Kerrin lowered his head as the guards spat and laughed.

"Damn it Kerrin, can't you just do some of that fancy magic of yours and teleport us out of here?", asked Garon Revan, a hint of anger in his voice.

"I wish it were that simple Garon, but they have bound both Tira and myself with bonds that negate our magic."

"What? How do you know that?"

"Because he designed the god-forsaken things my Dragoon Lord.", added Tira, her voice solemn and controlled as usual.

The physical pain was minimal compared to the mental torture of knowing they would be executed at dawn. Each one of them had played the scenario over at least a 1000 times in their heads. They were helpless here, deep within the confines of Baron's dungeon. Weaponless, armorless, and their ability to cast any spells gone...they were as children.

"Where could Varian be?", spoke Ramas hushedly.

"Nobody knows for certain, not even Delian. I heard the guards discussing it earlier. They said that Nobody knew where he was, his family was gone, and the entire assemblage of The Brotherhood of Kluya had escaped under cover of darkness through the sewer systems.", Kerrin told them.

"Good, then maybe there is still some hope, surely he won't let us rot here in this little corner of hell."

"Varian Tomas is a good man Ramas, but he doesn't know where we are, and he has his entire family to worry about...it would be best if he did leave us and attempt to warn the extending kingdoms of Delian's plot."

Footsteps outside the door.

"Halt, who goes....", the sound of the first guardsmen's voice trailed off faintly as his body slumped to the ground.

Sounds of a brief scuffle, and the other guard followed his friend to the hard floor below their feet.

The large metal bolt on the door creaked as the door swung wide, revealing the unknown assassin from outside. The features indiscernible and impossible to distinguish due to the light which had flooded the once pitch black room.

"Who are you?", muttered Kerrin.

"A friend Scottsman, a very close friend.", the soft voice was obviously feminine and quite familiar to The Scottsman.

"And just why in the hell should we trust someone we've only known for thirty seconds?", added Garon, ever the pessimist.

"Because if you don't you will most assuredly die on the morrow Garon Revan.", familiar indeed, thought Kerrin.

Their, short, slender, savior began working the keys to the locks of their chains, freeing them one by one.

Rubbing their chaffed wrists, the four members of the High Council stood silent.

"You will find your Chocobo mounts and all of your weapons and supplies at the end of the Southern Gate...take the sewers, and be quiet for god sakes.", the last few words fell directly in the auditory range of Garon.

"Thank you my friend...", whispered Kerrin.

"No need to thank me Scottsman...not yet at least. Now go, ride east to Doma. Varian Tomas is there waiting for you with the Brotherhood of Kluya. It would appear that in the 24 hours you 4 have been down here Delian has readied all of Baron...for war."

The group silently mourned, their beloved kingdom would once again be thrown headlong into the void of anarchy and chaos.

"What of the REDWINGS?", asked Ramas hurriedly, as he picked two torches from the wall outside the cell.

"4 airships, and full crews escaped by nightfall. Varian alerted them to the coming storm, and ever-faithful they followed him. 12 companies of Dragoon warriors escaped as well. Even at this moment they march towards Doma."

"What of those who did not escape?", questioned Tira.

"They...they are either dead, or under the spell of Caris. It would seem that our Highpriest of Vargas harbored powers that we were quite unaware of. He has brainwashed them...all of them...those who resisted, were slaughtered, and impaled in the courtyard to serve as a reminder to any others who would do the same."

"My god...", thought Kerrin as he bit his lip, fighting back the tears...so many good men...so many innocent lives.

"There is no time for sorrow for those already dead. If we do not stop Delian and Shamir the casualties will far outnumber those already. NOW GO!", the shrouded figure turned to go.

"Wait, what will you do? Escape with us...come to Doma.", The Scottsman pleaded.

Long slender fingers made their way to the hood. As it slid back from the face, long, silken, strands of gold began to reflect the torchlight in magnificent ways.

Before them...stood Raina Tomas, daughter of Varian, and one of the people Kerrin treasured most in the world.

"Raina...", they said in unison stunned.

"Don't be so surprised. I am afterall the daughter of the man who leads The Brotherhood of Kluya."

"But Raina, if you're not coming with us...then just what are you doing?"

"I'm...I'm, going back into Baron to wait out the war."

"WHAT???!!!! I WILL NEVER ALLOW IT!!!!!!", bellowed Kerrin.

"Quiet Scottsman...", reminded Ramas.

"It is not your decision Kerrin. I am a grown woman, and my people need me now more than ever. I can heal and bind wounds, care for those that need it most. I would be of no use to you on the battlefield...my place is here...as a healer."

"Your father won't allow it either. You know that don't you?"

"He doesn't know. He sent two guards...one is still unconscious somewhere on the road here, please make sure he's alright when you return."

"Raina, don't do this...I'm pleading with you.", Kerrin muttered, almost crying as he did so.

"I have to Kerrin...there is no other way.", she walked towards him and placed her hand to the scar on his left cheek and kissed him gently.

Kerrin closed his eyes slowly and returned the gesture. As swiftly as she had come, she was gone into the darkness...there would be no hope of finding her down here.

"Alright, lets go.", spoke Ramas, leading the way with one of the torches he had so recently procured, handing off the other to Kerrin just behind him.

~At the Southern Gate of Castle Baron~

"You certainly know those sewers very well Garon.", said Ramas sarcastically.

"Well, I uh...you know, I played there some as a boy."

"Played...in the sewers...amongst such filth.", said Tira Kordas, a look of disgust on her face.

"I thought Dragoons were supposed to be clean and noble, not wallowing with the pigs Garon.", laughed Ramas.

The Dragoon was about to wallow Ramas, and would have had not Kerrin stepped between them.

"Enough you three. We have not time for childish games. Now, strap on the saddles and secure the supplies."

They continued silently about the business of readying the mounts. It was as Raina had said, all their weapons, and needed supplies were held within the saddlebags of the Chocobo's and as an added, and wonderful bonus...the Choc's were not just ordinary Chocobo's. 2 Blacks, a Blue, and a Grey, who just happened to be Kerrin's personal mount...MARNA.

Kerrin set himself in the saddle and stroked the long, ashen, primary feathers under Marna's chin. She always did like that. He checked to see if everyone was ready, and everything seemed to be in place.

"Are you ready girl?", Kerrin bent low and whispered into his beloved mounts ear.

"WARK...wark, wark.", she replied, grinning as Chocobo's will do, and flapping her wings a bit.

"Very well then...we ride East...to Doma."

The moon shined above them, a brilliant platinum disk hovering over them and silhouetting their bodies against the cold, dark, earth. High above them, in the Crystal Tower, two figures stood watching...watching the four riders begin their journey.

"Things are going according to plan milord."

"Nothing will go ACCORDING TO PLAN...not so long as those 4, and especially that damned Scott, are free to cause such trouble."

Caris Shamir walked a few paces backward and grinned deviously.

"Oh my Great, Lord, Delian of Toroia...in but a few nights to you it will not matter..."

"What Caris? Were you saying something."

"No...no milord, only thinking to myself of how great your kingdom will soon be. How great indeed...", the skinny mage said, a vicious looking smile filling his usually emotionless face.