Snippet #1187042

Balthier didn't flinch as the light spilled over the two of them. Whatever it was, it was plain that even his expert piloting wouldn't free them of it; best to remain rational and see where it took him, no?

"Well, Fran, it would seem we are quite a bit off course at the moment," he said without too much inflection when the world once again became visible. They were presently flying over a vast plain, headed in the general direction of a castle-like structure. "Any idea where our little misdirection has put us?"

Fran shook her head, deeply concentrated over the navigation equipment, which had ceased to function entirely. Long, delicate fingers flicked over several switches and keys, but it was to no avail. Worse, though she could still feel Mist in this... place, it was not at all like the sort she was used to. It would still work magic, of this much she was certain, but... "It would seem we are in Ivalice no longer."

Balthier's expression briefly flashed to something inscrutable even for her, but settled quickly back into the sort of practiced neutrality that made him near impossible for most people to read. "My, my. It seems we are in for yet another adventure, so soon after our last, no less. I suppose it can't be helped; the leading man is ever in demand, after all." With a mischievous smile that had charmed many a woman but held no sway over his wary partner, he aimed the Strahl for the castle. This at least, she understood. Their best chance of finding out what was going on likely lay there. If whomever was within turned out to be hostile, well... they were not so easily defeated.

The airship made its landing in a clearing not too far away from the structure, and her captain and navigator disembarked, both regarding with hidden thoughts the landscape around them. Balthier rather thought it resembled the Giza Plains, minus the rock formations. he peered up at the castle, shading copper-colored eyes with one hand. Fran, for her part, was content to simply examine the surrounding area, at least until her sensitive ears picked up the sounds of motion.

Pivoting on one heeled foot, she held her bow at the ready, expecting a fiend of some sort, only to find herself in the company of two people. One was a young woman, perhaps the age of Balthier or the Queen Ashelia, the other a boy younger still, younger even than Vaan and Penelo had been. The viera relaxed; though these people seemed to be warriors, this by itself was not cause for concern. She guessed they were likely not local here either, from the smell of confusion that hung about them, but then this could just as easily be due to the Strahl, should this place not have airships. They were dressed a little oddly, but no so much so that it could tell her anything. The woman actually bore something of a resemblance to Ashe.

"Balthier," she said quietly, and her partner turned to face her, stopping mid-stride as he caught sight of the approaching travelers.

"Interesting," he mused, Archadian tones not betraying his surprise, if there was any. Could one ever truly be surprised when one knew not what to expect? He, unlike Fran, did not move for his weapons, though these strangers were clearly armed. It made sense, after a fashion: he did not wish to appear any more intimidating than necessary, and was quick enough on the draw that he could react easily enough should they choose to attack. "Greetings, my lady, young sir," he called, not without a certain self-effacing irony. "Mayhap you could tell us where we are? My companion and I seem to be lost."