I don't own Familiar of Zero
AN: Right, long time since the last update, and I think my friends and I have finally worked our way through a lot of really complicated and emotional shit. One of my closest friends was convicted with a group of others for distributing child pornography. I had a lot of trouble accepting what he had done, he was quite literally the last person I thought who would do such a thing. He was one of four friends who reached the rank of Eagle Scout, had a full-ride scholarship, and we regularly did charity work together growing up. It is still hard to think about, and honestly I feel like it would have been easier if I heard that he died instead of finding that he's guilty of and confessed to pedophilia. Still, my family and friends helped me get through all of this, and I couldn't be more thankful for them.
Well, now that that heavy and emotional shit is out of the way, my god this took me way too long. Sorry, and enjoy.
Guiche groaned. He had sold half of the stuff he bought, and so far he had 200 ècu. He was fairly certain that he was losing money on the returns, but he didn't know how much his losses were. He really should have kept track of how much he spent.
"Watch where your going!" A brazen street urchin said as he bumped into him and ran off.
"Get back here common boy!" Guiche snapped. He had to teach the boy a lesson. To so brazenly disturb a noble and show no remorse was incredibly foolish. Best to catch him and show the child to respect his betters.
Guiche followed the boy, the crowd parting, as they should, at the sight of a slightly incensed Noble. The child twisted through the crowd into an alleyway, Guiche marching past commoners parting before him.
Guiche rounded the corner into the alleyway and froze. The commoner was gesturing his butt towards him, smacking it, and making faces. This insult was too much, Guiche pulled his wand and launched a rock at the impudent child. The child fell forward, narrowly avoiding the stone and scampered around a corner, which Guiche was quick to pursue.
"Good job Conrad." A young man with a mop of brown hair proudly said as he patted the child on the head. He was extremely wiry, and wore a light green shirt that showed off a very unimpressive chest. He was accompanied by two women, one short girl with light auburn hair barely reaching her shoulders with a flatness that rivaled Louise, the other woman was holding a mace, and was tall with the left half her face burned off from some presumably powerful fire spell, she had her thick, dark brown hair growing on right combed over to hide her burned scalp. Guiche could only tell that she was a woman from having a bust that rivaled Kirche.
"Guiche de Gramont, I presume?" The young man said, an insufferable grin on his face.
"Who are you?" Guiche was nervous, he had probably walked into a trap.
"Do you really expect me to tell you that?"
Then Guiche heard large, thudding steps behind him. He subtlely let a rose petal fall and land between his legs and the unknown figure approached. "What do you want?"
"Personally? I just want the big guy to grab you." Guiche felt two large hands wrap around him, and the magic in the fallen petal activated, making a pillar a stone spring out of the ground going through Guiche's legs, nailing the unknown man behind him. Guiche twisted out of his grip, swinging his rose and releasing three more petals that quickly morphed into three beautiful Valkyries each wielding a magnificent spear.
Guiche looked down at the one who tried to restrain him, he was clutching his groin. He felt a bit bad for striking there, though he quickly launched a stone crushing the man's head. It was a mercy, considering that the typical punishment for attacking a Noble was being drawn and quartered. "I am not without mercy, hand over the boy and you will all be spared."
"I thought you said he was crushed by a commoner?" The burned woman asked horsely.
"Clearly that was wrong." Guiche visibly deflated, these common thugs knew that Saito had beaten him, so he was a target. "Or maybe it wasn't wrong. Skins, Tiny, capture him."
The short girl pulled a dagger and charged the center Valkyrie, deftly spinning around the spear and stabbing at the construct, dagger glancing harmlessly off his beautiful creation. The two Valkyries flanking the center one moved forward, jabbing their spears at her. She shifts to avoid the left Valkyrie, but the burned woman slamed into the right Valkyrie, shoving it aside as she brought the mace to bear.
Guiche released three petals, guiding their descent as he ordered his Valkyries. The left moved to grab the small girl, but she twisted around it as the center swung it's spear at her, bouncing off the left Valkyrie. Two of the petals were gently falling toward the small girl as one approached the burned women. The right Valkyrie shoved the burned woman away and wildly swung it's spear. The burner woman ducked under the strike and brought up her mace, crushing the Valkyrie. She then blew the petal away from her.
Guiche shuddered, his head felt like it was about to split trying to control three Valkyries and three petals while fighting two opponents, waiting for the third to join it. Then he saw that the child was gone. Another problem. He had the petal that was approaching the burned woman turn into a new Valkyrie and engage her again, while the small girl continued to dance around the other two.
He had the center Valkyrie lunge for the small girl, and she twirled away into place. A petal landed on each of her feet. The ground rose up around her feet, locking her in place and a look of terror fell over her. The left Valkyrie moved for a kill jab, as Guiche's world erupted into pain.
His Valkyries froze as he reached for his groin, when a weight jumped on him and teeth sunk into his arm. The pain made him drop his wand as he saw that the child, Conrad, was biting him. Before Guiche could react the burned woman was in his face, slamming her fist into his gut. She twisted him around and got both his hands behind him. They were quickly tied, and a gag was shoved into Guiche's mouth.
"Kid, stop biting." The burned woman rasped.
The teeth released. "Right, did I help?"
"You saved Tiny." The young man grinned.
"I didn't almost die, and someone get me loose!" The small girl snarled.
"Well… um… yes." Louise muttered.
Saito kept glancing between Louise and Henrietta. Louise was busy chewing her lip, nervous as to how her friend would react. Henrietta face was devoid of any feeling, she probably had trouble figuring out how to appropriately react to the revelations given to her. Saito supposed that that made sense, as Gandàlfr he was essentially an emissary of God in their eyes. It would probably be disappointing for her to learn that he has no answers to any existential questions.
"I'm going to break the silence. Princess Henrietta, Louise and I would like your help. I'm not entirely sure what we need."
"Right!" Louise jumped on the chance to break the silence. "We need to keep Saito's exposure to a minimum. He is abrasive at the best of times."
"I prefer proud. Iron willed is also good."
"More like stubborn and arrogant." Louise gave a scowl.
"Louise, I can't hide Gandàlfr. I thought it was a joke when I heard that Gandàlfr had returned from Headmaster Osmond. How do you even know that he's Gandàlfr?" She still sounded to be in shock. Saito removed the fingerless glove on his left hand, revealing the runes. "Oh."
"We don't need to hide him, just make sure people don't feel worthy of meeting him."
"Yeah, just take me to the most important person, the King or Queen." Saito suggested as he put the glove back on.
"Saito…" Louise growled. Saito saw Henrietta deflate, shock leaving her face and a sullen gaze replacing it. "I keep forgetting that you're an idiot."
"I'll stop talking because clearly I don't know who's who or… Anything useful…"
"Mother and Cardinal Mazarin should meet you." Henrietta quickly composed herself, taking on a calm and gentle air.
"We can meet with them later today."
"No, we should do it now."
"Wait what?" Saito did not like this plan, "Isn't there some big and public court thing going on?"
"Exactly, we will go in, you can ignore everyone there but Mother and the Cardinal. With the presence of Gandàlfr they will probably end the session."
"Is this a good idea?"
"I trust Princess Henrietta." Louise confidently said. "Just act intimidating."
Henrietta opened the door and stepped into the hallway. "Let's go," she cheerfully said as she led the way.
Louise was walking beside the Princess, with Saito following behind. So he just needed to keep an angry look on his face to convey a sense of power, pride, dignity, and intimidation. He has lied for less. It also shouldn't be too difficult to look angry, just thinking even a little about his situation made him at the very least incensed.
He glanced about the hall, staring at the colorful walls. The walls with designs of lustrous flowers on gold inlays on ornate white marble, probably transmuted for the sake of prestige. Louise and Henrietta were talking about something, what about Saito wasn't sure. He needed to figure out how he was going to do this. He needed to carry himself in a way to deter future entanglements. It couldn't be as simple as looking scary, he needed to have an air of competence, but seem divine in a way to scare people off.
"My wedding is-" Henrietta began.
"Weddings? I love weddings." Saito exclaimed. Both Louise and Henrietta stopped, and turned to him. Henrietta simply looked shocked at the lack of tact, while Louise looked ready to punch him. "I wasn't listening, sorry."
Henrietta chuckled, Louise groaned, and they both turned around and kept walking. "Do you think the wedding will happen soon enough for the alliance?"
"The Reconquista is trying to be thorough, so the war in Albion should last quite some time. I should be married before they can look at Tristain." Henrietta said with forced cheer. Saito now realized that he should have been listening earlier instead of considering his predicament.
"By thorough, do you mean...?"
"They are rooting out every Loyalist they can find, and executing them. The situation is terrifying for anyone who seems loyal to the crown. Who knows when they'll find that poor Prince..." Henrietta finished, trailing off with a sullen gaze.
"How do you know that the wedding..." Louise began, before taking a deep breath. "That the treaty will be in effect in time?"
"Hope." The Princess said, maintaining the sullen smile. Saito started chewing his lip, he had never heard anyone talk about marriage in connection with a treaty, and in such despair. He should have been listening before he spoke up.
"That's a... sorrowful hope." Louise said.
"All for the people of Tristain." The Princess sincerely added as they approached an ornate twin doors. The white design of two magic knights fighting, golden fire clashing with green gems representing wind, a backdrop of blue gems with twisting flowers surrounding the battle.
"Remember Saito, intimidating." Louise said as she and Henrietta opened the doors, separating the two magic knights on the doors and revealing Mott.
"That common filth is the thief!" Saito steeled his gaze, grabbing both Louise and Henrietta by the shoulder and throwing them to the ground behind him as a stream of water came rushing forward. Saito pulled Derflinger out and shielded the two as a wall of water, wind, fire, and earth appeared.
"Did you have to throw us to the ground so roughly?" Louise whined.
"It's easier to protect both of you if you're behind me and low to the ground." He said as he gave both nobles a hand, pulling them up.
"Thank you, Gandàlfr." Henrietta said as they stepped around the new wall. Then Saito saw Mott struggled in his new position, bound in metal bands holding and gagging him, fire encircling him, water covering the rest of his body, wind whipping around him, and every person except for André were pointing a wand at Mott. "Good day, Nobles of the court, I bring you the Left Hand of God, Gandàlfr, and Louise François le Blanc de la Vallière, the mage who summoned him."
"Please, I prefer to go by Saito Hiraga." Saito announced in a stern tone, ensuring that Mott wouldn't get a chance to say his name before him. Had he said his name before attacking would have made things complicated.
The fire and water around Mott dispersed, as every wand and staff were lowered. Saito held up his left hand, displaying the runes for all to see. The room was silent, every person staring at him. There was only gaping nobles, all sharing looks of disbelief. "He's a commoner!"
"Why does everyone think I'm a commoner? I am not a commoner!"
"You look like one. Try carrying yourself with some poise." Louise proudly said as she stepped pass him. "Why does someone on trial have a wand?"
"I'm the one on trial, he's accusing me. I'm the one without a wand." André chimed in with a grin.
"Why are you happy, you're on trial?" Saito asked.
"The focus is on the theft at the Mott estate, the destruction is a periphery issue, most likely caused by the dastardly thief."André informed.
"We have yet to determine that." A woman shouted out from the crowd.
"Who's the thief?" Saito asked. He was nervous, what would happen if he was revealed? More to the point, he had no idea why he asked that. They would definitely heap blame on him over the nobles if he was revealed.
"I have no idea. Some rogue attacked, who as of yet remains unidentified." André informed.
"I'm sorry, are we talking about the Count and André's incompetence? Some commoner is making ludicrous claims and the Vallière girl is claiming to be Void. Does anybody here believe that claim?" A wrinkled blond man with a thick mustache shouted.
"I believe them." André spoke up.
"No one cares what the Châtelet failure thinks."
"What are you talking about, his military record is incredible! We can't discount and ignore him for a single failure." An old, fat nobleman with an obvious brown wig argued.
"Please, the Châtelet name hasn't mattered in decades. Who cares what the youngest son thinks?" A skinny noble with a massive blond beard shouted.
"Who cares about the Châtelet boy? I'm inclined to believe Princess Henrietta." A noble with with big blond curls. He looked like a male version of Montmorency.
The nobles continued their shouting match. The older version of Henrietta whom he assumed was said Princess's mother was staring at him with a gaping mouth, and the man who Saito assumed to be a very important priest shared her shocked expression.
Then both Louise and Henrietta started walking toward the throne of the Queen. Saito shrugged, and followed.
Today was supposed to be simple. Cardinal Mazarin's job tended to be simple. Help Queen Marianne deal with the day to day minutia of Royal life. It was busy while the King was alive, but since his passing all duties fell to him. Her Royal Highness had been an empty shell of her former self since the King's passing, and Mazarin did everything he could to keep her exposure to a minimum. It added mountains of work, and tended to infuriate the Nobles who didn't deserve to bring their problems before the Queen.
The Queen appreciated his work, however reality dictated what was done. And at this moment reality dictated that this session had to end now. Mazarin turned to his liege, asking, "May I render judgment, your Majesty?" She gave a simple nod. "Unfortunately it seems that our discussion shall be cut short." The Cardinal calmly said, silencing the assembled Nobles.
"However, it has been made clear that Count Mott has been dangerously negligent in maintaining basic security as the Royal Messenger, and it is only though chance that nothing more important than his staff was stolen. As such the Griffin Corps and their Captain Viscount Wardes shall take on the duties of the Royal messenger until such a time where we determine a suitable replacement that provides the security we thought the Mott estate provided. Count Mott's charges and punishment shall be determined at a later date, as shall the charges levied upon André du Châtelet. Thank you all for coming." Mazarin made a quick bow, and helped the queen to her feet.
"But we've barely started! We can't end now! 15 minutes have yet to pass! I have issues that need to be brought to the attention of the Crown!" Marquis de Montmorency cried, as other Nobles began fussing about the short day at Court.
"We apologize for not getting a chance to all of the issues of the day, however-"
"We deserve to be heard!" The Count of Boulogne screamed.
"There are pressing issues we must address. As this day in Court has ended, please proceed to the Ballroom for the festivities that have been prepared for you all." Mazarin continued, ignoring Count Eustace de Boulogne's protest.
As the assembled Nobles left, some muttering protests but most handling themselves with some measure of dignity, Cardinal Mazarin helped Her Royal Highness Queen Marianne from her throne. He proceeded to his private study, knowing that the Queen would go to her own room and that Herietta was sure to follow him. As he walked through the halls he heard the footsteps of the trio behind him.
He entered his grand study, a hoard of texts, books and scrolls concerning theological study done and approved by the Papacy lining his shelves on the walls greatly outnumbered his literature concerning law, philosophy, governance and history.
The Cardinal stepped around his desk and took a seat. He gazed at the three, Henrietta, a Noble who can't use magic, and the heavily armed commoner claiming to be Gandàlfr sitting before him. A thoroughly underwhelming Gandàlfr who clearly doesn't live up to the legends. Really didn't look like what Mazarin imagined a Void Familiar to be. Still, there was one piercing question on Cardinal Mazarin's mind. "Is there any merit to Count Mott's accusation."
"Please, I'm sure that isn't a matter of any concern. All baseless claims." The Princess assured. She was being far too trusting.
"Actually, I'm curious too. Saito?" His Master didn't trust him?
"Don't you trust me Louise?"
"You've lied to me before."
"True, alright then..." Saito started chewing his lip, he took a deep breath, and muttered. "I got in a duel with him, and he lost badly. A training dummy would have put up a better fight."
"You did what?" Louise growled as the Princess stared, gaping at the statement.
"Did you destroy his home, steal anything?" Mazarin asked, leveling a glare.
"Well, after I beat him really easily and disarmed him, Mott ordered his guards to attack me and they ran away. It was actually kind of funny." Gandàlfr finished with a giggle.
"You think it's funny? Do you have any idea of the political maelstrom this could cause?" Mazarin groaned.
"Why would you fight him?" Louise sprang up seething. She placed herself firmly in front of her Familiar, blocking him from view, drawing back her fist. "Do you have any idea the consequences you'd face if people found out, the consequences my FAMILY FACES!" She threw a punch straight into Gandàlfr's face, knocking both him and the chair he was in over.
He yelped in shock over the hit, rolling out of the chair and jumping to his feet, "First an explosion now you punch me? What the hell Louise!"
"What were you thinking you stupid dog!"
"Give me a chance to explain myself you harpy!" Gandàlfr shouted as he threw a thick tome on chivalry at his Mistress. It hit her face, eliciting a shout as she fell back.
Louise rose up, bloody nose and book in hand. "You HIT ME WITH A BOOK!" She marched forward, drew her right foot back, and unleashed a devastating kick at Gandàlfr's groin.
Which he avoided with a small pivot. Louise's foot caught nothing but air, and Gandàlfr grabbed her ankle with his left hand. "Really, Louise, a kick is a bad move, especially one so unbalanced. Now could you calm down and stop acting like a Kardashian?"
"Well take this!" Louise shouted as she pulled out her wand as she hopped in place, pointed it at her Familiar, and had it plucked out of her hand.
"I can't really use a wand, but thank you." He was wearing a cheeky grin as he stuck the wand behind his ear. "So generous."
"Give it back!" Louise screeched as she pointlessly started swinging her fists, Gandàlfr out of reach.
"You told me to take it." He was noticeably holding back laughter.
"Um, Saito, Louise, stop fighting..." Princess Henrietta mumbled.
Louise and Gandàlfr looked away from each other, and stared at Henrietta and Cardinal Mazarin. Gandàlfr let go of Louise, returned her wand, and both took a seat. "I apologize, that was undignified behavior unbecoming of a Noble."
"Yeah... Sorry..." Gandàlfr mumbled, eyes downcast as both Louise and him blushed.
"So what were you thinking when you attacked Count Mott?" Mazarin asked, setting things back on topic.
"Well, he was forcing non-mages to be his mistresses, and-"
"He was doing WHAT?" Louise exploded, jumping to her feet.
"He was forcing non-mages to serve him as his mistresses, and I felt morally obligated to stop him. So I did." Saito stated flatly. "I bet you feel bad for punching me now."
Mott's abuses of the people under his care was no new revelation, at least it wasn't to Mazarin. It was common knowledge that some Nobles took commoners to satisfy some of their more carnal desires. The Baron of Rais and his debauchery was certainly more disturbing than anything Mott could have been involved in, but it was kept quiet due to his accomplishments in the military. Thankfully Mott wasn't protected from previous acts, and with claims of incompetence it may be possible to dispose of him. There was one pressing question. "How was the manor destroyed?"
"André did it. He came to assassinate me as a favor for Gerald Armagnac de Fézensaguet. I just left and André kept attacking, destroying the place."
"He shouldn't be strong enough to destroy that manor, he's a line mage." The Princess said, looking expectantly at Gandàlfr.
"I don't know, I ran off. I saw fire. I decided that it would be better to get away from the Noble trying to kill me. Also, I'd rather fight a mage spitting fire outside instead of surrounded by flammable stuff." Saito calmly said.
"Did you take his wand?" Mazarin needed to know.
"I wasn't giving it back to him, he tried to throw his guards at me when he lost."
Mazarin sat in thought, trying to figure out what to do. It would be politically advantageous to remove Mott from power. He was replaceable, and he already knew a few Nobles who could gain Mott's territory who would be far more malleable to the Crown's interests, and more who could take over his duties. For now it would be in Viscount Wardes hands.
"Who knows about this?
"The people in this room, André, and Mott." Gandàlfr said.
"Very well, I want everything spoken of in this room to stay in this room."
"Of course!" Louise quickly answered.
"Yep!" Saito said as he stood.
"Well, now that this is over we must prepare for the festivities, Louise I have an excellent dress ready for you, and I'm sure my personal tailor could make something wonderful for Gandálfr!"
AN: Once again, sorry, bad things are happening to Guiche, and the next update will be in 2015. Sorry that the chapter was short, and Happy New Year, please read and review.
Now, this is Lee, and I'm out!