The sun was warm on his skin and the breeze played at his beard. All about them peaceful and serene but for the occasional distant grumble of a bound bandit, barely audible. Sabin sat there in the grass and listened intently to Celes' tale of a new mercenary life in this bright new world. The children had found something else to occupy them, their laughter trailing off behind the farmhouse. The logistics of mercenary work didn't hold their attention like it held Sabin's. He imagined Celes dispatching a ragtag crew that looked not unlike the Returners for he had no other image to draw from.

He nodded along and made agreeable sounds. It seemed a straightforward operation, and not a bad way of living. In truth the money didn't much interest him. He never had use for it when he was a prince and he had even less use for it when he lived in a cabin in the foothills of Mt. Koltz. Nothing but weight in his pockets, and not even heavy enough to help him exercise. But helping people who needed it? That was well within his purview. He'd do it for free, but he supposed that might undercut his friend's entire operation. In his mind's eye her mysterious co-founder bore a striking resemblance to a stubborn, determined knight of Doma.

As Celes rose so too did Sabin. He dusted grass and dirt from his loosefitting pants with his palms and then brushed his palms off against each other. He looked past Celes to the bundle of bandits in question, and then he nodded his head toward the road.

"I won't even charge you for the service. Lead the way, boss!" he said with a big bright grin. He turned back to the farmhouse and waved at the farmer and his wife.

"I'm hitting the road! Thanks for the chow!" he called up to the house. The farmer and his wife waved back and called out their thanks. The kids ran back, appearing around the corner of the farmhouse one after the other, yelling their goodbyes. "See you around, kiddos! Don't get into any trouble!" Sabin shouted back.

Then he turned and proceeded with Celes to attend to the matter of the bandits. Only one of them lifted his head to regard them with a sullen scowl, face mottled blue and purple. Another one spat into the grass. If it was supposed to be a defiant act it failed.

Sabin separated out two from the lot and hoisted them one over each shoulder like sacks of flour. They protested weakly and Sabin seemed not to hear them. When one struggled, Sabin shrugged and drove his shoulder into the bandit's stomach and he grunted and ceased. He looked at Celes.

"Ready when you are."

-----
Celes Chere