Suikoden VI

Chapter One: Part Eleven

Note: The first poll result was revealed when this chapter was first published, that being who readers wanted to be the Chiyu Star, aka the detective Star. Here are the results of that poll:

Richmond (Suikoden II): 0

Kidd (Suikoden III): 0

Oboro (Suikoden V): 3

New Character: 2

As you see, Oboro won the poll and so he became the Chiyu Star for this story.

—

Part Eleven

They had spent all day fighting in the Great Cistern, so by the time they used the escape scroll to make it outside, night had already fallen. No words were spoken within the group as they readied their horses. Surya accepted Archana into his arms. Not once did the princess stir.

"I wish we had some way to immediately get back to the headquarters," Roen complained softly. "That way we could find out right away if she was okay."

Daunte wished the same thing, but he knew it was impossible. All they could do was steer their horses back home. And predictably, the trek home proved to be even more bothersome because more monsters were roaming the plains at night. None of them were in any mood to dawdle on random fights. If they couldn't simply run out on a battle then they made short, messy work of their foes.

It was even deeper into the night when they arrived back. There was almost no light coming from the castle, and even the guards on duty looked ready to fall asleep where they stood.

They tied their horses and began to dismount. Before Surya could do so however, Israfil was at his horse's side. "Prince, please allow me to carry her Ladyship from here on out."

"Thank you, General," Surya said, carefully lowering his cousin into Israfil's waiting arms. Then he swung out of his own saddle. "Dr. Clara is probably not awake, but we should definitely take Archana to the infirmary. I also want to see how Kaylani is."

"I'll speak with Lord Bearyl about sending scouts to Kõrkus," Gunther said. "Since Princess Archana announced the other princess's whereabouts in front of that crazy woman, she might be moved as well."

"They probably won't take her far though," Roen said. "Unlike the other Sheikh, Keha Hale's Garrison isn't a separate entity. It's integrated into Kõrkus. What they'll most likely do is move Princess Signe directly into the Garrison itself—it she wasn't there already."

"Right," Gunther said, his tone still quite grim.

The main hall was still quiet. Gunther broke away from the party to head upstairs to meet with Bearyl Lutis, while the rest headed down to the infirmary. Daunte was relieved to see Clara's note gone from the door, but even before they reached the door a sound emitted from the other side that caused them all to stop in their tracks.

It was the sound of a baby crying.

Surya gasped, and took off running towards the infirmary. The rest followed him as the prince burst inside. "Kaylani!"

Daunte followed inside. His eyes first found Arin and he saw that his little brother was wide awake. The child looked like he'd just woken up, but he didn't look annoyed. Daunte went to sit at his bedside as the others went over to Kaylani. Freyr was sitting on the empty bed beside Kaylani's, watching her anxiously.

"My Lady, are you all right?" Mokuren said softly. Kaylani was lying in a hospital bed, and Silvano was sitting at her bedside gently snuggling a bundle in his arms. Kaylani looked exhausted, but she definitely looked in better shape than Daunte expected.