Yep. BlueTrillium beta-read this chapter, too. Thanks.

Chapter 4: Morning

It was two bells past dawn when Jinta, having searched the house before thinking to consult Noriko, tracked Izark to the garden pavilion. He found the quiet warrior seated cross-legged on the floor therein with his eyes closed, his hands resting on his knees. His countenance was far more tranquil than Jinta had yet seen it. Not wanting to disturb such serenity, Noriko's brother began to retrace his steps, moving as silently as he was able.

"Noriko mentioned that you wished to discuss something with me."

Slightly disconcerted by the soft remark which was decidedly not a question, Jinta spun to meet an intent gaze the color of––what? Too dark to be blue or green, or even brown, but definitely not the flat black of yesterday. "I didn't mean to interrupt," he apologized.

Izark shook his head. "It's all right. Sometimes I lose my clarity, my center. I can find it again if I stop, concentrate on one thing at a time," he said as he rocked to his feet and stood, head cocked to the side, taking stock of this person whom he knew only as Noriko's older brother. It was strange to look into a man's face and see the shades of his sweetheart, whose looks had been completely unique until now. Here was Noriko's yellow-tan complexion; her very brown eyes with their rounded inner corners sweeping into gentle outer points; the unusual fold of her eyelids. Even the nose was similar. Here was her fine brown hair right down to the way her bangs fell over her forehead, albeit much shorter than Noriko's was at present. Izark guessed that it had been even shorter four months ago; the longest layer barely brushed the young man's shoulders.

I'm thinking about it wrong, the warrior realized. Noriko looks like her brother, not the other way around. And they both got that from their parents. He took a moment to process this thought, still watching this complete stranger whose face was so familiar.

Feeling as if he was under a microscope (and it didn't help that Izark had to look down), Jinta searched for a topic of discussion. "We call it 'meditation', in Japan."

He was surprised when the corner of Izark's mouth twitched. The quirky grimace spreading over the warrior's face was the first truly human expression Noriko's brother had seen there. Somehow, he hadn't thought the warrior's features could be bent into such an expression.

"I'll stop," Izark chuckled, raising one hand in a gesture of apology. "I should know better. I hate it when people size me up."

Recalling a stiff, reticent figure slumped against the wall the previous night––and that this figure had been the object of a prolonged examination on the part of his father––Jinta winced mentally in pity for the object. "Otou-san forgets that it's rude to stare."

"Hmmm…" Does he, now. Realizing that they might be off topic, Izark repeated his original comment. "You had something to discuss with me."

"Well," Jinta began, knowing full well that he had only wanted to evaluate his little sister's significant other. "I don't think we've been properly introduced."

Izark blinked. It was true. After the scene at the door yesterday, formal introductions had apparently been forgotten. "Then my name is Izark Kia Tarj," he said, using the traditional phrase, and held out a hand.

Grasping it firmly, Jinta replied in the same mode, "My name is Tachiki Jinta, Izark."

Izark nodded, releasing his grip. "So, do I pass inspection?"

Apprehended, Jinta grinned. "That depends, but I think the odds are in your favor."

"There you are!" Both Jinta and Izark looked toward the house at Banadam, who had just poked his head out the door. "Come inside, both of you, before Wei eats your share of the food!" So saying, the young guard withdrew to save his own breakfast.

"He means it, too," Izark said, rolling his eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen anything eat like Wei." As they entered the house, he corrected himself, betraying nothing but serious consideration. "Well, except for a swarm of six-eyed insects. Maybe." With that, Izark made his way to the dining room and a seat by Noriko, leaving Jinta to recover from a laughing fit.

IV IV IV IV IV

Breakfast was a simple affair styled after a typical morning meal in Zago. Shimatoku Akane did not care for the flat, fried cheese curds she had learned to call lopark. She did, however, appreciate the hot amall grain and tyre nut cereal commonly served with them. After eating the fried cheese as fast as she could, the little girl settled down to enjoy the sweet, steaming porridge as the adults around her talked of serious matters. Swinging her feet, Akane let the sounds wash over her. Each voice was different, with a unique personality behind it.

Lori son of Arikowa had an odd voice. As a guardsman in Aibisk, he had adopted a barking roar to deal with troublemakers, a category that too often included his own men. Perhaps that was what had ruined his speaking voice. Presently it was hoarse and uninflected, as if any change in timbre was slightly painful. She had been listening to the voice alone, but now Akane began to hear the words. He was speaking in Midland, the main language of this strange world, with all its soft consonants and slow, rolling vowels.

"To be honest," Lori was saying, "I was a little troubled on our way through the city by the number of people carrying swords. Most of them weren't soldiers, and I know there aren't any wars going on in Guzena. What is it, Gaya? Why do ordinary tradesmen feel they need to be armed?"

Gaya's big, mobile features bore a sober frown as she finished chewing. "It sounds as if you've already guessed, but we've had some trouble recently. Izark and Noriko will remember what a mess we had on our hands two years ago, trying to clean up the corrupt administration."

At this, Izark looked up from his plate. Akane sat forward a little. He is the one Mommy called Noriko's special friend. What does he sound like?

"Are the former ministers still howling about that?" Izark said, quiet incredulity in every syllable. His voice was lighter than Akane expected it to be; deep, but soft. She had thought it might be rough and misused sounding, like Lori's. Rather, it seemed just…disused.

Zena looked at him unhappily. "Yes, but that's not the problem. The trouble is that some of those ministers' policies left behind some issues outside the government's range of direct influence, especially in the Willohamker Body."

"[Noriko, what's willohamker?]" Akane mouthed across the table. Izark saw her and smiled despite himself.

"[Executive]," Noriko mouthed back in Japanese. "[Police]."

"Selena Guzena has had problems with organized crime for a long time, but lately things have gotten much worse," Gaya continued, picking up where her sister left off. "Turns out that our officials were bribing the gang chiefs to play nice. Now that the officials have lost their salaries––"

"––And their control of the taxes," Glocia murmured.

Gaya nodded. "And their control of the taxes, the robber barons are making up for lost income. It's not happening all over the city, but constables in the Market and Cerise Districts have their hands full these days. Kidnappings have increased in the last year or so, and robberies are too common now to suggest coincidence. Beatings, murders, black market trafficking, you name it. The gangs that are doing it appear to be selective about recruiting, too…" The aging shield maiden trailed off, grim lines about her mouth.

"You mean peace keepers are getting hurt; killed," Alef said, thinking out loud, "and people are either reluctant to fill such dangerous positions, or they have conflicting loyalties."

"And of course you've had to rebuild all your units after kicking out the bad eggs," Chiyako commented, earning several surprised glances from those who were unfamiliar with her.

"But there is someone managing it, isn't there? Don't you have someone competent in charge, who knows how to set things right, given resources and time?" Duke Jeida had a deep, resonant voice. Akane had often noticed how nice it was. It was strange to her that such a warm, honest voice could have been shouted down by combativeness and anger.

The cloud over Gaya's face dispersed a little. "You and your family, Jeida, and you, Alef, might know him. Have you heard of Jul Hirza Aevin?"

There was a collective exclamation from the Zago quarter.

"You mean Captain Jul of the Royal Guard?" Being the oldest, Rontarna had had the most to do with the family guards at the time.

"What, the guy who put fear into the pages when he caught them sneaking food?" That was Koriki, frowning in concentration.

Alef was laughing. "So, old Glakenrang's out of retirement, eh?" Catching Glocia's puzzled glance, he explained, "Remember the old man with a patch on his eye? No? You wanted to know why he always wore an enrang on duty, no matter what, remember? Yes, him. He retired the year after I joined, but in the time I knew him, he had such a temper as to warrant a nickname among us young rascals."

Akane turned to Noriko, only to find the young woman's attention elsewhere.

Then something odd happened. Izark glanced over and smiled. As if on cue, Noriko turned to look at Izark, then followed his gaze across the table to the little girl staring at her expectantly. Without being asked, she whispered, "[Hammerhelm]."

"Jul!" Niana's saccharine voice cut across Akane's wonder at this incident. "Oh, how is he doing?"

"He's the new Guard Sergeant for Market district." Gaya continued. "How is he, you ask? As usual, I believe, and the only word I can think of to describe that is cantankerous, but he's in his element. He's been with us for a month, and he's already transformed the bunch of clowns known as the Market Guard into something real. The only difficulty is that there just aren't enough people willing to risk their necks to deal with the current situation."

"But of course, Sergeant Jul is trying to fix that," Katarina said, her tone one of assumption.

It was Rottenina who answered the Gray Bird as she entered from the kitchen with Anita. "The Market Guard holds an athletic trial for applicants once every ten days at their district's station. ("Always was one for interviews, old Hammerhelm," Alef chuckled) In fact, there's one this afternoon. That's about all that they can do, though."

"But hold on," interjected Banadam, putting down his utensils and looking very seriously at Gaya. "If it's so well known that the guards are hiring, the thief lords must be aware that a larger peace-keeping force won't do them any good. And, if you ask me, an open trial doesn't sound like something a few tough punks couldn't sabotage."

"That's true," agreed Danjel. "At best, they might discourage real applicants. At worst, they might get a position and subvert operations. On the other hand, it could give this Sergeant Jul the opportunity to scope out criminals as well as hopefuls."

"Gaya." Izark's voice was very soft, yet everyone at the table looked his way, even Wei, who hadn't stopped eating since he sat down. "Has anything happened to applicants who were accepted?"

Noriko glanced at Izark. She knew that speculative tone, and she didn't particularly like it.

"Actually, a few of the more promising ones have been attacked in their homes," Gaya replied solemnly.

Daisuke––Oji-san to Akane––murmured, "[Bell the cat...]" Then, as clearly and precisely he could, he said, "Sound––sounds–– like they need bell cat."

Gray Birds, citizens of Zago and Guzena, and Akane looked at Noriko as the Japanese adults chuckled; they were accustomed to the storyteller's tendency of quoting obscure tales.

"Otou-san is referring to a very old European fable," giggled Noriko, " 'Belling the Cat' tells about how a group of mice once made a plan to tie a bell around the neck of a clever cat so they could always know when she was coming." Her smile faded as she explained, "The lesson of this story is that it is easier to make plans than to follow through with them." Akane could see that she was still watching Izark from the corner of her eye.

The black-haired warrior stood. "Jeida, may I borrow Alef for the day?"

Akane saw her girl-cousin wince.

Duke Jeida was nodding. "I take it you are going to see Jul?"

Izark didn't answer, looking at Alef instead. "Do you think this Jul will recognize you?"

Alef rose from his seat, grinning. "I haven't changed much in ten years."

"Good." Izark looked at Wei, who was at last dividing his attention between his companions and his plate. "Be ready to go in case we can use you. We'll need your stealth." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left the room, Alef sauntering after.

IV IV IV IV IV

Catching up with Izark on the stairs, Alef half joked, "You could explain what I'm supposed to do, and why."

Izark smirked. "Two can play the game those gangs have set up," he said. "I'll explain as we go. Now help me get ready."

The plan would take a day, if not two, to set in motion. Sorting through his belongings, Izark ignored the little voice in his head that accused him emphatically of procrastination; of avoiding Noriko's parents and a certain topic which he knew must inevitably be discussed. No, he thought firmly. He knew better than anyone how easily an unsettled atmosphere in Guzena could affect the rest of the world. Besides, with what could he possibly recommend himself that would compensate for the dangers that still lay at every turn? He could not go with them if they took her back. How could he convince them to let Noriko stay with him––assuming that she consented––if he did not do everything he could for her security now?

IV IV IV IV IV

Back in the dining room, Akane heard a sigh escape Noriko. It was a very troubling sound coming from her normally cheerful cousin.

Izark, be careful.

I will, Noriko.

xxxxx

Author's Note: Yes––I know it is a little difficult to follow with everyone in one place. Please, just bear with me. It will get less complicated––Hopefully. Thank you for reading! Please review!

~Muse