Jowy said nothing.

A Muse soldier stood in front of the door. "Halt, Highlanders! The gates of Muse are closed, especially to the likes of you."

The first guard flashed an official-looking paper in front of the Muse soldier's face. "We have received permission from Lady Anabelle herself to enter to speak for the fallen Unicorn Brigade."

The Muse solder eyed the paper warily. "Looks official enough. I don't trust you Highland scum. You wait right there while I verify this with Lady Anabelle."

He left, leaving another soldier to replace him. A few minutes later, the first Muse soldier returned. His eyes were narrowed angrily.

"Lady Anabelle has given her permission." the Muse soldier said through clenched teeth. "You may proceed. However, if I hear any word of you Highland scum misbehaving, I'll personally have your heads."

"Believe me, we will uphold Highland's honor and behave." the second guard saluted.

The large gates opened. The two Highland guards marched in briskly followed by a sad Jowy. The Muse guards wondered who he was - a prisoner or a hostage?

As soon as they entered, the gates sealed shut.

"Now we will go to see Lady Anabelle." the first guard announced.

"Excuse me..." Jowy spoke up. "If it's not too inconvenient, may I please stop by the item shop for a few minutes?"

"Of course it's inconvenient, soldier!" the first guard snapped. "We have not the most time in the world. We cannot keep Lady Anabelle waiting."

"As well, as our status as Highlanders, we will most likely be sent out of Highland once we arrive." Jowy countered. "Should that be so, I will not have the time to run a quick errand for a dear friend. If Highland's honor holds true, you have promised not to harm me in any manner. If I am not allowed to run this errand, I will be hurt seeing dear Pilika's crying face. Please let me go, for Pilika's sake."

The first guard clenched his teeth. Above being a soldier, he did not like seeing other hurt, especially the crying face of a young girl. "All right, fine. But hurry up."

"Thank you." Jowy bowed and was on his way.

The first guard sighed. "I'm tellin' ya, there's somethin' different about that Atreides kid that I can't put a finger on."

"I know what you mean." the second guard nodded. "He stands out from the others. I wonder if he's the one destined to lead Highland that King Agares was babbering about..."

The two guards looked at each other. "Nah! Prince Ruka would burn anyone that even thinks of opposing him. Ha ha haha hahaha...heheheh..."

Then they shut up and stood at ready.

Jowy quietly entered the item shop. The shopkeeper seemed too preoccupied so Jowy decided to wait. After a few minutes, he realised the shopkeeper will not notice him anytime soon.

"Pardon me..."

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man that goes by the last name Kethran, eyed the blond haired one. "What do you want?" he demanded. "Er, sorry about that. Busy time of year. I understand the checkpoints being closed off, but why the hell did Lady Anabelle have to shut Muse's gates as well?! This'll really ruin my business. Anyway, sorry about that, young man. What can I get ya?"

'The checkpoints have been sealed off?' Jowy thought. 'That must mean the North Sparrow Pass as well.'

"AHEM!"

Jowy snapped out of his deep thinking. "Yes. How much are you willing to sell this wood amulet for?"

Mr. Kethran looked with confusion at the wood amulet Jowy pointed to. "Huh, that? That amulet is just a piece of junk someone left behind. Why the hell would someone want to buy that?"

"A dear friend wished me to buy that for her." Jowy said.

Mr. Kethran saw the seriousness in the boy's eyes. Besides, this would be a great opportunity to make a tidy sum off an object found on the streets. "Well fine. I'll sell it for 500 poch."

"500 poch?" Jowy blinked.

"Well, ya still want it or what?" Mr. Kethran tapped his foot.

Jowy reached for his wallet. He searched for that extra spare change but found that he had little than 25 poch left. 'I suppose I wasn't paying attention to how much money I gave the children in Toto...'

"Well?!"

The blond boy sighed. He had only one last resort. He looked at the ring that rested on his finger. His father had given the ring to him as a symbol of being an Atreides. Though lately his father paid less and less attention to him. Marcel Atreides will not notice if the ring disappeared. And besides, it's for a good cause...

"How much will you sell for this ring?"

Mr. Kethran inspected the ring. "M-my god...this ring's material alone is worth 2000 poch...!" he exclaimed shakily. "H-here's your wood amulet. And...and here's your change." He handed Jowy the wood amulet as well as 1500 poch in change.

"Thank you." Jowy bowed politely and left the building. As he left, he heard the storekeeper grumble about losing money on a piece of junk.

The door closed. Mr. Kethran slumped back, still in disblief of what happened.

"Who is that boy anyway?" he wondered aloud. He gave the ring a closer inspection. Delicately carved on the face was a corperate symbol all too familiar to his eyes. "Why, this is..."

"...the family and corperate symbol of the Atreides family, correct?" a snide voice stated as a matter of factly.

Mr. Kethran glanced at the boy who just arrived. He was young, had the same shade of blond hair as the earlier young man and similar eyes, except his face was covered with an eternal sneer. "Who are you?" Mr. Kethran demanded.

"I am Marco Atreides." the boy stated, flashing a similar ring.

"A-A-Atreides!! Even a low-life like me knows the power behind the wealthy family corperate." Mr. Kethran backed to the wall. "What honor allows you to grace me with your presence."

"Enough of the small talk, peasant." Marco snapped. "Let me see the ring."