#ravencharm

It was rather ironic; the man who hated being stared at the most was now the one doing the staring. Vivienne supposed it was only natural. After being told that his enemies were now his allies, and that they came from another world, who wouldn’t stare a bit? Still, she found it funny.

No one paid Albel much mind aside from her. Being the newest member of the “good guys”, Maria didn’t understand why everyone kept the swordsman at arms’ length, but even she shied away from him at times. Not that Vivienne blamed her. But since everyone else ignored him, that left him free to stalk along a few steps behind the rest of them. No one seemed to realize exactly when he’d ended up behind them.

Somewhere along the way, they’d stopped being wary of attack, and maybe he’d slipped behind. Maybe he did it on purpose. Either way, it made it easier for Vivienne to fall in step beside him.

“Surely you must’ve known something was off,” She commented, keeping her voice low to avoid attracting attention, “We look nothing like the Aquarians, in dress or by choice of weapon.”

She expected the answer she got; silence.

“Can you teach me how to wield a katana?”

The sudden question caused an eyebrow to quirk upward, and Albel’s eyes narrowed as he studied the woman beside him.

“Why would you want to? I’ve seen what your fire blade can do.”

“It’s called a Lightsaber. And true, I do prefer my weapon. But at least you responded to that. It’s the first time I’ve heard you speak since we left Airyglyph.”

“So you were angling for conversation?”

“Maybe,” Vivienne shrugged, “At least you aren’t boring.”

Albel’s gaze moved over the so-called “companions” who walked before them with a sneer. So he was not alone in his appraisal of them.

“I’m surprised to hear you speak ill of your friends.”

“Never said they were my friends. I only met them when I came to this planet.”

“To this planet…”

He repeated her words with a curiosity, and almost a softness that she wouldn’t have expected from him. Was he still processing this new concept? It wouldn’t be too surprising. No one here was supposed to know about the existence of life on other worlds. Not yet. They were still so underdeveloped. But what could be done about it now?

“How many other planets are there?”

“So many…” She chuckled, “More than any one person could see in their lifetime.”

“That sounds like a challenge.”

“You would see it that way, wouldn’t you?”

The two fell silent as the group reached the city gate. Nel glanced back at them, then inched closer to Maria. Whatever she may have said to the younger woman, Vivienne couldn’t hear, but it caused the other to glance back as well. The women locked eyes for a moment, but Maria finally looked away again and shrugged at Nel.

“They don’t think I know what I’m doing.”

“That’s because you don’t,” The words were delivered with a barely-there growl; a warning, but one she chose to ignore.

“I can handle myself. What exactly do you think I’m trying to do? I told you, all I wanted was a decent conversation.”

Albel said nothing to that, and the pair followed the others to the inn silently. Just before going their separate ways for the evening, the swordsman blocked the Jedi’s path briefly.

“You have a ship?”

“I do.”

“Take me.” It wasn’t a request.

“Soon as this is over. Every planet we can manage.”

When they reached the castle, Woltar was waiting as expected. Albel was nowhere in sight.

“He’s in the dungeon currently,” The old man informed them, “This way.”

Just those words were enough to set Vivienne on edge. She knew everyone else could feel it too, that something wasn’t right about the whole situation. Why was Albel in the dungeon? She was quite sure he wouldn’t be part of any interrogations or torturing, but she could think of no other reason for his current location.

“I don’t like this,” She murmured, “This isn’t right.”

“What isn’t right is that we’re working with Albel the Wicked.” Nel put in.

Vivienne resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the comment. She was getting really tired of Nel. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and while normally that was a good thing in Vivienne’s opinion, it seemed that Nel’s mind was too constantly focused on complaining about Albel.

It wasn’t that she could be blamed for that. After everything they’d been through, after everything they’d seen… even Nel’s friends had suffered at Albel’s hand. But complaining about it when there was little they could do was just a waste of time.

And unlike Nel, Vivienne knew that Albel was doing what he believed was right, and wasn’t only doing it to be ruthless. After all, Nel and her colleagues were the ones who stole the copper ore from an enemy mine. Of course that enemy would retaliate.

“It’s not right,” Cliff commented, glancing at young younger bluenette with a sympathetic shrug, “But what can you do?”

She knew he didn’t care as much as she did. He didn’t like Albel either. Not to say that Vivienne did like him, but still, she at least understood his position. And Cliff seemed to realize that Albel wasn’t supposed to be in the dungeon. Nel didn’t appear to care.

“I’ve got an errand for you, boy.” Woltar’s voice echoed in the stillness, and as Vivienne stepped into the torture chamber, she prepared herself for whatever she might be about to face.

As expected, Albel wasn’t in the middle of some rigorous interrogation; instead, he was the one with shackles around his wrists.

“Why?!”

Woltar glanced up at the angry cry, coming from Fayt, of all people.

“He has been charged with treason for letting you escape from the Kirlsa Training Facility. Not only that, he let you get away with copper ore stolen from our mine.”

“Wouldn’t exactly call that letting us get away…” Cliff muttered but was ignored as Woltar turned back to Albel.

“Of course, the one who brought the charges against him is no longer in this world…”

“Vox, right?”

Cliff was again ignored as Woltar spoke to Albel again. The swordsman had yet to raise his head or even acknowledge Woltar standing before him.

“You have been given a mission to accompany these people to the Urssa Lava Caves. If you complete this task, you will be acquitted of all charges.”

At this Albel finally looked up, slowly turning his gaze to the five waiting near the door.

“With those scum?! Those… Aquarian scum?! You must be joking!” He lunged toward the older man, only to be held back by his chains. “You’re senile, old man – they’re the enemy!”

“The situation has changed while you have been imprisoned. Airyglyph and Aquaria are currently observing a truce.”

Albel was incredulous. A truce? Vox had actually agreed to a truce? That warmonger lived for battle, for bloodshed. There was no way he would agree!

But… Vox was dead? And those Aquarians hadn’t been the ones to kill him? Impossible! No one else in the world was skilled enough to take Vox in battle aside from Albel himself!

“They are not of this world.”

The words left Albel gaping. From another world? Had the old man finally lost it?

But regardless of whether he believed or not, Woltar insisted that the threat was real, and if Albel did nothing, the entire world would be wiped out.

“Then I must go.”

He wasn’t happy about it, but he said nothing further as the shackles were released, and he was freed once more.

“You must take these Aquarians to the Lava Caves and tame the Marquis.”

“The Marquis?! You’re joking! That monster?!”

Albel’s words didn’t exactly fill anyone with confidence. Just what were they getting into with this plan? Was it more of a long shot than they’d already expected?

“The way you brag of your skills, I would think this would be no trouble for you.” Woltar commented, “I’m sure your father would’ve risen to the challenge.”

“That’s enough!”

In a flash Albel’s good hand had snatched up to grab the old man’s collar. Woltar did nothing, and eventually Albel let go. The old man continued on as if nothing had happened.

“Then everything is settled.” He glanced at the others again. “Try to get along.”

“Aah, what can you do?”

“I feel like I’m missing something here,” Maria commented, “But I’ll do my best.”

Albel stalked to the door without a word, only to be stopped by Nel as he tried to pass.

“I don’t like this anymore than you do, Albel. But Her Majesty has given the order, so I must obey. Just don’t hold us back.”

Albel merely growled and continued past her. Everyone else followed him out, Woltar last of all.

“Well, if used in the right manner, he should be of some service. At least you shall be better off than if you did not have him.”

“There’s no doubt of his skill, at least.”

“We don’t mind if you work him hard. I suppose it would be best if you did that, for he has been lacking in exercise of late.”

The man’s laughter rang in Vivienne’s ears, and it took all her willpower not to turn around and punch him in the face. Here was the man who was supposed to have looked after Albel after his father died, and this was how he treated him, how he spoke about him?

“Let’s just get out of here.” Maria’s words were soothing. Vivienne shook off the echo of the old man’s laughter and followed the others out.

Albel still held his position at the front of the pack. Probably because no one trusted him to be behind them. If he were going to try something, at least they’d see it coming this way. But it was clear from his unsteady gait that captivity had taken it’s toll on him. And just how long had he been locked in that dungeon, anyway?

Absently Vivienne remembered talking to Tynave before the battle, hearing that Albel wouldn’t be joining. She’d known something was wrong then; there was no way Albel would simply sit out of a battle like that. Had he been locked up even then? That was weeks ago!

“Maybe we should get a room at the inn tonight?” Vivienne suggested. “It’s been a long day, and with the trial we have ahead of us, I’m sure we could all use the rest.”

“Not until we reach Kirlsa,” Albel growled. “I’m not staying in this city and it’s filthy inn.”

Everyone looked to Fayt, who’d somehow become the one to make the final decisions for most of their time on the planet. He glanced at Albel, then at the rest of them and shrugged.