Chapter 33 Preparation part 5, The Tale Of Ashe

Out on the Estersand Ashe struck a large cactus with her blade with such ferocity it was falling apart, she fumed as her latest target crumbled into a watery mess. Needless to say it was Balthier's answer that was fuelling her rage.

"Who does he think he is?!" She shrieked as she found another cactus, normally she would fight the creatures of the desert but none of them seemed to want to attack her at the moment. As she fumed she caught a glimpse of a pair of wolves hiding behind a rock.

"Well come on then?!" She bellowed, at which point the wolves bolted for the distance whimpering like puppies. The princess snorted and sheathed her weapon, she was better than this. Just because Balthier wouldn't teach her to use quickening, here she was throwing a tantrum like a three year old. Why couldn't Basch teach her? Feeling sufficiently calm the young princess turned homeward, there were arrangements to make.

As she walked through the dark streets of lowtown she absentmindedly put her hands into a pouch on her belt and clutched the fist sized stone inside. Now she had the dawn shard, the proof of her birthright but still she had no advantage. The dawn shard on its own was nothing but a rock. She let her hand fall to her side as she turned into the resistance headquarters. With most of the resistance force supporting the marquis it was startlingly empty, only the suppliers were left. All the room's occupants seemed immensely bored, in fact when Ashe approached one of them he took a moment to even notice she was there.

"Amalia, is that you?" He said sleepily.

"Y-yes, hello Targa." Stammered Ashe, almost forgetting her alias.

"I would have thought you of all people would want to join up with the marquis." Said Targa cheerily, "You know, fight the good fight and all that." Ashe smiled appreciatively.

"I'll be joining him soon I assure you," She assured him. "But now I need you to tell me what books you managed to save from the knight's academy."

Targa shook his head.

"Going back a bit there Amalia. We never managed to get much from there, three tomes only I'm afraid."

Ashe swallowed her disappointment and took the three books, nodding her thanks she turned to leave.

"Amalia."

She turned around as Targe held his hand up in a resistance salute. "For the glory of Dalmasca and all she stands for."

A sudden crash sounded through Lowtown which shook the walls, Ashe was thrown off her feet as a door to her left burst open and Basch stumbled out covered in bruises and dust.

"What on earth happened to you?" Ashe said incredulously. "And how did you get that?" Pointing to his arm which was bound in a sling.

"A column collapsed in the waterway." Basch gasped sheepishly. "Partly my fault."

Ashe put her hands on her hips.

"And what were you doing to make that column collapse?" She said suspiciously, Basch's eyes darted left and right nervously.

"Only working my swordplay." He said hastily. "Must go." And with that he dashed off down the corridor.

"Basch." Ashe called after him. "Get everyone who was involved in our last escapade to meet in my quarters in one hour."

"Yes my lady." He shouted as he disappeared round a bend. Ashe shook her head, it was just like old times. She turned around, and stopped dead in her tracks. The books in her hands fell to the floor yet she made no attempt to pick them up. All of her focus was on the ghostly figure that had materialised in front of her. Rassler stood there in the empty corridor glowing and ethereal but smiling widely. Ashe felt a great wave of relief wash over her, when Rassler had appeared before she thought she was imagining things and now here he stood again. He opened his arms as if to embrace her but he was already fading.

"No, no come back." She pleaded, but he was already gone. She sank to her knees, tears trickling down her face. What was wrong with her? Was she losing her mind? Had the pressure of this fight finally caught up with her? She just didn't know anymore.

"Princess?" She flinched at the sudden sound in the passageway, she turned around to see Vaan looking out from an alleyway.

"Everything ok?"