Chapter Ten

The next morning Cecil woke to the bright sun shining in his eyes through the small window beside his bed. He squinted…his mind dully recalled the events of the night…the soldiers…the officer…the little girl…she had finally spoken to him…

He rolled over to see if she were awake.

The bed was empty.

Shocked, Cecil hastily climbed from the bed, snatching his helmet from the floor, which was strewn with sheets…

"Rydia..?"

He pictured the girl hiding under the bed to scare him…my God she's doing a good job…he dropped to his knees and strained to look under her bed…

She wasn't there.

Cecil rose nervously and made his way to the door and into the hall, which was empty…

"Rydia?"

He called her name again as he strode down the hall; he nearly smashed into the grizzled old innkeeper in his haste.

"You in a hurry, son..?"

Cecil shook his head, oblivious to the man's wry smile…

"Where's Rydia?"

The old man looked puzzled for a moment and as Cecil started to explain that she was the injured little girl, the innkeeper nodded with sudden understanding.

"You mean the li'l girl you brought in here last night, eh?"

Cecil nodded hurriedly…

"I seen her bright and early this morning --"

A sigh of relief rushed from Cecil's lungs…

"--My wife took her up there --"

The man indicated a flight of stairs.

"--Said she was gonna give her a bath and some fresh clean clothes…"

The old man chuckled to himself.

"Yeah, when she come in here she was so dirty that you couldn't see nothin' but her eyes and teeth!"

A pause…

"They been up there awhile --" the innkeeper declared awkwardly. "I reckon they'll be down here in a minute…"

As soon as he made his prediction, the sound of light footsteps echoed through the room and the little girl appeared at the top of the stairs. Cecil watched Rydia bounce down the stairs happily…he almost didn't recognize her when she was clean…he was used to seeing her the way he found her…

She hopped down the last step and gave Cecil a little wave.

"Ain't she just a cute li'l girl?"

Rydia smiled shyly and looked at her feet, which were covered by two shiny brown boots. Cecil never noticed that the innkeeper was right…she was a cute little girl, with pouty lips and glittery hazel eyes…

More footsteps descended the stairs, and a woman's voice drifted down.

"She is such an adorable little girl! Isn't her hair just gorgeous?"

The innkeeper's wife appeared and she stepped down beside Rydia, who stood bashfully at the bottom of the stairs.

"I asked her if I could have some of that pretty hair --" the woman exclaimed, fondly stroking the girl's hair. "--But she wouldn't let me!"

Rydia blushed…Cecil had never noticed her hair…it had been filthy and dirty…but after it was washed and combed, he could see that it sparkled with a slight greenish tint…she also had a small quiver of arrows strapped to her thin shoulders, and a bow slung across her back…

A little boy's hunting weapon, Cecil thought with a smile…probably for squirrels and rabbits…Rydia appeared that she might decide to challenge the world with the confidence she displayed when she carried the bow…

"Listen --"

Cecil turned to the old man and his wife at last.

"--You've done so much for us; I can't repay you for it, but --"

The innkeeper hastily brushed aside Cecil's comments.

"No, son, don't you worry about payin' for nothing!"

He extended a grizzled hand to Cecil.

"We don't mind doing this a bit!"

Cecil clasped his hand graciously.

"You're too generous…to …a Dark Knight of…Baron…"

Even the name of his own hometown was foreign…

"Now don't you say that!"

The innkeeper's wife embraced him warmly.

"If you were a merchant or murderer we'd still treat you like family!"

Cecil shuddered…murderer…God, I am a murderer…if you only knew…

After Rydia said her good-byes, they left the inn and found themselves in the middle of the small town of Kaipo…Rydia followed close behind Cecil, nearly stumbling over his heels and tripping him in the process…she hummed to herself…Cecil walked in silence…he felt that he should say something to the little girl…but what? He had nothing in common with her except the fact that their paths crossed when he killed her mother…and he couldn't mention that again…

"Do you…want me to show you…how to use a bow?"

Cecil offered at last …he desperately wished he had learned to properly handle a bow…he didn't want to look foolish trying to show her how to use one…

To his surprise she glared at him indignantly.

"No! I know how to shoot a bow!"

He could clearly tell that he had offended her…He gazed into the crowd, distracted, as she continued:

"Daddy showed me how!"

Cecil nodded half-heartedly…he was straining to catch pieces of the conversations around them as they strode through the sandy streets of Kaipo…the word "Baron" caught his attention as they passed several carts of vegetables and fruits; and Cecil spun around eagerly to see who was speaking…Now you’re acting suspicious, he scolded himself…but he knew no one noticed in the bustling activity of the town…

A jovial blacksmith stood talking animatedly to a crowd of customers, and with a final raucous bellow, the customers left the burly man….as Cecil stepped hastily to the small make-shift sop, the blacksmith chuckled to himself.

"Well, sir, what kin I do for ya today?"

Cecil thought he must have looked rather odd, standing among the townspeople of Kaipo with his full plate dark armor on…but he tried to act as casual as possible…

"You can start by telling me what you’re laughing at…" Cecil leaned to him secretively. "You know they say laughter is contagious…"

The big man nodded gleefully and chuckled again.

"Them folks was sayin’ my prices are high!" he declared in a booming voice. "I told em I think my prices are reason’ble!"

Cecil nodded…he didn’t find anything humorous about the man’s words…The look on his face must have indicated the same so the jovial man continued with a laugh:

"Then they go and say they kin find better steel in Baron and at a better price, I tell em ‘Sure!;" he started to cackle again. "If you want it blood-stained!"

He erupted into thundering laughter…Cecil frowned for a brief moment but forced himself to not hint at the fact that he was from Baron…he managed a small laugh.

"There are good people in Baron, man –"

It sounded defensive when he said it so Cecil followed it by:

"—so I’ve heard…"

Too bad I’m not one…he thought in dismay…

"Oh yessir!" The blacksmith became serious. "And I do pity em, man…Living under that tyrant…"

Cecil could do nothing but nod in agreement…you never knew his Majesty when he was…a good man…he silently told the man…

"—Which reminds me…" the big man started with sudden interest. "I think a girl from over yonder round Baron came this way not too long ago…sick with the fever and nearly dying…"

Cecil grimaced. The desert fever…it was a horrible disease…he thought he had it during his agonizing journey through the desert…The burly blacksmith continued the conversation mostly to himself:

"—The girl was delirious or somethin’…seeing ghosts…callin’ people’s names when they weren’t there –"

Cecil nodded…he was losing interest…he didn’t want to hear about someone else who was dying…possibly dead now…

"Yeah –" the blacksmith agreed with his own observation, a thoughtful frown on his fat red face. "—She was callin’ some feller by the name of Cecil –"

Cecil froze…had he heard correctly? Yes, his mouth was dry and his heart had stopped…he wasn’t just hearing things…

The big man shook his head, clucking his tongue sympathetically.

"It was terrible and pitiful all at once, man –"

Cecil was speechless…Rydia stared up at him with her luminous hazel eyes…she seemed frightened of his sudden silence…

Finally he was able to gasp weakly:

"Wh--where is…she…?"

The blacksmith gazed at him blankly.

"Who? --Oh, the girl, ya mean!" He nodded with understanding. "Some old folks over yonder took her in to try and get rid of the fever and all…"

He tossed a grizzled hand toward the outskirts of the small village but kept his eyes on Cecil uncertainly.

"Son, you alright..?"

It took a moment for Cecil to realize the man was talking to him…He looked up hastily…

"You look as pale as a ghost!"

"I'm…fine --" Cecil claimed a bit too defensively…he gave a weak smile and attempted to soften his voice. "--I just…wanted…to know…"

The blacksmith studied him suspiciously…

"Alright, son --" he sighed at last, too busy to be concerned about the strange behavior of the dark knight. "--You go on and take it easy…"

His last words were spoken with sympathy, and the man backed away from Cecil as if he had a contagious disease…Cecil offered a muffled thanks and turned toward the outskirts of town dizzily…I don't believe the old fool, he thought…What he said about the sick girl…it couldn't really be true…

…Could it…?

"Cecil?"

He nearly jumped as a meek voice spoke.

"Are you okay?"

Rydia stared at him with genuine concern….Cecil nodded…

"I'm fine," he spoke too enthusiastically…but she was a child…she wouldn't notice…

"Come on…"

His gaze shifted to a humble little house resting in the bright sound…an elderly woman was busily pruning a vase filled with withered flowers…the scene reminded Cecil of Mrs. Farrell, Rosa's mother…He imagined how much delight Mrs. Farrell would take in planting a flower or two in the barren soil…the woman tossed the brown stalks aside…She looks like she would help a sick girl, Cecil decided…it was an odd observation…How could he look at her and assume she was the type of woman who would help a sick girl? Well…she took great care of her poor flowers, so shouldn't she have compassion on an injured person…?

As Cecil desperately thought of how to approach the old woman, she noticed him and gave a pleasant wave.

"Hello there!"

Cecil slowed his pace…she certainly sounded kind enough…

"What on earth are you wearing that dark armor for in this sunshine?"

Before Cecil could fumble for a reasonable answer, she continued:

"Oh, honey, don't you worry bout telling me! I shouldn't be so nosy anyway!"

Cecil sighed when he realized she wasn't going to demand an answer…the woman snatched weeds from the vase and tossed them from the porch absently…Cecil wondered how he could mention the sick girl without sounding too eager…

"Oh! Isn't she just a doll?"

The woman was gazing at Rydia affectionately, and the little girl beamed but looked away, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"I bet your father is proud of you!"

It was Cecil's turn to blush fiercely beneath his helmet and shake his head vigorously.

"I--I'm not…her father…"

He paused…God it was sweltering under that helmet…

"I'm just…taking care…of…her…"

The old woman accepted his answer and clasped her hands in front of her.

"Well, isn't that sweet?"

Cecil wished he could tell the woman everything…about the fire…the earthquake…it would have made him feel better…

"I've got a bow!"

Rydia exclaimed, waving the small bow at the woman.

"And I know how to shoot!"

She cast a disapproving look at Cecil as the old woman smiled at her. She then turned to Cecil, slightly worried.

"You aren't going through the desert, are you, dear?"

Cecil was on the verge of admitting that yes, they probably would go through the desert, when the old woman continued:

"A young lady came through here so sick that she could hardly walk!"

Cecil felt a spark of hope rush through him and he stepped toward the woman.

"It…must…have been --"

"It was the Desert fever," the old woman broke in as if she could read his mind. "--And the poor girl was struck with it terrible!"

Cecil had made his way onto the porch without realizing it.

"--She kept calling someone's name like he was right here with her!"

He…is…Cecil thought his heart leaping with excitement…

"Was it…Cecil…?"

He grabbed the woman's arm earnestly and she glanced at him, baffled.

"Was what Cecil? Oh, honey, you mean the name!"

She frowned thoughtfully.

"Well, now, come to think of it, I reckon it was Cecil!"

Cecil stepped way from her, and the old woman studied him curiously…

"Why?"

"I'm…Cecil --"

He drew the horned helmet from his head and let his silvery hair spill around his face.

"The sick girl…her name is Rosa…"

The woman's eyes opened wide.

"Oh, why didn't you say it sooner?"

She started to the door urgently.

"Please go in! My husband's there!"

Cecil motioned for Rydia to follow him up the stairs and he thanked the woman graciously before entering the door of the house.

They found themselves in a narrow hallway which led to a small dimly lit room…Cecil's heart reflected each footstep as they hastily made their way toward the room, where an elderly man sat quietly at a desk, a book laid before him. The room smelled of sharp medicines and clean linen sheets and…sickness…it reminded Cecil of the hospitals where he often went to visit Rosa…it had been so depressing to see her there, looking so beautiful among the pale and sickly patients…But when his gaze finally fell on the small bed pushed into the corner of the dimly lit room, everything changed…it was almost like looking toward the sun at noon day and seeing the moon instead…

This time Rosa Farrell laid, helpless, weak, in the bed…others would hover near her in concern, asking her if she felt better or worse over and over…Cecil gasped…the sight was horrible, pitiful…never had he seen Rosa look so helpless…

It was frightening…

"Rosa…"

Cecil dashed to the side of the bed without speaking to the old man. There was a dull light in Rosa's eyes, her golden hair was damp and clung to her forehead where she sweated from the fever…her face was ghastly white…except for her flushed cheeks… The elderly man stood painfully at last when he noticed the arrival of the Knight…Cecil knelt beside Rosa and took one of her hands gently…he wanted to say something but he found that he couldn't…

"Cecil --"

Rosa gazed at him weakly; her hand closed around his.

"--Please don't leave…me…"

Cecil shook his head hastily, pressing her cold hand to his cheek where a single tear had fallen.

"Rosa…my God…I won't leave you…"

After an awkward silence the old man spoke.

"She has the desert fever, sir. You should not be near her…"

Cecil rose and glared at the old man fiercely.

"Can't you do something for her?!"

…Don't you see she's dying?! He felt like adding but didn't…

"I've done all I can do, young man --" the old man shook his head wearily. "--But --"

"You have to do more!" Cecil declared angrily: "You have to --"

The old man raised a thin arm for silence…Cecil stopped in mid-sentence…I'm a rude bastard he scolded himself…the poor guy is doing all he can it's not enough for me…

"You can do something for the girl, sir…"

Cecil gaped at the old man…

"What?"

He rose from the ground eagerly.

"Tell me! I'll do whatever it takes!"

…To make sure she doesn't die…he looked down at Rosa as the old man continued:

"You must bring a sand ruby to cure the fever…"

He closed the book lying on the desk…Cecil stared at him and sighed with relief…a sand ruby…was that it..?

"Where can I find a sand ruby?"

The old man paused…he was uncertain as to whether or not he should tell the young Knight…after all, it would be quite dangerous…

But, the way the young man knelt beside the sick girl's bed…it was obvious that she was very important to him…and his own welfare would matter little…

"It is in the lair of the ant-lion --" the man stated at last. "But the ant-lion only nests in the caves north of the Cappadocian Mountains. It will be dangerous --"

It was useless for the man to speak of the danger…Cecil stepped hurriedly to Rosa's side.

"Rosa…I'm going to get s sand ruby to cure you!"

He brushed strands of hair from her pale face.

"I'll be back soon, Rosa…"

She was sleeping peacefully, but he spoke to her anyway…God he was just so happy to see her…he probably would have stayed by her side forever if the old man had not mentioned the sand ruby…

"--Please stay…well…while I'm gone --"

Her light weak breathing was the only answer…the old man laid a thin hand on Cecil's shoulder…

"It is very dangerous in those mountain caves, sir…You must be careful!"

Cecil turned around and clasped the frail hand thankfully.

"Thanks so much for what you've done…" he said in a whisper. "Now it's my turn, sir…I'll be back with the sand ruby…"

The old man nodded with a sad smile.

"I cannot help but believe you when you believe in yourself…"

Cecil bowed his head…do I believe in myself? I have to believe in myself, since I'm doing this for Rosa…

Without another word Cecil motioned for Rydia to follow him. As they left the room Cecil glanced at Rosa once more, hoping that it was not the last time…