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They reached Jahara, Land of the Garif, just before dusk. They were all tired, cold, and hungry, but Ashe insisted on speaking with the Elders right away. She needed to know how to harness the power of the nethicite, so that she might get her kingdom back. They were finally told to seek the Great-Chief in a hut in the highest part of the village.

The group went in and Ashe handed the Dawn Shard to the Great-Chief. "This Nethicite -- you have used it," he said in a deep, gravelly voice.

Ashe shook her head. "It was not I who used it. Indeed I had hoped you could show me how. Thus I've come."

The Garif regarded her solemnly. "You do not know the workings of the stone. Then we are no different."

Ashe looked at him, her brow furrowed, eyes questioning. "What?" she asked, confused.

"In ages past, the Gods made a gift of Nethicite to my people. But the manner of its use eluded us. Displeased by our failure, the

Gods took back their stones. They chose instead to give them to a Hume King. Called the Dynast-King, he used the Nethicite’s power to bring peace to a troubled time. It is a curious thing. Though the blood of Raithwall flow through your veins, you cannot wield Nethicite," the Elder explained, calling forth visions of the past in the smoke of his bonfire.

"Cannot wield it?" Ashe asked, puzzled. "Then, am I to understand that you cannot tell me how to use the stone?"

"Though it shame me so to admit. Here before me stands a descendent of the Dynast-King himself ... and I can accord her no help at all. Still, even if you knew how to use the Nethicite, you would find it of small avail. The Mist collected in the stone over ages past is lost, and with it the stone’s power. It will be your posterity who wield the stone in ages yet to come."

The group looked at the Great-Chief in silence. Vaan cast a glance in Ashe's direction. He felt bad for her. They'd come all this way, only to end up right back where they'd started.

"The stone is devoid of power," the Great-Chief concluded. "Empty, yet full of thirst. A terrible longing to drink the world dry. The power of men, and of Magick. Of good, and of evil. It is often those who desire Nethicite whom the Nethicite itself desires."

They heard the sound of footsteps approaching from outside, and Ashe turned around to see who it was.

"Larsa?" Penelo asked incredulously.

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Later that night, Ashe stood outside, thinking about what Larsa had said. He had told her that they should make all haste to Mt. Bur-Omisace. The Gran Kiltias Anastasis, he said, could give her the validation she would need to reclaim her throne, and help stop this war that Larsa felt was imminent between Archadia and Rozarria.

"Why should I help the Empire?" Ashe had demanded of the young man.

"Because Dalmasca would be the battleground!" he'd said imploringly. "What if they used Nethicite on Rabanastre? You know my brother would do this!" At Ashe's steely look, Larsa backed down. "Forgive me, I presumed overmuch. I could think of no other way to avoid bloodshed. If you cannot trust me, then please, take me as your hostage."

Ashe was still thinking about his words as she walked down the hill, toward one of the Garif's bridges over the River Sogoht. It was then that she saw him. "Rasler?" she said in disbelief, running to the bridge where her husband was standing.

But as she approached, the apparition faded until she saw that it was only Vaan, looking out over the water. "You saw him, didn't you? Like at Raithwall's tomb?"

Ashe walked up beside the younger boy. "So you did see him, too." Her brow furrowed. "But why?"

"It’s strange," Vaan said. "Before all this started, I didn't even know what you looked like. And the Prince? I barely even knew there was a Prince. Who knows? Maybe the person I saw at the tomb was my brother."

"Basch told me about him," Ashe said sympathetically. She had lost brothers in this war, as well.

"He enlisted, right at the end. But why? He knew we couldn't win."

"To protect something," Ashe said simply.

"How can he protect anything if he's dead?" Vaan said angrily. "Was it different for Prince Rasler? Did that make sense?" Ashe could think of nothing to say, so she just smiled sadly. "Hating the Empire, getting revenge, that was all I ever thought about. But I never did anything about it. I'd just say that I was gonna be a Sky Pirate ... or something other stupid thing. Just anything to keep my mind off of it. I was just -- running away. I needed to get away from his death. That's why I followed you."

Ashe cocked her head to the side, interested. "I'm through running," he said firmly. "I'm ready to find my purpose. To find some real answers -- some reasons. If I stick with you, I think I will."

Ashe just shook her head. "I wish I knew," she said sadly.

"I'll find 'em," Vaan said resolutely.

After talking to Vaan, Ashe wandered back to the hut the Jahara had generously bestowed upon the party for the night. Penelo was talking animatedly with Larsa in one corner. Ashe wondered if that's why Vaan had been outside, walking around so dejectedly. The corners of her mouth quirked up. Jealous, Vaan? she wondered.

"Penelo, I'm sorry to interrupt," Ashe said, approaching the two.

"Not at all," Penelo said kindly.

"Have you seen Basch?"

"He's speaking with the War-Chief. Fran went with him," Balthier said from behind Ashe.

Penelo smiled. "Yeah. What he said." She went back to her conversation then.

Ashe turned to Balthier, motioned for him to follow her out to the back of the hut. She walked slowly, hands behind her back. "I wanted to apologize for this morning," she said. "I should not have done that."

"Apology accepted. Next time I kiss you, I hope you won't be so eager to run away," Balthier said smugly.

Ashe's eyes narrowed. "I'm apologizing for the kiss itself. It shouldn't have happened. There will not be a next time. And I think that you should apologize to me." Her chin was set at that haughty level again.

Balthier laughed. "You're apologizing for a kiss that should, by all rights, go into the record books? And you expect me to follow suit?" He shook his head. "No dice, Princess. I will not apologize for that kiss. And neither should you." He looked at her pointedly.

"You -- you're insufferable!" Ashe stammered.

"That may be, but it seems to work for you."

"No, it doesn't," Ashe said viciously. "It was a temporary lapse in judgement, a moment of weakness. You have -- no effect on me me whatsoever."

"Is that so?" Balthier said challengingly.

"Yes," Ashe said firmly.

"Well, in that case --" He grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her off the ground. He kissed her firmly and roughly on the mouth and then set her down. He smirked triumphantly at the way her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath; the way her eyes had gone glassy with desire. He started to walk past her into the hut, and paused. His lips brushed her earlobe as he whispered, "I plan on kissing you again. I've planned on kissing you often and much since the first time I saw you."

Trying to ignore the shivers running down her spine, Ashe turned to him. "Do I not have a say in all of this?" she demanded.

He shrugged. "If it will make you feel better, Princess, I won't kiss you again until you ask me."

"Are you so sure I will ask you?" she said defiantly. All she was left with was his laughter as he went back inside.

Shaking her head angrily, she kicked at the dirt. "Of all the egoistical bastards! Well, we'll see who gets the last laugh. I wouldn't ask him to kiss me if he were the last man in Ivalice!"

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The next morning, Ashe was awake and ready to go before anyone else. She sat outside the hut in the pre-dawn light, waiting to see the sunrise light up the horizon. She sipped a cup of strong Garif tea and mulled over their latest objective. Larsa had said the Gran Kiltias could help, so that's where they would go.

"You're up early," Penelo's voice shook Ashe from her musings. "Are you nervous about the Gran Kiltias?"

Ashe regarded the younger girl fondly. She imagined, had she grown up differently, she and Penelo might be very much alike. "I haven't reached nervous yet," Ashe confessed. "I'm just thinking, really. About many things."

Penelo bit her lip, wondering if she should say anything to Ashe about what she had seen last night. "About Balthier?" she proceeded cautiously.

"What?" Ashe said, feeling her cheeks flame. "How did you --?"

Penelo looked down sheepishly. "After talking to Larsa last night, I went outside. I - I was looking for Vaan. I heard voices out back, and I thought it might be him. It -- wasn't." She laughed nervously.

"What -- exactly did you see?" Ashe asked, trying to stay calm.

"I saw him kiss you," Penelo confessed. "And then I went back inside, I promise! Oh, Ashe ..." Penelo's green eyes had a far-off, dreamy look to them.

"Oh, no, don't you get that look in your eyes for him," Ashe scolded.

"But, he's terribly handsome, and so charming," Penelo contested.

Ashe rolled her eyes skyward. "Indeed. And he knows it, too." She shook her head. "What you witnessed last night was Balthier giving a fine performance as the world's most cock-sure, egoistical male pig."

"But -- he likes you, Ashe," Penelo said. "Why else would he even bother?"

"The thrill of the chase? The conquest of it all," Ashe suggestedly sourly.

"If all he wanted was a conquest, don't you think he'd set his sights on someone a bit more -- obtainable?" Penelo asked. She squeezed Ashe's arm. "Either way, you're incredibly strong for being able to resist him. I know that I couldn't, were he to look at me that way."

"How did you become so smart?" Ashe asked her companion.

"Four older brothers, plus Vaan. I know how men act," Penelo said with a grin.

Ashe smiled finally. "I had eight older brothers myself. They taught me how to swordfight, but I never bothered to see how they interacted with the Ladies at court. Never thought it was important. To royalty, flirting and courting are just a game. A game I never mastered." She sighed. "And here I am, facing off against a master of all forms of the game."

"You're scared of him," Penelo concluded sagely.

"No, Penelo. I'm terrified." She looked at the younger girl in a near-panic. "You cannot tell anyone any of this. Promise me!" She hadn't meant to bark at the gril, but if any of this got back to Balthier ...

"Ashe, it's okay. I won't say a word," Penelo reassured the Princess.

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Later that morning, the group gathered near the exit of Jahara, discussing their next course of action. "I will accompany you to Mt. Bur-Omisace," Ashe told Larsa.

He smiled. "I had hoped you'd say yes. I'm glad."

She followed him away from the others, still discussing the upcoming trip. "My heart is not set. I still have questions, and I hope to find answers along the way," she said, and couldn't help but glance back at Balthier as she spoke.

"I had another reason for asking you," Larsa said. "There is someone on Mt. Bur-Omisace I want you to meet. An enemy, and an ally also. You'll have to see for yourself when we get there."

"That Larsa sure likes his secrets," Vaan commented, coming up behind Ashe.

She smiled. "He doesn't mean ill by it."

"He's not bad," Vaan said, shrugging. "For an Imperial." Ashe laughed a little, and along with Penelo, they followed Larsa.

Basch stood back a way and watched them. "Holy Mt. Bur-Omisace stands at the northern end of the Jagd Ramooda. Once we’re in Jagd, we need not fear pursuit by their airships," he said to Balthier and Fran.

"Don't get your hopes up," Balthier commented. "Remember the Leviathan sailed straight over the Jagd Yensa, right up to Raithwall's Tomb. Skystone that works even in Jagd. You know Nethicite’s behind it. Little wonder they’re so keen on the stuff."

Basch regarded the younger man carefully before he continued. "And what of you, Balthier? You're a welcome hand, and a great aid, but why?"

"Worried I'm out to steal the Nethicite, are you?" Balthier asked smugly. "Can't say I'm unaccustomed to people doubting my intentions, but I assure you, nothing could be farther from my mind."

"And what of Ashe?" Basch implored.

"What of her?" Balthier shot back. "Worried I'm out to steal your Princess? That, my good friend, is something you will have to take up with her. I never was one to kiss and tell."

The look on Basch's face was priceless -- confused and angry, and not sure which one to be more of. "I met to discuss with you the sleeping arrangements back in Rabanastre," he finally said to the sky pirate. "It should not have happened that way. From now on, I trust that you will not be sleeping in such close quarters with the Princess."

"Again, something you'll have to take up with Ashe," Balthier said. He motioned for Fran to follow him as they exited the village. "I'm only here to see how the story unfolds. Any self-respecting leading man would do the same."

Basch watched the sky pirates walk away, vowing to have a very serious discussion with Her Royal Highness about acceptable rules of conduct at the next possible juncture.