II
Ramza threw back the tent flap at a sudden commotion outside. Mustadio and Orlandu had returned from their scouting expedition.
"She’s dead! He killed her," Mustadio was shouting. "I know he’s done it!"
Ramza strode forward with a scowl on his face as all the others began filing out of their tents to surround the engineer. "Mustadio, what’s wrong? Who is dead?"
"Ovelia."
There was a gasp and then a heavy silence dropped over the group as they all glanced toward Agrias. She was pale and had a deadly grip on the hilt of her sword. Alma and Alicia had come to stand on each side of her, but she ignored them as she continued to stare straight ahead.
"What happened?" Ramza finally asked.
"I don’t think anybody really knows. Some say a remaining force of Larg’s men attacked her. Others say she killed herself."
Rafa looked over at Ramza. "Do you believe she was capable of that?"
Ramza only shook his head, but Agrias answered fiercely. "No! She would not take the coward’s way."
Alma put a hand on Agrias’ shoulder, but she shrugged it off and strode away. They all watched her.
"Delita killed her," Mustadio insisted. "I just know it. It’s the only way to get her crown."
Ramza turned back to Mustadio. "I can’t believe that. Delita wouldn’t... I... It’s impossible! When we met in the church he said something that made me believe that he cared for her. He wouldn’t murder her."
Mustadio dropped his eyes. "I hope you’re right," he muttered.
"Unfortunately, this is neither here nor there," Orlandu said. He stepped into the group. "Her death has set many things in motion. Civil unrest, a final shift of power, and many others of which we know nothing. Our rest is at an end and our job has increased in difficulty."
The entire group looked to Ramza. Reis and Beowulf. Meliadoul and Worker 8. Rafa and Malak. Alma and Mustadio. Ramza stared down at his gloved hands and balled them into fists. "Fordham."
A good looking man dressed in the garb typical for a thief stepped forward and took the pale green cap from his head. "Ramza?"
"Find out what happened."
Fordham nodded and turned away, bidding a ninja and monk to follow. Alicia and Maria sent Ramza a look and then hurried after Fordham to disappear into the night.
Ramza turned to Meliadoul next. "You, Agrias, and Orlandu go into the city and judge the general reaction of the people. Do your best to remain undiscovered and keep your eye on Agrias. We’ll meet you outside the city limits in two days."
Meliadoul nodded and disappeared into her tent to appear a few moments later in her traditional green uniform. Orlandu clapped Ramza on the back before following Meliadoul in search of Agrias.
"The rest of you will be with me. Except you, Cloud."
The young man looked up from where he was leaning against a pale chocobo. "What?"
"I need you to stay here. With Alma."
Cloud clenched his jaw and his eyes seemed angry, but he wordlessly nodded. Alma wasn’t so silent.
She rushed up to her brother and grabbed his arm. "Not again," she pleaded. "Why must you always leave me behind? I’ll be just as safe with you as here with him."
"No, you won’t, Alma. Stay here where I won’t have to worry about you." Ramza gestured to the others. "Get your gear and mount up. It’s time we got to work."
"Where are we headed?" Malak asked.
"Orbonne Monastery."
Rafa and Malak exchanged a glance before dispersing to their tents to get their gear. Cloud looked over at Alma as she stared after her brother with tear filled eyes. Then he turned to unsaddle his chocobo.
"It’s not fair."
Cloud glanced over at Alma as he set the saddle aside. She had moved closer to him and was staring at the ground as she wiped her face with her hands. "Nope. It never is," he said.
"Why didn’t you argue with him?"
"Because I would have done the same thing if she were... I would have done the same thing." Cloud took hold of the bridle for the chocobo and led it toward the now empty corral. "Besides, I was a bodyguard once before. It was challenging work. Kept me on my toes." He looked over at her as she followed him to the corral. He smirked. "I could use the practice."
Alma examined his expression. "Should I feel insulted?"
Cloud shook his head and leaned against the gate he’d just closed. "Nope."
"All right." Alma heard a group of chocobos ride out of camp and stared after them. "Ramza..."
Silence descended over the two. Cloud shuffled his feet. If she starts crying again, what are you going to do? He pressed his lips together. He had to do something. What would she have done…? Cloud lifted his eyes from his boots. "So, how long should we wait before following them?"
Alma looked over at Cloud, but he was still watching the two remaining chocobos. She giggled. "I’ll get the saddles."
"No. You get our gear. I’ll get the saddles."
Alma ran off before he could change his mind.
Cloud watched her and then turned away to saddle the chocobos. At least that one thing had remained the same from strange world to stranger world. So, what are you going to do, tough guy? Just follow her around and make sure she doesn’t get herself killed? Or help her save her brother from God knows what? Cloud tightened the girth, ignoring the chocobo’s protest. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just don’t let her get hurt. Not like you screwed up with--
"Here’s the things we’ll need." Alma dropped two pairs of saddlebags on the ground, along with two bedrolls, rain gear, and cold weather gear.
Cloud looked over at her with an amazed expression. He smirked as he tossed her the chocobo reins. "Load her up. I’ll saddle the other one."
"All right."
She began loading the chocobo and Cloud quickly finished saddling the other, accepting her help when she offered to begin loading his gear. Once they were ready, she pulled herself into the saddle and watched him do the same. Cloud sent her another amused glance and then urged his chocobo forward.
"So, where are we going? Did you really want to just follow them?"
"I don’t know yet," she told him. "I’m really curious to know why he wants to go to Orbonne. On the other hand, I want to find out where funeral services are being held for Ovelia. We went to school together, and it would be nice to say good-bye."
"Well you better make up your mind fast," he urged. "I don’t want to be caught with my pants down while leading you in circles because you can’t decide."
She was silent for a long while. "I guess we’ll go to the nearest town and see if we can find out where services are being held."
"And if we run into Fordham and the others?"
Alma shrugged. "We’ll worry about that later."
"Yes, ma’am."
Rafa pulled her chocobo even with Ramza’s. "Why are we going there?"
Ramza clenched the reins tighter as he pressed his lips together. "That’s where he would be."
"Who?"
"Delita."
"Why would he be there? It’s nothing but a crater since the battle." Rafa examined his face. "Do you mind my asking?"
"No, it’s okay." His voice was tight. "Orbonne Monastery was where Delita met Ovelia for the first time. That was where he kidnapped her. That’s where he’ll be. I know it."
"What if he isn’t? What will we do then?"
"Meet the others outside the city, just like I said."
Rafa silently nodded. "Are you all right?" she asked after a moment’s pause.
"He didn’t do it, Rafa."
She examined his darkened eyes. "Why not? Don’t you think it’s possible that he is controlled just as he controlled her? Don’t you think it’s possible his life isn’t his but someone else’s?" Her voice was gentle and probing.
"Of course. Everything is possible. I was controlled. You were controlled. Ovelia was controlled. What makes him different." His voice was angry and his eyes sparked when he glanced toward her. "He’s not getting my sympathy, Rafa. He turned his back on us."
"Then why are you going there to see if he’s mourning?"
"I’m--" Ramza broke off and clenched his jaw. "I don’t know. I just want… I don’t know what I want. I want a lot of things, but what’s more important? Peace? A home for Alma? A friend I can trust? A brother?" Ramza shook his head. "Peace from the faces? I don’t know."
"It’s all right, Ramza," she said softly. "We’re here no matter your decision. Whether it be peace or war, we’re here."
Ramza took in a deep breath and released it slow. "Thank you, Rafa, but you better not speak for everyone just yet. I don’t want to force anyone into anything. Whatever we’re heading into won’t earn any medals or titles."
"I’m sure we don’t care about wealth, Ramza. It’s always been about justice. You know that."
Ramza looked over at Rafa. When he caught the twinkle of something in her brown eyes, he looked away. "Why are you and Malak still here, Rafa?"
"Where else are we to go? We have no family and that which we had vanished before our eyes." She glanced toward him. "Did you wish us to leave?"
"NO," Ramza said quickly as he changed his gaze to her. He flushed and cleared his throat when he looked away again. His hands adjusted their hold on the reins. "No, that wasn’t what I meant. I suppose I don’t understand why you aren’t searching for family. Surely someone must have survived the raid."
Rafa smiled. "Malak and I discussed it after that last battle and decided we were still needed here. Besides, you’ve become family to us."
Ramza looked over at her again. "Really?"
She nodded with another smile. "Really. You risked your life to save me when I was a stranger to you. You risked your life to help me save my brother when I was still a stranger to you. Did you expect us to feel any differently? Did you expect me to feel any differently than what I do?"
Ramza cleared his throat again. "No, I guess not."
Rafa laughed. "Now I’ve made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry. I’ll go and talk with the others and leave you to your thoughts."
"It’s all right. You don’t need to." Ramza glanced over at her and smiled hesitantly. "Everyone always leaves me alone. Everyone but you. Why start now?"
"Are you sure?" Rafa sounded a little surprised.
Ramza nodded. "I’m sure."