Chapter Five: Part Seven

After they reached Felgenz, Biehn took his leave from the group. They did not press him for details about what his plans were, though Viktor made him promise to go drinking with him the next time they were in Toran together. That evening he sat in an inn room in the bustling port town. He was examining his notes, and he felt…deeply conflicted.

I didn't technically deceive them; only withholding information. But it didn't feel good hiding information from Sir Viktor. Or…from her.

He heard enough about Princess Astraea Reiser, and none of it was good. But he considered himself a good judge of character, and in the short time he had traveled with he could tell that she wasn't like the rumors. He could sense natural authority from her, but he could also sense empathy from her.

Not exactly the type to perpetuate a massacre. Especially against her own kin.

Biehn rubbed a hand over his face. He still needed more info in order to compile his report. But he already knew this was going to be messy. "…I don't think Lady Sarka will be happy about this," he murmured.

The next day…

Honigmilch

Mercer Hall was jammed with people. Eartha Riddick wasn't surprised, but it was a little annoying.

"Okay, get out of my way," she announced, grabbing arms and pulling people aside. The mercs in her unit followed suit; pushing people aside so they could get through. Once people recognized them however, men fled from Eartha's direct path. She couldn't help but smirk.

I AM pretty intimidating, aren't I?

She reached Mercer Hall's bulletin board; a massive wall covered in leaflets. She recognized the man who stood looking at the notices and called out, "Hey, Ignaz!"

Ignaz Hingabe, commander of Unit A of the Lindwurm Mercenary Brigade, glanced over his shoulder at her and smirked. "Well hello, Eartha. Ready to admit defeat once and for all?"

"Last I checked, the Couatl Mercenary Brigade has a better record than the Lindwurm Mercenary Brigade," Eartha retorted in a good-natured tone. "What's the latest with the rebellious princess?"

"Not good," Ignaz said, gesturing to the huge parchment sticking to the center of the board. "Looks like Lord Lambert's thrown his support behind her."

"Oh no, not your favorite drinking buddy," Eartha said, genuinely sounding sympathetic. "So what does His Majesty want us mercs to do?"

"It looks like—"

A hand suddenly reached out and tore the notice from the bulletin board. "Oi," Ignaz snapped, but then he stiffened. Eartha glanced to her left to see who had torn down the notice she instinctively straightened her posture.

"This job has been cancelled," Ernst said. He folded the noticed into several small squares before tucking it into his chest pocket. "New orders have been handed down for the Magic Guild. You can take it up with the Mayor or Lady Norma if you have any complaints." Then he turned to walk away.

A stony silence swept across Mercer Hall following his departure. Ignaz gave a sideways glance at Eartha. "I'm surprised you didn't try to stop him," he said.

Eartha scoffed. "I'm smarter than trying to step up to the husband of the Mistress of the Magic Guild. There's something…beastly about him."

"…Yeah," Ignaz said. "I did hear during the Falenan Civil War Prince Freyjadour personally chose that guy for his party to retrieve the Sun Rune."

"But I wonder what His Majesty has planned for the Magic Guild?" Eartha wondered aloud. She shook her head and glanced at Ignaz. "Wanna have another drinking competition?"

Ignaz grinned at her. "I'm not going to lose this time."

Blutkrieger

The corridor was filled with people carrying bags. Philomena looked at Aravine and then looked back at the servants. After a few moments she headed towards the apartment people were traveling in and out of. "Kion?" she called out.

"I'm here," came the blunt reply.

Philomena entered Kion's chambers. Her older brother was sitting at a tea table reading a newspaper. Gwenette was standing behind him with her hands clasped in front of herself. Kion's assist smiled when Philomena and Aravine entered but she made no move towards them. Neither did Kion. "I heard," Philomena said, looking at Kion. "Father's sending you to Potsfurt."

"Yeah," Kion said, not looking up. "I'm swapping places with Brendan. His Majesty wants Brendan to report back here."

Philomena hesitated before she spoke again. "I—"

"I can't take you with me," Kion interjected, looking up. "His Majesty said I'm to travel with my soldiers and Gwenette only, so don't bother asking."

"I wasn't going to ask that," Philomena said defensively. "God…why are you like this? Why do you have to treat the lot of us with contempt?! We're family, Kion!"

Kion snapped the newspaper shut and hardened his expression. "Some family we are," he said sharply. "Astraea, Sigrun, Denzel, and Vahan have become traitors. Only Brendan, you, and I remain loyal to Zelant. It's not surprising that Astraea did this, but—"

"I know you hate Astraea," Philomena cut in, moving closer. "And I know why you do. But I haven't done anything to you, Kion! I just—I want the support of my brother, okay?!" Her voice rose with her rising emotions. "Father refuses to speak to me, and I know that Brendan thinks little of me! All of you think I'm some spoiled princess who cares more about fixing her face than fixing her sword! But I'm more than that, Kion!"

Kion's brow lifted. "Are you now?"

That hurt Philomena deeply. Her vision blurred, but she clung to her rising anger so she wouldn't burst into tears in front of him. "Fine," she spat. "If you want to ice me out like you've iced everyone out, I won't stop you! But don't expect me to be there to pick up the pieces when you're alone with nothing!"

She turned to storm out of his chambers. With her back turned the tears started to fall. But as she reached the threshold Kion called out, "Wait."

Philomena stopped, but didn't turn around. She heard Kion stand up behind her. "I'm sorry," he said, his tone calmer. "I'm being cruel and you don't deserve it. You're doing the best you can, just like all of us. Once everything settles down and I return to the capital, I'll take you on a trip. We can go to the mainland Western Continent, or the Northern Continent, or even stay here in Zelant. You me, and our assists—true siblings who have stuck together through conflict. Does that sound good to you?"

Philomena swallowed thickly. She reached up and wiped away the tears on her cheeks. Her throat still felt tight but her chest didn't ache so much anymore. She nodded stiffly. "Sure," she said quietly. She glanced over her shoulder at Kion. "My choice, right?"

Kion nodded. "Your choice."

"Then I'll think about where we should travel to while we're apart," Philomena said, turning away once more. "When you come back, I'll tell you where I want us to go."

"Sounds good."

Philomena took her leave then. She didn't care if the servants saw her upset.

"That was sweet of you, Your Highness," Gwenette said softly.

"It was a good placation," Kion said, sitting down. "She didn't deserve to be punished so harshly for Vahan's betrayal. Plus a vacation will be something positive for us to focus on as we face down my traitorous siblings."

Gwenette shifted slightly before she spoke again. "Your Highness?"

"Yes?"

"Why is His Majesty the King sending us to Potsfurt when Princess Brendan has been traveling between Potsfurt and Blutkrieger?"

"I don't know." Kion picked up his newspaper again. "All I know is whatever His Majesty currently has planned…it doesn't involve any of us."

Niebieska Brama

Astraea was a woman on a mission. She assembled a party consisting of Dawa, Froth, Goose, Denzel, and Musashi and went straight to the port town. Armed with the halberd, she stalked down the familiar street where Typhon had his illegal stall. From the distance she could see the massive cage that still held Dudley. She frowned deeply and clenched her fist around the hilt of the halberd.

"That's right, ladies and gentlemen!" Typhon shouted his usual sales pitch. "For a reasonable sum of 2 million Potch, you can—ACK!" he cried out when he saw Astraea approaching. "Oh God, not you—!"

Astraea ignored him. She suddenly raised the halberd with both hands over her head and swung it down with full force. Typhon shrieked as the blade connected with the lock on the cage, shattering it with a deafening sound. Dudley wasted no time; the Duck warrior slammed his foot into the cage's door and it swung open. He leapt out onto Typhon's countertop, and Astraea tossed him the halberd. Dudley caught the halberd and twirled it a few times before he pointed it at Typhon. "Now you pay, curd," he rasped.

Typhon let out a high-pitched scream and took off running down the road. Dudley gave chase and quickly followed him.

"Well, that's that I guess," Denzel said, rubbing his forehead. "Think that swindler will learn anything from this?"

"Assuming he survives the wrath of that Duck, no," Musashi said bluntly.

"That Duck looks angry," Froth said, his face pale.

"You stole that weapon didn' you?" Goose laughed.

"Not from him, I didn'!"

"We'll leave it be for now," Astraea said. "The important thing is that Dudley has his freedom. Now let's go see Gopal."

"Right," Denzel said with a smile. "The Wheat market should be stable enough for him to join us now!"

They headed in the direction of Gopal's stall, but a familiar figure standing in front of the inn caught Astraea's eye.

They reached the market district, where all the shops were located, and one person caught Astraea's eyes. She recognized the woman in the elaborate outfit of blue. She had bronze complexion and blue hair covered by a blue headscarf. She wore a blue tank top and blue baggy pants. Her head was tilted up and she was looking at the inn with wide eyes. It was Fajr; the peculiar scrollmaker Astraea had met in Alfsberg.

Astraea quickly hurried over to her. "Miss Fajr, hi! I was worried about where you had gone!"

Fajr looked at Astraea.. "I had heard the Old Capital of the Kingdom of Zelant had a magnificent castle, but this castle is not as magnificent as I imagined."

Astraea stared at her, feeling nostalgia for a moment. "We're not in the Old Capital," she said to Fajr. "We're in the port town of Niebieska Brama."

"Oh. Really?" Fajr glanced towards the inn.

"Oh, is this the scrollmaker Sigrun was talking about before?" Denzel asked, laughing a little.

"You've traveled too far north, Miss," Dawa said to Fajr. "The Old Capital is due south of here."

"It is?" Fajr asked.

"Yes," Astraea said. She turned and pointed towards the town's gate. "If you go directly south of here you will find a bridge called Giant Passage. Cross that and then you will find the Forest of Sighs. Follow the straight path through the Forest of Sighs and keep south. There you will find the Old Capital."

"I see…I get it now!" Fajr exclaimed with excitement. "I'll finally be able to open my shop! Here I come, Old Capital!"

Fajr immediately set off—but instead of racing towards the gate, she ran towards the harbor!

"Wait, that's the wrong way!" Denzel shouted after her. But Fajr did not pause.

"Her sense of direction seems…off," Dawa said after moment.

"She must be from the Eastern Continent," Musashi said. "People from the Eastern Continent tend to have no sense of direction."

"That's a negative stereotype, Musashi," Denzel admonished him with a good-natured tone.

"Every person I've met from the Eastern Continent has no sense of direction, Your Highness," Musashi said.

"She was so beautiful," Froth said with awe in his voice.

"Can I marry her?" Goose asked.

"Oi, I saw her first!"

"Hopefully we'll run into her again, though I suspect not at our HQ," Astraea said softly.

They headed towards Gopal's trade post. Astraea saw her half-brother standing at his stall, but she also saw a familiar little girl standing near his stall shuffling a deck of cards. A smile broke out across Astraea's face and she rushed forward. "Lauretta!"

Lauretta quickly looked up, her rosy eyes going wide. Gopal laughed and waved to her. "Hello there! Wheat is doing much better now!"

"I'm so glad, Gopal," Astraea said, clasping his hand. "Will you join me now?"

"I would be glad to, Your Majesty," Gopal said to her. "But, ah…there's a new complication."

"'Complication'?" Astraea glanced at Lauretta, who was looking at her cards.

"I'm fostering Lauretta," Gopal exclaimed, his tone grim. "Federal funding to the Monarch Orphanage was cut. Qamaria has been having trouble maintaining resources for all the children, so I volunteered to foster Lauretta as a means of helping them both."

"That's awfully good of you to do," Denzel said.

"I have no family of my own," Gopal said. "So I understand what Lauretta is going through."

"You're our family, Gopal," Astraea said. "You're our brother."

"That's right," Denzel said.

"Thank you both," Gopal said sincerely. "I want to help you, but dragging this child into…" his voice trailed off.

"I understand," Astraea said. She let Gopal go and looked between them. After a moment she said, "If it helps, my HQ is the Old Capital. That's a whole city. You will both be protected there and have a home there."

"That is reassuring," Gopal said with a smile. He knelt down to Lauretta's level. "Would you like to go with us and join Her Majesty's Army?"

Lauretta looked between them. Her gaze landed upon Astraea. Suddenly she held a card out. "Play me."

"Eh?" Astraea blinked.

"Let's play High/Low," Lauretta said. "If you win, I will go with you. If you don't I won't. Until you beat me," she added.

"Well, there you have it Your Majesty," Gopal said jovially. "Lauretta and I will join if you beat her in High/Low."

"That's an easy game to cheat to," Goose said.

"I'm not going to cheat," Astraea said told him reproachfully. Goose flinched and Froth nudged him. Astraea turned back to Lauretta and softened her tone. "I accept your challenge."

Lauretta nodded. "D-Do you need me to tell you the rules of the game?"

"I think I remember them," Astraea said. "You pull two cards and flip one over. Then I have to guess if the second card is higher or lower than the first."

"Y-Yes," Lauretta said. "The numbers go from 1-9." She shuffled the cards and pulled two. She set them on the ground before Astraea and flipped one over. It showed a 5. "Now, is this one High or Low?" She pointed to the second one.

"HIGH!" Both Froth and Goose shouted.

"Low!" Denzel offered.

Astraea looked down at that card for a long moment before she made her decision. "Low."

"Awwwww!" Froth and Goose groaned in unison.

Lauretta flipped over the second card, revealing a 2. She laughed in delight and looked up. "You won, Princess!"

"She won," Gopal confirmed. "So that means we'll be joining you."

Astraea nodded and stood. "Both of you, welcome to the Reformation Army."

They waited for Gopal to close down his trading stall before heading to the gates of Niebieska Brama. "Wait, what about that pretty lady?" Goose asked, looking towards the harbor.

"She's long gone, probably," Musashi said.

As they walked, Lauretta hurried to Astraea and took her hand. When the little girl positively beamed at her, Astraea couldn't help but smile back…even as her heart felt sad.

The King defunded an orphanage. What on Earth is he thinking?! I can't imagine what this poor child has been through…

When they reached the gate, Astraea saw Dudley standing there. "That bastard eluded me," he scoffed, shaking his head. "I stand out too much around you humans."

"Are you all right, Dudley?" Astraea asked.

"I'm afraid not. I'm too far from home. I don't like being this far from my Clan." He pointed his halberd towards Froth. "You look like the human who took my weapon."

"I-I-It wasn't me!" Froth cried out, holding up his hands. "I-I only stole it from the guy who took yer weapon!"

Dudley narrowed his eyes. "Are you certain?"

"Yes! I swear, Donald—"

"Dudley," Dudley snapped at him.

"Froth, apologize to him," Astraea said.

"B-But I didn't do anything!" Froth whined.

"Are you back-talking Her Majesty?!" Dawa snapped.

"You stole property that was already stolen," Astraea said. "So please apologize to Dudley for your role in this."

"All right, I'm sorry!" Froth wrung a hand through his hair helpless. "I'm really, really sorry!"

Dudley sighed heavily. "You're not worth my energy."

"Oh, thank you!" Froth cried out in relief, grasping his chest.

"What a swell guy!" Goose agreed.

Denzel blurted out a laugh and covered his eyes. "I need to hang out with these two more often! They're just so—so stupid!"

"Don't let their stupid rub off on you, Your Highness," Musashi warned.

"But I owe you, my Lady," Dudley said, turning to Astraea. He bowed deeply. "I owe you my freedom, and for getting me my weapon back. Now I must salvage my honor. Before I can return home I have a debt that I need to pay to you. Please allow me to serve you as repayment for what you have done for me."

Astraea nodded and held out her hand to him as he straightened. "Welcome to the Reformation Army, Dudley."

Dudley's "hands" were wing. Astraea had never shook a wing before like a hand. But she still felt strength in his grip.

The Magic Guild

The announcement was made; everyone was to report to the Main Atrium. It was an amazing rotunda structure that seemed to be made of wine-colored glass. Every surface shimmered, and murals were painted on the dome above. Primrose couldn't shake the feeling of dread as she stood at the second-floor rail of the Atrium, gripping the bannister with both hands. Flissa stood to her right, and her expression was grim.

From across the Atrium, the double-doors that led to Lady Norma's private sanctum on the second floor opened and the Mistress emerged. Ernst and Ragna flanked her; the former on her left and the latter on her right. The Atrium immediately fell silent with her arrival. Her arms were folded over her chest, and her expression unreadable.

When she spoke, she didn't mince words. But Primrose immediately fell ill.

"We've been called to arms by His Majesty. The entire Magic Guild is to mobilize immediately to attack the traitor, Astraea Reiser."

The Atrium exploded in conversation. The air seemed to burn and the room seemed to spin. Primrose closed her eyes and leaned on the bannister to support herself. She didn't know how she didn't collapse.

We have to attack? The King is sending us against the Princess? But that means—!

"Primrose."

Primrose's eyes snapped open and she lifted her head. She met Norma's gaze, and she suddenly felt hundreds of eyes upon her.

"Primrose," Norma said her name again, her tone allowing no compromise. "You will be leading the vanguard."

Yeah, Ernst was in my final party in Suikoden V. Since Resounding Roar works on all enemies (including the Final Boss) I definitely needed him.

Recruits: Gopal (108), Dudley (38), Lauretta (87)