Jan: First off, a thank you to Freida Right for the assist on naming Cid's daughter
Feb: Winter still sucks.
March: Hot chocolate is essential for living :)
April: Still snowing? It's been…four months since I've sat to write anything on this chapter. Working seven days a week for 13 weeks straight now has been…well…it's been something. Spring break update?
May: HA, that didn't happen…
June: I have just worked 137 days in a row. Hello, vacation…and holy hello website revamp! Almost had a heart attack when I saw all the new tabs and menus…ahhhhh! O_o
And thus:
Chapter Twelve
The miles between Agart and Baron blurred together in a wash of true blues and greens—colors Rydia hadn't seen for a decade. She sat on the deck for a long time, staring into the blurred kaleidoscope of the earth between the clouds.
Two good men had fallen. The crystals were no closer to being retrieved, and no matter how many times she tried to assure herself that Cecil would keep them all together, the circle of grief washed over her. The odds—the overwhelming odds.
None of them had spoken at all for miles, each absorbed by their own emotions, but Rydia began to catch snippets of conversation near the captain's wheel. Rosa was speaking to Cecil in rapid, almost frantic tones, and eager to grasp onto something other than her uncertain thoughts, Rydia finally pried herself away from the ship's railing and walked closer.
"- Cid was saying? Get into the Tower from above?" Rosa had just asked.
"He said there used to be a path through the mountains of Eblan, but the entrance to the caverns is on the edge of the sea past a maze of shoals."
"We'd need the hovercraft, is what you mean," Rosa replied.
"I'm certain the hovercraft is exactly what Cid was thinking when he told us to find his engineers," Cecil answered.
"But Eblan? That's several more days of traveling with an airship. We don't even know if a path exists!"
"The crater to the Underworld is blocked, and Golbez remains there. Our only path to both him and the Dwarves is through that Tower," he explained, his tone even, trying to calm her down.
"It could be a waste of time!" Rosa protested.
"We don't have any other options, Rosa!" Cecil argued, his voice rising for the first time. "We have to attempt to salvage our original mission in the tower, or return to the Underworld to protect the final crystal."
"The crystals or nothing, is that it?" she asked.
"We'll follow this course no matter where it leads. In the meantime, the extra travel will provide us an opportunity to recover from our losses and fatigue."
Rosa exhaled sharply, turning away. "I can't believe the tower cost us Yang and Cid and we're planning to return there. We're so thin on allies already."
"The perils of war," Cecil said heavily, turning the ship's wheel as a shift in the air currents buffeted them.
The two of them remained silent for a protracted moment, the whirring of the propellers filling the pause. Rydia was beginning to feel her doubts rise in her chest, but a new voice stalled them.
"What about Astrid?" Kain asked from where he stood at the railing.
They all turned to face him, Cecil and Rosa realizing for the first time that their conversation had not been private.
"Kain, you can't seriously be suggesting that we drag Astrid into this mess," Rosa objected, her brow creased.
He gave her a measured look from the shadows of his helmet. "To think she's not already involved would be naïve. She could be helpful to our cause," he stated matter-of-factly.
His pronouncement made Rydia shudder. The idea of putting anyone else in harm's way after so many had already been wounded or killed was ice in her veins.
"At any rate, we're almost there," Kain pointed out, directing their attention to the horizon.
True to his word, the great kingdom of Baron appeared out of the blue expanse of the ocean, the spires and turrets of the city glistening beneath the clouds. As they drew closer, Cecil angling their descent, Rydia noticed the castle standing tall and magnificent against the mountains in the distance. The sun caught on pools of water that glittered brilliantly in courtyards and gardens, and the sight of it left her breathless.
She'd heard stories of Baron and always imagined it to be a dark and unforgiving place, but from the sky she saw its beauty.
Cecil flew them round to the northern part of the city to dry docks. The airship lowered down to the ground, gears and mechanicals grinding as feet emerged from the airship's sides to support it.
Once the stone docks were level with the ship, Kain set about moving a large wooden plank to cross the gap between the ship and the dock.
The ship alighted on the ground with a jolt—joints and timbers creaking. Cecil pulled several levers, and the ship's sounds ceased altogether.
"It's been a while since we were last here," he told them as the propellers turned silently to a slow stop. "Stay close until we're sure Golbez's forces haven't returned while we were out," Cecil said, leading the way off the ship and onto the docks where a path had been cut that led to the castle.
The path ended at a postern door, and Cecil called to the watch tower above it. When no one answered, he budged it open.
"That's not a good sign," Kain muttered.
"There must not be enough men to post watch," Cecil observed, looking across the moat and into the courtyard beyond.
He waited a minute and then climbed a ladder into the watch tower while they waited. The sound of chains and metal scraping against metal was heard as a drawbridge extended across the moat. When it had fully spanned the breach, Cecil descended the ladder and beckoned everyone forward.
They crossed the first courtyard without incident, no souls to be found. Rydia swept her gaze along the walls and guard towers. It seemed as though the entire castle was deserted.
Cecil led them to a heavy wooden door with iron bracing that opened to a stairway. He was taking them into the depths of the keep.
"We need to find Cid's engineers," Cecil explained as they climbed the stairs to an external landing only to descend another staircase leading back into the belly of the castle. "He left them instructions when he was here last. Whatever plan Cid had for the airship will no doubt determine our next course."
"If we can find his engineers," Rosa said apprehensively, looking into the long shadows cast by the suits of armor against the walls.
They had navigated a few hallways and were approaching the main foyer when Kain suddenly reached out his arm and caught Cecil's shoulder. "Someone's coming," he warned.
They all stopped and watched an intersection of corridors, waiting for the footsteps to draw nearer.
Rydia caught Rosa's gaze, their expressions both set. After traveling so long through the Tower of Babil, Rydia half expected something malicious to jump around the corner in front of them. By the look in Rosa's eyes, she suspected Rosa felt the same.
The footsteps were finally revealed to belong to a guard, and Rydia released a long-held breath. The guard almost passed them by, but he glanced down the corridor, and upon seeing them—a company of strangers in strange garb—he jerked to a stop. His sword and Cecil's were drawn within seconds, neither knowing what to expect.
"Captain Harvey?" the guard asked after a tense moment, hesitantly lowering his sword.
"Sergeant Quinn," Cecil answered, sheathing his own sword.
The guard's eyes were wide. "And Captain Highwind?"
"Quinn," Kain's voice boomed in the hallway. "Where is everyone?"
The guard named Quinn licked his lips. "There weren't many of us left after the usurper's men ran for the hills. We're but a limited contingent."
"Sergeant, who is in command of the castle?" Cecil asked.
"I am, sir," he answered.
"Any news of Golbez?"
"No, sir."
"What about Cid's crew?" Kain interjected. "Are they still loitering about?"
"Last I saw of them, they were working near the east tower. Cid left them some items to tinker with, and they should still be there."
"Thank you, Sergeant."
Quinn seemed reluctant to step out of their path. "I'm sorry, sir, but I have to ask. How am I to know you aren't one of Golbez's deceptions?"
"We would not be traveling with a child of Mist, if we were Golbez's puppets," Rosa explained, stepping forward.
"Lady Farrell," Quinn said hurriedly, bowing his head. "Forgive me, I did not see you there."
"It is understandable to be on your guard," Rosa assured him. "We mean no harm, we simply need to meet with Cid's engineers before setting out again."
"Of course. Please, do what you must. We will not get in your way. It's good to see all of you again, but If you'll excuse me, I have rounds to perform."
"Sergeant, one last thing," Cecil called out, halting the guard before he could step out of doors.
"Yes, captain?"
"Post a guard on the postern."
"Aye, Captain."
"I'm not your captain any longer, Quinn."
The guard's expression was quizzical. "You were never anything less to us, sir," he said and departed.
They watched the sergeant leave them, a bemused expression on Cecil's face before he turned briefly to Kain.
"We can speak to the engineers ourselves. There's no reason to drag Rosa and Rydia with us."
He turned to face the two of them. "Rosa, you and Rydia can take it easy for a while. We'll meet with the engineers and see you at the west tower in the evening."
Rosa nodded and tugged Rydia's sleeve. "Come on. We're not needed for this."
"Where are we going?" Rydia wondered.
"On a walk. I don't know about you, but I need to clear my head."
Rydia watched as Cecil and Kain began to walk away, heading the opposite direction. Truly, she was a bit stymied. All she wanted was a quiet corner and some time to herself, but she humored Rosa by following her out of the large castle entryway and down the causeway to the gates of the keep itself.
Here at last there were guards at the walls and in the towers above the gate.
When the guards noticed the approach of the two women, they raised the portcullis.
Rydia took in her surroundings with awe and a bit of trepidation. She hadn't seen the harsh edge of the castle from the air, but now she saw signs of the war. Piles of broken spears lay just beyond the castle gate, and char covered the walls from errant spells.
"It wasn't always this way," Rosa informed her gently.
Rydia looked at her.
"This was once a city of knowledge and beauty. Contests of strength were held to test a man's courage, not his ability to wage war. But then the usurper came to power. His reign introduced the use of the Dark Sword as a tool of war, and one by one the captains began to fall to madness and bloodlust. Even Cecil suffered under the weight of that evil."
"But he overcame it," Rydia noted. "There used to be pain in his eyes, but he's conquered it. Maybe the rest of this kingdom can overcome it."
Rosa's smile was tight and uncertain. "We can only hope," she murmured, leading Rydia over the moat and into the city.
Cecil traversed the hallways of Baron's castle like the master he was. Quinn hadn't been lying when he said the guard was reduced to a limited contingent. He and Kain met few guards on their walk to the east courtyard. Servants were even scarcer with no one for them to serve. They exited the keep's main hallways and crossed the causeway leading to the courtyard.
Finding Cid's engineers was easy enough. Wherever there were hammers clanging and unusual explosions, they were there.
Sparks were flying from metal striking metal, and neither of the engineers heard Cecil or Kain approach. Cecil stood to the side, waiting for a pause before making his presence known.
"More airship components?" Cecil asked in a loud voice when an opportunity presented itself.
Mid, the senior engineer, whirled around, lifting up his goggles, his hammer raised. The skin around his eyes was stained black with soot and metal shavings were imbedded in his beard.
"Cecil!" Mid exclaimed, hastily setting down his hammer, removing a thick leather glove from his meaty hand, and extending it to Cecil.
Cecil shook hands with the engineer, unsurprised by the man's iron grip. "Mid, good to see you."
"Well met! I assume you're here about the airship parts?"
Cecil and Kain exchanged a quick look. "Cid's filled you in already, I assume?"
"Of course!" the stocky man replied. "He sent you, didn't he? Is he still in the Underground tinkering with new metals? Typical. He gets to have all the fun and we're stuck here doing the grunt work. Rest assured, though, you can leave it to us! We'll have you on your way before you can blink!"
The older man wasted no time in assembling his tool belt with gear and beckoning the other engineer to follow. Cecil didn't have time to get another word in edge-wise before the two engineers had trundled up the courtyard stairs headed in the direction of the dry docks.
"That was oddly efficient," Kain mumbled, staring after the engineers a bit absently. He paused, sparing Cecil a glance. "If you don't mind, I'm going to check on the barracks. I'd like to see if any of the dragoons are still here."
Cecil nodded. "Might be best to figure out who's left in Baron. We may need them in the days ahead."
Kain made to leave, but hesitated, turning back around. "It's been months since we've stopped moving for more than a few minutes put together. Get some rest, Cecil. Besides, we're no use to the engineers and the women won't return until evening."
Cecil nodded slowly, staring silently at the walls of the keep. It was true that a rest was most welcome, but now that it came to it, he feared being alone with his thoughts.
"I'll—yes, I probably should rest," he admitted grudgingly. "Until later, then," he managed.
Kain gave him a measured look, but struck off in the opposite direction without another word.
Cecil followed behind more slowly. He took his time walking through the halls. For the first time in months he felt he had permission to breathe, and being surrounded by the familiar haunts of his childhood home set him at ease.
The pain of his companions' passing washed over him, revealing grief in stages. For now, he was relieved he at least had the time to mourn their loss without an audience.
When the modifications to the airship were made, he would have to drive all emotion away—to be the unflagging leader that the rest could rely upon. For now he let tears fall down his cheeks shamelessly, gripping a wall at its corner when the grief stole his breath from deep down.
He mastered his emotions slowly, meandering from one corridor to the next with no discernable plan.
Finally, he found himself climbing the stairs to stand atop the barracks. From here he could see the entirety of Baron's northern expanse.
He closed his eyes and sighed. After several minutes he heard footsteps.
"You didn't get very far," Kain remarked in the baritone Cecil was used to. "Would you mind some company?" Cecil opened his eyes and saw his friend standing in his civilian attire—no armor at all. Seeing Kain this way humanized him, and set right the view of him that had been stained by Golbez's influence.
"By all means," Cecil said.
Kain walked closer, and folding his arms, looked out at the same scene Cecil was looking at.
"Quinn was right. Barely enough men left here to guard a castle, let alone fight a war. The dragoons are nowhere to be found."
"I feared that might be the case. Who knows how many truly loyal men the usurper culled before we'd realized it."
"They can't all be dead. The dragoons are resourceful, resilient. I'll bet they're somewhere nearby," Kain said adamantly.
"Wherever they are, it doesn't change the fact that we're still in this alone."
Kain studied him seriously. "You're not giving up, are you?"
Cecil swallowed hard. "I'm not giving up. I won't—can't. There's too much at stake. But sometimes I wonder…if we even have a chance."
Kain let out a long steady sigh. "You've chased Golbez all across the world, invaded his stronghold, killed three of his generals, his lead strategist, and you think we don't have a chance? He's on the run, and he knows his time is getting shorter."
Cecil looked at the other man askance. "Where is this optimism suddenly coming from?"
Kain shook his head, long blonde hair falling into his face. "It won't do to have you be the defeatist. Someone has to balance the wrongness of it—may as well be me."
Cecil smiled ruefully. "I suppose."
The two of them fell into companionable silence, staring out over the walls.
"Remarkable," Kain finally said quietly. "It's been months but it feels as though it's been years."
"It does, doesn't it," Cecil remarked, and then added, remembering, "For one of us, it actually has been."
Kain clenched his jaw and let out another slow sigh. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to broach that matter."
"And?"
"I have no idea how to make amends with her," Kain revealed.
"I don't either," Cecil admitted.
"For yourself or for me?"
Cecil looked at him sideways. "I'm not the one who disappeared after the destruction."
Kain's grip on the stone crenellations tightened. "I deserve that."
"All I know is that Rydia's not the sort of person who will hold a grudge forever."
Kain glanced at him. "Are you talking about the seven-year-old or the young woman? Ten years is a long time, how can you be sure her attitudes haven't changed?"
"Rydia…has changed in some ways, it's true, but in others she's the same person I first met."
"I think she'd rather spend her quiet moments communicating with her summoned beasts than with me."
"You should try."
"It's easier for you—you didn't haunt her nightmares as I must have."
Cecil faced his friend full on. "We're all bound together now. We have no choice but to hold on for dear life. I can't have there be doubt and distrust between the two of you."
"I will…attempt to speak with her," Kain conceded.
"Soon," Cecil prompted.
"Yes, soon. If I can find the words."
The stared at each other for a long moment, gauging the sincerity of the other. Then, like the tension released from a bowstring, the unspoken challenge passed. They each returned their attention to the world beyond the walls.
Kain snorted. "Look at us—two captains without a kingdom to serve."
"If his majesty were here—he would know what to do," Cecil agreed.
Kain opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it, and then tried again. "You would be the best man to take his place," he told Cecil honestly, facing him again.
"Me?" Cecil asked.
"You knew him the best, after all. And the men trust you."
"I couldn't…to rule over Baron..." Cecil repeated, weighing the idea in his mind. "What would you do?"
Kain was quiet a moment. "My future isn't written in stone.
Cecil gauged his friend. "You sound as though you don't expect to have a future."
"As you said, there are very few of us and a great many of the enemy. It's a miracle we've survived even this long."
"Very few of us," Cecil acknowledged. "We've lost some good men."
"Maybe we'll find allies in Eblan," Kain said, switching the subject.
"If there are any people to be found, that is. You heard what Rubicante said in the tower—the kingdom was destroyed."
Kain gave him a skeptical look. "Do you really think Eblan would fall completely? They've been through war before—they've survived."
"I'd forgotten about the depth of your regard for the ninja of Eblan."
Kain nodded. "They're a tight-lipped society, but warriors all the same. If any of them survived, they could be immensely helpful to us."
"Hopefully they escaped the bombardment in time."
"We won't know until we're able to see for ourselves," Kain answered. "On the subject of leaving, it's been a few hours and I haven't heard much hammering coming from the docks. I'll go check on them, if you don't mind," he said, turning to leave.
Cecil couldn't help but think of Cid at mention of the engineers. "I wonder if there will ever be time to honor Cid properly," he called over his shoulder.
He heard Kain's footfalls slow and finally stop. There was a moment before the other man answered. "When this is all over…we will remember him—and all the rest."
Cecil turned to see his friend's back as Kain descended the staircase from the roof, and he wondered if they would be coming back.
"So few against so many," he repeated to himself and half smiled. "Just a damn bunch of fools, I guess."
…..
A/N: Well…I've graduated! I'm a real person now! What's left of a real person, anyway. I am finding it very surreal to be suddenly done with school and in the midst of summer vacation. It doesn't feel like the last six months actually happened, and I can't believe it's the middle of June and the weather is so ridiculous.
Thank you to all who stuck around during the long hiatus. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
I know one of you PM'd me recently asking for beta assistance, and I will be trying to get back into the swing of things this week, so hang tight :)
Also, a note about page breaks…I use ellipses to separate sections and for reasons unknown purges them from my formatting. That said, there are places where there are meant to be pauses…and if there are suddenly random POV changes, it means that there was supposed to be a page break and the universe conspired against me.
Hope everyone is well—cheers!