Memoirs of a FFXI Thief

A New Home

2026-02-27T17:02:00.000-05:00

I inspected myself in the reflection of a still lake and wondered what he saw. He had fallen in love with a tall Elvann with dramatic red hair, strong slender limbs and a fearless bravado.

I was examining a Miqo’te, Keeper of the Moon, who was small, even for her race. Unremarkable light sandy brown hair framed large, mismatched eyes and fell loose around shoulders devoid of braids or ornament. One eye blue, one green, was largely unnoticed as most people didn’t look that closely at me. Pale skin, begged to blend in with white streaks, like fog creeping across my downy feline skin. My face was marred on one cheek by a long scar, acquired early in my new life.

He loved a voice belonging to a ghost. That woman was gone, lost in a world that wasn’t coming back. Could I keep him? Could I go back to being solitary if he left after longing to find him for so many years? I had hinged so much of my peace on finding him.

“Almost there.” He flashed a toothy forced smile at me and slipped his hand around mine. “Ready?”

I peered up and studied his face. Was he nervous too?

I had gotten lost in my own head and he caught me staring blankly into the water, but getting a little sidetracked by a beautiful view was nothing new for me, and he didn’t question it, but I wondered if he too was growing annoyed. Ragenarrok wouldn’t be alone if he grew tired of my distracted behavior. I let out a little shiver and walked on.

We soon entered a neighborhood full of large well-manicured homes nestled between tall snow-dusted evergreens. The air smelled fresh and crisp with a chill breeze that lifted my hair. He led me on, hand and hand, until we stopped in front of our destination. Looking down at me with a wide genuine smile and bright eyes he told me we had arrived. Excitement to introduce me to his friends made him almost bubbly and I couldn’t help but smile to see him so happy.

As we stood at the gate I craned my neck up at the big house. A warm pink glow from the setting sun made this place look magical and I could smell a hearth fire burning.

We had walked and talked the long distance all day by foot and now we were here. I squeezed his callous hand, a bit nervous about making a good first impression with his friends, which is not something I did well lately. My tendency towards isolation and wandering had made me reserved and inward in a way that was off-putting to most.

The front door burst open and a tall beautiful Viera woman came out with long strides and open arms. “Rage! You’re finally here!” She hugged him and captured my hand. “He’s talked about you for years. He told us you were coming and I have waited absolutely forever to meet you. I’m Kelma and I’m so glad you’re here. I was starting to worry that Grumpy Pants had finally lost his mind and was seeing ghosts, but here you are!”

“Hello Kelma, I’m Luna.” I said with wide eyes as I took her energy in and embraced an enthusiastic hug, warm cheek to mine. Her clothes were gorgeous, not a hair was out of place and she moved with incredible grace for someone so tall.

Kelma froze for a moment, still holding my shoulders. “OH! Oooh. oh… hello.” She looked a little confused and looked at Rage over my shoulder as she held me.

“It’s her reborn name.” he explained.

Kelma visibly exhaled with a steamy cloud of breath into the chilly air. “Oh, thank Gods. I thought I was mistaken about who was coming to dinner.”

“Im so sorry, you can call me either name” I said as she let me go and took in my face. They are both me.

“You say Luna and I love it. Come inside. The boys are waiting, and I heard you like hot cocoa. They said it would be rude to rush you, but I said that’s nonsense.”

Kelma took me by the arm and led me inside to the main foyer. The room was huge and the ceilings high enough for even for the tallest person to stretch without coming near it. Staircases lead upstairs and down.

I spent the next few hours meeting everyone who could join the party that night. Laughter was plentiful and food abundant and delicious. Some of the most skilled and talented people I had ever met were part of this family and I found it easy to relax and enjoy the company in the warm comfortable home. I hoped this was the start of something beautiful and I strained to keep up with conversations and memorize names to faces.

Ragenarrok carried me to bed when I dozed off in the late hours to the cheerful chatter of my new friends discussing the latest fashion trend and rare crafting materials. I woke as he lifted, but just smiled comfortably and rolled my face to the warmth of his chest, taking in his new smell. He laid me down on a bed in his private chambers at the free company house and not long after I curled up on my side and bundled a lump of blankets against my chest, I was asleep again. Exhaustion from an emotional day combined with the security of knowing I was under the care of his watchful eye made sleep come easy.

When I woke, it was still dark through the window, but a single scented oil lamp was lit to cast a bit of light over Ragenarrok and added the pleasant fragrance of spices and orange peel. I could hear quill to paper scratching away before I opened my eyes. Rage was sitting on a cushion on the floor near the bed enthralled in a notebook. His back was resting on the wall, his body angled towards the door, as if he was anticipating company. The clock said nearly 3am.

I watched him awhile before he looked up and saw me watching him. I smiled as he met my eyes. “Trouble sleeping?” I asked. I felt a little guilty realizing he might not be sleeping because he had given his bed to me.

“I always have trouble sleeping.” He said in a hushed voice and smiled softly. “Need anything?”

“Never again.” I stretched my legs out and flexed my toes before putting feet to the chilly wood floor to take the two short steps to him. “I have you back.”

He set the notebook and quill down and reached an arm up to receive me, knowing I was about to occupy his lap. “What are you writing.”

“Tonight, it’s my daily record. It helps me relax to write. Sometimes its notes about crafting or planning a quest, but every once in a while, it’s just a fictional story.”

“Can you read it to me?”

“Not ready yet,” he smiled sliding the notebook under a cabinet as my eyes followed it.

My eyes went back to his, “Why do they call you Rage?”

“Short for my registered adventurer name.”

I raised my eyebrows in doubt.

“Kelma says I can sometimes get a little angry. I suppose I do get impatient. Possibly short tempered. I just want to get things done right.” His mouth had tightened and I was worried about my mighty guardian.

I had always been the one to help him slow down when his mind started moving too fast. My heart sank. He looked so composed yesterday that I thought I had been the only one a mess and he had carried on fine without me, but I could see tired creases in his face now that told a different reality.

I laid my cheek to his chest and listened to his strong heart. His arms came around me tighter and his face rested on the top of my head. I felt a tear hit the crown of my head, though it was the only indication that his emotions were spilling over.

“I didn’t give up, but I was beginning to wonder if I was somehow being punished or had failed to protect you and you were lost to me. It was hard not to imagine the worst. I got angry. Breaking things that needed breaking helped vent it, but the hole in me where you used to be wouldn’t heal.”

Wrapping my arms around his ribs, I held and felt his deep breaths. “I’m here now as long as you want me to stay, and even then, much longer to be sure. I want to hear about everything that’s happened since before.”

“That is too long a story for tonight and you should be asleep.”

I let the silence hang in the air awhile as I thought about everything like an end-of-life flashback. Ragenarrok was slowly stroking my back, head still resting lightly on mine as I felt his slow deep breaths. Pondering what he was thinking, I made guesses in vain before sighing deeply and giving up.

“Sleep next to me?” I asked timidly.

“As you wish.” He said before he bundled me back up in his arms and stood to carry me to bed.

By the time we fell into a deep asleep, the warm morning light was starting to glow at the frosty window, but it arrived unnoticed. Exhaustion from the last 24 hours had caught up to us and we would not be stirred.

Ragenarrok held me close to his chest as if he was afraid to close his eyes unless he knew I would still be there when he woke. I was content encircled in his radiating warmth and at peace, feeling safer than I had since I had arrived in this body.

I had always asked him to be the rock to my rapids and I was determined that this time, I would be the strength for him that he had always been for me. How I would do that was a question for another day.

Realm Reborn FFXIV

2025-09-06T10:50:00.005-04:00

(An imagining of the transition from Final Fantasy XI to Final Fantasy XIV)

The world was reborn, and so were we.

The gods, in their wisdom, had collapsed existence and in one great clap of energy, reformed everything at once. Or so it was said.

What resulted was confusion. In my core, I remembered an image of myself, but when I looked at my reflection, the tall, slender, confident Elvann was replaced by someone small, cat-like, Miqo’te and feral.

The world was different too, but familiar. Water, sky, plants and earth. Buildings filled the cities with the appearance of being there for centuries. It was a ready-made habitat for the pets of the gods, or so it felt to me. Most adapted cheerfully. Some didn’t seem to even notice. I remembered and mourned.

Everyone had a new appearance, some more so than others. Cid was still identifiable as Cid and his same self at the core. Some, like me, were unidentifiable as the woman I had been before, except for my voice. It was still mine and rang familiar in my new furry ears.

I couldn’t find my friends after the rebirth. The loss was crushing and changed me. I made new friends, but they came and went. I’d become distant and distracted; trapped by the past.

I came to be renamed. One mischievous Hyur named Thancred said I was his light in the night and called me Luna. I spent years adventuring with him as his healer. His enthusiasm and kindness towards me drew me like a moth to light and he didn’t mind my catlike wariness. He understood pain and didn’t fault me for it. We were both thieves at one time and felt a kind of kinship. I didn’t feel like my old self anymore, so I took this nickname as my new name. Even after we went separate ways and saw each other infrequently, the name became part of my new identity.

I refined the art of healing that I started before the rebirth. It felt natural and right. Each time I healed pain, it felt like I was pulling my pieces back together with a force like gravity, even if only for a short time. I admit it felt a little selfishly motivated, but it gave me a way to fit into this new world as a registered adventurer.

I started crafting for the income I needed to purchase what I wanted. I still couldn’t cook much more than the basics, but I found that I enjoyed carpentry, metalwork, sewing and lapidary. Gathering materials was something I could do solo, without the need of a companion, and allowed me time to think and enjoy the echoes of my assault against this new world. My little protest to change by chipping away at this place and felling the trees, one at a time, venting my frustration.

My inability to cook for myself is what brought me to a food vender the day everything changed. I was ordering when I froze. Then my ear twitched and my hair stood on end. I listened again without turning. My hands on the counter held my knees from buckling.

“Alison?” I heard again.

I didn’t move at first. That wasn’t my name anymore. I was processing and preparing myself to turn and look, preparing myself to appear casual when I inevitably spun around and found nothing, but I thought I heard Gurok calling my abandoned name.

I had searched for him for years, never stopped, but to be honest, I had stopped breaking myself over the hope, after a decade of scanning crowds and wandering in the woods, that I might see him looking back at me.

I steeled myself and peered over my shoulder as casually as I could muster for fear that I was imagining the voice. I had to crane my neck up to meet his gaze. Lavender eyes were scrutinizing my face; Alison wasn’t there to be seen. His eyes were electric, luminous and a bit terrifying. I was looking into the face of one of the Xaela Au Ra, speculated to be half dragons. They had come about with the rebirth. He was impossibly tall, dark as coal and horned.

He stood a bit back, likely aware of how his appearance made people feel or maybe a bit apprehensive himself. He spoke again, “I heard you talking, I know your voice.”

“I know you too.” My voice quivered. The world spun and I sprung up to hug around his neck. I had to wrap my legs and tail around his waist because my feet couldn’t reach the ground even as he stooped to catch me. I took quick gasp and a sob shook my body before I trapped it back in and held my breath. My tears wet my face and ran down my neck.

I became quickly aware how he radiated the unusually high heat of his race. He smelled wrong. Gurok was coal, seasoned leather and iron. This body smelled delicious, but was a stranger to me. I squeezed my eyes shut against his unfamiliar appearance because he sounded like a miracle and I didn’t want to lose this feeling. He found me. His leathery arms held tightly around me like he had no intention of losing me ever again.

“Please, say anything.” My plea was muffled into his neck as I held tight enough to cramp my muscles. I wanted to hear it again and know that he was really in there.

“I’ve been looking for you.” He said.

I let out a short hysterical laugh. “Me too.”

I was becoming aware that the market had gone quiet and everyone had stopped to watch the drama unfold. I know I was not the only one who had lost people and a tear running down the face of a smiling woman nearby let me know she understood.

“I have friends that I want you to meet. They’ve heard a lot about you. Come home with me?” He offered. “We can talk. Are you still hungry? I can cook.”

Home. I hadn’t stopped moving long enough to have a home here. I had a favorite hotel room, but I never stayed there long.

I released my legs and slid down to the ground as silent as a cat. I stared up at this strange new face and reached up with one hand to touch his cheek, as if I needed confirmation that he wasn’t a hallucination. The other hand held tightly to his arm so not to lose him again. I noted black scales.

His hands hadn’t left my body either, as if he shared my anxiety about losing track of me again. He was bending over to allow my examination with a crooked grin on his face. How was he so composed?

“It’s nice to be touched.” He whispered. “I’ve missed you.”

“What an understatement!” my mind screamed. My fingers locked together around his burning forearm and I took a breath. “I go where you go.” I declared with resolve.

An involuntary purr escaped from my chest and I blushed. He didn’t mention it, but his eyes said he noticed.

“As you wish.” He smiled warmly down at me.

My Gurok wiped my wet cheeks, put his hand over mine and we walked.

Soon we were out of the city and alone on a dirt path, away from the curious looks.

“Where have you been?” I blurted.

He didn’t break stride, but smiled. “Everywhere.”

I don’t know what I expected to hear him say, but this sounded true to the man I remembered. Always busy, always battling, always working hard to be the best at whatever he put his mind to. Maybe it was fitting that he was put into a body with a fire reflective of his personality.

I myself was more chaotic, like water. Easily distracted, curious about everything and willing to sit and wonder about the secret conversations between flowers. We had more differences than similarities, but I had been half myself without him.

“And you?” he prompted.

“Nowhere.” I said as I looked away from him and into the trees. I had not stayed focused. I had not found a purpose. I was embarrassed to present myself to him as the nomad I had become. “And everywhere.” I added.

He chuckled. Maybe I was being too dramatic again.

What was I supposed to say after a decade apart, new lives and new bodies? Who was I? Who was he? What if I had anticipated all this time just to find out we weren’t a team anymore? He had found a family and I couldn’t keep a friend for long. He might not like the person I had become.

I suddenly remembered a dragonfly hunt we enjoyed in the last days and I smiled. Oh, please, let it be okay. My grip was getting tighter on his arm with my silent prayer and my fingertips were turning white from the pressure.

“Time to rest.” He announced. He had led me to the edge of a cliff looking down into a green lush valley. A steady soft breeze blew across the mossy rocks. He sat under a wide old tree and opened a sack, producing a package of smoked fish and an orange, which he handed to me.

I sat in the shade next to him and accepted the offering. My stomach growled. I hadn’t finished my order this morning when this all started and had forgotten about food until it was presented to me.

“I don’t bite.” He said with his head bowed as he tore a mouthful of a roast sandwich. He kept his lavender eyes down as if he was trying not to spook a scared animal.

I was crouched a respectable distance away. I remembered sitting on the lap of a giant white hulk named Gurok a lifetime ago. It was my favorite place to be, but this was not the image I remembered.

“I do.” I muttered. I had developed more fight and bite over the years and I ran my tongue over my pointed teeth as I thought and remembered.

He looked up and smiled. “I don’t mind. Thick hide.”

I couldn’t help but smile in return and relax a bit at the familiarity of his humor. I rolled over and let my shoulder lean up against his. Then, I scooted over and leaned my back to him as I finished the orange. I enjoyed his radiant warmth. I felt safer for having him here again. Maybe it was time to let go and find a new self. Wasn’t this what I had been waiting for?

We finished lunch and sat there awhile and I enjoyed the feeling of his breathing behind me. Timidly, I rose to a knee and he lifted his arm, inviting me to him. I accepted and rolled down onto his cross-legged lap as his arms caught me into a cocoon of dark scales and black armor. It was not the same and for a moment, I was unsure.

He started talking and that was the same. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the music of his voice. He told me about the people I would meet tonight, if I wanted to. Each of his friends by name and what they were like. He went on about the big house they shared and the plans for renovation. He talked about upcoming quests and the part I could play.

We had walked the whole way, when we could have traveled much faster by flying or teleport, but I understood the wisdom. I had been spooked, but the more I heard that familiar voice, the more I was returning to myself and trust was filing me with confidence. He knew me so well. Maybe I hadn’t changed as much as I thought.

A new chapter was beginning with him. Hope stirred to life. A new dawn was rising, and I was ready because I finally felt whole again, my rebirth complete and I was ready to live.

2014-03-06T11:49:00.001-05:00

I'm playing Final Fantasy FFXIV now as Luna Menderkitty. I've taken up the softer life of a healer. If you want to join me, post contact info here. I'd tell you what server I'm on, but I think it's going to change soon since I seem to be the last one in my current free company and I need socialization! Thank you Alvin for the cookie donation. I contributed those funds to the local Girl Scouts and am munching thin mints as I type. You rock.

Farwell for Brodie

2010-09-03T18:37:00.005-04:00

"I love him."

"I know! He's delicious." JenJen purred.

"I need him. I couldn't breath if I lost him." I groaned.

"You're silly." She smiled. "Marry him. You know you will."

"Why am I making this a big deal?" I was crying as JenJen flicked her mithra tail anxiously and petted my head.

"You'll be fine. You just need to let yourself be happy without punishing yourself with this girl stuff. It doesn't do anyone any good." Zerokb added as he nibbled some grapes near me. "I don't know why woman have to make such a big deal out of everything."

"Marriage is forever. This is a big deal." I insisted. "I'm talking about the rest of my life and with a Galka and my first husband was a hume. Why can't I fall in love with my own species like a normal Elvaan woman?"

"My brother Kjarbo would have you. We would be sisters!" Jenjen grinned. "l'll be happy to take Gurok off your paws. I can't believe he makes you breakfast every day. It's super cute."

Kjarbo was her brother by adoption and a good honest man. He would make a perfect husband for some lucky girl someday.

"I'm delicious too you know!" Zerokb complained and tugged Jenjen's tail.

She jumped up, pushing me over and launched herself at Zerokb. They rolled across the floor in a storm of laughter and tickling. I couldn't help but smile and relax my mood. He was so crazy about her. I wondered if they might be the next annoyingly cute couple in my linkshell.

"Crazy crying girl over here needing consoling." I announced with a wet flushed faced smile.

"You need medication." Zerokb teased.

They both ran at me and I stood to get away. Tackling me before I could get very far, we all bounced against my bed laughing. I hugged them both. "You two are the best. I'd share my cookies with you any day."

"You have boobs." Zerokb informed me while we all hugged.

I smacked him playfully and sat up. "I cannot believe you some days Zerokb. You are definitely strange enough to be a dancer."

"Yes, but why are you really going crazy over marrying Gurok?" He asked, distracting me from his strange attempt to lighten my mood before bringing me back down. "Do you have another man on the side? Need to keep the options open? Don't want to upset the other boyfriends? Secretly in love with me? You can tell me."

"Stop that!" I complained and paused. "The only other isn't alive anymore and yes, I want him back and yes, he's on my mind and in my dreams and haunting me. I see his form in the corner of my eye when I wake up in the morning and sleepily forget he's not there. I see a man from behind in heavy white armor and it makes my heart hurt wishing he would turn around and be my Brodie. I still have another man in my life. What if Gurok doesn't want to share me with him?"

"He already has for a long time." Zerokb said somberly. "He knows. He loves you anyways. He tries to understand. I can see it. For all his faults, he's not going to hold that against you."

"Mood killer." Jenjen said with big wet eyes.

"You know, we never had a proper funeral for Brodie. You weren't ready to accept that he might not have somehow survived. Maybe it's time." Zerobk suggested.

I hadn't even considered it, part of my reluctance to let go I suppose. No one would push me into it so I didn't. Now it felt right. To move on to the next chapter in my life, I needed to finally close the one past. Not to forget or abandon, but to open myself up to the life I still had to live.

I nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow as the sun is setting on the beach. Will you spread the word for anyone who might want to come so I can focus on the eulogy?"

They both agreed and excused themselves for rushed preparations. Some people would have to travel a long way, so they needed to start right away.

Running the entire way, I was winded when I found Gurok and threw myself on him.

"What's wrong?" he asked looking concerned.

"I need your help. I want to have a funeral for Brodie tomorrow. I want you to get a lot of cookies and drinks for me. Can you?" I looked up at him while I clung.

He kissed my head. "Ofcourse. It's been so long, I didn't think you wanted to ever have one. This is a good idea." He nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing. "Anything else you want me to do? I can bring you dinner tonight."

"Dinner would be perfect." I smiled. I adored him.

Belly down on my bed, I wrote while I kicked my bare feet behind me. I hadn't been to many funerals, so I didn't feel confident that I knew how to write a eulogy, but I knew whatever I did would help bring peace and that was what was important.

Knocking on my door startled me awake from a dream of sitting silently on the beach with Brodie on one side of me and Gurok on the other peacefully watching the sunset together. "Come in." I called, trying not to sound like I had fallen asleep.

Gurok lumbered in with a bag full of groceries and a smile. "I'm guessing you haven't eaten anything but cookies all day so I brought hardy muscle building food." He didn't wait to go straight for the table to start preparing food and I wondered if he felt at all uncomfortable with this all.

I came at him and he lifted his arm to pull me in close to him. "I glad you're here." I smiled.

He kissed me and stroked my face with his thumb. "I can't ask you to marry me when I said I would."

My mouth sprung open to protest and he moved his finger over my lips. "Let me finish." He smiled. "I still think we are made for each other and I will ask you to marry me, but I see now that you need to be the one to let me know when you're ready to be asked. I didn't mean to upset you and I only gave you the two days because I thought it was the surprise that made your head spin. I thought that if you knew when to expect it wouldn't make you feel panicked." He lifted his finger and kissed my lips.

"I love you." I said.

"I know." He said with a grin. Gurok squeezed me playfully until I thought my ribs might crack then we got back to making dinner together. It was right.

A fiery pink sky with streaks of gilded clouds painted the sky. Cool ocean breezes gently caressed my cheek in contrast to the warm summer air. Warmth filled my heart as I looked out over the retreating tide even though tears still fell silently down from my eyes. Over two years had passed since that day and it was past time for this farewell. I picked up my candle and turned to face the gathering.

Tonight is a night for healing. Not only for me, but for everyone who loved this humble kind paladin.

True to his calling, he was a protector and a hero. He was neither famous, nor flashy in his work, but when there was a wrong to be righted, he was there. When a friend needed help, he came, no matter the hour.

I remember when I met him so long ago. Always the hero, he literally swept me out of the mud and carried me away on his steed like a fairy tale hero. He won my heart months later with a shy laugh and the corniest pick up lines you ever heard as he helped me hunt the Carby ruby on a beach like this one. He made me laugh and I couldn't help but fall in love with his warmth and naked sincerity.

His death was tragic and too soon, though I doubt he regrets losing his life to save another if in the end we all must move on. It was just his way to protect. I hope he looks over us now with a pride and continues to watch over those he loves.

I looked back in the distance to the men I had seen earlier. I knew they were here because they still suspected my child Hope not only lived but was the child of a hume and a threat to their government. Because of them, I couldn't mention our child. It made my heart sad but I knew he would understand. I opened the paper I had written a poem on and read.

Death by Khalil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."

And he said: You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

I knelt down at the end of the long pier and kissed the little wax boat in my hands. "Love, I will hold you in my heart until we meet again and I can hold you in my arms once more."

Setting the floating candle into the retreating tide I watched it drift away for a moment before standing and walking back to the beach. Everyone had a chance to say a last goodbye and let their candle go until the darkening sea was filled with beautiful bobbing white lights. I didn't stay on the pier to listen to the private farewells.

I went to Gurok instead, to dry my tears on his good white shirt. I noticed that even to a funeral, his weapons where strapped across his back and I was glad that he was ever ready.

He just smiled his encouragement and held me firmly. "This is a healing moment for everyone. I'm proud of you my brave little Elvaan."

I couldn't fathom what it must be like for him to be here for this turning point in my life. I couldn't wrap my mind around how he must feel to be here and reminded that I had loved someone before him so fully, yet my adoration for Gurok still filled my heart so abundantly that it felt like it might burst. I was just grateful that my giant wall of a galka could be here with me with such grace and understanding. I needed Gurok. Even if I never touched another shinny for the rest of my life, I would feel wealthier than a queen for being loved by him.

Just an Idea

2010-08-21T21:08:00.004-04:00

"I love them." I whispered to myself as I admired my reflection. The emerald and diamond headband looked amazing crowning my fiery red hair. Every delicate detail in the metal work was absolutely stunning.

"Planning on keeping that?"

I had heard Gurok come into my house, but I had a hard time breaking the trance of beautiful shinny things. "It loves me back." I grinned.

"I think those gems are corrupting your brain." He jested. He presented a plate of cookies and I picked one up for immediate gobbling.

Chewing while I hugged him, I was on a trio of perfection high. I was wearing pretty shinnies, eating cookies and holding the man I adored all at once. I knew at that moment, life couldn't get any better than that and I didn't want to let him go. "I like you."

He smiled. "I like you too. I'm curious about this pretty emerald thing you're wearing. Business or pleasure?"

"I was commissioned to borrow it from someone who has been dead for one hundred and fifty years and doesn't seem to be able to show it the appreciation it deserves. I'm really torn though. I love it. I'm wondering how angry that crazy old trader will be if I wear it instead. He wants it for his young new fiancé, but it looks so much better on me. What kind of young bride wants to wear a dead woman's jewels? I bet I can talk him into something new and custom made right?"

"I think you're too lovely for your own good without any help at all."

I laughed and kissed him quickly. "That's not what I asked. I'll give it to him though. He does fund a lot of my business and he's much more pleasant to deal with than most. I guess it would be a shame to make him an enemy. I always could steal it back without him knowing if I just couldn't get it out of my mind." It was hard work trying to convince myself.

I took the lovely from my head and admired it once more before putting it back in my bag for delivery. I knew I would play with it again before I gave it to him and I still wasn't completely sure I would be able to hand it over. I was so weak for beautiful jewelry, but I also loved money and he was going to pay me a lot of it for finding the headband.

He scooped me up into his arms and I giggled in delight. "Want to hear what I've been thinking about?" He asked.

"Yes!" I loudly declared with a smile, still high on my trio perfecta.

"Did you even hear what I said?"

I'm not sure that I had. My head was spinning. Gurok looked a bit cross to put it mildly, but he kept still while I sat on his lap and waited as patiently as he could for me. He had been going on for awhile now and I'm not even sure I blinked yet. Blinking extra to make up for it, I stared at his big hand over mine. "So, you want to marry me?" I summed up.

"Well yes, that's what I've been saying for the last thirty minutes to eternity." He said as his brushed fingers through my hair. "You act like you don't think it's a good idea, but it makes perfect sense. You and I are good together. Don't you feel the same way?"

"You are the first thing I look for when I wake up and the one thing that keeps me awake longer at night for fear of missing you." I said almost mechanically as I studied every detail of his fingers. It was so honestly true.

Gurok chuckled. "You have a very charming way with words. Does that mean you agree with me?"

"That we should get married?" I repeated as if somehow we might have switched subjects without my noticing. I felt dizzier for some reason and my body felt so heavy. I had to lean against his warm chest.

"Yes…" he drew out. "Do you need me to repeat my speech again? You know how I feel about repeating myself but I realize this is a big deal. I admit, I'm a little discouraged that you're not shouting it from the tree tops."

I felt panicked and looked up at him with big pleading eyes, "Give me two days and ask me again? This is not the kind of decision I want to make without thinking it through." I was terrified that he would think that I didn't love him. This wasn't about that.

"The idea had really never crossed your mind?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well, no. I just kissed you last week. I hadn't planned the rest of my life part yet. You're so right; I love you. I just want this to be one of the steps in life I thought through first. This needs to be a rare completely responsible moment."

"We've know each other for a very long time and we've always been close. This is something that has grown for more than one week." He paused a moment. "Hm… well, Ok. I'll give you two days to feel responsible and I won't bring up marriage again until then. Then, if you'll meet me in Ru'Lude Gardens, I'll run the idea by you one more time for an official answer. That sound ok for you?"

Relaxing a little with a smile, I kissed him. "Thank you. I'm sorry I'm full of crazy sometimes."

"I'm used to it." He kissed me back even though I could tell he wasn't as happy as he should have been after bring up marriage and I was full of guilt.

He held me quietly until he had to leave for some auction house obligation. I knew he was disappointed in me and it broke my heart. While he was much less showy about it, he liked having his way just as much as I did.

Why was I panicking? This wouldn't be the first time I had married. I let out a huge sigh and curled up on my bed as I started to put the pieces of my mind back together.

My first marriage had been the best time of my life and yet had ended suddenly in murder and devastation. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but picture Gurok in that same position, married to me only to be torn gruesomely away much too far from old age.

Ofcourse, that was crazy and the logical part of my mind knew it. All I had to do was calm my heart. I wasn't cursed was I? There was no reason to think that I was some kind of black widow that brought death to the men I loved.

I was going to need my friends.

Target Practice

2010-08-01T21:23:00.003-04:00

I spotted Gurok from across the square. He was sitting against his favorite wall with his thick galka legs folded in front of him and his head resting back. His eyes where closed but he didn’t look asleep. He rested alert like this often when he was waiting for his group of friends to gather for an all night expedition. The familiarity made me smile.

I glided up to him quietly and slipped into his lap. “Hello Alison.” He said as he put one arm around me and pinned me against his armored chest without lifting his head or opening his eyes. “What kind of trouble are you going to try to talk me into today?”

“Nothing.” I replied with mock offense. “How did you know it was me?”

“No tail.” He said with a mischievous grin.

With that I hit him, though I wasn’t sure why. It’s not like I had made any claim on him. If he had other women on his lap with tails, why did I have any right to be upset about it? My body stiffened and I suddenly felt the need to run hard in any direction, but his arm holding me down was enough to stop me.

He opened his eyes and looked at me as if he suspected what was on my mind, though he didn’t say and I was sure I expected too much of him to think he could know about my inner struggles. One callus finger softly pushed my disheveled bangs away from my face. “Anything you wanted to tell me then?” he asked as his eyes studied my face.

“You smell like burnt charcoal, leather and iron.” I said sharply as if I intended it to be an insult.

“I’m glad you like it.” He replied with a knowing grin. “Did you come all the way from San ‘D Oria to tell me that?”

“No, I just…” I hesitated, afraid to tell the guilty truth, “I just missed you.” I relaxed and leaned against him feeling his usual furnace like heat radiating hot on my cheek.

“I just left you this morning.” He chuckled softly and rested his cheek on the top of my head briefly. “It’s nice to see you too. I have awhile before I need to meet up with my group. I can help you practice your marksmanship.”

I nodded, relieved to have something to do and he stood up letting me fall from his lap to the ground, leaving me to get my feet under me quickly enough to avoid landing on the ground in a very unladylike pile. I resisted the urge to stab him and shoved him playfully instead as I followed him to the outer gate.

Once outside I pointed at an old watch house. “That will do fine. I’ll go scratch a target on the back side.”

“You need practice hitting something that moves.” Gurok frowned. “You’re already experienced enough at hitting walls.”

The idea that he was talking about more than arrows tickled the back of my mind, but I let that thought go. “So what would you suggest? I can only get one or two shots each on living targets before they get to me and I have to finish it close combat.”

“You have me.” He smiled. “I’ll hold their attention on me, while you TRY to hit it. The only thing I ask is that you focus enough that you do NOT hit me or I cannot be held accountable for any loss of temper.”

I shifted uneasily at the thought of his temper. I had seen it lash out on many occasions but he never directed to towards me even if it meant someone else would pay. Only recently had I witnessed what he was capable of when Kallo became the focus of revenge. My heart hurt to think of hitting him with my crossbow bolt. “It sounds too risky. You have to work tonight.”

“You worry too much. That crease in your forehead is going to become permanent if you don’t learn to relax. Try to be a little more focused and your aim might improve.”

I rolled my eyes and nodded my head. “Ok, your thick hide on the line. I’ll just hope the air stays still and you don’t move around too much and I don’t get distracted...”

With that he lumbered out towards a green eyed dragonfly with a six foot wing span resting nearby. With one swat of his great hand the fly was up in the air and looking furious.

I held up my loaded crossbow and took a shot that zipped just over the top of the fly’s back, not even catching its attention. Gurok raised an eyebrow at me and said plenty with his eyes. I reloaded and took at deep breath. Steadying myself and clearing my mind of worries, I took slow careful aim and squeezed the trigger. This time I hit my mark and Gurok quickly slapped the bug with his sword to keep it from flying after me. “Again!” he shouted.

I smiled with pride and reloaded. I hit my mark a dozen or more times only missing three. Not perfect, but an improvement on my previous and embarrassing rate.

Things were going pretty well and I was starting to think Gurok might be a genius for thinking of this new training technique when something hit me hard between the shoulders. My hand was on the trigger, just taking a shot when it happened and a bolt flew wildly through the air striking Gurok’s thigh just at a seam in his armor and biting into his muscle.

My vision blurred with panic. I turned and stabbed the fly that had rammed me until it was down and at least on the way to dying before running to Gurok who was finishing off the fly he had been holding for me.

“Ouch!” he shouted and sat down to pull the bloody bolt out of his leg angrily and threw it against a tree splintering the bolt in half.

I was to him and on the ground beside him as fast as my guilt driven legs could carry me. Unbuckling his leg armor I kissed the bloody wound and searched my bag franticly for a potion to pour into the hole.

He smiled at me with raised eyebrows and wiped his blood off my lips with his gloved finger. “You know this is not a big injury for me. I’ve had much worse. You can calm down.”

“I’m sorry.” I begged as I finally found the healing potion I was looking for and poured it slowly into the bolt wound. He gritted his teeth together quietly, his neck tightening as he waited out the pain of healing that was often worse than the original injury.

I rested my head down on his newly healed thigh and stared at the small silvery scar that I knew was small enough to disappear in a few months. I touched it and thought about how many hits we had both taken and survived together. He was my life boat in a world that haunted me with nightmares of black waters and death and I needed him desperately. I wouldn’t forget that not so long ago I nearly lost him when he nearly slid off a cliff into dark rocky ocean below. It horrified me to think that I could have lost him too.

He watched me trace my fingers over his scars and he took off his glove to pull my hair tie loose. Running his fingers through my red hair he pushed it out of the way to stroke my face. “You don’t have to act like you’ve killed me. In fact your fingers are getting my attention far more than a single arrow shot.”

My head shot up and I blushed and looked away from him. “I’m sorry.” I muttered.

Cupping my jaw in his massive hand he turned my face back to his and studied my face. I struggled to get air into my lungs as I tingled at his touch. It was hard to push aside my feelings for him when he looked into my soul like that and it was impossible to suppress my embarrassing blush.

When I thought I would faint from the effort of breathing, he leaned down and kissed me lightly. So long I had denied wanting this that when he finally broke the dam, there was no going back. My head spun dizzily and I kissed him hungrily letting my feelings flow from heart to lips. My fingers searched his armor for his warm skin and settled on the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

I could hear voices calling distantly but they didn’t register through my ecstatic mind. Gurok shifted his massive body to reach down and pull out his linkpearl, tossing it into the brush.

It then registered in my mind who I was hearing. I pulled back and laughed still drunk with affection. “Your dynamis party is calling you aren’t they?”

“I’m not available.” he grinned as he trapped me in his massive galka arms and kissed me.

I giggled in delight as my kisses turned playful. “Yes you are. I know how important you are to them on this mission.” I nuzzled his face affectionately and tried to let our heart beats calm as I let what was happening sink in. I already knew I loved him, but wise or not, it was no longer my secret.

“This is how we are meant to be.” He said passionately as he stared into my eyes as if he were afraid I wouldn’t hear him. “You and I just make good sense.”

I glowed happily at his effort to say he loved me and kissed his neck tenderly as I clung to him. “I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done with dynamis.” I whispered. What I really meant was I would watch the whole thing from a safe spying distance and then rush back to meet him before he knew how crazy about him I really was and how little tolerance I had for being apart from him. It would be hard for me to fight my tendency to protect myself including my heart.

Grinning, he lifted me into his arms and carried me a few steps toward the city before letting me down to my feet. I giggled softly in delight and wrapped my fingers around his hand letting myself sponge in all this happiness hoping this was the start of a lifelong love story and not my silly heart getting me into more trouble.

I sat with him near the residential area in San D’ Oria while Gurok’s group gathered and organized into teams to go into dynamis. I smiled and chatted politely with the group while trying to stay out of the way, though I was completely distracted by my fluttering chest and tingling lips after the kiss I had just recieved. I loved dynamis, but I was loyal to Digital Back Spin, my own mission team and wouldn’t be fighting with Gurok tonight.

I let them all enter and wished them luck and then with the skills that earned me the title of thief, I snuck in after them. I loved to watch him in action. All the shield bashing and grunting as he welded that enormous sword made me giggle like a silly teen. Protecting his allies was his main job tonight, and he was doing it beautifully. I was so proud of him.

He would have been furious if he knew I followed him in there. It was dangerous enough in a group, let alone sneaking in alone when no one knew I was there. I wondered if he suspected that I shadowed him as much as I did after I caught him tossing Kallo over a cliff with bags of gold coins tied to his ankles. Such a waste of gold and a skilled even if misguided fellow thief. Could he have been saved? I wondered.

I had already spent a good enough time justifying Kallo’s death, but it still troubled me that my beloved paladin had ended him in such a dark though poetic manner. Kallo had turned me over to evil men just for the meager reward after I thought we had become friends. Even though he knew it was an innocent unborn baby they really wanted he didn’t seem to care. But, I wondered if the greater casualty was the dark spot burned on my white knight’s heart. I hurt for the bad things my best friend felt had to do keep me safe. Maybe my heart was more that of a white mage than a thief ever since I became a mother. Maybe I was just going dangerously soft.

I lay flat and still on a roof as I watched them work their way around to the last attack of the night. It was dark and the tiles where cool on my skin. The sky was clear letting the stars the countless stars light the sky with the big blue moon. I breathed in the crisp evening air and felt pretty darn good. They had already cleared every threat from the area but the last one and it was safe for me to come down whenever I wanted. If it was any other area, I would have been tempted to sleep there under the stairs all night, but I needed to get out of there and meet Gurok like I promised before he knew where I had spent the evening.

Dancing through the shadows, I made my way back home, washed the day off and dressed for night. I was just tying my red hair up when I heard heavy paladin boots coming up to my door. Before he could touch the door I had opened it and leapt on him throwing my arms around his neck. Catching me with a chuckle he held me up. “Did you eat ALL the cookies? You’re full of spring.”

“I did save one for you.” I smiled and kissed his white cheek, watching for any sign that he regretted kissing me earlier.

“Really?” he looked surprised and it made me smile that he realized how rare it was for me to have the self control to save a cookie.

“Yes, and if you would like to wash the spatters off first, Moogle helped me make a dinner fit for a famished white knight after a long night of battling.” It had been all Moogle’s cooking, but I didn’t want him to wonder what I had really been up to all night while I waited for him. I loved how natural all of this felt.

“Yes Mam.” He said with a grin that told me he was up to something and he bowed and disappeared to wash up for dinner.

I breathed in the smell of hot bread, a galka proportioned roast and my favorite sautéed carrots and felt like I had died and gone to heaven as I listened to my best friend humming as he splashed around in the next room.

As soon as the thought of heaven crossed my mind, I stiffened as my heart jumped with painful guilt. How could I love him when I had already loved and lost the love of my life? It felt like I was betraying Brodie even though he had been murdered and was gone to me in this life. It seemed like it had happened an eternity ago and yesterday all at the same time.

My mind was wiped clean with a new focus when I smelled the steam and soap as he opened the door and came out for dinner still slightly damp and barefooted wearing only his in town slacks. I thought he looked like a great furry white angel with a thick galka tail. How could I worry when he was here with me sharing a hot meal with bare toes and happy hearts? I was so impossibly twiterpaited.

Where One Road Ends

2010-07-18T09:20:00.003-04:00

This post was written by Gurok the Paladin. He told me that these characters are not ready for a retirement killing flies, so he has written this chapter to inspire more. Thank you Guork for writing some more fun for them and for being patient through my editing process of mailing this back and forth for tweaks for over a week. I hope you enjoy it.
________________

Alison meant the world to me and to be honest, I was never completely sure why. Her thieving nature constantly put us in danger, she tested my patience on a daily basis and she was dodgier in her relationships then her career. Yet when this… thing betrayed her and her unborn child it made me realize how much I cared for her, how much excitement she brought to my life and how much I appreciated it.

I swore that I would make sure both she and Hope were safe first, which I did. Then I started going about finding the miserable wretch. To his credit, he is a damn good thief and can stay invisible with the best of them. Unfortunately for him, to MY credit I have built a network of incredibly loyal and interesting friends with plenty of shadowy qualities of their own.

Konamy, a Mithra thief, was the one who gave me the idea one day while discussing my dilemma. “Gurok you made Alison a promise you wouldn’t go looking for him and you always keep your word!” she said to me with a sly look on her feline face I didn’t notice at first.

“I know Konamy, but the fact remains I gave my word to myself that I would go find him and make him pay for what he did.” I looked up at her to see a huge grin and almost lost my temper, but she cut me off.
“I never gave my word… Dkrchris said nothing of the sort. Matter of fact none of our Linkshell did, as I am sure most of your other friends didn’t. So, it seems to me that if we were to… stumble… across him and tell you then you could keep both your promises.”

I jumped up quickly, fast enough to make her flinch reflexively, and I gave her a big Galkan hug. “You are the best, get the ball of yarn rolling and keep me informed.”

It took all my will not to seem too hopeful around Alison and give it all away. I worried that the few times I did actually smile, she would see right through it and know I was up to something. The mental weight of her problems kept the chances down to a minimum. Even though she seemed very comfortable around me of late, there were times she drifted off into her own private hell.

It was Zerokb that caught wind of him first. “Hey G, Kallo just walked into San D’ Oria’s auction house, then he got on the airship headed for Jeuno. By the way, you know Ali will kill you and anyone that helped you if she finds out about this, right?”

“Then keep quiet.” I grumbled. Great guy, but he worried too much about upsetting women. Then again, they had peculiar habits of hurting him because of it. I chuckled to myself as I pondered blaming all this on him if we got caught, just to watch the fireworks.

Konamy and Dkrchris were already fishing at the docks when the thief arrived. She was complaining to Dkr that his Dark Knight armor was scaring all the fish away. Kallo glanced at them for a second and quickly made his way into Port Jeuno. Konamy kissed Dkr and followed Kallo stealthily as she could.

Alison and I were riding across Konschtat Highlands heading to my home in Bastok when I got the call from Konamy. “Hey Gurok, I have some good news. This guy is in Upper Jueno is doing business with an Elvaan that works at the bar. He is going to be here until tomorrow then their deal is complete and he is leaving to, I don’t know where. They are meeting at 3pm.”

“Keep an eye on him. Tell me if anything changes. I will be there tomorrow. I need a sometime to pick up a few things and arrange a good excuse for me to leave Alison for a few hours.”

I immediately got off with her and connected with Bob, another Galka Paladin. “Hey Bob are you still interested in that beautiful set of dark blue armor I have?”
“Why yes I am sir. Perfect timing, now I can actually use it.” “Good. Meet me in Lower Jeuno by the auction house tomorrow at noon. How much do you want for the full set?”

“It’s free, I just need a favor, tell you more tomorrow.”

Alison was watching me carefully when I disconnected. “Who was that?” she said with a suspicious smile.

“Well, if you must know, it was another woman. She is a sexy remarkable thief and she wants to have a clandestine meeting with me as soon as I can lose you.”
Alison gave a small chuckle “Ok, tell Kona I said hello when you see her next.”
I sighed and pretended to sulk a bit. “Is it so hard to believe someone else would want to spend time with me?”

This seemed to make her smile more. “No, silly, it’s hard to believe you’d want to spend time with anyone else besides me.”

That made me laugh and I let it go at that. In my moghouse we had a nice dinner and sat down by the fire listening to music and watching my fish swim around in their new tank for a bit before she spoke.

“You have something on your mind Sweetie. Feel free to tell me anytime.”

I grinned. “It was the call I got before. Dkr and Kona want me to come tank a behemoth tomorrow out in Quifim Island. Apparently their Ninja friend suddenly feels… ill. They know I need an item from its corpse to complete my Black Belt training as a Monk.”

I had been training as a Monk on the side for quite some time now. I liked the freedom of movement and focus it gave me when I wasn’t tanking. “Bob also called me and offered to buy my old set of tanking gear in Jeuno tomorrow, so maybe this was meant to be.” I frowned.

“Do you want me to come cheer you on?”

She is a sly one, I thought to myself “Well I would normally insist on not having you out of my sight, you know that, but unless you are in the group right behind me I won’t be able to focus on that behemoth. With everything that has happened I cannot help but worry and I’d like to be at my best.”

She gave me one of her beautiful smiles that made her seem like she never knew what it was like to even be upset and replied “Well then if I MUST stay here and relax all day then I insist I get a gift. Something shiny would be great!”

I leaned in close as I could and whispered “You are being too nice. I would never make you choose between shinnies and food. I will bring you some wonderful fresh baked cookies from the specialty shop in Jeuno as well as a surprise.”

She squealed and popped into my arms to hug me around my neck. “You spoil me as much as I deserve.” I gave her one of my annoyed that doesn’t make sense looks then busted out laughing.

The next morning I made her muffins with chocolate chips for Moogle to give her when she awoke. I grabbed all my gear and triple checked the rope, chains and bags of gil I was going to need. I was on the airship, eyes closed and concentrating on the wind blowing through my fur when I got the call from Konamy.

“Gurok I am sooo sorry! I don’t know how he knew! I tried my best really I swear!”
I tensed “Calm down! Speak plainly please… what happened?”

I heard her take a deep breath. “I was following him this morning to make sure he didn’t go anywhere else. He went to the tenshodo and I stayed outside to wait for him. I got distracted by… by… this beautiful silver music globe. It was gorgeous with gold accents and stained glass and…"

“Kona focus please, on KALLO.”

“He is gone Gurok. I lost him. I went back to where he was staying and it’s all cleaned out. He must have realized I was following him. Oh wait, the bartender at the bar is coming towards me. I paid him to keep me informed. Hold on.”

I gritted my teeth together and reminded myself that these people were my friends and they were offering their help to me unconditionally. This was all wrong. It was going to be perfect and now it was turning into a mess.

Konamy popped back into my ear. “Gurok, he is headed out into Jugner Forest. I am going out after him. Maybe Dkr and I can pick him back up again. I am sorry.”

Her pain was clear, my silence was causing it, so I spoke. “Its fine Kona, we have all the time in the world to do this. I am sure you’ll find him and thank you for all of this.”

Her voice perked up, “You got it Gurok!”

When I walked into Lower jeuno I caught Bob traveling through on his way to the auction house. “Hello sir. Good afternoon to you.”

“Pffff. Not entirely Bob, not entirely.”

“What’s up?”

We sat down on the steps and I explained almost everything to him while I gave him the armor set. We sat in silence for awhile before he spoke. “If anyone is going to get this guy it’ll be you. For as long as I’ve known you, you never let anything escape you. From mobs, to goals, to Alison herself, mind you she is the most complicated problem of all.”

Bob and Ali didn’t get along very well. They had a hate/hate relationship. His loyalty to me though was the only reason he was bothering to involve himself at all. “Come with me” I said. “I have to get a few things for Alison so she doesn’t suspect anything.”

We had gotten the gourmet cookies, an aquamarine and some gold ore I was fashioning into a pendant while I waited for her bouquet to be arranged. I was sitting outside the florist when I looked up and froze. Across from me was the bar Konamy had spoken of. There was Kallo and he was shaking hands with the bartender who let him in and put out his closed sign. Suddenly it all made sense. My day was looking up, it was time…

I grabbed Bob from buying some new fishing rig. The guy was always fishing. “Put my armor on now! Not the purple set, MY set. You are about to do that favor.”

He eyed me suspiciously. “How?” he said with more than the usual amount of caution in his voice.

“Kallo is here, now, at the bar. The bartender is working with him and misled Kona. I am going to need your help to pull this off.”

We went around back and dragged several heavy barrels against the back door. I took a good look at him in my armor. With my helmet on, he easily passed for me as long as he didn’t speak. As I put on the blue set I spoke quickly. “Don’t say anything to him. He’ll expect me to be enraged. Break anything you want in there, including anyone that helps him, but don’t you DARE kill him or underestimate him… Watch your back, he IS a thief.”

Bob just grinned. He kicked the door so hard the framework shattered and the door took out the first table and chairs.

I quickly darted around back and got into position by the back shuttered window. When I heard the thump of the door against the barrels, I knew it was working. In a graceful arc, Kallo tumbled through the shutters onto the ground like a cat coming to his feet… when my shield caught this particular “cat” in the face.

The force combined with his momentum threw him off his feet and into the wall. The back of his head hit the wall and I hit his face again with my shield twice. As soon as I was sure he was out cold, I searched him to remove his lock picks and his blades. I bound him in rope threw him over my shoulder.

As more crashes came from inside the bar, I tried to get to Bob on my linkpearl. “Got him. Meet me at North Qufim cliffs as soon as you can.”

My heart was pounding, my mind racing. Was I really going to do this? It was working smoother then I had possibly hoped for now that it was all in motion. I expected to feel… haunted, but I did not. Instead, I felt a hunger, a primal drive to see this through.

Bob must have taken some time to relish in his fight because by the time he found me in Qufim, I had already gagged Kallo and bound him in chains. I was staring out at the cold raging water slamming into the jagged cliffs several hundred feet below when Bob spoke. “It sucks to be him.”

“You did great today. Thank you for your help. Give me back my armor and this set is now yours. Say nothing to anyone about this… ever.”

After we were both back in our gear he turned to me with his fist on his chest. “From our heart to our shield, it’s what makes us good at what we do.” He turned and left.

I don’t know how long I stood there waiting for him to wake up, but my thoughts were on Alison. I felt bad hiding anything from her. All I had ever wanted to do since I met her was be there for her and that meant honesty, but I wondered what she would think of me for how I went about this. I didn’t give this garbage a fighting chance. I set him up and took advantage of his nature… which was exactly what he had done to her. I only hoped she would see that and know I was still trustworthy.

I saw his eyes open and with admirable reflexes he instinctively went to reach for his blades and spring up but they weren’t there. When it soaked in he was bound and bound tightly his eyes filled with rage and locked onto mine. I stared back calmly and knelt down next to him. “I could have killed you at any point, but death wasn’t my true desire here. I want you to know a few things before you go away on your next journey. First, although I may be a Paladin, I warned you never to hurt Alison and that nothing would stop me from killing you if you ever really did. So, I needed you to know it was me that tracked you, tricked you and caught you.”

He subtly tried to find his picks. I stared plainly and held them up for him to see, his eyes showed a flicker of panic. “Second, your own arrogant loner nature is what makes this so simple. No one will be looking for you, they will think you slipped out the back and disappeared like the rat you are.”

Now he started to openly struggle against the rope and chains so I put my hand on his chest to hold him still. “Last thing and we are done. I won’t keep you waiting any longer. It’s a few hundred feet to the water and rocks below, so you’ll have time to think about this. It was gil that you turned her and her unborn child in for, so if you want it that badly, I will send you off with all I have. There is over 5,000 gil in those bags chained to your feet and it’s all yours.”

I stood up and kicked one of the three bags of gil over the edge. The shift of weight brought on fresh screaming through his gag. I was about to kick the second bag over when I heard her voice.

“Gurok!” She was standing about 15 feet away looking confused and uncertain at what she was seeing.

“Alison, why couldn’t you stay back at my home?” I closed my eyes as I spoke; I couldn’t bear to look at her.

“I think I can ask you the same question. Is that Kallo?”

“Yes, I can explain things a bit if you are willing to listen, but I have to do this first.” I kicked the second bag, but he must have gotten his hand loose while I had my eyes closed because it had enough slack to grab my ankle as the bag went over.
He slid, I slid… the third bag went over and I grabbed a large rock, but with hardly any grip.

Alison crossed the distance in a blink. She spoke with anger, but to Kallo not me. “You have taken enough from me!“ She slammed her dagger into his wrist causing him to let go and slip over. A scream quickly lost over the roar of the crashing water so far below.

She hugged me and I put my arm around her. “I am sorry I lied to you but I didn’t intend for you to be part of this Ali. You have seen enough death and loss, but even as I did this to protect you I come out owing you my life.”

She buried her face against my chest, shaking it back and forth. “Shush.” She begged. “I understand… just... shush.”

I waited in silence for her reaction, afraid of what my broken promise would mean to her.

When she finally looked up at my face, it was full of an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. “Never do that again.” Now here she looked angry and stepped back shoving against my chest and then pounding me with her fists when I didn’t move. She gasped to hold back tears and threw her arms around me. “You know I hate cold water. I would have frizzed my hair jumping in to save your furry hide.”

“The rocks would have done more damage to your hair than the cold water.” A glance into her eyes let me know that humor wasn’t my best route here. “Cookies?” I asked as I held her tightly, hoping to distract her by holding up the bag I had gotten her from the specialty shop. Usually an easy thing to do, but anger could improve her determination.

She nodded without looking up. “Yes, cookies.” Taking the bag she paused and glared up at me. “I will NOT lose you to the sea. Never scare me like that again!”
“Promise.” I said, ignoring the dark thought that flickered in my mind, wondering if I would be able to keep that promise.

I held up the aquamarine necklace I had made her. “Something shiny.” She said as she looked away from the edge of the cliff. “I’m not sure how I feel about that yet…” nodding back towards the drag marks in the dirt and stone “,but this is nice. Thank you Sweetie.” She smiled warmly at me as I put the necklace on her.

I nodded and moved her away from the cliffs. I would have to remember not to underestimate her curiosity again. I was confident I had done enough good things for her to outweigh any negativity she felt about this, especially after what he had done to her, but Alison was slow to change her feelings about things. As always I would wait patiently.

Dancing Edge

2009-10-24T19:20:00.004-04:00

I looked over my shoulder at my friends and giggled despite myself. I needed to be stealthy as I hunted the dragonflies, but I was really having a good time. I had forgotten how much I loved working in a team with friends. The party was nearly finished killing the giant dragonfly they were attacking and I was already crouching in the brush eyeing my next prey. Our goal was to kill the seventy-pound insects as fast as we could without getting anyone seriously hurt, but I wanted them to feel pretty dang close to death. It made it more fun for me.

Even before the party's fly started to tremble and fall to the ground , my crossbow bolt was flying to another one. I missed. I squinted and rawred in frustration. A good marksman I am not. I just hoped no one had seen me miss; it was so embarrassing.

The bolt whooshed by the giant flying bug and it took notice. Buzzing furiously, it came after me and on long fast legs I sprinted back to the protection of my friends. Once I raced passed the paladin, I skipped back to the group and took my favorite place, right behind the wall that was Gurok.

"Oh come on!" the Jenjen complained, "Can't we at least catch our breath?" The group had not quite finished off the first fly and I had already brought them another. Jenjen jumped up and down on the first struggling fly and it took its last breath.

Gurok laughed. "She's having fun and we can handle it. No one has even hit the ground from blood loss yet."

I took notice of his "yet." I would have protested, but I could get carried away when I was in a good mood and sometimes people were... damaged before we finished. I glared at him anyways, as if he could feel it through the back of his head. He swished his tail at me playful as I stood behind him and tried to execute my sneak attack combos on the fly without being tripped.

Garness' wyvern Rover seemed to be having a good time too . He was breathing fire on the hopeless fly and toasting little holes in it's wings. In his zealousness, he also managed to singe Martin's arm. "Careful!" Martin hollered and whacked Rover across the rear with the flat of his broadsword. That did not make Rover happy. In a red whirlwind, Rover had attacked Martin and rolled him to the ground in a heap.

Garness wrapped his arms around his body and laughed a huge rolling galka belly laugh without offering Martin any help. "Rover doesn't like to be spanked."

The angry wyvern bit holes into Martin's heavy warrior armor and shook his lovely head enthusiastically as he growled. Letting Martin go he glared and bore his teeth as if to warn him to keep his weapons to himself next time then flew back to Garness' side. Garness petted Rover's scaly head and the wyvern nuzzled his master’s hand affectionately in return.

Gurok was handling the brunt force of the fly's powerful attacks while half the party was distracted by Rover and Martin rolling around on the ground. His face was getting moist from the effort and I could tell he needed a hand. The fly was turning the tide of the battle and pushing Gurok back towards the tree-line. He could take a lot of hits but when he was armored up like a tank, he couldn't swing as hard to do a lot of damage. That was our job, if anyone was paying attention. "Not to rush you..." he complained.

Zerokb shared a little healing magic with Gurok with a quiet smile of amusement. I jumped up behind the fly and slashed it back and forth with gracefully lethal slices before killing it with one final powerful gouge up forcing the fly to give up the ghost. "Lovely." I complimented myself.

I didn't go for another victim quite yet. Instead, I flopped down in the grass nearby and rested my hands in my lap. After Rover and Martin's little wrestling match and killing a respectable number of dragonflies, I thought we could take a break to laugh and eat a snack. Gurok didn't look like he was ready to quit, but I was in charge of picking the fights today so he shook himself slightly to get his mind out of fight mode and smiled as he relaxed.

"I guess that means it's break time." Martin said as he jumped up in the air and fell onto a pile of leaves then pulled out a piece of jerky. Rover, still angry from earlier, stole Martin's jerky and flew off with it. Martin stood to his feet awkwardly in his heavy armor and chased the wyvern into the brush out of sight. We were rolling with laughter as we listened to the shouting and rawring not far away.

Wiping a happy tear from my eye, I hugged Jenjen. "I'm sorry." She looked confused. I pulled everyone else within reach towards me and tried to hug them all at once. "Oh," she said as she started to understand and hugged me back. She grinned. "You're you, and we love you and I'm glad you're feeling better today," she purred as she nuzzled.

Martin stumbled back looking a little singed and out of breath. "I missed something." he said flatly and looked disappointed. Then he grinned mischievously, ran, then jumped on top of the group hug nearly breaking my head with his big body. Gurok grabbed him by the back of his armor launched Martin out of the huddle. He got some impressive air before rolling to a stop on the ground "Ooowww..." he groaned as he laughed.

Rover flew back to Garness’ side looking very very proud of himself. I smiled as I looked around at my friends. Today was a good day.

(Thank you to Stephen for another educational editing session. You rock. Check out his blog at http://fourthdayuniverse.blogspot.com Oh and sorry this one took so long. My pc died and I had to wait for a new hard drive and motherboard to be installed. It was painful.)

Friendly Nudge

2009-09-09T23:00:00.004-04:00

I was hypnotized by the motion of the water and the musical sound of the water drops falling from my finger tip into the dark reflective fountain. I was just daydreaming again. With my knees pulled up under my chin, I dipped my finger into the dark water and watched the rings ripple away from me making the reflection of the red moon dance and shimmer.

I imagined his face in the water staring back at me. I wondered where he was and what he was feeling. I hoped his spirit wasn't miserable like I had been lately. He always had a knack for remaining cheerful even when things looked grim. Could I love him as much as I thought I did or was it just the misery of having him ripped away from me that made me feel this way? It had been one year, four months and six days. Would I ever be able to let him go?

I was fine while I was desperately struggling to protect my daughter Hope from the politicians who feared her birth, but once things settled down and she seemed safe my emotions caught up with me and flooded my mind. The pressure was crushing me. The more my life stood still, the more my own thoughts and feelings seemed to cripple me. I knew I needed to do something but I just couldn't yet. I felt like I could sympathize with this frustrated fountain shut off for the night. What's the point without flowing and motion?

Leaning my forehead on my arm, I watched the tears roll off my nose and puddle on the stones. Then my hat flew off my head and an unseen attacker started beating me with it.

“Don’t be such a weak Elvaan fool! Pull it together. You’re embarrassing me just to see you embarrass yourself.”

I turned to see Foxx glaring at me with my hat in his hands. Throwing it at me in fury he asked, “What’s the matter with you? Have you no pride? Get up, form an experience party, and stop wallowing in self-pity when there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your legs aren't broken. Work them.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. He definitely caught me off guard, something I would have been humiliated about if he wasn’t him. He could sneak around anything undetected.

“I’m a woman. It’s my prerogative to be emotional if I please.” I said with a glare.

“Well it’s my prerogative to want to kill you for it.” He retorted with a bit of a snort.

“Look at you. You have good friends who love you, you’re a reasonably respectable thief when you’re not so distracted by your emotions and you have a long life ahead of you to try to make this perfect life you think you're entitled to. Be bold and stop being such a ninny.”

“What kind of man uses the word ninny?” I said with a grin.

With that he clutched his dagger and stabbed me in the leg. “Get up, get up, get up! It’s time for you to do something productive. This overindulgent self-pity is disgusting me.”

I yelped in pain and held my hand over the gushing wound. Pouring a potion over it healed the injury, with the temporary side effect of feeling like a hot iron poker was knitting the edges of my tissues back together. I suffered this kind of blow many times but the treatment still made me whimper a little. “Did you have to stab me?”

“Do you have to ask? Look at yourself. Stop asking stupid questions and go buy some arrows. Your marksmanship is shameful.” With that he bounded off in half-airborne taru strides without even looking back. There was a time I would have gotten up and followed my old trainer to battle to study his every technique, but not tonight.

I swirled my hand in the the pool and splashed away the glassy stillness. I would find my way in life. I just wouldn't be pushed into doing it any way but my way. Grinning, I played with the gold coin I had just lifted off Foxx. I was not as crippled and useless as he thought. I was still a master of distraction enough to steal from a infamous thief. There was hope for me yet and I could feel the gentle swish in me of the only constant in life, change. This time I welcomed it.

(Thank you Stephen for being my editor and teacher on this one through two versions. Check out his blog at http://fourthdayuniverse.blogspot.com )

Healing

2009-08-09T19:00:00.002-04:00

With lightning speed, he instantly blinded my view of the goblin in front of me and with a thundering crack broke the goblin shield in half. Leaping just in time, I avoided being swiped over by his great white tail. I knew him well enough to know he had tried to trip me on purpose and he knew me well enough to know I wouldn't lose my balance that easily.

"Careful there Gurok; your tail is going to be the end of me." I growled as I pushed on him in protest without actually moving him an inch springing myself back instead.

"I'm pretty sure it's the end of me and if you prefer I could let them keep stabbing at you until you black out." He grumbled but defiantly not under his breath.

"I had it under control. I wanted the hate." I assured him. "I'm trying to improve my dodging skills."

At this he roared with laughter, pinning the gasping goblin under his foot while he doubled over to make all the more show of his amusement. I scowled. "You're dodgy enough already my dear." he said with a mischievous grin.

It had become a game or maybe a dance between us of playful fighting with a mockingly serious face. For months we had traveled like nomads together. I had become reclusive and he had become my great looming shadow. He would leave on occasion for the usual obligations of our modern day heroes during this time of unrest, but I didn't vanish from him as often as I did with some of the other people I loved lately. I'd wait patiently pretending not to wait at all, but be busy with my leather crafting hobby, or fishing or meditating or whatever struck my fancy that day.

I guess it was only a natural evolution of a rogue thief to keep to the shadows, watching the world around her, and waiting for her opportunities or desires to drive her out like a mouse to cheese ever cautious of the inevitable trap.

I smiled as I watched Gurok hang the goblin up in a tree by his belt. When he woke he would be in for a nasty surprise. I did pick this fight when I stole his coin purse, so this encounter wouldn't be fatal for him. I just wanted to hone my skills and keep my daggers lightning fast. I had become a little more sensitive about delving out death and Gurok indulged me quietly. It was an uncharacteristic move on his part that I took for affection and I wasnt about to ruin it by asking him about it.

"Enough exercise, time for lunch." Gurok chuckled as he started walking towards the lake. He was always in a good mood after battling any enemy he could find though he very much preferred the larger prey that could be made into lunch after.

I watched him walk away without following him. He was tall as any galka I had ever seen and that was saying something. His skin and hair matched in snow white softness and his head was covered in a thick soft mane that framed his huge wide thin lipped mouth. His eyes where blue and bright when he smiled and icy dark when his ungalka-like natural tendency to rage caught him. He was built like a wall, square shouldered and thick with muscle like all of his kind were. They moved slower but they never went unnoticed.

He didn't turn around to see if I would follow. I don't even know if he wanted me to but he knew I would. He drew me like a moth to a flame. I didn't know why, but maybe it was the way his huge frame could physically block out the world that made my spirit feel comfortable and safe. As powerful as I knew he could be, I never feared harm even when I knew I had excited his temper. Other things might be broken because of me, but he was my paladin and protector and would always keep me safe.

I don't know how I earned his loyalty, but in this time when a storm raged deep within me like a hurricane tearing and breaking my very soul I was grateful for a shelter.

He was laying down on the sandy shore of the large lake with his hands behind his head when I caught up. I sat down next to him under the tree and searched my bag for what I had packed this morning. "It's about time." he complained. "I'm starving."

I set out a few fruits and a crisp crusted half loaf of a dark bread. He looked over at me and raised an eyebrow. "That's not food, that's what food eats." he said with a grin as if that were the first time he had said that to me. I reached in and pulled out a huge piece of cured meat that had weighted me down all morning. "Carrying this thing made for good strength training. I guess I can let you eat it." I chuckled.

We ate in silence, and I watched him in my usual creepy manor that didn't seem to bother him as I thought. I couldn't figure out why he followed me. I felt consumed in pain but I couldn't bare to let it out so I tried to hide it inside though I know it showed in my eyes at the least. I felt like an ogre was constantly standing on my chest, crushing my heart and forcing the pain to ooze out of every pore... not to be too over dramatic about it but it was what it was.

I tried to talk some sense into myself but I couldn't seem to shake it. My dreams woke me in cold sweats at the image of death and screaming. Images of past and feared futures haunted me in the day and night. I was losing my mind and I couldn't bare for those who I respected so much to see me like this so I hid.

Kjarbo was the one I felt the worst about avoiding. His heart was so kind and generous it pained him to see me hurt so badly that it just added to my pain to hurt him so I started slipping away from him more and more often until it had been over a month since I had come out of hiding to let him know I was ok. It was a cruel attempt at mercy that ended up just being selfishness. Still, though I told myself to stop and just calm down and let myself heal, somehow I couldn't. I was broken.

In Gurok though somehow I felt peace. He didn't try to fix me. He didn't want to talk it out, he was just here eating lunch with me and keeping me company while I obsessively practiced my skills and trained my body. It was peaceful.

Limit Break Radio

2008-08-12T17:39:00.003-04:00

I'm exploring a new media! It was only a one time thing but it was very fun.

Alison the Amazing Thief is now on Limit Break Radio as a guest host for Juxtaposition, a Limit Break Radio intern, on his Simply Summerbreeze episode.

Check the link and give it a listen. I hope you enjoy it. :D

(image this week comes off the LBR website.)

http://www.limitbreakradio.com

Maat’s Final Challenge

2008-07-30T16:02:00.003-04:00

“It’s you again.” He chuckled as he looked up at me with his winkled leathery face.

“Yes and I’m ready to pass your little test this time.” I said confidently. “I have a new ring now that I’m sure will give me the edge I need. I was almost kidding when I said one little ring would make all the difference but I really hoped it would. It wasn’t a big improvement over the other times but I was always so close to beating the old fart.

Old and withered he was, but the small framed hume was the best trainer in the world without contest. Everyone who was anyone has gone through him. He was tough and ruthless and broke many a man’s spirit and it made the successful all the better.

A few more times now than I care to admit he had pounded me to a pulp and left me laying on the ground dazed and defeated. This was his final challenge for me before he would help me reach my full potential. I had to prove I was ready for it by beating the stuffing out of the old man until he couldn’t take it anymore. Twisted if you ask me but I wanted it so I was willing and so far I had not come close to straining him one bit.

“Do you have the testimony I asked for?” he asked as he stretched his boney old legs.

With a nod I gave him the parchment I had stolen off of a goblin that very morning. He pinned them on the poor stupid beastmen and asked his students to go fetch them before he would take them into the fighting arena.

He put the paper into his pouch and smiled. “Ok then. Let’s see what that little ring does for you.”

A quick teleport and we were there. He waited for me in the middle of the arena as he bounced around on his toes like a boxer warming up. I had a plan and I felt good about this time being the one. Using a magic reraise scroll I gave myself two shots at this fight.

“Are you ready little girl?” he taunted.

Grinning to myself I pulled out my best sneak attack combination and stealthy stabbed him in the back driving my blade in deep before taking it back. Spinning around he looked a little angry then a little pleased I had caught him off guard. “Very good little girl but that alone will not prove yourself.”

With blinding speed he slashed at me with his short daggers ripping open the belly of the scorpion harness I had on loan as I leapt out of the way just in time to save my body from harm. “Darn you old man! This is new!” I spat angrily.

“Go ahead and let your anger take over your mind. I’ll have you beat all the faster.” He laughed.

Every time anyone squares off against Maat they come away saying the same thing, "Damn, he is old, how does he move that fast?!" My profession has taught me to move like lightning so the two of us were a blur of motion. I thought my younger body would give me an advantage but it was all I could do to keep up with him. For a few short minutes I kept my focus perfectly and dodged everything he tried to come at me with. It felt darn good.

After stabbing him in the back there was no way he was going to let me out of his sight again so my favorite attack was out. Crouching down to avoid a fast swing I sprung up and off to the left slicing a nice hole across his ribs to avenge my own. Before I could even crack a smile of satisfaction he kicked out at my front foot and followed my immediate stumble with a dagger handle upside my head and another small slash through my scorpion harness. Blood trickled down my back but with the rush of battle I hardly felt the wound.

Grinning he closed in again. I tried to lunge and stab him in the chest but he caught my wrist, parried it away and locked my arm at the elbow bringing my eyebrow down into his knee with a horrible thunk. I was dizzy and my vision was blurry from the cut over my eye dripping crimson down my face. My dagger had gone flying and the metal screamed across the stone floor as it glided out of my reach. Locking my arm and he kicked me in my ribs hard enough to lift me into the air and let my body fall limp on the floor. "Had enough little girl?" he taunted.

Rage boiled in me and I rose with newfound speed to elbow upwards into his chin with a satisfying CRACK. I was in a frenzy, adrenaline flowed like I had never felt before and I used it to land a chopping strike to his exposed throat. He dropped both of his daggers to grab his injured neck and I took the opportunity to sink my last dagger into his thigh to the hilt. He let out a half scream-gurgle and then it happened... Just as I thought I had won a strange power emanated from Maat, his whole body almost glowed with energy. A psychotic look overtook him and he came at me with his fists striking so fast they were a blur even to me. Getting out of the way was impossible this time. I tried to get my elbows up to block like I have seen some of my front line fighting friends do but he was too fast. The few I managed to block meant nothing overall and I hit the ground once again.

Maat stood over me for a moment before he turned to walk away, eyes gleaming in triumph. The world was going black as I realized I had landed on my lost dagger. Luckily it wasn't lying point up I thought to myself. The scroll of reraise kicked in and I mustered all my strength to stand quickly and quietly.

With the grace of a stalking Jugner tiger I crept up on him and struck him between the fourth and fifth rib. A spot I playfully poke on Gurok often when he tanks for me but deadly when it's a dagger. He tried to cry out as he fell but there was no air left in his pierced lung. He looked up at me and held his hands up weakly to yield. I reached into his bag and stole the warp scroll prize. Strange as it seems, his look of terror quickly dissolved as he warped out of the arena and I swear I saw him smile and mouth the words “good job” and my heart swelled with pride.

Using the magic scroll I sent myself back to Jeuno to meet him. I had finally done it. Whether by luck or the skill that comes with not giving up I had finished my final trial and was on my way to be one of the great ones. It felt dang good.

Thank You Lady Ari!

2008-07-28T17:00:00.003-04:00

She colored it for me! I didnt want to wait until I had a story to match it so it gets it's own post. Thank you Ari. <3 I love it. I'll update the photo and link to the right when I get another little window of time.

It's a Living

2008-07-03T11:41:00.003-04:00

Dizzy and confused as to where I was, the light was so blinding I couldnt see. It stang and pulled tears from the corner of my eyes and my entire body was burning as if I had been set on fire.

A form stepped between me and the sun allowing me squint them open. He smiled a crooked grin and laughed. “Well hello goblin bait. I think you’ll be ok as soon as your head clears.”

“Zerokb?” I asked as I tried to focus on the face inside the hooded robe.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m glad I found you. Who knows how long you would have baked out here in the sun until someone found you.” He offered a hand and pulled me to my feet. His grip shot tingles up my arm as his healing magic gave me a little bit of energy. “What are you trying to do out here?”

“Get rich quick.” I said as I tried to brush some of the dust off my culottes.

He chuckled and offered me a drink. I didn’t need to know what it was. I was parched. I carried it over to a shaded spot against the rocks and sat to rest and drink deeply.

“I already stole quite a few.” I said in my defense, giving my bag a little pat to let the jingle prove it.

The white mage nodded and smiled warmly. “Maybe I should stick around awhile.”

“That’s very kind of you but I’m fine. I just have to be more careful. I won’t get into trouble again.”

“I doubt that.”

I sat quietly and pretended to concentrate on recovering myself. I really couldn’t argue the “won’t get into trouble again” part. Even if it was not today trouble tended to follow me.

“Have you seen Jenjen lately?” he asked breaking the silence.

“No, but I know where she is. She left on some business with her brother for a few weeks. She’ll be back.” I was happy to talk about something besides my embarrassments.

He frowned as his eyes glinted with mischief at the thought of the mithra. “Too bad. She’s grown on me since the first time I met her in that tiny port town. She has life.”

“That she does.” I smiled and softly laughed to myself. It thrilled me to discover the crush. I do love to see people I care about twiterpated.

He glowed and closed his eyes briefly as he gathered energy. My chest burned with the warmth of the white magic that briefly paralyzed me while it healed. My own skin glowed pearl white for just a moment before leaving me to gasp in a refreshingly painless breath. “Thank you.” I managed to whisper out.

“Anytime.”

A New Start

2008-06-10T16:04:00.002-04:00

I felt like I had aged thirty years in the last year. Things were finally quiet now and I was trying to establish normality again and find things to keep myself occupied so I wouldn’t dwell on my thoughts. I stayed in Whitegate and it became my new residence though it would take awhile for it to feel like home.

As for Hope I made the very painful decision to keep my distance from her for awhile. People would surely be watching for me to be around an infant and I couldn’t put her at risk. I planned to play with her and love her as a family friend once things settled down but she couldn’t know I was her mother until she was an adult. It was much too big of a secret to ask a child to keep.

“You look lost in your thoughts again.” Kjarbo smiled as he sat down and touched the top of my nose.

I nodded and smiled. The sun was rising over the walls of the Al Zahbi district and I was sitting on top of one of the highest ones. I loved the way the long rays of the sunrise made the stones glow warmly. It was a beautiful city and always active and busy. It was growing on me.

Kjarbo handed me a small plush dhalmel with a stitched on smile. “It’s on loan to you from Hope.” He smiled. “She is doing well and growing strong.”

I leaned over and rested my head on his arm as I smelled the little toy and glowed with joy to hold something my little angel had held. She lived in Windurst now with Yamari and Zhirin and I longed to see her more often but I was greatly comforted to know she was well watched over and loved by many people.

“I’m have been training with Maat.” I told him. “He seems to think I am nearly ready for my final test.” Maat is the undisputed master trainer of highly talented adventures. His expertise covers all disciplines to the point where some question if he is not endowed with supernatural or godly powers. I just find him aggravating but I have the good sense to respect him for his genius.

“I have no doubt you’ll be up to any task.” Kjarbo smiled.

I had to laugh and smile. “You spoil me with praise. You spoil me with sweets. You dote on me and stand by like my unfailing protector. It makes me blush.”

He looked down.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No, not really but I came out here to tell you I have to leave for awhile. A few weeks I think. A friend of mine from my life as a fisherman is in need of help. I’m taking Jen with me.”

“Jen? I thought she would want to be here now with Beldin showing up out of nowhere.”

“I don’t trust him and I can tell something is bothering her about him. She’s been very upset. She needs the time away.” He said as he brushed my hair behind my ear carefully. “If you need me I’ll come rushing back.”

“It’s ok. I’ll be busy training. Today I plan on practicing my stealing and evading skills on the goblins near Bibiki Bay.”

“That sounds like a dangerous thing to do alone.” He frowned.

“Not at all. They’re not very smart. I practice my archery on them, steal their gold when they get near and then hide. They’re not bright enough to find me and they give up and wander off. It’s a great way to vent frustration. New shinny gold coins always make me happy.”

He chuckled and stood up. “Well then, good day and good luck hunting my lady. I must be off to catch my boat.” He bowed.

I stood up and hugged him. “Be safe and quick to return.”

“As you wish.” He kissed the top of my head and hurried off towards the south port.

I sighed and sat down with the little toy. I decided now was a good time to start on my own day. I tucked the little toy into my vest so it could snuggle near my heart. I had a lot of work to do to prepare for my next lesson with Maat.

Family

2008-06-02T20:43:00.005-04:00

I found myself on a boat once again and feeling rather sentimental about it though I didn’t say so out loud. Some things I preferred to hold secretly in my heart these days. It was early morning now and I could hear the shore birds welcoming the boat as we grew nearer to port.

I reluctantly passed Hope back to Yamari where she wouldn’t be noticed as unusual. No one thought twice about a hume woman with a hume looking baby. I had already counted her little fingers and toes countless times on our long ride over. It never got old just to hold her and look at her tiny sleeping face. I laid my head on Yamari’s shoulder and put my hand over the tiny girl in her arms.

By some cruel joke of the gods I still looked pregnant so I kept concealed under loose mage robes. They were much more cumbersome than my usual clothing but comforting and warm and I was starting to like the feeling of being unseen.

The boat slowed to a stop and I heard the thump of the ramp extending to the dock. “Let’s hope there isn’t a royal knight waiting for us.” I only said what everyone already was thinking I just wanted to break the nervous silence that had settled around us the entire ride over.

Gurok smiled confidently. “If they’re here we are ready for them.” He clutched the sword at his side as if to show me he did indeed know where it was and how to get to it quickly. I couldn’t help but smile back.

All around cheers of agreement and encouragement bounced around the cabin from friends who came along to make sure things went well. I smiled broadly. These were all people I loved deeply. They were family to me and our near death and back adventures had only made us all the closer.

We exited the boat without incident. I don’t know why there would not be someone representing San d’ Oria checking these traveling hot spots but I slipped by without making eye contact with anyone and Hope only got oh and ahs from admiring attendants. I had kind of hoped that no one would notice a baby at all but we were safe all the same and it felt good to breath a sigh of relief.

“I have a house in the residential area not far from here. We will be safe there while we figure out what to do next.” Tastywaffles said as he looked back to make sure we were following. “I spend a lot of time in this area. People tend to mind there own business here.”

“Yes and no.” Someone said. I turned around to stand nose to nose with Beldin and nearly screamed in surprise.

“Much too convenient timing.” Gurok said as he drew his sword. “How did you know we would be here?”

“I didn’t actually but you stand out. I couldn’t miss you.” He said.

I hugged him open mouthed and still in shock. “We thought you were dead. Where were you?” Jenjen was frozen.

“Can we wait till we’re inside to chatter?” Tastywaffles said looking a little annoyed. He was right.

The people of this area dressed strangely and the buildings were like nothing I had ever seen before. I felt like I was in an entirely different world. It was perfect. Things were going to change.

As soon as we entered Tastywaffles’ house Beldin was the first to fall onto a long sofa and sprawl out like he was already at home. I noticed he winked at Jenjen and patted the seat next to him to invite her to sit with him but she turned away from him. I wondered what could be running through her head right now. I made note to find out when the time was right. Kjarbo as always was keeping a protective eye over his sister.

I sighed deeply in relief and sat down in a large pile of plush pillows and reached for Hope. Kammy was already here and nearly crushed us both as she leapt to hug me. “You’re safe!” She yelled and stuck her face into the bundle of baby and rubbed her cheeks against Hope in typical mithra fashion.

“Gentle!” I protested as I pushed her enough away to be able to see Hope’s little face again. Kammy’s frowned but obeyed.

“Our moogles are all here.” Tastywaffles announced. “It seems they have a plan.”

The moogles came in and bowed to me as low as they could without touching the floor. “Congratulations on the birth of your daughter Kupo!” My moogle smiled widely as he spun in excitement. “I have met with the HEIR council while you were away and we have a plan for you.”

“HEIR?” I asked. “What do you mean.?”

“Well Kupo, a need arose to protect the tiniest of heroes from those who feared them so the Hume Elvaan Infant Rescue was formed to help. I told them about you and they were very excited to help. They don’t get many opportunities to actually do something since they are not needed very often.”

“Very pleased to meet you both, Kupo!” another moogle chimed in excitedly.

“So what do we do now?” I asked. Kjarbo knelt down next to me and gave me a plate with a steak and carrots along with a tall mug of chocolate milk. He smiled and nodded silently as if to encourage me to eat without interrupting this little meeting.

“Well we need to make Hope disappear Kupo.” Moogle explained.

“You can’t take her away! Not a..!”

Moogle interrupted. “No no, don’t worry Kupo. We don’t want to take her away we just need to make the rulers of San d’Oria and Bastok believe that she..” he hesitated, “not to offend or upset Kupo but.. We just need to make them think she’s dead.”

I clutched Hope tightly and I caught more than one eyebrow raise and hand twitch ready to take a weapon in response to my alarm. “What are you saying?!”

The moogles turned and whispered to each other as their wings fluttered. “HEIR used their numerous connections to obtain a certificate of death for your child Kupo. It says she was still born and unnamed and most importantly, elvaan, Kupo. It just needs to be delivered to San d’Oria. They will not risk a war with West Aht Urhgan by coming here in force to question an official document but I’m sure there will be spies to check on it. We will need to hide her Kupo.”

“I will take the certificate.” Beldin announced. “I have some influence there.”

Someone in the room huffed at him but I couldn’t tell who. I ignored it.

“Thank you Beldin.” I said sincerely. “How do you suggest we hide Hope?” I asked Moogle.

“In the past HEIR has placed babies with families that match what the child looks like. The babies have always taken after one parent or the other Kupo. We can’t leave her to be raised with you or they will surely catch on and protecting her will become very near impossible Kupo.”

“I won’t give her up. Come up with a new plan.” I glared.

“No one is saying that you have to give her up Kupo. Look around at what trusted hume couples you know who would look natural with a new baby. Its best if you are not seen with a child but moogles will always keep you safe in your homes Kupo. It’s our honor to protect and serve Kupo.” He glowed with pride and I was humbled by his selfless kindness.

I only knew one hume couple but I did trust them entirely. Question was would they raise my baby in public so I could keep her close to me in secret? I looked at Yamari and she smiled at me and nodded. She knew she was the only hume woman I knew who was in love with a hume man. She didn’t have a child of her own and I’m sure the thought of caring for my baby must have terrified her but she didn’t show it. Her inner strength shone brightly that day.

She put her arm around me and let Hope grasp her tiny hand around her finger. Keeping Hope safe would be a life long linkshell effort that would bond us together as a family for our entire lives. We had no idea what we had to look forward to but we had full confidence that we could handle it together.

Babycakes

2008-04-01T15:02:00.004-04:00

“Babycakes?” I muttered with my jaw dropped. It looked kinda like him but kinda not. Was it really him? He smiled at me showing bits of seaweed in his teeth. His face glistened with a bit of a damp sliminess and his skin was pale.

“Hello hot stuff.” He grinned as he opened his arms waiting for me. “I missed you.”

Half because he looked pretty dang gross and half because I had it set in my mind that he was dead I hesitated. “Where have you been?”

Frowning and dropping his arms he looked broken hearted that I had not run to him. I couldn’t take it any longer. Rushing him nearly pushed him over as I threw my arms around my husband. “Brodie I missed you.” Tears welled up in my eyes and fell down my cheeks onto his wet armor.

He felt cold. “I think you need a hot bath.” I told him as I looked up at his face trying to brush his wet hair away from his eyes.

“I think I’ve had more time in water than I ever wanted. I’ll pass thanks.” He replied with a warm smile. “How about we have some hot chocolate instead?”

My weakness. He knew me so well. I was a little unsure about his strange appearance but for now I would enjoy having my heart swell with the joy of my family being whole again. Altana was smiling on me I could just feel it glowing from my insides out. I would tell him about our new baby as soon as Yamari arrived with her. He and I had a lot of catching up to do.

(April Fools!)

Welcoming Hope

2008-03-10T22:43:00.003-04:00

In the distance a pack of dogs howled in unison. “I think they may be upset.” I said as I straightened.

Tastywaffles smiled warmly at me and jogged ahead to check the next turn and with his nod of approval Kammy grabbed my hand and pulled me after him. Sneaking around stealthily we carefully made our way to the only logical way out.

The pain didn’t go away completely. Every few minutes we would have to stop while I leaned against a wall to grip myself. No one said anything anymore and I pretty well figured out what was happening and it had nothing to do will any spell. It was clear we needed to get out fast. Terrified I wouldn’t make it my eyes showed the anxiously desperate panic that was gripping my heart as tightly as the contractions gripped my body.

“Last turn.” Tastywaffles said as he glanced back at me without making eye contact. “There are four spooks in the way and I don’t think we should take the time to try to send them back to their maker and I can not charm these things.”

“Let’s just distract them while Kammy helps her outside. They won’t follow us out there.” Zerokb instructed.

Kammy and I stayed around the bend while Tastywaffles and Zerokb turned the corner and shouted at the dark forms. They turned their eyeless faces towards the men and started plotting their worst.

One rushed the hume summoner and reached its tiny black arm out and slapped him. Zerokb cringed and shuttered as his eyes rolled back into his head briefly. Shivering the hume tried to straighten himself but he was clearly slowed by the dark effects.

The ghosts were shrieking angrily and lashing out at the two heroes their full attention set on ripping them limb from limb for having the nerve to intrude on their domain. Tastywaffles whistled and a hecatomb hound, possibly even the same from earlier, tore around the corner and came to their aid.

“I think now is a good time.” Kammy said. “Are you ready to run for the moon light?”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure how fast but exiting sounded good. I wanted out and now was an understatement. Yesterday would have been better. Even better I wish I had never been in this awful place. I should be in the care of elvaan midwives not in a forgotten part of a San d’Orian prison but dwelling on the bad hands dealt to me was not going to help. I shook my head as if to shake out the unhelpful sorrow and ran.

Gurok was just outside and when he heard and saw us running towards him he got up as quickly as a huge galkan paladin can manage. He just got to his feet as I crashed into him wrapping my arms around his waist and bursting into tears.

“Whoa now. Don’t cry. You’re out now and everything is going to be fine.” He patted my head nervously and gave Kammy a questioning look.

Peeking out I witnessed Kammy as she pointed at her belly and made motions to tell Gurok the baby was coming now. She spotted me spotting her and blushed cupping her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry Alison.” She gasped.

I was about to tell her there was nothing to be sorry about but a contraction caught me off guard and I screamed as I crumpled to the ground. Gurok sat down with me and pulled me into his arms. “How in the world did you get her out like this? Someone could have told me and I would have come in and helped.” He was clearly upset.

“We needed you to keep a look out for soldiers just like we planned.” Kammy whined to Gurok. She whimpered to me. “I’m sorry Alison. I don’t know what to do.”

“I do.” Zerokb panted as he came out looking tired but none the worse for the wear. “I called Yamari and she said she could help. I don’t think Alison is ready for a long trip. I think the baby is going to come first whether it is good timing or not.”

“She can’t stay here.” Gurok barked as he picked me up and started walking south.

“I don’t know how much longer they can keep the guards ready before they get into serious trouble.” Tastywaffles muttered.

“Who?” I asked.

Kammy perked up. “I helped think of it!” she announced. Tastywaffles chuckled. “See we ‘borrowed’ things from the Orcs and everyone ever loyal to the Thumbmonkeys dressed as Orcs and captured near sighed old Palcomondau and his heartless friend Zovriace and tied them to trees. Those stupid old scouts never helped anyone anyways. Then they staked torches all over the woods to make it look like tons of troops were in there. THEN they marched out to the edge to the tree line and made tons of noise. They are dodging in and out of the trees and banging on shields in the woods to make it look and sound like huge hoards are just inside the trees outside the gates of snooty old San d’ Oria.” Kammy looked very proud. “Ok maybe I didn’t think of everything but I helped a LOT!” she smiled looking very happy with herself.

“We only have until the knights get tired of waiting inside the walls of the city for us to get clear. If they march everyone plans on warping away and leaving the knights there to scratch their heads and wonder what happened. Even if they are not the army of their glory days the knights still greatly outnumber us when united.” Tastywaffles explained.

“How far do you plan on walking with her?” Zerokb asked.

“As far as I need to.” Gurok said with a determined frown.

“You have about five minutes.” I whispered and Gurok nodded and walked faster as he surveyed the area.

“Beowulf you have to keep it up a little longer. I’ll call when we are clear and safe.” Tastywaffles said over a communication pearl.

“He knows not to use the linkpearl right?!” I said with alarm.

Tastywaffles nodded. “Yeah we’re only using friend pearls now. No linkpearl. Don’t worry about it. Yamari is here and is going to meet us in a sheltered nook in the rock near here.”

The baby didn’t take much longer to make her great entrance. My less than lady like vocalizations where drown out to the occupants of the city by the banging of drums, shields and whatever else they could come up with. By the end Gurok had blood trickling down his arm where my fingers had dug into his thick snowy white skin as he tried to be supportive. Permanent scars that would forever be a reminder of the day.

Yamari wiped off her little face and handed my tiny screaming girl to me. I looked her over and cried as I leaned against friends who were huddled near to see. As chubby a baby as I had ever seen she had fiery red curls on top of her head and her father’s perfect hume features. I held her close to my chest and the crying stopped as she looked up at me with steely blue eyes and wrapped her fingers around mine. “She’s amazing.” I said between tears.

“What is her name?” Kammy asked with wide mithra eyes full of astonishment.

“Hope.” I smiled. “My perfect little angel is named Hope.”

They allowed me a few minutes to hold her but clearly everyone grew anxious. “The soldiers are coming out to challenge the Orcs.” Tastywaffles said. “The Thumbmonkeys are leading them back to Fort Ghelspa but they are running out of time and the army is flooding the area. We have no time. You have to be gone.”

“I’m ready.” I said as I held Hope tightly in my arms.

Yamari bit her lip. “We need to teleport you out now but Hope doesn’t have the ability to teleport yet. I need you to let me take her and meet up with you right away.”

“Not a chance.” I said clutching my new infant.

“I love you. Trust me. You can NOT be spotted by them. They will not bother me. No one is looking for a hume baby. They would be looking for an escaped pregnant elvaan woman if anything. I’ll meet you within hours. Don’t worry.” She assured me.

“Ok Yams.” I said and I let her take my frail new baby from my arms reluctantly as my heart broke. I trusted Yamari with my life but my baby was harder let go. In an instant Kammy had teleported us away and the image of Hope faded.

Heartburn

2008-02-26T15:29:00.006-05:00

No way I could sleep even though it felt like it should be night time by now. Pacing circles in my cell nervously with the super charged energy given to me most likely by the combination of the red curry soup and my nerves my mind raced to figure out what was going on. At least that’s what I though was making me so anxious.

My ears pricked. I was sure I could hear the sound of some distant rumble outside the wall of my stone prison. It had been going on for nearly an hour or so I guessed. It was so hard to judge time down here. Michael had been rushing back and forth from somewhere, glancing at me then hurrying away again.

“What’s going on?” I called after him.

He shuffled around nervously. “San d’Oria is being attacked by the Orcs from Fort Ghelsba. Sinless has gone up with everyone else to defend the gates. I’m sorry, I’m going to see what I can find out. I won’t be long. Don’t worry, they’ll never get all the way down here.” He scurried off again.

Very odd. Usually they preferred to wait until we came out from the security of the city walls to pick weaker adventures off one at a time. Attacking the fortified city seemed like craziness. These were very strange times indeed.

“Hey Alison. Are you alone?” I heard someone familiar hiss to me in a mithran whisper.

Rushing to the front of my cell I called back. “Yes, yes hurry please I want out.”

Kammy skittered out quickly followed by a much slower moving and watchful Tastywaffles and an easy striding Zerokb. She grabbed my outstretched hands and a deep rumbling purr erupted from her. “Arrrre you ok?” she purred shaking her head a little as she finished. “Garness said there were no locks so we brought in some muscle.”

Kammy bounced back into the arms of the beastmaster elvaan named Tastywaffles who was her nearly constant companion and he caught her pushing her hair back away from her face without even looking at her as if it was so habit he didn’t even think about it anymore. I couldn’t help but smile at them and miss that kind of familiarity and affection in my life.

So distracted by them I didn’t even notice what Zerokb had done until I heard the ground crack under the giant’s great effervescent feet. Smiling in such a way that it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, Titan winked at me. The most perplexing sense of déjà vu swept over me but as much as I struggled to grasp at it I couldn’t figure out why, like some strange dream forgotten as soon as I woke.

I’m not sure how he fit into the hall but he did. Great hands bent the bars as his fingers pushed through them to get a grip causing the steel to scream as it gave way to him. Devouring the spicy curry soup earlier had given me terrible heartburn as well as the energy burst but now it seemed to reach around my ribs crushing me like I was in the talons of the dragon I consumed. It caught me off guard and I cried out like the steel as we both felt ripped apart. Knees to the stone I watched the bars bent apart as effortlessly as taffy candy in his hands.

“Thank you old friend.” Zerokb said as he smiled and nodded to Titan. The giant bowed lower if that were possible in his current cramped quarters and disappeared as quickly as he had arrived clearing room for my friends to leap in to help me.

“Ouch.” I whimpered pathetically as the pain went away.

“What in Altana’s name was that about?” Zerokb demanded. “Did that spell link you to the cage?”

“Maybe.” I replied still feeling a little shaken as Kammy pulled me to my feet. “Let’s get out of here already. Someone is going to want to know what all that noise was about.” Pulling me along I stumbled after the mithra in the dark between the occasional torch hanging from the damp stone walls.

It wasn’t long until we heard the snarl of one of the large dog-like creatures that stalks the tunnels at all hours. I nearly slid as I stopped abruptly and jumped back just in time to avoid it’s long fangs as it lunged at me. Tastywaffles the beastmaster stepped in front of me showing the angry beast his palm and yelling at it to stop. To my great astonishment it laid down shaking its head and snarling but not attacking as the tall elvaan stared it down as if he was willing it with his eyes alone.

Scratching of toe nails on stone echoed against the walls as another dog ran to catch up with his companion. With a flick of his wrist Tastywaffles sent the first creature racing to meet the second leaping at him and catching his neck in his jaws. Crashing to the floor the dogs tore and snapped at each other until the second dog ran in a panic followed closely by his turncoat pack mate.

“Time to move.” Tastywaffles commanded us but my knees had already hit the floor again from the gripping pain.

“The bars! The bars! The bars!” I shouted as I held my abdomen tightly.

“Shusssh!” Kammy hissed.

“What in the world is she talking about?” Zerokb said clearly a little exasperated as he frowned at me.

“We need to hurry if we don’t want to be trapped in here by soldiers on one side and beasts on the other. Can’t you carry her?” Tastywaffles asked sounding a little tense himself.

“Do I look like a monk? She’s huge!” Zerokb complained as he pointed at me. “Why can’t Kammy just teleport her?”

Kammy glared. “You can’t teleport a prego Stupid. She and the baby could be very unnicely separated in the process this late term.”

“I can walk all by myself, thank you.” I snapped as I struggled to my feet. “I’m ok now.” I turned and glared at Zerokb and he gave me a flirtatious nod and a wink in return. Problem was I wasn’t entirely sure how long I could keep going on like this but stopping was not an option. I told myself it would be ok if only I could get to the fresh night air outside of this awful stifling place but I didn’t really believe me.

Red Curry

2008-02-20T13:18:00.003-05:00

I held my precious purple link shell in my hands. It was cold to the touch but it warmed my little thieving heart to have it back. Poor naive child had it in his pocket. He was so willing to let me near him.

Why did they put me down here with only a child? Did they that wrongly underestimate me? Did they plan to keep me here with him locked away forever for being unacceptably different? Maybe they just wanted to keep me long enough to see if my child would have the proper length ears. I really did not want to birth this child down here and it wouldn’t be long now. I needed to get out.

I couldn’t believe that a Sandorian would treat another elvaan this way. I had to hope that this was very temporary and someone would come get me out and explain this madness before the end of the day. I was curious what they had in mind but I really didn’t want to stay here any longer to find out.

I didn’t hear anything near me so I put a pearl in my ear and heard it crackle briefly as it activated. “Can anyone hear me?” I whispered.

“Fearless Leader!” Garness rawred in excitement. “Where have you been? It’s been chaos without you. Naturally I stepped in and made due but we have been worried and…”

I had to interrupt. “Slow down big guy. I’m in trouble. I need you to listen.”

“Ok.” He responded in a markedly more business tone.

“I think I’m in the Bostaunieux Oubliette but I don’t know for sure yet. I only seem to have one guard right near me but I don’t know what could be down the hall. My cell doesn’t seem to have a lock so I have no idea how we’re going to open it. Can you get help? I really want out of here fast.”

“You get in more trouble than anyone I know.” He said with a bit of a chuckle.

“I know. I’m sorry. You’re the best. Don’t call me unless I call you. I don’t want it to give me away.”

“Understood” he replied.

“By the way, I’m pregnant.” I said matter of factly.

I heard him drop his pearl on the floor, no doubt in surprise, and I turned mine off now that he had all the important information. I needed to go quiet again and I really didn’t want to try to explain it all to him right now.

Then a horrible thought occurred to me. What if they had set it up knowing I would steal that linkpearl and call for help and now they knew my friends where coming and could listen in on their conversations? “Curse my absent minded spontaneity.” I mumbled and kicked a bucket hard against the wall venting out some tiny bit of my frustration.

I quickly turned the link shell back on. “Don’t use the pearls! There are spies listening!” I hissed in a rushed hush before flicking it back off.

“Are you ok Mam?” I heard the boy call as the flickering light came down the hall with him.

“Yes, I just don’t like captivity and I’m hungry.” I grumbled as I shuffled the hay against the wall looking up into his eyes angrily.

He looked a bit surprised at my change in demeanor. “I’m sorry. Sinless said that tomorrow you are going to be taken to the Chateau d’Oraguille to be a guest of the prince himself. I’m sure you will like it much more there. I’m sorry you don’t like it here.”

He looked genuinely sad that I was unhappy. He was such an odd and kind hearted boy. I’m sure he could have the potential for greatness if he wasn’t hidden down here and told he was a hideous beast unfit for the life with the rest of us. It just added to my anger. I wondered how naive this boy was. “Can you let the door stay open while I wait for the prince to call for me if I’m just a guest? I hate cages. It makes me feel just ill. Maybe you could come sit with me while we wait.”

He twisted his face and wrinkled his nose like a child. “I can’t open it. This one is magically sealed especially for you. It’s to keep you safe. Nasty monsters are lose down here and I wouldn’t want you to be hurt if one slipped past me. I do have food for you though. I’m sure you’ll feel better after a meal.”

He handed me grape juice and a bowl of hot red curry soup with some bread. I took it slowly and awkwardly so he wouldn’t notice that I dropped my link pearl back into his pocket. “Wow this is a nice meal for a captive. I don’t normally even eat this well at home.” I tasted a bit of the dragon meat and the heat of it burned in my chest and made me feel ten times stronger than my normal self. It was very good.

“It comes from the king’s own kitchen. You’re not a captive. You’re an important guest.” He looked cross that I didn’t seem to understand.

I let a huff of frustration sneak out. Honored guests don’t arrive by force to be left down here in this dank dark place. “Michael, you can slay the monsters down here alone?”

He nodded. “I have a lot of time to train and practice and Sinless brings me new weapons and amour when I earn them.”

I raised an eyebrow and sipped my soup. Really really odd things where going on down here and as much as I would love to find out more I needed to get out fast for Hope’s sake.

The Boy

2008-02-08T00:10:00.001-05:00

Added 2/23/08 Thank you Shiyu-Chan for another beautiful illustration!

“Jen?” I mumbled as I reached out and grabbed straw to steady myself.

“No one here but you and me today.” A young voice answered.

I was cold and confused. “I was with…then…” I paused to think harder as I tried to recall. “Someone attached us.” A moment passed before I groaned and squeezed my eyes closed at the pain of betrayal. Curling up tightly I held myself in a moment of indulgence. “Kallo.” I said painfully. “Where are my friends?”

“You are the only one they brought.” He answered.

I was in a cell about ten feet by twenty feet with hay piled up in one corner and a water trough in the other like an animal stall. It was dark and had no windows. Only torches in the hallway dimly illuminated the darkness making long shadows.

“Who are you?” I asked the boy. He was a tall adolescent and pale skinned with long wavy black hair peeking out from his hooded cloak. The torch he held reflected off the most captivating sky blue shade of eyes I had ever seen.

“I’m the caretaker. This is my section. They give me responsibility over the very most special things. You are the first person ever though. They said to watch you very close. I have to tell Sinless as soon as you start to act oddly. They said you’re my very most special thing yet.”

“Are you a human or an elvaan?” I asked. I couldn’t tell. He was tall and slender featured like an elvaan except for one important thing. His cloak draped snugly against his head without the support of elegant elvaan ears. The boy dropped his face and turned away from me.

“I’m elvaan. I’m sorry if I offend you. With my hideous deformity I stay here where Sinless protects me from the eyes of normal elvaans. He’s like a father to me.” He held his hand over his ear and slumped down in a nearby chair.

My mind raced. What if it wasn’t a deformity at all? What if this child was like mine. My moogle had told me my baby would look either hume or elvaan and no one would be able to tell the child was blended but one looked pretty blended to me.

“I’m a healer. May I touch them? Maybe I can help.” I lied.

He turned and looked at me with a shocked expression. “You could heal them?” His eyes were wide with hope.

“I’m not sure but I would like to look and see what I can do.” I said with a warm motherly smile.

Slowly he approached the bars and removed his hood. His face flushing red with shame but his eyes wide and full of trust as he knelt in front of me looking up at me with his jaw and hands clinched bravely. How could someone so innocent and trusting be in a place like this?

He was remarkable. He looked as I had hoped, an oddly beautiful marriage of the two races. His ears where those of a hume except for a lovely upward point at the top rear. On his chin he had the youthful beginnings of a hume beard. His neck was too short like a hume and but other than these clues he was the perfect picture of a young elvaan nearing adulthood.

“Can you help me?” he whispered anxiously.

“My name is Alison. What is yours?” I asked warmly.

“Michael.” He answered.

I reached out and pushed the hair away from his unique ear. “I am very glad to meet you.” I said as I smiled reassuringly to the young man.

“It’s not a curse that can be magically erased. I think you are one of the most special and handsome boys I’ve ever seen. Sometimes it’s good to be a different.”

He looked sad and disappointed as he stood up and dropped his eyes. “You’re very nice. I’ll bring you your breakfast.” He shuffled down the hall kicking rocks. The light went will him leaving me in near total darkness to take in what my eyes had just witnessed. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more there were like him. Meeting him almost made me forget the desperate situation I myself was in but not quite.

I knew where I must be. Deep under the stone walls of the Chateau D’Oraguille in Bostaunieux Oubliette is where I would expect knights from my home country to take me. In the dim light I looked around for some way out. A trap door, a lock I could pick, a loose bar, anything. I pulled at every bar of the cold cage until I was sure none were weak or loose in any way before falling down on the pile of hay to rest and think as my stomach growled to let me know the day was moving on and I was hungry. What I would do for a good cookie.

Trapped

2008-02-01T11:58:00.000-05:00

Jenjen stuck her arm out and caught me across the stomach as we both came to an abrupt stop. “Shhhh!” she hissed. “I smell something.”

I stopped and listened but had a hard time over the sound of my own heavy breathing. This baby felt like she could come any day now and moving at all was hard let alone sprinting. I could hear the normal noises of wind and the grunt of the large beasts of this area… but… as I listened closer I could also hear the tinkling sound of someone in chain mail armor moving about. I could even possibly make out the sound of more than one person not far outside of the cave we were about to dart from. We needed to get a better idea of what was going on.

“A lot of someones are out there and I think they want to fight.” She whispered wide eyed.

“I don’t want to fight today.” I whimpered as I supported my belly in my hands.

As Jenjen reached for her cesti I put my hand over her arm. “There must be a better way. Let me go peek and see what exactly we are dealing with.”

“I have to protect you. My brother will never forgive me if you get hurt because I let you go alone.” She whined.

I flashed her my most charmingly confident smile. “I’m still a thief, remember? I can handle this. They’ll never know I am near.”

Jenjen held her lip in her teeth as she nodded with wide concerned eyes. Hiding myself I crept to the end of the cave and peeked around the corner cautiously. I almost gasped too loudly when I realized what was happening. My heart raced as I backed slowly away and turned to creep back to Jenjen.

“It would appear the whole of the Temple Knights are here to welcome us and they brought a few goblins and…” I paused a bit taken back by my heartbreaking disappointment. “Kallo is with them and he doesn’t look like a prisoner.”

My mithra friend hissed in anger as her face tightened. “I’m going to trap that rat and make him suffer as I kill him slowly. How dare he!”

“Not too loud! We need to think of some way around them. There is no way we can handle them all even if we waited for Gurok and Kjarbo and I wont be responsible for my friends getting killed or imprisoned.”

Her face lit up. “Cakes!” She squeaked in delight as she dug through her bag.

“I do love cake but I just can’t eat when things are this dire.”

Jenjen giggled and held out Mithra rice cakes. I smiled back at her. “Purrrfect.” I giggled and took one. The Rhinostery in Windurst developed these magical little delights and used them as a novelty treats during special holidays and events. I eagerly popped one into my mouth and hummed in delight at its sweet smooth taste.

As soon as I swallowed the fast acting magic made my whole body tickle and caused me to giggle and squirm uncontrollably as I shrank into the size and image of a mithran child complete with short ears and long tail that waved with a mind of its own. Jenjen bounced and clapped her hands together in delight. Her cake had already shrank her down too and we looked like twin sisters.

“Who’s in here?” A gruff voice called into the cave.

Jen and I giggled in response and purred as we skipped innocently in circles arms locked loosely with one another. “No one but us.”

“Children shouldn’t be in here alone.” The red haired elvaan said as he put his hands on his hips and tried to look stern through a smile. “What are you two up to?”

Holding hands and stopping to look up at the man we smiled warmly as I explained to him. “We want to see Tavnazian Safehold like we heard about in school. The mean taru in our class said we were not brave enough but we are plenty brave.”

“Way more than them.” Jenjen chimed in.

“We don’t care if it’s haunted. We’re not afraid of any silly ghosts.” Jenjen and I let out a unified rawr and ran past the elvaan. We had to make sure to get by them all before our magical cakes wore off.

The elvaan caught us both by the back of our shirts as we ran by and carried is out. We yowled and struggled but it was no use in this little form. “These two say they are little adventures out to see the Safehold. What should we do with them?” he asked his superior officer.

Kallo laughed and took us one in each arm. “Well aren’t they just the cutest little girls you have ever seen? Like little matching dolls aren’t they? I suspect they will grow up quicker than you think. You girls down mind keeping us company while we have a little bit of a lunch do you?” He looked at the knights. “They must be hungry right?” He grinned evilly. He knew.

I began to tickle and I knew we didn’t have long. “We don’t want to stay with you!” Jenjen protested as she squirmed. Taking a cake from her bag she tried to stuff it in my mouth but Kallo reached around her and took it. “That is our lunch! She hollered.

I reached for it but it was no use. Kallo held us tighter. “I’m sorry dolls.” He said almost sincerely as he handed the cake to a knight. “Eat this.” He commanded.

The elvaan raised an eyebrow and ate it. “It’s quite good.” He barely got out before he became our triplet.

“I was raised in Windurst too.” Kallo said as he held us tighter. To our horror we transformed back into ourselves in his arms. He kissed our noses. “Aren’t they just too cute for words now?” he chuckled back to the others.

Jenjen bit him hard and he pushed her away into the waiting arms of two of the knights who she preceded to pummel with her fists and feet as they tried to get a grip on her.

I head butted Kallo causing his nose to bleed and pulled lose reaching for my daggers as I lunged forward. Kallo grabbed me again and I spun around and stabbed his arm. “Run back Jen!” I cried.

Our bodies locked as we became trapped in a cocoon of magic. Someone had cast a bind spell on us. “Never send a thief to do a black mage’s job.” Someone chuckled as another used his healing magic on Kallo.

“You’re a little out numbered for running.” One of the knights said. “Tie them up and let us get back quickly. The wife says if I am late for dinner one more time this week she’s going to stop feeding me all together.” He chuckled and seemed very pleased with himself. I couldn’t wait for the bind spell to wear off so I could kill his ugly face.

I couldn’t help but let hormonal prego tears roll down my face. “Why?” I cried as I looked at Kallo.

“Thief, please check it.” He said as he patted the heavy looking gil purse on his belt. It amazed and hurt me to see how simple minded and evil a person he really was. I really wanted to hope that there was more to his betrayal than met the eye but I feared that it was nothing but self-centered greed. He turned his back on us and walked away.

Ambushed

2008-01-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

This chapter was co-written (meaning pretty much totally written) by Gurok and is from his point of view. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you Gurok for helping me write again. It feels good. You're my hero yet again. <3

For some reason unknown to me Jenjen and Alison were busy rolling around in the sand laughing and didn’t seem to notice when a nearby group of fisherman started pulling serious weapons out from under their ragged looking clothes while watching us menacingly.

“It’s an ambush!” I shouted. “To the back of the cave!”

We all scrambled to take a defensive position but it was a cave not a fortress. The best we could do was duck behind the corner of the bend and try to take stock of the situation. “Jenjen, take Alison through the portal to Tavnazia get her safely to the stronghold. We’ll catch up with you there after we handle this.”

As I saw Alison about to protest I spoke before she could speak. “Ali, you can’t move as fast as you used to so we need to buy you time and protect this baby. I’d prefer to be by your side every step of the way but this is our best option. Not like Kjarbo and I can’t handle ten bandits.” I saw her worry and gave her a confident grin.

“Don’t take too long.” She snapped back trying to hide her distress with venom.

I could see her struggling with the facts but she didn’t argue. Even in her current state she outran the mithra easily and disappeared into the vortex. I like to think it was her confidence in Kjarbo and my ability to handle ourselves that made it so easy to run away when things got too dangerous for her.

As soon as they had gone through, the group outside began to move toward the cave from behind the trees and rocks outside the entrance. I gave Kjarbo cover and he began casting gravity on our attackers. Answered with a volley of arrows I barely managed to block I called to my partner, “Something is very wrong with this.”

“You mean something other than the fact we are outnumbered five to one?” Kjarbo responded quickly.

“Yes, they are moving in formation. Bandits aren’t normally this organized... I don’t like this. Can you lay down some offensive spells and buy me some time?”

“Sure can try… what are you thinking?”

I replied simply “Getting help.”

I got on my linkpearl and scanned to see everyone’s location. We we’re in luck. Two of my best were in the area. Konamy, my second favorite thief in all of Vana’diel and Dkrchris a dark knight I had barely beaten in a fight once before. We almost killed each other and it was just for fun. He could do damage like no one else I knew and Kona was capable of using mithra reflexes and daggers to an extreme. “Dkr… Kona… I need your help and FAST.”

“Sure G, what’s wrong?” Dkrchris replied.

“Long story after you help, short now: I am pinned down in the Tavnazian portal cave by around ten bandits. I’m with a red mage named Kjarbo. They are organized better then they should be and they have archers and a mage. The two of us will not last if they attack intelligently and if we don’t stop them... Alison is in a lot of trouble.”

Konamy spoke up first “Be there in less then a minute Gurok. Hang on.”

Kjarbo had been casting spells and I could smell the fire and ozone mixed with some other dark arcane taint. “Nice work. Thank you.” I said. As he smiled back as an arrow that whistled by me hit him in the forearm. I dragged him back behind the corner, snapped the shaft and pulled it through as he grunted in pain. “There you go, heal that.”

“OWW! Next time please warn me before you do that.” He protested to distract from the pain through gritted teeth.

They had entered the cave and were moving fast. Five elvaan men armed with swords, three men with bows and at the back a female mage in dark robes.

“You ready?” I asked. Kjarbo is a great guy for a red mage. He fights with his heart and would give his life to protect his friends. I have a lot of respect for that but at that point I really wished he wore heavier armor.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Let’s kick their teeth in.” I rushed out shield in front, head low and sword held back. I slammed into three of the elvaan with everything I had sending them sprawling. The archers fired and I could hear arrows shattering on my armor and the cave walls, all except the one that got through the space between my chest plate and shoulder pauldron.

Kjarbo locked swords with one of the other two and I could hear the deafening crackle echoing off the stone walls from his enthunder spell as they hit. The mage was focusing her energy with her eyes tightly closed and never saw the butt end of the scythe that knocked her out in one shot. As she collapsed I could see the proud grin on Dkr’s face as he looked at Konamy and said, “See that? One shot!” He moved in fast and used a spinning scythe technique to cut down the other swordsman as he tried to get behind Kjarbo.

Konamy was dodging arrows with speed and shadows to keep two archers busy. I kicked one of the fallen Elvaans in the face hard enough to hear the jaw crack but the other two had regained their feet. Kjarbo rushed past me to help Konamy as Dkrchris took up the fight with his swordsman, blocking a strike with the end of his scythe and sweeping him off his feet with the blade. I didn’t see but I could hear the sound of the scythe striking through armor, bone and ground.

The other two Elvaans flanked me and I managed to block the one to my left with my shield but the other knocked my sword from my hand, which was steadily going numb and weaker from the arrow stuck in my shoulder.

Kjarbo had slept one archer and Konamy was pouncing on another as I saw the third take careful aim on her. I grabbed the Elvaan to my right by the throat and picked him up hurling him back into the archer taking aim on my mithra friend as the arrow went off landing his shot into the chest of the archer Konamy had her hands on. Dropping him to the ground to die she looked a bit annoyed to have her prey stolen so unexpectedly.

Dkrchris had just gotten his scythe free of the ground and the body when he shouted “G, look out!”

The Elvaan on my left cut my cheek open with a well-aimed slash causing me to drop my shield. I quickly punched low to the groin and with a metal gauntlet. The sound was… rewarding. I grabbed his tiny skull and head-butted him with my helmet. He fell to his knees and I hit him again in the back of the neck with both fists for good measure and picked up my shield.

Kjarbo was immobilizing the final archer and Konamy was fighting a slow moving elvaan that Kjarbo must have gravitied. She slipped behind him and kicked out his knee, quickly putting a blade to his throat and saying with all the menace a Mithra can muster “Drop the sword now!”

Dkr spoke up “I’d listen if I were you. She REALLY likes to watch stuff bleed.”

As I walked towards the last conscious member of our opponents I saw his cloak had torn away and underneath was the armor of San d’Oria. I realized all at once “They are Sandorians. This was a setup… Ali and Jen are in danger.”

The dark haired Elvaan spoke up with contempt. “You are right galka. We outsmarted you and controlled your every move. Your group could not hope to outmaneuver the brilliant knights of Sandoria.”

Every bit of rage I had been holding back for weeks bubbled to the surface. “If you all were so smart… you’d have known when to keep your mouth SHUT!”

Konamy let go just in time as the edge of my shield came down across his head harder then I’ve ever hit anything before and the blood sprayed across her and Kjarbo. Fantastic ideas of what I would do to the body next raced wildly through my mind but Kjarbo interrupted before I could follow through. “Umm, Gurok… we need to get to them. Now.”

I paused only briefly to take a deep breath and regain myself. “You’re right. Nice work, let’s go. Dkr and Kona, thank you.”

“No worries G we’ll stick with you guys for a bit to make sure everyone is ok.”

We rushed the portal afraid to think of what we might find or not find on the other side. I hit the ground at a run and raced out into the field. I couldn’t see her. I had to find foot prints or something that could tell me if she had headed to the safe hold or been picked up or worse, hurt, by the knights. I called her on my linkpearl but I got no response. I tried not to panic but the furious urge to break things was building in my head to the point of nearly blurring my vision. I would find her and someone would die for this.

Moving Day

2007-12-02T16:50:00.000-05:00

I was frustrated and I felt like picking a fight. My round middle was so large now that I couldn’t even see my feet when walking and my body felt cramped and uncomfortable. I should be home resting on pillows and making cute little baby blankets but no, not for me. I was being jarred along on a chocobo with an attitude problem that wouldn’t stop shaking its head and wings whenever I asked it to slow down a little so my insides didn’t feel like they were being shaken like a baby rattle.

“I hate birds.” I grumbled.

“You love chocobo.” Gurok replied calmly.

“This one hates me.”

“Well you keep pulling on his face rather roughly.”

The nerve he had to disagree with me. “That’s because it won’t listen to me just like every fricken other thing in my life.”

Gurok raised his eyebrows as he watched me battle the poor bird as I pulled on its head heard enough to make it squawk franticly and take a few steps backward.

Kjarbo got down off of his chocobo and took mine by the reins. “I’ll have a talk with it.” He said with a warm smile as he walked on leading the two birds quietly. My mount lowered its head to nuzzle Kjarbo’s shoulder appreciatively and Kjarbo rubbed its cheek with kind affection.

“I’m glad he likes you.” I grumbled ungratefully as I flopped backwards against its back and stared up into the sky. I didn’t even know where we were going. I don’t think they even knew where we were going but no one wanted to tell me anything. They just told me not to worry and try to rest and other such worthless nothings.

Pulling a ginger cookie out of my bag I gnawed on in with beast-like ferocity as I scanned the party. They all looked completely preoccupied with their own thoughts. I could hear them whispering about me when they thought I couldn’t hear and it just added to my agitation.

“Where are we going? It’s nearly dark and I really could use a steak. I’m hungry.” I pouted.

“Oh me too!” Jenjen perked up and bounced on her chocobo as she licked her teeth.

Kjarbo smiled patiently up at me. “Almost to a good place to camp.”

“Camping? Please tell me you’re kidding. Did I mention I’m pregnant and I can hardly get comfortable in my own bed let alone this goddess forsaken wilderness.

No one said anything. I just rolled my eyes and went limp against my mount in a childishly overdramatic gesture of displeasure. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out loudly I watched Kjarbo as the birds plodded along slowly. The sun was going down now and soon the ghouls and bats would start to wander. Not that they were any threat to us physically but they did make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. If you looked into what could be called eyes the painful emotions of the beast would intrude into your brain as if they were your own. Not only creepy but I didn’t want to risk the baby feeling it. Who knows what that could do to a developing mind.

I became aware of the feeling of being watched. Without moving I listened first before scanning my peripheral vision. I thought I heard an extra set of footsteps in the gravely earth. I locked wide eyes with Gurok and he seemed to see what I was thinking. He stopped and looked around before getting down off his chocobo.

“Are we here?” Jenjen asked excitedly as she jumped down.

Gurok shushed her and I spotted it, a set of foot prints that didn’t belong to anyone. I pointed and a little cloud of dust ploomed up and a new set of phantom tracks started. Waving his sword over them something small fell and slid to a brief stop in the dirt knocking off the prism powder that had kept it hidden from view.

It was a short ugly little goblin. He stood up and started to run. Jenjen’s ears pricked and she was off like a shot. Tackling the little stink she took it to the ground and they rolled to a dusty stop. Biting into its neck she pinned it down her tail swishing excitedly in the air.

“Nice catch.” Gurok said with clear admiration. She looked up at him and smiled as he pushed his blade against the goblin allowing Jen to let it go. “What do you think you’re doing following us like that and then trying to run away like a coward? Not very goblin like.”

“Lusafix is sorry.” It sniveled. “Lusafix just traveling to sell wares. Don’t hurt Lusafix. Lusafix wasn’t going to harm the nice galka. Just traveling I was. No harm. No harm!”

Gurok pressed his sword into the goblin harder as he growled low and deep. “I mean you harm for coming too close unless you can convince me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

Sliding down I pulled Kjarbo in front of me and buried my eyes in his mantel. The sight of blood made me queasy lately though it never had before and I was sure some was about to be spilt. I wanted to see what was happening but I didn’t all the same.

“Lusafix is nice peaceful merchant. Lusafix give galka nice deal on wares. Very nice.”

“I don’t believe you.” Guork glared. “I think you were following us and I want to know why. How can I convince you to tell the truth?” Gurok grinned as he stepped down on the goblins neck causing him to howl and squirm in pain.

A bomb went off and Gurok’s pants where on fire. Batting out the flames and swearing under his breath he extinguished the fire with the help of a water spell by Kjarbo. It didn’t do him too much harm but his lovely paladin armor was in need of repair and his poor calves were burnt. “That nasty lying beast. We should hurry. I’m sorry Alison but we have to travel faster. It’s not far now.” He was shaking with rage and I could tell he was holding back what colorful things I’m sure he would have said if Jenjen and I were not in ear shot.

I wanted to help. He was a little frightening when he was angry and looked like he might explode with ten times the force of the goblin’s bomb as his pale white face turned red with feeling. Coming close I clutched his coarse white hair and pulled his face down to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” I said with a warm smile and scurried back to pull myself clumsily onto my chocobo.

I realized as unhappy as I was they were sacrificing all they could to help me. I could be a little less like a spoiled child and a little more like a dignified elvaan mother with the strength to conquer the world for my child. Holding my head high with these new ideals in my head I smiled mischievously down at my friends. “Well let’s get going then. Adventures await.”

Broken Plans

2007-11-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

The reaction to the news that nothing awful had happened to explain my disappearance such as death, becoming the foot massage slave to an Orc, or being lost at sea was positive among my friends. To my great dismay my slight fame in my home city of San d’Oria put me in a position to be ridiculed over being pregnant. I wouldn’t say I’m considered a hero of the people or anything but anyone who doesn’t know my name is most likely comatose and near death. Sneaking around West Ronfaure one late afternoon I overheard two gossipy chocobo walkers out exercising adolescent birds.

“Oh did you hear about Alison? She popped up after being unseen for over a month.” The woman in blue started.

“No, I didn’t hear. I’m sure she needed some time to mourn. Poor dear thing.” The white haired woman said as she lowered her eyes and shook her head sympathetically.

“It’s not that. You won’t believe it. She’s pregnant and pretty far along too. I hear she could bear a child any day now!”

“How scandalous! She married that short hume for Bastok. Who’s the father?”

“Well I hear it’s an Elvaan from Windurst. He’s a fisherman and a respectable mid-level red mage.”

“Well that’s better than a hume but wow, so much for Elvaan pride. I never took her for such a dishonorable woman. She seemed so nice and always so helpful.”

“My question is: What if one of them is responsible for the death of the hume? Could it be something sinister was planned?”

“Oh goodness me, I hope not. That is not the kind of story we need going out about our people.”

I sat still as the tree I was leaning against as I listened and cried out of sight of the two yappy women as they carried on. I know I was too quick to tears with all these crazy hormones but it did all sound awful. I knew it must have gotten back to my mother but I certainly didn’t have the nerve to go into the city and talk to her yet. What if I had made a huge mistake making such a mockery of Brodie and my love? Stories like this would forever define how we would be remembered and honored and how our child Hope would be respected.

Gurok was, to put it lightly, a little miffed that I had kept him out of the loop and gone into hiding without a word to him and no excuse I could come up with would satisfy him. I even told the great beast the truth in a fit of frustration over all his questions. Crazy thing is I think he was the only one who actually believed me and finding out the truth just made him angrier that he was left out. He had taken to sleeping outside of Kjarbo and Jenjen’s cottage like an enormous guard galka reluctant to let even those with ThumbMonkey linkpearls inside without questioning.

Near the Kibubu Lighthouse I was sitting at the top of the cliffs with the water crashing below me watching the tall dhalmel chew contentedly on tuffs of grass. “I wonder what it would be like to tame and ride one.” I thought to myself. I bet they are faster and more exciting than a chocobo.

That’s when I would get the call that would crumble my peaceful plans. My linkpearl buzzed briefly as it turned on to get his call. “So Alison, we had a visitor come looking for you at the linkshell lobby.” Garness’ distinct voice reported.

I laughed. “We don’t have visitors. Either you know where the location is because you are a pearl carrying ThumbMonkey or you don’t and you can’t be transported there. Funny funny Galka.”

“Ah well I forgot to check for a linkpearl before I broke his arm.”

I stopped to think before responding. It was not like Garness to harm new linkshell members. Usually that was Beldin’s doing. I missed that crazy corsair’s mischief. If Garness had broken someone there must have been a good reason. “And why did his arm need braking?” I asked him reluctantly. “I do trust your judgment but I like to know.”

“Ah well it was kind of a spur of the moment decision. See, he said he was coming in to arrest you for crimes against your country and I said I would break his legs first. I feel kind of bad about being dishonest but his arms were simply easier to reach than his legs. As I said, it was kind of spur of the moment.”

“Now it’s both arms? Garness, dear man, I think you should tell me the whole story. Who was he?”

“I already said that. He was coming to arrest you on behalf of San d’Oria. He is a Royal Knight.”

“So what crime am I being arrested for?”

“Didn’t think to ask. He got pushy and I had to break him. I promised him I would and I am nothing if not a man of my word. I feel bad about the mix up on limbs. Think I should go find him and break his legs too?”

“Yes.” I said dryly. I’m not sure if I was kidding or not. I knew he wasn’t. I was frustrated that my plan seemed to be a failure.

“Yes Boss.” He responded dutifully. I thought I could almost hear him smiling.

“But Garness, be careful. I think I might need you in one piece and not in prison soon.”

He cut the transmission and all was quiet but the sea and the munching dhalmel. I looked over at Gurok and Jenjen sitting a good distance away but watching me. I felt bad about yelling at them earlier to let me have some space. I guess I could get a little moody lately. I smiled. Jenjen was sitting on his broad shoulder weaving little flowers into his thick white hair. He seemed completely oblivious of her. It was so cute.

I stood up and waved my arms to signal him as I called Gurok’s name over the roar of the ocean.

He leapt up as quickly as an enormous galka can, sending Jenjen tumbling off his shoulder and looking a bit surprised. Catching her in one of his great arms he lumbered over towards me carrying an angry looking Jenjen like a pack. It was time for a new plan and I figured this time I should enlist the brain power of my friends simply because I didn’t know what to do.