Hello!

If you've never read one of my fics before- hi! Good to see you, new person! If you're here because you read Kit's Saga or A Pair of Queens... Hey, how you doing?

I'm pretty excited for this fic, so I'm just going to let you read on. Follow and favourite if you like what I'm doing here, or review and tell me what you think.

Onwards!

Chapter 1

The arrow thudded into the target, quivering there for a second. Kit lowered the bow, staring at where the arrow hit. He sighed. Still not as good as Virion, despite the man's efforts to teach him. He headed inside, hanging the bow on its hook.

Inside, Lissa sat with their baby son Owain cradled in her arms. She looked up as Kit walked in.

"Really, Kit." She scolded, but there was no anger. "You don't need to practise your fighting every day."

"Chrom did ask me to, dear." Kit held up his hands placatingly. "I can't argue with the Exalt, even if he is my brother-in-law. He already had a training groud set up in the grounds when he gave us this manor."

Lissa rolled her eyes. "I wish Chrom wouldn't make you do this."

"It's not just me, he's asked a few of the other Shepherds to train as well." Kit replied. "And it's not as if I need to work- Chrom's been giving us money since the wedding."

"I still feel like the medals were a bit much, though." Lissa remarked. Kit looked over at the two medals, presented to them by a beaming Chrom for the success of Gangrel's assassination. "The rest of the Shepherds are just as brave as us."

Kit sighed. "I know, but Chrom looked so proud. I couldn't object." He smiled again. "Enough about that. How is my boy?" Owain's tiny face grinned up at him as Kit looked.

"Fine." Lissa smiled. "Thankfully that cold he had cleared up fast."

"With the best healer in Ylisse looking after him, he'll be fighting fit in no time whatever he gets sick, I'm sure." Kit grinned.

Three sharp raps rang out against the door. Both Kit and Lissa turned their heads to look, and Kit started to head towards the door, gesturing for Lissa to sit down. Still with Owain in her arms, the healer settled back onto the couch.

Kit opened the door to see a guard in the royal uniform. His eyes widened.

"Is Chrom alright?" The tactician asked.

"Exalt Chrom is perfectly fine, but requests your presence at the castle by noon tomorrow for an emergency meeting." The guard said, in the level tones of all guards. "He did not share the details with me, before you ask."

"An emergency meeting?" Lissa frowned as Kit returned. "I hope it's nothing to do with Plegia again."

Kit shrugged. "The messenger didn't give any details. Just that Chrom's summoned me for a meeting. I just hope it's nothing too serious..."

Usually, Ylisse's palace was a hive of activity- servants and butlers rushing around, fetching, carrying, cleaning. Today, however, the mood was solemn. Even as Kit walked in, his wife by his side, he could tell that something was wrong.

As Kit started to open the door, a shout made him turn around.

"Kit! Woo-hoo!"

An ecstatic Nowi crashed into him, flinging her arms around his waist and burying her face in his stomach. Smiling, Kit returned the hug, leaning down to drape his arms around the youthful manakete's shoulders.

"And Lissa too!" She yelled, embracing her in the same excited manner. Ricken appeared not long after, panting and out of breath from trying to keep up with Nowi.

"Oh, Kit... So Chrom invited... You here too?" He managed between gasps.

"I could say the same to you." Kit smirked. "What have you two been doing with yourselves? I've not heard from you since the wedding!"

"Studying mostly. I made it into the Mages' University!" The young wizard announced. I moved into... What did they call it... Student accommodation, I think. It's just a tiny little house, but it's cosy."

Kit smiled at his friend. He'd heard of the University- it was every mage's dream to study their craft there. For a long time, he'd known that it was Ricken's highest ambition.

"What about Nowi?" He asked.

"We live together." Ricken replied, blushing slightly. "I- Uh... It's not-"

Kit laughed. "It's fine. Really." He turned towards the castle, his smile turning into a grimace. "I just wonder why Chrom would have called you too..."

Chrom's expression was grim. Even as more of the Shepherds arrived- Cordelia, Lon'qu, Gaius, Panne, Olivia- his face hardly moved.

"Shepherds, it is my pleasure to see you again." He announced finally. "While I know that this should be a joyous occasion, I bring grave news."

Kit stiffened. This was serious.

"The nation of Valm has made an attack on Ylisse. We have heard that a man named Walhart the Conqueror now owns large parts of the western continent, and wishes to take our lands too." The others gasped at this news.

"Wait... They have already attacked?" Kit asked. "Was anyone...?"

"One sailor was murdered by them for objecting." Chrom said gravely. "But no Shepherds or Ylissean soldiers were killed."

The tactician breathed a sigh of relief, mixed with grief at an innocent man's death.

"So... Why have we been called here?" Asked Lissa, fearing that she already knew the answer. Worming her hand into her husband's for comfort, she repeated: "Chrom?"

The Exalt paused a moment before replying. "The current plan is to have the Ylissean army, and most of the Shepherds, defend the country from invaders. We may also ask Ferox and Plegia for aid. But you..." He looked around at the assembled Shepherds. "You have a special mission. This small group will be sent to Valm, and will..." He took a deep breath. "You will assassinate Walhart the Conqueror himself."

To everyone's surprise, Kit leaned back and nodded.

"It makes perfect tactical sense. Send one small team to remove the leader of their army, and it will all crumble around them."

"But- wait-" Lissa protested. "We... We have a family! What about the rest of us? We can't just up and leave!"

Chrom raised a hand, gently cutting off her arguments. "I know. Believe me, this was not an easy choice to make." His voice broke, just slightly. "Do you think I want to start a war so soon after my daughter was born? That is why I ask you- No, I beg of you- to end this quickly."

Looking around at the faces of his team, Kit reached a decision.

"We accept the mission."