Author's note: I don't own Dragon Quest IV!

Battle For Glory

Chapter 4: Promises Made and Kept

They left the lighthouse after lighting the holy pilot light. Airlia sighed in relief as they exited to see Mary Lou. Her strength had been fleeing her faster than she realized as things began to spin for her. "Guys… I don't feel so good… May I lay down in the wagon?"

Meena turned to look at the seer and frowned. "Of course, I'm going to make sure you're okay though. That you're not still suffering from the fever."

When Airlia laid down on the wooden wagon, she instantly fell asleep as the healer looked her over. "Whew, it's just exhaustion, not something worse…"

Getting out of the wagon, they began the half day trek towards Porthtrunnel. As they neared, Taloon smiled. "I want to explore the world, but it's too dangerous for a merchant like me. But maybe, if I travel with ye, I can help ye out. What do ye think?"

Alistair thought about it and nodded, "Yes, having a merchant with us would be quite useful. The pleasure is all ours." It meant they would have a ship, and a source of income to help them buy new gear as necessary.

Taloon seemed to consider it too. "Whatever ye need ma help with, I'll help."

When they arrived to town, Taloon led the way to the port along the back of town and into the dock where a massive ship sat in the water. Pure white sails were unfurled and ready to sail as he got aboard and ensured his new friends and allies were on board before raising anchor to sail back to Endor… where his wife was. Airlia couldn't believe the feel of the salt air on her face, the sea spray dampening her clothes and hair. She had managed to keep the promise she had made to Tessie.

The guard, Richard, came over to her and whispered. "Why are you doing all of this?"

Airlia looked up at him and shook her head. "I do it because it's the right thing to do. Is that so hard to believe? If I see something that I could try to change, shouldn't I?"

He didn't have a response to it until he thought about it. "I apologize for accusing you even now… But my main concern is helping to protect Alistair."

She nodded, "I know. I respect that. I just want to help him however I can… This was one way for me to do it.

She left him to her thoughts as she went to the bow of the ship and watch as Endor quickly came to them. The brunette ducked off the boat, her silvery eyes glistening in the light as she went into one of her favorite villages in the game. She took Torneko by the hand and hurried him down the stone street and over to his shop. "Dust yourself off. I'm going to see where she is."

Airlia went inside to find Tessie weeping in a chair. She smiled sadly. "You okay there Tessie? I'm back… I found him."

The red haired woman looked up at her, eyes were bloodshot and red from crying. "I had a terrible nightmare. Please… Please don't let it be true."

Torneko came inside, standing tall although a little bruised from the battles he had been in before Alistair and the others had found him. He set his equipment down and held his arms out. "Tessie… I'm home my love."

Tessie hopped over her counter in her excitement and threw her arms around him, kissing him in her joy. "Yer home me love! Yer home! Ach Mikkel my wee bairn! Yer father's home!"

A small boy came rushing down the stairs and around the counter to his father. "Daddy! Yer home! Momma said the nice lady and man would bring ye back!"

Taloon picked up his boy and kissed his head. "Ach I missed you my little love. Though you're not such a wee bairn anymore. I must speak with his majesty, so he knows I'm alright. But I promised our new friends my aid." His accent was going further and further away because of all of the regions he had visited that had none.

Tessie nodded as she took her son. "Thank ye my love. Stay safe. And as promised, the equipment I gave ye is yers. Keep him safe."

Airlia embraced the woman, "Of course. I promise."

Taloon went to the king while Airlia returned to the edge of town to look at the ship. It was still so much larger than she had dreamed of. There were a number of empty cabins below deck for them all to rest. A yawn escaped past her lips as she looked at Alistair. "I'm going to rest… We need to return to where we sailed from and go south… Someone needs our help there my friend."

She went below to the cabin that had her belongings in front of, a thank you from Taloon before going inside and falling asleep on the bed instantly.

The brunette awoke to a knock on the door. Airlia pushed herself up and walked over to the door, opening it to see Meena. "Please, come on in. Sorry, I was just so… worn out." She stifled a yawn to allow the purple haired seer inside.

Once Meena was sitting inside, Airlia closed the door firmly and took a seat on the small stool nearby. "Are we nearing the continent?"

The woman nodded. "Yes but it's a few hours away… I wanted to talk to you about something. You claim you're a seer, but I don't see magical energies around you as I do with other seers… why?"

The silver eyed brunette frowned. "I don't know if I can really explain it without you thinking I'm a demon…" She turned away and wrapped her arms around her torso.

Meena came over and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What's the matter?"

Airlia looked up at her, "I'm from another realm. A realm without magic, but it has something called electronics and video games… Windows to other worlds. My life was a nightmare… Abuse and neglect… It was my only escape. I ran one day and prayed I'd come here. Prayed to be in the one world that I felt like I belonged in. And the next thing I knew after waking up was being in a forest near his hometown. I knew what was going to happen soon and sought to prevent it. You know the rest. I'd understand if you felt uncomfortable traveling with me. I just wanted to do what was right… to help innocent lives survive."

Meena nodded understandingly, "I understand my dear. You should tell them…"

The brunette shook her head, "They would never believe me. Richard doesn't trust me more than he can throw me. You've seen it."

The brown eyed woman nodded. "Yes, I have. Perhaps in time you'll get your chance to explain it to all of them. But for now, at least I'm on your side. Come, let's go up and find this next person to help."

Airlia grinned, "Their names are Princess Alena of Zamoksva, and her bodyguard Kyril, a paladin who is a priest, and the wizard Borya. Kyril is ill with a terrible fever and only the feverfew crop can save him. She went south to the kingdom who grows it, but the crop will be gone. She has to go to the pantry to get it."

Meena blinked, "Then it really is as you say… Let's go and hurry once we arrive we can try to help them."

The pair of women went upstairs to see the approaching coastline as Airlia's hands clasped in prayer. "Please let us get there in time. Please let us save him. Please Master Dragon."

Suddenly a strong gust of wind picked up as Airlia struggled to hold onto the rail. "What in the name of the Goddess?" Before anyone knew it, they were landing at the coast that they needed to be on, mere meters from the town. "That's it! That's Mintos. Hang on Kyril!" The brunette deftly propelled herself over the side of the boat and onto the soft ground.

She hurried as the others raced to join her, pitying the poor bodkin archer that tried to catch up to her as the woman threw her bostaff like a javelin and pierced the stomach. Alistair was the first to catch up to her as she took her weapon out. "We have to hurry. There's a very ill man who needs our help or he will die soon. Please Alistair."

He saw the plea in her silvery eyes and nodded. "Let's go everyone, hurry!"

They hurried to Mintos as Airlia looked at Alistair, "Hank is going to ask us if he can stay and learn from the Conrad Ilton – master of trades."

He looked at her in surprise even though the blond came over excitedly. "Wow, I can't believe we're here! It's home of Conrad Ilton! I know this may seem sudden Alistair, but could you please… could you please let me stay here and learn from him? I know Mary Lou is in the best of hands with your people."

Alistair nodded as Hank gleefully ran off. He turned to Airlia, "How did you know? I know you said you're psychic… but to be that specific…"

She frowned and turned away. "It's … it's complicated. We should go and check on poor Kyril. See if there's anything we can do to ease his pain before we try to go help Princess Alena."

He watched as the brunette hurried into what looked to be like a small castle, but was in actuality just an over fancy inn…

Airlia ran inside before anyone could stop her. She blinked back the tears that were trying to prick at her eyes. She hurried to the desk. "I am a friend of the young man upstairs who is sick… I just wanted to make sure if he was still in the same room or if he had been moved? Kyril? Bodyguard to a young woman traveling through the region."

The woman smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling as she pushed a silver wisp of hair away from her face. "Right, yes he's still upstairs the poor boy. Go on up and check in on your friend."

The brunette nodded, "Thank you." She ran up the left set of circular stairs to the second floor and to the first door on her right and gently knocked on it.

"Yes?" An old voice called from within.

Airlia opened the doorway and slipped inside, closing it gently behind him. "I'm Airlia… It's an honor to meet you Borya…" She walked over to Kyril and brushed his dark locks from his face, the fever dampening his brow. "Poor Kyril… How long has she been gone to find his cure?"

Borya looked up at her, "How do you know us?"

The brunette shook her head. "It's a long story and we don't have time. His time is running out unfortunately."

Borya nodded as he stood. "Then I shall go with you. I've been here only since he fell ill. I know she is going to the kingdom south of here called…"

Airlia smiled, "Parthenia right?"

He shook his head, "When we have time, I want you to tell me everything."

She nodded, "As soon as things make sense to even me. I don't know why or how… I don't know if I'll ever understand why or how…" She turned away, her eyes downcast.

Borya put his hand on her shoulder. "Things happen for a reason, and sometimes it may not seem apparent, but they will always reveal themselves young lady."

She extended her hand to him in a handshake. "I'm Airlia, it's nice to make your acquaintance. My friends should be up… now." She grinned as she listened for their thudding footsteps.

Borya chuckled, "As you know I am Borya, wizard protector of the Tsaravina Alena. This is Kyril, loyal paladin guard – a priest in training of the Goddess."

They turned to the doorway as Alistair stood there, looking at Airlia with a frown on his face. She looked at Borya and drew her lips in a thin line. She tried to leave the room, but the guard stood in the doorway. "Please… you wouldn't believe me even if I told you anything. Please just trust me… I saved your village… Now I'm trying to help stop events that I see coming before it gets too dangerous. Even if you don't trust me, just give me a little more rope and if you still don't like it, I will hang myself with the rope."

His distrusting blue eyes felt like a knife to her as she rapidly blinked back tears. No one but Meena will understand the situation… She might be the only one who could see that what I've said is true...