A distant Voice
Sanaki, Lehran and Maian were just working their way through a pile of documents when a servant entered.
"Your Holyness, the sage Tormod here to see you."
"Send him in!"
Ever since Tormod had returned from Crimea, he and Sanaki had joined forces to end slavery in Begnion once and for all. Maian knew Sanaki enjoyed his company. He didn't know the rules of etiquette as well as Muarim did, but he was honest and his mere presence was very refreshing.
Tormod strode into the room, his long red cloak billowing behind him. Muarim followed his foster son along with Vika, a raven girl who had only recently joined their group and had become Tormod's left hand.
"I need to talk to you, it's urgent", Tormod said. "Are there any people in this room you don't fully trust?"
"No, you can speak openly."
All the guards were waiting outside. While Maian suspected some of the laguz to be able to listen to their conversation, she doubted they would tell anyone. And if they did, she would find out.
"Right. I just received a letter from my friend Sothe. He asked me to do him a favour – I think I'd best show you the letter."
Sanaki took the piece of parchment Tormod handed her. It wasn't of good quality, but Sothe's handwriting was surprisingly legible.
"I'll simply read it aloud", Sanaki decided.
Dear Tormod,
I have a favour to ask of you. I write to you because I know that you are in direct contact with Empress Sanaki and we need her help. She is probably the only one who could help us... You know I returned to Daein after the Mad King's War. I wanted to rebuild my country, but quickly found this a hard task. I lost trace of our comrades, but found some new friends. All the citizens of Nevassa were determined to rebuild the city, but we had a big problem: the Begnion Occupation Army. Not only did the soldiers rob us of our belongings, money and freedom, but they also sent all able-bodied men to labour camps. I had a look at one of them – they're not doing anything useful there. They're just working until they're completely exhausted. Since there are only women, children and old people left, most of the fields can't be farmed any more and people are starving. We've already tried to talk to the occupational governor, Duke Numida, but he wouldn't even see us. So we have started to fight back. We call ourselves the "Dawn Brigade" – you might have heard of us. The empire calls us bandits.
I write this because I don't believe the empress knows about this. She doesn't strike me as this kind of person, I believe this might be some mischief on the side of the senate. Please fill her in on what's happening over here and ask her if she could help us. Your friend Sothe."
Sanaki folded the letter and looked up at Tormod.
"Do you believe I have something to do with this?"
"No, I completely agree with Sothe. This must be the doing of them corrupt and power-hungry senators – except for you two, of course. You're the most respectable and honorable members of the senate I've ever met."
"Why, thank you", Maian replied, laughing.
"Those are disturbing news indeed", Sanaki said gravely. "What angers me even more is that they have done this for two years now without me noticing anything. We will start to investigate immediately. Tormod, you have my permission to travel to Daein and help your friends in any way possible, should you wish to do that."
"Thanks, Your Majesty. I think they might need some competent help. Besides, it's been a long time..."
"Good. Maian, Sephiran, we need to find the ones responsible as quickly as possible. I am counting on you."
"I do not believe this will take long, I already have a suspect", Maian replied.
"Excellent."
Since their flight from Nevassa the members of the Dawn Brigade had found some new allies. Ilyana was an old acquaintance of Sothe, she had been travelling with a convoy of merchants. They were now supplying Micaiah's group with weapons and items. Laura was a priestess and Aran, her childhood-friend, had left the begnion army to join them. And then there was Kurth, a mysterious hooded traveller. Micaiah knew they could trust him, so she hadn't asked him any questions.
"Hey, Micaiah, there's something I meant to tell you", one of the merchants said. "There have been rumours about the Prince of Daein hiding in the Desert of Death, trying to mobilize an army."
"The prince?"
"Yes. Ashnard's son. During the Mad King's War, Crimea used a scion of the royal line to rally an army and liberate the country. Daein just might be able to do the same – if the rumors are true."
Micaiah closed her eyes. "In the desert – an important encounter awaits us. One that will decide the outcome of our struggle." She opened her eyes. "Let's head for the desert!"
They found some ruins and decided to check them. Micaiah and Sothe went into the building while the others patrolled the area.
"This building is huge", Sothe said, stunned. "It must have been built by the laguz..."
"What makes you think so?"
"Well, being able to transform into a beast, bird or even a dragon would surely make the job easier. They could do it before breakfast."
"Look at you, Sothe! You have changed. A few years ago you would only speak of "sub-humans"... such an ugly word."
"Well, the laguz are called "children of strength" and the beorc "children of wisdom" for a reason. At first I didn't realize that, but when I travelled together with Commander Ike – and fought beneath him – I did."
Micaiah sighed. "And there I thought you would have a revelation of some sort... But instead you just talk about him again."
"What do you mean, "again"?"
"Sothe, sometimes everything you say sounds like an ode to Ike."
"What?!"
"I know you owe your life to him. I know you want to be just like him. But he is the one who crushed Daein – some would even call him our archenemy."
"I know that. Everyone knows that! But it doesn't change the fact that he's a great man. I learned a lot from him."
Micaiah didn't reply and they continued their search in silence.
"Sothe, do you hear that?"
"No, what is it?"
"Someone's singing... It's beautiful!"
Micaiah turned into another passage. Suddenly, Yune winged herself into the air and disappeared.
"Yune? Where are you going? Come back!"
Micaiah chased after her. The sound of running footsteps told her that Sothe was right behind her.
They entered a large hall and stopped dead. Micaiah had expected everything from begnion soldiers to bandits, but not that.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff292/AliceAurion/03.jpg
The singer was a young man with long golden hair, green eyes and white wings. Yune was sitting on his shoulder and to his feet two enormous wolves were laying. Something told Micaiah they were no ordinary beasts.
As the song ended, the two friends stepped closer. Immediately, the wolves rose to their feet.
"Hello, I'm Micaiah! Who are you?"
The heron rose to his feet and came over to meet them. The wolves relaxed and transformed into humans.
"You are one of the bird tribe, a heron", Sothe observed. "And a member of the royal family."
"That is correct, beorc youth. My name is Rafiel." He turned to Micaiah. "A voice guided me here. Was it yours?"
"No, but it might have been the same voice that guided me."
The female wolf appeared at their side.
"I am Nailah, Queen of Hatary, the country beyond the desert, and this is my loyal servant Volug."
"There's a country over there?", Micaiah asked, surprised.
"Yes, just as I said. We have but recently arrived. It's all thanks to Rafiel that we found out about those lands here."
"I was wandering the desert near death", Rafiel explained. "If the queen had not found me..."
"Are you related to Prince Reyson?", Sothe asked.
"Reyson? My younger brother? You know of him?"
"Yes. We were serving in the same army for some time."
"Do you mean to say that my brother is still alive?"
"Yes. As far as I know, your father, the king, Reyson and Princess Leanne currently live in Gallia."
"So my brother is still alive! And my sweet little Leanne! Oh, Goddess! Thank you so much."
"You, beorc", Nailah said. "What's the shortest route to Gallia?"
"For three laguz travelling through Daein would be suicide", Sothe replied. "But we could take you as far as Crimea."
"Why not travel to Gallia directly?"
"Crossing the border would be difficult. The man you need for that resides in Crimea. That man, Ike, is in contact with King Caineghis and his men. I'm certain he's the man you need."
"Oh yes, Commander Ike", Micaiah said dryly. "Hero of the war, liberator of Crimea and father of Sothe's children."
Sothe shot her an angry look.
"Well then, when can we depart?"
"There is still something we need to do out here", Micaiah said. "We need to find someone. You could wait at the village for us."
"We could help you", Nailah offered.
"Thank you, but we will be fine."
"I see. You don't want to be seen with laguz."
"I'm sorry, but that might cause trouble... many people here despise the laguz."
"But no-one would mind you having a dog with you, right?"
Volug shifted into his beast form.
"How can you call Volug a dog?!"
"Well, he's not as friendly as a dog, and I don't know if he's housebroken, but..."
"Volug, is she always so – blunt?"
