Chapter 12 Homecoming
As the gates of Rabanastre rose up to meet them Vaan was never happier
to see them. When they left the entrance to the caves it had been early morning
but now the sun was low in the sky, they had been walking across the desert
for almost 12 hours and quite frankly all Vaan wanted to do at this point was sleep.
As the party approached the city Basch began to break away from them.
"I thank you." He said breathlessly turning back to the group.
"I'd avoid crowds if I were you, " Balthier said airily. "In this town your still a traitor."
Basch chuckled.
"The resistance will find me soon enough." He assured him. He paused, as if uncertain.
Then he turned to Vaan. "Fate's will we meet again, I would pay my respects to your brother."
He said solomnly. Vaan lowered his head, unable to keep eye contact.
"Your a fugitive too now," Balthier murmered to him as Basch walked away. "Stay low for a while."
With that, he started to walk away. Vann called after him.
"What about the stone?" He asked, Balthier stopped but didn't look back.
"Do as you like," He said simply. "That stone's ill favoured."
"We feel regret." Said Fran dryly. "We sought that stone and found ourselves only worry."
"You offering it?" Said Balthier unable to completely hide the hope in his voice. Vaan clutched
the stone tightly in his hand.
"No way!" He said firmly.
"Then why do you ask?" Said Balthier irritably as he began to walk away. "Oh." He stopped again
and looked back. "Our regards to your girl." And then they were gone. Lost in the crowd. Vaan was left
standing there with nothing but the stone for company.
"Brother," He said to it softly. "What do you think, can I trust Basch?" It took him a while to realise he was
talking to a rock. "I gotta get rid of this thing." He lifted his arm as if to throw it into the gutter but something
stopped him. First he would show it to Penelo, just to show her he got something.
"Vaan, is it really you?" Yelled Kytes as Vaan swaggered in. "I hear you got dragged off
to Nalbina." Vaan grinned from ear to ear, let the gloating begin.
"It was no big deal." He said matter of factly. "No dungeon's ever gonna keep me in." Discretely
leaving out that he had a lot of help. "Penelo isn't around is she?" He asked. "Out on a delivery maybe?"
Kytes shook his head.
"Nope, havn't seen her all day. Not like her to skip work like that." He said puzzled. "Migelo's not here
either, he went out to do something a while ago and he's got me running the place." Vaan sulked.
"Well so much for my big welcome, I guess everyone's busy."
"Oh, oh." Said Kytes jumping up and down. "But Dalan isnt. He wanted me to do a job for him but I
can't get away."
"Hmm." Said Vaan thoughtfully. "Someone else who might be happy to see me."
Vaan found it difficult to track the looks on Dalan's face as he walked in the door but could pick
out a few. First there was surprise, then confusion, then relief and finally his old mischievous grin.
"Well well well," He said smiling. "Vaan Ratsbane. Heard you got dragged off to Nalbina my boy."
"And I got out of there as fast as I could." Said Vaan impressively. "But it was all worth it, take a look
at this." He proudly produced the odd little piece of magicite. Dalan's old eyes glittered in wonder at
the sight of it.
"My my," He mumered. "What a treasure you have there." Vaan grinned sheepishly.
"Well I couldn't have done it without you." Dalan couldn't hide the pride for the boy in his face.
"So, there's more to this gutter churl than first meets the eye." He said wisely, then his face became
more serious.
"Vaan, I've a job for you. A simple errand." He reached behind his chair and produced a lond thin bundle
of velvet.
"What's that?" Vaan asked curiously. Dalan smiled.
"It wouldn't do for a messenger to not see what he's delivering now would it." He said gesturing to the table.
Vaan took the bundle from him, it was heavier than it looked and layed it on the table. Slowly, strand by strand he
began to unwrap it. A gasp escaped him as the contents were revealed. Lying on the table before him was the
most beautiful Dalmascan blade he had ever set eyes on. Both hilt and sheath were ornate green leather with
Dalmascan blue gems in the crosspiece. A family crest adorned the top of the sheath which was covered in
intricate patterns. Vaan couldn't resist, he picked up the blade and drew it. The blade was made of steel which
shone bright in the low light, it was beautifully curved as the markings up and down the blade made it look like
a steel river. Vaan had heard enough fireside stories to know what this was. This was the sword of a Dalmascan
knight, a sword of the old order.
"There's a knight by the name of Azelas," Dalan said mysteriously as Vaan returned the sword to it's covering. " Go
to the northern end of lowtown and there will be a group of men on a pile of crates. Use my name and you
should get through but do not under any circumstances give this to anyone but Azelas." Vaan nodded, picking up
his precious cargo. He pausd before walking out.
"Hey Dalan," He asked. "Could you find out where Penelo is for me, I can't find her anywhere." Dalan smiled.
"You leave that to me my boy." He chuckled. Vaan grinned back.
"Thanks Dalan." He called out as he left the tiny room. Dalan stroked his long beard as his face became
more serious.
"And so it is done." He murmered. "But will it be enough to remind him of what the order once meant."
Vaan held the bundle in front of him, trying to picture the blade beneath. He stared at his own scavenged
sword from Nalbina; heavy, dull and difficult. If he hadn't had a shield as well he certainly would have
lost his life in those tunnels. Fran and Balthier were different, they could look after themselves and him.
Why was it, with all the training he had gone through Vaan still couldn't raise a sword against a soldier?
He would have contemplated more but he had arrived at the pile of crates where a shady man eyed him.
"Who's this then?" He drawled, Vaan drew himself up to his full height.
"I was sent here by Dalan," He said, trying to sound dark and dangerous. "I need to deliver something."
"Does nothing get past Dalan these days?" Said the man with a smirk. "Very well, but not a word
of what you see or hear in there, understand."
"What of Ondore?" Said one rather skinny man with flaming red hair. "Was even the marquis fooled?"
"What if a judge killed the king, not the captain." Barked an elderly seeq. "That would explain everything."
The dark and smokey room rang with the voices of the resistance generals, all gathered round a table arguing
about who was right or wrong.
"Oh not the twin brother theory." Whined a bangaa. "That would make the captain brother to a judge! How are we
to trust such a man?"
The door suddenly opened with a bang, and all turned to see who had entered. There in the doorway, stood Basch Fon
Ronsenburg. After a haircut and a shave he almost looked like the knight most remembered him as, his now restored shoulder
length blond hair and stubble beard brought many a memory back to the room's occupants. He was wearing a simple
white shirt and trousers and a red combat waistcoat over the top. He surveyed the room with his grey eyes, taking in the
expressions of loathing, admiration, fear, disbelief and surprise.
"Now there's the Basch I remember." Came a new deep voice from one corner of the room. All turned to see an
enormous man stride out from his hiding place. He was clad in simple blue cloth but that didn't hide the
massive sword slung over his back which was as tall as he was and almost as wide. His face was shark like a hawk,
with dark brown eyes and dark brown hair slicked back with a sideburn beard. Basch smiled in recognition.
"Then you will fight again at my side?" He asked hopefully.
"His word convinces me of nothing." Shouted a small man at the end of the table. The elderly seeq stood up.
"I'd take his word over that of a mouthpiece marquis." He bellowed.
"Then you name Reks liar with him." answered the man standing up, looking rather diminutive next to the seeq.
The whole room held it's breath as they heard a sword being drawn, the small man froze as he felt cold steel
against his neck. Vaan stood there with the beautiful sword he was delivering pressed against his neck.
"My brother was no liar!" He roared in the man's ear. Instantly the dark haired man lifted his huge sword
off his shoulders and charged the intruder but was caught by Basch.
"Wait Vossler!" He barked at his companion. Vaan's eyes widened, why hadn't he noticed before, it should
have hit him the minute he'd heard the name. Captain Vossler York Azelas, one of the most decorated officers
in Dalmascan history went with Basch into the ruined Nalbina, gathered what few soldiers they could and had
attempted to save the king. Vossler grimaced, then lowered his weapon.
"Don't you see?" Basch continued. "Reks was the wittness they needed, just another piece in the plan."
Vossler walked up to Vaan and sized him up.
"So, this is Reks's brother?" He growled holding out his hand. Vaan quickly sheathed the sword and gave it to him.
Vossler took the blade unceremoniously. "I see the resemblance." He held the blade out to Basch. "Your words
may have convinced this child, but they weigh too lightly on the scales for my taste. I give you your old weapon,
but our paths will remain seperate." Basch took the beautiful sword with much reverance.
"What of Amalia?" He asked. "Do you not think her worth saving?" Vossler's eyes flashed.
"I have men's lives in my hands." He said quietly. "I must see foes in every shadow. The night we moved against
Vayne he knew, I will not chance such disadvantage again.
"Then what will you do?" Basch barked. "Hold me here in chains?" Vossler snarled but shook his head. Basch smiled.
"Some things never change do they?" He chuckled but Vossler didn't return the laugh.
"Listen to me Basch." He growled. "Your cage may have no bars but it is a cage. The eyes of the resistance
watch unblinking." Basch smiled grimly.
"Let them watch, I know something of cages."
Vaan walked down into the sewer junction to begin his training, he now had a target, to become as good as
Balthier or Fran. He drew his sword and faced his opponents. Over the day or so he hadn't been down here the rats weren't
even bothering to run away. He charged one, then another and another. They fell one after the other but there was no satisfaction,
he was just using the same old tricks, the same pathetic techniqes. Vaan lowered his sword as the rats shyed away from him.
"Thats no way to swing your sword." Came a harsh voice surprising Vaan as it resonated off the walls. Vaan turned round to see
Basch standing in the archway. He quickly turned away.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly.
"To repay my debt." Basch said kindly. " You helped break me out of prison, and helped me gain the resistance's respect."
"I didn't want to." Vaan said indignantly.
"But you did it anyway." Basch persisted. "That is why I owe you such a debt." Vaan lowered his head.
"And how are you going to repay this debt anyway?" Vaan snapped childishly. Basch smiled knowingly and drew his sword.
"I know you can fight rat and beast." He said as Vaan slowly realised what was happening. "But I can teach you to
master man and soldier." Vaan said nothing, just readied his sword and charged.
OK, I know it's been a while, had some stuff to do. But I'm back now and I should be back to regular updates now.