Disclaimer: I don't think ANYONE could think I own GS.

A/N: I already got Hail! Remember? I guess you don't. In the same chapter as Ground! I never go to Crossbone Isle, I don't think Isaac would waste the time when they could be catching up to Jenna...ahem, um, Saturos. wink wink wink I myself didn't think of the freezing...I've got a walkthrough from GameFaqs. What? It helps with the puzzles! I'm horrible at the things. What I like is the plot and the combat.

"Yeah, I'm from Kalay," the armor dealer confirmed, leaning against the wall. "I know a secret route, in fact, from here back there."
Ivan's eyes widened. "Will you tell us? Please?"

"What's in it for me?" the armory man demanded.

I exchanged a look with the others. "Name your price," I said finally.

The man considered for a few minutes. "I'll tell you what. You do me a few errands out there. Bring me back two plate mails, six silver armlets, a vambrace, two blessed robes, and five silver helms in exchange for me telling you. Deal?"
I glanced at the others. "We agree,"

"Okay!" The dealer looked excited. "Here's my map. Right there is the cave. Make your way through and you'll be right about here. You should be able to find what I'm looking for in a place called Lunpa."

"Lunpa?" gasped Ivan. For once, it was me who was the mind reader. I knew exactly what thought was running through Ivan's round head. "As in, Lunpa, the city of thieves?"

"That's what I said, kid," the armor dealer confirmed impatiently. "Lunpa. I'm real good friends with the armor dealer there. Don't worry, I'll give you the coins. It's much too expensive for some kids like you. But you've got to sign a royal contract."
I exchanged a glance with the others. Garet looked blank. Nothing new there. Mia was biting her lip, looking thoughtful. Nothing new there, either. Ivan looked completely clueless. Now that was a shocker. "What's a royal contract?" I asked finally.

The armor dealer rolled his dark eyes. "Don't you know? Oh, right, you don't live here. Anyway, it's a contract stamped with the royal stamp by Babi. You sign it, and if you don't keep your end of the deal, the soldiers will go after you. Get it now?"

I was annoyed at the armor dealer's rude tone, but I tried not to show it. "Yeah, we get it. How do you get one?"

The man surveyed us. "Do you really think you should speak for your friends? That tall redhead sure doesn't look like he understands, and that blue girl looks a little confused. Anyway, you go to Babi's palace. But don't worry, I've got one right here." He drew out a sheet of parchment with dark red writing on it. I shivered. I didn't really think that it was written in blood, but you never know with dealings like these.

The dealer didn't seem to notice my discomfort. "I've already signed it, see? You can write, can't you?"

I glared at him. "Of course!"
He shrugged. "Well, you never know with foreign barbarians. Had a girl come in once who said she could write and just scribbled all over the parchment! Weird symbols and the like, you know."
"We're not barbarians!" protested Garet.

The dealer shrugged again. "Hey, call 'em what you like, I don't care. Same thing to me. All four of you need to sign this. Here, you, ruffled-hair boy, come over here. Yeah, I mean you. The one wearing the blue tunic."
I moved closer, patting down my hair self-consciously, and squinted down at the contract, reading every word carefully. Mother had repeated to me, time and time again, to never sign anything without knowing what you were getting yourself into. After I finished reading it, deciding it was harmless, I signed my name at the bottom. In my best writing, I carefully wrote, Isaac of Vale. I motioned to Garet.

The tall Adept walked over to it, reading it just as carefully as I had. Deeming it safe just as I had, my best friend wrote his name with care. He moved over and Mia stood by the counter.

Mia didn't bother to read it-maybe she had never been told to, or maybe she just trusted us. Either way, she signed her name almost immediately. She moved over again, leaving the space for Ivan.

Ivan looked troubled, and he re-read the statement several times before signing it. He stood there for a minute afterward, looking a little upset. But then he moved away, letting the dealer snatch up the precious parchment again.

The dealer looked joyful now that the deal was done. He reluctantly handed us a bag heavy with currency and bade us goodbye as another customer came through the door.

After I slammed the door behind us, we clustered around on the bridge atop the arch. I looked uneasily down at the ground, and the earth seemed to swirl beneath me. I shook my head and looked up again, being careful not to go near the edge. Garet sat on the edge, swinging his long legs carelessly. Ivan held on by only his hands. Mia seemed more reserved, sitting near Garet but completely on the bridge. I scooted nearer the middle, feeling my stomach lurch.

Mia cleared her throat. "So, um, are we going to Lunpa?"
Garet looked up in surprise. "Of course! I mean, we are, right, Isaac?"
I shrugged. "We signed the contract! We have to..."
"That's not what I meant," Mia interrupted. "I meant, are we going to Lunpa to save Lord Hammet?"
"That's up to Ivan," I said firmly.

Ivan swung himself back and forth faster, not answering.

"Ivan?" Garet called, as if he were searching for a lost dog.

Ivan heaved himself back up on the bridge, and for the first time I saw glistening tears on his face. He wiped his face with his hands, noticing me watching. The young Adept turned away from us again.

"I-I really don't know." Ivan's voice cracked a few times, and I knew he must still be crying. "It's just..."

"Ivan, I think I know that you do know," Mia said gently.

Ivan let out a little sob. "I want to go. But I don't want to hold you three back. But...but I will save him. I will rescue him this time. You can go on without me."

"No," Garet argued, his voice softening. "No. We're going with you." He sounded resolute.

"Garet's right." I agreed.

"Yes, you're right, Garet." Mia agreed. "All of us or none."

Ivan turned around again. "Really?"
"Really," I assured him.

"Really," agreed Garet.

"Really," promised Mia.

Ivan nodded, brushing away his tears. "Okay. Let's get going."

I pulled out the map the man had given us. "We go...that way." I pointed.

"Let's get down from the arch first," laughed Garet. He slid down easily. Ivan followed. Mia stood, looking uneasy for a moment, but then slid down.

I looked down, feeling my stomach lurch. The ground rocked. I felt sick. I closed my eyes and tried to slide down. But I stopped before I could slide. I knew I needed to face my fear...but it wasn't easy. And I was wasting time. I stood up again and walked around. I climbed down the steps and rejoined my friends wordlessly.

We walked along the coast, following the map's directions. After about fifteen minutes of mostly silent walking, with the occasional, "No, Garet, it's that way!", or, "Look! I can see Kalay from here!", or, "I'm bored.", we encountered some trouble. It started with a crunching noise from deep within the earth.

"What's that?" I wondered.

Mia shivered. "I don't know, but it sure doesn't sound welcoming. Let's keep going."

"Ahh!" Garet cried.

I turned immediately to see Garet being pulled by an unseen force into the ground. I rolled my eyes. "Great joke, Garet. Really, let's get going."
"No, it's got me!" he howled, shaking his leg viciously.

I grinned. "Great acting, but we've got work to do."

Garet shook his head. "Really! It's got me..."
"This is getting annoying, Garet," I told him. "Just come on!"

Garet yelled in pain. "Isaac, this is real! Sol Blade promise!"
I froze. "Sol Blade promise?" I turned and ran back to him, immediately trying to pull him away from the unseen monster. I pulled...pulled...pulled...

Garet flew into the air and I fell to the ground, my muscles aching. A mole scrambled out, looked back and forth, saw four furious Adepts, and decided to go back to its underground hideout.

"Sol Blade promise?" Mia repeated skeptically.

Ivan snickered. "You must really like that sword, huh, Isaac?"

I blushed. "I was nine when I came up with that! I was obsessed with heros and stuff back then."
Ivan laughed. "I'm glad I didn't know you when you were nine. I'd bet you'd be another Gust! No offense, Gust!" he added hastily, clearly afraid that the Garet and the Djinn episode would repeat itself.

I glared at him indignantly. "No! I mean, not exactly..."
Garet burst out laughing. "Not exactly? That's a laugh! Remember all the times you made me a dragon, Jenna a princess, and Felix a helpful peasant? And of course, you were Sir Isaac, the noble knight."
I blushed a deep red. "Hey! I let you or Felix be a knight sometimes!"
"And remember the time that you stole the ashes from the Sanctum, rubbed it over your face, and declared you were sick?" Garet reminisced. "Dora had a fit!"

Mia covered her mouth with her hand daintily, giggling madly. "Really?"

"You'll just have to ask Jenna about the time she climbed the tree," added Garet. "I was sick at the time."

I tried to stop myself blushing. "Speaking of Jenna, is it just me or do we have a quest? What are we waiting for?"
Garet nodded solemnly, a contagious grin still tickling his lips. "Yes, let us go save the beautiful princess, Sir Isaac."
I swung at him with my fist angrily, but he just dodged it, grinning, and bounced off toward the cave.