Nothing big to add, due to no one sending scathing reviews (or any but my view is that none at all means none bad), so without further nonsense, here's Chapter 2.

Chapter 2: Footsteps of Fate

After gathering the necessary supplies, the two left immediately for Bulgar, the commercial center for Sacae. As Lyn only had one horse, they agreed to set their supplies on it and have the two of them walk to Bulgar. After only a few hours they made it to their destination and now stood before the large stone gates defending the merchant city.

'Stone gates?' Mark questioned himself, 'Do they expect the bandits to have magic powerhouses with them?'

He sighed and focused back on Lyn, who was talking to the guard about a stable for her horse. She came back to him a few moments later, smiling happily.

"Mark, apparently there's a stable nearby for Myriad!" She seemed ecstatic, as though the availability of a stable was rare. However, Mark shrugged it off and smiled with her.

"Good, now let's find it, secure your horse and begin our shopping." Mark commanded, before trailing off with a hopeful, "Maybe they'll have some new spell books for me to read."

Lyn grinned at his hopefulness and led the way to the stable. They set Myriad up and left to the main part of Bulgar's merchant area. Mark pondered to himself for some moments before turning back to Lyn.

"Alright Lyn, we need quite the diverse number of things. So, we're splitting the list. You're in charge of healing supplies and foods; I'll deal with weapons, booking us rooms at the inn, and see about getting my own horse. We'll meet back here when we're done, or in three hours. Got it?"

Lyn nodded, and the two split up to gather their assorted supplies.

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'Tch, not a single new spell book. That's disappointing. Oh well, at least I've managed to get myself a horse and some swords for Lyn.' Mark sighed as he dejectedly abandoned the useless spell shop.

He led his new horse, a sturdy looking and rather calm black mare he'd affectionately named Konigin, around with him as he searched the marketplace for any other things that he thought they'd need for the trip. As he was passing the market's center area again, he stopped as he heard an extremely loud voice echo throughout the market.

"Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!"

Mark turned slowly and gaped in shocked disgust as he saw a knight with brown hair, wearing green armor and leading an unhappy looking horse, accost some young girl. Some young girl with dark green hair, and quite familiar looking clothes, and the exact number of supplies he'd told Lyn to find.

'Lyn!' Mark gasped, already running to stop the fool from furthering his own death warrant. 'I've already learned from her that such overdone flattery will only get one killed! I've got to save the poor sap!'

Mark and Konigin, who'd apparently sensed the urgency of the situation, rushed through the crowd of people to Lyn and the man. By the time he got to them, however, Mark discovered that he'd been too late.

"O beauteous one! Would you not favor me with your name? Or better yet, your company?" The young man begged.

'Dear sweet Flux! He's trying to kill himself!' Mark panicked, already seeing Lyn's glare sharpen, and her hand stray to her sword. Mark snuck behind Lyn and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Try and not kill the fool, Lyn." Mark whispered into her ear. "We need to try and not be apprehended for murder for what others would see as a foolish reason."

Lyn fumed but removed her hand from her sword, much to Mark's relief. She turned her glare back to her admirer and began her verbal assault.

"And where are you from," Lyn glanced at his green armor and house crest before continuing, "sir knight, that you'd speak so freely with a stranger in such a manner?"

To Mark's surprise, the knight didn't seem at all bothered by Lyn's annoyed tone, probably rejoicing that he hadn't been smacked yet, and answered in an even louder voice.

"Ha! I thought you'd never ask!" He bowed low and placed a kiss on Lyn's hand, to her ire and disgust. "I am from Lycia, to be more specific, I hail from the Caelin canton, home to men of fire and passion!"

Lyn wrenched her hand back quickly and growled out venomously, "Shouldn't that be 'home of callow oafs with loose tongues'?"

Mark had to give the knight some credit, he was persistent. "Oooh, you're even lovely when you're cruel!" The knight sighed happily.

Lyn controlled her anger and turned away, storming her way to the nearby inn. "Let's go, Mark. I've nothing more to say to that oaf!" She called back, obviously still angered by the knight.

Mark sighed and led Konigin with him to the inn, but not before remarking to the Caelin knight his personal opinion of what happened. "You so lucked out."

As he left for the inn, however, Mark could have sworn he heard someone yell, "Hold your tongue, Sain!"

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After tying Konigin to a nearby post, Mark entered the inn to find Lyn sitting at a table with a drink, he hoped it wasn't alcoholic, glaring. Not at any one thing, just glaring. He carefully walked over to her and sat down at the table. She looked up and fixed her glare on him.

"Mark?" Not good. She sounds pissed.

"Yes, Lyn?" Maybe it's not at me.

"When you warned me against killing that oaf, you said my reasons would be foolish." Oh Flux, she's really lookin' pissed now. "Were you mocking my Sacaen upbringing?!"

Mark sighed, "No Lyn, I wasn't. I know full well how insulting it is to be flirted with like that. I only said that others would see it as foolish. Others who don't know of Sacaen customs."

To Mark's relief, she looked calmer now. "I'm sorry about that Mark. I had thought you were insulting my Sacaen heritage, when you were just trying to help. Forgive me."

"Relax Lyn," Mark grinned slightly, pausing to order a drink from a barmaid, "No harm taken, so its fine."

"Mark," Lyn asked him, as he was taking a deep drink of his beverage, "How exactly were you familiar with that Sacaen custom."

His eyes widened and he almost choked on his drink, before catching himself and, after setting his drink down, fixing his gaze on the suspicious and curious Lyn.

"I-" Mark started then stopped and collected himself. "Before you found me, I was…" He trailed off, searching for the right words, "in a traveling group, one of which was someone who…hailed from the plains of Sacae. She mentioned such a belief one day and all but I and another mocked her for it."

Mark shuddered as the memory came back to him. "Oh, but she got them back. It was her turn for cooking dinner and she laced all of the bowl but mine, the other's and her own with a laxative. The poor fools were in pain all night. The next day she was particularly rigorous in her archery training. Poor Shashu's fingers were sore and full of splinters."

Lyn seemed satisfied with that and the two finished their drinks and ordered two rooms. After receiving their gold, the inn keeper informed them that their rooms were being cleaned and wouldn't be ready for about an hour. They left the inn immediately to find some way to pass the time, Mark untying Konigin and bringing him along.

Almost directly blocking the way to the outskirts of Bulgar were two knights, one of which the green-clad knight who'd accosted Lyn, and their horses. The other was wearing all red armor, the same color as his hair, and was apparently arguing with the green knight.

"If your manner were more serious, then I wouldn't have to be so severe!" the red knight admonished. "We still have a mission to complete, Sain!"

"I know that!" the green knight, Sain, whined, "But how, Kent, how could I have remained silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!"

Kent, the red knight, looked furious, "What do you know of courtesy!?"

Lyn, while certainly amused by the sight of Sain being yelled at, and, in Mark's own silent opinion, appreciative of Kent's face, had finally grown impatient.

"Excuse me!" She managed to yell over them, causing them to cease their argument and turn to her. Lyn composed herself and continued, "You're blocking the road. If you'd be so kind as to move your horses."

While Sain looked about ready to begin spouting more nonsense at Lyn, Kent at least seemed apologetic. "Of course, my apologies miss."

As Kent moved the horses, Lyn appeared to calm down some. She turned to Kent, "Thank you. You, at least, seem honorable enough."

Kent, however, looked confused. "Ah, thank you, but…I'm sorry but you seem familiar."

"I beg your pardon," Lyn asked, and Mark could already see the anger returning.

Mark sighed, even though he could tell that Kent was serious and not trying to woo Lyn to a nearby bed, he doubted Lyn could. Sain's next little comment thoroughly ruined any chances Kent had of getting any answers.

"Hey! No fair, Kent. I saw her first!" Deep down past that cool calm exterior, Kent was imagining a mini-version of himself throttling another mini-version of Sain.

As expected, Lyn exploded. "Tsk! It seems there are no decent men amongst Lycia's knights! Let's go, Mark. I've run out of patience."

And so, Lyn stormed of through the crowds of people, intent on cooling down by gazing upon her beloved plains of Sacae.

Kent called out to her, "Wait, please! It's not like that!" before turning angrily to Sain. "Sain, you lout!"

Sain, to that little bit of credit he'd earned, looked confused, "Huh, not like that? I thought you were…oops."

Kent was furious, "I'm NOT you!!! Now, come on. We must follow her, I think she's-"

"Excuse me, knights." Both knights looked back to see Mark and his horse watching them expectantly. "I'm Lyn's traveling companion, so how's about you tell me what's going on, and I'll try and help you out."

Kent seemed to think on it, and then finally agreed, tuning out Sain's protests. "Alright, you see we are knights of Caelin and we're…"

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To Lyn, there was no sight more beautiful than seeing the plains of Sacae with no interruptions. No neighing horses, no Mark with his random mumblings about 'Fenrir' and 'Luna' or whatever he mumbled, and definitely no perverted Caelin knights.

However, this grand moment was interrupted by Mark, who silently joined her. To her relief, though, he remained silent and merely gazed upon Sacae's plains with her.

"It is quite beautiful," Mark finally spoke, referring to the sight before them. "Now Lyn, about those knights…"

Mark was cut off by a loud, actually annoying loud voice. "Heh heh heh, now aren't you the pretty one. You might actually have made a fortune as a slave."

They both turned around to see an ugly grey-haired man, thick and bulky with a defined stubble about his chin. Around his waist was a belt and attached to it, an iron axe. He had apparently stepped out of some woods behind them and was leering at Lyn sickeningly.

Lyn stood up quickly and drew her sword; however, Mark rose lazily and seemed to eye the man with a bit of smug superiority.

The ugly man turned to Lyn again, "Oi, wench. Yer name is Lyndis, is it not?"

Mark heard Lyn gasp and turned back to see her looking shocked, barely even holding on to her sword. She recovered quickly, however, and began her interrogation. "What did you call me?! Who are you?!"

The man sneered at her, "My name is Zugu, and it's such a waste, an absolute waste. For you. Ah well, sorry darlin' but its time to die! Come on out boys!"

Zugu continued to look smug, but after a few moments of nothing happening, he started to worry. "Heh, I-I said COME OUT BOYS!!!"

He turned back to the trees behind them and stared nervously until the noises of movement came out. "Hah!" he gloated, "Now yer in for it…" Zugu trailed off, however, as two knights on their horses emerged instead of his bandit buddies. Staring at their bloodied weapons, he could guess what had happened to his partners.

"As you predicted Mark," Kent reported while wiping his blade clean, Sain doing the same to his lance, "There were three other bandits hiding in those trees, waiting to ambush you."

"Yes! Three dastardly bandits," Sain cried out, happy about being able to brag in front of Lyn. "All of which no match for me, my lady!"

"Thank you Kent," Mark said, still watching Zugu, "and you as well Sain. Now, you two, restrain that man."

Kent and Sain immediately grasped Zugu by his arms and forced him to his knees. Zugu, knowing he had no chance of fulfilling his mission at this point, did not resist.

Mark slowly walked towards them, pausing along the way to pick up a small rock. He knelt down to face Zugu and asked, "Will you tell us why you attempted to attack us?"

Zugu remained silent and Mark sighed. "Fine then. See this rock?"

Mark held out his hand and showed the rock to Zugu. Zugu, not having a single clue as to what Mark was doing, merely nodded.

"Good, now watch carefully." Knowing that Zugu, as well as Lyn and both knights, was watching, Mark began to concentrate. Soon, to their total amazement, though Kent hid his well, the rock began to float. Then, before their very eyes, the rock was aflame. A few seconds later, it was back to just floating.

Mark spoke again, this time; however, his voice had become cold and cruel. "Now Zugu, if you don't tell us all that you know, I will force you to swallow this rock. Then, I will set the rock on fire again, and you will suffer the pain of that fiery rock in your body for many, many years. Now, I'll ask you again, will you tell us why you attacked us?"

"L-L-Lundgren!" Zugu managed to gasp out, fear overwhelming his pride.

"Thank you Zugu, that's all I needed to hear." Mark motioned for Kent and Sain to release the bandit and they did so, although reluctantly. "You're free to go now, Zugu. Come Kent, Sain. You two may explain things to Lyn at the inn."

The four turned back to return to the city, Lyn shooting Zugu a hateful look, leaving the bandit shaking behind them. They were stopped, though, by Zugu's voice roaring from behind them.

"I'll kill her!!!" he roared, frothing madly at the mouth, leaping into the air to try and deliver a downward blow to Lyn's head.

Kent and Sain fumbled for their weapons, while Lyn readied herself for battle. Mark, however, sighed and snapped his fingers. A strong gust of wind thrust itself into Zugu's gut and slammed him back to the ground.

He growled and attempted to get back up, "I'll kill her! I'll kill her!! I'LL KILL H-" Zugu was silenced, and killed, by the tiny rock that Mark had magicked shooting itself through the ugly bandit's skull. It pierced through Zugu's brain, instantly killing him.

Mark's three companions blinked in surprise before turning to him. "Come now, you three. I want to get to the inn before nightfall."

They gathered their wits and followed Mark back into Bulgar and straight to their inn.

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Back at the inn, the four had found a table and ordered drinks, before the knights began their explanation.

Kent started first, "We've come from Caelin under orders from our Marquis to find someone. His daughter, Madelyn, who had eloped some nineteen years ago with a nomad she'd fallen in love with."

Lyn's eyes were wide as the name was mentioned, and she murmured sadly, "Madelyn." Tears began to well up in her eyes but she hurriedly wiped them away.

Sain quickly picked up where Kent had halted, "The Marquis was heartbroken by her leaving. He personally thought that she had feared his reaction to her love and had fled away from him. In his sorrowed state, he officially declared that he had no daughter."

Sain paused to take a swig of his drink and Kent resumed. "This year though, we received a letter from Madelyn herself. It said that she was living happily with her husband and daughter on the Sacaen Plains. The Marquis was ecstatic when he learned he had a granddaughter of eighteen years. He smiled so happily as he announced it to everyone."

"Then he read that his granddaughter had been named Lyndis," Sain grinned, "after the marquis's late wife. He was overjoyed that Madelyn had thought to name her daughter after his wife. He then desired to see his new family and add to them his blessings, so he sent us out to find them. We guessed that it was you from a painting of Lady Madelyn we'd seen before."

Lyn looked sorrowed again, "But the bandits, they almost annihilated the Lorca. My mother and father were among those…" She trailed off, the hurt from seeing her parents and people killed too much to speak of.

"So your plan is to return Lyn to this Marquis," Mark asked, finally speaking up.

Kent nodded, "Yes, though the fact of his daughter and son-in-law being dead will hurt, he will no doubt be overjoyed to see his granddaughter."

Mark remained silent, thinking on something, before speaking up again. "The bandit mentioned your Marquis's brother, Lundgren. Why is he attempting to kill Lyn?"

"Because," Sain spat, obviously disgusted by Lundgren "You're now in line for ruling Caelin and he hates the idea. If not for you, he'd rule Caelin."

"But I have no desire to rule Caelin or inherit any titles!" Lyn cried out softly, so to not alert the rest of the inn.

Kent shook his head, "I'm afraid, Lady Lyndis, that he won't care to believe that. For as long as you live, Lundgren will continue to hunt you down."

"Mark, what do you think I should do?" Lyn turned to the silent Mark.

"Obviously, this Lundgren is not going to let us be." Mark muttered into his glass. "So, we take this to him and eliminate that which would dare to begin the hunts for your life in the first place."

"Kill him?!" Lyn stared hard at Mark, trying to determine if he'd really said that. "I can't, he's blood!"

Mark's gaze turned stony, "Lyn, while he may be blood, he is still blood that wishes you dead only to further his own gains. He obviously wouldn't think twice about killing you, so you should do the same."

Lyn still looked unsure, but agreed nevertheless, "You're right Mark. I will end up fighting my Granduncle, and at that point, I may have to kill him."

Mark sighed at her wording but nodded. He then turned to Kent and Sain, "As for you two, do you have rooms here?"

Kent nodded, "Of course, I had Sain here book them earlier."

All three of them noticed Sain stiffen at that and Kent felt a deep uneasiness build up inside him. "Sain, you did acquire us rooms, correct?"

Sain laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, "Oh Kent, my boon companion, I really was planning to, but then this wondrous beauty of a woman appeared and I-"

"Sain you lout!!!" Kent yelled, "By this time all the rooms would be sold out! Now where will we sleep?" Forget throttling, Kent's mini-self had hired a harem of female shamans to blast mini-Sain with elder magic and resist all his flirting, before very friendly warriors finished him off. All with mini-Kent laughing victoriously, and a bit evilly, in the background.

"Ahem," Kent and Sain turned to an amused Mark and Lyn. "You're welcome to split rooms with us; when we ordered ours we didn't know they came with two beds."

Sain looked ecstatic, "Oh, Oh! Lady Lyndis, know now that your sleeping partner will be-"

"Kent," Mark finished dryly, surprising all the others.

Kent looked at Mark oddly, "I imagined that you'd be her arranged partner."

Lyn looked curious and, though only Mark saw it, happy.

"I'm going to be personally keeping an eye on Sain. He's too used to you, might be able to slip by you in the night. I, however, am quite new to Sain and sleep little and lightly."

Sain sighed, disappointed, and the four finished their business. After ordering and eating a meal, they each left for their respective rooms. It was only as Mark was just settling in his bed that he realized something that shocked him deeply.

'Lyn is 18?!'

DONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONEDONE

Well, there's Chapter two. Chapter 3 whenever.