Note: More angst in the next couple of chapters. I promise, there WILL be some humor in here. I want this story to be for a general audience as there are fantastical elements.

These events begin the same night Duran and Angela leave, but Hawkeye and Riesz go the next day. Their chapters seem to run a little longer than others, yet please don't think this indicates any sense of favoritism. Also, I hope to distinguish each of the six from the other, as I want them all to be unique and individualistic.

Hawkeye's Escape and Riesz's Exodus

How many tears he had shed since it had happened, he had lost track, having lost the energy, let alone the ability to care long ago. The violet-haired thief merely rested in the corner of his cell, head down and having little more than the silence around him for company. Useless, everything was useless. His fate had been decided, and there was no way out for him this time.


"Damn it! Let me out of here!" he then pointed to Isabella. "She's the guilty one! I saw her transform into a monster and bite his throat out!"

"Oh, Majesty!" Isabella wept into Flamekhan's shoulder. "Even now, he tries to deny it. But, please, I'm scared…."

The group dragged him to this cell merely looked upon him with a mixture of shock and anger, Flamekhan outright looking as if he wished to murder him. "He is to be executed in the morning." the new King of Nevarl said, venom lacing his tone.

"Sir?" Bill, in particular, asked. "What about a trial?"

"And a court hearing?" Ben added.

"He shall be executed in the morning!" the old man roared, shutting the twins up. With that, the older man turned away, his hand around Isabella's waist as she faked limping away with him.

"Guys…" Hawkeye stammered; they only looked at each other in uncertainty. "C'mon...you know me." the thieves only continued to look back at him and then to themselves before turning away from the cell. "Bill, Ben." the tanned young man pleaded. "I would never. Please."

"Hawkeye…" Bill sighed, staying for a moment before going off, and Ben followed suit.

"Guys…" Hawkeye slumped to the floor, now alone. How long he was there for, he didn't know, but after what he gauged to be at least half an hour, he heard someone coming. He then saw Isabella herself, all cleaned up, standing in front of his cell.

"Looks like no amount of guile or talking is going to get you out of trouble this time." she smiled. Hawkeye snarled, standing and rushing at her, only to step back out of reach.

"Witch!" he hissed. "You murderer!"

"Last time I checked, YOU were the murderer." the red-haired woman answered. "And as far as I'm concerned, that's how it will stay."

"You...you left something behind. You MUST'VE." Hawkeye argued.

"You could've stabbed me in the struggle to get you off Eagle, who, I might add, YOU stabbed yourself. He never thought he could descend into such a state, yet he would give everything to get out of this cell and strike down this she-demon who had taken his best friend and ruined his home and life.

"And the blood on my mouth...well, when YOU stabbed him, I attempted to revive him." She drew closer. "You see, dear, I hold the aces here. So they will believe what I want them to believe and see what I want them to see."

"And what's to stop me from simply saying what happened?" Hawkeye snarled.

"You already saw what happened. Who would believe you? No one does anyway. Besides," she smiled. "I don't think you'll be singing any time soon." Hawkeye raised a brow. Just what was this witch planning now? "I took the liberty of collecting some of your blood

from the fray and gave my little gift to Jessica a small, additional touch."

"What. Did. You. Do?" Hawkeye's knuckles were turning white from how hard they gripped the bars.

"I just gave that necklace; she has a little 'magical' input. As in, I created a bond between you and it." before he could ask, she went on. "The words of your mouth now control its actions. I call it a 'choker of death', if you will. And how does it relate to you? Well, let's just say the truth won't exactly save you. If you say a word of what occurred tonight to ANYONE, you'll have another innocent's blood on your hands."

"Wh-What?" the young man backed up. "No. No, you...you're lying."

"And you're in denial. You have no power here." Isabella retorted. "So, what will you do? Will you take that risk?" She heard small, subdued steps drawing closer. "I think it's time I made myself scarce. Currently, I and the old fossil are deciding which fate suits you better: hanging or beheading." with that, she made her way from him, putting on fake tears like the one she had passed slowly, walking tentative, cautious steps towards the cell.

"Jessica…" Hawkeye softly said, the poor girl nothing short of absolutely troubled, her eyes red and swollen, fresh tear streaks still wetting her cheeks, her makeup running down her face. Overall, she was a complete mess, yet despite the absolute devastation in her eyes, his own amber eyes focused on the necklace around her throat. "I...you know me."

"I...I don't…" she sighed. "I want to believe. I do." she drew closer and took his hand. "Then please, tell me." she choked out. "Tell me that you didn't kill Eagle. Tell me that it was someone else."

"No, I didn't!" Just then, he saw something from the choker. It appeared to begin emitting a slight glow from it. "I...I didn't."

"Then who?" Jessica questioned. "Who did it? Who did it? I'll tell father, and we can get you out of here!"

To his shock, the choker looked as if it began to slowly 'tighten' itself. "It…" his eyes never left it, yet when he stopped speaking, it appeared to widen back to its original shape subtly. It was compressed ever so slightly to where Jessica hadn't even noticed. No...that witch couldn't have…

"Tell me." Jessica pleaded. "Tell me that you didn't."

"I..."

'You'll have another innocent's blood on your hands.'

He went silent.

"Hawkeye?" Jessica asked, yet received no answer. What did this mean? "No…" she shook her head, steadily backing away from the cell. "But...but you...you were...you and Eagle…."

"Jessica-"

"You and Eagle were...no! " No, no!" she screamed, running away in yet another bout of tears. Hawkeye reached out for her, but she was long gone; he once again left her alone.


Alone in this cell, nothing could be done. His fate was finalized by now, and the morning sun would herald his last day on Earth.

Just then, he heard something. A crackling sound? "Get back, mew!" he heard a voice say, muffled but still audible.

"Niccolo?" Hawkeye asked, looking to see that, sure enough, there was a crack in the wall of his cell. "What are you-"

"Get back! It's going to blow, mew!"

Blow? It was then that it registered in the young man's mind. The crackling, the cat's desperation to get him away from the wall...no. No, he couldn't have. Still, as the sound grew louder and louder, Hawkeye obeyed and positioned himself against the cell bars, the crackling getting louder and louder.

BOOM!

The wall was completely blown to pieces, pieces of brick flying, Hawkeye covering himself in a feeble attempt to protect himself from any debris. Yet as the dust settled, he saw the visage of a small, furred creature, holding a stick of unused dynamite. "C'mon! We gotta mew out of here!"

"Niccolo, what in the world-"

"I know mew didn't do it!" the cat told him. "That Isabella didn't count on someone listening in! I was sneaking around to see mew, and I heard everything! The necklace, Eagle, everything! It was hard hiding from her, but I don't have time to explain!"

"R-Right!" everything was happening so fast, yet he wasn't about to waste the opportunity staring him in the face. Joining Niccolo, the two ran through the tunnel behind the wall. "Where'd you get that stuff?!" despite the cat saying there was no time for questions, Hawkeye simply couldn't let that detail go.

"I've got a TON of stuff mew doesn't know about!" the cat replied, the two continuing to run and run until they reached a bend in the tunnel. Then, going through it, they found themselves in the small shop that Niccolo had set up for himself.

"Huh. How long has this path been here?"

"There was a draft that kept coming into the room, so I tried to patch it up," Niccolo explained. "But I looked through the hole and discovered the tunnel! I left it open because I was itching to explore it, and lucky mew, there's an exit out of here if mew keeps going up! But be careful; it's steep, so watch mew footing!"

"Hey, c'mon, this is me you're talking to," Hawkeye assured Niccolo, smiling. Even if it was too soon to tell, at least he was talking like Hawkeye again.

"Go, hurry!" the cat told him. "And don't worry. I'll watch out for Jessica!"

Jessica, and Eagle, two of his best friends. His mind was made up. This wasn't over. He was going to set this right. "Thanks, buddy." Hawkeye then wrapped his arms around the cat, surprising him initially, yet the feline returned the hug.

"Now get outta here!" nodding, Hawkeye went back into the tunnel and noticed a pathway upward, wasting no time following it, the steepness already making itself known.

'Looks like it's going to be an uphill battle in more ways than one….'

Laurant

She was being carried, that much she was aware. Where to, she was unsure, yet the arms holding her were strong. "Set her here." a muffled voice said; her hearing had not returned to her entirely, along with her other senses. "Oh, thank you, Goddess." the spokesperson said, sighing.

"What is there to thank Her for?" another voice said. "Half of us are dead, our king is dead, and Laurant has fallen! Nevarlan bastards have destroyed everything!"

"Shut up, that's enough, Gertrude!" another voice said, the one that had presumably been carrying her. "It doesn't do us any good to talk like that now!"

"Oh, and who are you to order me around?!" the other voice snarled. "May I remind you that you're not our captain anymore!"

"Gertrude, Auntie, please!" That was Eliza. "Calm down!"

"What's there to be calm about?! The Goddess has abandoned us!" just then, while she couldn't see it, there was a shift, a change in the air that disrupted the tension. "Alma...Alma, what's wrong?"

"Auntie? AUNTIE!"

Alma? What was wrong with Alma?! She wanted to rise, she really did, yet she held no strength in her anymore. The brief bout of semi-consciousness faded from her, plunging her further into darkness.


"Princess?" Eliza again, Riesz noted. Her eyes finally opened, and while the environment wasn't the burning grounds of the formerly impenetrable kingdom, the cave's interior seemed to have already been furnished with several necessities that made it resemble a small home that had been transported to the inside of a cavern. "Princess!" the blue-haired girl threw herself onto Riesz, losing herself and weeping uncontrollably. "Princess, Princess, Princess!"

"Eh...Eliza-"

"Oh, you're ok! I was SOOOO worried! Did those nasty men hurt you too badly?"

"Eliza...squeezing...chest hurts."

"Oh! Oh yeah," Eliza backed up. "Sorry." she had yet to compose herself, however, having lost herself entirely to her emotions. "Still...sniff, you're ok. I'm so glad…."

Riesz surveyed her environment more, recognizing where he had been taken. "The secret mountain base?" she said aloud.

"Yep," Eliza confirmed. "We didn't know anywhere else to go, so we came here. Good thing Alma and your mom thought of this some time ago; otherwise, we would've been out of both home AND necessities!" The cave had the objects inside taken to it some time ago and maintained over time, the suggestion made by Alma and the then captain (soon to be crowned Queen) Minerva after the war with Pedda. Yet the fact that they were here, along with Eliza's words, all Riesz could do was lower her head. "Oh." Eliza realized that perhaps her choice of words hadn't exactly been the best. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean-"

"No, no. It's fine." the blonde assured. "At least…" she was about to say to everyone, yet remembered the brief bits of dialogue she had heard prior. "At least those that are here made it."

Eliza nodded, trying to find something positive to say. "Well...some of those guys followed up here. But they couldn't get past the samosa field," she said with a sense of comfort. "They're still snoozing away in a cell."

Well, at least there was that. But from what she had heard…"Alma!" Riesz then exclaimed. "What happened to Alma?" it was then that Eliza's features fell. "Eliza," Riesz said again. "What happened?"

She saw a middle-aged woman with hair as blue as Eliza's, motionless and breathing, but ever so steadily. "By the time we all managed to get inside the citadel," a blonde with her hair in a ponytail, Gertrude, said, "She had taken quite a beating from those two ninjas. If we hadn't all gotten there in time…" she shuddered, not even wishing to think of such a possibility.

Riesz looked down upon the former captain after her mother and now nursemaid. "Is she-"

"No, she's perfectly healthy," Gertrude assured her. "But she's still in pretty bad shape. So she will not be picking up a spear anytime soon."

Riesz lowered her head. "I see…" she bit her lip, rising from beside Alma's bed and walking away.

"Princess?" Eliza called, but Riesz simply continued, Eliza was about to go after her, yet Gertrude held her back, shaking her head.

Riesz continued on and on through the cave exit that led to a field of four-petaled flowers that swayed lightly in the wind; she noticed a small, circular monument with a crest of a shield and a pair of wings carved into it. The Princess fell before the stone, clutching and ripping the picturesque flowers beneath her, and she heaved and whispered through grinding teeth. "I'm sorry, mother." she strained to stay, fighting with all she had to keep her eyes dry. "I'm so sorry…."

Nevarl

"He's escaped!" he heard shouting from below as he looked down. "Hawkeye's escaped!" several individuals down rushed around and sounded the alarm that was a horn, alerting everyone that there was an emergency.

"Search everywhere!" the young man heard Flamekhan's voice. "Don't let him leave the grounds!"

A pang was delivered to Hawkeye's heart, yet he pressed on along the mountainside he had just reached. The shadows still provided ample cover for him as he hurried along the narrow edge. Yet shadows didn't lie everywhere. And his speed wasn't as quick as he would've liked. Still, careful steps were necessary; no mistakes could've been made; otherwise, he'd be going straight down. Unfortunately for him, he heard steps echoing from the section of the cave he had just exited from. And sure enough, "There he is!" they caught up with him. "Stop right there!" an assassin leaped forward, daggers aiming at him. Great, he was now going to have to be even more careful.

Waiting until he was at the proper distance, Hawkeye leaped up and used the assassin's shoulders as a platform to leap over the others in the trio that had found him, drawing out his daggers. The one closest to him charged, the violet-haired youth ducking and aiming the blade at his abdomen. 'Eagle.' yet he stopped; all he could see was the blonde's lifeless form in his mind. This left Hawkeye open for the assassin to elbow him in the mid-back, the thief falling to the ground. Looking up, he saw a blade approaching him; he, in turn, rolled back yet stumbled a bit as the edge was a few feet away. The assassin lunged again, and Hawkeye brought up his blades, only now, they were held backward. Striking with the hilt in the gut, the other thief keeled over in pain, Hawkeye stepping upon him and taking care of the second one in line. To Hawkeye's horror, he delivered a kick to the side of his head, and the assassin lost his balance and fell off the edge.

"Are you ok?!" a voice called out from below, a few coming to see the fallen man. He began to twitch and steadily sat up, Hawkeye sighing in relief. "Hey, it's him! Don't let him get away!"

Well, so much for a 'thank you.'. Still, he couldn't stay; stepping over the still downed assassin, he continued to run along the mountain's edge, hearing more running his way. On and on, he ran, legs burning as he climbed and climbed and climbed. Finally, having reached a good enough altitude, Hawkeye saw the fortress gates a short distance away. The bad news was that he would have to trek over the narrow ridges and quite literally make a leap of faith that may or may not lead to his freedom.

It was risky, and given his luck so far, he might've not made it. But he would try.

Laurent Secret Base

She had lost track of how long she had been there and the sense even to care. The samosa blossoms did little in their beauty to comfort or distract her; she lay on the ground next to the grave by a small hill, quietly delivering apology after apology to the one buried there.

"Princess?" Riesz lifted herself to see Eliza, sighing and looking back down to the ground.

"Not now…" she murmured.

"Princess," Eliza began again, biting her lip. "Auntie's awake."

Riesz then got to her feet in a flash. Before Eliza could say anymore, the blonde young woman rushed past her and through the base entrance, past everyone, and received glances as if they were looking upon a madman, but still, she went on. Finally, she reached Alma's beside, the blue woman looking up at her. "Riesz…"

"Alma." Riesz knelt and took the woman's hand. "Don't strain yourself. You need more rest than anyone."

"Riesz...let me ask you something." the blue-haired woman asked. "What do you wish to do?"

The young woman was confused. "What do you mean?"

"We've been discussing our next move," Alma explained. "And...what shall be done regarding Prince Elliot." Riesz momentarily turned away. "There's no need to say it. You want to go after him, don't you?" Riesz was silent yet still; after a small while, she nodded. "And that you wish to reclaim Laurent, as we all do, yes?" again, she nodded. "In that case...I have one thing to tell you." Riesz leaned forward. "Go to Wendel."

"Wendel?" Riesz said aloud, wondering where Alma was going with this.

"Yes, Wendel," Alma repeated. "Seek an audience with the Priest of Light. He shall surely give us guidance as to what must be done."

"But Alma," Riesz said. "What about all of you? I mean…" she looked down guiltily. Yes, she wanted nothing more than to go immediately, but still. "I am your captain. To simply abandon you in a time such as this…."

"Alma shall lead us." Gertrude then said. "Physically impaired she may be, her mind hasn't gone."

"Gee, you make me sound like an old woman." Alma chuckled, Riesz joining in. It was somewhat ironic she could find any sense of humor in a time like this.

"And even more, we have the samosa field protecting us." a soldier with a green bob said, having quite a peculiar accent. "And if I can get it approved, we can install a canon up here!"

"Again with the canon, Merci!" a red-haired soldier rolled her eyes. "When will you take the hint?"

"When you all realize that it's just what we need!"

A small exchange began between the two, Riesz paying them no mind and continuing to listen to Alma. "We had some go down to Palo to investigate. Unfortunately, the Nevarlians have overtaken it, so you can't simply waltz there to board a ship." she then gestured to a nearby chair with her clothing folded. "Take these. Maybe you'll have a better chance of getting by."

"Alma…" Riesz began, trying to find the words to say. "Th-Thank you."

Alma only nodded. "You have mine, as well as everyone else's blessing." The Princess needed no more, rising and rushing to get something to put her gear in and some provisions. For a moment, Alma could've sworn that she had seen Minerva herself.

Nevarl

He could make it! He could make it! He could make it! "AAAAAGH!" With one mighty leap, Hawkeye soared over the gates that led to the fortress below him, landing in the sand below. He was home free! But he probably wasn't out of trouble yet. After all, what was to stop them from simply opening the gates and coming after him. Yet that wasn't the most important thing. The more distance he covered, the better. Run was all he told himself. Run, run, run, run.

After some time, he needed to stop for a moment. Sitting down on a rock he had found, Hawkeye allowed chilled night air to travel in and out of his lungs, sweat beading down his forehead despite the cold. So far, he had seen no one so that he could afford a rest, albeit just a short one. From his place atop the rock, he could see a small settlement nearby and, even closer, an oasis. He couldn't tell at first, but there appeared to be a figure gathering something from the oasis, a small basket in her hand. A woman? Yes, it was. A woman with long, blonde hair, tanned skin, brown eyes, and a beige wrap around her chest was a top of sorts. She wore a long skirt split at her right hip, a pair of wide-brimmed shorts that ended above her knees, and no shoes. There were many fruit trees around the body of water; she took some from them: plums, dates, pomegranates, all sorts. She was filling the basket quite full, yet Hawkeye noticed in the distance that she wasn't alone. Again, he couldn't see it, yet another figure was there. One that the young man couldn't help but think looked very familiar.

There she was. She had been gathering fruit at this particular spot for some time now. He had first discovered her following his…rendezvous with that young beauty from the fortress who'd come to gather water. The woman here now had seen his handiwork and fled. Yet it seemed that she still came here despite what transpired that night. No, that she had much choice, as her attire indicated she wasn't one with an overabundance of money. She had to come. Still, she was always cautious when she came, gathering fruit or water as quickly as possible before making her way back to the settlement but a short distance away.

Tonight, however, she wouldn't be quick enough. "Ack!" he suddenly cried out, feeling the blade tip against his throat.

"Nice night for a bite, isn't it?" Hawkeye said, the vampiric man grabbing the arm that secured his throat.

"You." Malaocchio hissed before smirking. "Isabella decided to wait with you? Or has she gotten careless?"

"Let's just say I had a bit of help," Hawkeye responded, the vampire throwing the youth off of him and dusting himself off, adjusting his cape. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing that concerns you, boy," Malaocchio answered. "But," he threw back the dark fabric that concealed his noble attire. "I shall make sure that you-" suddenly, he became aware that a light was rising over the horizon. "Curses!" he hissed, ducking into the shadows. "You live this day." he snarled as he sunk into the disappearing darkness, seemingly slipping into the shadows being cast by the morning light. "Yet rest assured, come night, then a maiden's blood will NOT be the only thing I feast on!" The darkened shape ran and traveled along with the shadows until it reached a nearby gorge, slipping through the cracks and out of the area.

"Who's there?" the woman asked, having heard what had happened. "Show yourself!" she received no response, yet her eyes saw the shadow that had traveled with the ones dissipated by the sun. Then, picking up a rock, she threw it.

"OW!"

She knew it! "Come on out!" she demanded, holding her pot up. "This…" oh yes, she thought. Throw fruit at them; that'd get them to go away. "This is heavy! I'll throw it!"

"Ok, ok, take it easy." the thief answered, rising from his place. The woman was somewhat taken aback by his appearance, slowly approaching him.

She covered her mouth in shock. "Oh no, I'm so, SO sorry! I-" she then paused.

Hawkeye looked at her. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Hm…" she circled him as if he were some morsel, and she was a vulture, studying every aspect and part of him. Then, she stood back to look at him. "I thought you were...someone else." she looked back to the not-far-off gorge. "Where'd you come from?"

"Eh...let's just say, I'm kinda close but far," Hawkeye answered, the woman looking to him, then to the gorge. "Look, I'm not wanting any trouble, so I'll be out of your way-"

"Hold on." she then said. "You...wouldn't have happened to see anybody here, did you? Someone...well...I don't know what they looked like, but…."

"Dark and tall, but not exactly handsome?"

Her brown eyes widened. "You've seen him?"

Hawkeye rubbed the back of his head. "More than I would have liked to." then, to his surprise, she smiled at him.

"You look like you've had a rough night," she observed. She then reached in and picked out a date. "Here." Hawkeye was somewhat taken aback by the gesture and for a stranger no less. Still, he took it and eagerly ate it. After all, he could take off with her entire basket if he wanted. "I don't know why…" she looked at the gorge again. "But I think I owe you." she then turned, grabbing his wrist. "And I think dates are best when you wash them down with some water. Lucky for you, I picked some up earlier."

Laurent Secret Base

The morning had come. She lifted herself and went through her morning routine, cleaning herself up for the journey ahead. Everyone looked to see their Princess garbed in Alma's attire with her weapon hidden in the dress and a sack containing her regular clothes over her shoulder. Still, she wore her ribbon; they wondered if it would even be possible to pry it from her cold, dead hands seeing she was attached to it.

"Remember," Alma said from her bed, Riesz beside her. "Be as discreet as you can. Don't draw any unnecessary attention. And…" Alma paused. "Come back. Please, return in one piece and living."

Riesz nodded. "Yes, I shall." She then looked at everyone. "Thank you. All of you."

"Now, get going," Alma commanded; Eliza came forth and stood by the Princess, dressed in a pair of spare clothes, a simple pink dress with a brown corset and boots on her.

Riesz approached the entrance of the base, stopping for a moment. The wind was light today. Light but pleasant. Standing in the samosa field, her blue eyes closed and allowed the breeze to toy and play with her hair, lightly graze against her skin. Laurent winds...oh, it would be one thing she missed the most.

"Princess?" Eliza asked, pondering whether or not she should even approach. Yet then, Riesz turned to her, a solemn expression on her face, yet it quickly dissolved into one of resolve.

"I...I'm fine." she took one last look at the round gravestone, yet it was quick, unable to look for too long. "Let's go."

Oasis Village Diin

"You're one of those thieves, aren't you?" the woman asked, putting the last of her fruit on the table.

Hawkeye immediately stiffened but then gave a smile. "Sorry, ma'am. But I've got a-"

"A job?" the woman asked, giving him a knowing glance. "A rather hazardous one. Especially given that you stole from my ex-husband in Sirhtan."

"Yeah." a small boy with violet hair, a green vest with golden trimmings, beige, puffed-out pants with violet linings and patterns, and violet slippers said. "Dad was super mad about it." just looking at him, he was better dressed than the woman. And if her ex was that pompous jerk whose house they broke into, he put the pieces together as to what probably went down. Greed was a powerful and dangerous thing.

Hawkeye chuckled. "Ok, fine. You got me," he admitted. "But make no mistake. We don't steal from anyone on hard times-"

"Oh, I know well what you do." the woman told me. "And while I'd normally be appalled and any kind of theft...I gotta give you kudos." it was her turn to chuckle. "Old fart finally got what was coming to him." she then sat with him and her son, a piece of mango in her hand. "I'm Sarafina, by the way." she extended her hand.

"Hawkeye, miss." he took it.

"Miss, huh?" she giggled. "If you were a little older, I'd be tempted to keep you here." he chuckled at that too. But, hey, he couldn't help if he was desirable.

"And I'm Parth!" the boy exclaimed. "Is it true that you saved mom from the vampire?"

"Parth, you know well that we don't know WHAT that person is," Sarafina told him.

"But mom, he only comes out at night and bites people! So he's gotta be a vampire!" the boy then looked to Hawkeye. "You believe me, right?"

"Sure, kid," he answered. While he wasn't exactly a believer in vampires...he had seen more than enough in the past few hours to make him believe nearly anything. "Speaking of, should I be so bold, why were you out by yourself anyway? After all, a pretty lady like you all alone…."

She smiled. "You're good at this." he chuckled. "I wasn't originally going to go out...but Parth needs his breakfast, and...well...I'm on a diet, so I wanted to get some fruit. Free pickings and all." he saw through her lie, knowing well that she was on no diet. It seemed, from the sparse amounts of furniture in the home, they didn't have much of anything, let alone a steady supply of lurce. "But I'll admit, I was perhaps taking too big a risk, going out alone." she then grew silent for a moment. "Friend of mine...I went with her. She...she didn't come back." Hawkeye was chilled. Had he not been there, he didn't want to think about it. His eyes fell on the young boy. "But enough about that." she looked at him. "You look like you've had it rough too."

"Well...I don't know about that." he rubbed the back of his head. Who was he kidding? Last night was terrible. But being surrounded by an environment like this...he felt that any complaints would be disrespectful.

"Hey, we're fine," Sarafina assured. "But you're not." she sighed. "Still...I do sometimes wonder."

"But mom," Parth then spoke up. "I thought you said that's why you wanted to go to Wendel."

Hawkeye's eyes lit up. "Wendel?"

"Yeah, to see the Priest of Light." the boy confirmed. "Mom's been wondering what to do, so she wants some advice. The only thing is, boats aren't free to take." Wendel...he had heard of that name before, but really, he had given it no mind. "They say he knows everything." Eh, Hawkeye wasn't too sure about that. Still, the mention of it brought something to mind.


"I just don't know what to do," Eagle confessed, having wanted to meet Hawkeye in his room, away from potentially listening ears. Especially those of Isabella. "Father...he's, well, NOT acting like himself." the blonde slumped in his chair.

"Indeed." Hawkeye agreed. "Either she's got a lovely mouth, or she's pulling something."

"Hey, if the former's the case, she might be a better smooth talker than you."

"Heh, yeah. Not possible." Both young men smiled at each other. "In all seriousness, what are you gonna do about it?"

"I don't know, mainly because I don't know what she's doing," Eagle admitted. "If she's just smooth-talking to him, that's one thing. But...if it's something else...then, frankly, we're out of our league."

"Like...magic or something?" the violet-haired thief questioned. "No offense, but isn't that a little far-fetched?"

"Maybe." the blonde answered. "But if she is...then...I don't know." just then, he brought out a sack of lurce, looking at it.

"What's that for?" Hawkeye asked.

"I've been thinking of making a trip," Eagle confessed.

"A trip where?"

"To Wendel."

The holy city? "Why there?" Hawkeye asked, wondering where Eagle was going with this.

"Because I feel that I'm running out of options." the blonde sighed. "Hate to say it, but I'm getting a little desperate. And if no one around here has any advice or some sort of direction I can go in, then maybe somebody who's surely heard worse than ours can say something." he then looked to Hawkeye. "And...don't take it as a sure plan yet, but should I go," he stood up and placed his hand on the thief's shoulder. "I'd want you to come with me."


That did it. It was perhaps too soon, and maybe Hawkeye was grasping at straws, but at the moment, he wasn't exactly someone to be picking and choosing. "Miss?" he piped up. "Is...there a ship heading out anytime soon?"

"Um, I think so," Sarafina answered him. "Parth and I here are taking a trip to Sirhtan soon." she then began loading a sack with what he saw as beautiful clothing, clearly different from what she had on. "Got to clear some stuff out." was code for selling it to make a buck or two. "However," she winked. "There's room in the back of the cart."

Port Town of Palo

They had already made their way into the town. Granted, there weren't as many as those that had attacked the castle, but still, these fiends were even here, yet another reminder of what had occurred a day prior.

"You ok, Princess?" Eliza questioned, adjusting her hair.

Riesz nodded, the ship before her. "Let's go." She approached the boat and went to the skipper. "This ship wouldn't happen to be going by Jadd anytime soon, would it?" she asked.

"It's one of our first stops," he confirmed. "Wanting to take a ride? Five-hundred lurce."

"Five hundred?!" Eliza exclaimed. "Don't you know she's-" Riesz quickly silenced her, the blonde immediately handing the money to the man.

"Thank you, sir." she thanked him, wasting no time getting on board.

"Hey, wait." a voice said from behind. Turning around, two Nevarlian ninjas stood, arms crossed. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Going on a trip, good sirs," Riesz answered, practically having to strain the latter part. "And you?"

"Looking for any potential, shady characters." one of them responded. "Characters like you." Riesz was about to speak, but Eliza stepped in.

"Oh, you're being silly!" she said with a smile, playfully slapping one of them on the back. "I'm just seeing my sister off! We've got family in Jadd, you know!"

"Do you now?" the skipper looked to Riesz, then the men. Finally, he began to board as well. "Who exactly?"

"Uh...that's kinda private, isn't it?" one of them drew closer.

"Who?"

"Um…" is not precisely befitting for an Amazon, yet her Princess' escape was still vital. "Parents," Eliza answered. "Mom and dad, they've kinda been anxious to see her."

"And what about you? You ARE her sister, after all." Eliza shifted her eyes, silently begging for the ship to get going. "Family just don't get along?"

"Uh, you could say that." she couldn't think of anything else to do, save for one thing. "Uh, I think I hear mom calling! See you!" she dashed away. It was then that the two Nevarlians realized what she had just said. "Hey, get back here!"

Riesz looked on as Eliza was chased, about to go after them, yet stopped herself. 'Eliza...forgive me.'

"Here." the skipper handed a key to her. "I don't know what kind of trouble you're in, but…" he sighed. "You look like you need some time to yourself."

Riesz was silent for a moment before taking the key. "Thank you, sir." with that, she ducked through the door that led to the rooms, disappearing.

Sirhtan

"So, these are made from silk?" a woman asked, holding the dress up to survey it.

"Only the best in all of Nevarl!" Sarafina assured. "Interested? Only one-hundred lurce!"

"Whoa, that's cheap!" the two women continued to make their exchange, Parth then looking to a box on the cart.

"Ok, no one's looking!" he whispered, the box suddenly growing legs and hopping off, then made its way towards the docked ship. Unfortunately, the skipper was off conversing with some passenger that wasn't exactly happy with the price it cost to board, allowing Hawkeye to slip by. True, he'd have to stay in the box for some time, but what could the guy do? It wasn't like he could just toss him overboard when they got far enough.

Yet perhaps he wouldn't get the chance at all. "Hey," he suddenly heard, seeing two assassins approaching Sarafina. "You."

"Um, yes, me," Sarafina said. "What can I do for you, fine gentlemen?"

"Well, you see, good woman," a woman with long, red hair answered, Hawkeye's eyes widening at whom it was. "We're looking for a wanted criminal." Parth looked up at the woman, quickly hiding behind her. Sure, she was pretty, yet there was something off about her; he knew it.

"Criminal? Oh my!" Sarafina gasped. Hawkeye could tell that she was acting, yet whether or not Isabella knew that was yet to be seen. "Well, I hope you find such a terrible person. But I haven't seen anyone like that around here."

"Oh really?" Isabella questioned. "Madam," she continued. "It's of utmost importance that we find him." she urged. "He attacked his friend but a short time ago and nearly killed me when I tried to protect a said friend." Hawkeye was boiling from inside his hiding place, having lifted the top slightly to watch the scene taking place below. "Please," she then looked to Parth. "You dear son could be at risk."

Sarafina's brows then narrowed. "I can take care of my son fine, thank you," she told Isabella. "If anything, madam, you should perhaps be concerned for yourself if you have been injured as you say." she tried to hide the skepticism in her voice. "You would need to tend to that wound after all, lest it becomes infected."

Isabella was somewhat taken aback by her directness, noticing then that, to her shock, the ship was already pulling out of the harbor. She could go on and turn it upside down, no problem. If a bunch of people didn't currently surround her, one of whom wasn't particularly buying her story.

"Yes, well, I am medicating it. I'm just eager to see him brought to justice. The father of the one he killed is a dear friend of mine. He's devastated."

Sarafina nodded. "You have my deepest condolences. But if you excuse me," she gestured to the people gathering behind Isabella. "I have customers wishing to see my wares."

"Yes, of course. Thank you for your time." With that, Isabella went with the two assassins, though not before looking at the ship. You win this round, little birdie. Despite her frustration, she smiled. But don't count on luck getting you too far. After all, her eyes flashed yellow for a moment. You have to come back sometime. And I'll be planning a surprise, just for you.

Palo

It was still seen from a short distance away, but there was no way that the ship would be turning back now.

Emerging from her room in her green dress and headdress, Riesz stood and placed her hands on the edge, the winds of her homeland seemingly seeing her off, the light scent of salt meeting her nose. She closed her eyes and felt them grow moist...but no. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't. Not yet...and until this was over, not ever.

"Mother…" she quietly said to herself, undoing her ribbon, letting her blonde mane dance in the wind. "I leave father and the fallen in your care," she whispered, the wind continuing to caress and touch her lightly. "Yet leave Elliot to me." she opened her eyes and viewed the mountainous region of her kingdom for one last time.

Note: Finally done with Hawkeye and Riesz. Up next are Kevin and Charlotte.