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Chapter 7: Unwelcome Summons
As the sun rose, slowly smoothening out the rough edges of the night and surely baking the earth of Ivalice, forces beneath stirred. All was quiet at the moment of suspension. It was like someone holding his breath before the plunge, or like the quiet before the storm. Beneath something stirs, and no one can hear it.
"One year, five months, four weeks, three days, two hours and a minute." a young moogle told himself as he clambered out of bed that morning. He had begun this mental calculation ever since he knew his dreams were no longer troubled by screams and fears. Ever since he knew he and others like him were free of the bonds that that monster had unconsciously wrapped around them. Ever since the Wyrmgod Yiazmat was felled and they were free.
"One year, five months, four weeks, three days, two hours and two minutes." he mused as he put on his signature green velvet jerkin and made sure his pompom was straight.
He was a moogle of dignity, a pride now amongst moogles; a legend. For it was he who accepted into his clan the heroes who had freed him from his shackles of despair. He was Montblanc, the leader of Clan Centurio.
Montblanc left his quarters to go about the clan hall, still pursuing his mental calculation as he went. He was not surprised to see a Nu Mou, probably the only one who belonged in the clan already awake and greeting the sun. Beside him on his perch by the windowsill was a woman with long ears, a Viera. What more this Viera was a wood-warder, one who belonged to the elite warriors of her kin. But outside the wood, she was a mystery.
Montblanc nodded to them brightly, for they were the oldest members of the clan and his most trusted advisors. The Viera, known as Kjrn, with her chestnut colored skin knew remarkable battle techniques was reputed often as a pessimist, while the Nu Mou, known as Makenro'h, knew often were the marks were and provided information to the clan's hunters.
"How fares the day kupo?" Montblanc asked when he completed his rounds of Centurio Hall and proceeded to his favorite spot on the balcony.
The Nu Muo's eyes seemed to sparkle a little before giving a reassuring look at the Clan leader. "The days are getting brighter and brighter thanks to the final defeat of that Wyrmgod, Montblanc."
The moogle smiled. "Well yes, that I admit, kupo. More people are coming to Clan Centurio now that its demise has spread. Pretty soon we are going to be in need of new recruits."
"If new warriors are to join and they have the same potential as our master hunters, then Clan Centurio will indeed see a Golden Age." Kjrn replied.
"You are right, kupo." Montblanc agreed. "But I for one think the Golden Age has already arrived."
"Where are our hunters by the way Montblanc?" Makenro'h asked leaning heavily on his staff.
"They will come at the sun's third hour."
With that he looked over to the clan hall's doors and waited patiently for his loyal hunters to come and report of their journeys. "One year, five months, four weeks, three days, two hours and fifty-two minutes."
xoxoxo
"I bring word from Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, her royal Majesty." announced a very important-looking messenger to the clan leader.
"Oh, from the queen?" Montblanc asked excitedly. "Tell it to me please kupo. Go on."
The messenger bowed. He had arrived that afternoon, after searching in vain for the two people his queen was summoning for. He had a long time to look for it seemed that these two people were famous ones and therefore prone to have impersonators. He had just come away from a seeq who declared he was the hunter who killed Yiazmat when he heard a tip that a barkeep from the Sandsea may know of Vaan the master hunter and his partner, Penelo.
Tomaj had been helpful once he made sure the messenger was indeed from the queen. He had sent him to this place, one he hadn't seen before, but was given entry once his seal was verified.
"'I am looking for Vaan and Penelo. Please tell them I expect them at the Palace tomorrow at noon. It is the utmost urgency.'" the messenger replied monotonously.
"That is all kupo?" Montblanc peered at the messenger with his green eyes.
The messenger bowed again as confirmation,
"Very well." replied moogle. "Unfortunately, Vaan and Penelo have not come yet. The mark back in Sochen Cave Palace must really be a challenge. Though after the Hellwyrm, I don't know what other evil may lie thereā¦" Montblanc trailed off, his eyes misting with what seemed like pride. Then he shook his head, fluffy ears and all and smiled at the messenger.
"I shall pass on the message and make sure they get there in time tomorrow, kupo." he continued. "Moogle's honor."
Again the messenger bowed but he took his leave not after.
"Oh dear." mused Montblanc as he stared after the messenger when he left through the clan doors. "How shall I tell the queen that I haven't heard from them all week?" he paused thoughtfully and looked over to the advisors.
Kjrn cocked her head to one side as if stating the obvious. "The paths of war are treacherous, they may not return."
The Nu Muo on the other hand, merely shook his head. "The sun shines on their arrival."
Before the other two rabbit-look-alikes could ponder his words, the front doors opened with a bang, which was followed by a number of cheers. Montblanc prepared a sincere smile of welcome as he opened his hands in a gesture.
"Vaan! Penelo! Welcome back!"
The two hunters waved their hands in return. Few people would recognize the two as the best hunters of Clan Centurio with an Order of Ambrosia each as their ranking.
For the two hunters were very young indeed. One, the male, had dusty blond hair that fell in locks about the either side of his face. Enamel-blue eyes stared and sparkled with modest glee and he rubbed the back of his neck consciously at the cheers. He was dressed in light armor, but his weapon seemed that it was of tremendous strength. It was a great sword, strapped across his back. The legend was he had found it in the depths of the Ridorana Cataract: The Ultima Blade. He was Vaan, once called Ratsbane, but now a renowned Wyrmslayer.
His companion, a young woman was also dressed lightly, in robes that danced across her calves, which revealed her knee-high boots. She also wore an iron-breastplate, etched with the insignia of the clan. A belt was strapped across her waist that held her weapons, a dagger and a ninja sword, the Danjuro and the Yagyuu Darkblade. Her light blonde hair was styled almost childishly, with two braids on either side of her head, which did its purpose of keeping locks away when battling. Her hazel eyes sparkled and she smiled at everyone as she tried to keep her giggles at her companion's obvious discomfort. Penelo was her name.
These were the pride and joy of Centurio. Montblanc knew the two of them were not alone when they defeated the Yiazmat, but they were the only ones who accepted the offer of staying with the clan after the marks were defeated. The rest, the moogle knew, had paths of their own, so he did not press the matter when they politely declined.
After the cheers had died down, and Montblanc invited the two to dine with him for lunch, did the moogle tell the message that was sent. The clan leader expected the two to be delighted at the news and become excited in visiting the queen, but he did not expect the two to exchange doubtful looks and frowns of displeasure.
"What is the matter, kupos?" Montblanc asked, looking from one hunter to the other.
Vaan folded his arms and looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. Penelo looked at him, expecting him to be the one to say it, but he seemed intent on studying the ceiling so she sighed and looked at Montblanc.
"Vaan and I are uneasy about this message." she stated simply. Montblanc cocked his head in question.
"Ashe, I mean Queen Ashelia, has not contacted us since the day of her coronation. We are uneasy for we believe she would never truly look for us now for help. She has other subjects for that." Penelo added.
"Yeah, it's not as if she owes us anything does she?" Vaan asked, failing completely to hide the bitterness in his tone. Penelo sighed and looked sympathetic. Poor Vaan. It had been he who first offered help to the princess back when she was still a member of the Resistance. They were even close to saying they were going to be friends through life with all the experiences the shared, But when she was crowned queen, they didn't hear from her anymore.
Not that they needed anything material from Ashe, but Penelo knew that the two of them would have liked it if Ashe had at least inquired after them.
But it seems that royalty has advantages and this was one of them. Penelo knew it was a lot harder for Vaan, for it seemed he did like her a lot.
"Don't worry kupo." Montblanc said cheerfully. "I believe people do sometimes remember their true friends in the end. Her Royal Majesty perhaps has just learned it. Besides, it wouldn't hurt if you visited the queen either."
Penelo nodded, convinced, but when the two of them looked at Vaan, he bore a look of such resentment; Penelo feared he would not agree in visiting Ashe.
In the end, Vaan gave a sort of frustrated sigh and agreed that they were going to visit Ashe, just to see what she wanted and not look like they were promising her anything.
