Child of the Brave
5. King's Agents/Largonian Angels

"Ramza!" Aster greeted him enthusiastically as the elder traipsed into the tent that was Alma's. His back was hunched with weariness, but still his appearance changed at the sound of Aster's voice.

"So, you decided to stay have you? I see you're still here."

Aster looked up and stared at the stain on the upper portion of the tent. "I know during the day I will be of much help, so I have opted to stay."

"Oh yeah? How so? A child like you would only be a burden."

"You walk like an old man even though you're a ghost, so how could a young, unrestrained fighter like me be a burden?" Aster snapped angrily.

"Easy there, Boy. Don't get your bowstrings in a knot. I was only fooling."

Silence took over and Ramza grew troubled.

"Aster…" Alma laughed from her resting place. "Men like your uncle cannot roughen up all together just because of war. A sense of humor scratches them every morning."

Aster shrugged. "I wasn't really angry."

"I'm tired of fighting, Aster. I'm not trying to be disrespectful."

"I understand," Aster murmured, nodding his head.

Silence took over again.

"So how does a ghost feel tired?" Aster asked out of curiosity.

"I'm dead, yet alive. I hide even when I'm dead! What do you think, Aster?"

"I think that's a horrible life."

"What life?" Ramza asked bitterly. "All I can do as a ghost is wander in the night, helplessly wondering if we will ever rest easily."

"We have so much to live for, but life is gone for us," Alma added sadly.

"But at night," Aster stood, glancing back and forth at his mother and uncle as he spoke, "You are not hopeless. I've seen you fight!"

"You are the only thing worth living for, Aster," Alma whispered, lowering her head. "But we cannot even have that."

"We continue to fight for justice because it is our job, whether we are dead or alive. We want you and your generation to live with peace," Ramza added.

"So, you guys don't band together to rewrite history?"

Ramza shook his head. "We band together to stop the hatred and crimes that wreak this land."

"The truth must be heard!" Aster clenched his fists. "The King is cruel!"

"The truth will be heard along the way, Aster. I will enlighten you as well as teach you the ways of a warrior."

"Really! Oh, I will be the best pupil you will ever have!"

Ramza laughed and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Yes, but rest now, Aster. The sun is about to rise and you need your rest unlike us ghosts. We are moving out at noon."

"At noon? Why?"

"If I tell you will you sleep?"

Aster nodded obediently.

"Well, just a while ago I caught up with Meliadoul and Alicia. We followed the Largonian Angels heading westward. I was worried they were up to something, but then they turned north. I assume, back to headquarters at the castle."

"Who are the Largonian Angels?"

"They are Delita's master spies and warriors. Rarely, they travel in packs unless they were needed for an important mission that requested numbers. I'm sure they were heading back to Riovanes Castle where Mustadio is stationed. But what irks me is why they didn't just go north without making such a wide turn. That is why we must head out west to meet up with my sniper at Sweegy Woods. I want to know what they're up to."

"What if Mustadio doesn't show up with the information we need?"

"We'll station him somewhere else. Some place where Delita's messages may be intercepted, but that we shouldn't worry about just yet. We have to meet up with Mustadio first."

The sun was on the horizon by the time Ramza finished. A ray of sunshine peaked through the tent flap.

"It's getting late." He watched as the light slowly reached out at them. "I won't be able to open and shut the flap, so you will have to do it yourself, Aster."

Aster stared at the golden gap, astonished at how fast time went by. As he watched, a transparent figure flew through the tent flap, leaving the material unruffled. The ghost was Malak, who had been patrolling the eastern parts with his sister.

"Malak? "

"We've returned, Ramza. I don't know if it's bad news, but what we saw might help—"

Meliadoul burst in with Rafa following her. They looked to be in a heated argument for Meliadoul was shouting when she floated in. "That's ridiculous! I saw the Largonian Angels heading north. Ramza was with me!"

"What's going on?" Ramza asked.

"We saw them heading east," Rafa began, "How would we know how many Largonian Angels there are? For all we know, King Delita might still be training more as we waste time here. Okay, so even if they're not Largonian Angels, they could still be Delita's men. As long as their under his control some poor soul or even town is doomed!"

"Enough!" Ramza shouted, "If what Malak and Rafa say is true we must keep moving."

Ramza turned to Aster. "I'm sorry you can't rest now, Aster. We're heading east right away."

End Chapter5