Just for the heck of it, I decided to slap this together. It is based on the first Fire Emblem (Having nothing to do with the real story), since I never played the newer one. Any characters I may end up inadvertently mentioning is not my property, but I will try to use characters that are my own creation.
Chapter One
And a random attack by brigands
In retrospect, they weren't really all that threatening, those bandits. However, they had some sense when they decided to attack the village. It didn't have much in the way of external defenses, not even a palisade to repel a small group. On top of that, they were no small group. On the contrary, they were a nigh company, at least a score and a half strong. Their leader also was a very sensible man, as far as brigands went, and under his leadership, they had shortly taken the peaceful hamlet as their new base of operations.
Benton was one of the few in the village actually of fighting age. He was forced to stay in his house, separated from anyone who could help him. He looked at the guards posted at his door, silently formulating a plan.
Meanwhile, a diminutive cloaked figure was backed into a corner, waving a dagger menacingly despite the obvious hopelessness. "Stay back! Don't come any closer, or I'll…"
The trio of thieves laughed. One of them grabbed the figure's thin arm, the weapon clattering harmlessly to the paved stones. The aggressor's free arm took off the wincing figure's hood, revealing the face of a young girl.
"Oy! Lookit, ee's just a lil' lass!" One of the flanking brigands laughed, "She thinks she can tak'is by 'er lonesome?"
The point thief sneered, an evil glint coming to his eyes, "So young… oh, the things I'm gonna do to you before I kill you!" That brought a chuckle from the group, "Don't worry mates, I'll leave some for you two…"
The young lady spat defiantly on her captor's face. With a growl, she was thrown to the ground, a dagger held at her chest.
"That's quite enough, blackguards!" All four of them turned to the voice, the girl beaming with delight, as the heavily armored man continued, "I offer you but one chance to apologize and walk away before I make you regret ganging up on an innocent child."
Back to the boy…
Benton saw his chance. He ran for the left guard, tackling him to the ground. He reached for the weapon the hapless bandit left leaning against the wall, a lance, and brought it to block just as the second brought a sword down. He brought the weapon high and lashed out with his foot, causing his opponent to fall back with a sizable hole in his defense, which Benton took no time taking advantage of. With a quick motion, he stabbed his opponent and withdrew the lance the moment he felt it break through flesh. He whipped around and stabbed down on the first guard who was just starting to get up.
In less than a minute, Benton was looking over two mortally injured men. His heart leapt in his chest, and he almost was sick, but anger quickly superseded any disgust he may have felt at what he had to do. He marched solemnly to a hut where two more thieves guarded. He raised his new weapon and finally found the nerve to speak.
"I am Benton Tempuer! First-born and only child of a man you so ruthlessly murdered! Release the woman you have imprisoned and I may be lenient with your lives!" He winced as the enemies began a bout of raucous laughter, "Then you leave me no choice; in the name of the Family Tempuer, prepare to feel my steel grate your heart." And he ran, weapon raised with intent to kill.
Scene change! Yay!
The armored man had his weapon in his hands in a flash, heavy sword grating along the ground as he advanced. The closest brigand had brought his ax in some semblance of a defense, but it was not enough. The sharpened steel hacked through the handle and continued along to the poor enemy's vulnerable torso.
The man spun around just in time to knock aside an arrow the second flank thief managed to fire off. The armored figure leapt into the air and cut the bowyer down with an overhand chop.
The last remaining man, the one over the little girl, panicked, grabbing the young lady and placing the knife over her throat. "Don't move, I will cut her! I will, don't you doubt that."
The armored man sighed, "You fight with a dagger, taking a hostage to gain an advantage, and you hide behind numbers as you terrorize the masses? What kind of man do you think you're trying to be?"
"Shut up! Don't move, or I will kill her! Besides, what would you gain helping her?" He jostled the dismayed girl.
The man sighed again, resting the sword over his shoulder, "You're right, perhaps I should leave that little girl to you. After all, she's so annoying. I might actually get some peace and quiet without…"
"Walter?" The little girl could not hide the pleading tone in her voice, or the tears welling in her eyes.
Walter looked shocked and annoyed at once, "Nora! I told you that I am called Grenbien when I work!" His face softened when he heard her begin to sob faintly, "Fret not, I suppose I'll play the hero again."
The thief held her tighter, "Hey! You're not saving anyone, you hear me? If you think of turning that sword on me, I'll…"
"Kill her?" Walter/Grenbien finished, feigning disgust, "Is that the only line you can bear to say in this situation. I assumed you would be able to think clearer when you thought you were in control of the situation, however untrue that may be." He enjoyed the look of surprise on his face as the brigand was blasted with a pure aura. Nora got out from under the thief's thumb as Walter came crashing in, Light Brand leading the way.
I notice scene changes happen a lot in this first chapter…
Just inside the building where Benton fought valiantly, a young woman huddled in a corner, clutching a book to her chest tight, "What's going to… happen to me here?" she asked the cloaked man who was busy sharpening his knife.
The man turned his amber eyes in her direction and offered the warmest smile he could muster, given the circumstances, "That depends." He said simply, putting down his whet stone, "First off, whether or not those two sluggards can deal with that gnat outside."
"And second?" she pressed, trying in vain to mask her fear.
The man stood, putting the knife on the chair and approaching slowly with his hands raised, "Second is whether or not you can cooperate with us." He knelt down, his face level with hers, despite her growing unease, "Can you keep a secret, young miss?"
The woman stared at him bewilderment before slowly nodding.
"Good, that's good." The man rose and moved back to his seat, "To tell you the truth, I never really cared for the life of a thief. Too much competition and no steady wages, you know? I'm thinkin' of switching tracks before it's too late. I'd like to start now, by saving you."
The girl brightened immediately, "You'd really do that? Oh thank you, I'd…"
"I'm not finished." He continued, "As I was about to say: The only real problem is, being a hero is nice and all, but there's nothing in it for me. Mayhap I'd consider it if there was some incentive…" He let the thought hang, his smile growing wider but not nearly as warm.
The woman stood, half listening to the man, half listening to the scuffle outside, which seemed to be winding down. She bowed with reverence, "I beg of you to help me, though I have no money to give to you."
The thief chuckled, walking back to her and running a hand through her hair, "Madam, rest assured I want no money from you. Why I have enough of that, more so if I become a hero. No, I think there is something you can offer me that is just a little bit more desirable than coin."
Was he… he was! The woman's face darkened unseen by the posturing cloaked man. She stared intently at the book she still held in her arms, and silently began muttering.
"Come now, Ma'am." The thief enticed, "What is there to think of? I am offering you salvation from these wretched murderers and cutthroat scumbags. Come now, what say you?"
His smile faded quickly as he saw the tome begin to glow. A very upset woman stared into his eyes and screamed but one word.
"Fire!"
What think? Please leave a review. Power in words, I'm out.