Traveling through the Zeklaus Desert an night was not nearly as tiresome as it was in the day time, so it was too bad that they were not going to travel. The marquis was in no condition to travel. Ramza stayed with the troops while Delita and Algus went back to Dorter to purchase a Chocobo for the marquis to ride on. They had struck gold in Gil whenever they searched the Death Corps hideout. They had more than enough money to afford a bird now. It would take a toll on their travels, it would be a day longer to get back to Igros. Dycedarg would be furious, Ramza knew. The good news in everything is that they had the marquis alive and well. If that served only to keep him from being reprimanded then Ramza would be satisfied.
"How is he?" he asked the chemist who was attended to his needs.
"Dehydrated and weak, but he'll be fine, sir," she replied shyly.
"What about you?"
"Sir?"
"How is your arm? I know that you were hit with an arrow. Is the wound bad?"
"It's not bad; it only hit flesh, no arteries or tendons. I put some salve in it to keep it from getting infected and bandaged it to keep the sand out. I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern, sir," she replied.
"I'm glad that you're alright. You are a valuable asset to this troop, you know. You have saved my life, survived all these battles and now you're seeing to the marquis. I'll commend you to my brother," he smiled at her.
"Thank you, sir," she beamed.
"What's your name?"
"Cora," she blushed.
"Cora, thank you for all you've done. I know that you're seeing to the marquis but also see to getting a good night's rest for yourself as well," he added.
"Yes sir," she giggled.
"That's an order!" he joked. She did not reply but made her way over to the marquis to make sure that he was all settle for the evening. Ramza wanted to speak to him, but he figured that now was not the time. After the ordeal that he had been through he doubted that he was in a talking mood.
He looked out the hole in the roof of the temple. The stars looked like diamond dust thrown against black velvet. It was the month of Aries right now, his birthday was not until the nineteenth of Aquarius. He would be seventeen, the same age Zalbag had been when their father had donned him as a man and knight before the kingdom of Igros. Ramza was too young to remember it, just a baby, but Zalbag had told him enough. It would be Dycedarg that headed up the coronation for Ramza. That was well enough, he decided, but Dycedarg would never be Balbanes.
Ramza shook his head and rolled over on his pallet, bringing his head out of the clouds. That was neither here, nor now, he decided and his thoughts on the matter left him. He found himself pondering how Delita and Algus were traveling together. He did not like the idea, but it seemed best to stay with the marquis while they went to get the Chocobo. Algus had blatantly refused at first, saying that he needed to stay with the marquis. Ramza was adamant on the issue. He was the commanding officer and he felt it best that he stay with the marquis whenever he woke up. The man would be, after all, going to Igros Castle for safekeeping until he could be safely transported back to Limberry.
In Dorter, a days travel from the Death Corps hideout in Zeklaus Delita was closing a deal for a Chocobo with a man, and trying hard not to lose his patience with his travel companion.
"10,000 Gil! Are you mad? Have you seen this beast? He looks as if he's ready to keel over and die as we speak!" he complained. No doubt, the bird was old. 10,000 Gil for Chocobo was a steal. This was not something that Delita was planning to pass up. After they were done, they could sell the bird for twice that amount and make a profit. Ramza would be pleased, and he trusted Delita's judgment. He had also expressed that Delita was in charge. Algus had not liked it but he would have to deal with it.
"Algus, give it a rest," Delita grumbled, "10,000 Gil is a good bargain for this Chocobo."
"May I remind you that Elmdor marquis de Limberry will be riding on this bird and does not suit him. I will be embarrassed and him, insulted. We need another bird," he told the man.
"This is the only one that I own. He's been in our family for years now," retorted the old man indignantly, "he's a little worse for ware but he'll get you where you need to go."
"Thank you sir, we'll take him. What's his name again?" Delita asked.
"We will not take him! The marquis cannot ride on this ruffle-feathered beast of a bird. We are going to have to buy him something more distinguished," Algus argued.
"We will take him, and if you would keep your voice down about the marquis, that would be great! Or need I remind you we are in the center of one of the cities that harbors the Death Corps?" Delita shot back. He had taken all he could of Algus and his pompous ways.
"The marquis will be displeased," he pointed out.
"Look, Algus. We are buying this bird, and that is it. I do not care if the marquis is please with the age or look of his Chocobo and I do not care if the sight of it embarrasses you. Ramza sent us on this mission and this is the bird that I want. Is that clear?" Delita did not raise his voice but did make sure that there was conviction and finality in what he said.
"Very well, have it your way, then!" he turned around, huffing and puffing to the doorway of the stable and leaned against the frame with a sour look of defeat and frustration on his face.
"Thank you, sir. You have my word that we will take good care of...what's his name?"
"Valiant," he replied, "he's quite spirited and I pray he is as useful and faithful to you as he was to our family."
"Thank you sir. Have a wonderful day," Delita shook the man's hand with a smile and grabbed the reigns of the bird and led him out the stable. He passed by Algus who maintained his frown and his ground.
"Are you coming?"
"We're going back out tonight?"
"Would you rather travel by day across Zeklaus? Have you forgotten the heat already?"
"I have not forgotten the heat. When, pray tell, did you plan on us getting any sleep?"
"We can sleep in shifts. The bird is large enough for both of us to fit, we'll take turns riding pilot until we reach the hideout. If we head out soon, we'll be able to make it before the sun comes up."
"You realize that we will have crossed the desert three times then, in two days?"
"Yes, Algus, I realize that. It is necessary. This is the price we pay for being the heroes that rescued the marquis!" he clapped him on the shoulder. "You were saying that you wanted to do something to regain your family's honor. This is just the thing. Dycedarg will be pleased."
"I am not so sure..."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything that we did, we did against orders and without Dycedarg's consent. That is no small matter, not in my opinion and I doubt Dycedarg will just brush it off. We don't have anything to worry about, though. It's Ramza who will take the blame for this one," he snickered.
"You looked pleased about that," Delita observed.
"Better him than me, eh?"
"I would rather take the blame for him than to see him reprimanded by Dycedarg," Delita replied in defense of his friend.
"Suit yourself. Dycedarg can't really punish me anyway; I'm a guest in Gallionne and my allegiance ultimately falls to the marquis at this point," Algus added with his higher-than-thou tone. Delita liked Algus a little less by each passing moment. Ramza knew no stranger and would befriend anyone so Delita tolerated him for his sake. He knew that it would not be too much longer before Algus went back home to Limberry and bothered them no more.
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to climb onto this beast without a saddle. We have to buy a saddle. I will not ride bareback!"
And with each passing moment Delita could hardly wait until that day came.
The next morning Ramza awoke with Delita hovering over him.
"I hope that you slept well, friend," he said with a yawn. Ramza stretched and yawned as well, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Did you get a Chocobo?"
"Of course. He's old but I got him for a shamefully small price. We still have plenty of money left over."
"How much?"
"10,000 Gil," Delita grinned.
"You jest!" Ramza shot back, "How old is he that you got him for such a fare?"
"He's a fossil, Ramza. I tried to talk Delita out of it. Wait until you see the bloody beast! It's hideous!" Algus added. Delita rolled his eyes and gave Ramza a look that told the entire story of their travel together without him. He smiled and went out to size up the beast.
Old was a place to start with describing him. His feathers were molting and sticking out all over the place, its beak and feet crusty and weathered by sun and dirt.
"Wark!" the Chocobo cawed upon seeing Ramza. His heart beat with delight.
"It's brilliant, Delita! Only you would find the oldest Chocobo in Ivalice for the price you did. And buy him to save a man we're not supposed to be saving. Delita this is why I am friends with you!" he was lost in laughter at the pitiful sight of the bird.
"You're pleased?" Algus's mouth hung open in disbelief.
"Have you ever seen anything so funny in your life? This just keeps getting better," Ramza replied.
"You're not worried as to what the marquis will think about having to ride back to Igros on the father of all Chocobos?" The marquis emerged from building and looked over the bird. His long silver hair was blowing in the desert wind like a unicorn mane.
"I'm glad that I will be riding to Igros at all. You boys saved my life and I am grateful. What I ride back on is of no interest to me, in fact, if I had discovered that you sent your friends across the desert and back to buy a Chocobo for me to ride on I would have forbid it. I am feeling much better now, thanks to your sweet healer, Cora.
"Enough talk, let's make haste to Igros," the marquis smiled warmly and shook hands with the three of them.
"What are your names, lads?"
"I'm Algus, of Limberry."
"Delita Hyral, of Gallionne."
"And I'm Ramza Beoulve," he replied. There was no need to state where he came from. Everyone in the kingdom knew of the House Beoulve.
"Beoulve, eh? Please to meet the acquaintances of all of you. Let us not delay. I am in haste to remove myself from this desert. I know these lands, we can cut straight across northwest to Igros," he said.
"My lord, isn't it dangerous to be going off of the path. Everywhere thieves and footpads lie in wait to spill innocent blood for a few Gil," Algus pleaded.
"That's why I have brave souls like you three to defend me, Algus. I insist. We can make it in two days if we head out now. What do you say, Ramza? You are the commanding officer of this troop, would you like to see some parts of Ivalice you have never seen before?"
"I say lead the way, marquis Elmdor," Ramza said with a grin. He had already disobeyed orders, engaged in battle with the enemy at the cost of the lives of his entire troop, what more could it hurt to go off the beaten path, into the wild to make his way back to Igros?
"What madness possessed you that you would abandon your posts to traipse about the desert?" Dycedarg demanded. He was not as mad as Ramza had thought he would be, he was infuriated instead. Deep down inside Ramza feared his own hanging. He just stood there, his head hung in shame. He figured that the sad puppy dog would go further with Dycedarg than the arrogance and indifference.
"Silence is not the answer I seek. Speak, and be quick with it," Dycedarg was the furthest thing from jesting.
"'Twas I forced Ramza to go," Delita spoke up.
"Was that the way of it, Ramza? Delita led your better judgment astray?"
"No...I went of my own choosing. The fault lies not with him," Ramza answered meekly.
"'Tis Ramza's noble disposition that guides his tongue, my lord. It is not as he--"
"You needn't be false on my behalf, Delita. It was I who chose to disregard orders," Ramza added more firmly.
"Might I pose a question, Ramza?" Dycedarg began rhetorically, "What purpose do laws serve when even those who would enforce them choose to not pay them heed? Adherence to the rule of law is a knight's solemn duty. It falls upon us, as Beoulves, to bear the burden of example. Is your intent to live up to your name—or to drag it with you through the mire?" Dycedarg had changed his tone from fuming and angry to icy and biting.
"...Forgive me, Lord Brother," Ramza pleaded sorrowfully. Did he not care that the marquis was back safely in Igros and out of the hands of the Death Corps? Did that mean nothing to him?
"I believe the point is made, is it not, Dycedarg?" came a man's voice from the next room. In a moment, the door opened and Duke Larg walked into the room, dressed ornately in royal robes. Delita and Ramza, recognizing him instantly bowed a knee as he approached. Algus looked at them and dumbly followed suit.
"You must not let the how of it steal your eyes away from the what. Their rescue of the marquis was no small feat. It is the way of young men to be impetuous in their haste to do great things. We were not unlike them once," Larg admitted with a chuckle. He was a tall man with strawberry blond hair. His face was rectangular and masculine, his bangs hid a high prominent forehead. His hair was cut in the shape of a bowl over his head, kept long except for the back and sides. A beard adorned his chin, the same regal color of his hair. He was good-looking and carried an air of nobility and royalty with him wherever he went. Even though he and Dycedarg were the same age, he appeared older than Dycedarg because of the way he carried himself.
"To coddle them is to do them a disservice, Your Grace. They need to learn integrity." Dycedarg threw Ramza a look that told him he would not likely escape punishment of some sort.
"So, you are Lord Dycedarg's younger brother. Rise, son of Gallionne. Indeed, you are the very ghost of Balbanes. His fire burns in your eyes, I can see it. Such strength and vitality would be wasted atop castle walls," Duke Larg looked Ramza straight in the face with a genuine smile across his face.
Dycedarg let out a sigh of frustration, looked at Larg and then back to Ramza as if it pained him to say the next words.
"Our campaign against the Death Corps draws near its end. I will permit you to join in the final stage. Coordinated strikes are to be made on a number of their dens ere long. You will lead one of these assaults."
"Very well, Lord Brother," Ramza could not contain his excitement and relief. Igros Castle was large, but it became very small when you were confined within its walls. Dycedarg waved his hand as a gesture of dismissal and they turned to leave.
"I told you! You were so worried he'd have me flogged!" Ramza punched Delita playfully in the shoulder, "and you did not have to lie for me Delita! What was that about?"
"I was concerned. I think that Dycedarg would not be so harsh on me. He expects this kind of rash action from me,"
"When is he going to learn that it is I who is the bad influence on you?" Ramza laughed. They continued through the castle until the voices of Larg and Dycedarg could no longer be heard.
Meanwhile, just down the hall...
"My apologies, Your Grace," Dycedarg said solemnly.
"It was not of your doing, Dycedarg. In truth, it serves only to show the caliber of man we were dealing with in Gustav. A change in plans was inevitable, once the fool went and staged the kidnapping within our very borders. And let us not forget00they did save the marquis's life. He will now be honor-bound to acquiesce. In the end, your brother's deeds have placed us in quite the favorable position," Larg concluded.
"The king's life hangs by a thread. We must move quickly now," Dycedarg pointed out.
"Indeed, my dear friend. I trust you will not fail me," Larg replied in a low serious tone. They had a kingdom to overthrow and mistakes could not be factored into the plan. He walked back into his quarters to leave Dycedarg to his thoughts.
"So where are we heading now?" Algus asked.
"There is a known hideout south Igros, about two days from hear, near the ocean," Ramza explained.
"The ocean? You could not have picked a closer hideout for the Death Corps?" Algus complained.
"It's near a port city. It is where their supply train begins. It is probably one of the most important locations that there is. If we strike here, there will be no more supplies, food, weapons or anything like that going to the Death Corps. They'll have to cease this rebellion," Ramza explained.
"Are we taking the entire troop?" Delita asked.
"No, it's just going to be the three of us this time," Ramza frowned.
"Three people against one of the most heavily guarded Death Corps dens we know of? Are you barking mad, Ramza?" Algus demanded.
"We'll have to be stealthy and strike smart, we might be able to find a few volunteers who will do it for some Gil or for glory," Ramza offered.
"I don't like it, Ramza. We shouldn't go alone. Why again are you not taking your troop?" Delita asked.
"It's Dycedarg's subtle way of punishing me. He assigned me an important mission in front of Larg but he knows that I can't do anything on my own. He just wants us out of his hair for a while," Ramza explained. Cora walked up, she was not in her battle garb, but a long blue dress. Her hair was down too. Ramza had just now taken notice at how pretty she was.
"You don't have to go alone, Ramza. I'll come. I'm on leave right now so what I do and where I go is my affair," she offered.
"If you want to come with us, Cora you are more than welcome," Ramza said.
"Will it be okay if my brothers come too? Roland is strong as an ox and Remus is studying war wizardry at the conclave," she offered, "you'd have to pay them I think."
"What do you think, Delita," Ramza asked.
"At this point, beggars needn't be choosers, Ramza," he shook his head. It was clear that he was still not fond of the idea of going so far south to chase down the Death Corps.
"Cora, go get Roland and Remus, and tell them that they can each have 1,000 Gil and a share of whatever bounty we have from the outcome of battle. Tell them it is going to be dangerous and we could be killed.
"They'll be thrilled, I assure you," she replied. She was a different girl entirely when she was not on active duty. Ramza liked her, he might have been a little infatuated with her if he had time for such things as silly as love.
"So south we go, to the Brigand's Den," Algus rolled his eyes.
"Are you in?" Ramza asked with a smile.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm not staying to guard the castle and I'm not ready to go home yet. There is not nearly as much happening there," he conceded.
"Delita?"
"I don't like it Ramza," he admitted.
"What? Too dangerous? Do think we don't have a chance of victory?"
"It's not that, it's just that...these people are not our enemy's. They are farmers and merchants, the people who make this world go round. They fought in the Fifty Year War alongside the nobles and now they have been abandoned. Forgive me, perhaps I am a little biased but I see them as revolutionaries, not rebels," Delita admitted. Algus looked appalled.
"I understand their cause, and why they fight for it, no doubt. I would fight to see a world of equality one day too. I cannot tolerate their means: kidnapping, thievery, murder. I do not fight them but the things that they do," Ramza assured. It was true. He understood perfectly what they were trying to achieve, though it was idealistic and naive. One could only hope the world could one day be perfect, no such luck. They had such poor timing too. Larg and Goltana were fighting over who was the rightful heir to the Throne. The King had not even passed away yet, though that day was approaching at an alarming rate.
"I see you're meaning. I dislike fighting, especially my own countrymen," Delita looked away.
"You countrymen? Rebels! Murderers! Hardly the kind of folk one should keep as friends," Algus pointed out.
"They would not have to do things like that if they were not oppressed!" Delita shot back.
"Hey! We are not going to have this conversation. Regardless of how any of us feel about this, we have a mission to do. If for no other reason than to get away from Igros and Dycedarg's patronizing us. We'll go down, keep a low key, look around and see what we can find. If it is bigger than us, we'll get information and return back and report to Dycedarg and let him handle it, though he would like nothing more. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Algus spurted out, nearly before Ramza finished the word.
"Agreed," Delita finally, though ever more reluctantly said.
"Let's enjoy a day of rest here at Igros and we'll head out tomorrow," Ramza concluded.