"Nothing will change." her voice trailed off weakly.
"Is that what you want?"
"I want back the man who found me so maddening.. the one whom I find equally so."
He looked away, perhaps for the first time he was unable to meet her gaze.
"I told you how I feel. It doesn't matter. You cannot help me."
"Because you do not let me! Just as I try to get close to you, you push me further away!"
"What would you have me do?" he snapped.
Her silence was more than enough of an answer to him.
V
For two days Coatleque wandered the Western Highlands. She moved slowly, eyes always wary as she searched for anything - any sign of Dheres's passing. The blizzard some nights before had covered over any tracks, and to her chagrin there was nothing. Not a witness, no caravan, not even a strawberry blonde hair visible against the constant white glare of the land before her.
Despite the weather holding this long, she was cold, wet, and utterly miserable. She was no stranger to life on the road, but even this had begun to stretch her limits. She slept little if at all, huddled around a pitiful fire and surrounded by feathers as her bird wisely kept close for the good of them both. Only when dark clouds began to threaten the skies again did she make her way back to Falcon's Nest to resupply and consider her options again.
The road to the city had been blocked once more which meant supplies would triple in price. It did not matter how she argued, tried to bargain, exchange favors. House Dzemael's merchants would not move a gil on their prices until the road was cleared again. One did offer a small discount if she would just 'give him a peek'. This prompted a short, humorless 'hah' before she stormed off again.
To the commander she went a second time to request information. She needed to know how far to the next settlement at least. Perhaps she could reach it before the storm grew too thick. From there she could venture further into the Highlands if necessary, or so she thought. The commander urged her to reconsider though. Even the residents knew it would be her death to be caught in the Highlands after dark now.
"If ye'll take my advice, ye'll find a warm place an' a warm bowl an' wait out his weather, lass. Favors from a High House is rarer than a crow with three feet for most of us, aye?"
"And if I do not heed your advice?"
He tugged his wool-lined cap a bit lower against a frigid blast of wind from the approaching storm. "If yer wise, ye will. They dun make winters down south like we get 'em here."
It was far from ideal, but the commander was right. She had little and less to go on now and if she also perished in the storm there would be no chance that either of them were found. Coatleque bought what few supplies she could afford as well as a room at the inn for the remainder of the night. Now penniless, still cold, and dejected, she tried to sleep till first light of the next morning.
Her mount was nearly packed and saddled as the sun finished cresting over the horizon. She tugged upon the saddle straps to be sure everything was secure and had almost climbed atop when she was interrupted by one of the stewards of the garrison.
"Mornin', miss. No luck with that Thaelys bugger, eh?"
She turned and recognized him as one of those in the mess-hall who had happily drank whatever her coin provided a few nights prior. By his look he was still very much appreciative of that. She shook her head as she turned back to what she was doing. "Not a trace of anyone. It seems Halone's favor trumps any good luck charm of mine this day." Her voice lowered to a murmur. "I do not know how the Champion did it."
She spoke of the man on griffon back of course. News around the 'Nest was that he had found and returned one of Haillenarte's lost patrols in the area. It galled her greatly that he could find six men and she could not find even one. "Fury's favor, and long wings, ma'am." The steward continued. "But you know he didn't go through that gate, right? T'was the southern one."
"Well of course he did," she scoffed still not looking back. "When he returned with the soldiers he recovered. Wait..." She stopped. A lump began to rise in her throat. "Who did?"
"Thaelys, ma'am. Wasn't it him you was askin' for?"
Coatleque's hands tightened around the straps of the barding, her shoulders trembled as she leaned forward. Her eyes closed as her forehead met the bird's side. It looked back to her with its dark, beady eyes and cocked head. "You are telling me," she stammered slowly, "that the mercenary trailing the man I am looking for left in the opposite direction?"
"Aye, ma'am. Thaelys an' the other one went back through the southern gate after he was done losin'."
"Other one? What other one?" She whirled around then, realizing just how badly she had erred. "I thought Swiftblade was alone!"
"No ma'am. He took someone with 'im. Didn't Ralfie tell ya that?"
"He did not recognize them. He said they came from the north. Could have been anyone." Her lips quivered. "I had thought it was someone else matching the description." She grabbed the chocobo's reins and turned for the southern gate. "Is the road south clear yet?"
"Not all the way, ma'am, but enough fer foot traffic."
She nodded once, pressing herself once more to the side of the bird. She sighed into his feathers. "So long as I can make it back." She hoisted herself into the saddle. "I would buy you another round, but I think you've all had enough." Her heart sank again as her lead between here and Dheres widened even further. To the city again she rode off.
