Fire Emblem: Spirit of the Sword

FE is not mine, though the Tactician is.

Strategy 1: A Maiden of Sacae

"Are you awake?"

The faint softness of the voice stirred him to wake. Honey yellow eyes opened to meet the deep sea green ones of a young maiden dressed in Sacaen garb. She was at a small table with a wooden bowl in her hands, probably her meal. The smell of rabbit and venison with carrots and other vegetables met his senses, the food smelled wonderful.

His wounds bit at him, though his face didn't show it. He was quite content to stay put under the warmth of the blankets. He found it ironic that death hadn't come for him that night.

"I have to admit; finding you unconscious on the plains was the last thing I expected to find while hunting. I am Lyn of the Lorca tribe. You should be safe for a while."

She finished putting away the bowl and her other utensils before coming to sit by the bed. He noticed that she was quite attractive, young and vibrant. Chuckles echoed in his mind.

'I'm safe now am I? How does she conclude that?'

"Can you manage to tell me your name?"

He tensed his muscles and then relaxed them, bringing himself to a more awakened state to answer the girl's questions.

"Shimanyo Kocoi, Shiyo for short."

"Your name is Shimanyo? What an odd-sounding name . . ."

The classic look of oddity and confusion crossed her face. The wounded man smirked and chuckled some more. A mortified look took over her features and she hastily corrected her error.

"My apologies, I'm being so rude. It isn't respectful to judge a person's name without knowing them." She continued on. "Judging by the clothes you were wearing you're no ordinary vagabond. May I ask what brings you here to the Sacae Plains? I don't usually have the opportunity to talk to others who aren't from around here."

A loud crash from the outside disturbed their rather one-sided conversation. Lyn looked toward the door flap of her tent. Shimanyo frowned deeply, and then calmed his facial expression to neutrality. His ears had picked up the sounds of bandits. Mentally, he cursed himself.

'Didn't I kill them all? Are they searching for me?'

"Hm? What was that noise? I'll go see what's happening. Shiyo, wait here for me."

With that she rushed out the door, leaving Kocoi to swiftly measure up the tent and its surroundings, as well as check on his wounds.

Looking underneath the covers, he was surprised at her work. The bandages were very well wrapped and he could see extra cloth underneath were the cuts were probably the worst. His shirt was open, but still in decent repair. The pants were nearly rags though, rips and holes through the legs.

Resolving to buy new clothes at the soonest available moment, he spotted his sword up against the wall beside the bed. Reaching out and taking it in his hands, he could smell the scent of oils and linen.

She's seen the blade, and cleaned it too. I wonder if she's questioned who I am yet.

Just then, Lyn burst back through the door, panting slightly and looking for her own weapon.

"Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains!"

Shimanyo was slightly shocked. Just how far had he traveled in his wounded state? He was west of Bulgar when the village attack happened. This put him farther south than he thought he had gone.

"They must be planning on raiding the local villages. I . . . I have to stop them!"

The wanderer was now in a state of slight stupor.

'Does she plan on doing this alone . . . NO . . . of course she isn't . . . she's not even thinking straight to begin with.'

He silently watched as she grabbed her sword from the stand, she continued to talk to herself.

"If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe here Shiyo."

He threw off the covers, closing his shirt in the process. Placing the sword back at his hip, he looked her in the eyes.

"No, I'm coming with you. I can help. I owe you at least that much for your help Lyn of the Lorca."

"What? You want to help?"

He fairly glared at her ignorant question.

"Does it look like I'm running from this Lyn?"

She pouted ever so slightly, and then nodded. The Sacaen swordswoman looked at the blade at his side with a curious expression.

"Well, can you use a weapon?"

Kocoi was about to give her reassurance when a stabbing pain went through his side. He flinched, grimacing at the aggravation.

'Better not to stress these wounds. She doesn't need to know of my skill level yet either. I guess I'll have to provide her assistance indirectly.'

"I am a wandering tactician Lyn."

Her face brightened momentarily as she understood his words.

"Ah, so you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession but . . ."

Kocoi gave her a wicked, piercing stare that she didn't catch, her attention temporarily fixed on the door and the possible trouble outside. Why was everything he said, did, or was known for odd?

"Very well. Let's go together!"

The two rushed out the door and took to the thick shrubbery for cover. She was hiding behind a tree as he came up on her. She saw his approach and nodded.

"Shiyo, I could use your advice about now. I'll protect you, so stay close to me."

Once again, he laughed silently. He crossed his arms and followed as she broke cover and ran head long at one of the bandits. She kept her sword sheathed as the bandit sauntered over, which sparked a new interest in the young Sacaen maiden. The woman dashed about her enemy, drawing the blade at her side only to strike and then sheathing again as she floated by, or retreated to safe distances.

'I've seen that blade work before. Could she be . . . Hassar's daughter?'

Her cry of pain as the bandit fell to her sword made him panic, his hands shooting for the pouch at his side for the world-famous vulnerary potion. Its healing ability was better than first aid, though weak to a cleric's prowess.

He administered the slightly sweet smelling stuff to her shoulder. The gash mended and closed without scarring. Whoever had invented the stuff had to have been a genius. Elimine bless him.

Lyn smiled at the tactician, her mind quite positive despite the death she recently caused.

"Thank you Shimanyo! Now, let's go get that brigand over by the ger!"

He nodded slightly as they continued onward. The bandit who looked to be the leader of the little raiding party stepped up in front of them.

"Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast!"

The axe man swung the heavy blade down as the young woman bounced back and out of reach. Kocoi watched from a distance, staying alert to any newcomers. Continuing to analyze the Sacaen maiden's sword technique, the yellow-eyed strategist made several memos about the strengths and weaknesses.

Maneuverability is incredible, even for her nimble form. Her strength isn't half bad either, but her lack of a naked blade makes parrying and blocking all but impossible. She'll have to increase her mobility beyond that of any exceptional soldier to offset that. Especially if she faces off against lancers.

Her scream and Batta's victorious laugh snapped him out of his thoughts. Lyn had tripped over a rotting log covered in tall grass, her sword lay several feet away. The bandit leader stood over her, axe raised to deliver the killing blow.

His left hand went to the sheath by his side, his thumb rested on the hand guard. His right hand gripped the handle to the blade, his legs moved in long strides to reach the axe-wielding brigand. Letting out a battle cry, he launched himself into the air just as he came within striking distance.

Lyn lay there, gritting her teeth while viciously denying that this was happening. Here she was, trying to protect people from what she hated most, and now she was about to die by their hands.

Kocoi's scream brought her eyes up to see the man above her opponent, sword fully drawn. Batta turned around too late to see the swordsman one eighty in the air until the blade punctured flesh. The metal slipping through the opening in the top of the collarbones as he brought the rotation to a full three-sixty spin as he came down from the upside down vertical.

The blade sliced free from Batta's body, the brigand loosing a blood curdling scream of agony as the collarbone was cleaved in two. Blood sprayed everywhere behind the vagabond tactician. Lyn's eyes were wide.

"H-h-h-how?"

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Batta lay behind the man, still screaming at the top of his lungs. Kocoi turned and raised the bloodied sword, bringing it down on the brigand's neck, lopping off his head. The screams stopped and the field turned to dead silence.

What is he? I've never seen swordsmanship like that. I guess . . . I guess I really don't know what I'm doing. He said he was a strategist? I guess that does explain his killing while remaining so detached. What was I thinking? Maybe I can get some answers from Kocoi later.

Before she could say anything, the man before her fell to the ground. Lyn stared at him for a long minute before seeing a damp wetness cover his robes. A gasp escaped her lips as she grabbed the sword and sheathed it before lifting him up and carrying him back to the tent.

I should have known. His wounds reopened! Please Shiyo . . . you can't die . . . I . . . I don't want to be left alone again!