Phidoch Castle
[In the keep of the Dark Knights, Balxephon is in the midst of chastising his own men for the attack on Rhime.]
BALXEPHON: What am I to do with you, Barbas? Hmm? One cannot deny your insubordination. To act without leave of the high champion is strictly forbidden, whatever the circumstance. Time and again you were ordered to return, and each time you've ignored your orders! Only now do you deign to grace these halls. I am galled.
MARTYM: Galling, yes, the obstinate lout. Go on, beg forgiveness.
BALXEPHON: You talk too much, Martym. And I have an ill temper.
BARBAS: What was I to do? Deny the regent? Impossible.
BALXEPHON: We do not answer to Brantyn! Speak true. You learned that the Xenobian Knights were Rhime and sought to do battle. Is it not so?
BARBAS: And what if it is? The Walister and Galgastani will hack each other into the ground. What more could we want for? You see fortune and call it calamity, Balxephon.
[Balxephon rises from his seat as the Dark Knight Lanselot enters, escorted by two others.]
LANSELOT: Enough, Balxephon. What's done is done.
BALXEPHON: Welcome back, Lord Commander. I see Ozma and Oz accompany you.
[Balxephon offers his seat to Lanselot.]
LANSELOT: What word of the Walister?
BALXEPHON: We've received word that they rally on the Psonji Weald.
LANSELOT: They think to bring the fight to Almorica in the duke's absence. Good. Send a messenger to Volaq. Tell him to double their watch to ensure the Bakram - rather, the regent does not move without permission.
BALXEPHON: As you command, sir.
LANSELOT: Barbas, I'm sending you to Heim.
BARBAS: But Heim is leagues from the front!
LANSELOT: Steady, Barbas. I do not intend for you to serve as castellan for the regent, if that is your fear. The Liberation Front has freed Abuna Prancet from Heim Castle.
BALXEPHON: What!?
LANSELOT: Those partisan rebels might well catch wind of our true task. Mannaflora's whereabouts elude us, and now the Abuna, the only man who might know, has gone missing as well. Barbas, I task you with a mission of utmost import. Recapture Abuna Prancet, whatever the cost.
BARBAS: Yes, lord commander.
[Barbas stands to salute as Lanselot turns to the other two Dark Knights, Oz and Ozma.]
LANSELOT: The two of you are to deal with the Liberation Front. Too long have we suffered them to move unchecked.
OZMA: On the honor of house Glacius, my brother and I will see it so.
OZ: Common rabble. They'll be little trouble.
[Lanselot nods and turns to Balxephon.]
LANSELOT: Andoras's search for Mannaflora is to continue. You and Martym will keep a close eye on the Walister and Galgastani for us.
BALXEPHON: As my lord wishes, so shall it be.
[The Dark Knights, missions handed to them, depart.]
Almorica Castle
[Denam, Catiua and Vyce stand in the halls of Almorica.]
VYCE: We'll go on ahead. You finish up here.
DENAM: Vyce.... Can you forgive me?
VYCE: There's no forgiving what you've done. You were the duke's hand in the massacre. There are no words for one so low.
DENAM: ...
VYCE: But a man can repent. You did what you thought best. If I were a greater fool, I might have done the same. End this war, Denam. You owe the people of Balmamusa that much. Let that be your atonement.
CATIUA: You...you have no right!
DENAM: No, sister. He has every right.
VYCE: Farewell, Denam.
DENAM: And you, Vyce.
VYCE: Someday the gods may forgive you. But I haven't.
[He leaves as Denam makes preparations for his departure as well.]
CATIUA: Denam, wait.
DENAM: What, Catiua?
CATIUA: Do not tell me you intend to cross the Brigania Flats!
DENAM: This again? The pieces are already in motion, sister. If we do not move, then Vyce makes for his own doom in Psonji.
[Denam recalls the earlier meeting with his sister and Vyce. A group of New Walister also join.]
CATIUA: You would match his folly with your own? The enemy has twice our number!
PEYTON: What would you counsel us to do then? Wait here, polishing our armor!?
BEYLEVRA: Enough of that, Peyton. The Resistance is clearly unmanned.
PEYTON: I see. First, they lose their duke, and now they can't find their spines! Ha!
[The two chuckle.]
VYCE: Stop it, both of you. What point in arguing amongst ourselves? The Resistance, the Alliance...these are old names without meaning. We are the order of Goldscale now.
APSARA: It's as Vyce says. If you wish to argue, you're free to leave!
VYCE: The forces massed at Psonji are nearly the Galgastani army entire. Our scouts report that even the garrison from Coritanae has taken the field. Do you understand? The opportunity presents itself to strike at the hierophant directly. If another means to victory exists, I do not know it.
DENAM: All well and good if we can reach Coritanae, but how do we do that?
VYCE: There is only one approach to Coritanae that will not alert them to our intent. We must advance from behind the keep, from the Brigania Flats.
CATIUA: Impossible! The Brigania Flats are a frozen wasteland, covered in snow and ice the year through. For every step forward, we would slide back two!
VYCE: And yet, there is no other way. Think on it: The heirophant would never expect attack from the flats. And Brigantys Castle stands alone in that waste. We could hardly ask for a better fortified waypoint.
DENAM: The idea isn't entirely without merit...
VYCE: I've no doubt you're up to the task, Denam.
PEYTON: You'd better be. Or we'll be sitting decoy for naught!
BEYLEVRA: Let us pray to the Father that the cold does not wither your courage, hero! Ah ha ha!
[They chuckle again.]
[Denam turns to Catiua.]
DENAM: Flee? Now? Don't be ridiculous!
CATIUA: I knew it. You're going to leave me.
DENAM: It's always about you, isn't it? Well I've had enough! If you want to go back to Golyat, go! I'll not stop you.
CATIUA: I've always been terrified of being alone...
DENAM: Avenging our father - is that not why you fight?
CATIUA: Why should I care to avenge him? He is no true father to us.
DENAM: What?
CATIUA: I mean we are orphans, brother. He is not our father. Not by blood, at any rate.
DENAM: No.... Who told you this? It's a lie! It must be!
CATIUA: It is no lie. I overheard him talking about it once, long ago. In all the world, you're the only family I have.
DENAM: Why tell me this only now?
CATIUA: Because you're leaving me.
DENAM: Leaving you? Scarce a moment goes by we are not at each other's side! And so it shall remain. I will never leave you.
CATIUA: There is the lie! You have chosen your war over your sister! How long until you cast me aside? Until you forget me altogether?
DENAM: Never, sister.
CATIUA: I'm alone without you...
[She turns and walks away.]
DENAM: Catiua!
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