Chapter Eight

Red Fang Base
Year 707 of the Old Valendian Calendar

"I hear something."

The three words Balthier didn't want to hear from Fran's mouth. His Viera friend stood tall, ears perked, eyes on the passage behind them, fingers frozen in the middle of tightening her quiver's strap. Her words equally alarmed all five gathering their weapons.

"People?" Balthier asked, newly-reacquired rifle clasped in his hands. Fran had taken them on a slight detour to where she thought the weapons locker was; at least her memory was reliable as ever. As was her hearing.

Fran nodded her answer. "Several."

"Blast." Ziafer jerked out both his swords. "I think we should split up." He nodded to the two passages ahead. "You know, keep them guessing."

"That'd work, but only Fran knows the way out." As he spoke, Balthier flicked open his rifle's ammo case and lifted it to one eye: empty? Oh, wonderful. And his extra clips had been taken at the entrance.

"Actually, I might be able to find my way." Ziafer's voice called Balthier back to matters at hand. "I've heard about this place from people who've infiltrated, seen a few sorta maps."

Balthier eyed the man dubiously.

"You mean you want us to trust you with that?" Vaan said, glaring at the one-eyed man.

"We don't have time to argue," Balthier said, snapping closed his rifle. "I'll go with Ashe and Fran-"

"I'm going with the princess," Ziafer cut him off. "I came here to protect her."

Balthier sighed through clenched teeth; he was starting to see why Vaan disliked this man so much.

"I don't trust you that much," Balthier said, eyeing Ziafer. "I'll get Ashe out of here."

Ziafer glared back. "I said I'm-"

"I can protect myself, you know!" Ashe gave Ziafer a glare, then turned imploring eyes to Balthier. "I trust Ziafer, Balthier. At least enough for this. If they do catch us, I'm the one the Red Fangs are least likely to kill, anyway."

"You're also the one they're most likely to make nethicite out of," Balthier replied, "and you and I both agree we don't need any more of that knocking about Ivalice, anymore than we need you char-broiled."

"I…" Ashe floundered for a response. She lifted hard blue eyes to him. "That won't happen, I'm, sure! Now come on! I'm the one paying you, aren't I?"

Oh, she was playing it like that? "Fine then." Balthier shrugged. "As Your Highness wishes." He glanced at Ziafer, then back to Ashe, putting his hands on his hips. "But I am coming with you."

"Good. Now we must go." Fran had plucked an arrow from her quiver that now rested drawn across her bow. She took a few steps back toward Vaan and Penelo, then nodded to the left branch of the passage ahead.

"I'll take that way. You can navigate the other?"

"Uh, sure." Ziafer shrugged, filling Balthier with confidence. The pirate let out a sigh.

"If we all make it out of this unscathed, I will be very surprised."

…

Ashe walked ahead of Balthier, a spot of gleaming white crowned with sweeping gold, her shorter stature unable to shield Balthier's view of the taller man ahead. Her steps were slow, but that was alright; the night had been long. For her safety, it had been determined Ashe would walk between the two of them, and of course, Ziafer had to lead the way. That put Balthier in the rear yet again. It rather frustrated him, especially since he didn't quite believe Ziafer knew where were going. Even after six months apart, Balthier knew he'd feel better with Fran at the compass.

A sound like the shing of sword and sheath coming apart barely registered in Balthier's ears. He stopped as Ashe came to an abrupt halt ahead of him.

"You heard that?" Balthier asked, keeping his voice down.

Ashe nodded, frowning. "I think…"

Ziafer, who'd gone on a few more steps, spun around, scowl crinkling his scar. "Hey! I think we're almost out! Hurry up, you two!"

"Shh! Listen!" Ashe turned her head slightly, frowning in focus. Balthier refrained from more noise and turned around, scanning the area, determined not to be caught off-guard for the second time that night. Nothing but wooden corridors in magicite's light-

Something dropped from the ceiling, and on instinct Balthier ducked a swinging club move meant to bash his skull. In the same motion, he spun, whipped out his rifle, and swung it. With a painful smack and clang, the barrel collided with the attacker's hand and weapon. The man let out a yelp, and his sword clattered away.

Balthier stepped quickly forward and pressed his rifle's mouth to the man's head.

"Don't move a muscle, unless you want a significant drop in IQ."

"I-I'm not moving!" The man held up shaking hands, making no attempt to reach for the shorter secondary dagger at his side. Wait- Balthier frowned. This man wore brown-and-green camo, not a blue tunic. Hm.

Balthier let his gaze flicker away for a split second. Ziafer his own victim pinned to the wall, the flats of his crossed swords against the man's chest, edges towards his throat. The same non-Red Fang attire.

"Now, isn't this interesting?" Balthier narrowed his eyes at the man on the end of his gun. "And just who are-"

"Cap'n Ziafer!" The strained gasp came from the man Ziafer pinned. "It's me!"

Ziafer's one eye narrowed, then widened, his pressure relaxing. He glanced between the two. "Biggs? Wege?" He pulled back, releasing the man entirely. "What on Ivalice are you doing here?"

"Ziafer, you know him?" Ashe lifted her sword protectively, eyes darting between the two.

"Just what I was going to say," Balthier said, eyeing the armed and now free man. "I hope you know what you're doing. These people from your lot?"

"We're called the Peace Keepers!" Ziafer glared at him, then turned back to the man he'd released. "Well? Biggs, what are you doing here?"

Biggs saluted. "Uh, Tazer sent us. We got word on the princess's position, then that the Red Fangs had acquired her-"

"You're here to help us get out?" Ziafer asked.

"Um…" Biggs cringed. "Well… I didn't expect you'd be here, captain. When you disappeared-"

"Well, where'd you think I went?" Ziafer barked. "Off joyriding? What did you expect me to do?"

"I guess so…" Biggs hesitated. "But… Captain, you being here's just as bad as the princess. If they knew-"

"I don't care! They don't know, so there's no danger."

"What's this now?" Balthier frowned.

"Nothing!" Ziafer turned back to Biggs, tapping his foot impatiently. "So? You're here to help?"

"Or they're here to eliminate the princess," Balthier said, still disgruntled at his lack of answer. Ashe tensed, though clearly trying not to. Her knuckles were white around her sword hilt.

"Of course not!" Ziafer said, glaring like the idea was preposterous.

"Actually…" Biggs winced under the shocked look Ziafer snapped at him. "Actually, those were our orders, captain. To-"

"You wanna try that now?" Ziafer brought up his swords.

Biggs stepped back, raising his hands. "Well, maybe not."

"No, absolutely not!" Wedge shook his head rapidly.

"Please, we don't have to…" Ashe started, but her words were lost somewhere.

"Whatever your orders were, you're gonna help us now," Ziafer said, as if that ended the matter.

"Well…" Biggs frowned, eyeing Ziafer's swords. "Captain, Tazer told us-"

"Tazer isn't here now and I am!" Ziafer said. "I'm your superior officer, and I'm giving you orders! Well?"

After a moment's hesitation, Biggs saluted. "Aye-aye, cap'n!" Balthier rolled his eyes; the local bludgeon seemed to have things under control, after all.

Ziafer slid his swords away with nonchalance. "Alright, I want you and Wedge to go back and distract the Red Fangs on our tail; make a diversion, do whatever." He seemed very used to dolling out orders like this, Balthier noted. "You got in here, so I assume you can get out just fine with your skins, right? I'm not ordering any suicide runs."

"Yes, sir. We'll be fine." Biggs nodded. "Just leave it to us." He glanced at Wedge, who still trembled on the end of Balthier's gun.

"Cap'n…" Wedge said. "Can you tell him to let me go?"

Balthier pulled his gun away from the pathetic man's head; he'd been intending to, anyway. "I'll have you know, Ziafer doesn't give me orders."

"Go on, you two. Hop to it!" At Ziafer's command, the two saluted and dashed down the tunnel behind them.

"Well." Balthier perched his hands on his hips. "Do they all jump to your command like that?"

"I am one of the first foundational members of the Peace Keepers," Ziafer replied, lifting his chin. "I have a bit of respect back there."

Balthier scoffed. "Then it's a shame you couldn't convince any of them to take your stance on the matter of assassinations."

Ziafer scowled, scar creasing. "It's... a bit different when Tazer's around. Normally I'd never dream of contradicting him, but…" Ziafer shook his head. "Let's just get going, alright? We're almost out."

"Wait." Balthier stopped Ziafer before he strode away. "What was that Biggs saying about it 'it being 'bad for you to be here?' I found that rather intriguing."

"Nothing!" Ziafer snapped. He spun and started walking away. "Come on!"

Balthier sighed as Ziafer marched off. So much for that. He would've thought Ziafer wouldn't be any good at hiding something, but just blatantly refusing to answer worked as well as subtler processes.

Balthier noticed Ashe slowly, robotically sliding her sword back into the sheath at her side, eyes still watching where the two Peace Keepers had long since vanished.

"Come on, princess. I think we're getting left behind," Balthier said, starting off. Ashe nodded.

"Yes. Right." She jogged a little to catch up.

They downed a few more twists and turns, Ziafer always a few determined paces ahead. Ashe strode brisker than before, and Balthier made sure to match her pace.

"Didn't he say we were almost out?" Ashe asked. Her eyes bore a distant, glassy look, like she'd been thinking hard.

"He said that," Balthier replied. "I'm not sure if he actually knows."

"Oh." Ashe nodded, then breathed deep with her eyes closed; it sounded like a sigh.

"Something wrong, Ashe?" Balthier asked. "You've been quiet lately."

"I'm fine," Ashe replied automatically. Then she hesitated, considering the response. "Well, it's… kind of cold in here." She shuddered. "I mean- Well, and I'm… just tired. We didn't get much sleep."

"Be thankful you got some," Balthier replied. Twenty-four hours' worth of walking, watching and being kidnapped pressed on his shoulders and steps.

"How late do you think it is?" Ashe asked.

"After midnight, probably." Balthier glanced at the ceiling, wishing he could see the night sky beyond. "We'll be lucky to be out of the woods by dawn."

Ashe sighed, not seeming to like that prospect. Then she laughed- just a slight chuckle.

Balthier glanced sideways at her, brow furrowed. "Lack of sleep getting to you, princess?"

"No." Ashe stopped, stiffening instantly. "Maybe. I was just thinking…" Ashe shook her head, flushing a bit. "Uh, no… I'm sorry."

"My, my, is it that terrible?" Balthier arched an eyebrow.

"No!" Ashe cringed, looking away. "It's just… nothing."

Balthier frowned at her face, her eyes focused on nothing but something far inside. Would pressing her further be an efficient use of his time? No, but…

"It's a shame you don't trust me," Balthier said with a sigh. "It's difficult to guard someone when I can't tell if they're having a nervous breakdown or not."

"I am not!" Ashe said, indignant. "I couldn't. I… Dalmasca still needs me."

"Hey! Over there! Balthier! Ashe!"

There, the familiar tones of young Vaan. Balthier turned his eyes from the perplexing princess to a tunnel linking with theirs a little way behind. Vaan sprinted ahead of Fran, Penelo hesitantly jogging behind him. The great Vaan Ratsbane, Balthier thought, quirking a smile through his fatigue as he recalled the apt nickname.

"You guys alright?" Vaan glanced around. "Where's that Ziafer?"

"We're fine," Balthier replied. "Ziafer's probably gotten himself killed somewhere."

Ziafer, a few dozen feet farther down the tunnel, spun around with a scowl.

"I'm fine, thank you," he huffed, marching back towards them. He turned to Fran, who'd just joined them. "Hey, Viera; how close are we?"

"I thought you knew your way around?" Balthier narrowed his eyes at Ziafer, deciding not to mention his vast impoliteness to Fran.

"I… did for a while." Ziafer shrugged. "Gotta keep up appearances, you know?"

Balthier sighed. "Why I ever put my safety in your hands…" He turned to Fran. "Well?"

"I don't believe I've been here before," Fran said, gaze roaming over the walls. She closed her eyes. "But I feel the myst flowing through here. We must be near the exit."

Penelo sighed, looking like she might swoon with relief.

"We haven't run into any trouble so far," Vaan said. "The guards all seemed to be busy."

"You should be thankful for that," Ziafer mumbled. "Well, go on, Viera, uh, Fran. Let's get moving-"

"Aw, you're leaving already?"

Balthier spun and brought up his gun at the silky voice. In the steadily widening tunnel ahead stood, hands on her hips in perfect nonchalance.

Fran fired an arrow- Clori spun artistically away from it, and it sank into the wall. The thud was followed by silence. With effort, Balthier held his gun steady, empty barrel trained on Clori.

"Look, we're sorry to eat and run, but I'm afraid I find your hospitality frightfully lacking."

Clori chuckled. "Aw, well, we can see if I can remedy that."

All weapons were out by now. "I'd prefer not," Balthier said. "Now, there's six of us and one of you. I'd hate for things to get messy."

"Don't get cocky, merc." Clori narrowed her eyes. "It doesn't suite you. The boss gave me a job to do, so, sorry."

Clori moved a fraction of an inch, and Balthier twitched his rifle.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Clori snorted a laugh. "Aw, I'm so scared. I emptied that thing myself, you know." She drew out a handful of shiny pellets. "Looking for these?"

Balthier's lip twitched. He let his rifle lower. "Fine. You win there. But you're still outnumbered; you don't stand a chance." Balthier didn't like this situation. He knew Clori couldn't take them, yet no one in charge here struck him as the type to leave things out of hand. There had to be something else…

Ziafer raised his swords, snarling. "You should be scared, Red Fang."

Clori gave him an unimpressed look. "And you're as ruthless as ever, Peace Keeper. You can all give up now, you know. If you fight, well…" She let out a sigh.

"Oh, come on! She's just one person!" Vaan said. "We can take her!"

Balthier was about to agree when Clori reached up, drawing out with two fingers a silver chain that hung beneath her neckline. At the end glistened a pair of tiny, teardrops gems of red and blue. Clori clasped her hands around them and closed her eyes.

Balthier frowned. What now-

A wind stirred around her feet, mounting to a red glow that swept around her. Fran fired an arrow, but it dashed off the haze of heat. All the while, Clori's lips moved fast.

"I call the ancient power of inferno, purging flame to dash my enemies, by pact of blood and fire…"

"What's she doing?" Ashe asked.

"Who cares?" Ziafer charged forward, swords trailing behind like banners in the wind. Penelo called after him.

"Wait!"

"Ah!" Ziafer ground to a halt, gasping and jumping back as the air rippled with heat haze between him and Clori. The red flicker drew to a center of gravity, buckling together with a flash of light. When it died, on the scorched ground stood a twelve-foot-tall figure, grey-skinned, four-armed, half man half beast, masked and crowned with a fiery mane. It hoisted a spear as tall as a man, its low growl rumbling the floor.

"By the watchers…" Fran's face went slack with as much astonishment as Balthier had seen from her in a year.

Balthier lifted an arm to block the wave of heat; his mind groped for some legend, document, or experiment with any relation to what he was seeing. Then a throbbing gipped the back of his skull that reminded him of standing over a glowing white hunk of nethicite inside Draklor… But not enough to be worth the panic it was inducing. Balthier shook his head.

"What is that?" he said.

"I thought…" Fran started to answer.

"Who cares?!" Ziafer charged the summoned beast with both swords. Had Balthier been watching from a box seat, he'd have lifted a hand to his face and moaned.

The situation being what it was, he winced as the creature swatted Ziafer aside with a massive hand like a fly. He hit the wall hard, and Penelo, with a gasp, darted for the downed fighter.

"We can't fight that!" Vaan said, eyes wide. "We just push past?"

"That seems the only option," Balthier replied. To his left, Ashe clenched both hands around her sword like she intended to fight her way out. Balthier grabbed her wrist, jerking one hand off her sword, at which Ashe let out an indignant gasp.

"Hey! I-"

"Be quiet and come with." Balthier glared at her, patching together a plan in his throbbing mind. He glanced at Vaan. "I'll make sure Ashe gets past; you keep everyone else alive and get through; we'll help from the flank. Got that?"

"Roger!" Vaan nodded, saluting with the hand that didn't hold his sword.

"But I-" Ashe started to object.

"No time for that. Come on!"

Balthier ran. He only had to drag Ashe for the first few steps; then she matched his pace.

They charged the summon blocking the way, Clori surely smirking safe on the other side. Fran, Vaan, and a newly returned Ziafer pummeled its sides, each tossed back when they tried to push through. The beast raised its lance arm up and back like a hammer ready to fall. Looking up, Balthier traced the weapon's trajectory; his mind clicked at the same moment Ashe gasped. The same moment the creature brought down its weapon.

Balthier released Ashe's wrist and they dived in opposite directions; the lance struck and splintered the wood boarding between them. Balthier summersaulted, his shoulders hitting hard ground. He came back up a little dizzy; he saw Vaan ducking under the beast's spear and driving a sword-blow home. Balthier cursed his rifle's empty chamber.

No time for that. Where had Ashe got to? He knew better than to hope she'd dive for safety without being dragged-

"Hi there."

A chilly voice and stroking touch on his shoulders from behind sent Balthier whirling around, instinctively swinging his rifle to strike. Clori caught the shaft on one dagger, looking unmoved.

"Reduced to bashing people with this thing? Kinda pathetic, isn't it?" Her smirk made his blood congeal.

"I wouldn't be too confident," Balthier replied, revaluating his position. "I'm rather practiced in the fine art of bashing."

Clori's smirk faded; she suddenly looked serious.

"Look, merc. Razner's bringing reinforcements. If you all give up now, I won't have to have Belias hurt you. No one else will either. Got that?" Clori's slanted, forest green eyes bore a look of nearly genuine concern. She must polish her acting skills, Balthier thought.

"Even if that were true, you'd still hurt Ashe, and you'd still get nethicite, which none of us need," Balthier replied. "I'd rather not be back in that cell either. How about you let us pass and you won't get hurt?"

"'Ashe,' huh?" Clori rolled her eyes, all of that genuine concern vanishing. "Oh, how sweet." She jumped backward, disengaging. "Fine. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Balthier's head pulsed, sending the world spinning for a moment as the glowing red stone around Clori's neck swung like a pendulum. Enough. Apology noted. Time to blow this joint and go home. Balthier had no idea how this summoning magic whatever-it-was worked, but hopefully the beast would retreat once Clori was unconscious.

"And you had yours, my dear." With that, Balthier advanced a step, swinging a full force blow aimed for her temple. Clori ducked effortlessly, reemerging a few feet away and twirling back to face him. She smirked that sticky-sweet smile.

"Look out behind, merc," she purred.

Balthier barely glanced back to see that creature- Belias, she'd called it?- swinging its spear directly towards him. Balthier ducked the swing, then shoulder dived away from an overhead strike that rattled the floor. The unattended wound on his right arm scraped the ground, ripping back open with a flash of red. As he got back to his feet, trying to tone down unpleasant thoughts of Clori, Fran appeared there, helping him up.

"Bal-"

"I'm just fine," Balthier snapped before the words could leave her mouth; he shook his arm to ward off the pain. "Use your magic elsewhere. On that thing, preferably."

The Belias creature turned away from them, as Vaan and Ziafer threw themselves at it like madmen.

"I… cannot," Fran said slowing, fingers worked her bow's string. "This myst the creature makes… I cannot form spells."

Balthier stared at her a moment, then sighed; his pessimistic mind didn't need that bit of information. Belias seemed to blow back any attempt to get past, and if Clori was right, they didn't have much time. And his head spun…

He surveyed the battlefield; Clori had vanished, and Ashe-

Balthier spun to Fran. "Where's the princess?"

"I saw her before…" Fran trailed off, a dark look coming to her eyes. Balthier spun and scanned…

"There!"

Balthier sprinted away from the summon blocking the path. Ashe must've gotten thrown back, or dragged, because a ways down the tunnel, she engaging in a half swordfight, half wrestling match with Clori.

Clori ducked a vicious sword stroke, then kneed Ashe in the stomach. Ashe recovered quickly and managed to grab a fistful of Clori's curly black hair, extracting a yelp as she yanked. Clori responded in kind, earning her own cry; in a flurry of kicks and scratching, Ashe's sword clattered away. Clori got Ashe's arm and twisted behind it her back, grinning like a cat as she panted.

"Fun's up, pretty birdy- Argh!"

Clori's scream gave Balthier immeasurable satisfaction as he hooked an arm around her throat. Her hands immediately went for her knife-lined belt; Balthier locked his other arm around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides. Ashe stumbled forward, barely keeping her feet.

"You rotten- no good-" Clori hammered Balthier's shins with her heels. "BELIAS!"

Though Balthier didn't dare turn around, he heard the low growl and the distinctive crackling of flames.

"Ashe, get those stones!" Balthier shouted. Ashe blinked.

"Right!" She grabbed the glowing stones dangling from Clori's neck and yanked; there was a clean thwack as the chain snapped.

"HEY!" Clori doubled her writhing. "You give those back!" She kicked hard, then sank her teeth into Balthier's arm. Every nerve pulsed. Wretched, half-bred-

"Hey, nicely done." That was Ziafer. Thank goodness someone had noticed. Balthier's eyes found the young man standing to his right.

"Ziafer, I assume you've no moral objections to hitting a girl?" Balthier said through clenched teeth.

"Not this one," Ziafer replied, dropping his swords.

"Then please, don't let me stop you."

Ziafer pulled back and let his fist fly. Balthier felt the impact through her head into his chest, though any pity was drowned by the throbbing teeth marks in his arm. Clori stilled, hanging limply in his arms. Balthier released her and she slumped to the floor.

Balthier realized for the first time that Ziafer wasn't the only one there. Fran, Vaan, and Penelo all stood over Clori's unconscious form. That Belias thing stood half frozen, head cocked, looking unsure what to do. A mess of flames licked the floor around its feet.

"You alright Ashe?" Balthier asked, rubbing his arm. The princess breathed hard, fitting her sword back into its sheath.

"Yes. I'm fine." Ashe nodded, not taking her eyes off the inky-topped form crumpled like a corpse on the ground. "Who is she?"

"A half-bred horror," Balthier replied. "Now come on. Let's quit this place before more forces arrive."

"But… you're sure that creature won't attack us?" Penelo eyed the summon.

"We'll just have to risk it," Ziafer said, stooping down to pick up his sword. "It's not like we couldn't take him anyway."

The distinct sound of footsteps reached Balthier's ears from the twisting tunnels behind.

"Enough chatter; I think we'll need a head start. Let's move!"

A note, come read my profile, if you didn't last time. Not to sound like an egotistical maniac; what's written there really has nothing to do with me.