Chapter 41, Plan B

It was dawn when Supinelu led the tired party to the largest hut in the village. Decorated with all forms of bright plant and wood, almost as if it had grown naturally. Despite its beauty, it was not appreciated today. Five of the six wanderers had a lot to think about, Supinelu had seen to that last night.

"Why couldn't the great chief see us yesterday?" Ashe yawned.

Supinelu shrugged. "I thought it better we discuss the fate of Ivalice when we are of clear mind and body."

"Like dawn?" Balthier shot sleepily.

"It is the time when Jahara wakes and should be ready for the day."

"Well we are not from Jahara."

Supinelu chuckled. "When in Archadia, do as the Archadians do."

Ashe looked restless, she was rolling the dawn shard around in her hands. As if she was plotting out its every crevice and groove. Basch noticed.

"Highness?" He nudged her gently.

She continued to stare at the stone. "Basch?" She muttered. "Do you remember the Shiva?"

"Yes."

"Will the same thing happen if we use this again?"

"Maybe. That is what we are here to ask is it not?" He stared into the rising sun. "But if we do not then who knows how many will suffer."

Ashe sighed, unconvinced. "I hope we're doing the right thing."

"Sooner or later your majesty, we will know for sure."

The great chief turned the nethicite over in his enormous hand.

"This nethicite." He pondered. "You have used it." His voice was low and gravely. The great chief was the only Garif they had seen who was fully clothed in bright coloured cloth, his mask was at least three times the size of Supinelu's. His long white platted beard brushed the ground as he examined the stone.

"It was not I who used it." Ashe protested from across the fire in the centre of the hut. "Indeed I hoped you could show me how, thus I have come."

The great chief's golden eyes studied Ashe for a minute or two. "Hmm." He sighed. "You do not know the workings of the stone?" Ashe nodded but the chief shook his head. "Then we are no different."

Ashe stiffened. "What?"

"In ancient times," He began. "The Gods made a gift of nethicite to my people. But the manner of it's use, eluded us."

Vaan wasn't understanding much of this but one thing was clear, they had come all this way for nothing.

"Displeased by our failure," The great chief continued. "The Gods took back their stones. They chose instead to give them to a hume king. Called the Dynast king, he used the nethicite to bring peace to a troubled time." He laughed softly. "It is a curious thing." He looked back at the princess. "Though the blood of Raithwall flows through your veins, you cannot wield nethicite."

Ashe was trembling, from what none could tell. "Are you telling me you don't know how to use the stone?" She said through gritted teeth.

The chief bowed his great head. "Though it shames me to admit it, here before me stands a descendant of the Dynast king himself. And I can offer her no help at all."

Tears began to flow down Ashe's cheeks, their last hope was useless.

The great chief strode round the fire and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Even if you knew how to use the nethicite, you would find it of small avail. Did you ever see this stone glow?"

Ashe nodded. "When we first found it, it was glowing bright blue."

"Deifacted nethicite, is not like it's manufacted cousin. While the artificial stone can be charged with energy enough to power a machine, it's ancient counterpart can store far more. Enough to destroy a nation, but the process is slower. It takes decades for the stone to fill completely."

"And if all that energy is released at once..." Balthier cut in dryly.

The chief nodded. "Total destruction of everything. The mist collected in this stone over ages past has been lost, and with it the stones power." He handed the dawn shard back to Ashe. "It will be your descendants who wield the stone in generations to come, not you."

The great chief stared into the heart of the fire. "This stone is devoid of power, empty yet full of thirst. A terrible longing to drink the world dry. The power of men and of magick, of good and of evil. It is often those who desire nethicite, whom nethicite itself desires."

Silence rang as this statement sank in.

"Wait a minute," Balthier said rising to his feet. "Manufacted nethicite is a cutting edge discovery, how is it you know all the intricate details?"

The great chief gestured to an underling, who promptly strode over to the door. "You my friends are not the only humes to have visited me of late."

The curtain to the entrance was drawn back and a diminutive figure stepped in. It took the group a few seconds to remember exactly who this was, as usual Vaan was the first to speak.

"Hey Larsa." He said cheerily.

After a little catching up and an exciting tale of how he had ditched his escort, Larsa brought the conversation to a more professional subject.

"Your majesty, I have a feeling I know why you came here." He said cautiously. "You were trying to use the dawn shard as a weapon against the Empire?"

Ashe nodded. "No such luck, the Garif are as clueless as we are when it comes to nethicite."

"That is why I am here today. I have forged a plan that would have no need for nethicite. Dalmasca will be restored, Archadia will advance no further and Rozaria will have no choice but to pull back." He said rather breathlessly. "This war that has threatened to engulf all of Ivalice will be stopped before it even starts."

Ashe gaped at him, could this boy have found some kind of solution to the whole worlds problems?

Basch raised an eyebrow. "You will make a fine emperor one day if you can think of such things now."

Larsa looked a little sheepish. "Here's the thing, you're not going to like it very much."

"We'll be the judge of that." The knight replied. "Tell us your plan."

The young lord took a deep breath. "We must travel to the holy mountain temple of Bur-Omisace."

Ashe looked incredulous. "To Bur-Omisace?"

Larsa nodded. "I say we ought to leave tomorrow. I was going to wait for my escort to find me but finding you here has presented a great opportunity. Yes, this terrible war can be stopped. But I will need your help to do so. You know the marquis Ondore leads a large group of insurgents..." Ashe glared at him and he hastily adjusted his words. "...Your pardon, a large group of resistance fighters against the Empire."

"So it should be." Ashe shot at him.

"You majesty, neither of our countries can afford this now." Larsa insisted. "The Rozarrian empire would stir, they would join the resistance and use their actions as a pretext to declare war on Archadia. And Archadia would have no choice but to answer."

Silence fell around the table. "Return to your plan Larsa." Basch said quietly. "We know the state of the world and how it will likely end, just tell us how we can stop it."

"We must go to Bur-Omisace. With the blessing of his Grace the Gran Kiltias Anistasis you may rightly wear your crown, and declare the restoration of the kingdom of Dalmasca."

For the second time that day Ashe was lost for words. How could she even think of reclaiming her crown now? If she were to do so then the Empire would simply send an army to crush it beneath their feet and her beloved land would be in even worse state. "And how pray tell would that help?" She said menacingly.

"I agree, get to the point." Balthier piped up.

Slightly flustered Larsa continued. "As Queen, you can call for peace between Dalmasca and Archadia. This in turn would destroy the resistance's moral and completely remove Rozarria's way into war."

For a moment nobody spoke, but all around the table could feel the heat radiating from Ashe.

"The Empire attacked us." She said quietly. "Stole all we hold dear, and you would have me make peace with them, you would have me save them from war?"

"Dalmasca would be the battlefield." Larsa replied in equally hushed tones. "What if nethicite were used on Rabanastre?" Ashe Blanched. "You know my brother would do this." He finished sadly. Ashe stared at the floor and Larsa's expression softened. "Forgive me, I presumed overmuch. I could think of no other way to avoid bloodshed..."

"No Larsa." Basch interrupted. "Your plan is brilliant. But you must understand what Lady Ashe has lost, and how difficult it must be to ally yourself with the cause of that loss."

Larsa looked sceptical. "You don't seem to have any problems with it."

Ashe stood up, startling everyone. "I decide tomorrow." She announced. "Now I'm going to bed." She walked slowly out of the tent.

"But it's midday." Penelo called after her but Fran put a hand on her shoulder.

"She knows."