Cracking the Shell   von elektroyu
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                             Kapitel 12: Face-Off
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The hint she'd gotten turned out to be not very helpful. I found nothing at all,
not even distinct tracks. Even several suns later I was still searching the
whole Black Shroud without even the slightest success. Just what kind of crazily
evasive squirrel was this? It was supposed to be a tame pet! But maybe it had
reverted back to a really feral lifestyle to be so hard to track. Or worse, it
could have fallen victim to another creature. I desperately hoped that wasn't
the case.
 
It was already past sundown and it was beginning to drizzle. Maybe I should head
home for the day and get something to eat. I turned for Gridania. I'd had left
Kweh in the stable for convenience the past few suns, but I should take her with
me next time. She needed some exercise, even if it meant risking her destroying
possible tracks.
 
When the familiar canopied pathway came into view I stopped short and turned
southward, straining my ears and eyes. Someone was there.
 
„Sharp as ever, eh?“
 
The slightly ironic undertone would've made me roll my eyes if not for the
relief, even happiness I felt at the voice. Still, my words came out rather
accusing.
 
„Where have you been? I wanted to talk to you.“
 
Foulques didn't look impressed. He didn't even answer my question, just hopped
off of a branch and ambled in my direction. He reminded me of a wild coeurl;
strong, smooth movements, but ready to flee instantly should any danger arise.
 
„What are you up to? Running errands again?“
 
„Pretty much, but not very successfully. But let's go somewhere dry. You
hungry?“
 
He blinked at me and kept silent, not sure what to answer.
 
„I'll treat you if you like. I'm starving and I haven't had a proper warm meal
for a while, so let's find a nice place to eat.”
 
I looked at him, but he still seemed taken aback. I cocked my head, knitting my
brows.
 
”Or if you don't want to enter the city I could just bring--“
 
„Er, no, it's okay. A warm meal somewhere dry would be great. If it's not too
public a place.“
 
I nodded and turned towards the gates, Foulques followed quietly.
 
„You're not going to tell me what you've been doing since we came back? You do
look a lot better, though. How's your injury?“
 
He was wearing his usual battle outfit, which looked pretty much restored to
it's former state, and I couldn't discern anything that hinted at the injury
he'd gotten in the Steel Vigil influencing him in any way anymore. Either he got
himself healed in some way or he made sure nothing of it was showing in his
movements.
 
„Don't worry about it. Just tell me what you wanted to talk about.“
 
„Oh, that. It's not all that important, but I've wondered...“
 
I watched the gate guards from the corner of my eyes as we approached. While
they did keep a somewhat professional expression they clearly were suspicious of
Foulques, faces tense and eyes locked onto him. I wondered if they would've
denied him access to the city if he had been alone. Then again, he must have
entered the city before without any company. Except if he had entered somewhere
else than the gates...
 
Once we were behind the gate and out of earshot of the guards, Foulques threw me
a glance, prompting me to continue. He seemed a little tense, always keeping an
eye on his surroundings, but otherwise he was calm.
 
„I've wondered about the way back from Coerthas. Qiah didn't know any details,
she just told me you brought me back.“
 
He threw another look, slightly irritated.
 
„There's nothing else to say on the matter. You were feverish and passed out
even before the border, so I brought you back. Don't tell me you wanted to stay
there and freeze to death.“
 
I coughed out a small laugh. A smile stayed on my face as I looked at him.
 
„No, I didn't. I really didn't. But thank you. I'm honestly happy you did that
for me.“
 
He made a dismissive sound and went back to studying the surroundings a little
too grumpily.
 
„Lets grab something to eat from the Carline Canopy and just take it up to my
room. No one should bother us there. Except maybe my sister, but I think she's
busy with work today.“
 
Foulques didn't reply, but I took his silence as agreement.
When we reached the inn I changed my attention to a waitress near the counter.
She greeted me by name and with a smile, but it got unsure once she got aware of
Foulques. My tail slightly flipped to the side.
 
When I asked her about taking our meals up to my room she seemed torn, eyeing
Foulques and myself in turn.
 
„Usually we don't allow this, sir. But, well, I guess we could make an
exception just this once.“
 
I had a strong suspicion she'd prefer the dangerous looking Duskwight out of the
public room. She was not the only one eyeing him like that. I wondered how much
of that was pure prejudice, or if any of those huffish glances were justified.
A glance at Foulques once the waitress had left confirmed my suspicion. Although
outwardly he was amazingly calm the tense set of his jaws told me he was pretty
uncomfortable the entire time we waited for our meals to be prepared. I'd
figured he would ease up once we left the public, and well, he did. Kind of. But
even so he still kept a strange tense air around him that seemed different from
the uneasiness he had displayed in Coerthas. I couldn't help but ask about it
after we'd finished eating in silence.
 
„Is something wrong? You've been taut as a bow since we went through the
gate.“
 
He unglued his eyes from the window to look at me.
 
„Wrong? No. I'm just not very comfortable around so many people anymore,
especially not here. You'd think you would've picked that up by now.“
 
I glared at him, but refrained from replying in the same wry tone. The corner of
his mouth raised in a weak grin.
 
„That's not what I meant. There's something more to this, isn't it?“
 
„What are you talking about?“
 
I shrugged, gesturing vaguely at him.
 
„I don't know. Did something happen? You were different before. A lot more
relaxed, I think.“
 
Foulques looked back to the window with a rather irritated expression and took a
moment to find a reply.
 
„I just have some things on my mind right now. You don't need to concern
yourself with any of it.“
 
I watched him a while longer, not sure how to react. He was so good at hiding
his thoughts, it was hard to guess what he could mean by that. I carefully
contemplated how to best continue the conversation; I didn't want him feeling
intruded upon. I sat my empty bowl onto the desk, stacking the other one into
it. Then I sat back on my bed. Foulques was still studying the drizzle on the
window. It was turning into rain quickly.
 
„I'm sorry if I'm prying. I don't mean to. It's just that I--“
 
He silenced me with a sudden sharp look and stretched his long legs beside the
desk. Then his expression changed and he regarded me with interest, although his
voice didn't betray any of it.
 
„So, what is it you've been having trouble to accomplish?“
 
„Huh? You mean my errand?“
 
He nodded and I blinked at him. He'd asked that before. Why was this so
important to him? Or was it just a means to keep up conversation? Or to keep me
from asking about him? Should I just humor him?
 
„Nothing world-shaking. I'm just trying to find a pet which happens to be
quite elusive.“
 
He raised an eyebrow.
 
„A pet? For whom?“
 
„Actually that's a funny coincidence. It's the Conjurer that healed you in
Coerthas. I bumped into her in the Conjurer's Guild a couple of suns ago.“
 
I grinned at him, but he just stared at me, unimpressed. My grin faltered a
little, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
 
„Tell me about it. What did she tell you, and why do you think didn't you
succeed with it yet?“
 
I all but gawked at him. Was he honestly interested in this little errand? Or in
Rhaya, possibly? That was probably more likely. But still, why? Did he want to
help? He didn't look like he wanted to desperately thank her for her earlier
help, though. I thought he should, by the way, but I didn't mention it.
He kept looking at me, waiting for an answer. I shook my head and decided to see
where this went.
 
„Well, she told me the pet was not hers, but a friends, and that they
originally had asked another adventurer to find it. But since that one wasn't
available at the time she acquired a new hint she entrusted the task to me
instead.“
 
„But you didn't find it either, obviously, even with a fresh hint.“
 
„I didn't. But what can I do? I just have to keep looking for it.“
 
„And you're doing that from sunrise to sundown every day until you find it?“
 
His voice was almost mocking now. I glared at him.
 
„Of course I do! How else would I be able to find it?“
 
I crossed my arms and looked at the window. Raindrops were splattering loudly at
it now.
 
“Well, I have to admit that I probably wouldn't be able to keep it up forever.
I'll just have to hope that I can find it before I have to leave for a more
important task.“
 
„I don't think you'll ever find it.“
 
„What? Why not?“
 
Leaning forward, Foulques pointed an accusing finger at me.
 
„Because she's scamming you, you idiot.“
 
„Huh? Why in the world would she do that? She's not like that. You haven't
even met her, have you?“
 
„It just sounds a little too fishy to be true.“
 
„What's wrong with you? Just because something doesn't go smoothly doesn't
mean it's automatically a scam. You're way too distrustful, Foulques.“
 
„I think you're way too trustful. But I'm not discussing that with you right
now. Either believe it or not, you'll see the truth sooner or later anyway.
Thanks for the meal.“
 
He got up and headed for the door. I was too conflicted to even say another
word, so I just watched him go from the edge of my bed, a thousand thoughts in
my head at once. Did he really believe that? Did he have so little trust in
people that such a minor thing already would make him jump to such a conclusion?
What if he was right, though? But Rhaya just wasn't like that. Nothing even
hinted at such a thing. She had helped us without a second thought, without any
sort of payment even. And what reason would she even have, considered it would
be just like Foulques thought? He was overreacting, definitely. The door shut
with a soft thud.
 
I should probably call him back before he left the building. The rain had gotten
pretty strong while we'd eaten and there really was no need for him to get
drenched. I wondered why he even had felt the need to leave so suddenly in the
first place. Something was just off about him today.
 
I hurried down the stairs as silently as I could. Down in the hall I asked the
waitress from before about Foulques and she told me he had left moments ago. I
thanked her and ran outside, but couldn't see him anywhere. I ran to the Blue
Badger Gate and outside through the Canopy, where I hesitated. From my position
I had a good view of the nearby pathways, but over the rain I could neither hear
nor see anything that hinted at where he had gone. I turned around to the
guards, returning to the gate.
 
„Did the Duskwight I came with earlier pass through just now?“
 
They both looked a little uncomfortable and hesitated for a moment, but then
gave me an answer after all.
 
„He did, yes. Seemed to be in hurry, as well.“
 
„Where did he go?“
 
„I... didn't pay attention to that.“
 
Inwardly I groaned, but I thanked them. At least I could be sure he'd come this
way, even if that was the most likely direction anyway. I jogged down the path
again until it branched in three different directions. Which one to take, now?
Or should I just leave him be, after all? Apparently he wasn't much inclined to
stay, even in this rain. Then again, nothing good had ever happened whenever I'd
left him be. At worst, he'd get irritated and send me away. I could deal with
that.
 
Standing at the crossroads I strained my ears, closing my eyes for better
concentration. Under the omnipresent sound of the rain the faint sounds of birds
and other critters greeted my ears from all directions. Some rustling on the
ground to the left of me. I flicked my ear to clear it of the tingle of water
droplets and listened again. A bird called faintly in the distance. Behind me
the tiptoeing of a very small critter. And then, straight ahead, something else
entirely. The sound of metal clashing? It was a bit too far away to be certain.
Maybe I should've brought my lance. I hadn't anticipated Foulques to get away so
fast, though. Anyway, this was the only clue I'd gotten, so this was where I'd
look first.
 
I wasn't disappointed. When I arrived at the scene, Foulques was surrounded by
five people, mostly guild lancers. Voyce and Kimison, the two I'd talked to
before I went to Coerthas, were among them. I recognized Nantain and Thaisie, a
Wildwood Elezen pair, and a young Midlander Hyur that I'd seen in the guild from
time to time. I didn't know his name, though.
 
The lancers held Foulques at spear point, and he was ready to fight as well. For
the moment, though, no one moved. Quickly Kimison noticed my arrival.
 
“Khuma'zi?! What are you doing here?”
 
Calming my labored breathing I balled my fists and met his surprised look
squarely, coming closer.
 
“That's what I should be asking, Kimison. What are you all trying to do?”
 
My question was met with silence, not because it was obvious what they were up
to, but because my arrival made them hesitate. Foulques only watched, water
dripping from his hair. The fabric of my shirt and pants already felt sticky
where it wasn't protected by armor. Slowly I walked towards the group and
entered the ring of lances. Voyce, who was nearest to me, gently pushed at me
with the broad side of his blade to keep me from reaching Foulques.
 
“Stay out of this. You know what he's done, and now we'll make sure he's gonna
pay for it!”
 
He put more force into his push when I wouldn't budge, but I firmly planted my
feet on the ground, readying myself. I grabbed his wet lance by the shaft,
pulling it towards me with a firm yank and immediately pushing it out to him
again to throw him off-balance. Balance was still one of his weak points, and he
probably hadn't anticipated me moving against him. With another shove to the
side I disarmed him and in the same movement rotated the lance so I could use it
myself. Not that I really intended to use it, but I wasn't about to let them
fight with Foulques and I needed something to back up my words just in case.
Kimison's blade slightly quivered in my direction, not sure what to make of my
move. I took place at Foulques' right so I wouldn't get in his way, facing the
lancers at his back. He met my stern look for a short moment. He was waiting,
still slightly surprised. He looked pretty calm despite his fighting stance,
though, for which I was grateful. It gave me hope this wouldn't go the same road
as his encounter with Cillien. I turned to the others.
 
“Just stop this, it's not going to change anything, even if you would
succeed.”
 
“What do you know?! He didn't kill your friend! Your family! Your lover! We're
just not keeping silent about this any longer!!”
 
“And where would that lead? There's just going to be even more victims! I'm
not going to watch you spill blood over something that won't even change a
single thing!”
 
I looked at every one of them, Voyce, who was now standing a little outside of
the ring, and Foulques included. Most of them weren't convinced, the looks I met
were angry and hostile. Foulques just didn't look much impressed.
 
“The concept of revenge really is not very familiar to you, is it?”
 
I ignored his quiet, somewhat amused comment.
 
“All that's going to happen is that you're resorting to the very same actions
you're hating him for!”
 
“Khuma'zi, why do you keep defending him? He's a murderer!!”
 
“And you actually want to become one yourself, Kimison?”
 
“That's different!! We're merely avenging the people that were dear to us!”
 
I almost rolled my eyes at that.
 
“And he's merely avenging the life he was robbed of! And besides, then what?
Once you've killed him, someone's going to come after you to avenge him. And who
will get injured in the process or even lose their life? I'm telling you,
nothing at all will change. People will just keep dying!”
 
“Just back off! It's got nothing to do with you!”
 
It had a whole tonze to do with me, but that was not the point right now.
 
“I'm not going to back off, Kimison. Just stop it. I don't want this to turn
into a fight. But if it does, I'll take on every one of you.”
 
Again, I met each set of eyes. I also aimed a sharp look at Foulques, silently
including him in that statement. He grimly narrowed his eyes at me. The others
were silent, unsure of what to do. They knew that Foulques was strong from his
previous interactions with the guild and with the Wood Wailers, and they also
knew that I was strong. It's not that they weren't talented with a lance, but I
was stronger than them, at least in a one-on-one match. We'd had enough chances
to prove that over and over since I'd joined the guild. If I wouldn't take their
side they'd have to face Foulques and me. After a few moments, Kimison lowered
his lance, but kept his seething eyes mostly locked onto Foulques.
 
“Fine. We'll retreat for now. But know this isn't over yet.”
 
The others were following his order slowly, hesitantly. Foulques and I remained
ready to take action until they had bunched up around Kimison. When I threw
Voyce his lance, he made a surprised sound and caught it with two hands.
Foulques shook his head, not easing up his stance at all.
 
“You're an idiot.”
 
I just threw him a quick glare from the corners of my eyes, then waited for the
lancers to leave. Once they had their backs to us and were away a couple of
yalms, Foulques relaxed, strapping the lance to his back and staring at me.
Water dripped from his face.
 
“Why are you even here?”
 
“I just wanted to call you back, actually. I didn't want you to get wet
needlessly, and I wanted to ask why you were so quick to leave in the first
place.”
 
He raised an eyebrow, disbelieving. He crossed his arms.
 
“Well, that's too late. And I told you, I just didn't want to stay there any
longer. Now go home already.”
 
“At least it's a good thing I followed you. Who knows what would've happened
if I hadn't.”
 
“Then there'd be a few more dead cowards if they'd kept this up.”
 
I glared at him, balling my hands into fists; the base of my tail puffed up. I
tugged at my wet hair in frustration.
 
“Yes, exactly! And maybe you'd have suffered a few cuts yourself on top of
that! What's
wrong with you all?! Can't you solve a problem without bloodspill?”
 
Foulques sighed, shaking his head.
 
“You're really an idiot. Sometimes you need to spill blood to solve a problem,
and believe me, someone's blood is going to be spilled sooner or later. Besides,
now you've made a couple of enemies out of your friends. That wasn't very wise
either, don't you think?”
 
My hand fell back to my side lifelessly, my rage leaving me quickly.
 
“That couldn't be helped. I'm just glad no one was hurt.”
 
“They're probably going to come after you.”
 
I met his eyes, pondering this for a moment.
 
“We'll see. I hope it won't come to that.”

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