Bacorium Legacy (20 page)

Idly, Luca wondered why he was afraid of that. Emila was a pretty girl - he should be amused that people would think the two of them together. But instead, the idea made him uncomfortable, and he wasn't quite sure why.

“You are needed,” Tranom said dryly. “Get ready and join us at the centre sanctum. The emissary from Sono has arrived and you were summoned. Don't tell anyone.”

“The - emissary?” Luca muttered, still rather tired. “I thought he would be here later in the week.”

“As did Master Allma. But she arrived earlier. This is better though, as we can get this business done without everyone in the temple knowing. This whole thing has caused enough trouble as it is.”

Indeed, Luca thought. “And you said I was summoned?”

Tranom nodded patiently. “Along with several others.”

Luca glanced over at the bed, where Emila was still fast asleep. “What about Emila? Should I bring her as well?”

“Your companion? Explain the situation to her if you wish, so long as she swears not to tell the others. I doubt she will be permitted to meet with the emissary, though.”

“I see.” Still, it would be best to tell her what was going on. If she woke, and Luca wasn't there, she could get the wrong idea and go out looking for him.

“I must get back now,” Tranom said. “I will tell the others that you are on your way.”

Luca nodded, and Tranom left, disappearing into the darkness. He closed the door, and went over to the bed. He placed his hand on Emila's shoulder and gently shook her awake.

“Hmmm? Lu- Luca?” She opened her eyes and looked up at him, confused in her grogginess.

“The emissary is here, and I've been summoned,” he told her. “I have to go to the centre sanctum.”

She sat up and stretched. “I'll get dressed, and we can go together.”

“Er...” Well, his plan was to just let her know where he would be. But he supposed there was no harm in her following him there.

A few minutes later, after she was finished dressing, Emila joined him outside the bedroom, and followed him to Allma's sanctum. The early morning air was cold, and there was still frost on the grass.

Emila was excited, it would seem. “What did Tranom say? Do you know why you were summoned?”

Luca shrugged. “Who can say? Tranom didn't say much, but we had heard before that I might be picked for whatever this is. Davik did what he did in the forest because he thought I would be chosen. It would seem he was right.”

“And you still don't know what the emissary is choosing you for?”

“I guess we'll find out soon. Oh, but Tranom said you probably won't be allowed to see the emissary. So I guess I'll just tell you when I return.”

Emila bit her lip, and she looked away from him. “So - what will we do if you're summoned to T'Saw?”

“I'm not sure.”

They had arrived at the centre sanctum. Tranom was there at the door, waiting with crossed arms. When he saw them draw near, he nodded and approached them.

“Everyone is waiting inside,” Tranom said. “If you'll excuse me, I have things I need to attend to. There have been reports of activity in the forests I must look into.”

“Of course,” Luca replied.

Tranom strode away and disappeared once more. Luca turned to Emila. Her eyes were on the ground, deep in thought.

“This is it, then,” he said. “I will come and find you as soon as this business is done with.”

Emila looked up at him, biting her lip and looking guilty for some reason.

“Hold on a moment,” she said. She stepped closer to him, and placed her hands on his chest.

Immediately, he thought of his dreams last night, and his heart began to race.

“W-what are you...?”

“Just a moment,” she said. Her hands glowed with the faint aura of magick. Her eyes widened in surprise. After a moment, the mana faded, and she stepped away.

“What is it?” he asked.

“We'll talk after you get back,” she said. “It's - well, I'm not sure. I'll have to take a second look, but it'll take too long. Please, don't keep the emissary waiting.” Try as she might to hide it, Luca could not help but notice the disappointment in her eyes.

His curiosity was aroused, but she was right. Whatever it was, it would have to wait.

“Very well,” Luca said as he started off. “I'll be back soon.”

Emila stood there outside, in the cold air, with a troubled look.

<> <> <>

Luca stepped inside the centre sanctum, the very place where he had spoken before with Allma and learnt about his father's past. Waiting for him in the antechamber were Allma, Dori, Brand, Rael, and a girl he had never seen before who wore glasses.

No emissary.

“The emissary is preparing in the other room,” Dori explained, leaning impatiently on his cane. “She's had a long journey, and she needs a few minutes to prepare herself. That's what she said, anyway.”

“She?” Luca asked.

“We weren't sure who the emissary would be until they arrived,” Dori told him. “We now know that it is Princess Selphie, daughter of Zaow, and second in line to the throne of Sono.”

Luca's eyes widened. He looked around the room at the others, finding himself hoping that it was a strange joke that Dori was telling him. There was no humour in their eyes. He sighed, suddenly feeling tired and uneasy. Meeting with a member of the royal family was the last thing he wanted to do, especially so early in the morning.

“She's the second child of the king, after her brother Trist,” Brand offered. “Members of the royal family who are not being prepared for the throne are often made emissaries in Sono.”

“It still seems odd, to send a princess for this,” Luca said.

“She has guards,” Dori said. “Five of them, in fact. And this is Allma Temple, one of the most secure places in Torachi. But you're right, it is a bit unusual. Zaow must be serious about this, to have sent his own daughter.”

“And for what purpose?”

Silence fell over the room. Brand and the others didn't seem to have an answer for that. Dori paced the room slowly, leaning on his cane, and taking the occasional swig from one of his flasks.

“We'll know as soon as she emerges,” Allma the third muttered quietly.

Luca turned to the aged leader of the temple. He stood in the corner, his large arms crossed. His bearded face was frowned in consternation.

The girl with the glasses approached Luca and offered her hand. “My name is Wiosna.”

“I'm Luca,” he said, shaking her hand. “Son of-”

“Lodin. Yes, I know. I think everyone here does.”

The glasses she wore did nothing to blemish her looks. She stood nearly a hand shorter than Luca, with blond hair and a cute, round face. She reminded him a bit of Arlea.

“Whatever it is they have us here for, I think it's safe to say that we'll be working together for a while,” Wiosna said, smiling flirtatiously. “I look forward to it.”

The sound of Dori's cane hitting the floor as he paced made the bespectacled girl flinch. She glanced over at the old man, her eyes passing over the flask he carried, and she grimaced.

“You all right?” Luca asked her.

“Yes, I'm fine,” she reassured him, brushing a stray strand out of her eyes. She really did look like Arlea, Luca thought. He tried to put that out of his mind as she continued to speak to him.

They made casual conversation while they waited. Wiosna spoke excitedly, full of life and enthusiasm. Whenever Luca would mention something she had knowledge of, she would brighten up and name some book she had read. Eventually, Brand joined them, and the three of them talked while Allma stood in the corner, Rael sat near him, and Dori paced back and forth.

Roughly ten minutes passed while they waited for the princess to make an appearance.

“She is certainly taking her time,” Allma muttered to himself. “Were this anyone but a member of the Sonoian royal family, I would take this as an insult.”

“Be patient, old man,” Dori told him. “She's a princess. She's used to people waiting on her. This goes without saying, but we must be respectful to her.”

“Of course,” Allma growled. “I think you're the last person to inform me of respect, Dori. Remember your place.”

Dori stared at him for a moment, and the air was suddenly charged with tension. The conversation between Luca and the students died down as they watched, half-expecting Dori to attack the master of the temple with the look on his face.

But he did not. Instead, the ragged old man started to chuckle. “Old friend, all these years later, and you're no different.”

Allma cracked a slight smile.

The door of the waiting room opened then, and six more people entered the chamber. They were not wearing the armour of Sono, as Luca had expected them to be, but were garbed in plain travel clothes. In the rear walked five guards, each carrying a spear - with the exception of one in the front, who carried a large halberd that stood a head above the others.

At the front was a young woman, not much older than Luca himself, with braided golden hair. She did not look like a princess. She wore similar clothes to her guards, which included a brown travel cloak, leather armour, and what appeared to be chain mail underneath. No weapons were visible on her, but Luca could see a belt on her waist.

Still, she bowed to them with respect and poise that only someone born in the upper class could.

“Greetings, everyone,” she said. “I am Selphie, daughter of Zaow, king of Sono. I pray you will forgive our humble dress, for we have been travelling for several weeks under rather harsh conditions. I had hoped to get here quickly, you see.”

“You succeeded,” Allma said, moving from the corner and bowing to the princess. His previous hostility was gone. “You arrived several days before we expected, in fact.”

“I see,” Selphie said, her eyes showing only a bit of surprise. “I trust our arrival has not inconvenienced you too greatly?”

“Not at all,” Allma said.

“Very good,” she said. Her eyes looked over the room, lingering on Brand, Wiosna, and Luca. “I trust these are the three students I requested?”

“They are.”

“Who would the other boy be?”

“That would be my squire, Rael.”

“Ah, I see,” Selphie said. “Well, right to the point, then. With your compliance and theirs, I would take them with me back to T'Saw to meet with my father.”

“For what purpose?” Allma asked.

“Ah,” Selphie said, frowning. “I'm very sorry, but my father instructed me to speak only with them on the subject. It is rather sensitive information, you see. You will be paid well for their services, of course, make no mistake. My father has not forgotten the debts he owes you, and he does not wish you disrespect.”

Allma's eyes betrayed his thoughts. Clearly he was less than happy with being excluded. He looked over at Brand for the briefest of moments, who returned his stare.

“Very well,” Allma said. “Dori, my squire, and I shall take our leave. You and your men are welcome to make use of the temple's facilities for as long as your stay need be.”

“It will only be for the day,” Selphie said. “Possibly sooner. At the very latest, we will leave at this time tomorrow.”

“Very well,” Allma said. “Then good luck, your highness.”

Allma bowed once more, as did Dori and Rael. As they left, Dori met Luca's gaze and he winked.

Selphie dismissed her guards, save for the one who carried the halberd. The other four went into the other room and closed the door behind them.

Brand, Wiosna, and Luca remained with Selphie and the guard with the halberd.

The princess smiled, and she said to them: “Well, I'm sure you three are wondering what it is that King Zaow wants of you, yes?”

“It's been the subject of many rumours among the students, your highness,” Brand said.

“It has?” Selphie said, tilting her head to the side and frowning. “My father sent a letter to Master Allma, with the instructions to keep it a secret that I was on my way. How did you all come to know about it?”

“Nobody knows for sure, but it's likely that someone close to Allma leaked the information,” Brand told her.

Or perhaps just Allma himself, Luca thought.

“Well, it matters not,” Selphie said. “Essentially, my father is putting together a group to send into Acaria to meet with Zinoro.”

Luca blinked.

“Meet with Zinoro?” Wiosna repeated. “But he's...”

“Dangerous,” Brand said. “Very, very dangerous.”

“Indeed, the Acarians have been a growing threat for the past few months,” Selphie told them. “His men have carried out several raids on villages near the border of our kingdom, and their military grows in number by the day. My father is a man who values peace, and avoiding a war is his top priority. But Zinoro has expressed no interest in resolving these disputes peacefully. Several messengers have already been sent to him, and not one has returned.”

“Then how would sending us be any different?” Brand asked.

“This team will be more than a mere messenger,” Selphie explained. “The three of you have all been chosen for specific reasons.”

She turned to each of them as she spoke. “Brand, you have been picked due to your skill in combat and planning, as well as your experience in secretive and clandestine missions. Wiosna, you were chosen due to your extensive knowledge in history, especially that of Acaria, and for your use of the rare mind-form mana.”

She stopped before him, and said, “And Luca, son of Lodin - your family has a very personal history with Zinoro's. It may be possible for us to use that to our advantage.” For the first time since her arrival, the princess seemed unsure.

Luca opened his mouth to say something, but Brand spoke before he had the chance.

“You keep saying 'we', your highness. Are you going to be part of this mission?”

Selphie nodded. “Naturally. I am the emissary of Sono, so if anyone has a chance of opening up friendly relations with them, it would be me.”

“I've met Zinoro,” Luca said. “I don't think he has any intention of opening up friendly relations with anyone.”

Selphie's eyes grew serious, and she drew close to them. “In the case of negotiations failing, there remains only one alternative to war. As the leader of the Acarian nation, Zinoro would need to be eliminated. What my father needs is a team that not only is diplomatically capable, but can handle Zinoro in combat should negotiations fail, as they likely will.”