***Author's notes: Thank you sooooo very much everyone for all your patience. This is not a return to form or any sort of consistent schedule yet, I just really wanted to get something pushed out the door. I still can't promise when the next chapter will be up, or when I'll be back on posting regularly, but I will be doing everything I can to make sure this story does one day reach completion! Thank you again for your support and understanding.
IV.
Louise wanted to think more about what Berserker had said in regards to Rosa, but knew that her and Rider had far more pressing concerns. She had already planned their investigation of the catacombs for this night, and she needed to make sure they had everything worked out for what was quite possibly a dangerous survey. For now she had to put Rosa out of her mind and focus on what was in front of her.
"We'll wait until later tonight to head for the catacombs. You scout the entrance out in spirit form first. I worry there may be police or security guards present. Especially if what the Juge said is true, it's possible she's sent the local authorities to investigate. Incapable as they are in these sorts of matters, it would be too bothersome to deal with a surprise encounter."
"And if there is a police or security presence?" Rider hoped it wouldn't just mean a cancellation of their excursion.
"Some light hypnosis should let us slip by no problem." Louise had a mischievous look on her face as she offered the solution.
"The Saint-Hermine specialty again?" Rider was unsure of the tactic considering its decisive involvement in their last battle plan.
Louise could feel Rider's disquiet. "Nothing quite like last time. It will be a mere forget-me spell for this occasion.. I'll just cause a small gap in the memories of anyone who may chance upon seeing us. It doesn't work terribly well on other magical beings. But is incredibly effective against mundane folk."
It was a dreary, cloudy day as the pair passed through the Place Saint-Sulpice, the wide-open space was dominated by the massive fountain at its center, the seated statues that adorned its top stared down at the Master and Servant as they walked by. The seated figures carved of stone were not the only ones watching Louise and Rider as they made their plans for the coming night. There was another individual, whose brightly colored clothing and energetic manner put them in sharp contrast with the stone reliefs under which they were lounging. They also watched the duo with far more vested interest than the inanimate decorations. The long pink ruffled skirt, thin white cardigan, and his wavy locks seemed to float in the air as Zoe de Franchi danced his way over to his rival Master. His numerous thin gold and silver bracelets produced an almost musical jingle that caught Louise's attention as he closed in. With a final ring of his jingling necklaces, Zoe landed in a bent over posture as he examined the young Saint-Hermine up close, a playful, prying smile on his face.
"From my brother's description I was expecting far less of you. But now that I get a look for myself there's something more to you I think." Zoe said, widening his mischievous smile.
"I beg your pardon-?" Louise tried to respond before Zoe cut her off.
"Zoe de Franchi. Brother to one Leo de Franchi, whom I know you have already become recently acquainted." A genuinely friendly smile replaced Zoe's troublesome look as he straightened up to a proper posture. Despite his soft and light appearance Zoe was rather tall, standing a little over 180 centimeters.
"A pleasure, Monsieur." Louise offered her hand, but instead of shaking it, Zoe scooped it up and planted a light kiss on the back. As he grabbed hers Louise was able to clearly see the command seals on Zoe's own left hand, the twin knot design stretching down symmetrically was quite different from her own more hectic seals. "Pardon, Monsieur de Franchi-"
"Just Zoe is fine, madame." The eccentric mage answered with a wink.
"Pardon, Zoe. But from what your brother had said I was under the impression he was the representative for the de Franchi family in this war. But I see command seals on your hand so I can assume I was mistaken."
"Oh yes, these. I'm afraid my brother's self-assured manner and direct tone could paint him as being the one chosen to represent the family. However, as you can see, it is I. As further proof," with a theatrical twirl Zoe released Louise's hand and snapped his fingers. In response to the signal, with little concern for if any passerby were paying attention, both Archer Servants materialized behind their Master. "May I present, l'Archer Rouge, and l'Archer Noire."
Though they, like Rider, were dressed in more contemporary clothing, the red and black Archer were both quite recognizable to Louise and her Servant. Noire, his short black hair messy and unkempt, most notably wore his bright beaming smile, his shining teeth ever present as they were on the first encounter. His combat clothes had been replaced with a somewhat sloppily worn black button-down shirt, only half of the front of which was tucked in and the top most buttons intentionally left undone. The finely pressed gray slacks that accompanied it were at odds with how well cared for they appeared. The violet cloak that concealed his arm before was replaced with a similarly colored jacket that he wore draped over his shoulders, and though the garment seemed constantly in danger of falling off, it managed to remain firmly in place. He wore a pair of black driving gloves, however the lack of a vehicles presence, much less lack of use a Servant may have for one, brought into question if they served any function.
L'Archer Rouge was dressed in a similar manner of casual clothing. A simple white shirt was paired with a pair of baggy red pants, the vibrancy of them seeming brighter alongside his equally intense red hair and especially so when compared to the long black coachman coat he wore. Along with a gray driving cap that had replaced his felt hat from before, the other flourish of his outfit was a pair of black suspenders decorated with light golden paisley patterns.
Despite the lack of their weaponry from before and the fact that they were in public in the middle of the day, Louise could not help visibly putting up her guard. There were a tense few moments where no one said or did anything, but all of a sudden Zoe was laughing hysterically which prompted amused smiles from both Archers.
"Forgive my outburst, madame. But the serious look on your face was just too much." Zoe held his hands on his stomach as he spoke through his laughter. "Do you really think we would do something as silly as attack out here in the open?"
"I suppose not." Louise felt a little embarrassed, but remained tense despite Zoe's reassurance.
"I'm also hurt considering I was under the impression Leo had explained to you that we were here to help."
"He had explained that part of your familial obligation, yes. But he had also implied a motive that was far less cooperative." Louise had not forgotten the threatening words Leo had left her with regarding fighting the Archers.
"There goes Leo saying unnecessary things again." Zoe put his hand on his head and shook it in an exaggerated manner. "I thought I had sent you boys along to make sure he didn't do anything untoward."
"Oh, my Master, do not chastise so." Noire with all his natural bravado was quick to respond. "Though I would have savored the chance to interact with the wonderfully capable Master and her equally lethal Servant, we had no choice in the matter. We were completely waylaid on our attempt to follow Leo."
"Please, Rouge, enlighten me further." Zoe, for all his own theatrics, seemed easily exhausted by Noire.
"My partner speaks the truth." Rouge was far more direct than his companion. "The other Master who had taken Mme. Saint-Hermine into his care had also gone to great lengths to defend his workshop. We were completely barred from entry. Frankly I was rather impressed Leo was allowed in at all."
"My oh my." Zoe did an excellent job of looking put out by the whole situation. "My oh my! Madame, please accept my apology on behalf of the de Franchi family. My brother, bless his heart, has a habit of saying needlessly harsh things. Whatever he has said to you, I promise that I, as the Master in this Grail War, have no intention of following through on any threats he may have made."
At first Louise did not want to trust Zoe. Leo had left a strong impression, but his brother, even if Zoe was only acting, seemed very sincere. It was also true that, as Zoe had pointed out, he was the Master. Even if Leo had more selfish ulterior motives, he was of little consequence considering his lack of Servants. If Louise was going to trust Zoe, and trust his loyalty to the Saint-Hermine family, she needed to see if his actions matched his words. His timing was choice, then, considering Louise had the perfect thing in mind for such a test.
"I accept your apology on your brother's behalf monsieur." Louise offered a smile. "And I would be happy to accept the de Franchi family's assistance in the proceedings of the Grail War."
"Wonderful!" Zoe hopped around to face his Servants, offering them each a hand to exchange high-fives. Noire energetically returned the gesture, while Rouge, slightly embarrassed, returned Zoe's enthusiasm with a light tap. "We are, all of us, at your service." Zoe curtsied as his Servants offered bows of their own.
"The timing is excellent for you to say so, monsieur-"
"Zoe." He interrupted.
"Pardon, Zoe. Rider and myself shall be undertaking an investigation into the possible location of one of the other Masters and their Servant. It would be much easier to search the rather expansive area we will be examining if we had more eyes, and your dual Servants would be an even greater boon."
"Master." Rider sounded extremely uncomfortable at what Louise was proposing.
"It's alright, Rider." Louise put up a hand to silence Rider. She knew his apprehension was valid, but now was not the time for the two of them to argue. There could be little visible weakness between them in front of their rivals. "Well, Zoe, what do you think?"
"What do I think?" Zoe made a show of considering the idea as he exchanged looks with his Servants. "I think it sounds wonderful! So, where are we headed?"
"Do you think this is the safest course of action?" Rider asked. Plans for meeting up that night had been made with Zoe who had departed shortly afterwards, and Louise and her Servant were now heading back to Grimaud's.
"There is nothing safe about it to begin with, Rider." Louise, despite her words, had an assured grin. "But I thought I was doing things the safe way before. And whether or not he's trustworthy, Zoe will, for the time being I think, at least keep up a facade of dependability. Things will be easier for him if our cooperation leads to the defeat of other Masters before he turns on us. No, if he wants to secure a victory the best course for him is to save us for last and let our alliance be his key advantage."
"I personally think a Master who has two Servants has advantage enough. Especially when at least one of them is able to recover from a mortal wound." Rider was clearly still perturbed about the outcome of their first fight with l'Archer Noire.
"A power like that I'm sure comes with an equally great weakness. We'll figure out the trick to it before it becomes a problem. Besides, I stand by what I said, the investigation will be easier with more eyes. We can't waste this opportunity."
"That at least I can agree on." Rider nudged Louise's shoulder.
"What's that grin for? I don't know if I've seen you like this before." Louise was surprised at the excitement that had spread over Rider's face, which had been so dour the past few days.
"I imagine I must look rather as Porthos did whenever we were about to knowingly head into a likely deadly situation. I can't fight the rising excitement."
"I will say that despite everything I think you're right." The burning frenzy Louise had felt during her first few fights had clearly not been doused by the encounter with Rosa, as she could feel a similar heat now. A reckless grin that matched Rider's face was spread across her own countenance. "Well then, when we get back, we drink to Porthos."
"A wonderful idea, Master!"
"I think I will also get some sleep when we get back. I feel it's going to be a rather long night."