Chapter 6
"Grim, you can't go back! They'll kill you!" Kumori said. "You're the one who told me your banishment was absolute. If they catch you even talking to another hawk they'll kill the both of you."
"Maybe not. Tibarn is a good friend of Reyson, and if I know Reyson like I once did, he came here trusting Naesala and was set up. He probably didn't even tell Tibarn were he was going." Grim said. "So if I can tell them that I bring news on Reyson's whereabouts, they shouldn't kill me."
"Is there any way to get the hawk king to come here without putting you in danger?" Ike asked.
"It's a long shot, but give me a minute." Grim said as he pulled out a specially made arrow and flew out the window and high into the air. They watched as he lit the arrow on fire and shot it straight up before flying back to them. "There." He said.
"How does that help?" Soren asked.
"There is a young hawk by the name of Janaff that works closely with the king. He is called the kings eyes, and for good reason too. He can spot a mouse clear on the other side of the country. His partner Ulki is equally gifted, only his gift lies in his ears. If he cared to focus enough, he could probably hear us talking from Phoenicis."
"If they do come, how long will it take?" Ike asked as they descended the stairs of the tower and headed out on the grounds.
"If Tibarn comes alone, which is unlikely, he will be here in about twelve hours. If he comes with Janaff and Ulki, which he will, he will be here in a day to a day and a half."
"Why so long for his subordinates?" Titania asked, having been filled in as they walked.
"Most people make the common mistake of believing that Tibarn is a hawk. He is actually one of the few eagles left. As such, he is significantly stronger and faster then even the best hawks." Grim explained as they began to set up camp.
Once they were finished setting up, Ike called Marcia into his tent.
"Marcia, I want you to fly back and make a report to the Apostle for me. Also tell the rest of the company to come to Oliver's estate. We can have them stand by here incase we need them." Ike commanded.
"Alright, I'll go make the report. Do you want me to come straight back or do you want me to come back with the others?" Marcia asked as she turned to leave.
"Come straight back. Otherwise Grim would be lonely." Ike teased, causing Marcia to blush lightly.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours." Marcia said as she stepped out of Ike's tent.
Titania and Cryo were sitting outside their tent playing chess when Kumori and Lyndis walked by, seemingly arguing over something.
"I don't like him like that! I haven't even known him for two days!" Lyndis exclaimed.
"All I'm saying is stranger things have happened." Kumori said with a smirk. "Besides, I can prove my claim. You are full blooded laguz correct?"
"Yes. What does that have to do with anything?" Lyndis asked.
"I take it you weren't raised by laguz?" Kumori asked as they continued to walk.
"No. my adopted brother Stefan raised me and taught me to use a sword because I can't transform."
"Alright, now here's how I'm going to prove once and for all that I'm right. You have almost complete control of your tail, to the point that you can almost use it like another hand. However, I'm willing to bet that if I stand you next to Soren, you can't help but touch him with your tail. What's more, you won't even realize you're doing it." Kumori said as he looked around for Soren.
By this time, Titania and Cryo were in fits of muffled laughter, their chess game long forgotten as they watched the drama unfold before them.
Kumori finally found Soren and called him over. "Hey, Soren! I need a favor."
"What is it?" Soren began coldly, becoming noticeably friendlier when he realized Lyndis was standing there.
Kumori grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to stand next to Lyndis. "I just need you to stand right there for a minute."
Soren rolled his eyes. "Is there some point to this?" He asked before he felt something furry coil around his wrist. Soren looked down in shock to realize it was Lyndis' tail.
"Ha! I was right!" Kumori said, causing Lyndis to look down.
"So you were right, what does that prove?" Lyndis asked.
"That at the very least, you are physically attracted to Soren." Kumori said before walking away, leaving two stunned and blushing people in his wake.
Elsewhere
"My king, I have just spotted a flaming arrow. It appeared to be shot with the intention of catching my attention." Janaff said, pausing in flight.
"Does Reyson know that trick?" Tibarn asked.
"No. The only being outside of Phoenicis that knows that trick is Daniel the exile. Although it does appear to have originated near Serenes forest."
"We will check it out. If it is Daniel, then he might have news on Reyson." Tibarn said as he took wing toward the arrow, followed by Janaff and Ulki.
Several hours later, the three hawks landed in Duke Oliver's garden to see Grim walk out of a beorc camp.
"Why have you summoned us?" Tibarn demanded. "Speak quickly."
"I saw Reyson here. It appears that Naesala tricked him and sold him to the man who owns this property. The beorc mercenary company that I currently work for is employed by Apostle Sanaki and has been charged with finding Reyson."
"For what reason?" Tibarn asked. "If you are helping these beorc to recapture Reyson, I will kill you where you stand."
"I don't know why the Apostle seeks Reyson, but I believe she wants to apologize for the Serenes Massacre." Ike said as he approached. "I asked Grim to summon you so that I could ask for your aid. Grim informed me that Reyson intends to use heron chants to attempt to bring ruin to Begnion. He also told me that doing this would destroy his sanity."
"It would…" Tibarn said, suddenly thoughtful.
Ike, for once displaying he knew something of court politics, fell to a knee. "Laguz King Tibarn, I beg your help with this errand. Not only for the sake of my job, but for Reyson's sake, though he refused my help. I cannot in good faith leave things as they are. Duke Oliver searches for Reyson. All I ask is that you find him and take him from the forest. My company will handle Oliver's guard."
Tibarn's respect for the young man before him rose. "Stand beorc. I will help you." Tibarn said before turning to Grim. "I greatly regret being forced to exile you those years ago. If you have need of me, do not hesitate to call. Either I or someone I trust will fly to your aid."
"Thank you, my king." Grim said as he clapped his fist over his heart and bowed.
Tibarn turned to take off. "I am not your king, but I will still call you friend." He said before leaping into the air.
"Later Danni!" Janaff shouted before he and Ulki followed Tibarn to search for Reyson.
"Okay, let's get ready to move out." Ike said.
15 minutes later
Ike's mercenaries moved into the burned husk of Serenes forest in search of Duke Oliver's guard. They searched for the rest of the day. When it began to get dark, they withdrew back to Oliver's villa. The next day went much the same way, until about noon.
Lyndis and Stefan had climbed a burned out tree to get a better view of the surrounding area. Instead of empty dead woodland like they had expected, they spotted several soldiers searching a nearby marsh. Stefan stayed in the tree to keep an eye on their movements while Lyndis descended to the ground in a half-fall that left the surrounding beorc gaping at her grace. She landed next to Ike.
"There are a group of Oliver's soldiers in a nearby marsh. They don't know we are here." Lyndis said quietly.
"How many are there?" Ike asked as he silently drew his sword.
"Fifteen, maybe twenty. It's hard to get an exact count in these blasted marshes." Lyndis said as she drew her sword as well. Soren appeared by their side.
"The best way to fight in these swamps, is either with laguz, or from range." Soren whispered as he pulled a wind tome out of his sleeve. "That way the enemy gets slowed down in the bogs trying to get to you, allowing the laguz to shred them when they get too close."
"That's our plan then. Soren, Kumori, Rolf, Cryo, and Grim, you'll be our ranged." Ike said, starting slightly as Volke appeared next to him.
"Add me to that list." Volke said as he drew several throwing knives.
"Alright, Volke too. Jill and Lethe will hide in the reeds and ambush any who get too close. The rest will take positions outside the bogs near our ranged fighters incase they get passed Lethe and Jill." Ike said.
The Greil Mercenaries shuffled around quickly and quietly, taking positions to draw Oliver's guards into an ambush. Ike signaled Soren to begin the attack. Soren hurled a blast of cutting winds at the nearest soldiers, cutting several down. Immediately, one of the guards brought a horn to his lips and blew a long note, causing Soren and Ike to curse. The soldiers call for help was cut short as a knife sprouted from his neck, followed by three arrows thudding into his chest.
The men in the bog were well trained and quickly realized where they were being attacked from. One of the armored knights raised his shield and advanced, enduring minor cuts from Soren's wind and Grim, Rolf, and Kumori's arrows. Another knight joined him and they overlapped their shields, forming a small phalanx. The rest of the soldiers clustered behind them as they advanced safe from the deadly hurricane of wind and arrows. Ike was just starting to get worried when a knife hissed passed the left knight's shield and into the knee joint in his armor. The injured man stumbled forward and two arrows found creases in his armor as he fell, he was dead before he hit the ground.
Soren took advantage of the other knight's momentary loss of concentration to blast him from his feet with a concentrated burst of wind. Lethe and Jill shot from their hiding places and killed him before anyone could react. The two cats backed away from the remaining troops, hissing menacingly. A swirling ball of fire shot over them and exploded into the remaining troops, killing most and making to one's who lived wish they hadn't. Lethe and Jill quickly finished off the few that were still alive and started to return to the rest of the group.
From his perch in the treetops, Kumori spotted the approaching reinforcements before they had a chance to sneak up on them. He shouted a warning down to Ike as he released his arrow, felling another knight before he could raise his shield. Cryo spun and hurled another ball of fire at the advancing men. Soren turned and hurled a wind spell immediately behind Cryo's fireball. The winds caught up to the swirling mass of flames, and caused it to swell just before slamming into Oliver's troops, incinerating several. Cryo and Soren looked at one another in shock before identical grins split their faces.
The duke's troops quickly realized they stood no chance at range and charged at the stand of trees Ike's Mercenaries were currently sheltered in. Just before they reached the tree line, Titania, Oscar, and Kieran exploded from the underbrush. They scythed through their enemies' lines, cutting men down left and right before galloping to the safety of another grove of trees. While the men were still reeling from their cavalry charge, Marcia dropped from the sky into the ranks of their mages and killed several before vanishing back the way she came. As everyone was looking about frantically, trying to catch the next attack, three archers fell dead, each with arrows in their throats. Ike, Boyd, Nephenee, Gatrie, and Brom broke cover next, slamming into the disorganized group of soldiers like a typhoon. As if their charge was some sort of signal, Titania, Oscar, and Kieran broke from the stand of trees once more as Marcia dropped out of the sky.
As Ike fought, the soldiers rapidly figured out he was the leader. As such, they quickly cut him off from his troops and attempted to eliminate him. There were two things that prevented this plan from working; one was Ike's prowess with a sword, learned from his father Greil, the other was the sudden appearance of Volke at Ike's back. As the two men fought, Volke showing considerable combat skills for a common thief, Rolf, Kumori, and Grim picked off soldiers in the circle around them, trying to allow them to fight free. As the two men began to tire, Nephenee, flanked by Brom and Gatrie cut a sizeable hole in the circle surrounding Ike and Volke, allowing them to escape. Lyndis dropped from the trees behind their archers and with silence and stealth borne from a cat, she cut them down, one by one.
The mages had formed a circle facing outward, hoping to destroy any threat before they got to close. Several fell to arrows before a spear sprouted from one's chest, causing them to look over in horror. While they were distracted, Lethe pounced. She hit one man in the chest, seizing his neck in her jaws and snapping it. She leaped to her next victim before her first even hit the ground. Jill vaulted over the group of fighters attempting to get to Lethe. Twisting about in midair, she landed facing them, her lance held ready. She skewered one before pulling her lance back and slashing across with it, opening two men along their chests. As they fell she spun her lance over her head before bringing the head down near her calf. When the next one came at her, she snapped the lance up in a diagonal slash, the tip ripping across the unfortunate man's abdomen. With her lance out of position to block, she was forced to duck the next strike. As the ax swooshed over her head, she pivoted on her left foot and swept the soldier's feet out, running him through as he fell. While she was still low to the ground, Lethe flew over her head, slamming into the chest of another man, sending them both to the ground where she shredded his stomach. Lyndis appeared next to Jill and the three of them combined destroyed what was left of the group before them. When they were done, they looked around before realizing the fight was over.
Ike and Kumori walked through the swamp, taking head count to insure they hadn't lost anyone. While at the edge of the trees, they heard the rustle of leaves as something moved toward him. Ike and Kumori glanced at one another before Kumori drew his knives and slipped into the trees to investigate. Kumori saw a flash of white before something crashed into him, sending him to the ground on his back.
"Reyson? Are you alright?" Kumori asked before realizing that the objects pressing into his chest identified this heron as female. He blushed as he set his knives aside and struggled to his feet, picking the heron up with him. He leaned the girl against him and held her up with one arm while he bent to retrieve his knives. He sheathed the blades at his hip. Mindful of her wings, Kumori braced her shoulders on his right forearm as he swept his left under her knees. "I hope you're okay, and I hope Grim recognizes you." Kumori said to the heron in his arms as he made his way back out of the stand of trees to where Ike waited.
"Who is that?" Ike asked as Kumori came into view.
"I have no idea. I thought Reyson was the last heron. Grim might know. The bird tribes tend to keep tabs on each other." Kumori replied as they made their way back to the bog they had fought in.
When they returned they found the battlefield devoid of life. 'Soren must have pulled them back out of the forest… that's good, we were almost done searching anyway.' Ike thought as they picked their way across the bogs, stepping lightly to avoid tripping over any bodies. When they reached the other side of the bog, Kumori stood panting for a moment while Ike kept an eye out for more of Oliver's guard. 'Thank the Goddess she's so light.' He thought as he adjusted his grip and pushed on.
Almost an hour later, the two men reemerged from the forest onto the former Duke's estate. Kumori crouched and gently set the heron's legs down before pulling the canteen off of his belt and taking a drink. Replacing the canteen, he picked her up and started the trek toward the mansion. They arrived in short order and were greeted by Titania and Soren.
"Where were… Who is that?" Titania began only to notice Kumori's burden.
"I have no idea who she is, I was hoping Grim might recognize her." Kumori said as he and Ike stepped inside.
"Leanne!" A voice across the foyer shouted. Grim skidded to a stop right in front of them. "Where did you find her? Is she alright?"
"I found her in the forest after the battle." Kumori said as he crouched and grabbed his canteen once more. "I don't know if she's alright or not, she's been unconscious since I found her." He finished as she upended his canteen over the girls head, causing her to start awake.
She shook her head, and sneezed cutely before looking around. She said something in a strange language before shivering. Kumori removed his cape and draped it over her shoulders.
"Leanne, how are you still alive?" Grim asked, prompting a simple response from her. "The forest protected you? You've been missing for twenty years!"
Leanne's eyes widened. "Reyson!" she shouted before continuing in the same language as before.
"Reyson's fine, he's hiding in the forest right now, but Tibarn, Janaff, and Ulki are looking for him. You remember Tibarn, right?" Grim asked. Leanne nodded her head as she pulled Kumori's cape tighter around her. Tears dripped from her eyes as she stuttered something. "Yes, I'm afraid it wasn't just a
dream. The heron tribe was all but destroyed." Grim said sadly. "Until now, we thought Reyson and king Lorazieh were the only herons left."
"Grim, signal Tibarn so we can show him what we found." Ike commanded as Leanne sneezed again.
Grim walked outside and lit an arrow before firing into the sky once more. Tibarn came by himself this time, leaving Janaff and Ulki to continue looking for Reyson. When he saw Leanne, his eyes grew so wide they nearly fell out of his head. "Leanne!" Tibarn exclaimed as he hurried over and hugged her happily. "We thought you were dead." Tibarn said as he released her. Leanne talked for a moment, the inflection of her voice leading those listening to believe she was asking the hawk king a question. "Yes we are looking for Reyson." Tibarn replied, drawing another string of excited speech from Leanne. "He's hiding in the forest because Naesala sold him to the Duke of this villa. He managed to escape yesterday, and is currently planning to use gladrar to try to destroy Begnion. That's why we need to find him." Tibarn said, visibly tensing when he talked about his fellow king. Leanne shot off into a long monologue. After her rant, Tibarn stood silent for a moment. "I have never seen why you constantly protect him…" Tibarn grumbled, causing Leanne to reply with a clipped phrase. "Oh. That's why." Tibarn replied. "I have to return to the forest. We need to find Reyson before he reaches the altar." Tibarn said.
"If you happen to find any more of the duke's forces, signal us and we'll come as fast as we can. If we find Reyson before you, we'll signal you." Tibarn said as he prepared to leave and continue the search for elusive heron prince.
"Kumori and Grim; Leanne is your responsibility. Keep her safe." Ike said as he walked away.
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