I think I had a hangover the next morning. I was cognizant enough to know the person who woke me up wasn’t my keeper, but my healer, Master Lee. He dragged me out of bed and into a cold shower.
I yelled.
He told me to stuff it.
I got quiet. I’d not heard anger in Master Lee’s voice before. And he’d never been that rough with me. So I cleaned up, dried off, and stepped out into my room—
Which had been cleaned while I was getting wet. The bottles were gone, my bed was made, and there was a fresh pile of clothes on the bed.
Master Lee patted the bed. “Here. Sit.”
I did as I was told, a towel around my waist. He examined my neck—the bandage had come off at some point—either while I slept or in the shower—and it stung. I made a noise and he popped my cheek.
“Quiet.”
I stared at him.
Master Lee was angry with me. But why? What had I done? I did as that ass of a son had bid me to do, I was told—quite bluntly—that what I suspected he thought of me—
I was right.
I stayed in my room. I didn’t go out and fight…
Finally, he checked my vitals and sat back. “No fever. In fact, I believe you are healed, Master Grey.” He put a hand on my arm. “In body…but not your soul.”
I rubbed my nose. “What?”
“That anger you’ve got, bubbling and simmering away inside of here,” he put his hand on my chest. “Is going to ruin and dishonor the life you were given…again.”
I swallowed. I felt like I’d missed something. Had something happened while I’d been in Coerthas?
“I can see in your eyes you do not understand.”
“No. I don’t. Care to enlighten me?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I don’t usually treat drunks.”
“I’m not a drunk. I simply drank last night.”
“Why?
I looked away.
But he put his index finger and thumb on my chin and guided my face back to his. “Why, Asche? Did Artoirel say something? Do something?”
I snorted. Where do I start? When it came down to everything…we were guests here. An inconvenient nuisance that the Count had risked his reputation to give aid to.
And me…well, I’m a joke. Artoirel hadn’t believed me. And the other one…the little annoying brother…had remarked to me last night that I would be joining him today…he probably felt the same.
Why not? I’m just a mur—
Master Lee popped my face again. I grabbed his wrist and squeezed, hard, as I pulled his hand away from me. “You do that again, and you’ll lose the ability to heal anything.”
He leaned in toward me, but he didn’t pull his arm away. “There he is. Right there. I knew he was still at your core.”
I let go of him, really confused then. “He? He who?”
“The Warrior of Light, Asche. You. Not some self-loathing brat that can’t get past his situation to look ahead and plan his way back. Tataru and Alphinaud are working toward that end…but you’re just going along with anything anyone says. You could see what Artoirel was like, and yet you act all surprised when he says what you thought. So you drown your feelings in booze?”
I chewed on my lower lip and looked away. I took in a deep breath, and finally said, in a quieter voice, “What way back? People think I murdered the Sultana. We have no support by the same city states we advocated for—”
“So?”
So? I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t understand—”
He thumped my forehead.
“Ow.”
“Asche, when you came to Eorzea, did you have everyone’s support? No. Did everyone trust you? No, you had to prove yourself, just like you’re doing now. Were there others jealous of you? Yes. Did you let that get under your skin?” He put his hands on my bare shoulders. “No. You fought back, you proved your trustworthiness to everyone, and you became the Hero of Eorzea. Others sought to destroy who you are—but they failed, Asche. They were going to get rid of you.
“They failed. You’re still here. Protected by an entire country—so to speak. You’ve impressed Artoirel, and that’s a tall order. He isn’t impressed by anyone, except himself. And now you have the chance to do the same with Emmanellain. It’s not difficult. He’s just looking for an easy way out…” Master Lee removed his hands. “In other words, Asche…pull yourself together and get down the stairs, grab some breakfast and meet that little prick in the great room. Go to the Sea of Clouds—enjoy its wonder. And be…you.”
I really don’t know what overcame me, or why I did what I did next. Maybe I’m just a big baby who needs reassurance sometimes. I’m a stranger in a damn strange land, and sort of knowing Master Lee was behind me…supporting me in his own way…
Well, it made me feel…okay. And I hadn’t felt like that in a long, long time.
I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him. To my surprise, he didn’t hesitate to hold me. Tight. And he whispered in my ear, “Just be you, and don’t compromise. Understand?”
I nodded and we pulled back from each other. I wiped my eyes, and he put his hand to my cheek. “I forget how frighteningly young you are, Asche. Knowing what that bastard put you through…what you endured as you lost the ability to breathe…” he smiled, and I saw that he’d been crying as well.” He sighed and sat back, his hands on his knees. “I picked out another set of clothing. Sea of Clouds isn’t as cold as Coerthas…and it is quite the wonder to behold. Now,” he stood and put the chair to the side. “Get dressed, and do not forget breakfast, understand?”
I nodded and kept wiping at my face, long after he left my room. I dressed, and this gear was much better than the chainmail I’d had to suffer through in the snow.
I took in several deep breaths before I headed down the stairs…and stopped at the foot of them. I looked around as I headed to the dining room and grabbed a plate as there was a buffet there and Artoirel was already seated and eating.
“Ah, Master Grey,” the older of the sons said as he set down his coffee. “Ready for your adventure in the Sea of Clouds?”
I nodded and sat across from him. I wasn’t that hungry, but coffee and a biscuit seemed okay. I looked around the room, but I didn’t see—
“Looking for Clément?” Artoirel said with a half-smile. “Don’t trouble yourself. I had him dismissed. I see no reason why you should have someone watching you.” He laughed. “Trust me…you’ll be too busy chasing after my little brother.”
I did not like the sound of this.
Once I wolfed down the biscuit and the coffee, I moved to the great room where…what was this kid’s name again?
“Shall we be off then, old boy?” the smaller Foretemps said, looking very pleased with himself. I noticed a smaller boy by his side. He smiled. I smiled. But there were no introductions.
“Ah, but where are my manners! Emmanellain de Fortemps, second son of Count Edmont de Foretemps—trueborn, that is.”
Trueborn? What did he mean by that?
“Yes, yes—I know what you’re thinking and you are absolutely right. What ill fortune to be born second in a society where the eldest inherits all.”
No, that’s not what I was thinking…old boy.
“Oh my brother would never cut me off, ‘tis true, but who could be satisfied subsisting on a meager allowance, forever overshadowed by this sibling? Not I, old boy, not I! Which is why I need your help to ensure that this business in the Sea of Clouds goes swimmingly, so that the tales of my great deeds can win me a place in the people’s hearts—or better yet, raise me higher in their estimations than Artoirel! Ambitious, I grant you, but then I do have a legendary hero to do my bidding! Hah hah hah!”
Excuse me? I narrowed my eyes at him.
Emmanellain waved his hand dismissively. “Oh don’t look at me that way! I jest; I jest! Anyway, we are to aid the good men and women of House Haillenarte. They have ever been steadfast friends to our house—though they’ve fallen on hard times since the Calamity, poor blighters.”
I tried to follow what he was talking about, which would be the reason we were heading out this morning.
“As for what precisely we will be doing, well… What fun would it be if I told you everything in advance?”
I glanced at the young boy, who stared at Emmanellain. What in the name of the Great Wood had I gotten myself into?
“Just come along with me to the airship landing. We’ll need to take the airship to Camp Cloudtop!”
I blinked. Where?
The boy and I followed Emmanellain to the airship dock and I settled on one side, taking in the view — and was not prepared for what I saw!
Islands! Lots of floating islands! Some were connected by land bridges, others by man-made bridges, while others seemed to float on their own paths. As the pilot brought the ship around, I saw the soft blue of an Atheryte and a much, much larger ship docked against one of larger islands connected to what I figured was the main island.
Emmanellain stepped off the dock and held out his hands. “Welcome to the Sea of Clouds!”
He turned and looked at me. “…and of course, our hero is wholly unperturbed. You don’t have to maintain that strong, silent persona all of the time, you know. Eh…never mind. We need to find Lady Laniaitte—she is in charge of the garrison here. Oh, and when we find her, just…just follow my lead, yes? Excellent!”
I glanced at the kid, who was looking at me. When he caught me looking, he took off running to catch up with Emmanellain.
I sighed and followed behind, gawking at the wooden bridges, the trusses, and the size of the airship docked behind us.
We passed several odd-looking creatures, most stayed back as we walked by. I figured they were already familiar with Emmanellain’s personality and didn’t want to be called old boy.
I stared up at the large treehouse, the oversized netting, and the wood stairs that gave access to a network of lookout places above us. At a hut below we approached a young blonde female Elezen.
Emmanellain opened his mouth to speak to her, almost bowing in a flourish, just as she turned to me and blinked, and then stepped toward me. “Master Grey! Welcome! I am Ser Laniaitte de Haillenarte, commander of the forces stationed here at Camp Cloudtop.
“Strange though it may sound, I have long dreamed of meeting you. I am in your debt, you see, and shall ever remain so. Were it not for you, my younger brother Francel would have been executed upon the word of a false inquisitor!”
I blinked at her. Francel’s sister?!? “I remember your brother—he is a good friend of Haurchefont’s.”
She beamed at me. “Yes! Alas, a knight must go where duty demands, and thus I have been unable to seek you out. But by the grace of Halone, I have been granted an opportunity to thank my brother’s savior in person, and to call upon his generous aid besides. Truly, I know not what I have done to deserve this double blessing.”
Emmanellain, who was standing there with his mouth open, watching Laniaitte talk to me in surprise, swiftly said, “Ahem! ‘Tis a pleasure to see you again, my lady Laniaitte! You cut an elegant figure as always—a steel-clad rose, equality at home on a battlefield or in a ballroom.”
Laniaitte looked at Emmanellain with—well, a contemptuous glare. “…Lord Emmanellain, if it not too much to ask, I should be grateful if you would allow me to finish speaking with Master Grey.”
I actually felt sorry for the boy, but I did restrain myself from actually calling him, old boy. Instead I allowed Laniaitte to guide me by my arm away from Emmanellain. She continued telling me about Camp Cloudtop, created to provide an early warning of Dravanian incursions.
Being so high was a great vantage point, but it also made the Camp a target for attack. Luckily, they had the Protector, which was the name of the great ship at the dock, capable of downing all but the mightiest of dragons.
But she also informed me the Protector was undergoing repair, and they were being impeded by the antics of a tribal society known as the Vanu Vanu.
Emmanellain abruptly burst out with, “No beastman is a match for a man of Ishgard! Bring me a birdman and I’ll show him a thing or two!”
Laniaitte sighed and focused on me. “I fear much and more may be asked of you in the days to come, Master Grey…while I understand Count Edmont’s intentions, I would rather not waste valuable time ensuring that the young lord doesn’t get trampled underfoot.
“True, it is entirely possible that he may learn something from this experience…but if left to his own devices, I think it far more likely that he will make a mess of things.”
I stifled a laugh and looked to see that Laniaitte did the same. “Dear lady, I am afraid I am at the young lord’s disposal while here. Is there any possible assignment he can be sent on alone that wouldn’t…hurt him?”
She stared at me. “That accent…where is that from? I don’t recognize it.”
I blushed. Damn…I really blushed. “Golmore. I am from the region of the Golmore jungle.”
“That’s right…Viera come from there. We have so few in Ishgard…and I’m not sure I’ve actually seen males.”
I didn’t know what to say.
Then, she said, “I have an idea…tell him that I would like him to keep watch for…Dravanian outflyers. Then, when you have a moment to speak with his manservant in private, make it clear that it is his responsibility to keep Emmanellain from shirking his duty.”
The ruse worked, and in the end, the youngest Foretemps went running off. The manservant—really just a boy—introduced himself as Honoroit, and agreed to watch out for his master as he ran off after him.
Again, I was caught in a breathless surprise at the majesty, and the beauty of these islands.
She put a hand on my arm. “Come with me.”
“To where?”
She pointed at the rickety stairs and the lookout up above. “Up there.”
My brows rose into my bangs. “Up…there?”
NEXT: A Night and Day in the Sea of Clouds.