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           FINAL FANTASY LEGACY
	   Knights of the Round

   Chapter 11: Determination and Despair

        Created by Brian Stricklin
        This chapter by Kate Malloy
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It was late, but Marcine couldn't sleep.  She glanced over at Mika and Syeria, 
who were both fast asleep.  Mika was snoring ever so slightly.

That wasn't the reason why Marcine was still awake.  She sat up, letting the 
covers slide from her shoulders.  Quietly, she got up, picked up 
her shoes, and left the room, silently closing the door behind her.  Once 
outside the room, she slipped her shoes on and crept carefully down the hall.

The group was staying that night in a waystation beside the road to Yahl Russa.  
A whole day of blessedly uneventful traveling had passed since she and Davin had 
fallen into the ruins in the mountains.  Oddly enough, it seemed like much 
longer ago.  They'd spent last night camped out in a cave, and had emerged from 
the mountains early that afternoon.

By all rights, Marcine should be exhausted.  She'd even briefly considered 
casting a sleep spell on herself, but that would be a waste of magic, and she 
didn't have enough confidence in her skills to be certain that she'd wake up at 
the proper time tomorrow.

She entered the main room of the little waystation.  It wasn't quite an inn, 
just a place for travelers to spend a night and then move on.  They were set at 
regular intervals along the road to Yahl Russa, and there were enough of them 
that one could be assured of finding a free one during the normal travel 
seasons.  There were inns along the road as well, but the group had decided to 
go as far as they could before stopping that day, and that meant skipping the 
inn they'd arrived at in the early evening.

She picked up the matches and the lantern that were sitting on the table in the 
common room. Before she could light the lantern, she thought she heard a sound 
behind her.

"Davin?" she called softly, turning in the direction of the sound.  No one was 
there.  With a small sigh, she lit the lantern and set it down on the table.

She gazed at the lantern's flame for a while, as if the answers to all the 
questions that were running through her head would magically come to her if she 
stared at it long enough.  None were forthcoming.

With a sigh, she turned briefly to look at the doorway.  She wasn't expecting 
any of the others to come; in fact, she would have felt quite badly if she'd 
woken any of them up.  Still, she didn't exactly want to be alone right now.  
There was too much for her to think about.

She pulled the "heart" of Percival from an inner pocket in her dress, turning it 
over so it would catch the lantern light.  The spirit of an ancient knight, once 
sealed into living armor, and now resting in her hands.  He'd mentioned 
Gilgamesh.  She'd studied enough of the old legends to recognize that name...the 
leader of a band of warriors who had fought for the Manakyr.  If what she'd read 
held true, the Church had sealed away the knights, each in a separate place.  So 
Percival's companions presumably still "lived" somewhere.  She wondered where 
Gilgamesh was hidden.

But also according to the legends, it was the Three Gods who led the Church to 
seal them away.  Yet Percival had stated that his group of knights wished to 
free the Three Gods.  And then there was the matter of the mural she and Davin 
had seen in the ruins - the three figures...and the fourth crystal...

In frustration, she clenched her hands around Percival's stone.  This wasn't 
doing her any good - she was ending up with more questions than she'd begun 
with!  She set the stone on the table, then rested her chin on her hands, and 
finally closed her eyes.  Without even thinking about it, suddenly she was fast 
asleep.

From the doorway, Syeria watched quietly.  The spell would last until the 
morning.  Now *she* could finally get some proper rest.

*****

Kyle and his troops reached Tienne in the late afternoon, two days after they'd 
left from Atlantea.  Kyle had not been looking forward to their return to the 
city at all.  He dreaded the report he knew he was going to have to make to his 
father.  No, he hadn't captured the heretics.  Yes, they had gone in an entirely 
different direction than the one he had chosen to lead his troops.  But wait, 
there's more.  A cult of the Manakyr had bespelled all of Atlantea, including 
the local Dragoon commander.  And by the way, did he know that there was a 
former Red Monk in Kyle's own troops?

Almost as if he could read Kyle's mind - although Kyle severely doubted that was 
possible - Cheney leaned towards Kyle as they rode to the stables.  "Do you wish 
me to come with you when you make your report?"

Kyle shook his head.  "No, there are some things I must handle myself."

Cheney nodded.  "Of course.  But if you need someone to verify the events that 
occurred..."

Kyle glanced at him.  "Yes, I'll let you know.  You're dismissed," he added with 
a wave of his hand.

Cheney looked startled for a second, as if he'd almost forgotten the fact that 
Kyle was his commanding officer, and had been thinking of him as...what?  A 
companion?  A friend, even? Then he nodded again and rode off.

Kyle reached the stable yard, handed the horse to one of the stablehands, and 
walked into the main complex, ignoring the admiring gazes of several young women 
clustered around the courtyard.  He walked straight up two flights of stairs and 
down the corridor, then knocked on the door of his father's, no, the Holy Guard 
Commander's, office.  He was told to come in.

Armand was seated at his desk, going through a stack of papers, when Kyle 
entered.  His eyes met Kyle's, and Kyle could see the anger and frustration in 
them.

Mercy of the Three Gods, Kyle thought, it's started already.

Armand motioned for Kyle to sit in the chair in front of his desk.  Once Kyle 
had settled himself, Armand fixed him with a stony stare.

"So, do you mind telling me how the heretics managed to escape from you this 
time?  More interference from a little girl who seems to have more wits than 
your entire regiment put together?" Armand asked scathingly.

Kyle was barely able to keep himself from grimacing as he answered, "I chose to 
lead my troops on the most logical route.  It seemed most unlikely that 
Ma...that the heretics would decide to head for the same destination they'd 
nearly been captured trying to reach in the first place."

"Heretics don't think logically," Armand stated coldly.  "Reports have already 
come back that the group has been sighted traveling through Achal.  They'd be 
well into Russa by now. Whoever we send after them will have a lot of catching 
up to do."

Kyle was startled.  What Armand was saying implied that they hadn't sent another 
regiment of Dragoons out yet to chase the fugitives.  Was he considering sending 
Kyle's troops to Russa? But they wouldn't have enough time to rest, would they?  
And if Kyle's troops didn't go to Russa...didn't go after Marcine...would he be 
more relieved that he wouldn't have to face her, or worried about what might 
happen to her?  No, he shouldn't be worried.  She was a heretic, she'd thrown 
his most sacred principles back in his face, and...

"Are you listening to me, boy?" Armand exclaimed angrily.

Kyle flushed deep crimson.  "Yes, sir?"

"I asked you what else you had to report, since you took quite a bit of time to 
return from a simple reconnaissance mission to Atlantea.  *And* with only half 
your troops."

Kyle took a deep breath and began recounting his experiences with the Manakyr 
cult.  He hadn't gotten much beyond describing the ensorcelled townspeople when 
Armand's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait here," Armand said in a trembling voice.  "I must bring Father Lambert to 
hear this." He got up and nearly ran from the room.

Kyle wasn't sure whether to be impressed or very worried.  He'd never seen his 
father become unnerved like that.

In a few short moments, Armand returned with Father Lambert.  Once both men were 
settled, Armand turned to Kyle.  "Begin your story again," he ordered.

Once again, Kyle described his arrival in Atlantea, the suspicious behavior of 
the townspeople and the Dragoon captain.  He recounted his drugging in the inn, 
his fighting in the tunnels, and the strange devices he'd awoken to find himself 
and his troops attached to. Armand had looked extremely tense when Kyle 
mentioned the radio and the other military devices that the Manakyr cult had 
managed to delve from the minds of the Dragoons.  The one thing Kyle left out of 
his story was Cheney's Red Monk abilities.  He wasn't exactly sure why, but he 
had a feeling that it would be important to him in the future to have Cheney on 
his side.

When he finished, he looked at the two men.  Father Lambert was shaking his head 
and murmuring, "Darovan's Legacy..."  Armand just looked shocked.  Kyle was 
decidedly uncomfortable.

Finally, after a few minutes, Armand motioned to Kyle.  "You are dismissed, 
Captain Cavanaugh.  I suggest that you take the remainder of this day to rest."

Kyle got up, saluted Armand, and bowed respectfully to Father Lambert.  He could 
feel the exhaustion and tension in his entire body.  Yes, a day's rest would do 
him good.

Once Kyle had left, Father Lambert turned to Armand.  "Darovan's Legacy...the 
girl is far more dangerous than we had ever suspected."

"Yes, far more than a simple heretic," Armand agreed.  His shoulders slumped in 
shame.  "I wish I had never raised her."

"Son Armand, look at me," Father Lambert said comfortingly.  "How were you to 
know that the child would turn out like that?"

"I just feel that there was some way I should have been able to prevent it!" 
Armand cried angrily.  "How could I miss something like that?  Magic?!"

Father Lambert got up.  "Fear not, my son.  All shall work out for the best.  
The truth of the Three Gods shall see us through."  He made the sign of the Tri-
Fan in blessing, then left the room.

Once outside, he muttered to himself, "This complicates things much further than 
I had anticipated.  A change of plans is most definitely in order."

*****

"Well, there it is," Davin said, motioning to the city of Yahl Russa which lay 
in the valley before them, sparkling in the midday sun.  Beyond the city lay the 
northern ocean, and a ways to the east, the travelers could see the entrance to 
the Starsilver mine.  They had reached the city on the second day of travel 
after the night spent in the waystation.

"It's so...big," Syeria said in awe.  Mika snickered.  Syeria whirled around to 
face her.  "What?  Okay, so maybe it's not impressive if you've lived in Tienne 
all your life, but I am *not* a city person!"

Marcine pointed at the largest building in the city, one with fancifully colored 
onion-shaped domes and tall spires.  "That would be the Great Cathedral, 
wouldn't it?"

Davin nodded.  "Yes.  I think we'll stay away from it for the time being, 
though.  I just hope my friend still lives in the same place.  I don't want to 
have to search this whole city for him!"

"C'mon, let's go then!" Mika said impatiently.  She sent her Chocobo into a fast 
trot, forcing the others to hurry in order to keep up with her.

Once they reached the city, Davin led them to the district that his friend 
presumably still lived in.  After a little searching, they found an inn with a 
Chocobo stable, and after handing the birds over to the hostlers, entered the 
inn proper and registered to stay for the next few days.

As soon as they reached their rooms, Syeria entered the one that the three young 
women would be sharing and immediately flopped down on the nearest bed.  "Oh, 
that feels good!"  She noticed Mika looking at her strangely.  "What?  I'm 
tired!"

Mika just shook her head.  "And here I thought you'd be all eager to see the 
city."

"Well, yeah, but there's not much treasure in a city, you know," Syeria stated 
as she sat back up.

Davin fixed her with a stern stare.  "Syeria, while we're here..."

"Why does everyone always look to blame me?" Syeria said in an annoyed tone of 
voice.

He shrugged and smiled.  "I'm not exactly blaming you, but...Occupational 
hazard, remember?"

"Fine," Syeria agreed with a frustrated sigh.  "Mika, you want to explore, we'll 
explore."

Davin started to object, but Syeria interrupted him.  "We won't get into 
trouble.  Honest.  I heard there were these neat indoor markets here, kind of 
like the markets in Atlantea."  She turned to Mika.  "So, you want to come see 
them with me?"

"Only if you promise not to steal anything!" Mika said, giggling.

Syeria groaned again.  "I promise."  She looked back at Davin.  "How about it?"

Davin considered it for a second.  It would be easier to go see his friend if 
just Marcine and himself went.  "All right," he agreed.  "But Mika, you have to 
promise to stay close to Syeria, and not to get into trouble.  I already have 
Syeria's word."  He fixed Syeria with a stern glance.

"I promise, big brother!" Mika said excitedly.  She looked at Syeria, still 
seated on the bed.  "Let's go!"

"Oy, me and my big mouth," Syeria muttered as she followed Mika.

Davin turned to Marcine, who had been quiet throughout the entire exchange.  
"Marcine?  Are you all right?"

"I suppose I'm fine," she answered.  "But I can't help wondering how long this 
peace will last.  One of these days, a messenger from the Church is going to 
make it up here, or some soldiers, or..."

Davin put a hand on her arm.  "Marcine, don't worry about that.  It's no use 
borrowing trouble.  We're going to go talk with Piette, and we're going to find 
out more about magic, and the ruins...you'll see.  We'll be fine."  He gave her 
arm a comforting squeeze.

Marcine didn't quite share Davin's confidence, but she had to admit that she 
felt a little better.  "Thank you, Davin," she said quietly.  "Let's go, then."

*****

As it turned out, while Davin's friend Piette did still live at the address 
Davin had, he wasn't in at the moment.  One of the other men who shared the 
house with him told Davin and Marcine that Piette was at the nearby library, and 
gave them directions.

When Davin and Marcine entered the library, they were met with a most imposing 
sight: the head librarian.  Six and a half feet tall, heavily-muscled, and 
sporting a very large broadsword in a sheath on his back, Sir Conen glanced at 
them over the top of his spectacles.

"You shall follow all the rules and regulations of the Yahl Russa Ancient 
Studies Library," he stated in a commanding tone.

"Yes, sir," Davin and Marcine chorused meekly.

The head librarian smiled.  "Good.  Just what I like to see; a healthy dose of 
respect for knowledge."  He motioned for them to enter the main part of the 
library.

"Oh..." Marcine said in astonishment as she and Davin stepped into the main 
hall.  "It's beautiful..."

The main hall of the library was lit by an enormous skylight.  The upper floors 
of the library - Davin counted at least five - were open on three sides and 
overlooked the foyer.  Globes of elemental fire (much safer to use than lamps 
and candles, and probably keeping several geomancers in a very lucrative 
business) burned brightly in the recesses of the library.

Marcine could barely take it all in.  "It's going to take us nearly forever to 
find your friend!" she whispered to Davin.

Davin pointed to a young man with close-cropped blond hair, studying at a nearby 
table.  "Or he could be sitting right over there," he answered with a grin.

She couldn't help but smile as the two approached Piette.  Davin slid into a 
chair opposite his friend, who was too absorbed in his studying to even notice.

"Heya, Piette," Davin said quietly.  Piette looked up from his book, and his 
eyes widened in surprise.

"Davin?  What are you doing here?" Piette said in a startled whisper.  "It's 
been ages!"

"Is there a place we can go where we can talk and not disturb other people?" 
Davin asked.

Piette nodded.  "Yeah, there's plenty of private study rooms in the back."  He 
picked up his books and the pieces of paper he'd been scribbling notes on, then 
motioned for Davin and Marcine to follow him.

They headed back into the shelves until they reached a row of small rooms.  Most 
were occupied, but Piette quickly found a free one.  He closed the door after 
they had entered, then set his belongings down on the small table inside.

"First off," Davin began, "Marcine, this is Piette.  Piette, Marcine."

Piette reached out and gave Marcine a firm handshake.  "Nice to meet you."  He 
gave Davin a curious look, but didn't comment any further.

Marcine didn't notice.  "Thank you.  It's nice to meet you as well," she 
replied.

"So," Piette continued, sitting down in the remaining free chair and leaning 
back comfortably, "what brings you here, Davin?  Looking for your parents?  And 
how's Mika doing?"

"Mika's doing just fine," Davin answered.  "I've had to put the search on hold 
for a while, though."

"Oh?  A new quest?" Piette inquired.

"Well, sort of," Davin admitted.  "We're searching for information on the old 
legends..."

Piette grinned knowingly.  "Magic, eh?"

Marcine looked startled.

"Oh, don't be so surprised," Piette said, laughing.  "It's dangerous stuff to 
look into, true, but I've been studying things like that for years now."  He 
held up his thumb and forefinger close together.  "Why, I'll bet I've come 
*this* close to being declared a heretic..."  He stopped suddenly when he 
noticed Davin's frown and Marcine's frightened look.

A few moments of silence passed.  Finally, with a confused expression, Piette 
began, "Davin, Miss Marcine, you don't mean to tell me that you..."

Marcine glanced nervously at Davin.

"We can trust Piette," Davin told her.  "Honestly.  We've been friends for quite 
a while now."

She stared straight at Piette.  "I...I've learned how to use magic and been 
declared a heretic by the Church.  Davin and I...we're fugitives.  It could be 
dangerous for you to even speak to us for a few moments."

Piette just blinked.  "Honestly?  My..."

"If you'd like us to go now..." Marcine began, but Piette held up his hand.

"Miss Marcine, I would never, *ever* leave a friend in trouble," he said 
emphatically.  "Whatever it is I can help you two with, I promise that I will."

"Thank you so much," Marcine replied gratefully.  "And please, just call me 
Marcine."

Piette nodded.  "Will do.  Now..." He began rummaging through the books and 
papers he'd carried in.  "I don't think I have anything useful with me right 
now, though."  He opened one book to a place that he'd marked with a small 
leather strip.  "No, this isn't it."

Marcine caught a glimpse of a portrait in the book.  "What is it?" she inquired.

Piette held the book out to her.  "It's a book on the Samurai of the Ryukin 
Islands."  He pointed to the portrait.  "That is Kira Cyori of the Heaven's 
Cloud.  She lived about 300 years ago and was famous for being the first female 
warrior ever to bear one of the sacred blades of Masamune, the greatest Ryukin 
swordsmith of all time."

"The Ryukin Islands..." Davin mused as he and Marcine gazed at the picture of 
Kira Cyori.  She had long black hair and piercing blue eyes, and held the sacred 
sword out in front of her in a fighting stance.  "Aren't they far to the west of 
here?"

"Indeed," Piette answered.  "They're fairly isolated from the rest of the world.  
I'm not sure if a Ryukin Samurai has ever left the Isles."

Marcine looked thoughtful.  "We'd be safe if we went there..." she said quietly.

Piette laughed.  "I'm sorry, Marcine, but you'd be more likely to find a ship to 
the moon than a ship to the Ryukins."

"But if they're an island nation, surely they must trade with someone," Marcine 
insisted.

"Not with any of the countries around here..." Piette began, then paused.  "I'm 
sorry.  If you let me get started on a topic, I'll lecture you all afternoon."

"But it's interesting," Marcine replied.

"Really?  Glad you think so." Piette smiled.  "But poor Davin over there looks 
bored out of his skull, so let's get back to what you came here to find, eh?"

"I wasn't bored..." Davin began to object.

Piette closed the last book.  "Argh.  I don't have any of it with me.  And even 
if I did, I'm not sure how much help it would be to you," he admitted.

"What do you mean?" Marcine asked with a worried look.

"Well, this is a public library," Piette explained.  "They aren't going to have 
anything accessible to the people that the Church wouldn't want them to see.  
Oh, I've found the odd book here and there, and I have some notes back at my 
place that might help, but..." He looked thoughtful for a second.  "You know, 
I've heard a rumor that this place has nearly as many floors above ground as it 
does underground.  I have no idea how on earth to access it, but..." He gave a 
considering glance at Davin and Marcine.

Davin waved his hands.  "Oh, no.  No, Piette.  You are not even going to *think* 
about breaking in there."

Piette smiled. "Aww, c'mon, Davin.  It would be just like our old days in the 
Mystic Academy."

"We got in enough trouble back then," Davin objected.  "There is no way we're 
getting involved in something like this.  I don't want to risk the wrath of that 
head librarian out there."

"All right.  I admit defeat," Piette agreed.  "Tell you what.  I'll go home and 
look through my notes, and bring the relevant stuff back here tomorrow.  Let's 
say we meet here tomorrow morning?"

Davin and Marcine nodded.

"Good," Piette continued.  "Then if you'll excuse me, I'll be heading home now.  
It was nice meeting you, Marcine, and I'll see you two tomorrow!"  He picked up 
the books and scrolls and headed out.

"Marcine..." Davin began, noticing her contemplative state, "Don't tell me 
you're thinking about trying to find the secret part of the library."

"But the answers might be right beneath our feet, Davin!" she replied.  "It's 
rather tempting..."

"Well, we'll just have to resist the temptation," Davin insisted.  "Come on.  
It's time we headed back to the inn."

Marcine didn't say anything as she got up and followed Davin out of the room.  
Hopefully, she'd have more answers tomorrow, one way or another.

*****

Author's Notes: 

First off, I'm sure Terence will want to add more details to this for the 
Glossary, but here's a brief outline to prevent confusion, since I seem to have 
written the chapter that spans the second longest(?) period of time:

Day 10: Davin, Marcine, Mika, and Syeria leave the mountains.  That night, they 
stop at a waystation on the road to Yahl Russa.

Day 11: Kyle and his Dragoon troops reach Tienne in the late afternoon.

Day 12: Davin, Marcine, Mika, and Syeria reach Yahl Russa around midday.


Due to events in real life, I wasn't able to give this chapter as much time as I 
thought it deserved.  However, I still think it's a solid effort, and not a bad 
chapter at all.  Just not exactly what I originally had in mind when I signed up 
for the queue.  But then again, how many times has that happened to most of us? 
^_^

Thanks go to Brian Stricklin, Lurker, Lawrence, and Terence for prereading.  
They did a great job on short notice (sorry, guys!)  Thanks also go to Terence 
for sending me an advance copy of #10 and the revised Glossary - sorry I didn't 
get a chance to take advantage of that.  And more thanks go to Brian for some 
amusing and fun ideas. ^_^

The Yahl Russa Library is based off of a place I've actually been to - the 
George Peabody Library in Baltimore.  It is *the* most impressive library I've 
ever seen, and I had a picture of it handy while I was writing the bits in it.  
The URL for the website is http://peabody-events.mse.jhu.edu/gallery.html if 
you're curious.

And now, I'm off to write Do-Gooders 57...aiyah.

Kate