Hullo people! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate the comments... And whoops, better go back and edit chapter 2 -sheepish look-.
I'm off to Sheffield tomorrow for an interview! Yay! If I get in there that makes 3 unis out of four! Now to wait until early december for Oxford to reply... -crosses fingers, touches wood, etc.-
Disclaimer: I neither own nor make profit from ToS. Much to my dismay.
Chapter seven: A half-elf's darkness. (Or 'creepy spandex strikes back')
"Well, well, haven't we hit the jackpot? Lord Forcystus' puppy." Lloyd was roused from his sleep by the sound of a Desian opening the door.
"…Wh?" He mumbled, confused.
"Get up, maggot," a female voice spat, and Lloyd sat up, rubbing his eyes tiredly. There were three Desians in the doorway, a Spearwoman, who was a sergeant by the look of her rank slides, and two rankless Whipmasters. He groaned inwardly. None of the guards were ever nice to him, the only one who ever treated him like a… Person was Forcystus. Lloyd shook his head. He had been about to think human being, but of course… For a Ranch, that meant like scum anyway.
"We're going for a walk, little puppy," the first voice told him snidely, and Lloyd glared at him. He was no dog! The guard hit him.
"Ah!" Lloyd cried, flinching backwards and rubbing his injured cheek.
"Don't you dare look at me that way, you inferior filth!" The guard reprimanded. "I hope you do not treat Lord Forcystus in that manner!"
…Forcystus doesn't mind it, Lloyd thought. "No, Sir," Lloyd murmured aloud. He had already decided that these guards were among the 'bad' category, the sort that had fun seeing how well he dodged the security lights…
"Oh, if we're taking the doggy for a walk, we should do things properly," the female Desian decided. Lloyd moved backwards slightly, wary of her, and she laughed. "You've got to be careful with dogs, sometimes they bite!" The whipmasters laughed, and one of them grabbed him.
"Ah! No! G-get off!" Lloyd protested, struggling, but that just made them laugh more. One of them got out one of the collars they put on the Ranch prisoners – guards always had a few of them just in case – and it was fastened around his neck despite his struggles. "Please! S-stop this!" Lloyd begged. The woman hit him.
"You should stay silent and let us. Lord Forcystus clearly hasn't trained his pet so well," she sneered. Lloyd held back tears.
"L-Lord Forcystus will n-not ap-prove of this!" He stammered. The woman hit him.
"Don't you speak of our Lord like you know him," she spat, and Lloyd recoiled. "Clearly this doggy bites!" Lloyd sobbed as the laughing Desians forced him against the wall and tied a gag around his mouth, then tied rope to the collar. "On the floor, like the dog you are, human!" The female spat, and Lloyd, shaking, not daring to defy them, sank to the floor. Why were they tormenting him so? Forcystus had said… He'd promised…
What did I do wrong? He wondered, wincing as the woman kicked him.
"Crawl," she spat, laughing at his attempts to keep up as he was dragged along the corridors. He fell on his side on several occasions, which only resulted in the female kicking him back up again. He was crying silently, he didn't even know where they were taking him. He didn't dare protest. He knew by now that protesting was pointless when the Desians were armed and he wasn't.
Soon they got to Lloyd's least favourite part of the Ranch – the moving lights.
Oh please no. Please, please no, Lloyd begged mentally as they got close. Forcystus promised, he promised…
"Let's see the doggy play," the woman suggested maliciously. Lloyd let out a muffled sob.
"Ah, sergeant, Lord Forcystus said…" One of the whipmasters started. Lloyd felt a little better then. Forcystus had kept to his word; he had had a talk with the guards. However, it didn't seem to have done much good.
"What Lord Forcystus doesn't know won't hurt him," she replied, grinning evilly. "You won't tell, will you, scum?" Lloyd shook his head miserably as she kicked him again. "Don't be such goody-goodies. It'll be fun!" Lloyd whimpered, feeling more like the dog they claimed him to be with each passing second.
He barely dodged the first light, and had to physically roll out of the way of the second, nearly choking himself on the collar as it pulled on the lead. The whipmasters found this extremely amusing, their original reluctance now gone. Lloyd felt his hair singe under the third light – more proof than he really wanted that Forcystus wasn't lying. He crawled on as he was tugged, sobbing so hard he didn't see the fourth light until it was too late for him to dodge-
The lights went off.
Wh… What…? Lloyd wondered, making a muffled noise of confusion.
"And just what, exactly, is going on?" Lloyd had never felt more relieved to hear Forcystus' voice in his whole life. The lead was dropped, and he heard the Desians stand to attention. "Well? An explanation?" Forcystus demanded, walking up. Lloyd heard his shoes hit the metal, so deep was the silence.
"Ah… Milord… We were…" The female started. Forcystus knelt by Lloyd and lifted his head, and Lloyd's eyes met his, the terror in them evident. Forcystus regarded the gag distastefully and removed it.
"…Lord Forcystus…" Lloyd murmured, trying to stop the tears. He did not want to appear weak in front of the Cardinal. That would completely destroy any reputation he had.
"Don't worry," Forcystus murmured, standing up. "I highly doubt any excuse you can come up with for this will be satisfactory. Did I not explicitly forbid any messing around with the security lights? You know the boy is not chipped!"
"Milord, we…" One whipmaster started.
"Silence! Imbecile," Forcystus growled. "I will see all three of you in the control room in three hours. If you do not turn up, you will be extremely sorry, is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," they chorused.
"Get out of my sight," Forcystus growled, and they saluted and turned. Lloyd was certain he heard the female bark softly under her breath as they left. Dog. Pet.
"L-lord Forcystus…" Lloyd murmured again. Forcystus shook his head slowly, gentle hands removing the collar from his neck and throwing it to one side.
"I trust you sustained no damage?" He asked. Lloyd shook his head.
"Apart from to my pride… and a few bruises where I fell…" He replied, letting the Desian help him to his feet.
"Such idiots," Forcystus growled, looking angry. "Lloyd, I'm sorry. I did tell them… But if you are not hurt, then that is something." Lloyd looked at the floor.
"Why do… They all… Treat me like some sort of dog, Lord Forcystus?" He asked. "They all call me… Your pet…"
"Ignore them," Forcystus responded. "You are nothing of the sort." Lloyd shook his head slowly.
"…I follow you around… And, I…" He started. Forcystus put a finger on his lips, and it startled him in to silence until he pulled away, glaring.
"You are no pet," he told him. "The very idea of keeping another sentient being as a pet is, quite frankly, sickening to me." He picked up the collar from the floor, eyeing it with distaste. "They simply want an excuse as to why I treat you as if you are… A person." Lloyd noted the same hesitation that he had had earlier.
As if I am human, Forcystus? He wondered. "Why do you, Lord Forcystus?" He asked aloud. Forcystus sighed and put the collar onto his arm, where it clacked against the bracelet.
"Because you deserve it," he replied. "…Here. I made a promise, didn't I?" he held out his hand, and Lloyd gasped. His Exsphere! He grabbed it out of Forcystus' hand in an instant, slotting it back into his Key Crest, where it glowed. Lloyd smiled, holding it up to the light. He didn't really feel complete without it after having it for so long.
"…I missed you, mom," he whispered, not caring what Forcystus thought. Strangely, when he looked up, the Cardinal was smiling.
"I should have returned it to you yesterday," he replied. "Forgive me. Anyway, come with me. There is little point in you returning to your cell now… I am going to have to make sure the guards you have assigned in future are more… Reliable." Lloyd swallowed nervously, wondering what was going to happen to the Desians who had tormented him. Probably nothing good. "If it makes you feel better, I shall try to use commands that seem less like you would give them to an animal. But you would be surprised how universal most are." Lloyd laughed softly, cheering up slightly. Forcystus, at least, had tried to keep to his promise. He had some honour after all.
"Lord Forcystus! Milord, please! This is urgent!" A Desian called urgently as they walked. Forcystus put a hand on Lloyd's shoulder to halt him and turned.
"What is it?" He asked. Lloyd noted with a wince that Forcystus' grip had tightened, like it had before when he was stopping the rebellion. Lloyd had thought it was anger, then, but perhaps it was something… Else.
"Milord, a representative from Cruxis! He demands to see you, Sir, he's in the control room…"
"Cruxis!" Forcystus cried, and Lloyd didn't even need to be listening carefully to hear the shock and fright. "Take Lloyd and-"
"Milord, he said now, he said…" The Desian stammered. Forcystus swore bitterly.
"Lloyd. Hide," he told him. Lloyd frowned.
"What? Why?" He asked. Forcystus shook his head.
"Don't question me! Just do it!" He snapped, heading off down the corridor. Lloyd blinked in confusion, then shook his head.
"I'm not a pet. I don't follow all your orders," he murmured, following silently.
He stopped outside the control room, creeping up, being careful to keep himself hidden. The security fields had all been deactivated, presumably because this guest from Cruxis wouldn't be able to get through them.
"…Apologies, Lord Yggdrasill, we had no idea…" Lloyd heard Forcystus saying.
Yggdrasill! Lloyd thought. What's that creepy half-elf doing here?
"You should be prepared, Forcystus. I do not appreciate having to talk to your… Underlings in order to get past your primitive defence systems." Lloyd winced. He knew how proud Forcystus was of those, he'd told him before how he'd built the entire system from scratch, even modifying the lighting system himself. That comment must have cut deep.
"Please, forgive me, Lord Yggdrasill. I assure you, I shall endeavour to make sure that nothing of the sort happens in future, I swear…"
"I do not need promises from a Desian-class half-elf, Forcystus," the man said coldly.
Why is he so cruel to Forcystus? Where did he get the right to be so cruel, anyway? Lloyd wondered.
"I-I… Apologies, my Lord," Forcystus murmured. Lloyd could hear the hurt in his voice, and the fear. "I hope we did not inconvenience you?"
"Not much," the other replied, and he laughed softly under his breath. That laugh chilled Lloyd to the core. "I do so hope you've not been… Hiding anything from me, Forcystus."
"No, my Lord! No, I swear!" Forcystus replied quickly. Lloyd, having a sudden thought, took the Magic Lens out and held it up to the light. In the lens, he could see Yggdrasill's right hand, with the creepy moving purple things, and Forcystus on his knees. That was the most shocking part for Lloyd. Forcystus! Kneeling! "I have kept nothing from you, nothing! This Ranch is completely open to you, my Lord! As ever!"
"I do so hope you are not… Lying to me." The hand was pointed at Forcystus in a threatening manner, the purple appendages coming to a halt to point at Forcystus' bowed head.
"No, my Lord. Never, my Lord," he replied. "My life is yours, my Lord." Yggdrasill laughed coldly.
"Indeed. Look at me, Forcystus. Stop acting the dog." Forcystus looked up, confused, and Yggdrasill slashed downwards with his hand unexpectedly, making Forcystus cry out and put a hand to his cheek, brushing his fingers against the wound and looking at the blood. Lloyd saw a slash on his cheek – it was identical to the one he had had before!
It WAS Yggdrasill! Lloyd realised, triumphant. He also felt… A little sorry for Forcystus. No! He's a Desian! I can't think that way! He chided himself.
"For… Give me, my Lord…" Forcystus murmured, looking down again.
"Forcystus! Look at me!" Yggdrasill snapped, and Forcystus looked up again, wincing on instinct as Yggdrasill moved his hand, making the half-elf laugh. "You are truly pathetic," he remarked.
"…Yes, my Lord," Forcystus murmured. "Whatever you say, my Lord."
"You will be pleased to know the trace has vanished from your Ranch," Yggdrasill continued. "And the journey of the Chosen continues unhindered. I am, however, curious as to what caused this unexplained signal… Have you any clue?" Forcystus was visibly shaking.
"N-no, my Lord. Nothing out of the ordinary has occurred…" Yggdrasill hit him; Lloyd could even hear the hit through the door without the aid of the Lens. He winced.
"You are so pathetic," he murmured, and Lloyd could see Forcystus holding the side of his face with one hand. Lloyd suspected he would have more than one cut this time. "Slave, orphan, what next?" He laughed, and Lloyd could see Forcystus' shaking increase. Was he… Crying? "And you are meant to be a hero. Hahaha! Some hero."
"I… Am nothing compared to you, my Lord… Nothing…" He murmured, and Lloyd heard his voice catch. He was crying! Yggdrasill laughed.
"Of course not," he replied. "If anything out of the ordinary occurs at this Ranch, especially if it relates to us, I will be down here again. And it will not just be your face that suffers. Understood?"
"Yes, my Lord… I assure you, you will have no cause to trouble yourself, my Lord…" Forcystus murmured. Yggdrasill lifted his head up with a finger under his chin, and Lloyd saw his face in the view of the lens then.
"Do not. Disappoint me. Or you will be back up in Derris-Kharlan. I will find the truth, Forcystus. You are hiding something from me, like the pathetic defiant little dog you are. I took your eye, and I can take your freedom just as easily. If you are hiding… It would be easier on you to tell me now." Forcystus was still shaking; Lloyd could see the tears running down his face, mixing with the blood from his right cheek.
"I swear, my Lord…" He started, taking a breath to compose himself. "I swear, I am hiding nothing. I shall conduct an investigation of my own into the origin of the signals, but the only explanation I can offer is an equipment malfunction, my Lord." Yggdrasill laughed.
"I am watching you, my little Forcystus," he remarked, making Lloyd shudder at the possessive tone. Forcystus was pulled up into a standing position, meaning that Lloyd could see most of Yggdrasill now. "I know you are hiding from me. I know you were a success. I do not make mistakes, Forcystus, remember that." Forcystus was visibly shaking, moving his head away when Yggdrasill ran his finger along the bloodied tears. "And when I find out the truth… It had better be on your favour. Or you will be very, very sorry you every tried to give me the slip… For-cys-tus." Lloyd frowned at the way he accented every syllable, then realised with a jolt that the meeting was likely ending. Keeping the Lens open, he made his way down the corridor to the nearest room, which he snuck into. The sound of talking took on that tinny quality once more as he couldn't hear it. "Hahaha… A fitting name for you. Pathetic. You may end up regretting the day you escaped your captivity, Forcystus… Sybak is preferable to Derris-Kharlan to you, no?" Forcystus was shaking still, nodding mutely. "You are still that same slave, Forcystus. You still belong, just no longer to the humans. To me. And you will do as I say, yes?
"Y-yes, my Lord Yggdrasill, whatever you ask," Forcystus stammered out, his voice broken. Yggdrasill nodded and dropped him.
"Good," he replied, light gathering around him, and he disappeared in a bright white light. Lloyd frowned. Could he see… Feathers?
"…Lloyd. Oh, Kharlan. Lloyd," Forcystus murmured, still on the floor where he had fallen. "I have to keep him away from Lloyd… The Exsphere… It must be Lloyd's Exsphere… But I can't take it from him again… Maybe I can get a masker on him? Dirk will never do anything for me, not whilst I hold Lloyd, but I can… I can…" He ran his right hand over his bloody cheek, cursing fluently. "Damn this!" He slammed his hand down on to the floor. "Damn this all! Cruxis… Gah!" He stood up. "I can't be seen in the Ranch like this…" He shook his head. "I'm a wreck… Lord Yggdrasill… I'm so weak…"
"You're not weak, Forcystus," Lloyd murmured, putting the Lens down. "You're not weak at all…" He put the Lens back in his pocket and exited the room, determined to find somewhere that would make it look like he'd actually done as Forcystus said and hidden.
When Forcystus eventually found him, he was as composed as ever, showing no sign at all of the pain he had just been put through.
"Our guest has gone," he informed Lloyd. "I apologise for the… Inconvenience I caused you. I hope none of my Desians caused you problems?" Lloyd shook his head. He hadn't actually seen any. Forcystus smiled slightly. "Very well. I suppose I should get you some food, shouldn't I? I doubt those… Idiots gave you any breakfast?" Lloyd shook his head, wondering how Forcystus could be so concerned after what he had just been put through. "Though so. Very well, follow me." Lloyd followed obediently, determined not to cause Forcystus trouble. How could the Cardinal just brush off that encounter and carry on? And he thought he was weak?
"Lord Forcystus…" Lloyd started once he had his food. Forcystus looked over at him. He seemed distracted.
"Hm?" He asked. He had been examining his cannon previously, and Lloyd knew why. It still had his blood on it.
"What's Derris-Kharlan?" He asked, seemingly innocently. Forcystus jerked slightly, as if in shock.
"Where did you hear that word?" He demanded, looking at Lloyd properly. Lloyd moved his chair away slightly. Forcystus was scaring him a little…
"I-I just heard some of th-the guards talking about it in p-passing and I wondered…" He stammered out, hoping Forcystus didn't start hurting him again. Perhaps he hadn't timed that question right…
"…Hm," Forcystus murmured, looking away again, across the room. "Derris-Kharlan is… It is the home of the elves."
"Elves?" Lloyd murmured. Forcystus nodded.
"The elven race originated on Derris-Kharlan. However, most elves now dwell in a village named Heimdall, you won't know it. Mostly it is half-elves on Derris-Kharlan now. No, only half-elves." He sighed. "No Desians, though."
"Have you been to Derris-Kharlan?" Lloyd asked. "It sounds exciting." He meant it. It seemed quite new to him, the birthplace of the elves!
"…No," Forcystus replied. Lloyd frowned slightly.
Yggdrasill said…He thought, confused.
"I have never been. Desian-class half-elves rarely go to Derris-Kharlan. Haha! Lord Yggdrasill's little whore… Pronyma. Lady Pronyma, the head of the Cardinals, is there a lot, however." Lloyd looked a little shocked at the harsh language. "Derris-Kharlan is not a place for humans, you would not want to go there," Forcystus continued. "It is not exciting in the least. Indeed, it is… Dead." Lloyd's face fell.
"Oh… I just… Wondered…" He murmured. Forcystus looked at him, sadness on his face.
"It is no crime to wonder," he murmured. "But it is not a place for humans. Just bear that in mind, hmm?" Lloyd nodded, going back to his food. Forcystus was definitely hiding. He just had to find a good enough opportunity to make him elaborate on what Yggdrasill had said.
A/N: Please review if you liked it ^^ Also I'm looking for another Beta, as my current one hasn't responded to any emails, so if anyone's interested please email/mention it in your review. Cheers guys! Ciao~