Chapter Three

Preparations were being made for the arrival of the Red Wing squadron. Citizens of the town of Baron and the officials of the castle gazed at the airships and jostled one another to get a view of the fearless Red Wing captain. Cecil and the crewmembers stepped to the railing and a great cry erupted from the crowd…deafening applause followed the outcry as Cecil raised the Crystal of Water high above his head.

The hatch was lifted from the floor of the airship and the stairs slid down to the ground. A procession of soldiers marched down the steps waving their arms and cheering foolishly. The crown erupted again, pointing and clapping and littering the ground with flower petals…they leaped left and right, trying to sneak a peek at the Red Wings.

Finally Cecil emerged, his horned helmet in one hand and the crystal in the other…his young handsome face was flushed and his dark eyes glittered as bright as his silverish hair. The people roared as they noticed his arrival, and the crowd surged toward the airships despite the guards’ attempts to control them. Amidst the chaos the guards were hoisted into the air by the frenzied townspeople, and Cecil would have been praised in the same manner if a familiar voice hadn’t thundered over the boisterous congregation.

"Enough of this, people! Give the Captain of the Red Wings some breathing room!"

A hand drifted above the heads of the people, and the owner of the hand at last succeeded in clearing a path through the mob. A serious, youthful face appeared among the excited faces of the people. Golden hair, brushed to one side lazily, dangled in the bright eyes of the newcomer, and with a swipe of a silver-gloved hand, the man pushed it aside. A rapier slapped against his side as the young man bodily made his way through the ravenous citizens.

"Baigan!"

It was a surprise…Cecil would have rather greeted anyone besides the chief guard; but he was attempting to keep away from the clutching hands of the townspeople. The Dark Knight shouldered his way toward the young man and clasped his hand.

"Congratulations, Cecil!"

The Chief Guard’s voice was surprisingly genial…the crowd gave another chortle before Cecil could speak again, and the mass of people began to surge over the drawbridge and into the courtyard. They slowly made their way to the steps of the courtyard amid a medley of shouts, praises, screams, applauding, and flower petals.

The Chief of Guards spoke first:

"So, you’ve got the Crystal of Water?"

Cecil glanced at him, not trying to hide his scowl…why is that so important to you, Baigan..?

Cecil nodded.

"But, the people of Mysidia…they were helpless…"

His obvious tone of regret was not unnoticed by the Chief of the Guards. Baigan gazed at him for a moment suspiciously:

"What are you trying to say, Cecil?"

A pause…no response…

Baigan disregarded the question and produced a bottle of wine from behind his back.

"Take this."

Cecil took the wine bottle thrust toward him and glanced at it. The tumultuous crowd had become moderate, all eyes fixed upon the Dark Knight expectantly. I don’t want to drink, he thought in dismay, not tonight…this was supposed to be a victory for Baron but I feel…nothing…

He looked at the waiting spectators…the courtyard had become shockingly quiet…

Cecil tipped the wine bottle toward his mouth and took several gulps. The people fell into a frenzy and the roar was deafening as Cecil displayed the Crystal one last time…

He and Baigan started toward stronghold of the Baron Castle. The crowd would have gladly followed them but the Chief Guard raised his hands for silence.

"Sorry, ladies and gentlemen…the welcoming party is officially over!"

The multitude of people booed and hissed loudly, but the negative reaction soon became a furious shouting and applauding as Baigan snatched the bottle of wine from Cecil’s hand and flung it into the hysterical crowd.

Cecil watched the celebration without emotion…why are they doing this? Why are they celebrating like this? They weren’t there to see what happened…to see how we got the Crystal… and they won’t be there tomorrow…I won’t be there tomorrow when someone wakes up without a mother or father or friend…

"I’d like to commend all of you on a job well done!"

The Chief of Guards was speaking loudly to the knights.

"This task has been the most rewarding task that Baron has ever performed!"

Then he added:

"And I hope you’ll agree with me!"

The other soldiers murmured in approval but Cecil’s expression remained unchanged. Baigan noticed and frowned slightly before turning to the other men.

"By my permission you’re free to do as you please tonight!"

There was a muttered thanks as the men shifted impatiently.

"Go and drink to your health and to the health of His Majesty and to the health of your fellow crewmembers until you’re drunk and unhealthy…then drink to God and pray for him to restore your health!"

The men laughed uproariously and departed, sauntering in different directions. Cecil didn’t move, and Baigan eyed him thoughtfully before motioning to him.

"This way…"

They walked silently down a corridor, well lit by the torches on the walls. The flames danced brightly and reflected from the pale blue crystal clutched in Cecil’s fist.

"There was no trouble in capturing the crystal?"

Baigan’s voice broke the silence. Cecil shook his head but remained quiet for a moment…what are you trying to do, Baigan? He wanted to ask the Chief of Guards, but the Chief would simply laugh…Cecil, you’re paranoid, he would say…

Cecil cleared his throat.

"The Mysidians had the wizards as their only defense…they didn’t stand a chance…"

Baigan smirked and mumbled something about weak fools, but aloud he inquired:

"So…some of the great Mysidian wizards fell?"

He mockingly emphasized the word ‘great’ and once more Cecil made no immediate reply. At last he gave a half-hearted laugh before declaring:

"Their blood still stains the crystal…"

It was strange, how true those words were…Baigan said nothing and saluted a guard in the hall as they passed.

"You say that regretfully, Cecil," Baigan remarked finally. He stopped quickly and turned to Cecil, a half-smile on his face.

"Does it bother you? Do you regret doing what his Majesty ordered you to do?"

He frowned at Cecil scornfully…Cecil didn’t look at him…

"Killing isn’t something I like to do, Baigan…" he intoned softly so the Chief wouldn’t hear the quivering in his voice. "I didn’t swear my allegiance as a Dark Knight of Baron to do these things…"

Baigan began to pace forward again, and when he spoke, his voice was low and mysterious:

"You are aware that the Mysidians knew too much about the power of the Crystal?"

Baigan turned to Cecil with a frown.

"We can’t just leave that kind of power in the hands of those fools who don’t even know what to do with it!"

…the power of the Crystal…Cecil couldn’t honestly say that he knew anything of the power of the crystal...

They approached the door to the throne room. Two attentive guards saluted Cecil and the Chief of Guards.

"His majesty will see you now, Captain Cecil…"

Cecil nodded half-heartedly. Baigan noticed his hesitation and scowled, though he made no reply. He politely pulled the door open and stepped aside.

"After you, Captain," he stated coolly, almost mockingly…Cecil ignored his tone and stepped into the throne room.

The soft plushy carpet sank beneath his boots unexpectedly, and Cecil nearly stumbled forward on the unusual footing. He glanced around at the richly furnished chamber in awe; of course, as Captain of the Red Wings of Baron, he had seen the throne room…he had been invited personally by King Odin himself…it still struck him as quite magnificent…

Maroon tapestries hung from the stairs and the balcony in the room…sconces perched on each side of the stone wall and flames burned merrily, as if they were satisfied to be surrounded by such luxury.

Upon the heavily cushioned throne sat King Odin St. Sanierre himself. He was quite a noble figure, adorned with the flowing maroon robes…if one were to see him they would imagine him as nothing more than a tyrant; fit for nothing but ruling and wielding no defensive powers himself. However, he was a skilled swordsman…no one would think the stern-faced, clean-shaven man, whose eyes often twinkled merrily whether he were speaking to a farmer or to the highest ranking official of any given nation, would carry a blade with such confidence. He would not back away from a fight…as long as he believed he were fighting for the good of the nation…

That had suddenly seemed to change…almost overnight…one would have thought the King laid down to sleep and woke at some time during the night, stricken with the idea that he should not fight for the nation anymore, but should instead fight for himself…no one understood the change of heart; no one questioned it…

Cecil bowed humbly to the King, whose eyes were already glittering as he noticed the arrival of the Captain.

"Captain Cecil of the Red Wings!" he boomed jovially, standing and gesturing for Cecil to do the same. The King clasped Cecil’s hand warmly…

…he’s waiting for me to give him…this…

Cecil glanced at the crystal of Water in his hand…it sparkled…

"I’ve brought the…crystal, Your Highness," Cecil ventured to say at last. King Odin’s eyes sparkled eagerly…too eagerly, Cecil told himself but said nothing aloud…

"Captain Cecil Harvey…" the King gazed at Cecil in unusual respect. "You have succeeded in one of the greatest duties to your nation that you will ever commit…"

Cecil nodded…then why don’t I feel the same? He wondered…why do I feel…nothing…?

"You are one of the greatest Knights this nation has ever seen…you should be proud of yourself and of the soldiers who assisted you…"

Cecil nodded again, suddenly feeling awkward…the Crystal of Water seemed to begin to grow hotter…it felt as if it would scorch his fingers…

At last he thrust the crystal toward King Odin hastily…God, he must have looked as if he had the plague…the King made no comment…Cecil sighed…a heavy burden had been lifted from his chest as he surrendered the crystal…

"It is the Crystal of Water!" King Odin intoned numbly, gazing at the smooth stone in his hand…Baigan stood very close to him…he nodded in his head as though in a stupor, his blond hair bobbing up and down…

"It’s finally fallen into our hands…" the Chief Guard spoke triumphantly…Cecil bowed his head…it didn’t just fall into our hands…there were other events that happened…he’s daring me to say something about it, Cecil thought angrily…

"Captain Cecil," the King was saying as Cecil looked up quickly…Baigan had a strange smile on his youthful face…"

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"If it is your will, you may be dismissed now…"

King Odin clutched the crystal close to his body as if he were afraid it would leap from his hands…a feeling of regret an guilt washed over Cecil again…what kind of power does the crystal have? Does it have the power to feel? Maybe it has emotions like we do, Cecil thought…Maybe it can feel hurt and pain and fear and sorrow and hate like we do…

So, what does it feel now…?

Cecil stared at the Crystal of water…dull light flickered through it…

"Does it feel like…I do…?"

"Is there something else, Cecil?"

Cecil glanced at the king in surprise…he had spoken aloud without realizing it…King Odin gazed coolly at the Captain; he was not the kind-hearted man that he had been years ago or eve minutes ago…Baigan had a strange half-smile on his face…a sneer…suddenly Cecil was angry…

"The crystal…"

Cecil indicated the stone in the King’s hand…

"Does it feel…like…we do…?"

King Odin scowled.

"Captain Cecil, I’m not certain I understand –"

"Does it feel the same way I feel?" Cecil blurted out loudly, stepping toward the two figures. "Is that what kind of power it has?"

Baigan seemed to smirk to himself; he inwardly gloated…Cecil would give himself away after all…

Cecil sighed:

"No…it can’t feel…emotions…"

He spoke bitterly, uncaring of the cold eyes staring at him.

"…Emotions aren’t…power…" Cecil revealed. "Emotions are a weakness…"

King Odin studied the captain of the Red Wings for a moment. Then he uttered a sigh:

"What emotions do you claim as your weakness, Cecil?" he asked testily…Cecil didn’t look at him…

"…Regret…" he whispered through clenched teeth. "…and mercy…"

King Odin gazed at the floor thoughtfully…Baigan’s eyes seemed to laugh…seemed to say ‘I told you so, your Majesty…’ Cecil found himself hating the Chief of Guards…

"I’ve been informed of your discontent, captain," the King replied at last…Cecil’s face flushed when he heard the scornful tone of the man’s voice…Cecil glanced at Baigan, his dark eyes glittering angrily.

"You’re being informed by a hypocrite!"

"Hypocrite?!"

Baigan echoed, sidling closer to Cecil menacingly.

"I won’t stand in front of his Majesty and listen to you resort to name-calling like a child!"

Baigan’s hand was on the rapier at his side…Cecil nearly laughed aloud…the fool…he would fight for his pride and for the king’s honor…

Isn’t there something more to fight for? There was another reason we swore allegiance to the Dark Knights of Baron…

"But, you’ll draw your sword like an idiot and threaten me in front of your King?"

Baigan flushed an ugly red…he clenched his teeth, too angry to speak…

"I won’t let you denounce my loyalty to his Majesty the way you’ve denounced yours!" Baigan snarled, starting toward Cecil.

"And I won’t stand here and watch two of the most honorable soldiers of Baron fight like ravenous wolves!"

King Odin’s eyes flashed…Baigan immediately backed away, ashamed…Cecil did nothing…his face remained unchanged…

"Captain Cecil --"

The King turned to Cecil resolutely.

"—since you’ve admitted that your emotions tend to hinder your duties…I feel that I can’t place my trust in you as Captain of the Red Wings…"

Cecil closed his eyes…he knew this would happen; but, something inside didn’t want it to happen…

"What are you saying…your Majesty?"

The King paused for a moment…he let out a sigh:

"Your final duty to the Red Wings and the Baronian Empire will begin at sunrise tomorrow…"

…final…the word was so…cold…unkind…it was suddenly strange to him…it meant nothing…

"Your Majesty –"

King Odin held up a hand for silence.

"Sir Cecil, you still stand on the grounds for treason –"

Cecil’s eyes narrowed.

"—any word spoken against the Empire can be used against you…"

This is how it ends, Cecil realized…what I wanted to be…everything I wanted to do…like my Father…

"—I suggest you say nothing more, Cecil…"

Cecil’s head was bowed…there’s nothing more to say, is there?

"What’s my final duty…to the Red Wings?"

Of course, there’s always something more to say…

"You’ll deliver a message to the Village of Mist in the Misty Mountains—" the King said simply, almost as if he were saying ‘the sun rises in the East.’

But Cecil knew it wouldn’t be so simple…

"—speak to one of the guards in the morning and let him know you are to get the scroll from him…"

Cecil nodded, speechless…everything seemed strange…the light was too bright…the carpet was too red…like blood…Cecil’s forehead was damp but he felt so cold…everything was gone…the final duty tomorrow…it was his death…as far as Cecil was concerned, he would die tomorrow as he started north toward the Misty Mountains…

"Your Majesty—"

Cecil was suddenly pleading…it couldn’t be over…

"Sir Cecil, that is all—" the King brushed his pleas aside with a wave of his hand…

…It can’t be all! Cecil wanted to scream…don’t you see this is my life?!

"Your Majesty!"

Cecil shouted the king’s name though he stood beside him…Baigan quickly intervened, laying one silver-gloved hand on Cecil’s arm:

"Didn’t you hear what he said, captain?" Baigan demanded with contempt. "This is enough!"

One hand was on the rapier at his side…the other hand clutched Cecil’s arm…Cecil glared at the Chief of guards; for a brief moment he felt like killing the young man…his own hand went to the sword at his back. Then it fell away.

"You’re right, Baigan," Cecil whispered, drawing his arm away from the Chief of Guards. His words surprised Baigan, who had obviously been looking for a fight…

"It’s enough…"

He paused, gazing at Baigan without emotion…

Because it feels like I have none left…

"It’s enough…"

Cecil turned to walk away, to leave the throne room and the crystal and the king and the Chief of Guards…

The door of the throne room opened suddenly with a resounding clang…

"What?"

Baigan faced the door, his eyes narrowed. A figure was half-way in the door, obviously being questioned about his business in the throne room.

"Sir, you can’t enter the throne room without –"

There was a flurry of movement and a loud clang as a gauntleted fist struck the face of the soldier. Cecil saw a flash of blond hair and immediately knew who the man was.

"Kain Highwind!"

King Odin also recognized the brawny man who entered the throne room. The king’s face darkened…he was not pleased…

"Who invited you in here?" Baigan demanded, not kindly. He had developed a strong dislike of the dragoon, quite unfairly; Baigan had longed to become one of the Order of the Dragoons, but something seemed to prevent him from doing so. After he discovered Kain being accepted into the Order, he loathed the tall blond-haired man.

That stupid bastard doesn’t deserve to hold such an honorable title! Baigan had argued to no avail…

Now he had found a perfect excuse to get the dragoon imprisoned…

Kain had a Who, me? expression plastered to his face as he readjusted the dragon helmet over his long blond hair. His forehead glistened from his effort to enter the throne room; the dragon armor glinted with a dull bluish light as the man gave a polite bow then gazed at King Odin in sincere concern.

"I heard shouts, your Majesty," Kain glanced around anxiously. "What happened?"

Baigan groaned loudly. Of course Kain turned to Cecil for the answer, which Cecil would have gladly given if the King had not interrupted:

"As the last duty of the former Captain of the Red Wings," the king started briskly. "Cecil has been instructed to deliver a message to the Village of Mist –"

"What?!"

Kain’s tan face crinkled in confusion.

"Last duty..?" Kain studied the king curiously. "I don’t understand --"

Baigan smirked.

"You wouldn’t…"

King Odin stepped toward Cecil and Kain with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

"There’s been some sort of –"

He paused thoughtfully.

"—what’s the word? Misunderstanding, if you will…"

Kain frowned.

"I’ve lost the trust of the Captain of the Red Wings…" King Odin declared as if he were hurt. Kain glanced sideways at Cecil with a look that clearly said What’s going on here…

"It offends me, Kain –" the King continued. "-- above anything else, I’m offended…"

Kain shrugged.

"Most people don’t understand what you’ve been doing, your Majesty –"

Cecil groaned…Kain would say something to make the situation worse…

"—but it doesn’t stop them from carrying out your orders!"

Baigan gave a scornful laugh and leaned toward Kain secretively.

"Another word like that and you’ll be imprisoned before morning…"

King Odin was glaring so fiercely at Kain that it seemed his eyes would never turn from the dragoon…

"You know, Kain –" he started thoughtfully, as if an idea had suddenly struck him. "—I’ve decided that you should accompany Cecil to the Village of Mist."

Kain’s eyes opened wide.

"Your Majesty—"

"Prepare to leave in the morning…"

It was the king’s last words to the two men. Cecil started to insist that Kain needed not to go with him; but at that moment the door opened and several guards appeared. Kain noticed them and swore in frustration:

"I thought I got rid of them…"

The soldiers were obviously intent upon forcing Kain from the throne room because all of them started toward the dragoon, scowling. He glowered at them as they approached, daring them to try to force him from the throne room. When one reached out to grab his muscular arm, Kain lashed out with his foot, striking the guard and sending him sprawling to the floor. Another advanced but kept his distance, motioning for another to follow behind him as if they were seeking to capture an injured bear; At last one soldier lunged at Kain and struck him with the handle of the sword, sending the big man reeling backwards but offering him the chance to take the other guard down with him. Finally Kain was bodily picked up as he staggered drunkenly left and right, and the guards heaved him from the throne room, where he crashed heavily on the stone floor and laid, dazed, a large knot rising on his forehead.

Cecil let himself be dragged from the throne room; he didn’t even look at King Odin or Baigan…the bastard…he would at last get what he wanted…

Before Cecil realized it he was standing outside the door…the guards had given him a scornful look before leaving…some of Baigan’s followers, Cecil thought in disgust…they don’t understand…

Cecil was torn from his thoughts by the sound of a moan. He looked back to see Kain climbing stiffly to his feet…he was pale…a large lump had risen from his forehead where he had been struck by the sword handle…

"That one’s gonna hurt for awhile…" he muttered with a glance at Cecil. Cecil didn’t know what else to do so he nodded. Kain stared at him thoughtfully…I know what he’s doing, Cecil thought with regret…he wants to ask me what’s going on…

Too bad I can’t answer him…

"Don’t worry about it, captain," Kain said suddenly, rubbing his forehead one last time. Cecil turned to him slightly shocked…Kain just shook his head, his blond hair flapping vigorously…

"He’ll put you back in command after we deliver that message –"

Cecil wanted to contradict him but he said nothing…

"Kain, what’s happening?"

The sudden question startled even Cecil. Kain looked at him, dumfounded…

"I’m…feeling kinda…light-headed…" Kain admitted, avoiding the question. Cecil regretted even asking for Kain’s opinion.

"I can’t think…clearly…"

Kain gently rubbed the bruise on his head again.

"…Need some…drink…"

Cecil nodded, a smile tugging at his lips though he did not feel at all like laughing. Drink…it would be Kain’s escape…but, it won’t work for me…

Kain staggered a few steps and Cecil could have sworn he would drop in a dead faint at any moment. After he regained his balance, Kain gaped at Cecil.

"You gonna be okay, captain?"

Cecil nodded…there was no need to explain why he would not be okay…

"You look like you could use some sleep…"

"I feel like I could use it too," Cecil agreed and yawned as if to reinforce the statement.

They stood in silence for a moment before Cecil ventured to say, almost uncertainly:

"We’re meeting a guard at the front gate tomorrow morning to get the message for Mist…"

Kain saluted and sauntered down the corridor…he would soon have his favorite seat at the inn and would more than likely wake up there in the morning…

After the dragoon disappeared Cecil stood alone for a long time. He considered entering the throne room again to demand another explanation; but he knew it would be useless.

With nothing else to do but take Kain’s advice, Cecil turned wearily and started toward the western tower of the castle of Baron.