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Restoring Honor

Chapter 7- Awake at Last

Kent looked at Lady Lyndis, and then down at the sword in his hands. It had a standard steel blade with a standard steel handle and a leather grip, just a normal sword. Kent looked at the blade over and over again. It could have been anyone's sword, it could have been, but it wasn't. This was Sain's sword. How did he know? There was a ribbon woven in and out of the leather grip, it was Sain's mother's ribbon; Sain always wove the strip of silk into his leather grip, a good-luck charm, he had insisted, when Kent asked about it years ago.

Kent wiped at his eyes, tears threatened to fall. He wasn't supposed to cry, especially not in front of his liege; he was still her knight after all. The steward fondled the sword with trembling hands. Sain was dead. Dead. The word seemed so final and resolute.

His thoughts were jumbled, so much had happened over the last month. Caelin's nobles and upper class were making it very difficult to collect taxes. They didn't like how the social gap seemed to be closing in since the previous Marquess death. Kent didn't know what to do anymore. So he had come to Ostia to meet with Lord Hector and Lady Lyndis, but he never expected this.

Apparently an attempt had been made on Duke Nicolai's life last month. The culprit was a hired assassin from Khathelet. The new Duke had been vacationing on his country estate when the assassin made his move. Luckily the young noble had not been injured. Ostia sent knights to investigate since it was the most powerful state in the Lycian League and often played peacekeeper among the providences. After much interrogation, the knights had found out that the Marquess of Khathelet's cousin was responsible for the attack on Nicolai and the attack on the Duke's late father. The Marquess of Khathelet's cousin, Sir Wyatt, was put on trial, found guilty and imprisoned. A feud over a large chunk of land along the western border of Khathelet had been the cause over this big mess.

Duke Nicolai had Sain's name cleared and honored for his attempt to save the old duke's life-but it was too late. The original company of Ostian knights, coupled with Nicolai's hired mercenaries sent to kill Sain, brought back a sword and a testimonial that its wielder was dead. The company had not been in contact with Duke Nicolai for some time, maybe if they had been, Sain would still be alive.

Kent set the sword aside. Oh how he wished he had helped Sain! The green paladin begged his friend for aid and all he did was send him away. Some friend he was…

"Kent…" Lyn looked at the knight with tears in her eyes. Despite all that happened almost a year ago, she could never hate Sain. Sain was a Knight of Caelin–her knight.

"Lady Lyndis…I am grateful that you informed me of his passing. I-" Kent choked back a sob. "I will miss him…"

"Kent, many of us will miss him, his antics…his flattery…despite everything…he was truly a good man," Lyn sobbed and wiped at her tears.

"Miss Florina will have to be informed of his death," Kent said quietly.

"Yes…she will."

"Please give her his sword, I know Sain would want her to have it."

"Kent, are you sure? You have known him the longest…it should be yours."

"True, I have known him since I was nine …but, he would want her to have it. You know Sain; he always thought about the ladies first."

Lyn smiled sadly, "Alright, I will give it to her."

"Thank you Lady Lyndis…I-I request permission to rest, I don't think I can meet with Hector and the court today."

"Kent, you know that I have always permitted you to leave without asking."

"Ah, I had forgotten, my apologies…" Kent got up from his kneeling position and bowed. "Good-day milady."

"I'll see you tomorrow Kent."


Heath looked over at Priscilla from across the room–she was currently writing a letter to her father. She had been acting oddly the last few days…and quite frankly he was worried–very worried. After her meeting with Oswin, she had been–what would he call it? Passive? Distant? Aloof? It was like she was going through the motions without any care or emotion in her actions…it was very un-Priscilla-like.

Perhaps this was his fault? After all, since their arrival at Ostia Castle, he had spent the majority of his time alone, usually catching up on rest or tending to Hyperion. Not once had he gone out to Ostia city proper with Priscilla…and he had promised her he would…hell, he'd promised her a lot of things on this trip, and he hadn't gone through with a single one! What a horrible person he was! How selfish he was!

The wyvern lord bit his lip deep in thought. He always hung back in the shadows, always ready to protect his lady, but…it seemed as if Priscilla didn't want that, she wanted more, well maybe not more, but something else entirely…What could she possibly want from him? He had stayed with her despite his past, hadn't he?

"Heath…Heath? Heath!"

"Hmn?" The wyvern lord snapped out of his daze and turned his icy eyes toward Priscilla.

The healer frowned, "Heath, I said I was done…with the writing…"

"Ah, alright…you must be tired then, I'll leave you be…" Heath pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on, and started making his way over to the door.

"Heath?" the healer choked out. She sounded pitiful…

The man in question turned around, "Is there something wrong Priscilla?"

Priscilla turned away from her bodyguard, tears welling up in her pretty green eyes. "Heath…please don't leave me tonight…I-I barely got to see you today…I miss you…"

Heath frowned, "Priscilla…I had no idea…" He walked over to the distressed healer and wrapped his arms around her.

The auburn-haired woman clutched at the wyvern lord and sobbed into his cotton shirt. "It seems like we never spend any time together anymore…and it's…it's-it hurts…"

"Oh Priscilla…if I had known…I thought you wanted some distance…?"

"Heath…we never-I hardly ever see you…you're always in the shadows…protecting me…I-I don't want that…I want you beside me…at my side…"

The wyvern lord was shocked, was that what Priscilla truly wanted? Heath pulled the healer closer, "Priscilla…I-I didn't know, please forgive me…I thought you were fine with the arrangement we had…"

Priscilla sniffled, "Heath…if you don't want to…"

"No, it's just…I don't-I'm not good enough for that Priscilla…"

"Heath…" the healer half whined, half sobbed.

"Alright, alright…" Heath sighed gently rubbing her back, "Please don't cry…how about this…tomorrow we'll go into Ostia town proper, as a couple…not me as a bodyguard and you my liege, but as a regular, normal couple…how does that sound?"

Priscilla smiled slightly and stopped sobbing letting go of Heath. "Oh
Heath…" the young noble wiped at her eyes. "You have no idea how happy you've made me…" She stood on tiptoe to give the bodyguard a quick kiss on the lips before hugging the lanky man.

The wyvern lord smiled, "Well at least you're smiling now…come on, let us get to bed. We're going to have to wake up early tomorrow…"


It had been a very productive day with the advisors; the new tax laws would be in place by the end of the year for both Caelin and Ostia. Kent smiled. With all the planning he'd been doing these past months, all those meetings during the last week had been very productive. Today the meetings had lasted all day, and he had missed dinner, but it didn't matter now.

The knight opened the door to his room to change out of his armor and into a light cotton shirt and pants. After a couple of nights on the floor, Fiora had insisted that he sleep in her room. At first he adamantly refused; after all, it was not fitting for a knight to sleep in a lady's room–especially in the same bed. Yet another night on the stone floor had convinced him otherwise. The red-haired man looked at the unconscious Sain before leaving his room and heading down to the end of the hallway.

Kent knocked on the door, "Miss Fiora are you decent?"

Fiora looked at the door, it was Kent. "Yes, hold on." She set her silver lance down and got off the bed to let the knight in.

She unlocked and opened the door, and the red-haired knight walked in, a faint blush on his cheeks.

"Kent, this isn't the first night we've slept in the same room, yet you still blush when you see me."

"Ah, it's just-I don't know…it seems so uncouth for me to sleep in the same room as a lady I am not married to…."

Fiora smiled and kissed his cheek. "Sir Kent, you are a very honorable man indeed." The Pegasus knight moved over to the bed where she picked up the silver lance she had been polishing and set it against the wall.

"Has Hero fallen asleep yet?"

"Yes, just recently actually," Fiora answered. "How was the meeting?"

Kent grinned as he sat down on the edge of the bed, "It was wonderful! The new laws shall be in place by the end of the year. I may be able to resign as steward of Caelin soon if everything goes well."

Fiora felt her heart skip a beat, "Honestly?" She turned to the red-haired man and sat down by his side.

"Yes, each year, more and more responsibility for Caelin has been given to the Lord and Lady of Ostia. After the taxing system is changed, Ostia will have complete and direct control without need of a steward in Caelin to make decisions."

The normally reserved woman grinned and threw her arms around Kent. "Oh Kent! That's wonderful!"

The paladin held Fiora close. "Now I will be able to go with you to Ilia."

Fiora pulled away from the knight and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Do you truly mean that?"

"I most certainly do." Kent replied.

"I don't know what to say…oh Kent, I'm just so happy!" she half laughed, half cried.

Kent pulled her into a fervent kiss before embracing her once again. "I never want to see you leave again, Fiora."

"You'll never have to, Kent."


Florina rubbed her weary eyes. It was near midnight, she was sure of it. Lyn had been talking with her for several hours tonight–the plainswoman only stopped when she realized her friend was half-asleep. The knight could tell that Lyn was getting antsy being cooped up in bed all day, but Hector wanted her to be careful concerning her illness…or supposed illness anyway. Florina suspected that her friend was probably pregnant and going through morning sickness…she hadn't told that to Lyn yet though.

Serra had arrived today with Erk in tow; however, the healer and the mage were rather weary from the trip down from Etruria and both retired almost immediately. The Pegasus Knight sighed, still no word from Farina, and Sain was still out cold. Rebecca, Wil, Lord Eliwood, and Ninian would be arriving the day after tomorrow. She smiled, Nino would be here within a week as well.

Ah! The guest wing at last! As she walked down the hall, she stopped and stared at the door to Kent's room. She had been unable to check up on the former knight all day. Perhaps a quick visit couldn't hurt…

"Ugh…" His muscles felt stiff and sore, especially his right shoulder and left side. What had happened to him? Did he fall off another cliff? Or perhaps he had been captured and beaten senseless by mercenaries…or bandits, not like there was much difference. The man groaned again as he heard his stomach start growling; he was so hungry, damnit, what happened to him? Better yet, how long had he been asleep?

Slowly he opened his sea-green eyes, it was night, or at least it seemed like night. Wherever he was, it was pitch black. He blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The first thing he noticed was that his sword and spear were missing, and he was lying on a bed half naked in a room. Perhaps he was at an inn or in his uncle's house?

Then it hit him. All the events of that night came rushing back in a blur of color and sound. He bolted upright and broke out in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. This was Ostia Castle! Oh shit! How did he end up here of all places? They were going to kill him for sure!

He turned his gaze over to the door as it creaked open slightly. Oh no! He had to get out of here quick! The man threw off the covers and made a move to get up but it was too late…the door was fully opened.

Florina turned the handle of the door and pushed it open. She stepped into the doorway, holding up the small candle to help illuminate the room faintly. There looked to be a man on the bed sitting up, it was perhaps Kent? No, Kent was in Fiora's room…then who?

"S-Sain, is that y-you?" she stuttered. It couldn't be…

The man on the bed froze, could it really be? That was her voice! "M-miss F-Florina?"

Her cerulean eyes widened and she dropped the candleholder, shocked. It couldn't be, but it was! He was awake! "S-Sain!"