I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL SACRED STONES CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(
Just a quick word to all of you. Thank you for reviewing. I appreciate all of it. Everyone was wondering why there are so many characters. We will be going down the story of both Eirika and Ephraim so I'm going to have to split up the group and send half and half with them. I know at the end when they get back together it's gonna be a pain in the ass, but I got this. Don't worry guys! It's not going to be a problem for me!
And as to the family OCs to the characters from the game: To be honest, Amira and Natasha were not supposed to be cousins. That was a spur off the moment thing, lol
Chapter Seven
Victims of War
Eirika suppresses her feelings of unease and continues to search for her brother. Passing through Serafew, the group crosses into the Grado Empire. From here forward, there is no doubt that they are walking through hostile territory. In hopes of avoiding unnecessary trouble, Eirika and company head for a sparsely populated region of Grado.
However, it is too late. Their movements are already being tracked.
"And I'm telling you that's just not the way it happens."
"No, it is! The Princess ran from the lover when her father caught them and the lover was killed which then resulted in the want for revenge from the younger brother for the death of the Princess! I've read this thing like, a hundred times!"
"So have I. The Princess was caught with the lover and the King grew furious. The Princess didn't run away, her father ordered guards to take her away. The daughter tried to change her father's mind but he had slain the lover anyway and of course the brother grew mad but he went after the King, not the princess."
"You're both wrong. The Lover was sent by the King's enemy to try and 'get inside' the King's castle when King found out. So of course, the King was furious when he walked in on them and killed him without explaining everything to the daughter. How could he tell her that the man she had fallen in love with was just using her? The younger brother didn't learn of what his brother was doing until after he killed the king and he and the Princes joined forces to go kill the evil idiot."
Joshua and Amira both stood there, watching as Natasha, Christopher, and Michael argued over a novel that the three of them had read over the years. They shared a disbelieving look before turning back to the trio before them. Their arguing continued as the group was persistent with the journey ahead of them, each engaged in their own conversation with a friend or other.
"And are you sure that we know these people?" Joshua asked after a few more moments.
"Unfortunantly," Amira shook her head, finally turning away from the trio that continued to argue. "From my cousin I expected this, but from the two men…" she shook her head again.
"She's your cousin?" Joshua asked in surprise.
"Yeah," Amira placed a hand on her hip. "So what? Is there something wrong with that?"
"Oh no," Joshua shook his head with a smile before moving past her. "It just explains why you're not too bad looking yourself."
Amira watched after him for a moment, her mouth hanging open as she tried to think of a good comeback; she was brain-dead instead. There was a chuckle behind her and she turned to Artur and Lute. "What?"
Artur shook his own head with another chuckle as Lute just frowned. "Oh nothing. It's just cute to watch you flustered like that."
"Shut up." Amira scowled, turning away from him again. His laughter followed her, as did Lute's comments about 'What do you mean by 'flustered'.
Kyra was busy in a heated discussion with Colm on the other side of the group, Neimi, Ross, Garcia, and Franz joining them and watching.
"The armor in shoulder is best place to strike," Kyra was saying as she walked beside them all.
"No," Colm shook his head as his arm was wrapped around Neimi's shoulders. "The crotch is the best target on the enemy. Best outcomes when the shot is successful!"
"I'm not shooting a man in the dick with an arrow!" Kyra growled. Ross and Garcia threw their heads back in laughter as Neimi flushed and Franz gave a small, nervous cough to hide his own laugh.
"It's a battle." Colm shrugged. "It's doesn't matter how it happens. It matters who walks away in end."
"But there are principles to fighting." Kyra continued as she shook her head in disbelief.
"I'm sure he doesn't care. He's shoot you in the dick if he could." Everyone in the little group pulled a face. The thief realized what he had said and swallowed as he glanced at woman beside him.
Bethany watched as Colm ran through their little pack, an enraged Kyra chasing after him, screaming something that she couldn't understand. Her eyes followed them for a moment as the duo ran through the others, breaking up the conversation that Gilliam, Moulder, and Vanessa were having before she sighed and turned back to her brother and Eirika.
"We will find your brother soon, Princess." Seth was saying as they continued on further into the fog. His sight followed Kyra and the thief for a moment as well before he closed his eyes.
"I know, Seth," The Princess' shoulders hung, giving the two of them the look of her exhaustion.
"Would you like to rest?" Bethany asked her. "We can stop for the night or a short break."
"No," Eirika straightened herself up, shaking her head. "I will be fine. I'm just worried, that's all."
"Of course." Seth closed his eyes again for a moment.
"Kyra, stop acting like a fool!" Bethany called to her student. The young woman instantly stopped chasing after Colm, giving the thief a sigh of relief as she grabbed her horse and began to walk beside Eirika and the two Generals.
,"Ha ha ha," The Shaman appeared before them out of nowhere, making Eirika jump and pulling all conversations to a halt. "Princess Eirika of Renais! Accept your fate. You have nowhere to flee!"
"Why is it that these idiots always come out of nowhere?" Michael growled to the man beside him.
Gilliam shook his head at his brother. "All just to make you miserable."
"What?" Eirika grabbed her Rapier as Kyra tightened her fists as she readied to jump back onto her horse's back for battle. "Who are you? And where…where did you come from?"
"You're as beautiful as I'd heard…And you're even wearing your bracelet…" Seth and Bethany both shared a look. "I suppose we should begin there. Would you surrender your lovely little trinket?"
"My bracelet?" Eirika glanced down at it. "Why do you want it?" She demanded.
"His Majesty desires it," The Shaman answered her. "That's reason enough. Once I present it to him he will make me a general, and I will be famous. Come, hand it over. Do it quickly, and I'll leave you alive."
"Princess Eirika, you will do no such thing." Seth spoke firmly as he readied to jump back on his own horse.
"Of course not," the Princess replied.
"Obedience will save you pain. You came all this way to aid Prince Ephraim have you not?" The man laughed. "A fool's errand. Ephraim fell before the empire's might. As we speak he wastes away in a cell in Renvall, meekly awaiting his execution.
Fear for her cousin instantly entered Kyra's mind. If Ephraim was captured then what happened to Kira? She was still okay, wasn't she?
"My brother?" Eirika demanded. "You lie! A pitiful worm like you could never defeat my brother!"
"Bah!" The man waved a hand. "Protest all you like. It does not change the truth. Ephraim has lost, and it was Grado that defeated him." He gave her another look. "You're not going to acquiesce, are you? Very well. Bring me the child." He sighed. Another shaman came forward with a little girl, crying for help. Everyone pulled a face as they continued to watch. "Look familiar? She's a citizen of your precious Renais. Now give me the bracelet! Do it, or the child dies!"
"No, please…" Eirika gasped, reaching out. "You win. But I must have your word the child will suffer from no harm."
"Princess, wait. That bracelet-"
"It's not worth a child's life." Eirika cut Seth off. "Forgive me."
"I'm afraid not," Bethany grabbed Eirika's hand, refusing to let her take the bracelet off.
"Bethany," Kyra was surprised. To see her do that…even Seth looked a bit shocked. Eirika tried to pull her wrist away but the General would not let go.
"I see years of peace and idleness have not dulled the wits of all Renais's knights," the Shaman glared at the woman. "Well then, my hostage has no more use to me, does she? Ah, such a waste." He paused for a moment and then grinned. "I've just had a delicious idea. Have you heard of the giant spiders prowling about this region? They'd appreciate a nice, hot meal, wouldn't you agree?"
"You can't," Eirika took a step forward as the child began to cry again.
"This will be delightful to watch!" The shaman laughed. "These fools will curse the day they were to Renais!"
"Why…why would you…how can you do such a thing?" Eirika demanded angrily. She snatched her hand from Bethany.
"This is WAR! There are no rules here! In war, you can do anything! Anything! You curs of Renais have lost! Your idiotic ravings mean nothing-"
"Enough." Eirika's voice was icy as she cut the lunatic off. "Hold your tongue."
"What?" He demanded angrily.
"I…We, the people of Renais, have lone honored our allegiance with the Grado Empire. And you have invaded without warning. You ravaged our land. You killed my father…even then, I told myself I must not hate Grado or her people. If I gave in to my hate, the bond between our lands would be lost forever. I refused to hate. Instead, I lived for the days our nations would know piece again. But…if this is Grado's true face…if you could extinguish Renais without pity, without remorse…if this is the case, then there is no room in my heart for forgiveness."
"Impudent girl!" The shaman cried. "Do you expect your words to save your countrymen? They will not. Your beloved people will all die, as will you." The man and the child disappeared again.
They wasted no time in running forward to try and save the child and find the Shaman. Everyone separated into groups of two or three and went in different direction. There were enemies scattered all around the fog; some weren't even able to be seen until you were right on top of them.
"Ross!" Gilliam placed himself in front of the young boy. "Stay behind me."
"Here," Natasha hurried over to him with her staff.
Garcia gave his son a look before turning back to the knight he was taking care of with Artur.
Lute glanced at Christopher and gave him a nod. He grinned and jumped on the back of the soldier that was running at the young woman. He tumbled to the ground before Christopher jumped back off of him and out of the way as Lute's fire rained down on him.
"This is all you rejects have for us?" Colm demanded with a frown as Neimi shot another person.
"Oh dear," Eirika placed a hand over her mouth. Kyra turned and followed her line of sight and bit her lip. The good thing was that they found the three villagers that were being held hostage. The bad thing was a large spider was making its way towards the villagers.
Amira took notice of the Princess' cry too and thought quickly. "Vanessa!" She called to the Pegasus rider. The young woman flew over to her before the two took off high into the air, Amira aiming her bow at the spider that was making its way towards the villagers.
"Seth!" The Paladin turned at his sister's voice and shoved his lance through the soldier behind him. Bethany had found the Shaman that the two of them had gone after; the problem was that there was six other Shaman's waiting on them. Seth pulled a frown and hurried forward, twirling his lance in his hand before shoving it through one of the enemies, helping his sister as she took her battle axe and did the same to another. None of the shamans lasted too much longer.
Franz and Joshua hurried forward as the last of the Grado soldiers fell. The young cavalier grabbed the young woman and pulled her up behind him on his horse as Joshua grabbed the young child, holding her closely as they turned and ran. The young man followed them, running as fast as he could from the spider that Amira was trying to kill. It took one more shot and the giant creature finally fell just feet away from where the three hostages had been standing.
Joshua exchanged a high-five with Christopher as the child continued to hang on him. Everyone checked on the others, making sure they were all okay, the three hostages included. There were a few wounds here and there, but nothing too serious and nothing that Moulder and Natasha couldn't handle. Relieved that everything was fine, the redheaded myrmidon turned to the two women upon the Pegasus that had just landed behind him.
"Nice job," Joshua grinned at Amira as she hopped off the flying horse.
The archer looked at him for a moment before grinning. "Thanks." She turned her attention to the child. "Are you okay, sweetie?"
The child looked at her with wide eyes, not moving.
Eirika stepped forward with a kind smile. "You're safe now." She assured her.
Everyone watched the child as she tore from Joshua and buried her face into Eirika's blouse. "I was so scared! So very, very scared!"
"Thank you. You saved us all." The young woman began as Franz helped her off of his horse.
"It was nothing." Christopher grinned at her, folding his arms behind his head. Kyra shot him a look before smirking.
Seth and Bethany shared a look as everyone else talked and made sure the hostages were okay. Perhaps now was the time to tell the Princess. If Grado was after the bracelet that meant that, somehow, the emperor knew everything; knew the secret.
But how?
It was a little later that evening the two Generals drug the Princess away from the group as they all continued to travel. They were taking a small break and eating a bit of lunch and so, this time was perfect.
"Your late father," Seth began. "King Fado…He ordered us to keep silent until the proper time arrived. However, with all that has happened, with Emperor Vigarde's actions…"
"We feel it commanding that we tell you everything, Princess Eirika." Bethany told her.
"Are you ready to hear the secret of the bracelet you wear?" Seth asked her.
"I am…" They could hear the excitement in her voice as she tried to keep herself calm. Bethany couldn't help but give a small smile as her brother began.
"As you know, Princess…Renais houses one of the Legendary Sacred Stones."
"Of course. It's in the temple," The young woman nodded. "It's supposed to be a ward against evil."
"Yes, the true stone is," Seth nodded. "But the stone in the temple is nothing but a forgery."
"The real Sacred Stone of Renais lies beneath the royal castle." Bethany told her. Guarding it is a seal of an extremely intricate lock."
"What?" Eirika took the step of surprise. "Is this true?"
"Yes. King Fado confided in us himself. The Sacred Stones banished evil long ago and possess powers beyond our ken." Seth continued. "The ancient kings of Renais felt it prudent to deal ours away."
"They feared its power could be misused," Bethany took up. "And they decided to remove the temptation. The keys to break the seal were hidden, too…" Bethany and Seth looked at the Princess together.
"Forged into bracelets…" Eirika's eyes widened as the information settled in her mind and she glanced down at the golden bracelet on her wrist.
"Our bracelets?" she asked in shock. "How could father keep this a secret from me for so long?"
"'They must know nothing of the bracelets. Tell them only if some great peril strikes.'" Seth quoted the King.
"Prince Ephraim knows nothing of them, either," Bethany told the teen. "The King only told us this out of fear that something might happen to him. Therefore, when the time came, the two of you would learn the truth."
"The bracelets have such meaning…" Eirika glanced to the side, thinking for a moment.
"Yes," Seth replied. "And we are the only living souls who know the secret of the Stone of Renais. At least, that's what I was given to believe. And yet…" He frowned.
"Yet the Grado army has made it clear that they want me only for my bracelet." Eirika gave a growl.
"Unfortunately," Bethany nodded. "So it seems that they know the truth as well. I don't know how but Emperor Vigarde must have found out. Still he pursues the bracelet as we have no idea to knowing his motives."
"He would use the bracelets to unlock the Sacred Stone and destroy it in secret…" Eirika offered up.
"Perhaps." Seth closed his eyes for a moment.
"Which means that my brother…and his bracelet…"
"If he's been captured, they may have the bracelet already, and he may be-"
"Nonsense," Bethany cut Seth off. "Ephraim is an intelligent young man. He's not fallen yet," She turned to her horse. "Forde and the others wouldn't allow such harm to come even close to the Prince. Novala's words might have been used to lure us into a trap."
"But," Eirika looked at the elder woman. "What if-"
"Either way," Bethany hoisted herself up and held her hand out to help Eirika up behind her. "We shall learn the truth of it all when we reach Renvall. We must move swiftly, Princess."
"Yes," Eirika nodded, taking her hand. "Let's go save my brother!"
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