Shining so Bright
Chapter 1: While Light is Fading.
The two heavy doors to the bedchamber opened and revealed those inside. In the bed still not dress rested Lady Ifreit in a sorrowful state with her hands both resting on the mound of her pregnant belly while two maids lingered in her vicinity awaiting to be yelled AT or carry out her wishes. By the window stood a man towering above all other and with a steady gaze he looked out over the oriental garden below and his eyes ventured restlessly over the flowers and fruits. Beside the Lord stood guard chief Galemon with a stout face dressed in armour and appeared as if ready for battle and it was he who first noticed the young man who stepped through the doors.
Maian had just celebrated his sixteenth birthday and ascent into to the rank of squire. He had rough sandy hair, built a little stronger then the average boy his age and he was dressed in a brown leather vest with a green shirt beneath, knee deep black trousers and a pair of sturdy tall boots. His eyes had a sombre blue colour and the face plain somehow yet attractive. "Maian Bouie." He announced and the two men turned towards him and for a moment the room felt cold and the two maid hid themselves as far away from the action as they could.
"So this is Maian." Lord Ifreit said and regarded the boy with eyes narrow as slits while his face did its best to hide all the horror and panic that rushed through his mind. "Are you sure?" He asked and looked at Galemon who also regarded the boy and the guard chief nodded. Once more the Lord looked at Maian who felt more uncomfortable by each moment that slipped past. "I am sure you have heard what has happened." Lord Ifreit said and looked at his wife and continued speaking as if he anticipated another tantrum. "My daughter Scarlatti has been stolen from the castle." The wife mad a hissing noise and both maids rushed to her side. "You know that my knights are out searching for her, you wished to join them but Galemon did not allow you."
Maian nodded and looked at his superior who stood like a statue beside the towering Lord. "That is correct sir."
The woman in the bed released a loud shriek and one of the maids reached for a bottle and aided by her friend began pouring the content down the woman's throat.
"You have to excuse her." Lord Ifreit said. "She is not her best for the moment, grief has stolen her wits." It looked like he smiled but all that appeared was a larger gloom onto his face. "The reason we called you is because you show great talent and to have you wandering about will not attract the eyes of my enemies."
Maian had taken his eyes of the Lord and now looked at the woman who peacefully had began to sleep in the bed and the two maids once more took refuge far from the Lord.
"I want you to find my daughter." Lord Ifreit said suddenly and Maian looked at him with cold sweat breaking out all over his body. "I entrust this task to you Maian because both I and Galemon know that you can accomplish it."
There was a moments silence as Maian remained on quaking legs with a thousand thoughts crossing his mind and made it feel like it was about to explode. "But sir, I am not competent enough." He began but received a harsh stare from Galemon.
"This is a honour." The guard chief began. "You have been chosen above many great men, do not allow your age and stature to bring you down." He inhaled and looked past the lord at the two maids hidden away in the corner of the chamber. "Lord Ifreit." Galemon began and brought the Lords attention to the two. "They could travel as siblings." He added and the Lord bent his eyebrows as he pondered.
"Maids." Lord Ifreit commanded after a moment of silence and the two young women's walked closer to their master with serious expressions attached to their faces and as they came closer Lord Ifreit turned towards Maian. "Choose one of them to accompany you."
Maian looked uncomfortably at the two maids. Both wore dark blue dresses with high necks that looked like they strangled the two poor maids then white aprons with the Ifreit emblem embroidered in red and green. The first maid had a high forehead, large blue eyes, tall ears and a face overall pleasant to view and while he did a little smile snuck to her lips and with the movement of her head she disturbed the blue hair that rested on her shoulders and back. The second maid was also cute, had a face of some dark colour reminiscent of aged wood and her lips had a lively texture. The hair possessed a life of its own as it hung from her head and there was something about her that made him feel safe. Maian closed his eyes, he wanted to take them both but knew that would be impossible and indecent - even more indecent would be to choose on of them based on beauty alone.
"Sorry." Maian said. "It feels wrong to judge you on looks alone." And two sad faces looked back at him as Galemon and Lord Ifreit exchanged odd glances and Maian began feeling ashamed and wanted to excuse himself.
"You will go with him." Lord Ifreit said and pointed at the girl whose skin was reminiscent of aged wood and the maid bowed as the face of the friend beside her lost all lustre. "It is decided." The Lord looked at Maian and with his gaze dismissed him and the young squire left followed by the maid.
The maid closed the door behind them, Maian turned and looked at her. Did not spend any more time relishing in the features of her face only nodded shortly then glanced away. "Meet me at the gate at midday." He said and she began to bow but stopped when she noticed that he blushed.
"Yes Maian." She said instead and began moving down the corridor carried on light feet and Maian decided to return to his quarters and gather some things. This would be a adventure that could last for weeks, he was also in need of some gold. He had none himself, maybe it was proper to ask the maid if she had. Maian looked over his shoulder, the maid was already far away in the corridor and he did not yell and capture her attention. Maybe someone in the Squire quarters could lend him some, he hoped as he continued down a set of stairs.
His quarters where empty, everyone else had probably been ordered away to search for Scarlatti. It felt odd that he had gotten this task, he had made a impression on Galemon but nothing that would award such a honour. Now he would leave on a adventure together with a pretty cute maid, it was rare that squires got to meet them and he guessed that the other guys would be kinda jealous. Then he got to thinking about what Galemon had said, that he and the maid could pretend to be siblings. It was a good idea, it would keep them from attracting attention but it would put her in allot of danger. He was the warrior of the two.
He paused at his bed a moment, sat down on it and rubbed his face. And where to begin, he had no clue about who had taken Scarlatti or where they could have taken her. It didn't feel like Galemon or Lord Ifreit knew either, she had just been stolen away in the night. A mystery, maybe he should go and inspect her room.
In a bag Maian placed fresh underwear, socks and a spare cloak then some food and a dagger. At his waist he hung a water flask and at his waist the scabbard with the middle blade he had received on his birthday. When he was done he left the room a tad worried about his lack of money but tried his best to keep the worry out of the centre of his mind.
There where three guards stationed in front of Scarlatti's room, Maian walked right by them and did not ask if he could enter. They did not look the mood to allow some squire inside.
Before he went to the entrance he decided to take a stroll around the outer wall and surveyed the land; to the north and east there was mountains and far of in the west where the sea and down south where there plains stretching out into almost eternity. But where to begin looking?
"Moskau! Moskau?" Maian hear a voice behind him shout and her turned to see a old woman walk at the base of the wall holding a wide basked in her hand, as Maian looked a little closer he saw a white blanked in the bottom of the basket that had been folded several times to fit. "Have you seen my poor kitten?" The woman asked as she saw the young man atop the wall.
"No, I have not." Maian replied and crouched inspecting the old woman further. She looked like any normal crone did, a bulging nose, wart spotting her face and a back bent by carrying the problems of a lifetime. "Did you see her here last?"
The woman shook her head and looked down into the empty basket. "She ran of this night, acted really iffy and when I opened the door, poof, she was gone. Haven't seen her since." The woman looked at the ground and began to walk along the wall.
Looking for a cat, Maian thought as he set of towards the entrance. If his problem was so tiny, he had to find the Lord Ifreit's daughter and each day that passed would surely push her closer to death. Somehow this assignment tasted a little bad.
When he came to the entrance the maid was waiting for him there. She now whore a deep green cloak and hid her everything accept her head below it. Her black hair had been arranged in a tuft that still possessed that eerie quality of comfort. When he came close she greeted him with a little nod and as soon as she noticed that a awkwardness entered the space between them she spoke. "My name is Maretté." She did not smile but he saw in a twitch of her lips that she wanted to.
"I'm Maian." He said guessing that she already knew that much. "Are you ready to leave?" She nodded and he looked out the open gate lined on each side with guards. "Do you have any money?"
"A little." She finally said and failed to keep the smile from her lips. "So where are we headed?"
Maian shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
Maretté began walking towards the gate while she was speaking. "May I suggest that we leave, I don't want to risk getting stuck with the Lady again."
Maian thought he heard real fear in the voice and joined beside her and together they walked out the gate and began their adventure.
Shining so Bright - Chapter 1 end.
Shining Force I, II and Shining in the Darkness is the property of Climax Entertainment, Sonic! Software Planning and Sega. Scenario is the property of Peder Andersson. Revision: 2. Responsible publisher: Peder Andersson. E-mail: .