Chapter 35 The new plan

"Thank you all for coming." Ashe began as Vaan and Penelo took a seat at the table. "Because the resistance is mostly fighting with the marquis I have virtually no troops of which to speak, therefore I would ask you who have fought beside me and proven yourselves to help me in the coming months." There was no response from around the table.

"Majesty," Basch said finally. "I will always be at your service, but you cannot expect these children to go on another mission like the temple."

"Hey who are you calling children?!" Vaan yelled, rising to his feet but Basch wasn't finished.

"Every time you stick your head into this business you put your head on the block. Every time you help the princess your own life is at risk, I cannot expect you to do such a thing again. All the more now I know what we are facing."

"I assume you are referring to the dawn shard destroying the 8th fleet." Balthier drawled.

Basch glared at the pirate. "Actually I've seen the nethicite's power somewhere before." He turned to Ashe. "My lady, you know of what I speak."

She nodded gravely. "Nabudis." She said gravely.

"The capital of old Nabradia, lord Rassler's fatherland." Ashe flinched slightly as Basch mentioned Rassler's name. "During the invasion a small group of soldiers infiltrated from the north gate, moments later the entire city was engulfed in an enormous explosion. Friend and foe died alike." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Something was there." He growled. "One of the dynast king's relics. The midlight shard."

Ashe stared at the dawn shard, everywhere these stones were mentioned lay a trail of death. Could such a thing really be used for good?

"More nethicite eh?" Balthier cut in. "No wonder they invaded."

Ashe turned to him. "What do you mean by that?"

The pirate sighed. "Let's just say I know the man who's in charge of researching nethicite in the empire and it's the sort of thing he'd do."

The princess stared at the floor quivering with rage. "That ridiculous war, the destruction of Nabudis and Nalbina, the trap at the treaty signing, the occupation even Vossler. All because Vayne wanted power." Her knuckles turned white around the stone. "The Empire must never be allowed to hold the nethicite, I will see to it."

"Hate to ruin the moment princess." Balthier said grimly. "But they already do. The dusk shard and most likely the midlight shard to. Besides, can't they manufact nethicite now?"

Ashe rose to her feet. "Then the path before us is clear, we'll use the dawn shard to fight them!" She stared down at the stone with fierce determination. "Dalmasca does not forget kindness, or ill deed done. With sword in hand she aids her allies, sword in hand she lays her foes to rest. This nethicite I hold must be my sword, and I will avenge those who have died and the empire will know remorse."

The whole room was silent for a good minute as they took in her little speech, Vaan was the first to speak.

"You even know how to use it?"

Ashe stared incredulously at the boy, he had managed to poke a hole in an almost perfect argument. "I..." She began, hoping for some witty response to come to her.

"The Garif may know." Fran said, coming to her rescue.

Everyone looked at the viera who had been silent for the whole meeting. "Who or what are the Garif?" Basch demanded.

Fran tucked a stray strand of hair behind an ear and said. "The Garif people live by the old ways, magicite law is a part of their culture. They may hear it, the cry of the nethicite's power. Whispers of the stone's menace."

"Dangerous though it may be, what we need now is power." Ashe strode over to Fran's side. "Should we declare Dalmasca free without the means to defend our claim, the Empire would crush us. You must take me to meet with the Garif."

Fran's ears twitched as she changed her posture. "There is another reason I wish to meet with the Garif," She said blankly. "I have recently been asking myself a lot of questions and the Garif are notoriously good at giving advice." Her eyes surveyed the room. "Perhaps you may take advantage of that as well."

Everyone looked at their shoes, there was not one among them who hadn't been questioning certain things the past few days.

"Where are they?" Said Ashe at last.

"They live beyond the Ozmone plain." The viera replied. "In a small land known as Jahara."

"Not exactly close." Balthier chimed in. "Not sure if I'd be willing to devote myself this time. All the more so considering my reward last time."

"Compensation." Ashe sighed, exasperated. "Is that what you want?"

Balthier rose to his feet and walked lazily to the head of the table. "Straight to the point eh? I like that. Compensation." He said, his eyes scanning the room for valuables. "You know for a princess your possessions are startlingly modest." She glared at him. "Ah but I do see one little gem," He said finally. "How about the ring?"

Ashe stared in horror at the ring on her third finger, surely the pirate knew what it meant. "This?" She gasped, "Isn't there something else?"

Balthier took another step forward. "No one's forcing you."

There was a long pause as Ashe struggled with her emotions, finally she slid the ring off her finger and very hesitantly handed it to the pirate.

"I'll give it back to you." Said Balthier, clearly in what he counted as a reassuring voice. "Just as soon as I find something more valuable."

Vaan strode casually to his side as Ashe left the room. "What do you mean something more valuable?" He asked curiously.

Balthier shrugged as he tossed the ring up and down in his palm. "Hard to say, I'll know it when I see it." He strode to the door as everyone got up to leave. "What is it you want Vaan? What is it you're looking for?"

Vaan was slightly taken aback by this question. "Me, I..um."

"So it's agreed." Basch said as the group began to leave. "We meet at the southern gate in three days time."

-

Vaan was out buying supplies, they were to set out the following morning and his bag was pretty empty. So far he had all the food he could possibly need, the two mages would take care of water. His sword was slung over his shoulder and his shield strapped over his back. To be honest the huge piece of wood and metal was becoming cumbersome, he needed it for battle but it was a pain to carry around all the time.

"Vaan my boy, anything else you need?"

Vaan was awoken from his thought by Migello's voice. "Nothing I can think of Migello." He said smiling.

Migello eyed the boy suspiciously. "You know you don't have to go." He said finally.

"So I should just stay here," Vaan said indignantly. "Work at the shop, do a few hunts, maybe open a little shop and then die."

Migello shook his head. "No, but from what I've heard your adventures with these people have been frightful. Both of you have nearly died on more than one occasion. What's wrong with stopping while you still have your lives."

Vaan stared at his feet for a moment. "Basch told me something." He said at last. "There is a reward like no other on the other side of danger." He grinned at Migello. "I don't know if I'll find what I'm looking for by teaming up with the princess, but I do know I can't just stand here while the world might need me."

The old bangaa sighed. "Looks like I can't talk you out of it." He said wearily. "But if you should need anything, just talk to old Migello, he'll sort you out."

Right, that's it for the short chapters. Just give me a while to spit shine the rest of the story. C U Soon!