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Poor Disguise

So, Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca does yet live.

There were rumors that her suicide was false, but after two years without an appearance from the wayward Princess, most had given up. I never particularly cared if she was alive or not; the Empire would destroy her, in the end. Will destroy her, most likely.

She offers the name Amalia. The young thief-- Vaan-- does not seem to know who she is, despite the fact he claims to be a native Rabanastran.

The Princess looks back the way she came, frowning. "There were others with me..."

Fran bows her head in a display of sympathy. "I'm sorry."

"No..." The Princess begins to speak-- what she was disagreeing with, I can't say. A sudden glow from Vaan's hands catches her attention.

The stone he stole from us glows brightly. I tilt my head to the side, studying the young woman. Her eyes widen, and she draws in a sharp breath.

"Well, isn't that impressive..." I comment. The magicite only lights up for the Princess; normally Fran, with her close bonds to the Mist, has some sort of effect on magicite. Interesting.

"Don't get any ideas," Vaan snaps, hugging the stone close to his chest. "I said it's mine."

I smirk. "The jury's still out on that one." He may have gotten to the treasury first, but I'm quite confident that I'm the better thief. I'll win this one yet.

"You stole that?!" The Princess looks offended. I suppose she has some right; this is her palace we're breaking into, strictly speaking.

"Yeah," Vaan says proudly.

"Have you finished?" Fran cuts in. "When the guards don't report in, they'll come looking for us."

"If they haven't already." This whole affair smells of a trap for the resistance: the lax security, the sudden appearance of the Ifirit... and since Her Majesty's suicide obviously was an Imperial ploy, Vayne no doubt has every guard in the palace searching for her.

What a wonderful person to have join our little band of adventurers. I'm turning to leave when Vaan speaks.

"You should come with us," Vaan says, and I smother the urge to throttle the boy. "Rather than being by yourself."

The Princess looks in the direction she came from, then sighs heavily. "Very well." She moves past us, her walk one that only royalty seem to perfect. Somehow, they manage to make power and condescension into a stroll.

"What's wrong with her?" Vaan mutters to me.

"You have a lot to learn before we even get started on your thievery," I reply, then follow the Princess.

"What's that mean?" Vaan asks, slogging through the water.

Her Royal Majesty regards us with no small measure of distaste. I make direct eye contact with her and smirk, knowing it will infuriate her. She stares me down for a few moments, obviously expecting me to look away. I let my expression become even more smug, and she huffs angrily and looks towards Vaan.

"The situation requires I accept such help I can find... though it be from thieves. I shall accompany you until we find my companions. No longer." She makes it sound as though she's doing us a favor by gracing us with her presence.

Ah, to be in the company of royalty. My face is fixed in a mischievous smile. Fran catches my expression and shoots me a warning look. She wants me to behave myself.

"Well then," I say, clasping my hands together and directing my little speech towards Vaan. "We'll keep to our affairs, and she to hers. She probably won't be taking orders from anyone soon, and she'll leave when she pleases. I doubt we'll find her lacking in valor... being such an upstanding member of the insurgence." My tone is dripping with false flattery by the end. Vaan nods. My back is to the Princess, but I can feel the heat of her glare on my back.

"Resistance." The Princess snaps, correcting me. She turns on her heel and walks regally down the sewer passage. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

If not profitable, this trip to Rabanastre is certainly turning out to be quite entertaining.