Chapter 26 Knighthood

The sun was high over the white Rabanastran landscape, Vossler shook his shaggy hair out of his eyes and surveyed his new kingdom. Only the elite trainees from the Dalmascan army made it here, the royal knights academy. Although only a first year cadet and at the age of nineteen he was already getting noticed. This wasn't hard for a young man of his stature, already being stronger and bulkier than the average full grown man. Besides, who would want to mess with the son of Kalon Jass Azelas. Already he had attracted quite a group who wanted to be his "friend", Jabbering in his ear and trying to be funny, that was all he needed. Suddenly his chain of thought was intterupted as a particularly tiny servant fell down in his path, in no mood to deal with this he roughly kicked the man in his side.

"Come on," He barked. "I don't have all day." Giving the poor servant another boot.

"Neither does he." Everyone fell silent, partly because this new voice carried exceptional power and partly because of the surprise that anyone would challenge this particular man's opinion. Vossler calmly looked round to face this new development. His brown eyes met with striking blue ones, the man he faced was no taller than any other in this place but carried twice as much presence. His rugged face was framed in shoulder length wavy blonde hair and he was clad in some strange style of clothing, foreign perhaps. Over his shoulder was slung a strange shaped blade, curved yet pityfully thin.

"You've had your fun, no he's had his fill." Said the man, gesturing to the choking servant at Vossler's feet. Vossler shook his head sympathetically, this was clearly a recruit from another unit who didn't know his place yet, he could cut him a break this once.

"My friend." He began. "You clearly don't understand what's happening here. Take a look at me, what do you see?" The stranger looked him up and down.

"Well, everything I see is ridiculously big." He said blankly. "Are you compensating for something I cannot see." The crowd couldn't hold back a snigger, Vossler raised an eyebrow, he was impressed.

"What's your name?" He asked, the stranger hesitated.

"Ronsenburg." He said finally. "My name is Ronsenburg." Instantly Vossler's attitude changed, that was no Dalmascan name, he thought his clothing looked odd. He had no problem with foregners coming into the country but they had no place in the order of knights as far as he was concerned. The stranger seemed to read Vosslers reaction, he knew there was no way out of a fight now. Vossler said nothing, only unsheathed an enormous sword from his back.

"I'm warning you Ronsenburg," He said dangerously. "I will kill you unless you leave this academy now." Ronsenburg drew his own sword without reaction.

"A knight gives no warning." He said with a deadly smile.

A year later Ronsenburg was walking back from the training fields with Vossler at his side, after drawing with him for the umteenth time. Vossler was smiling and waving at a few passing girls.

"Why are they so interested?" Enquired Ronsenburg, Vossler's face fell. He did not like talking to Ronsenburg.

"Because clearly we are knights." He said impatiently. "Women love knights." Ronsenburg still looked confused.

"But we've done nothing for Dalmasca yet, never even been in battle before." Vossler sighed exasperated.

"Yes but we will, and when we do if you don't stop talking I'll kill you myself."

"You've been unsuccessfull so far."

"Foreign muck like you would not understand." Vossler spat and stormed away.

"Vossler York Azelas!" The use of his full name stopped the man in his tracks, he turned to face Ronsenburg. "You have a strong name, a good name. So why do you use your father's?" Vossler was quite taken aback.

"When did I ever tell you my full name?" He asked, Ronsenburg shrugged.

"You didn't but you spread it around like the plague." Desperate to come back from this Vossler retorted.

"Well what of your name." He barked. "What kind of a name is Ronsenburg?" Ronsenburg looked thoughtful for a while before replying.

"In my culture, we do not tell our first names to anyone who hasn't earnt our respect." Vossler snorted.

"That makes no sense either, your kind repects combat ability. That being said you must have the greatest respect for me." Ronsenburg turned away from him.

"You are without doubt the strongest opponent I have ever faced, but without discipline, without modesty and without mercy you are no knight. And never will be. I could never respect such a man." And with that he walked away, leaving Vossler speachless.

Two more years past by and again fate brought the two trainees together, this time carrying a bench between rooms as a punishment.

"I told you Ronsenburg, not to just draw your sword anywhere. Definately not in the library." Ronsenburg gave him a glare.

"I could hardly ignore what you were doing." He said coldly, Vossler laughed.

"You mean trying to flirt with a nice girl." He chuckled as they turned a corner.

"You were becoming rather forceful." Ronsenburg continued calmly. Vossler couldn't help but smile, Ronsenburg had grown on him over the years, he still found him extremely annoying but he had grown to respect him. His chain of thought was interrupted as Ronsenburg while turning a corner had almost collided with something under half his size, to avoid the collision he promptly threw himself sideways and onto the floor leaving Vossler to struggle, barely holding up their cargo. Ronsenburg fell to the floor face first in front of the obstacle, Vossler burst out laughing and consequently dropped the bench on his foot. The person they nearly ran into was met with the sight of two knight trainees howling in pain.

"Ahem." Said the obstacle rather sharply, once both men had recovered their senses they turned to see what had spoken. Their eyes were met by a young girl in a yellow dress, she was no more than a foot and a half high with long sandy blonde hair and a scowl on her face.

"And what do you think your doing?" She demanded, Ronsenburg almost scoffed. This girl couldn't be older than five or six, yet here she was making demands of him.

"What I do, is none of your buisness." He said sternly. "And it is customary I believe to apologise when you have caused such an accident." He waited for Vossler's approval, he would surely think the same thing after a scene like this. He turned around to see Vossler on one knee with his head bowed, giving Ronsenburg a look that said to do the same. At this point Ronsenburg realised he had made a terrible mistake, he turned to the girl again.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" The girl looked indignant.

"My name, is Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. Princess of this land and your future queen." It took Ronsenburg a few minutes for this to set in, after which he realised he was dead. There could be no other punishment for treating royalty with such disrespect.

"Forgive him highness." Of all the voices to come to his defence he had not expected Vossler's "He is not from this country and would not know you by appearance. If he is to be punished, allow me to share his punishment so it may be softened." Basch couldn't believe what he was hearing, the self serving Vossler putting his head on the block for him? The princess thought for an instant.

"Very well," she said. "As your punishment, you shall carry that bench back and forth across the building all night. At dawn I shall be back to relieve you." With that, she strode off haughtily. For a few moments neither man said anything, then Vossler heaved up his end of the bench.

"Come on then," He said wearily. "We have a lot of carrying to do."

"It's Basch." Said Ronsenburg quietly. Vossler looked quizically at him.

"What?"

"Basch Fon Ronsenburg, that's my name." Vossler grinned at him."

"Pleased to meet you Basch," He said. "Now give me a hand with this bench will you?"

Four years later, the knighthood ceremony. Basch and Vossler emerged from it as heroes, the two best graduates the academy had ever seen. Princess Ashelia even came to greet them, after a few more run ins with her the three of them were quite firm friends.

"Sir Ronsenburg. Sir Azelas." She said dipping her head to both of them. "How does it feel to be knights of the realm?" Basch and Vossler bowed very low, Vossler didn't even reach the princess's head height.

"It is truely an honour to fight for Dalmasca." Basch growled, Vossler glared.

"I was going to say the exact same thing before blondy here stole it." The princess laughed.

"Well, I am here to give you your first mission." Both knights were suddenly at attention, the princess chuckled at their seriousness. "I am going to explore the city today." She announced, both knights blanched.

"Your majesty." Basch stammered. "This city is not safe for a ten year old girl."

"Much less a princess." Vossler added. The princess gave a knowing smile.

"That's why you're coming with me." And so it came to pass that the three of them walked around the city that day. The princess marvelled at the swords and armour, The knights giving the pickpockets dangerous looks and the three of them ended up sitting on the southern fountain eating fruit they had bought.

"Princess..." Vossler began but she waved his talk aside.

"We are friends you know Vossler." She said kindly. "You don't need to call me princess." Vossler shrugged.

"Very well then, Ashelia?" Basch offered but the princess retched.

"I don't know what my father was thinking naming me Ashelia, but it can't have been very practical." The two knights thought for a while.

"Ashe?" They both suggested simultaniously. The princess digested the thought.

"Hm, short, sweet and somewhat mysterious. I like it." She said with a smile, the two knights rose, finishing their fruit.

"Well then lady Ashe," Basch said grinning.

"Your home awaits." Finished Vossler, Ashe scowled.

"Oh you're terrible."

Seven years later Basch strode down the palace corridors in full armour, there was intent and urgency in his step. Something had happened that no-one had predicted. He made a sudden left turn and burst into a conference room, knights and generals lined the table Vossler included, and at it's head sat the king.

"Nabudis has fallen." Basch stated plainly. For a few minutes no-one spoke, then chaos erupted, Cries and protest came from all around the table, but one was the loudest of all.

"My father, what of my father?" Basch turned sadly to prince Rassler.

"I know not, I'm sorry." There was some quite talk at the head of the table before the king ordered.

"Secure Nalbina with all haste." Basch bowed without hesitation.

"I will go."

"And I will go at his side." Rassler stood up and followed him.

"I also." Vossler strode out of the room. As the three of them walked down the corridor Basch looked at Rassler.

"Are you ready for this?" He asked quietly, the prince did not react.

"It matters not." He said at last.

Two days later at Nalbina fortress Vossler was actually afraid for the first time in years. His entire unit was dead and he was left alone to hold the east gate, as scores of Archadian troops flowed through the opening he cut them down. His enormous blade slicing through them like they were butter, while Dalmascan archers on the battlements cheered him on. How many were in the army? he wondered. Could he beat them all? He doubted it. All he had to do was last for as long as he could, if it came to his death then he would take as many of these soldiers with him as he could. The Archadian troops were not so keen to come in anymore.

"It's a monster." One said.

"No, it's an esper in human form." Vossler grinned.

"That's it, Come on!" He roared, waving his weapon in the air. "I am Vossler York Azelas, I fear no man alive." Then he heard it, the voice of his friend cutting like a knife through the air, it said two words.

"Lord Rasler!" Vossler looked up just in time to see the arrowhead disappear between Rasler's ribs, at the same time he saw the paling shield fall. He knew what must be done, he struck the two gate support columns with his sword sending the archway crashing down, blocking the oncoming Archadians.

"Retreat." He called to his forces. "Pull back." With the prince wounded and the paling down, this was the only way. He gave one last look at the fortress, and turned tail.

A week later at Rasler's funeral Basch and Vossler were standing over the coffin where he lay, shrouded in white rose petals. Ashe was draped over his body, sobbing. Both knights didn't know what to do in this situation, they could protect the princess from any horror but her own grief. All they could do was watch as she cried and nursed the wound in her heart.

"Basch, Vossler." She said suddenly. "My father is going to sign a treaty, our terms of surrender." The two knights nodded. "But I heard rumours, Archadia is planning to kill my father after he signs it."

"That's impossible." Vossler said. "If they kill him then the signature will be worthless." Ashe shook her head.

"If they alter the treaty so it will effect my family then as long as I live, they will control Dalmasca forever." Basch shook his head.

"I will not allow that to happen." He said encouragingly. Ashe put her arms tightly around both of them.

"She's just a teenage girl," Thought Basch. "She doesn't deserve this."

"Please." She begged them. "Don't let them take my father, I've lost Rasler, I can't lose my father as well." Basch knealt down and bowed his head.

"I promise he will live." He said solomnly, he could not have known two things about this statement. One, it would be the last thing he said to her for two years. And two, it was a lie.

And now the two knights were together again, facing each other on the deck of the Shiva, swords drawn. Both of them knowing exactly what to do.

"I'm warning you, I'll kill you Basch." Vossler said. Basch smiled.

"A knight gives no warning."

I know, it's a backstory chapter. I just thought we needed to know a little more about these two and Ashe, I promise to get back to the nitty gritty next chapter, though reviews would be welcome. I'd like to know how I did and what not.