A Quick Review Of Last Chapter:
X disappeared from Lyn's cabin, but not before drugging her with some unknown dust. Guy took Priscilla on a date, and now the troubadour is feeling mixed up about her feelings for Erk and her feelings for Guy. Serra (finally) apologized to Lucius about the gender mistake, and Raven exploded at Rebecca and stormed off. Matthew was severely injured by X and left to die, and Lyn attacked Kaira- her condition is yet to be discovered. Florina had another vision, and now she must choose- save the tactician, or save Matthew?
Thanks to Skimmy for giving me the inspiration and encouragement (and nagging) to write this chapter.
Chapter VII: Life Or Death
Matthew stirred in his precarious balance on the wooden beam. He wanted to wake up, but it was almost like someone was holding a damp cloth over his brain and his face. Nothing responded, and by now his brain was awake and whirring.
What the heck is wrong? I can't move- I can't wake up!
Just calm down. Think back. What happened before this?
'Sir' shoved me out of the ship, and I fell in the water. I climbed back in and back on the beam when he slashed me across the chest and I passed out.
I can't wake up . . . I'm trapped . . .
The spy's physical form was completely motionless, and only X knew of the internal struggle.
"Blasted spy . . ." he murmured. "Never go easily, do you Matthew?" X slipped into the darkness and reappeared next to the body. He pulled on a black glove, made of soft leather, and unscrewed the lid to his bottle of green gel. The assassin was annoyed at the amount of the drug he was being forced to use on this annoying spy. Still, he didn't take chances; and he rubbed another fingertip-full of the sleep-inducing drug into Matthew's neck.
Matthew's feeble struggles to overcome the drug failed, and he slipped back into oblivion.
X watched the spy for a little while, finally satisfied. No change there, not after the extra amount he put on him. Now Matthew would be lucky to wake at all. X chuckled as a memory came to mind. He had left a message with Florina in a rather . . . unique way.
Frowning, X vanished into blackness to check on Kaira. The girl wouldn't find Matthew; if she did, she couldn't do anything about it. But the tactician . . . that was different.
Try as he did, he couldn't leave without a smug remark to the sleeping thief.
"I make sure, remember?" he said, before merging with the darkness, lost to sight.
Florina peered over the bow of the ship, craning her neck to see below. She had to find Kaira and Matthew- but the man said one would die. The assassin in her dream told her she must choose who to save. Inwardly, however, she was screaming. I can't do this! she screamed. I'm not Elimine! I don't choose who lives or dies, I can't! It's not my place! But Florina knew this choice would not be taken away from her- she would have to effectively kill one of her friends.
Florina peered over the railing of the ship, her eyes watching for any kind of sign that Kaira would be down there. It was early morning, and the sunset was beautiful. The Pegasus Knight would be able to enjoy that, at least. But through Florina's eyes, the rising sun seemed bloody and gruesome. Someone would die this day, and Florina would choose who. She felt so helpless.
"Ahoy! Lass! You a Pegasus Knight?" called a voice. The girl spun around to see the berserk Fargus walking across the deck towards her. Immediately her fear of men sprang to the surface, but she tried to squash it.
"Um, yes. Yes I am a Pegasus Knight . . . why?" she squeaked. The corsair's face showed compassion- a surprising trait for a pirate.
"There there, lass. I ain't going to hurt you. No need to be feared. It's just that there's a Pegasus in the stables that's actin' up, an' I thought if it's yours, it needs calmin' down." Florina bit her lip. Huey acting up? Unusual to be sure . . . but her mind was completely swept off subject when an answer to her prayers appeared in front of her.
"Um, F-F-Fargus?" she whispered shyly. "There's an assassin on board . . ." the captain turned back to her. "Yes, lass, I know this already." Florina continued regardless.
"B-but he's got K-Kaira . . . he's hurt her bad. And he's got Matthew . . . they're both bleeding. And . . . and he told me I h-have to choose who . . . who l-lives and who . . ." she couldn't say it. No matter how she tried, Florina just couldn't say it out loud. The captain had given his full attention to the tiny girl in front of him, this little girl that had started to cry.
"An' . . . an' how did you find this out?" he asked dumbly. Florina sniffled.
"I . . . I had . . kind of an . . um, a . . . premonition?"
"A dream?" asked Fargus skeptically. "You dreamt about this?" The Pegasus Knight nodded, mute.
"Well, we need to find them both- at the same time." he announced. Florina looked up at him with wide eyes. "Hunh?"
"If this is true, the assassin will either be guarding one or both. If we save them at the same time, then there's no need to fear." he reasoned, before turning abruptly and charging down the deck.
Florina followed him meekly, her anxiety still flowing around her like the very sea they were sailing on. If both of them died . . . she began to weep softly. One way or another, she would not be happy with herself for a long, long time.
Lyn felt the mark on the back of her neck. This 'X' character . . . he was strange. Nothing he did made any sense. He had spared her life twice, spared Sain and Kent and Kaira's . . . but now her friend was missing, and worse, Lyn herself was a prime suspect in the case. He was an unusual fellow, and he had regarded them almost as friends during their first encounter.
And those eyes . . . those blue eyes . . . they hinted at everything and revealed nothing. Lyn had never seen those eyes before; they seemed to carve deep into her memory and remind her of something, but for the inescapable fact that she had never met X before!
Lyndis groaned as she accidentally prodded her mark too hard. It was still tender. Lyn tried to recall something, anything about that day, but nothing came to mind. She made an exasperated noise, which made Hector and Eliwood turn briefly.
"Lyndis?" asked Hector. "What is it?" Eliwood studied her with those eyes of his, and Lyn blinked. Eliwood's eyes . . . they were almost exactly like X's! Perhaps a bit lighter . . . and too honest, she realized. They had depth. Warmth. The assassin's eyes had depth, but it was the kind that made you feel like you were falling into them, and they were cold and icy.
"I can't remember anything I did today! I've tried and tried, but I can't remember a thing!" Eliwood sighed.
"I warned you that might be a side-effect, Lyndis. Just keep trying." he said, before moving further down the deserted corridor. The Sacaen grumbled.
"It's so frustrating though . . . not one detail . . ." she complained. Hector gave her a light pat on the back before shouldering his Wolf Beil and walking after Eliwood. Both Ostian and Pheraen were less than a metre ahead when it happened.
"You can't remember anything . . . perhaps now?" said a voice in her ear. Lyn screamed and lunged for her Mani Katti. Eliwood and Hector turned around and saw the green-cloaked menace behind Lyn.
"Lyn, move!" Hector shouted, barrelling down the hallway. X ran a finger quickly across the mark and- for some strange reason- breathed softly on her neck.
Eliwood slashed at the man as Lyndis sank to her feet. But, predictably, X had vanished, leaving an echoing laugh.
"Blast that man!" Eliwood roared. "He can't have gone far! Hector! Come on!" But Hector was kneeling at Lyndis' side, a concerned expression on his face. The noblewoman was kneeling down, her hands over face. The mark on the back of her neck was glowing, and sobs racked her body.
"Lyndis! What is it!" asked Hector. She was unable to reply . . .
Lyn was having a true out of body experience. The day passed by in fast-forward, occasionally stopping at the points where she had been brutal and even evil.
"Florina! Why did you interrupt me!" Lyn bellowed. The girl was shocked. Lyn was not herself. Why was she so mean all of a sudden?
"Just get out! Leave me! I'm sick of you- you never leave me alone! You're so weak, Florina! Take care of yourself for once!" she roared, before rising from her chair. Florina whimpered and backed away. Lyn was striding across the deck, yelling furiously as she raised an angry fist. Florina screamed and ran out the door, which slammed shut almost a whole centimetre behind her head. Florina immediately ran away, tears pouring from her eyes.
Lyn was horrified at what she had done.
"Florina! I'm so sorry!" she shouted to the void. Then came the scene Lyn had been dreading- the meeting. Kaira. Lyndis would finally find out the truth: did she kill her best friend?
Lyn hung back. Kaira sighed quietly, she had seen this coming. The Sacaen's eyes were still hard as flint, but Kaira was not intimidated. At least she could apologize now, to her face, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Lyn," she began, but the noblewoman cut her off.
"You nearly killed Florina." she intoned. "Not only that . . . I have reason's to believe you did it on purpose." Kaira was aghast.
"Lyn! Are you nuts! Why would I-"
"I've known you for the longest time, longer than anyone here, Kaira." Lyn interrupted, her fingers slowly wrapping around the hilt of her Mani Katti. The tactician's eyes did not miss such a subtle move. "I can't believe you'd do such a thing." she finished. Kaira nodded furiously, backing up.
"Exactly, Lyn! I didn't-"
"But people change." Lyn cut in. "People always change. I need to eradicate the mole in this army." The Sacaen purposefully unsheathed her sword, and lifted it high.
"Goodbye, Kaira." Lyn whispered. The tactician's eyes were wide, and she bumped against the wall. There was no escape. The Mani Katti swooped down.
The sacred sword plunged through part of her neck and down through her chest, almost to the heart. With a savage growl of triumph, Lyndis ripped the blade from the tactician's body, allowing the blood to spill on the floor. Kaira collapsed, her eyes glazed and unblinking. Lyn licked her lips and slashed Kaira across the stomach, her soul delighting in bloodshed.
Then the noblewoman left, leaving the body to bleed on the wood.
"It's true . . ." she sobbed. "I can't believe it . . . it's all true . . ." Hector placed his arms around her and held her tight.
"It's alright." he said softly.
"No, Hector . . ." Lyn wept. "It's not alright . . . I killed her. I killed Kaira!" she screamed. Hector swore, and held the hysterical woman closer. The Ostian had never experienced matters like this. But he knew, deep down, that she would need to find comfort. And it would be here, in his arms.
"So Kaira is dead?" he said weakly. Lyn couldn't bring herself to say it. So, she nodded. "It's all my fault . . ." she said wretchedly. Hector shook his head firmly.
"It's not your fault. It's that 'X'. It's X's fault, all of it. All blame lies with him. You'd been drugged. You weren't yourself- you had no control over your actions." he explained. Lyn allowed herself to be hugged, taking comfort from the unlikely source.
"I murdered Kaira . . . she's dead . . ." she mumbled.
The tactician blinked slowly, and peered through heavy eyelids. The blood was still wet, and Kaira felt weak. The gashes across her stomach and chest were still open, and still blood seeped from them. The tactician was surprised, though her fatigued state dulled it a little. How can I lose this much blood and still be alive? she thought.
Kaira squinted at the bright light from the water. It only then occurred to her that she was on the outside of the ship. The tactician twisted her head slowly, trying to get a bearing on her position. A sarcastic grin appeared on her face.
How . . . cliched. I'm in the place of the figurehead, she thought. I'm strapped here, on the front of the ship, instead of the figurehead. Looks like the buxom wooden girl has been replaced with a buxom human girl.
Kaira slipped back into unconsciousness, blood still wetting her robe and dripping into the ocean. All a Pegasus Knight would have to do is fly out ahead of the ship, turn around, and they would see her. Assuming she wasn't dead by then . . .
The ropes that secured her to the bulkhead creaked, and a tiny fibre snapped from the strain. It was only a matter of time before she plunged into the ocean . . .
"Ahoy!" a sailor shouted. "There's a small dory adrift to port!" Lyn, still weak from her revelation, said nothing. Hector gave her a gentle smile, while Eliwood turned his attention to the sailor.
"What is it?"
"A small boat. It's collided with us. There's no damage to us, but there's someone on board." he explained. "And that's the strange thing, you see. Anything that hit us would have had to come from the Dread Isle."
"The Dread Isle." echoed Hector. Eliwood had closed his eyes.
"Please, Father." he prayed. "Hold on."
Dart was over at the side, helping the corsairs to heave the dory over the side. His muscled arms stood out, and seawater dripped off them in streams. The boat was heavy, but not in the extreme. With a groan, he lifted it over his head and lowered it to the deck. The oak timber of the wood was old, very old. Dart was surprised it was still waterproof, never mind seaworthy!
As for the lad inside . . . Dart peered over the rim and noticed that there was no lad. Someone was inside, alright, but it wasn't what he expected.
A rather pretty girl lay inside the boat, wearing a light blue dress. Her icy blue hair was messy and in disarray; and both the edges of the fine dress and the tips of her hair were wet, confirming Dart's suspicions.
The brawny corsair reached forward to pick the girl up when he hesitated. Normally, he'd just grab someone by their belly and toss the over his shoulder, but somehow he sensed it would be wrong if he did so here. He could hurt her; she was so frail looking, and really pretty . . .
Wha? Where'd that come from? he asked himself. Still, he couldn't risk hurting the girl . . .
"Ahoy! Mates! Leave 'er be for a second!" A couple of the smart-alecks among them snickered.
"Aw, is poor Darty going to the captain? He has to go to the big safe captain for every decision, doesn't he?" they cooed, before falling about laughing. Dart rounded on them, cracking his knuckles ominously and flexing his muscles. The laughter promptly died.
"Erm . . sure. We'll leave the lass be." said Flaefir, the leader of their little group. He was tall, unusually so, and he was slender. He was a weakling by Dart's books; he could barely lift a Steel Axe!; but he was a skillful swordsman, and it was easy to underestimate him. Being Sacaen helped him with that . . . and Dart was only wary whenever he was acting up. Like now, for example.
The thing that did not make any sense about Flaefir was his legs. They were long, powerful, and disproportionately muscular. Dart had seen Flaefir when he was in battle. One kick to the head of an archer had almost sent Flaefir's boot through the other side of the poor man's skull. He was a fast runner and an amazing jumper; like a gazelle. His major weaknesses were his ego, which he flaunted at every opportunity, and his constitution. A single good blow to the torso would send him out like a light- providing he didn't kick you and put you in hospital.
Nevertheless, Flaefir gave Dart a wide berth as he passed through him to go to the Lord's. The ape-like corsair wouldn't be happy for long. The Swordmaster decided to go down into his cabin; planning would be needed. Revenge would be sought upon the first mate of the Davros, or his name wasn't Flaefir.
Dart came over to Lyn and the rest. They regarded his presence with mild curiosity, and waited quietly for Dart to deliver his message. The corsair turned towards Lyn.
"Erm . . ." he began, suddenly unsure. "Can you give me a hand? I don't know where to . . . grab her." he said awkwardly. Hector grinned.
"Such a gentleman." he teased. Dart breathed deeply. They were guests, and not to be hurt; the Ostian just had particularly bad timing.
"Stow it!" he snarled, a tad more venomous than he meant. Hector felt offended, but decided not to show it.
Dart led the noblewoman over to the dinghy, and Lyn demonstrated in the air how to pick a girl up. Dart followed carefully, and scooped the lady out of the boat, bringing her to the three Lord's.
"Here she comes . . ." said Hector. "It's . . . it's a girl!"
"Ninian!" cried Eliwood, as the girl and Lyndis arrived. Hector was confused.
"You know her?" he asked. Eliwood nodded.
"It's how Lyndis and I met one year back." he explained. The Ostian nodded, and looked at the maiden, who was now standing up.
"Ninian?" asked Eliwood, with a concerned face. Lyndis took over; and the anxiety was clear in her voice.
"Ninian? Are you okay? Say something! Where's Nils? Why isn't he with you?" she said quickly. Ninian opened her eyes, and her bright crimson eyes seemed distant, hollow.
"Nils?" echoed Hector, confused again.
"Ninian's brother." Eliwood explained, smiling. It was obvious Hector was frustrated, he was completely new to all of this. Ninian blinked, and she slumped over.
"Wha . . ." she mumbled. "Wh . . . who . . . unh . ." Lyndis bit her lip.
"Eliwood, something's wrong with her. Ninian, wake up!" she cried. The girl seemed confused, and her speech was clear, but it was monotonous. Hector studied the dancer, trying to figure out what was wrong.
"Ni . . . Nin . . . Ninian? Is that . . . me? Is that . . . my . . . my name?" she whispered, and the fear was bright in her eyes. That was when the pin dropped. A really big pin, with the sound of steel on wood.
"Eliwood, Lyndis. Look at her eyes. There's . . . nothing. No iris, no pupil, no white bits. It's all just crimson." he said with wonder. Eliwood looked the dancer in the eyes, and saw that his friend spoke true.
"Get her inside." he ordered. "Put her in my cabin, it's the closest." Lyndis nodded, trying to stem the feelings rushing around inside her. There was the joy of seeing Ninian again, the anxiety over what had happened, the curiosity about just what had happened, and the sadness of her killing her best friend. Kaira was dead.
Hector was still out, enjoying the afternoon breeze.
"Say, Eliwood." he began. "This assassin, this 'X' . . . d'you think he's done something to Matthew?" The Pheraen shook his head, then paused.
"No . . . well, maybe. Why?" Hector looked out at the sea.
"Well, he hasn't been around for all of yesterday and today . . . not even a single comment at Serra. In fact, the last time we saw him was just before the meeting." he said. "And now Kaira is dead, killed by Lyndis, who was drugged by this man . . ." Hector looked at Eliwood. "Do you think, maybe . . ."
The pin dropped again. This time, strangely, it was the sound of wood on wood. Something big and wooden had hit something else big and wooden. Hector was fine, all vibrations absorbed by his thick armour. Eliwood stumbled slightly, but as soon as he caught hold of the railing he was fine too.
"Uwaaaaaaaaa!" came the deafening shout from below the deck. "Breached! The hull's been breached! We're taking in water!" Hector pointed to a pair of ships that had suddenly appeared from nowhere.
"Eliwood, look!" he shouted. The ships had pulled up alongside the Davros, and a row of steel spikes below the waterline had carved deep into the belly of their vessel.
"Breached?" growled Fargus, who had appeared from nowhere. "Those scum are more dangerous than I thought!" Flaefir came speeding up behind Fargus.
"It looks bad, Captain." he said, with extraordinarily no fear in his voice. "The water's up to the galley." Fargus was not to be deterred, and hefted his massive axe with a practiced hand.
"You take care of it! I'm going to carve these scallywags some new gizzards!" Flaefir placed a hand on Fargus' hairy chest, stopping him- a near unforgivable act.
"Captain, we need all hands below decks, or we'll sink." he said firmly. Eliwood stepped in to defend Flaefir's position.
"He's right! Leave the fighting to us, it's what we're good at! But a sinking ship? That's your affair!" Fargus lowered his head.
"Fine!" he shouted. "We'll be back as soon as we've plugged the breach in the hull. But I want none of ye dyin', ye hear!"
"Just go!" Hector bellowed, incredibly shoving the man towards the hull. Fargus went at an easy trot, while Flaefir reached the galley in almost a record three seconds.
"Kaira!" Eliwood bellowed, as usual. Then he stopped. Kaira was dead. She would not be helping in this battle. The first time they would have to fend for themselves. Without her guidance, it was all too possible it could be the last time too.
Lyn left the cabin, and Ninian, in a hurry. It was a painful reminder of the fact that Kaira was dead; it was their first battle without her. But what could she use as an alibi? Lyndis could not, no matter what, let them know she had killed Kaira. She would have to explain to the group that the tactician had been murdered, and the culprit was not yet apprehended. It was close enough to the truth anyway.
The Sacaen closed the door and hurried outside, where the army had undoubtedly gathered.
The door opened softly, and footsteps were barely audible before the door shut with a tiny click. Ninian stirred, and her odd eyes opened.
"Unh . . . wh . . . who . . . ?" she whispered. The only reply was silence, and darkness, until . . .
X appeared from nowhere, next to her bedside. The girl was frightened, and she couldn't move. X's eyes flashed over her body, taking in every detail, every curve beneath the bedsheets that clung to her body.
"Incredible . . ." he murmured. "Dragon-girl . . . child of ice . . ." Ninian started to hyperventilate, and her eyes seemed to brighten.
"Wha . . . how . . . . how did . . . you . . ." X smiled coldly.
"My dear dragon, there is so much more to me than meets the eye." he explained, while fingering the dagger by his waist. Ninian seemed to be a hollow shell, and the effect of her emptiness would have creeped out most people. Still, X wasn't exactly 'most people'.
"You . . ." Ninian whispered. "Cre . . . you . . . the mis-mistake? Bra . . . Bram-" X's eyes widened.
"Quiet!" he hissed, before lunging for her face. One of the stupidest things he'd ever done.
His hand closed over her mouth, muffling all words and sounds. X smirked, until he felt the pain.
"Wha . . ." he murmured, before stiffening. Something was happening, and it hurt. His eyes grew wide. It was the most inexplicable feeling, as though his very essence was being leeched out of him through the palm of his hand.
"Pleas . . . no . . . ergh . . ." he groaned. The pain was coursing through his body, and the veins on his hand rose from the skin, becoming bolder and clearer. X tried to pull his hand away from Ninian's mouth, and only barely succeeded. A glowing, shimmering substance was being drawn from his hand, and flowing into the dragon-girl's face. It was like liquid glass, though nothing like it. It sparkled, and the streaks of colour within it were the purest and brightest that the world had ever seen. It twisted in a strand, a continuous flow of this mysterious energy.
X sank to his knees, screaming. He couldn't move a muscle, and the pain was incredible. Ninian quietly rose from the bed, her eyes gleaming.
"Pow . . power . . ." she whispered maliciously. X broke out in a sweat, the pain paralyzing him completely. Through the pain, through the dense cloak of intense agony, X wasn't sure what to think. It was almost as though his emotions were being wiped away, his personality erased. Like his very soul was being removed. No! he thought. I will not let this happen!
It seemed to X that he was moving through molasses, as his spare hand reached for his dagger. The air had liquefied through his eyes, and grabbed at his arm with impish fingers to stop him.
"I will . . not let this happen!" he roared. He couldn't do anything, however, as the flow of the magical energy had ceased. X fell to the floor, breathing hard. Ninian was standing over him, and her eyes seemed devilish, almost evil.
"Mistake . . . you who was created . . . they did well to fall so short of their goal." she whispered to the writhing and gasping body. The dancer turned abruptly and slipped back into bed, briefly licking her lips.
Eliwood, Hector and Lyndis had each selected their soldiers corresponding to who was under their rule. After a brief uproar at the sudden and violent death of Kaira, they relaxed. Those chosen were:
Guy, Lucius, Florina, Canas, Rebecca, Sain, Kent, Priscilla, Serra, Oswin and their respective ruling Lord's.
"Please, I want everyone to remember," Eliwood shouted. "We only need to hold out for as long as it takes Fargus and his crew to fix the hole. Then they'll take over. Does anyone not understand?" Silence reigned.
"Good." said Hector. "Now let's go!"
Guy took a few strides forward, and paused as he grabbed his stomach. He moaned, and Priscilla watched him nervously. He was looking a little green.
"Guy?" she asked demurely. "Are you feeling alright?" The Sacaen turned towards her.
"Yeah," he groaned. "Just a little seasick. The floor keeps moving." Priscilla turned away towards her pack, where her staves were kept and cushioned to prevent damage. Guy was concerned. There was no way he was going to be taken out of this battle!
"I can still work my sword arm, so I'm fine!" he stammered. Priscilla gave him an odd look.
"I was just getting a little medicine, Guy." she said, a little hurt. She closed her bag and reached into a side pocket, pulling out a small vial of orange liquid. The troubadour tossed it to him.
"Drink this. It's a wonderful cure for seasickness." she explained, before riding away. Guy looked at the bottle of fluid before popping the cap and drinking it in one mouthful. It tasted like sweet oranges, and it worked almost immediately. Guy felt his stomach settle, and a rush of energy came with his calmness. The Sacaen recognised his strange hyperactivity. Priscilla must have put a lot of sugar in the mix.
The myrmidon hurtled down the stairs towards the group of shamans when a scream erupted from behind him, through the cabin door. Guy froze, and banged open the door.
"What's going on!" he roared, before clamping his mouth tightly shut. There was an unknown girl asleep in the bed, and there was a body on the floor. It was covered partially in a green cloak, and the man stirred. Guy was intrigued. Where had he seen that outfit before?
X rose to his feet with deadly grace, drawing his dagger at the sounds of battle. He turned towards the open doorway, and saw Guy standing there, with his mouth open in an expression of hatred.
"Aw, crap." X muttered, and he shielded his face. It was far too late. Guy had seen his eyes, those luminous blue eyes, and the identity came rushing back.
"You!" he snarled. X ran straight for the Sacaen, with his dagger wielded like a small sword. Aggression was needed for the illusion to work.
"Die!" he shouted, as he attempted to spear-tackle Guy. The swordsman dropped low, and the assassin flew straight overhead. X rolled to a stop, and stood up.
"And now I thank you, Guy, for allowing me access out of here." he said, smiling, before disappearing into the melee. Guy watched him blend into the battle, and stood there.
Smart move, Guy. Smart move, he chided himself.
"By the power bestowed within me of St Elimine, I strike thee with the pure light of the blessings of divinity! Lightning!" Lucius cried. The tome glowed, and a ball of blinding light struck a shaman across the chest, making him collapse to the deck.
There are so many . . . can I possibly stop them all?
There is no need to fear, Lucius . . . after all, death only results in your reward from St Elimine. Should we fall . . . well, it will be a shame to say goodbye to your friends. But you do not fear death, do you?
No. I do not fear it.
The monk struck the tome with a clenched fist and hurled a particularly potent Lightning spell at a shaman. It struck him in the face, melting his features and shoving him backwards, over the railing and into the water.
Then, pain. Lucius saw the darkness spread over his right arm, the unholy blackness crushing and liquefying his limb. He screamed. The agony was incredible.
"Lucius! Wait!" Serra shrieked from the balcony. She bravely hurtled the railing and dropped to the deck, running for the injured monk. The cleric paused. How would she defend herself in the midst of all those shamans?
A cry came from the prow of the ship.
"Thief! I've been robbed!" cried Merlinus.
Serra turned around in time to see a green-cloaked figure flew over her head, grasping a rope in one hand and an iron sword in the other.
"Who on earth?" she whispered. It wasn't Matthew, his cloak was red. Could it possibly be the assassin that the tactician had told her about before she died?
X landed next to Lucius, who was being encircled by the shamans. The man was on the ground, his right arm useless and decaying rapidly. His tome lay forgotten on the deck.
"You. Monk." said X, his sword point flickering at the dark users closing in. "Can you stand?" Lucius nodded.
"Good. I will cut a path. There is a cleric just outside of these people. Go to her." Lucius looked X in his eyes, or tried to. The assassin stoically avoided eye contact, and Lucius felt unexpected sadness.
"Child, you are not wicked. Do not-" X rounded on him.
"Shut up, monk! Do not even think that I will save you if you continue!" The assassin paused to run a shaman through that had strayed too close. He removed his sword with a violent yank and cuffed the shaman over the head. Another one for the water.
"Now go!" X shouted. The shamans raised their tomes and started chanting, with balls of darkness appearing in front of raised arms. X slashed the belly of an uncommonly bulky shaman. It collapsed, and X saw, with regret, that it was a woman. That explained the bulk.
A ball of darkness whizzed towards his head. The assassin ducked, and it fizzled into non-existence over his head. He promptly gutted the unfortunate shaman.
The bodies were falling thickly, and X was like some demonic wraith. He was everywhere and he was nowhere. The only sight for a shaman was flashing iron, a whirl of a green cloak, and then you were dead.
Eventually, the users of dark magic were defeated. Lucius had only made it a few steps before collapsing to the deck. That pink-haired cleric that X had put with the mage was crouching over Lucius' body, unsure of what to do. She had never treated dark magic wounds before.
X appeared without warning at her side. With widening eyes he noticed that Lucius' right arm was stained entirely black, almost all the way up to the shoulder.
"What do I do?" asked Serra, with tears in her eyes. X unsheathed his sword and held it firmly over Lucius' body. Serra's eyes widened.
"You will not kill him mister!" she screamed in his ear. The assassin's face contorted in annoyance, and he slashed the arm, just above where the line of blackness was. It bled slightly, dampening the white robe with the unsightly red of blood. The severed arm collapsed into a pile of acrid ashes.
"Had we left the injury, it would have festered and overtaken his whole body. He's lucky to have just lost an arm." X explained. He rose to leave, but froze. Serra stood up too.
"Well, I don't know who you are, mister, but thank you-" X cut her off. His eyes were on the jade stone hanging from her pigtail.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, his eyes dark. Serra was astounded by the depth those eyes held. The cleric felt herself falling . . .
"I found it." she said petulantly. X frowned.
"It is mine. I dropped it." he explained, putting his hand out. Serra's lip stiffened considerably.
"No. I don't even know who you are! You could be some evil enemy trying to take advantage of me, a sweet, helpless cleric!" she squealed. Serra gripped her Heal staff like an axe and swung it at X's head. The assassin stood motionless, lazy, grabbing the stave at the last moment and halting it's progress towards his skull.
"Nice try." he said, with real sincerity. With one quick swipe, he cut the staff in half and bounded away. The gem at the tip shattered on contact with the deck, and Serra sniffed moodily.
Lucius groaned, but otherwise just laid there.
Sain trotted carefully out onto the boarding plank, his lance at the ready. Rebecca was just behind him, still on the ship. Sain felt nervous- all it would take was one mishap, and he and his horse would plunge into the water.
"Rebecca?" he began, as he blocked a slash from a mercenary and swung the butt of his lance around to knock the man into the water. "I wanted to-"
"Sain, just no." Rebecca said, launching off an arrow. "I really don't want to hear it. No flirting in a battle. It's what Tactician Kaira would have wanted." Sain felt the usual pang of sorrow at his companion's death.
"No, I didn't want to flirt." Sain blurted. Rebecca stood still. The shock had paralyzed her. Sain didn't want to flirt! She must be dreaming . . .
"I wanted to say I'm sorry." the cavalier continued, pausing to grab a sword from the side of his horse and behead a hapless myrmidon. "I'm sorry for what Raven did. I know it hurt you, and-" Rebecca looked up, her eyes fiery and angry.
"And you thought maybe if you made Raven look like the bad guy, you could take advantage of me when my guard is down and get me to date you!" she screamed. "Ooh, I don't believe you, Sain!"
The cavalier was distraught. His attempt of apologising was crashing down around his ears.
"No, Rebecca!" He calmed down, and this more than anything made the archer take notice- after she performed a critical and pin-cushioned the poor sod that was creeping up behind Sain with an Armourslayer.
"I felt that it was partially my fault." He sighed. "If my reputation wasn't so bad, I could have come down there and comforted you. But, of course, every word would have looked like skirt-chasing, and so I was stuck."
"Then why are you apologising?" asked Rebecca, confused.
"Because that shouldn't have stopped me." he finished. "You were hurt. You needed someone to listen, and I did nothing. You cried yourself to sleep that night, and I did absolutely nothing."
The archer looked at Sain with wide, green eyes.
"Do you really mean that?" she asked, her emerald eyes sparkling. Sain nodded grimly.
"Of course I do." he said. "Milady." he added as an afterthought. Rebecca looked him in the eye.
"Then you are forgiven." she said simply.
X climbed down the front of the ship, the wet rope creaking ominously. Kaira still hung there, her clothes bloody and torn, her shirt half-open from the rip caused by the Mani Katti. X watched her for a moment. Her lavender hair was tattered and messy, and she was soaked. The clothes she wore were still stained with her blood, and her half-open shirt revealed an impressive bust and cleavage.
The assassin quickly slashed the ropes holding her to the figurehead and allowed the tactician to fall over his shoulder. X gripped the wet wood with numb fingers, pausing to look in on the spy through a porthole. The assassin grinned. Still asleep then, eh Matthew. What did I tell you? I make sure, remember?
The assassin was halfway up the ship when a lance point prodded him in the back.
"Y-Y-You . . ." came the whispered reply. "Kaira . . . sh-she's alive?" X turned around, already knowing who it was.
"Ah, Florina." said X. "Had a little brush with the ethereal? Evidently you followed the premonition, or you wouldn't be here." The Ilian was shaking, but hatred was clear in her sky-blue eyes.
"You . . . you hurt Kaira . . . you almost killed her!" X grinned maliciously.
"No, Florina. Lyn hurt her. Lyn mutilated the body of your friend." he explained, and his azure eyes glittered.
"You're lying!" Florina screamed. "And c-cover her up! It's not decent!" she demanded, referring to the half-visible breasts of her friend. X frowned.
"You're not exactly in a place to demand anything, Florina!" he shouted. The Pegasus Knight screamed again, and thrust hard with the lance point.
X grabbed the lance point and kicked Huey in the snout, stunning the Pegasus for a few moments. It was all X needed, and he flicked his feet on top of the lance, and leapt up to the surface. He landed hard on the railing of the ship, waking Kaira.
"Lyndis, no!" she howled. So loud and urgent was her cry that all fighting on the ship ceased. Kaira stood on the railing, held tight by X.
"Kaira!" shouted Eliwood.
"Kaira! You're alive!" yelled Lyn, with tears already flowing. "I'm so-" Hector drowned her out, with a completely different topic in mind.
"You! 'X'! You evil, heartless-" X shook his head.
"Oh come now, Hector. It's really not a good idea to insult someone who has a hostage. I just might do this-"
And X brought the dagger up and plunged it into Kaira's heart.
Removing it and efficiently wiping the blade clean, the assassin leapt from the railing and dove into the water- or so it seemed. He had actually grabbed hold of the porthole and climbed in to Matthew's resting point.
Lyn shrieked. There were no words; there did not need to be. It was a sound of pain, of guilt and loss, and of hope shattered. The Sacaen bolted over to the limp body of her friend, the tactician.
"Kaira . . ." she sobbed, cradling her body in her arms. "I'm so sorry . . . I tried . . ."
Priscilla rode over, and held her favourite Mend staff over the body of Kaira. The gem glowed, but in the bright sunlight it was only noticeable to Priscilla, who had trained herself to see such things.
"She's alive, but only just." she remarked to the weeping Lyndis. "It's incredible . . ." Lyn looked at her, tears still streaking down her face.
"Can you heal her!" she demanded. Priscilla bit her lip.
"I doubt very much she'll last the night . . . but I think I can save her."
Cliffhanger! I am such an evil, heartless author. Yep. X has definitely gotten more evil as I go through the story. Very evil indeed. Reviews are much appreciated. I need reviews not only on the story, but reviews stating whether Kaira lives or dies. Because, hey: the readers are always right.
Review Responses:
Sorceress Sakura: You wanted it: you got it. Another chapter- one of my best so far.
Wandering Cat: Thanks for the support. I'm kinda proud of that little tweak where Lyn was drugged.
ThuhGameFreak: Annoying cliffhangers? That's what they're meant to do. There will be quite a few, so you may want to get used to them.
Skimmy: The Criticizer? Nice name. As for people thinking to themself . . . it's my own personal touch. So no flames.
RiosMasquerade: If I told you, I'd have to kill you. X's identity will not be revealed for a long time- but pieces will crop up. Moo hah hah!
A reminder to read and review.
