The guard at the front door of Figaro Castle peered into the sandy air.
His eyes widened. Even though the people were still some distance off,
there was no mistaking the colors of that robe!
Deserting his post, he rushed into the throne room, where Edgar, amazingly
fully clothed, was speaking to Terra. The king broke off as the guard
rushed up. "Your Majesty! Someone from the Empire to see you! It's
General Kefka!"
Edgar frowned and nodded at the man, who hurried to resume his post.
Terra looked at him questioningly. "Kefka's one of the three top generals
of the Empire," he said in answer to her glance. "He, ah, is also partly
in charge of Espers and, ah....well, it's somewhat hard to explain right
now. If you'll excuse me, I must go meet with him. They may be looking
for Locke -- his thievery is well-known to them -- but I'll bet he's
looking for *you.* But don't worry. Just stay here. I won't let him get
you."
He walked rapidly out of the throne room.
Just outside, Kefka was walking up the steps. "Sir Kefka!" the guard
exclaimed. "What are you..."
"Stand aside!" the general snarled, pushing the man roughly and opening
the double doors without waiting for any help. Beavis and Butthead rushed
after him. They came out into the open hallway and stopped short as they
saw the king walking down to meet them.
Edgar bowed slightly. "What brings Kefka, humble servant of Gestahl, to
our domain?" he asked.
The general raised his brows ever so slightly. From prior reports, Edgar
apparently enjoyed shocking the Imperial ambassadors by appearing
completely naked before them. Kefka had been rather eager to see if this
were true, and he was immensely disappointed to find the young king with
clothes on.
He straightened up. "A girl of no importance recently escaped with us.
We heard she found refuge here. If she is here, I would appreciate you
handing her over so she may be subject to trial and sentencing."
Edgar nodded slowly. "This wouldn't have anything to do with this 'witch'
that everyone's whispering about, would it?" he said with a slight
smile.
"Lies!" the general screeched. "She...merely stole something of minor
value!" He calmed down a bit. "Well? Is she here?"
The king rubbed his chin with his hand, as if deep in thought. "Well,
now, that's a tough one! You see, there are more girls here than grains
of sand in the desert! I can't possibly keep track of them all!" And he
smiled, a superior smile of contempt and sad disbelief that Kefka could
even *think* such a thing!
But Kefka wasn't fooled. He narrowed his eyes at Edgar's impertinence.
He walked slowly, menacingly, up to Edgar until he was right in front of
him. The king didn't flinch. "I'd hate to be you if we find out you're
lying," he said in a low voice. Kefka's hand moved slowly to his belt,
then changed his mind. With a greedy smile, the general reached down and
stroked the hard bulge in Edgar's trousers.
The king sucked in his breath, his eyes darkening with a passionate anger.
Kefka had a lustful snarl on his face as he squeezed. His long
fingernails dug into the cloth, stabbing Edgar's penis. "You like that,
don't you? You'd like for me to strap you down and have some fun with the
technology *you* designed, eh?" He snickered as the blood filled his own
cock.
"You...bastard..." he muttered through clenched teeth. He stood there
almost helplessly, allowing himself to be fondled, willing himself to keep
from getting aroused. When Kefka let up the pressure, Edgar quickly
stepped away and turned his back to the general. "You've concluded your
business. Now get out!"
"Tut, tut! Is *that* any way to treat an Imperial ambassador...and a
general at that?" Kefka laughed loudly, then swiveled around to leave.
"Mark my words, Edgar...cross me, and you'll be sorry...I truly hope
nothing happens to your precious Figaro!" He stalked away, the Imperial
guards following after him.
Edgar pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He
couldn't let Kefka see that he'd gotten to him...that he'd actually
started to get aroused. He shuddered slightly. Gods, to think of that
man getting his hands on Terra...There was no telling what he might
do!
Locke was waiting just outside the doors to the main hallway. "I'd say
that guy's got a few screws loose," he murmured, nodding at Kefka's
retreat.
The king nodded unhappily. Locke looked curiously at his friend,
wondering why his face was so flushed. He guessed Kefka had made some
threat when they had their heads together. "What's wrong?" he
asked.
Edgar just shook his head. "Where's Terra?"
The other man opened the doors and scanned the area for the woman, who was
just coming down from her vantage point upon a tower. She felt vaguely
uncomfortable when she'd seen Kefka, even from a distance, and she'd been
strangely restless all throughout the brief meeting. Her body had
reacted, sending a hot wave through her that she could still feel burning
in her cheeks.
Locke noticed her complexion as well; it was similar to Edgar's. He
wondered what was going on with them. But there was no time for questions.
"Take her to her room," Edgar told Locke as the woman walked up. "I have
a feeling we should be prepared for anything."
"Is it that bad?"
The king nodded. "Kefka's been thwarted from getting Terra, for now. And
believe me, you don't want to cross him when he's like that."
"What did he say to you?"
It was an idle question, but Locke was surprised at the response. Edgar
flushed again and turned away quickly. "Threats, mostly," he said in an
offhand voice that confused Locke. The king had been dead serious just
moments before, and now he seemed utterly nonchalant!
"Anyway," Edgar continued, now addressing Terra, "the Chancellor and I
must plan our strategy. Sometimes," he bowed with a flourish, "I hate
being king! If you'll excuse me." He swept past her into the throne
room.
Locke touched her arm. "Follow me."
The two wound their way through the castle, across a sandy courtyard and
up the right tower. Locke opened the bedroom door, and she stepped in.
"Here's your room!" he exclaimed unnecessarily. He knew it was stupid the
moment he said it, but there was an inner uneasiness he was trying to
mask. He watched her as she looked around, then slowly sat on the
bed.
The unhappy look on her face when she turned to him shook his heart. At
that moment, reflecting the torches that burned in the evening light,
Terra had the expressive, liquid eyes of Rachel. He caught his breath, a
sudden flame leaping within him.
"Don't you worry about a thing," he said gently. "I'll be here for you,
when you need me." But in his tone had slipped unconsciously the husky
note of a man in desperate need. His words were conventional, an excuse.
What he'd really meant was that *he* needed *her*...
Still, he wouldn't force her. He took a step closer, but she didn't seem
to sense his growing tension. Terra just asked quietly, "Edgar said you
were a thief. Is that true?"
Locke's brows shot up for a second in surprise. The word "thief" always
rankled him. "Hey, that's TREASURE HUNTER!" he corrected, his brief but
powerful desire suddenly swept away.
The woman shook her head with a smile. Then she sobered. "I don't
understand what's going on. Why are we here? Why is a king helping
us...helping me?"
Locke frowned slightly, wondering how much he should tell her. "On the
face of it, Edgar pretends to support the Empire," he said, picking his
words carefully. "In truth, he's collaborating with a rebel group called
the Returners, who are opposed to the Empire. I am his contact with that
group."
"The Empire?" She frowned, a vague memory flitting across her mind. "But
I'm a soldier of the Empire!"
"That's not true! They were using you!" He knelt in front of her. "They
used a Slave Crown to keep you bound to them. You weren't responsible for
your actions." As he said it, he could feel the taste of irony in his
mouth. He, who had for so long believed this woman to be a monster, was
now reassuring her that she wasn't.
"So how exactly do I come in? Why is everyone after me? And...what should
I do?"
"Those are difficult questions. All I can say is to follow your instinct,"
he said gently. She looked at him, and again his heart leaped. Locke stood
up as he felt the emotion start to overwhelm him. "But for now, get a good
night's rest. We'll have a lot to do tomorrow...I have a feeling we won't
be hanging around much longer now that Kefka suspects you're
here."
Her face fell. She would rather stay in a town after being so long in the
wilderness, but she knew it was for her own safety. "Oh...all
right."
"Good night, Terra." He smiled and left.
Terra lay down slowly. She tried to think, but soon realized there wasn't
much use. After all the traveling, she had only more questions that no one
would answer. And in the back of her mind was the most disturbing one:
Who...or what...am I?
With her mind a confused jumble, she finally fell asleep.