Chapter 19 Sand
The entire royal City of Archadies could be seen from the office of Emperor Gramis. The old man stared glumly at the statue of his ancient predecesor, which was in itself five times taller than any other building in the city.
"What would you do in this situation?" He asked the staue drearily. The statue said nothing, except look a little more decrepid. Gramis sighed. He was that statue, it was only a matter of time before the Emporer would be shiny and new. He was last year's model and dying of an overblown cold. Age was a cruel thing.
"My lord?" Came an uncertain voice from across the room. Gramis, turned around to see Gabranth standing in the doorway. "You summoned me." He stated plainly, Gramis smiled.
"So I did, sit down sit down. " He said pleasantly. "Oh and do take off that hideous armour once in a while. It's bad enough you look like that on the battlefield, you don't have to intimidate anyone here." Gabranth did not relax his posture.
"My armour is a mark of my honour, I cannot be seen without it." Gramis sighed.
"Then at least take off your helmet," He ordered. "I want to talk to your face not that!" He grimaced at the demonic face of the helmet. Gabranth hesitantly removed his helmet.
The Strahl floated above the golden sands of the desert, and then it wasn't. Vaan blinked.
"Did I miss something Balthier or did your ship just vanish?" He gaped. Balthier grinned and pressed a button on one of his rings. As if by magic the ship rematerialised.
"It's tough being popular you know. Don't want any admirers dropping in while we're away." He walked away from the anchor rope, which ascended a few meters before vanishing too. "Well, that's as far as she goes. We're in jagd from here on."
"Whats jagd?" Asked Penelo curiously, Vaan leapt to his feet. It wasn't everyday he got to lecture Penelo.
"OK." He began. "You know skystone?" Penelo nodded.
"It's a magicite that emits a special mist which if projected using rings allows a craft to fly." Vaan blinked. That was a much better definition than he had.
"Anyway." He continued. "The mist that's emitted from the skystones are very sensitive to other magicite magicks." Penelo nodded.
"So what's jagd?" She asked. Vaan opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Jagd is an area of land where a giant magicite crystal is located and as such the area has been altered by the mist." Balthier finished. "There is simply too much magick in the air for the skystone's mist to work effectively." Vaan nodded vigerously.
"So where is it we're going again?" Balthier asked Ashe, she pointed over the sand dune to the west.
"Across the sandsea, to the valley of the dead." She said dramatically. "And to Raithwall's tomb bellow."
"Owww ow ow ow!" Yelled Vaan, a fight had broken out between him and Penelo over who knew more and she had him in a submission hold. The company watched the fight.
"Well at least we thought to bring entertainment." Balthier muttered to Fran.
"Doctor Cid does this at Draklor?" Exclaimed Gramis. Gabranth nodded.
"I have confirmed he recieves funding from Lord Vayne." He said. "His agency in the fall of Nabudis is also certain." The Emperor sighed.
"And this is beyond doubt?" He said wearily, already knowing the answer.
"Well..." Stammered Gabranth. "With Judge Zecht missing we've no way of..."
"The long years have clouded my eyes." Gabranth blinked at the interuption. "I cannot see my own son's heart." Gramis suddenly blanched and began choking violently. In two strides Gabranth was at his side forcing blue liquid down his throat with one hand and performing magick with the other. Within a few minutes the choking subsided. Gramis rose steadily to his feet.
"Ten times quicker than my physicians I'll grant you that." He chuckled shakily.
"It is not for no reason I am a judge." Gabranth said, a smile twitching on his lips. Gramis smiled back kindly.
"Gabranth, this illness will claim me." He said softly.
"My lord." Protested the judge. "Are you quite sure..." Gramis nodded.
"I made it clear in the last meeting, but the question that was not answered was, who is to be my successor?"
"That is for the senate to decide." Gabranth said calmly. Gramis nodded.
"Yes but do not think me so foolish as to believe them beyond corruption. They fear the capable peregrin Vayne, they would prefer a young fledgeling emperor like Larsa." He sat there, lost in thought. "Gabranth." He barked suddenly. "Once in the past I laid seige to your homeland."
"The Republic of Landis is long since gone." Gabranth said quickly. "My alliegence lies Wholly with the Empire."
"So you never thought of following your brother?" Gramis asked curiously. Gabranth stiffened.
"I follow every move he makes." He said coldly. "If he proves an enemy he will be cut down." The Emperor chuckled.
"So you would kill even your own brother for the Empire." He mused. "Be that as it may, your ruthlessness is not without merit. Please see to it Larsa does not follow in your footsteps." Gabranth looked unsure, then nodded.
"I will try." He said. "You wish for me to be his sword, to strike where he is unable?" The old man shook his head.
"Rather be his shield." He ordered. Gabranth, bowed low and began to walk out. "Gabranth!" Barked the Emperor. "Watch over Vayne, his is the keenest blade of all." He stared up at his family crest on the wall. "I could not bear for my sons to war with each other again."
Vaan gaped, never had he seen such a sight. He's seen sand, he'd tasted sand, he'd felt sand and he'd found sand in places he didn't even know he had. Yet this was beyond him. The entire desert was undulating and rippling, forever swirling in an eternal dance. It was like the whole desert was restless, and couldn't quite be at peace. Vaan scooped some up and sifted it through his fingers, it was clearly sand but behaved a lot more like water.
"It's called the Yensa." Balthier explained. "It means sea of sand, this is the reason this is an area of jagd. Most likely there is a large crystal of water magicite buried here which causes the desert to mimic the sea." Vaan looked up, surprised by the pirate.
"Can magicite do that?"
"Oh yes. Given enough time to warp it's surroundings." Penelo walked up to Basch.
"The princess isn't telling me, where are we going?" Basch grinned and knealt down beside her.
"Far to the west. We must first cross the Ogir Yensa, then the Nam Yensa before we reach the tomb." Penelo eyes widened. "This is an expanse of desert larger than all of Dalmasca itself." He continued. "We must pace ourselves, if you grow tired stop and take rest." Penelo pouted at him.
"Don't you worry, I'm tougher than I look." She grumbled, Basch chuckled.
"That you are." The knight stood up to check on the group, but counted one missing. "Where's Vaan!" He said urgently.
"Over there." Said Balthier, lazily gesturing over to the boy who was staring at what looked like several giant cylanders imbedded in the ground, with pieces of scafolding bridge connecting them.
"A construct to draw oil from the ground," He explained, drawing along side Vaan. "Abandoned for many years now it seems."
"Did Dalmascans build this?" Vaan breathed, Basch shook his head.
"The Rozarrians." He pointed in a vague direction. "Their empire lies far to the west, ever at war with Archadia. Heedless of the kingdoms caught in their midst. Dalmasca, Nabradia, Landis." He suddenly fell silent.
"We should leave this place." Snapped Fran suddenly, causing the entire group to jump.
"Sandstorm?" Balthier asked, Fran shook her head.
"Something much worse." She pointed out into the sandsea. Balthier squinted, his eyes scanning the horizon, then he stopped and ran from the shore.
"We leave, now!" He barked at the group.
"Why?" Whined Penelo.
"This is Urutan Yensa terrirory, and they are unfond of visitors." Vaan craned his neck over the pirates shoulder and saw what he was talking about. Cutting through the water towards them were around 30 vicious looking fish, but they were nothing compared to the creatures astride them. They were mostly obscured by long brown cloaks. This however didn't change the fact that they were shaking weapons over their head and shrieking battle crys.
"Quick, to the scafolding!" Bellowed Basch, drawing his sword. The group hurried but due to their baggage they could only manage to amble. The urutan however moved much faster, covering the distance to them in only a few minutes. Fran drew her bow as the first of them jumped ashore and charged the group. Vaan whipped out his sword, not bothering with his shield and slashed at the approaching creature but it was surprisingly fast. spinning round it made a slash of it's own making a deep gash in Vaan's side. Vaan yelped as the creature pushed him aside and lunged for Penelo, only to reel back with an arrow in it's forhead. As Vaan rose to his feet another three approached him unwilling to face Basch who had already slaughtered 6 of them. This time however Vaan was ready for them. Before any of them could react he leapt forward with an overhead slash, it was parried but Vaan was expecting this. He slid his sword off his opponent's and stroked it across it's torso, the creature screamed and fell. Vaan gave a battle cry and charged the remaining 2 but they pulled back. At the same time all the others pulled away from the assault, gathering together whilst still on guard a few meters away.
"Why are they shuffling their feet?" Vaan shouted.
"It's just how they talk." Fran snapped impatiently. "They know we're strong, so they're trying to make a stratagy."
"Let's not give them the chance shall we?" Balthier suggested. "Everyone make a run for the scafolding." At his command the group made a run for it, the scafolding was only a hundred meters away. But the Urutan had caught up, they charged this time in a compressed formation. Vaan braced himself, but they raced past him. Aiming directly for Ashe.
"Princess!" Roared Basch, doubling back but a second wave of Urutan were attacking, and he had to help defend his comrades. Meanwhile Ashe was being overwhelmed, she had already lost her shield to the constant attacks and was barely keeping hold of her sword.
"Hang on princess." Penelo yelled, breaking free of the fight and drawing her knife. The closest urutan knocked the weapon aside as though it were a toy, Penelo cringed and prepared for the worst. However instead of pain, Penelo heard a sharp hissing sound and the feel of ropes. She looked up to find herself in a weighted net. Having immobalised her the urutan proceeded in dragging her away from the combat, giving a shriek to his comrades he promptly drew his blade and pointed it at Penelo. The message was clear, they were taking hostages. That's why they attacked Ashe first, because the others were protecting her they thought she was the weakest.
"Apparently not." Grumbled Penelo in her net. By now, the others had noticed what was happening and stopped fighting. "Any ideas?" Penelo yelled to them. No answer. The urutan stepped away from their opponents, swords still raised. Suddenly a loud crash resonated around the rocks. Everyone including the urutan scanned the area for the source. Only after a minute or two they realised Penelo's captor no longer had a head. Fran seized the oppertunity and with a few words engulfed most of the rest in an inferno of golden fire. A shadowy figure stepped out from behind Penelo, guarding her but there was no need. At the loss of their hostage and most of their numbers the urutan fled, disorganised and terrified. Everyone turned their heads to see their rescuer.
"Honestly princess." Boomed Vossler. "Can't I take my eyes off you for one second."
Part 1 of the five day deal. Not very often I write this often but I deserve it for leaving you for so long. Enjoy!