After our mother died, she took it upon herself to raise me in her place until I was old enough to take care of myself. Unfortunately, because of that, she had to put off her own studies to become a knight for some time."

"What about your father?"

"Well, my father had to take on extra work to support us with our mother gone. In addition to his duties as a Knight, he also went on diplomatic missions for the High Confessor. He still does from time to time but not so much since he became leader of the Knights Templar. It's no longer necessary now that my sister and I can take care of ourselves."

"Interesting" Alma said "It seems like we have more in common than I originally thought. Would you like another glass of wine, Izlude?"

"Yes, I would, thank you."

The rest of the evening went by smoothly. Like Izlude, Alma was also surprised at how easily she was opening up about her personal life to a stranger she barely knew who was supposed to be her enemy. Though she felt comfortable around Izlude and found it easy to talk to him, she still took care not to tell or ask him too much about the current war and events for she didn't want him to become suspicious of her. She needed to find out as much about the Glabados Church as possible and in order to do that, she also needed to get Izlude to trust her enough so he wouldn't suspect anything when she did start to ask questions related to the Germonik Scriptures and Holy Stones.

Dinner seemed to pass by quickly as the couple got lost in conversations about random things late into the evening. Both found themselves enjoying the other's company and wished for it not to end though it eventually had to when they glanced at an old clock on the wall and realized it was almost midnight. As soon as he downed his last glass of wine, Izlude politely took his leave of her like the previous evening. Alma was dismayed though not surprised when she heard him lock the door again upon his departure. She knew she was making progress with him but still had a ways to go. With a little more patience and persistence, Alma would be able to learn all she needed to help Ramza but it will do him little good if she could not tell him. She also had to consider her next move:

Escape.

A.N: So how does everyone likes it so far? I've always wanted to write a fic for Alma and Izlude because I think they would have been a great couple in FFT. Izlude has always been an interesting character to me; he's really a good guy fighting for the wrong side but at least realizes and admits it at the end. Alma's compassion for him was touching even though he kidnapped her. I'm kind of writing this story to fill in the gap of Alma's experiences between the time she was kidnapped at Orbonne until she was taken away by Vormav near the end of chapter 3.