A lamp on the wall sconce flickered in the breeze of a half-opened window. The wind caressed Talasin's skin, drawing him out of unconsciousness.
His eyes blinked open and shadows danced across the room. He reached for his sword and felt nothing but bare skin and soft linen. He was naked and his body was covered in bandages.
His memories came flooding back. A skinwalker disguised as Raithen, standing over Garnet’s bed with a sword in his hand.
Talasin didn't know if he had reached her in time or not. If he hadn't, she would be dead now. And then there were the demons… He had to warn the Order. He had to tell them about K'rith Vatali's destruction.
He tried to roll out of bed, but his head ached like someone had hammered on his skull all night long. He groaned and clutched his temples.
A door opened, and a woman stepped inside, wearing a white hooded robe that hung loosely on her slender frame.
She threw back her hood, revealing red hair that framed her face and fell past her shoulders. At that moment, to Talasin, she was the most beautiful sight in the world.
“Garnet?” his voice came out in croak. “You're alive.”
She smiled, her green eyes twinkling. "You're finally awake." She walked to his bed and leaned over to kiss his forehead.
"What was that for?" he stammered.
She laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. "I owe you my life," she said quietly.
"You make it sound like a bad thing," he said as he sat up slowly. It took effort and his head still throbbed, but he forced himself upright.
Garnet pulled a chair over and sat down next to him. "Time will tell," she said with a smile.
He started to laugh, but the twinges from his ribs stopped him short
"How are you feeling?" she asked. "You had me worried there for a second."
He touched one of his many bandages and winced, "I feel like I could sleep for the rest of my life and still be tired."
Garnet's eyes lit up in a smile, and she said, "If you have the energy to be dramatic, then you are feeling better."
He looked around the room. It was unfamiliar, with rows of empty beds and plain gray stone walls. There was only one window, high above the bed. The only other light came from the lantern in a small niche halfway up the wall.
"Where are we?" he asked.
Garnet shrugged and said, "We’re at the Cathedral of the Second Order. They don't have any healers here, but luckily for you, I know a thing or two about medicine."
The Second Order was also known as the Order of Mercy, they were mostly made up of monks and nuns that spent their days helping the poor and running the local temples.
Talasin frowned at her. "So you bandaged my wounds?"
She nodded. "That and more. You've got a few broken ribs, torn muscles in your shoulder, and suffered a mild concussion."
His face turned red as he realized that she had seen him naked and in the most vulnerable position. He tried to hide his embarrassment by asking another question. "Has the Archon been informed about the demon attack on K'rith Vatali?"
"Yes, a delegation of high ranking Order have just left, heading to Astraeus. From there they will inform the other Orders and the four kingdoms."
Talasin closed his eyes and sighed in relief. "We did it," he said with a smile. "I can finally rest."
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The cathedral bell tolled in the stillness of the night, waking Talasin up from fitful dreams.
The wind howled outside, like a monster trying to claw its way into the cathedral. Talasin was just thinking that the windows would rattle out of their frames when he heard heavy footsteps walking back and forth outside his window.
"Come out and play, Order scum," a voice called from outside.
Talasin rose, "Who the hell are you!" he yelled.
The being laughed in response, the sound so deep and powerful that it cause the foundations of the building to tremble.
The church bell continued to toll, the sound rolling through the cathedral and vibrating through his body.
Talasin heard footsteps outside his door, he looked around for a weapon, but there was only a jug of water and a scroll of holy writ beside his bed.
He clutched the jug and waited.
The door burst open and a short man, with a bald pate and sharp features, entered the room. Garnet and two guardsmen followed close behind. They all looked alert and afraid.
Talasin recognized Archon Uriz Dominus immediately. He’d seen paintings of the man hanging in the cathedral of the Fifth Order.
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The bald Archon, dressed in plain gray robes with the sigil of the Second Order emblazoned on its front, locked eyes with Talasin. "We’re under attack," he said, his voice surprisingly calm.
"What?" Talasin stammered. "But how, demons can't enter here?"
“No time for that,” said the Archon. “Our delegation was met on the road by a host of demons.” He shook his head in disgust. “Their bodies were found an hour ago. We are gathering the villages inside the cathedral, but…”
"What is it?" Talasin asked.
"There are Sethi warriors with them," said Garnet. “The temple’s magic won't keep them out.”
"We have a horse waiting for you by the North gate," interrupted the Archon. "You will leave as soon as you are dressed."
"Yes, sir," Talasin stammered. He realized he was still holding the clay jug, and he put it down on the bedside table and got out of bed.
"What are your Orders, Archon?"
"Wait!" shouted Garnet. "He’s wounded and there are demons surrounding this building, you can't send him out there."
"Don't, Garnet," said Talasin. "I am Fifth Order, this is my duty."
Garnet pushed Talasin back into bed, and he fell back, wincing. "You can't even dress yourself," she said. "You’ll die before you even reach the village gates."
"At least, I'll die doing my job," Talasin interjected.
"You are a fool, Talasin Ward," Garnet said, “After all we’ve been through, you’d just throw your life away?”
"Enough!" said the Archon. "Get dressed, it is time to leave." He turned to face Garnet, "If you lady Tarklos have so little faith in the man that saved your life, then you are welcome to join him."
Garnet glared at the old man and then looked down at Talasin who was feebly trying to do up the buttons on his coat.
"I will," she said fiercely.
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The church bell continued to ring out as Talasin and Garnet, wearing black robes and carrying silver swords and daggers, pushed through the thronging crowds that were huddled within the halls of the cathedral.
They made their way to the eastern wing of the building, through the kitchen and then down a long flight of marble stairs that led into the larder.
The air grew colder the further they traveled, and far above them, they could hear the sounds of men fighting.
"The Sethi are attacking," Garnet said in a low voice.
Talasin nodded and looked back up the staircase. "We should be helping," he growled. "Not fleeing like cowards."
"I might not agree with the Archon’s methods,” said Garnet, “But I agree that our work is more important than this single battle.”
She raised her oil lamp and cast light into the larder.
Cured meats hung from hooks and shelves, and there were sacks of flour and barrels of fresh water. There were also pickles and jars full of olives, peaches and apricots.
"This place is huge," said Talasin.
He looked about at the vast room and spotted a garland of white leaves hanging on the far side of the larder. He crossed the room and pulled a leaf off the plant, crushed it in his hand and smelt it.
"What is it?" Garnet asked as she stuffed a cured ham and a loaf of bread into her backpack.
"Milkweed," said Talasin, "Cooks use it to keep away flies, but the Fifth Order uses it in minor restoration potions."
"If you think we can use it, then bring some," said Garnet as she dropped a large water skin into the pack.
She took a small pouch from a hook and opened it. A strong aroma filled the air. "It's pepper," she whispered.
"Pepper?" said Talasin in surprise.
"Don't tell me you don't eat hot stuff?"
"I stayed in K'rith Vatali for two weeks," said Talasin, "Everything in your city is smothered in spices."
Garnet's smile faltered at the name of her old city. "I thought there'd be some news," she said.
"You should stay here," said Talasin. "If there are survivors, they will come here first."
She shook her head, "I'm going with you. I am the high councilor's daughter, my duty is to the people of Ivalice not to the Order."
"But you can serve the people—"
"Don't try and stop me, Talasin."
He turned and met her eyes and saw the steely determination reflected in them. Truthfully, he was afraid to go alone, but he was more afraid of losing her.
"I don't want what happened to Wren and Raithen to happen—" he began.
Garnet raised a hand to stop him, "Please," she said. "I need to do this."
Talasin shook his head, but he remained silent, he knew there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
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They found the small trapdoor the Archon had told them about under a large barrel of Alturan wine.
Talasin bent to open the trapdoor and then winced in pain.
Garnet nudged him out the way and opened the door, revealing an iron ladder that led into the sewers beneath the village.
"I could have done it myself," he moaned.
"I’m sure you could, just like you could have dressed yourself, or you could have changed your own bandages."
Talasin gritted his teeth, "Ok," he finally said, "But if you are coming with, you stay behind me at all times."
"Of course," she said. "I don't want you staring at my ass the whole journey."
Talasin felt his face reddening.
She looked up whilst descending the ladder and noticed his red face. She laughed. “And I thought Order boys only had eyes for their goddess?”
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The sewers ran deep beneath the village and were home to all manner of local wildlife, which tended to be more aggressive than normal due to the lack of predators.
It was mostly sewer rats and the odd spectral bat that they saw, but at one intersection, Talasin spotted what looked like a tiger-striped snapjaw.
The giant man-eating turtle slipped into the water as soon as they drew near, and Talasin raised a hand to stop Garnet. They waited one long minute and when they were sure the monster was gone, they kept moving, making sure to keep one eye on the water.
As they walked, Talasin thought about their conversation and realized that Garnet’s teasing was her way of getting his mind off of the battle happening above. She knew he would be ashamed of running away from a fight, she was helping him, even if it was in an unusual way.
She was a surprising individual, and for the first time ever Talasin wished that he had not made the oath to abstain from marriage and having a family.
He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind.
“You ok there?” Garnet asked, coming up beside him.
He shook his head, not wanting to talk about it, and kept walking.
After a short silent march they reached a large wooden door, carved with a symbol of a stylized tree surrounded by a circle and three lines.
"This should be the exit to the north wall," said Garnet.
Talasin rested his hand on his sword and nodded, "We don't know what we'll find on the other side of that door. This is your last chance to turn back."
She pressed her lips together in annoyance. “Don't start with that again,” she said firmly, "I'm doing this, no matter what comes, we’ll face it together."
She pushed open the door, and together they stepped into the night air.
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