Child of the Brave
7. Mustadio; the Sniper and Spy

"Hold it."

Aster raised his head slowly. Just an inch away from his face, he stared down the barrel of silver pistol.

"You were careless," The gruff voice told him. The sound of his feet rustling was muffled by the click of him cocking the weapon. "Any last words, Scout?"

Aster stood incredibly still as he watched his life flash by around the shinny, cool rim of the hole. The ticking of his heart quieted…

"Mustadio! Put that down!"

The barrel disappeared and the face of a man replaced it. The man's blonde hair was in disarray and he had a streak of mud on one side of his cheek. His cool, brown eyes settled gently on Aster, a light of understanding glazing over his pupils.

There was a clunk as a hollow branch hit the side of Mustadio's head.

"Ow! Alma, I wasn't actually going to shoot him!"

The oxygen and blood suddenly rushed into Aster's heart. He caught his breath and stared back at Alma.

"You were pointing that thing at my son's head!"

"Well, why was he wandering around my territory in the first place? Not that it's a bad thing, Aster." Mustadio grinned as he shook Aster's clammy hand. "I hope I didn't scare you too much."

Aster felt himself rise up as Mustadio pulled him to his feet.

"Just look at him! He looks just like Ramza!" Alma screeched.

"It is kind of dark. I didn't know it was him and I didn't know all of you got here already," Mustadio soothed.

"If you ever, EVER, point that thing at him again, I'm going to pound you to the ground and you won't ever get up again."

"Alma! I don't need you backing me up all the time. Now, stop screaming," Aster whispered reproachfully. "I'm sure Ramza hears you in the next town."

"Why is Ramza in the next town?" Mustadio asked, his voice rising in anger.

"He's scoping with the others. It seems, the king is on to your workings and has his troops running around Ivalice to track all of you down."

Mustadio grinned. "Ghosts are hard to track. These parameters are safe. I checked myself before I picked it."

"Maybe it was twenty four hours ago, but now it's different."

"And how is that?" Mustadio questioned, stubbornly.

"My home was burned down two nights ago. You should know this Mustadio. You have all the information. The Largonian Angels are on the move."

Mustadio slammed his fist into his palm in frustration. "We are behind, then."

"How far behind?" Aster asked hesitantly.

"Far," Mustadio grunted. He pulled his hair back and swiftly tied it into a straight ponytail. "I'll explain when all of us are together."

Just as Mustadio finished his sentence, he jerkily took out his weapon and spun on his heal to face the darkness behind him.

"Only me: Rafa," said Rafa.

"Blasted," Mustadio cursed, shaking his head like an angry troll.

"I don't blame you, Mustadio. The king's men are everywhere."

"I'm going to hurt someone unintentionally sooner or later and that is unforgivable!" Mustadio hid his pistol again as Rafa walked up to him. Rafa patted his shoulder in a friendly, calming manner.

"We found a place to stay," Rafa spoke, looking over Mustadio's shoulder at Aster. "We need you to book us a room."

"Um, here's your room. It's big, but there's only one bed like you said. I didn't light any lamps either," the Innkeeper's daughter said to Aster. "You're a strange man." She opened the door to him and an eerie creak echoed through the hall.

"Thanks. This will do."

"You want company?" She joked. "Are you going to be fine in the dark?"

"I like the dark."

"I have never heard of anyone being afraid of light," she said, thoughtfully. "You're really something else."

"Um, yeah."

"I think it's cute." She giggled lightly. "Father, thinks you're nuts. I think you're nice."

"Thank you?" Aster said it like a question.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone now."

"Yeah, can you make sure no one disturbs this hall and my door? Not even the housekeepers okay?"

A deep frown etched into her face. "Don't do anything illegal. The king will have your head and my father just might do something about helping the king." Her frown was replaced by a quirky smile. "Please, understand that my father benefits under the king's rule. He'll do anything for the king, even rat on customers."

Aster hesitated when he spoke to this. "Thanks for the warning, but I have no intentions of going against our king."

"Okay, good!" She turned and hurried away. "Sleep well!"

Aster rushed into his room and closed the door gently. Slowly he slipped to the floor and sighed with relief. Remembering he quickly lit the lamps and called out. "You guys can come in now."

The ghosts of the warriors past through the walls and took their places on the chairs, the rugs and the bed. Aster took the floor by the door. "We have to keep our voices down."

"At least you can sleep comfortably when this meeting ends, Aster. It's a nice room."

"Want me to un-light the lamps, though. Just in case?"

"It's alright. They won't hear us. I have your mother on the look out if anything comes."

"She doesn't need to be here for this?" Aster asked.

"She'll be informed later," Aster stated dismissively.

Mustadio was the next to speak. "She already got the gist of it. The Largonian Angels are burning towns housing heretics."

"What? Something must be done!" Aster exclaimed in an angry whisper. "He burned down my town!'

"Aster, keep your head clear. Listen very carefully to me. You're village was burnt down because Delita uncovered something that could ruin him. He discovered that book you're holding."

"If I knew Father Samuel's book would cause all this uproar I would have burned it. It's not worth endangering people!"

"If you did that, he still would have went after everyone you cared about," Ramza spoke, dejectedly.

"If he knew about you, Aster, everyone you care about would be dead now," Mustadio added.

"That must never happen! Ramza and Alma! I don't even know them."

Ramza became devastatingly silent.

Orlandu reproved the young man. "Boy, don't talk like your family has never cared about you. Your uncle and mother have tried so hard to keep you safe these sixteen years of your life. Respect is all I'm waiting to see."

"There's no way I can respect them if I can't even accept them." Aster spat and turned his head to hide his bitter mood.

Orlandu was about to speak again, but Ramza held his hand up to silence him.

"Not to cut into this thing happening now, but… Um… Sorry, this is so awkward. Let's see…" Mustadio started thinking hard and long. "Aster, think about this. You could be a target if Delita ever found out about you. Yet, there are already people out there that the king has started targeting."

"Olan…" Ramza stood up suddenly. "He can't…"

"Right, Olan Durai is Delita's target. Dryfus is the next to suffer from the king's impulsive cruelty."

"More fires in other towns?" Aster asked in a scared whisper.

"He'll burn anything obstructing what he calls a perfect rule," Mustadio stated, turning around to look at him.

"Who is this Olan character?"

Ramza smiled softly. "Olan Durai is a dear friend of mine. He helped us when we were still alive and fighting the church."

"He is also my son," Orlandu added. He puffed up his chest and beat his breast with a tough fist. "If there ever was a boy anybody could raise is that one golden heart kid."

"No longer a kid, but as old as me," Ramza laughed.

"It would be great to see him again," Orlandu sighed. A fond look grew over his age worn features.

"See him soon you will, my old friend. Aster, you, Mustadio, Orlandu, Reis, and Beowulf are catching up with Delita. You're destination is Dryfus."

"Where are you heading?" Mustadio asked.

"I'll be making my way through the towns. Someone has to protect the people, while my nephew does his job."

"What is my job?"

"Recruit. I do believe that it is easier for the living to interact with the living."

TBC