Chapter 4: The Rescue
The city of Bevelle seemed more menacing and edgy now. In fact it was so apparent that Paine wondered how she had ever been able to stay in such a place. Had things really changed in the days since she had left on mission? Objectively she knew that the city was the same, but her intuition now laid bare all that she had previously ignored. To her the city was no longer a place of reverence, civilization, purity or refinement; it was now a place of stagnation, paranoia, doubt, and fear.
Paine was taken immediately into Yevon headquarters, and held up on either side by knights as they dragged her into the private office of Maester Reno. When they took her in they flung her into a cushioned seat, across the desk from the Maester. It turned out that Maester Feltan was also there. He glared at Paine with a disdainful look.
"Commander Paine, you seem to be the only member of the task force who has returned alive and unscathed. We need your report, immediately." Reno demanded. Paine's head seemed to be swimming in warm detachment. Reno pounded a fist on his desk then. "Paine, do you have the eyes of the Medusa?" He asked with a raised voice. Paine was feeling irreverent then, and not particularly threatened.
"Well, yes and no." She said with a wicked laugh.
"What? What do you mean! Explain yourself!" He ordered her, but Paine merely laughed.
"She took them! She swallowed them!" Maester Feltan concluded in outrage.
"Really? That can't be true. Paine, tell me you didn't. Tell me where the eyes are…" Reylan urged her.
"He's right about that, actually. It's interesting that he knows so much about it…" Paine said mischievously.
"I don't believe this…" Reylan muttered.
"You know what this means, don't you?" Feltan pressured him. "We have to collect the next pair of eyes, from her."
"Good luck with that." Paine taunted him with a smirk. She wondered why she would say such a thing, even while she said it. It was almost as if another spirit were living in her, and emboldening her. Feltan grimaced at her, and began shrieking at the knights to take her out of the room.
"Lock her in the dungeon at once! Chain her to a cross, and blindfold her!" He ordered them, and they quickly hoisted her up and took her from the office chamber. Paine was hardly aware while they pulled her down a dark hallway and into a dimly lit chamber filled with chains and shackles, and torture implements. In her mind she could see spirits and angry ghosts flitting in and out of sight, across the halls and through the walls, many of them shouting soundless denunciations against the Yevon knights carrying her. They propped her up against a T-shaped rack and shackled her wrists and ankles to it. They left the room then, and Paine was by herself. She stood bound there, stripped of her armor and in a tattered, ragged knights garb, as if rejected by Yevon and cast aside. However, it was worse than that; being cast aside would be a blessing at this point.
The door opened and Maester Feltan came in, with a fiendish expression on his twisted Guado features. He grinned triumphantly.
"I had always hoped for a chance to rid myself of you, Paine, but to do so in a perfectly acceptable and good-for-business way, well… Yevon must be smiling on me!" He said with a chuckle.
"Just remember, old man, that a smile is often foreboding, from those who see what we cannot. A rather amusing fate might be in store for you." Paine surmised, and she smiled widely.
"As soon as I can be sure that the initiation is complete, I will have your eyes ripped out of their sockets!" He threatened her maliciously.
"I'm supposing you don't want to tell me your grand scheme, do you, Guado?" Paine tempted him.
"Fools don't need to know the ways of the Guado! All you need to know is that your place in Spira is beneath us!" He spewed at her haughtily.
"And yet you needed a lowly human to collect the Medusa eyes for you… all your conjuring and black sorcery seems to be inadequate after all." Paine taunted him.
"Say what you want now, but it means nothing. When the true power of the Guado is revealed this time, Spira will never be the same again!" Feltan pronounced in a foreboding tone, but he said no more and stormed out of the room.
Paine was kept in the room for two days, and occasionally transferred to a cell during that time. She waited patiently, less invested in her surroundings than she was in the visions that came to her at night, or in the quiet hours of her confinement. The guards kept her blindfolded with her hands chained behind her back. She could do nothing but think. Her visions guided her onward into the realms of magic and the spirit. Mostly, when she was truly alone and still, she thought of Brock. Her heart hurt then. Could it really be true, that he had died? Somehow, she did not believe it. Something new within her gave assurances that Brock was alive. She grew to appreciate this newfound insight, but she did not know how much longer it would be hers. Finally on the third day they took her back to the torture chamber and chained her to the rack once more. She heard the footsteps of several people entering the room.
"Lady Paine, it is truly a shame that you decided to sabotage the mission we gave you. I'm afraid there's no other option for us now; your usefulness to Yevon is at an end. Now we have to take back what you stole from us." One of them said to her. She recognized the voice. It was Maester Reno.
"What I stole? That's rich, when you have stolen the future of an entire world. What evil things are you planning with that snake Feltan and his Guado cohorts? What do the Eyes of Medusa really mean to you?" Paine retorted.
"I'm not here to discuss it, Paine. Obviously they are of special importance to Yevon and to our council. It makes no difference to you anyway; you won't live to see our plans fulfilled. You could have played a role in our game, but not now. The Eyes of Medusa are far more valuable than any soldier, no matter how talented or loyal." Reylan rationalized.
"And what about the rest of the council? Does Maester Amadhi know of this?" Paine asked curiously.
"Of course not. He has suspicions, I'm sure, but he was never included in our greater plans. The Ronso are absolutely devoted to honor. We needed him on the council to help us control the rest of his tribe, but once we can get rid of them he will be of no further use." Reno admitted.
"I find it incredible that you think so little of them, after all that they have done for Bevelle and the rest of Spira." Paine said indignantly. Reylan chuckled briefly.
"What they've done for commoners and farmers is of no interest to us. Neither is your record of service, now that you're in our way. We want power, and we'll take it, starting with Medusa's Eyes." Reno remarked bluntly.
"And what of the Grand Maester, Reylan? Why is he not here, instead of you, Reno?" Paine asked, though she suspected that she already knew the answer.
"The Grand Maester is currently indisposed. I have assumed his duties for now." Reno replied.
"Ah, I see… it's a coup. Well then, may the saints preserve us all from whatever schemes you maniacs have conspired. I doubt you'll be successful, but it will be sad that many people will be sacrificed to stop you." Paine surmised.
"Oh, we will be successful Paine, now that you have brought us the Eyes of Medusa, and whatever else we need we shall take in due time." Reno said arrogantly.
"Enough of your foolishness then; get to it, if you dare." Paine said with an impatient sigh.
"You will be stripped of your eyeballs soon enough, witch!" Maester Feltan said then, in his nasal and whiny voice.
"I'm glad you're here too, Feltan. I wouldn't want you to miss what comes next." Paine replied confidently.
"Enough talk! Hold up the protective lens, and then remove the blindfold!" Feltan whined, and then two knights approached Paine. They lifted up a sheet of blue-tinted glass, with a strange glittering quality to it, and yet it was transparent. They held the glass in front of Paine's face, and then pulled off the black bandana covering her eyes. She opened them and they gleamed radiantly, as if sparkling with some numinous light. On the other side of the glass, Feltan and Reno could see a magical aura surrounding Paine's eyes. They knew that the initiation was complete.
"Excellent! She is ready… now, put the blindfold back on, and cut off her head!" Feltan ordered them with a villainous giggle. As soon as he spoke however, there was a loud booming noise from outside the headquarters, and the floor shook dramatically, and the knights dropped the glass. It fell onto the floor and shattered instantly, to nothing but tiny fragments. Paine gazed down at the pixie dust remnants of the glass lens, and then she lifted her blazing eyes upon the two Maesters, with a devilish grin of contentment on her fair face.
"Kill her! Kill her now!" Feltan screamed, and he turned and fled the room. Reno went after him. Sirens could be heard in the hallway when the door opened. The two knights glanced nervously at each other and then drew their swords, inching closer to finish the deed. Paine shot an intense glare into the eyes of the foremost knight, and he immediately cried out in horror and dropped his weapon as he fled the room. Then she gazed at the other, and he immediately cringed and shielded his face with one arm. He swung his blade wildly, but he was not within reach of her. Paine looked around the room, and finally her gaze fell upon a candle on one of the tables, with a lit flame. She beckoned to it with her thoughts, and it leapt across the table and onto piles of notebooks and paper sheets, and expanded rapidly with her focus, and then sprang from the table across the floor. At her behest the fires whipped around the knight and licked over his armor and into his eyes. In panic he turned and ran, and left her alone in the room.
"Great. Now then, how do I talk to iron?" Paine asked aloud as she looked at her shackles. Unfortunately she could not budge them even a fraction of an inch. She waited for a long moment, but then the door to the room burst from its hinges and revealed Brock himself, who had battered it down with one kick. He came into the room and his face gleamed with relief and joy.
"Paine! I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time!" He shouted, and he dashed to release her as fast as he could. He found the keys nearby and unlocked her shackles.
"I knew you were alive, Brock! How did you get back here?" Paine asked in wonderment.
"I was the lone survivor. I walked all the way back to Bevelle. Somehow I was afraid the worst might happen to you. It's a good thing I was quick. I heard from some old friends that you were taken straight to Yevon headquarters and never seen again. I caused a diversion and fought my way in! Now we need to go!" Brock said urgently. Paine nodded in agreement.
"You're right, I want to leave this place, but first we have to deal with Feltan. He has to be stopped…" Paine decided.
"We won't be able to fight through all his guards! We need to leave fast, and you need a weapon!" Brock said, handing her Beclem's sword.
"This is Beclem's weapon? What happened to him?" Paine asked as she took the sword by its pommel.
"He died in the gorge. There was nothing I could do about it. Use it in his memory; he fought like a lion. Now, let's go!" Brock urged her, and together they left the room and ran through the corridors of Yevon headquarters. A contingent of guards came around the corner and charged at them. Brock took his axe and met them head-on. (Brock's rescue theme is 'God or Man' by Manowar)
Together they cut their way through the Yevon guards and into the main entry chamber. As soon as they stepped onto the open floor they saw Maester Reno standing behind a squad of Bevelle soldiers.
"You're going nowhere, Brock! You'll be executed for this treason, and Paine will lose her head today! Men, kill them both in the name of Yevon!" He cried out, and the soldiers drew their weapons. Before they could charge, a gruff voice boomed from the side of the hall.
"Reno!" Maester Amadhi Ronso shouted. The old Ronso sage took a spear from one of his own guardsmen and heaved it, sending the point of the spearhead right through Maester Reno's chest and heart, and then out his back, pinning him to the wooden door behind him. Reno looked down at his wound in shock, but he died almost instantly. At the sight of this, the soldiers all broke posture and fled through the other side of the double-door entrance.
"Thank you, Maester Amadhi, for all that you've done for us and for Spira." Paine said to Amadhi as he approached her with his fellows.
"Thanks should be given to you, Lady Paine, but there is no time now. Maester Feltan and the rest of the council have escaped, and given orders to kill you on sight. You must leave Bevelle, and the continent, immediately." Amadhi advised her.
"And go where? The tentacles of Yevon are practically everywhere.." Paine asked desperately.
"I know where we can go, but we will need transportation… sturdy transportation." Brock said.
"And where would that be?" Paine asked.
"To my home island, in the northern sea. My people do not follow Yevon, and we will be safe there… well, if we make it across the sea, we will be safe there." Brock replied.
"There is an airship, sitting in a concealed hangar near the Yevon controlled pier on the harbor. If you can reach it, I know one who can fly it. I have kept a pilot on stand by, to return me swiftly to Mount Gagazet in case of an emergency. Now that the council's evil intentions have been revealed, it seems I was wise to make such preparations." Amadhi reflected grimly.
"Maester Amadhi, shouldn't you take the airship yourself, and return to your people? They should be warned about Feltan and the Guado." Paine suggested.
"My people know well the nature of the Guado. Regardless, I will make it home shortly. You must leave now, and stay hidden from Yevon until we can send word to you. Your help will be needed in the future, for the sake of my people and everyone in Spira." Amadhi assured her.
"Very well then. We will take the ship and go. Where is your pilot? And how will we find this hidden hangar?" Paine asked.
"My guards will take you through the under-works of the city, from here to the harbor, and I will send word for the pilot to meet you there. Go now Lady Paine, and may the Saints protect you!" Amadhi blessed her.
"I pray that you will join them someday, when it is fated. Farewell, Maester Amadhi. I won't forget you!" Paine said, and she saluted the Ronso sage. She then followed his three guards as they led her back through the corridors of Yevon headquarters, and down several flights of stairs to a manhole cover, which they lifted to reveal a narrow ladder. Brock and Paine gazed down into the darkness.
"We will follow behind you. Start climbing, Lady Paine, and Sir Brock will go next." The Ronso guard directed them. They climbed down the long ladder, and reached the floor of a vast tubular tunnel system. After the Ronso reached the floor with them, they led them down the drab green piping and sewage drains, across the underbelly of Bevelle until they reached a final washout that spewed waste water into the sea. They came upon another ladder, leading up to the harbor surface, and this time the Ronso went first and then beckoned for them to follow once they were certain it was safe to do so. Paine and Brock climbed up the ladder and emerged onto a back alley near the harbor docks. The Ronso then took them to an old warehouse by the shore, that by all appearances had long been abandoned.
The group crossed a sandy hillside and reached the side door to the warehouse. The Ronso guards opened the door and took them into a dusty, dim environment filled with old machina and tools and refuse. They walked across the warehouse floor, and their footsteps sounded upon it as if it were hollow, and made of metal. Out of one of the empty offices there came striding a young Al-Bhed man, wearing a striped yellow and green jumpsuit, with a slender and boyish face, and tinted sunglasses over his eyes. His blonde hair was spiked up and combed backward. Something about him seemed familiar. In a youthful voice he spoke to them, with a slow and grainy tone.
"Is that you, Paine?" He asked, incredulous.
"Yes, I am Paine. Who are you?" She replied.
"You don't recognize me? I guess that's fair, since I always wore a breathing mask back in those days. My health has improved a lot since then. It's me, Shinra!" He said to her.
"Shinra? I never thought I would see you again… I heard the Celsius was lost at sea years ago; shot down by pirates in the northern waters." Paine responded with surprise.
"It was, but luckily I had my own self-inflating floating apparatus with me at the time. The rest of the crew was not so fortunate. Anyway, what in Spira are you doing here?" He asked her.
"Running for my life; it's a long story. But I'm glad that you're the one getting us out of here." Paine admitted. Shinra grinned contentedly.
"Fair enough. We'll discuss it once we're out of the danger zone, so to speak. We better make this quick though; that new rail gun that Yevon dug up out of Zanarkand is nothing to play around with. It could incinerate a small airship in an instant. By the way, they will be extremely annoyed to find out that we've taken their vessel. Maester Amadhi secured the access codes for me awhile ago, without Yevon knowing about it." Shinra said, and he beckoned for them to step to the side of the warehouse with him, away from the metal doors on the floor. He walked up to a keypad and punched in the right numbers, and with a loud hydraulic motor and the rattling of gears, the two steel doors began to open. Once they had fully parted, a platform came up from below, and upon it sat a small, sleek airship. It was colored metallic blue on the top and silver underneath, and shaped like an elongated oval. Jet engines and electromagnetic manipulators extended from ports on the back, and an entry ramp was lowered from the front of the vessel. It appeared to have to ion cannons on either side. The whole vessel was perhaps fifty feet long and twenty feet wide.
"This is amazing!" Paine said, not able to help being excited by the sight of the airship.
"Oh yeah it is! I've been waiting for a chance to take off with it, and now we'll all see how it flies." Shinra said.
"Wait… are you saying you've never flown this thing?" Paine asked in dismay.
"I've run lots of simulators, Paine. I know what I'm doing. When have I ever made a mistake?" Shinra answered indignantly. Paine sighed anxiously.
"Unfortunately, we don't have time to assess his credentials." Brock interjected.
"You're right. Shinra, get us out of here." Paine said hastily. Shinra nodded and beckoned for them to follow him up the ramp and into the ship. In the access corridor they had the option to go into the control room or into the back cabin. They followed Shinra as he went to the cockpit.
"Alright, I'm opening the warehouse door now, and then we're taking off. Where are we heading to?" Shinra asked.
"North, to the island of Cale Albia." Brock told him.
"What? Are you for real? That's where the Celsius was heading when we were shot down!" Shinra protested.
"Well, there is a considerable presence of pirates in the channel and the northern seas… but once we reach the island we'll be safe." Brock assured him.
"Paine, are you sure about this?" Shinra asked reluctantly.
"Yes. Take us there, and do it quickly." Paine ordered him. Shinra sat in the pilot's seat then, and punched codes on his navigating computer, then he took hold of the manual controls.
"You guys might want to strap yourselves in for this." He warned them. Paine and Brock sat in the two seats behind the pilot, and fastened their crash restraints. The warehouse door screeched and lifted up, revealing the midday sun on the harbor and a bright, cloudy blue sky. As soon as the door was high enough, Shinra seized the controls and powered the ship forward out of the hangar. Once they were out in the open, Shinra turned northward and blasted forth across the sky. He made for cloud cover, but before he could reach it, a sharp, blinding bolt of light flew across the sky in front of them. Shinra banked right and began to weave evasively, until he reached the nearest burgeoning white cloud to immerse the ship in.
"Damn! I knew that would happen!" Shinra shouted excitedly.
"When did they get that thing set up? I never knew it even existed until they used it last week…" Paine said in bewilderment.
"Yevon only tells their people what they need them to know. I thought you understood that a long time ago, Paine." Shinra replied, somewhat critically.
"I did. I chose to forget." Paine replied shamefully.
"Are you sure they can't hit us with it now?" Brock asked.
"No, I'm not, which is why we're going to blast out of here as fast as possible. We're just lucky they still can't hit anything with it; too much target practice would make the city folk nervous." Shinra said.
"I don't know how anyone can stand living in Bevelle nowadays." Paine remarked.
"Why do you think they let in so many migrants? The city's population was shrinking. A lot of people have fled to Luca and the distant islands, even into the Al-Bhed territory. Nobody with their head on straight wants to deal with Yevon or the Guado anymore." Shinra said. As soon as he had spoken, he punched a button on his manual controls and the ship jetted forward at nerve-wracking speed. They zoomed across clouds and through the sky, until finally Shinra felt comfortable with slowing down.
"We're over Sin's Wake now. We'll be safe behind the mountains, and at least the pirates won't be able to shoot at us until we reach the channel. We should be there in a few hours." Shinra surmised.
"Sin's Wake? I don't ever want to see that place again. Whatever you do, Shinra, don't let us go down in here." Paine forewarned him.
"Don't worry. The tribes below are primitive. There's no way they could bring us down." Shinra assured her.
"I wouldn't be too cocky about that, if I were you." Paine replied.
"Alright, I'll be on the lookout. The two of you can relax in the cabin for now. I'll warn you through the intercom if anything comes up." Shinra said.
"Thank you, Shinra." Paine replied, and she unfastened her restraints and stood up. Brock joined her, and they went into the cabin. As soon as they were behind closed doors in the main chamber of the cabin, Brock placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright, Paine?" He asked gingerly. Paine turned and gazed warmly into his eyes, and then she hugged him close.
"I'm fine now. It was unbelievably harsh for the first few days. I actually feel better now than I have for a long, long time." Paine admitted.
"You do?" Brock asked, puzzled, and he released her to gaze into her bright, vivid eyes. He looked surprised by something. "You do look different somehow… your eyes are full of life, and… magic?" Brock rambled, in a bewildered voice.
"Yes, I think so…" Paine replied.
"Why did you do that, in the enclave, when you took the Eyes of Medusa?" Brock asked, mystified.
"I'm not even sure… all I can remember now is that I had an overwhelming feeling that it was the only thing to do… not just the only thing to do, but actually the right thing to do. I couldn't help myself." Paine confessed.
"I'm shocked that you are so calm. What are we going to do now?" Brock asked.
"I suppose I've seen enough now, that I don't have to worry about anything. While I was captured, somehow I knew that you were alive and on your way to save me. I had no fear, as if nothing could go wrong. As for what to do next… in the short-term that's up to you. It's your home island we're heading to. But in the long run, I will seek vengeance against Yevon for all the good men who died on that fool's errand. First and foremost, we must stop Feltan and the Guado, from whatever it is that they are planning to do." Paine determined with a solemn tone.
"I agree… for now, I should warn you that my home island is not like the rest of Spira, and my people are not like other races. You will feel a bit of a… culture shock." Brock forewarned her. Paine grinned eagerly.
"If they are anything like you, I should find it refreshing. If they have nothing to do with Yevon, that's certainly a good thing at this point." Paine said. Brock smiled, and he kissed her face affectionately.
They embraced for a long time, and then they went about searching the cabin. They found food in a cold storage container. It was preserved, but still fresh; they concluded that Maester Amadhi must have had it stocked at some point for his own use, since it was full of common Ronso foods, as well as delicacies from Spira that the Ronso people were known to be fond of. Red caviar, wild berry jam and rice crackers, salted fish and crab meat, and gull eggs. They had a small feast, and then continued to search the cabin. Paine went into one of the back rooms and found lockers, full of old paramilitary uniforms and gear. In one of the lockers there was a sleek black leather jacket, emblazoned with bright orange and yellow flames, surrounding an Angel with flaming wings and a spear raised up in her right hand. The words "Live for Valor" were emblazoned in flames and calligraphy above the tip of her spear.
Paine found a pair of military trousers, colored with dark jungle camouflage, a plated utility belt, a black sleeveless shirt with a V-neck, and a pair of tall lace-up black leather boots. They all happened to fit her remarkably well, to her amazement. Finally she put on the leather jacket, and it slipped on comfortably. She looked upon herself in the mirror, and found the attire to her liking. Behind her in the reflection she saw something metallic and glassy, glinting in the light. She looked upon a table behind her and found an automatic pistol, along with a holster and some magazines, and beside it a pair of black sunglasses. She took all of it with her, and then she heard the sound of Shinra's voice crackle across the intercom.
"You guys should get up here and strap in. We're nearing the channel now." He said. Paine hurriedly went out into the main chamber of the cabin, where Brock greeted her with a bright and enthused smile.
"You look different! Almost brand new…" He said. Paine smiled, and kissed him, before they went into the control room and got into their seats.
"Do you see anything yet, Shinra?" Paine asked.
"In terms of possible danger, no, but we're near the water and we'll be flying over the island soon." He replied. "So where exactly should I land when we get there?"
"My family lives near the eastern slopes of the mountain, toward the northern side of the island. The Boru clan is very hospitable to friends, but they are militant, and suspicious of outsiders, especially with machina involved. We'll have to land south of the town in the grassy plains." Brock informed him.
"Alright then. We're coming over the channel now." Shinra said nervously. For a short instant it seemed nothing would happen. Then a volley of bright flashing tracers came shooting through the air in front of them.
"Damn it! We're under heavy fire!" Shinra cried, and he gripped the controls tensely. They could hear bullets clattering against the underbelly of the airship. Then suddenly a loud eruption, and a hole was punched through the back cabin floor.
"Jet us out of here!" Paine ordered frantically.
"I can't! The engines are damaged! You two need to get out of here! I'll try to land the ship if I can!" Shinra yelled.
"Where the hell are we supposed to go?" Paine demanded. Shinra pressed a button and a panel opened on the side of the wall, revealing two parachutes.
"Jump! I'm slowing down and lowering the ramp. I don't know how much longer we can stay in the air with this thing!" He urged them. Paine and Brock grabbed their parachutes, yanked them on, and went into the access hallway. When the boarding ramp lowered all the way Paine went down first and saw the southern forests and swamps of the island just below her, as they had only barely passed over the channel. Without hesitating she jumped, and as soon as she was clear of the airship she heard one of the rear engines explode. Paine was free falling in total chaos for several hundred feet, and then she pulled her release cord and felt the parachute yank her upright and stabilize. She looked up to see that the chute had fully expanded, and for a while she was fine. However it was only a couple thousand feet to the trees and mossy bogs below, and she was unsure how the landing would go. She looked across the sky, and saw smoke trailing behind the falling ship, but she could find no sign of Brock. She kept watching, and finally saw the midday sun glinting off another white parachute. Brock had bailed from the ship and opened his parachute successfully. As she watched, the last she saw of the airship was its swift descent into the forests nearby the impressive snow-capped mountain in the north.
She could no longer look to her friends then, because she was falling rapidly into the canopy of the forest below. She fell through tree limbs and nearly hit the ground, until her chute was caught up in the branches above and left her hanging a dozen feet from the forest floor. Paine was suspended there securely, and had an ample view of the environment around her without actually having to step into it yet. The floor of the forest was covered with mulch and damp, dead leaves, as well as the occasional peat bog. She watched a pack of wild boar running through the brush, startled by her sudden arrival. The forest floor was generally bare and had many pathways, but there were thickets everywhere and many patches of herbs, fronds and leafy plants. There were also many trees covered with thick vines, cascading like green blankets around them. Dead logs on the ground were covered with brightly colored mushrooms. Birds were singing in pleasant harmony throughout the trees. So far she could not see any fiends. Paine knew that the fall would not hurt her, and so she released the clamps of her parachute pack and dropped down onto the ground, and softly as she could.
At least it's nothing like Sin's Wake… but where do I go from here?
Paine stood upright and gazed all around her. She could faintly hear the sounds of the sea behind her, and knew that she would have to go northward through the forest. This island was fairly big, and the journey would be long on foot. At least she knew where to find Brock's people. She strode cautiously and alertly, along the more open and clear pathways between the trees. After half an hour Paine abruptly came onto a narrow road, covered with fine gravel and sand, and worn by foot traffic. It appeared to curve first westward, and then to the north, following a winding river. Paine hoped that this river was a runoff from the mountain, in which case she could reasonably expect the road to take her all the way there. Thinking on her feet, she decided to follow it after all.
As she walked down the pathway by the river, she heard soft splashing in the water. Paine gazed upon the gentle waters until she saw a young man wading across, and he came to the shore by the path ahead of her, emerging behind a large fallen tree-trunk. As he stood up she could see his upper body above the tree trunk, and he was nude. His skin was fair, and his military-cut hair was golden blonde, brilliant like the sun. His body was lean and muscled, of perfect shape and proportion, almost angelic in appearance. He took up his cloak from off the trunk and began to dry himself, but he soon noticed something had changed in his surroundings. He gazed around until his gleaming blue eyes fell upon her, whereupon they focused and his brows lifted in surprise for a brief instant. Then his lips curved in a confident grin and he spoke to her.
"Hello there, Gorgeous." He said, with a rich and graceful voice. Paine gasped out a stifled breath and her chest was hot, and she immediately looked away. He cocked his head to the side in slight bewilderment, and then he pulled up his trousers and stepped into his boots, and donned his tunic, buttoning it up to the middle of his muscled chest. He stepped casually toward her then and spoke again.
"You look in distress, dear Lady. Is there any way I can assist you?" He asked. Paine looked at him then, with a somewhat reluctant expression and a hurt glint in her eyes.
"I'm lost. I was separated from my crew when our airship went down near the mountain to the north. I need food and medicine, and some place to rest until I can go searching for them. I can pay you for the trouble." She said quietly.
"An airship, you say? I see… and would your crew happen to be pirates, then?" He asked her with suspicion. His placid blue eyes suddenly had a foreign look in them, and Paine wondered if he would believe her, but she explained herself all the same.
"No; we're just a few friends, who used to belong to an army on the continent. One of my friends was born and raised on this island. He warned us about the pirates. They shot us down shortly after we arrived." She said. He watched her intently as she spoke, but soon his eyes cooled and were placid once more, and he nodded in acceptance.
"From the look in your eyes, I trust what you say, but my people may not believe your story so quickly. You should avoid speaking of it, for the time being. You may accompany to my home town, and seek refuge in my family's keep. I will make sure that you are taken care of, and treated as a guest." He offered, and then he turned to retrieve his cloak. Paine stood there in silence, still reluctant to trust him, but in her desperation she knew not what to do. Once he had thrown on his cloak he stepped onto the road and beckoned for her to follow him.
"Shall we go now, good Lady? It will be dark by the time we arrive, and we should not want to be on the road late at night." He urged her. Paine released a deep and anxious sigh, and then she strode after him. Together they walked on the path further westward and then northward into the interior of the island, through forests and glades, over hills and plains. He soon spoke to her again, along the way.
"Forgive my manners, dear Lady. I am called Aidan, son of Aegil. What is your name?" He asked her.
"My name is Paine." She answered softly.
"It is my pleasure to meet you." He said graciously, and offered his hand to her. She took it and he grasped gently, then released her.
"You carry weapons, and wear the outfit of a fighter. That is somewhat rare for a woman, among my people. It will garner you much respect, especially if you regale us with tales of your battles and past adventures." Aidan assured her.
"I don't usually like to talk about it." Paine replied shortly.
"That is a shame. My people are called the Alu, and we live by the western sea. The other clans consider us more interested in fishing and sailing, but in truth all Calian people love to fight, and we love to hear war stories." Aidan informed her.
"Well then, maybe I can accommodate that." Paine acquiesced.
"So who is your friend? I may know of him." Aidan asked.
"His name is Brock Boru. He said that his family lives in the north, nearby the mountain." Paine said, somewhat reluctantly. She did not know the politics or relations of the clans on this island.
"I know of him. I saw him at contests and rituals now and again, when we were boys growing up. As a young man he was incredibly strong, and always took the prize at tests of might. Haven't seen him in a while. I always wondered what he ended up doing with all those muscles of his." Aidan remarked nostalgically. "So how do you know him?" He asked.
"Brock saved my life too many times to count. He's probably the best warrior the Crusaders have today…" Paine said. For an instant she was worried, but she knew that Brock would make it home safely. She missed him already.
"I don't doubt it. His family is well-respected, and in their clan that only comes from bravery in battle. The Boru are natural born warriors, and afraid of nothing. They guard the mountain and Wulfgar's tomb. They protect the shrines and sacred places of the island, and keep them holy. Don't ever let them catch you disrespecting the Gods or the graves of dead heroes. They take it to heart." Aidan advised her.
"I understand… I don't want to seem rude to anyone. What should I do, and what should I avoid?" Paine asked curiously. Aidan showed her a good-natured grin.
"It is good that you asked. In general, the Calian people are kind and accommodating, but there are a few things we never overlook. Don't put your cup upside down at a bar. It's a sign of challenge, as to the manliness of all those in attendance. From a lady it is seen as a grievous insult, and she has to select a champion to test the might and valor of the accused. Don't let any man kiss you in public, unless it's well known that he's your chosen beau and properly engaged to you in the eyes of the Gods. Likewise, don't ever seduce a married man, or you'll be banished. If you try to steal a man who's engaged, his fiancée might duel you, or sue you. If you go into battle with us and have to retreat, don't drop your weapon or shield; it is seen as disgraceful and you'd be excommunicated from worship, and banned from our shrines and groves until you atone with prayer and acts of bravery. Don't ever damage a shrine or sacred grove, and don't say anything sacrilegious to our Gods and traditions. Don't ever deface the images or symbols of our Gods, and don't ever try to steal anything from Wulfgar's tomb. Even if the Boru don't catch you, there's a good chance that Wulfgar's ghastly fellows will, and that's a dark death if ever there was one." Aidan explained to her colorfully. Paine contemplated this list of taboos in silence for a moment. She was surprised at how sensible it seemed to her now. It was as if her own feelings had changed somewhat since her initiation.
"Alright, I'll remember all of that." Paine assured him.
"One last thing; duels can be carried out in a number of ways. If by combat, they usually aren't to the death unless honor is involved, but if you behave disgracefully in a duel the elders may have you banished or executed." Aidan forewarned.
"I see… I'll do the best I can then." Paine replied.
"That is good. If folk know that you respect them, they might overlook trespasses, since you're a foreigner. Do you have any questions then?" Aidan asked her expectantly.
"I suppose, I would like to know how your people feel about magic, and about machina." Paine asked.
"Magic is judged by its intent and uses. If used for good, and for the healing or defense of the Calian people, then it is acceptable. If used for knowledge, without harming others, then it is fine. Curses and necromancy are viewed as vile crimes, and worthy of banishment or execution. As for machina, there is little of it here on Cale Albia. Mostly we use some rifles, and some farming equipment, but not much else. My clan is the most open toward finding and using it, and we have a couple ruins nearby our town that we search for salvage. The Danu clan are supposedly working on restoring some machina they found in a nearby ruin hidden in their forest, but none of us know what it is. The Boru generally dislike machina, and view it as a shameful crutch used by weak people. They use some firearms, but not much else. Many of them still prefer to fight with sword, axe and spear. They don't much appreciate magic either. The Boru tend to be straightforward and brazen folk, not given to trickery or secrets, and they absolutely loathe deception. Liars are treated harshly among them. Telling falsehoods is generally despised among Calian people, but the Boru hate it most. Be cautious around them, if you go northward. They don't tolerate any questioning of their honor, and they always attend to any perceived challenge." Aidan warned her. Paine nodded silently, and reflected on these accounts. She wondered how Brock had seemed so patient and forgiving in all the years she had known him. Perhaps dealing with foreigners had softened his outlook on life.
She walked out of the trees with Aidan and came to a grassy plain, with some sparse glades scattered across it. As they walked over the first hill in their path, Paine could see farm houses and little grain mills spread out upon the landscape. There were crops growing, and water flowing from creeks and small rivers that winded around hills and ran through valleys and lowlands. Some farmers were leading teams of oxen and big auroch bulls, pulling wagons loaded with freshly collected vegetables and fruit. Chickens and other domesticated small flightless birds were clucking and scratching at the ground around their hen houses. It looked like a painting, so quaint and mild and picturesque it was. Paine halted for an instant to look across these golden and green fields.
"This is the clan territory of my people. These plains are grazing and farming lands for our folk." He said. "and another thing I forgot to mention; don't take someone's horse without expressed permission. I've heard that in lower Spira no one takes mounts seriously in the eyes of the law, since you ride around on big birds, ha! But here on our island, horse-theft and cattle-theft is a serious crime."
"Horses?" Paine asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes… I suppose you've never seen them before. Every so often, a merchant ship or fishing vessel from Spira will brave the northern seas and make it through the pirate fleets. They always seem shocked to find that we ride on four-legged beasts rather than on birds. They've always asked to buy one from us, but no one ever makes the trade; on our island, horse breeding and training has been refined to an art. A family's status is often judged by the quality of their stables and the size of their herd. You might try riding a bit while you're here. You'll find our mounts more reliable and less flighty than your… 'chocobos' as you call them. We have only a few of those birds here on the island. We use them mainly for sport. They simply can't hold up to the rigors of combat like a good horse does. Even tapirs are better." Aidan surmised.
"And what's a tapir now?" Paine asked.
"They're similar to a horse, and about the same size, but they have long drooping snouts, almost like a trunk. Their hooves are cloven as well, and they have white stripes on their flanks, usually some spots or speckling on their neck, and a white underbelly. They were the original steeds on this island long ago, and we've bred them up to a much larger and more powerful animal. They're a lot more clever than a horse, which makes them good for scouting and for show, and some of them are good combat mounts as well. They are good for looking after herds on a farm, because they make a loud, whiny screech when predators are near. The wild tapirs on the island are small and flighty, however. They live in the southern swamps. Some people like to hunt them for sport, occasionally. Horses on the other hand, were brought here by Wulfgar and his band almost a thousand years ago. They migrated to Cale Albia from another island northeast of here, called Isa Cairn. It's an icy, winter island that sits in full view of Mount Gagazet. I've heard rumors that Wulfgar's people still live there, but I've never sailed that way before. I think I shall try it someday, after we've beaten the pirates into retreat." Aidan said ambitiously.
"I've heard of the northern pirates. Bevelle almost sanctioned a fleet to go north after them, but they couldn't gather enough military-grade ships. They have their hands full just trying to keep piracy at a manageable level in the south seas. It sounds like pirates are a serious concern here." Paine suggested, prompting him to say more.
"Indeed, they are. They like to raid the island regularly. We always turn them back, but every age or so, they make an attempt at full scale invasion. It's been a while now, but some folk think they are preparing for one." Aidan said.
"Why do they want to invade?" Paine asked.
"For one thing, they want our land. These fields are fertile, and easy to sow. The pirates are a collection of tribes and outcast bandits from Spira… they live on the rocky coasts around Sin's Wake. They're warlike and unscrupulous; they like to plunder and kill. More than anything, they want the treasure in Wulfgar's tomb. If they could seize it, they would have enough gold to become kings, to gather more tribes under their influence, and invade southern Spira. Once they get the taste of a real treasure trove, I doubt they'll ever stop their conquest." Aidan predicted. They walked down the road, passing farmhouses and granaries, and fields full of roaming cattle. Paine walked along in silence, trying not to look at Aidan. She could not help but notice how beautiful and confident he was. Their conversation was making her anxious; she felt it was drawing her too close to him.
"Is the pace too much for you, my Lady?" Aidan asked with concern.
"No, I'm fine." Paine assured him.
"You're quiet. Many Calian men would duel to the death for the affections of such a placid young lady…" He said with a smirk. Paine grinned, and could not help but blush.
"Are all Calian men as open as you are about romance?" Paine asked, somewhat irritably.
"Quite a few, but not all. Now that it comes to it, I feel I should ask you something." Aidan said.
"Ask me what?" Paine took the bait.
"Are you officially engaged to any man?"
"Not officially…" Paine replied, and he continued before she could say more.
"Good. If you were, it'd be likely that he would face a lot of challengers. You'll probably have more than a few men asking about you while you're on the island. A beautiful girl doesn't stay unmarried for long on Cale Albia." Aidan told her plainly. Paine was vexed with him, but she said nothing of her feelings for Brock. She did not want him to be burdened by having to duel for her, so soon after his return home. Her heart was heavy as she thought of him.
Brock… where are you?
"There's something else I wanted to know." Paine said, changing the subject.
"What's that?" Aidan replied.
"Who is Wulfgar, and why is he so important?" Paine asked.
"Another good question, and you certainly need to know… but ask me another time, my Lady. We have company approaching." Aidan said, as he gazed down the road to a figure approaching atop a large, quadruped animal. Paine stopped and stared as the creature approached swiftly, carrying its rider toward them. It was a tall, black-haired horse, with a long black mane and tail cascading behind it, and rippling muscles propelling its graceful body with ease at a light gallop. There was a young man in light armor sitting in a saddle upon the creature's back. He slowed to a trot once he neared them, and then came to a stop before them, his horse gusting and snorting in breath.
"Caelan! How goes business in Briar Bay?" Aidan greeted him. The handsome youth smiled and tipped his head at Paine, then spoke to Aidan.
"Lord Aidan, your father has company in his hall. He's requested that you return as fast as you may." The lad said. Paine noticed that the Calian people shared an accent that gave a musical, rhythmic quality to their voice. She had found it odd when Aidan spoke and thought it was merely his on personal inflection. She was surprised that Brock had learned to hide it so well.
"I see. Well then, I'll head right there. As you can see, I'm afoot, so they'll have to be patient." Aidan hinted with a grin. Caelan nodded, and promptly dismounted from his horse.
"Take my steed, Lord Aidan. So long as you tell me who this fair lady is." Caelan said cleverly.
"Her name is Paine. She is a guest of my family, from the southern lands as you can likely tell." Aidan told him.
"Aye, indeed. It's my pleasure to meet you, Paine." Caelan said, holding out his hand. Paine rested her hand in his, and he held it gently and bowed his head. Aidan climbed up onto the horse, and then extended his hand to Paine.
"Climb on behind me, Lady Paine. Don't worry, its quite safe. Our horses are well-trained and cool-headed." He beckoned her with an amiable assurance. Paine took his hand, and he pulled her up onto the saddle behind him. Paine sat there awkwardly, unsure what to do. She was much closer to him than she wanted to get.
"Hold on tight." Aidan told her, and Paine reluctantly put her arms around him. Aidan took the reigns and turned the steed around, and then urged it onward down the road. They went over the hills at a leisurely gallop, and Paine held onto him firmly then. The gait of a horse was something totally foreign to her.
"Eventually you'll learn to bounce at the right moment, when the horse's back flexes. You get a feel for the rhythm of your horse, and after a while its perfectly comfortable." Aidan told her.
"I was wondering how you managed the all bumpiness. It makes sense." Paine replied. They rode along for a moment, and then Aidan snapped the rains lightly and they sped up, soaring across the plains with the wind flowing over them. Paine clung to him, and she could not help but grin with excitement and joy. The feeling of racing across the land atop such a graceful and powerful animal was invigorating in a way she had not known before. The horse carried them through the fields and hills of the Alu clan lands until they came to a clearing by the sea, and the harbor town known as Briar Bay was visible to them with its many colorfully scaled wooden tiles and shingled rooftops resting upon large timber-framed houses and buildings. There was a wooden wall of timber barricades around the town, and many farm houses and mills lying just outside of it. They took the white sandy road to a tall arched gateway with broad wooden doors. Watch posts stood on either side of the door, and ordered were issued from the watchmen to open up the doors to Aidan and his guest. Paine heard the clattering of the mare's hoofs upon red brick lanes and sandy alleyways. Aidan took them on the shortest route to his father's house, a large hall not far from the docks and the stables. His home was a longhouse built with massive timbers and planed boards as long as a whole tree, painted a burnished red and green, with overlapping yellow shingles that made the rooftop look like a drake's scaly back. The beams of the roof extended out from the front and back end, and were carved into the faces of dragons and fiends. Intricate carvings decorated the doorway to the hall, at the top of broad granite steps.
Aidan guided the horse down the lane before his home at a trot, and when the attendants of his father's stables met him there he dismounted and helped Paine down onto the brick street with him. The men took his horse to the large barn down the street which housed his family's stables. Aidan turned back to face Paine then, with a faint little grin on his face.
"My sister's might tease you for being dressed like a man. Don't think anything of it; they aren't used to seeing outsiders. My mother will be suspicious of me bringing you here, but she'll be polite. My father will make sure that you're taken care of and treated with full hospitality during your stay. I don't know who is in the hall with them now, but we'll go in and take our seats quietly to wait until they're finished with whatever they are discussing." Aidan prepared her. Paine nodded in acceptance.
"Fair enough. Let's go." She replied.
Together they ascended the granite steps up to the platform and under the door arch. Aidan opened the doors and they stepped into the rich atmosphere that is a Calian hearth hall, with a crackling fire and the aroma of cooked meat and tubers, malt beer, and sweet-smelling pipes smoking over mirthful conversation. As soon as they appeared in the hall, a group of young girls cheerfully greeted Aidan, and for an instant all eyes were upon them. The old lord Aegil glanced to them, but then returned his attention to his guest, who sat in a chair beside him at the head of a long feast table. Aegil was an old man, weathered but still handsome, and finely clothed. A circlet of silver and sapphire gemstones encircled his brow. Across from Aegil sat a man in flowing dark green robes, with wizened features a good-natured, observant countenance. His hair and beard were russet brown and tinged with gray, and his features were strong in spite of his apparent age. His eyes shone with an ageless energy and sharp wit. He glanced upon Paine briefly, and then turned back to his host.
"That's Ruach Danu, an important guest. He's a wise man of the isle, and he's been recognized as a Sage. Make sure you respect him; he won't bother to rebuke you if you don't, but everyone else will surely raise a maelstrom over it." Aidan advised her. Paine nodded silently, and followed him closely as he walked around the table to greet his friends and find them a couple seats. Soon they were lounging by the side of the table and young girls brought them tankards made of wide auroch horns and pitcher of red beer to fill them. Bread, cheese and meat were piled before them upon a platter and the only utensil they were given was a knife. Abruptly the lord Aegil lifted his cup to greet them.
"Hail my son, Aidan, and his guest. Welcome!" He called across the table and all the cups were lifted to them, and then the drinking and feasting continued unbroken into the evening. Paine gingerly carved off a piece of bread and nibbled at it while she sipped her beer. The brew was sweet and refreshing, and she felt hazy just a few gulps into it. Paine tried to insulate herself from the noise of the feast, looking only into her cup as the night went on, but suddenly she noticed that Aidan was not beside her. She heard a sharp, high pitched and lively flute then, playing brisk tune. The sound of it was foreign and strange to her, and she glanced around the hall until she saw Caelan playing the instrument, and Aidan standing beside him strumming on a harp. The girls all began to clamor in excitement as Aidan sang. His voice took Paine by storm; she could not avoid feeling enticed by his rich and smooth vocals.
To the east, they like their morning tea,
The southerners drink milk and honey,
The Boru drink their mountain dew,
And Al-Bhed drinks have amber hue,
But Alu boys will tell ye true,
That Briar Bay makes the finest brew!
A baby drinks both milk and honey,
I curse at him that brings me tea!
Spirited droughts make a man's chest hoary
But ask me and I'll tell a different story,
The finest beer by night or day,
Is that mild red they make in Briar Bay!
When wizened men take up the pen,
And write up tales from way back when,
None of them can find a rhyme or scale,
To catalogue the glory of such ale!
Farmers till and reap what they sow,
So at the years end that mild red will flow!
A miser hoards up jewels and gold,
A young maid dreads her getting old
Working men daily break their backs
Hoping to outrun the pack
But young or old, serf or free,
That mild red will cure what ails ye!
All men have their drink of choice,
They sing their praises with one voice
In a world of woe the brew master is king
Some say that beer is a simple thing
But Alu boys will tell ye true,
That Briar Bay makes the finest brew!
Paine listened to this jubilant reverie with reluctant amusement. All the people in the hall cheered for their performance, and Caelan and Aidan took a bow. The people stood from the table then and began to mingle. Some of the girls danced while Caelan played his flute and a few other musicians played the drums and guitar. Aidan was with his father then, and together they brought the elder Ruach across the hall to meet Paine. She felt her nerves then, but she stood up to greet them properly.
"Lady Paine, this is my father Aegil. He is clan leader of the Alu people. Father, this is Paine, from Bevelle city. She is a friend of Brian Boru, and they apparently crash-landed on the way home and were separated." Aidan explained to his father as he introduced them to each other.
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Paine. Any friend of Brock Boru must be a valiant and noble soul. I knew his father well when we were young, and I know his character. It is unfortunate that he has had such travails on the way home, but it often goes that way here on the isle. The piracy in the south channel is not to be underestimated. However I'm sure that he will pull through; the Gods would not waste such a great hero's life. If he made it home to Heargborough, we will know it soon. I'm sure that he will come searching for you soon." Aegil assured her. Beside him Ruach nodded in agreement.
"Your clan lives closer to the slopes of the mountain, Elder Ruach. Has there been any word of his appearance yet?" Aidan asked. Old Ruach spoke with a calm, wizened voice, deep and subtle in tone.
"No, I have no word of it, but I believe your father is correct. Brock will turn up. I knew him as a youth, and he is filled with a spirit of perseverance, and devotion. We shall hear of him soon enough." Ruach confirmed.
"I appreciate your consolations, gentlemen, but surely you will understand that I have no intentions of waiting for him to reappear. I need to search for Brock, and I need to go now." Paine said to them all with solemn tone.
"Indeed, I should expect nothing less from one of Brock's true friends. Take my finest horse, Gulfaxi, and take my son Aidan and his friend Caelan with you. They can guide you across the island and aid in your search. I wish you all the best and I will pray for your success." Aegil offered. Paine nodded respectfully and her red eyes gleamed with regard.
"Your help is greatly appreciated, my Lord. I will repay you for your hospitality before I leave the isle. I give you my word on it." Paine vowed to him.
"Finding our long lost Brock and returning him to his family will be all the payment I should require, and I have no doubt that you will. The good favor of his family and the Boru clan will be very valuable to me." Aegil said plainly.
"We will take her to the stables, Father, and saddle our horses. We will return in a few days time, once we have recovered poor Brock. It shouldn't take long to find him." Aidan assured his father.
"Take plenty of supplies, and be sure that our guest Lady Paine is well taken care of. When you find Brock, bring him back with you if he is willing to be our guest, or if not then return him to his home as swiftly as you may. Be careful, boys." Aegil counseled them.
"We shall indeed, Father. Farewell." Aidan said, and he saluted his father and Ruach before he turned and led Paine and Caelan from the hall. They went down the granite steps and walked down the brick lane to the open doors of the large red stables that housed the steeds of Aegil's family and the Alu clan. The three of them entered the tall sliding door of the barn and stepped across the straw laden soft floor. There were twenty stalls built into each side of the walls running the length of the barn. Aidan took her to the stall where his father's horse, Gulfaxi, was quartered.
Gulfaxi was a tall and muscular stallion, with a shadowy dapple-gray body and a flowing white-gold colored mane. His lithe body was sleek and powerful, and had the look of a fleet form, as if traversing the lands of Cale Albia was effortless to him. While Paine stood admiring this glorious steed, Aidan brought her a saddle and blanket, and all the equipment she would need for riding. He opened the stall and began outfitting Gulfaxi for the journey.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea; I don't know anything about riding yet…" Paine said.
"Well, the island is too big to walk around it searching for Brock. Besides, there's a reason my father gave Gulfaxi to you; this is the easiest horse to ride, and the cleverest in all of Cale Albia. You'd have to try pretty hard to get thrown off him. Just keep calm and hold on tight, and you'll be fine." Aidan reassured her.
"Alright, fair enough. Is there anything else I should know?" Paine asked.
"There may be wolves or stray hounds prowling around the woods and thickets. They might spook the horses if we ride up on them, but Gulfaxi has a good nose. He might start acting strange if there's danger around us. Also, watch out for pirates; they could land at any time and send small parties into the interior of the island. You look well-armed enough to deal with them. Caelan and I will bring arms as well, but it could still be potentially dangerous camping out at night." Aidan informed her.
"I'm used to that." Paine replied.
"I see. Well then, are you ready to get started?" Aidan asked.
"I am. Let's ride." Paine said. She stepped confidently up beside the fine stallion and hoisted herself up into the saddle. She took the stirrups and guided the steed out of the stall and through the doors of the barn onto the street. Aidan and Caelan soon joined her, riding atop a pair of white mares. Before they were ready to depart, Paine looked down the street and saw the old sage Ruach walking slowly toward them with a gnarled wooden staff in his right hand, and a necklace strung with painted beads and gemstones, and a silver talisman in the shape of three triangles connected at their apexes. Paine could see that he was intentionally heading to meet her, and so she sat in her saddle and waited. When old Ruach was beside her horse he spoke.
"Lady Paine, I bid you take this amulet with you on your search and keep it with you while you while you remain on our island. It will protect you." He offered, holding up the many colorful beads and the intricate talisman for her to take. Paine reached down and grasped the amulet, and she felt a warm aura as it passed from his hand into hers. She looked into the gleaming blue eyes of the sage, as they glowed with warm magical light. She saw no malice in them, only placid contentment and the light of knowledge, as if he were aware of something more than ordinary men ought to be.
"Thank you." Paine said softly, and Ruach simply nodded and turned to stride back down the lane toward the hall of Aidan's family.
"You should be pleased, Lady Paine. To be given a talisman by a sage, and Old Ruach himself, no less, is a very rare and high honor. It is said that the sages can weave very powerful magic into their talismans and staves. He has blessed you, in his way." Aidan told her.
"I had no idea, but I am grateful of course." Paine replied reverently.
"I'm glad to hear it. Let us be off then, my Lady. I know you want to find your friend soon." Aidan suggested, and he urged his mare forward down the street.
They trotted together at a comfortable pace for Paine to adjust to riding. Once they were outside of the town's gates they began a light gallop on the road northeastward, and Paine kept up well enough. She remembered Aidan's advice on riding and tried to match the rhythm of her horse as he ran with a mighty and graceful gait. Paine felt as though she were uplifted and empowered, riding atop such a powerful and beautiful creature. It was as if she had been freed from some heavy burden and set loose like a flying comet.
The three of them rode over the hills and began their search of the northern majesty of the island under the fading light of dusk, while the sun sat in a golden haze upon the west seas.