Skiver glanced down at Pallanza and sighed, finishing up his drink. Clan Mianjenku to the rescue, as it were. Ah, well.
"Impeccable timing, m'lady." the Paladin observed without humor, sliding his empty glass forward for a refill.
Marlette's flattened ears flagged only slightly. "Don't you dare!" she barked at Darios, as the mage knelt at the Bangaa's head.
"Back door." she demanded, turning her baleful eyes to Rufa.
The sound of a Chocobo's kweh outside, as well as the heavy rattle of armor filled the pub as it seemed obvious that the local law enforcement had finally shown up. Skiver glanced back. "Well, hell..."
Marlette stalked behind the bar at the intimidated pubmaster's invitation, ungently dragging the monk with Crozet's slight help.
And in the moment after the two struggled to pull Pallanza's bulk behind the counter, in stalked the local Judge of Cadoan, Piero Teqian, face fully hidden behind his impassive helmet. The pub fell completely silent as the officer entered, looking upon the scene with disdain and distaste. Such scum were not fit to even breathe the air. Finally, his unseen eyes rested on the Bangaa warrior. "Yutolio of Clan Marble." his deep voice echoed, "You are charged with disturbing the peace."
Yutolio glowered defiantly behind the stained rag at his mouth. "Doesss anyone look disssturbed here?"
Many heads turned in response toward the bar. Crozet couldn't contain a high chirp of terror, frozen at the corner with his horrified stare locked on the Judge.
"....isss that Chocobo eggsss....?" Pallanza's unfocused eyes fluttered open as he slurred. His answer was a hard red bootsole in his face and an angry Viera curse.
Teqian heard both, but the moment he would look away from Yutolio is the moment the warrior would get away. "I take no chances." he replied coolly, producing a crimson card from his pouch and slapping it on the Bangaa.
Yutolio's outraged yowl still rattled the mugs as the Red Strike teleported him to Sphrom. Marlette's challenging glare matched the echo of his fury as she watched Teqian with Crozet. Her boot had sent Pallanza back to drooling dumbly into the Moogle's soft fur.
The Judge's sharp eyes then slowly turned to gaze Marlette and, upon leaning over slightly, the collapsed Pallanza at her feet. A smirk angled his lips as he pulled back slowly. Oh, she was tricky. Interesting, the way she tried to be convincing. "Tell me." he said, "I heard the other lizard. Why do you hide him?" He slowly turned to look at Pubmaster Rufa, "And you allow it...! ...considering I'm here for this scum, you should only expect a fine for this breach."
Marlette cut Rufa's indignant sputtering short. "You got your scum, we got ours. Peace is restored."
"Thosssh eggsssh are ssshpoiled." Pallanza pulled a face as his long tongue struck out into the shivering, black-spotted Moogle pelt. Crozet's small muzzle formed the silent kupo he was too frightened to voice.
Another fierce boot. "See? Nice and quiet."
"And your pet lizard threw the first punch, as I hear." Teqian shot back, removing two red cards from his pouch.
"Pallanza of Clan Mianjenku. Charged with disturbing the peace." As he slammed the card down to Pallanza, he was already speaking again, "Marlette of Clan Mianjenku. Charged with aiding a criminal." The other red card flashed then struck hard into Marlette.
"Your Honor!" Darios was aghast, grasping the empty air where the Viera had stood.
"Putting a boot in his face was aiding him, kupo??" Crozet demanded. The guilty relief he'd felt when the cards passed him by gave him the courage to speak at last.
"Trying to hide him from judgement was aiding him." he glared down toward the moogle, "The judgement has been made, the sentence carried out. If you wish to complain, do so at Sphrom." His gaze was once again upon Rufa, "Expect a bill soon enough." His business in that godforsaken pit over, Piero Teqian stalked toward the door, boots shaking the boards of the pub floor as he left.
The Nu Mou blinked after him, silent, paws clenching a groan of protest from his wooden staff. Helpless. Again.
"Expect that bill soon enough." Rufa muttered to him, pointing to the door. "Or a mission for your heads."
Before he could blink, Rufa found a hefty pouch of gil upon his bar counter, and the retreating form of Skiver pushing open the door of the pub.
Darios strode as close behind as he dared, Crozet taking to the air at his side.
"Pallanza's the biggest damn fool I know, aside from either Yutolio or that Judge..." Skiver muttered, half to himself, half to the two behind him as he stalked for the Chocobo stables across the road. He was not happy. But, he knew that Mianjenku couldn't bail even one of them out, let alone two.
"Kupopo....was that bag of gil a tip or a bet?" Crozet ventured uncertainly, not daring to guess.
"Your bill."
"KUPOKO?" The sack of supplies scattered as it dropped with Crozet's jaw.
"....Master, we cannot ask that of you." came Darios's immediate reply. His long ears twitched just half-imagining the pulling Marlette would give them for taking such charity.
"You did not ask." The paladin stopped and turned swiftly, white robes glistening slightly, "...I do it because Pallanza is an old friend." he said lowly, "We both shared disgust for Clan Marble. Besides that...Yutolio started the fight." he shrugged, "I see no reason for you to be punished for HIS stupidity."
"Kupoho....Pallanza has friends?"
"Surprising, isn't it?"
"....Pallanza rarely speaks of his past." Darios explained quietly.
"He and I were clansmates in Marble, unfortunately." Skiver's face frowned slightly on the memory. They had been, for some time. Devange had always grumbled against the palace, and often spoke of rebellion. But when the plans were made and put into motion, Skiver saw how serious he was, and how willing he seemed to always be willing to go. As soon as Skiver had seen that Devange was not against slaughtering the Royal Family, he left immediately. He was a paladin; a defender. Not a murderous coward, though those in Marble would often, and had often, classified him as a coward for leaving in the first place.
Darios flinched at his own memories of Pallanza then, from the hellish ruins where Seneka had died. "I see." he whispered simply, certain he'd already pried enough. "....Master. Is there some way we can begin to repay your kindness?"
"None necessary. Considering your financial situation, I do not believe it is something you should worry about." he replied with a suppressed sigh. As a clan, thus far, they were pitiful, such as the lizard blowing whatever money they DID have in Rufa's tavern. How he became one of the bosses is anyone's guess.
Crozet bit his lip, again using the sack of supplies like a shield as he reached for the spilled sticks of jerky. "Kupopo. Clans repay their debts. Even when they aren't really clans yet."
"There is nothing you can do to repay me, at this point. When I have trouble, I'll let you know."
Darios lowered his head, tail curling in shame. "Of course."
Crozet sighed. The paladin likely thought it a bad joke, two penniless novices speaking like Gaol and Lini....especially when one was glad he wasn't in Sphrom too. His cheeks burned red like his nose. "The eggs broke, kupoku." he murmured to the Nu Mou. "Let's get the rest back to the Gorge before nightfall. Breakfast indeed."
"In any case...." he began softly, turning again, "I would encourage you to keep a short leash on Pallanza. Tight. That would be repayment enough." With that, he disappeared into the Chocobo pen.
"Kupopo....he bites through them." Crozet called after, picking up the spilled provisions.
* * *
The nose-broiling stench of Fang was identification enough for one of the new inmates. Prisonmaster Barloc wrinkled his snout in disgust at the memory of the prone white monk slobbering at his boots, leaning back to one of the wardens. "What is it now, then?"
"Picked up by Teqian at the Cadoan Pub." Warden Klei muttered lowly, handing over a sheaf of parchment. "Seems he was causing quite a disturbance there. His clansmate, the Viera Marlette, and Yutolio of Clan Marble were picked up, too."
Barloc's narrow eyes slitted further still behind his thick spectacles as his claws leafed through the reports. "Heh....Bangaa brawl on a no damage day. Made for the piss-drunk. How did the Viera figure into it? She has no priors."
"According to Teqian's report, she was trying to hide him." he shrugged, "Clan Mianjenku is small, and he keeps losing whatever money they make at the pub. They wanted to keep him on as a clansmate, for whatever reason, so she tried to hide him, so as to not pay the bail fine."
Barloc frowned as the distant rattling of bars and a demanding female voice faintly interjected. "Would have been truer justice to leave him with her." Red-carded on a first offense, and as much as he disliked Pallanza, a minor one. Radiuju was making the Judges almost wildly extreme as of late.
"Luckily for you, Prisonmaster, sir, you'll not have to put up with either of them." a voice called from the corridor as a young man in Paladin's clothes approached his bench.
"I am here to post bail for these two." he replied with a slight sigh, "Name the price."
The faint protests in the bowels of the prison block grew louder. Barloc shook his head, adamantite guards tipping his long ears clinking together. "The doe, you can have for free. I'd hope she'd learn her lesson this once. But Sandath....there should be no price."
Skiver nodded, sadly, "I understand, your honor. Still..." he lowered his voice, "...they were willing to sell the provisions that they had so as to try and post bail for him. So, allow me to either pay for it, or take his place."
"Do you have a name?"
Skiver hesitated slightly, then exhaled slowly, "...my name... is Klenn. Skiver Klenn."
Barloc stiffened. He was still with the Queen's elite Defenders when he last heard that family name. "You sudddenly seem very familiar, sir. Regretfully enough." he rasped quietly.
The young man sighed with a sad chuckle, "Unfortunately, I carry his curse with me." he grinned sourly, "Does wonders for the reputation."
"Yet I've not seen you since then." the Bangaa added. "Though you have made a questionable choice in friends, it seems." He sat back heavily. "The piss-drunk doesn't earn such loyalty. It would cost them far more to keep company with the wine-sack." Still, the eyes behind the glasses were softened, and his leather-wrapped tail flickered thoughtfully. The temptation to spare himself the headaches wrestled with his righteousness, and the remorseful memories of the boy this Paladin once was.
"I do it because we share a common viewpoint. True, we were old clansmates... but we're not exactly friends." the Paladin said. "...and from what I've heard of the times he's been locked up, it has not exactly been quiet, between you two." he added shrewdly.
"Bangaa Cry is his specialty." the prisonmaster grated. "Still, better here than in the
towns."
"...Your honor, I did not want to have to tell you this, but Pallanza has gotten himself and his clan involved in something bigger than either of us are equipped to handle." Skiver replied, voice now very low, "If he remains in Sphrom, he may be dead before tomorrow's sunrise, and not by your claws, either."
Barloc startled forward. "....well, that is an excuse I haven't heard in a while."
"Now that he is involved, he is less in danger when he can defend himself. As I understand it, he won't even be able to use his Downsize ability while in prison."
"No. And there is no one who could hope to take his life from me." Barloc stood proudly to his full height. He was a massive Bangaa, solid as the mountain that bore him. His muscular arms rippled under his dark leather sleeves as he crossed them. "However....though I think there should be no price, the Law gives one. 32,000." His teeth glinted in a razor smile. "Don't you have better uses for your gold?"
Skiver nodded slowly, reaching into the pouch and dumping sixteen large gil pieces on the stand before him, eyes still locked hard on Barloc, "While I admire youre resolve, your honor, this goes much higher and much deeper than you realize." As small as he was, compared to the Bangaa Prisonmaster, he still stood at six feet, and his own physique was very impressive - at least to humans.
Skiver leaned forward, "What I'm about to tell you must be kept absolutely quiet, between us." He licked his lips slowly. Barloc was a very honorable Bangaa. He knew he could trust him. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth to speak.
* * *
Nearly two hours later, Warden Klei appeared before Marlette's cell.
The Viera's fists were whitened around the heavy bars, a crude frame for the elegant face pouting fiercely between them. "Unless you're going to say you're free to go, just save it."
Klei grinned toothily, "You're free to go." Words said, he produced a key and unlocked her cell. "A free release, you are, since you were arrested on a technicality. Pallanza cost your friend a good 32,000, however."
The momentary satisfaction of the second statement disappeared with the third. The Red Mage froze as though petrified. "....32,000? .....WHAT friend??"
"He didn't give his name that I heard." Klei shrugged, "Barloc said he was an old clansmate of the piss-drunk. A Paladin."
Marlette strode into the hallway amid envious stares of her silent captive neighbors. "He could've saved his money."
"You wanted out, you're out. You'd best go, now. Before Pallanza and Barloc get in another hissing match." the warden shuddered slightly.
"If he tries, I hit him again." she scowled. It would be worth the time in Sphrom.
Klei chuckled as he moved past her back to the entrance of the prison. "I'd post your bail if you did."
By this time, the Paladin had disappeared.
* * *
It was night. Ian guessed it was about 6... maybe 7 PM by his time. They had never come back. 'Figures.' he thought, 'They give me what I need to defend myself then ditch me. Not to mention let me friggin' STARVE.' He shifted against the rocky ground, finally feeling somewhat comfortable. He had a random encounter with a travelling clan a while after they had left that morning. He fought bravely. That tree stood no chance against his fierce jabs and stabs with his new daggers. The clan, actually, had merely had a good chuckle watching him. All females, they were, too. Viera, he suspected, though one had light red hair. Extremely smooth. Ah well... he tried not to think too much more on it as he slowly started to fall asleep.
"Kupo! Hello?" Crozet wheeled sheepishly into view. "Where have you been?"
Ian groaned as he was brought out of a blissful, two-second slumber, and looked hazedly over to the mouth of the cave, "Where have I been? Where have you been?? I've been worried SICK!"
Darios padded in, silently, head down.
"Kupoku....having fun, like you told us to." the small Mog answered wryly.
"...What's up?" he asked, frowning slightly, "Where are Marlette and Pallanza?"
"In Sphrom." the white monk whispered hollowly, throat tight.
"Kupono....No Dmg2: Bangaa day." Crozet added.
"How did THAT happen??" Ian's eyes were wide. "We can't bail them out??"
"Kupopo....we don't have that kind of money. Even if we did, Marlette would kill us if we
used it." he lighted next to Ian, pulling a loaf of Choco Bread from the bag.
"Oh..." he said softly, shifting slightly. Well, he was glad that he didn't say what he was thinking before they came in. He'd have felt like a real big jerk, at that point. "...I'm sorry."
Crozet offered up the loaf as the Nu Mou retreated numbly to the far end of the cave.
"Kupoo....not your fault. Guess we're going to have to take you to Salika alone." He hoped he
sounded much braver than he felt.
Darios caught himself before he agreed with his companion. His promises were empty as their purse, empty as his heart. He instead stared to the Illusionist's gown tossed nearby, remembering her laughter.
Ian took the loaf gently, his mind racing. In truth, he was glad to see something like this happen to Pallanza, that smart-ass bully, especially after what happened this morning. But he knew saying so would only upset them even moreso. 'How can they feel so devoted to that guy?' he thought, 'Marlette, I can understand, but Pallanza...'
"At least he got the message to Ezel." the little Mog tried brightly.
"Oh, did he?" he asked softly as he munched on the bread gently. Not bad. "That's a plus, at least..."
"I think so, anyway, kupoku." he admitted lamely, stuffing his cheeks with the crust.
The night suddenly became darker as a long shadow lithely leapt down before the cave mouth. Crozet nearly choked with a shrill whistle, grasping out his gun.
Just as such, Ian gripped one of his daggers with his free hand.
"Wh-who are you?" Crozet quailed as Darios stepped alongside him.
What the intruder was had an easy answer. Dressed similarly to Ian, face concealed by a featureless mask, with long, delicately tapered ears....this was another Saboteur. A real one.
Ian stood abruptly, eyes wide. Oh crap. The trees had their own assassins!
The Saboteur quirked an ear, then reached back to untie the mask.
"I was not aware you had a human member."
"Look, if this is about the trees, I can explain!" the young man exclaimed, panicked, "I swear, I thought they were attacking me, like Treants! I had to do something!"
The mask came away with a bemused chuckle as the buck regarded Ian with pale violet eyes, upswept and clear. "Is that why you wish Master Berbier's aid?"
Ian blinked. A Viera buck. A REAL Saboteur. "...uh... what do you mean?"
"He has no Antilaws for trees."
"K-kupopo....did he send you?" Crozet's tiny paws still trembled on the longbarrel, but Darios relaxed slightly.
Another nod. "My job is done, else I would not be speaking to you. Did you not know that?"
"...he... has agreed to help us?" Ian ventured.
The buck held Ian's eyes thoughtfully. "Who has trained you in the Saboteur job?"
Ian paused for a moment. No one had. He just wore the clothes... save for the training this morning. "Myself..." he replied calmly.
"An odd choice, for a human....especially when they haven't the sensitivities." His ears flickered again. His lips did not open, but his mellow voice struck inside Ian's head like a gloved fist.
~Tell me the truth.~
"Impeccable timing, m'lady." the Paladin observed without humor, sliding his empty glass forward for a refill.
Marlette's flattened ears flagged only slightly. "Don't you dare!" she barked at Darios, as the mage knelt at the Bangaa's head.
"Back door." she demanded, turning her baleful eyes to Rufa.
The sound of a Chocobo's kweh outside, as well as the heavy rattle of armor filled the pub as it seemed obvious that the local law enforcement had finally shown up. Skiver glanced back. "Well, hell..."
Marlette stalked behind the bar at the intimidated pubmaster's invitation, ungently dragging the monk with Crozet's slight help.
And in the moment after the two struggled to pull Pallanza's bulk behind the counter, in stalked the local Judge of Cadoan, Piero Teqian, face fully hidden behind his impassive helmet. The pub fell completely silent as the officer entered, looking upon the scene with disdain and distaste. Such scum were not fit to even breathe the air. Finally, his unseen eyes rested on the Bangaa warrior. "Yutolio of Clan Marble." his deep voice echoed, "You are charged with disturbing the peace."
Yutolio glowered defiantly behind the stained rag at his mouth. "Doesss anyone look disssturbed here?"
Many heads turned in response toward the bar. Crozet couldn't contain a high chirp of terror, frozen at the corner with his horrified stare locked on the Judge.
"....isss that Chocobo eggsss....?" Pallanza's unfocused eyes fluttered open as he slurred. His answer was a hard red bootsole in his face and an angry Viera curse.
Teqian heard both, but the moment he would look away from Yutolio is the moment the warrior would get away. "I take no chances." he replied coolly, producing a crimson card from his pouch and slapping it on the Bangaa.
Yutolio's outraged yowl still rattled the mugs as the Red Strike teleported him to Sphrom. Marlette's challenging glare matched the echo of his fury as she watched Teqian with Crozet. Her boot had sent Pallanza back to drooling dumbly into the Moogle's soft fur.
The Judge's sharp eyes then slowly turned to gaze Marlette and, upon leaning over slightly, the collapsed Pallanza at her feet. A smirk angled his lips as he pulled back slowly. Oh, she was tricky. Interesting, the way she tried to be convincing. "Tell me." he said, "I heard the other lizard. Why do you hide him?" He slowly turned to look at Pubmaster Rufa, "And you allow it...! ...considering I'm here for this scum, you should only expect a fine for this breach."
Marlette cut Rufa's indignant sputtering short. "You got your scum, we got ours. Peace is restored."
"Thosssh eggsssh are ssshpoiled." Pallanza pulled a face as his long tongue struck out into the shivering, black-spotted Moogle pelt. Crozet's small muzzle formed the silent kupo he was too frightened to voice.
Another fierce boot. "See? Nice and quiet."
"And your pet lizard threw the first punch, as I hear." Teqian shot back, removing two red cards from his pouch.
"Pallanza of Clan Mianjenku. Charged with disturbing the peace." As he slammed the card down to Pallanza, he was already speaking again, "Marlette of Clan Mianjenku. Charged with aiding a criminal." The other red card flashed then struck hard into Marlette.
"Your Honor!" Darios was aghast, grasping the empty air where the Viera had stood.
"Putting a boot in his face was aiding him, kupo??" Crozet demanded. The guilty relief he'd felt when the cards passed him by gave him the courage to speak at last.
"Trying to hide him from judgement was aiding him." he glared down toward the moogle, "The judgement has been made, the sentence carried out. If you wish to complain, do so at Sphrom." His gaze was once again upon Rufa, "Expect a bill soon enough." His business in that godforsaken pit over, Piero Teqian stalked toward the door, boots shaking the boards of the pub floor as he left.
The Nu Mou blinked after him, silent, paws clenching a groan of protest from his wooden staff. Helpless. Again.
"Expect that bill soon enough." Rufa muttered to him, pointing to the door. "Or a mission for your heads."
Before he could blink, Rufa found a hefty pouch of gil upon his bar counter, and the retreating form of Skiver pushing open the door of the pub.
Darios strode as close behind as he dared, Crozet taking to the air at his side.
"Pallanza's the biggest damn fool I know, aside from either Yutolio or that Judge..." Skiver muttered, half to himself, half to the two behind him as he stalked for the Chocobo stables across the road. He was not happy. But, he knew that Mianjenku couldn't bail even one of them out, let alone two.
"Kupopo....was that bag of gil a tip or a bet?" Crozet ventured uncertainly, not daring to guess.
"Your bill."
"KUPOKO?" The sack of supplies scattered as it dropped with Crozet's jaw.
"....Master, we cannot ask that of you." came Darios's immediate reply. His long ears twitched just half-imagining the pulling Marlette would give them for taking such charity.
"You did not ask." The paladin stopped and turned swiftly, white robes glistening slightly, "...I do it because Pallanza is an old friend." he said lowly, "We both shared disgust for Clan Marble. Besides that...Yutolio started the fight." he shrugged, "I see no reason for you to be punished for HIS stupidity."
"Kupoho....Pallanza has friends?"
"Surprising, isn't it?"
"....Pallanza rarely speaks of his past." Darios explained quietly.
"He and I were clansmates in Marble, unfortunately." Skiver's face frowned slightly on the memory. They had been, for some time. Devange had always grumbled against the palace, and often spoke of rebellion. But when the plans were made and put into motion, Skiver saw how serious he was, and how willing he seemed to always be willing to go. As soon as Skiver had seen that Devange was not against slaughtering the Royal Family, he left immediately. He was a paladin; a defender. Not a murderous coward, though those in Marble would often, and had often, classified him as a coward for leaving in the first place.
Darios flinched at his own memories of Pallanza then, from the hellish ruins where Seneka had died. "I see." he whispered simply, certain he'd already pried enough. "....Master. Is there some way we can begin to repay your kindness?"
"None necessary. Considering your financial situation, I do not believe it is something you should worry about." he replied with a suppressed sigh. As a clan, thus far, they were pitiful, such as the lizard blowing whatever money they DID have in Rufa's tavern. How he became one of the bosses is anyone's guess.
Crozet bit his lip, again using the sack of supplies like a shield as he reached for the spilled sticks of jerky. "Kupopo. Clans repay their debts. Even when they aren't really clans yet."
"There is nothing you can do to repay me, at this point. When I have trouble, I'll let you know."
Darios lowered his head, tail curling in shame. "Of course."
Crozet sighed. The paladin likely thought it a bad joke, two penniless novices speaking like Gaol and Lini....especially when one was glad he wasn't in Sphrom too. His cheeks burned red like his nose. "The eggs broke, kupoku." he murmured to the Nu Mou. "Let's get the rest back to the Gorge before nightfall. Breakfast indeed."
"In any case...." he began softly, turning again, "I would encourage you to keep a short leash on Pallanza. Tight. That would be repayment enough." With that, he disappeared into the Chocobo pen.
"Kupopo....he bites through them." Crozet called after, picking up the spilled provisions.
* * *
The nose-broiling stench of Fang was identification enough for one of the new inmates. Prisonmaster Barloc wrinkled his snout in disgust at the memory of the prone white monk slobbering at his boots, leaning back to one of the wardens. "What is it now, then?"
"Picked up by Teqian at the Cadoan Pub." Warden Klei muttered lowly, handing over a sheaf of parchment. "Seems he was causing quite a disturbance there. His clansmate, the Viera Marlette, and Yutolio of Clan Marble were picked up, too."
Barloc's narrow eyes slitted further still behind his thick spectacles as his claws leafed through the reports. "Heh....Bangaa brawl on a no damage day. Made for the piss-drunk. How did the Viera figure into it? She has no priors."
"According to Teqian's report, she was trying to hide him." he shrugged, "Clan Mianjenku is small, and he keeps losing whatever money they make at the pub. They wanted to keep him on as a clansmate, for whatever reason, so she tried to hide him, so as to not pay the bail fine."
Barloc frowned as the distant rattling of bars and a demanding female voice faintly interjected. "Would have been truer justice to leave him with her." Red-carded on a first offense, and as much as he disliked Pallanza, a minor one. Radiuju was making the Judges almost wildly extreme as of late.
"Luckily for you, Prisonmaster, sir, you'll not have to put up with either of them." a voice called from the corridor as a young man in Paladin's clothes approached his bench.
"I am here to post bail for these two." he replied with a slight sigh, "Name the price."
The faint protests in the bowels of the prison block grew louder. Barloc shook his head, adamantite guards tipping his long ears clinking together. "The doe, you can have for free. I'd hope she'd learn her lesson this once. But Sandath....there should be no price."
Skiver nodded, sadly, "I understand, your honor. Still..." he lowered his voice, "...they were willing to sell the provisions that they had so as to try and post bail for him. So, allow me to either pay for it, or take his place."
"Do you have a name?"
Skiver hesitated slightly, then exhaled slowly, "...my name... is Klenn. Skiver Klenn."
Barloc stiffened. He was still with the Queen's elite Defenders when he last heard that family name. "You sudddenly seem very familiar, sir. Regretfully enough." he rasped quietly.
The young man sighed with a sad chuckle, "Unfortunately, I carry his curse with me." he grinned sourly, "Does wonders for the reputation."
"Yet I've not seen you since then." the Bangaa added. "Though you have made a questionable choice in friends, it seems." He sat back heavily. "The piss-drunk doesn't earn such loyalty. It would cost them far more to keep company with the wine-sack." Still, the eyes behind the glasses were softened, and his leather-wrapped tail flickered thoughtfully. The temptation to spare himself the headaches wrestled with his righteousness, and the remorseful memories of the boy this Paladin once was.
"I do it because we share a common viewpoint. True, we were old clansmates... but we're not exactly friends." the Paladin said. "...and from what I've heard of the times he's been locked up, it has not exactly been quiet, between you two." he added shrewdly.
"Bangaa Cry is his specialty." the prisonmaster grated. "Still, better here than in the
towns."
"...Your honor, I did not want to have to tell you this, but Pallanza has gotten himself and his clan involved in something bigger than either of us are equipped to handle." Skiver replied, voice now very low, "If he remains in Sphrom, he may be dead before tomorrow's sunrise, and not by your claws, either."
Barloc startled forward. "....well, that is an excuse I haven't heard in a while."
"Now that he is involved, he is less in danger when he can defend himself. As I understand it, he won't even be able to use his Downsize ability while in prison."
"No. And there is no one who could hope to take his life from me." Barloc stood proudly to his full height. He was a massive Bangaa, solid as the mountain that bore him. His muscular arms rippled under his dark leather sleeves as he crossed them. "However....though I think there should be no price, the Law gives one. 32,000." His teeth glinted in a razor smile. "Don't you have better uses for your gold?"
Skiver nodded slowly, reaching into the pouch and dumping sixteen large gil pieces on the stand before him, eyes still locked hard on Barloc, "While I admire youre resolve, your honor, this goes much higher and much deeper than you realize." As small as he was, compared to the Bangaa Prisonmaster, he still stood at six feet, and his own physique was very impressive - at least to humans.
Skiver leaned forward, "What I'm about to tell you must be kept absolutely quiet, between us." He licked his lips slowly. Barloc was a very honorable Bangaa. He knew he could trust him. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth to speak.
* * *
Nearly two hours later, Warden Klei appeared before Marlette's cell.
The Viera's fists were whitened around the heavy bars, a crude frame for the elegant face pouting fiercely between them. "Unless you're going to say you're free to go, just save it."
Klei grinned toothily, "You're free to go." Words said, he produced a key and unlocked her cell. "A free release, you are, since you were arrested on a technicality. Pallanza cost your friend a good 32,000, however."
The momentary satisfaction of the second statement disappeared with the third. The Red Mage froze as though petrified. "....32,000? .....WHAT friend??"
"He didn't give his name that I heard." Klei shrugged, "Barloc said he was an old clansmate of the piss-drunk. A Paladin."
Marlette strode into the hallway amid envious stares of her silent captive neighbors. "He could've saved his money."
"You wanted out, you're out. You'd best go, now. Before Pallanza and Barloc get in another hissing match." the warden shuddered slightly.
"If he tries, I hit him again." she scowled. It would be worth the time in Sphrom.
Klei chuckled as he moved past her back to the entrance of the prison. "I'd post your bail if you did."
By this time, the Paladin had disappeared.
* * *
It was night. Ian guessed it was about 6... maybe 7 PM by his time. They had never come back. 'Figures.' he thought, 'They give me what I need to defend myself then ditch me. Not to mention let me friggin' STARVE.' He shifted against the rocky ground, finally feeling somewhat comfortable. He had a random encounter with a travelling clan a while after they had left that morning. He fought bravely. That tree stood no chance against his fierce jabs and stabs with his new daggers. The clan, actually, had merely had a good chuckle watching him. All females, they were, too. Viera, he suspected, though one had light red hair. Extremely smooth. Ah well... he tried not to think too much more on it as he slowly started to fall asleep.
"Kupo! Hello?" Crozet wheeled sheepishly into view. "Where have you been?"
Ian groaned as he was brought out of a blissful, two-second slumber, and looked hazedly over to the mouth of the cave, "Where have I been? Where have you been?? I've been worried SICK!"
Darios padded in, silently, head down.
"Kupoku....having fun, like you told us to." the small Mog answered wryly.
"...What's up?" he asked, frowning slightly, "Where are Marlette and Pallanza?"
"In Sphrom." the white monk whispered hollowly, throat tight.
"Kupono....No Dmg2: Bangaa day." Crozet added.
"How did THAT happen??" Ian's eyes were wide. "We can't bail them out??"
"Kupopo....we don't have that kind of money. Even if we did, Marlette would kill us if we
used it." he lighted next to Ian, pulling a loaf of Choco Bread from the bag.
"Oh..." he said softly, shifting slightly. Well, he was glad that he didn't say what he was thinking before they came in. He'd have felt like a real big jerk, at that point. "...I'm sorry."
Crozet offered up the loaf as the Nu Mou retreated numbly to the far end of the cave.
"Kupoo....not your fault. Guess we're going to have to take you to Salika alone." He hoped he
sounded much braver than he felt.
Darios caught himself before he agreed with his companion. His promises were empty as their purse, empty as his heart. He instead stared to the Illusionist's gown tossed nearby, remembering her laughter.
Ian took the loaf gently, his mind racing. In truth, he was glad to see something like this happen to Pallanza, that smart-ass bully, especially after what happened this morning. But he knew saying so would only upset them even moreso. 'How can they feel so devoted to that guy?' he thought, 'Marlette, I can understand, but Pallanza...'
"At least he got the message to Ezel." the little Mog tried brightly.
"Oh, did he?" he asked softly as he munched on the bread gently. Not bad. "That's a plus, at least..."
"I think so, anyway, kupoku." he admitted lamely, stuffing his cheeks with the crust.
The night suddenly became darker as a long shadow lithely leapt down before the cave mouth. Crozet nearly choked with a shrill whistle, grasping out his gun.
Just as such, Ian gripped one of his daggers with his free hand.
"Wh-who are you?" Crozet quailed as Darios stepped alongside him.
What the intruder was had an easy answer. Dressed similarly to Ian, face concealed by a featureless mask, with long, delicately tapered ears....this was another Saboteur. A real one.
Ian stood abruptly, eyes wide. Oh crap. The trees had their own assassins!
The Saboteur quirked an ear, then reached back to untie the mask.
"I was not aware you had a human member."
"Look, if this is about the trees, I can explain!" the young man exclaimed, panicked, "I swear, I thought they were attacking me, like Treants! I had to do something!"
The mask came away with a bemused chuckle as the buck regarded Ian with pale violet eyes, upswept and clear. "Is that why you wish Master Berbier's aid?"
Ian blinked. A Viera buck. A REAL Saboteur. "...uh... what do you mean?"
"He has no Antilaws for trees."
"K-kupopo....did he send you?" Crozet's tiny paws still trembled on the longbarrel, but Darios relaxed slightly.
Another nod. "My job is done, else I would not be speaking to you. Did you not know that?"
"...he... has agreed to help us?" Ian ventured.
The buck held Ian's eyes thoughtfully. "Who has trained you in the Saboteur job?"
Ian paused for a moment. No one had. He just wore the clothes... save for the training this morning. "Myself..." he replied calmly.
"An odd choice, for a human....especially when they haven't the sensitivities." His ears flickered again. His lips did not open, but his mellow voice struck inside Ian's head like a gloved fist.
~Tell me the truth.~