Hey guys! Just a brief little thing before I get this chapter going. I really hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Please leave feedback whenever you can so that I can make this as enjoyable as I can for you guys. Obviously I won't change everything to fit everyone's tastes, but minor change recommendations are very welcome.
Anyway! With that, I would like to share a little, basic info on Agnes and the soldiers that accompanied the Wolves. Agnes, Alyss's sister, is a Druid and actually will not be joining the group for some time. Or will she ever? c: Anyway. The other new members gave me some trouble, as I had to think of what the Wolves lacked and what I could give them in order to balance things a little better. Luckily, that wasn't too hard. Lani is a Recruit, and while she won't be the most effective fighter for the Wolves at first, she is their first Lance user. The Axe wielder, whom I've christened Lionel, is a Fighter. I picked Fighter for the same reason I picked Recruit, though Lani also served to be a friend to the fellow newbie Frelis. Finally, the Shaman, Linette, while not playing a direct role in the story, does serve the indirect purpose of telling more about Irinia, which will be revealed in either this chapter or in one of the upcoming ones. Also, starting this chapter, I will be attempting to make the chapters longer.
Welp, I'm done, so let's get back to the story!
Chapter 3: River of Sorrow
Do not let your sorrow consume you, girl. Once it does, it will all be over. There will be many who will try to drown you, but you must fight it. You must fight them all. Chaos shall reign should you fail, and you will lose far more than you currently have. I'm only trying to help you here, so it would be in your best interest to heed my words.
Who am I, you ask? *chuckle* Let's just say I'm a friend. We shall meet one day. For now, stare straight ahead, for the future awaiting you is far more important.
Erinn hopped down from her horse and turned back to help Ralen off. Once he was safely on the ground, she helped him over to the nearest tree and rested him against the trunk. As soon as he was sitting, she pulled back the cloth around the wound in his shoulder and began inspecting it. As she did, her face slowly darkened. Ralen had no problem in seeing her expression, and it made him close his eyes in a stressed sadness.
"Don't sugarcoat it, Erinn," he stated simply. "If a healer is making that kind of face, it can't be good."
Erinn looked at him with a surprised expression before casting her eyes downward and shaking her head. "I... You just need to avoid using that shoulder, Ralen. It's nothing too serious. I'll patch it up best as I can." Without waiting for his response, she picked up her staff and raised it to his shoulder, concentrating. Ralen watched her, unsure of what to say. Her words clearly hadn't been chosen carefully, as they showed some of the lie behind them.
"Erinn," Ralen insisted. "How bad is it?" When she said nothing, he took a deep breath. "Erinn. This is something that I must know. What is wrong with my shoulder?"
She lowered her staff and stared at the shoulder, unsure of what to say. After a few moments of silence, just when Ralen was ready to give up on waiting for an answer, she finally responded and looked him in the eye.
"It's nothing too serious," she insisted, her tone somewhat reassuring. "But... The tendon there was damaged. Fighting with this injury could lead to it only getting worse."
Ralen's gaze hardened. "I know you're worried, Erinn, but I do foolish things by trade. It comes with the trade. Something like this won't stop me from helping you all when you need me most."
Erinn at first opened her mouth the protest, but she decided it pointless and instead gave him a smile before standing and heading off to check if anyone else had been injured. Ralen stared after her, the doubt that he had been hiding from the leader ever-present in his mind, nagging him that it was a sign of what was to come, but he shook it off quickly enough, not wanting to lose confidence at such a key time.
As Erinn wandered the clearing, she saw that Frelis and Kasan were nowhere to be found. She grumbled quietly, irritated that they would go off without telling her, though she didn't dwell on it, as she trusted the two of them to return quickly and in one piece.
She turned away from where she'd expected to see them and scanned the clearing for Alyss. When she caught sight of the princess and saw that worry was heavily plaguing the girl, she decided that an emotional wound of such great size would best be treated before any minor physical ones. Erinn quickly joined her friend and sat next to her, doing her best to meet the girl's averted eyes. After a brief moment, Alyss sighed and met Erinn's eyes with a weak smile.
"I suppose I must look a sight," she attempted to joke, though it clearly fell flat, even with her. She cast her eyes downward once more, dread filling her chest yet again. "I'm sorry, Erinn... I just... Agnes could be dead... I also have no idea where the others are... And then knowing that they could all be dead by... By Kylen's hands... It..." Tears welled up in her eyes once more as she did her best to come to terms with all that had happened in the last day. Not knowing what she could possibly say to help Alyss, Erinn instead hugged the girl in an attempt to console her. Luckily, Alyss relaxed some and gave a weak "Thank you..." before turning away, signifying that she preferred to be alone at that moment in time. Respecting the girl's wishes, Erinn stood and left to check on someone else.
She stopped in the center of the clearing once more, surveying those that were present. After some pondering, she decided to check on the Shaman next, figuring that it would be best to get to know the newcomers by name at the very least.
The Shaman turned around before Erinn had so much as gotten halfway to them, catching Erinn off guard. The Shaman looked Erinn over, their eyes and mouth covered by their hood and collar respectively. Once they finished their once over of Erinn, they removed the hood that hid their eyes, revealing a woman that was only a couple of year older than Alyss. Her fierce green eyes betrayed her quiet demeanor, and her red hair flowed down into the depths of her robes. After a moment of locking eyes with Erinn, she extended a hand and her eyes gleamed amiably.
(Initiate Erinn and Linette Support C)
"So you must be Erinn," the Shaman remarked, her tone somewhat monotonous. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'd heard about how you left. Not much to it, but your reasoning was sound and respectable. I'm glad to be working with you now."
Erinn took her hand, and the Shaman shook it. Once again, the Shaman's eyes gleamed amiably. "My name is Linette."
Erinn nodded, placing her hand at her side once more. "Well met, Linette. What made you decide to follow Agnes and not stay with Kylen, if you don't mind my asking?"
Linette kept her eyes locked with Erinn's, her blank stare unsettling Erinn a little. "I have served with both Alyss and Agnes in magic research. Both are very kind people, as Prince Kylen once was. If the situations had been reverse, I would have gone with him, too. But sadly, there is no alternative, so I must go with those who remain who they once were."
Erinn let Linette's words sink in. She found them somewhat surprising and welcomed them, feeling a kind of respect for the Shaman. A smile crept across Erinn's face and she nodded. "Well, I'm think you'll do just fine here, Linette. I'm very glad to have you with us, and I hope you'll stay with us even after this is all over."
Linette nodded. "I don't know about that much, but I will certainly make the most of what time I do have with you. I thank you kindly for welcoming me like this. Now, I do not mean to be rude, but I would like to return to my quiet contemplation of these events."
Erinn nodded. "Ah... Yes. Of course. I apologize for interrupting you. I'll leave you be, then. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Linette responded, bowing slightly before turning back to the forest, remaining silent even when Erinn stared at her for about a minute.
(End Erinn and Linette Support C)
Erinn was about to go speak to another of the newcomers when Frelis and Kasan came running into the clearing, urgency written all over them. Kasan ran up to Erinn and gave her a brief salute before speaking.
"Erinn..." the Myrmidon panted, trying to catch his breath. "Just south of here... There's a river. It's... You just have to see for yourself. Get everyone and follow us immediately."
Erinn stared at him, her eyes full of worry, before nodding. "Right. Get Ralen. He's not in the best shape, so please help him out. And Frelis," she added, turning to the young archer. "Go with Alyss. She could really use some help right now, and I think that you're the best one for the job." Frelis opened his mouth to protest, his face turning a deep red, but he just nodded and ran off to get her. With that, Erinn went to collect the rest of them, and they all set out for the river.
Erinn stared in shock at the scene before them. Countless bodies littered the shore, their drained blood running into the river and tinting it red. None of the bodies were those of soldiers, only villagers. Erinn covered her mouth, heaving slightly, though nothing came. Arrows protruded from the backs of many, and others had been viciously cut open as they ran. The rocks around the river had become completely soaked by the blood of the villagers, and a tattered flag of the Irinian royal emblem protruded from the ground near a group of them.
Alyss dropped to her knees, her hands on her face as she fought back a breakdown. Kylen... Why...? she begged of her brother. Why...?! How could you do this?! As she thought this, she let out a bloodcurdling scream of despair that ran all of the Wolves' blood cold. None of them could even begin to imagine what could have happened here, nor did that want to. All they cared about was the why and making Kylen pay for what he'd done there.
Ralen looked at Erinn, his eyes full of sadness. "I... I can't believe that this has happened..."
She shook her head. "None of us can... None of us imagined any one person could ever be capable of ordering such a horrible atrocity... Oh Kylen... What happened to you...?"
Almost on cue, the sound of a large amount of approaching footsteps rang out through the silence. Erinn whirled around to check, though she couldn't see the source, nor did she need to. An army was on its way, and it was close to its target. Erinn's heart sank in her stomach. It can't be... she pleaded silently to whatever Gods could possibly be watching over them and let this happen. Did Agnes...?
Without waiting for an answer, she turned to the Wolves. "Wolves! We can't waste any more time here! Move!"
Frelis helped Alyss to her feet, though the broken princess struggled to so much as stand, and they thus lagged behind. Once everyone had gotten halfway across the river, the army that had been pursuing them emerged from the forest. As expected, they bore the flag of Irinia. Seeing this, panic rose in Erinn's chest. "Move, everyone, move! If we can just get across-"
Her words were cut off when the leader, a mounted mage clad in armor, let out a call.
"Stop where you are, Wolves," he ordered. They all hesitated just long enough to hear the drawing of countless bows, even over the flow of the river. Slowly, they all turned around, only to be greeted by the sight of a full unit of archers facing them, every single bow drawn. The leader dismounted his horse and approached the edge of the water, his eyes meeting Erinn's briefly before he turn to Alyss. He stared at her, his eyes cold. As they stared at each other, her eyes widened as she recognized him.
"G-General Grayson..." She uttered his name weakly, a whole new level of despair setting in. "So you follow my brother in all of this...?"
Grayson nodded slightly, though something in his face suggested that he had other intentions. "I do. Worry not, though, Alyss. I'm here only for you. If you come peaceably, I will do nothing to harm your friends."
Alyss just stared at him, tears in her eyes. "W-was it you...? Was it you that killed all these people...?"
Grayson shook his head. "I would never harm innocents without provocation, which is why I also have no intention of harming you or your friends so long as you don't resist." When she hesitated, he extended a hand to her. "You knew me well at the academy, Alyss. Why must anything change now?"
After a glance at each of the Wolves, even the newcomers, she began the trek towards the shore. Erinn reached out to her, her eyes wide. "Alyss! Don't do it! Alyss!"
Alyss approached Grayson and met his eyes. Even now, even among all the carnage and betrayal, his pale blue eyes seemed kind and trustworthy. Just as it seemed he might kill her himself, he smiled. "And that's all I had to know."
A look of bewilderment crossed every face among the Wolves as the archers lowered their bows. Grayson stepped back from Alyss and extended his arms outward. "As I said, I would never harm an innocent, and anyone who sacrifices themselves for the sake of others does not deserve the fate that currently lay in wait for them." He put his arms to his sides once more and bowed to Alyss, his voice going soft. "You and your sister truly are good people, Alyss."
That night, they decided to set up camp on the opposite shore. The experience had left them all mentally exhausted, and Alyss had already gone to sleep. Ralen sat in silence by the fireside, staring at the dancing flames, silently thanking whatever force out there had kept them all safe that day. He thought back to when Alyss had actually given herself up and sighed. "That girl is just full of surprises isn't she...?"
"You can say that again."
Ralen turned to see Erinn standing a few feet away, a smile on her face. "Do you mind if I join you, Ralen?"
The mercenary shook his head. "Not at all. Have a seat."
She nodded and lifted the skirt of her robe, plopping down next to him. She stared into the fire with him, the two of them spending a few minutes in silence.
(Initiate Erinn and Ralen Support MAX)
"You know, Ralen..." Erinn began, her voice soft and hesitant. "When I left the castle that day... When I first met you... I never once imagined that I'd be sitting here like this, recovering from what is easily the most traumatizing experience in any of our lives. And yet, here we are."
Ralen nodded. "Here we are..." The two of them fell into silence once more, staring into the flame and enjoying the quiet. After another couple of minutes of silence, he turned to Erinn, a small smile on his face. "There's something that I've been meaning to talk to you about, Erinn."
She blinked and turned to him, a worried look on her face. "Oh...? Is everything all right?"
He nodded. "Everything is just fine. I just wanted to thank you for taking me in, even though I had been fighting on the opposing side."
Erinn laughed and shook her head. "Alyss is the one you should be thanking. She may be a little too trusting sometimes, but it's times like that that I can't help but be thankful that we do have someone like that. Plus, it's somewhat refreshing to have a couple of innocent faces among all of the hardened ones."
Ralen nodded. "That it is. It makes me know that in the end, it's all worth it just to see people like them smiling at the end of the day." Once again, the two of them fell into silence. After a couple more minutes, Ralen spoke once more. "I guess... What I'm saying is... I just wanted you to know, that no matter what happens in the coming days, I will always be grateful to you and Alyss for taking me in that day."
Erinn opened her mouth to chastise him for talking in such a way, but she knew his words to be true. In the end, she gave him a solemn smile and nodded. "It's been good to know you, Ralen. I just hope you'll never forget us, no matter what."
He returned the smile. "Never."
(End Erinn and Ralen Support MAX)
