The singing Angel part 1/2
Back at the camp Ike was in a bad mood. He couldn't even sit down so Rhys could heal a wound he got on his forearm. Not even his own sister, Mist, could do anything about his temper. Soren hadn't even tried; he found it no use and only a waist of energy. Ike would calm down sooner or later. But Rhys couldn't stand looking at Ike's wound, knowing he would not let him treat it.
- Ike! Come here and sit down please! Let me take care of that ugly thing before it gets infected! It looks painful too.. Please let me heal it and then you can do whatever you want, said Rhys and started to follow the hero around the campfire with a panic look in his eyes but Ike refused to stop walking.
- I can't believe it! Something out there is making us choose to either die or kill our friends! Rhys stop running after me! Let go of my arm!!
- But Iiiiike!!
Shinon was the only one who didn't care about the situation. He wasn't friend with either Haar or that red haired dragonlover everyone called Jill. To him this was an easy fight.
- Lets fight the ones that won't pay us as much as the other, he said and two seconds later Ike had taken a firm grip of his shirt collar.
- Did you just say that we should let everyone down just to get some money?!
- You are an merchant aren't you?! Let me tell you something new: That's our job!! Let go of me you big manic!
Shinon tried to hit Ike in the face, he hit his chin with a powerful blow and Ike had to let Shinon go to stop the bleeding from his mouth. Ike's eyes was mad and soon he jumped on Shinon, punching him in the face and chest with his strong hands, Shinon was fighting back or course with the same madness in his eyes but he wasn't as strong as Ike. Ike was a swordsman, Shinon was a sniper, two different kind of warriors.
- Stop that both of you!
Titanias voice, laud and angry. Ike stopped instinctive. Titania had raised him like a mother and for some reason he never could do anything against her will. But Shinon didn't care about the blasted woman, he hit Ike right in the face with a strong punch. Ike saw stars for a couple of seconds and is eye got all purple and yellow.
They both stopped their fight. They got up on their feet. Shinon stroke the dust from his clothes and gave Ike an angry look. Ike in the other hand looked confused and got a hard time focusing on what was going on. Rhys who almost had fainted when he saw his both friends beat the crap out of each other, and after seeing all the waste of blood, hurried to their aid starting to heal their wounds. Though Ike had to live with his colorful eye till the colors and swelling was gone.
Mist ran to her older brother with tears in her eyes. A battle was one thing, but watching him fight one of their friends – even if it was Shinon – was a lot worse. She hugged her big brother who patted her on the head, trying not to look at Titania who was very, very mad.
- You both act worse than children! What are you thinking; fighting with each other? Ike, you who are a General should not behave like that! And Shinon; for the love of Ahsara, your twenty seven years old.
Being schooled why a woman who almost at the same age as you is kind of embarrassing but Shinon just snorted and put his arms cross his chest like a stubborn child. Titania sighed.
Janaff had been watching the whole scene from the opening of Tibarn, Ulki and his owns tent. He laughed and shocked his head. Berocs and their strange ways. He took a look around the camp with his brown eyes and twitched when he saw something tiny hiding behind one of the tents. That Laguz child! Why was he back?!
- What is going on Janaff, why is there so much yelling out here, said Tibarn who came out of the tent.
- Oh nothing Tibarn, you should get some rest! Answered Janaff and puched his king back into the tent. Tibarn didn't get angry; both Ulki and Janaff could behave however they wanted to him only of no one else was watching though he got pretty surprised over Janaffs reaction.
- That wasn't very kind of you Janaff, and should you really address your King with such a tone? Ulki came out of the tent with his normal lock on his face. Janaff stared at him, annoyed before he widens his wings.
- No one heard me alright! Just, stay here with him okay? I need to check something.
With does word he lifted from the ground and flew over the tents to where he had seen Letius. The little boy had taken his cat form and tried to sneak out of sight. Obviously he had noticed Janaff outside the tent and didn't want to take any risks. Janaff was quicker than the Letius and landed in front of the scared little kitten. He took a grip of his ear again and watched him take his normal form.
- See who we got here, isn't it the little catkid. What are you doing back at the camp? I was hoping to never have to see you again.
- Hello Janaff.. Nice weather don't you think?
- It sure is, and the field behind the hill is drowning in blood, maybe you would like to let your own join?
- ..You're just trying to freak me out.
- Well both yes and no. The field is really drowning with blood after today's battle, and yes I'm just trying to freak you out, I don't kill children but I would like to know why your back. Are you hungry again? We can't feed stranger you know, we need the food to our soldiers.
- This time it has nothing to do with food really..
- Then why are you here?
Janaff let go of the Letius ear and put his hands into his pocket. He gave the boy a strange look, waiting for his answer before he kicked the little brat out of the camp. The kid didn't look so sure if he wanted to tell Janaff the truth, he had started to stare at his own feet.
- I'm waiting kid.
- Alright, I need your help truth to be told. A friend of mine is trapped in a big house to the south in the Begnion Empire.
- Begnion Empire? That's pretty far from here, what makes you think I would go all the way over there? Especially when we are in time of war; I can't go everywhere by my own liking you know and my king needs me by his side.
- I beg you Janaff! I saw you in battle, you were strong! I need someone to help me save her, cause I can't fight Oliver, his a fire mage and..
- Oliver..?
- Yes, the man who keeps my friend trapped is named Oliver, anyhow..
- You mean the collector? The man who collects beauty and keeps it in his house?
- Yes? Is there so many named Oliver in Begnion who would do such a thing?
Janaff didn't have to say more. He didn't like Letius tone; it made it sound like the kid thought Janaff was a complete idiot. Oliver, Janaff remembered that man. Ike had saved Rayson from that man a couple of years ago, Janaff had never met him in person but he still didn't like the sound of that man; collecting beauty no matter if it's alive.
- Why are you just asking me? Said Janaff.
- Cause your one of the bird tribe! You can fly! And believe me it is a faster way of traveling than..
- I know. I'm from the bird tribe remember? I know flying is the fastest way of traveling, but still. Is there no one else you can ask?
- Not really..
- Why?
- Cause the others isin't so found of beorcs.
- So? They would be happy to kick ones but.
- Well. That's the thing.. My friend she's a beroc.
Janaff raised his eyebrow. Not because Letius told him he was friend with a female beroc but because Oliver had one at home. Janaff got the wrong pictures in his head and tried to shake it off. He never thought someone like Oliver would want a beroc though because there is nothing mysterious or beautiful with them, according to Janaff. They could be good friends and of course there was many beroc women who were beautiful but Oliver didn't like normal beauty.
- Sorry to ask but why would Oliver want a regular beorc?
Letius didn't like the question. Janaff could see that in his eyes. He got pretty angry about it and started to stamp his foot into the ground.
- Don't say anything about her before you meet her! She's a very pretty woman! And she is kind too. You shouldn't think something would be different between her and a laguz, that's racism you know. She's just as good as you and I.
Janaff had to admit he was surprised, that a child of a laguz could speak like that. Normally laguz got raised by their parents to almost hate berocs, and so did beroc child's as well.
- Your right of course, I beg your pardon Letius. Though I didn't mean that way; what I know about that man Oliver is that he want a special kind of beauty, something that is unusual.
- Oh.. Well, he bought her from a man outside Cremia. He wanted her because of her voice.
- Her voice?
- Yes. She's a wonderful singer! I can't describe her voice but.. you really have to hear her sing Janaff, Its worth every second I promise you!
- Alright then, it is a deal.
- ..A deal?
Letius started to look scared. What had he done now? He started to look around him like he always did when he was nervous. He glanced shyly at Janaff underneath his fringe.
- I save her, if you let me hear her sing, smiled Janaff and widen his wings.
- No way in heavens, said Ulki and snorted.
Janaff had asked him to come alone. It would have been foolish from him to go to Begnion all by himself with a small kid and try to defeat a strong mage. He needed help even if he had a hard time admitting it.
- Common Ulki! This is the only way to get rid of this annoying child!
- Hey!
- Shut up kid I'm trying to make him change his mind, whispered Janaff behind his teeth. Ulki raised an eyebrow.
- I can hear you Janaff.
- Ah, common Ulki! I need your help in this!
- We'r at war if you don't remember. We cannot just leave as we wish, our king needs us here.
- I know all that, but it will only take a day! We will be back before sunrise!
- And what if the camp gets attacked in the middle of the night while everyone is asleep? There is a reason why we are needed Janaff. No one got as good ears as I do, and no one can see as far as you. We are needed here, out of discussion.
Janaff looked even grumpier by hearing it from Ulki even if he knew it was true. He exchanged looks with the boy who was standing next to him with a sad look on his face. Janaff sighed. If Ulki didn't want to help him then he would go on his own. He had promised the boy.. well he hadn't used the words "I promise" but still; a deal is a deal.
- Then I will go on my own, and if I die it will be your fault.
Janaff snorted and turned his back on Ulki who kept staring at his friend. Janaff just stood there wating for "that" thing to happened and when he hear Ulki sigh as well he turned around and smiled even bigger.
- So you will follow me?
- No.
- But you..
- I will instead join you in your childish ways and tell Tibarn about your foolish plan.
- You don't dear!
- Oh I think I do Janaff, in fact I will.
- But you can't! I have a deal with this boy and what would happen to my pride if I didn't do as I've said? By our wings Ulki I am a grown man, older than you which you love to remind me of. Tell Tibarn all you want, if I don't do this I won't be able to face our king anyway.
With does words Janaff left the tent with Letius running after him. Letius gave Ulki a sad look before he also left the tent and took Janaffs hand like they were father and son.
- Thank you Janaff.
- That had nothing do to with you, kid. The reason why I help you is because..
Janaff went quiet and faced the sky for a moment. Yeah, why did he help him? Janaff couldn't find the questions in that even if he tried his hardest. He didn't understand the feeling he got in his chest, like something were terrible wrong but he didn't know what.
- Let's go Letius, I have to be back before sunrise.
- Janaff wait!
Janaff glanced over his shoulder at Ulki who was standing behind him and Letius. Letius grip of Janaffs hand got tighter like he thought Ulki would make Janaff change his mind. But Janaff didn't smile at his old friend this time, he didn't even look happy to see him. For some strange reason he felt betrayed. Ulki sighed and stepped up to them, widen his wings and nodded.
- Show me the way, the battle will go faster if we do it together, but remember: You promised we will be back before sunrise.
Janaff didn't know what to say. He took a strong grip of the child's both hands. He widen his own wings. He nodded and gave his old friend a warm and gently smile.
- Thank you Ulki. I don't know why but..
- This is important to you. You have always been noble, in your own funny way; of course you can't say no to a tiny little child who begs for your help. But please, let's make this quick?
- As quick as I can fly, laughed Janaff and lifted from the ground. Letius gasped and he started to do all he could to get closer to Janaff, scared for the fall down if Janaff would drop him. Cat's hates flying.