Chapter 31 Preparation part 4, the tale of Balthier
"Fran, is that you?" Balthier shouted over his shoulder. Strange, he could have sworn he felt the viera's presence. Oh well. The Strahl wasn't going to fix herself. She had taken quite a battering in the escape and was still grounded. A fact Balthier was none too happy about, in order to get her sky worthy again he would have to re align all the couplings, replace all the skystone and knock out all these accursed dents. He straightened up and stretched his tired back, it was simply too much work to accomplish sober.
It was past midnight when the pirate stumbled out of the sandsea, he was sporting new bruises to match the old ones and seemed to have lost the use of his thighs. His duster coat was torn in places as he staggered through the deserted streets singing loudly to himself about some old sky sailor called Ombal who was eaten by a wyrm, or an avion, it was a difficult to interpret his lyrics. Sadly he did not make it to the Strahl's hanger, he struggled on for another few streets and then collapsed on top of a cabbage stall, vomiting on it in the process.
When he next opened his eyes he had a splitting headache and no part of his body felt like moving. He also noted there was a blanket draped over him and he was in a bed, which considering his situation the previous night was unlikely. With enormous effort he lifted his head up to see a small room from the resistance's headquarters.
"Well this is pleasantly unexpected." He thought aloud to the air.
"I'll say." The air replied back. Balthier shook his head, he was clearly hallucinating as a result of the drink. "With the stuff you drank last night I'm surprised you are still alive." Balthier's eyes scanned the room and finally met Ashe who was sitting in the windowsill looking very tired.
"Princess." He said as cheerily as he could. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
She scowled at him.
"More like what do you owe me for dragging you off that cabbage patch and bringing you up here." She snapped. "You smell by the way."
Balthier ignored the jibe and shook his head trying to clear it.
"I wish to know princess because I do not believe you are the kind of person who would go out of their way to drag a dirty pirate out of the gutter and into a nice soft feather bed unless she wanted something." He slurred, his articulation recovering. "You look terrible, get some rest." He finished.
The princess waited a moment before answering, as if she was trying to find the right words.
"You can use quickenings yes?" She blurted out, a little quicker that she should have done. Balthier sighed and let his head sink back into the pillow.
"Princess you do not need such a power."
"We both know that's not true." She insisted. "I have been the target of many forces for too long."
"But if you were to learn such a skill I fear it will do you more hurt than help." Balthier said blankly. "If you want someone to teach you how to use quickenings it must be someone else."
"Fine!" Ashe bellowed stubbornly, "If you won't help me I'll find someone who will." She turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Balthier winced as the noise set off his hangover headache.
"I don't suppose a few more hours would do any harm." He murmured and turned over in his bunk.
Holy Crap I'm alive. It's been a very long time since my last update but there is a perfectly good and legitimate reason, but remember what I said a while back. I will never give up on this until it is finished, no matter how long it takes. However after finishing this set of short chapters I intend to go through my entire fic and correct any spelling and punctuation mistakes on the advice of a reviewer. This should be done by mid December at the latest at which point I will have more time on my hands to update. I promise!