The next day they returned to Rabanastre, and preperations for war began as soon as they arrived. But diplomacy was a slow game. Making an alliance with Rozaria was the obvious thing to do, however by the time the treaty was even close to finalised Noah was fully healed and almost as impatient with the process as Rasler. Basch was unperturbed as he was by everything; Noah was of the opinion that Basch would be calm if he was being tortured. It could be reassuring and irritating at once when everyone else was on edge. He and Basch were drawing attention too, they were Ashe's choice as personal bodyguards and had drawn more than a few stares. One of the Rozarians had commented on the matched pair as if they were carriage chocabos and Noah hoped the none of other diplomats were as clueless.

Finally the treaty was to be signed. Ashe and Rasler stood together, with Noah by Ashe's side and Basch by Rasler's. All that was missing was the Rozarian Emperor to sign it. The door swung open and in walked the oddest man Noah had ever seen. He wore dark glasses over his eyes, although he removed them with a flourish and passed them to one of the girls that stood behind him, and his shirt barely covered any of his chest. Noah wasn't quite sure what was going on with his boots.

'My apologies to your Majesties,' said the man. 'The Emperor could not make it, and so I, Al-Cid Margrace, am here to perform this duty.'

This, then, was one of the Emperor's sons and empowered to act for him. Ashe and Rassler welcomed him formally and Al-Cid read the treaty through before signing it in letters that must have been huge judging by the way he flourished the pen. Rassler and Ashe both signed it after him.

'There. My duty is done,' said Al-Cid. 'But I would wish to talk with your majesties on my own behalf. If you would permit?'

Ashe and Rasler agreed and they withdrew to Rasler's suite of rooms, Basch and Noah followed as did Al-Cid's girls. Quite what the girls were for was a mystery, they didn't seem like a bodyguard and Noah doubted they were there just to hold Al-Cid's sunglasses. Perhaps they were spies? Once in the room Al-Cid lounged by the window, one arm thrown across the sill.

'Queen and Prince Consort of Dalmasca, what do you know of manufactured nethecite?' he asked.

Ashe and Rasler exchanged a look. 'I've heard of nethicite, it's a form of magicite,' said Rasler. 'I've never heard of it being manufactured.'

'Indeed it is,' said Al-Cid. 'With Bhujerba most unfortunately under the Empire's thumb they are enhancing magicite from the Lhusu mines. Turning it to nethecite. I'm sure you recall the effect nethecite had on Nebradia? In future they will have more.'

'Is there nothing we can do?' demanded Ashe, her face pale and drawn. Noah felt the same way, if this was true Dalmasca may be already lost.

'Mmm. I have heard of a sword, legend perhaps and nothing more,' said Al-Cid. 'A sword wielded by the Dynast King, your majesty's illustrious ancestor. With it he was able to cut and destroy nethecite. If your majesty could retrieve it, perhaps Dalmasca could be saved. Alas, its location is unknown. The closest I have heard is that it may be near Mount Bur-Omisace, but I have only hearsay to go by.'

'Then we must find this sword,' said Ashe. 'I shall leave for Mount Bur-Omisace as soon as is possible.'

'Ashe,' said Rasler. Their eyes met and she reached for his hand.

'You must stay here,' she said. 'We cannot leave our country leaderless.'

'Then allow me to accompany you in his stead,' said Al-Cid. 'I fear the time for diplomacy is past, and I must do what I can to prevent deaths by other methods.'

They both looked at him but it was Rasler who nodded. 'Thank you. If I must be parted from my wife so soon at least I will know she is not alone. Besides, you are the one who knows where to look for this sword.'

Noah stepped forward, as long as he had any say in it Ashe would not need a suspicious foreigner with her to be other than alone. 'Lady Ashe, allow me to accompany you as well.'

'I would be glad of you. And Captain Basch?' she said.

'If your majesty orders me then I will come. But, if I may speak freely, I advise against this venture. We do not even know this sword exists, and you will be needed here,' said Basch. 'As will all your knights.'

'And what do you think, Captain Noah? Do you think this sword worth searching for?' asked Ashe.

'Yes. It is the only hope we have against the nethecite,' said Noah. He looked at Basch, who met his gaze calmly.

'Then I shall ask you to accompany me, but not Captain Basch,' said Ashe. 'He should serve in a manner he believes will aid his country. I shall bring another knight who sees our venture as worthwhile.'

'Then it is settled.' Al-Cid swung himself away from the windowsill. 'You must tell me when we are to set out. Until then I take my leave and go to prepare.'

He left, his girls bowing in unison and following him out. Noah hoped he didn't intend to bring them, whatever their job was they were a little creepy. Basch walked over to Ashe.

'I hope I did not anger you,' he said. 'If I did then I am sorry.'

'No,' said Ashe, clasping Basch's hand briefly. 'I did not wish to force you into doing something where you saw no hope of success. I hope you are not angry with me, for going through with this against your advice.'

Basch smiled. 'Never, Lady Ashe.'

'I shall be glad to have you with me,' said Rasler. 'And sorry to lose Noah, although I know I can entrust Ashe's safety to him.'

'I shall guard her with my life,' promised Noah.

He and Basch were dismissed soon after that. Behind him Noah could already hear Ashe's voice heightened with emotion, it would be a hard leave taking for her. And perhaps not an easy one for him, either.

'Do you truly think our task a fool's errand?' he asked, falling into step with Basch as they made their way to the mess hall.

Basch hesitated and then said, 'Yes. I am sorry, but I see no reason to think otherwise. If Lady Ashe was not so set on going I would say you would do more good here. As it is I am glad you will be with her.'

'It's been a long time since we were assigned separate duties,' said Noah. They never had been, not since he arrived. A long time since they had been separated, he meant, but it seemed so weak to say it.

'Aye. We'll have tales to tell when we meet again,' said Basch. He clapped Noah on the shoulder.

'I'll have more of them,' said Noah. 'You won't be going anywhere, or doing anything but your normal duty.'

'I hope so,' said Basch. 'And I'll look forward to listening to yours.'

There were other knights in the mess hall, including Vossler who was at a table by himself and clearly waiting for them. So they got some stew and joined him. Vossler asked what the Rozarian diplomat had wanted, and they filled him in with the same facts and two very different opinions. All of them forgot to eat, engrossed in telling or listening.

'The Lady Ashe wishes another companion?' said Vossler, when they had finished.

'Yes. Do you wish to come?' said Noah. He hoped the answer was yes, to have his friend with him would only be second best to his brother.

'Yes. It sounds a desperate measure, but these are desperate times and we do what we must. I will talk to the Lady Ashe,' said Vossler.

Basch shook his head, but said nothing. Noah wanted to argue, to force Basch to see that this was no pointless diversion but necessary for the future of Dalmasca. He looked away, he would not have them part again with angry words ringing in their ears.

#

They left barely after dawn, the light streaming into the courtyard was still grey. Ashe would be travelling incognito so Rasler and Basch were the only ones there to see them off. Al-Cid held their chocobos, presumably he had said his goodbyes. Certainly the girls were nowhere to be seen. Ashe was in Rasler's arms, holding on so tightly to each other it seemed that tearing themselves away would injure them. Basch and Vossler said a quiet farewell, then it was Noah's turn.

'Farewell,' said Basch. 'Whatever happens, remember that you will be needed here.'

'I will. Take care and stay safe,' said Noah.

A small smile touched Basch's lips. 'I should be the one to say that. Gods' will we both stay safe until we meet again.'

'Faram,' whispered Noah.

The brothers embraced, briefly but warmly. All would be well, there were no hard feelings and Basch was right. Whether they succeeded or failed there would be a place here where Noah was needed, a place he could return to. He let go, still feeling Basch's breath on his cheek, and they stepped away from one another. Ashe, too, pulled herself away from Rasler, she looked away from them and Noah knew that she was hiding tears. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him for a moment before stiffening with resolve.

'We should go,' she said.

They mounted their chocobos, mostly common yellows, although Al-Cid had managed to find a bright red one, and left the courtyard, not without backward glances. Rasler raised his hand to them several times, and, at the last possible moment, Basch did too.

The desert wolves mostly left them alone, they would attack travellers on foot but a group of chocobos was enough to make them think twice. The few cuts they had taken healed abruptly on Giza plains when a large rabbit hopped past them, the chocobos seemed perkier too.

'Is that normal?' asked Noah.

Ashe laughed. 'I'd heard that Giza Rabbits were unlike the common type. But not that they made a habit of healing travellers.'

'Like all good subjects they surely recognise their Queen and wish her well,' said Al-Cid.

Ashe shook her head, still smiling.

The nomads were happy to shelter them for the night, and plagued them anxiously for news of the war. They did not recognise their Queen, Ashe gave her name as Amalia, but had their own concerns. Whether it would be safe to stay in Giza Plains, or whether an army from Archadia might come across it, chief among them. It was sobering to realise how many people would be affected by the war while having no say in it. Ashe became very quiet and thoughtful, and she did not sleep that night.

Golmore jungle was more dangerous, they used up most of their supply of potions. Noah found rubbing them into Ashe's back and legs somewhat embarrassing, but Al-Cid's offer to do it was enough to stop him complaining. It was always surprising to realise she was a woman now, when he had seen her toddling around clinging to her nurse's hand. Perhaps a parent would feel like this, or an older brother.

'I should learn some white magic, I think,' said Ashe, rubbing a half healed welt on her leg. 'We can stock up on potions in the next town, but it would be good to not rely on them so completely.'

'That's probably wise,' said Vossler.

'Perhaps I should be the one to learn white magic, and other kinds as well,' said Al-Cid. 'Certainly I am the weakest fighter, and it would make more sense than taking your time from fighting when you fight so well.'

'Perhaps we both should,' said Ashe. 'With so few of us we all need extra skills. We cannot rely on mages and healers as we normally would. I did not realise I had been so sheltered.'

'I'd hardly think of us as sheltered,' said Noah. 'Used to a different form of fighting, true.'

He'd be glad if Al-Cid and Ashe learned some magic, though. This constant slog of minor fights was different from the chaos and waiting of battle, and was wearing on all of them. He was even glad for Al-Cid's presence, he may be the weakest fighter but having one more person with them had probably saved their lives at some points. And being the weakest of them by no means meant that he was weak.

Ashe shook her head. 'I've never even been on a battle field, save at the camp. With my brothers dead I was not to be risked, and I have been sheltered.'

Noah looked around them at the tangled greenery that had so often hid fiends. The jungle was probably not so hot as Rabanastre, but so humid that it felt hotter, and even the vegetation here could attack.

'You are certainly not sheltered now,' he said.

The Paramina rift was almost a relief, although the cold was like a slap in the face. They were dressed for Dalmasca and Golmore Jungle, not snow and ice. The sudden change wasn't good for the chocobos either, they started wheezing and were wet around the nostrils, the travellers had to dismount and lead them instead of riding. This left them and the chocobos both more vulnerable to wolves, these were not the timid Estersand wolves but thicker furred and bolder relatives. They were closer to the ones Noah remembered from Landis, that would come down into the villages in the coldest winters.

Noah stepped around a corner, sword already out, and found himself abruptly face to face with a skeleton. He gasped and lashed out, letting go of his chocobo as he did so. Another sword landed almost along with his, Vossler had been closer behind him than he knew. Noah managed to parry the skeleton's blade and by then the rest of the party had caught up. They dispatched it speedily, but not without a few wounds in return.

'What was that?' asked Vossler.

'Undead,' said Noah, shakily. 'Up here travellers must die from the cold and the wolves, there would be no mages to prevent them rising.'

The last few battlefields of Landis had been like that, there had been three armies for some battles. Archadia, Landis, and the skeletons who had no loyalties but attacked everyone in sight. Archadian mages must have laid them to rest by now, but it was not a sight Noah wanted to remember. Especially not when some skeletons had been wearing armour he recognised.

'How dreadful,' said Ashe. She stared at the pile of bones the skeleton had left.

'A small problem,' said Al-Cid. 'Our chocobos appear to have deserted us.'

There were indeed no chocobos anywhere near them.

'The wolves must have driven them off,' said Vossler. 'I doubt we'll find them alive.'

'I'd worry more about keeping ourselves alive. We should keep going,' said Noah.

'Agreed,' said Vossler. They both looked at Ashe.

She shivered and looked pensive, but nodded. 'We must keep going.'

The wind got colder the higher they climbed, and Noah's feet were numb from snow soaking through his boots. The wolves seemed more eager to attack them than ever, as did some giant frogs that seemed out of place in the snow.

'Shouldn't they be hibernating?' grumbled Noah, slashing at one with his sword.

Vossler opened his mouth, but instead of replying he just looked surprised. Noah tried to ask what was wrong, but although he opened his mouth no sound came out. He and Vossler looked behind them at the same time, and he might have been speechless with shock if he hadn't been silenced already. A fizzling white elemental was hovering behind them, it didn't have an expression but it still didn't look friendly. Noah grabbed Ashe's arm and pushed her around to see it. She gasped, eyes going wide.

'Run!' she shouted.

They ran, the frog followed, as did a tail of wolves, but they were minor distractions. The elemental was also following and the air had the stretched wire feeling of a major spell about to be performed. The first flash took Vossler down, and Noah stopped to fumble out some phoenix down. A wolf slashed at his arm, soaking his sleeve with blood, but he didn't have time to stop it. Vossler vanished in a flare of light and reappeared on his feet. He nodded his thanks and they turned and fled once more.

The second flash took Noah, although he didn't quite lose consciousness. His steps slowed for a moment before Vossler grabbed his hand and dragged him forwards. Just putting one foot in front of another took all his concentration. He was aware of the harsh glare of lightning, followed by the ruddier flare of phoenix down being used, but he barely had the energy to wonder who had fallen. When Vossler let go of his hand he reached for it again and kept running, but Vossler caught his shoulders instead.

'It's over, we got away,' he said.

Noah let himself slump to the ground, not caring about the snow soaking through his clothes. Vossler passed him the echo herbs he had recently used himself and Noah swallowed them as quickly as possible, disliking the bitter taste. Vossler's hand touched his arm and he felt the warmth of a potion soaking into his skin. He caught at Vossler's wrist.

'We don't have enough,' he said.

'We're nearly at Mount Bur-Omisace,' said Vossler. 'If we use our last few potions on you and the Lady Ashe, we should be able to make it by nightfall. Or did you want to stay out here another night?'

'Not for the world,' said Noah, making no protest as Vossler finished seeing to his wounds. 'Wait. Lady Ashe was hit?'

'I am fine,' she called. 'My wounds are being healed as we speak.'

Noah was glad to hear it, but if Vossler was seeing to him then that left…

'That crazy Rozarian is rubbing you with potion!'

'Nice to know I am thought so highly of,' said Al-Cid. 'But I assure you that, stunning as Dalmasca's Princess is, my intentions are entirely honourable.'

Ashe laughed and, even if she was laughing at him, Noah was glad to hear her sound cheerful again. 'He's being a perfect gentleman,' she said. 'And I didn't get wounded in any of those places.'

Noah blushed. 'I am quite sure you did not,' he said.

Al-Cid stood up. 'If we are able now then I suggest we move onward and upward. It is only a few hours until nightfall.'

Noah nodded and got to his feet, as did Ashe and Vossler. Not long now until they could rest.