Hidden Ties - Chapter 3: Revelations
Chapter 3. I own nothing.
A hoarse grunt bounced off the walls as a whip clashed against flesh. Fresh crimson liquid rolled freely down bruised skin. It happened daily, so it was hard to tell what was new and what was old.
The young man that was tied to the post didn't scream. Sure it hurt, but he was used to the pain anymore. All he did was flinch. He had lost his voice after the first three days.
"Come on boy. I want to hear you scream."
The young man remained silent. Tired sapphire orbs gazed harshly at his tormentor, but remained unwavering. He had become numb to the pain, both physical and emotional.
"It's not nice to make faces at your superior!!" the tormentor hissed.
There was another crack of the whip.
"Come come now," a voice spoke, "You mustn't cause so much harm. After all, he's a special guest."
"Hard to believe this trouble maker is the only living heir to the Nabradian royal throne."
"Not so... once you know his siblings."
The captive looked up to see who the new person was. Within seconds the gaze turned into a glare of deathly proportions. A weak growl left his lips.
"You don't seem pleased to see me," The new arrival snerked.
The young man mouthed two words. Both of his captors understood what was said. Smirks were on both their lips.
"You too?"
BVFPBALO
Balthier gazed at a ring in his hand. Gold and silver glinted in the lamp light. The diamond glittered rainbows across the walls of the room. He clutched the ring before replacing it in its pouch.
"I know he means a lot to you."
The sky pirate jumped. He looked up to see that Larsa was standing feet from him. A sigh left his lips.
"Solidor, you don't try to sneak up on someone when they are in an unknown state of mind," the brunette uttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Forgive me, Balthier. However I must ask you something of importance."
The person in questioned adjusted his sitting position. "The fire away. I'll try not to leave too much of a singed edge."
The seventeen year old royal sat in a nearby chair.
"And anyone else that would listen to figure me out better come in."
Hesitant sounds of cloth and armor rustling were heard. Soon enough Penelo, Fran, Basch and Ashe entered the room. Each took a different place in the area.
"Now you may question me, Larsa."
The Archadian royal closed his eyes, trying to find the right wording. He opened them again and looked at Balthier.
"Vaan is connected to the kidnapped royal."
"Correct."
"How is this possible?"
"Much like I was once a member of Archades' nobility."
"He ran away?" Penelo asked.
"I escaped, not ran away. There is a difference." He then turned to Basch. "I'm surprised you don't remember."
"What do you mean Balthier?" the Judge questioned.
"We all know that you protected one family as best as you could."
"Of course, though I am ashamed that I could not do better."
The sky pirate sighed. "I'm still surprised that you don't remember. You who was the head of the Nabradian guard, captain of the Order and Archadian Judge Magistrate."
"Balthier, you are making no sense," Ashe spoke.
The male brunette sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not surprised that Larsa doesn't know. What happened did the year he was born. It's been seventeen years, but I still remember."
"What do you mean? You haven't explained anything."
The former noble glared at the queen and snapped. "Ashelia Dalmasca, you should be ashamed! But then you did only focus on one person."
Balthier stood and left the room. He left everyone confused. He then went to his room to fetch Reks. Soon the two of them were outside on the fortress roof. The wolf ran around on the cobbled ground as the sky pirate gazed over the horizon.
It seemed so long ago when he had seen the boy first. Now he didn't know where he was. History was repeating itself yet again and he really was playing the leading role.
He just hoped he was ready to face the threat.
BVFPBALO
The airship landed in the Nalbina aerodome. Everyone in the dome knew the craft and moved to the sides of the port. The stairs lowered and a procession of sorts exited.
Marquis Ondore made his way off his transport. He was surrounded by four guards as he walked through the streets. He wasn't willing to risk his or the other's lives.
His eyes gazed down. There was the small parcel in his hands, which he held with such care. It had to be held with care - it was the only thing he had.
The old orbs moved to the fortress roof. He saw a figure there and sighed. A thought ran through his mind, wondering who it was. Then again, he was sure he knew.
The marquis entered the fortress. He was greeted by a confused queen of Dalmasca. A smile was exchanged between the two.
"Uncle, what brings you here? What is wrong?"
"Ashelia, I must ask you. Where is Lord Nabradia?"
Ashe blinked. "Uncle, Rasler died nearly five years ago. You know this as well as I."
Ondore shook his head. "No, your Majesty. I am not speaking of the late Lord Rasler or his father. I am asking you if you know where Lord Nabradia is."
The Dalmascan queen grew more frustrated. "You are making no sense. Perhaps you could be mo-"
She stopped as she watched her uncle's hands. The former resistance leader hadn't originally seen the cloth that he held. As it was unfolded she grew more confused.
"Do you see now?" the Bhujerban leader questioned.
"Uncle, that's the crest that Vaan wore."
"The crest of the family Nabradia," a voice came from the side. Basch calmly strode over from the doorway he stood at.
"So you remember, Captain."
"I just did, yes. Three years tends to fog one's mind. Especially when one had been falsely labeled a king slayer."
"What do you remember, Judge Magistrate?"
"I remember helping two brothers and well trusted servants escape to Dalmasca - Rabenastre specifically. I remember serving at all three of their sides."
"Basch?" Ashe questioned.
"Once as a knight of Nabradia. The second was as a captain of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca."
"And the third?"
"Redeeming my name, restoring a throne and ridding Ivalice of a dark consort."
"Uncle...?" the queen turned toward the aging man.
"When I saw the crest almost two years ago now, I was glad to truly know that a Nabradia was still alive. I had heard whispers among the Imperials and my resistance network, but was not sure."
"While on Leviathan, I must admit I heard whispers that were strange to me. How could a royal bloodline known as dead be alive?"
"How are two that are thought of as dead still be alive?" Larsa's voice came suddenly as he made his way toward the small group. "Lies are spread for protection. The people believe the lies. Only the most trusted know the truth."
"Correct, Lord Larsa."
"But uncle, if Vaan is of royal blood..." she trailed off, looking to each of those present.
"The most recent records from Nabradia are gone, destroyed in the war," the marquis replied, "However the birth records from before fourteen years ago are still whole. Vaan's true name is Auron Vaandor Nabradia."
The room grew deathly silent.
"Auron Nabradia?"
"Yes," Basch spoke, "Vaan was Lord Rasler's youngest brother. The middle brother was known as Recsan Taylor. I knew him as Reks."
A hoarse grunt bounced off the walls as a whip clashed against flesh. Fresh crimson liquid rolled freely down bruised skin. It happened daily, so it was hard to tell what was new and what was old.
The young man that was tied to the post didn't scream. Sure it hurt, but he was used to the pain anymore. All he did was flinch. He had lost his voice after the first three days.
"Come on boy. I want to hear you scream."
The young man remained silent. Tired sapphire orbs gazed harshly at his tormentor, but remained unwavering. He had become numb to the pain, both physical and emotional.
"It's not nice to make faces at your superior!!" the tormentor hissed.
There was another crack of the whip.
"Come come now," a voice spoke, "You mustn't cause so much harm. After all, he's a special guest."
"Hard to believe this trouble maker is the only living heir to the Nabradian royal throne."
"Not so... once you know his siblings."
The captive looked up to see who the new person was. Within seconds the gaze turned into a glare of deathly proportions. A weak growl left his lips.
"You don't seem pleased to see me," The new arrival snerked.
The young man mouthed two words. Both of his captors understood what was said. Smirks were on both their lips.
"You too?"
BVFPBALO
Balthier gazed at a ring in his hand. Gold and silver glinted in the lamp light. The diamond glittered rainbows across the walls of the room. He clutched the ring before replacing it in its pouch.
"I know he means a lot to you."
The sky pirate jumped. He looked up to see that Larsa was standing feet from him. A sigh left his lips.
"Solidor, you don't try to sneak up on someone when they are in an unknown state of mind," the brunette uttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Forgive me, Balthier. However I must ask you something of importance."
The person in questioned adjusted his sitting position. "The fire away. I'll try not to leave too much of a singed edge."
The seventeen year old royal sat in a nearby chair.
"And anyone else that would listen to figure me out better come in."
Hesitant sounds of cloth and armor rustling were heard. Soon enough Penelo, Fran, Basch and Ashe entered the room. Each took a different place in the area.
"Now you may question me, Larsa."
The Archadian royal closed his eyes, trying to find the right wording. He opened them again and looked at Balthier.
"Vaan is connected to the kidnapped royal."
"Correct."
"How is this possible?"
"Much like I was once a member of Archades' nobility."
"He ran away?" Penelo asked.
"I escaped, not ran away. There is a difference." He then turned to Basch. "I'm surprised you don't remember."
"What do you mean Balthier?" the Judge questioned.
"We all know that you protected one family as best as you could."
"Of course, though I am ashamed that I could not do better."
The sky pirate sighed. "I'm still surprised that you don't remember. You who was the head of the Nabradian guard, captain of the Order and Archadian Judge Magistrate."
"Balthier, you are making no sense," Ashe spoke.
The male brunette sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not surprised that Larsa doesn't know. What happened did the year he was born. It's been seventeen years, but I still remember."
"What do you mean? You haven't explained anything."
The former noble glared at the queen and snapped. "Ashelia Dalmasca, you should be ashamed! But then you did only focus on one person."
Balthier stood and left the room. He left everyone confused. He then went to his room to fetch Reks. Soon the two of them were outside on the fortress roof. The wolf ran around on the cobbled ground as the sky pirate gazed over the horizon.
It seemed so long ago when he had seen the boy first. Now he didn't know where he was. History was repeating itself yet again and he really was playing the leading role.
He just hoped he was ready to face the threat.
BVFPBALO
The airship landed in the Nalbina aerodome. Everyone in the dome knew the craft and moved to the sides of the port. The stairs lowered and a procession of sorts exited.
Marquis Ondore made his way off his transport. He was surrounded by four guards as he walked through the streets. He wasn't willing to risk his or the other's lives.
His eyes gazed down. There was the small parcel in his hands, which he held with such care. It had to be held with care - it was the only thing he had.
The old orbs moved to the fortress roof. He saw a figure there and sighed. A thought ran through his mind, wondering who it was. Then again, he was sure he knew.
The marquis entered the fortress. He was greeted by a confused queen of Dalmasca. A smile was exchanged between the two.
"Uncle, what brings you here? What is wrong?"
"Ashelia, I must ask you. Where is Lord Nabradia?"
Ashe blinked. "Uncle, Rasler died nearly five years ago. You know this as well as I."
Ondore shook his head. "No, your Majesty. I am not speaking of the late Lord Rasler or his father. I am asking you if you know where Lord Nabradia is."
The Dalmascan queen grew more frustrated. "You are making no sense. Perhaps you could be mo-"
She stopped as she watched her uncle's hands. The former resistance leader hadn't originally seen the cloth that he held. As it was unfolded she grew more confused.
"Do you see now?" the Bhujerban leader questioned.
"Uncle, that's the crest that Vaan wore."
"The crest of the family Nabradia," a voice came from the side. Basch calmly strode over from the doorway he stood at.
"So you remember, Captain."
"I just did, yes. Three years tends to fog one's mind. Especially when one had been falsely labeled a king slayer."
"What do you remember, Judge Magistrate?"
"I remember helping two brothers and well trusted servants escape to Dalmasca - Rabenastre specifically. I remember serving at all three of their sides."
"Basch?" Ashe questioned.
"Once as a knight of Nabradia. The second was as a captain of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca."
"And the third?"
"Redeeming my name, restoring a throne and ridding Ivalice of a dark consort."
"Uncle...?" the queen turned toward the aging man.
"When I saw the crest almost two years ago now, I was glad to truly know that a Nabradia was still alive. I had heard whispers among the Imperials and my resistance network, but was not sure."
"While on Leviathan, I must admit I heard whispers that were strange to me. How could a royal bloodline known as dead be alive?"
"How are two that are thought of as dead still be alive?" Larsa's voice came suddenly as he made his way toward the small group. "Lies are spread for protection. The people believe the lies. Only the most trusted know the truth."
"Correct, Lord Larsa."
"But uncle, if Vaan is of royal blood..." she trailed off, looking to each of those present.
"The most recent records from Nabradia are gone, destroyed in the war," the marquis replied, "However the birth records from before fourteen years ago are still whole. Vaan's true name is Auron Vaandor Nabradia."
The room grew deathly silent.
"Auron Nabradia?"
"Yes," Basch spoke, "Vaan was Lord Rasler's youngest brother. The middle brother was known as Recsan Taylor. I knew him as Reks."