Chapter Eighteen
(New to the story? Start at the beginning.)
Chapter EighteenPaine woke early the next morning and slipped out of the room, leaving Nooj alone for a few more minutes of rest. She was fairly certain that the two of them were fooling almost no one by now, that it was an open secret that they spent their nights together, but that was no reason not to continue practicing discretion. Kimahri was up as well, guarding the entry to the hallway; he greeted her with a silent nod as she passed. She nodded in return, then exited the corridor and, after accepting a drink from the girl at the counter, settled into a quiet corner of the Travel Agency's shop, watching small groups of Crusaders drift in to haggle with the Al Bhed employees over food, healing items, and weapons upgrades. After perhaps half an hour, Nooj appeared and made his way over to her.
"Is there breakfast?" he asked.
"The Al Bhed are selling some stuff that looks pretty good," Paine answered. "And it smells like someone is cooking outside if you'd rather--"
"Pardon me, sir." Footsteps approached from behind, and Paine and Nooj turned to see a tall, lean Al Bhed with a taut, tanned face and shoulder-length hair approaching them. "Are you by chance Captain Nooj?"
"Some have called me so," Nooj responded.
"Ah, good." The man sketched out a quick bow, then rose. "I am Rin, the owner of this establishment, and I believe I have two messages for you. First, I have been asked to pass along greetings from one of my people, your envoy Gippal. I expect I don't have to tell you that he is creating quite a stir among the Al Bhed. He says that all is in readiness and that you can expect the first boats to be ready off the coast of Bevelle in approximately one week's time."
Nooj nodded. "That is good news. And the other?"
"Well." Rin reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter. "I must admit, I am only assuming that this note is intended for you. It came yesterday, via runner from Bevelle. Note that it is addressed only to 'The Captain'; it seems likely that there are any number of Crusaders among your ranks who answer to that title."
"Correct," Nooj replied with a small frown. "And in fact, Captain is not my proper rank and hasn't been for some time. I suppose I could ask my officers, see if any of them are waiting for news--"
Paine, who had been peering around Nooj's shoulder, snaked her arm out and snatched the missive from Rin's grasp. "No," she said, voice taut with barely contained excitement. "Nooj, this is definitely for you." She handed it to the commander, who carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the single sheet of parchment it contained. After shifting so that only Paine could read over his shoulder, he started to scan its contents. Rin bowed again and slipped into the background, leaving the two alone with the message he had delivered.
"Best wishes from a friend in Bevelle," he muttered. "Do you know what this means?" He tapped the signature at the bottom of the letter with a steel fingertip.
"It's Al Bhed," Paine said. "Dra Hyjekydun." She looked up at Nooj, eyes wide. "It means 'The Navigator'." He met her gaze, and she knew they were remembering the same conversation on the journey back from Bikanel. She had thought she recognized the handwriting, but this reference clinched it. This letter could only be from Baralai.
"He's okay," she whispered under her breath, her drooping shoulders the only outward sign of her profound relief. "He made it there."
"So it would seem." Nooj went back to the letter. "This is probably in code. Come, we should find somewhere private to read it together. You know how his mind works better than I do, and I'd assume he's expecting you to help me decipher it." He turned back toward the private rooms and Paine followed, breathing more easily than she had in some time.
-X-
Returning to the inn after fetching his usual light breakfast, Auron immediately considered turning around and walking back out as he caught sight of a familiar face. But it was too late -- Rin had already caught his eye and was heading straight for him. Auron had managed to avoid the Al Bhed merchant at the Mi'ihen Travel Agency, but it seemed he was out of luck this time.
"Sir Auron!" he exclaimed, stopping in front of the guardian with a quick bow. "I had thought it was you on the Highroad the other day. Good to see you again."
"And you," Auron lied. Not that he had anything against Rin -- he had always respected the man and his business acumen. But he was one of two people who might easily guess at his unsent status, and unlike Kimahri, Auron did not trust the Al Bhed to keep his mouth shut. "I owe you my thanks."
Rin waved a hand. "Think nothing of it. I could not have left you there, wounded as you were."
"Regardless." Auron quickly changed the subject. "Have you any information regarding the Al Bhed? Will they join us?"
"Rumors have been widespread, as you might imagine." Rin smiled. "There has been some resistance to getting involved in full-scale war, but the opportunity to free ourselves from Yevon entirely has proven too tempting. I received official notice from your commander Nooj's representative, Gippal, that the Al Bhed ships will be off the coast of Bevelle by next week."
Auron nodded. "Good."
"I agree," said Rin, a slight twinkle in his eye. "War is always good for business. On that note, perhaps your people need some supplies? We have an excellent stock of restoratives and a fine selection of weapons. For a reasonable price, of course."
"Of course," Auron replied with a half smile. "I will check with Yuna and the rest of my party. Regarding the needs of the army as a whole, you should probably have that discussion with Nooj or one of his people. The next time I see him, I'll--"
"Uncle!" Paine appeared by his side, lightly tugging at his sleeve. "Sorry to interrupt, but Nooj needs to see you right away. We got a message from Bevelle and he wants to discuss it with you and some of the captains in private." She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, and he caught the implication: word had come from Baralai.
"Thank you. I'll be right there. Are you going to fetch the council?"
"Not everyone," said Paine, lowering her voice, "Nooj thinks that would look too suspicious. He asked for Beclem, since he was assigned to Bevelle most recently."
"Good thinking. We can have a full council later. Go, complete your errand."
Paine saluted, then ran out of the Travel Agency to track down her quarry as Auron turned back to Rin.
"My apologies," the guardian said. "I will check with Yuna regarding supplies later."
"I look forward to doing business with you." Rin bowed again, and Auron made his way back to the inn to find Nooj and plot the army's next step.
-X-
"Thank you for sharing that with me," Beclem said as he paced down the hallway at Nooj's side. They followed a short distance behind Auron and Paine, the group having split up to make their actions look less like the breaking of an important council. "Baralai's intelligence will be very helpful in planning our assault on Bevelle."
"Yes, it will be key. I hope you'll present your thoughts on that when we meet with the full council tonight." Nooj raised his voice as they reached the end of the hallway. "So it is agreed; you will be the one to deal with Rin regarding any supplies the army might purchase?"
A half-smile tugged at Beclem's mouth. "Of course, sir," he said. "I'll get on it right away." He saluted the commander and drifted over toward the counter where the merchant waited, while Nooj looked over to the opening door just as Lulu walked through it.
Nooj knew he would have to face Lulu again; they would need to work together until the defeat of Yevon and Sin. He was not anticipating the meeting and had been glad to see it delayed until now. Paine's enthusiastic embraces had reassured him as to the correctness of his actions toward the black mage, but he was still uncomfortable with the memory of his awkwardness. So it was with mixed feelings that he watched her walk across the main room. She looked just the same as she always did, groomed to perfection, her composure intact, moving with her usual grace. She spoke briefly to Auron, then accepted a tray of food from Kimahri who was making himself useful as he watched over Yuna's meal. When she chose a small table in the corner alone and began glancing at a news bulletin left by the previous occupant, he saw his opening and, bracing himself, decided to get it over with.
"Hrumpt!" He cleared his throat which had suddenly developed an obstruction. "May I join you?"
Lulu looked up, her scarlet eyes flaring for just an instant, belying the friendly smile on her lilac lips. "Of course, have you had your breakfast yet?" She cast an appraising look at him as he gingerly lowered himself into the chair opposite her. He was nervous. That was good. She had earned some entertainment at his expense.
"Yes, I rose early." For some reason, Nooj could not keep from blushing. He hastened to continue. "We have had news from Gippal. He has succeeding in recruiting a good number of Al Bhed to join us and will be here before too much longer. Maybe as soon as a week." When she just gazed at him with the patience one might show a small child trying to act important, he hesitated then forged onward. "I thought you ought to know this since you are a senior member of the leadership." He finished lamely.
The fire blazed from her eyes again. "Yes, as a senior member, I appreciate your concern. Was there anything else? Do any of the amulets need adjusting or recharging? I could take a look." Lulu raised an exquisitely shaped eyebrow.
"N-no. Just that. The amulets are fine."
"Good." She looked down at the news, dismissing him with a glance.
Nooj was acutely aware of Paine's presence not more than fifteen feet away. Had she noticed him make a fool of himself again? He clumsily pushed himself up from the chair and, taking a firm grip on his cane, headed for the door to the outside. The company of obedient chocobos and simple soldiers would be a relief.
Across the room, Paine smiled smugly to herself. So he had put the mage in her place. She wondered exactly what Aquelev had said to be so effective. She breathed a tiny sigh -- which Auron observed with some amusement -- and let her eyes dwell on her love as he hastily exited the Agency. She would have to find some way to express her pleasure with Aquelev. And some way to gently soothe Lulu. Victory did not have to be ungracious.
Auron brought the conversation with Paine to a close. He had observed the byplay with great interest and was curious to see how it would work itself out. With that in mind, he positioned himself near the counter where he could closely watch the table where Lulu sat while pretending to arrange some purchases with Rin -- who was also following the drama with fascination. It was one of the advantages of managing amenities in the wildernesses of Spira, this opportunity to have a front row seat at so many performances.
Thus, it was under the furtive oversight of more persons than she realized that Paine pulled out the chair Nooj had just vacated and dropped into it, leaning across the table, her chin resting on her folded hands.
"Lulu, have you heard the news?"
The mage, with a patient exhalation of breath, lowered her reading material and met Paine's eyes. Red gazed into red, each searching for some insight. "Are you talking about what Commander Charisma just told me about Gippal? Yes, I've heard that."
Paine kept a firm grip on her temper. Remember, she told herself. He's in your arms every night, not hers. "No. About Baralai. We got a coded message from him and he's still alive and seems to be all right. I knew you had spent some time with him and he always spoke of you with great affection so I thought you'd want to know." Being aware of the confidentiality of her team-mate's mission, she kept her voice low, directed only into the ears of the woman across the table. "Auron and I were just discussing it and I wanted to be sure you got the news."
For the first time that morning, Lulu relaxed and let a genuine smile stretch her lips. "Oh, Paine! I'm so relieved. I was worried about him, going off on his own. I know he's not the baby we think him but it's hard to imagine him in the middle of vicious thugs like some of the warrior monks and not be afraid he's overmatched. Thank you for telling me." She reached out impulsively and clasped the other woman's hands.
"I know exactly what you mean. I spent all that time in the desert with him and watched him fight a duel and kill more fiends than I did and I still keep seeing him as a kid brother. And I know what you mean about some of the Yevonite monks. Yeah!" Paine's voice flattened on the last words and she gripped Lulu's hands almost hard enough to hurt.
A palpable air of relief spread through the Travel Agency as the spectators saw the two women draw closer together, chattering easily with little bursts of laughter. The peace was preserved, to everyone's relief.
-X-
That evening, the army camped at the edge of the Thunder Plains and Nooj called his full council into a tent pitched specifically for the purpose of hosting a private conversation. His most trusted Crusader officers formed a circle on the ground, along with Kal and Auron. Paine had joined them as well, to present the information she had gleaned from Baralai's letter; that task finished, she sat quietly and listened in on the rest of the discussion.
"So do you think Baralai is ready?" Lucil was asking. "I believe his claim that he has garnered support, but it seems he is still in the early stages of organization. If we marched on Bevelle tomorrow, would he be able to make his move and join us?"
"He seems to indicate as much," Nooj answered. "And I trust his judgment."
"But it is not yet time to move on Bevelle." Auron's voice rose from the dark corner where he crouched. "Yuna must gain the Aeon at Macalania Temple first."
Beclem and Squab both turned around, apparently with the intent to argue the point, but immediately thought better of it and looked back to Nooj. "So, Commander, sounds like Macalania first," Squab said. "It might be just like Djose, with the warrior monks taking our--"
"They won't," Kal interrupted immediately, with a glance at Auron. "No chance. Not as a group, anyway. The commander there is one of Kinoc's closest allies. He won't surrender to us, not willingly." He scanned the group grimly. "Remember, we're approaching the heart of Yevon. You caught us by surprise at Djose, a little. It won't be nearly so easy at Macalania. Word of the army's coming will have preceded us by a week at least; the troops have had time to prepare, and the Maesters have had time to poison them against us. A few individuals may desert, and Baralai's group will be a big help, but in the end? No. We'll have to fight."
Auron caught Nooj's eye, and he saw the commander also realized the implications. "So," the younger man said slowly, "we will be going up against the forces of Yevon for the first time since Mushroom Rock Road. Make absolutely certain your troops are prepared for this reality. Especially you, Commander." He indicated Kal with a tilt of his head. "More so than the rest of us, your warrior monks will be fighting their former comrades. We must be certain that no one will have a change of heart at the last minute." Kal nodded in acknowledgement. "Macalania then. Recommendations?"
Squab spoke up first. "Well, sir, like I was going to say. Even if the warrior monks don't surrender, we can beat them easily, right? If it's just a garrison, we outnumber them ten to one, at least. We march the whole army there, we overpower them, we win. Easy."
"I'm not certain of that." Lucil shook her head. "We have the numbers, but getting them there may be difficult. The pathways that lead through Macalania Woods are narrow and winding. Marching an entire army through there would be dangerous, for us and for the forest."
"Who cares about the forest?" Squab asked impatiently.
"The people." Lucil's response was firm. "If we destroy Macalania Woods, the people of Spira will see us as uncaring invaders, which plays right into the lies Baralai says the Maesters are telling them. We must rise above those lies and show them to be false, with our actions as well as our words."
Nooj favored Lucil with a small nod. "Well said, Captain. And I agree." He cast a look at Squab. "The forest will be protected."
"Yessir," the other man muttered.
"It's not just that, though." Beclem sat up with a determined look. "Bevelle is mere hours away from here. If we send the entire army up to Macalania, we leave our rear flank open to attack. Bevelle may be content to sit behind their walls and wait, but can we count on that? We send the whole army up to the temple, we may find ourselves trapped on both sides."
"And we send only part of an army to Macalania, we might find them wiped out, and the Lady Yuna short an Aeon," Squab snapped, clearly irritated at having been shot down twice already. He and Beclem exchanged hostile glares, and the tension in the room rose a notch.
"You aren't wrong, Captain," said Nooj, interrupting the stare-down before it could progress farther. "Splitting up the army is a risk. But I believe it to be one worth taking." He stood up from his campstool and tapped his cane lightly on the ground. "We split the army into two groups. The larger will guard the entrance to Bevelle, blocking any flanking move they might make, and wait for the Al Bhed. Captain Lucil, you will be in command of this force."
"Yes sir!" Lucil saluted smartly. "Thank you, sir."
Nooj did not pause as he continued. "Three squadrons, handpicked, will continue on to Macalania. If Baralai's intelligence is correct, the bulk of the warrior monk forces are in Bevelle and a smaller, tougher group is holding Macalania. We want skill, not numbers. Squab, Beclem, and Kal will select this group, and I will lead it. Agreed?" The heads around the tent all nodded. "Good. Squab, Beclem, Lucil, begin preparations to split the army into these two parts. Commander Kal, if I may have a word?"
The three Crusader officers left together, already discussing their thoughts on who to bring on the sortie to Macalania, as Kal stood and approached Nooj. "Yes Commander, what did you need?"
"Your honest opinion on something," Nooj said as Auron rose, brushing the dirt off the backs of his legs. "Will the warrior monks be able to fight at Macalania? Or will there be a conflict of interest? Should we send them all with the Bevelle group?"
Kal shrugged. "If there's a conflict of interest, they'll feel it as much in Bevelle as they will in Macalania. Maybe more. Might as well find out who has a problem sooner--"
"Rather than later," Nooj agreed. "That was my thinking as well. In that case, please plan on bringing all of your warrior monks to Macalania -- they are among the warrior elite and we will need them all."
"Yes sir!" Kal saluted Nooj with a grin. He started to turn, and then looked back with a smile. "Really excellent plan all around, Commander. You know, I had my doubts at first, having a boy like you in charge, but Auron convinced me to give it a shot and I must say I'm really impressed."
It took all of Auron's self-control not to leap forward and wrap a hand around Kal's mouth in a vain attempt to force back the words. How could the warrior monk be so stupid? All the work Auron had done to gain Nooj's trust and build up his self-confidence, and Kal might have just undone everything with a single sentence.
Paine watched the blood drain from Nooj's face, leaving his features stark as though drawn on parchment. The tendons in his neck stood out as he swallowed painfully and tightened his lips until they almost disappeared into a thin straight line. He stood silently looking at Kal with a contemptuous, nearly murderous glare which should have shriveled the older man as he stood. Then, ignoring both Auron and Paine, he pushed past Kal and limped out of the tent, into the darkness.
Paine did not spare a glance for her uncle and her old friend from the Temple. She also ducked out of the tent and moved to follow the rigid back of the Crusader before he vanished from her sight. Red is the color to wear if one is determined to be unseen in the night. When she was sure she would not lose him, she fell back to think through her approach. She could tell by the set of his shoulders he was in no mood for gentle soothing or transparent explanations. Kal had said what he had said; there was no gainsaying it. Was there any way to convince Nooj the monk had not intended to sound condescending but was actually continuing an argument he was having with Auron? No. Probably not and that line might get her uncle smeared with the same brush. She walked silently at his heels, slowing her pace to fit his, hoping if he was aware of her he would sense the waves of support she was projecting as hard as she could.
-X-
After the commander had stormed out and the girl followed, Auron whirled around to glower at Kal. "That was a really idiotic thing to say," he snapped.
"What did I do?" The warrior monk looked at his friend, bewildered.
"Calling him a boy?" Kal took an involuntary step back as Auron leaned forward. "You know better than that! How would you have felt if someone had called you a boy when you were nineteen and ready to change the world?"
Kal raised an eyebrow. "I would have laughed at them and then admitted that they were probably right."
Auron silently damned his friend for always knowing how to make him laugh as he swallowed a chuckle. "All right then," he said, countenance stern, determined not to break the mood, "how would I have reacted?"
The confusion on Kal's face began to be replaced by understanding. "Oh." He leaned forward to peer out the tent flap, but Nooj and Paine were both long gone. With a grimace, he stepped out into the night. "Yeah, okay. You're right. Damn."
"Well. Done is done," Auron said as he followed. "We will just have to hope that he can get past it. We'd best stay away from him for the rest of the night. Give him a chance to cool off, let Paine calm him down. Perhaps we'll have a better idea of his state of mind in the morning."
Kal nodded, then sighed. "Sorry I was an idiot. I'll watch my mouth more closely next time."
"Good." If there is a next time. But Auron did not voice his darker concerns -- better for Kal not to know about that possibility. Instead, he silently turned toward the campfire where dinner waited.
-X-
That night, as they lay under a single coverlet, his attentions seemed somewhat perfunctory. She curled against him, stroking his face tenderly and whispered, "Is there something wrong?"
"No. I'm just tired. It's been a long day and we're getting closer to our goal. There's a lot on my mind."
"You aren't bothered by that silly thing Kal said, are you?" She attempted to draw his head down to its usual place on her breast, but he resisted and turned on his back, his forearm across his brow.
"Of course not. I had forgotten it until you mentioned it."
She could hear the false note in his voice but thought better of pursuing the subject. "Then go to sleep. I'll keep you warm."
He wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close against him. She kissed his smooth chest and spread her fingers so as to feel his heart beat. He smiled faintly at the gesture; he knew she did not rest easily unless she was soothed by that steady drum-beat of his life.
Long after her breathing had deepened into the rhythm of sleep, he lay awake replaying the scene with Kal in an endless loop. Each repetition increased his discomfort and his rage. How dare that obnoxious Yevonite condescend to him like that? He had fought Sin while that old bastard lolled in safety at Djose. He had seen more war in his life than the self-defined 'Warrior' monk had known in his excessively numerous years on the planet!
With an excruciatingly difficult exercise of will, Nooj made himself remain still lest he wake the woman in his embrace. He forced his own breathing to move in synchronization with hers until a degree of calmness gradually possessed him and he finally felt sleep approach. Then the scene began playing once more on the screen of his mind and it was all to do over again.
( Next chapter.)
Chapter EighteenPaine woke early the next morning and slipped out of the room, leaving Nooj alone for a few more minutes of rest. She was fairly certain that the two of them were fooling almost no one by now, that it was an open secret that they spent their nights together, but that was no reason not to continue practicing discretion. Kimahri was up as well, guarding the entry to the hallway; he greeted her with a silent nod as she passed. She nodded in return, then exited the corridor and, after accepting a drink from the girl at the counter, settled into a quiet corner of the Travel Agency's shop, watching small groups of Crusaders drift in to haggle with the Al Bhed employees over food, healing items, and weapons upgrades. After perhaps half an hour, Nooj appeared and made his way over to her.
"Is there breakfast?" he asked.
"The Al Bhed are selling some stuff that looks pretty good," Paine answered. "And it smells like someone is cooking outside if you'd rather--"
"Pardon me, sir." Footsteps approached from behind, and Paine and Nooj turned to see a tall, lean Al Bhed with a taut, tanned face and shoulder-length hair approaching them. "Are you by chance Captain Nooj?"
"Some have called me so," Nooj responded.
"Ah, good." The man sketched out a quick bow, then rose. "I am Rin, the owner of this establishment, and I believe I have two messages for you. First, I have been asked to pass along greetings from one of my people, your envoy Gippal. I expect I don't have to tell you that he is creating quite a stir among the Al Bhed. He says that all is in readiness and that you can expect the first boats to be ready off the coast of Bevelle in approximately one week's time."
Nooj nodded. "That is good news. And the other?"
"Well." Rin reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter. "I must admit, I am only assuming that this note is intended for you. It came yesterday, via runner from Bevelle. Note that it is addressed only to 'The Captain'; it seems likely that there are any number of Crusaders among your ranks who answer to that title."
"Correct," Nooj replied with a small frown. "And in fact, Captain is not my proper rank and hasn't been for some time. I suppose I could ask my officers, see if any of them are waiting for news--"
Paine, who had been peering around Nooj's shoulder, snaked her arm out and snatched the missive from Rin's grasp. "No," she said, voice taut with barely contained excitement. "Nooj, this is definitely for you." She handed it to the commander, who carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the single sheet of parchment it contained. After shifting so that only Paine could read over his shoulder, he started to scan its contents. Rin bowed again and slipped into the background, leaving the two alone with the message he had delivered.
"Best wishes from a friend in Bevelle," he muttered. "Do you know what this means?" He tapped the signature at the bottom of the letter with a steel fingertip.
"It's Al Bhed," Paine said. "Dra Hyjekydun." She looked up at Nooj, eyes wide. "It means 'The Navigator'." He met her gaze, and she knew they were remembering the same conversation on the journey back from Bikanel. She had thought she recognized the handwriting, but this reference clinched it. This letter could only be from Baralai.
"He's okay," she whispered under her breath, her drooping shoulders the only outward sign of her profound relief. "He made it there."
"So it would seem." Nooj went back to the letter. "This is probably in code. Come, we should find somewhere private to read it together. You know how his mind works better than I do, and I'd assume he's expecting you to help me decipher it." He turned back toward the private rooms and Paine followed, breathing more easily than she had in some time.
-X-
Returning to the inn after fetching his usual light breakfast, Auron immediately considered turning around and walking back out as he caught sight of a familiar face. But it was too late -- Rin had already caught his eye and was heading straight for him. Auron had managed to avoid the Al Bhed merchant at the Mi'ihen Travel Agency, but it seemed he was out of luck this time.
"Sir Auron!" he exclaimed, stopping in front of the guardian with a quick bow. "I had thought it was you on the Highroad the other day. Good to see you again."
"And you," Auron lied. Not that he had anything against Rin -- he had always respected the man and his business acumen. But he was one of two people who might easily guess at his unsent status, and unlike Kimahri, Auron did not trust the Al Bhed to keep his mouth shut. "I owe you my thanks."
Rin waved a hand. "Think nothing of it. I could not have left you there, wounded as you were."
"Regardless." Auron quickly changed the subject. "Have you any information regarding the Al Bhed? Will they join us?"
"Rumors have been widespread, as you might imagine." Rin smiled. "There has been some resistance to getting involved in full-scale war, but the opportunity to free ourselves from Yevon entirely has proven too tempting. I received official notice from your commander Nooj's representative, Gippal, that the Al Bhed ships will be off the coast of Bevelle by next week."
Auron nodded. "Good."
"I agree," said Rin, a slight twinkle in his eye. "War is always good for business. On that note, perhaps your people need some supplies? We have an excellent stock of restoratives and a fine selection of weapons. For a reasonable price, of course."
"Of course," Auron replied with a half smile. "I will check with Yuna and the rest of my party. Regarding the needs of the army as a whole, you should probably have that discussion with Nooj or one of his people. The next time I see him, I'll--"
"Uncle!" Paine appeared by his side, lightly tugging at his sleeve. "Sorry to interrupt, but Nooj needs to see you right away. We got a message from Bevelle and he wants to discuss it with you and some of the captains in private." She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, and he caught the implication: word had come from Baralai.
"Thank you. I'll be right there. Are you going to fetch the council?"
"Not everyone," said Paine, lowering her voice, "Nooj thinks that would look too suspicious. He asked for Beclem, since he was assigned to Bevelle most recently."
"Good thinking. We can have a full council later. Go, complete your errand."
Paine saluted, then ran out of the Travel Agency to track down her quarry as Auron turned back to Rin.
"My apologies," the guardian said. "I will check with Yuna regarding supplies later."
"I look forward to doing business with you." Rin bowed again, and Auron made his way back to the inn to find Nooj and plot the army's next step.
-X-
"Thank you for sharing that with me," Beclem said as he paced down the hallway at Nooj's side. They followed a short distance behind Auron and Paine, the group having split up to make their actions look less like the breaking of an important council. "Baralai's intelligence will be very helpful in planning our assault on Bevelle."
"Yes, it will be key. I hope you'll present your thoughts on that when we meet with the full council tonight." Nooj raised his voice as they reached the end of the hallway. "So it is agreed; you will be the one to deal with Rin regarding any supplies the army might purchase?"
A half-smile tugged at Beclem's mouth. "Of course, sir," he said. "I'll get on it right away." He saluted the commander and drifted over toward the counter where the merchant waited, while Nooj looked over to the opening door just as Lulu walked through it.
Nooj knew he would have to face Lulu again; they would need to work together until the defeat of Yevon and Sin. He was not anticipating the meeting and had been glad to see it delayed until now. Paine's enthusiastic embraces had reassured him as to the correctness of his actions toward the black mage, but he was still uncomfortable with the memory of his awkwardness. So it was with mixed feelings that he watched her walk across the main room. She looked just the same as she always did, groomed to perfection, her composure intact, moving with her usual grace. She spoke briefly to Auron, then accepted a tray of food from Kimahri who was making himself useful as he watched over Yuna's meal. When she chose a small table in the corner alone and began glancing at a news bulletin left by the previous occupant, he saw his opening and, bracing himself, decided to get it over with.
"Hrumpt!" He cleared his throat which had suddenly developed an obstruction. "May I join you?"
Lulu looked up, her scarlet eyes flaring for just an instant, belying the friendly smile on her lilac lips. "Of course, have you had your breakfast yet?" She cast an appraising look at him as he gingerly lowered himself into the chair opposite her. He was nervous. That was good. She had earned some entertainment at his expense.
"Yes, I rose early." For some reason, Nooj could not keep from blushing. He hastened to continue. "We have had news from Gippal. He has succeeding in recruiting a good number of Al Bhed to join us and will be here before too much longer. Maybe as soon as a week." When she just gazed at him with the patience one might show a small child trying to act important, he hesitated then forged onward. "I thought you ought to know this since you are a senior member of the leadership." He finished lamely.
The fire blazed from her eyes again. "Yes, as a senior member, I appreciate your concern. Was there anything else? Do any of the amulets need adjusting or recharging? I could take a look." Lulu raised an exquisitely shaped eyebrow.
"N-no. Just that. The amulets are fine."
"Good." She looked down at the news, dismissing him with a glance.
Nooj was acutely aware of Paine's presence not more than fifteen feet away. Had she noticed him make a fool of himself again? He clumsily pushed himself up from the chair and, taking a firm grip on his cane, headed for the door to the outside. The company of obedient chocobos and simple soldiers would be a relief.
Across the room, Paine smiled smugly to herself. So he had put the mage in her place. She wondered exactly what Aquelev had said to be so effective. She breathed a tiny sigh -- which Auron observed with some amusement -- and let her eyes dwell on her love as he hastily exited the Agency. She would have to find some way to express her pleasure with Aquelev. And some way to gently soothe Lulu. Victory did not have to be ungracious.
Auron brought the conversation with Paine to a close. He had observed the byplay with great interest and was curious to see how it would work itself out. With that in mind, he positioned himself near the counter where he could closely watch the table where Lulu sat while pretending to arrange some purchases with Rin -- who was also following the drama with fascination. It was one of the advantages of managing amenities in the wildernesses of Spira, this opportunity to have a front row seat at so many performances.
Thus, it was under the furtive oversight of more persons than she realized that Paine pulled out the chair Nooj had just vacated and dropped into it, leaning across the table, her chin resting on her folded hands.
"Lulu, have you heard the news?"
The mage, with a patient exhalation of breath, lowered her reading material and met Paine's eyes. Red gazed into red, each searching for some insight. "Are you talking about what Commander Charisma just told me about Gippal? Yes, I've heard that."
Paine kept a firm grip on her temper. Remember, she told herself. He's in your arms every night, not hers. "No. About Baralai. We got a coded message from him and he's still alive and seems to be all right. I knew you had spent some time with him and he always spoke of you with great affection so I thought you'd want to know." Being aware of the confidentiality of her team-mate's mission, she kept her voice low, directed only into the ears of the woman across the table. "Auron and I were just discussing it and I wanted to be sure you got the news."
For the first time that morning, Lulu relaxed and let a genuine smile stretch her lips. "Oh, Paine! I'm so relieved. I was worried about him, going off on his own. I know he's not the baby we think him but it's hard to imagine him in the middle of vicious thugs like some of the warrior monks and not be afraid he's overmatched. Thank you for telling me." She reached out impulsively and clasped the other woman's hands.
"I know exactly what you mean. I spent all that time in the desert with him and watched him fight a duel and kill more fiends than I did and I still keep seeing him as a kid brother. And I know what you mean about some of the Yevonite monks. Yeah!" Paine's voice flattened on the last words and she gripped Lulu's hands almost hard enough to hurt.
A palpable air of relief spread through the Travel Agency as the spectators saw the two women draw closer together, chattering easily with little bursts of laughter. The peace was preserved, to everyone's relief.
-X-
That evening, the army camped at the edge of the Thunder Plains and Nooj called his full council into a tent pitched specifically for the purpose of hosting a private conversation. His most trusted Crusader officers formed a circle on the ground, along with Kal and Auron. Paine had joined them as well, to present the information she had gleaned from Baralai's letter; that task finished, she sat quietly and listened in on the rest of the discussion.
"So do you think Baralai is ready?" Lucil was asking. "I believe his claim that he has garnered support, but it seems he is still in the early stages of organization. If we marched on Bevelle tomorrow, would he be able to make his move and join us?"
"He seems to indicate as much," Nooj answered. "And I trust his judgment."
"But it is not yet time to move on Bevelle." Auron's voice rose from the dark corner where he crouched. "Yuna must gain the Aeon at Macalania Temple first."
Beclem and Squab both turned around, apparently with the intent to argue the point, but immediately thought better of it and looked back to Nooj. "So, Commander, sounds like Macalania first," Squab said. "It might be just like Djose, with the warrior monks taking our--"
"They won't," Kal interrupted immediately, with a glance at Auron. "No chance. Not as a group, anyway. The commander there is one of Kinoc's closest allies. He won't surrender to us, not willingly." He scanned the group grimly. "Remember, we're approaching the heart of Yevon. You caught us by surprise at Djose, a little. It won't be nearly so easy at Macalania. Word of the army's coming will have preceded us by a week at least; the troops have had time to prepare, and the Maesters have had time to poison them against us. A few individuals may desert, and Baralai's group will be a big help, but in the end? No. We'll have to fight."
Auron caught Nooj's eye, and he saw the commander also realized the implications. "So," the younger man said slowly, "we will be going up against the forces of Yevon for the first time since Mushroom Rock Road. Make absolutely certain your troops are prepared for this reality. Especially you, Commander." He indicated Kal with a tilt of his head. "More so than the rest of us, your warrior monks will be fighting their former comrades. We must be certain that no one will have a change of heart at the last minute." Kal nodded in acknowledgement. "Macalania then. Recommendations?"
Squab spoke up first. "Well, sir, like I was going to say. Even if the warrior monks don't surrender, we can beat them easily, right? If it's just a garrison, we outnumber them ten to one, at least. We march the whole army there, we overpower them, we win. Easy."
"I'm not certain of that." Lucil shook her head. "We have the numbers, but getting them there may be difficult. The pathways that lead through Macalania Woods are narrow and winding. Marching an entire army through there would be dangerous, for us and for the forest."
"Who cares about the forest?" Squab asked impatiently.
"The people." Lucil's response was firm. "If we destroy Macalania Woods, the people of Spira will see us as uncaring invaders, which plays right into the lies Baralai says the Maesters are telling them. We must rise above those lies and show them to be false, with our actions as well as our words."
Nooj favored Lucil with a small nod. "Well said, Captain. And I agree." He cast a look at Squab. "The forest will be protected."
"Yessir," the other man muttered.
"It's not just that, though." Beclem sat up with a determined look. "Bevelle is mere hours away from here. If we send the entire army up to Macalania, we leave our rear flank open to attack. Bevelle may be content to sit behind their walls and wait, but can we count on that? We send the whole army up to the temple, we may find ourselves trapped on both sides."
"And we send only part of an army to Macalania, we might find them wiped out, and the Lady Yuna short an Aeon," Squab snapped, clearly irritated at having been shot down twice already. He and Beclem exchanged hostile glares, and the tension in the room rose a notch.
"You aren't wrong, Captain," said Nooj, interrupting the stare-down before it could progress farther. "Splitting up the army is a risk. But I believe it to be one worth taking." He stood up from his campstool and tapped his cane lightly on the ground. "We split the army into two groups. The larger will guard the entrance to Bevelle, blocking any flanking move they might make, and wait for the Al Bhed. Captain Lucil, you will be in command of this force."
"Yes sir!" Lucil saluted smartly. "Thank you, sir."
Nooj did not pause as he continued. "Three squadrons, handpicked, will continue on to Macalania. If Baralai's intelligence is correct, the bulk of the warrior monk forces are in Bevelle and a smaller, tougher group is holding Macalania. We want skill, not numbers. Squab, Beclem, and Kal will select this group, and I will lead it. Agreed?" The heads around the tent all nodded. "Good. Squab, Beclem, Lucil, begin preparations to split the army into these two parts. Commander Kal, if I may have a word?"
The three Crusader officers left together, already discussing their thoughts on who to bring on the sortie to Macalania, as Kal stood and approached Nooj. "Yes Commander, what did you need?"
"Your honest opinion on something," Nooj said as Auron rose, brushing the dirt off the backs of his legs. "Will the warrior monks be able to fight at Macalania? Or will there be a conflict of interest? Should we send them all with the Bevelle group?"
Kal shrugged. "If there's a conflict of interest, they'll feel it as much in Bevelle as they will in Macalania. Maybe more. Might as well find out who has a problem sooner--"
"Rather than later," Nooj agreed. "That was my thinking as well. In that case, please plan on bringing all of your warrior monks to Macalania -- they are among the warrior elite and we will need them all."
"Yes sir!" Kal saluted Nooj with a grin. He started to turn, and then looked back with a smile. "Really excellent plan all around, Commander. You know, I had my doubts at first, having a boy like you in charge, but Auron convinced me to give it a shot and I must say I'm really impressed."
It took all of Auron's self-control not to leap forward and wrap a hand around Kal's mouth in a vain attempt to force back the words. How could the warrior monk be so stupid? All the work Auron had done to gain Nooj's trust and build up his self-confidence, and Kal might have just undone everything with a single sentence.
Paine watched the blood drain from Nooj's face, leaving his features stark as though drawn on parchment. The tendons in his neck stood out as he swallowed painfully and tightened his lips until they almost disappeared into a thin straight line. He stood silently looking at Kal with a contemptuous, nearly murderous glare which should have shriveled the older man as he stood. Then, ignoring both Auron and Paine, he pushed past Kal and limped out of the tent, into the darkness.
Paine did not spare a glance for her uncle and her old friend from the Temple. She also ducked out of the tent and moved to follow the rigid back of the Crusader before he vanished from her sight. Red is the color to wear if one is determined to be unseen in the night. When she was sure she would not lose him, she fell back to think through her approach. She could tell by the set of his shoulders he was in no mood for gentle soothing or transparent explanations. Kal had said what he had said; there was no gainsaying it. Was there any way to convince Nooj the monk had not intended to sound condescending but was actually continuing an argument he was having with Auron? No. Probably not and that line might get her uncle smeared with the same brush. She walked silently at his heels, slowing her pace to fit his, hoping if he was aware of her he would sense the waves of support she was projecting as hard as she could.
-X-
After the commander had stormed out and the girl followed, Auron whirled around to glower at Kal. "That was a really idiotic thing to say," he snapped.
"What did I do?" The warrior monk looked at his friend, bewildered.
"Calling him a boy?" Kal took an involuntary step back as Auron leaned forward. "You know better than that! How would you have felt if someone had called you a boy when you were nineteen and ready to change the world?"
Kal raised an eyebrow. "I would have laughed at them and then admitted that they were probably right."
Auron silently damned his friend for always knowing how to make him laugh as he swallowed a chuckle. "All right then," he said, countenance stern, determined not to break the mood, "how would I have reacted?"
The confusion on Kal's face began to be replaced by understanding. "Oh." He leaned forward to peer out the tent flap, but Nooj and Paine were both long gone. With a grimace, he stepped out into the night. "Yeah, okay. You're right. Damn."
"Well. Done is done," Auron said as he followed. "We will just have to hope that he can get past it. We'd best stay away from him for the rest of the night. Give him a chance to cool off, let Paine calm him down. Perhaps we'll have a better idea of his state of mind in the morning."
Kal nodded, then sighed. "Sorry I was an idiot. I'll watch my mouth more closely next time."
"Good." If there is a next time. But Auron did not voice his darker concerns -- better for Kal not to know about that possibility. Instead, he silently turned toward the campfire where dinner waited.
-X-
That night, as they lay under a single coverlet, his attentions seemed somewhat perfunctory. She curled against him, stroking his face tenderly and whispered, "Is there something wrong?"
"No. I'm just tired. It's been a long day and we're getting closer to our goal. There's a lot on my mind."
"You aren't bothered by that silly thing Kal said, are you?" She attempted to draw his head down to its usual place on her breast, but he resisted and turned on his back, his forearm across his brow.
"Of course not. I had forgotten it until you mentioned it."
She could hear the false note in his voice but thought better of pursuing the subject. "Then go to sleep. I'll keep you warm."
He wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close against him. She kissed his smooth chest and spread her fingers so as to feel his heart beat. He smiled faintly at the gesture; he knew she did not rest easily unless she was soothed by that steady drum-beat of his life.
Long after her breathing had deepened into the rhythm of sleep, he lay awake replaying the scene with Kal in an endless loop. Each repetition increased his discomfort and his rage. How dare that obnoxious Yevonite condescend to him like that? He had fought Sin while that old bastard lolled in safety at Djose. He had seen more war in his life than the self-defined 'Warrior' monk had known in his excessively numerous years on the planet!
With an excruciatingly difficult exercise of will, Nooj made himself remain still lest he wake the woman in his embrace. He forced his own breathing to move in synchronization with hers until a degree of calmness gradually possessed him and he finally felt sleep approach. Then the scene began playing once more on the screen of his mind and it was all to do over again.
( Next chapter.)