Yuu marched on foot he didn't much care for riding horses. His father was on one and wouldn't leave his side.
"Ride on ahead." Yuu finally told Ephraim. "I'm not going anywhere. " Ephraim cocked an eyebrow at him. "Just set some soldiers to look after me and go lead your men instead of protecting me. I can take care of myself. "
Ephraim smiled a bit.
"Franz! Kyle! Lance!" the three arrived at his side. "You are to watch after Prince Yuu."
"Sir!" the three nodded.
"I can take care of myself. " Yuu mumbled as his father rode on ahead. He sighed and stretched his arms over his head. His back cracked loudly making the three men guarding him flinch. "So what would you say a better dinner is? Roasted Rabbit or Roasted Fox?"
"Fish." Franz replied, "If their is a lake near by I'll fish us up some."
"Haven't had fish in a while. " Yuu replied, "You're the General of the main army right?"
"That's right. " Franz said, "I worked my way up after the last war. My General was your Uncle Seth but he married Lady Eirika so when I was ready they made me General. "
"Uncle Seth was a General his son doesn't live up to his father at all." A near by soldier flinched. As Yuu had suspected the others had snuck along. Yami, Yuki and Yuna were with the army. He was staying close knowing his sister and cousin's weren't ready. "You know instead of guarding me shouldn't you be guarding the other Prince and the Princesses?"
"What do you mean?" Lance asked, "Lady Yuna!" he rushed to a girl near by. Her cloak hood had fallen off. She frowned as she was dragged over to them but clung to Yuu's arm. "What are you doing here , Lady Yuna?"
"We came to prove ourselves. " Yami declared riding up on his horse. Yuki moved up beside them as well. "King Ephraim left us behind because he thought we couldn't protect ourselves but we can."
"That is night why he left you behind. " Yuu scoffed, "He wanted you to protect the castle. " Yami paled. "Take the girls and turn around! He was entrusting the Castle to you three. Protect our mothers and our people. he was giving you a responsibility he felt I was not yet ready for. He was trusting you."
"I'll turn around." Yami said pulling Yuki on to his horse. "Come, Yuna we must make haste back to the castle. "
"I will stay." she said, hugging her brother's arm tightly. " I want to go with my brother."
Yami nodded and rode off quickly back toward the castle.
"I'm sorry." Yuna stared hard at the ground. " We didn't think about that. "
"That's why I told you." Yuu said , staring straight ahead. "You're crushing my spell books."
Yuna jumped away.
"You should wear them around your waist . " She said, "When we stop I'll help you. "
When they did stop Ephraim was enraged to find his daughter in their ranks but somewhat relieved to find that Yuu had sent Yami and Yuki back. Yuna hummed as she worked on putting the spell books on the oddly thick leather belt her brother wore. Yuu was leaning against her back trying to read a book on military tactics. Yami had passed it to him before he'd rode off.
"Ugh!" Yuu growled , "He's knows I can't read this!"
"Keep trying." She insisted, "You can do it."
"Ugh..." he closed his eyes. "I'm no scholar, " he opened his eyes and began again.
He kept struggling until Lance came over.
"I could help you." he offered, "With your reading."
"I'm fine. " He set the book down. "I'm going to patrol . "
He walked away before anyone could stop him. They all knew their Prince had trouble reading and didn't like to talk about it. He didn't like showing weakness. They all wanted to help him but knew he was a loner. Lance had guts to offer .
"You're an idiot." Yuna told him standing up. She pocketed the book and frowned at Lance who flinched. "You know brother does things on his own."
With that she ran off after her brother.
Yuu came back to camp over an hour later carrying a small girl on his back. She was crying and bleeding from her back. He was pulling a bloody blade behind him. It was apparent he'd gotten into a fight.
"BROTHER!" Yuna ran over to him. "Where have you been? Where did that girl come from. "
"Found her." he said taking her to a Cleric. The woman healed the girl .
"Found her where?" Ephraim asked, "The nearest village is over a mile away."
"Yeah, it needs some help. " the girl sniffled and rubbed her eyes. She attached herself to Yuu's leg. She had pink pigtails and wore a pink cloak. She had a small sword on her waist. "Bandits. An Archer and Thief told me to look after the girl so I took her. I got into a tight spot but had her hide so I could deal with it. May I have a few soldiers?"
"Of course." Ephraim said a little shocked that his son was caring about the people. "Kyle, Franz, Lance..."
"I'm going too!" Yuna cried, Lance blushed a bit. "Please, Father, I want to help. "
"Me!" the girl pulled on Yuu's pants. "Unle Colm, mama."
"Colm?" Ephraim asked. "Is your mother's name Neimi?"
"Yes." The girl said, "Dat Mama. We come teach at Cas'le. "
"Yuu, Yuna Neimi and Colm are friends of mine they fought with us in the first war. "
"We'll save them." Yuu replied, Pulling the girl on to his back again. He looked at the others. "Let's move. "
They covered the mile rather quickly. Yuu dragging his bloody blade on the ground as he ran swiftly. It was hard for even Franz and Kyle's horses to keep up with him. Lance and Yuna hadn't stood a chance but they arrived to see chaos.
"We have to warn the village to close it's gates." Kyle said,
"You do that. " Yuu said putting the girl down. " Lance, you're the slowest unit right now with your armor. You stay and protect the girl I'm taking Franz and Yuna and going in. "
"Don't leave me with the kid!" Lance yelled but it was too late. The girl was staring at him with wide eyes. "Come on, girl...what is your name?"
"I be Rene. " she replied, "I help a wittle. I know wittle sword but better wif bow. No have one."
"Great."
Yuu slashed a man taking his arm off then stabbing him the heart the old woman the man had been about to kill stared at him in shock but he ran on. Slashing and hacking every bandit he could see. He could see Yuna holding her own and Franz had a spear out taking out everyone he could. His eyes located Lance and saw his armor was protecting him and the girl who he was amused to see kept cutting money bags from the enemies belts before darting back behind Lance . Lance seemed to be rather annoyed with her but kept protecting her.
A man with a blue ponytail came rushing over and killed a guy he was obviously a Thief.
"Unle Colm!"
"Rene!" he called back joining their fighting. "Who is this? Why are you still here?"
"We bwing solners. "
"Colm! " Franz had made his way over . "Take it easy. We came to save you guys. Kyle went to the village. "
"Great to see you, Franz." Colm called, they were all still fighting. "Glad you could come. Neimi and I are a little in over our heads. "
"Thank Prince Yuu." Franz called back. " He came and got us!"
"Right, when we're done I'll thank this Prince of yours. "
Yuu blocked Yuna from getting hurt and she took the guy out. He wouldn't mind Colm thanking him. The guy was hot. Yeah, that was right he hadnt told anyone yet but he was gay. That wouldn't make for a good king would it? A man who couldn't have kids because he liked his own gender so he was keeping it to himself for now. He forced himself to focus they had work to do.
