CHAPTER FIVE

"OVER THERE! Nab him!"

Blank wasn’t content with barking orders but Marcus was right there near Fratley and he didn’t seem to know how to work his legs.

So Blank bounded toward the weapons shop and shinned up the chimney in pursuit. Fratley was simply standing there, seemingly in wait for the pair to reach him.

Gods, if he’s playin’ tag I’ll scream, Blank thought.

Good thing the Industrial District was still inder repairs. People were sparse, and it was easier for Blank and Marcus to chase the Dragon Knight around.

They’d formed a plan with the help of the triplets. Blank and Marcus would chase Fratley toward the back of the district, where housing blocked all escape. There the five of them would cage Fratley in and apprehend him.

But Marcus wasn’t helping much. He simply stood and watched as Blank ran this way and that after the Knight.

Finally Blank got on top of the abandoned shop. He stood not more than five feet from Fratley, and it seemed there might be no need for the plan they’d made. Blank inched closer to Fratley…closer…

Whoosh. Away he went again.

Blank threw his sword to the ground and cursed repeatedly, then looked downward at Marcus.

"Thanks for the help, dimwit."

Marcus simpy looked up quizzically. "What? I was lost in thought there for a minute."

"Exactly!" Blank snapped back. "Now we need to meet up with the triplets back there. You get the ground and I’ll take the rooftops. Move!!"

Blank leapt from roof to roof, then landed on a recently restored house in the very rear of the district. He glanced down to see Benero, Genero, end Zenero waiting, talking to each other in hushed tones, pincher-hands waving about.

"Psst!"

The triplets looked up and each started at Blank. The redhead put a finger to his lips and pointed to a rooftop nearly twenty feet away. Marcus approached and looked along with the triplets.

There crouched Fratley, gripping his spear and mouthing the words to…a prayer maybe? His ears drooped a bit and he seemed to be fatigued.

"Whadda we do now?" Zenero whispered.

"Yeah, what?" Genero seconded.

"What?" Benero added.

Marcus started walking. Blank watched as his bro went toward the house Fratley was perched on, sword still sheathed and a strange swagger to his walk.

"What in the name of…" Blank asked himself.

Marcus stopped at the face of the building, where he knew the Dragon Knight would see him. The thief made a noise not unlike a whistle, and Fratley stood abruptly, spear at the ready.

"At ease, my good fellow!" Marcus said. "I come not to thee as an enemy. What for—I mean, pray tell why dost thou perch atop yon building so?"

Blank’s jaw dropped.

"Where’d Marcus learn to talk like that?" Zenero asked.

"I dunno," Genero answered.

"Me either," Benero added.

Fratley’s expression changed from wary to jovial in an insant. He leapt down off the building to face Marcus and let his spear fall lax at his side. Had he forgotten Marcus was trying to capture him?!

"My good man," he began, "I come here in search of someone."

Marcus feigned interest. "Verily? And who dost thou seek?"

This whole display was shocking Blank to death. How did Marcus speak that way, especially with the slight lisp his snaggle tooth gave him? And how did he know to bait Fratley this way?

Fratley looked around a moment as if to point out the person he was looking for. Then he bent toward Marcus and placed a hand to his mouth.

"I search for the one named Beatrix," he said quietly. "I wish to test my skills against her, for I hear she is the strongest soldier alive. If I am to be confident in my abilities I must face one such as her."

Marcus nodded. "Ah, a noble endeavour my friend. Well I regret to inform thee, but Beatrix resides in Alexandria, not here in Lindblum.

"However," he motioned for the triplets to join him, "I and my allies may be able to provide thee with safe passage to Alexandria. Wouldst thou be interested, sir knight?"

Fratley watched the triplets approach with no change of expession. This is working, Blank thought. Just in case, though, he stayed where he was. Not good to have everyone in the same place, because one never knew what could happen.

"I would be in thy debt, stranger," Fratley replied. "Would it cost me anything? I am willing to pay."

"Oh no, sir knight," Marcus said. "We were headed to the city ourselves. It would be but a trifle to drop thee off. Now, if thou wouldst face me directly, I may tell thee of protocol on mine airship. Wouldst thou do me this one favor, sir knight?"

Fratley smiled wide. "Of course." He looked right at Marcus, and the thief snapped his fingers.

The triplets jumped on top of the Knight, Marcus joining them.

That was just a bit reckless, Blank told himself.

A struggle for a few minutes. Blank could heard the triplets barking orders at each other, as well as Marcus who had now dropped the posh voice. Fratley grunted and fumbled about underneath the four hefty bodies.

Then a flash of light. Six distinct shapes spun out from the bottom of the dogpile, screeching away into the night sky and knocking Marcus and the triplets off of Fratley. Blank looked up just in time to see the spiraling forms of six transluscent dragons.

"Dragon magic," he whispered to himself. "Glad I wasn’t down there."

Fratley leapt away. Blank thought to go after him, but decided against it. The Dragon Knight was angry now, no doubt, and he knew where he was going on top of that.

Instead Blank jumped down to see about his friends’ wounds. Marcus appeared unhurt, but the triplets all had bleeding wounds on one or another part of their bodies. Blank helped Marcus up, brushing off his bro’s shoulders where some mortar from the roof above had been splayed about.

"I thought it was a good idea," Marcus murmured.

"It was, bro. You did more than any of us could. Just don’t sweat it now."

Blank and Marcus helped the triplets up and sent them off to the hideout. Benero and Zenero limped off, holding their brother up on each side.

"So now what?" Marcus asked after watching the triplets hobble away.

"We’re done with this," Blank replied. "Fratley’s headed for Alexandria. Freya’s there, or at least was, and Beatrix’ll take care of him anyway."

Marcus looked at his bro, shocked. "That’s cruel!"

"Nuh-uh. Beatrix knows about Fratley’s problem just as well as we do. She’ll be smart enough to at least hod onto the guy until Freya and everyone get back from whatever it is they’re doin’. Gods, Marcus, they ain’t dumb."

The other stood there a minute, then nodded his understanding.

"Well if there ain’t anything left to do, whay don’t we go home and get some sleep?"

Blank patted his bro on the shoulder. "Go ahead. I’m gonna be the one to report this all to Cid, since we were the ones doin’ the real work."

Marcus nodded again and went off for the aircab, leaving Blank with some time alone. He stood there a minute, contemplating…then went off himself.

Blank made his way into the palace, avoiding any questioning looks. He slipped past the sentry at the elevator-not an easy task-and headed down to Base Level before anyone could even hear the lift making noise.

Now the climb down Falcon’s Gate, he thought. Then South Gate. Aw well, I can do it. I am Tantalus!…Like that’s ever made a difference, but…

As Blank climbed he was reminded. Zidane did something like this once, leaving Tantalus for his own reasons. He found a lot more than the band of thieves had to offer, too.

So why should it only be Zidane who had all the fun?

"Something to do, at least," Blank said out loud while staring at the approaching ground. "Least I won’t be bored for a while. Boss’ll kill me, but I think I can handle that.

"I think…"