The ride back to Ul'dah was thankfully uneventful. Alexander closed his eyes and rested his head against wall so he could think. He felt the cold wind change to temperate climate, then change again to the dry air he had become so accustomed to these last few years. His guards made passing comments on the weather and the political climate of things, but nothing of major note. They were foot soldiers, nothing more.
Finally the sounds of traffic surrounded them, merchants and travelers on foot, chocobo, and creaking cart. They were getting close. A glimpse towards the front of the cart revealed the great walls of the desert city ahead. He had not expected to see the city again so soon; after the supposed events of the evening surrounding the warrior of light he had not planned to return at all, and certainly not in cuffs, but there was a lot going on today that he had not anticipated. There was no sense in dwelling on it. No, he needed to figure out how to turn this to his advantage.
Before long they passed through the city gates. The noise and bustle crowded them as they made their way through the narrow streets. Surprisingly, he discovered the sounds of the city were almost soothing, as though he'd missed it in his time away. The sound of merchants plying their trade and people buying and selling at auction gave him the nostalgic sense of home, to the point it made him ache slightly. He didn't have long to reminisce however, as the sound of a nearby paperboy caught his ear.
"Read all about it! Crazy Captain found dead after escape! Body burned! Exclusive obituary in the Lantern!"
Alexander's eyes popped open as he shifted to look over the side of the cart towards the voice. He could barely see anything, given how much exertion it required just to turn his body around right now, but he already knew who they were talking about. Dogberry dead? That didn't add up. He had just seen him. The two had a very candid conversation after he had been freed of the primals' influence, unless...
A grin pulled up on Alexanders lip. 'Ah, I suppose that does make sense. Though why...? No, there must be another angle to this,' he thought to himself as he settled back into the cart. Maybe he could get more information wherever he was going.
A few minutes later and the cart came to a halt outside a rather plain looking house off the main street. The guards helped him to his feet and then slowly assisted him with getting out of the cart. They were doubly careful now; with him still cuffed to them both, it was clear that they did not need him falling from such a height with no real way to protect himself should he slip. Once he was out, they gave him his walking stick again and readjusted the handcuffs. He would be glad when they were done with this; the cuffs chaffed horribly when they walked.
Entering the building, Alexander got the sense that this was not the most official of places for holding a criminal. No, this place had other purposes, purposes where those conducting business could keep from being disturbed. A set of stairs leading up greeted them immediately, as well as a pair of Brass Blades sitting at a table on the first floor. They pointed to the back of the house and he was given a stiff shove, a silent warning to keep moving. He could hear quiet, hushed voices speaking upstairs as well, but was unable to make anything out. Regardless, there were people here, people with agendas and he imagined he might be a part of them.
The Crystal Braves moved him towards the back of the house, into a hallway where a series of doors met them. They opened the first one to a barren room with a table, a pair of stools and a small bed, with no windows. Alexander immediately realized that unless he could come up with something quick, this would be his residence and interrogation room for the duration of his stay. The Braves undid his shackles and let him loose in the room. Two of the Braves moved outside and closed the door behind him, while the other stood in front of the door, guarding it quietly.
Alexander walked over and sat down on the bed, sighing heavily as he waited. He was tired, sore, and hungry. He had not gotten to eat before they came for him in Coerthas and the dogs had not stopped to eat along the way. He shook his head, "Figures," he said, exhaling in frustration and laying down on the bed. If nothing else, perhaps he could get some sleep while he waited. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Finally the sounds of traffic surrounded them, merchants and travelers on foot, chocobo, and creaking cart. They were getting close. A glimpse towards the front of the cart revealed the great walls of the desert city ahead. He had not expected to see the city again so soon; after the supposed events of the evening surrounding the warrior of light he had not planned to return at all, and certainly not in cuffs, but there was a lot going on today that he had not anticipated. There was no sense in dwelling on it. No, he needed to figure out how to turn this to his advantage.
Before long they passed through the city gates. The noise and bustle crowded them as they made their way through the narrow streets. Surprisingly, he discovered the sounds of the city were almost soothing, as though he'd missed it in his time away. The sound of merchants plying their trade and people buying and selling at auction gave him the nostalgic sense of home, to the point it made him ache slightly. He didn't have long to reminisce however, as the sound of a nearby paperboy caught his ear.
"Read all about it! Crazy Captain found dead after escape! Body burned! Exclusive obituary in the Lantern!"
Alexander's eyes popped open as he shifted to look over the side of the cart towards the voice. He could barely see anything, given how much exertion it required just to turn his body around right now, but he already knew who they were talking about. Dogberry dead? That didn't add up. He had just seen him. The two had a very candid conversation after he had been freed of the primals' influence, unless...
A grin pulled up on Alexanders lip. 'Ah, I suppose that does make sense. Though why...? No, there must be another angle to this,' he thought to himself as he settled back into the cart. Maybe he could get more information wherever he was going.
A few minutes later and the cart came to a halt outside a rather plain looking house off the main street. The guards helped him to his feet and then slowly assisted him with getting out of the cart. They were doubly careful now; with him still cuffed to them both, it was clear that they did not need him falling from such a height with no real way to protect himself should he slip. Once he was out, they gave him his walking stick again and readjusted the handcuffs. He would be glad when they were done with this; the cuffs chaffed horribly when they walked.
Entering the building, Alexander got the sense that this was not the most official of places for holding a criminal. No, this place had other purposes, purposes where those conducting business could keep from being disturbed. A set of stairs leading up greeted them immediately, as well as a pair of Brass Blades sitting at a table on the first floor. They pointed to the back of the house and he was given a stiff shove, a silent warning to keep moving. He could hear quiet, hushed voices speaking upstairs as well, but was unable to make anything out. Regardless, there were people here, people with agendas and he imagined he might be a part of them.
The Crystal Braves moved him towards the back of the house, into a hallway where a series of doors met them. They opened the first one to a barren room with a table, a pair of stools and a small bed, with no windows. Alexander immediately realized that unless he could come up with something quick, this would be his residence and interrogation room for the duration of his stay. The Braves undid his shackles and let him loose in the room. Two of the Braves moved outside and closed the door behind him, while the other stood in front of the door, guarding it quietly.
Alexander walked over and sat down on the bed, sighing heavily as he waited. He was tired, sore, and hungry. He had not gotten to eat before they came for him in Coerthas and the dogs had not stopped to eat along the way. He shook his head, "Figures," he said, exhaling in frustration and laying down on the bed. If nothing else, perhaps he could get some sleep while he waited. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
