Thine Brother’s Keeper pt.3

(Part 1 can be found here.)

Five Nights Ago…

Rosetta smiles warmly as she peaks her head into the waiting room where Kaede sits patiently, her hands folded in her lap. “Come on in.” She says with a nod. With ashen skin and feintly pink scales, like most Au-Ra women, Kaede’s features are slight, bordering on faint. A child-like youth on her face and in her eyes, she smiles with a nod and follows Rosetta had hastily tidied up. The highlander, in every way Kaede’s physical opposite with her golden hued skin, bright tattoos covering most of her arms, legs, and back. Her features are sharp and muscular, her movements betray exacting strength rather than grace.

The room is relatively small, with a a simple table and three chairs, a small hutch with a fruit basket by the door, and along the back wall some bookshelves and a cabinet. The Hyur gestures to the two chairs closest to the door, while she takes the single chair opposite them. “Before I take the case, we’ll have to go over some details.” She says taking her seat.

Rosetta grabs a large bound reem of papers and produces a quill, while Kaede smiles nervously. “This is all so official…” She offers, not making eye contact with Rosetta.

The highlander smiles, leaning back in her chair. “I’ve been in the official meetings, trust me,” she says with a wink, “this isn’t that, yet.” She takes a long breath and continues. “Tell me about your brother.”

“Well,” Kaede starts with a sigh and awkward smile, “he’s trouble, to say the least. Born with more skill than sense. He’s been swindled more times than I can count and finds himself on the brink of catastrophe more than he’ll ever admit… But he’s uncommonly talented.”

Eight Months Ago…

The ashen skinned Au Ra yawns with a dramatic stretch outside his tent, his whole body cracking and creaking as he takes in the whole of the Azim Steppe in the orange-red light if dusk. The rock formations surrounding the Dawn Throne—a set of giant stone fingers trying to grab the castle from beneath the earth—look all the more menacing as night approaches. Behind him, the Namazu drum can be heard faintly, as the festival continues on. He thinks on joining them, maybe taking in some of their games on display, but a hitch in his shoulder holds him back.

He’d spent the day hunting, and gathering everything he’d need to send the giant Manzasiri that haunts the Steppe into the mountains, and the day’s labors were finally catching up to him. As much as he might not want to admit it, it was time for a rest. Besides, he had a meeting first thing, and he didn’t want to risk being late. Things were finally looking up for him. He was going to put years of foolishness behind him, and not just pay his family’s debts, but enrich them. A weary smile creeps over his face thinking about the coin he had in his chest already, and how much more he would see tomorrow.

His employer had hired a few adventurers as well for the task, but they had begged off before the job had barely begun. But he knew, he knew if he just stuck it out that more would come, and it did. Tomorrow he’d hear about the next job, and if it paid even half as well as this one…

Five Nights Ago…

“Describe ‘uncommonly talented’ for me?” Rosetta asks, looking up from her notepad.

“He’s an ace with a bow, for starts.” She smiles warmly, talking her brother up. “He can hunt with surprising accuracy even at long distances. I once saw him fell an Eagle at nearly 800 yalms. He also has a preternatural understanding of nature.”

Rosetta’s head rocks back slightly as she gives Kaede a dubious look. “Preternatural understanding?“

The Au Ra nods frantically. “Yes! There’s hardly anything about botany he doesn’t know, and can expertly mix the various properties of herbs and plants to make tinctures or potions that can cure any malady.”

The Hyur considers Kaede for a long moment, expecting to see the girl back down under a scrutinous eye, but is surprised to her excitement about her brother’s talents remain firm. “Those are useful skills to be certain.” Rosetta nods but cocks her head ever so slightly. “Makes me wonder why you’re so concerned.” She shrugs. “Not saying the Far East isn’t a dangerous place. Between remnants of Imperial Loyalists, tribal Lupin, and all manner of beasts and beastmen there, the region is dangerous. But if he’s that resourceful—”

“He was once arrested for possession of illegal drugs in Ul’Dah.” She lets out a long sigh with a heavy eyeroll. “He thought he was delivering candy.”

Rosetta’s eye brows flare. “Ah, gulable too, then.” She coughs, thinking of how often she’s probably delivered illicit substances herself. “Alright, well, depending on the region it might not be all bad. Where did you say he was going?”

She nods. “When he last wrote, he said he was going to Yanxia.”

Rosetta purses her lips while holding breath, letting the air escape slowly. “Yeah, never mind what I said.”

“I—Is that bad?” Kaede asks, worry coming over her. “Are the people of Yanxia bad people?”

“I mean it’s… It’s not that… The trouble is—” Rosetta stammers while she rubs the bridge of her nose, trying not to panic her friend as she searches for a way to gently explain the situation with some of Yanxia’s inhabitants.

Kaede shakes her head, a scowl coming over her face. “Do not try to spare me Rosetta. Is it bad?”

She takes a long breath. “No. If he’s as gullible as you say he is? It’s worse. Much worse.”

Eight Months Ago…

A rubbery squeaking noise is what he hears first, followed by some clanging as a gathering of Namazu approaches the Au Ra’s tent. In the light of the dawn he can see the silhouette of one of them approach the tent and flap their flipper against the wall repeatedly. “Breakfast dear hunter! A worthy treat for a worthy hunter who gave all in the Steppe a worthy night’s rest!” He proclaims.

The Au Ra throws his furs back and sits up. He opens the front flap with a smile, and runs his hand through his hair, trying to brush the sleep out. “Thank you all so much,” he offers with a bow. “I had not expected such kind hospitality.” His scales glisten in the morning light as he gladly takes up the Namazu’s offer of breakfast. A collection of Othard plums, and persimmons with a… “Is… Is this a fish pie?” He asks, awkwardly looking at the five Namazu before him.

“Oh yes! Our specialty!” Another Namazu cries out, wagging it’s fins excitedly.

“And… This isn’t offensive or…?” The Namazu all bring their flippers to their chins, considering his question, prompting him to panic and quickly bite into the pie.

“Oh! Oh this is—W-Wow. Actually, this really is fantastic.” He says to himself, biting into the pastry again, the second bite somehow more delicious than the first. “What’s in this? Is that cinnamon and raisins I’m tasting? Maybe some apple too?” He takes another bite as the Namazu all mutter happily to themselves, satisfied that the gift has been well received, and turn to head back to their celebration grounds. “Waitch, befowe yew gow!” He says, his mouth full of food that he quickly chokes down so he can ask more clearly. “I’m looking for a Namazu, I’m supposed to—”

“Oh!” One of the last Namazu exclaims, waddling himself back around to speak directly to the Au-Ra. “If you still insist on meeting with him, he says you can find him outside Yuzuka Manor.” He offers almost matter-of-factly.

“Right and uhh… sorry, I’ve forgotten his name?”

“One should never forget his name!” The Namazu proclaims. It won’t be until he’s bloodied and bound that he would realize the emphasis on ‘his’ was important. “Gyodo! Most memorable of the Namazu!”