Sabin scratched his chin feeling stubble beneath his touch. It would be time to shave soon. He'd been up for many nights preparing the legal documentation of his acceptance to be the ruler over the Doma lands. Chancellor Arnold, who is feeling much better these days, has been helping him work on speeches and things of that nature. He could sure use a man like him when he becomes king. He only hopes that someone in Doma will be able to fill the role as well as the Chancellor here. Maybe Cyan would want the job. He's a very powerful influence, respectable retainer of Doma. He knows the lay of the land having lived there longer than anyone else. He'd be perfect. Plus it would give him a rest, the man needed one. He can't spend his golden years wheeling around trying to thwart trouble when he's just not capable of it. The man may still be sharp now, but later he'll feel the wear and tear harder than he'll want to.
"And then you sign here." The Chancellor pointed. He had to pause his pacing to press his hand to his side as pain brushed his senses.
Concerned, Sabin shakes his head. "Chancellor, please sit down. You shouldn't be walking, even if you feel up to working." He didn't need to hear another speech of how the world did not stop spinning just because things were going down at the castle. Sabin wondered if he meant that truly, or if the man were now breed to believe such things. If things at the castle were in shambles it was the duty of the kingdom to think of the kingdom and the rest of the world would be on the back-burner. "You're only gonna end up back on bed rest, do you really want that?"
"No. I suppose not." Taking a seat, the man's chin elevates, his broad sloping nose raises in the process as if to say that its beneath him to actually be seated. "Now, just as soon as there is a ship readied, you and I shall depart to castle Doma for validation."
"Excellent." Sabin smiled easily, though his nerves were pricked and frazzled.
He's no stranger to traveling the world. He enjoys it and even encourages it from others, but this isn't just some trip to the Doma region... he'll be living there. He'll be stuck there... for many, many, many years. Coming home for holidays and parties. But... he'll have to suck it up and handle the lifestyle. His brother has been doing it for 13 years, starting from age 17! Sabin will be a real ass if he can't suck it up and live a life that he should have been sharing with his brother in the first place. He was a coward... he was the son that had to be free. Without his parents he wanted nothing in this world. Selfish seemed to be his best color at the time, but not anymore. People can change, and this is proof of that.
Sabin turned his head when spotting a shadow move past the light coming in from the window behind him. "Are we finished? You really should get back to your room and sleep."
"Yes, of course." Chancellor stood up and gracefully walked to the door, then paused to say "This is very responsible of you your Excellency, very mature." before walking out, closing the door after himself.
"Very mature? Well," He replied in mock insult. "Shadow, is that you?" Sabin asked thin air.
"Your brother's been possesed by a demon."
"What?" Sabin was surprised by this sudden statement. Shadow rarely said anything that wasn't, in some way, important. So he would not lie about something like this. "H-... What?" He was still unable to comprehend the actual meaning of 'possessed'.
Shadow explained to his friend what he'd just told Edgar and Locke a couple hours ago and Sabin, like the others, was floored at how unbelievable it sounded. Why was it so hard for them to understand that such things as spirits do exist. Well, for Sabin that didn't really seem to be the issue since he and that Doma knight had spent a few days on a spirit inhabitated train. But it was hard for Sabin to believe that anything had been wrong with his brother to have the demon attracted to him in the first place.
"I told you that your brother was acting strangely in the times we've been here."
"I know. But..." He trailed off unsure of what to say.
This pain could have been festering in his brother since day one. Being left in a castle with no one his own age, being asked to rule a kingdom when he was just a boy. The loss of their parents, loss of himself, Locke had gone around that time as well. That madman Kefka whispering in his ear constantly, the Chancellor doing much of the same. It really is a wonder this hadn't happened sooner. But then the world wasn't in disarray as it is now. There would be no fallen sorrow slipping and sliding, and taking anyone along with it until now. Damn it.
"I'm gonna go see him."
"I wouldn't, he's with Locke."
The weight of how that statement was said told Sabin all he needed to know. Hopefully the two wouldn't fall asleep right after and he could talk to Edgar then.
"The others have shown up, and a few villagers from the South."
"Oh, good. I'd like to talk with Cyan about becoming my Chancellor; are you coming with me?"
Shadow said nothing but followed his lover to the door.
...
Locke is laying in Edgar's arms, brushing his fingers along the man's bare chest lazily circling his thumb around Edgar's nipples. Edgar fell asleep four minutes ago leaving Locke time to think about all that's going on. Hopefully his speech had some sort of impact on Edgar, and when that thing comes calling again- and if Shadow was right about its love for despair, it will come, he will be waiting for it. Looking up into Edgar's sleeping face, something else catches his hazel eyes. The moonlight shining through the balcony doors is reflecting on something sticking out from the headboard. It almost looked like a little blue halo. How had he missed that- well, it was obvious how it had gone missed. Sitting up, he reached out for them pulling them free one at a time and setting them on the side table.
Edgar stirred when Locke changed position, tilting his head back a bit he smiled.
"What are these?"
"Shadow's way of saying that I've been given a second chance." He said in a voice slightly groggy from sleep. "Can you believe he keeps them in his throat?"
"Gross." Setting the last one on the desk, he snuggled back into his lover. He'd planned on sleeping himself but then something came over him when the faintest sweet smell hit his senses. "Shit. I dropped your ice cream." Sitting up he climbed out of the bed and walked over to the door where the bowl had been dropped.
The stain of spilled ice cream was nearly gone having turned translucent, and any larger clots have distilled looking like it had snowed on a small portion of the floor. Edgar watched, eyes sleepy, as Locke walked into the bathroom to get some water and a rag to clean up the mess.
"I don't suppose you're still hungry for ice cream?" He says while stooping down to wipe up the mess.
Edgar was only enjoying the naked view of Locke's back. "Not if you don't want to get it." He smiled when Locke threw a look over his shoulder that asked. 'What do you think?' Snickering, Edgar patted the bed. "Forget about that, come lay with me."
"Just a minute, I only have to dump the water." He straightened up lifting the bucket from the floor. "And I'm all yours." He returned to the bathroom to drain the cloudy water.
Edgar situated himself a little better than the slightly slumped angle he'd been in. Being with Locke really had improved his mood, and he's already feeling better. What Locke had said really did sink in. He'd honestly allowed himself to doubt his friends. Whereas he doesn't want them to become his royal aid or anything, they have lives to live of their own and should be allowed to live it anyway they please, but still, he thought that he was alone and knew that they had to help him- wanted them to help him with it.
'I am a selfish man... but what man, who finds himself alone, isn't?' He closed his eyes. 'I'll make it up to them all. I'll have this nonsense stopped. I can tell those children the truth before they end up like that woman Sonya.' Moving the blanket aside, he paused when seeing Locke exit the bathroom.
"I'm back," He announced very casually.
Both men stiffen when the door to Edgar's chamber opened after a brief knock. A guard stands there, face going instantly red upon seeing the king's lover stark naked and the king in a state of half dress. Frazzled, he quickly turned around so that he's facing the sitting room.
Clearing his voice by coughing into his fist. He straightens his back then says. "Sir, there's an emergancy."
Tying his robe off to cover himself Edgar asked. "Go on?"
"The prisoner has escaped and the two men guarding the cells are dead."
Edgar and Locke shoot each other a look. It couldn't be... could it?
"I'm going to check it out-.."
"No!" Locke cut Edgar off. "You stay in bed, you still need to rest from the poison, not to mention the mental exhaustion. I'll go check it out." He looked around for his clothes then settled for grabbing something from the dressing closet to slip on.
Dressing quickly, he followed the guard out of the room into the hall. Edgar looked at the door as if he could see beyond it to where they're headed. He hated this, feeling helpless. It was the cause of his problems in the first place. He has to get to Iron's men; Locke probably doesn't know that the cell's tunnel has been reopened. If anywhere those miscreants are hiding out there. He can talk to them, he can make them stop before they get themselves killed. And maybe, he can also find that demon and exterminate him. If anyone deserves to meet their end its that thing for causing so much trouble. Getting out of bed, he slips into a tunic and tights, neverminding to put on boots since he wouldn't need them. Edgar knows this castle even better than the people who built it, he can beat them to the cells. Heading to the room across from his own, he entered the closet and shoved a large slab of wall aside closing the tunnel once inside.
...
"Roof! Roof!" Interceptor barked happily when seeing his master enter Relm's bedroom.
Shadow reached out for him and pet the dog absently. The room had a heavy feeling to it. Something was going on.
"Shadow, Sabin..." Relm turned when hearing Interceptor bark. She'd been speaking with her grandfather about what's happened in Doma castle. "Did you hear? Have you come to help us plan revenge?"
"Hear what?" Sabin asked walking further into the room.
Strago stood up and crossed the room to the window. "There's something bad brewing in the air my friends." He said very criptically.
"If you're talking about that demon then we already know." Sabin filled him in.
Quirking a wirey thick gray brow, Strago asked. "A demon? What demon?"
"Wait, what are you talking about?"
"A killer."
"What killer?"
"What are you talking about?" Strago asked instead.
"There's a demon running around eating peoples lives through despair. Now what are you talking about?"
"Relm just told me that Cyan Garamonde is dead." Strago concluded. "That someone had broken into Doma castle and killed him... beheaded."
Sabin felt his blood run cold as his time with the man flashed through his mind. Cyan had always been so strong, how could something like this happen to him?
"Gau said that he managed to freeze the guy in ice, but when he came back after going for help the ice had melted because it wasn't strong enough." Relm informed them.
The room fell silent. All inside were lost in their own thoughts of how it could happen.
'Was the man possessed by the demon? Did the demon want Cyan dead? No, what am I saying... I was attacked myself, but the man after me was a push over... where their stronger members of that man's gang?' Sabin wondered.
"Grampa thinks that he may be on his way here- if he's after Gau for revenge." Relm broke the silence. "We're going to kill them first, right? We can't let them take anymore of us."
"We'll get them Relm, don't you worry. If they come to the castle they'll have all of Figaro breathing down their necks." Sabin assured. "We have to get their faces out there, though. What room is Gau staying in?"
"He's this way, come on." Relm went out the large door and down the hall to Gau's bedroom. Before the others could make the distance she was running back out into the hall. "He's gone!"
"Gone?" Sabin and Strago say in unison.
"You don't think..." Relm wondered but stopped herself. There was no way anyone could kill the wild child. Not without making a lot of noise in the process. He must have left for some reason. "Man! This castle is huge, how are we gonna find him before something bad happens?" She wondered.
Interceptor, who had been sniffing around in the hall, barked when he picked up on the missing boy's scent but he didn't follow after it right away there was something else... He growled when entering the bedroom, rooting around beside the large bed. The four look at the dog's movements following him into the bedroom and around to the other side of the bed.
"What is that?" Relm scrunched her nose at a lump of what looked to be tar sitting in the corner.
"Its been here." Shadow informed. "Interceptor... where's the little boy, Gau?"
The dog barked then rushed out of the bedroom with the group following close behind.
...
Edgar grunted as a fist made contact with his face knocking him on his butt. "Gods... what the hell was that for?" He snapped at his assaulter.
Locke, aggitated, leaned over helping his lover up. He hadn't followed the guard to the cells because he knew that Edgar was going to take a shortcut through one of the tunnels; his lover is not always easy to get along with when it comes to matters like this. Edgar clearly believes that the fate of the world will remain solely to him. When its all of their jobs, not just his, but the entire worlds.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, Edgar. You're on bed rest, and sneaking around in the cold isn't good for you. Don't you know that Iron could still be here somewhere? What if he possesses you again?"
"Locke, I'm not a bloody child. I can take care of myself and I won't be had by that demon again... Now, get out of my way." He meant to shove past him, but Locke clamped down on his arm and he threw a stern look the thief's way. "Let go of me." He hissed.
"I'll knock you out cold, you know I will." Locke glared back.
Pulling his arm free, Edgar readjusts himself. "I..." He started to say, but changed his wording. "Locke, I know that you're only looking out for my safety, but I believe that I can stop this nonsense before it escalates again. They've already gone after my brother, and Setzer... they could very well be on their way here now. I can make them stop. I can disguise myself as Iron and order them to stop."
"As good of an idea as that is, I can't let you do it. We'll arrest them and then you can speak with them but until then..." He points a finger toward the door in the bedroom, not about to allow Edgar to continue on walking through the tunnels.
"Very well... but don't think that you won't get an 'I told you so' when this all blows up again." He marched to the door.
The two guards standing watch over the empty room looked startled when the king exited having not seen him enter, and they quickly salute him before he stormed by. When Locke exited the room their confusion grew further still, but they said nothing and saluted the king's lover as well.
"Your highness." They say in unison.
"Hey," Locke turned after walking past the guards a good few feet. "I'm looking into something right now and can't be with Edgar, can you guys watch the tunnels for me?"
Blinking in confusion as to what's been going on lately, they figure that it must have something to do with the string of break-ins that have happened over the past months. Or perhaps the guest are roaming about the castle when they should not be... whatever it was, it was a direct order and they could not disobey. With a firm nod, the men walk away from the room door to sweep the tunnels.
Locke returned to his previous job which was going to the prison.
Edgar passed through the hall spotting the small group of four as they followed along behind Shadow's rottweiler. He cocked his head in thought as he wondered what they were up to, but decided to let them be. It wasn't his concern, according to Locke, so he continued on his way to his room. Three times he'd swayed on his feet while walking the tunnel, but he wasn't going to admit that willingly. He wanted to help, health be damned. But Locke was right, he needed to rest and tomorrow, he'll sneak away from the party and seek out the refugees or possibly the demon in the shadows.
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Terra had been watching Setzer play Solitary and Pyramid all day between meals. Sometimes he would just shuffle the deck with a bored look on his handsome face. He really needed to get out it seemed. But she isn't about to let him; he's still pretty banged up and, unsure of how he'd injured himself there- but she'd never question him- he's still sore... down there. It was when he'd finally made the full 52 disappear in his hand before pulling them out of his mouth in a stream that she decided maybe conversation was the better option.
"Setzer... I've been a terrible girlfriend, and I really should have said something to you as soon as I'd found out."
Looking at her, he cocked a brow in wonder of what she were about to tell him. He was sure that she wasn't seeing anyone else, but then he'd been a hound with his share of women so maybe she did have someone on the side. It didn't matter to him at all, it wouldn't change how he felt about her, but still it'd be a massive shock. Terra has never expressed interest in anyone other than himself and that's only because he had come onto her. She didn't know about love or whom she felt attachment to, she just accepted that she'd been liked by someone and didn't have reason to complain how it played out for her. He loved her dearly and truly, it was sudden on both their parts but very real none-the-less.
Wetting her lips, she steadied her nerves then said very bluntly. "Setzer I'm expecting."
"...A child?" He nearly whispered the word.
Smiling, she replied. "Well I would hope not a chimera... yes, a child." Taking his hand her smile widened when his free hand covered the back of her's in a hold. "I was nervous to how you'd react so I couldn't tell you."
"My word... a baby..." He felt light headed. "And, its mine?"
Tears fell from her eyes as she scoffed a laugh. "Yes, its yours."
Laughing as well, he scooped her into his arms pulling her close and hugged her tightly. "This is incredible! Never in my life did I ever believe that I would be a father."
This time it was Terra's turn to be surprised. "Really? Setzer, the fantastic lover of all women, didn't think that maybe once he'd manage to impregnate a woman?"
Setzer snickered to that comment. It had crossed his mind on some occassions but he'd never heard anything about it from the woman, so he'd just assumed, no. "Well, this is certainly cause for celebration, we should tell the others at the party tomorrow night." He scoots over a bit more to give Terra nearly the full of the bed. "That'll be two great announcements, won't it."
"Really? What's the second?" She cuddled against him.
"I've been keeping something from you as well," He mentions closing his dark brown gaze as he takes in her scent with a smile.
"Don't tell me you're pregnant too?" She joked. "You're always trying to outstage everyone."
He chuckled at the comment. "No, not at all. Go over there and look in the cabinet, you'll see what I mean." He pointed to the liquor cabinet across the room. "I'll get it, you rest." Kissing her on the cheek, he climbed out of the bed very slowly and made his way to the cabinet. Removing the item he walked back over to the bed but did not get on, instead he knelt down beside it. "Terra, I've been dying to ask you for months but... you refused to see me. But, now that you're here... will you marry me?"
Terra was sure that her heart must have stopped because she felt suddenly light headed and short of breath. She would have told him that he didn't have to if not for the fact that he had said, he'd planned to ask her months ago. It was her own fault that she hadn't yet been. She felt sick... she actually felt very sick... but before anything could happen, she darted out of the room to locate the nearest bathroom.
Confused by that response, he wondered outloud. "Dear, I hope that was a, 'yes'." Setting the little velvet box down on the bed he hurried from the room to assist his wife-to-be.
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"There he is." Relm stated. Hands on her hips she shakes her head in disbelief that all the while she thought her friend was in trouble and he's in the kitchen eating Jalebis. "Gau, what happened? Why'd you leave your room? Its late."
Gau blinked innocently at the four, swallowing the pretzel shaped donut he'd been inhaling. "Something made me nervous, so I left."
Relm was happy to hear 'me' and 'I' from the male instead of his name. It meant that he was feeling better about what happened. "What made you nervous?" She helped herself to a snack.
"Something was in Gau- I mean, my room. I didn't see it."
"It must have been that demon; it feeds on grief and if Gau was upset," Sabin let them finish his thoughts.
"Iron's still in the castle... he may come back out." Shadow concluded.
"Then we can kill him." Sabin scratched at his chin. "There is one problem though, I don't want him to come after Edgar again, or Gau for that matter... Relm, how well does your sketching work on statues?"
"Huh?"
"If Iron does come after my brother it would better if it weren't really Edgar, see what I'm saying?"
Shaking her head, she stuffs another bite into her mouth.
"Well listen, I've got an idea." He waved them all in and told them his plan.
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"You look like hell, what happened?" Darrien asked.
Sesto had been shivering nonstop since he'd entered the caves with him. Carlton acted as though he'd seen better days, but in whole was alright. The three have been waiting on Sonya for the past few hours wondering if the girl would ever show up. If she managed to kill the gambler she could very well be freaking out because of it. Killing is different when you're a girl, they take everything to heart.
"Some bratty kid froze me into a block of ice." Sesto replied, his large frame shifted about in the dimly lit darkness as he removed the Figarian armor, dropping it to the floor with little care for the crest upon it. "I haven't gotten my core temperature back yet," He moved over to one of the torches to warm his hands and body. "I'm pretty sure he's here though, I followed him onto a boat; he didn't see me."
"That's good. We don't need someone ratting us out." Darrien commented. "How did it go with that Cher chick?"
"Honestly, I couldn't even find her. Its like she moved around every second and I was always just missing her." Carlton replied. "I started to go in for that old man but I didn't know what island he was on so I came back here."
"And I got arrested. Damn..." He bit at his dirty fingernails. "So, did anyone get anywhere?"
"Yeah, I killed that guy in the wheelchair." He slashed his finger across his neck. "Took it completely off."
"Awesome!" Carlton cheered enthusiastic for details. "Did it spray a lot?"
"A little, but not too much."
"Wow..." He seemed to look at his friend in a new light. Honestly, he wasn't sure if when it came down to it he'd had the balls to actually kill anyone. Injure them, sure, but actually take a life? The thought of having that hanging over him creeped him out a bit. "Was it hard? You know, did he put up much of a fight?"
"Yeah, for an older guy he had a lot of bite left in him. He nearly took my arm off." He rubbed the sore limb. He could still see the fire in the man's eyes as he swung at him with expert skill, having used all his swordsman's will to launch himself from the chair and attack him that forcefully in the first place. "But you know what, our success doesn't matter because they'll all be gathered here tomorrow night. Iron said so."
"About that..." Darrien interrupted. "Did you see him? He looks really banged up, like he's been through it."
"I didn't see him." Carlton answered.
"He said he was alright." Sesto shrugged.
Darrien shook his head thoughtfully. "Yeah... but that doesn't exactly give me much comfort. He's kind of strange to begin with, ya know? And you wanna hear something freaky? He looks exactly like the king."
The two laugh.
"No he doesn't." Sesto chided. "You're seeing things."
"I hope so." He pulls his legs into his chest resting his chin on his knees. "Goddess I'm tired." He closed his eyes. "I can't wait for all of this to end so we can just hang out, like we used to... instead of fighting."
Carlton scoffed. "For you, Iron's biggest butt-kisser to say that... you must really be having second thoughts."
Darrien only dipped his head so that his forehead is resting on his knees now.
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Edgar took down a drink of water setting the glass down on the sidetable. Turning off the oil lamp, he climbed into bed and closed his eyes. Its better this way. And he really should rest, he's mentally and physically exhausted from the past months. But still, he'd like to speak with those remaining three soldiers of Iron's and convince them to stop this empty attack on his friends and the rest of the world from what Sabin has told him. He lost his master's cabin, and some woodsmen were murdered, it wasn't just an attack sent on the war hero's. It was anyone in the world who opposed the cause.
The door creaked open and someone entered. Edgar rolled over so that he's facing the door.
"Bro, you awake?"
"Yes." He sits up. "Welcome back, where did you go?"
"Oh, I've been looking for some helpers to get lumber for the cabin." He thumbed over his shoulder as if the location were right behind him. Hesitant, Sabin walks further into the bedroom taking a seat on the bed. "...Edgar, are you all right?"
"...Getting there."
A smile of relief spread across his face through a breath of laughter. "Good. I can't take the thought of losing you... I always figured out of the two of us I'd go first- save us both the trouble."
"You know I'd grieve for you..."
"You grieve over everyone... its one of your best and worst qualities. You've gotta let things come as they come, and take it one step at a time. You can't see a hole in the wall and instantly act on it when the wall doesn't look like its coming down."
"Sorry brother, but I work on the belief that its better to fix it right away than to let it get worse over time." He heard his own words. He really does believe that, and by locating those misgreants and Iron he can fix the problem before any more lives are lost.
Sabin had heard his brother's words too, and he knows that he has to rest because of what all has been happening. Now is not the time to tell him about Cyan, as he'd planned to, for now he'll just stick with the good news. "Guess what?"
Edgar looked on curiously.
"You're looking at the new king of Doma castle." He grinned honestly, moreso when seeing the light in his brother's twin eyes.
"Really?" Edgar patted his brother on the shoulder as congratulations. "What made you change your mind?"
Sabin shrugged. "I've been thinking about it a lot and everything pointed in that direction. Ed', I'm maturing right before your eyes... your little brother is finally waking up and realizing that there is more to life than sailing around aimlessly just to keep the grass from growing under his feet."
Edgar smiled. "You... sit still? I'll have to see it to believe it first but, I'm very proud of you for taking on the responsibilty" Edgar brushed a hand down his brother's arm. "...for me."
Sabin smiled with guilt. "You caught that, huh?"
"Your face is too open, that's how Setzer's always beats you at poker."
Sabin scoffed. "Setzer beats everyone at poker... I think he cheats."
"So do I."
The two snicker. Sabin looks around the large room and noticed a very distinct figure missing. "Where's Locke?"
"Patroling. Has Shadow gone? We had a scuffle earlier, I'd hate to think he's still in killing mode."
Sabin nodded. "He's still around." He was dumbstruck over the problem- or at least he would have been had Shadow not informed him of what happened. He failed to mention this particular part of the story, probably for the benefit of both of them because if Sabin thought that for a second Shadow was after his brother, they'd have some serious problems. "Listen, Edgar... I don't know how to say any of this nicely so I'll just say it... Don't come to the party tomorrow."
"I'd work on nicely instead of blurting from now on." He winked at his younger brother.
"Its for your safety... Iron won't assume that you're hiding out somewhere, and Gau will be down enough to keep that demon distracted from sniffing you out. He'll come right to the ballroom and we'll snuff him out." He punched at the air as if to prove how easy it would be.
"I don't know how you'll manage to pull it of-..."
Cutting Edgar off he says. "It'll be easy. Relm is going to use her special paints to take control over one of the statues of you. She'll sit him on the throne and the rest will take care of itself."
"Hahaha," He had to laugh. "That may be fine in theory but what if someone wants to speak to me?"
Sabin shrugged. "So she'll give you an air of annoyance, and we'll say that you're having a bad month because you're not feeling well."
Edgar eyed his brother with doubt. It seemed unlikely that it would work at all but then again, he's seen what Relm's paint can do on the battle field. Its very impressive, so as far as having a look alike in the room there will be no lacking in authenticity, but having it believable. "Perhaps instead of making me cranky, you could tell them I've lost my voice due to a throat condition."
Grinning, Sabin grabbed his brother on the back of his head and pulled him over to plant a kiss on his forehead. "See, always thinking. I hope that I'm as great a king as you are."
"Mmm. Taking on the duty is the right way to start."
"I thought so..." Standing he looks down at his brother. "So, you'll stay put tomorrow?"
Rolling his eyes, he replied with a smile. "Yes, I'll stay put. I promise."
"Thank you." Walking to the door, he waved. "Night."
"Goodnight." Rolling back over, he snuggled into the bed waiting for sleep to take over.
The next day guest began arriving around lunch time. Tables had been set out for luncheon at the castle, more food than anyone could imaged possible to fit on one table. The castle had been decorated for the party later that night, but guest were invited to relax and enjoy the day. There were games going on in the courtyards: archory, tossing of leaded balls, eating contest- with fruit pies- Relm was pitching in by doing charactors of people. Demonstrations of magic and animal stunts went on, music played from every phonograph in the castle. The air was warm and the atmosphere merry, and Edgar was kicking himself having to miss it. He loved sword fighting with people from South Figaro and other towns. He only did it for sport, never to best anyone since that would sort of be an unfair advantage to most. So rather than going down and enjoying himself as he wants to, he's sitting on the balcony enjoying the cloudy sunshine and the pleasant sounds of the day, sipping orange juice and having bites of cake and sandwiches that his servants bring in when the fresh batches are made.
A little white bird landed on the railing, chirping to get his attention. Reaching out for the animal he removed a slip of paper from the pouch on its chest.
It read: Its unfair that we're bed bound today, isn't it, young son? Setzer.
Turning the piece of paper over, he walked into the bedroom to retrieve a pen and in return he wrote on the back of the slip of paper:
I'm pulling my teeth out, and the view is killing me I can hardly see a thing. What are you getting? Edgar.
Returning the note into the birds pouch, he sent it on its way. Cheers went up from the second courtyard where the archory matches were being held. He can even hear the trampling of Chocobo feet as they race around Figaro castle, giving him tiny yellow and some black glimpses of it. When the bird returned he took the note and smiled.
Change rooms then. I've got the best view- bird's eye is always my preference.
On back Edgar wrote: I'm not sure I'm allowed, I might get beat up by the guards under Locke's order. I can only see the lead toss from here, and a bit of the eating contest- mostly elbows.
And off the little white bird went again. Returning to and from the hoovering airship to the balcony of the king's bedroom with little slips of paper. Edgar learned that bird 5, Badis, is really taking victories today. And that a child is actually winning at archory. He also learned that, because of Iron, Setzer is walking with a crutch but he believes that Terra is just being cautious, he's perfectly fine hobbling around especially for his expecting fiance.
Edgar congratulated him fully, very happy for the unexpected twist in the couples relationship. He informed Setzer also of his situation. He thought it was only fair since the man had been so kind as to explain that he was alright without putting the vice of bitterness or wanton of apology anywhere- not that he didn't fully intend to apologize, but the lack of pressure made it easier to know it would be well received. From there on the rest of their conversation consisted of racing stats and other competitions. He even commented on people's clothing, telling Edgar whom thought they needed to gussy up, and who came in near tattereds but he wasn't teasing, merely informing. Edgar asked if he'd like to have food sent up to him, and Setzer thanked him for it. Terra had gone off to the castle as he'd asked of her, no reason she should be stuck just because he is.
Down below, Locke knocked a man to the ground with nothing more than a tiny dirk in his hand. He saw no harm in taking Edgar's place messing with the guest; he'd throw the next match anyway, but the big guys were going down. He felt sort of guilty being out and having a good time knowing that Edgar can't, but he insisted that Locke go and enjoy himself- plus, he informed him that he could keep an eye out for anyone or thing that is suspicious and so far all was clear. The others had been informed as well. Shadow, though dressed down, kept to the castle perimeter looking around for anything out of place or any erratic behavior, but so far there was none. It would seem Gau's grief would be the saving grace to luring Iron out of hiding. Said boy is taking out his frustrations on some poor animals by wrestling them to the ground now. Everything so comforting, everything so peaceful... which meant it wouldn't be long before it ended.
Celes grinned widely as the ball of lead left her palm landing further than the bulky men's who are going up against her. They cheered wildly, wooting and pumping their fist. Terra stood up from the table, victorious after having won the fourth eating contest held today. It wasn't hard with the help, plus she really loved the little chocolate tarts personally; Edgar used to bring boxes with him whenever he visited but that was years back before things got very busy. The Esper girl felt sort of guilty having fun without her fiance, but he insisted that she go and she couldn't refuse. Looking up at the ship, she was sure that she'd spotted him looking down into the kingdom with parascope in hand.
So far they've all been acting very casual while looking for Iron or one of his men. Edgar informed them during a meeting Locke held that there are only three members left, describing them as best as he could in order to help out, but so far none of the guest fit the description. Little did they know though, that the main creep they are looking for is actually among them. Covered by hood, and staggering like an old begger as he walks around the area in search of pain. He looks just like Edgar only mirrored, only now more tired, bedraggled, and straining to stay upright due to lack of a body he hadn't meant to become that attached to. The demon could have merged with Edgar's soul at some point! And they'd never see their beloved king again, Iron Lord would make certain of that.
A slimy smile erupted across his face as he came across angry little Gau in the wrestling ring.
Bingo.