The Melody of a Silenced Harp
                               Chapter Four: Sinister Intentions



Roland, the Elder of Mysidia, rushed into the House of Wishes, his black silk robes swishing about. After being raided by Baron, several wizards had put up a magic field around Mysidia, that detected anyone born in or that had business with Baron, so they could be prepared. The mages were now in a huff over some shipwrecked Baronian. Though the white wizards had insisted that one castaway was harmless, the more suspicious black wizards persisted, saying they should lock him up because the field indicated that he used to be in King Baron's inner circle. Now, both wizards had summoned the Elder to tell them what to do. He sighed as he came upon them, arguing in the main hall. He had classes to teach!
	"What is all this about?" Roland asked, though he very well knew.
	"This Baronian intruder poses a threat to decent society, Elder," an old black wizard insisted. "I say we lock him away, or execute him like they did to Marina and Jakkus!" 
	"That's not true, Garlio!" a woman white mage protested. "He's delirious and needs medical attention! Now, if you'd let me cast Cure..." She stepped forward.
	"Never! Not a step closer, woman!" the one called Garlio snarled. "I won't let you treat him, then he'll just summon a whole Baronian fleet upon us again!" 
	"Come now, Garlio! Locking this one up won't bring Marina and Jakkus back to us!" a male white mage cried.
	"Hmph! You should talk, Cerrus!" another black sneered. "You were the first to run at the sight of the Red Wings, and look where that got us!" Another shouting match began.
	"All right, settle down, all of you!" Roland demanded. All were silent.
	"How will Mysidia survive this war if we fight amongst ourselves?? As for Marina and Jakkus, they died an honorable death, defending the Crystal of Water." Roland said. No one spoke, but Garlio shot a look at Cerrus. "Let me see the castaway." Everyone back up, to reveal a bedraggled looking fellow, with dirty blond hair and half-shattered green armor stumbling around, dripping water on the thick purple carpet.
	"He's a Dragoon!" Roland remarked. "You say he was involved in high affairs of the Baronian court?" He asked Garlio, with an eyebrow raised.
	"Yes, that's what the shield indicated." Garlio snapped.
	"Hmmm..." Roland mumbled. He said a few words under his breath and closed his eyes. A white glow surrounded him, indicating White magic. A few black wizards gasped, not wanting the Dragoon to be cured, but it was just the spell of Peep, which revealed a bit of background info on any person who had it cast on them.
	"I see that he is a good friend of the Dark Knight who attacked Mysidia..." Roland said.
	"Treachery!" a black mage gasped, moving to cast a deadly spell. Roland held up his hands.
	"No spells will be cast here, except by me. Understood? As I was saying, he AND the Dark Knight have left the King's service. That is all I know." The black wizards backed away.
	"Fiana, you may cure him." Roland said to the woman who had tried before. She nodded, and chanted the spell. Several black mages voiced their protests.
	"Now really, Garlio..." Roland chuckled. "If you think one weakened Dragoon can overcome us all, you have no respect for the art of Magic." A few of both wizards laughed. Garlio scowled. 
	Fiana finished her spell. A white glow swirled around her yellow and red checked robes, and a golden-green light sprinkled itself onto the Dragoon's body. The delirious look left his face, and he snapped to attention.
	"Where am I?" he said tensely. "Have Golbez's wizards captured me??" 
	"Golbez!" several exclaimed.
	"What's your name, young man?" Roland asked. 
	"K-kain. Sir." the dragoon sputtered. Roland chuckled.
	"No need for formal titles, son. You haven't been captured. You're in Mysida, the city of wizardry." Kain tensed up even more.
	"M-mysidia..?? Oh gods, please, I wasn't in the attack squad! The King is evil, and Golbez--" Kain started.
	"We know. I am Roland the Elder. I delved into your past a little. You were in Baron?" he said soothingly.
	"Yes, sir. Golbez hypnotized me and, and then...Cecil....and Fabul..." Kain babbled. Roland looked surprised.
	"What about Fabul?" he said.
	"Errgh....crystal taken........gonna be sick sir...." Kain said quickly. Garlio, scowling the whole way, ran to get a bucket.


	"Hmmph. Look what the tide brought in." said a stern Baronian soldier, on the beaches of Baron. He gestured to the nude man the waves had swept onshore.
	"Riffraff." The other soldier walked over and drew his sword.
	"Let's cut his throat then." He made ready to kill the man when his partner stopped him.
	"Wait! Look at that ponytail....like from Fabul or something. Fredrick from Unit Five that invaded Fabul says all o' them was like that. This one might be valuable to keep for Baron." 
	"You might be right, Ben. Look there, he's comin' to!" The man moaned and woke up, crawling out of the surf.
	"Where.....? Who...am I??" the man slurred.
	"Perfect! Doesn't remember a thing! We can mold him into the perfect Baronian soldier. Just hope he remembers his kar...kara....whatever that fightin' style is in Fabul. It'll be useful." Ben said. His partner nodded. They hoisted the man out of the sand.
	"Do you remember your name, fella?" they asked.
	"...yggh....." the man moaned. "Yagn.....Yang." 
	"Yang, huh? Well, I think you're lyin' to me. Yang's so foreign. Your new name's...Tucker. Can ya handle that?" Ben's partner said.
	"I am Tucker..." Yang repeated, robotlike.
	"Good! Now, let's get you a uniform...." said Ben, dragging him towards the castle.

	Golbez, a man of average height, clad in midnight blue, gold lined and black armor with a flowing black cape, stepped forward. Standing before him was a scrawny, withered old man, with wild eyes and hair like untrimmed hedges. His pointed ears stuck out, and his lab coat was smudged with dirt.
	"Doctor Lugae," Golbez addressed. "I see you have captured the King and Queen of Eblan. Marvelous work."
	Lugae smiled weakly.
	"Of course, Master Golbez. Will you let me do as I please with them??" Lugae requested, his beady eyes darting momentarily to a table filled with strange experiments.
	"That is up to Rubicant, my Fiend of Fire." Golbez said. "He is in charge of the Eblan campaign." Lugae's face dropped.
	"But he will never let me-" Lugae began.
	"That is not my problem." Golbez stated coldly. "In fact, I believe I have a much better idea in store for the king and queen. Summon my fiends immediately." Lugae nodded, nervously rubbing his hands together and muttering under his breath. He ran from the room. Soon, he returned with four.....well, what people might call...monsters, or mutants. The first was a bent over "man", clad in a sand colored cloak, hooded face concealing all but his glowing red eyes. His hands were bandaged like a mummy might be. 
	"Come, Milon....." Golbez ordered. He stepped forward. The next Fiend came into the the light. It was a blue hunchbacked turtle monster, walking on all fours. 
	"Kainazzo, step forward." Golbez demanded. He did so. The next came into the light. It was a pale woman, tall and proud. She had showering blonde locks, and was clad in a skimpy bikini.
	"Valvalis." Golbez said simply, and she repeated what the others had done. The last one came forward. He was the tallest by far, and his skin looked burnt and warped. He had blue splotches on it, and was wrapped in a cape of the same color.
	"Ah, Rubicant. My finest." Golbez said with a hint of pride. He turned to them, and Lugae came to stand by them too.
	"Now, to business." Golbez said seriously. "The rebellion has been split apart by Leviathan." There was a murmur of surprise from the Fiends.
	"Did you-" Kainazzo began.
	"You fool, I am not a Caller. I can summon, but I can't summon HIM." Golbez snapped. "My sources tell me that Cecil, the self-proclaimed leader of this group, has landed in Agart. Milon, you are to dispose of him."
	Milon nodded. Golbez waited a moment.
	"...Immediately." he said coldly. Milon snapped to attention.
	"Oh, of course, sir. Right away." Purple smoke filtered around him and he was gone.
	"Master, I cannot remain here too long, or suspicions will arise," Kainazzo warned. "If I must pose as King Baron I can't be gone for too long. That Cid, he's getting too nosy..." 
	"Then get rid of him, Kainazzo. You're not THAT stupid." Golbez ordered.
	"Golbez," addressed Rubicant. "What about the King and Queen of Eblan??" Lugae's eyes lit up.
	"Yes, what of them? May I....use them??" he asked. Rubicant shot a cold look at his servant.	
	"Let them go." Golbez said. Everyone started shouting.
	"What?!!" 
	"They will warn the masses!!" Valvalis shrieked.
	"But...my experiments!!" Lugae blurted.
	"Ahem." Golbez said. "I didn't finish. We will exchange them for someone much more useful."
	"Who, Master? Who is more useful than the rulers of the Ninja?" Rubicant asked.
	"Their son, of course. Prince Edge of Eblan." Golbez said with a slight smile.
	"What good will he do..?" Lugae scowled.
	"I will use him as I did Kain." Golbez explained. 
	"Kain escaped, your excellency..." Kainazzo reminded. Golbez frowned at him.
	"He was much too attached to that 'Cecil'. Edge will be of more use to me."
	"His parents will never make such an exchange." Rubicant said.
	"They have no choice. We have the upper hand. Besides, Edge is immature and gullible. He will never suspect foul play if we trade him for his parents' freedom. In his overconfidence he will surely think he can escape us." Golbez explained.
	"Brilliant!" Valvalis crowed. Lugae frowned.
	"Can....I use.....the Prince?" he asked. 
	"NO!" Golbez shouted. "Go experiment on those imps or something. Be useful. Leave." Lugae left the room in a huff. Rubicant followed him, to make sure that he didn't kill the King and Queen in his rage.
	"Valvalis..." Golbez said. "I need you to do me a favor." 
	"Yes??" she asked eagerly.
	"I did not tell the others. I can trust only you for this, my pet. I need you to watch after Rosa for me," Golbez said, kissing her on the forehead.
	"Of course, My Master..." she cooed, vanishing. 
	Suddenly, Golbez heard a scream. The blonde girl ran into the room, tripping over the coils of rope she had been tied in. Lugae followed, with Rubicant behind him.
	"What did you do?! What happened?!" Golbez demanded.
	"He tried to turn the girl into an imp!" Rubicant accused.
	"I...I...no!" Lugae cried. "I was just running a few tests, and..." 
	"Leave her alone. We need her for something else. Stop experimenting on my captives, you fool! I will be leaving Bab-il soon. I'll be taking HER with me. After I make the exchange for Edge, that is. Once I'm gone, I don't want any troubling reports, do you hear?!" Golbez yelled.
	"Y-yes. Sir." Lugae said.
	"Keep an eye on him, will you?" Golbez said to Rubicant as he stormed from the chamber.
	"You idiot." mumbled Rubicant after he was gone.
	"M-my...experiments..." Lugae moaned.