CHARACTER COUNTER:1

Chapter 31: Under the Shadow of Silver

Days have spent themselves into nights; time passed. The sun had risen and had set a few times in the distance since the Captain parted with his Emperor at the Hunter's Camp at Phon Coast. Now he stood upon a rooftop, pressed by a chilblained gust of wind as he gazed intently at the looming moon. The night was most unusual for him. In his bones echoed an incredulous feeling of glory, somewhere within his being he felt that tonight would be spectacular.

He had plans tonight. He had dispatched his fellow Tournesol members into different regions of Ivalice to serve him distant sight and hearing. His profession always called for a necessity of caution and an unwavering desire for elaborate plots to ensure success. Establishing networks was part of the procedure, he and his members would rarely resort to stain their own hands with blood lest the need be dire.

Sephyr stalked silently across the rooftops, making his way towards the palace complex through a route least expected. His experience had induced the feigning of a different kind of thought. He expected what would least be expected, his thoughts bordered on paranoid but always proved true.

The wind howled through the narrow alleys below. A few patrolling hoplites inspected the surroundings dutifully.

Sephyr ignored them and reached the palace, he came from the north. He knew the elite guard expected intruders from the south, a route least guarded usually, and thus had he approached from the north where the guard was thinnest.

A few guards saw him, but before they could distinguish an intruder their lives were wrested from them with one fluid swing of Sephyr's Tournesol. The guards crumpled to the ground, as the butt of his sword made swift contact at the back of their heads and they crumpled to the ground unconscious.

He stowed their bodies and stole through the dark corridors of the palace. He had planned to spy on Ortal. His intentions were to ascertain the Emperor's innocence. Those were his orders.

Several guards saw him as he ascended. Before they could raise an alarm, before they could shout for help, before they could scream in terror, they were knocked helpless and their bodies stowed in closets and beneath benches. His extensive training and experience enabled him to move stealthily and quickly, not once stopping. When he was detected by a guard he did not hesitate but continued forward, knocking and stowing as he ran like a man pursued by Heth himself.

At last, the chamber of Vladimir Ortal. Sephyr's armor weighed more than a Judge Majister's and was more intricate. It bore the crest of the sunflower and was made of gold and electrum; it was almost impractical for strenuous combat due to its immense weight and elaborateness. It would have, should have created noise at the simplest movement, yet even as he sprinted for the door of Ortal's chamber it made no noise at all.

Sephyr abruptly stilled his heels in front of the doors. The doors were shut. There was a faint light glowing through the bottom of the threshold.

He's awake. Sephyr thought.

There was a sudden clanking sound behind him. They seemed to be footfalls of an Imperial, a heavily armored Imperial.

Sephyr hastily concealed himself in the shadows; yards a way form the carpet which served as the path towards Ortal's chamber.

The Imperial would soon come into view as soon as he cleared the bend from the main corridor.

Minutes refused to pass and instead slowed to a crawl of hours. And at last Judge Majister Scipio came into view. His red armor was so distinguishable in the dark corridors.

He walked past the captain hidden in the shadows. Sephyr always knew there was something wrong about Scipio. Was he feinting ignorance? Surely a Judge of his caliber would notice a seven foot tall Hume clad in golden armor even in the dark. Or perhaps he simply did not see Sephyr. The silver-haired warrior could not make sure as the Judge's eyes were always obscured by an ominous mask.

Scipio did not bother to knock and pushed the double-doors wide open. He automatically incurred the anger of Ortal.

'Perhaps you have forgotten your place, Judge Majister.' Ortal said. It was a calm tone that resonated from him but even a fool would have heard agitation.

'Perhaps you have forgotten our bargain. Consider your Achilles heel: your bones have been tested by time.'

Sephyr looked into the room and saw that Ortal was sitting in an armchair facing a burning fire, his back to Scipio and Scipio's back faced the door. Sephyr crept quickly into the room; they didn't notice his presence as he concealed himself behind a cupboard near the large window.

Scipio broke the silence after Sephyr had crouched low, 'You have little time to live. I suggest you agree to my offer and enjoy barking commands at the finest troops of Ivalice!' Scipio chuckled and then said, 'that's all your good at doing anyway.'

Ortal shot up from his chair and faced Scipio. He shook an angry finger at him and said, 'I will not be maligned in my chamber, Majister!'

Scipio laughed like one gone mad. He struggled for his breath against fits of laughter.

Sephyr shifted in the shadows, trying his best to remain hidden.

Scipio's laughing ceased. He slowly erected his back and stood tall. He looked about him for a moment, not once looking at Ortal as he did his inspection of the room. Only when he had finished did he recover his breath and continue talking.

'Come on.' Scipio turned to Ortal, that annoying smirk back on his face as he folded his arms and adopted an air of detachedness. "Accept my offer, Senator. After all, what have you to lose?'

'I do not trust snakes.' Ortal answered after a few moments his voice rough and angry.

'Ah, you insult me. So what if I have snake-eyes? That means not that I am akin to any serpent.' Scipio answered quickly in a tone that suggested he was offended.

'I meant not your lineage. I meant your loyalty.' Ortal snapped heartily, his voice as clipped as a rock against ice.

Meanwhile Sephyr in the shadows listened as intently as an immobile animal. It was apparent that Scipio was pulling Ortal's strings. The Captain wondered if this conversation may be the key in securing Emperor Larsa's innocence and freedom.

'Ah, but I am loyal.' Scipio drawled easily, shaking his head in amusement. " I have been a Judge since Drace was a teen.'

Sephyr could not help but raise his eyebrows upon hearing this.Judge Majsiter Drace was around forty when she was executed whereas Scipio, who seemed determined to agitate Ortal looked as if his body and voice was barely over the age of thirty years.

Scipio smiled eagerly like a pleased child at Ortal who had looked up abruptly at his previous statement. The senator raised an eyebrow.

'How on Ivalice could you be that old? And such a claim proves not your loyalty.'

Scipio laughed again, Sephyr was getting impatient. He disliked people who were indirect, an irony since he oftened practiced the art when a need arises. He must leave soon unless they discuss something of vital importance.

Ortal rubbed his chin with his index and thumb thoughtfully. He was concocting a rebuking that would surely coax Scipio into telling a grave secret.

After a silence Ortal said, 'I might consider your offer if you would perhaps satisfy my curiosity?' his voice for once was deprived of the agitated tone but replaced with the voice Sephyr knew the Senator used in his meetings and coaxing people to do his bidding.

'Ah, you drive a harder bargain. Superb!' Scipio applauded quietly.

'Enough foolishness, I ask you now, Judge Majister, why? Why do you play such games?'

'Why indeed? Should I fain tell you my motives, what do you guarantee in return?' The Judge Majister easily dodged the question

'If you desire the truth of the events that passed a few nights ago, I require a story from you. A reason perhaps of why you would strike such a bargain with a man such as myself," Ortal said sitting back in his armchair his cold eyes resting at the slits of which Scipio's mask gave way for his sight. Sephyr's eyes widened with expectation, this was it, 'and I will tell you what I have planned for dear Archadia.'

"Your prices are steep, but I will consent to divulge.' Scipio answered just as quickly, his voice for once devoid of mischief and replaced by a kind of seriousness that was fitting for his appearance.

'And surrendering the power over the army.' Ortal added promptly.

'Ah yes, that as well.' Scipio looked at the ceiling thoughtfully.

'Well, begin.' Ortal told him calmly.

'As you wish. It all starts with a simple story of my past.'

'Can we possibly omit that?' Ortal interrupted quickly.

'I am afraid I cannot.' Scipio answered amused, instead of getting offended by the senator's rudeness. 'A story is not a story if not told at the beginning, I say.'

'Very well,' Ortal anwered grudgingly. 'Proceed,' he added as if he was merely in a Senate hearing rather than an ambushed visit by an enigmatic Judge Majister.

'I was once Nabradian.' Scipio told in a calm voice, ignoring Ortal's look of surprise and smiling to himself. ' And like any Nabradian province, you Imperials wiped out my village." He shrugged his eyes glinting behind his mask as he met Ortal's cold black orbs. "You see Senator, I traveled far and wide until I finally found the accursed Imperial City.'

'And the story goes as it should go,' Ortal cut in, 'Please do make haste and tell me what you plan.'

'And here I was ready to tell my life story which I had novelized into seven-thousand and forty-three pages." Scipio answered with a laugh at the back of his throat, but he quickly became sober. " As I told you, I was once Nabradian. However, as any deluded fool who steps in Arcahdia, I was sucked into its intricacies and love for power, money and information. The reason why I should give you such a bargain? " he raised his eyebrows. "I believe you are familiar with the line: "I am loyal to the highest bidder" ? That is precisely what I am doing. I am now offering my services to the highest bidder in Archades, in exchange of course to the "root of all evil".' He grinned, his teeth catching the light of the flames.

'You're giving me the entire Imperial Armed forces for a fat purse?' Ortal's voice was skeptical.

'Exactly.' Scipio answered just as promptly and enthusiastically. "Guaranteed that it is a very fat purse as well that I am very well informed of what you are about to do. Doing the bad thing is often the best thing to do." He cocked his head as if amused by himself. "I so love to talk in metaphor."

Ortal was rather disappointed. The secret Scipio had was not as grave as he had imagined. Add to the fact that he still could not make heads nor tails if the Judge Majister was being serious.The Judge Majister seemed to guess his thoughts as he smirked once more, moving to stand before the mantle at Ortal's fireplace before meeting the senator's face once more.

"Senator, do not question if my motives are base or primitive. I am well aware that I did not achieve the Archadian education your entire family grew up with. So bear with me and take advantage.' There was a hint of relish of Scipio's tone as he turned away from Ortal to look at the flames of the fireplace.

Ortal seemed too shock beyond words. Even Sephyr who stood in the shadows was bewildered. The Senator however seemed to recollect himself and he answered the Judge Majister.

'Your reasons are too bizarre to merit my belief.'

'But 'tis true.' Scipio drawled again, that amused smirk back on his face. ' Let us also add thatI simply want to enjoy a good show.'

'We are not animals Scipio.' Ortal cut in shortly, rising from his seat an anger rising in chest once more at the lightness of Scipio's tone. "We do not live for entertainment, especially your entertainment.'

'I am aware of that.' Scipio said in a voice that he hardly cared.

Ortal was quiet now, silently studying Scipio's profile, his face anything it seemed to give him some sort of idea if this was an idea he should take. Sephyr seemed to have waited for hours in the shadows for Ortal's answer before the Senator cleared his throat and looked at Scipio steadily.

"I accept your offer,"

Scipio cocked his head, 'You seem rather confident to place trust in a fool.'

"I shall tell you my plans and in return you will give me the army.' Ortal added seriously ignoring Scipio's earlier statements.

"Oh good," Scipio answered with a wave of his hand and that irritating smirk back on his face. Ortal ignored him again and continued as if he did not speak.

'That is where my explanations fit." His voice sounded like gravel striking hard cement. "First I will tell you what happened that night." He gave a smirk of his own. " True enough to your suspicions it was I who ordered the death of Dece and Haussen.'

Sephyr frowned in disgust. He could not believe that a man would go so far and would resort to cowardly actions as to do something as low as blaming someone else for a crime. He had what he wanted, however Ortal's tone seemed to bind his feet to the floor. He wanted to listen more.

In contrast to Sephyr however, Scipio seemed more amused and he exclaimed 'See? I knew I was right.' Before allowing Ortal to speak again.

'And now my motives." He met Scipio's eyes again. " I plan for the dominance of Ivalice. I will destroy and rule over the other kingdoms and I will rein an immortal emperor with Archadia as its capital. Gramis had always been weak. As the emperors that came before him under the name Solidor."

'Ah, and where would you draw power, for immortality and supremacy both?' Scipio now asked, his voice like that of a placating parent trying to weedle information out of an ignorant child.

Ortal smirked and told Scipio confidently. 'Nethicite. Pure deifacted Nethicite.'

'It's that again is it?" Scipio answered in a bored voce. "Using the Occuria's power to attain your own ends." He folded his arms at Ortal. " Do know that the Cryst is sundered.'

'I am confident in the late Cedopholus Bunansa.' Ortal replied in an enigmatic tone of which Scipio ignored.

'This Nethicite will guarantee absolute power?' the Judge Majister asked, his turn to be the skeptic.

'Unmatched and absolute.'

'Do you have knowledge as to how it is used?' Scipio drilled again that Ortal had raised his eyebrows. Scipio merely shrugged in response.

'The late Bunansa sought not to overlook that fact.'

'There are many things we think we have not overlook yet have still done thus.' Scipio said seriously.

'What are you suggesting?' Ortal's tone was grave.

'Nothing.' Scipio's voice was opposite. ' Just a friendly word of caution.'

'Is it?'

'It is.' Scipio answered, that amused tone back.

Ortal was silent.

'You do know what you are doing?' Scipio now asked as if for some reason he was hesitant in finding out the answer.

Ortal nodded. It was very apparent that he was content as he wore a face which seemed to desire nothing more than to act instead to idle.

'And where on Ivalice is this all-powerful nethicite located? I am sure it will not be found at the Archadian sewers."

It was Ortal's turn to smirk. "I have already sent a couple of pirates to deal with this part of my plan. No need to worry on my part, boy."

"Careful," Scipio said wagging a finger in front of Ortal's face before producing a crest, the emblem of Archades, and gave it to Ortal, 'whosoever bears that is unanimous leader of the Army.'

Ortal examined the crest to assure it was the genuine crest. When he found the evidence to such, he extended his hand to Scipio which Scipio shook.

'One last question Scipio, why is that whosoever bears this is unanimous leader? What if someone stole it?'

'That would be impossible." Scipio answered easily. The leader of the armed forces always keeps that in his person and the leader is expected to unbelievably powerful that none may wrest the crest from him.'

'To the first I can abide, but to the second, your men would likely kill me and take the crest for themselves.' Ortal answered, more than anxiety laced his voice.

'Then do not allow them the knowledge that you have possession." Scipio answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "After all, there are only three who know you have possession of that crest.'

'Three?'

'Aye," Scipio nodded eagerly again. "You, me and Captain Sephyr.'

'Who is that?' Ortal was now frowning and was evidently angry.

'He's that warrior that's been crouching by that cupboard there.' Scipio pointed casually at the bureau that was half-hidden in the shadows and of which Sephyr crouched behind from. Ortal gave a gasp of indignation but Scipio just smiled as Sephyr quickly got up and jumped out of the window, adjacent to the bureau, the glass shattring fully into fine little pieces, leaving the window open and accepting the cold wind.

'Looks like I am about to have one busy night.' Scipio sighed in a tired voice, turning once more to look at Ortal who stood flabbergasted at the broken window.

"Be good now, Senator. And my payment, do not forget," And like their conversation at Ortal's vehicle, with a swish of his cape Scipio sprinted for the window and dove after Sephyr.

A/N: What do you think? I am liking the way Scipio is evolving into character..hehehe..next update possibly next week..possibly...Please review!! It's that button over there!! Press it!! Press it!!