Salvation
Chapter seven
Forgotten Memories

They waited for some time, pacing the cobblestone floors of Edgar’s castle. The minutes turned into hours and still no sight of the guards sent out to investigate their “new enemy's” camp. Edgar’s face began to drop more and more with every passing moment. The new morning gave way to noon when it was clear those men were not going to come back.

“What now King?” Shadow turned to their aid, who was slouching on his throne.

Edgar glanced at the ninja with renewed hopes. “You go then.” Shadow’s expression stood the same. That was well enough, for if you told him he had seconds to live, his appearance wouldn’t change.

But Locke’s did. “You mean us or just him?”

The king came from off his throne. “You people have been through hell to get here. And if you would endure such peril for people you don’t know, then maybe you have the power to stop whoever did this. All I can do is pray.”

Shadow scoffed. “So we go while you stay and pray for us? You believe that can make a difference in whether we pull this off or get our asses fried?”

“Sometimes prayer can make all the difference in the world. I learned that some time ago.” It had been only two years, but something in that time had effected this king and took his outlook on life to a spiritual level.

“You pray. For what? Our souls?” Shadow laughed scornfully. “Tell me, do you believe evil can have a soul?”

“Everything has one. Even you, despite how impossible that sounds.”

Shadow stood quiet after that particular comment as Locke tried again, “Edgar, we can use all the help--”

Edgar shook his head. “What good would I be to you? I may have fought in the past, but now...all I want to do is stay out of it. Sorry to put it so bluntly, but I see no need in getting my kingdom into trouble when it never threatened us.”

A shadow fell over Setzer‘s face. “Edgar, your men were probably slaughtered as soon as they stepped foot on that base, so what’s the odds they’re not coming here to see the king that sent them?”

Edgar lowered his head. “I know you came here because you wanted my help, but that aid I cannot give. My kingdom is not the strongest. I lost too many guards already....I can’t afford to lose more.” The king sighed. “Besides, how well can you fight when your heart’s not in it.”

Shadow took that comment as if it had been directed to himself, even though the man was not pointing at the ninja, he might as well have. All this time Shadow fought for no reason, but now it appeared it had meaning. Not just to fight pointlessly, but to fight for the people he cared about.

“He’s right.” The ninja turned to a shocked Setzer and Locke. Shadow did not agree with many people, but now Edgar said something that had hit him in a certain way. “We don’t need him with us if he doesn't want to fight. Believe me, he won’t be of much help if he comes against his wishes.”

Edgar smiled slightly. “Look, we finally agree on something.” Then he paused, as if he was regretful for seemingly refusing aid. “I can send guards with you if that would help in some way.”

“Guards? Why waste more.” Shadow walked passed his group, then said, “Besides, if we fail, you’re going to need something to protect your castle.”

Setzer and the silent Gogo followed their companion back to the Falcon, while Locke looked back at Edgar one last time with a question in his eyes. “When...you pray...does your prayers get answered?”

Edgar could only stare back at him. “God’s speed kid.”

***

The sky spread out before them, the clouds racing by as they sped through the heavens. Shadow couldn’t rid this feeling that swept over him. He couldn’t place it either. It was this tugging pull in the pit of his stomach, telling him he had to finish what he started. That he could do this, see it through. Is it hope that I'm feeling?

The thought that he was now feeling his emotion not only rejuvenated him, but also gave him a fear that perhaps his hope wasn’t enough. Rally thought I could do it. But I’m no hero.... Or maybe he saw something I didn’t.

The cold air became more dense as they neared the camp, just south of Figaro. From the ship's view, the site seemed rather large, as if they had been sitting, planning all this time. Those unfortunate people never even saw it coming. Something Edgar might call destiny.

“What ever happened to Edgar anyway?” Locke’s voice came, as full as questions as ever. “He seemed so....different. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not.”

“I don’t know what happened to him, but we shouldn’t be angry with him. Edgar might have seen something that we still have yet to find. But when we do, it might turn us away as well.” Setzer’s voice answered.

Shadow sighed in the lower deck as their conversation drifted to his ears. How could I be so stupid. It might as well have been me sitting on that throne. But it was different with me. I turned into a jerk instead of a believer. The ninja petted Interceptors head. The dog was curled up in his lap, resting peacefully.

Touching his pet’s soft fur always calmed him, maybe that was why he did it so often. Even though it was oblivious to Interceptor, the dog had a way of comforting his master. “Good boy.” Shadow whispered. “You know, I think I can safely say you were the only one that has stood by me without leaving me...” By leaving, the ninja did not mean walking away. No, he was the one who left in that sense. He simply meant leaving this world to the next. If there was a next.

“We’re here sir.” Gogo came from out his room. The robbed man seemed to know everything at this moment. Shadow nodded and nudged Interceptor awake.

The dog barked grumpily. Shadow smiled, revealing white teeth. “I know you want to sleep boy. And normally I would let you, but something tells me I might need you.” The ninja pulled the Doberman off the sofa by his collar and followed Gogo upstairs.

“Do we sneak attack or do we go around the back or...” Locke stopped to think of another way. “A tunnel underneath perhaps?”

Setzer sighed. “Kid, a tunnel won't work. The ground might be too hard anyway. It’s freezing outside.” The gambler rubbed his eyes.

Locke patted his back. “You okay? You seem tired.”

Setzer laughed, “Me?” Though it was clear he was. All this time running around, none of them had gotten much sleep.

Setzer parked the vessel a little ways from the camp, in the shade of the forest. The trees’ drooping leaves gave much needed cover for his ship. But if it had been night, it would have added to their aid. Shadow led the way out with his faithful dog along side him.

Locke lazily kicked up dirt as he went. “I think we should go around back. What about you?”

The gambler shrugged. “No problem here. Shadow?”

The ninja paused in thoughts and in tracks. This camp seemed familiar to him. Again something he couldn’t place. He grabbed his head as it echoed with pain and memories. Am I remembering something from my past or something to do with this? Shadow held up his right hand and rubbed his glove on the spot where the strange markings would normally be.

“Shadow?” Setzer stopped behind him. “Are you home?”

Shadow watched the camp from the distance. The tents showing high above the wooden rail surrounding this site. They seemed like they had been there for some time. It did not strike the ninja as the kind of camp you could easily pack up and move on an instants notice. “Actually, I thought we’d use the front door.”

Locke stared at Shadow for a moment before speaking. “The what? You don’t mean...” The thief glared as he kept walking, rather calmly, to the gate. “Shadow! Are you nuts!” He called after the persistent ninja.

Before Locke could run after him, Setzer held up a hand. He observed Shadow making his way to the gate. “He looks like he has been here before.... “

“Huh?”

The gambler shook his head. “Nothing, let’s move.” Setzer ran after Shadow and Interceptor, followed by Locke and Gogo.

Making it to the entrance, the smell of fire, burnt flesh and unwashed skin filled the air. And death.... It was an aroma Shadow couldn’t banish from his head since the time he woke in Rally’s house. As much as Shadow did not want to admit it, as much as he wished it was all in his head, he whispered what he already knew the answer to, “Was...I here before?”

There were men all around, outside of the cloth tents and inside. Either battling each other, eating a new kill or polishing their weapons. In fact it became quite obvious that they cleaned their weapons more then themselves. Some were in a corner, watching starved Doberman rip each other apart as they gambled which one would win and which one would be their dinner.

At this, Shadow made sure Interceptor was at his side. The dog was glancing around and began growling at men who were coming up to them. That was a first. They had already walked in and no one had bothered to say anything. Now, only two men came up to them. “Ah, looky who’s back.”

Then the second man, “I thought we killed him.”

Shadow made a face. “Shit, these people don’t know the first thing about respect.” The ninja unsheathed his sword. “But perhaps I can teach them.”

“Whoa, whoa there kid.” An older warrior chuckled. “We don’t wanna fight you. We already had a worthwhile battle!” The man had a bottle of wine in one hand and a bloody dagger in the other.

“Battle?” Locke echoed with confusion. But it struck him around the same time as everyone else. “What did you do with Figaro’s guards!?”

The man laughed so hard he fell backwards in his place on the ground. The first man to approach them spat on the dirt ground before answering. “Who’s guards?” He knew what they were talking about. He was simply being a bastard.

Shadow snarled. “We won’t ask again.”

The man on the ground stood from his place. In a drunken haze, he managed to wonder over to a rack of Magitek armor, propped up against the wooden fence. “Behind them.” He pointed before breaking out in another fit of laughter.

Shadow pushed him out of the way. “Let’s go.” He said to the rest, without bothering to glance back. But what lied behind there was far worse then what they could ever imagine. It made the slaughter of Nikeah and Figaro look rather pleasant.

Locke’s hand raced to his mouth and his completion blanched. “Jesus.” The thief couldn’t rip his gaze from the pile of dismantled body parts lying in one big heap before him. The smell of dead and rot whacked him in the face.

“Holy shit.” Setzer breathed. “What sick freaks would do this...?” Setzer turned back around, away from the corpses.

Shadow simply stared at the revolting scene, feeling only his own hot anger rise. His voice stood eerily calm as he spoke. “Take me to who is in charge of your little zoo.” It was not only his anger that made him demand that, it was what he saw on the hands of the dead soldiers: a scar in the shape of a circle with a crescent moon inside.